Daphne: "All right, everyone! Fourth chapter! I hope that you enjoy it! Please review and tell me what you think!"

~*~*~*~















Avalanche Kisses

by: Daphne Li

Chap. 4















//Dear Tomoyo:

Syaoran asked me to marry him! He really did! In front of my Otousan and Onichan and everything. It was so romantic and so sweet! Of course I said 'YES'. And you will never guess what happened next...after Syaoran kissed me, that is...Touya actually smiled! And congratulated us! I have a strange feeling that Syaoran talked to Onichan as well as Otousan when he told them he was going to ask me.

I am so happy, Tomoyo, you have no idea. The only thing that makes me sad is that you weren't here to see it, and tape it. I miss you so much. Anyway, Kero says 'HI" and he sends his love. So does everyone from school (we all met in Penguin Park earlier this week, for a get-together). Syaoran and I are going to Hong Kong next week, to visit his mother and sisters, (pray for me!), and to see Meiling. She is so exited, that she called me yesterday night, before I even got a chance to tell her. (I have a feeling that Syaoran spilled the beans to her, but I am not pointing fingers.) Meiling and Chang (her fiancée) are going to meet us at the airport, and then drive us to Syaoran's home.

I just want to wish you a Merry Christmas, and to give you this present, do not open until Christmas day! Tomoyo-chan, I do hope that you will have a wonderful Christmas, and I promise to call you on Christmas morning. I am sure that Meiling will want to talk to you as well, so I will make sure that I call when she is there. Well, dinner is going to be soon, (Touya is cooking it for once!), so I had better finish this letter! I miss you, Tomoyo, and I hope that I will see you soon!

Lovingly, your dearest friend,

Sakura

P.S. Have you heard? Terada Sensei and Rika have set their wedding date. It is the twentieth of January. (Rika is also insisting that we start to call him Terada Yoshiyaki (or just Yoshi), so remember. No more Terada Sensei, unless you want Rika very mad at you. Chiharu learned this the hard way!) ~ Sakura//

Tomoyo chuckled as she finished the letter, her heart bursting with happiness for Sakura. It was official! Sakura and Syaoran were going to be married! Tomoyo let out a quick, happy shriek, and then calmed herself. She turned sparkling eyes to Rohna, who had just entered the room.

"Guess what! Sakura and Syaoran are officially engaged!" Tomoyo cried, her eyes sparkling. She slipped the small present Sakura had sent her into her jeans-pocket and then turned to the bodyguard, who was looking solemn.

"Miss Tomoyo...your mother has been delayed. She is certain that she won't be back for an added two weeks at least. She sends her apologies."

"But.she still has two more weeks to go until she originally has to come back! How could she make this decision so soon?" Tomoyo wailed, her eyes filling with tears. Rohna shrugged helplessly, and looked at her charge sympathetically. Tomoyo sighed.

"Rohna...I think I am going to take a walk." Tomoyo mussed, starting out of the room. Rohna made no attempt to stop her. Tomoyo walked out of the hotel, and down a path that led to the woods. The hotel was at a base of a mountain, which had a thick forest climbing up its side. As she walked, Tomoyo's thoughts wandered to her mother.

'I wonder why mother is taking so long! This vacation was supposed to be fun, and for the both of us; But now, here I am having no fun and alone! Wait! Tomoyo, quit being so selfish and self-centered! You should be happy. Sakura is getting married and you have to start planning her wedding dress!' This thought depressed Tomoyo even more. Then reality hit her. Sakura was leaving! Sakura was getting married to a nice young man, and leaving all her friends behind. She would have little time for them as a married woman! Plus, she would probably live in Hong Kong, and hardly ever travel...

"Sakura!" Tomoyo whispered, her heart sinking. Her best friend was leaving her and getting married! Tomoyo was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't realize just how far she was going, or how close she was getting to danger.

"Hello, Beautiful!" A sly voice rang out. Tomoyo turned around in horror to see a man standing just behind her. He had dirty brown hair, and a grizzled face. His eyes twinkled with a light that Tomoyo didn't like, and fear flowed over her in waves.

