Disclaimer: Imagine that! The disclaimer from Chapter One
still applies! Wow!
Author's Note: Rika's birthday is in July. I've made her one of the oldest
kids in their class. Just so you know. ^.^ It comes in handy
later on.
Dedication: Chelle-sama, my favorite CCS authors, and the usual
suspects--reviewers. But mostly it's for Chelle, Beta-Goddess. Go
read her stuff. ^.^ I love the funny stuff 'Grr-roove'! Plus, 'Flow'
always makes me teary-eyed.
NOTE: Again, I don't know what's up with the text. I've e-mailed ff.net in an attempt to get it fixed. If the text is larger than normal it was supposed to be in italics. Gomennasai dulcets.
* * * (The Third Year After Leaving Tomoeda) * * *
"Tomoyo-chan? Why are you using flower shapes for Eriol-kun's chocolates?" Sakura asked, leaning over to watch Tomoyo cut shapes. "I thought you were going to make the same as last year."
"I thought I was, but when I was picking up supplies I saw these." Tomoyo said, holding up one of the chocolate molds. "And these flowers are just like the ones in Eriol-kun's garden by the pond. The part he can see from his study, anyway. The part he can't see from there has the flax and the lilies. I thought they might be nice, since his flowers won't bloom for a while yet and he loves to work in his gardens."
Sakura tilted her head and looked at the chocolates. "They're very pretty, like everything you make. Tomoyo-chan? If you're not dating Eriol-kun, how do you know what his garden looks like?"
Tomoyo laughed. "He sends me pictures in his letters." She set aside her spatula. "I'll show you. And take your chocolates out…they'll burn if you don't." Sakura grabbed an oven mitt while Tomoyo went to her room. "See?" She said, handing Sakura a sheaf of letters. "He draws in the margins."
"They're so pretty." Sakura said, tracing the flowers in the middle of the page. "He doesn't draw me pictures. Is it because I can't draw pictures back?" She wondered.
"I don't think so." Tomoyo soothed. "I don't think he even knows he's doing it. I think he does it when he's trying to think of what to say."
Sakura studied the letters. One of them had a picture of a sleeping Spinel in the corner; another had a picture of Nakuru bent over a patch of weeds with a watering can. She began to idly read the top letter, which had a half-finished sketch of Nakuru, this time bent studiously over a pile of books.
Haikei Tomoyo-san,
I'm in a very bad mood. George is demanding huge changes and I don't agree with most of them and I don't believe that Yamazaki-san will either. And I have a headache from trying to get the Solicitors here to work with the ones in Tokyo. And Spinel has been asking for a pet. What, I want to know, would Spinel do with a pet? Ruby Moon told him that I was his pet and that irritated Kaho-san and they bickered. And I have a headache.
The only good thing today, aside from your letter, was the fact that Ruby Moon got a 'B' on her sewing project. Everybody, apparently, marveled at your 'unique' design. Points were par usual. And Spinel, thank you for teaching him to use a camera, got a picture of me in it. I believe that, despite my efforts, they've managed to send you a copy.Tell me that things in Tomoeda are nicer than they are here.
Keigu,
Eriol-kun
Sakura looked up. "Who is 'George' and what does 'par usual' mean?"
Tomoyo shrugged. "George is the American publisher. Eriol-kun doesn't get along with him at all so they fight a lot over the changes." She began to giggle. "And 'par usual' means that Ruby Moon got points taken off because her dresses don't fit girls right. That," Tomoyo laughed harder, "is because she uses Eriol-kun as her model."
"She—she does? He let's her?"
"I've sent the picture on to the publishers, or I'd let you see it."
"You've…"
"And the picture of Yamazaki-kun from when he played the Queen. That's going to be the picture on the book-jacket." Tomoyo's smile was smugly mischievous. "I'm the editor, after all."
* * *
"I can't believe she sent that picture! On the book-jacket, no less!" Kaho was livid. Eriol was unconcerned.
"I think it's funny." He volunteered. "And I did look good in the pink." He grinned broadly. "In fact, I was told that I looked 'quite fetching' in that dress."
Ruby Moon made a noise of dissent. "You looked better in the blue." She sighed. "I wish we had a picture of that one."
Kaho stood abruptly. "This is your fault, Akizuki-san." Eriol frowned at her, hard.
"Kaho. Tomoyo-san sent the pictures, not Ruby Moon."
She whirled on him. "I know, and you've already said that you find it funny." She snapped. "It isn't. You have a career of serious books on the arcane. This little…side-trip… could ruin that for you. All because Akizuki-san thinks that putting you in a dress so she can cutely fail is fun." Ruby Moon stood and left the room without a word. It was Eriol's turn for anger.
