"Keep my boy happy." That was the last instruction Hiiragizawa Eriol gave them before he set off on his journey.
Yukito and Nakuru nodded at the same time.
"We promise you that, Master," said Nakuru Akizuki, flashing him a reassuring smile.
"It's quite a daunting task, but someone has got to do it," nodded Yukito Tsukishiro, the turned his eyes on the angelic face of nine-year-old Eriol Hiiragizawa Jr.
It seemed just like yesterday when they gave him that solemn promise to the nervous father, but actually, it was just three minutes ago.
And the ordeal had begun…
"Eriol-chan, don't play with your father's Clow staff! It's dangerous!" screeched Nakuru.
"This is my dad's?" Little Eriol said, face astounded.
"Uh-huh," said Nakuru proudly. "Your father used that to control the Clow cards and-"
"How ugly!" said the boy, nose wrinkling in distaste. "It's not even half as cool as Uncle Li Syaoran's sword! Why didn't my dad get a sword?"
"B-Because…" Nakuru looked at Yukito for help.
"Your father's a hardcore pacifist," said the snow bunny helpfully.
"Pa…paci…pacifier? He sucks hardcore?" asked Eriol-chan, eyes wide.
Yukito banged his head on the table while Nakuru sighed. No thanks to the Internet, even the nine-year-old child wasn't spared from the word 'hardcore'.
"Shucks! Dad is cooler than Uncle Li, after all." He waved the staff around. "How do you use this thing?"
Yukito pushed his glasses up and tried to look stern. "You ought to put that down, Eriol-chan. It's dangerous."
"How do you suck this thing?" asked Eriol-chan, inspecting the staff as if it was some kind of museum artifact.
"You don't suck it," said Yukito.
"I thought so," said the boy, looking at the pointed edges of the staff. "My dad's mouth must be incredibly strong."
"I said, you don't suck it," repeated Tsukishiro.
"Aw, this weapon is no fun." He threw the staff behind him, dropping it on the slumbering Spinel.
"Hey, watch it!" Spinel whined.
Eriol-chan ignored him. He looked at his dad's cap. "Don't tell me that he wore this head gear! Uncle Li's cap is cooler! And what's with the black blanket?"
"It's called a yoga," said Nakuru.
"Actually, it's a toga," said Yukito, sweatdropping.
Nakuru blinked, then laughed uneasily. "I know. I was just testing whether you know that or not. Besides, it's just one letter wrong."
He smiled indulgently. "Right."
"Why would Dad wear something like this? Doesn't he trip over it?" asked Eriol-chan.
"Your father opted for a black blanket so even if he doesn't launder it often, it wouldn't be immediately noticed," said Spinel, joining the discussion. "Your dad, in his past two lifetimes, had never been reliable with household chores. That is why he created a Clow card especially for cleaning. On your other question, he doesn't trip over because he always manages to support himself with his staff."
"Oh…" said Eriol-chan. "Dad is so smart…I now understand why his fashion taste is eccentric. But you can't make me wear this, I tell you. If Dad was able to take the thought of going out in Tomoeda wearing something like this, it won't be the same for my case. If you guys force me to wear this, I'll never go to school again…even if I won't be able to see my future wife anymore."
Yukito, Nakuru and Spinel rolled their eyes. Little Eriol Hiiragizawa Jr. had developed an infatuation for his homeroom adviser, Kinomoto Kaho-sensei. Ah, her appeal never fails to charm the Hiiragizawa blood.
"Nadeshiko won't like that," said Yukito, giving him a conspiratorial wink. He was referring to Sakura and Syaoran's daughter.
"I don't care." But his voice evidently lost substantial conviction.
"Anyway, I heard that your mother is planning to sew you an outfit similar to your dad's, and she will videotape you two together," said Nakuru, smiling.
The boy's face paled. "No way!!! I thought Okaasan won't be going home till next month!" His mother was the one and only person who could discipline him, and among the three people he would quietly obey. The other person was Li Syaoran, the boy's favorite uncle, and the other one was Nadeshiko, his third cousin.
