Faded Photos

Author: Mayuka

Disclaimer: I don't own it ok? Mikazuki is my own character though.

A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! It really helped get my butt moving on this story! I was working on my other stories but all the reviews came for this one so I decided to get myself working and get up the next chapter so here it is! Enjoy! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 3: Shopping Spree

"I swear, if you try anything..." Tomoyo threatened. "This is all your fault to begin with!"

"Like I would want to try anything. Please, give me a break!"

"Sure, that's what you say..." Tomoyo taunted, a sarcastic smirk playing at her lips.

"Dream on Tomoyo. You know we are only doing this for Mikazuki and no other reason and or motovation. I mean really, what motovation would you possibly be able to give me?" Eriol laughed.

"I swear, if it weren't for Mikazuki I would ring your neck..." Tomoyo muttered and sat on the edge of the bed. "Why was Mikazuki so worried about us not likeing each other though?"

"I wish I knew." Eriol said suddenly becoming serious. "Something must have happened to her. She wouldn't be this way if nothing happened."

"Mabe we should ask? Isn't it our duty as her parents to make sure she is happy, and comfort her when she is sad? We wouldn't be good parents if we let her carry a burden all by herself."

"All orphans have a sad past. Many don't want to share it."

"But isn't it better to tell someone, so you don't feel alone? I don't want Mikazuki to think we aren't there for her."

"Don't you think she would have told us by now if she wanted to?"

"This is her second day here! You expect her to just tell you after two days of us being her parents?" Tomoyo began brushing her hair. "I think we should give her some time, but I doubt she will bring it up on her own."

"That may be so, but she may not want us to pry."

"She is to young to have to deal with a lot of pain. I know how she feels okay? She probably just doesn't want to burden us okay?" Tomoyo stopped brushing her hair.

"How do you know how she feels?"

"A long time ago, my parents hated each other. They were always fighting, and I always beleived it was over me. Truth is, they didn't mean to have a child, but it happened anyway. That's when all the problems got bigger. Neither wanted the other to influence me and make me a bad child or so they said. Finally after years and years of fighting they got divorced, but the fighting didn't end there. They then fought who would take custody of me and that went on forever to. I didn't think either of them wanted me, and they probably didn't. It always seemed like they would just get rid of me since I was the main source of all their problems. I just wanted to live in a happy family. One with no fighting. I sometimes would run away, but instead of them being happy, it only caused them to fight more. They would yell at each other saying things like 'It's all your fault she ran away, she doesn't want to be near you!' and so on. I didn't mean to make them fight...but...this is probably boring you isn't it. I should just shut up."

"No...why didn't you tell me before, when we were friends?"

"Probably because I didn't want to burden you...but after..." Tomoyo fell silent.

"I guess we should confront Mikazuki."

"My point exactly. Now, I'm tired...just...remember...don't.......try..........any-" Tomoyo said before her head hitting the pillow in a dreamless sleep. Eriol watched her for a minute. 'She carried that burden alone...so I guess I understand why she doesn't want Mikazuki to go through the same thing.' He looked at the sleeping beauty on the bed. He brushed her bangs from her face and then lay down on the other side of the bed.

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Eriol awoke the next morning to find the Tomoyo gone. 'Guess she is back to waking up early.' he thought. He stood up and stretched. Rubbing his eyes he found some clothes to wear and walked down the stairs to find Tomoyo placing a large stack of french toast on the table. Mikazuki was practically drooling in her seat. Tomoyo looked up when Eriol entered the room.

"Good morning sleepy head."

"Yea, morning." Eriol said with a yawn.

"Just so you know, the autumn festival is tomorrow and I was thinking it would be fun if we all went."

"Sounds great."

"Yes, but Mikazuki here doesn't have a kimono, so I'm taking her out shopping for that and some clothes today."

"Tomoyo, you don't know how to drive."

"The mall is just down a few streets so we can walk and you can do whatever."

"If you say so." Eriol said sitting down. "Ahh...french toast! My favorite."

"Is that so? I'll try to remember that."

"Sure you will. Anyway, how long have you been up?"

"About an hour or so, I was going to come wake you up in a minute."

"Oh. I think I vaugely remember hearing the phone ring."

"Oh that, yes, Syaoran called but you were still asleep."

"I can't wait! I've always wanted a kimono!!" Mikazuki chirped.

"Well, what color do you plan on getting?"

"I dunno..."

"What's your favorite color?"

"Sky blue!"

"Then why not get a sky blue one?"

"I kinda wanted a white or a red or a blue or a purple."

"Well we will have to see what they have then."

"You could most likely get one with all four colors." Eriol said.

"Really?"

"Of course silly! You don't have to get a plain kimono."

"What color is yours?"

"Which one?"

"Any of them."

