Chapter 5: In a world from the past
"WHAT!" he shouted in a fit of rage. Sakura trembled under his rage while Li tried to comfort her. Sakura tried to squeak out an explanation but Li told her to keep silent instead. "How could you do this? I've never heard such a far-fetched idea, Sakura, and you Li" he looked at the Chinese guy. "I thought you knew better and did something to stop her." He turned away in disgust. Even if they were his friends, they had done something disastrous and endangered Tomoyo's life. He heard the door close. Eriol sighed in remorse. He sat back on his chair and faced the fire. Tomoyo. he thought as he recalled the events that happened so fast a while ago that he didn't know how to react after. "I could've saved you. It was all a mistake, I was the one who was supposed to be sent back, not you," he softly cried as an image of Tomoyo running to him flashed in his mind. "If only I hadn't come back, you'd still be here. But then again, I wouldn't have told you what you wanted to know." He let his tears flow as he continued his pensive state. Tomoyo's smiling face that was coming closer to him, when she saw that he was there to rescue her. How he moaned in agony! He had longed to touch her face, embrace her warmth, and tell her that everything was going to be all right. He then thought of what might have happened if she indeed turned up in the past. What could've had happened to her? Where did she end up? What is she doing now? Is she all right? He drifted of to sleep while the fire continued to crackle merrily as the night ensued.
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Tomoyo woke up, dizziness being the first one to greet her. She groaned as she sank back into the bed. After a while, she tried moving slowly, her body rising from the mattress and her feet setting down the wooden floor. She stood up carefully and fully opened her eyes. Again, a new environment surrounded her. Two wooden chairs crudely made but strong enough to hold a big person, a bedside table with a metal basin filled with water. Bandages were neatly set beside a bottle. The room was brightly lit with sunlight and it was clearly an old-fashioned country setting. Bandages? I have wounds? She thought as she looked at the pieces of cloth again. She felt her face, her arms, and her neck for any sign of injury. Sure enough, the back of her neck was covered with soft gauze. Her eyes frantically searched for a mirror. One stood across from her. She walked towards it and gazed upon herself. A few scratches here and there, but nothing really bad. Then Tomoyo noticed that she wasn't wearing her blue dress and sandals but a thick cotton nightgown. She went out of the room and went down the stairs barefoot. She caught a whiff of vegetable soup cooking in the stove and went to see if anyone was there. Still finding no one, she decided to look around. The kitchen was really old- fashioned, complete with copper pans hanging on the wall and vegetables in a basket. No fridge? And where's the toaster? Surely, even in this country, they must know a toaster. Then suddenly, dread filled Tomoyo as she saw the pot of soup cooking on a clay oven. Or what if they don't even know what electricity is? "I see you're awake," a pleasant voice said in English with a British accent. "Aaahh!" she screamed. She's not even in Japan! What 's going on? "Now take it easy dear, your wounds haven't healed yet," the woman immediately set down her basket of clothes and went to her. "Now be seated, you're going to have breakfast." It was a good thing I listened in English class; Tomoyo thought as she obediently sat down and waited as the woman scooped some soup into a ceramic bowl. Then she poured some milk in a glass and served it to her. "Eat up, dear," the woman smiled affectionately as she got some food for herself. As they were eating, Tomoyo thought to ask her some questions. She mustered up her courage and tried to speak in English. "I would like to know how I got here." The woman put down her spoon and guzzled a bit of the milk. "Well, I found you floating on a log along the river and I thought you were one of the survivors of the shipwreck." "Shipwreck?" "Yes, the Princess Annie exploded yesterday in the English Channel. They said a lot of people have survived, well at least only, a few died. But no one's reported a girl missing," the woman told Tomoyo. "So what is your name young lady?" "Um," Tomoyo frantically thought of an English name. "My name is Catherine." Yeah, Catherine sounds un-Japanese. "Catherine," the woman echoed softly. Then she picked up the bowls and put the mugs in them. "I had a daughter once. She was also named Catherine. But she doesn't look like you of course; she had long, light brown hair and had bright blue eyes. She was also very pretty like you. But she died when a horse rampaged in the county square." Tomoyo looked down on her lap, feeling quite guilt on choosing that name. "I'm sorry about that." The woman turned and wiped her hands on her apron. "It's okay dear, she's not the only girl with the name of Catherine. And by the way, my name is Margaret Blake." Tomoyo smiled. "Thank you, for taking care of me um," she wasn't sure if she should call her Mrs. Blake. She didn't have any idea if the word of address was already used in that time. "Call me mother," Margaret said. "I'd like to be called Mother again, Catherine." "I'd love to," Tomoyo smiled sweetly. "But don't you have any other children?" "I still have my son Albert with me," Margaret replied. "But it's nice to have a daughter again."
