Hurt, Hope, and Happiness

*Chapter Eight - Wedding Dayz*

A year past and Eriol regretted his decision of leaving without personally saying goodbye to Tomoyo. Each of the 365 days, Eriol tried to forget about the one had loved. Each day tormented him more than the one before it.

He gradually pressed memories out of his mind until he convinced himself that he was no longer in love with the raven-haired beauty. But inside, deep in his heart, he still knew he would never fall out of love with her.

In Japan, Trave had proposed to Tomoyo a few months after Eriol left. Tomoyo also finished directing the movie she had been working on, "Wishing for You". It pained her to think about it, so she didn't want to see it.

They scheduled and planed the wedding immediately. Sonomi hadn't objected to the marriage because of her friendship with Trave's parents. She knew that if this was the man Tomoyo anted to marry, she had chosen well. The wedding was to take place on June the twenty-third of that year. The invitations were sent out, and Kieta secretly sent one to Eriol after finding his address. She knew that this was Eriol's last chance.

However, due to some air mail difficulties, Eriol received his invitation on the twentieth of June. However, it wasn't Eriol who read it first, Nakuru did.

"Hmmmmlooks like we got a fancy letter from Japan!"

Nakuru tore open the envelope and opened the card.

"NANI?!?" She cried out.

Eriol rushed into the hall, "What is it Nakuru?"

Nakuru stood, shaking her hand as she read the invitation out loud, "You are invited to the wedding of Miss Tomoyo Daidouji and Mr. Trave Laenenjio on June the twenty-third of this year???? Is this what you wouldn't talk about master? That Tomoyo had her eyes on someone else?"

Eriol's face fell and his stomach seemed upset. He ran to the bathroom before upchucking.

"Master Eriol?!?"

Eriol emerged from the bathroom with tear-stained eyes, "II lost her already. I can't stop it; the marriage is in three days. Besides, she doesn't love me anymore."

Nakuru looked on him with pity, "You can't tell that for sure! Besides, you can still make it there in time! Don't worry, I'll take care of everything!"

Nakuru called the local airport and got Eriol a ticket to Japan. Eriol called up his boss, Mr. Ginner and told him what had happened. Mr. Ginner was overjoyed, "There ya go boy! They like ya enough to send ya an invitation! So go, you can have the week off."

So it was set, Eriol would go to Japan and try to stop the wedding.

Back in Japan, arrangements were being hurried along for the marriage of the famous director and famous man. Tomoyo's dress had been chosen by her mother and friend Sakura. Sakura's children Mikhai and Riena were to be the ring bearer and the flower girl. Syaoran had agreed to be Trave's best man and Sakura was one of Tomoyo's bride's maids.

Sonomi had taken care of the whole ordeal, hurry around in her old age and trying her best to keep everything together.

Tomoyo had completely forgotten about her first love, Eriol. She had grown fonder of Trave and her memories of Eriol had become faint.

Eriol arrived on the night of June the twenty-second and got a hotel room near the church were Tomoyo was to be married.

He was exhausted and didn't bother to call anyone to tell them he was in Japan. He just lay down and took a long nap, thinking about the one who he thought he loved.

Eriol woke around eight in the morning and rushed to get ready. He was going to make this a day no one would ever forget.

Meanwhile, Tomoyo was gazing at herself in a mirror with her wedding gown on. It was sleeveless and was made of white silk. The material moved to accommodate Tomoyo's curves and it ruffled in all the right places. She was to wear a lace veil that had been handmade with tiny pearls sewn into it. Tomoyo couldn't believe that it was actually her in the mirror.

"Tomoyo! Quit your gaping! I need to finish your hair! The wedding is starting soon!"

Tomoyo sighed, "I still can't believe that I'm getting married Sakura-chan!"

Sakura gulped, she had always thought that Eriol would be at the altar that Tomoyo was going to be walking down. I still don't see how he could just leave her, twice.

"Sakura, how did you feel at your wedding?"

