Daphne: I'VE FINALLY POSTED AGAIN!
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I hope you're feeling as happy as I am. I'm sorry I haven't posted for so long (I had a little writer's block, but after working on my Harry Potter fic, I managed to get some inspiration. Enjoy!!!!!
~*~*~*~
JUST BREATHE
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 14.
~*~*~*~
Hilde whimpered as she writhed against her bonds for the umpteenth time that day. Every day, the bonds became looser, and her wrists became rawer. A little trickle of blood had oozed out of a cut in her wrists from the ropes, but Hilde paid no heed.
Since the day Robert had 'visited' her, she had not seen him again. Instead, a frightened servant woman would bring her meals every day, and make sure she was still alive. She never spoke a word to Hilde, and just ignored her.
Hilde, however, was starting to wish she *was* dead. She felt dirty and her hair hadn't been washed or cared for in days, causing her to feel even more dingy. Her wrists and ankles ached, and headaches came frequently. She was forced to use the restroom in a little pan that was placed under her, something utterly humiliating for her. Sometimes she could even hear the voices of the children, her family, Meilei, Akane, and Kojii, tormenting her to tears. Other times, the silence would nearly deafen her, and she would find herself singing softly, to lessen the effects.
She didn't know how long she had been there, or how long she would have to stay. But she knew that she had to get away. Somehow.
"Hurry! Check in there!"
Hilde's heart jumped in fear as a foreign voice rang out just beyond the door of her prison. She couldn't tell if they were friend or foe, so she stayed still, her eyes wide with fear. The handle of the door was rattled, and Hilde bit back a scream.
"This door's locked! Someone get me a screwdriver!"
Hilde choked on her breath as this familiar voice reached her ears. Wishing it could be true, but doubting her hearing, Hilde lay still, her heart pounding in hope.
"Almost there...done!"
The door was flung open and it struck the wall behind it with a resounding *thud*. A sob filled Hilde's chest as the most wonderful sight in the world met her eyes.
Kojii Li stood in the doorway, unshaved, hair ruffled, clothes rumpled, and his amber eyes filled with so many emotions, she could not read them.
"HILDE!" His voice was no higher than a breath, but it seemed like he had shouted the name. In three quick strides, he had his arms around her prostrate body, as two other men cut the bindings on her hands and ankles.
As soon as her hands were free, Hilde clutched to Kojii, her finger-nails biting into the skin on his back; he didn't seem to notice this, though. He was sitting on the bed, gently rocking her back and forth, whispering incoherent things into her ear, and kissing her forehead, eyelids, cheeks, lips, neck.
Hilde sobbed in relief and clutched him close, her mind too muddled to understand or really care about what was going on around her. Her hands found his silky chestnut locks and her fingers delighted themselves with running through the familiar, comforting hair. Her face was buried in his neck, her tears falling against his skin.
She was back where she belonged.
She was back with her Kojii.
She was home.
~*~*~*~
Kojii couldn't remember anything from the last hour, besides the moments after he had found his love, and had held her in his arms. He had only regained his sense of memory, after they had arrived at the hospital and Hilde had been taken out of his arms, put onto a stretcher, and rolled away into the emergency room.
He was now sitting in the deathly quiet waiting room, anxiously waiting for news. He had violently argued with the doctors about taking her out of his sight, but they had been insistent upon it, telling him that they had to make sure she was going to be all right. This had brought him back to reality enough, to realize that Hilde was not out of danger yet.
He sat with his head in his hands, fingers tangled in his hair. He ignored the curious looks he got from the nurses and the other people in the room, and simply sat un-moving, his amber eyes shut.
The police chief had promised to call his family, to tell them that Hilde had been found. When the news had come from a frightened, un-identified person, that they had seen a girl fitting Hilde's description, being taken into a home nearby, the entire search-and-rescue team had been alerted and called to the house.
And, like the person had said, Hilde was there.
In a run-down house.
With no one else around.
Tied to a bed.
The woman he loved had been tied to a bed, alone, in a house that could have toppled over at any moment.
"Sir? Mr. Li?"
Kojii's head jerked up, and he stared at the man that now stood in the doorway.
"The young lady, Miss Hiiragizawa, is going to be just fine." The man announced. Kojii felt something close to elation rise in his chest and his amber eyes filled with hope.
