.The Dreams We Left Behind .

A Card Captor Sakura fic by Melissa Ordesky

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Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura does not belong to me. Duh. PG-13 for bad words, sometimes this time Sakura's and Tomoyo's fault! Eesh, Syaoran, you're baaaaaaaaad influence. Based on the anime.

Author's Notes: Unnh, I think I forgot in this chapter I was writing a serious fic about the consequences of--- Ohhh, who cares. This chapter was FUN to write! A little bit of fluff before the… sniffles end!

Yeah, next chapter I go back to the proper fic. This is just some schmaltz before the action!!!!

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Last chapter: They all figured out Bo Tae sniggers is evil. Syaoran grew up. It was revealed Aino was one of Tae's snitches. Sakura found out Syaoran's sisters are psychotic, and Tomoyo is too. The other 20 cards returned to Sakura when she declared her love for them. Mei Ling swore like River from "Firefly." It turned out that Aino is Rikku's father, and is really a decent person. Syaoran got dizzy learning Sakura loved him too. Fuu Tie, stuck with Tae, got freaked when a household snitch told Tae that Syaoran was on his way...

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Chapter Eight – Penultimate

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"Something wrong?" I asked, as politely as I could given that I was terrified of my uncle.

"Just an escaped prisoner," Tae said, lying bare-facedly to me. "Nothing to worry about."

But his face spoke differently.

I would not sleep quietly that night.

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Sakura

Today was the day. I could feel it in every part of me. I was going to get the rest of the cards back.

It was a thrilling rush. I knew that Syaoran must now know that I feel the same way about him as he does about me, and that was awesome too.

With that strength I could take on Clone!Li and win. Wherever you are, Syaoran, I called out into the silence, willing my words to reach him, I'm doing this for us.

I pushed the heavy covers of the guest bed away from me, and walked over to the window. Sunlight spilled through the glass, and I opened the window, closing my eyes and letting the scents of the morning surround me.

Damn, it was hot, though. Thankfully I wasn't wearing much, and being on the second floor there was a little bit of a breeze through the window.

Refreshed, I turned around to look around the small room. I normally slept in Tomoyo's room on a camp bed when I slept over, but they'd decided I needed a little more peace before my 'big day.' And it's true. If I'd stayed there we would have spent all night talking.

Probably about Syaoran, I thought ruefully. A memory of his face flashed before me, and I wondered idly for a moment how he'd changed. I had changed.

I looked over at the full length mirror on the wardrobe in the small room. I was taller than I was when I was fourteen. I was less angles, more curves, but still angular. My hair was longer…

Syaoran might not recognise me with my hair like this! Okay, it was an obscure and random thought, but it was suddenly all I could think about. Madly, I started to look in all the drawers for a pair of scissors. Surprisingly I found some. I was about ready to charge down and demand that Tomoyo cut my hair for me, when I caught my reflection again and realised I was in the nightdress that I'd left behind last sleepover.

A yellow, thigh-length cotton nightdress, cute fuzzy penguins, and the word huggable blazoned across my chest. Freaking, I turned to the dresser. Inside was some of my clean underwear, socks a white t-shirt and pink cycle shorts. The underwear and socks were definitely mine, but the shorts and t-shirt weren't.

Dread settled in my stomach. Tomoyo and her mother were probably hunting through the vast collection of battle costumes as I was just stood there, finding something bright and embarrassing for me to face clone!Li in.

Great. Just great. Where's Chiharu's mallet when you need it???

Knowing I couldn't do anything against a double Daidouji attack, even if I had Chiharu's mallet or could ethically use my magic, I resigned myself to the fact that yet again I would be a walking fuzzy factory again.

Well, anything had to be better than the penguin nightdress.

I put my hand on the bottom to lift it off, and something barrelled into the side of my head.

I squawked unprofessionally, and landed on the bed in a tangle of limbs.

Something as yellow as my nightdress was glaring at me.

I glared right back. "YOU FREAKING PERVE!" I shrieked. "I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GET DRESSED!"

I balled up my fist. Kero looked abruptly scared.