"Why don't you come over here and give me a kiss, beautiful!" The man said huskily, grabbing her arm and pulling her to him. It was then that Tomoyo realized that he was drunk, from the smell on his breath. She gave a high pitched scream and pulled away from him, kicking him in the shin. His face turned angry and he came after her, a dangerous light in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife. Tomoyo gave another scream and then shot off the trail, not caring where she was going. The man followed her, but she eventually lost him in the brush. Still she ran on, to horrified to stop. Her semi-conscious told her that it had started to snow, and that she didn't have a coat, but she paid not heed. She did not know how far she ran, or for how long. All she knew was that she had to get away...from everything.

Suddenly, there was no ground beneath her feet! She felt herself fall, roll downwards, and then come to an abrupt stop. Then there was silence, except for her final, horrible scream. As it died away, she felt the cold snow landing on her bare arms, and on her face. She could feel a pain in her side. Then...nothing. Tomoyo felt her senses starting to swim away, and not matter how she struggled, they kept leaving. She gave a shaky sigh and then...black. Tomoyo fell into a sweet, wonderful oblivion.

~*~*~*~



"Master, look! It is snowing harder! Look Suppi!" Nakuru cried, bounding over to a window that resided in the largest dinning room. Eriol looked up from his meal and smiled.

"Yes its very lovely."

"We are going to get snowed in, you know." Spinnel said, looking over at Eriol. The young wizard nodded.

"I am quite aware of that and..." Eriol stopped suddenly, his senses perking up. There was an aura nearby...a familiar one.

"What on earth?" Eriol asked, surprised. What was someone doing clear up here? Suddenly, the aura flared up in a flash of horror, and it stayed that way. Eriol stood up in alarm and tried to trace the aura.

"Master, what is it?" Nakuru asked, looking worried. Eriol frowned deeply.

"I don't know, but they are frightened. Very frightened." He said, starting to pace. He felt the aura for about fifteen minutes, and then, suddenly, it flared up even more. He felt a sudden pain on his right side and then he felt her all ready small aura, weaken.

"NO!" He shouted, running over to a door that led to a balcony and opening it. He rushed outside desperately, trying to catch some trace of the aura again. It was very weak. Dangerously weak. Eriol turned to his stunned guardians.

"I have to find them. Nakuru, you get one of the best rooms prepared in my wing, with warn sheets and a fire. Spinnel, I want you to make sure that all our emergency First-Aid supplies are in order. I don't know what I will find, but they are near."

"Wait, Master! Your coat!" Nakuru cried, tossing him the warm garment. He shot her a smile and then hurried down to the ravine, where he had last felt her aura. He walked for about a mile, before he stopped to get his bearings. The person was very close. He looked over to his right, and there they were! They were laying on their right side, and were motionless. He rushed over to the person, reached down and turned them over. Then a bolt of shock hit Eriol in his stomach, making him sick.

It was Tomoyo Daidouji! Her eyes were shut and she was deathly pale. He gently picked up her unresponsive body, horror freezing the blood in his veins. Her raven colored hair flowed around her, contrasting greatly with her pale, delicate white face. Her cheeks had none of their natural flush in them, and her lips were a blue-white color. She was in a violet T-shirt, tight black pants, and wore no coat. He quickly slipped out of his and placed it about her shoulders. Then he adjusted her weight so she would be comfortable, and started to walk home.

"She is too light!" He mussed, as he carried her back. Even limp like this, Tomoyo seemed light as a feather to him. The snow was falling harder now, and its beauty seemed to be gone in a whirl of deadly blindness. He shifted her, so that her face would be against his coat, where the snow couldn't land on it. About fifteen minutes later, he made it back to the mansion and hurried her up to the room Nakuru had prepared. Nakuru was horrified when she realized who the victim was. The female guardian looked sympathetically at the unconscious girl, and Eriol looked away while Nakuru quickly changed the girl from her clothes to a warm, silky nightgown. When she was finished, Eriol quickly laid Tomoyo down in the warm bed and covered her up with the warm coverings.

"Nakuru, leave the room. I have to keep her from getting sick." He said. Nakuru quickly left the room, but left the door open a crack so she could see. Even though Eriol insisted that he disliked the girl, Nakuru knew that Eriol cared about her, as much if not more than he had cared for Kaho.