After a while, Tomoyo went out of the house to explore. The countryside was certainly picturesque. The house she was in was small yet dainty. It had a tree in front and the garden was at the back. A few houses from where she was were built in the same way, only they had differences of course. And a few horses clopped along the dry earth while women were carrying baskets and some little children were running along the path. She went behind the house. And nearly died of fright. Her undergarments were still hanging on the wire! She quickly grabbed them and went inside the house. "Mrs., I mean Mother," Tomoyo spoke loudly to no one. "I saw my undergarments hanging outside and I thought they were dry so I took them in. Have you seen my dress?" "Why yes, I have," Margaret called from the upstairs. "I have it with me right now." Tomoyo rushed upstairs and found Margaret folding the dress. "Oh there you are," Margaret spoke. "I must say, your undergarments are quite queer. Are they the latest in fashion?" Tomoyo blushed. She was certain that it wasn't 2002. She tried of making an excuse. "Um. my corset got damaged and this was what was left." Well, her underwear was certainly quite torn at the edges but the bands were quite okay. "Oh, I see." Tomoyo had another question. "What day is it? And where am I?" Margaret laughed. "I knew you'd ask that. Well the day is the twenty- sixth of May, Year 1660. And you are in Polperro, one of the counties of Cornwall, England." "England?" she asked in disbelief. "I'm in England? But I thought. When I fell from the cliff. I'm sure I was still." Tomoyo kept mumbling to herself for a minute; while Margaret finished folding the clothes and went down to do other chores.
By three o'clock, Tomoyo was just finishing washing the dishes when someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?" she asked as she put away the dishes back in the cupboard. "It's me Albert," a young voice answered outside. Tomoyo went to open the door. A boy who had light brown hair and bright blue eyes and was looking no younger than her stepped inside and looked at her from head to foot. "Who are you? And where is my mother?" he asked in slight aggravation at the sight of a stranger in his house. This boy ought to be taught proper manners, she thought. "My name is Catherine and your mother is outside tending the flower garden." Albert's face softened at the mention of his older sister's name. "Catherine?" he echoed in the same whispering manner his mother had done quite earlier. Then he proceeded out the back door, which led to the garden.
That evening, the three of them were sitting down together and having dinner. Albert's attitude had changed when he heard of Tomoyo's story and had apologized to her. Tomoyo had forgiven him saying that he was only being protective of his house and of his mother. Albert and Tomoyo talked more after dinner while Margaret was cleaning up. Tomoyo then knew that Mr. Blake had died in a war when Albert was 10. His sister Catherine had died two years because of the rampage. He had then been living with his mother for three years. When Albert asked Tomoyo about her life, Tomoyo told him that she was an only child and also didn't have a father anymore. Albert became more compassionate towards Tomoyo after she told him that. "My mother told me that you were one of the survivors of the Princess Annie. But then, how come I didn't hear of any missing person. Surely, your mother must be looking for you right now." Tomoyo decided to lie. She didn't know what to answer for she was still confused. "You know that your mother found me on the bank. I'm not sure I could recall everything yet because the bump on my head seemed severe and has made me lose my memory. That's all I know." Albert smiled. "It's all right, you can stay here until you're fully recovered. Besides, I'd like to have an older sister again."
