Notes: It just occurred to me that there's only one or two more chapters left, and that you guys might want to know that. Again, using the manga as a reference point for the start of the last scene.
Chapter 9: Sweet Dreams
Sakura liked to think she was good at handling unexpected situations. Eriol had certainly thought so once, or he wouldn't have handed over the title of World's Strongest Magician so willingly. Of course, that was with threats to the magical world in mind.
But in the space of a few minutes, Eriol and Tomoyo had ended their relationship, and now Eriol was fully prepared to leave for parts unknown, while Tomoyo hadn't said a word to anyone but Spinel since. Nakuru had soon announced her intent to go with Eriol, and she'd mentioned something about taking Syaoran along as well.
Sakura had almost decided to go, if only to talk Eriol out of this hasty decision. His heart was broken, and he thought that getting far away from Tomoyo was the best thing for him. But while Tomoyo didn't exactly seem sad, she was acting differently enough that Sakura didn't want to leave her.
Soon, Eriol and the others had gone, and Tomoyo finally emerged from the study.
"Tomoyo, what happened?" Sakura asked.
"He already knew...what I was going to tell him," Tomoyo whispered, unable to meet Sakura's anxious gaze. "He knew I came to tell him that I didn't share his feelings." She shook her head slowly. "He was so...distant. Cold. Even for him. I've never seen him like that."
"He's never had his heart broken before," Sakura explained. "Can you really blame him for not wanting to show how much you hurt him?"
"What was I supposed to do? Lie? I owe Eriol too much not to be honest with him. Wouldn't it have hurt him worse, if I said I loved him when I didn't?"
Sakura reached out and gently took her friend's hands. "Tomoyo, no one can choose who they fall in love with. You both know that. But just because you don't love Eriol, it doesn't mean you can't be around each other." She smiled and raised Tomoyo's hands to her face, kissing them tenderly. "It never stopped us, did it?"
Tomoyo looked as if her heart had stopped. "You...knew?"
"No. Syaoran had to tell me, and even then, it was very hard for me to think of you any differently than I always had. But what matters is that I knew how you felt. And despite that, or maybe even because of it, you remained my closest friend. I know I hurt you when I married Syaoran, and for that, I am sorry. But I won't apologize for choosing him, anymore than Eriol would for choosing you. Syaoran is who my heart desires. Your heart may not desire Eriol's love, but I'd bet anything that it still desires his presence."
"You make it sound so simple," Tomoyo murmured, lowering her head.
"It can be," Sakura assured her, drawing Tomoyo into her arms. "Go to Eriol. Tell him that you're not in love with him, but that you still need him. That's what he really needs: to know you need him."
"What if he won't forgive me?"
"I honestly can't imagine that happening. But if it does, and if you find yourself needing someone again, I would like nothing better than to have my best friend back in my life."
Tomoyo smiled, and Sakura recognized it for what it truly was. It was one of Tomoyo's old smiles, the ones she had reserved for Sakura alone. It told Sakura what she'd known all along: that Tomoyo had buried her feelings for her, but that they were still there, deep down. Maybe drawing them out again was a mistake, but the old Tomoyo had been happy, even when her feelings weren't returned. The closeness between them had been enough, and Sakura hoped it would be again.
"We can figure out what to do tomorrow," Sakura said. "Right now, we could both use a good night's sleep."
"I don't know if I can sleep right now," Tomoyo sighed, closing her eyes. "I keep seeing his face..."
"I think you'll manage tonight." Sakura gently seized Tomoyo's face and blew lightly across her eyelids, smiling as Tomoyo sagged in her arms.
"Impressive," Spinel observed as he landed on Sakura's shoulder. "You can summon the power of your Cards without actually summoning the Cards themselves."
"Syaoran made me understand how easy it was for a single Card to be lost or stolen, and there were so many. I finally decided to absorb their magic into myself. It was painful, but it has made my life so much easier."
"That is why Daidouji-san was so overwhelmed by your magical aura."
"It is hard for me to turn off, especially when I'm distracted like I was. But there's no reason for me to hide anything from her now. Maybe showing her what I'm capable of now would help her understand why Eriol is the way he is."
Spinel nodded. "That's a very good idea, Sakura-san. All this power has blessed you with wisdom as well."
"That's sweet of you to say, Spinel." Sakura closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her heart. "My Cards thank you, too."
Nakuru carefully secured Syaoran's seatbelt for him, since he still hadn't managed to wake up. She patted his hand fondly before turning her attention to her Master.
