Thanks to the readers who reviewed (Wonderbabe, Andrena Bui, James Birdsong). Hope that I am not too late with the update. Regarding update frequency, you can expect about one chapter a month until the story finishes. I would have liked to finish it sooner, but unfortunately, that's the pace that my current schedule will allow. I understand that with the story going on for so long, lengthy chapters, and infrequent updates, many readers are likely to lose interest. However, I promise to complete it, and have the utmost gratitude and respect for everyone who have been keeping up with the story despite the above factors.
Please enjoy the chapter. The lyrics in the song used in this chapter are not mine.
Tomoyo felt an emptiness within herself over the weeks that followed. Externally, she was still the same, preoccupied with her music and academics, but they all seemed soulless to her. Meiling had called her the evening after the day of the music festival. After congratulating her excitedly on her performance, she asked how things went with Yue-san.
"Yue-san is not ready to hear anything, Meiling-chan. He stopped me before I could tell him anything," Tomoyo told her friend.
"What a jerk! I should come over and give him a piece of my mind," Meiling exclaimed over the phone.
"Please, Meiling-chan, you cannot force anyone to do anything that they don't want to do. I respect his choice, and with that I want to move on too," Tomoyo had said.
"It won't be easy," Meiling had said softly.
A month had passed since the events of the music festival. Yue was as reticent as always, and Tomoyo too did her part to keep their interactions short and formal. It seemed as though there was a thin wall of glass between them, barely visible, but if they reached out for each other, they would touch nothing but its cold surface.
Tomoyo was thinking all these things as she sat beside the moon guardian on their way back from the library. Yue was staring ahead with the usual blank expression on his face. At the next station, an elderly lady boarded the train. Most of the other passengers were either glued to their phones or busy talking to their companions. So, only Yue and Tomoyo noticed the poor lady trying to find a seat with desperate eyes. A quick glance passed between Tomoyo and Yue, and in the next moment, Yue left his seat. "Oba-san, you can sit here," Tomoyo called the woman, pointing to the seat beside her.
"Bless you, my dear," the lady came and sat down with a relieved smile. "Your boyfriend is so kind. Such a fine young gentleman, considering that most young people have no courtesy these days." she continued.
This again, Tomoyo thought in mild irritation. "Ano, he is not my boyfriend," she clarified.
"Oh, I am sorry for referring to your husband as your boyfriend. For a moment there, I thought that only married couples can communicate without saying anything like that. You know, with their eyes," she gave Tomoyo a friendly nudge. "But then, you two are so young, so I thought –," she trailed off.
Husband? Wow! This lady is on another level. Tomoyo turned her face to look at Yue's reaction, who stood quietly off to her side, but she was surprised at what she saw. A rich blush colored his pale face, extending to the tips of his ears. His expression was a mix between defiance and embarrassment. So, magical guardians have the ability to blush, huh? He didn't even bat an eyelid earlier at the boyfriend remark though! She thought. A mischievous desire to torment him just a bit more with the topic raised its little head inside her mind. She turned towards the lady beside her again.
"Oba-san, this person may seem kind on the surface, but in reality he is just cruel and surly, and chides me so often. In fact, I think he would rather prefer to disappear than become my husband," Tomoyo turned her face away from Yue and spoke to the lady, who gave her a confused look, losing some of the confidence in her earlier assessment of their relationship.
"He must have done something to make you upset today, huh?" their co-passenger seemed to take the words lightly. Tomoyo only gave a small smile and turned again to look at Yue with a little smirk on her face. But she found that the pretty shade that colored his face a moment ago had completely drained leaving behind an ashen pallor, which made her regret saying anything at all.
The old lady got off the train before either of them. "Earlier, you used to say that I was kind," Yue remarked softly as he took the empty seat beside Tomoyo again.
"Yue-san, I was just joking with her, since she made such a random assumption," Tomoyo tried to explain.
"It is not a joke if it is the truth. I could not be kind to you after all," Yue spoke, actively trying to avoid meeting her eyes.
"Please don't say that," Tomoyo swiftly placed her hand over Yue's for a moment before pulling it away. "You are not flawless, but when we became friends, I knew that you were kind. My opinion has not changed a bit, except that now I also know that you are also selfless," she said.
