fatherly

Fatherly Part #3!
By Shirono

Okay, I got so many nice reviews that I'll put up one more chapter before I leave for shoujocon. Thanks guys.

(Another note: In that four months that passed, Eriol and Tomoyo got married (obviously) I'm sure Ill post a OAV flashback after this fic is done....)

~
Eriol walked to the room, still only half consious. Syaoran continually pushed him back up as he wavered, and smacked him in the face repetitively as he babbled. Right before he opened the door, Syaoran gave Eriol one extra-hard smack. Eriol suddenly snapped out of his trance.
"Uuggggg......" he moaned , as Syaoran shoved him into the room where his wife was.
Eriol looked at his Tomoyo, cradling a little girl. And next to her, a nurse, cradling a second.
She looked up at her astounded husband.
She giggled.
"Eriol-kun. Meet your daughters. Sakuri Fasu Hiiragizawa, and (she turned to notion to the other baby) Ihyou Sonomi Hiiragizawa."
When Eriol began to waver again, Syaoran stepped on his toe. He was completely alert once again.
He walked over to Tomoyo and picked up Sakuri. She was smiling heartily, then yawned.
Eriol gazed at his daughter. He couldn't have been more proud. She had deep, dark blue eyes like her mother. Sakuri yawned, and settled in his arms to sleep.

Syaoran was trying hard to keep from crying. Not because of the miracle of life, or becasue the scene was so touching, or that the love between the two new parents was so great. He watched Eriol and his daughter. He knew they had a bond from the first time they touched.

How come he had never had such a bond?

Syaoran shook his head to keep the tears out of his eyes.
"Nani desu ka, Syaoran-kun?" Tomoyo asked quietly.
He looked up. "I have to go now. Congradulations."
He turned and calmly walked out.

Syaoran stood at the end of the dark, empty hallway. It was nearly midnight. He had come all the way to England to console Eriol, a boy he never even really liked that much. As soon as he began to like him, it was all ruined. Now, he was filled with feelings of anger , sadness, and angst.
"I never had a father..." said Syaoran. "I never will..."

~
"Syaoran has to learn how to be a man all by himself. Sure, he had his "elders", but what were they? They didn't give him compassion or love. They weren't a father. Syaoran always wanted a father. Thats why he was always respectful to Fujitaka.
"And he was surrounded by women. Four sisters, and a rather cold mother. He grew up, working to fulfill expectations. He felt he had been let down. So he wanted to show everyone else that he wouldn't let anyone down. He would fullfill and surpass thier expectations. He became the perfect warrior, the perfect magician. He didn't show his feelings, even when he was feeling more than anyone else.
"I still don't knwo what happened to his father. Maybe there is more to the lack of him then I assume. I can only assume he died or something. He never wants to talk about it. And I don't push. Its a touchy subject. Not having a father. I never really talked about mother too much, even though I lost her. I always had dad to talk to, and Tomoyo. What did Syaoran have? A wise, but cold mother, four irritating sisters, and Meiling. He needed a man in his life that could teach him how to grow up emotionally.
"When he married me, he had the chance to start a relationship with a father in law. But...that wasn't to be. He became sick. And Sicker. And now that he is dead....."
Sakura trailed off, obviously a little moved by talking about her dead father.
"I'm sorry Sakura, " said Eriol, shifting the phone to his other ear.
"No, " she said, "Its okay. Thank you for worrying about him. He thinks that not enough people do."
Eriol smiled. "Okay. As long as he is alright. I feel bad for him, though. He should be arriving home anytime now, right?"
"Yeah. Maybe another fifteen minutes."
"Where...did he get the money to come visit us so quickly?"
"Sonomi. Oh, and speaking of her, she is on her way down. She left a half-hour ago."
"Okay."
"Congradulations, Eriol-kun."
"Thank you , Sakura. For everything."
"Sure thing."
"Oh, and ...could you have him call me tomarrow, when you get a chance?"
"Sure." Sakura replied, "Ja ne."
"Saya."

Sakura hung up the phone.