"Kaho!" He was furious. "She's worked very hard on those dresses." He began to pace. "And this 'side-trip' was much more fun than either of the other two books I've been worked on."
"Fun isn't going to build a career." Kaho's voice was cold.
"I don't need a career, Kaho." Eriol's voice was a warning. "Thanks to Clow Reed there's more than enough money in the bank. He didn't enjoy very much of his life, I'm determined to enjoy mine."
Kaho snorted. "You could become so much more than Clow Reed, if you'd quit this childish playing around." She told him. "You know I just want what's best for you and your career in magic could be so much farther along…" She trailed off.
Eriol stood. "I'm not interested in a career in magic. And I don't want to top Clow Reed. Clow Reed didn't want to be that good. He didn't even want to be what he was, in the end. That's why I'm here in the first place." He left the dining room. Kaho followed him into the hall.
"This is all to do with Daidouji's letter today, isn't it?" There was an edge to her voice that Eriol was certain he'd never heard there before.
"It's nothing to do with Tomoyo-san sending that picture to the editors."
"No, I didn't say it was. 'Haikei Eriol-kun'" She quoted. "'Today there was a most amazing rainbow. Better than most others because it's been raining for two days here. It made a double arch in the sky.' Daidouji always talks about all the little things, doesn't she? Never mentions the big things in her life, does she?"
Eriol folded his arms across his chest, anger in his every line. "I don't need to be told how to 'live big' Kaho." His voice was stony. "It's not like I tell her every huge detail of my life. Like the bottom line in my bank book." He winced as he said it, knowing it was a low blow but unable to stop himself from saying it.
Kaho flinched. "No. It's not about living big or even about the big events. It's the small things. You share all the careless bits of your day with her. You hoard them for her." She stalked off and Eriol headed for his study, rubbing his temples in tired defeat.
* * *
Haikei Tomoyo-san,
Again I come to you in a bad mood. Kaho-san and I've been fighting just now. I think I came in here to cool down, but I guess I'd rather talk things out with you. Sometimes it feels like Kaho-san hates the way we live; lately she's been very cold about what I've been working on. She doesn't want to hear the song we're working on, and even though she says she misses Tomoeda very much she never wants to talk about your letters, even though I've told her that you tell me all about what's happening there, and she keeps harping on Ruby Moon.
I know that Ruby Moon can be very excitable and sometimes it's a bit of a pain, but most of the time it's just so much fun to watch her marvel at the world. Some days, when Ruby Moon looks out at the world…she reminds me of you. But Kaho-san, I don't think she really understands that Nakuru and Ruby Moon are the same person. I get the feeling that Kaho-san thinks that if Ruby Moon didn't have a false form, or didn't spend so much time in it, that she would act differently. Oh, Tomoyo-san, we quarreled hard tonight. She was angry that Ruby Moon used me as her dress model and that the picture got sent to the publisher (which I approve of, anyway, since I don't want to have to sit for some stuffy picture that will make us seem old. Yamazaki-kun and I are young and the book is all about funny things) and I just don't understand why she's acting this way recently. It's like she isn't willing to bend at all or to let up. I think Kaho is just trying to deal with the fact that I'm different than she thought I was. She keeps bringing up a career in magic, because I was using so much magic when we first met that it must have seemed like a logical conclusion that I would be a Magician like Clow Reed.
You know that I don't want that. I want to be…something else. Something Clow wasn't. I just wish I could find a way to make Kaho-san see what I want.
Oh, I'm so depressing lately, aren't I? Why do you hang around with me, Tomoyo-san, when all I do is whine?Keigu,
Eriol-kun
PS. This isn't a hint for you to stop writing, mind.
Tomoyo folded the letter and began to pace her bedroom. She had a fair idea of what was bothering Mizuki Kaho. But she really didn't want to say, because if he knew that Kaho's problem was Tomoyo, Eriol might stop writing. And Tomoyo cherished him as a friend. She was able to tell him everything, with only one small exception; even things she couldn't really share with Sakura she could tell to him.
As if hearing her thoughts, the phone rang with Sakura at the other end, wanting to go to Café Piffle Princess for tea and cake. Occasionally Tomoyo was forced to wonder how much of the future and her friends Sakura-chan could see.
"Tomoyo-chan! I feel like we never get to talk. I'm so glad you could come have tea with me!" Sakura trilled, hugging Tomoyo. Tomoyo squeezed her briefly before sitting down.