Sakura looked at Tomoyo's face in the mirror, "I couldn't wait for the minute to come when I could say, 'I do' and be with Syaoran for ever."

Sakura's eyes went starry, "I just felt so happy all over, knowing that it was finally the day that would start our new lives."

Tomoyo rolled her eyes, "Sakura" I just have butterflies in my stomach. I mean, I've known Trave forever, I just can't think of him more than a good friend.

Tomoyo shook the thought from her head.

Eriol shoved some breakfast down his throat and ran to get a taxi. That's when he realized that he had left the invitation in his room, he ran back up and grabbed it from his bed.

He rushed out to get to a taxi, "To the Three Rivers Chapel!" He practically screamed at the driver.

"Ya Ya, hold your horses mister. Everyone has been wanting a ride there."

"What?"

"Don't ya know anything? It's the biggest event of the year, but not even the press was allowed in. The wedding is starting soon though."

"All the more reason to step on it!"

The driver stepped on the gas pedal, only to find the engine die down. The taxi slowed down, then stopped.

"No!!!!!!!! NoNoNo!!!!" Eriol screeched as he rushed out of the taxi, slamming the door to the taxi. He started to run in a full-fledged sprint, heading in the general direction the taxi had been going.

Tomoyo smiled at the people in the chapel as she stood at the doorway, waiting for her queue. She glanced down at the altar, and caught Trave's eye.

He mouthed the words, 'I Love You' to her.

Tomoyo smiled, but still felt an emotional attachment to something she couldn't figure out, Am I really ready for this?

The wedding march started and Tomoyo took a deep breath as she watched the people in front of her start down the pale violet carpet.

Reina grasped her whicker basket of plum blossom petals and bit her lip, Mommy told me to stall. What does that mean? Am I supposed to do something silly?

She remembered back to when Sakura had asked her to stall the wedding when her part came, "Sweetie, I need you to stall the wedding. Just do something that will keep Auntie Tomoyo from getting to the front of the room."

Reina smiled, she had figured it out. She took two steps and then took out a petal from her basket. She smiled to the people as she bent down and gently put it to the floor. She continued this, taking up a good five minutes before someone in the seats gently told her that she needed to get to the front.

Reina rolled her eyes and then proceeded to 'accidentally' trip herself. She yowled out in pain. Syaoran, who was at the front of the room, smirked, That's my girl.

The music stopped and everyone in the room turned to look at Reina, then turned to Sakura. Sakura smiled innocently and turned a deep shade of red.

Mikhai looked at his sister in confusion, he was the ring bearer. Then he remembered what his dad had told him to do. "Now Mikhai. Make sure that you cause a big commotion and stall the wedding."

Mikhai had stared up at his father in dismay, "But Auntie Tomo-"

"I don't care. Listen Mikhai, you have to keep Auntie Tomoyo from getting to the altar. You have to do this!"

Mikhai's thoughts zoomed back to the present, Mommy must have told Rei to 'stall' too.

He quickly started running down to the altar screaming, "Daddy! Daddy! Rei fall! Rei fall!" He ran around, tears pouring out of his eyes."

The two children were quickly hushed, Sakura turned bright red when Syaoran gave her a look. Reina and Mikhai sat up on the steps, quiet. Tomoyo giggled in her hand, Sakura, you've got some kind of children.

Tomoyo smiled broadly and started down towards the altar where Trave was grinning. Well, someone is enjoying all this. She thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Eriol continued running towards the chapel. He got directions from people he passed. He breathed quick breaths and felt sweat on his forehead. He kept running though.

"I will make it in time. I have to." Eriol said in between breaths.

Then, he tripped.

Sneak Peek into Chapter Nine

Tomoyo stood infront of Trave, staring into his eyes.

The reverend's words unheard by her ears.

Everything that had happened in her life was going through her head as she thought, Am I doing the right thing?

Quick Note: Remember :-P You can e-mail me at knightlydogz@juno.com