Disclaimer: I do not own CCS in all, Clamp does, but I own this story and all!

Chapter.2

Title: Isabelle Montague

Story

The golden rays of the sun crept slowly on the pale creamy skin to long lashed eyes of a gray haired girl. As she leaned against the window and slept quite peacefully a slight frown destroyed her angelic feature, highlighting the dark bags under her eyes. Screech of steel tires against the iron tracks indicated they had finally arrived. The girl woke up without so much as a yawn, as though she never slept. She stayed still in her position…ignoring or maybe oblivious to the hustle and bustle around her as people made their way out of the train.

Eyes half closed and lips slightly parted, Tomoyo Daidouji, the daughter of the most successful and powerful owner of the Daidouji Toy Company, felt numb and defeated. Her perfect life was nothing more then a pile of ancient remains…pieces of broken memories that felt as though were never real. Nothing but pieces of broken dreams…and disappointments.

She was tired. It was too much, too soon. She couldn't carry on anymore. Couldn't pretend…didn't want to pretend anymore. More than anything she wanted to close her eyes and dream. Assure herself that once she wakes up everything would be alright. That all this was just a horrible nightmare. This couldn't have happened to her…it was just not right. Everything that had happened to her was a lie. Her family and friends treating her like they had was a lie. She was a lie. She just wanted to sleep. Sleep out of existence…away from everyone's accusing glare. She didn't want to be commiserated. Everything hurt…everything was a wound that wouldn't seem to heal. A piece of life she didn't want anything to do with. Didn't want to be part of. Didn't want to see. She was once afraid of darkness…now she was afraid of light. Afraid of everyone staring at her. Afraid of questions. Afraid of sounds. She was now too used to the silence…the hush that fell in rooms when she'd walk in. Her own house…full of people she cared about deserted her. She was alone. No…she was lonely.

"Miss…?" Said an old, gentle voice,
Tomoyo didn't look up, she kept in her position,
"We have reached the station miss, should I call a cab for you?"
"…No…" Tomoyo whispered, her voice calm, but weary, "I'll go on my own…thank you."

The ticket collector rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. Flustered that such a rich and beautiful woman had showed gratitude. "Aww…shucks that's alright miss, one would be glad to help such and kind and pretty lady. Why you can't trust people to help these days can you? In my days we used to look forward to helping one another. Brotherhood was what we say-"

Tomoyo blocked out his voice, locking herself in silence once more. She watched people passing by; people with identification...a name to be proud of. A status and position to hold. Her own mother had forbidden her to remember her own name...forbidden her to return until all signs of the past has been erased...all signs of the nightmare has been erased. The trouble was...nightmares can never be erased. It will always return to haunt. It can never be forgotten...her's will never be forgotten. Can...never be forgotten.

A small sharp pain and rumbling sound awakened her from her daydream, surprised, she touched her stomach gently, too numb to register anything.

"-You seem pretty weak miss"

Tomoyo looked up surprised back at the old man. He smiled sheepishly.

"My wife is the best cook around here miss. Maybe you would like to have a little lunch with us while going on about. She would love to meet such a well-disciplined lady she would. She enjoys guest very much you see. Our house is just around the corner of the station miss, not much but a great pride it is."

Tomoyo forced herself to smile softly. She liked this man. He gave her a sense of homely feeling. Something she had only received from the Kinomoto family. But she had to go. It was already late and most of the passengers were already gone.

"I would love to Mr.-"

"The Names Joseph miss, Joseph Osborne, but they call me Joe." The man said proudly.

"Mr. Osborne"

"Joe"

"...Joe…I would love to accept your generous offer. But my grandfather might be waiting for me. I would not like him to get worried...maybe some other time would be appropriate?"

Joe seemed a little disappointed, but he quickly regained himself, smiling at her cheerfully, "of course Miss, you will be always welcome in our house, though I would very much like to know what you are called?"

"Isabelle…Isabelle Montague…"