L-chan's notes: Yeah, I guess that was a little bit evil. But if you're reading this, then it must have worked. Thanks for coming back.

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Shadows

Chapter 17—Confessions and Confrontations

"I wonder what that's all about."

No one at the dining table shed any light on Sakura's musings. They were all silently asking themselves the same thing. The honey-haired girl sighed and looked over at her troubled friend. "Tomoyo-chan, you're not failing chemistry, are you?" she tried to tease. Everyone seemed so somber, and her joke fell flatter than a punctured balloon.

"I don't think so," Tomoyo answered absently. What is that about? she wondered. Her eyes traveled down to the end of the table, where Fujitaka was frowning into his coffee cup. When he met her questioning gaze, he gave her a reassuring smile, but it only made her more nervous.

There was only one conceivable reason why Touya would need to speak to her mother. He wouldn't, she told herself with a certainty she didn't quite feel. Not without talking to me first. No, of course he wouldn't.

But what else could it be?

-----

Touya took a quick mental inventory. All of his vital body parts were accounted for. His heart was still beating, and his lungs were still breathing. He clenched and unclenched his fist, feeling his nerves and muscles work just as they should. Everything seemed to be in order. He was still alive.

Sonomi was regarding him with a blank expression. She didn't even blink as she processed what he'd just confessed. "I don't understand," she finally said. There was confusion in her violet eyes that matched that in her voice.

That threw him. He wasn't expecting to have to explain. "I've been spending a lot of time with Tomoyo lately," he faltered.

"Yes, I know that."

"And we've become... close."

"Close."

"Very close."

"Very close," she repeated again. There was still no sign that she knew where he was going with this.

"And...." Touya could only assume that Sonomi was either in shock or denial about what he was trying to tell her. "And I've fallen in love with her." There. He couldn't say it any more plainly than that.

Sonomi didn't move. She didn't blink, or breathe, or raise her hand to strike him. "But...." He could see her putting the pieces together, but they weren't matching up, no matter which way she turned them. She shook her head as if to clear it and tried again. "But... you're gay."

Now it was Touya's turn to be confused. "No, I'm not," he answered slowly.

"Of course you are," she insisted with an emphatic nod. Her voice had found its strength and assurance again. "You and that nice young man with the glasses. I met him at your house a couple of times. I could tell that there was something between you two."

"You mean Yuki?" He was starting to make sense of this now. "Yuki was... an exception. He was special. But that ended a long time ago." He couldn't go into all of the reasons for that. Like the fact that, technically, Yukito wasn't even human. But Touya had never thought of him as anything but Yukito. He had loved Yukito for who he was, just as he loved Tomoyo for who she was.

"So, you're not...?" Sonomi's musings drifted off, and her violet eyes shifted to the side.

"No, not really." He felt his own puzzle pieces click into place. "That's why you trusted me?" he asked. "Because you thought I didn't like girls?"

"I guess I just assumed," she said quietly, still speaking to herself more than to him. "I mean, well, considering... I never thought you might be—" She raised her eyes to him now, and they once again flashed with anger. "What have you done to her?" she asked, a harsh edge to her voice.

"Nothing," he answered quickly. "We're just—"

Now she didn't want to hear it. "How could you?" Her voice was as hard and cold as steel, but her tone was unflinchingly even. Sonomi didn't lose her temper often, preferring to remain calm and rational, but this was about her daughter. Her precious daughter, who had been corrupted by a man. "I told you I didn't want this. Tomoyo's future is too important. I don't want her getting mixed up with anyone. Especially you."

"Especially me?" Touya said, making his tone hard as well. He didn't lose his temper often either, but he was not going to stand there and have his character besmirched. He was a decent person, but in her eyes, his unforgivable flaw was being male. "What's wrong with me?"

Sonomi held up a finger like she was prepared to tick off a long list of his shortcomings. "First of all, you lied to me."

"I never lied to you," he explained, trying to remain calm. "Not exactly. You knew she was seeing me outside of school, and you never objected. Besides, you weren't even here when—"

"Don't interrupt," Sonomi snapped. "Secondly, you show disrespect by not only lying, betraying my trust, and interrupting me when I'm speaking, but by coming into my home under false pretenses."

