Like Birds in the Wind

An Eriol/Tomoyo Alterfic

Chapter 6: The Dove of Fate [Tomoyo Interlude]

Good day. My name is Daidouji Tomoyo, but my name by marriage is Aubin. I married a very beautiful Frenchman, Jean-Claude, years ago. He was one of the last of the Bourbon line. Jean-Claude had very beautiful cinnamon hair and honey-colored eyes, that everyone in the world should have seen. I wanted to come to speak with you today because dear Anna had requested it, and of course her ever doting husband, Hiiragizawa Eriol granted her request. They are quite the couple, and I am so very happy for them.

It is good to see that there is still love in the world, such that Anna and Eriol have. Oh, but Anna is such a darling that you could not help but love her. Her very expressive grey eyes are like the ocean through a thick, shimmering mist, and sparkle as diamonds might, and her blond hair is quite exquisite. And Eriol, [do not let my husband ever hear] yet he is extraordinarily handsome, too. They are quite the couple. His eyes are very dark blue, and wise and dignified, with such beautiful black hair and a physique not unlike my darling Jean-Claude's. In fact, Jean-Claude and Eriol are good friends, and they are always stared at when they go out. It seems that I have never become Eriol's friend, for some odd reason.

Sometimes it is as if Eriol were deliberately avoiding me. No, it is not quite so pronounced as that, yet it seems that he is holding himself away from me, as if I were repulsive. Please do forgive my petty musings, for they might hold no weight or truth at all, yet it seems, sometimes, just for a tiny bit, that he holds himself from my friendship. I don't know why, and Anna does not either. I do not know what I might have done to warrant such repulsion.

But please, do not let my assumptions turn the mood dark, and let us think of happier things. I was once very unhappy, you know. I was convinced that if the one I loved was happy, then I would be in turn. If so, it was a terribly lonely, despairing happiness. I don't even remember quite how I got over it, yet I did. I remember, vaguely and faintly, that it was some young boy that was a good friend. It is such a shame that I can no longer remember his name, nor even much about him except that he was very wise with the world, even at such a young age. If I do ever remember him, I must visit with him again. I will be in his debt forever.

Let us not be unhappy, however, because everything in life will seem so grey and hopeless, but we do not know that it will always work out somehow, even if we cannot see it through our haze of despair. No, old friend, even after all these years, I cannot be unhappy. Life took away youth and youthful pleasures when it had not even begun, yet it gave back to me my darling Jean-Claude, and beautiful France and Paris and Bordeaux, whom I all hold in my heart dear. And of course it gave back to me my friends, Anna, and Sakura, and Syaoran, and I must say Eriol because he has done so much for me, to make me happy. I truly do wonder sometimes what I have done to elicit such generosity and kindness from him.

And then Jean-Claude came into my life. It was the benevolent Eriol who introduced us, and as I later found out, had the intentioin of setting us up. He did a spectacular job, if I do say so myself. It is strange how Eriol does such kind things for me. Sometimes, when I look at his face, it was almost as if I knew him so much more than I really do. Sometimes in idle moments, it was almost as if he were so very familiar, so very near. But I suppose that is the sort of person he is, that makes you think that he is much more familiar to you; it is his special type of charm and enigmatic personality.

Jean-Claude has given me love and life and happiness, as well as two beautiful children. We have spent so many years together that I do not think I could ever live without him. He is evermore faithful and tells me daily that I am the most beautiful woman in the world, and that I am his only goddess of love. Even when I doubt myself, my beauty, my intellect, he never has and has pledged that he never will be.  I don't know what I could have possibly done to deserve him, yet I am thankful, always.

Enough about me, what about my dear friends throughout all these years? Sometimes when I look back, it seems that they have not changed at all. Anna and Eriol remain ever so faithful to each other, Anna still as in love with him as she was, all those years ago, and Eriol kind and gentle that I do never see any other side of him at all. He does seem older than he really is, at times, and is exceeding benevolent. I do worry for him sometimes, for in random moments, he has a look in his eyes as if he were dying and starving inside for something, and it is so near yet so far, unattainable though he could almost touch it. I worry for him, as well as hope, and wish there was something that I might do about it because of his heart of gold that he has always shown me. It is well, I think, that Anna does not know, for it would only worry her. Her health is weakening, for the years have taken their toll, yet she is bright and fresh and energetic as always. I hope that she and Eriol might be happy together forever.

