Chapter 2

After a few more hours of sleep, she had woken up feeling slightly more refreshed. She had discovered upon awaking that the bathtub in one corner of the adjacent room had been filled with water and herbs. To her great surprise, the water was warm, as if it had just been filled. However, she had not been aware of any servants coming in to fill the tub. Her train of thought did not last long, however, as she sunk in the hot water, happy to be able to wash away the grime and sweat from her skin.

Upon re entering the main room, she had found the linens of her bed changed as well as a dress laid out on the bed for her to wear. Out of courtesy, she had put on the garment, wondering silently about the richness of the cloth and the intricacy of the outfit design.

Looking in the mirror, she admitted that whoever had picked the dress for her had not only taste, but a good eye.

She wore a long sleeved dark blue ankle length jacket with black embroidery that closed under her chest by a few buttons, accentuating her small bosom. Underneath, she wore a black sleeveless dress, covered by a lighter blue knee length skirt opened at the front, where we could find a large and long slit opening onto the black dress. Her waist was accentuated by a small golden obi. The darker tones of the clothes were giving her doll skin a white glow, a vivid contrast with her eyes and hair. The clothes were still encasing but they were better than the others that Elizabeth had given her. She had settled on pulling up her long curly black hair in a messy bun, tendrils falling from it and framing her face, still damp from the bath. She looked like a respectable lady, less like a child, and more like a woman.

Indeed, she had changed since her childhood.

Day after day, she grew up, becoming more beautiful. Now, she was a tall elegant young woman, not model-thin but still slender and curvy. Her porcelain skin and ebony hair were the same whereas her eyes had lost their childlike joy, now reflecting a tender but sad glow.

The young woman descended the stairs from the hall slowly, gracefully, while she distractedly looked at her host's home. She was greatly reminded of her mansion, only with deeper, richer colors and a more antique feel. Cautiously, she made her way through the different rooms, wondering at the beauty of her host's home. Surely, he was a rich man, seemingly living alone, or with very few servants.

Tomoyo entered the dining room hesitantly. The sight was breathtaking. While the young lady was used to luxury, the room encased a warm and welcoming glow in itself that her dining room hadn't.

Tomoyo, however, felt slight uncomfortable. Even without magic powers, she could feel that something was wrong with the house. A thrill of excitement ran up her spine, whispers of fear tickling her skin as she walked further in the dining room.

Magic.

The whispers of magic licked at her senses, she realized. The feeling was not unlike that of Sakura's when she used her own magical powers. However, unlike the short bursts she frequently felt around her best friend, magic permeated this house, floating like a soft blanket, tickling the senses.

Contrary to what she felt surrounded by Sakura's magic, for an unknown reason, all her instincts were screaming at her to run, run away and far from the house and its occupants. However, another part of her was telling her that she was being foolish. She didn't think that she was in any imminent danger but she would do well to consider it as a warning. That, she was sure of.

"I see that you found your way to the dining room." The silky voice behind her didn't surprise her as much as she thought it would. She had sensed someone watching her at the edge of her mind, some sort of tickling sensation at the base of her neck alerting her to the close presence of someone else.

"Yes."

"Then shall we?"

Taking her arm, he led her to the table where food had been artfully placed. Her host pulled her chair behind her, acting as a man of his stature at this time should, before sitting down himself and starting to eat slowly, regarding his guest with twinkling eyes.

"I'm sorry, sir, but could you tell me how I ended up here? I am very grateful for your help and welcoming, but I must admit that I am very puzzled." She took a sip of her drink and the bittersweet taste of wine touched her tongue. She had attended many ceremonies and meetings with her mother and thus, she was accustomed to the taste.

It soothed her nerves and she took a long sip of it, basking in the sensations it brought her. Her mother thought it was in her apprenticing to attend all of the business meetings, for she was destined to be the head of the Daidouji toy company at the retirement or death of her mother. Tomoyo didn't want to become the head of the company; she had many other dreams, the likes of which she had barely begun exploring. She wanted to sing, design clothes, even help people. In the end, she merely wanted the opportunity to choose. She wasn't her mother nor was she Nadeshiko, facts that Sonomi had trouble grasping.