"I've been very busy with Rika-san's wedding dress. And Chiharu-san wants me to design hers too." Tomoyo smiled, it was an honor and a thrill to be asked to do the designs.
"I can hardly believe Rika-chan is going to marry Terada-sensei!" Sakura said, shaking her head. "I wonder how long that's been going on and nobody noticed."
Tomoyo hid her smile in her teacup. "I have no idea." She murmured.
"She must have had so many problems trying to hide it…no wonder she was so mature and understanding all the time." Sakura sighed. "It's so romantic." Tomoyo nodded absently in agreement. Sakura noticed. "Tomoyo-chan? Is something wrong?"
"Eriol-kun…" She shook her head. "He and Mizuki-sensei had a fight last time he wrote to me."
Sakura nodded. "But what else is bothering you? It's something more than that. Kaho-sensei told me that sometimes she and Eriol-kun fight a lot."
"They do." Tomoyo agreed. "Eriol-kun…he doesn't know why they fight so much. And I…think I might know why. But it's nothing he can change." Not, she thought, unless he could change a person's heart.
"It's something they can't fix?" Sakura asked, her eyes intent on Tomoyo. "So you didn't tell him what it was, so he wouldn't feel bad."
"Feelings might be hurt, yes." Tomoyo equivocated. "He hasn't asked me what I think is wrong, so I haven't told him what I think it is, but…he's so…confused."
Sakura nodded her eyes still laser-like in intensity. "Then don't tell him unless he asks you straight out about it." She cocked her head slightly. "If somebody was going to get hurt, then it's okay to not say right away." She added, her eyes boring into Tomoyo's. And Tomoyo wondered if Sakura was saying more than what she had actually said.
"That's good advice, Sakura-chan. Arigatou."
Sakura smiled brightly. "Ne, did I tell you that Syaoran-kun sings? Wasn't Matsu-sensei wanting you to sing with somebody at the Concert this year?"
* * *
"Kaho, the dandelions are barely even up…let's not fight about them." Eriol rubbed his hands over his face. "Let's sit in the East gardens for tea. You won't even have to see them then."
Mizuki Kaho frowned. "I don't want to fight about the weeds, Eriol. If they weren't there, we wouldn't even be discussing them."
"They're Ruby Moon's garden, Kaho. She's had them since I planted my first beds here." Eriol gestured to the oldest part of the gardens. "She just wants to share my hobby."
"Which I can understand, really." Kaho, he reflected suddenly, was most vehement about Nakuru's garden this year. "But why can't she work with you in your garden? Why must she keep a weed patch on the lawn? One, I might add," her voice dropped several degrees, "that is visible from the gates and the West garden?"
"She's horrid at gardening." Eriol sighed in a voice that attested to how many times, exactly, they'd gone over this information. "The dandelions, at least, don't die when she fusses with them. And she did agree to stop tending them while in her true form."
"Again, I understand…but really, even Spinel is getting too lenient with Akizuki-san. He was tearing the grass out in clumps. It looked horrible."
Eriol chuckled suddenly. "He was weeding." He smiled brightly at the naked-save-the-weeds-area of the lawns. "Do you know, he's made a little picket fence to go around it. It's going to be Ruby Moon's White Day present."
"Oh?" Kaho's tone was dangerous and Eriol regretted mentioning it at all. He rather thought that the idea of a miniature fence was charming.
"Kaho, please," he begged, even though he felt it was useless. "Just let it be this year." Inspiration struck. "Sakura-san thought that it was nice that Ruby Moon had a garden. She said that a garden of weed-flowers was funny."
He didn't get the reaction he was hoping for. "Sakura-chan? And how did Sakura-chan hear about this?"
"Tomoyo-san asked me about it. She said that I put a picture in the empty space on the bottom of the new music I sent to her." Eriol paused, looking thoughtful. "I don't remember doing that, but she says I do it all the time. She certainly knew about Ruby Moon's garden, anyway."
Kaho pursed her lips in a thin line but didn't manage to say anything before the subject of their discussion came bursting into the gardens by way of jumping the gate. "MAIL!" She bowed deeply before handing Eriol his letter. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Nakuru turned a tentative smile at Kaho. "The jeweler called this morning and said your pearls were ready. I picked them up on my way home." Still holding the fragile smile, she pulled a pristine jewelry case out of her bag. "I cushioned it with my Sewing Class project so it wouldn't get hurt." She said.
"Thank you, Akizuki-san." Kaho murmured, looking slightly surprised. "You didn't have to go through that trouble."
