L-chan's notes: I apologize in advance for this one. As always, thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing.

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Shadows

Chapter 14—Uninvited

The harsh ringing of the phone startled Tomoyo out of a deep sleep, and she groaned as she realized that the thing was not going to shut up until she answered it. A quick glance at the yellow light on the phone's base told her that it was her private line, so at least none of the staff would be bothered by the lunatic on the other end. She grabbed the handset and punched the button. "What?" she grumbled into the mouthpiece. Apparently her good manners hadn't awoken with the rest of her.

There was a rumbling chuckle in her ear, and she felt a shiver run up her spine. "Sorry. Did I wake you?" Touya asked softly.

Her eyes blinked a few times, adjusting to the darkness as she rolled over to read the dim glow of her digital clock. "No, I'm always up at three-thirty-seven in the morning. It's the best time to do a little gardening."

He laughed again, and she felt herself smiling. There are worse ways to be woken up, that's for sure, she thought. "Good, because I want you to go outside," he replied. "And take a blanket with you."

"Why?"

"I want to show you something."

"Where are you?"

She heard him sigh with exaggerated exasperation. "I'm at home, so you don't have to worry about that. Just go, okay?"

Tomoyo cradled the cordless phone against her shoulder as she went to the closet to find a quilt. "Are you going to tell me what this is about?"

"Are you getting a blanket?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll tell you in a minute. Go outside and find a flat place to lie down, as far away from the lights of the house as you can get."

She slid her feet into her slippers and quietly left her room. "This is very strange, you know," she whispered into the phone as she padded down the stairs.

"I know. But it will be worth it."

When she made it outside, she spread the quilt over the grass and lay down on top of it. "Okay. Now what?"

"Look up."

Well, of course. A gentle breeze passed through her thin nightgown, and she pulled one side of the blanket over her to block the chill. "I wish I had some coffee," she mumbled. Both for the warmth, and to wake me up. Touya made a sort of choking sound, and she realized he was trying not to laugh at her. She was about to apologize for complaining when she saw a light streak across the black night sky. "Oh, my God," she whispered.

"Did you see it?"

"Yeah. What—?" And then there was another one. "Oh, wow."

"It's a meteor shower," he explained. "It happens every year at this time."

"I remember hearing about that, but I've never seen one before."

"There'll be one in October, too, but this is usually the best. And it's a clear night, which always helps."

"How many will there be?"

"It's hard to tell. Maybe a hundred. Maybe more."

"Wow," she said again.

They watched the sky together in an awed silence, and their patience was rewarded as more meteors trailed across the black canvas above them. She'd once seen a shooting star, but this was like a private show that the heavens were putting on just for the two of them. Some of the meteors were very faint and seemed to burn out quickly. Others were large and bright, with long, shining tails, falling to earth for so long that it looked like they might land in someone's backyard. Sometimes there were several at once, and sometimes there was a span of several minutes before they saw another. How many others are sitting outside, watching? And how many are missing it? She tried to make a wish on each one, but she quickly ran out of wishes. She already had everything she wanted.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" he said softly.

"It's beautiful," she answered, matching his hushed tone. "Thanks for waking me up."

"You're welcome." He paused, and when he spoke again, she heard a trace of amusement in his voice. "If it hadn't been for you, I probably wouldn't have gotten up either. When my alarm went off, all I wanted to do was go back to sleep. I don't think I quite understood just how early three-thirty is. God, it's early."

"Oh, and that's somehow my fault?" she teased.

"Well, yeah," he answered, trying to sound serious.

"Fine. Just for that, I'm waking you up in October so we can do this again."

"It's a date," he agreed, and she found herself already looking forward to it. Who needs sleep, anyway? "You know, the meteors are caused by comets which orbit through the solar system. They leave a cloud of dust and other particles behind, especially as they near the heat of the sun, so when the Earth passes through the trail of debris, it...."

Tomoyo snuggled into her blanket and let the velvety caress of his voice lull her into a peaceful state. She didn't hear much of what he said, but she tried to make the appropriate noises when expected. Her eyes slid closed, and she pulled the blanket closer around her. A lazy smile played at her lips as she imagined him lying next to her, keeping her warm as he told her about the stars and comets and—

"Isn't it?"

She had no idea. "Mmm, pretty," she murmured sleepily.

Touya was silent for a moment, and then he chuckled. "You weren't listening."

"Mmm."

"I'm sorry. I'm such a science geek."

"That's a good quality in a science teacher."

"That's true enough." He paused again, and when he spoke, she could almost feel his breath against her ear. "I just wanted to share this with you."