"Daidouji-san, I must correct your fallacious judgment. If I was really selfless, I would have felt no resentment in letting Clow leave me behind," Yue said.
Tomoyo kept quiet. Perhaps, poor Yue-san will never completely get over Clow-san's loss, she thought as a heavy weight settled on her heart at the pain that the solemn eyes of the moon guardian reflected. Yue continued to speak. "My actions towards you have been governed by gratitude, not selflessness, make no mistake," he said. The train stopped at his station, and in the next moment he was gone, leaving Tomoyo with no chance to reply. If Touya had not given him his powers that day and if he had not promised him that he would ensure that Yukito would always be with Touya, just maybe he could give himself the permission to explore the strange feelings that this young girl managed to stir in his heart; the heart that ought to have been dead as stone the day Clow had left the world, yet was somehow very much alive judging by the way it reacted at every thought of Tomoyo, which had been a lot lately.
"I have decided that I will transfer to a different university," Tomoyo told Meiling over phone a few weeks later.
"Nani? Why? Where?" Meiling asked in confusion.
"Our university has an exchange program with some foreign universities, and my professors wanted me to apply. I got accepted in the one in Vancouver," Tomoyo said.
"All the way to Canada? It is a cold and desolate place. You will be miserable," Meiling said straightforwardly.
"Demo, Akiho-chan is also there. The university has a good program in computer science. It will be a good experience if I want to go to graduate school later," Tomoyo tried to defend her decision objectively.
"Akiho-chan is in Montreal. It is so far that it is as good as living in another country. Heck, it takes me fewer hours to travel from Hong Kong to Tokyo," Meiling quipped. Tomoyo was silent on the other end of the phone. "You think moving to another country would make you forget Yue-san? Surely, you are not so naïve," her friend spoke again.
"I know that it is not possible. In fact, I don't ever want to forget Yue-san. This is not about me," Tomoyo replied quietly.
Meiling clicked her tongue. "You are doing it for Yue-san then?"
"I want to free him of the conflict he is facing right now because of me," Tomoyo said. "Meiling-chan, Yue-san is actually a very innocent and sensitive person, but he is also proud and has a high self-regard. He tries hard but it is very difficult for him to bury his feelings. He has certain promises that he has to keep to Touya onii-san and Tsukishiro-san. I don't want to make him question his own decisions all the time and start hating himself," Tomoyo tried to explain. Indeed, she could feel it in their last few interactions. The waves of their feelings were crashing against that thin glass wall that separated them. She knew it would not hold up against that force much longer, and would inevitably crack, hurting everyone else in the vicinity. She had to move away before that happened.
"Why is it always you who has to sacrifice everything for others huh? I just don't understand how you can be so unfair to yourself," Meiling huffed.
"Mine is not the only sacrifice in this story, Meiling-san, everyone else had their share of those. I have made up my mind," Tomoyo said firmly. Meiling wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes, and resolved to support her friend through her decision.
Tomoyo found herself alone in the library one Saturday. Probably Yue did not show up that day because Yukito needed to be elsewhere. She had planned to tell him that she will be transferring to another university. She had already told Sakura and the rest of her friends, and was scheduled to leave the country in less than a month's time. When she left the building in the evening, she was stopped by someone calling her from behind. She turned to see that it was the young girl named Hana who worked at the front desk.
"Sumimasen, Daidouji-san. I got off work a bit early today. Actually, I am headed in the same direction. Do you mind if I walk with you to the station?" the girl asked.
"Not at all, I am happy to have your company," Tomoyo smiled her signature pleasant smile.
"You know, today was my last day of working here. I am leaving this part time job," Hana told her as she fell into step beside her.
"I am sorry to hear that Hana-san. Hope that you had a pleasant time working here," Tomoyo said.
"Iie, it is a good thing actually," Hana waved her hands. "My elder sister just got herself a better full time job, so she suggested that I don't need to work anymore. She wants me to focus on studies for now," she explained.
"That's very kind of your sister," Tomoyo smiled.
"I know," Hana said. She spoke again after a brief moment of silence. "Yue-san is not with you today?" she asked.
Tomoyo knew that somehow this conversation would turn towards Yue. "I suppose he is needed elsewhere today," she replied.
