The Lonely Ballerina
AN: First of all I would like to thank everyone who has read and reviewed the fourth chapter of this story. I'm glad and eternally grateful for those who have stuck with the story and have taken the time to read it. The compliments and such had really made my day. Hopefully this chapter will be as enjoyable (as it can be) as the last one. After 2 years of no update.... my gosh.... so sorry you guys!!!!
For my sister, because she's awesome.
Disclaimer: CCS and its characters belong to CLAMP/Kodansha and other companies who are lucky and rich enough to afford them. Everything that's used in this fic was borrowed, so please don't sue me! Oh, Iron Chef don't belong to me either -;;;. Though I wish they did. Be awesome having professional chefs prepare my meals in an hour.
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child. I love u and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
-Footprints-
Chapter 5: Rock Bottom
She watched, face pressed against the cold glass of her bedroom window, as snowflakes fell from the sky like rain, coating everything with another layer of white blanket of coldness. She had not seen this much snow in such a long while, she had almost forgotten how beautiful it looked. Everything outside seemed so... pure, every fiber of imperfection stripped from every molecule, leaving all things immaculate, even holy. The way each snowflake made its descent to the Earth can take one's breath away, for each flake seemed wistful that it had to leave the heavens so suddenly. She unexpectedly recalled the same exact thought that had flooded her mind earlier that day. Indeed, snowflakes do resemble wingless angels, falling silently on the ground where they can mourn the loss of a home, a friend, or a lover. The loss of one's self. It was rather tragic and she couldn't help but relate to it. She gently pressed her small hands against the window, yearning the touch of coldness against her warm skin. To catch the falling angels. To descend along with them. To mourn with them. Because it helps to mourn with others, really it does. At least that way, you're not alone. Yet, a part of her wanted to be alone, because then, no one would know your pain. No one would pity you. Because no matter how much they say they understood what you're going through, they really don't. Not the way that you do.
Tomoyo's eyes slowly traveled to the snow-covered ground that was their garden, stained with hues courtesy of the different colored Christmas lights that adorned the entire exterior of their mansion, like an artwork which requires coloration and shades as if it were off to some grand art museum where critical comments were anticipated and praises were very much welcome. For Tomoyo, it was as if it were so. The so-called artwork was obviously mundane, however, simply a whole mess of hue blended together to create something close to a piece of art (though not quite), and the girl doubt that any museum would be willing to display such work. It most definitely wasn't the work of Michael Angelo. The best it can hope for is mild criticism and even those are rarely given these days as far as Tomoyo was concerned. But then again, art is all about self-expression.
Shaking her head as if to rid of these thoughts, she pried herself away from the window and headed to her private bathroom, glancing quickly at the miniscule clock atop her palatial fireplace. It was thirty minutes past eleven o'clock and she must really be getting some rest. She has a big day tomorrow, and goodness knows she'll need her strength to keep her nerves under control. She usually worked pretty laudable under pressure- a feat that many cannot accomplish except maybe those Iron Chefs on TV, she thought- but under the circumstances such as tomorrow evening… well, she's simply apprehensive that she will not be able to keep her wits about her, which would be just absolutely horrific considering that depressing and worrying Sakura-chan on the last night they will spend together that year is the last thing she'll need. So perhaps that's why she asked Hiiragizawa-kun to be there. For emotional support and all that... But then again, maybe she's just being friendly. After her nightly routine of brushing her teeth and her hair, she sauntered to bed.
Tomoyo dreamt of a certain girl that night. The charming grin that had always haunted her was again present, soft auburn tresses gently caressing her face, and eyes of emerald shinning with bliss, there was no denying that Sakura was an epiphany. Yet, she was drifting, Tomoyo noticed, not being swept off her feet like her other countless dreams before. She was slowly drifting away from her and as much as she tried to run after her, she too was slowly being pulled away. Like a magnet being attracted to metal, they were both being pulled at two opposite directions and Tomoyo could do nothing to stop the space from expanding before her eyes.
Tomoyo woke up early the next day, but she vaguely remembered the dream.
When it had gone completely out of hand, she wasn't quite sure, but it had been chaotic for the past few hours for her to tell. For once her mother was home, which actually surprised her somewhat being that Sonomi had never been the kind to miss work. Tomoyo figured her mother probably knew that she will not be able to handle all the cleaning up and decorating and rearranging that still needed to be done for tonight's dinner with the Kinomotos, not to mention the Christmas Eve party that her mother was holding this year, which Tomoyo wasn't really looking forward to.