"May I see her?"
"Are you a family-member?" The doctor asked, eyeing him. Kojii winced.
"I am...her boyfriend." He murmured. The doctor smiled and nodded.
"All right, then. She has been put into room one-thirty-two. She is asleep, so try not to wake her." The doctor murmured. All this time, his eyes were searching Kojii's face, as though trying to find something.
"Excuse me for asking sir, but you seem familiar. Have you ever been here before?" The doctor asked. Kojii smiled and began to walk towards the man. He put a hand on the doctor's shoulder and grinned.
"All I will say is this: if this girl is well and healed in as short a time as possible, the Li clan will be eternally grateful to you." He murmured, before continuing on his way down the hall.
He never noticed the shocked and delighted faces of all who had been in that waiting room. But he did *hear* one thing, before he got out of hearing distance.
"We just met one of the Li's!"
~*~*~*~
Kojii quietly opened the door of Hilde's room, and entered, his eyes only seeing the still figure on the bed.
Hilde's wrists had been bandaged, and it looked as though she had been given a bath. Her hair was fluffy, and fell in waves against the white hospital pillow. Her skin was back to it's peaches and cream color, and her cheeks were flushed red with sleep.
Kojii smiled tenderly down at her, and pulled a chair up close to the edge of the bed, where he could hold her hand. His thumb made gentle circles on the back of her hand, as his amber eyes gazed at her sleeping face, intently. A small smile appeared on his lips as his thoughts wondered to their reunion, only hours before, and how everyone would probably react to the news.
The door opened behind him, and Kojii turned to see a blushing older woman, dressed in a nurse's uniform, come into the room. She smiled shyly at Kojii, and then quickly set a tray on the table next to him.
"This is for her, when she wakes up, Mr. Li." The woman whispered. Kojii smiled. Obviously news traveled fast in this hospital. He watched as the nurse moved about the room, straightening this and moving that. Then she turned on the TV that hung in the corner and turned to smile at him.
"I thought perhaps you would like to see the news." The woman murmured, before hurrying from the room. Kojii smiled at the woman's nervousness and then turned his attention towards the newscast.
"...home. Roderick, his wife, and his daughter were all arrested and taken in for questioning. Miss Hiiragizawa was taken to Hong Kong International Hospital, where she is in stable condition. It is not known how Miss Hiiragizawa was treated during her abduction, but the Rodericks are being charged for..."
Kojii looked away, his heart falling. He had not realized until now that Hilde may have been taken advantage of, or even worse. Hilde had seemed all right, but in her agitated state, it was hard to tell if she had been hurt any worse than the obvious. Kojii looked back at the TV and listened carefully to the broadcast.
Suddenly, a gentle hand rested on top of his, and Kojii looked down to see Hilde smiling up at him, her amethyst eyes glowing with the old happiness that always seemed to be there. Kojii's breath caught and he gazed over her face, as if to see if she had been hurt any more.
"Kojii?"
"Did they hurt you?" He whispered. Hilde's face lost it's smile and she closed her eyes tightly.
"Mr. Roderick tried to. He...told me I looked like mother and I probably felt like her too. I think he was going to..." She trailed off as Kojii's hand clutched hers harder, and his eyes became steely. His face became void of all joy, and his teeth clenched.
"...but his daughter came and told him to kill me. They left...and I didn't see them again." She murmured, her hand reassuringly stroking his. He looked down at her and pulled her hand up to his cheek, holding it there.
"He didn't hurt you?"
"No. I was only tied to the bed, and a lady came in and fed me. How long was I in there?" She asked gently. Kojii sighed.
"Just over three weeks." He murmured. Hilde closed her eyes, as if in pain, and let out a quivering sigh.
"I suppose my family knows." She whispered. He nodded.
"They came as quickly as they could and have been searching for you ever since. Your mother has been in tears most of the time, and your sister couldn't even find it in her heart to argue with me. Hiro has spent most of his time trying to keep her from going hysterical." Kojii laughed. Hilde smiled.
"I suppose they will be here soon?" She asked, almost pleadingly. Kojii smiled.
"They will." He murmured, leaning down and kissing her lips. Hilde smiled.
