Disclaimer: CardCaptor Sakura is not mine, it's owned by CLAMP. Yes, you've read right. It took me five years of therapy to finally admit that. Akira, Nami, Tama, Yuri and Yuri are mine, though. So you can't sue me for that.
Summary: Tomoyo and Eriol's children traveled through time by a century old pocket watch that turned out to be a time turner. They traveled back where their parents were still in school, only to find out the shocking truth… that their parents hated each others' guts! So how are they going to end up together? Will they learn to love each other? Or will they hate each other more? Read and review!
Author's Notes: First and foremost, I would like to thank my first three readers. I know, I know, they're not too many but they wanted me to keep going and in my humblest opinion, that is more than enough. I'd also like to thank my sister, Pia, for helping make this story by giving me her wacky ideas. Thanks, sis! To TeDDieZ too, thank you for editing my story! I wouldn't make it without you two:)
Now and Forever
by Hidden Tala
ii. Meet the Parents
Looking around, scanning his environment, Akira turned to his brother and sisters to check if they were alright. Founding all of them safe and sound, he heaved a great sigh of relief.
"Where are we, Akira-niichan?" asked the little blue-eyed girl with soft dark curls.
"We're in Seijou, Yumi-chan," he answered, his own violet eyes examining the surroundings.
"Tama, how many times did you stroke the clock? Was it counterclockwise or clockwise?" the older sister asked faintly.
"Two times. Counterclockwise."
Her knees buckled that made her slump down. "Great, we're twenty years before the present."
"What? What are you talking about, Nami?" Akira asked in confusion.
"Tama stroked the watch twice. One full stroke is equals to ten years. And he said twice, you understand the math now, Akira? And he said he moved it counterclockwise, meaning - to turn back. Akira, that's not a watch. That's Dad's time turner!"
The two brothers turned white in her revelation.
"You mean we're transported back 20 years before our time?" Tama croaked, his eyes watering.
Nami, the elder sister, nodded hesitantly.
"Akira-niichan, what are you all talking about? Where's Mommy?" asked the little girl with purple eyes.
"We'll find her, Yuri-chan. We'll find her," assured the teenager, though uncertain, he still kept a firm front.
He sat down the bench and furrowed his brows in deep concentration while Nami and Tama looked at him expectantly.
"Mom's 35 back in the future, right?" he asked to nobody but received a small 'yes' from his sister Nami.
He let out a sharp breath to calm his rattled nerves. "Alright, I have a plan."
Nami and Tama circled themselves around Akira as he explained the whole procedure to the two of them. The twins were busy talking about something so he left them as they were. Akira instructed that Tama and Nami would hold the twins so they won't go ballistic inside the school's premises.
After 15 minutes of discussion and brainstorming, he stood up with Tama and Nami behind him.
"No one will utter a word. I will do all the talking," Akira said dismissively. He took the twins' hands in his and entered the familiar grounds of Seijou High.
"So, you're Hiiragizawa-san's cousins, correct?" the Principal asked, examining the five children with a scrutinizing gaze. He was answered with five identical nods. "He's expecting your arrival, then?"
"No, sir," said the tallest boy of the Hiiragizawa children. "We just arrived from China. Our parents died in an accident two days ago and we have no family left but… E-Eriol-kun. We did not try to call him in advance because he might not accept us so we all decided to come here without notice and leave him no choice."
Principal Nakajima nodded at the kids. He smiled sympathetically to them and said, "My deepest condolences to your family, Hiiragizawa-kun. We already called for your cousin, he will be here shortly."
As if on cue, the door opened and entered the young Eriol Hiiragizawa. The three older children gawked while the twins squealed as they saw their father's form in his teenage years. Eriol roused a delicate eyebrow at them. Turning towards the principal, he politely asked, "You called for me, Nakajima-sensei?"
Nakajima nodded gravely at Eriol. "Hai, Hiiragizawa-san." The principal gestured towards the Hiiragizawa children with his neck. "I am deeply sorry for your loss, Hiiragizawa-kun," Principal Nakajima told Akira and his brother and sisters.
Confused beyond words, Eriol spoke, "Are you like an unknown relative of mine?"