For as long as Tomoyo can remember, she and her mother had always either held or gone to countless extravagant- and somewhat boring- parties every Christmas Eve, except once a few years ago when they were invited and had a bit more of a quieter night with the Kinomoto's. It wasn't the first time that they had received an invitation from them, but it was the first time that Daidouji Sonomi actually accepted it. Tomoyo believed that her mother's irritation towards her former teacher for stealing her cousin, Nedeshiko, was the sole reason why she had rejected the previous invitations before. She could tell, although her mother had never said a word, that she loved Nedeshiko's children nonetheless, and perhaps have come to accept their father as well (though Tomoyo wasn't quite sure about that still).
Tomoyo quickly glanced at her watch. It was already 2:15 in the afternoon, yet she still has the living room to clean and the dining room to set. She did have helpers, but the three of them simply cannot seem to go on. They've been working since the break of dawn and they simply had no more strength left in them. Tomoyo had never worked this hard before, except maybe those few times she decided to procrastinate and do her school projects at the last minute or when she tried taking responsibility all of three game booths-finding volunteers to watch over the booths were a hassle enough- and coming up with the girls' outfits for the fashion show at last year's school festival. It still puzzled her how, after almost four days of cleaning up the house, that they still had this much to do. She supposed they would've been done ages ago had her mother decided not to have spring cleaning in the middle of winter- not to mention changing her mind about where to put the furniture for it took ages for the maids to finally place them where it pleased Sonomi- and sent them to straighten up their attic. She, like her helpers no doubt, feels no need for such thing because Sakura's family would never set eyes upon the room, but her mother insisted. So now, Tomoyo was stuck inside the house, suffering along with her helpers, who were now rendered speechless as they arranged little trinkets that she'd never set eyes on until now. Speaking, they had discovered, took too much energy, which they happen to be lacking at the moment.
Most of their housemaids had been running to and fro as Sonomi barked orders at them (which can be heard all the way to the attic). Tomoyo's mother rarely loses patience. Well, perhaps that's stretching it too much, because the woman is rather impatient, but she hardly ever yells at anyone (except maybe Kinomoto-sensei, but it had been ages since she'd done that); she does, however has the tendency to intimidate everyone with her strained, calm voice and deadly glare when she's livid. However, the cool façade was broken today, Tomoyo noticed as her mother seemed to make a big deal out of every little mistake and making the maids foul up with all her roaring. Perhaps it was just fatigue that was getting to her. Sonomi was never the level-headed (or quiet for that matter) woman when she's tired, after all.
The young mistress apparently received those genes from her mother as one of the girl's helpers stole a glance at Tomoyo who was currently abusing an old wardrobe that refused to open. Yes, Tomoyo was indeed tired. Growling in frustration, she stepped away from the cabinet, barely able to restrain herself from kicking the wooden door of the closet. She was getting irritated and an irate Tomoyo is never good. Not that any of the maids had seen their mistress in a rampage, but that just makes it that much dangerous. Sighing impatiently, Tomoyo asked Aso-san, the one closest to her at the moment, to open the "blasted wardrobe" for her.
Abruptly, the older woman dropped what she was doing and approached the harassed closet. Standing on her tiptoes, she easily unfastened the tiny hook attached to a metal clasp that was several inches above the silver handles and pulled it open.
"There you go, Miss," the maid replied kindly.
"Umm… thank you," Tomoyo, feeling slightly ashamed, managed to say.
Aso-san bowed and gave her a small smile before going back to boxing little objects. Tomoyo inspected the inside of the closet. Various sizes of colorful dresses were jammed inside, all too small to fit Tomoyo's frame. But she remembered them nonetheless. She had thought that her mother had thrown them away ages ago, or at least given them away when she had grown out of them, but Tomoyo never thought she kept them. Her mother was never the sentimental kind, as far as she could tell, and keeping memorabilia such as these for reminiscing never struck her as something her Okaa-san would do. But then again, the woman is full of surprises.