"I missed that most. I missed you." Was her whisper, just before his lips captured hers again.
~*~*~*~
"Miss Hilde!"
"We missed you so much!"
"I was so scared!"
"Are you feeling better?"
"I love you."
This last comment, made by Ying-fa, was accompanied by a big hug. This was the first time the children had been allowed to visit Hilde in the hospital, and they were making the best of it. Hilde smiled at their comments, and laughed as all of them tried to climb onto her bed.
"Here." Xiaolong murmured, shoving a sheaf of lavender blossoms into her hands, blushing.
"He picked them himself." Deluce announced, much to the boy's embarrassment. Hilde, however, smiled in delight and gently kissed Xiaolong's cheek, causing him to blush even redder, and the rest to laugh. Kojii stood in the background, smiling.
"I made this for you, Ms. Hilde." Akito announced, plopping a drawing of what appeared to be a dinosaur, into her lap. Hilde thanked him and then laughed as a pile of other presents were added to it. Chang had brought her a tiny writing kit that he had made himself, Deluce had made several pretty hair-things and given them to her beloved teacher, and Ying-fa had made a necklace out of pansies. Hilde was delighted when Kojii insisted on putting them around her neck.
"Thank you all. I missed you so much." Hilde murmured, pulling Akito into another hug. The little boy plopped into her lap and wrapped his arms around her neck.
"Will you come back and teach us, soon?" He asked. Hilde smiled and nodded.
"As soon as the doctors say I can leave." She murmured. Chang smiled.
"Good. We have had the worst substitutes ever! They were even worse than our other teachers!" He groaned, wincing. Hilde and Kojii laughed and met each other's eyes.
"Children, your visiting time is over." A nurse called, entering the room. There were loud complaints and pleas made, but the nurse simply shook her head and led the sad children out of the room.
"Come home soon, Ms. Hilde." Akito called, as the door was shut behind the children. Tears rose to Hilde's eyes at the mention of 'home', and Kojii noticed.
"They love you." He murmured. Hilde nodded, biting her lip.
"But I can't be their teacher forever. I have to graduate." She whispered. Kojii nodded.
"And you have a life after graduation planned, I'm sure." He whispered, his heart falling. Hilde smiled.
"I plan to be a teacher."
"Where?" Kojii's question caused her to freeze and loose her smile. She quickly turned to gaze at him, but he was looking out the window and wouldn't meet her eyes.
"I am not sure, yet. Mother would like it if I could be in England...but since Heidi is going to be living in Japan, she wants me there with her." Hilde told him. Kojii winced and tried to keep the despair that was filling his heart, at bay.
"Hilde...there is something I have to tell you." He murmured, still gazing out the window. Though he was trying desperately to hide it, Hilde felt his anguish. She sat up even higher in the bed and stared at him, wide eyed and pale.
"What is the matter?" She whispered. He closed his eyes, as if trying to hide his inner pain.
"The Elders...the Elders have announced that they wish me to continue on as the leader of the Li clan. Father...he loves his freedom too much, and the Elders want someone who is willing to stay put...at least for a little while longer. They have requested that I stay here...permanently." He murmured. Hilde gasped.
"Permanently? But that would mean..." She trailed off, unable to continue. Kojii turned and looked at her, his heart clenching as he saw silent tears running down her porcelain cheeks. His heart pounded as he went over to her, taking her hands in his and rubbing them with his thumbs.
"Stay with me. Please, Hilde. I can't...I need you." He whispered. Hilde looked at their clasped hands.
"I'd have to think about it." She whispered. Kojii's eyes filled with pain.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you. It is too much to ask you to stay in a place where you could never be happy. I'm sorry." He whispered. Hilde looked up.
"No, Kojii! I am happy wherever you are. I can only be happy if I am with you. But...my family...I want to make them happy too." She whispered.
"You would sacrifice your happiness for them?" He asked softly. She nodded.
"I would do anything to make them happy, Kojii."
"I love you, Hilde. But you are too caring sometimes." He whispered, throwing her a weak smile. Hilde sighed.
"Don't tease me, Kojii. I...I don't want to leave, truly I don't. It would hurt so much." She whispered. Kojii moaned and kissed her hands, before reaching up and kissing her lips gently.