"It wasn't trouble." Ruby Moon beamed. "La, I have to go do my homework. I've an essay due tomorrow on the War of the Roses." She pouted suddenly. "Roses don't fight." Eriol smiled watching his guardian vault the gate again. Perhaps this gesture would make Kaho and Ruby Moon's relationship less of a battleground. He tore the edge of the envelope.
"You're going to read that now? Out here?" Kaho asked suddenly. Eriol glanced across the table at her.
"I thought I might." He frowned at the look on her face. "I like to read in the gardens." His pulled out not one, but five pieces of paper and beamed. "She sent her designs!"
Kaho rubbed tiredly at her temples. "What designs, Eriol?"
"For Rika-san's wedding gown." He pushed the art pages towards her. "Here, I'll read you a bit about it." He said.
Haikei Eriol-kun,"That's me." He grinned irreverently. Kaho sighed.
This is it, the final design for Rika-san's dress. It's so hard to believe that she'll be married this summer. My mother is having a bit of a time dealing with this news; I think it's because it reminds her of when Nadeshiko-san and Kinomoto-sensei got married. Because it makes her unhappy to see me working on the dress, I mostly do it when she isn't home. I think that I'll spend a lot of late nights working to get it ready on time.I've also chosen the fabrics to use, mostly silk and lace. Is there anything else more appropriate for a wedding gown? Chiharu-chan has asked me to design her dress too. It's wonderful! You may tell Ruby Moon, by the way, that I'm planning to make her a pair of gardening gloves with the leftover material."
"Silk and lace gloves…" Eriol laughed. "Ruby Moon will love that, don't you think?"
Kaho stood abruptly. "I'm going inside. The lavender is giving me a headache." Eriol watched her go, then looked at the plants in question. They hadn't even budded yet. Still thinking on it, he turned back to the letter and was glad that Kaho had left before he could read the next lines to her.
As for your fight with Mizuki-sensei, it's not your fault. Everybody fights sometime. And I don't believe that it was anything you said or did that made her upset. I think that something else is bothering her.
Keigu,Tomoyo-san
Eriol closed the letter and looked thoughtfully over the gardens.
* * *
"No, Li-kun, I've told you before, we're not making your part smaller." Tomoyo patted Syaoran's head affectionately. "Besides, you have a nice voice. I'm sure Sakura-chan wants to hear you sing. Especially since she's the person who told Matsu-sensei what talent you have." He glowered at her for playing her trump card as Sakura nodded enthusiastically.
"I want to hear you sing Tomoyo-chan's and Eriol-kun's song. You sing wonderfully, Syaoran-kun!" She chirped. "I liked hearing you sing the song that you sang back home." Sakura giggled. "That was too many sing-songs in one sentence."
"And you keep saying more." Syaoran teased gently. Inside, Tomoyo sighed. They were so sweet, Sakura-chan and her Syaoran-kun, she wished she had her camera. He scowled suddenly, ruining the effect. "I still want my part smaller."
"It's a duet, Syaoran-kun, we each have to sing." Tomoyo smiled. "And Eriol-kun is backing me up on this one. It took us three months to get this song just right. And almost two more to turn it into a duet." Sakura smiled hopefully up at her beloved and he melted. It was too good to waste. "I'm going to get my camera. We can tape our practice to see where we need work." It was a white lie, and besides, seeing Sakura-chan's face while she watched him sing might make Syaoran stop whining.
Syaoran paced the Daidouji music room, bored and scared stiff of singing at the Spring Festival. He grabbed his sheet music, determined not to make a fool of himself singing. And found himself blinking at a letter from Hiiragizawa. He'd picked up Tomoyo's music, and letter, by mistake. He wondered, vaguely, if Tomoyo-san had been a victim of Hiiragizawa trying out his stories.
Haikei Tomoyo-san,
Tell my cute little relative to stop griping or next year he'll sing a solo. 'Scarlet' is perfect the way it is and nobody is to hurt your birthday present but you. Yes, yes, I know you're thinking 'and you, Eriol-kun,' but since I categorically deny such a thing, let's make it a non-issue.
I've read the book you suggested, by the way, on Canadian Impressionism. The book had some truly spectacular pictures in it. But I disagree with you; my half-finished doodle of the orchard looks nothing like the paintings in the book. Not that I admit to drawing in the letters I send you. I think that you're psychic and you're just making up the pictures-in-the-margins to hide your power.