Eriol's face was paler than usual, and maybe she was imagining it, but he seemed even thinner than usual, too. Somehow, being 'under the weather' didn't even come close to describing how he looked.
Sighing, Nakuru placed her hand on his. "Eriol-sama..."
His eyes opened at once. "Yes, Nakuru-chan?"
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I have never minded flying all that much. And, as you said, it would be better for my descendant's condition than traveling by magical means."
"That's not what I meant."
"Ah." Eriol closed his eyes again. "Yes, I am sure. This pain that I feel...it is excruciating. I can't eat, sleep, think...I can't be." He smiled faintly. "I'm afraid not even one of your world famous back massages could take care of his."
"I could still try, if you want?" Nakuru offered hopefully.
"No. But I appreciate the thought." Eriol placed his free hand over her own. "Never question that I need you, Nakuru-chan. Even if you don't think you're helping, you are. Your presence alone soothes me."
"Well, if you're sure." Beaming, she pulled Kero's false form from her pocket. "Want to squeeze Kero-chan for luck?" she asked, squeezing so hard that the smaller Guardian's eyes bulged.
Eriol chuckled. "You've replaced Spinel already?"
"Had to," Nakuru replied. "I knew Suppi-chan wouldn't come with us. Don't worry, I'm okay with that this time."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Nakuru bit her lip. "Can I do anything for you?"
Eriol shook his head. "I'll try to sleep again. I feel tired enough."
"Well, if everyone's doing it..." Nakuru settled back in her seat, absently loosening her grip on Kero, which allowed him to dive into Syaoran's pocket, where he would remain for the rest of the flight.
Tomoyo awoke inside a dream. She wasn't sure how she knew this, though.
Sakura was carefully making her way through a wooded area, letting out frustrated moans whenever she stumbled. Whatever her purpose was, she was clearly determined to see it through to the end.
Finally, Sakura stepped into clearing, which was dominated by a single, tall tree. At first, it wasn't apparent why Sakura had come here. But then voices became audible in the tree's branches.
"Oh, yuck! Why do you always put these nasty things in my lunch, Eriol-sama?"
"Now, now, Nakuru-chan. They're good for you. I pack them because I care about your dietary needs, unlike you."
"But you're eating candy again!"
"You have your needs, and I have mine."
"Oooh! That's no fair!"
"Be a good girl and eat your lunch, and I might consider letting you have one piece of candy afterwards."
"Only one? But your candy's always so GOOD, Eriol-sama! You know I can't eat just one!"
"Flattery won't work on me this time, Nakuru-chan. Eat your lunch."
Sakura cleared her throat. "Eriol-kun? Is that you up there?"
There was a brief pause, and Nakuru's head suddenly emerged just above Sakura's, only upside down.
"Hi, Sakura-chan! We're just having lunch. Want to come up?"
"Oh, that's okay, I already-"
Sakura didn't have time to finish answering, as Nakuru's arms shot out, wrapped around her waist, and yanked her up into the tree.
"Eeeeek! Don't drop me, don't drop me!" Sakura wailed.
"You're fine, I won't let go," Nakuru assured her.
"To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure, Sakura-san?" Eriol asked.
"Um...I was hoping I could ask you about a date," Sakura murmured.
"Wow!" Nakuru gasped. "You're so forward, Sakura-chan! Just propositioning him out of the blue like that!"
"What? NO! I didn't mean...it's not like that! I meant for someone else!"
"Sure you did," Nakuru teased. "You're blushing! I bet you-"
"That's enough, Nakuru-chan," Eriol interrupted. "You were saying, Sakura-san?"
"Well, Syaoran wants to take me to the aquarium tomorrow. But he has four passes, and I wanted to bring Tomoyo along. Syaoran doesn't have anyone else he wants to take, so I thought maybe you could come and keep her company."
"On a date," Eriol clarified.
"Oh...um...would that be a problem?"
"Much as it pains me to admit, yes, it would."
"But I thought you liked Tomoyo?"
"I do," Eriol answered. "That's exactly why I should keep my distance. I work best from behind the scenes, not out in the open. I would be doing her a favor by not going."
"But Tomoyo likes you, too! And-"
"Sakura-san. I appreciate the offer, but again, I must decline. I would also ask that you not tell Tomoyo about this conversation."
"I wish you'd change your mind, Eriol-kun."
"I only wish I could. Now, we should be getting back. Lunchtime is almost over."