"Ano, are you going out with him?" Hana asked in one breath. "Sorry for asking this personal question," she bowed immediately.
"That's alright. No, Yue-san is just a good friend," Tomoyo answered kindly.
"To be honest, I have been wanting to ask him out for a while. But I did not know if he was seeing someone, whether it is you or someone else," the girl said timidly.
"Is that so?" Tomoyo feigned mild surprise, although she had known about this girl's attraction towards the moon guardian for months. "As far as I know he barely meets anyone, let alone dating them. He is not a very social person see," she smiled.
"Introverts are so charming and mysterious, ne? Then please help me," Hana grabbed her hands suddenly.
"How can I help?" This time Tomoyo was genuinely surprised.
"Wait," the young girl stopped walking for a moment. She fished inside her purse and brought out a simple white envelope. "Please give this to Yue-san for me," she requested.
"What is it?" Tomoyo did not extend her hand to accept it just yet.
"Oh, don't worry. I have just written that it would make me very happy if he could accompany me for a date," the girl smiled nervously.
"Don't you think that it would be better if you gave it yourself? Or even better just ask him?" Tomoyo was almost feeling sorry for the young girl. Yue-san would never accept it. He was not the sort of person who would go on a casual date with someone when real feelings were not involved. But she did not know how to tell that to the naïve girl.
"Yue-san is not exactly approachable, you know," Hana replied. "But he seems to be much nicer to you, which makes me think that he is just not that affable with strangers. Maybe, if you gave it to me on my behalf, he would at least consider it. Of course, I am not expecting much and if he refuses to see me, I will understand," she said.
Tomoyo was somewhat reassured to find that the girl was not completely clueless after all. "Very well, I shall make every effort to make him consider your request, Hana-san," Tomoyo told her.
"Arigatou, Daidouji-san. You are a very kind person," the girl seemed quite grateful that her request was accepted by Tomoyo.
When they met at the public library next weekend, Tomoyo told Yue that she needed to leave earlier than usual to take care of some things, but she had a few things to tell him. So, in the afternoon, the two of them walked over to a park a block away. As they sat down beside each other, Tomoyo found herself entirely captivated by the glow cast by the setting sun on the handsome face of the young man beside her. But she forced herself to tear away her eyes from the beautiful sight and look elsewhere. Staring off into the distance, she slowly told Yue about her plan to transfer to another university in another country. Yue listened quietly. He did not speak for a long time when she stopped speaking. "Yue-san?" Tomoyo called him, expecting a response.
"I hope it is a well formulated plan that will be conducive towards your academic goals and career," Yue said finally, raising his hand to brush away some of his silver hair that had fallen over his eyes. His voice was emotionless, and he did not look at her. He sounded like a sensei, instructing a student rather than a friend.
"Hai," she said. "I think it will be a good experience, and okaa-san feels that way too," Tomoyo responded.
Yue simply nodded and rose from his seat. It seemed that he was about to leave. "Wait, I have to give you something," Tomoyo quickly stood and reached for the envelope in her bag. When she found it, she extended her hand. "Here," she said.
"What is that?" Yue narrowed his blue eyes and observed it like a cautious cat.
"It is something Hana-san wanted to tell you," Tomoyo said. "You know, the girl at the library front desk?" She elaborated, noticing the dispassionate stare she received from the moon guardian.
"I don't want it," Yue said, taking a small step back.
"What?" Tomoyo asked, a bit put off by the sharp coldness of his voice
"Don't make me repeat myself," the young man's voice turned colder.
"It will be better if you can at least give Hana-san some sort of reply. You know, she really likes you and –,"
"Daidouji-san," Yue interrupted her sternly. His blue eyes seemed to be alight with rage. "That girl is simply attracted to me. Or rather, to my appearance, which barely defines who I am. I thought someone like you would know the difference," he said.
"Perhaps," Tomoyo said. "But the two may not be mutually exclusive. She may still like you once she gets to know you better. That's why she wanted a date," Tomoyo stated.
"And what's in it for you, Daidouji-san? Why are you so insistent on her behalf? Is it because you feel sorry for me? Perhaps you want to find a new friend for me to spend time with, now that you are moving away?" Yue almost snickered.
