L-chan's notes: I'm falling behind again, but I want to say I truly appreciate all of you for your patience and your comments. Thanks everyone!

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Shadows

Chapter 4—Anything Can Happen

The decorating committee did an impressive job turning the gray school gymnasium into, well, a prettier gymnasium. They went all out for the May Day Dance, the first real social event of the school year. Bouquets of fresh cut flowers were placed throughout the room, filling the air with a heavenly scent. Colorful streamers and balloons in pale pinks, sunny yellows, leafy greens, and bright blues seemed to bring the outdoors inside, creating an atmosphere of springtime.

Meiling's arm was linked through Tomoyo's as they walked in. "See? Now aren't you glad you came?"

Tomoyo did admire the obvious hard work put in by Rika and the other members of the dance committee, but she still didn't know why she was there. How did I let her talk me into this? she wondered as she looked at Meiling's excited expression. She checked her watch, twisting the loose band around her wrist. Eight o'clock. She said I could leave at nine if I wasn't having a good time. Eight-oh-one. Fifty-nine minutes to go.

Meiling's smile lost a little of its gleam. "Tomoyo-chan, you promised. Please try to have fun. Remember, anything can happen at a dance." And if Meiling had guessed right, something would happen. She wanted to see Tomoyo happy again, and she could only think of one thing that might do the trick.

Tomoyo nodded as she looked around at her classmates. Some of them were dancing, others were talking or eating. A group of girls stood near the punch bowl, trading secret glances with a group of boys in the corner, each group pretending not to be interested in what the other was doing. She sighed, thinking about the long hour ahead of her, watching everyone else find someone special to be with.

Meiling sighed, too. At least she'd gotten Tomoyo to come. Now where was he? She cast her ruby eyes around the room, but her search was immediately interrupted by a tap on her shoulder.

"Good evening, Li-san, Daidouji-san," Hiro Tanaka greeted with a grand bow, his pale hair falling into his green eyes. "I hope I'm not late."

"Right on time, as usual," Meiling replied with a grin. "I'll be with you in just a minute." She watched her date as he went to get two cups of punch. "He's so cute," she murmured dreamily before turning her attention back to her friend. "Now, Tomoyo-chan—"

"I know, I know. I'll try."

That was the best she was going to get. "Fine. I'll see you later." She gave Tomoyo a quick hug and left to join Hiro before he could start talking about baseball with some of his teammates.

Eight-oh-seven. Tomoyo saw a row of unoccupied chairs along the wall and decided to stake out a spot before the dancers took a break. She sat down, smoothing out the skirt of her royal blue dress as she daintily crossed her ankles. It was an old dress, but one she'd made herself. When she finally gave in and agreed to come with Meiling, she hadn't had time to sew a new dress, so she just modified one from last year. She'd sliced off the long sleeves and turned them into shoulder caps, removed the sheer overskirt to simplify the design, and added a sash that tied in the back, cinching the skirt tight around her waist. With a matching hair ribbon and simple pearl jewelry, she looked absolutely elegant.

Why did I go to so much trouble? I don't have anyone to look nice for.

"Daidouji-san?" A quiet young man from the choir whose name escaped her suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "Would you like to dance?" he asked nervously, paying more attention to his shoes than to her.

"Thank you, but I'm not feeling too well at the moment." It was somewhat true. Eight-twelve.

Across the gymnasium, Touya was doing his best to keep an eye on the students. He'd quickly learned that being a new teacher definitely had its downside. You're automatically drafted for the jobs no one else wants. He and three other new teachers were asked to chaperone the dance in a manner implying that refusing was not an option. Good thing I don't have a life.

He held a cup of punch bad enough to rival the Parents' Night coffee for the coveted Most Vile Beverage award, wondering how a school with a budget that allowed for state-of-the-art technology and a wide range of extra-curricular programs couldn't manage to provide decent drinks. He sipped at it anyway, the offending orange flavor staying on his unfortunate tongue for far too long, as he tried to seem as inconspicuous as possible. He could do his job better if he just blended into the background.

At least the music is decent. The band that the dance committee had found was actually very good. It was made up of a group of university students looking for some extra cash to help with their expenses. Their setup was simple, but their lack of flashy stage presence was more than made up for by their talent. The guitar player began strumming the chords for a ballad, and the female singer's throaty voice wrapped around the romantic lyrics.