"Life isn't fair." He murmured against her lips. She smiled weakly and returned his kiss, ignoring the tears that coursed down her cheeks.
Neither of them knew that just beyond the door, two people listened to this, and their hearts sank.
"We can't let this happen, Sakura! Hilde's been through too much pain already!" Tomoyo whimpered, turning away from the door. Sakura nodded.
"Kojii has too. Tomoyo, we have to do something. Hilde can't leave here!" Sakura stated. Tomoyo nodded in agreement and the two women quickly went to tell their husbands of the latest development.
~*~*~*~
"What do you think?" Tomoyo asked, gazing into her husband's eyes. They were sitting in the room Yelan had given them during their stay, and discussing what to do about Hilde.
"She loves it here. And she loves the children. And we *have* been thinking about moving back to Japan, to be closer to your mother...so why not just do that? We would be closer to Hilde *and* Heidi, we would be closer to your mother, Syaoran, and Sakura..."
"But what about Naoko and Tyson?" Tomoyo asked. Eriol laughed.
"Tyson has just bought a home in Tomeda, near your mother's home. He has been wanting to experience the 'Japanese' way of living, but he wasn't going to tell his wife just yet. He figured he would give her and the girl's a surprise." Eriol laughed.
"And Touya?"
"He is going to stay in England. Milly is going to stay there with them. Touya is going to take over this end of the business, while I focus on the one in Japan." Eriol explained. Tomoyo's eyes brightened.
"But Yuki...he will want to stay near Mirah." She murmured. Eriol shrugged.
"He is twenty, love. And he has a life of his own, now. He will probably stay in England with them. He has been showing interest in the business, and Touya has offered to show him the ropes. I think we have another business man in the family!" Eriol chuckled. Tomoyo clasped her hands and giggled.
"Kawaii! Eriol, now Hilde and Kojii will be together! And everything will be all right again!" Tomoyo exclaimed, throwing her arms around her husband. Eriol chuckled and held her close.
"I love you, my Tomoyo. My saving grace." He murmured. Tomoyo smiled and cuddled close to him, closing her eyes in contentment.
"Forever and ever, my Eriol." She whispered.
~*~*~*~
Anyway, I hope you're feeling as happy as I am. I'm sorry I haven't posted for so long (I had a little writer's block, but after working on my Harry Potter fic, I managed to get some inspiration. Enjoy!!!!!
~*~*~*~
JUST BREATHE
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 14.
~*~*~*~
Hilde whimpered as she writhed against her bonds for the umpteenth time that day. Every day, the bonds became looser, and her wrists became rawer. A little trickle of blood had oozed out of a cut in her wrists from the ropes, but Hilde paid no heed.
Since the day Robert had 'visited' her, she had not seen him again. Instead, a frightened servant woman would bring her meals every day, and make sure she was still alive. She never spoke a word to Hilde, and just ignored her.
Hilde, however, was starting to wish she *was* dead. She felt dirty and her hair hadn't been washed or cared for in days, causing her to feel even more dingy. Her wrists and ankles ached, and headaches came frequently. She was forced to use the restroom in a little pan that was placed under her, something utterly humiliating for her. Sometimes she could even hear the voices of the children, her family, Meilei, Akane, and Kojii, tormenting her to tears. Other times, the silence would nearly deafen her, and she would find herself singing softly, to lessen the effects.
She didn't know how long she had been there, or how long she would have to stay. But she knew that she had to get away. Somehow.
"Hurry! Check in there!"
Hilde's heart jumped in fear as a foreign voice rang out just beyond the door of her prison. She couldn't tell if they were friend or foe, so she stayed still, her eyes wide with fear. The handle of the door was rattled, and Hilde bit back a scream.
"This door's locked! Someone get me a screwdriver!"
Hilde choked on her breath as this familiar voice reached her ears. Wishing it could be true, but doubting her hearing, Hilde lay still, her heart pounding in hope.
"Almost there...done!"
The door was flung open and it struck the wall behind it with a resounding *thud*. A sob filled Hilde's chest as the most wonderful sight in the world met her eyes.
Kojii Li stood in the doorway, unshaved, hair ruffled, clothes rumpled, and his amber eyes filled with so many emotions, she could not read them.