Once all three were safely back on the ground, Sakura said her goodbyes and left Eriol and Nakuru alone.
"That wasn't the real reason, was it, Eriol-sama?"
"It was one of them," Eriol replied.
"So what are the other reasons you don't want to go?"
"That's just the thing, Nakuru-chan," Eriol sighed sadly. "I do want to go...but a single date with a girl like her could be the end of me."
"Eriol-sama, if you're passing up a hot date for another night at home with me and Suppi-chan, you don't have much of a life to be so protective of."
"Maybe not. But I do have candy," Eriol said, walking away.
"Hey! Low blow!" Nakuru whined as she stomped after him.
In the next moment, Tomoyo sat up in bed. "He changed his mind," she murmured. "Eriol changed his mind...for me?"
"I must apologize if Nakuru was a bit rough with you, Keroberos," Eriol remarked as he opened the basement door in his new residence. "I understand that her affection can take some getting used to."
"That's hardly the issue, Clow," Keroberos muttered from behind him.
Eriol paused on the steps. "That is no longer my name."
"No? Well, you're acting an awful lot like him. More than you ever did before. So I can't help thinking that maybe you're going to do something drastic, like he did. Only you won't come back this time."
"I did not come here to die, Keroberos."
"Maybe not. But you've come here to do something, and whatever it is, I don't like it."
"Have you ever been hurt? Deeply hurt?"
"Yes," Keroberos replied. "When Clow chose death over being with us. But just because I got over it doesn't mean it should happen again. Not even to Ruby Moon."
"I would never be so cruel as to go somewhere that Nakuru could not follow me. She knows the required spell as well as I do."
"The spell required for what?" Keroberos demanded.
Eriol descended the stairs and flicked on the light, revealing a small, yet immensely comfortable-looking bed. "The spell required to sleep for a thousand years."
Tomoyo carefully studied Sakura's face as they sipped their tea. "So, was the dream real? Did that actually happen?"
Sakura calmly lowered her cup. "Of course it was real, Tomoyo. You dreamed it, so your mind made it real for you. And yes, it really did happen. Although I was always under the impression that Nakuru liked Eriol's lunches. Maybe it was more that he took the time to make them especially for her that she liked."
"They really are...close, aren't they?"
"Oh, don't do that," Sakura said absently, taking a long sip of tea.
"Do what?"
"Be jealous of Nakuru. You love her, and their relationship is completely different. It's easy for Nakuru to devote herself entirely to Eriol. That's part of why he created her."
"They just make it seem so easy," Tomoyo sighed.
"So did we. People are very different, Tomoyo. That any of them get along at all is surprising. That any two got along as well as we did for so long is incredible. We were very lucky. And much of that we owed to our mothers being so close to begin with."
"What about you and Syaoran?"
"That was more fate, I think. What are the chances that a distant descendant of Clow Reed would end up marrying the daughter of half of Clow's reincarnation? But it's not a good idea to compare your relationship to ours, Tomoyo. They may seem similar, but there's one big difference."
"And that is?"
Sakura smiled faintly. "This is only my first life. Even if Clow Reed ever felt exactly the way I do now, it still would've been before he died. But Eriol has some of Clow's memories. How many and which ones, he would never say. He could very well know exactly how it feels to die. When you've been through something like that, it can be hard to just...live. Aside from that, Eriol had a responsibility, to himself, to Clow, to me, to the entire magical world. He's spent much of his life doing what he had to do, instead of what he wanted. You could very well be the first thing he ever really wanted, Tomoyo. And because he's used to denying himself, maybe on some level, it's easier to punish himself than to keep chasing after you."
"Why did he have to say it?" Tomoyo whispered. "I honestly liked being chased. But when I finally heard the words...it stopped being fun. I never meant for him to fall in love with me. If I'd known he would, I never would've gone to him in the first place."
"Then you would've been alone all this time," Sakura pointed out. "And Eriol would still love you."
"But at least then, he wouldn't hate me, too..."
"Don't be silly, Tomoyo. He doesn't hate you. But you did hurt him, and he doesn't know how to deal with that. He can still get over this."
"How do you know?"
"Do you forgive me for hurting you?" Sakura asked.
"Yes, but-"
"Then there's hope, at least."
"So Hiiragizawa wants to sleep for a thousand years," Syaoran sighed. "I fail to see the problem."
"Wake up, Syaoran!" Kero shouted. "How do you think Tomoyo would react if she found out about this?"
"She's better off without him," Syaoran argued stubbornly.