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Fujitaka

Walking along the corridor to the guest bedroom Sakura stayed in last night, I tried to restrain a laugh. Sonomi and Tomoyo were currently immersed in yards and yards of material in the 'breakfast room'. I'd just taken breakfast orders from both of them, temporarily relegated again to the role of cook, had phoned in all of our excuses to our relative workplaces, and I thought I'd give Sakura a little bit of a sleep in.

Especially considering what she's going to do today.

I didn't want to let her do it. If you're a parent, you'll empathise with me. My kids are the most important people in the world to me. I couldn't bear to lose them. But I have to let them do what they need to do.

Even if it's not as safe as I'd personally like. And whose parent couldn't be failed to be impressed by something as huge as saving the planet?

My son and daughter had both grown up. I was honoured that they both still wanted me so much in their lives.

I wished Nadeshiko had had the same support from her father.

Putting melancholy thoughts aside, I rounded the corner to where Sakura's temporary room was. I heard the window open.

I was so surprised I stood still. I hadn't expected Sakura to wake so early by herself! But I was feeling antsy. This new sympathy with her magic senses was weird, but helpful.

I heard her looking for something, and then heard a thump! I ran down the rest of the corridor to her door, and was about to open it when I heard her telling.

"YOU FREAKING PERVE! I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GET DRESSED!"

This riled me, and I flung the door open in time for something small and yellow to be smacked through. It hit the wall and slid down into a heap.

I turned to see Sakura, fist upraised, smiling at me.

"Morning, dad," she said cheerfully. I looked back across to the crumpled heap of yellowness. I faintly recognised that yellow teddy bear that, apparently, was the 'guardian of the cards.' I bent and picked it up by the tail. "It's really hot today, isn't it?" She asked, her green eyes flashing with amusement.

"Hey! Leggo of me you big coward! Let me down and fight fair!"

Its small paws were waving comically. I pinched it by the neck and turned it to face me properly.

Kero withered noticeably. "Uh. Hi, sir."

I pointedly ignored it. "Sakura, what would you like for breakfast?"

"BREAKFAST?" Kero shrieked. "I WANT IT! I WANT IT! I WANT IT!"

"Put a sock in it!" Sakura shrieked back. "Uh, what's everyone else having?"

"Eggs," I replied, amused now as the bear tried to look contrite. This was what Clow Reed left to protect the cards? My little girl, my son's boyfriend and a small yellow stuffed bear??

If I ever run into this Clow Reed man, he's a dead guy.

"Then I'll have eggs too," Sakura announced. "I love your eggs."

I beamed happily at her. "I'll take this stuffed animal downstairs while you get dressed, sweetheart."

"Okay, dad!" Sakura chirped, turning and closing the doors as I dragged a struggling Kero with me downstairs.

The intercom went as I hit the bottom step. Tomoyo hopped through the door, lengths of ribbon in her hand. I winced for Sakura's sake. Tomoyo hit one of the buttons.

"Who is it?"

She exchanged a look with me as I went to stand beside her. Any long hesitation and we wouldn't answer it.

"Uh, hi Tomoyo," came a familiar shy male voice. Yukito. Or, Yue. I was really starting to get confused as to which was which. "It's me. And Touya."

"Oh, great!" Tomoyo enthused, giggling when she noticed who was still struggling in my grasp. "Come right in!"

I passed Kero to her, and resignedly headed to the kitchen to start on making lots and lots of breakfast. Touya likes all of my cooking, so he wouldn't mind eggs. Yukito, however, would eat anything. As long as there was lots of it.

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Tomoyo

I let Yukito and Touya in, letting Kero sit on my shoulder as I walked back into the breakfast room, sitting next to mother. She was busy sewing part of the skirt with an intense look of delight. I regretted not being able to tell her earlier. Making the costumes with her would have been a lot of fun.

To be honest, so was all the secrecy of it. It made it more romantic, somehow. And now we could share it!

The delicious smell of scrambled eggs filled the air, and it reminded my how hungry I was. What with the excitement yesterday, I'd missed dinner, and mother and I had been so excited about making her new costume we'd skipped sleeping too, instead talking all night.

I hadn't had a time like this with my mother ever. We were all infected by the magic, I was sure of it.

"Mother and your dad know everything," I told Touya as we settled around the large table. Touya's dark eyes were sombre as he noticed the yards of fabric.