"HILDE!" His voice was no higher than a breath, but it seemed like he had shouted the name. In three quick strides, he had his arms around her prostrate body, as two other men cut the bindings on her hands and ankles.
As soon as her hands were free, Hilde clutched to Kojii, her finger-nails biting into the skin on his back; he didn't seem to notice this, though. He was sitting on the bed, gently rocking her back and forth, whispering incoherent things into her ear, and kissing her forehead, eyelids, cheeks, lips, neck.
Hilde sobbed in relief and clutched him close, her mind too muddled to understand or really care about what was going on around her. Her hands found his silky chestnut locks and her fingers delighted themselves with running through the familiar, comforting hair. Her face was buried in his neck, her tears falling against his skin.
She was back where she belonged.
She was back with her Kojii.
She was home.
~*~*~*~
Kojii couldn't remember anything from the last hour, besides the moments after he had found his love, and had held her in his arms. He had only regained his sense of memory, after they had arrived at the hospital and Hilde had been taken out of his arms, put onto a stretcher, and rolled away into the emergency room.
He was now sitting in the deathly quiet waiting room, anxiously waiting for news. He had violently argued with the doctors about taking her out of his sight, but they had been insistent upon it, telling him that they had to make sure she was going to be all right. This had brought him back to reality enough, to realize that Hilde was not out of danger yet.
He sat with his head in his hands, fingers tangled in his hair. He ignored the curious looks he got from the nurses and the other people in the room, and simply sat un-moving, his amber eyes shut.
The police chief had promised to call his family, to tell them that Hilde had been found. When the news had come from a frightened, un-identified person, that they had seen a girl fitting Hilde's description, being taken into a home nearby, the entire search-and-rescue team had been alerted and called to the house.
And, like the person had said, Hilde was there.
In a run-down house.
With no one else around.
Tied to a bed.
The woman he loved had been tied to a bed, alone, in a house that could have toppled over at any moment.
"Sir? Mr. Li?"
Kojii's head jerked up, and he stared at the man that now stood in the doorway.
"The young lady, Miss Hiiragizawa, is going to be just fine." The man announced. Kojii felt something close to elation rise in his chest and his amber eyes filled with hope.
"May I see her?"
"Are you a family-member?" The doctor asked, eyeing him. Kojii winced.
"I am...her boyfriend." He murmured. The doctor smiled and nodded.
"All right, then. She has been put into room one-thirty-two. She is asleep, so try not to wake her." The doctor murmured. All this time, his eyes were searching Kojii's face, as though trying to find something.
"Excuse me for asking sir, but you seem familiar. Have you ever been here before?" The doctor asked. Kojii smiled and began to walk towards the man. He put a hand on the doctor's shoulder and grinned.
"All I will say is this: if this girl is well and healed in as short a time as possible, the Li clan will be eternally grateful to you." He murmured, before continuing on his way down the hall.
He never noticed the shocked and delighted faces of all who had been in that waiting room. But he did *hear* one thing, before he got out of hearing distance.
"We just met one of the Li's!"
~*~*~*~
Kojii quietly opened the door of Hilde's room, and entered, his eyes only seeing the still figure on the bed.
Hilde's wrists had been bandaged, and it looked as though she had been given a bath. Her hair was fluffy, and fell in waves against the white hospital pillow. Her skin was back to it's peaches and cream color, and her cheeks were flushed red with sleep.
Kojii smiled tenderly down at her, and pulled a chair up close to the edge of the bed, where he could hold her hand. His thumb made gentle circles on the back of her hand, as his amber eyes gazed at her sleeping face, intently. A small smile appeared on his lips as his thoughts wondered to their reunion, only hours before, and how everyone would probably react to the news.
The door opened behind him, and Kojii turned to see a blushing older woman, dressed in a nurse's uniform, come into the room. She smiled shyly at Kojii, and then quickly set a tray on the table next to him.
"This is for her, when she wakes up, Mr. Li." The woman whispered. Kojii smiled. Obviously news traveled fast in this hospital. He watched as the nurse moved about the room, straightening this and moving that. Then she turned on the TV that hung in the corner and turned to smile at him.
"I thought perhaps you would like to see the news." The woman murmured, before hurrying from the room. Kojii smiled at the woman's nervousness and then turned his attention towards the newscast.