She was her own person.

However, in the universe in which she had been raised, there was no room to be one's own person. This cruel reality was further cemented by her own mother, who made Tomoyo live in Sakura's shadow. She had never been angry at Sakura. She was truly a beautiful and sweet girl. But her mother had pushed on even further, ensuring that her own daughter, who reminded her of Nadeshiko, her beloved cousin, would be a live representation of said cousin, with long hair, alabaster skin and a soft voice.

She did not know if this was a conscious thing on her mother's part, but she accepted it gracefully, if only to make her mother happy.

Only, as a child, she had not understood why her mother looked at her longingly sometimes, why she refused that she cut her hair, why she whispered Nadeshiko's name when she thought nobody could hear.

Tomoyo jerked herself from her musing and back to the conversation at hand.

"It is simple, really. One of my servants found you in my garden, unconscious and sick. He took you here and you were taken care of...." She nodded her head slowly, offering her host a small contrite but also grateful smile.

"I am sorry; I didn't know this was a private land."

"No need to be sorry. Now please, enjoy your meal and I shall escort you back to your room."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

They had had to cut diner short, as Tomoyo had started feeling faint after only having eaten the first course of the meal. She had excused herself, but her host, whose name was still unknown to her, had immediately insisted on escorting her back. Ascending the stairs toward her room, Tomoyo took the opportunity to scrutinize the man accompanying her. In his mid twenties, he was rather good looking with midnight eyes twinkling with wisdom, but also a touch of mischief, long bluish black hair with a few wisps falling on his forehead and thin framed glasses.

He was rather tall, and seemed thin, but the long robes he wore hid much of his shape to her eyes.

Unbeknown to her, her host was observing her himself as they slowly made their way towards her room. She was truly a beautiful young woman, with delicate features and an ever present air of gracefulness surrounding her smallest gestures. The man readily admitted himself intrigued by his impromptu guest, perhaps even more than that required by the threat she might present to him, were she looking to deceive him.

Slowly, he let his aura reach out and probe hers with the whisper of a touch. He immediately noticed her stance straightening as she looked on curiously at her surroundings. Thus, it seemed that she was sensitive to magic, the man thought to himself. A spark of mischief tugged at him and his smile widened, his eyes becoming crescent moons behind his small glasses. Slowly, he reached out with his magic and touched the exposed back of her neck as they stopped in front of her room's door, light as the flutter of a hummingbird's wings. A shiver wracked his beautiful guest body, much to his pleasure.

Said girl turned around to look questioningly at her host, only to find him gone.

"Where…"

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Another night where I can't seem to find solace.

The young woman looked up into the night sky, leaning against the windowsill.

The moon is beautiful.

Truly, the moon was beautiful, no matter how unimportant she was made to be, a mere reflection of the sun.

The sun.

Sakura was the sun.

Her precious one.

The one that made her happy.

The one whose happiness created her own happiness.

And thus, she was the moon.

She was a reflection of Sakura's happiness.

She was the moon as she wore the mask, only allowing others to see one side of herself, leaving them to wonder what else was hidden on the dark side.

FLASHBACK

The black-haired girl swiftly stood up, her friends looking at her puzzled. She tensely walked to her teacher, ignoring their stares.

"Can I go to the bathroom please?"

"You may go..." The teacher told her, looking at Tomoyo from the corner of his eyes. Standing tall, she made her way to the door, opened it, left the class and closed the door softly. Once in the corridor, her shoulders slumped, her demeanor changing and the tears in her eyes falling slowly down her cheeks.

She all but ran to the bathroom, head bowed. She flung the door open and went to the wash stand. Putting both palms flat on each side of it, she looked at herself in the mirror; she looked at her tear stained and flushed face and her heaving chest.

"Stop it and now. It is not the time to break down, lose your head or your self control. You are stronger than that. It is not important."

But it was important, so important.

Her father.

Her father….He…

Too much had happened. Too much pain all bottled up inside, no tears allowed to fall, but sometimes, under the stress or the tiredness, it was too much. She could not hold up the mask, be strong and happy. Strong and happy for her mother, for Sakura, for everyone but herself.

