Some Minor Readjustments

Tomoyo drew in a deep breath as she stood outside the doors of the Halloween Ball. Nervously she drew hands over her hair, which had been pinned up into a beautiful mountain of black with a silver moon ornament. She twitched the skirt of the beautiful long silver dress the mistress had given her to wear just a couple hours ago. It was made of purest silk and seemed to flow like water around her skin. More, it was almost entirely backless. "To show off your pride," Mistress had said.

And pride it was. The Silver Rain which had shown itself on her right shoulder blade as if it had always been there. The Silver Rain that she had been told about in the intervening weeks with such great detail that she felt more humble than proud of its illustrious appearance. She had no clue how fast she was learning what took others years to learn. She had no inkling of how very much she deserved her marking. But then, Tomoyo knew everything instinctively except what was good about herself. And as such she found herself standing nervously in front of doors she had often thrown open.

On the other side of those doors were strangers to her. Many people from all over the world, and places not really of the world, who were home to magick. They were all people who had been doing what she had just learned for years. People who would judge her by the mark she bore so effortlessly on her back. People who undoubtedly wouldn't think she deserved it. People who would think her proud and uppity. People she really didn't want to meet.

She almost ran.

But rather she saw Syaoran coming towards her down the hallway. Also in the past two weeks she had struck up a friendship to the raffish character. He was charming and utterly lovable. Sexy as hell, too. She couldn't help feeling attracted to him and couldn't help wondering what he thought about her, even if it was painfully obvious to everyone BUT her. So when she saw him coming towards her, looking devastatingly gorgeous in a white tuxedo she couldn't help but feel better. Especially when he bowed in front of her, taking her hand to kiss.

"You make the very stars envious, Tomoyo-san."

"I sincerely doubt it."

"Which is your only fault."

She smiled. "No my only fault is having for the first time a lack of courage."

"You? Being cowardly? I refuse to believe it."

Taking a deep breath Tomoyo centered herself. She managed to at last throw away her fears. "Good. If you did then I would have gone running. Shall we?"

He opened the door in front of her. "After you."

Tomoyo walked through the beautiful cherry doors and stepped further into her new world. Syaoran quickly stepped up to take her arm and introduce her to everyone nearby. For the next half hour she found herself being introduced to Counts and Duchesses, Ladies and Sultans, '-sama's and Misses. Almost every race could be seen and almost every language was being spoken. Thankfully one of the spells Mikkoku had quickly taught the over bright girl was one to master all languages. She managed to smile blindingly and impress a Queen with her politeness.

After awhile she was taken aside with some other girls her age to talk about their costumes, hers was a Moon Beam according to Mistress, about boys and about what school they were going to. Many asked what it was like to be living at the infamous Boarding House and some asked what it was like to be escorted by Black Wolf. Tomoyo could hardly answer one question before another was asked and she wished within her soul that she had taken the advice of wearing a mask so that she could feel on equal footing as those who did. So many people around her had covered faces and had kept themselves secret. But everyone knew her now and she for the first time in her life prayed for anonymity.

Just when she was about to become overwhelmed to the point of break down she found herself looking at an outstretched hand. When she followed it back to its owner she found someone else in a mask. But it was only a half mask and did not hide the almost sarcastic sympathy that showed itself in his smile.

"Tomoyo-sama of the Silver Rain, might I have this dance?"

Swallowing hard at the raw sensuality in his voice, Tomoyo barely managed to nod her assent. She carefully placed her hand in his and let him sweep her onto the floor. It was a waltz, something she thankfully knew by heart or else she might have made a fool of herself further, having no head to pay attention to her feet anymore.

"Thank you,...am I permitted to ask your name?"

"You are welcome and you are not."

"Figures," she smiled. "Did I look that much like I needed rescuing?"

"My dear Silver Rain you looked like you were about to drown."

"More like someone just gave me a pop quiz on astrophysics and telling me I had to get an A or else die."

He looked at her for a long moment then threw his head back and laughed. "Only you would say something like that, Tomoyo-sama."

"Do I know you?" she asked, dying of curiosity and a bit of uneasiness at the way he seemed so familiar with her.

"Yes and no. You know of me but then you don't really know me."

"You are absolutely no fun." But she didn't mean it. Having a mystery to solve was something to take her mind off being the center of attention. Especially when the mystery was so obviously handsome. And felt so good to be in the arms of.

"Liar," he smiled, reading her thoughts. "But I'll give you this hint. You know me well enough but would not know me if I took of my mask."

She frowned. "That doesn't make much sense." However, wheels inside of her head were turning. Tomoyo was very smart and was deadly quick with these sorts of riddles. And so it was only a moment or so really that she came upon an idea.

"Tell me, do you have a tattoo?"

"My, you are quick. Do you want to see it?"

"AH ha I was right. No I think I'll let myself pretend I'm smart. Knowing my luck I'd be completely off."

"Probably not. I bet you are right-"

But he was cut off as Syaoran came up to them. "Tomoyo-san, you promised to come sit with me when they served the food."