"...home. Roderick, his wife, and his daughter were all arrested and taken in for questioning. Miss Hiiragizawa was taken to Hong Kong International Hospital, where she is in stable condition. It is not known how Miss Hiiragizawa was treated during her abduction, but the Rodericks are being charged for..."
Kojii looked away, his heart falling. He had not realized until now that Hilde may have been taken advantage of, or even worse. Hilde had seemed all right, but in her agitated state, it was hard to tell if she had been hurt any worse than the obvious. Kojii looked back at the TV and listened carefully to the broadcast.
Suddenly, a gentle hand rested on top of his, and Kojii looked down to see Hilde smiling up at him, her amethyst eyes glowing with the old happiness that always seemed to be there. Kojii's breath caught and he gazed over her face, as if to see if she had been hurt any more.
"Kojii?"
"Did they hurt you?" He whispered. Hilde's face lost it's smile and she closed her eyes tightly.
"Mr. Roderick tried to. He...told me I looked like mother and I probably felt like her too. I think he was going to..." She trailed off as Kojii's hand clutched hers harder, and his eyes became steely. His face became void of all joy, and his teeth clenched.
"...but his daughter came and told him to kill me. They left...and I didn't see them again." She murmured, her hand reassuringly stroking his. He looked down at her and pulled her hand up to his cheek, holding it there.
"He didn't hurt you?"
"No. I was only tied to the bed, and a lady came in and fed me. How long was I in there?" She asked gently. Kojii sighed.
"Just over three weeks." He murmured. Hilde closed her eyes, as if in pain, and let out a quivering sigh.
"I suppose my family knows." She whispered. He nodded.
"They came as quickly as they could and have been searching for you ever since. Your mother has been in tears most of the time, and your sister couldn't even find it in her heart to argue with me. Hiro has spent most of his time trying to keep her from going hysterical." Kojii laughed. Hilde smiled.
"I suppose they will be here soon?" She asked, almost pleadingly. Kojii smiled.
"They will." He murmured, leaning down and kissing her lips. Hilde smiled.
"I missed that most. I missed you." Was her whisper, just before his lips captured hers again.
~*~*~*~
"Miss Hilde!"
"We missed you so much!"
"I was so scared!"
"Are you feeling better?"
"I love you."
This last comment, made by Ying-fa, was accompanied by a big hug. This was the first time the children had been allowed to visit Hilde in the hospital, and they were making the best of it. Hilde smiled at their comments, and laughed as all of them tried to climb onto her bed.
"Here." Xiaolong murmured, shoving a sheaf of lavender blossoms into her hands, blushing.
"He picked them himself." Deluce announced, much to the boy's embarrassment. Hilde, however, smiled in delight and gently kissed Xiaolong's cheek, causing him to blush even redder, and the rest to laugh. Kojii stood in the background, smiling.
"I made this for you, Ms. Hilde." Akito announced, plopping a drawing of what appeared to be a dinosaur, into her lap. Hilde thanked him and then laughed as a pile of other presents were added to it. Chang had brought her a tiny writing kit that he had made himself, Deluce had made several pretty hair-things and given them to her beloved teacher, and Ying-fa had made a necklace out of pansies. Hilde was delighted when Kojii insisted on putting them around her neck.
"Thank you all. I missed you so much." Hilde murmured, pulling Akito into another hug. The little boy plopped into her lap and wrapped his arms around her neck.
"Will you come back and teach us, soon?" He asked. Hilde smiled and nodded.
"As soon as the doctors say I can leave." She murmured. Chang smiled.
"Good. We have had the worst substitutes ever! They were even worse than our other teachers!" He groaned, wincing. Hilde and Kojii laughed and met each other's eyes.
"Children, your visiting time is over." A nurse called, entering the room. There were loud complaints and pleas made, but the nurse simply shook her head and led the sad children out of the room.
"Come home soon, Ms. Hilde." Akito called, as the door was shut behind the children. Tears rose to Hilde's eyes at the mention of 'home', and Kojii noticed.
"They love you." He murmured. Hilde nodded, biting her lip.
"But I can't be their teacher forever. I have to graduate." She whispered. Kojii nodded.