"That's not true Yue-san. Please don't misinterpret," Tomoyo lifted her face and glared at the man before her.
"Hard to believe it isn't," Yue said, still indignant. "You, Clow Reed, all you humans are just the same. You humor us for a while, and then hand us over to someone else. Just like a once favorite doll of a child carelessly tossed into the donation box meant to go to charity," Yue said.
"Please stop this drivel, Yue-san," Tomoyo said. Yue's words felt like someone was crushing her heart with a heavy bludgeon
"Isn't it true that Clow Reed was eager to appoint a new master for Keroberos and me? Didn't he try to manipulate Yukito's heart to fall in love with the new master? Should I be delighted at the fact that Clow intended to set me up with a mere child? Should I just overlook the fact that you basically just tried to make me go out with a random girl, even after knowing that a normal human is not supposed to know my true identity, and that I have no interest in such humans?" Yue seethed.
"Yue-san, don't you dare," Tomoyo suddenly grabbed Yue's hand, gripping it tightly with her fingers. "Don't you dare to project your anger on Clow Reed upon me," she said as she looked straight at him. "I am not answerable for the things Clow-san subjected you to. You think you can keep scolding me for everything, and I will continue to take it?" Tomoyo retorted angrily.
"Fine," Yue huffed. "However, you seem to be always eager to prove to yourself and everyone else how magnanimous you are. That random person gave you an opportunity to do so, and you took it readily. After all, I am just a tool who can be given away, as part of one of your philanthropic projects," the umbrage Yue felt was unabated.
"After all this time, that's your opinion of me?" tears finally fell from Tomoyo's burning eyes. "You think that I think of you as a mere tool that can be used to display my generosity" her voice broke in pain.
"If that is not true, then tell me, what am I to you Daidouji-san?" Yue asked.
"Yue-san, you know that very well," the tips of Tomoyo's fingers dug into Yue's hand, and she looked down, biting hard on her lip.
"The idea of being the perpetual recipient of your pity just sickens me. I want to hear it from your own mouth. So tell me if I am wrong. Tell me if I am anything but a tool under the guise of a friend," Yue insisted, tilting Tomoyo's face with his free hand to make her look at him.
Tomoyo's face glowed with fury. She left Yue's hand and grabbed the lapels of his blazer with both hands, to pull him even closer, bringing his face nearer her own.
"Well, for your information, I did try to answer the question long before you even dared to ask. But you were not prepared to hear it, were you?" She bristled. Even now, if I tell you what you are to me, will you do anything different about it? No, because you like to suffer alone, and not let anyone in," the words tumbled from her mouth.
"Daidouji-san, I wouldn't be asking you something if I were not prepared for the answer," Yue said with steely determination in his eyes. But Tomoyo let go of the fabric that she clenched in her fists and stepped aside.
"What's the point?" She said, trying to stifle her sobs, the unusual spark of rage that overcame her, dying down as quickly as it had started. "You will probably dismiss it as some pointless human emotion that you find so repulsive. "Yes, Hana-san is attracted to you because it is normal for a girl of her age to feel that way towards a young man as attractive as you are. Not everyone can be lofty like Yue-san and manufactured to be above all earthly desires," Tomoyo sniffled.
"Manufactured? Seems that the doll comparison was not unjustified after all," Yue said scornfully.
"I didn't mean it like that, but I suppose I cannot stop you from twisting my words anyway," Tomoyo said. "I didn't expect you to go out with her or anything. I just thought you could hear her out and answer her in a civil manner. That's the minimum respect one person can give to another," she frantically wiped away the tears that were still falling from her eyes as she spoke.
Tomoyo's tears had a strange effect on Yue every time he saw them. It made him want to reach out and brush them away, to hold her close until her eyes had drained themselves dry. This time was no exception, as Yue's hand subconsciously reached out for her, even though the cause of those tears was no one else but himself. Well, himself and his original master who was the cause of all these incidents. But before his hand could make contact with Tomoyo's arm, the girl spoke again.
"Yue-san, I cannot lie to you, and the truth won't be pleasant for anyone. So, please don't ask me anything more. Just as you have your duty to fulfill, I have mine," she said, in a relatively firmer voice.