Touya could only look back at her in stunned silence. "What?" he finally bit out.

"Third," she continued, raising another finger and gesturing rudely at him with it. "You obviously don't understand that I only want what's best for Tomoyo, and there's no way that you could possibly ever be—"

Touya couldn't let her go on like this. It was bordering on ridiculous. "So, I was good enough to look out for her, but nothing more. Is that what you're saying?" Her refusal to answer was an answer in itself. "I care about her. I love her more than anything. What more could you want?"

"That's not what I want at all!" she spat. Her arms were at her sides, but she was shaking slightly, and he knew she would have loved to smack him across the face. "Did you listen to a word I said? This isn't about you. It's about Tomoyo. And I refuse to let her—"

"I'm sorry, Sonomi-san," he said, interrupting yet again despite the murderous glare she shot his way. "But I don't see how you can claim to want the best for your daughter when you don't ever consider her feelings. Tomoyo does everything she can to make you happy. God forbid she should make herself happy by doing what she wants for once in her life."

She recoiled as if he had slapped her. "How dare you?" she seethed. "How dare you come into my house and speak to me like that?"

She was right. He had gone too far. He'd felt like he was being attacked, and he'd defended himself by lashing back at her. It was definitely the wrong approach. But he meant every word, and he was not about to take any of it back. "I'm sorry," he said again, but his tone was anything but apologetic. "I'm sorry that you don't know your daughter at all. And you don't know me, either. But you're right. This isn't about me, is it?"

"Get out," Sonomi said with quiet vehemence. It was obvious that Touya's words had struck a chord. When he made no move to leave, she repeated her command. "Get out of my house now, or I'll be on the phone with everyone in a position of authority at Seijou so fast that you'll find yourself without a job by the time you get home. I'll give you five seconds, and then I'll have you escorted out."

This had gone worse than he could have possibly imagined. He'd gone about this all wrong from the very beginning. There wasn't anything he could say now without making it worse, without giving her more reasons to lock Tomoyo away in an ivory tower for the rest of her life.

So Touya did what Sonomi asked. He turned on his heel and left her office, heading for the front door without saying good-bye to anyone.

-----

Tomoyo heard the front door shut with a loud click. It was as close to slamming the heavy door as one could get without actually slamming it. She felt a wave of dread pass over her. Something was very, very wrong.

Her mother reappeared in the dining room looking fit to kill. "Tomoyo," she said calmly. Too calmly. It meant that she was just barely in control of her anger. "Say good night to your guests, and then wait in my office."

This was bad. What have I done? What did Touya say to her? "Thank you for coming, everyone," Tomoyo said politely as she stood up from the table. She couldn't meet her mother's gaze and instead stared at a point behind her. This wasn't how her birthday was supposed to turn out.

Everyone else remained seated, looking back at her silently. "Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura finally ventured, but a look from her father kept her from saying anything else.

Sonomi caught the look, and she turned on Fujitaka immediately. "You knew about this, didn't you?" She didn't give him a chance to answer. "Oh, I should have known. Fraternizing with a student. How very Kinomoto of him. You probably even encouraged it."

"Now, Sonomi-kun," Fujitaka began, holding up his hands to placate her.

"Don't 'Sonomi-kun' me," she snapped. "I'm forty years old, dammit." She noticed her daughter still standing behind her chair. "In my office, Tomoyo. I'm not kidding."

"Did you even listen to him, Sonomi-ku—san?" Fujitaka asked now. "My son is a good man, and he only wants to make Tomoyo-san happy."

It was the first time the significance of Touya and Tomoyo's relationship had been acknowledged out loud, and Sakura gasped as she realized what was going on. "Tomoyo-chan?" she said again, but Tomoyo just shook her head as she left the room.

Sakura then looked at Syaoran and Meiling, expecting to see the same shock on their faces, but they didn't seem to be surprised by this news. "Did everyone know but me?" she asked, feeling a little anger of her own now. When Meiling nodded sheepishly, Sakura cast her green eyes to the boy next to her. "Syaoran-kun?"

