Hey, Aimee here! *silence* Ah… the guardians went to wish Eriol a happy birthday, well, more accurately Touya (they left on Feb 28 and never seemed to have come back… I can just imagine Nakuru wishing Touya a happy birthday *sweat drop*). So there won't be a Guardian's Corner, unfortunately. -_-"
Note: I may start another story soon, but it will still be related to this one. It's where Sakura and the gang meet Lily and her friends. Before Harry and Cho and the rest of them. Oh, and I don't think a YH and a HP relationship would work out, now that I think about it.
Gomen for being late! Man, this one turned out to be longer than part 1. In this second part, we have Tomoyo: seriously thinking about Brian, have her first visit with Cho Chang, reunite with Meiling, meet with Prue and the Charmed Ones, heal with orphans, dwell on her destiny, sing on the radio, spend a Christmas with Sirius, and see her children again, while still thinking about Eriol. Enjoy! ^-^
Without You, part 2
"Look, Tomoyo. Mistletoe."
Tomoyo barely had enough time to comprehend and check to see it was true when Brian lowered his head and his lips met hers.
Three pairs of eyes watched as they followed their Mistress Tomoyo into her room, with a dreamy look on her face. Tomoyo paused at her door, delicately touched her lips. A blush covered her cheeks as she giggled like a schoolgirl and went into room.
One pair was full of disgust. "I'm going to kill him. He kissed her without her consent!" Madison angrily said, abruptly rising from her hiding position and towards the door.
Two arms reached out and restrained the guardian. "Why, Madison?" Ruby Moon asked.
Madison whirled around angrily and Ruby Moon let go. "Why? You ask me the most obvious question? For goodness sake, Ruby, he kissed a married woman when she clearly didn't want to!"
"Are you sure?" Suppi said casually. "She wasn't fighting against him, and Tomoyo-sama seemed to have enjoyed it."
"That is not true!" Madison said, as she let out an angry sigh. "Don't you see what is happening? If she doesn't fight against him, she might- she might-"
"Tomoyo-sama might fall in love with him?" Ruby Moon said. Madison looked at her miserably and sunk to the ground.
"Why are you against me on this? Don't you want your master and your mistress together again? I was appointed to be by Tomoyo's side, so it doesn't matter as long as Tomoyo-sama is happy. That's why I'm here."
"That's exactly the point," Ruby Moon said as she knelt beside her. "As long as Tomoyo-sama is happy, we have done our job. Even if it means that she will find happiness with someone who is not Eriol Hiiragizawa."
~*~
"Why are you staring at the phone like that?" a voice said. Tomoyo looked up, startled, to see a grinning Julie. "Waiting for that handsome Brian Rives to call you?"
Tomoyo weakly smiled. "Is it that obvious?"
Julie's smirk remained on her face as she dropped off a folder of the week's profits of both Daidjouji Corporations and Taylor Fashions. "Well, since the word's on the street that two lovebirds were kissing each other under the mistletoe at the Christmas Ball... and that-" Julie sighed dreamily "Corporate Head Brian Rives just fell in love with his purple-haired boss at first sight, one can put two and two together, can't she?" Julie stopped daydreaming and looked at her manager and her subject to watch. Julie giggled. "My, I haven't seen you this red since the day I met you!"
Tomoyo decided to not comment and furiously tried to stop the heat from rising to her cheeks. Julie was almost out of the door when she turned back to her boss and smiled. "Tomoyo, I'm glad you've moved on from your husband's disappearance and haven't given up on love. Lucky you, Tomoyo, to be in love with *the* Brian Rives!"
Tomoyo's smile crashed to the floor as Julie closed the door behind her. Was what Julie saying was true? That she was moving on? From Eriol to Brian? Could she?
She couldn't! Swallowing down her emotions, Tomoyo frantically opened one of her drawers at her desk. Ruffling through the papers, she discovered a picture of Brian. Tomoyo paused, looking at him, her heart beating faster. NO! Tomoyo shook her head; she just couldn't be in love with him! Putting the picture aside, Tomoyo closed the drawer and opened another drawer.