Tomoyo slowly turned her head when she did not receive a reply. The space where the moon guardian had stood was empty. He had withdrawn with the quiet steps of a cat. Or maybe his wings had carried him away from her. She did not know.
Yue sat on the porch of his house later that evening, gazing at the starry sky. Stupid Daidouji-san, he muttered, brushing the small semi-circular marks on the pale skin of his palm. Tomoyo had gripped his hand so tightly earlier that her nails had dug into the skin of his palm, but in the heat of the argument neither of them noticed it at that moment. It stung a little, but Yue imagined that it was nothing compared to how his earlier words must have stung her. Always trying to care for everyone but herself, he mused. Yue could not imagine that Tomoyo would ask him to consider going out with someone else, when he assumed that she had developed feelings for him. Thus, he felt resentful when he heard her strange request, and he lost his usual composure. Thinking back on his words now, they felt so illogical. But at that moment, all he wanted to do was to make her confirm that feelings he assumed she had for him were real. Of course he just told her things in the spur of the moment, but perhaps that angry, illogical part of him had hoped that she would break down and say it if he managed to make his words hurtful enough. Was he actually considering reciprocating her feelings if she had expressed them though? Yue shuddered at the thought. Even if for a moment, he had indeed entertained that treacherous idea. How was that even possible? He did not even know how to describe the feelings he had for Tomoyo. All he knew was that there was a voice within him which kept growing louder each time they met, and which kept telling him that his existence was only worth enduring if she was a part of it in some way; that another day was worth waiting for if only to walk a few steps besides that girl, to hear her enchanting voice sing softly to herself, call his name or politely argue with him, to see the kind light shine in her deep violet eyes. And now that person was leaving, and there was not a thing that he could do about it. He did not know if the love that humans feel was the same as how he felt, but he felt that it was pointless to try and make sense of it anymore.
The moon in Tomoyo's dream shrunk in size again that night, and she cried until daybreak.
Two days later, Tomoyo noticed a message from an unknown contact in her social media account. Daidouji-san, thank you for fulfilling my request - Hana (from the library). The message said. It felt a bit strange. Tomoyo had been thinking that she had failed to fulfill that request, and on top of that she had lost the envelope. It seemed that she had dropped it at some point, and Yue had picked it up that day before he left quietly. The following conversation took place over text when Tomoyo replied to the girl who had a crush on the moon guardian.
Tomoyo: How did it go?
Hana: Yue-san texted and refused, stating that he won't go on a date with me as he won't be able to be truthful to me.
Tomoyo: I am sorry…
Hana: I have a feeling that you knew… I wish you had told me sooner.
Tomoyo: It was nothing more than an inkling from my end that he might say something similar. It wouldn't be right to discourage you from trying based on that.
Hana: When I thanked Yue-san for the text, saying that I understand, he blankly told me that he had only cared to inform me because Daidouji-san thought that it was important to do so.
Tomoyo: I see...
Hana: Daidouji-san, I could tell that you are a kind person and only wanted to be nice to me. However, next time, please don't request a person who likes you so much to go on a date with another person. It is kind of hurtful to them.
At that point, Tomoyo fully realized why Yue-san had been so enraged that day, and why the normally reserved man went as far as to ask her what he meant to her. Her poor stupid self could not answer.
Later that month, Tomoyo sat before the piano at Sakura's house. She was visiting her best friend for what was supposed to be the last time in a while, for she was due to leave for Vancouver the next evening to begin her life as a transfer student. Fujitaka persuaded her to stay for dinner and Sakura had persuaded her to sing something, citing that she had to miss Tomoyo's most recent stage performance. Yukito and Sakura sat in the room with Tomoyo as she started playing, her voice joining the music soon after.
As though to inform us of summer's end,
They lined up quietly on the roadside and bloomed
Unstained of the evening, unaware of even the wind
They are such blue blue bellflowers.
Afraid of getting hurt,
I tried to hide my heart!
But then you taught me,
The warmth of having someone by my side.
This isn't goodbye!
I am just heading to a faraway place with an unknown name;
Even if we are far apart,
I will still be in your memories - breathing, living.
I will head to a faraway place
That is hidden in the night, that no one knows of.