"Even if that was true, she won't know it when she finds out," Nakuru stated reasonably. "She'll blame herself, and then she'd never be happy again. But he isn't thinking about her. He's just thinking about how much pain he's in."
"If you know he's wrong, then YOU stop him!" Kero insisted.
"No," Nakuru replied. "I feel bad for Tomoyo, but I won't let my Master suffer if there's a way to avoid it."
"You're letting him throw his life away!"
"Actually, the spell is a way of preserving his life and escaping the pain. He'll be in a dreamless sleep, and he won't feel anything at all. I'll still be here when he wakes up, anyway. My existence is tied to his."
Kero stared at her suspiciously. "For such an impulsive decision, you seem to know way too much about it."
Nakuru shrugged. "We've done the spell before, just not for so long. How do you think we stayed young and beautiful while waiting for Sakura to capture all of the Clow Cards?"
"I distinctly remember Spinel saying something about shape-shifting in your case."
"Well, even that takes work! You have no idea how hard it is to pick a decent form with Suppi-chan badmouthing each and every one."
Tomoyo was dreaming again, though she couldn't remember falling asleep. She certainly didn't remember standing over Eriol as he slept.
"Time to wake up, Eriol-sama," murmured a gentle voice in his ear.
He opened his eyes to find a somewhat unfamiliar sight awaiting him.
The last thing Eriol remembered seeing was Spinel, sitting on the head of a smiling, brown haired boy about his own height. So he was obviously a little surprised to find Spinel perched on the shoulder of a taller, smiling teenaged girl.
"This is new," Eriol said at last.
"You like it?" the girl asked, spinning around so he could get a good look. "I thought I would try something that more closely resembled my true form this time."
"It is...a lovely choice," Eriol answered, earning a wide grin from his Guardian. "I assume you've changed your name again, as well?"
"Yup! Just call me Nakuru now. You choose the last name, you're better with those."
"I'll work on it. But, I hope this is not the only reason you interrupted my slumber."
"You asked to be notified when Yue accepted a new Master."
"I see. Then it was time to awaken after all. Good work, Nakuru-chan."
Nakuru squealed in delight. "I just love the way that sounds!"
Spinel sighed. "Maybe if we called her Nakuru-kun, she'd stop changing so much and stick with a body for once."
"Ooooh! You're so mean to me, Suppi-chan!"
"Correction. I was mean to the old you. This body, I haven't properly started in on yet."
"Enough, you two," Eriol interrupted before they could argue further. He slowly sat up and yawned. "We have work to do. I am anxious to learn about this new Master of the Clow Cards."
"Actually," Nakuru said with a cocky grin, "it's a Mistress."
Eriol paused. "Fascinating."
"Is it?" Spinel asked. "There was a fifty-fifty chance all along. And by the way, Nakuru, you're not a girl, so there's no need to act smug."
"I can still be happy for her, just because," Nakuru insisted, sticking out her tongue at him.
The dream faded, and Tomoyo became aware of Sakura calling her name. She blinked, and looked up to find Sakura gently shaking her.
"You've been doing that quite a bit today," Sakura said, trying to sound casual.
"I've got a lot on my mind," Tomoyo replied. Abruptly, she asked, "Do you think Nakuru could ever be a boy?"
Sakura stared at her, completely caught off guard. "Well, I've always thought Nakuru was one of those people who really could do anything she put her mind to, but...I don't know. Why, did she mention something to you?"
"Not exactly..."
"Are you absolutely sure you want to sleep so long?" Nakuru asked for the third time. "Maybe just one or two hundred years would be enough?"
Eriol actually paused to consider her question. "Two hundred, then. It seems to be a good number for me..."
"But I'll be booooored!" Nakuru moaned. "It's no fun talking to you when you don't talk back!"
"You'll have Syaoran. And you could always call Sakura. Even...Spinel and Tomoyo."
"That's the first time you've said her name since we left."
"And it'll be the last for quite some time." He turned away to study the bed again. He'd been doing that all day.
"Eriol-sama...I know the idea is to avoid her, but...are you sure you don't even want to say goodbye? I mean, unless Sakura actually preserves Tomoyo with magic, she'll probably be dead when you wake up."
"I've considered that," Eriol said quietly.
Nakuru stared at his back, and there was no slumping or shuddering that she could detect. He'd made up his mind, and there was no talking him out of it.
"I'll probably have to come up with a new body, just to keep myself entertained."