"I didn't really know," Syaoran mumbled awkwardly. "But I guessed. They seemed to be pretty friendly."

"I can't believe no one told me," Sakura said, her voice wavering.

"Now you know how I feel," Sonomi replied harshly, still glaring at Fujitaka. "I assume you all can find your way out."

He looked as if he wanted to say something, but he knew that this wasn't the time. Sonomi needed to get over the initial shock before she'd be ready to discuss this rationally. "Thank you for dinner," he said, maintaining his polite demeanor even in the face of such hostility. He was certainly used to it. "Come on, kids, I'll take you home."

-----

Tomoyo paced back and forth in her mother's office, wondering just how much trouble she was in. She kept moving, afraid that if she didn't focus on that activity, she might find herself so upset that she'd start shaking, and she might not stop. What had her mother said to Touya to make him leave like that, without even saying good night?

She knew she wasn't allowed to date. That was one rule she'd broken, although, technically, her mother had given her permission to see Touya. It was for piano lessons or studying for chemistry, which they did most of the time. At first, anyway. But with her mother away for the summer, it had been easier to turn those short visits into several hours with him. And just because they'd almost always stayed in didn't mean they weren't dating.

When Sonomi entered the office, Tomoyo had never felt smaller. It was as if she were four years old again and being punished for drawing all over her mother's important business contracts. But back then, she hadn't known any better. She didn't have that excuse any more.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Tomoyo," her mother began. And the disappointment was in her voice, more so than any anger. "I don't even know where to start."

Tomoyo remained silent. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and she stared down at her slippered feet. She didn't know where to begin, either. An apology would sound insincere, excuses would get her in more trouble, and the truth was already out. She hated feeling like this, like a penitent child, when she should be standing up for herself like an adult. She'd always been intimidated by her mother, and so intent on pleasing her to avoid scenes like this. She'd spent her life doing what Sonomi wanted her to do, what would make Sonomi happy, and now, when she'd followed her own desires, she'd failed her mother.

Sonomi folded her arms and looked at her abashed daughter. "What do you have to say for yourself?" she asked coolly.

"I don't know what you want me to say," Tomoyo replied quietly.

"I want you to say that everything I learned tonight is some elaborate joke. That you are not carrying on with your teacher." Her daughter didn't answer, because of course it was all true. "Then tell me that he somehow forced you into it."

"He wouldn't do that," Tomoyo protested feebly, and she hated herself for sounding so weak. Grow up, she reprimanded herself. Don't let her treat you like a child.

"Then, what, Tomoyo?" Sonomi shook her head, causing her long auburn bangs to fall into her eyes, and she pushed them back with a sigh of irritation. "Honestly, what were you thinking? It's not enough that you had to break my rules, the rules I'd set to protect you—"

"To protect me?" Tomoyo repeated skeptically. That was better. She looked her mother in the eye with defiance and confidence, even if she didn't quite feel those things. "What are you protecting me from? From the world? From growing up?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you think you're protecting me, but you're not. You tell me what to do and plan my life. How am I supposed to learn how to be an adult when you make all of my decisions for me? It isn't fair." Those words had been hiding inside Tomoyo for so long, but she'd always been afraid to confront her mother. It was like a dam had burst, and now everything was going to come pouring out.

"I have never heard anything so ungrateful in all my life," Sonomi said, and a tremor of shock was in her voice. "I love you, Tomoyo, and I only want what's—"

"What's best for me. Yes, I know. That's what you always say. But do you have any idea how that makes me feel? It's like you don't trust me enough to live my own life. Like you don't think I'm smart enough." It felt good to say that. Even in the context of this discussion, it gave her strength to finally say exactly how she felt.

"When you exercise such poor judgment, it's no wonder. I thought you knew better."

"Knew better than what? Than to go against what you want, instead of doing what I want?" Tomoyo shook her head. "I'm sorry, Okaa-sama. I won't always be what you want me to be or do what you want me to do. Not when it comes to things that are so important to me."

"Is that what this is about?" Sonomi asked, missing her daughter's point. "Some sort of teenage rebellion against your horrible, wicked mother?"

"It's not about that at all!" Tomoyo cried in frustration.