Eriol now had his hands over Tomoyo's body, and magic was radiating from him like heat does from a fire. Tomoyo glowed purple for a moment, and then the magic left her. She was obviously better, because her color was coming back, and she turned over restlessly. Nakuru quickly moved away from the door as Eriol came out, looking triumphant, yet worried still.

"Nakuru, I want you to stay in there with her until she wakes up. Just in case she has a relapse." Eriol commanded, pushing Nakuru into the room. Nakuru nodded and obediently hurried over to the bedside. Tomoyo was now tossing and turning, her face flushed with a slight fever. Nakuru quickly took Tomoyo's hand and started to sing a soft, lilting lullaby. Tomoyo immediately calmed and gave a soft sigh of contentment. Nakuru smiled down at her, and then looked over her shoulder at her master, who was still standing in the doorway.

"She will have to stay with us, ne?" Nakuru asked. Eriol nodded.

"She will. I have just received news that an avalanche has blocked the pass. There is no way to town, and unfortunately, we have no electricity, so that means no phone calls for help." Eriol said. Nakuru nodded. They had never seen any reason for electricity here, so they just did without.

"What about food?" Nakuru asked. Eriol smiled.

"We just stocked up today. We should be good for a few months, but if it gets any worse, we are in trouble." Eriol said. Nakuru smiled. She knew for a fact that her Master could conjure up food from thin air, so she was not in the least bit worried.

"I hope she is not going to be upset about staying with us." Nakuru mussed, looking at the sleeping girl. Eriol shook his head.

"I don't think that she will be. She may miss her camcorder a little, but other than that, she should be fine." He answered, trying to lighten the situation. He knew that Tomoyo liked Spinnel and Nakuru, but as for him...well, he would just act casual, and hope for the best.

"Master, I found this in her jeans..." Nakuru said, holding out a letter and a small present. He took the letter and accidentally caught sight of the words:

'Syaoran asked me to marry him.!'

Eriol knew that this letter was from Sakura, because he could feel her aura on it. He smiled and silently cheered for Syaoran. So his 'Cute little descendant' had finally got up enough guts to ask her, eh? Eriol chuckled and set the letter on the bedside table with the present. Then he silently waved goodnight to Nakuru, and left the room, still smiling.

~*~*~*~





Tomoyo stirred and slowly opened her eyes. The room that she was in was dimly lit by candlelight. For a moment, she felt confused and was wondering where she was. Then it hit her. The day before, the horrible man, running away and then...nothing. Tomoyo looked around herself wildly, and whimpered in fear.

"Tomoyo-chan!" Cried a perky voice that Tomoyo knew all to well.

"Nakuru?" She asked hesitantly. The older girl came into view, and smiled at her. She looked like the same old Nakuru, except this one was about twenty-five, and her long hair was tied gracefully about her head in braids.

"Hello! Master said that you would be awake soon." "Master?...Nakuru, where am I?" Tomoyo asked looking around the room. It was much bigger than her room at home.

"You are at Master's winter home. You've been asleep for two whole days, and everyone is looking for you!" Nakuru answered, going over to the window and opening the sheer white curtains. The snow was still falling heavily, burying everything under a thick layer of snow. Tomoyo frowned in disgust, knowing exactly who 'master' was. Hiiragizawa Eriol!

"Then...why haven't they found me yet?" Tomoyo asked in confusion. Nakuru smiled.

"Well...this house is in a small valley, high up in the mountain, and the mansion doesn't have electricity, so we can't contact anyone, and..."

"...And the only pass that leads down into the valley was blocked by an avalanche." Came another voice.

~*~*~*~



*Eriol's POV.*



"Nakuru, I believe that Tomoyo is going to wake up soon. Will you kindly go and stay with her until she does? She will need someone to explain everything to her." I said, looking up from my breakfast. Nakuru shot me one of her 'all right, Master's' and skipped out of the room. For a twenty- five year old woman, she sure is perky.

"Master, if you don't mind my asking...why did you send Nakuru to do it instead of doing it yourself?" Spinnel asked me, looking up from his pile of pancakes. I shot him one of my smiles. "Because Daidouji-san would be quite shocked if I was the first she woke up to. I have a feeling that it will be easier for her to wake up to Nakuru's perkiness, instead." He answered, avoiding the fact that Tomoyo absolutely despised him

"Good thinking, Master!" Spinnel cheered, finishing his pancakes and flying out of the room. "I am going to the sun-room to take my morning nap." He called over his shoulder. I couldn't help but chuckle. I looked up at the old grandfather clock that stood in the dinning room, and got out of my seat.

