UNMEI (DESTINY)
CHAPTER 1
Tomoyo watched as her best friend hopped cheerfully along the sidewalk.
"Sakura-chan," she smiled. "I'm so happy for you."
Sakura blushed. "I still can't believe that Syaoran will be going to junior high with us," she said excitedly. "I…I missed him very much!"
"I'm sure he feels the same way," Tomoyo laughed. She took the camera out of her bag and started filming her friend's gaily dance.
Months have passed since Sakura captured the Hope card. Syaoran and Meiling returned to Hong Kong afterwards to resume their studies. But a couple of weeks ago, the Chinese lad had written to Sakura and informed her that he'll be studying in Japan this school year. However, his cousin decided not to join him.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Tomoyo-chan," Sakura said as they reached the intersection.
"Hai. One o'clock, right?"
"Yup," she confirmed before waving goodbye.
Tomoyo headed in the opposite direction. 'Sakura looks cute when she is happy,' she grinned as she placed her camera back in the bag. 'Everything will be fun once Li-kun arrives. It's just too bad that Meiling won't be coming with him.'
She was about to cross the road when a wave of dizziness swept through her. She stumbled then collapsed on the pavement. The last thing she remembered before losing consciousness was the sound of a deep voice calling her name.
In her dream, she was a young woman of eighteen. She was sitting in front of a mirror, combing her long silky hair which was a deep shade of red. Her violet eyes sparkled as she recalled the dark-haired gentleman whom she had met during her trip to China. He told her that he was coming to Japan next month.
"He promised to visit me," she whispered to her reflection, fingering the gold medallion with the strange symbol hanging around her neck.
"Daidouji-san, are you all right?" a woman asked.
"H-hai." Tomoyo opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with her fifth grade teacher. "Mizuki-sensei! What are you…? Why am I here?"
"Don't you remember? You fainted on the street," Kaho said gently, giving her a tall glass of water. "Eriol-kun saw you just when you passed out."
"Hiiragizawa-kun…? But what is he doing in Japan?"
"I came to look for someone," Eriol answered as he entered the room. "How are you feeling, Daidouji-san?"
Kaho took the glass from Tomoyo's hands and conveniently excused herself.
"Fine. Anou…" Tomoyo began. "Thank you for helping me."
"No problem."
"Does Sakura-chan know you're here?"
"Not really. I didn't want to involve her in any more of my mess so I wasn't planning to tell her."
"What do you mean?" Tomoyo asked, obviously alarmed.
The clock chimed six times indicating that evening has arrived.
"I better take you home. Your parents might get worried," Eriol stated before leaving her alone to dress.
Tomoyo rose from the bed and changed out of the dressing gown that someone, most probably Mizuki-sensei, had put on her.
'What is he up to this time?'
Eriol waited until Tomoyo disappeared into the elegant mansion before turning around and walking away from the gates.
He didn't expect to bump into her during his first day of search. He could have hidden his presence from her, but the sight of her body lying helpless on the ground had definitely affected him in a weird way.
"Now they'll have to know," he sighed.
The cherry blossoms swayed with the wind, causing the petals to drift in mid-air. She caught one in the palm of her hand and held it against the necklace that he had given her. She dropped onto the grass and closed her eyes.
"When are you coming to see me again?" she asked aloud. She longed to be with him every minute of the day. She became overjoyed when he mentioned, on the occasion of their last parting, that he'll be living permanently in her homeland.
'We can finally plan our life together,' she smiled.
"Tomoyo-chan!" greeted Sakura as she approached. "Gomen nasai! Did I make you wait long?"
"Iye," Tomoyo replied, shaking her head. She smiled at her friend and asked, "Shall we go?"
"Um," Sakura nodded. "Before I forget, Eriol-kun called me yesterday and told me that he's in town."
Tomoyo stopped in midstride. "What…what did…he say?"
"He invited us to his new house for tea. Do you know that Mizuki-sensei came with him?" Sakura continued with enthusiasm. "But he didn't bring Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon along. I wonder why."
Tomoyo kept silent.
"Doushitano, Tomoyo-chan?"
"It's nothing."
"You look pale. Are you feeling well?"
"I'm okay. I haven't had much sleep, that's all."
"Maybe we should postpone our plans for this afternoon," Sakura said with concern.
"No. Really, I'm fine." But Tomoyo knew that she isn't. Her head ached as visions of long forgotten memories started pouring into her mind. She dropped on her knees and fell over.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura shouted as she caught her friend's limp body in her arms.
"How is she?" Sakura asked Sonomi who had just come out of Tomoyo's room.
The older woman laid a hand on her shoulder. "She's sleeping soundly. The doctor said that she needed some rest."
"Gomen."
"It's not your fault," Sonomi smiled. "Thank you for bringing her back."
"I should be getting home now," Sakura said, lowering her head. "Can you tell her to call me when she's better?"
"Of course. I'll ask someone to escort you home. Don't worry too much," Sonomi said before turning away.
Tomoyo awakened to the sound of chatter outside her bedroom door.
"Tomoyo-chan, are you up?" her mother inquired as she poked her head inside.
"Hai."
"A friend of yours has come to see you. He said his name is Eriol."
"Hiiragizawa-kun?" Tomoyo asked as she straightened herself. "Please let him in."
"Okay."
Seconds later, Eriol appeared from the doorway. "How are you?"
"Better. Thank you for coming." She looked at him directly. "I…I've been having strange dreams."
"I know," Eriol said. He sat beside her and clasped her right hand.
Tomoyo felt a familiar feeling spread throughout her body.
"Clow…" came the soft whisper, but it wasn't she who spoke.
"Yumi," Eriol acknowledged.