Speaking of changing the subject, Ruby Moon (who is breathing down my neck) wants to know if you enjoyed the White-Day chocolates and is insisting that Spinel is dying to know if you've read the book that he sent. I simply won't ask if you like the song I sent. You always insist that the songs I send you need fixing. If you keep insisting that I only send you half-done songs for White Day then maybe next year I won't send you any.Ruby Moon is calling me a liar. So is Spinel. I have to finish editing chapter six before I start calling myself a liar too.
Keigu,
Eriol-kun
PS. The picture is Ruby Moon's Garden. Spinel made the fence and took the picture. Have I thanked you for teaching him to work a camera?Syaoran shook his head and re-read the letter again. And a third time.
"Anou, Syaoran-kun? Is something wrong with your music?" Sakura's voice broke his haze.
"When did Tomoyo-san and Hiiragizawa-kun start dating?" He wanted to know, passing her the letter. Sakura glanced at it, tilted her head and stared at it and then put it down.
"They're not, Tomoyo-chan says." Sakura announced. She sounded like she didn't believe it.
* * *
Haikei Eriol-kun,
Today I was sketching in the park and I saw a young family walk by; a mother, a father and a little girl, only just walking. The mother and the father were looking at each other as if they were the only two people in the world and they were so proud of their daughter. She clapped her hands over the flowers blooming and chased after a bee, from which her father had to rescue her before she ate it. They seemed very happy. No, they were very happy. And they made me feel very sad.
I don't think that I'll ever have that. I want to have a family like the one I saw today, but I can't ever have to one I love. I knew that I would never have that with Sakura-chan, because I knew that she would not love me the way that I wanted her to. The most I will have is a walk in the park with Sakura-chan and her daughter and Li-kun. And they will look at each other as though there is nobody else in the entire world. Once, I told Sakura that as long as the person you love is happy, then you can be happy too, and it is true. But I didn't tell her that it is a very lonely happiness. Sometimes, Eriol-kun, it feels like you're my only friend in the entire world. There is so much that I can't share with Sakura-chan that Li-kun can. I do what I can when Sakura is faced with challenges, but it doesn't feel like enough. And Naoko-chan and Chiharu-chan and Rika-chan do not know about the Clow Cards or the Sakura Cards. For some reason, though, I feel like I can say anything to you and you will understand me when nobody else does or when nobody else really cares.
Jaa, I guess it's my turn to be depressing today, and I shouldn't be. It's lovely outside. The first of the flowers of the summer are beginning to show. And I did a very good sketch of the family that made me so sad. You may have it, for listening to me ramble on about such sad thoughts.
Keigu,Tomoyo-san
PS. When I'm not being so depressed I can tell you that the tape enclosed is from the Spring Concert. Takako-san still doesn't play the piano as well as you, but I thought that you would appreciate seeing our new song at its first public performance.Eriol sat in the TV room with the letter open on his lap. It was odd for him to read Tomoyo-san's letters anywhere but his study, but he'd known what was on the tape the moment he'd held it in his hands. And he'd wanted to watch while he read. The walk back to his study irritated him.
Haikei Tomoyo-sanHe managed before a hand sliding over his shoulder interrupted him, the hand began moving down his chest.
"Eriol, write later." Kaho murmured, dropping a kiss on his cheek.
"I can't. Tomoyo-san is upset, lonely." He told her, kissing her briefly. "I'll be up in a little while, okay?"
"Daidouji-chan won't notice the wait, I promise." She giggled softly. "You can write her in the morning. Come upstairs "
"In just a bit, Kaho. Please," he gave her his most charming smile. "This won't take long. Alright?" He kissed her fingers as he removed her arms from around him. She left the study without a backward glance. He turned back to his paper. "Poor Tomoyo-san." He murmured. "Like Sakura-san, you're best with a smile."
* * *
Haikei Tomoyo-san,
I don't mind listening to you 'ramble'. Isn't that what friends are for? I understand such sadness very well. For most of his life, Clow Reed was separate from others by his skills and his knowledge. As was I, in the beginning of my life. It is very hard to make friends and finger-paint when you have memories such as I had filling your head. As for the family? One day you might have such a family, Daidouji-san, even without Sakura-san. You were kind enough, loving enough, to help Syaoran-kun and Sakura-san to find each other; believing that all you needed to be happy was to have the one you love be happy. You gave Sakura-san and Syaoran-kun a chance to be that family in the park, and I know that they would both want the same for you. They, and I, would want you to have your own happiness. So I have this advice for you: Just as it is possible to be happy when the one you love is happy, so is it possible to love more than one person in a lifetime. When the Fortune-Teller Madoushi was lost to Clow, he felt as though his heart was gone as well. Many years later, not too long before he died, he found love again. Only he was too afraid to risk taking the love that was offered. He died alone, save his creations and his hopes for the future. I would not have you be so sad.