The teenager took a tissue and dried her tears and blew her nose. Her eyes were still red, as was the rest of her face. She soaked a tissue with cold water and pressed it to her eyes, the redness disappearing slowly from her fair skin. She couldn't be gone too long or they would wonder what was happening to her. She straightened herself and walked back. Entering the classroom, she sat back on her chair next to her friends to help with their current project.

"Are you okay Tomoyo?" She widened her smile and looked Sakura in the eyes.

Deceitful.

"Of course." Everybody returned to their chatting and working, satisfied with her answer, while she looked on them, as if interested with the work. A burning sensation on the side of her head made her look to her left. Amber eyes were glaring at her unwaveringly. She only smiled wider and looked at their owner as intensely, never betraying her emotions.

"Something is bothering you Syaoran?" The little wolf didn't answer her, only ignored the question, still glaring.

END OF FLASHBACK

She was always calm and in control, projecting an aura of happiness and grace. People all thought her strong or simply unaffected by events surrounding her. Others thought her life was simply perfect, filled with joy and happiness.

In the end though, she was only as strong as they believed her to be. Her strength lay in the eyes of the beholder. She was lucky to have a mother that loved her, a best friend that could be a sister and to have been raised in a home where she always had everything she could need.

But such a life could not protect her from all pain and sadness, and no matter how strong she was, she still cared.

If I didn't care would my chest tighten or would tears sprung into my eyes? Or would I, when I am free from my sorrow, smile and laugh, eyes twinkling?

She supposed it was partly her fault that others viewed her as such, she mused. After all, she wore masks. As a result, they did not know her, could not.

Truly, her life missed something.

Someone to love… and to be loved back…

She was alone, so alone. She lived in a golden cage, with everything that she could want, but for some of the most essential things.

A loving mother, who would be there…

A father who cared enough to stay…

Friends who could truly understand…

But she was lucky; she had Sakura, playful, loving, sweet Sakura. Her precious one. Whereas it had been enough for a moment, when she had somewhat been in love with her friend, it was not today, as she developed into who she was meant to be.

Pushing herself from her window and her morose thoughts, Tomoyo quietly walked to her door. She carefully pressed her ear to the hard and cold surface, silence being the only thing greeting her. All in the mansion was at peace, asleep she supposed.

Putting on her bathrobe, she exited her room carefully to go explore the spacious home. Her bare feet slapping softly on the hard and cold floor, the shadows playing on her face and her body shivering in the cold night, she quietly opened the doors encountered, never entering the rooms, only peeking inside. Each room was furnished richly, in the same manner as the previous ones, all emanating an aura of age.

Finally, one door was left, made in brown carved wood. She went to it, as in a trance, beckoned by an unseen force. The patterns engraved were hypnotizing her and she traced them with feather like touches of her fingertips.

Seeking.

Searching.

Her suddenly clammy hand went down the door handle, coming to rest on the key carelessly forgotten there. Fingering it a moment, she debated opening the door or not. It would be rude to enter a room that was clearly meant to be locked. However, curiosity gnawed at reason, and won.

She took a deep breath and turned the key carefully until she heard a quiet click. Twisting the cold door handle, she opened the door, wincing at the squeaking noise it produced.

The room was pitch black, and seemingly spacious.

Squinting her eyes, she was able to detail the room. It was sparsely decorated with bookcases and a red leather chair standing in the middle of the room. The bookcases were enormous. Made in dark brown wood, they stood on each wall, going all the way to the cathedral roof and filled to the brink with books.

She closed the door behind her slowly to proceed cautiously in the room. The air was heavy, suffocating, chilling. Goosebumps were traveling down her back, her skin was crawling; this was no ordinary room. Magic hung like a thick blanket in the air, rolling off against her form in waves. The sensation was like nothing she had expected. While Sakura's magic had always been light and gentle, this one felt thick, comforting, but also sensuous and playful.

A little voice in her head started screaming, chanting about the possible danger, as well as the alien feeling of magic surrounding her form. She felt a whisper on her skin, rolling off in waves and hugged her arms around her body, a shiver travelling her spine.