"About time to visit Daidouji-san." He murmured, walking up to her room. When he got there, Eriol cracked open her door a bit, just to make sure he wasn't interrupting anything important. He stepped in, making sure to keep in the shadows and realized that she must have only just woken up. She was sitting up in bed, her raven-colored hair in lovely disarray around her pale, delicate face. Eriol could see the candle-light reflecting in her violet eyes, and her rosy lips had a small, serene smile on them. He don't know why, but he caught his breath and his heart sped up a little.

'What is wrong with me?' He wondered, taking a deep breath. Then he heard Nakuru explaining about why Tomoyo had not been found yet.

"...the mansion doesn't have electricity, so we can't contact anyone, and."

"...And the only pass that leads down into the valley was blocked by an avalanche." Eriol shocked himself by saying.

~*~*~*~

*Normal POV*

"Hiiragizawa-kun!" Tomoyo cried, giving a start, and pulling the blankets up under her chin. Eriol let out a chuckle, and then came into view. "Hello Daidouji-san. It is nice to see you conscious again." At his words, a slight blush stole up to her cheeks and flames entered her eyes.

"I wish I could say the same, Hiiragizawa-kun. Could you...would you please tell me how I came to be here?" She asked in a fake polite voice. "I found you unconscious in the snow, about a mile south of here, and then I brought you back here. You got through the pass just before the avalanche hit. In fact, it was a miracle that you didn't get caught in the avalanche. It was a bad one, from what I have heard." He murmured. She realized then, that he must have carried her all the way back. This thought made her blush, embarrassed. Eriol watched her reaction in amusement.

"I.I am sorry! I was out taking a walk and then a horrible man." Suddenly, Eriol was alert.

"What man? Did he hurt you?"

"He had a knife and he tried to, but he was too drunk I suppose. I was so scared that I ran, I don't know how long...and then I fell. I don't remember anything else." Tomoyo whispered, ashamed that she was telling this to someone she disliked. Eriol's face was calm, but inside, he was feeling a mixture of rage, horror and sympathy for the girl.

"Well, it has been discovered that you are missing." He changed the subject. "We managed to radio the police that you were safe, just before the battery running the whole thing blew out; However, I highly doubt that they believed us." He explained, as she suddenly giggled viciously.

"You did tell them who you were.didn't you?" She asked, her eyes sparkling meanly at him. His face suddenly turned sheepish.

"Yes, maybe...no." He finished. Tomoyo grinned.

"Smooth move, Mr. Wizard!" She hissed as more giggled escaped her. He frowned and then reached into his pocket, a smirk coming to his lips.

"Here. Listen to this." He held a small, radio out to her, and then turned it on.

"...was last seen going up to the mouth of the Pass. Authorities say that someone radioed in that the Daidouji girl is safe, but the chances, authorities state, are very slim that this call was actually true. 'It is impossible to tell whether or not the girl got through the pass before the avalanche hit.' Said the Police Chief. There is a slight hope, though, that the girl managed to somehow find her way to the one home that is up in that region, belonging to a Mr. Eriol Hiiragizawa. It is unsure whether Mr. Hiiragizawa is up there, but witnesses say that his car was seen driving up that way earlier this week. It is hoped that if he is listening, he will help us to find her. The girl's mother, Mrs. Daidouji, was surprisingly calm after learning the information about where her daughter was thought to be. 'Eriol Hiiragizawa used to be a classmate of my daughter's, and I am sure that she is with him now. He is a very perceptive young man, and he somehow knows whenever one of his friends is in trouble. I am quite confident that when the Pass is open, my daughter will be just fine.' No matter how confident this mother is, though, authorities say that it is doubtful that the girl will come out alive." At this, Eriol switched off the radio, and smirked at the girl. Tomoyo glared at him.

"Won't they be surprised? Wonderful mother! I just hope that I have not caused her too much pain." Tomoyo said, laying back against the pillows. Eriol grinned.