"She said that she could leave the company to her associates, so she could spend time with you guys. It's supposed to be a surprise, so don't tell your dad, ok?" asked Nakuru.
"Suuure," said the boy, grinning wickedly. "But first, show me the Clow cards."
"Your Aunt has them," said Yukito.
"Liars! Suppi told me that Sakura returned them to Dad already!" said Eriol-chan, stomping his feet on the ground.
"Why did you do that?!" asked Nakuru.
Spinel shrugged. "I was upset back then. Master Eriol ate my last piece of muffins that Mistress Tomoyo made back when Eriol-chan was just two. I never forgot that day, and I was always looking out for a chance of vengeance."
"Oh." Yukito slapped his hand on his forehead. He made a mental note never to do something to make Suppi mad at him.
"Ah well, damage done," shrugged Nakuru. She pulled a stool and stepped on it. She tiptoed and brought out the Clow book from underneath the fabrics of the outfits Tomoyo made for Eriol back when they were still engaged. "Here, catch!"
Eriol-chan cheerfully caught the red book, then opened it. He browsed through the cards. "Hmm, what's this card?"
"It's the Dream card. It gives you prophecies through dreams," explained Spinel dutifully.
"I dream about Kaho-sensei. Is that telling me something?" the little boy asked.
"Hmm…it's telling you that you should start taking your schoolwork more seriously," said Yukito.
"But she's wearing a two-piece swimsuit in my dream! She's in the beach, in fact!" protested the boy who was madly infatuated with his Kinomoto-sensei.
"It's telling you to take your school work most seriously when it's summer," said Yukito.
Eriol-chan wasn't convinced, but he moved on to the next several cards. Nakuru and Spinel took turns in explaining to the boy what the cards are for.
"Just how many cards are there?" asked Eriol-chan.
"52," replied Nakuru. "But Mistress Sakura was able to create the 53rd card, and sealed the 54th card."
"The Love card and the Hope card respectively," said Spinel.
"So what is this card?" asked Eriol-chan, pointing to the last card on the deck.
"Ah, that." Nakuru's eyes twinkled. "That is a very special card. A card your father was able to create because of your mother."
"The Cupid card?" asked the little boy.
"Your mother was once the Cupid of Tomoeda. She is called the nakoudo, or the Matchmaker. She believes that if she can stop one heart from breaking, then she wouldn't have lived in vain," explained Yukito.
"If my mother was busy playing cupid, how did she find the time to fall for Dad?" asked Eriol-chan.
"Destiny made time for both of them to fall in love with each other," said Nakuru. "Do you know that your dad was once infatuated with your Kaho-sensei?"
"He was?" The boy's eyes widened. "I'm glad he found Mom. Kaho-sensei is for me."
Nakuru laughed. She had to admire his spirit.
"So my mother's essence is here?" whispered Eriol-chan, almost reverently. "How does this work?"
"Ask your dad," said Yukito.
"Maybe I'll be a nakoudo too, just like Mom," said the boy excitedly. He turned to Yukito and Nakuru. "Would you two like to be my first patients slash victims etcetera etcetera?"
The two looked at each other, then laughed.
"We're just good friends," said Yukito.
"He thinks so," said Nakuru. "But he knows I have a killer crush on him."
"Eh? Uncle Yuki, what's wrong with Aunt Nakuru?" demanded the boy.
"Nothing," said the snow bunny, surprised.
"Then I therefore conclude that I will use this Cupid card on you." Eriol-chan smiled. "When my Dad gets back from the grocery to get my brand of chunky peanut butter, I'll get started right away."
"I won't suggest that," said Suppi, yawning. "Your mother tried already, but they're tough."
"Nothing is too tough for Eriol Hiiragizawa Junior!" said the boy proudly.
And thus, the new epilogue mini-series begins…
---
Syao-chan regrets that she disappointed one of her reviewers who said she hated her because the story ended so soon. She apologizes, but she thought it would be a nice surprise if she doesn't announce this mini-sequel. Syao-chan apologizes to L.P.B. *bows* Gomen nasai! ^^;;