Also, I am not your only friend, even if I am one of the few who know the whole truth. How many times has Daidouji-san been asked to make costumes for plays and festivals? And how many have I heard that Daidouji-san must be invited to go to the café or over to study? The days you were late for lunch break or late after school it was always 'Where is Tomoyo-chan?' that I heard. They all care for you very much, but I think it is hard for them to show it because you are such a private person. So, you have lots of friends even if you can't tell them everything. I am glad, though, that I am a special friend to Daidouji Tomoyo-san.
Are the sakura trees in bloom? I suppose they must have already bloomed, as my garden is just beginning its first flowers. Spring arrived late this year. I have cheated a little, just for you, on some of my flowerbeds. I like to do my research in the west gardens in the summer when the weather is nice. These are the scents that surround me, mostly hyacinth, roses, and jasmine, but I planted lavender, cinnamon, narcissus and vanilla a few years ago, and sometimes, when the wind is right, the scent of the pear blossoms from the orchard; they bring me a great deal of comfort. I hope that you like them as well and that they comfort you as they do me.Be happy, Tomoyo-san.
Your friend,
Eriol-kun
PS. Ruby Moon made the design on the chest using poor Spinel's claws. It took two hours to get them both to stop bleeding and another thirty minutes for myself. Do tell us how well you loved the potpourri box.
"What was in your package, Tomoyo-sama?" Sakimi-san, one of Tomoyo's three personal bodyguards, asked as Tomoyo lifted out a carved wooden chest. "A jewelry box? It's very pretty."
"No, it's a potpourri, from Hiiragizawa Eriol-kun's gardens in England." She opened the lid and smiled softly as a sweet, misty scent wafted out. "It's very pretty." She closed the box gently, fingers absently tracing the design on the top. "I'm going to put this in my room. I'll be up there until dinner."
Sakimi's eyes narrowed as soon as Tomoyo was out of the room. "Toshi-san," she murmured. "Did you see that?"
Toshi smiled down into her magazine. "The gift? Or the way Young Lady Daidouji went all soft around the edges when she opened it?"
"She got all soft around the edges before she opened it." Kinuye corrected. "The moment she saw the striped envelope."
"It isn't even really polite to speculate on her face as she read the letter, is it?" Sakimi shook her head. "I think that, perhaps, it is time to talk to Lady Daidouji about her daughter and this 'friend'."
Tomoyo was in the midst of writing a reply, in which she praised the box effusively, when her mother knocked on her door and entered. Her mother smiled a bit nervously as she sat down next to her on the bed.
"Kinuye and the others sent me a fax of the letter you received today." She said without preamble. She held up one hand, forestalling Tomoyo's questions and outrage. "I don't know how they got their hands on it. They were worried." Sonomi stroked a hand over Tomoyo's hair gently. "For three years you have been writing to this boy, every week. Every week he writes back. So, they were concerned."
"Did, did you read the letter?" Tomoyo thought frantically, trying to remember if he'd mentioned magic or the Cards.
"I did." Sonomi admitted. "And I want to tell you that your friend is right. And very wise. It is possible to love more than once in a lifetime." She sighed. "When Nadeshiko married Kinomoto-sensei, I thought that I would never love again. So I married your father. And then you were born and I knew that it was possible to love again. Sometimes," She continued, "Sometimes I think that I drove you to loving Sakura-chan with all my stories about Nadeshiko. I used to think that you were trying to be Nadeshiko for me, or trying to make things turn out right for me and Nadeshiko, through yourself and Sakura-chan."
"No!" Tomoyo whispered, aghast. "No, I loved Sakura-chan because she was Sakura-chan…not for any other reason!" Sonomi smiled, stroking her daughter's hair again.
"Then you loved wisely. And far better than I did. I saw you with Li Syaoran, when he was with Sakura-chan. I saw how you helped him find his feelings and his courage, even though it meant that Sakura-chan would never love you the same way that you loved her." She kissed Tomoyo on the forehead. "Such a wise, good, girl, my Tomoyo." She sat back and smiled. "But, I think that you no longer love Sakura-chan as more than a friend? You have somebody else, maybe?"
Tomoyo blushed and shook her head slightly.
"That's alright. It's possible to love…after all. A smart boy, your friend Eriol. And," Sonomi stood, "in the spirit of his wisdom, I have a date that I have to prepare for. Tonight."
Tomoyo blinked rapidly. "Wait! Who is he? What do you know about this man? Where is he taking you?"