"She knows about Sakura and me having magic, doesn't she?" He asked. Tomoyo nodded.

"Mother can be quite perceptive." She commented. He grinned, knowing where Tomoyo got it, and then turned to Nakuru, who was holding a tray of food.

"Thank you, Nakuru." He said, placing the tray on Tomoyo's lap.

"Really, Hiiragizawa-kun! I can eat on a table, you know!" She said, her anger raising again. He smiled disarmingly.

"Everyone needs to be spoiled sometime or another." He chuckled. "I have to go do some things, Daidouji-san. You are welcome to wander around the place, but take Nakuru with you, just in case." He said, walking out of the room. "By the way.please call me Eriol." He said, sticking his head back into the room. Tomoyo smiled slyly.

"Then I insist that you stick to Daidouji-san, for me." She countered. He grinned.

"Fine, *Tomoyo*. Enjoy your breakfast!" With that, he left the room, ignoring her seething face and flashing eyes. He made her so mad!

~*~*~*~



When Tomoyo finished her breakfast, Nakuru decided to give Tomoyo a tour. Tomoyo was shown the kitchens, the ballroom, the drawing room, the huge library, many of the bedrooms and studies, and the pool-room, which turned out to be a large, deep pool with a huge fountain in the middle, ("This is where Suppi and I swim! Master sometimes joins us, but not often.").

"...and this is the attic." Nakuru finished, leading Tomoyo up a spiral staircase and into a huge, dark room. Nakuru held up the candle she had brought with them, and it lit up the room. Tomoyo caught her breath when she saw all the things that were in the room. Old baby carriages and toys. There was a large doll house, and an old-fashioned sewing machine. There were boxes of old photographs and other odds and ends. Finally, in the very back of the room, stood a huge wardrobe.

"I wonder if there is anything in it." Tomoyo whispered, moving towards it. She hesitantly put her hand on the wooden handle, and then pulled it open.

"Oh my gosh!" Tomoyo shrieked, her face lighting up. To her delight, the wardrobe was full of old-fashioned dresses! (a/n: Think of Belle's dresses from "Beauty and the Beast", and you have the style of dress that the girls just found!) Nakuru gasped, and pulled one out of the wardrobe.

"They smell like lavender!" She exclaimed, burying her nose in the soft fabric.

"Do you...do you think that we could try them on?" Tomoyo asked, looking longingly at the dresses. Nakuru shrugged.

"I don't see why not! Eriol-kun will have no objections, I'm sure." The guardian said, swinging the dress she was holding around in a circle. Tomoyo grinned.

"Then let's take them all and try them on. They are about our size." She commented thoughtfully. Nakuru nodded eagerly, and pulled an armful of dresses out of the wardrobe, and then ran down the stairs. Tomoyo reached for the other dresses, and as she did, she noticed that there were several large bags standing at the bottom of the wardrobe. She quickly grabbed these as well, and then hurried after Nakuru, only just remembering to take the candle with her.

When Tomoyo reached her room, Nakuru was already there, all dressed up in one of the dresses.

"Look at me, Tomoyo-chan! Aren't I lovely!" The guardian squealed. Tomoyo grinned. Nakuru was wearing a full-skirted dress of rosy-red satin. It's sleeves were tight around the upper arm, and ended at the elbow with a bit of snow-white lace. The square neck of the dress, as well as the bottom of the skirt, were trimmed with a lovely snow-white lace, similar to that on the sleeves.

"Nakuru, look at what I found." Tomoyo called, holding out the bags. Nakuru and Tomoyo opened the bags eagerly, and their gasps filled the room. In two of the bags were many different kinds of ladies cloaks. In another were different pairs of women's gloves. In another were boxes of hair accessories and such. In the last three were boxes of jewelry, all stunningly set and put together. The girls gaped over the things, and then Nakuru spoke up.

"Tomoyo-chan, you still have to get into a dress, and I know just the one!" The girl dug into the pile of dresses and pulled out a lovely lavender dress, full-skirted, and very similar to Nakuru's, except for the fact that the sleeves ended at the wrist, and the neck-line was several inches lower that Nakuru's. Tomoyo smiled when she saw it.