Oh Sakura, and Syaoran, such dear friends I will never again find. Sakura is still refreshingly childish and simple, and has not changed so much as one might warrant the decades to do. Syaoran is evermore her watcher, her guardian angel, and has taken over as the leader of the Li Clan many years ago. I still remember the pride and love in his eyes as he was presented to his bride, his breatiful bride on his wedding day. It makes your heart weak because of the pure love and bliss exhibited. They deserve so much more, as much love as there is in the world.

And children. Extensions, very limbs of ourselves that if they are cut or injured, as are we. Sakura and Syaoran had such a family, of four children. Two boys and two girls, amongst them the same, auburn hair and the girls inheriting their mother's green eyes, and the boys their father's chocolate ones. I am still the Little Aunt Tomoyo, and still bring them gifts, though they are grown now. It is like living life all over again through them and their exuberance and youth. It is the happiest feeling in the world to guide them through their trials and tribulations, and applauding their successes and victories. I wish them happy lives.

My poor Anna had so many problems with pregnancy; she suffered heavily, but gave Eriol an infant girl. She was beautiful. Although she now is delicate and slim, I am still her godmother Tomoyo who embroiders fantastical dresses for her, and takes her out on Sundays. Eriol and Anna both seemed happy with the relationship between their daughter and I. As am I. She is to be wed soon, and I am busy making the most beautiful wedding dress I could fathom.

Jean-Claude gave me two children, a boy and a girl. The little boy that I had borne with much difficulty so many years ago is now to marry the daughter of Anna and Eriol. It will be a blessed event, the union of such close friends. We will finally be family. Our daughter, still my little girl, is a famous author now. Her face has been splashed across the world, and we are shining with pride. Our joy has come to be because she has now shared her singular and remarkable talent with the written word with the world.

I remember taking my darling girl to the museums, to the Musee d'Orsay and to the Louvre, to wander the endless stretches of corridors where some of the world's finest art was housed. The very air was of irreplaceable beauty and the triumph of the human intellect, and my daughter would write little impromptu poems on her pink-spangled stationery that Jean-Claude would purchase for her. Sonomi had endless joy in all of these children, and now as she is retired, lets them keep her busy. I fear that she thrives only when there is work to be done. She frequently shuttles between France, England, and Hong Kong. She will never stop moving.

Yes, I am smiling, and I am crying. I could not possibly tell you how very happy I am today, with all that life has given me. Youth, I weathered, and now age I embrace. Although I no longer look so young as I had, it is of no consequence because there is always Jean-Claude who will always find me beautiful. And I also laugh and cry for all of my darling friends, who have stayed true and constant throughout all these years. For Anna, who gave me simple joy in being her friend, for Eriol, who has given me so much happiness that I could never repay him, for Sakura, my best friend for the much greater part of my life, for the ever-stoic Syaoran who will never change though all else does, and for my Jean-Claude who has such faith in me.

Let me tell you of something, old friend. We are old comrades-in-arms, for though you do not know me, and I do not know you, we share a common bond of simply living. Living, that dance as old as time of love and life and beauty and happiness, is shared by all of us. Sometimes, it seems bleak and hopeless, but that is the beauty of life. The beauty of it is that it is always reversible, that whatever we do might be changed again someday in the future. You might call it fate. Fate is a dove, at peace with all that is touches, though what it might touch is not peaceful. Nothing will stand still forever, which is why we must live each of our days to its fullest, for on one of those days, it will be our last.

Please, do not be gloomy or sad. It is not that way in this world. I wish you well now, and I wish for you to live a happy life. Live, and love. Those are the things that makes life what it is. Believe that things will get better, and all will be well. You have seen that I triumphed over everything that might make me gloomy, or perhaps wish for death, but death is not the answer. Love is. Do heed my wishes. Please be happy, and be good-hearted. I give you my blessings now, and hope that you leave in peace. You will do well.