Author's Notes: Somebody tell me why this chapter was so hard to write? It had to cover so much ground, but I felt like I would get bogged down in details that really wouldn't move the story along. I'm looking forward to the next chapter though! It should come along much faster. Sorry if this chapter is a bit on the short side and skips a lot. I know I left a lot out, but all of the episodes just show Kaho being this mysterious figure in the background and not really doing anything interesting or inspiring.

Thank you once again to my reviewers. I didn't expect such a response to this story. I really started out writing it just for myself, but it's good to see it is liked by others. Thank you all!

(I have finally decided how to end this particular story. Doesn't that make you all happy? I can't wait to get there! Oh, and I have started on two more parts of this universe, but don't worry, I'm not posting them yet. Not until after I finish this one! Then I should work on "Wanting" some more...and probably finish Dark's Burning Light...and a thousand other things. Let me tell you, the chaos method of writing is really chaotic! Oh well, at least things get done--eventually!)

So, here's the chapter finally. Enjoy!

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Moon's Dance and Shadow

A Kaho and Eriol story

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Chapter Seven

The Past Is Gone

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Terada Yoshiyuki was staring out the window as we held the meeting. Winter had its clutches on the trees and temperature of Tomoeda, even though there was no snow. One winter of England's snows had spoiled me and I followed his gaze outside as I wished for that snow. Students were gathered outside in their winter coats in weather that didn't seem as bracing anymore and I just smiled as I thought of what my last winter had been like. I'd expected to be there for this winter too, but events hadn't unfolded that way.

"What about an ice skating trip? It would be a unique experience for many of the students, and it could be part of their physical education grade."

I jumped, realizing that while my fellow teacher had been listening while his gaze strayed, I hadn't. They had been discussing where the next field trip should be held, I remembered that much, but since I was only the substitute math teacher my opinion was not sought in this matter.

A familiar tingle in the back of my mind suggested to me that this one suggestion was not a simple idea to be thrown out with the rest. It was part of the puzzle of the inevitable.

"If I may, I would like to back up Terada-sensei on this idea. It is easy to keep the students active in the summer, but winter sports are usually neglected and should be reinforced to maintain a healthy balance."

The suggestion was debated for a while, as all other suggestions were, until someone brought up another point. "Yoshiyuki is the only instructor here who has more than a rudimentary skill at ice skating. We won't have enough teachers to actually teach the skills necessary."

This is when I chimed in again. "That's not true. I can skate also, I've been doing it for years in my spare time and have taught others as well."

The field trip was scheduled, and I would be going. I wasn't sure why it was important yet, but something would happen. The more time I spent here, watching over Sakura and her friends, the more I was caught up in situations like this.

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There was a card waiting for Sakura at the ice skating rink. I stood by in case she needed help, but the only help she would freely accept was that of those her own age. That was not the only card I would wait on the sidelines to watch her capture either. I helped when I could, and I stood aside more often than I thought I would have. She was as strong and independent in her own way as her brother.

Her grades in school did not reflect the relationship though. I sighed as I looked over her latest math test and wondered how much hunting the cards was effecting her concentration on scholastics. She fell asleep in class on a regular basis too, which worried me. I was easy on her because I knew she was going through a lot, but I worried about her all the same.

I caught myself wondering what Clow had been thinking, why events were meant to unfold this way, now. Sakura was at a very vulnerable age. She had her whole life ahead of her, and school was a very important part of that. Then again, she was a very innocent girl with a strong sense of responsibility that may have been washed away by time. That could be an important factor in timing the events to happen at this point in her life.

When the new school year started that April I pushed events slightly so that I could be her homeroom teacher. I could keep a closer eye on her that way, and be in a better position to help her with her school work as well. There were still many cards to be captured, and I wanted to guide her as much as I could.

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When it was time to prepare for the arts festival, the class voted for a play, and I recalled a movie I had watched in England, Sleeping Beauty. We watched the Disney version first, but the story had intrigued me and I rented a few other versions of it. Spinel Sun had suggested that I should read the original version of the fairy tale, but I had never gotten around to it, and only the animated version had really made an impression on me. It was fun, with some interesting songs to go with it, so I wrote down what I could remember of it in script form and presented it to the class as what they would perform.

It was purely by chance that Sakura and Li Syaoran were the prince and princess in the play, though I wasn't surprised. Rehearsals went well, lines were memorized easily, and so I had a feeling the actual performance would be far from perfect. As the curtain rose I had a feeling that Tomoyo was not alone in the booth, but that was the least of it.