"All right, Nakuru, I'll try it on. And then we will get some accessories to put on, to show Eriol-kun!" Tomoyo cried, running into the bathroom to change. When she came out, Nakuru had already pulled out a box of hair accessories, and was going through them, mumbling something. She looked up and grinned at Tomoyo.

"Kawaii! That dress is perfect! Sure, it shows a little more that what you usually wear, but that is an improvement!" Nakuru said. Tomoyo blushed, knowing what she meant. The low neck-line was showing a little more of her chest than she was used to, and the lines of the dress seemed to enhance her womanly curves.

"Now, I want to do your hair. Close your eyes until I am finished!" Nakuru shrilled, pulling Tomoyo over to the vanity and sitting her down on the pouf-stool. Tomoyo did as she was instructed, and soon, Nakuru was done.

"You can look now!" The guardian cried, moving away. Tomoyo opened her eyes and gasped. Nakuru had taken small sections of the hair framing her face and braided them. Then she had pulled them back into a ponytail with the rest of her hair. As a finishing touch, Nakuru had twisted the hair into a bun, and fastened it in place with a hair net made of nylon and strung with real pearls and amethysts! To top all of this off, Nakuru had fastened a chain of amethysts and pearls to Tomoyo's throat. Tomoyo couldn't help but stare at herself. Her reverie was broken by Nakuru's giggling.

"Now we are going down to see how Master and Suppi react when they see us!" She cried, pulling Tomoyo out of the room and down to Eriol's personal study. Tomoyo dreaded having Eriol see her like this, but Nakuru had no qualms.

"Master? Suppi! Look at what we found in the attic! Aren't they lovely!" Nakuru cried, jumping into the room. Eriol glanced at the dresses and then grinned to hide his shock as Spinnel's mouth dropped open.

"They certainly are different...I think that they are very becoming!" Spinnel added when Nakuru glared at him.

"My, we are going back in time, are we?" Eriol chuckled. "Well, if that is the way we are going to dress during this vacation, then..." He stood up and mumbled something. Immediately, his clothes changed into men's cloths from the same era as the girls were wearing. With a satisfied smile, he turned and walked out of the room. Tomoyo stared after him in shock. For the first time in his life, he hadn't even tried to cut her down!

"We should have a fancy dinner for the occasion!" He explained over his shoulder. Tomoyo's heart had jumped at the sight of him, and now, it beat even harder. Tomoyo frowned at the new sensation, and wondered why it was beating so fast. Well, whatever the reason, this was turning out to be one interesting vacation!

~*~*~*~

*Eriol's POV*



I was sitting in his study with Spinnel, reading a book, When I heard Nakuru's voice shrilling down the hall, and Spinnel gave a groan.

"What now?" He whined, as the voice grew closer. I smiled slightly, preparing for the worst; I wasn't, however, prepared for what walked through the door.

"Master? Suppi! Look at what we found in the attic! Aren't they lovely!" Nakuru cried, dragging a blushing Tomoyo into the room. My first reaction was to gloat at Tomoyo's embarrassed face, but when I caught sight of *all* of her, all rational thoughts left my head, leaving me completely speechless.

There in front of us stood...an angel! Tomoyo! How is it possible that I never noticed just how much this girl had grown up since I last saw her? She had changed from a little, camera-crazed girl, into a beautiful woman! A wonderful, curvy, sexy...

'Where the heck did that come from?! Eriol! Control yourself! She is just an old who happens to hate your guts, and happens to look extremely sexy today...Ugh!!!!!!' I thought, starting to blush. Then I heard myself speak.

"My, we are going back in time, are we?" I said, trying to chuckle. "Well, if that is the way we are going to dress during this vacation, then." I stood up, trying to hide my embarrassment, and then said a simple spell. Immediately, my clothes changed into the era that they were wearing. Still, my blush refused to fade, so I decided to leave the room.

"We should have a fancy dinner for the occasion!" I tried to explain as I left. Then I hurried away, all to aware that Tomoyo's confused eyes were still locked on the back of my head. It was then that realization hit me like a train. Daidouji Tomoyo was here, with me, inside my home. We were isolated here by a natural disaster, and there was nothing she could do about it!

'You are mine, Daidouji Tomoyo.' I thought with a smirk. I wasn't about to let her run away from me again.

~*~*~*~