"Oh. I didn't realize they had, Syaoran-san, I'm sorry." She turned to her dancing partner again. "I'm sure I'll see you around," she said before she left with Syaoran glaring back at him.

And he watched them go, making his way off the dance floor. "No fair that he always goes off with the prize. But I'll have her yet, Wolf." Sighing he looked around at the rabble and paused long enough to look at his pocket watch, carefully engraved with a Black Phoenix, before he left the ballroom.

"Mikkoku, how old are you?"

"Older than you think, Tomoyo," he answered as he sipped his tea. "But that is as honest an answer as you will get."

"No fair." She stuck her tongue out at him. "If you are too much older I can't think of you as a little brother. So perhaps I'd better not know." She smiled at her cookie. "I like having a younger brother so much. Or perhaps a sibling at all worth anything."

Mikkoku merely looked at her for a long time, but didn't say anything. She was a silly little girl about some things and he doubted that would ever change. After a moment he put down his tea.

"I'm afraid that is the end of lessons though, Tomoyo. I'll work you extra hard tomorrow but I have extra homework I need to get done." He rose and smiled down at her. "Besides, every other tutor was envious at me on Halloween a few days ago. They were positively astounded with how much you have learned in so little time." He smirked. "You make me look bad."

She just rolled her eyes. "Go, be studious. Do homework. Meanwhile I'm going back to longing desperately for a computer and printer."

He chuckled. "How bout tomorrow I teach you a printing spell?"

"Really?" she gasped. "I'd love you more than life if you did."

His eyes grew serious, if his smile did not. "Liar. But that will be the first lesson. Later."

Tomoyo smiled at the door for awhile longer. That was the first time in the past few days where he had even mentioned going to the ball at all. It didn't confirm anything but it was still a clue.

The torrential rains had returned. Yet, even though November had settled in, Tomoyo really didn't care. She walked up to the roof and stepped out into the ice cold rain. That morning she had received a call from her step-father. A few weeks ago she had called the only relative of hers who really cared of her existence, her Aunt Nadeshiko, to tell her she was all right and that she had found a place to live and was going to school, but that she wouldn't be going home for awhile. Her Aunt Nadeshiko was concerned but seemed to be relieved. When Tomoyo asked why, her aunt merely replied that she knew the place quite well and that she was glad she had ended up at that particular place of all the ones to go to.

The conversation with her step-father had been painful. That bastard had called her names and tried to make her seem like the bad guy. However, in the end he just wanted to make it clear to her that she was not welcome back in his home and that everything she had left behind was now his under the eyes of the law. When she hung up the phone she felt drained and cold inside. Even the light teasing of Syaoran or the warm smiles of Mikkoku couldn't make her feel better as she left for school. So at lunch instead of going to the cafeteria she made her way into the frigid storm.

Silently she walked across the roof, between the various tables and chairs set up for people to have lunch on, until she reached the metal bars that prevented anyone from falling over the edge too easily. Next to them was a stone bench that she heavily sank down on and looked out into nothingness. In her mind she cursed herself as stupid for letting that bastard get to her. She never considered his house home and she never wanted him. But in her heart she knew she had at last found out the answer to the question she had been asking for years. Had he really wanted her? No. And now she would have trouble getting the small but precious things that her mother had so carefully left to her. Now she had no past. She didn't have a home to go to now, just a boarding house.

Tomoyo had been so engulfed in her thoughts that she jumped almost dramatically when she felt someone put their hand on her shoulder. Quickly she turned around and looked as she breathed heavily at the soaked figure of Hiiragizawa-sensei.

"Madison-san, you are going to get hypothermia if you stay out here too much longer. What will your parents think?"

Tomoyo just looked at him for a long moment then started to laugh. She knew very well what her ''parent" would think. He'd lock her out in the rain if he had a choice. But then all a sudden it was too much. Before she had even thought about it she had thrown herself against Hiiragizawa-sensei and started sobbing. The poor teacher looked confused for a moment, and even stopped to look around, as if to confirm that no one would see and charge him with sexual harassment, before putting his arms around her and petting her hair in hopes that she would calm down.

"I'm sorry, Madison-san, if I said something stupid. But you really need to calm down and come inside," he said after a moment.

Tomoyo pulled away and looked up at him as the rain fell on both of them so hard that she could actually barely hear what he said. Quietly she nodded and allowed him to lead her off the roof. When he had closed the doors behind them he turned to make sure she had stopped crying.

"Do you want me to take you to the nurse?"

She shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to be petted and bothered. Or called a damn fool for doing something so obviously stupid.

"Well, why don't you come to my office then and I'll get you a blanket and some tea or coffee or something? It'll warm you up a bit, I hope."

Tomoyo gave her teacher a watery smile. "Thank you. That would be nice."

He smiled and led the way to his office. Once there he took her coat from her, giving her a woven throw to wrap around her shoulders and asked her what her drink of choice was.

"Tea, thank you." Tomoyo huddled into the warm blanket which smelled like the man standing not to far from her. He was soaking wet now and more irreparably because he wasn't wearing a long coat like she had been. "I'm sorry to cause you all this trouble."

