Back Again…
Love Doesn't Age
Part Three:
//I'll love you forever, no matter what they say, no matter what they do, no matter they try.
You are my angel, my shoulder to cry on, the one I turn to, my survival. My heart is forever yours…//
Eriol peered around the great hall, having seen Tomoyo emerge from the women's bathroom a few minutes earlier.
Across the room he spotted her, Heizo by her side, smiling for the camera's and reporters. When they don't look at her he can see the tiredness and anxiety pass over her face, recollecting herself and forcing a smile as the reporters turn back to her.
She was never one to be in front of cameras. She had always been behind them, the one who did the filming. It's funny how Sakura is the one behind the camera now and Tomoyo now the subject.
Eriol sighed, Minako coming over to him and handing him a drink.
"You seem to be in conflict………" she said softly, brushing her deep brown hair away from her eyes.
"Gomen ne. I didn't mean to worry you………" he replied, smiling gently to her, causing her cheeks to turn a light red.
Tomoyo caught sight of Eriol as he smiled fondly at the woman by his side. Their conversation seeming close but polite.
She chewed her bottom lip, holding back her tears. There was all the proof she needed, he had moved on.
And she was no longer a part of his life………
Sakura watched as the photos developed under the red light, watching the clock carefully, taking the picture into the stop bath.
As she dropped it into the water her tongs dropped onto the floor, making a large clatter.
Sakura studied the picture carefully, Tomoyo's ethereal beauty astounding her. But it wasn't that that made her drop the tongs.
It was the fact that she hadn't seen this look on Tomoyo's face for a long time.
That look of utter happiness, something very rare to be frozen in a photograph.
Eriol stood behind her, arms around her waist, kissing her cheek gently.
Sakura smiled softly, they were picture perfect.
Tomoyo sat beside Heizo, pushing the potatoes about the fine china. She picked up the wine glass with her gloved hand, watching as the liquid shone the reflection of the chandelier above the dance floor.
She listened to the band for a moment then froze.
The tune; so familiar, so warm, so many happy and sad memories.
Hands glided over the piano, the longing in Tomoyo's heart crying out silently. She placed the wine glass back on the table, wringing her hands. As she turned she saw him sitting at the piano, his eyes closed, fingers knowing exactly where to play. Her tears brimmed around the edges of her eyes and she fought hard to keep them down, shaded by her mask of confidence, composure and poise.
A soft voice rang out, clear and iridescent, filling the hall, seeping into every gap and crevasse.
Tomoyo got up, not wanting to hear the voice, the words that she usually sang.
She no longer sang, she no longer wanted to hear her voice.
It hurt her too much.
The voice that had sung him to sleep, the voice that had sang a lullaby to her unborn child, the voice that couldn't make him stay…
Tomoyo walked over to the balcony, welcoming and embracing the cold as it prickled against her bare skin.
She shivered on the outside but inside her heart flew. The cold droned out the voice in the background, the piano and drove the pianist from her thoughts.
Tomoyo looked down at the garden, memories swirling around her: a white wedding, bells, confetti, Eriol's smiling face, then the child; Eriol glowing with pride as he pressed his ear against her rounded stomach.
A lone tear slid down her cheek, as the singer reached the final words of the song.
"Yasashii yoru ni, hitori utau uta, asu wa kimi to utaou, yume no tsubasa ni notte…" she sang along quietly, the words still vivid in her mind.
Her last strand of composure fell and she wept, sobbing quietly, missing what used to be.
"Tomoyo…" a voice said softly behind her.
She spun around to see Eriol standing by the doorway back to the hall.
Quickly she wiped away her tears, trying to hide them from him.
As he walked towards her she forced a smile. "I remember that song you just played…"
Eriol stood beside her, staring into the night sky. "Me too…"
The silence between them was awkward, every now and then Tomoyo opening her mouth to say something but stopped, thinking it not the right thing to say at that time.
"That must be her then…"she finally said
Eriol turned to her, dark hair falling over his eyes. "Dare??" he asked confused.
Tomoyo smiled a little, hiding her pain. "The one you love… She's the one with you tonight, ne?…"
"Minako??"
Tomoyo nodded not trusting her voice.