"And you have a life after graduation planned, I'm sure." He whispered, his heart falling. Hilde smiled.
"I plan to be a teacher."
"Where?" Kojii's question caused her to freeze and loose her smile. She quickly turned to gaze at him, but he was looking out the window and wouldn't meet her eyes.
"I am not sure, yet. Mother would like it if I could be in England...but since Heidi is going to be living in Japan, she wants me there with her." Hilde told him. Kojii winced and tried to keep the despair that was filling his heart, at bay.
"Hilde...there is something I have to tell you." He murmured, still gazing out the window. Though he was trying desperately to hide it, Hilde felt his anguish. She sat up even higher in the bed and stared at him, wide eyed and pale.
"What is the matter?" She whispered. He closed his eyes, as if trying to hide his inner pain.
"The Elders...the Elders have announced that they wish me to continue on as the leader of the Li clan. Father...he loves his freedom too much, and the Elders want someone who is willing to stay put...at least for a little while longer. They have requested that I stay here...permanently." He murmured. Hilde gasped.
"Permanently? But that would mean..." She trailed off, unable to continue. Kojii turned and looked at her, his heart clenching as he saw silent tears running down her porcelain cheeks. His heart pounded as he went over to her, taking her hands in his and rubbing them with his thumbs.
"Stay with me. Please, Hilde. I can't...I need you." He whispered. Hilde looked at their clasped hands.
"I'd have to think about it." She whispered. Kojii's eyes filled with pain.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you. It is too much to ask you to stay in a place where you could never be happy. I'm sorry." He whispered. Hilde looked up.
"No, Kojii! I am happy wherever you are. I can only be happy if I am with you. But...my family...I want to make them happy too." She whispered.
"You would sacrifice your happiness for them?" He asked softly. She nodded.
"I would do anything to make them happy, Kojii."
"I love you, Hilde. But you are too caring sometimes." He whispered, throwing her a weak smile. Hilde sighed.
"Don't tease me, Kojii. I...I don't want to leave, truly I don't. It would hurt so much." She whispered. Kojii moaned and kissed her hands, before reaching up and kissing her lips gently.
"Life isn't fair." He murmured against her lips. She smiled weakly and returned his kiss, ignoring the tears that coursed down her cheeks.
Neither of them knew that just beyond the door, two people listened to this, and their hearts sank.
"We can't let this happen, Sakura! Hilde's been through too much pain already!" Tomoyo whimpered, turning away from the door. Sakura nodded.
"Kojii has too. Tomoyo, we have to do something. Hilde can't leave here!" Sakura stated. Tomoyo nodded in agreement and the two women quickly went to tell their husbands of the latest development.
~*~*~*~
"What do you think?" Tomoyo asked, gazing into her husband's eyes. They were sitting in the room Yelan had given them during their stay, and discussing what to do about Hilde.
"She loves it here. And she loves the children. And we *have* been thinking about moving back to Japan, to be closer to your mother...so why not just do that? We would be closer to Hilde *and* Heidi, we would be closer to your mother, Syaoran, and Sakura..."
"But what about Naoko and Tyson?" Tomoyo asked. Eriol laughed.
"Tyson has just bought a home in Tomeda, near your mother's home. He has been wanting to experience the 'Japanese' way of living, but he wasn't going to tell his wife just yet. He figured he would give her and the girl's a surprise." Eriol laughed.
"And Touya?"
"He is going to stay in England. Milly is going to stay there with them. Touya is going to take over this end of the business, while I focus on the one in Japan." Eriol explained. Tomoyo's eyes brightened.
"But Yuki...he will want to stay near Mirah." She murmured. Eriol shrugged.
"He is twenty, love. And he has a life of his own, now. He will probably stay in England with them. He has been showing interest in the business, and Touya has offered to show him the ropes. I think we have another business man in the family!" Eriol chuckled. Tomoyo clasped her hands and giggled.
"Kawaii! Eriol, now Hilde and Kojii will be together! And everything will be all right again!" Tomoyo exclaimed, throwing her arms around her husband. Eriol chuckled and held her close.
"I love you, my Tomoyo. My saving grace." He murmured. Tomoyo smiled and cuddled close to him, closing her eyes in contentment.
"Forever and ever, my Eriol." She whispered.
~*~*~*~