Deciding to give them the privacy, Nakajima stood up and walked to the door. He reached the doorknob but paused and looked directly at Eriol. "Hiiragizawa-san, I'll leave you now with your cousins. I hope you choose the right thing. Goodbye." The door closed.
Now that was weird. What the hell was that? What right thing? And cousins? He's the only Hiiragizawa in the world!
Eriol stared at the five children in front of him; two boys and three girls. "What the-" he started but was interrupted by two little girls who ran to him and hugged his legs. "Daddy!" exclaimed the two girls in unison.
Eriol froze in his spot. What did they just call him? Daddy? What the hell is happening here?
"I see your confusion and discomfort, E-Eriol-san," said the tallest boy, uncomfortable to say his father's first name. "But we're more puzzled than you are."
"Daddy, will you carry me? Akira-niichan and Nami-neechan won't do it but will you?" the little girl with familiar violet eyes and shoulder length dark hair gave him a puppy-eyed look.
The other girl on his right leg tugged at his pants and said, "Me too, Daddy. I want to be carried too!"
Eriol, unsure of himself, kneeled to be level their eyes and then patted their heads lightly. "Later, angels. I need to talk to them first," he said, smiling gently at twins. The two girls pouted cutely and hugged him tightly. Eriol gave them another kind smile as he stood up.
"You," Eriol pointed to the tallest boy in the room. "Explain yourself."
Akira gave a defeated sigh. "Why is it always me? Why don't you ask your troublesome son there? He's the reason why we're here," he said, pointing towards little Tama.
The little boy ran towards Eriol and hugged his waist. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I didn't mean to mess with your pocket watch. I thought it was broken!" the little boy, Tama, cried to his father.
"Wait a damn minute!" Eriol exclaimed; confusion etched in his young face. "Why are you calling me your father? I'm not even married yet!"
The quiet girl beside Akira sighed. "Of course you're not married yet! You were married 4 years later, well, at least in this time. And to answer your question about us calling you father… it's because you're our father! We're from the future, to point out the obvious."
"What! How can that be?"
"Magic," Nami simply replied then flopped down the couch.
"But I'm not using magic anymore!"
"Dad, tell that to the marines," Akira said coolly, flopping down the couch beside his sister.
"How did this happen?"
"We found Yuri and Yumi in your study, y'know they love to make you crazy there. Tama found your century old pocket watch and found it wasn't working then he toyed with it only to find out later that it was a blasted time turner," Nami said, flipping her long lustrous hair from her side to the back as she glared at her little brother. "That troublesome Tama, yes, the one wetting your shirt, messed up the pocket watch so here we are, stuck in your so-called 'heydays'."
"What heydays?" Tama released himself from Eriol and went to his brother and sister, who were sitting on the couch, making himself comfortable on it as well.
Nami rolled her eyes. "Oh, the one you keep on telling us since Akira and me were babies – the year how you bagged Mum down, how many girls who want to date you and stuff – really, my ears are getting tired of hearing it everyday."
"I did that?" Eriol can't help the goofy grin that's beginning to spread on his face. "Well, it's true though. I'm one of the sought after guys in the campus."
"Yeah right, Dad," the two elder siblings said in unison, rolling their eyes heavenwards.
Wiping the silly grin off of his face, he turned towards them and asked, "So, you're really from the future?"
"Yes." was their only simple reply.
"I see."
"Daddy, Daddy, will you carry me now?" the little girl with dark blue eyes, asked pouting cutely. "Me too, Daddy! Me too!" said the other.
Eriol reluctantly complied.
"Hey, Eriol-kun! You were a bit… agitated in Advanced Algebra, was it that bad?" Sakura asked, worried about her friend and her exam. If Eriol found the exam difficult, she should be anxious about it too but she doesn't feel it at all. Maybe, I got it all wrong, she thought, panicking. "You don't look so good, Eriol-kun. Maybe you should go to the Hospital Wing."
"Iie, Sakura-san," he said, waving it off. "I'm just a little tired. Can we talk at the music room? I've something to show you. Oh, and bring my little descendant too."
She reluctantly nodded then smiled. "Okay, we'll be there in a minute."