She pulled out a simple yellow sleeveless dress, made with a soft material with yellow ribbons serving as straps and tiny white flowers embroidered at the bottom of the skirt. She had worn this before at a party when she was about five years old. She didn't quite remember whose party it was that she and her mother attended, but it was a birthday celebration she recalled. Her mother had a picture of the two of them in that very same gathering and sitting underneath a cherry tree. She vaguely remembered how impatient she had been while someone took the picture. Her mother had pulled her to the side just as she was about to play hide-and-seek with her newly found friends and asked her to take that one shot with her. It was spring; she hadn't forgotten how beautiful the cherry blossoms looked as they descend to earth. She remembered laughter; innocent, jovial laughter and squeals of kids including her own, and singing too. Yes, there was singing.
"Walking down memory lane, Daidouji-san?"
Tomoyo came crashing back to reality. Turning, she wasn't surprised to come face to face with none other that Hiiragizawa Eriol. Flustered to have gotten caught at such a moment of recollection, she resorted to the only thing she could think of; she turned away. She took her time putting back the dress, straightening up invisible creases and buying herself a few seconds to gather up her thoughts.
Hiiragizawa have always had the perfect timing, she thought sarcastically. Once she had gotten over her initial shock, she wheeled about and faced the ever-smiling face of Eriol.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt your little daydream, my lady, but I am a man of mission," he teased, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Tomoyo couldn't help but smile at his antics.
"Oh, is that so?" she replied, trying to act as indifferent as possible. "And what would that mission be, if I may ask?"
"Why to relieve the fair maiden from all this evil housework, of course."
Tomoyo's helpers couldn't hide their chuckles as the scene unfolded before them. How lovely it was to see Mistress Tomoyo… flirting with her little friend. It was a very adorable, Kodak moment but the giggles had ruined it. For what seemed like the hundredth time that day, Tomoyo almost colored in embarrassment. Almost. Quickly apologizing to her two other companions, she excused herself and Eriol and led her unexpected visitor downstairs.
"I'm so very sorry for the appearance of our home Hiiragizawa-kun, but I believe I told you that dinner starts at seven, not three in the afternoon. We weren't exactly prepared for your early arrival."
"Oh! Daidouji-san, did you think I came early for the sole purpose of beating XiaoLang to the sake?" he asked, feigning hurt at the girl's insinuation.
Tomoyo gave the look that confirmed he was right on target.
"Why I'm insulted!" he cried in flawless English- with a hint of British accent which Tomoyo secretly found adorable- mirth in his silver-blue eyes. "After I've told you of my mission, you still believe I have other ulterior motives?"
"Exactly," she replied bluntly. "Really Hiiragizawa-kun, that's very kind of you but I have no time to go out and chit-chat with you this afternoon, no matter how tempting the offer. Have you seen the condition our house is in right now? There are simply too many things needed to be done-"
"Whoever said I plan on taking you out?" the other queried innocently, interrupting the girl. Tomoyo raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "I merely wanted to help you out with your… err… spring cleaning Daidouji-san."
"Oh," was all Tomoyo could utter after a moment of silence.
"Unless, of course you want to go out with me that bad, then maybe we could work something out for tomorrow," he said suggestively, eyes twinkling naughtily.
"Shu-shut up Hiiragizawa!" stuttered Tomoyo, which reminded him so much of XiaoLang. He laughed. A few moments of silence reigned as the girl avoided eye contact with him.
"Yes, so as I was saying, I just stopped by to see if you needed help with anything. I apologize for showing up unannounced. I knew you would insist I stay put if I told you I was coming," he explained. "And believe me, you do need some assistance, Daidouji-san. All the residents of your house looked like they've been up since dawn."
"We were," Tomoyo confirmed.
"Well, you see that's exactly what I mean. You certainly could use a helping hand. Setting up the place, cleaning… cooking? I am a skilled chef, I'll have you know."
"You don't say?" she couldn't quite disguise the laughter in her voice nor the smile that spread across her face.
"Why, of course. And unlike Ruby, I put other ingredients in my recipes other than sugar."
Tomoyo stared thoughtfully at him for a moment. "Well, we do need desert…"
Eriol laughed.
Syaoron, looking a thousand times perturbed than he did when dinner was served, asked for a few minutes of Tomoyo's time and excusing himself from the others, having the need to talk to Daidouji about "something", which none of them ever got to find out what exactly. Sakura immediately got worried at Syaoron's words and started asking questions. The boy assured her that nothing is the matter and that somewhat eased her worrying. Tomoyo, who was in the middle of a conversation with her cousin, stood up and excused herself from her best friend.
