ANWell here we are once again...the end of the trail. It's been fun and I hope you enjoyed this tale as much as I. Funny how things take a different turn than what you originally (LOL) thought. Look for Sealed Hearts, just don't expect it anytime soon. Later all. k

11. Fluffy Moments

Amid the thundering applause the cast bowed before their audience with bright smiles. "All of you were absolutely marvelous!"

Utaki-sensei's eyes sparkled in the backstage lights when she hugged the lead ecstatically. "You were so beautiful and brilliant up there, Kaede! This performance was the best this school has ever seen."

Her face flushed bright red then became tinged with blue as her eyes begged Sakura to save her. The girls laughed when their teacher finally let go so the poor girl could get changed. "Thank you, Sensei, but none of this wouldn't of been possible without you and the rest of the class. I most certainly would of never got through any of this without my sister and our friends."

"Kawaii!" Tomoyo sighed when her best friend hugged Kaede with tears in her eyes.

"I love you, nee-chan!"

"Honey, I'm so proud of you!"

Kaede's face reddened as her mother's cry drew the attention of several amused bystanders once they joined their guests outside. "Uh, Mom, you're squishing me…must breathe."

"You'll live." She laughed merrily then passed her along to her brother.

"My beautiful little sister is all grown up and saving the world." Sei nearly wailed which gathered several odd stares that made the girls want to disappear.

"I'll swear that I am not related to you if you don't quit it, Sei." She hissed good naturedly.

"Well in that case…Dad, she's yours."

"I too am proud of you, my daughter." The elder Seijin said into her hair as he hugged her tight.

"Thank you, Dad. I'm so glad you came." Kaede sniffed then pulled away with a bright smile. "Next time I think..."

"Nee-chan!" Sakura exclaimed while the others laughed.

"Just kidding!" She gasped as her friends dragged her away.

--

"What I don't understand fully is what happened to Denaji-sensei." Tomoyo said as the inner circle of friends lounged in the entertainment room.

"Yes, Kaede, why exactly did you heal him after everything that he did?"

"Because he was being controlled, Sakura." She answered as she lay in the comfort of her love's arms. "Lang had sealed away his magic and memories in his staff rather than recreate himself like Clow did with Eriol. Somehow Denaji got a hold of the staff and Lang possessed him."

When the confusion remained in her luminous green eyes, Eriol took up the explanation. "You see, Sakura, it was Lang's essence that Kaede sealed away and it was separate from Denaji-sensei so he remained."

"And that brings us to where you took him."

"Where he belongs, Skye-san, after I made sure he had absolutely no memories of what had transpired since he had met your mistress." Eriol studied the couple with a hint of sadness in his eyes then smiled. "Unfortunately, you will have to deal with him as our teacher for the rest of the term at least."

"Which is fine now that I know the truth. In fact he's not that bad of a teacher." Kaede wrinkled her nose at another thought. "As long as he stays away from me and keeps his hands off or I may have to follow through with my promise."

"Which was?" Tomoyo asked curiously.

"Oh to castrate him." She answered off handedly then laughed outright at the commical look of horror on Eriol's face which seemed to crack Nakuru up. "Then again, he shouldn't remember that threat. Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore since he doesn't have his own magic."

"Not like you'll ever be alone with him again." Skye reassured her with a tender kiss.

"Kawaii!" The girls exclaimed.

"Mistress." Twilight's sapphire depths shone with regret. "I am so sorry that I was so weak."

"Oh, Twilight." Kaede sighed as she left the warm arms to offer her own to her other guardian. "You are not weak and I don't blame you for what happened. If anything I should apologize for not being there for you."

"No I am the one who needs to apologize." The nervous golden lion stepped toward them with hesitation in his steps.

Twilight shook her head as she faced him. "Cerberus, it wasn't…"

"Iie. I should have tried harder when I started to realize my feelings."

"Nani?"

Cerberus nuzzled her cheek tenderly. "The heart never truly forgets what the mind can't remember. The truth card showed me that when he restored my memories. I don't think I ever stopped loving you, Twilight, it was just…"

"Sealed." The white lioness answered softly then licked his cheek. "The memory of you kept me from going insane during the time we were sealed."

Golden eyes bore into hers. "You mean…"

"I never stopped either. Aishiteru." She purred into his furry ear.

"Another kawaii moment caught on tape!" Tomoyo cried happily with sparkly eyes.

Kaede's lips quirked when she teased her dark haired friend. "Almost makes up for the Sakura/Yue moment you missed last night. Eh, Tomoyo?"

"Nani?!" She exclaimed as tears gathered in her eyes then she whispered. "They finally confessed and I…missed it?"

Sakura swallowed nervously at her friend's expression. "Tomoyo, I didn't plan to. It just came out when Yue kept me from touching the magical barrier. He said he didn't want to lose me."