"Don't take that tone with me. What happened to the respectful daughter I raised?"

"She grew up," Tomoyo shot back. Her mother just wasn't hearing her. "Why is that so hard for you to accept?"

"Because clearly I can't trust your judgment, Tomoyo. You lied to me. You broke the rules. And while you're in my house, you will do as I say. It's for your own good."

Tomoyo had never seen her mother so upset or heard her say such harsh things. They might have had disagreements in the past, but Tomoyo had always relented in order to please her mother. Never had an argument gone this far. She'd never given Sonomi a reason not to trust her, but with this one choice, it was as if all the trust she'd earned was suddenly and unfairly lost. And by speaking up for herself, instead of gaining her mother's respect, she was being admonished.

"You are not to see him again. Do you understand me?" Sonomi had brought her own voice back down to a more reasonable level, but there was still an authoritative edge to her words.

"But, Okaa-sama, I'll have to see him at school."

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Sonomi replied with a grim expression.

"What does that mean?" Tomoyo asked. Then realization dawned, and her violet eyes went wide with worry. "You're not going to—"

"He abused his position, and that cannot go unpunished."

Tomoyo shook her head. "You can't. Please, Okaa-sama, don't. He's a good teacher, and the students love him."

"Yes, apparently," Sonomi drawled.

"Okaa-sama...." Tomoyo searched for a plea that would change her mother's mind. "You know what will happen, don't you? There will be an investigation. I'll be suspended, or worse, and my grades will be scrutinized and questioned. My school record could be ruined because of this."

"Then you should have thought of that before," Sonomi snapped. But the conviction had gone out of her voice, and a concerned expression crossed her face. Tomoyo's point was valid. Her academic career would be tarnished, if not destroyed, if word of this got out. Would she sacrifice Tomoyo's future just to punish Touya and, in a roundabout way, Fujitaka?

Tomoyo saw the change in her mother's expression and held onto this little bit of newfound hope with both hands. "So, you won't...?"

"I didn't say that," her mother answered quickly, her voice hard once again. But it was clear that she was rethinking the wisdom of such an action. "You can't see him anymore. I won't have you throwing away your future over a man." The conversation was over, and she turned to leave.

This couldn't be the end of it. She had to make her mother understand. "I love him, Mama," Tomoyo said softly. She bowed her head and closed her eyes tightly. She wouldn't cry.

It almost worked. Tomoyo hadn't called her that since she was three. Sonomi stopped, but she wouldn't look at her daughter. "You're young. You'll get over it."

Tomoyo kept her head down, fighting the tears that threatened to spill over. After a long pause, she said, "You never did." It was the most hurtful thing she could think to say.

Sonomi stood completely still. Her rigid posture didn't falter, but Tomoyo's words had cut straight through her heart. She had never hit her daughter, had never even been tempted. But she didn't turn around now, for fear that she would do something she'd regret. She just walked away.

Tomoyo wiped her damp eyes. She wouldn't accept her mother's words. It was cruel and unfair of her to completely disregard everything Tomoyo had said. I'm an adult, she reminded herself. She can't control my life anymore. I have to make my own decisions.

And with that, she walked up the stairs to her room, determination in her every step.

-----

"Touya."

Someone was calling him in his dream. A woman's voice? He couldn't see her through the fog. She was too far away. Where is she? What does she want? The voice became louder, clearer. Tomoyo? And then someone was shaking him.

"Touya."

He opened his eyes and saw Tomoyo standing next to his bed. He sat up with a start. "Tomoyo? How did you—?" Then his groggy brain remembered that he had given her a key. He yawned and ran a hand through his dark tousled hair. He flicked on the lamp and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was after two. The middle of the night. She wouldn't come over in the middle of the night unless something was wrong. "What happened? Are you all right?"

"I want to get married," she said simply.

Touya blinked, and then he blinked again. "Okay," he answered slowly. This couldn't have waited until morning? It was a strange thing to think, but he still wasn't completely awake yet. If he had been, he would have understood what exactly she'd just said. And he also would have noticed the suitcase next to her feet.

"I want to get married," Tomoyo said again. "Today."

-----

Everyone still hate me? Good, just checking.