Syaoron allowed her to lead the way as he followed, going over the speech he was planning on reciting in front of Tomoyo in his head for the umpteenth time. He's forgotten a few lines, he knew he did, because it sounded like a disaster in his head.
Kami-sama, it sounded so much better on paper last night, he though miserably and briefly regretted that he didn't bring the blasted piece of paper with him. He entered the room that Tomoyo had led him to, and realized that it was her movie room. It was deprived of Christmas ornaments unlike the rest of the house. It seemed awfully lonely to Syaoron as he noticed only a single couch was occupying the room besides the gigantic TV set. His eyes traveled around the chamber, studying every crook and cranny of the room with an unreadable expression on his handsome face. He's never been in this room before, but he had heard Sakura rambled on and on about it plenty enough.
Sakura.
At the thought of her, Syaoron's eyes unconsciously landed on the floor where several video tapes were scattered carelessly, a box of Kleenex among them. His eyes softened. He suddenly wondered how many gloomy days and sleepless nights Tomoyo had spent in this room, slumped on the couch watching tape after tape of a 10-year-old card captor battling magical creatures while jumping from building to building, and killing more trees than she intended to. The thought of Tomoyo crying her eyes out and going through an entire box of tissue each night left him even more remorseful at what he's about to do.
Tomoyo, who probably saw him staring at the tapes giggled softly.
"I apologize for the mess Li-kun. It seems that I have neglected to clean up this room this morning."
He looked at her smiling face, not at all fooled by her actions. That's so like her to pretend nothing's wrong. His heart goes out for his friend. He sure knows how she feels, though somehow he had a distinct feeling that she's going through a whole lot more than he did with Yukito-san. But it was too late to back down now. Or maybe it wasn't, but he just didn't want to. She needed to know, even if he hurt her again. She deserved to know. It was the least he can do for everything he has put her through. This way, he figured, it would be a little less painful than have Sakura break the news to her, though he has a distinct feeling that Daidouji-san already knew about it. He swears, that girl has a sixth sense or something.
He felt a delicate tap on the shoulder, breaking him out of reverie and making him turn and face Tomoyo. Silently, she made her way across the room to the couch and Syaoron had no other choice but to follow wordlessly. She quickly gathered the tapes that littered the floor and placed them in a cabinet where at least thirty or more V8 tapes were jammed in. She sat down on the beige sofa, but he remained standing, a look of hesitation in his chocolate brown eyes that refused to meet hers. After drawing a long, nervous breath, he took a sit beside her. There was a long pause while Syaoron occupied himself at staring at his feet with Tomoyo sitting beside him in silence, waiting for him to make the initial move. She's studying him; he could feel her eyes, her beautiful amethyst eyes, staring at him from head to foot with an inquisitive look.
He liked her eyes. Not as much as he loved Sakura's of course, but he liked them nonetheless. There was warmth in those beautiful dark orbs when he first looked at her years ago. This sort of friendly comfort enveloped him whenever he looked at her eyes. It wasn't until months later that he actually started to appreciate them, now that he thought of it. He dismissed them at first. But those were the eyes that hid sympathy that she felt for him all those times he was down, for she knew perfectly well that he despised pity. Those were the same eyes that looked at him with understanding when he confessed to her his love for her cousin and gave him all the courage he needed to come out of his shell and stop hiding from Sakura. Those were the same eyes that were scrutinizing him at that moment and it made him feel more uneasy.
But he didn't say a word. He kept quiet in hopes that he wouldn't have to say anything but can still declare that he had at least tried to tell her (that way he wouldn't look too much like a coward). He kept quiet, wishing that Daidouji will lose her patience, however unlikely that was, and walk out the door. He kept quiet because he didn't know where to begin. He kept quiet because he would rather die than witness Tomoyo's heart break a second time because of him.
It was going to happen sooner or later, that much she knew. She just didn't realize how soon. Until tonight that is. She, at first, wasn't certain what exactly Li-kun had in mind that's making him this giddy, but she knew it was something big. It was the way he moved around restlessly from the second he stepped in the house earlier that day. It was the guilt in his eyes when he saw the tapes scattered on the floor (she berated herself for not cleaning it up) that told her of what was to come. It was in the way he sat there, hands clenched in a tight fist and looking anywhere but her that told her everything. And it broke her heart knowing that the inevitable has come. At long last.