Time to make the rounds, he guessed. He tossed his half-empty punch cup into a trash bin and began a quick tour of the gym, looking for… inappropriate behavior. That's what they told him to look for. Not that he knew what exactly that consisted of. Could they be a little more vague? He never went to any of these dances when he was a student, so he didn't know what was acceptable and what wasn't. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, but not too good a time.

Touya spotted his precious little sister and her gaki, and while he would have liked to separate them, he couldn't come up with a good enough reason to justify the embarrassment it would cause all three of them. He simply raised an eyebrow at Syaoran as he walked past, just to say, "I'm watching you." Syaoran responded by holding Sakura closer and giving Touya a look that dared him to do anything about it. One of these days, he fumed silently, shoving his clenched hands into his pockets as he continued his path around the gym.

Along the opposite wall was a row of folding chairs, and that's where he spotted Tomoyo. I didn't expect her to be here. But then, why shouldn't she be? It looked like he'd found the one person who wasn't having a good time. She was sitting alone, and he saw her sigh and glance at her watch, mouthing the time. He checked his own watch. Eight-twenty-nine. Is she waiting for someone?

A dark-haired boy walked up to her and said something, but she shook her head as she answered with a polite, if forced, smile. The young man walked away dejectedly, and the smile disappeared from Tomoyo's face. Once again, Touya felt an overwhelming urge to help her. She looks so miserable. What happened to that happy little girl with the video camera?

Maybe that was part of the problem. Maybe everyone only saw her that way and as nothing more. He'd been guilty of such labeling himself, and a victim of it, too.

Stop trying to be everyone's onii-chan, Yuki had said that cold December night.

But he couldn't help it. He needed to be needed. Sakura didn't need him anymore, and neither did Yukito. But maybe Tomoyo did.

He stopped near one of the snack tables and debated going over to her. Sonomi-san asked me to watch out for her. That's all I would be doing. Just checking on her. Nothing wrong with that, right? He sighed and ran a hand through his brown hair, nodding in greeting to a couple of students who had approached to bravely try the punch. He didn't know why he was hesitating.

Tomoyo was beginning to wish she'd brought a book, but that would have gone against Meiling's order that she have fun. It would have been more fun than sitting here alone. She'd been watching Sakura and Syaoran, who had yet to come over and say hello to her, even though she was sure that Meiling had told them she was there. But even Meiling hadn't been back to see how she was doing. Maybe I could just slip out. She was considering it when she saw a shadow moving toward her out of the corner of her eye. Not again. She prepared her apologetic smile and looked up, but the smile on her lips was replaced by a surprised O shape as her eyes met Touya's.

"Good evening, Daidouji." He always said her name with a slight mocking tone. It had become something of a private joke between them.

"Good evening, sensei," she replied. She felt her treacherous heart beat a little faster. It wasn't right that a man should look so good. He was still dressed in the navy suit he'd been wearing during classes, a matching navy-and-green striped tie laying neatly against his crisp white shirt. His dark hair was a little disheveled, the long strands falling in his brown eyes. He looked younger, somehow. Something was different.

He noticed the empty chair next to her. "Do you mind if I sit here for a minute? I've been on my feet all day."

She shook her head, trying not to stare at him like some lovesick schoolgirl as he sat down, and then her brain finally locked on what was missing. "Where are your glasses?"

He held open his jacket, and she saw the wire-rimmed spectacles peeking out of his pocket. "I hate wearing them, but I need them for reading. Pretty geeky, huh?"

"They're not so bad. I think they make you look very—" Nice. Intelligent. Handsome. Sexy. "—distinguished."

Touya put his hand over his heart as if she'd wounded him. "Oh, God, that makes me feel old. Next you'll be telling me that my hair is turning gray."

She couldn't resist. Tomoyo's lips twitched ever so slightly as she squinted and tilted her head to consider him. "You know, now that you mention it…." Then she giggled at his panicked expression before he realized she was kidding.

"That's not funny," he reprimanded, wagging his finger at her. He was surprised by how good it felt to see her smile, to hear her laugh. The change from how she appeared just a couple of minutes ago was amazing. There was light in her eyes again, and she just looked so… so… "So, why is a pretty girl like you sitting here all alone?" he asked before he could let himself finish that thought.

She fought back the blush that threatened to spread over her cheeks. It was the second time he'd called her pretty, even if he was just saying it to be nice. "I'm not really one for dances," she replied, "but Meiling-chan said I had to come and hear the band." Meiling had kept pushing the issue until Tomoyo finally relented. For the first time, she was glad that her friend had been so persistent.