"I know. Yue felt it," he said.

Yukito shuffled a little, sniffing forlornly. "Is your dad making eggs?"

"Sure am," Kinomoto-san called through from the kitchen.

"EGGS?" Kero blathered. I held him down by the scruff of his neck.

"That's Keroberus?" Mother exclaimed as I dropped him down on the table and starting sewing again.

"Yeah," I said.

"Right pain in the neck," another voice disgustedly noted. We all looked up to see Sakura standing there, a pair of scissors in her hand. "Are you making another costume??"

"Y-yes," I admitted, edging a little away from her scissors. "But it's going to be amazing. We've spent all night on it!"

Sakura waved the scissors a little less at that, although she still eyeballed the fabric warily. "Hmm. Hey, Touya, Yukito."

The siblings exchanged waves while Yukito stared longingly at the kitchen doorframe.

"What's with the scissors?" I eventually asked, stifling a yawn.

"Oh." Sakura was speaking a little more slowly than normal. Probably because of the early morning. I swear, some mornings I've rung her up to make sure she's awake for school (if there's an important exam, or something) and all I get out of her is "ack, ack, ack, ack."

It's a good thing you don't need to be eloquent to be a Card Captor. Or even talkative. I mean, Syaoran sometimes took laconic to a whole new level.

"I need you to cut my hair," Sakura said eventually. I blinked at her. Touya started to snicker.

"About time, kaijou," he muttered.

WHAM!

I smirked as Touya landed on his ass, Sakura standing triumphantly above him, fist held high.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

"Well," I said, quickly intervening before a mini war could erupt here. I didn't want any more casualties than was strictly necessary, and I could definitely picture Sakura "accidentally" making her new costume an "accidental" casualty in any sibling war that may erupt. "I'm more than happy to, Sakura, you know that. I've been bugging you for the last couple of years. But can I just ask why?"

Sakura collapsed in one of the chairs. "'cause Syaoran won't recognise me with long hair."

"Okay," I said, satisfied with that answer, until I actually thought over what she said. "But, Sakura, Syaoran isn't going to be here!"

Sakura stared at me. "Yeah he is," she said, before stopping. Her face froze, then vaulted. "He is." She sounded a little lost. "I don't know how I know, but-"

I looked at her, concerned. Her emerald-coloured eyes were wide with the knowledge coursing inside her, that she would see Syaoran. After all this time.

I slid my chair closer, and put a hand on her shoulder. She turned to me, eyes shining.

"He's on his way, Tomoyo, I can feel him," she whispered. She was so happy. So was I!

"I'm so happy for you," I said, just as softly, and she smiled and hugged me.

I heard my mother sigh, and I pulled back to see mother looking at us both with restrained tears in her eyes.

"Oh, if your mother could see you now," Mother said, sadly. "Your friendship… Oh, she would be so happy."

"She is," Touya broke in gently. We looked across at him questioningly, but he apparently didn't realise he'd spoken. His face had on it a gentle kind of longing that I'd seen on Mother's face sometimes when she was thinking about father.

Bitterness aside from him leaving us, she still loved him.

"My favourite!" Yukito exclaimed.

The moment was absolutely shattered. I turned to look at the gentle man behind whom the power of the moon was made manifest. He was looking in the direction of the kitchen door.

In the doorway, Kinomoto-san was stood, with a huge platter heaped two foot high with scrambled eggs. The smell hit my nostrils. My mouth watered.

"Yeah," Touya broke in sarcastically. "Eggs and lots of it!"

"Yeap," Kinomoto-san said cheerfully. Mother and I exchanged a glance and we dumped the costume material to one side in favour of food.

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Touya

I concentrated on eating my eggs, and on ignoring my own senses, which were telling me the same thing as Sakura's senses. The brat was indeed on his way back. To be honest, I wasn't quite as mad as I could have been. He loved her, and she – despite my best efforts – loved him too.

I hoped desperately for a happy ending, but there was still- still enough doubt resonating in the world. Yuki could feel it too. He was almost as unsettled as me, except he still had his appetite. Mind you, the day Yuki loses his appetite will be a frightening day indeed.