It wasn't as shocking to her when she finally got him all figured out, much to her surprise. After all, she was anticipating for this day to come ever since the two got together. A part of her was trying hard to be happy for Sakura, to have that light feeling in her heart at the thought of Syaoron's upcoming proposal to her best friend instead of the usual heavy feeling she always seemed to experience. For once, she wanted to be glad for Sakura. Just once. But she couldn't, because the bigger part of her still hasn't let her go. And it won't for a long time still.
She had the urge to bolt it out of there, to get away from Syaoron, hoping that she got it all wrong and he was only having some trouble and was merely seeking friendly advice, but she knew it wasn't going to be that easy to escape the inevitable. Or Syaoron for that matter. He tends to be a bit stubborn and he will go through with it, she knew he will, whether he has her consent or not. He simply wanted to inform her of it, and she had but one guess as to why he felt the need to do so.
She suddenly had the desire to laugh. Had it been someone else, she probably might've dismissed his poor attempts to get her approval and walk rudely out the door before he had uttered a word at edgewise (she wondered if that was how Touya reacted when he asked Sakura-chan's family for her hand in marriage), but this was Syaoron, the one person her Sakura-chan chose to love. The one she fell in love with, and who loved her in return.
Him. Tomoyo's best guy friend. Her rival. Her downfall. And Tomoyo couldn't just walk away.
She closed her eyes in an effort to suppress the river of salty tears that had formed in her eyes and quickly brushed the couple of drops that had escaped, hoping that her companion did not perceived that tiny scene she had made. Syaoron was guilty enough as it was without having her breaking down and crying. The last thing he needed right now was more reason to make him feel even more contrite and responsible. Putting on the bravest smile she could muster at her current condition, she gently placed her hands on top of his clenched fist, making him look directly at her, albeit unwillingly, for what seemed to be the first time that night. She gave his hand a tender squeeze, realization was etched on her pretty face as she looked at him with that smile. She understood what he's going to do and she wanted to show him that she approves of it. Maybe not whole-heartedly, but she approves of it nonetheless, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Tomoyo could feel her smile waver and there was no doubt that Syaoron saw the pain hidden underneath that smile, for his guilt-ridden expression was replaced that of rueful.
"Tomoyo-chan," his voice broke as he squeezed her hands back. "I'm so-"
"No, Li-kun," she quickly cut him off as tears threatened to spill once more. "Please don't."
Syaoron sniffled and he had to look away to conceal the tiny teardrop that made its way down his cheek. Tomoyo made a move to brush it off.
"Look at you!" she laughed, scolding him teasingly as she bent down and pulled a tissue from the dispenser and handing it to him. "Whatever happened to the manly Xiao-Lang I used to know?"
"He has become a crybaby apparently," he replied, taking the tissue that he was kindly offered.
She giggled at his remark. There was silence again, both unsure of what to say next.
"It's fine Li-kun," Tomoyo decided to break the ice. She paused. "Really. And you'll make Sakura-chan very happy."
If
"And you Tomoyo-chan?" he asked after a moment. "What about you?"
She contemplated whether or not she should answer that with the same answer she had been giving him and the others for the last few years, but decided against it. Syaoron would certainly not be satisfied with that.
"I," she paused, "I'll learn. I can only promise that I'll learn to be happy for the both of you, Li-kun."
Syaoron nodded in understanding to which Tomoyo was grateful for. At least he's content with her answer for now. How long his satisfaction will last, she didn't know, but she supposed that doesn't really matter at the moment. He stood up and the girl did the same. He turned to Tomoyo and impulsively pulled her in a tight embrace that can rival that of Nakuru's. She returned the action as they remained in that position for a few seconds before he spoke once again. She buried her face in his shirt as his next words broke her brave façade. There was a sort of finality to it that shattered her remaining self-control. It was the only thing she could do to keep from bursting out.
"Thank you Tomoyo-chan."
She could only nod in reply.
Eriol slowly let his eyes roam the room, looking for a certain dark-haired individual while Touya-san and Yukito-san carried on with their cheerful chatter (Nakuru was positively fuming now that Eriol made a mental note to remind himself to have a little chat with Nakuru about his half-son's relationship with Sakura-chan's moon guardian), Sakura joining in now and then with the conversation. She doesn't seemed to be totally engrossed with the discussion the two were having, as far as the young magician can tell, and he's simply oblivious of it all. Eriol caught a glimpse of his half-daughter at the corner of his eyes, a look of slight concern tainting those emerald orbs of hers. Apparently he wasn't the only one who had noticed Tomoyo and XiaoLang's long absence. Not that he's very much worried about his little descendant (however cruel that might've sounded), though he must admit that the discomfort in Syaoron's actions tonight, which conveyed the boy's desire to be anywhere but his current location, concerned him a little. It seemed that Sakura had noticed it too for she kept giving Syaoron a worried glance earlier that evening.
