A/N: Songs and characters belong to their respective owners, blah blah.
"Good Luck sou ne mainichi ga SUNDAY. Awatenaide My Heart!"
Kaho covered her ears at the sound of the applause behind her, "Is it always like this?!"
"Most of the time!" Fujitaka shouted over the roar.
"And you're not deaf yet how?!"
"Dumb luck I guess!" He grinned at the sight of the woman, not used to such loud music and noise. "Don't worry, it's almost over, this should be the last song."
"For the sake of my ears, I hope so…" Kaho said as she fell sideways and leaned her head against his shoulder.
Fujitaka chuckled, "I think you'll enjoy this."
"I've enjoyed all of it," Kaho murmured.
"That's right, you do have a 'particular appreciation for music,' as you once told me," Fujitaka teased.
"Shush," she poked him, but it just made him chuckle. "Actually, I have a question."
"Yes?" Fujitaka responded.
"What's Sakura's role in all this? I haven't even seen her," Kaho asked.
Fujitaka chuckled, "I was wondering when you were going to ask me that. Most of the time, Tomoyo has very large concerts done in giant concert halls, unlike this smaller outdoors one. This is actually for a charity fund for the cities orphanage by the way, which is why it's much smaller. Back to the point…Sakura usually acts as one of Tomoyo's dancers, but since the stage is much too small for all of them, they were left out of this concert. Sakura also has another roll…" he paused and grinned at her.
"Which is?" Kaho pressed.
"Look at the stage," Fujitaka pointed up, "Do you see any major lights on?"
"No," she answered, but noticed the stage was still lit up brilliantly.
"Correct, they don't use the main lighting systems, ever. It costs too much most of the time, but with Sakura, they don't need to. She just uses The Light, in a sketched out area, and it's lit for free. Also, you know how there's a special affects wall behind the band?"
"Not a projection?" Kaho asked, "I'd wondered why there wasn't anything coming from behind us."
"Right, that's The Illusion Card at work," Fujitaka smiled.
"Hasn't anyone ever asked where all the lights and affects come from?" Kaho asked.
"Once or twice, but Sonomi's always been within hearing range, and she's always thought of something to outwit the curious," Fujitaka answered.
"I see," Kaho murmured, "Sounds like Sonomi."
Tomoyo reappeared on stage at a scampering run and waved, "I'd like to thank everyone for coming tonight and helping raise funds for the Tomoeda Orphanage, and more importantly, for the children that will be benefiting from it!" The crowed, which had finally settled down for a few moments, brought back the roar of screams and applauds. Tomoyo just smiled and took it all in stride, then waited for them to settle down.
"For the end of our performance, I'd like to sing a song inspired by determination, hope, fear, and love. After a very long time, a dear friend of ours has succeeded in overcoming a tremendous fight for their life. This song also expresses the love and family that they have come to find at the end of this long journey. We wish them all the best, and really hope you enjoy this song."
Kaho tilted her head to one side in confusion and curiosity, then looked up at Fujitaka for some type of explanation. He merely grinned at her and said, "Just sit back and enjoy the music."
A soft piano sounded in easy, mellow pulses, tasseled with easy melody strings as the song began, starting on a higher pitch, then switching off to a lower one on the second cycle.
Then, Tomoyo began to sing;
"I have always dreamed of this
But I'll admit that there was something I missed
Wondering if it is for real
Every mistake, every wrong turn
Every time I lost my way
Led me to this, moment of bliss
Tonight…
"With you, finally I can break free
With you, I saw changing in my destiny
Dream come true, it's so funny now that see
How different, life turned out to be."
And she had time to write this when? Kaho asked the man sitting next to her.
His chuckle was barely heard over the music, It's what's been giving her and Sakura anxiety attacks for the passed few days. Tomoyo wrote it literally the day after your battle, and they've been rehearsing it since we got home.
But that's only been a few days! Kaho exclaimed.
I know, impressive aren't they? Fujitaka's mind voice was smug with pride.
"You were always by my side
That you believed in me was enough reason why
I didn't stop, didn't give up
Even if I sometimes lost hope
I did my best, and I am blessed
In life!
"With you, finally I can break free
With you, I saw changing in my destiny
Dream come true, it's so funny now that see
How different, life turned out to be."
She's sickly accurate, Kaho admitted, while another part of her mind attributed half of that bond to another person she'd had the fortune to cross path with several times while on her journey back home. They deserved, in her mind, just as much recognition as the person the song was obviously portraying.
Tomoyo's always had a knack for details, Fujitaka remarked.
"Can I get any higher?
Tell me!
Does it get any stronger?
I owe it to you, that I made it through
I never could have done it
Without you…
With you, I can break free, yeah!
I saw changing in my destiny!
Dream come true!
It's so funny now that I see
How different, life turned out to be yeah!"
Kaho looked over at Fujitaka and couldn't help but feel a half smile split her features. The man beside her did the same, and took her hand, proving to her that she still had his support, companionship, and his love, for as long as she lived.
"Oh, cause of you,
I saw changing in my destiny
Dream come true
It's so funny now that I see…
How different, life turned out to be
I've realized, that it's my destiny."
And then it was over, and the audience set into a new round of roaring applause. Tomoyo calmly took her bows, waved a few times, then left the stage.
Kaho, still holding Fujitaka's hand, looked him in the eye for one short second, then phased them backstage, before anyone in the crowd noticed the strange disappearance. Sakura immediately found them.
"What did you guys think?" She bounced over happily.
Kaho tried to answer, but her throat closed, and Fujitaka answered for her.
"It was wonderful Sakura," her father beamed at her. "And where's the lady of the hour, we wish to express our enjoyment to her as well."
"If you're talking about me, I must insist that I am not the point of attention here," Tomoyo said as she walked over.
"And who do you believe is?" Fujitaka smiled.
"The woman on your left side," she returned the smile.
"Why me?" Those were the first words the woman had been able to choke out since the curtain had fallen.
"Because I was only bringing attention to your achievements," Tomoyo said, then with a sly, sideways glance, "and your gains."
Kaho looked at the floor, memories of her journey newly brought to the forefront of her mind, "I've done nothing that I should be proud of."
"We disagree, but since we still don't know the whole story, I can't insist that we're right either," Tomoyo said. "So I shall make myself clearer. You should be proud of what you have done for us, Eriol, Spinel, and more importantly, what you've done for yourself since you've come home."
"Home…" Kaho murmured, then smiled a little. "I really am home aren't I?"
"Yes, you are," Fujitaka said as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her close. "So welcome home."
Kaho suddenly found herself in the middle of a hug between Fujitaka, Sakura, and Tomoyo, both teenagers voicing their welcomes as they hugged her.
She leaned back against the man behind her and hung her head, not in shame or defeat, and neither to hide the tears that were now forming a stream down the corner of her eyes, but at the weight she felt from them. The weight of their love, the feeling of finally being back where she belonged, where she was no longer in danger of harm or fighting.
"I'm home…" she whispered. She raised her head up to look at the ceiling, and was surprised to find herself under a skylight, and she could see the stars shining outside. They were shining brighter now, even brighter than they were when they were guiding her back home.
"I'm home."