Her mother winked. "Somebody I once knew. A lot. And nowhere. I'm taking him out." Her mother's grin was impish as she left the room.
* * *
He was, perhaps, in a large amount of trouble. Eriol considered the envelope in front of him. Perhaps a rather large amount of trouble, he corrected. The envelope, lying side by side with an envelope of pale blue, carried the Daidouji Toys logo and the name of Daidouji Sonomi. Tomoyo had not mentioned, in her letter, that her mother would also be writing to him. An oversight he didn't think Tomoyo would make. So.
"Would you like me to open it for you, Eriol?" Ruby Moon offered from her desk. "You've been starting at it ever since I started my Literature homework." She checked her watch. "Twenty minutes ago. Twenty-one."
He grimaced and glanced out the window. "No."
In a semi-rare moment of complete understanding and total sympathy, Ruby Moon gathered her books together. "I'll finish later." And she left.
Eriol tore into his letter.
Haikei Hiiragizawa Eriol,
I'm Daidouji Sonomi, Tomoyo-chan's mother. My daughter's bodyguards have become somewhat concerned by the frequency of your letters to Tomoyo-chan over the past three years, as well as other factors. I have read your most recent letter and have determined that there is no concern.
The reason I'm writing is to say thank you for being such a good friend to Tomoyo-chan. As I'm sure you're aware I am very busy running the company and am not always available to talk. There are some things that I know Tomoyo-chan would not come to me with even if I was available. So, I am glad that she has such a mature, kind friend to be there for her and care for her.
Finally, I thank you for your wise words on love. You are a truly good young man. Much like somebody I once knew. I would be pleased to meet you one day.Keigu,
Daidouji Sonomi
PS. I would be in your debt if you did not mention this letter to Tomoyo-chan, she might know that I read your letter but I don't believe she would be pleased to know that I wrote to you.
Eriol leaned back in his chair and let out the breath he'd been holding in a huff. Well. That was…enlightening. He snorted suddenly. It was certainly something. Spinel floated into the room
"Ruby Moon said that you were having an 'attack'." He told him, matter-of-factly.
Eriol thought about this. "I might well have." He pushed the letter across his desk. "What do you think of that?"
Spinel read. "I think that Mother approves of you as a suitor." He stated.
"Of course she does! Eriol is cute, and can cook and he sews!" Ruby Moon, having changed clothes, twirled in and about, showing off the dress that Eriol had finished for her just that morning. "He's polite and funny and charming and smart and he can do magic and he knows that red-red rose poem!" She beamed. "Who wouldn't love to marry him!"
"Who's getting married now?" Kaho leaned in the door of the study. She didn't enter, she very rarely did. She rubbed tiredly at her temple.
"Eriol is! I get to be a bridesmaid!" Nakuru revolved in a slow circle. "Tomoyo-chan makes such cu-uuuuuute dresses."
Kaho raised an eyebrow mutely.
"I'm not getting married." Eriol told her.
"Sure you are!"
Spinel smiled sardonically. "Of course he is. Daidouji-sama approved of him herself." Eriol glared at his creations. Since when had Spinel decided he needed to be tormented?
"Nobody's getting married." Eriol told her. "They're teasing me about Daidouji-sama's letter." He glanced down at his letters, than back at Kaho. "You look tired. Why don't you go to bed?"
He couldn't read her gaze. "Are you coming up?"
"Not now. I want to write Tomoyo-san first. Her mother too. Spinel, we'll need to go to the Stationary store tomorrow. I can't see writing to the President and CEO of Daidouji Toys with…" he blinked. "When did we switch to Hello Kitty? With matching envelopes?!"
"Last week. I don't like it much. There's not enough Badtz-Maru. Badtz-Maru reminds me of To-ya kun!" Ruby Moon frowned. "I'll get more Sailor Senshi tomorrow. Write that down, would you please, Suppi?"
"Your flight just got in an hour ago. You must be tired. Why don't you come up to bed?" Kaho entreated.
"I slept on the plane. These letters have been here for a few days." He smiled, "Tomoyo-san probably thinks I fell off the face of the planet. I didn't tell her I was meeting with the American publishers. Remind me to see my solicitor again tomorrow, Spinel. And Yamazaki-kun's too."
"I'm not an appointment book." Spinel sighed, writing.
Kaho nodded. "I see. Well. Goodnight then."
Eriol watched after her for a few moments. He felt vaguely unsettled by her behavior. He shrugged it off and drafted a quick reply to Tomoyo's mother, making a quick note to send it to her office address.