Cautiously, she went to the first bookcase. Squinting her eyes she observed the books in the dimly lighted room.

Dark magic.

Elemental magic.

Calling forth entities.

Healing spell.

Charms and talismans.

Some were in English, Latin, and French while others were in Gaelic, Mandarin or Japanese and some were in languages that she had never seen before. Within her peripheral vision, she saw a book on an old forged metal lectern. The item captured her emotion, as the magic surrounding her seemed to tug at her senses, enticing her towards the leather bound book.

Tomoyo looked on uncertain, glancing around the room before taking hesitant steps towards the lectern, pushed onwards by a strange feeling. She cautiously moved to the lectern only to gasp when it came to her vision.

The Clow book

How? How could it be? The man she had met. He was the one responsible for the magic permeating this home. But how had he come into possession of the Clow Cards? Was he friend or foe? She had been used by the cards to get to Sakura before. Her current situation was proof of that. But was the man responsible for her being there, was he trying to bait Sakura in the hope of obtaining all the cards and the power they represented?

Her heartbeat quickened at the thought, thoughts more frightening than the other entering her mind. She had no doubt in Sakura's capacities, but she would make sure her friend would not be endangered because of her. A man older and more experienced could turn into a formidable foe.

She heard a slight growl in the shadows before her and she tensed immediately, taking a small step back. She had been discovered. God only knew what awaited her now.

A winged lion appeared, scrutinizing her with a hard if not curious look in his golden colored eyes. A product of magic, no doubt.

"Who are you?"

"I am Cerberus, guardian of the Clow book." Tomoyo gasped softly, reaching out tentatively towards the being with one hand.

"Kero?"

Tomoyo fell on her knees before the beast and immediately surrounded its neck with her arms, hugging him awkwardly to the guardian's great surprise. Relief tugged at her heart, for both Sakura and herself.

"Kero, I am so happy to see you." the plum blossom whispered, her arms circling his neck tightening minutely as she rubbed her cheek on his silky fur. Slowly, she released him, searching his eyes.

Her own gaze grew saddened. She found no trace of recognition in his eyes, only uneasiness. Of course, he did not know her. Sakura or Syaoran had yet to rescue her. For a brief moment, she had hoped that he was there on behalf of Sakura to help rescue her, but she knew it was foolish to had thought so, as he could not regain his original form before the capture of all Clow Cards. Shoulders slumping, she stood up. She took a deep breath, resolving herself to her next gesture no matter the consequences, looked at the guardian and spoke firmly.

"I want to talk to Clow Reed."

"And what about, my dear?" The teenager turned around to lay eyes on her host standing with an angel looking being.

"So you are Clow Reed." She took in his appearance in a new light. He reminded her somewhat of Sakura's father, for some reason, although Sakura's father's eyes had never held such wisdom and mischief.

She turned her gaze to the being standing next to Clow, detailing his form intensely.

"Yue" was the cold and only word from the angel. Her brow creased in confusion; never had she heard about him. She could only guess he was the second guardian Kero had told them about, which they had yet to encounter. She started toward the door only to be stopped by the second guardian pitching a diamond shard at her feet.

Her eyes widened and then narrowed. The once calm but now angry girl directed her gaze toward her attacker. While she was a gentle person, she had also inherited her mother's ability to intimidate others with a single look. Already stressed from being lost in the past, and still physically weak from her illness, thin threads of anger took hold of her heart. She stared down the being standing near her as she picked up the ice shard carefully. With icy cold politeness and deceitful gentleness, she reached towards Yue, offering him back the shard.

"It seems that you mistakenly sent one of those in my direction. You would do well to be more careful, ne?" Her smile widened slightly as the being did not budge but tensed at her approach. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Clow Reed looking on with something akin to amusement twinkling in his eyes. Reaching towards her, he took the proffered ice shard and with a simple squeeze of his fingers, made it disappear into thin air.

"Yue, Cerberus, let us alone." The two guardians looked from their Master to the strange girl hesitantly, but left nonetheless.

She found the room suddenly colder, her anger forgotten, and a shiver went down her spine. Her teeth clattered together quietly, her silk nightgown and bathrobe offering only so much warmth. A fire started itself in the fireplace and with a wave of the hand from the sorcerer and a chair appeared before the one in the centre of the room.