He waved his hand at her as he poured some hot water into a mug. "Nonsense. It's my job."

"I hope the pay is good," she laughed.

"Heh. No."

"Then why do you do it?"

"I have my reasons," he said looking at her with imperceptible eyes.

"I'm sorry; I guess that was rather personal question." She took the tea he offered her and took a sip from it. It warmed her down to her soul, she thought. After a moment she looked at his soggy appearance. "Do you have anything to change into?"

"I think I can manage something."

For a moment they were both silent. "How did you know where I was, Hiiragizawa-sensei?"

Hiiragizawa-sensei was groping for an answer that made sense. "I saw you get your coat and wondered why. I checked outside then the roof after that."

"Really?"

"...What do you think, Madison-san?"

She got quiet a moment as a smile grew on her lips. For a moment she only sipped her tea and looked at the handsome man in front of her. She knew he was lying because he hadn't had enough time to check outside before going up to the roof in the time between when lunch had started and when he appeared. He had seen her go up the stairs. He had been following her. Again.

"Why is it that you like me so much, Hiiragizawa-sensei?"

Hiiragizawa-sensei looked a little incredulous for a moment but finally broke into a low chuckle. "Because it's you. That is the only reason I can give, Madison-san, because that is the only one I know."

"And because it's me you risk getting hypothermia and let me cry on you?"

"I guess."

"You know I could file sexual harassment charges against you."

He looked at her seriously for a moment. "And will you?"

She shook her head. "That would defeat the purpose I think. Seeing as I don't really mind your attentions."

For a moment, Hiiragizawa Eriol seemed to be taking that in. Then he quietly asked, "Why were you standing out there?"

"Because now I can't even pretend that there is a warm family waiting for me. I'm alone in the world now."

"All alone?"

Tomoyo thought about Mikkoku and Syaoran and Mistress and Sakura. Even her aunt. "I guess not. I live with some interesting people." Then the bell rang for her to go to her next class. She put the mug down on his desk and the blanket on the chair. "Thank you, Hiiragizawa-sensei. I hope you don't catch cold."

"I'm pretty resilient. But make sure you don't."

She just shrugged before grabbing her coat and leaving.

After school she told Syaoran to go home without her. He was pretty worried about her and didn't want to be she told him that she had a paper to print out and that she'd be home shortly. Eventually he left and she made her way, stupidly, again to the rooftop. She opened the door and looked out into the rain. As she was taking a step someone pulled on her wrist. Turning around she looked down at Hiiragizawa Eriol and smiled sadly. He reached past her and closed the door firmly.

"Why, Tomoyo-san, do you want to do that?"

"Because I feel cold inside. It makes sense to feel cold outside. Gives balance."

He kind of laughed. "No, you just need to warm up your insides."

She looked up at him with teary eyes. "How?"

He didn't answer her in any way she had expected. Instead he pushed her against the door and bent down to kiss her with every bit of warmth that he had.

For the next few days, Tomoyo was laid up with an extremely high fever. If it weren't for a spell long ago placed on the Boarding House that prevented people from dying of ''natural" causes, she might have been rushed to the hospital. After the inflamed kiss which lasted for a few minutes, becoming more and more passionate until both parties suddenly realized who and where they were and broke apart, Tomoyo rushed out into the elements again. Instead of going straight home she stood outside in the freezing rain until she caught her breath and realized that what had just happened really had happened. It was because of this twice fold rush into the elements that she contracted such a heavy cold.

No one asked her why she had stayed out in the rain so long, though that was partially due to the fact that she was barely sensible half the time, the rest she was unconscious. Instead everyone did their part to look after her, the House, Spinel Sun and Sakura included. Mistress came in and gave her medicine every few hours, Sakura came and talked with her, knowing, beyond her years, that having some grasp of reality can help someone who is losing theirs, and Spinel Sun merely curled up beside her all the long hours that Tomoyo was confined to her bed. The boys were near useless so worried about her they were. Syaoran did his part by bringing home her homework and explaining it to their teachers. Mikkoku really didn't do much aside of occasionally feeding her. Instead he just sat with her looking very worried. But then, what could someone so small do?

Eventually however, Tomoyo regained herself enough so that on the Saturday following the Incident, she managed to go through the house by herself. Spinel Sun followed her around wherever she went and Mistress took to coddling her a bit, but otherwise she was back to normal. She spent most of the day doing all her make up work, after convincing Mikkoku she was well enough to do learn that printer spell they had discussed previously. And she used her makeup work as an excuse to be alone. In her head she kept reliving the kiss over and over again. She didn't regret it, but couldn't help feel that he did. She also knew that it was wrong, but couldn't help but feel hopeful still. Her mind was whirling in circles and she didn't quite know what she should do or how she should act at school on Monday.

As such, when Mikkoku knocked on her door with a tea set in tow, she was pleased and full heartedly invited him in.

"You worried us, Tomoyo. We were all quite afraid that you were going to shuffle off your mortal coil."

Tomoyo made a face. "I would be eternally mortified if I died from a cold. Though I promise not to be so foolish again."