Even if I am lost, the warmth in my memories
Will always light up the present.
Before the song ended, Yukito silently got up and left the room. The pain that he felt within his chest was increasing to unprecedented proportions. He sank on the floor of the hall, his back pressed against the wall. He could still hear Tomoyo's voice as she sang the rest of the song.
I heard voices from a festival faraway -
But I thought it had nothing to do with me
I didn't want to see the line that separated me from them.
Those were such lonely days,
I couldn't chase up to anyone's backs
Sometimes, I even told lies;
But the fact that I found some things here that I want to protect
Just that alone makes me happy.
This isn't goodbye!
Even though we feel lonely for not being able to face each other
But just having a place here that we want to return to
Just that alone can turn loneliness into strength.
I want to be loved, but in truth I was struggling
All because I met that kindness,
That enveloped my loneliness and tears.
This isn't goodbye!
Even if we will never meet again,
I'm sure that as long as we are smiling somewhere
Our hearts will be connected.
This isn't goodbye!
I'm just heading to a faraway place with an unknown name
Even if we are apart
The warmth in my memories,
Is something that I will never forget.
Strong arms enveloped Yukito's slender frame just as Tomoyo finished the song. Her voice seemed to have cracked, almost imperceptibly towards the end. "Yuki," Touya's deep voice said next to his ears, as he tried to pull the despondent young man up by his shoulders.
Yukito only crawled further into Touya's arms. "Everything seems to be falling apart. What should we do, Toya? This is not what I wanted for Yue-san. When I asked Yue-san to go out in the world and experience it, I wanted him to find joy, not more pain," he said.
"Yuki," Touya rubbed his beloved's back gently. "You want him to be happy, right?"
"Of course," the gray haired young main sniffled softly.
"What about Tomoyo?" Touya questioned.
"That poor girl deserves the best in the world," Yukito answered.
"What about us?" Touya asked again.
Yukito lifted his eyes to meet his companion's gaze. "My existence is tied to you. Oh, Toya, it hurts me so much to see you chasing this hopeless dream for so many years," he said.
"Then do something about it," Touya shook his shoulders lightly this time. "Get up and make Yue speak to Tomoyo. I shall pull Sakura away for a while. For the kind of childish idiot that Yue is, I expected something like would happen. So, nothing is falling apart yet. However, I had not expected Tomoyo to be so sentimental," Touya said.
"Toya, did you forget how young she still is? Everyone always expects her to act mature and responsible, but probably all this is just too much for her," Yukito defended the girl, as he slowly raised himself from the floor.
Sakura watched Tomoyo as she sat before the piano, still as a statue and pale as a ghost, after her song ended. Something about her best friend seemed off. "Tomoyo-chan, are you not–," Sakura was interrupted by her brother's voice.
"Oye Sakura, help me set the table, dad's almost done making dinner," Touya said, entering the room
"Onee-chan, can't you do it by yourself?" Sakura grumbled a bit.
"Well, if you help we can eat faster. I am sure that Tomoyo and Yukito are hungry. At least I am," Touya said.
"I'll help too," Tomoyo stood up.
"Tomoyo-chan, you are no good at household chores," Sakura giggled, unwilling to let her friend partake of the work.
"Demo –," Tomoyo tried to protest.
"Tomoyo-chan, care to talk with me for a while until they are done?" Yukito smiled a little as he followed Touya into the room.
"Sure," Tomoyo said and seated herself again.
"You are leaving soon, Tomoyo-chan?" Yukito asked as Touya left the room with his sister in tow.
"Hai. I will be on the flight tomorrow evening," Tomoyo answered.
"Have you met everyone?" Yukito questioned again.
"I think I have seen everyone who lives in this town. I met Li-kun the other day, along with Yamazaki-kun and Chiharu-chan. Sakura was also there. Today, I got to see you, Touya onee-san and Fujitaka-san," Tomoyo answered categorically.
"Aren't you missing someone important there?" Yukito asked.
A small sigh escaped Tomoyo's mouth. "I don't think Yue-san would like to see me anymore," she said. "I said something which made him very upset," she clarified when Yukito kept staring.
"Did you try talking to him after that?" Yukito asked. Tomoyo shook his head. "I doubt Yue-san could be upset with you for that long," he smiled gently at the young girl.
