UNMEI (DESTINY)
CHAPTER 2
"Master Clow met Yumi when she went to China. He fell in love with her and followed her to Japan. They became involved and Yumi's father found out about their relationship. He didn't approve of Master Clow because he practiced sorcery. He separated them and they never saw each other again."
Tomoyo listened attentively as Eriol related the past. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Why is it that I have her memories?" she asked.
"Because you were Yumi."
"You mean…you and I…" she trailed off.
"Yes."
"How did you know it was me?"
"Your eyes. They're exactly the same shape and color as Yumi's," Eriol answered.
"Oh."
"There's another thing I think you should know about them," he continued.
"Nani?"
"They had a child."
Eriol flopped down on one of the park benches. 'I shouldn't have told her about our past,' he thought. When he left her house, she had been in a state of shock.
"Why? Why did I tell her?" he chastised himself. He honestly didn't understand what had pushed him to do it. Could it be that he was falling for her all over again?
"No way," he muttered. He's not Clow Reed anymore and Tomoyo isn't Yumi. They were different people now.
He stood up and decided to go home. He wondered how he was going to break the news to Sakura. She had the right to know after all.
"Nani?! How could Clow Reed have a direct descendant?!" Sakura exclaimed. "He never got married, right?"
Eriol shrugged. He had just informed her of his predicament, but he withheld the fact about Tomoyo being Yumi's reincarnation. "I have to find him before he discovers what he's capable of."
"Why? Is he capable of magic?"
"Most likely."
"I'll help you, then," Sakura offered.
Eriol heaved a sigh. "You don't have to. This is my problem," he told her. 'Mine and Tomoyo's,' he added, though he didn't admit it to his companion.
"What are you saying? We're friends, aren't we? Your troubles are my troubles too," she reasoned.
"You're very softhearted, Sakura-chan," he chuckled.
Eriol picked the receiver up and dialed Tomoyo's number. The phone only rang twice before somebody answered it.
"Moshi moshi."
"Daidouji-san?"
"Hiiragizawa-kun?"
"Yeah," he confirmed. "Are you okay?"
"Uh-huh."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Tomoyo replied. "I would have found out through my dreams anyway. Does Sakura know?"
"Yes, but not everything. I didn't want to embarrass you. You can tell her if you wish."
"Arigatou. Anou…what happened between Clow and Yumi…it won't affect our friendship, ne?" she asked.
"Of course not."
"Do you promise?" she wanted to be sure.
"I promise," Eriol grinned.
Syaoran gazed out of the window. He could see white, fluffy clouds cradling the aircraft's wing. A few minutes later, the skies cleared, making way for a perfect view of the earth below. They were nearly at the airport and Syaoran could hardly contain his excitement.
"Sakura…"
"Arigatou, Otousan," Sakura said as her father laid a plate of sizzling steak and steaming vegetables in front of her. "Too bad Oniichan isn't here to eat with us. Itadekimasu!"
Fujitaka laughed. "Well, it can't be helped. He and Tsukishiro-kun were assigned to look after the video shop tonight because the manager had to go out of town."
"Mmmm…oishi!" she exclaimed which brought another round of laughter from her father.
"Sakura-chan."
"Hai."
"Do you want to get a math tutor? It will be good to have advanced lessons before you enter junior high."
Sakura nodded. She had expected this since she didn't do well in the subject last term.
"If you want, I can teach you myself," Fujitaka offered.
"Oh no. A tutor will be fine with me. You'll be busy soon, and besides, I want to make a new friend," she smiled.
"Speaking of which, one of your friends called while you were out. He didn't leave a message though."
"Hoe?"
"I think his name is Li."
Sakura's fork dropped on the floor with a clatter.
Syaoran slumped down on the swing and dug his toe in the dirt. 'She's late again,' he thought then grinned. He'd wait for her no matter how long.
"Ohayo!" someone shouted.
"Ohayo!" he replied, rising from his sitting position. His eyes lit up as Sakura ran to him. She jumped in his arms which made him blush.
"Gomen," Sakura said as she loosened her hold on his neck. "Why didn't you tell me that you were coming early? I could've picked you up from the airport."
"I wanted to surprise you," he answered, tilting his head.
She laid her forehead on his shoulder and sighed, "You did a good job."
Syaoran supported her with one hand on her waist and the other on her nape. He inhaled her sweet scent and declared, "I missed you."
"So did I." She pulled away from his embrace. "Anou…do you know that Eriol-kun is here?"
"Yeah. I felt his presence when I arrived," he said, lowering his arms. "Sakura…I…I felt another aura similar to his. What's going on?"
Sakura proceeded to tell him what she knew.
Maya twirled her pen between her fingers as she listened attentively to the professor's lecture. She was glad to have signed up for this class. The topics were interesting, and to top it off, the teacher was good-looking. There was never a moment when she got bored.
The shrill sound of the bell filled the room, signaling the end of the day's session. Students started filing out through the doors.
"Keitaro-san," Kinomoto-sensei called out. "Would you mind staying for a few minutes?"
"Not at all," she answered. Her heart did a little somersault as the professor strode to her.
Touya rinsed the vegetables and handed them to Yukito. Then, he retrieved a large pot from one of the kitchen cabinets and placed it on the stove.
"Should I chop these?" his friend asked.
"Ah," he nodded as he started to prepare the soup. They were having a special dinner that evening because, aside from Yukito, one of his father's pupils was joining them.
"Did your father mention whether his guest is a boy or a girl?" Yukito inquired.
"Yeah. It's a girl."
"Oh…so that's why you're in a bad mood."
"How do you know?"
"Well, you're spilling soup on the stove," he laughed.
Maya enjoyed having dinner at the Kinomoto residence. She liked everyone in the sensei's family especially his daughter Sakura. Watching them made her realize just how much she missed her parents and brothers.
Her family disappeared five years ago during their trip to Hawaii. They were on their way home when the plane they boarded crashed in the middle of the ocean. She was rescued by a fishing vessel two days later but the bodies of her parents and siblings were never found. Since then, she had been living alone.
She sighed. Oh how she envied Tsukishiro-kun! He isn't a Kinomoto but he fits in with them perfectly. She felt fresh tears sting the back of her eyes.