I knew, as did Sakura, as did dad even if he couldn't comprehend how he knew, that this day had two outcomes. I desperately hoped one of them at least would give my sister the happy ending she deserved.

Even if it was with the brat.

Even if it was wearing that much pink.

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Sakura

"It's READY!"

I was dreading that yell. After breakfast, I'd gone with dad to the kitchen, focussing on cleaning dishes and just being, well, normal.

I looked up at dad with a "puppy dog eyes" expression. Dad just smirked.

"They've gone to so much work for you, Sakura," he pointed out.

I smiled at him for being so dad-like, and flung my arms around him in an impromptu hug. I got soapsuds in my hair, but I didn't care. I rested my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

Even though he was worried for me, his heartbeat was slow. He trusted me to be able to do this. I listened to the reassuring pat! pat! pat! of his heartbeat for another moment before pulling back happily.

"What was that for?" He asked, not sounding unhappy that it had happened.

"For you being you," I said. I was having trouble expressing myself today, but that came out just how I wanted it.

The smile that broke out on his face almost broke my heart. He didn't want to let me go, not really. He wanted to be able to protect me always. Couldn't he see that that's what I wanted too? I wanted him to be safe so badly.

I knew I might never come back from today, and somehow he knew it too. Despite our loud assurance over the last few hours that it would all be right, there was doubt clouding the sky and our hearts.

After all, there would be no need for a Test if the outcome was known beforehand.

"You'll do great, peanut," Dad murmured, touching my cheek with one hand. It was hurting him greatly, but he was going to let me go.

He trusted me that much.

I smiled back, letting my pain and simultaneous joy fill the expression.

"Guess I'd better go and try that layer cake on," I grouched, while he laughed and ruffled my hair.

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Touya

I meant to laugh. Really, I did. After seeing all those yards of pink fabric, white rustly fabric (that's the technical term, just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm a clothes designer, all right?) and pink ruffles and pink ribbons, I felt sorry for my sister. Trussed up like that for a big battle.

But, I didn't laugh, because she didn't look like a big pink meringue like I'd imagined.

In fact, it could be said, that my little sister was cutting quite a figure.

Whatever that cliché really means.

It was some kind of fairy princess dress that ended just above her knees to give her room for moment. White gauzy material gave the impression of wings. Ribbons trailed out behind her, giving the additional impression that she could fly.

Her cheeks were glowing, probably from the idea of seeing the Li boy again. Tomoyo was currently in the process of heating up some girly hair implement and trimming her hair with the giant pair of scissors Sakura had greeted us all with this morning, and doing a vaguely professional job of it. Sakura was even trying to be still.

"You did a lovely job with the scalloped neckline, Daidouji-san," Yukito complimented.

I glared a withering glare at my boyfriend, who just shrugged at me as if to say what? I glowered a bit longer. "You're doing nothing for our stereotype," I growled at him.

He just scrunched his nose up, and ignored me. I hate it when he does that. He makes it hard for me to be mad at him! Grrrr.

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Sakura

I could almost taste the pressure now. We all knew the deadline for me to fight clone!Li was looming, even if we don't know exactly when it would be.

It also doesn't help that I suspected Kero had gotten into the coffee jar at home. He's no help.

"Follow your senses!" Kero yelled, flinging a spoon around as if he was conducting me with it. "And bring home the sugar!!!!"

Uh, yeah. Thanks, guardian beast, you're doing a swell job of calming the Card Mistress down. NOT!!!

But that follow your senses thing was, perhaps, not bad advice. My skin had just started to tingle, but that could be just from the itchy fabric. I decided not to risk it. We had all day, after all.

"Right, guys," I said, trying to sound calm, although inside I was juddering like a roller coaster. "I think it's time to go. Keroberus, Yue, I need you."

I don't know why I was being so formal. Just the tense mood demanded it, I suppose. Yukito nodded, and his bright wings flung into the air, encompassing Yukito within them and bringing Yue out.

Kero smirked a little and twisted in the air, his wings shining golden as he made the change into his full form. Daidouji-san and dad both looked a little shocked, although Touya was just tutting really at Kero's proper form.