On the verge of the climactic scene, where Sakura as the "prince" would kiss the princess awake, everything was plunged into a magical darkness. Sakura captured it after a time, but it was almost expected at this point. Yes, only the most difficult cards remained at this time, but she was proving herself equal to the task.

I knew that only those with magic would be aware of any lapse in time. It was obviously a card that had us all trapped, and only Sakura could do this. We were all isolated from each other, so there would be no advising her. As soon as the darkness lifted, chaos broke out on the stage as the two stars of the show suddenly found themselves back in reality.

What was strange about it was after the play. I was walking up to say hello to Touya and I saw that he was with Yukito. It was the first time I had really seen them interacting, though I understood from Sakura that they were best friends.

"...that dark part in the middle. Did the power go out, or was that part of the show?" Yukito was just talking to his friend, clearly unsure about what had happened and unaware of his own magic or any magic around him.

Touya turned to his friend and looked like he was about to say something important, but he saw me and changed his mind. "Hello, Kaho."

"Touya," I smiled. "Tsukishiro-san." I bowed a little, smiling. "How did you enjoy the play? I saw you taking pictures of your sister, Touya. Couldn't your father be here?" Their father had missed many of his activities and had been a sore spot with him before, and it looked like Touya may have been feeling less than understanding about the absence this time.

He frowned a little, but didn't scowl as he would have at one time. "No, he was busy today."

"It must be hard to be a single parent. You miss so many important things."

Touya looked thoughtful, and I could almost feel him thinking of the past and the lessons of life I had helped guide him through.

Beside him, Yukito was smiling. "It's very good that To-ya helps Kinomoto-san like this. He always takes pictures of events and plays that Sakura is in so that their father doesn't miss a thing."

Touya's expression was priceless. He looked away for a moment, blushing that slightest bit that most people would miss, then looked back at Yukito with a protective warmth that I had been on the receiving end of all those years ago. I was reminded of the idea I'd had months ago that this boy would complement Touya more than Sakura, and I realized that even then it had been my usual foreknowledge working.

He just shrugged dismissively. "I just do what I should, it's not a big deal."

I was still looking back and forth between them, taking in the signs that were so clear to me but vague to each other. Touya still couldn't resist the moon energy, though he found someone else to be drawn to. "You haven't changed a bit, Touya." I smiled as I reached up and patted him on the cheek.

I could tell he knew what I meant by the shocked look he gave me and the quick glance he made at Touya. I nodded slightly, smiling wider.

"What do you mean, Mizuki-sensei?"

Yukito was simply too innocent to understand. I almost explained, I wanted to so they could start being happy together, but I couldn't. It wasn't my place, and there were still too many secrets between them. It was just not the right time. Also, Touya was looking mortified at the thought of me saying something like that, and I just couldn't bring myself to do this to him no matter how I suspected things would turn out. "It's nothing," I said, shaking my head. "I have things to attend to, so I must take my leave. It was nice running into the two of you though."

With that I walked away. I heard Touya's thoughts clearly at that moment, I felt the conflict and doubt within him as I hadn't felt since that day he told me he loved me. ...after all, he would never love me this way, I'm happy to just be part of his life....

Don't be so sure, Touya. I tried to make my thought known to him, but that bond was long gone and even now his thoughts slipped away from me like sand between my fingers. I remembered my own prophecy, the one he and I had parted with, and my smile turned sad. He was, indeed, in love with someone else. My thoughts turned to all I had left behind in England and I knew of a certainty that I was as well. The past was behind us both.

Suddenly I couldn't wait to return. I wanted to skate on the pond where it was only me and the barren trees and the sky. I wanted to wander through the garden where the flowers that bloomed seemed larger than life and more vivid than the eye could handle. I missed the nights where we would sit around like a family, talking or reading together, and the days where we would all play as if there wasn't a care in the world. I could forget the horror I had felt in the arms of Ruby Moon as my life energy had begun to be siphoned away. I just wanted to return and start on a future where the past was something I remembered, not something I looked forward to.

Most of all I wanted to see Eriol again. I was sure I could get past his physical appearance. He was so much older than me in reality, and I needed to move past what my eyes told me to what my heart said. He deserved no less. After all, I was in love with him, no matter what the world would say.