"Sit please..." Tomoyo tensed up but still sat down in the plush chair, re arranging her bathrobe to cover her legs.

"Now I am listening." He told her softly, a smile tugging at his mouth. It seems that the man was always smiling, his eyes revealing nothing of his true emotions. The girl looked at him warily, questioning herself. Was it truly wise to talk to him about the future? To do so could alter the course of time irrevocably. There was no way to know if the changes that could result would be for the better or for the worse.

"I won't hurt you, child." Tomoyo looked up into sincere eyes, interested but also slightly annoyed at his words.

"I am no child."

"Indeed." His smile grew wider and his eyes seemingly twinkled with a touch of mischief. She laced her fingers together in her lap, pondering the best way to phrase her situation, missing his gaze roaming over her petite form.

"I am a friend of Sakura Kinomoto." She saw a flicker of recognition in the eyes of the sorcerer but he quickly covered it, only rising an eyebrow. However, the gesture was not lost on her. She had seen her mother perform enough deals to recognize that he knew who Sakura was and that he wished to hide it from her. She quickly latched on to this information and decided to continue in this trail of thought.

"I know that you know who she is, the future card captor and mistress of the cards." She saw his eyes narrow slightly, interest but also wariness flickering in their depth.

"So you don't believe nor do you trust me. I suppose that was to be expected." She spoke the words quietly, not an accusation but only the polite statement of a fact.

"How could I prove myself?" She inquired softly, tilting her head to the side and trying to project as much sincerity as she could. After a moment of silence, he spoke up.

"Why can't I see into your mind or read your thoughts?" Her brow creased in confusion and she shrugged her shoulders tiredly, her long hair spilling over her shoulders to blanket her chest.

"I do not know. I have no magical powers." She bit her lower lip, looking at the man questioningly. He merely held her gaze, unblinking.

"However, I suppose that if you'll help me, I will let you try to bypass this." The man seemed to consider her words before standing up from his chair and kneeling before her. Smiling reassuringly, he placed his hands lightly on either side of her face. Her eyes fluttered closed at the touch and she drew in a deep breath. His hands were warm and soft, a sharp contrast to the coldness of the room.

She felt a tug at her mind, soft but insistent. It whispered an invitation to her, tantalizing her with soft stroke like motions.

"Invite me in, open your mind." the soft spoken command was answered in thought.

......Come in....

She gasped as she felt a heavy blanket, like a dark blue quilt, settle itself around her. Like reassuring arms, it caressed her, probing and searching for answers, never forcing itself in her memories, tugging for her to let it enter, smoothing, healing a little.

Like a lover's touch.

Shiver of delights rolled through her body at the pleasurable sensations. Her pulse quickened as she took short gasping breaths, biting her lower lip at the unknown feelings pooling into her stomach. The feeling retracted slowly, leaving her gripping the armrests of the chair as she leaned forwards in a vain attempt to keep the new feeling alive. A thumb brushed against the curve of her jaw softly, jolting her back to reality. She opened her eyes to look into two dark blue pools.

"It is true then." Tomoyo opened her mouth to reply but promptly lost consciousness.

The young man picked up the dark-haired girl carefully, looking down to her with something akin to wonder. Who would have thought? For once, his power had not foretold his future. She came in his life as a surprise, stranded in the past by the hands of fate. Clow brushed a strand of hair tenderly behind her ear, listening to her deep breathing.

She was truly beautiful, and quite able to be on par with him, it seemed, considering the way she had been able to direct their conversation. He reached out with his magic, brushing against her skin lightly and, to his surprise, she moaned softly, burrowing her face deeper in his arm.

Only one thing bothered him, however, at this moment.

Why is she here?

DREAM SEQUENCE

Black.

Everything was so dark.

She could not even see her hands.

She shook her head.

The image shifted, the floor seemingly disappearing beneath her feet.