I was glad I had recovered the elemental cards so I could have their full support. I didn't know if I could have done this without them. Any of it.

"Kero, behave!" I snapped, after Kero started to sniff at dad's leg. Dad looked a little freaked at what the "stuffed animal" could turn into. I, however, was just glad that he'd managed to transform without destroying a helpless piece of furniture. "I guess we should just head out, and see if we can attract some trouble like this," I said.

"Nooooooo you don't!"

I turned at the sound of the crazed voice saying that, only to be singed by something really hot!

"OWWWW!" I shrieked at Tomoyo. "What do you think you're doing??"

"I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF CURLING YOUR HAIR, FREAK," Tomoyo shrieked back. "YOU CAN'T RESCUE THE CARDS WITH YOUR HAIR LIKE IT IS! STAND THERE UNTIL I'VE FINISHED CURLING IT OR I'LL FEED KERO MORE SUGAR!"

Everyone but me (obviously) edged away. Apparently the lack of sleep doesn't do Tomoyo any good at all. But it solved the hyper!Kero problem. Sugar. The bane of my existence, probably. But if it was the root of all evil, I wasn't going to be the one to suggest outlawing it. Dad's desserts were too scrummy for that travesty.

I stood impatiently as Tomoyo scorched my hair with the evil device she was waving around. It was hard to stand still! Syaoran was getting closer, I could feel it! My skin was singing his frequency. That's the only way I could explain it to myself.

I knew he was close, and my body was resonating to the proximity.

I knew, right then, that I was very possibly going to explode if- oh, when- I finally got to see him.

"I thought you were going to cut it," I demanded irritably as Tomoyo ran like a demon around me.

"No, you wanted me to cut it. I wanted to curl it first and see if I really needed to cut it," Tomoyo said slowly, as if she was talking to someone stupid.

My heckles rose, and my common sense started to work as soon as I had the impulse to hit her. Wait until AFTER she's not holding the burning hot stick thing.

I looked over at Yue for approval, only to see Touya murmuring something to him that was making him blush. Huh. Then Touya leant over and kissed Yue on the cheek, which made Yue glow like a nuclear power station.

I looked away smugly, glad that I wasn't the only one that blushed that hard.

Tomoyo stepped back after an eternity, but was still holding the hot hair curler, as if sensing my desire to hurt, maim, kill.

"There! Isn't it perfect?" She gushed.

"Huh," Touya managed. He was the only one who spoke. I started to jump up and down on the spot, antsy. "Um. Good thing you didn't cut your hair, squirt."

I frowned at him. Tomoyo ran for a mirror, and then held it up.

Huh, indeed. I looked, well, the most unlike me I've ever been, and yet exactly like me. A grown up me.

I looked up at dad for approval, and he was almost crying. I ran and hugged him again, and when I finally left the house, with Yue and Kero flanking me, I could still feel his arms on my shoulders.

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Syaoran

I have never been so antsy on a 'plane before in my life.

I didn't even realise there was foot tapping going on until this really fat guy leaned over, and in a very peanut-y breath hissed "stop the jig, Astaire."

I stopped, staring in bewilderment at my feet, feeling very pleased that I didn't have a nut allergy. Dying just an half hour away from Tomoeda would have been embarrassing, to say the least.

Half an hour. Half an hour. I was thirty minutes away from the girl who was in love with me, if that was true what my sister's said, and oh if it wasn't, there was going to be a worse slaughter than Ken dolls being put in the microwave, I can tell you.

It wasn't even an issue that I'd got up early in the morning either. For once, it didn't bother me. I was going back to Tomoeda, to exactly where I belonged.

With Sakura.

That's only if I could get my crazy uncle out of the way first. And make sure Sakura got all the cards back. Oh, and not die from sheer embarrassment or emotion overload just from getting hear her.

My fingers tingled, and I lifted them up to look at them carefully. Magic was coursing through me. This day was going to be a hard battle, I could feel it. It's not fair, I pleaded internally to the Gods. Why must Sakura be put through all this?

Because she's the only one who can do it, the reply came back. It sounded almost like Mei Ling. I settled back in the chair, impatiently looking through the window, down at the world below. There were worse things than having Mei Ling's voice as your voice of wisdom.