"Mine are plain though, but one is forest green and the other is not plain and is black with navy blue suns on it."

"Sounds pretty."

"Well, Nakuru picked out the black one."

"Sounds just like something she would pick out." Tomoyo added.

"You should see hers, they are all vivid colors. I don't like vivid."

"I only have one vivid colored one. I don't like it the best though."

"Well, shouldn't you and Mikazuki get going? Unless you like standing in lines."

"I guess you're right. Ready to go Mikazuki?"

"Yep!"

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Tomoyo and Mikazuki walked into the mall. Mikazuki whirled around and was awed at the sight. Tomoyo smiled at her kneeled to her height.

"Where would you like to go first?"

"Somewhere to get my kimono!"

"Okay. I know the perfect store. I go shopping there all the time." Tomoyo said taking Mikazuki and leading her to the store. "We have to go to the back of the store to get something your size. Now you said you wanted white, red, blue, and purple am I right?"

"Yep!"

"Ok, I want you to look around and see if anything catches your eye. Stay close though, you don't want to get lost. If you find something, just call okay?" Tomoyo said and began looking for something that fit Mikazuki's criteria. She sifted through the lovely kimonos. 'While I'm here, I may as well find one for myself as well. They have a lot of new ones I haven't seen before.' she thought and stopped as she saw the kimono that Mikazuki would love. It had a base color of white, and had a candy apple red as an undercoat. Then had purple, blue and red lillies across the bottom. The waist band was candy apple red with a gold string tying it together. "Mikazuki!" Tomoyo called and the little came running. "Do you like this one?" she said showing her the kimono. Mikazuki gasped.

"It's beautiful!" the little girl said breathtaken. "I love it! Can I try it on?"

"Of course. You want me to help you with it?"

"Yes please."

"Okay. The fitting rooms are over there." she said leading her into an open door. Tomoyo helped Mikazuki into and tied the waist band. Mikazuki turned around and Tomoyo smiled. "It's goreous. Do you like it?"

"I love it!" Mikazuki cried.

"Well you know what? I think if we put your hair in a ponytail it would look even more beautiful."

"Really?"

"Really. So, do you want that one?"

"Oh yes please!"

"Ok. You don't mind if I look for one do you?"

"Oh no! I'll help you look for one if you want."

"Ok! I am sure you have great taste."

"Awww..." Mikazuki giggled. They went back inside the store and began looking through the other kimonos. Mikazuki tugged on Tomoyo's hand. "What about this one?" she said pulling on a kimono that was lavender in color and had white underneath. It was covered in floral designs with daisies and strawberries.

"I knew you had good taste. What do you think of this one?" she said holding up a candy apple red kimono with pink water lillies in various places.

"I don't know...you would look pretty in both of them."

"Thank you!" Tomoyo said smiling.

"Can't you get both?"

"I could...but that would mean you have to get two also."

"Nu uh, you said I have to get some regular clothes also."

"If you insist. Come with me. I'll go pay for these three."

"Ok!" Mikazuki said cheerfully.

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Tomoyo and Mikazuki walked back inside the house holding bags. Eriol greeted them with a stare.

"How much did you buy Tomoyo?"

"Oh, I bought her some clothes, a bathing suit, and a kimono and two kimono's for me as well. Well, I also bought myself a swimming suit, but that's cause my old one is really ugly!"

"A leisure trip I see."

"Oh be quiet Eriol. You have to see some of the adorable clothes we got! I wish I was still a little kid sometimes, just so I could wear these clothes."

"Well let me see I guess."

"Well, this is her bathing suit..." Tomoyo said taking it out of the bag and placing it on the table. It was a hot pink one peice that had puple crosses down the center.

"It's cute. Where is yours?"

"Oh mine? It's this." she said taking it out of the bag as well. Tomoyo's was a teal one peice that was connected to a choker, and the choker make an oval shape at the top, and had a diamond whole over the stomach and two diamond holes at each side.

"Hmm...I like it. Probably because green is my favorite color though."

"I guess that's a good thing...anyway, she got some shirts..." she said placing them among the other clothes. One was a lavender spagetti strap shirt, another was an orange short sleeved shirt that had frills going down the front, and one was a green silk shirt. "Then she got two skirts..." she said placing them down as well. One was a red skirt that looked scottish and the other was a red skirt that went to her mid thighs, "she got two hoodies," she said, and placed them in the same way. One was light pink and said 'princess' on it and the other was creme with a green collar. "and lastly she got her kimono which you can't see until tomorrow." Tomoyo finished with a smirk. She took the clothes and placed them back in the bag. "Let's go put these in your room ok?" she said. Mikazuki nodded and followed her 'mother' to her room.

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A/N: Kind of boring chapter I guess, but next time, the autumn festival! Keep those reviews coming ok?