"Yeah, they're all right. Students from the university?"

She nodded. "I was hoping I could ask them about the music program there. I'd love to apply next year, if I can convince my mother to let me."

"She doesn't want you to go?" That was odd. When he'd talked to Sonomi at Parents' Night, she'd made it clear that she had great ambitions for Tomoyo's future. Surely that includes university.

"Oh, she wants me to go to the university, but on the business track." They'd already had several arguments about it, even though Tomoyo had just barely started studying for the entrance exam. It's never too early to start preparing, her mother was always reminding her. The program is very demanding. Just because you've always done well in school doesn't mean you won't have to work hard. How many times had she heard that? "She wants me to work with her, be just like her. It's all she's talked about since I started school." She looked down at her folded hands. Why am I telling him all this?

"But that's not what you want." He could tell by her tone. Touya forgot his responsibilities and got more comfortable in his chair, turning a little so he could face her as they talked. The more I know about her, the better I'll be able to help her. He didn't realize that there might be more to it than that. That, maybe, he just wanted to know her.

Tomoyo shook her head. "I want to teach music," she confided, meeting his kind eyes again. "I want to work with children and nurture in them the same love and appreciation for music that I have. Music has always been so important to me, and I just need to share that feeling with others. It's why I love singing so much. It's like… giving a part of myself. If that makes any sense," she added shyly. She felt silly troubling him with her ramblings, but he seemed genuinely interested. And she knew she could trust him with these things.

Just like 'kaa-san. She really was like Nadeshiko. His mother had always loved music. It was something she'd passed on to him. Maybe it just ran in the family. "I think I know what you mean," he said. "When I was eight, my mother taught me how to play the piano. It's always been a way for me to express what I'm feeling when nothing else seems enough, or when I just can't otherwise. If that makes any sense," he repeated with a grin. He hadn't told anyone that before. But it didn't seem strange to open up to her like this. He knew she would understand.

And she did. "That's it exactly." She'd never been able to explain that to her mother. Sonomi had always encouraged her music as a hobby, but just as a hobby. Tomoyo didn't think she realized just how important it was to her. "I've always wished I had learned the piano. It's one of the few lessons my mother never signed me up for." She laughed a little. "It would probably come in handy if I were to teach elementary music, wouldn't it? Maybe someday I'll get around to it."

"I could teach you." The words were out before he knew it.

"Really?"

She looked so excited; there was no way he could take it back. He didn't even want to. It might be fun, and he could use the distraction. It would be better than sitting around his apartment alone, nursing a warm beer and watching the World Cup replays on television, feeling sorry for himself. "Well, I could try," he amended. "I tried teaching Sakura once, and it did not go well at all. I don't think we spoke to each other the rest of the weekend."

She laughed with him, picturing the two of them fighting and yelling, Touya throwing up his hands in frustration and Sakura stomping off. "Is it really all right? I don't want to impose. And I'd pay you, of course."

He dismissed her offer with a wave of his hand. "Don't even think about that. I want to do it. A favor for an old friend," he said, winking at her, and she responded with a shy smile. He thought he was simply teasing her, but anyone else would have called it flirting. He just liked seeing her smile. She was so lovely when she smiled. There was something beguiling about her. It was hard to believe that she was Sakura's age. Her beauty and maturity made her seem older than sixteen. And if she were older, and not one of his students, he'd probably even want to… Want to what? God, what the hell is wrong with me? Maybe I need to get out more, meet people my own age instead of hanging out with high schoolers.

"Something wrong?" she asked, noticing the strange expression that crossed his face. He's not changing his mind, is he?

Touya shook his head, hoping that whatever insanity had briefly possessed him was gone now. "Do you have a pen? Let me give you my address, and you can come over tomorrow afternoon, say around two or so. Is that okay?" He spoke quickly, scribbling down the information. He wasn't supposed to be sitting here. He was there to chaperone the students, and he almost needed a chaperone himself. "Hey, it looks like the band is taking a break now. You should go ask them about the university. I'll see you tomorrow."

Tomoyo watched him walk away with a little tinge of disappointment. She'd enjoyed talking to him, but she knew that he had other responsibilities, and she'd been taking up his time. She looked down at the piece of paper in her hand with a happy anticipation that she hadn't felt in months. Tomorrow, I'll have him all to myself.

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This still seems awkward while I contrive ways to get them together. I hope it will become more natural. As always, thanks for reading and reviewing.