"Ah, and that is the material point. Why were you so foolish to begin with? You have never been before."

She didn't know how to answer. Her eyes dropped and eventually made their way to the windows of her room which showed dark grey clouds and a dark world in general. "Promise not to tell a soul, Mikkoku?"

"Such a dark secret then? But yes, you may trust me."

"I know I can trust you, Mikkoku," she said sipping her tea. "You are probably the first person I could call family."

He smiled somewhat darkly but merely said, "So tell me already."

"You remember that teacher we talked about when I first came here?"

"The one who kept staring at you?"

"Yeah."

"What about him?"

"He kissed me?"

Mikkoku raised his eyebrows. "Really now?" He looked at her for a moment. "Ah, but I get the feeling that this is not all you have to tell."

She smiled at him. "Who are you that you are so smart, Mikkoku?"

"The Black Phoenix."

She rolled her eyes. "But you are right of course. It's not that he kissed me. It's that I liked it. A lot."

"Which is probably problematic."

"The whole teacher student issue."

"Well, the question is, do you want to stop him if he tries it again."

"Not the question, the problem."

He laughed softly. "And for this you nearly killed yourself?"

"Unsympathetic meanie."

"Tomoyo, you know that I hold you dear and thus, am not unsympathetic. However, would it sound too corny if I told you to follow your heart and your instincts?"

"Just a little corny."

"Sorry."

"But maybe I should try to forget him. Perhaps I should follow some other...paths open to me."

"Is that what you...want to do?"

"No clue."

"Okay now I'm unsympathetic. Make up your mind before you get problematical, Tomoyo." He stood up and headed towards the door. "Eat your dinner in here tonight so that you can be all better for school tomorrow. And lessons will start again tomorrow as well so don't forget to come home and instead decide to stand in the freezing rains for thirty minutes. Okay?"

"Yes, teacher."

The next morning when Tomoyo locked eyes with her homeroom teacher she shivered. The look he afforded her made it obvious that he didn't regret his actions. If anything he only regretted it being stopped. She found it hard not to return such a look and so turned away from him. She smiled at Syaoran, pondering whether or not she should turn to him for her love life. He seemed interested and he was already a good friend. But was he a good kisser?

Tomoyo tried to shake the thought from her head but they kept springing up at the most inopportune moments. Every time she heard Hiiragizawa Eriol's voice she shivered with excitement and every time she looked at Syaoran she wondered what she would feel with him. There were those times when she could swear he wasn't looking for love from her, but she couldn't gage exactly from the looks in his unreadable eyes. After awhile she couldn't help but laugh at how slutty she sounded mentally. So like a good girl she went straight home with Syaoran and avoided the obvious ploy Hiiragizawa-sensei made to get her to be alone with him. She went home and did her homework, had her tea and lessons. By and by, life returned to normal for a time.

Learning printer spells didn't solve the problem of using Power Point from home. So Tomoyo found herself staying late after school one evening. She forewarned Mistress and the rest of the household that she probably wouldn't be home until the school kicked her out, which hopefully wouldn't be until she was done. The principal was sympathetic to her needs and told her that he would speak with one of the teachers about staying behind until she was finished up. It was well after dark when Tomoyo finally popped the floppy out of the drive and sat back with a happy sigh.

Quickly she gathered up her things and went to the main office to see which teacher it had been. Since Fujiktaka-san didn't know who would be able to stay late until school was going to end he told her to check the office when she was done and he would leave a letter telling her who she had to check in with when she was done so they could close up the school. She had a sense of foreboding as she opened the envelope. Without looking she knew that a VERY familiar name would be written on the paper.

Without rush, Tomoyo made her way to his office, where, as expected, light showed from under his door. With a sigh she knocked lightly.

"Come in, Madison-san."

Tomoyo opened the door only enough for her to stick her head in. "I'm finished."

He looked at the clock. "Certainly took long enough. Why didn't you just stay after tomorrow instead of staying this late?"

"I don't like to have things hanging over my head."

"You could have fooled me, Madison-san."

And he was right. It had been near two weeks since she returned to school from her bout of the fever. She had studiously avoided him since then and kept very much in the company of Syaoran, trying to gauge her feelings towards him.

"I didn't think it was appropriate to have any further discussion on that subject, Hiiragizawa-sensei."

He sighed. "Come in and sit down. Your feet must be getting tired."

"True, but I'm safer out here."

"Are you so sure?" he asked with meaning in his voice.

"I think I'll sit."

"Wise choice."

He watched her intently as she sat across from him and primly crossed her ankles. She felt extremely conscious of herself, as well as him, and the way the whole atmosphere seemed to crackle with electricity.

"Now that you have me where you want me-"

"Hardly," he interrupted.

"-What do you wish to say?" she persevered.

"I merely wanted to ask your opinion on the subject."

"I already said that I thought it was inappropriate."

"For the moment, Tomoyo, put propriety to the side."

"Is that what you want, Hiiragizawa-sensei?"

"I think what I want has been made clear since day one. And call me Eriol."

She blinked. That was a step she wasn't sure she wanted to take, as thrilling as all this was. If she called him by his first name she was admitting that they were far more intimate than a teacher and student should be.