I wish you were here to share it with me. "I'm glad. It really is fascinating." The sincerity of her statement was somewhat dampened by the yawn that followed, and she tried to swallow it. "It almost makes me wish it weren't summer."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, because I don't get to see you at school every day. I miss that."

"If you want to come over tomorrow, I'll give you a quiz. How would that be?"

She perked up at that idea. "Can I?"

"You want a quiz?"

"No," she giggled, and probably a bit too much, because everything was funnier when she was tired. "Can I come over?"

He seemed to be thinking about it. "Yeah. We'll make dinner and watch a movie. And then, if you're really good, we'll see about that quiz."

She giggled again, which was followed by another yawn. She curled up in her blanket and sighed happily. "Touya?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, sweetheart. Now, go inside and go back to bed before you fall asleep in the yard and someone finds you there. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Tomoyo sat up with a start and held the phone close against her ear. "What was that?"

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"No, before that," she said anxiously.

"Go back to bed?"

He doesn't even know what he said. She shook her head, even though she knew he couldn't see her. "Never mind." She stood up and draped her blanket around her shoulders like a cloak. "I'll come over around six. See you then. Good night."

She was about to hang up when she heard him laugh, and she realized he'd been teasing her all along. "Good night, sweetheart."

-----

Tomoyo, Sakura, and Meiling dropped their packages on the ground and collapsed with weary yet satisfied sighs into the café's chairs. They'd had a long day of shopping, one that was just supposed to be about looking, not buying. But then one thing led to another, and clothes were tried on, earrings admired, and compact discs sampled until each girl had decided that she couldn't live another second without the desired item.

They gossiped and giggled over chocolate sundaes and cold drinks until Sakura's cell phone rang. "That must be Syaoran-kun," she said as she dug around in her purse in search of the chirping object. "He said he'd call after the soccer game. We're meeting at the movies later." She finally found the phone and smiled as she looked at the display. "Yep, it's him," she confirmed happily.

She excused herself to talk to her boyfriend in private, which gave Meiling and Tomoyo a few minutes for a little private gossip of their own. "I am totally and completely jealous of you, you know," Meiling began teasingly. Tomoyo had dutifully kept her friend filled in on some—but not all—of the details of her relationship with Touya. It had been a week since they'd confessed their love for each other, and Meiling had been thrilled for them.

"Why's that?" Tomoyo asked, but a knowing smile played at her lips. She'd felt herself glowing these past few days, making her happiness blatantly obvious to everyone. Even Sakura had mentioned it once, saying that it was nice to see Tomoyo so cheerful, but she didn't question the reason behind her sunny mood.

"Oh, I can't possibly imagine," Meiling replied with an indulgent roll of her eyes and a nonchalant wave of her hand, almost knocking her glass of iced tea over in the process. "Maybe because you've managed to nab the most perfect man in town, or because he's so crazy about you, or because I know that when you're done with us, you'll be heading over there for who knows what sort of illicit behavior."

"Meiling-chan!" Tomoyo's cheeks flushed pink with shock, even though she knew Meiling was just being her typical brazen self. She hadn't confided those sorts of details to her friend. They were too private and precious, and she felt that discussing them would somehow cheapen their beauty and meaning. Those moments were just for the two of them.

"You know what I mean," Meiling said with a sly wink before letting Tomoyo off the hook. She sighed and stirred her straw in her glass. "But just being in love.... It must be so wonderful. I'm really envious, Tomoyo-chan." Her tone had turned wistful, even though a bit of teasing could still be found there.

"What about Tanaka-kun?" Tomoyo asked with a confused blink. "I thought things were going great for you two."

"Oh, they are," Meiling answered quickly. "But love? I'm not sure that's what it is. We enjoy hanging out together, but—"

"I've seen the way he looks at you," Tomoyo said softly. "If that's not love, it's pretty darn close."

Meiling's own cheeks flushed now. "It's probably too soon," she protested. "And anyway, I don't think I'd be able to handle it. It seems so serious. I don't like being serious."

If Tomoyo had learned one thing from getting involved with Touya, it was that love was indeed serious business. "I can't blame you there," she sympathized. "As wonderful as it is, it does feel overwhelming at times. But it's not something you get a say in, you know? Ready or not, it will happen, and all you can do is go along for the incredible ride." Listen to me. I sound like an eighty-year-old woman sharing the wisdom of the ages instead of a high school girl with her very first boyfriend. She smiled sheepishly at her own arrogance in order to take some of the condescension out of her words.

"I don't know," Meiling said, leaning her elbows on the table and blowing her raven bangs out of her eyes. "I don't want to think too much about it, either."

"But it sounds like you are," Tomoyo replied gently.