Haikei Daidouji-sama,
I have been, and remain, honored, proud, and humbled to be friends with a wonderful person like your daughter. Tomoyo-san is my best friend. I won't tell her that you wrote to me.
I would be honored to meet you as well, next time I'm in Tomoeda.
Keigu,
Hiiragizawa Eriol
He made a note on the bottom to re-copy it onto formal stationary before turning his attention back to Tomoyo's letter.
* * *
Haikei Tomoyo-san,Tomoyo read aloud as the others prepared.
I'm hoping that this letter reaches you before Rika-san gets married. It contains not only a gift but also my good wishes for her and Terada-sensei's happiness and future. It takes a lot of hard work and true love to make an 'unconventional' relationship work and I can think of nobody more capable of such a task than she and Terada-sensei. I only wish that I were able to attend. If it weren't for the not-fit-for-polite-company's-ears American publishers, I would be there myself.
Speaking of, I know that you're one of the bridesmaids and that Rika-san and Terada-sensei have hired a videographer, but do you think you might be able to find a copy of the ceremony for me? Or at least tape some of the reception? I'd very much like to share as much of the day with everybody as I could.
I'll keep this letter short, I know that you've probably got a million things left to do to get ready.
Keigu,
Eriol-kun
PS. On the wedding day, do you think you could tell Rika-san that I wish her a happy birthday as well?Tomoyo looked up from reading to see Rika, Naoko, Chiharu and Sakura in various stages of weeping. "That's so very sweet of him." Rika managed around her tears. "I'll make sure you get a copy of the wedding to send to him." She dabbed at her eyes. Her mother bustled over.
"Rika, don't cry…you'll ruin your makeup." Rika's mother wiped her daughter's face carefully, ignoring her own streaming eyes. "Oh, my little girl…my sweet baby." She sighed. It set off more tears.
Chiharu blinked rapidly. "Will it be like this at my wedding?" She asked. "With all the…emotions…and my mom. Oh, and my brothers!" She reached up to wipe her cheeks.
Sakura simply sobbed openly. Tomoyo decided, despite her own misty eyes, that it was time to get matters back under control. "I wonder what Eriol-kun sent as a gift." She said, just loud enough for everybody to hear.
"Does the letter say?" Sakura hiccuped.
"Hmmm." Tomoyo pretended to read it again. "Lace underpants." She declared and watched as everybody stopped dead. She giggled. "No, it doesn't say that. I don't know what he sent. I left his gift in the reception hall with the others."
Naoko giggled. "That's what your wedding will be like, Chiharu-chan. Beautiful moments and the occasional big lie." Everybody laughed.
Tomoyo smiled as Sakura and Naoko began helping Rika into her dress. She settled herself on one of the chairs in the bride's room and got a piece of paper and a writing board out of her bag.
Haikei Eriol-kun,
The wedding hasn't started yet, but already there has been an overflow of emotion. Everybody here in the Bride's Room thought that you were incredibly sweet when I read your letter to them. Chiharu-chan keeps asking if her wedding day will be like this, and she looks half-hopeful and half-terrified. I guess that even though she's been with Yamazaki-kun forever getting married is still a very big step. Sakura-chan is, I think, trying not to think of when she and Li-kun will get married. Or even if he'll propose. I wonder if I can get that moment on tape, considering that I've missed all their other big moments. As for myself, I hope that one day I'll have a wedding like this. Or maybe I'll run away to elope in America. I heard about a place there…Las Vegas?…where most of the town is five-minute wedding chapels and places to gamble.
Everybody wishes that you were here with us today.
"Tomoyo-chan, it's time to get ready to go out." Naoko said suddenly. Tomoyo nodded.
It's time to go out now. Wish us all luck. The next thing I write will be after the wedding is over."Tomoyo-chan, are you ready?" Sakura asked softly. Tomoyo set the letter aside with a small sigh.
"I am." She smiled brilliantly. "Let's go."
Sakura studied the half-finished letter with a bemused look. "Alright, Tomoyo-chan." She said, taking her hand, only glancing back at the letter once.
* * *
Glossary of sorts: C'mon people...you should know some of this...^.^
Ne (also 'nee'): Hey
Anou: Say...also-- Ummm, well, err,
Jaa: Well, well then
^.^ THIS is the chapter that prompted Chelle-sama's hilarious 'Something' trilogy. Especially 'Something to Ask You'. Go read and review. Go, go on now. Tell her Circe-sama sent you. ^.~ The bit about Badtz-Maru I owe to Suppi-chan's 'Ice Breaker'. The 'Red-red rose poem' belongs to Robert Burns.