He seemed to read her thoughts and smiled seductively. "You know you want to."

"Hiiragizawa-SENSEI. You are my teacher."

"Yes, we've established this fact."

"Do you realize how much trouble you could get in?"

"Do you think I care?"

"What about me?"

"Well, see, everything depends on you and what you think."

"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously.

"Well, if you find it distasteful and gross I promise to never be alone with you, to never look at you except when addressing you in class nor to ever mention anything of the subject ever again."

"You are serious?"

"As a heart attack."

She looked at him for a long moment then very plainly asked him something that had been on her mind since the very first.

"Before I say anything, honestly, why me? Why all this time?"

"Because you are you. Everything about you from the first moment I laid eyes on you told me that down to your soul you were beautiful."

"I'm hardly beautiful, Eriol."

He smirked when he heard the name she let slip. "Yes you are. You just don't know it."

"So you wanted me from first sight?"

"Yes."

"With what kind of intentions? If I may be so bold."

He couldn't help but laugh. This was not a conversation he ever really hoped he'd be able to have, she being the sort who kept to herself and stayed distantly polite. He didn't know how long his good luck would last and didn't want to spoil it.

"With every intention of falling in love."

Tomoyo gasped. Whatever she had been expecting that wasn't it. Never in her wildest imaginings did she think that anyone would say something like that to her. Of course she wasn't the most self-aware and didn't know how many people were thinking along similar lines. But still it was at those words that she very carefully did what she did next.

Shakily she stood up and walked over to him. She did nothing more than stand next to his chair and look down at him and say, "Okay."

He smiled brilliantly at her and drew her down onto his lap where he proceeded to show her how good a choice she had made.

Syaoran stormed in on her while she was reading the diary of Clow Reed. She had been reading it the past few days and everyone thought it was amusing that she was interested in such an old diary. Mikkoku had asked her what she thought of it and she said she was fascinated with it. Reading diaries are always great, especially that of magick users.

But on that day in the first week of December she was interrupted. Quite roaringly too.

"What kind of foolish idiotic thoughts are you having, Tomoyo Madison-san?! Are you trying to get in trouble? Or him perhaps? What are you THINKING?"

Tomoyo calmly put down the journal and looked at him steadily. She had pretty much gathered what he was talking about from what he had said.

"It's our business, Syaoransan."

"A TEACHER?!"

"What about it? I hear it's not uncommon."

"Yeah, with brainless idiots who have complexes."

"Syaoran-san, it really isn't your business. How did you even find out?"

Tomoyo was really curious because in reality they hadn't done much. Since the incident in his office that first time two weeks previous, they had only had one more encounter like it. Aside of that day. Though he did have a sweet side and wrote letters to her.

"I SAW you, Tomoyo. In his office. There is a WINDOW in that door of his you know. And you were sitting in his LAP. I thought it was weird that you decided to stay after school real suddenly today but I figured I could get some work done and maybe accompany you home. But I had to ask Hiiragizawa-sensei a question." He raked his hand through his hair. "Boy some answer I got."

She just looked at him. She had no clue really why he was so angry. She assumed he knew she was smart enough to think something through before she did it. Maybe he didn't.

"Alright, Syaoran-san, that's all well and good. But still, what does it have to do with you?"

He looked at her incredulously. "Are you insane? Or just as oblivious as you seem?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm worried about you! Is that so hard to understand? You are my friend," he yelled. "There. Is that answer enough?"

Tomoyo looked at him with wide eyes. In all reality she didn't know he had such a depth of feeling since he really didn't seem to care nor did she know what to do with the situation. At first she was just "dating" Eriol because she was kind of flattered and a bit lonely. But now....

"I'm sorry Syaoran-san. I didn't mean for you to find out like you did. And I especially didn't realize you'd be so worried."

"Now that's insulting, Tomoyo-san. If nothing else I thought we were friends. Friends care about such things. Especially since I didn't even get to do that whole, 'If you hurt her I splatter your innards all over the universe' bit."

"I really am sorry, Syaoran-san. I didn't mean to hurt you. And you ARE my friend. I just didn't think you were interested."

"Well, I am!" He sighed. "And this whole dating a teacher is bad enough, Tomoyo-san. Don't you realize that if you got caught he would get fired? He wouldn't even be able to get a job anywhere else either probably."

She had thought about that but she didn't care at first. Lately though it had been weighing down on her. "I know."

"You can't keep doing this Tomoyo-san. If I found out then...what about teachers? Or other students?"

She sighed. "I was thinking about breaking it off actually. I just really didn't know how to do it."

"Well, why don't you tell him that you decided to go out with boys your own age?"

She looked at him. "Oh?"

He sat down on the bed in front of her. "Listen Tomoyo-san. I didn't tell you before but something in my intuition tells me to stay close to you. For some reason I think you are supposed to lead me to someone. So, do the whole two weeks with me. Pretend to be normal boyfriend girlfriend with me for two weeks. If I don't find anything, we'll stop and you are no worse off. But at least until Winter Holidays you shouldn't be dating a teacher. And it should fix your problem. If you decide that you want to date me more he can understand that right?"