"Yeah. It's kind of scary, isn't it?" her friend whispered. "When you're younger, you think that love is all hearts and flowers, but it's not. I've seen you go through this, and I know how hard it's been for you. And I'm nowhere near as mature as you are. I just want the happy parts. I'm not ready for the rest." She shook her head and pushed those thoughts to back of her mind where they belonged. "Besides, we can't all be lucky enough to catch the eye of the best looking sensei at Seijou," she joked. "Is he really as great as he seems?"

Tomoyo recognized Meiling's need to change the subject, and she complied with an understanding smile. "Even better," she said dreamily. She'd bored Meiling with all of this before, but if she was willing to hear it again.... "He's brilliant, and funny, and sweet, and so, so—"

"Who are we talking about?" Sakura interrupted as she rejoined them at the table.

"Tanaka-kun and Meiling-chan," Tomoyo answered glibly, giggling at the unconvincing glare Meiling directed her way.

Sakura nodded with a grin of her own. "Aren't they adorable?"

And Meiling, the one who could always be counted on to make a bold joke about such things, blushed redder than the setting sun. The other two girls teased her as she covered her face in embarrassment.

Whether she's ready for it or not, she's fallen hard for him, Tomoyo mused as Meiling became suddenly fascinated with stirring more sugar into her tea glass. She's always enjoyed being chased by boys, but now she's finally let one catch her.

"Boys," Sakura said, sighing dramatically. "What would we do without them?" She seemed to realize what she'd just said, and she cast a guilty glance at Tomoyo. "Oh, except they can really be a pain in the—"

"It's okay," Tomoyo reassured the honey-haired girl with a warm smile. Sakura gave her a relieved smile in return. "So, tell me more about your trip."

As Sakura and Meiling took turns interrupting each other with excited babble about their upcoming trip to Hong Kong, Tomoyo listened with polite interest, nodding when it was expected of her, as her mind wandered. She and Sakura had been making amends to their fractured friendship and were once again becoming as close as they used to be, which was making it all the more difficult to keep this secret. She didn't like lying to people, but especially to Sakura, who had always confided her feelings about Syaoran to her. She wanted to be honest with her, because it would be a relief to get this out in the open. Should I just tell her? But what would I say? "Oh, by the way, I'm in love with your brother."

Would it be so bad? Meiling had known from the beginning, and Touya had told her that his father had figured it out. She knew that Sakura would be hurt to discover that no one had said anything to her. But if she told Sakura, it would only be a matter of time before she accidentally let it slip to Syaoran. What's that they say about three people keeping a secret? And we've already got four. She didn't know exactly what would happen if a rumor of their relationship got back to the school administration, but she knew that at worst, she could be expelled, and Touya would be fired.

I'll just have to ask him before I say anything, Tomoyo decided, focusing her attention back on her friends. Maybe we can find a way to tell her together.

"I wish you were coming with us," Sakura said to her now. "It's not too late to change your mind."

"I know," Tomoyo said, then her lips twitched with amusement. "But surely you guys can live without me for a week."

"You'll come next time, won't you?" Meiling asked hopefully. She knew why Tomoyo was staying in Tomoeda, but she still wanted her friend to come home with her.

"Next time, for sure," Tomoyo agreed. "And don't forget, I'm expecting some fabulous souvenirs."

"How about a good-looking Li cousin?" Sakura teased. "They've got tons of them." She looked around sheepishly before grinning. "Don't tell Syaoran-kun I said that," she joked in a conspiratorial whisper.

"A barrette might be easier to bring back, and shouldn't cause a fight between you two," Tomoyo joked in return, hoping that Sakura would get the subtle point, that she didn't want to be fixed up. We'll definitely have to tell her soon.

-----

Touya was putting his laundry away when the doorbell rang. He glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. She's early. As he quickly finished tossing his socks in the drawer, his brown eyes fell on the picture from their afternoon in the city. It sat on top of his dresser next to his other framed photographs, and he broke out in a grin, remembering how much fun they'd had that day. We'll have to do that again.

He bumped the dresser drawer closed with his hip and stored his empty laundry basket away in the closet before heading for the door. He was still wearing his goofy smile as he unbolted the lock and opened the door. "You're ear—" The smile immediately disappeared, and the teasing words stuck in his throat.

The person standing on Touya's doorstep was not his lovely girlfriend. It was a young man with short-cropped silver hair and warm hazel eyes which were no longer magnified by the large, round glasses he used to wear. His own bright smile wavered slightly but didn't disappear, which was typical of him. He wasn't as tall as Touya, but he held himself with the same confident posture. He hadn't aged a day since high school, and he probably never would.

Touya could only stare, and blink, and blink again.

"Hello, Touya."

"Yuki."

-----

Raise your hand if you saw that coming. Seriously, I'd like to know. Thanks again for reading, gang.