II – Motherless
"Here I am, back in British land..." thought Annette watching the huge international airport through the plane window. She unplugged her earphones and folded the wire methodically before storing the portable device inside her traveler's mini-backpack while waiting for all the passengers to get off the plane.
When she finally set foot inside the airport, a pair of enigmatic azure eyes met her gray-blue ones at which she smiled openly, setting for a run towards the owner of those eyes with arms wide open.
"Daddy, daddy!" she cried out in joy as soon as she got near him. "I missed you so much! How have you been?" embracing her father's body with her small arms.
"Hello my lady! You have no idea how much I've missed you..." he replied getting down on his knees to be at eye-level with his darling sweetheart. "I've been just fine, how was your trip? Did you have a good time?" taking the girl in his arms.
"Oh, I had a wonderful time, I love Japan!" she answered and beamed a 1000-watt smile. "And Tomoyo was so," stressing out the vowel as much as possible for emphasis, "...nice with me, I like her very much! She has grown up beautifully! I first thought she was a super model or something," she said but added "although there was something not quite right about her eyes;" as an afterthought.
"Really?" he said, sounding concerned. "How about we go for your luggage and go home?" asked Eriol rubbing his daughter's cheek with his thumb.
"That would be great!" she complied while re-arranging her position in her daddy's strong arms and lacing her own ones around his neck. "How are Suppi and Nakuru?" inquired the girl with a tiny smirk.
"They mopped your absence this whole time so you can guess how happy your return made them," answered the handsome young man heading towards the delivery machines with the girl still in arms.
"I can believe that for Nakuru, but Suppi?" she broke into a fit of giggles. "That yet I've to see!" Suddenly a thought entered her young, yet mature, mind and she sobered up instantly. "Did Nakuru shove sweet things down Suppi's throat?"
"I'm afraid so, yes. It took me a lot of effort to catch him and he almost destroyed the kitchen!" said Eriol laughing good naturedly.
"Nakuru never changes," mused the girl out-loud and sighed softly, albeit displaying a small smirk.
"No, she won't... But we like her that way, don't we?" he said and looked down to the girl who smiled in agreement. "Here we are, and those are yours," he then said placing the girl down and lifting the luggage, "What do you have in here dear? They're heavier than before!"
"Those are full of wonderful and stylish clothes Tomoyo gave me, she's so nice!" answered the girl clasping her hands in excitement.
"She hasn't changed a bit. Please remember me to thank her later," he said smiling at the memory of the raven girl.
"Let's go!" said the girl smiling brilliantly.
The Hiiragizawa-tachi exited the airport and Eriol drove away to the Hiiragizawa Manor in a shiny Jaguar F-Type. The first thing that greeted them was Nakuru and Spinel waiting outside for their masters.
"Hi there Ann! I've missed you so damn much!" said Nakuru launching herself at the girl who was getting off the car, embracing her in a tight bear hug.
"H... hello... Nakuru, I've missed you too... But I can't breathe," managed to choke out Annette with a blue face.
Nakuru realized her very young mistress predicament and let her go while apologizing. Suppi, on the other hand, seemed head-bent on reprimanding the effusive Moon Guardian about her behavior.
"Welcome back Young Mistress, how was your trip?" greeted Spinel in a far too formal way but that's just him.
"Hello Suppi! I've missed you!" said Annette taking the tiny navy-blue winged cat in her arms and caressed his cute ears mindful of their sensitivity. "I had such a wonderful time!"
They entered the stately home and Nakuru helped little Annette to unpack and put her things in order while Eriol cooked dinner, Spinel making him company.
"The Young Lady seems a lot happier than before, don't you think?" asked the Sun Guardian looking at his master.
"I'm aware of that," he said and added flour to the pancake mixture. "I think Daidouji's company helped her very much, I must thank her," answered Eriol stirring energetically.
"I know that you sent Annette there because of her depression," said the tiny creature positioning himself atop the counter.
"You know me pretty well Spinel," he admitted placing the cobalt-blue glass mixing bowl aside. "Since Annette started school, she became a quiet girl," Eriol's eyes took in a faraway look before he spoke again. "...Children can be very cruel sometimes".
"I agree and do hope that Young Lady keeps her genki self," told Suppi very much concerned.
"I do hope so too," he replied looking through the kitchen window.
Annette was done placing her new clothes in her walk-in closet with Nakuru's valuable help. The poor guardian was reduced to "wows" of admiration at seeing Plum Blossoms clothing line. She swore to buy for herself quite a collection whenever she travels to Japan again.