She looked down at her hands. "All right. But let me talk it over with him first."

He actually afforded her the first genuine smile he had shown her. He kissed her briefly on the cheek then left her room, to do what she didn't know or really care. Really she liked Eriol and didn't want to end the relationship. But she liked Syaoran too and he seemed to really need her help in addition to her feeling she really should give it. She also knew it had to end. Tomoyo felt suddenly very tired and surprisingly lonely. She walked over to the armoire and put on her long black hooded cloak. Winding her way through the house she finally made it to the French doors which opened out into the hedge maze.

It was already very dark outside and she felt almost as if the black was going to swallow her. Finally she found the center of the maze which had a fountain and stone bench. Being outside in the stillness of winter nights helped calm her raging emotions. Deep down she knew she as making a good choice and she knew that she wanted to help Syaoran enough to make it a great choice. But it was those very emotions that scared her. Why did she feel like she should help Syaoran that much when she cared so much about someone else? What was it she was supposed to do?

After she had been outside for probably more than a half hour she heard the sounds of someone approaching. Due to her new honed in ability to read auras, she didn't even have to look.

"Do I look that lonely, Mikkoku, that you came all the way out here to cheer me up?"

"Who says I didn't just feel like coming out here on my own, Miss Vain?"

She pointed up and backwards, still not turning towards him. "Yours over looks the maze."

"Cheater."
"Hardly. Answer the question."

'Not lonely precisely, but troubled."

"I had to make a hard decision."

"What?"

"To let Eriol-san go."

"You are dumping him?'

"In other words."

"Why?"

"If Syaoran-san found out, what says others won't? Then what will happen?"

"Syaoran-kun, what does he have to do with it?"

"I promised to date him instead."

Back still turned, Tomoyo missed the face which quickly passed over Mikkoku's features. For but a moment he looked furious. "Why?"

"Because, though I like Eriol-san more, I DO like Syaoran-san in a way. And he asked me for a favour I'm granting. I'm also worried about what would happen to Eriol-san. Enough to break it off so he doesn't get in trouble."

"Noble thoughts but what about your Hiiragizawa-sensei?"

Finally Tomoyo turned to look at Mikkoku who was at that point standing just behind her. "What do you mean?"

"What if he doesn't care if you get found out? What if he just wants you?"

She sighed and leaned over to put her face in her hands. "I've thought about that. That is one of the main reasons why I'm going out with Syaoran-san for the two week trial period. If I have someone else he won't fight as hard, right?"

"No he won't. His pride will be hurt. I still think you should be true to yourself, however noble your actions are."

"Yes, but Mikkoku you are wiser than I am."

He reached around her shoulders and gave her a hug. "But you have more purity and are far more lovable."

She turned around and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Not as lovable as you, Mikkoku. Thanks for the compliment though."

As she got up and walked away she didn't notice how long Mikkoku kept his hand on his cheek, as if to keep the kiss where she had planted it.

"And you see, Eriol-san, I've told Syaoran-san that I would go out with him. It's better for me to go with someone my own age, despite how much I like you. I can be so much freer in that relationship." She paused as she looked at his cold features. "Please don't hate me," she pleaded.

At last he reacted in some way by smirking. "I don't hate you, Tomoyo. Far from it. Which is what makes this so hard." He sighed. "Fine. Go date boys your own age. But when they don't treat you as well as I do, or love you as much, you come back to me."

She smiled softly. "You sound so sure that I will."

He stood up and walked around his desk to give her a very meaningful kiss. "I am."

'Now that I'm fully into my magick I learned about how we all have our chosen mates. It's not always true that we meet them though. Within our time we have people we are meant to be with, people who have magick as well, and the same amount usually. And I had someone too, born in the same year that I was but she was burned as a witch when she was only thirteen. My teacher tells me that she was fully into her powers by then and I should learn my lesson from such a quick learner.

'It's not that I'm a slow learner really, but that I didn't know I was a magick user until I was already fifteen. He can't blame me for that. I'm only seventeen now and I know everything that he does and more. But I still wish I could have met her. They also say that whenever a great magick user, which she obviously was, dies some time she will be born again. Maybe I'll meet her again. Knowing my luck I'll be Ninety and near death when she is born. Maybe it's my fate."

Tomoyo put down the journal when she heard the clock chime five. She quickly got dressed and headed down to the front entryway. Syaoran was already waiting for her with a smile and her coat in his arms. In a very gentlemanlike manner he helped her put it on and opened the door for her.

"Mistress didn't go ballistic about us missing dinner?"

"No but she told me to be sure that we were here for tomorrow night's because it's Sakura-chan's birthday," he replied with a soft smile.

"How old is she now?'

"Eleven, I think," he replied with a softened tone once more before smiling.

It was Saturday and they were going out to eat at an Italian restaurant. It had already been a week and a half since their agreement and Tomoyo was more than content with the arrangement. She was pretty sure that he would have found something by the two week mark.