He had gone to the music room where his children were currently lodging. His children. Bloody hell. Opening the door, he saw his oldest son, Akira, playing the piano. On Akira's side, was Nami playing the flute. The three little buggers were sprawled on the floor, below the blackboard, chattering animatedly about something. They were his children alright.
He cleared his throat to gather their attentions. "Listen, Sakura and Syaoran will arrive any minute now. We will discuss how to get you back… in the future. And also, your lodging and stuff."
The twins, Yuri and Yumi, shrieked happily. "Uncle Syaoran will bring us chocolates! Yay!"
Eriol visibly sweat dropped.
"Syaoran-kun, just open the door! He's not plotting your death! Just open it!" An irritated female voice was heard outside.
"No! What if he's concocting another plan to embarrass me in front of the whole school? No! I won't do it!" was the adamant reply.
Eriol inwardly sighed then decided to open the door for his two friends. "Konnichiwa, Syaoran-kun, Sakura-san," he greeted politely. "No, I'm afraid I'm not up to something, sad to say dear descendant. I have a very big problem in my hands and I want the two of you to help me."
The Li Clan leader and his beloved Card Mistress shared a look then entered the room locking the door after them. They found five dark-haired children staring back at them with interest. "Who are they, Eriol-kun? They look so much like you! Especially her!" Sakura pointed to the tallest girl with the eyeglasses.
One of the twins tugged at Syaoran's pants making him look down and what he saw was a little girl with arms wide opened telling him to carry her. He did. "Where's my chocolate, Uncle Syao-Syao?"
Syaoran looked aghast. "What did you just call me?"
The girl grinned babyishly. "Uncle Syao-Syao, silly! You're my uncle Syao-Syao!"
Syaoran threw Eriol a suspicious glance then put the girl down. "What the hell is this, Hiiragizawa? You kidnapped 5 kids and you want us to help you? Then you manipulated her to call me 'Syao-Syao'? No way. No bloody way."
"I did not kidnap them. They're my children," he bluntly replied.
"Yeah right and Sakura's pregnant," he said sarcastically, ignoring Sakura's smack on his shoulder. "What do you take me for?"
"I told you the truth, they're my children. They came from the future."
"Well," Sakura said, observing the five children, "they sure look a lot like you,"
Syaoran examined the kids too. He swallowed hard after observing the kids. They sure look like Eriol and just the thought of little Hiiragizawas populating the world and the sight of them here gives him the Goosebumps. "Fine, Clow, tell us what happened," Syaoran sat down, bringing Sakura along with him.
After retelling the story of why and how they came to the present, the Hiiragizawa children introduced themselves one by one.
"I'm Akira Hiiragizawa, 16, senior year in Seijou High," said the tallest boy with hair as dark as Eriol's but his eyes weren't covered with glasses and it was a deep purple.
"Nami, 15, a junior from the same school," chimed the girl beside Akira. She had long dark hair that was curly at the end, her eyes were covered with thick lenses and it was a color like Eriol's.
"Tama, 11 years old, freshman, Seijou," a smaller boy called out. His hair was the same color with Nami's and his eyes were deeper purple, deeper than his brother's.
"I'm Yuri and I'm this many," the little girl held up four fingers to show them.
"Am I'm Yumi. I'm this many too! We're twins!" Both girls have curly shoulder-length hair that was dark as Eriol's. Their eyes are different, though. Yuri had purple eyes like Tama's and Yumi had his father's.
"Wow. They all look like you, Eriol-kun." Sakura watched Eriol's children in awe. "They're so beautiful!"
Syaoran nodded. "I hate to agree but yeah, they do. It must come from the mother. Surely, Clow's genes cannot be capable to be that fortunate looking."
"Speaking of the mother, who is it? Who's your mother?" Sakura asked the kids.
"I'm really sorry but I don't share the same sentiment, Kotaro-kun," a female voice on the other side of the door interrupted their discussion. "No! Please don't touch me!"
"Shit, another of Tomoyo's fan club." Syaoran cursed under his breath and stood up to help the girl.
Hearing this, Akira stood up and yanked the door open. He saw the man holding Tomoyo on the wrist as if he was forcing her to go with him. Akira's blood grew cold. "Get your damned hands off her," he seethed, giving the other guy a cold menacing glare.