"WHAT!" he shouted in a fit of rage. Sakura trembled under his rage while Li tried to comfort her. Sakura tried to squeak out an explanation but Li told her to keep silent instead. "How could you do this? I've never heard such a far-fetched idea, Sakura, and you Li" he looked at the Chinese guy. "I thought you knew better and did something to stop her." He turned away in disgust. Even if they were his friends, they had done something disastrous and endangered Tomoyo's life. He heard the door close. Eriol sighed in remorse. He sat back on his chair and faced the fire. Tomoyo. he thought as he recalled the events that happened so fast a while ago that he didn't know how to react after. "I could've saved you. It was all a mistake, I was the one who was supposed to be sent back, not you," he softly cried as an image of Tomoyo running to him flashed in his mind. "If only I hadn't come back, you'd still be here. But then again, I wouldn't have told you what you wanted to know." He let his tears flow as he continued his pensive state. Tomoyo's smiling face that was coming closer to him, when she saw that he was there to rescue her. How he moaned in agony! He had longed to touch her face, embrace her warmth, and tell her that everything was going to be all right. He then thought of what might have happened if she indeed turned up in the past. What could've had happened to her? Where did she end up? What is she doing now? Is she all right? He drifted of to sleep while the fire continued to crackle merrily as the night ensued.
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Tomoyo woke up, dizziness being the first one to greet her. She groaned as she sank back into the bed. After a while, she tried moving slowly, her body rising from the mattress and her feet setting down the wooden floor. She stood up carefully and fully opened her eyes. Again, a new environment surrounded her. Two wooden chairs crudely made but strong enough to hold a big person, a bedside table with a metal basin filled with water. Bandages were neatly set beside a bottle. The room was brightly lit with sunlight and it was clearly an old-fashioned country setting. Bandages? I have wounds? She thought as she looked at the pieces of cloth again. She felt her face, her arms, and her neck for any sign of injury. Sure enough, the back of her neck was covered with soft gauze. Her eyes frantically searched for a mirror. One stood across from her. She walked towards it and gazed upon herself. A few scratches here and there, but nothing really bad. Then Tomoyo noticed that she wasn't wearing her blue dress and sandals but a thick cotton nightgown. She went out of the room and went down the stairs barefoot. She caught a whiff of vegetable soup cooking in the stove and went to see if anyone was there. Still finding no one, she decided to look around. The kitchen was really old- fashioned, complete with copper pans hanging on the wall and vegetables in a basket. No fridge? And where's the toaster? Surely, even in this country, they must know a toaster. Then suddenly, dread filled Tomoyo as she saw the pot of soup cooking on a clay oven. Or what if they don't even know what electricity is? "I see you're awake," a pleasant voice said in English with a British accent. "Aaahh!" she screamed. She's not even in Japan! What 's going on? "Now take it easy dear, your wounds haven't healed yet," the woman immediately set down her basket of clothes and went to her. "Now be seated, you're going to have breakfast." It was a good thing I listened in English class; Tomoyo thought as she obediently sat down and waited as the woman scooped some soup into a ceramic bowl. Then she poured some milk in a glass and served it to her. "Eat up, dear," the woman smiled affectionately as she got some food for herself. As they were eating, Tomoyo thought to ask her some questions. She mustered up her courage and tried to speak in English. "I would like to know how I got here." The woman put down her spoon and guzzled a bit of the milk. "Well, I found you floating on a log along the river and I thought you were one of the survivors of the shipwreck." "Shipwreck?" "Yes, the Princess Annie exploded yesterday in the English Channel. They said a lot of people have survived, well at least only, a few died. But no one's reported a girl missing," the woman told Tomoyo. "So what is your name young lady?" "Um," Tomoyo frantically thought of an English name. "My name is Catherine." Yeah, Catherine sounds un-Japanese. "Catherine," the woman echoed softly. Then she picked up the bowls and put the mugs in them. "I had a daughter once. She was also named Catherine. But she doesn't look like you of course; she had long, light brown hair and had bright blue eyes. She was also very pretty like you. But she died when a horse rampaged in the county square." Tomoyo looked down on her lap, feeling quite guilt on choosing that name. "I'm sorry about that." The woman turned and wiped her hands on her apron. "It's okay dear, she's not the only girl with the name of Catherine. And by the way, my name is Margaret Blake." Tomoyo smiled. "Thank you, for taking care of me um," she wasn't sure if she should call her Mrs. Blake. She didn't have any idea if the word of address was already used in that time. "Call me mother," Margaret said. "I'd like to be called Mother again, Catherine." "I'd love to," Tomoyo smiled sweetly. "But don't you have any other children?" "I still have my son Albert with me," Margaret replied. "But it's nice to have a daughter again."