Eriol stayed silent, "Actually Tomoyo- ." he began
"She's very pretty…" Tomoyo cut in, "You must feel very lucky to have someone like that." She turned around and began to walk back inside, striding purposefully. Suddenly she stopped, "If you ever decide to get married, tell me and I'd love to come…" she said quietly, not wanting to turn back to look at him. She paused only for a minute longer before beginning to walk back inside.
Immediately Eriol grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards him. He held her close to him, looking into her eyes fiercely.
Tomoyo lowered her gaze, his eyes too intimidating.
Eriol's hand cupped her face, raising her face so she looked at him. He smiled tenderly, wiping the tears gently from her face with his thumb.
He leaned down and met her lips, caressing her face gently.
Tomoyo pulled away from him shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but Minako?…"
Eriol only chuckled and held her closer, "Tomoyo, Minako isn't the one I love…"
Tomoyo looked at him, confused, "She isn't?? Then who is?" She gasped, "You aren't cheating on your girlfriend are you?!"
Eriol laughed some more. "No Tomoyo, Minako is my secretary, we always go to functions since my beloved can never make it… But she's here tonight, looking more beautiful than the moon goddess herself. She has this ethereal beauty, you see…"
Tomoyo pushed herself away from him. "Eriol!!" she exclaimed. "Here you are talking about her like she's the princess on the moon and then you go and kiss me! You should be kissing her!! What if she were to come out here and see us together!! You're such an idiot!!" Tomoyo screamed furiously, waving her arms about. "You know sometimes I wonder how come I didn't find out your such an idiot when we were married." Tomoyo finally stopped, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
Eriol only smiled handsomely, walking towards her and taking her hands in his.
"Tomoyo…" he said gently
She looked back at him, fear in her eyes. She couldn't seem to resist him. His deep gaze, his smile, the way he held her as she were the only one in the world who mattered. As if someone wanted her here on this world for a reason.
"My beloved is here, and I just kissed her. I'm looking straight into her eyes right now and I still see the beautiful woman I fell in love with and still love."
Tomoyo looked at him, shocked, her eyes brimming with tears of happiness. She stepped into his arms, as he held her whilst she quietly wept, washing away all the years of loneliness, all the years of pain, all the years of being away from him.
"I missed you so much…." She whispered quietly, "I wished for so long that you'd come back, I wished for so long that you'd walk through that door and take me back…"
He held her gently, running his finger through her hair, caressing her skin.
"I'm sorry if I ever hurt you…" he whispered.
Tomoyo shook her head. "Never, never did you hurt me. I was just so stupid to let you go."
Eriol kissed her hair gently.
"Promise me Eriol, promise you'll never leave me again…"
Eriol beamed down at her. "Promise." He lent down and kissed her passionately.
Gradually Tomoyo pulled away and grabbed his hand, dragging him towards the steps that led down to the garden from the balcony.
Eriol laughed and only followed as the moonlight illuminated her happy face, lavender eyes sparkling with joy.
She turned to him, holding his hands in hers.
"Aishiteru…" she smiled
Eriol kissed her forehead, "Aishiteru…" he smiled brushing the hair from her face.
She giggled, letting go of his hand and running deeper into the gardens, Eriol chasing after her, laughing, a feeling something he thought he had lost such a long time ago; the ability to love.
Wedding bells rang from the bell tower of the church, Tomoyo's hand entangled in Eriol's.
Rika walked happily out of the church, beaming from war to ear, clad in a stunning white gown, designed by the team of Sakura and Tomoyo.
Tomoyo videotaped Rika and Terada- sensei walk out of the church hand in hand, happiness brimming in Rika's eyes.
She smiled as the two of them disappeared into the limousine, twirling the golden band on her finger, engraved words smooth against her skin.
Contently she sighed as she watched Eriol leave her side and walk down to the roadside, watching as the car disappeared, Akane hoisted on his shoulders. Her cheerful bubbly laugh alighting Tomoyo's heart as she watched her young daughter waving madly, the sunlight catching onto her shimmering raven hair.
Tomoyo looked down at her ring again, thinking of the words written on the inside of the ring…
'Love doesn't age, and never will, my darling…'