Fall Symphony

By Sofiana

Very sorry for the delay!

And A Lullaby

Touya dusted the old organ and ran his hands down the ivory keys that had become brown with age. Over the years, Nadeshiko's piano stayed in its honored place in the living room, waiting for the few times Touya would feel the need to play it, or even have the time to. His father didn't know how to play, and Sakura was content to sit and listen to him.

But Touya had moved to his apartment a long time ago, and he had no space for a piano. The times he played it were too few and far between, on occasions when he came visiting.

Touya experimentally ran through a finger exercise and smiled. The piano was still in good condition and had no need for much tuning.

The memories associated with the piano swirled around the room, and he closed his eyes, remembering that one particular time he played with his mother. He flexed his fingers, and began to play his mother's song.

In another room, a young woman stood looking at the picture on the mantel. It showed a very beautiful woman holding a bunch of flowers in her arms, laughter in her expressive eyes and her lips.

She never tired of looking at this picture. A lot of people who had known the woman in the picture always said she bore an amazing resemblance to her. Too often, in her younger days, she had tried to live up to the image in the photoograph. But she knew deep down, she'd never measure up.

Her ears picked up the sound of a piano, and she followed the sound towards the living room.

Touya felt someone slide in beside him, so he opened his eyes, but continued playing.

"This is your mother's piano, right?" she asked him.

He smiled and drew her near, breathing in her scent, marveling at the smoothness of skin against him, basking in the loving look in her beautiful eyes for him.

"Mmm. . . it's just gathering dust here. Maybe I should ask Otousan if I can have it. Do you mind?" She shook her head. "Our apartment's a little small, though." Touya gave a small frown.

His wife smiled and touched his cheek. "We'll make it fit, don't worry. I promise I won't ask Mother to give us a bigger one."

She laughed at the look on his face. "Stop that! She just wants to take care of me. As far as she's concerned, I'm still her little girl, you know," she chided him.

He stopped playing and grinned ruefully, and she grinned back. She put one hand over his and put her head on his shoulder.

"At least this time you can play for me when I sing. I'm getting rusty."

"You're not rusty," he defended.

"Oh, yes I am. I haven't been practicing in a while. How long has it been since you last played?

"Oh, years." He glanced at the photograph in front of the piano. His mother never changed for him, year after year. She was forever young, forever beautiful.

He looked at his wife. Over the years, a lot people had said his wife looked amazingly like his mother. He had puzzled over that – she was her own person, and he loved her because of who she was, not who she resembled.

Tomoyo looked at her husband and was gratified to see the love in his eyes. Touya had gotten past her fears and insecurities – and never once compared her to his mother. Having the piano at home would make Touya happy – and it would be only a small return for all the things he did that made her happy.

She snuggled closer to him, a hand held protectively over her belly.

"Play something for us, Touya."

And he complied. His fingers were still nimble on the keys, and then Tomoyo's voice joined in the melody.

When I am lonely, I seek warmth

I trace far into the distance

My dear memories

Holding her beloved child in her arms

This song is dedicated to you…

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Sofiana's Final Notes:

At the time I wasn't exactly sure how this would end. I just knew Touya had to end it… and then suddenly Tomoyo just popped up and joined him on the piano.

And I thought, why not? She's an obvious tie to Nadeshiko... she looks amazingly like her. But we all know she's no Nadeshiko, and we all love her for who she is.

This is for you guys. Thanks a lot.