"And who are you to tell me what to do?" the man arrogantly demanded.
Sensing danger, Syaoran decided to join the party. "Shigekazu," he called Tomoyo's obsessed admirer. "I told you to stay away from Tomoyo." The man unconsciously released his grip on Tomoyo.
Kotaro Shigekazu sneered at the respectable Li Syaoran. "Why would I do that? She's mine and mine alone. So you," he said, jabbing a finger on Akira's chest, "you stay away from her or I'll kill you."
Akira, having quick reflexes as his father, grabbed Kotaro's arm and gripped it hard, meaning to break it effortlessly. "I'd love to see you try." Kotaro winced in pain but Akira ignored it.
"Akira, stop it. You'll break his arm." His father called out, calmly though, as if he doesn't want his eldest to stop.
Acknowledging his father, Akira released his death grip on Kotaro's arm. "If you lay a finger on her again, you'll regret you were ever born," he threatened menacingly.
Kotaro didn't reply but gave his opponent a hateful look then scampered away.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Syaoran put an arm around Tomoyo's shoulder. "Are you all right, Tomoyo?" he concernedly asked.
Tomoyo nodded hastily, still shocked from the incident. She then turned to Akira and bowed at him graciously. "Thank you, sir, for protecting me from Kotaro-kun."
Akira was still tense from the little fight but when she spoke, his shoulders sagged and his eyes softened. "It's okay, it was my job." Tomoyo smiled at him gratefully, leaving him awestruck at her beauty.
"What are you doing here, anyway?" Syaoran queried, looking at Tomoyo.
"I was supposed to have a choir practice today, but," she took a look around the room and found none of her choir mates, "I guess it was cancelled."
"Well, come on in," Syaoran invited as he went inside. "Clow here found himself in a funny predicament."
Tomoyo glided in and Akira followed suit. The moment she entered, the twins scrambled to their feet and jumped themselves in Tomoyo's arms. "Mommy!" they both cried.
"Mommy?" The four inhabitants of the present time said at the same time. They all blinked comically.
The twins nodded enthusiastically and hugged her tightly.
Silence.
The silence was broken by Sakura and Syaoran's fits of laughter. Eriol and Tomoyo stared dumbly at each other.
"She… she's your mother?" Eriol asked incredulously. He received nods from his children.
"If she's your mother, I can't be your father!" he cried in indignation.
It was met by another round of laughter by Sakura and Syaoran.
It was Tomoyo's turn to look aghast. "What the hell is happening here! Why are you people calling me mother!"
The twins giggled babyishly in her arms. "Because you're Mommy, silly!" said the purple-eyed girl.
Tomoyo held a chair for support. She inhaled and exhaled then nodded. "Okay. I'll be your Mommy," she said cheerfully to the little girls.
Eriol, Sakura and Syaoran looked at her warily. "Okay, she's taking it rather maturely," Sakura said dryly, eyeing Tomoyo suspiciously. "That's good, isn't it? At least she's not hysterical like when she missed an episode of The O.C."
The twins bounced off their mother's grasp and went to terrorize their brother's and sister who were observing the scene thoughtfully. Eriol took her by the elbow and led her to a corner.
"Why are you taking this lightly? Do you know about this?" he asked suspiciously.
Tomoyo crossed her arms in her breast. "No, I haven't had the foggiest," she said, lifting an arrogant chin.
"Then why aren't you reacting like a normal person! We're marrying in the future for God's sake! We're having these five children!" he hissed, arms frantically waving at the kid's direction.
Tomoyo laughed sardonically. "Silly man you are, Hiiragizawa. There's no way in hell I'm marrying the likes of you! God, I'd rather eat live slugs! I'll be waking from my dream any minute now, ten seconds from now," she said, tapping her foot lightly on the floor.
She said it rather loudly so the two, Sakura and Syaoran, again, erupted into gales of laughter.
Eriol sighed exasperatedly. "Tomoyo, you're not dreaming. This is real. Pinch yourself, if you must, but this is real."
"Why should I pinch myself? This isn't true!"
"It is!"