After a while, Tomoyo went out of the house to explore. The countryside was certainly picturesque. The house she was in was small yet dainty. It had a tree in front and the garden was at the back. A few houses from where she was were built in the same way, only they had differences of course. And a few horses clopped along the dry earth while women were carrying baskets and some little children were running along the path. She went behind the house. And nearly died of fright. Her undergarments were still hanging on the wire! She quickly grabbed them and went inside the house. "Mrs., I mean Mother," Tomoyo spoke loudly to no one. "I saw my undergarments hanging outside and I thought they were dry so I took them in. Have you seen my dress?" "Why yes, I have," Margaret called from the upstairs. "I have it with me right now." Tomoyo rushed upstairs and found Margaret folding the dress. "Oh there you are," Margaret spoke. "I must say, your undergarments are quite queer. Are they the latest in fashion?" Tomoyo blushed. She was certain that it wasn't 2002. She tried of making an excuse. "Um. my corset got damaged and this was what was left." Well, her underwear was certainly quite torn at the edges but the bands were quite okay. "Oh, I see." Tomoyo had another question. "What day is it? And where am I?" Margaret laughed. "I knew you'd ask that. Well the day is the twenty- sixth of May, Year 1660. And you are in Polperro, one of the counties of Cornwall, England." "England?" she asked in disbelief. "I'm in England? But I thought. When I fell from the cliff. I'm sure I was still." Tomoyo kept mumbling to herself for a minute; while Margaret finished folding the clothes and went down to do other chores.
By three o'clock, Tomoyo was just finishing washing the dishes when someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?" she asked as she put away the dishes back in the cupboard. "It's me Albert," a young voice answered outside. Tomoyo went to open the door. A boy who had light brown hair and bright blue eyes and was looking no younger than her stepped inside and looked at her from head to foot. "Who are you? And where is my mother?" he asked in slight aggravation at the sight of a stranger in his house. This boy ought to be taught proper manners, she thought. "My name is Catherine and your mother is outside tending the flower garden." Albert's face softened at the mention of his older sister's name. "Catherine?" he echoed in the same whispering manner his mother had done quite earlier. Then he proceeded out the back door, which led to the garden.
That evening, the three of them were sitting down together and having dinner. Albert's attitude had changed when he heard of Tomoyo's story and had apologized to her. Tomoyo had forgiven him saying that he was only being protective of his house and of his mother. Albert and Tomoyo talked more after dinner while Margaret was cleaning up. Tomoyo then knew that Mr. Blake had died in a war when Albert was 10. His sister Catherine had died two years because of the rampage. He had then been living with his mother for three years. When Albert asked Tomoyo about her life, Tomoyo told him that she was an only child and also didn't have a father anymore. Albert became more compassionate towards Tomoyo after she told him that. "My mother told me that you were one of the survivors of the Princess Annie. But then, how come I didn't hear of any missing person. Surely, your mother must be looking for you right now." Tomoyo decided to lie. She didn't know what to answer for she was still confused. "You know that your mother found me on the bank. I'm not sure I could recall everything yet because the bump on my head seemed severe and has made me lose my memory. That's all I know." Albert smiled. "It's all right, you can stay here until you're fully recovered. Besides, I'd like to have an older sister again."