Eriol was even more worried about Tomoyo, however, which didn't surprise him at all. He had come to that point in his life when he no longer finds it surprising to be so concerned about Daidouji-san (and this was even before the whole Winter Festival incident). And why shouldn't he worry? Especially now that she's finally starting to accept him into her life as being more than an old acquaintance or Hiiragizawa-kun, Clow's reincarnation. He's her friend, her good friend now. Her confidant. And whatever his little descendant wanted to talk to her about is anything but good news, he was certain of it. For Daidouji-san anyway.
Perhaps he needed to pay a little visit to the rest room. Quickly excusing himself from the others, he made for the exit, only to come face to face with none other than Syaoron himself, who looked slightly solemn, but nevertheless placid and quite relieved. Eriol can only guess that Tomoyo had done her magic by the look descendant had. Countless checking-ups, as he called it (Ruby Moon preferred the term "spying"), on the in the past gave him the knowledge that Tomoyo is the only other person who can calm down a perturbed Li-san besides Sakura. And perhaps his mother too. He instinctively moved his gaze behind the brown-eyed boy, expecting to see the girl, only to be met by an empty hallway.
Syaoron undoubtedly saw the look cobalt eyes met air, for he simply told him in a low voice, "Don't."
The single word informed him of everything and made the sorcerer even more anxious to find the girl. He didn't show his keenness, however, as he merely looked at the other and plastered on a smile.
"Welcome back XiaoLang," he replied pleasantly. "Please excuse me."
And with that, he stepped out into the hallway, leaving Syaoron looking helpless and somewhat confused.
He found her inside what he could only assume as her video room, seated in a crème colored sofa and staring at her hands. Hands which were clenched together so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. Paler than she already was, if that was even possible. Eriol had to contemplate whether to leave her be or approach and try to comfort the girl. He opted for the latter.
He reached her side. Slowly she turned to him, large purple eyes emotionless and dead that Eriol could barely look at her. Yet he did, unflinchingly with, not pity, but understanding in his eyes. Daidouji Tomoyo do hate being pitied after all, and Eriol dared not feel such for her sake.
Least not in front of her.
Not a word was said between them, although Eriol need not be informed of anything. It was not necessary. XiaoLang had been pretty restless (a dead giveaway) and Tomoyo, quite sloppy that evening it was ridiculous. How long their staring contest lasted, neither knew, but it was she who first withdrew. Eriol was awakened from his reverie.
Unclenching her hands, the girl cleared her throat and stood up from her seat. She turned to Eriol, a smile that did not quite reach her eyes graced her porcelain face.
"In case I forget to tell you later," she started, "thank you for being here Hiiragizawa-kun."
Eriol could not prevent the sympathy that reflected fleetingly on his eyes as she said this. He watched as she bit her lower lip, slowly moved away from him, and started for the door.
"Please don't," she whispered as she passed him and only then did he realize what had taken place. He turned to her, ready to apologize, but she was already hurrying out the door and finally letting the unshed tears fall (though he did not exactly see this- rather he heard her quiet sniffles).
Eriol was left thinking that perhaps he too was being sloppy.
AN: Yay!!! Chapter 5 is done! Hope you guys enjoyed it. Umm… I'd like to explain why the characters' thoughts have wandered to all sorts of different subjects throughout this chapter (or maybe the whole fic). I'm trying to have the characters have the same aspects as we do, you know, be more realistic and I merely wanted to show how people's musings lead to other things that are maybe related or not related to what they had been thinking previously. You know what I'm talking about, right? Or… maybe not. Is it just me that does that then? Lol. Yeah, anyway that's all. So sorry for any mistakes. I tried my best proofreading. I know, I know, my apologies are getting repetitive, but I just can't help it. Lol. My friend's always scolding me for saying sorry all the time sweatdrop. Thank you so much for reading!!!
Bye and GOD Bless everyone!
hugz
JM
Came