"I understand that." Eriol cleared his throat. "Though...I do wish you wouldn't get rid of that one completely. I've...rather enjoyed having it around."
"I guess I could keep it in the back of my mind."
"I'd like that."
Nakuru sighed. "You know I'll miss you, right?"
"I will miss you as well, Nakuru-chan. If I knew...any other way to handle this, I wouldn't do-"
"But you don't. Neither do I. But we've never been in love before, so that's hardly our fault. Maybe we weren't meant to love that way."
"I've considered that, too."
"If...Tomoyo does come by, what should I do?"
"You will be in charge while I'm away, Nakuru-chan. It is up to you."
"What if she wants to dig a hole in the backyard and dump you in it?" Nakuru asked with a grin.
Eriol smiled. "Then discourage her. Gently."
Tomoyo was yanked out of yet another dream as the phone began to ring. Shaking her head, she picked it up, and didn't even have time to offer a proper greeting to the caller.
"Where's Sakura?" Syaoran blurted out.
"Syaoran? What's-"
"Sakura. Where is she?" Syaoran demanded.
"Upstairs, I think. Why?"
"Get her. It's important."
"Is this about Eriol?"
There was a brief pause.
"Yes," Syaoran answered. "He's going to do something stupid, and only she can stop him."
Tomoyo glanced over her shoulder to see Spinel already flying for the stairs. "She'll be here in a minute. Is Eriol going to hurt himself, or someone else?"
"Neither, but he still needs to be stopped. He won't listen to reason, and Nakuru is just letting him do it."
"When did you start calling her that?" Tomoyo asked in surprise.
"Does it really matter?" Syaoran asked irritably.
"Sorry. But you weren't telling me anything else."
"I'm trying not to upset you."
"You're upsetting me by not telling me!"
"Do you trust Sakura's judgment?"
"Yes, and don't change the subject!"
"I'll talk to Sakura first. If she thinks you need to know, then she'll tell you."
"That's not fair, Syaoran! Whatever Eriol is doing, he's doing because of me! I'm involved in this, too!"
"As I told you last time, you're too involved. That's the problem."
Before Tomoyo could shout at him some more, the phone was plucked out of her hand, even as Sakura's free arm slid around her waist in a comforting half-hug. Tomoyo frowned, but made no further protest as Sakura spoke briefly with her husband and hung up.
"The next time I say I want to have a talk with Eriol," Sakura sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "remind me to just bash him over the head with my wand."
"What did he do this time?"
"He's taking a nap."
Tomoyo blinked. "What?"
"He's going to cast a spell that causes him to fall asleep...for the next two hundred years."
"He can't!" Tomoyo cried at once.
"Yes, he can. Keep in mind that Nakuru talked him down from a thousand years."
"It won't matter!"
"Actually, it will," Sakura disagreed. "Clow Reed lived for two hundred years. That's probably why Eriol chose that number. Clow only died because he chose to. I'm more powerful than he was at my age, and I have more reasons to live, so there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to outlive him."
"But I won't!" Tomoyo insisted. "I'll be dead in two hundred years!"
"Not necessarily, but we can discuss that later. Right now, I need to go home and refresh my memory."
"What about Eriol?"
Sakura smiled patiently. "I have a library of spell books at home. I don't know the first thing about putting someone to sleep for two hundred years...which is kind of funny, actually."
"How can that possibly be funny?"
"Because despite that, I happen to have a pretty good idea of how to wake them up. It's mostly a matter of canceling out or overwhelming Eriol's magic, both of which I've done before."
"So you can stop him?"
"Not from actually going to sleep, no. But once he's there, it's a piece of cake."
"Did he do it?" Syaoran asked as Nakuru stepped into the bedroom.
"Yes. So I guess we'll be spending a lot more time together now."
"Who all do you expect to be alive in two hundred years?"
"Oh, that's easy. Me, you, Sakura-"
"What makes you think I'll be alive?" Syaoran asked sharply.
"Are you kidding me?" Nakuru asked with a smile. "Were you not paying attention when I said this was a loan? I'm going to give your magic back, Siyo-chan, and it'll be like nothing you've ever experienced before. It'll be laced with my magic, and you'll have both for as long as you choose to live."
"You didn't mention that."
"Think of it as interest," Nakuru suggested with a shrug. "Anyway, what do you have to complain about? You'll have longer to be with Sakura."
"A wise man plans for his life to end some day."
