previously…>
"Onii-san…it has been seven years…she won't be coming back…" Sakura whispered sadly in his ears…
…" I know, Sakura…I know…" he said quietly…
…"Thank you…for being here." Touya said finally…
+o0o+
As we watch the summer days depart
And the painted leaves in silence fall,
And the vines are dead upon the wall;
A dreamy sadness fills each heart,
Our garden seems a dreary place,
No brilliant flowers its borders grace,
Save in a sheltered nook apart,
Where gay beneath the autumn sun
Blooms our own Chrysanthemum.
Hattie L. Knapp "Chrysanthemum"
Chrysanthemum among Cherry Blossoms
+chrysanthemums represent happiness...cherry blossoms are both happy and sad memories+
Spring came as suddenly as time passes at Tomoeda…a season of renewal and surprises…But to her, it was just another spring…like springs of the past seasons…just another spring…ordinary…
She sighed inwardly as she sat on a grassy area at the park, under a cherry blossom tree…Sketch book and charcoal pencil in both hands, she gazed around her surroundings trying to look for something to sketch…or just gaze at nothing in particular…She sighed again and closed her eyes…a soft breeze passed her by, caressing her…She raised her head towards the sky and she felt the warm sunlight peeking through the cherry blossoms…She slowly smiled and took a deep breath…Spring…
Opening her amethyst eyes, she focused her visions upon a particular pink petal that just fell from the cherry tree's branch…slowly it floated down towards her, then fleetingly drifted and landed upon her petite nose…She giggled at the soft landing or that particular petal…Then her expression suddenly changed when she remembered something…or someone for that matter…Sakura Kinomoto…her distant cousin who went to England to further enhance her magical power…
Sakura…she thought…how long has it been? 3 years...that long huh…three years has passed since she went to England with Eriol Hiiragizawa and Syaoran Li…three of them having magical powers…She sighed sadly and bowed her head, facing her lap where she held her sketch book and pencil…It has been three years since they left her, since they left Tomoeda…She wasn't sad at that prospect, just lonely…She doesn't have any magical powers so she remained behind…Although she could've had gone along with them…but she decided to remain in Japan where she helped partly manage her mom's Toy Industry…She was now in her junior year in one of the universities in Tomoeda…life should go on anyway…
I wonder how they are doing now…she pondered…
+The three years being pertained to here are the three years from the supposed year when they graduate from high school…yeah, it means Tomoyo is 20, so is Sakura and Li…
+o0o+
A sudden rustle snapped her out of her reverie…She turned to where it came from and saw someone standing next to the cherry tree where she sat…"What are you doing out here all alone, Daidouji-san? Don't you have any classes today?" the visitor asked her…
"Oh, Yukito-san…I was just having a little quite moment" she told him and patted a space by her side…Giving her a warm smile, he moved towards her and sat next to her…
"My classes were cancelled due to a faculty meeting, so we were dismissed early than usual…What are you doing out here?" she asked curiously…
"Well…I kinda needed a break from work so I thought I'd come here to relax a bit." He said…
"I see your bake shop is getting quite popular around here, Yukito-san." She said with a smile…
"He he…yeah. Looks like they love sweets as well." He chuckled merrily…she giggled a bit…
"So how are things going at your Toy Industry, Daidouji-san?" Yukito asked her…
"Oh its doing great actually. We have new versions of toys now currently in production, so later this mid-spring they'll be out in the market…hopefully all will go well." She answered…
"I see, that's great. What about your other business? I heard you recently opened a clothes shop…" he inquired…
"Yes. Actually there are two things I'm managing there…the Lavender Blossom Boutique and Sakura Designing Concept Co. Office down at the entertainment district…I think it's a block away from your bake shop, Yukito-san." She said giving him a warm smile…
"Really! That's great. I could pass by and check out your boutique once in a while then." He said happily…She just smiled back…
Few cherry blossom petals floated around them as they sat there in quietude…each enjoying their companionship in contentment…letting time pass them by silently…
"So how is Sakura doing in England? How are Hiiragizawa-san and Li-kun doing?" she asked, turning towards her companion…
"Hmmm…I guess they are doing fine. Sakura called last night to inform me of their progress…and she says hi to you and hope you are doing fine." He answered…
"Really? That's good news." Sighing briefly…"Though I miss them so much…it isn't the same without them around…unlike back in the card capturing days…" she giggled a little, recalling those moments when she would record all of their card capturing days…
"He he…oh yes. I remember those days…especially when I knew I have two personalities in me…As Yukito, and as Yue…even if I couldn't remember what happened whenever Yue takes over…" he said with a knowing smile…
"I am glad that you decided to stay behind, Yukito-san…I thought you would follow Sakura to England since you are one of her guardians…" she told him…
"It's not a big deal…Actually, Sakura wanted me to watch over you so that she wouldn't worry about you being alone here, Daidouji-san…and I think Yue-san approves of it too…" Yukito said, smiling at here tenderly…
"Sakura always thinks of the well-being of others, ne Yukito–san?" she said knowingly…
"Hai…" he answered…they continued to sit in quietude…"ne…Yukito-san?" she uttered softly…
"Hmm..?" he answered…
"I was just wondering…how you and Touya-san are doing?" she asked rather hesitantly…Yukito was taken aback a little…but then, he slowly smiled and said…"I haven't heard from him since he left for Italy…I bet he'll be one of the most successful pianist there…"
She blushed slightly, inwardly feeling bad about inquiring about that…She knew what went on with him and Sakura's brother…She wasn't even one to pry upon other people's personal issues…she mentally slapped herself and turned to Yukito with an apologetic smile…" ne Yukito-san…I apologize for being so forward…I just…well…" she bowed her head slightly, trying to hide her embarrassment and blush…she nervously smoothen her skirt absentmindedly…Yukito just shook his head and gave her an assuring smile…"That's alright, Daidouji-san…it has been three years since we ended our relationship…besides…Touya and I felt that it will really never work…I guess people change in time…and time can heal…who knows? He might return, fulfilled and happy as well…" he answered optimistically…
"Yukito-san…"she whispered sadly…
He shook his head sadly…"I guess things weren't meant to be…but that doesn't mean we stop moving on…in time we learn to let go."
A sudden ring echoed throughout the peaceful surroundings, snapping them out of their solitude…It was her cell phone ringing…She answered her phone…"Tomoyo? Where the heck are you! You were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago! You're client has arrived and has been waiting for you!" it was Chiharu on the other line…"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry Chiharu-san! I totally forgot about it! No worries, ill be there in a jiff." Tomoyo said and she hung up…
She stood up quickly and, bowing to Yukito…"Gomenasai, Yukito-san! I must go…I'll see you around! Ja ne!" she bade farewell and ran off…Yukito just sat there, watching the young woman slowly disappearing from sight…Turning his face upward, he watched the cherry blossom tree as its blossoms danced around in the soft breeze…a small smile on his lips appeared…what a way to start spring…full surprises indeed…and more surprises in store…