"Oh yeah? There's only one way to find out!"
WAPAK!
"Damn! You broke my nose!"
Tomoyo stared at the fist she used in punching Eriol. His cheek felt real. And her hand was a little numb by the impact. No. This isn't happening to me, she wailed mentally.
"This is real! Get that through your thick skull, woman!" he rasped exhaustedly. "Whatever came over me when I proposed to you! I must've been drunk!"
"Actually," Akira's lazy drawl interrupted their heated argument. "Uncle Syaoran told us that Mum was drunk when she said yes to you."
Tomoyo gasped. "You seduced me, you awful bastard!"
"Hey! I don't even want to be married to you!"
"And what makes you think I do!"
"ENOUGH!" Akira's authoritative voice startled the bickering pair. He stood up, taking along his sister, Nami. "Dad, let us talk to Mum about this then we will proceed to the living arrangements," Nami calmly said. Eriol only nodded and sat down to the nearest chair, grumbling to himself.
For the nth time, the two older siblings explained their situation. There were times when Tomoyo would start fidgeting but Akira usually calms her down. When the story was over; Tomoyo let out a mournful moan of "Why him?" to herself.
Nami giggled happily. "I don't know, Mum. Dad always tells us that you fell from the Hiiragizawa charm."
"What Hiiragizawa charm! There's nothing charming about that idiot!" she spat out, disgusted.
Akira sighed. "We don't know, Mum. But Dad's rather a bighead about it."
"Mommy, can we go home now? I'm hungry… I want chocolate but Uncle Syao-Syao didn't bring one!" They were interrupted by Yuri's tugging on Tomoyo's arm. When she laid eyes on Yuri, she saw her eyes staring back at her. Those were her eyes in Yuri's. Her panicked amethyst softened at her 'daughter'. "What's your name, honey?" Tomoyo asked softly.
"I'm Yuri and there's Yumi," the little girl pointed to the sleeping girl on Tama's lap. "Why? Are you confused about us again?"
Tomoyo nodded, smiling hesitantly at the little girl.
Sensing his mother's changed behavior towards Yuri, Akira took this as a good sign. "Hiiragizawas, get your butts over here. We will discuss our living arrangement," he announced to get everyone's attention. Tama carried the sleeping Yumi and Sakura and Syaoran followed too. Eriol remained seated on his chair, staring into nothingness.
"That includes you too, Dad," Nami called in a singsong voice.
Eriol grumbled in response.
"Tama, Nami and Yumi, you lot will go with Dad," Akira instructed his little siblings. Yuri's mouth was poised to argue but Akira was faster. "No. There's no way I'll let you two to raise havoc in this time. Yuri, you will go with Mum."
Nami's eyes were narrowed to slits. "And you? You're staying with whom?" she demanded, her chin rose arrogantly like her mother's were.
Akira grinned idiotically. "With her, of course!"
"Unfair! You go with Dad! I'll go with Mum to the Daidouji Mansion!" Nami crossed her arms to her chest.
"No, you will go with Dad. I'll go with Mum." Akira said with finality in his tone.
"You're such a pig, you know that?" Nami spat, glaring at her older brother.
Feeling the tension brewing in the air, Tomoyo decided to play referee. "Okay guys, we will just have to take turns so that everyone can go to the Hiiragizawa Manor and our house. How long will they be here anyway?"
"Minimum of 3 months," Eriol said flatly.
"WHAT!" Eight minus the twins exclaimed.
Eriol nodded grimly. "Yes, it will take 3 months or more. We can't use the Time Card for it merely freezes time or transport you back to the past or go the future. It can't let you stay there for long or let alone live there because it needs the Mistress' energy, Sakura's energy. We have to make a time turner or a time machine… or find one if there's such a thing."
Akira's brow jolted. "You mean you don't have it yet?"
"No. I told you, I'm not using magic anymore."
"Shut up, Eriol." The three inhabitants of the present said in chorus.
Tsuzuku.
"Never ever doubt in Magic. The purest honest thoughts come from children, ask any child if they believe in magic and they will tell you the truth."
-- Scott Dixon
"It is important to remember that we all have magic inside us."
-- Joanne Kathleen Rowling