I'd just started to drift off to sleep, when I felt it.

Doom thrilled down my spine, and I shot straight upright with a strangled gasp. Peanut guy was glaring at me, but I didn't care at all. Sakura, wherever she was, was in major trouble.

Maybe even now I was too late.

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Sakura

I've never been very good at looking where I was going. I guess that's why Eriol managed to get me with so many of his sneaky underhand tricks. Like falling sheep, I reflected sourly.

Instincts, however, had rarely led me wrong. Although, considering where my instincts had led us, I was wondering if events were just plain repeating themselves.

I looked up at the structure, remembering my dreams when I first became a Card Captor. It was where I'd first seen Syaoran. First fell in love with him, you mean, something inside me said. That startled me. Then? I thought wildly, but on closer reflection, I knew it was true.

I'd been drawn to that mysterious figure even from his first appearance in my dreams. I'd loved him from the moment he'd glowered at me in the classroom. It wasn't something I could name, because it wasn't something I could even explain, or know that it was happening.

"Tokyo tower," Keroberus intoned solemnly, looking at me with his flashing golden eyes.

"I just sensed we should be here," I said lamely, looking at my two closest companions in the world. Tomoyo was my best friend, but even our relationship was a human connection. Keroberus, Yue and I were connected by magic. By blood.

"I concur," Yue agreed, his deep voice sounding troubled. "I-"

I never did get to hear what he was going to say. I caught a brief glimpse of brown eyes, a harsh glare, a flash of clone!Li's aura which I hadn't sensed so far, and then everything, as usual for me, went black.

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Fujitaka

Touya was pacing. Sonomi was snoring, her head amongst the yards of fabric. I sat there, staring silently into space. This was my first time, really, as one of the ones left behind. The first time I knew my daughter was in danger while I was sat there doing nothing.

Tomoyo started to bite her fingernails.

"Isn't there something we can do to help?" Touya demanded irritably.

"We haven't got any magic," Tomoyo said, reasonably. "Only Syaoran can give her any extra help now against clone!Li. That is if he's really coming."

"That's it!" I looked at Touya's suddenly aware face, and was struck by how similar he was to his mother. Whenever Nadeshiko had a 'eureka!' moment, she had exactly the same expression. "The airline. We'll see if he's booked onto a seat. You've got a computer hooked up to the internet, right?"

Tomoyo nodded, her blue eyes alight with recognition. "Yeah. I'll go get it."

She was back in a minute with a silver notebook and sat phone. I manoeuvred my chair in closer to see them setting it up. Touya's fingers started to fly over the keyboard. I literally felt my mouth hit the floor as he got into the main database of the local airport to see which flights were due in.

Touya looked at me sheepishly while one of the pages loaded.

I looked at him shrewdly. "Was this one of the things you learned while in your year of rebellion at college?"

Touya nodded. "About the same time as my extinguisher liberation," he muttered, looking back at the screen. I could see that he was just as upset and worried about Sakura as the rest of us.

"She'll be okay," I said lowly to him, touching his elbow to get his attention. "She has our support, and she has that stuffed animal and Yukito. She'll be fine."

"Yeah," Touya said. "This screen says that a flight from Hong Kong is due to land in twelve minutes, and- yes. A Li Syaoran is listed as one of its passengers."

We shared an excited look. Eureka indeed!

"We can go to the airport!" Tomoyo said, excited. "Pick him up and drive him to where he needs to be."

"Yeah," Touya said, sarcastically, even as he was picking up his jacket and we started to head towards the door. "We're a taxi service for the brat."

We headed almost silently after that to my car which was still outside, and we all slung our jackets into the boot. It really was hot.

Tomoyo settled into the back, and I climbed into the driver's seat. If the clock was right, it was now ten minutes until this Li Syaoran, the boy who had stolen my daughter's heart, was due to arrive at the airport.

I gunned the engine, and I sped us away as fast as the car would go.

The roads were remarkably clear. Despite the short time, we nearly made it.

Of course, as sod's law would definitely have it, about half a mile from the airport something slammed into us, and we were forced off the road with such an impact that the world went black and I remembered nothing more.

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To Be Continued in Chapter Nine "Separating Hope."

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