"And I meant every word." Yue said tenderly then brushed back a strand of her light brown hair before her kissed her soft lips.

Tomoyo squealed happily at the sweet display that she happened to capture on tape. Kaede chuckled as she leaned back into Skye's embrace once more. "I think I just enabled our friend with her addiction."

"To think you accuse Twilight of being devious." Skye teased. "No wonder both of you seem to have an affinity with the trickster card."

"Hey, big brother, Trickster is under your jurisdiction."

"Yes, but you influenced her creation."

"I just merely put Mistress Rose into the spirit of the first day of April."

"So you're saying that you invented April Fool's Day, Twilight?" Nakuru asked.

"Might as well have." Skye muttered.

"I heard that!" Twilight growled then launched at her 'brother'…or tried to. Not sure of how it happened, she found herself on her back and trapped by a warm golden body and a soft gaze.

"Ai, calm down and breathe."

"Something I never expected to come from my brother's mouth." Yue mused.

"Wonders never cease." Eriol agreed then looked at his friend and her angel. "Things certainly do have a way of coming out right in the end. Eh, Yue?"

"Ah. They do indeed." He answered as he stroked her long hair which caused her to sigh in contentment.

"If only things could have between Rose and Clow." Kaede said softly as a tear slid down her cheek and dripped onto her pendent. A golden glow surrounded the rose then spread throughout the room to link the hope in their hearts together.

The circle of friends found themselves in another plane, or at least the essence of themselves. It was a beautiful place so much like the garden that Kaede, Skye, Sakura, and Yue had met Rose in. Beside the lake's edge, a young woman trailed her fingers against the moon's reflection in the water. A silver tear followed an established track on her thoughtful face. Pink and white blossoms fell silently on the scene when another presence stepped from the shadows and brought a soft gasp from Yue. "Clow-sama."

Long black hair gleamed in the moonlight as a slender white hand reached out to stroke the maiden's deep copper hair. "Rose, do not cry any longer."

With a startled gasp, the maiden stood and fell into her lost love's arms. "Clow! I do not understand. How is this possible?"

A sob hitched in her throat as she buried her face in the dark robes. "I cannot bear another dream to tease me only to leave me unsatisfied when I awake. If only I had died and was no more instead of this torturous existence!"

"This is no dream, my love. Through the renewed bond of our guardians, I was able to find my way back to you. The darkness that has plagued you is no more thanks to your lovely descendent."

"Na-ni?" Rose asked then glanced over his shoulder before a true smile graced her lips. Silvery laughter replaced her tears as she rushed to her stunned descendent. "Kaede, you did it! I knew it would turn out alright, I just never expected."

"I know and I'm not sure I exactly understand how this is possible. We were tying up lose ends and then Twilight…" Wonder lit her eyes as Truth seemed to whisper in her ear then she laughed. "The heart never truly forgets. That and hope allowed our magic to make this possible."

"Mistress Rose!" Twilight purred as she rubbed against her first mistress.

"Thank you, Twilight. For you have proven that love never fails or dies. Your love has freed me and now I get to be with mine."

Sapphire eyes shone their happiness when the golden lion joined her. "I am glad that you and Clow-sama are finally happy."

"Thank you, Cerberus, and for being there for my lovely descendent when she needed you."

"Hmmm and here I always thought Yue was your favorite." Clow teased when he wrapped an arm around his love's waist.

Her laughter sounded like joyful bells. "Yue will always be special to me in his own way as will Cerberus in his. Just as with you, my love."

His eyes gleamed when he saw his moon guardian with his star. "It is good to see you again, Sakura. I see you have finally found your happiness as well."

"Oh yes, Clow-sama." She beamed happily as she rested her head against Yue's shoulder. "I think I understand now what you have been trying to tell me."

"I am glad and I wish you both happiness, Yue."

Nakuru's eyes widened when realization hit her. "Yue is the beautiful being in Kaede's story and Sakura is his star. He truly did find his star! Kawaii!"

Everyone looked at her then laughed. Eriol nodded to his predecessor with respect and bowed slightly. Clow nodded back to him with a slight smile. "There is no need for such formality, Eriol, as you and I…"

"I am merely a shadow who has finally begun to live, Clow-sama."

Kaede smiled softly in understanding at his words such as Clow did before the past lovers intertwined their hands. "It is time for us to go I am afraid."

"Peace be with you, our darling descendents and dear guardians." Rose smiled as they faded from their sight just as the scene before them faded away.

A new card drifted into Kaede's hand and filled her with warmth. Wings surrounded a heart that was held by a beautiful woman with pure golden hair. A single words flowed at the bottom and brought a smile to the couple's lips. "Love."

The End