She was suddenly standing in an immense field of flowers. She looked around to see waves of blue, red, violet. Multicolored flowers were surrounding her, their scents blending together. Butterflies were moving from one flower to another, brushing her, never stopping their course. One came to her and landed on her cheek, basking in the sun. She moved a hand to touch it but it flew away and she watched it go wonderingly.

"Kitten"

She looked up, sharply. There stood a man, floating like a ghost. His feet touched the ground and he came to stand before her. He observed her, standing tall at his 6'1 feet, with soft green eyes under bangs of black hair.

Her own eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.

It couldn't be, he was gone she told herself again and again.

Gone.

Gone.

GONE!

She was torn between happiness and the dull ache of past pains.

"Hello kitten" the man spoke softly, reaching out to brush her bangs away from her forehead tenderly.

"Father?" she whispered brokenly, trying not to hope, because the truth might just break her, again.

"How are you?"

"I am... fine.... you?"

"Oh, you know… I have been dead." Against her will, she tears welled up in her eyes at the harsh words. The world surrounding her took on a dark red haze, the flowers wilting and butterflies falling dead to the ground.

She turned her head to the side, not wanting to see the face of the man standing before her for all the pain his words brought back. He approached her and his scent reached her nose. She closed her eyes and took in the scent of the one person that she had loved above all. He took her in his arms and made a little cooing noise while she hugged him, crying silently. His arms felt so real surrounding her, so comforting and achingly familiar. It was like being home after years of absence and she drank in the feeling like a starved woman, starved for his love and presence.

The silence was broken by a cold statement.

"You know it was your entire fault, don't you?" Tomoyo looked up and backed away from the comforting arms, horrified.

"It was your entire fault that I died kitten, if you would have been there I would not have..." Hugging herself, she backed away from him slowly, shaking her head vehemently in denial of his words.

Lies!

"No... You... I never....."

"You let me die." His answer tore a horrified gasp out of her throat. The world suddenly collapsed on itself.

Too close. It was too close to what she had thought before. Too close to how she had blamed herself.

"No, mother needed me, you had her! You were the one who betrayed her with that other woman, who left her by herself, who tried to take all from her!" Her voice became louder with each word, from faint whisper to shouting. Righteous anger mixed with sadness and pain, making it harder for her to breath.

"You should have come with me. If you hadn't told me you never wanted to see me again, I would not be dead. It is your fault. I would not have been so hurt by everything that happened and would not have felt the need to take my life…"

"No! " She shouted out, pressing her palms to her ears as fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

It was not like that. He had betrayed them, left with his personal assistant, who also happened to be family, tried to take away the business from her mother, to leave her with nothing. How could she have not stayed with her mother when she needed her the most? When he broke her?

Lies!

It wasn't her fault! It wasn't!

LIES!

"How is Sakura?" slowly her arms came down, as she looked despondently at her father.

"How? You are dead and I didn't..."

"...talk to me about her. I am watching you Tomoyo. Did you tell her how you were someone she could not trust? That you would let her down? Have you?" He hissed out at her, his eyes dark and his hands tightened in fists at his sides.

"No! I was angry, you slept with her cousin, you didn't have the right!" She sobbed out.

He had ruined everything.

Everything.

"She needed me! You chose this! I was not responsible for this!" the figure raised an eyebrow, giving her an hateful sneer.

"I wasn't supposed to bear the weight of everything! I loved you." She whispered the last part brokenly.

"You are no good Tomoyo, you never were, you hurt even your own mother, and because of you, your father is dead..." Tomoyo crumpled down to her knees, hands on her ears, rocking back and forth, singing softly to cover the haunting voice.

"Lost in the darkness of a land

Where all the hope that's offered is

Memories of being taken by the hand

And we are led into the sun

But I don't have a hold on what is real

Though we can only try

What is there to give or to believe?

I wanted a change, knowing all I could do was try

I was looking for someone...."

Her father's favourite song.

END OF DREAM SEQUENCE

Tomoyo woke up with a gasp, sweat drops rolling down her temples and forehead. Breathing raggedly, she looked frantically around her room, searching the shadows, afraid of what she could find. Seeing no one with her in the room, she pulled her comforter more tightly around her, shut her eyes and prayed.

....I am sorry.... rest in peace father....

End of chapter 2