Right when Syaoran was going to do the transportation spell she said, "Hey Syaoran-san, why don't we skip dinner."

"Where would you like to go?"

"Well, we can go anywhere we want can't we?"

"Reasonably yes. I really don't think it'd be wise to go to a different country or anything. That takes up too much energy."

"Alright, then let me show you something I saw on a trip once."

"Sure."

Tomoyo reached around him and whispered a few words. The world around them melted and reformed into darkened trees and grass. She smiled as she looked over his shoulder. Stepping away she grinned at him.

"What is this place? What's so special?"

"Turn around, you twit."

Tomoyo watched in pleasure as he turned around and saw the illuminated architecture.

"It's breathtaking. What is it?"

"It's the Water Wall. Its a half circle on each side, this is the outside, which looks more like Niagara falls but the other side..." she left off as she pulled him around to the other side which looked more like water falling down an angled cliff.

"It's beautiful. But, um, Tomoyo-chan, where are we?"

She laughed. "I don't know really, somewhere in Japan. I came here when I was little with my Mom. It was a relatively new creation then I thought it was the most awe inspiring thing I'd ever seen. Like man had captured the raw power of nature.."

"It's exactly that isn't it?" He turned to her smiling to her once more. "Thank you for showing me this. It must mean something to you."

She nodded and looked back at the wall. "I've only seen it once but I remember it so vividly." She paused. "I think I might show it to Mikkoku some day. I think he'd like it."

Syaoran grew really still, his hand still resting lightly on her arm. "You really like Mikkoku don't you?"

"Um hmm. He's like the family I was never privileged to have. When I'm around him I feel...at home." She shrugged. "Silly I know. But I finally get a brother of sorts."

"I see," Syaoran said slowly.

They stood there for a long time, standing side by side as they both admired the beauty in front of them. Tomoyo with a look of utter contentment, but Syaoran with a considering and thoughtful look in his amber eyes.

Tomoyo was helping Sakura get ready for the birthday celebration before dinner. The two girls got along like best friends, despite the age difference. They weren't together as much as Mikkoku and she were, but that's because Sakura had to spend a lot of time studying. No one would tell her why Sakura was treated differently or why no one commented on her ability to do easily spells Tomoyo hadn't even seen Mikkoku do.

"I remember a long time ago I went to visit my aunt and her husband when I was a couple years younger than you," Tomoyo said as she brushed Sakura's hair.

"Was that the only time you visited them?" Sakura asked, looking a little astonished.

"Oh I think I visited with them a couple more times, but my mother was very upset with my aunt's marriage and so kept away from them for years. I think she visited her sister once more before her death. Mostly though, my aunt and uncle would come visit us for a short time."

"Are they nice people?" Sakura asked as she skipped to the closet to look at her clothes.

"Very. In some ways they remind me of you. Especially my aunt, she was so gentle and everyone loved her."

The younger girl giggled a little, almost startling Tomoyo with the purity of the sound. "I don't think everyone loves me, Tomoyo-san. But it would be very nice. I'm glad you got to know your aunt and uncle. I was never allowed to."

"Oh?" Tomoyo asked. She had always been curious about Sakura's past but had been afraid to ask.

Sakura nodded, her emerald eyes sparkling. "See, mama and papa knew really early that I was gifted with great magick. My mother's a magick user as well, though not a greater one. They were very happy when they learned of it, but at the same time were very sad. They both knew I had to receive training. So they kept me only until I was three and able to talk and walk before they gave me over to Mistress Mei Lin."

Tomoyo stared at the younger girl in shock. She had been taken from her family so young but still managed to smile as she told the story. Tomoyo of course knew that she could not have received harsh treatment here, but still to be brought to this dark house so young was a harsh punishment.

"Did they teach you how to use magick right away or did they wait?"

"Oh, I was able to use my magick before I turned four. But since I'm not all the way grown up I don't have all of it yet. So I will stay here for some time yet, until I come into all my magic."

Tomoyo nodded silently. Then a thought struck her, a stray memory.

"Sakura-chan, what are your parent's names?"

"Oh! Kinomoto Fujitaka and Nadeshiko. I also have an older brother who I visit with every summer and during Christmas sometimes. His name is Touya and is very over protective."

For a moment, Tomoyo was struck completely dumb. Touya. She had met with Touya only a few times since he was a year older and able to stay behind when his parents came to visit. When Aunt Nadeshiko and Uncle Fujitaka came to visit.

"Sakura-chan, I have another birthday present for you. A story."

"Oh?" she asked, delightedly.

"Once upon a time, my aunt and uncle had a little boy who I met with a few times. Then, seven years later they had a little girl. She was born when I was just a little girl and so since I never saw her again, the memory of her faded from memory. No one told me what happened to my little girl cousin. But I know now."

"Oh? What happened?" Sakura asked, obviously enthralled.

"She came to the Boarding House with Mistress Mei Lin."

For a moment, the younger girl seemed to have trouble understanding before comprehension flooded her features. "You are my cousin, Tomoyo-san?"

"That's right."

"Yay! That's the best present ever!" Sakura laughed as she hugged her new family member.