Back in Tomoeda, events seemed to develop normally. The Daidouji heiress tended to her businesses with as much dedication as ever before. However, there was no point in denying that she missed the Londoner's presence greatly. The house felt empty as of late, despite the many maids and servants. It was like she had been awakened from the dormant state she was in ever since her dear mother had passed on. She didn't like the empty house, but neither did she hate it. Tomoyo just felt detached from everything, thus ending all wrapped up in killer schedules. Some days she would go to Fruits & Candy to bake for awhile but found little comfort in that.
Everyday she chided herself, for this mourning of hers was not a healthy thing to pursue. She was amazed at what a great impact a single child had made in her previously in-order life. It was beautiful evening of August that our darling girl got a phone call from overseas, China.
Sakura helped to cheer up her lone friend and sounded delighted at the news about their European classmate she heard. At the very end of their conversation, just before they parted, the jade-eyed girl said; "you know what Tomoyo-chan? Why don't you go and visit them on winter-break? I know that she'll be delighted!"
So, it was settled. Winter break it was.
Christmas was fast approaching and it brought a hectic life with it, especially for Daidouji Toys. Its young CEO was sure that if things continued to be that way, she'll have to give-away tons of cookies for there was not storage space enough in her small bakery.
Always the composed type, she was studying some accounting data when suddenly a letter-icon flashed in her taskbar signaling the income of a new mail.
"Dear Daidouji-san,
I'm very grateful for your attentions towards my little daughter, even though we have not kept in touch for the past years.
Annette has expressed her love for Japan and most specially, you. She talks for hours on end about all the wonderful things you two did together. To see her soulful eyes sparkle with delight for her memories is a father's wish come true; and I must say it's all thanks to you.
The real reason behind her impromptu visit to the country of the raising sun is behind a case of depression that assaulted her shortly after the school period started. As you might know, it's difficult for orphan children to fit in an environment where there are loving and caring mothers everywhere and it's no secret that children, in all of their naivety, can be very cruel.
I've tried my best to be the best father and mother she so much deserves. However it pains me to see that there are certain spaces that I cannot fill in her, albeit all of my efforts to be everything that she could possibly need.
I greatly appreciate every single thing you did with and for her, for it has helped my sweetheart very much and I'm forever indebted to you. She is now much happier than before and as long as she's happy, I'm happy too.
I also want to inform you that Annette's birthday is on September the third. I'm planning a surprise party for her and would be honored to have your presence that day. I'm sure that Annette would love that very much.
Maybe what I'm asking for is very much, but I just couldn't help it.
Yours,
Hiiragizawa Eriol"
As soon as she had finished reading the lines she hit the "reply" button with a bright smile on light-cherry lips. All tiredness seemed gone from her while she typed quickly over an iMac G5 keyboard.
At the other side of the sea, in the outskirts of London, a tall and slender woman with rich red-brown hair was checking her friend and master's personal e-mail inbox. A big and bright smile played on her red lips when her eyes met one yellow- highlighted message, indicating that it was not yet opened.
"Eriol!" she bellowed for her dear master to hear, wherever he might be at the moment, "...You got mail!" employing the same tactic as before.
"Come on Nakuru, could you be less noisy please?" said a gruff voice at the back of the expanse room they had built as a library. "...There are people trying to sleep, you know?" finished Spinel saying while floating towards her, rubbing his eyes with cute little paws.
"Oh please Suppi-chan, you're just too lazy," replied the seemingly grown woman not caring in the slightest about her partner's nap-schedule. "...Wake up! Master Eriol got mail from Daidouji-san!"
"What does it say?" inquired the winged-cat suddenly very much awake.
"I don't know what it says but I have the feeling that it's wonderful news!"
"What is wonderful news Nakuru?" Inquired Eriol who had been listening to their little chat.
"You just got an e-mail from Japan!" answered Nakuru getting up and leaving the leather chair free for Eriol to use.
"Thanks Nakuru," he said and sat down.
He was overwhelmed by the deep feelings she had poured in that simple-looking e-mail. He felt genuine concern about his daughter's health and well-being that made him smile fondly. The heart of the adoring girl he'd met in his childhood days hadn't changed at all. It surprised him greatly, for it's no secret that these modern times are everything but kind to pure hearts.
If he remembered correctly, Tomoyo's birthday is the same as Annette, and she had confirmed her presence at her little friend's party which lighted up Eriol's cryptic eyes. He has to do some double-planning now and it'll prove to be an interesting thing to do.
Annette's vacation ended after a week of her arrival in England and she was getting ready for her new school period. Stronger than before, she decided to face her life with a new face full of will, hope and brand-new dreams. She smiled more often and laughed merrily to her father's joy. Now she had created a new outlook in life... One of her own.