She wandered around the kitchen, doing a crossword puzzle to keep her mind off of Fujitaka OR Syaoran, but after a few minutes, gave up. She went to bed, and stayed up for about a 5 minutes, and finally fell asleep.
It was moments later that Syaoran arrived. He payed the Taxi and stared at him home.
It was full of love.
Sakura loved him, Nadeshiko loved him, even Touya loved him (although he would never admit it).

Why was he feeling alone now?

He opened the door quietly and crept in. It was late. He made his way to his bedroom. He opened the door slightly, and gazed at his sleeping wife. Then he decided to go to Nadeshiko's room. He looked at her, soundly sleeping in her crib. He picked her up and held her tight, but didn't disturb her slumber. He sat down in a rocking chair and threw a knit blanket over his knees. He rocked back and forth for a few minutes, staring out the window at the stars. He was proud of his daughter. He loved her and wanted to give her everything and more. He wanted to watch her grow up strong and wise.

Had anyone ever wanted this of him? Or had they just expected it?

It wasn't long before Syaoran fell asleep there, mixed feelings festering in his mind as he dozed.

Touya woke, with a start, to the phone ringing. He shook his head and leaned up. Yukito's head was resting on his chest, and he was curled up into a ball.
"God..." he thought...."how do you do that...."
He turned and picked up the reciever. "'Hayo. Kinomotos."
"Onii-san!!"
"Sakura! How are you doing?" he asked.
"Okay, I guess."
"What do you want. I can hear in your voice that you need something."
"Yeah. Um, I know that...emotions have been rough lately....with the whole thing about Dad...."
"Yeah, " he said, a hint of sadness within.
"But, I need you to help....Syaoran."
"What?"
"He has a problem. And he needs to talk to an older man. I think.....I think it would be best if he talked to you."
"Why?"
"He...well, you know he has no father. And now, he has no father in law. I think....I think...."
"You're thinking more than usual, ne?"
Sakura growled something, but continued.
"I think he has to talk to someone."
Touya thought for a moment.
"Okay, Sakura. Tell him that I'm gonna take him around Kyoto today. I'll pick him up at your place at 11:00."
"Arigatou! Arigatou, Onii-san! You don't know how much I appreciate this."
"Sure, Sakura." He hung up the phone. Yukito was still sound asleep.

Yeah, he thought, I guess he would be hurting now. No real father, a dead stepfather, and becoming a father in the meantime. It must be hard without a dad. I guess I understand.

He sighed. I'm gonna have to make some sacrifices for this kid. I think He's gonna find I have a heart.
Touya could literally SEE his defensive macho-male walls being demolished.

Things were a little hectic in the Hiiragizawa residence.
Eriol didn't expect 2 kids, so he had to re-calculate some things.
Sonomi was more than happy to hang around for a few weeks, until things were back on track. For once, he was thankful to have the obsessive bat around.
He sat next to his wife on the couch, and put an arm around her. She was exhausted (and just as well, so was he...). They watched as Sonomi cooed and babbled at Ihyou. Tomoyo rocked Sakuri. A little bizarre, however. Ihyou wasn't anything like Sakuri or her parents. Sakuri had dark hair like her parents and dark blue eyes like Tomoyo.
Ihyou (by the way, Ihyou means "Surprise") had white, almost silver hair (although a VERY small amount of it!). And she has endless, light blue eyes. So light blue, nearly white.
And besides all that, how come the docters never detected a second child?
Eriol had to stop thinking. His head hurt. Bad.

Next:
Touya takes Syaoran out, trying to cheer him up and pry some secrets out of the warriors head. Will he tell Touya bout his troubles? And whats all this about Ihyou? She's acting creepy, and wants to sleep in the moonlight. This kid is bizarre. And Eriol just may have an idea to whats going on! While all this goes on, Sakura takes Nadeshiko to Yukito's house, where Sakura and Yukito gossip like young mothers. Nadeshiko and "Usagi" get in to a little touble in the process....

Okay, for real this time, no new chapters until Tuesday. Thank you everyone for your support!
-Shirono