"It's a present to me too!" Tomoyo laughed before being startled. The half hour was being rung. "I'll go on ahead of you. You get ready okay?"

"Yes, Cousin Tomoyo-chan!"

Everyone gathered in the dining room before six and waited for Sakura to come. It was a special thing that made it absolute that she was the woman of the day. When the young girl, confirmed to be turning eleven, walked into the room everyone sang happy birthday. She blushed bright red but grinned. Sakura was given the head chair and had a tiara put on her head. After dinner they had cake and gave her presents.

Mistress gave her a dress, a pink one, but one which looked a bit older than the ones she usually wore. Mistress Mei Lin said that she was a year older and should dress with a years more maturity. Sakura thanked her and smiled almost worriedly. Syaoran gave her, in point of fact, the tiara on her head and a matching necklace. They were both just thin silver wired around too look almost like ivy but were both exquisitely beautiful and suited Sakura wonderfully.

Tomoyo grinned as she gave her favourite new cousin her birthday present. "Open it open it!"

"I am Cousin Tomoyo-chan! I am!" Sakura laughed as she unwrapped it carefully.

Tomoyo had been working carefully over the present for some time after she heard a chance comment from Lia. And it meant the world to her when the little girls face lit up with even more radiance than it usually had.

"Tomoyo, I love them!" she exclaimed as she inspected each of the hand sized pictures that Tomoyo had pain staking drawn and framed. One was Sakura herself, another, Tomoyo, two more were Syaoran and Mikkoku, then the last two were Mistress and group picture of all of them. "Thank you! I was wishing for pictures of everyone and these are so wonderful. Thank you!"

Tomoyo blushed but was happy that she liked them.

"Hey am I really that handsome?" Syaoran asked, trying to be funny for once.

"Oh, Sakura-chan. I also put a bit of magick on them. They will appear like the person in the picture appears. That way you will always know what we look like so you may always recognize us when you see us after we have parted ways."

"Where did you find that spell?" Mistress Mei Lin asked carefully. "From Mikkoku?"

"Not from me. Did you find it in a book Tomoyo?"

"No. I just did it. Sometimes when I think about what I want done how to do it will just come to me. Doesn't that happen with you?"

"Yes, it happens with me, too" Mikkoku said. But something in his voice, Tomoyo detected, said that it wasn't at all usual.

"Anyway, Mikkoku, it's your turn."

Sakura giggled. "He didn't have to get me anything. No body did!"

"Nonsense, Sakura-chan. However, I didn't get you anything."

"Oh," the little girl said obviously a little confused.

"But I'm still giving you a gift; never fear. You get a wish! I'll give you anything you want, well for at least ten minutes, anything you've always wanted but never could have or do."

"Sort of like borrowing someone else's MP levels?"

"MP?"

"Honestly, Mikkoku-kun, don't tell me you've never played Final Fantasy?" Sakura sighed. "Anyway...my wish...." With a faint look at Syaoran then at Tomoyo she answered slowly. "I Wish to see what I look like when I'm....17. Just for a few minutes."

"Done. That's easy. Stand up so that we can all get a good look at you. Oh and I'm going to have the magick redress you too so your clothes don't tear."

For a moment everyone watched as Mikkoku concentrated then muttered a few word. There was a sudden flash of light and everyone turned their eyes to Sakura. And gasped. Instead of the small girl there now stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman who stood tall and self assured. Instead of the dainty white long sleeved dress that had been, there was now a long full skirted strapless dress which clung to this beauty in all the right places. She was breathtaking. Even more so when the voice that came from her lips was equally as pure and womanly.

"You are scaring me everyone."

Her words broke the sudden stillness which had fallen over everyone. Except for Syaoran. Syaoran was still staring at Sakura with strange intentness. Or more exactly, staring at her left arm. On which there was a tattoo of a Cherry Blossom set inside the inner circle of a Crescent moon. The symbol gifted to the number one most powerful girl, said in mythology to appear on the moon at the birth of a great mage. And equal only to the companion symbol, the Black Wolf.

"Moon Star," Syaoran whispered. "I knew...but I didn't."

Everyone in the room, Sakura included, looked at him like he was deranged.

"Of course she's Moon Star, Syaoran-san," Tomoyo said. "She doesn't try to keep it a secret."

"I never ASKED. And she usually has long sleeves on."

"True. But is there anything special about the fact that I'm Moon star, Syaoran-san?" Sakura asked, with a kind of shy hope in her voice.

It was at that point that Tomoyo began to smile slowly. She understood why Sakura made such a simple wish, one she could have easily done herself, and probably had done. She also easily understood what Syaoran had been looking for and that he had someone to wait for now.

Of course, so did everyone else in the room, Sakura and Syaoran included.

Tomoyo quietly knocked on the door before entering and closing it behind her. He looked at her for a moment, and at the way her eyes said everything.

"I knew you'd be back."

"I didn't want to leave."

"Then please don't leave again," he pleaded, with such pain and urgency in his voice.

As she looked at him she regretted every single day she had instead spent with Syaoran and every moment that she had tried to push this man from her mind.

"Never."