"Tsukishiro-san, what should I do?" Tomoyo said with a helpless expression on her innocent face.
"I remember that many years ago a little girl had told a hopeless boy that he should reach out to the one who is most important to him, even if the other person doesn't. That he should do the best for them both. Do you remember, Tomoyo-chan?" Yukito questioned. Tomoyo nodded silently.
Yukito rose from his seat and stood before the seated girl, placing a hand over her lowered head. "And guess what, those words changed that boy's life for good, and erased the distance between him and the person that mattered the most to him," he said.
"I am glad it helped, Tsukishiro-san," Tomoyo choked out the words.
"I think that the time has come to return that that cute little girl's advice to this elegant young lady before me," Yukito chuckled, gently stroking her hair. Tomoyo-chan, please don't give up on Yue-san. And please remember, Touya and I would always want you to be happy," he said.
"Tsukishiro-san, I can't –," Tomoyo started.
"Just talk to him. I shall change now," Yukito said. Tomoyo closed her eyes. She did not know how many moments had passed before she heard the moon guardian's voice.
"Daidouji-san, I won't take more than five minutes of your time," she heard Yue speak, and opened her eyes to look at the magnificent form of the moon guardian, complete with the pair of wings on his back.
"Of course," Tomoyo said. Five minutes? I could have given you my forever if you asked, she wanted to scream at him.
"I understand that I shouldn't have said everything that I did the other day. Those words were perhaps unfair to you," he knelt before her seat. "I would like to apologize," he said.
"Yue-san, I don't care if you argue with me. Just don't leave me alone to guess if we were still friends like you did that day. I didn't like that at all, for your friendship is priceless to me," Tomoyo told him.
"There might not be an occasion for that happening again," Yue said slowly. "So, you are moving away," he reached for her hand and picked it up gently from Tomoyo's lap after a brief silence.
"Hai," Tomoyo answered softly.
"Daidouji-san, thank you," Yue said with a soft expression on his face as he held her hand.
"Why?" Tomoyo asked, perplexed. "I don't –,"
"You don't have to understand it now. You will get it later, when you are older," Yue told her, bringing his hand up to cup her face, her pale skin soft and warm against his cool fingers. His thumb lightly brushed her cheekbone, as if to wipe away the invisible tears that were still locked within her deep eyes.
"I should be the one thanking you," Tomoyo gingerly touched the hand that caressed her face. "You saved me so many times, in so many ways," she said, as she looked at the beautiful man kneeling before her, his majestic wings spread on either side of his back.
Yue withdrew his hand and lowered his face on Tomoyo's hand. His forehead pressed against the back of her hand. "Just take care of yourself, that's enough," he managed to say, ignoring the lump that formed in his throat. The hand held within his own was trembling ever so slightly. Tomoyo was crying now, Yue did not even need to raise his head to know that.
As a confirmation of his conviction, a warm drop fell on his head, and seeped through his fine hair, followed by another "Yue-san," Tomoyo called his name in a shaky voice.
"Daidouji-san, let me take your leave," Yue said. He had convinced himself that Tomoyo's decision to leave was actually for the best. Her heart was still tender and young, which meant it would bleed a lot from this. But Yue earnestly hoped that it would also heal fast for the same reasons. If there was a single blessing that Yue could leave Tomoyo with, it would be that she would forget him soon and move on. And with that, it was time for him to leave as well. "Farewell," his lips whispered against her hand.
Tomoyo had kept her eyes shut as Yue had spoken the final words, although it did little to stop her eyes from watering. When she reopened them, she found that she was alone in the room. She raised her hand to wipe her eyes quickly before someone else came and saw her in that pitiful state. This is no farewell, not when our hearts are still connected, she told herself.
A/N: The song used in this chapter is from Natsume's book of friends movie. The song name is Uru (remember). You can find it on YouTube, it is an wonderful song (in Japanese), and don't you think it fits the story so perfectly? There is an English version too, but I couldn't like that one much.The anime itself (Natsume Yuujinchou) is also very nice, and I think cardcaptor sakura fans would enjoy it very much.
Please leave a review to let me know what you think of this chapter, and see you in the next.