ARGH! Why don't I have a picture of him here? Tomoyo thought, looking frantically for a picture of Eriol.
Finally, Tomoyo sat back at her desk and buried her face in her hands. "Why is it that I can find a picture of someone who I've just kissed once, but not the one whom I'm married to?" Tomoyo sighed and opened her eyes. Before her she saw him. And her.
It was a picture of their wedding day, Tomoyo wearing her own wedding gown. Eriol standing next to her in his tuxedo. And their joined hands and bright smiles. And the rings of amethyst and sapphire intertwined together on the ring finger of their left hand, and symbol meaning that may they never be apart.
Tomoyo clamped a hand to her mouth, swallowing, but no tears came. Tomoyo hurried to her door and locked it. She needed to be alone. She needed time to think.
She was so blind that she couldn't even see the picture of their wedding day on her desk! She found Brian's picture easily but couldn't find the one picture that Tomoyo treasured so dearly that was right under her nose!
Baka Tomoyo...
I'm in love with someone who is not Eriol Hiiragizawa.
Tomoyo closed her eyes. Why? Her right hand subconsciously pulled at her ring. Why did you have to leave me, Eriol?! I- I- I don't know what I feel, dammit, but you still torment me after all these years! Both angry and miserable at the same time, Tomoyo pulled her ring off. "I do love Brian Rives, but-"
As soon as those words were out, Tomoyo was greeted by someone who appeared in her office. "Ying- Ying Fa?" Tomoyo's voice came out barely above a whisper. It was her daughter all right. She was seven and a little out of place, but as her mother Tomoyo recognized her. But young Ying Fa was crying and clutching her head- her little girl was sad and in pain.
"Oh Ying Fa," Tomoyo said, reaching out to hug her. It's been so long since I've seen-
Ying Fa wrenched out of her grasp, her cerulean eyes piercing like glass and tears still falling. "How could you?! How can you kiss him? You can't love him! You just can't!" Her lip trembled, trying to make sense of what her mother did.
Step back for a moment, Tomoyo thought. They- Kaho and Minerva and Arabella, they told her! They told her about her destiny, the fact that she will have to be the one sacrifice for all of us, how the fates will use her, and they burdened her! Dismay filled Tomoyo. Ying Fa is to young to know any this, too young to fulfill this! That's how she got here. By telling her and giving her magic- she did what her heart told her to do- to find her mother, me. And she would know what had happened, because of that damned power of knowing the present! Still- they gave Ying Fa a burden that she should not carry! "Ying Fa…" Tomoyo said sadly.
Ying Fa looked up angrily, her blue eyes flashing. "It's Cho. Cho Chang. Don't call me Ying Fa, Tomoyo."
Tomoyo nearly recoiled. Her own daughter was refusing to acknowledge that she was Ying Fa Hiiragizawa, under the first name that Tomoyo gave her and the last name that Eriol gave her. She was denying her own family- she was not even giving the proper respect that Tomoyo was granted because she was her mother. Tears started to fall, but Tomoyo barely noticed. She couldn't completely lose her daughter! Not now, not ever. Afraid of her daughter leaving her forever Tomoyo reached out to hug Cho tightly. I don't want her to go. Little Cho struggled against her mother's hug, but Tomoyo just held her tighter. Finally Cho gave up and both Hiiragizawas were crying.
"All I want is for you and Eriol to be together again. Is that too much to ask?" Cho asked. Tomoyo shook off the fact that her little Ying Fa was gone. Her daughter now changed into someone who was entirely focused on her destiny and the destiny of others. She was someone who was void of her childish ways. She became Cho Chang. And Cho Chang referred to her biological parents as Tomoyo and Eriol. And Cho Chang's parents were Naoko and Tzao Chang, the only people who ever acted like real parents to her. However, Ying Fa was part of her past, and the past held Cho back. So there was little bit of Ying Fa Lily Hiiragizawa left. But the only people who could reach that Chinese cherry blossom were Jade, Eli, and of course Tomoyo.
And Harry Potter, if Cho ever decided to accept her past as Ying Fa.