"What better way to plan for it than to be able to choose the day?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Tough. I'm giving your magic back, and that's all there is to it. Once you get it, you can do whatever you want. But I won't allow you to die before then. I may seem carefree, but I always repay my debts."
Syaoran glared at her. "I'm beginning to understand why Spinel was so eager to get away from you."
Nakuru smirked. "Oh, you can't hurt me, Siyo-chan. You can't provoke me; I've got too much experience for that. You'd never know it, but Eriol didn't just create me and then leave me to my own devices. He trained me first. I have more knowledge in my pinky than you'll ever accumulate in your lifetime. The only thing that prevents me from doing whatever I want is love. For Eriol-sama, Sakura-chan, Tomoyo-chan, Suppi-chan, and you, too, Siyo-chan. I love you all, and I allow that to bind my actions and thoughts. So it's important to me that you all live as long as possible. The less reasons I have to behave, the more room there is for me to become something that you and Sakura would one day have to destroy. If you won't live for yourself or your wife, live because of what I might turn into if you don't."
In the silence that followed the revelation, Syaoran swallowed noisily and looked away. Before he could think of a suitable reply, Nakuru had leaned over and placed a wet, noisy kiss on his cheek, sliding her arms around his neck.
"But enough of that! I'm bored, and you have to amuse me! Let's wrestle!"
"What are you GAH!" Syaoran choked out as her arms tightened around his neck. "Stop! I'm in no shape to-"
"Which is why we have to get you back in shape so you can stand a chance! It's no fun if you just lie there and let me win!"
"I'm not...LETTING...you do anything!" Syaoran shouted, grabbing the nearest object and slamming it down on her head as hard as he could.
Nakuru blinked and grinned at him. "Oh, so it's a PILLOW wrestling match you want, is it? Fine with me!" She snatched up the pillow Syaoran has just used and slapped him across the face with it, sending him tumbling to the floor. "I win!" she shouted happily. "That's one to zero!"
The entire bed suddenly lurched beneath her, and Nakuru shrieked as she was dumped roughly onto the floor. She quickly scrambled to her feet, only to find Syaoran waiting on her in a crouch, his magical sword gleaming in his hand.
"One to one," he corrected.
"No fair! We didn't agree on using magic!"
"We didn't agree at all," Syaoran snapped.
"Well, if you're going to use magic..." Nakuru began to reach for the bed with a wicked grin, her intention all too obvious.
"That's cheating," Syaoran protested. "I told you, I'm in no shape for this, so the little magic I do have is all I can rely on. You, on the other hand, have no need to use magic."
"Does this mean you'll play with me, Siyo-chan?" Nakuru asked sweetly.
Syaoran sighed. "I suppose I have nothing better to do. But no throwing objects heavier than me."
"Fine. But when I win, I get to hug you for ten minutes straight!"
"And when I win, you have to leave me alone AND be quiet for ten minutes."
"Doesn't matter, since you're not going to win!" Nakuru leaped over the bed in a spectacular diving tackle.
Syaoran merely pointed his sword at her, smirking as lightning leapt from the tip and struck Nakuru square in the chest. He knew it wouldn't hurt her, but as she landed face first on the floor, he also knew it had given him a head start.
Nakuru groaned and shook the stars from her vision in time to see Syaoran slipping out of the door. "You won't get away!" she yelled, hopping to her feet in an instant. "I've got longer legs!"
Kero stared sadly at the unmoving form on the bed. While he had altered memories of Clow Reed on his deathbed, he knew for a fact that he'd never really watched his creator die. That said, it was very difficult for him to sit there and watch Eriol sleep.
Eriol had always looked a great deal like Clow, even as a young boy, and Kero knew the likeness would only become more apparent as Eriol aged. From what Kero understood, though, Eriol would emerge from the sleep just as he'd entered it, save for being very well-rested. The spell would temporarily halt his aging, as all his magic would be devoted to preserving him in this state.
More than once, Kero found himself checking Eriol's pulse. Each time, it was strong and steady, but it was hard to look at him and know he wasn't dead. Despite that, Kero couldn't bring himself to leave the basement. He would probably stay there until Sakura herself came and got him. She would know just what to say to ease his discomfort, for it was something she'd been skilled at long before Kero first met her. Even now, she was probably convincing Tomoyo that everything would be fine.
"It will be, won't it, Clow?" Kero asked softly, closing his eyes.
There was no response that Kero could hear, and with a sigh, he curled up and willed himself to dream of happier, simpler times.
Next Chapter: Eriol awakens.