"Why do you love him? What about Eriol?!" Cho asked again.
"What do you know about love?" Tomoyo said suddenly.
There was a hint of the old Cho, that little Ying Fa, that Tomoyo saw as Cho averted her gaze and blushed. "You kissed him," was all her answer.
To anyone it would have seemed as an acknowledgeable answer. After all, if Cho, the destined one, kissed anyone, Cho might have accidentally killed him. So kisses were something that Cho held dear. But Tomoyo was her mother, and she knew better. "Who did you kiss?"
There was no way of avoiding the question. "Harry," she said, her voice low that Tomoyo could have barely heard it. Of course Harry. Anyone else would have been dead then. A small smile showed on Tomoyo's face as she wondered when her daughter had her first kiss. After all, her Ying Fa was only seven. And Cho shook her head, out of the past memories of Ying Fa. "This isn't about me, Tomoyo. Do you love Brian?"
Tomoyo's heart wrenched when she said that. I don't want my Ying Fa to go! Tomoyo's daughter was growing up, and Tomoyo was never there to see it. I can't let go of her, no matter what. And with that, Tomoyo made a decision. Her life centered on her children. Everything she did would be for them. "No, I do not love him." It was a lie, and Tomoyo hated herself for it, but she had to do it. If Cho were wary of her just because she kissed him, then how would she feel if Tomoyo had said yes? And Eli? Surely he wanted his parents back too.
"You don't? But you kissed him," Cho said, confused.
Tomoyo sighed. "It's complicated." And it was. There would be no Tomoyo and Brian, even if it broke her heart. As a plan formed in Tomoyo's mind, she said, "Let's make a deal, Cho." Cho looked up curiously as Tomoyo continued. "If I promise to stop everything between Brian and me, you have to tell Harry everything. Your past, your destiny, and your kiss."
This was the only way Tomoyo could think of to save her little Ying Fa from leaving forever. Cho would never tell Harry anything, because she would not want her own destiny to include him. If Cho and Harry were kept apart, all that Cho would have to do was sacrifice herself in place of Harry's when he fights Voldermort. Nothing else would happen. No relationships, no understanding, and certainly the past not repeating. But that way, Cho could easily forget herself as Ying Fa Hiiragizawa. And that was one thing that Tomoyo did not want.
Cho considered it and shook her head. "If I tell Harry… will you tell Eriol about me… about Eli? About everything?" Tomoyo didn't know whether to smile or not. It was obvious she inherited her bargaining skills from her, but she was asking her to do something that Tomoyo almost didn't want to do. Tomoyo sighed.
"Yes. If I tell Eriol everything, you have to tell Harry everything too."
Cho slipped out of her arms, regretful. Tomoyo knew that it was time for her to go. "Promise me, Tomoyo, that if you see Eriol again…"
"Yes?"
"Promise me that you won't get angry with him. That you won't hurt him in anger and frustration."
Tomoyo slowly nodded. "Only if you promise me that you will do what you want do, Ying Fa. Don't do as destiny tells you to do if you don't want to; don't deny what your heart wants just because of fate."
Cho disappeared. Tomoyo could have sworn that her daughter gave her a curt nod.
********
Tomoyo walked on past to her room, exhausted after the day's events. The two moon guardians exchanged worried glances. "I'll go talk to her," Ruby Moon said as she followed Tomoyo into her room. Tomoyo was looking outside her window, where the sun was setting and the sky was caught between the orange light and the dark blanket of stars.
"Eight years can do a lot to a person. For the first time since he left, Ruby Moon, today I questioned my love for him. Do I still love him? How much longer am I going to wait? How much longer will I hold onto the hope that he will come back? It makes me wonder, is he going through this? This emotional pain?" Ruby Moon stayed silent.
"I found out today that Ying Fa has been notified of her fate. I found out that Ying Fa has been given the magic of the gods. I found out that Ying Fa is no longer mine; she is Cho Chang." Tomoyo shook her head. "I have realized that the pain I have of losing my children is even greater that losing my husband. What's more, I will do anything for Ying Fa and Eli, but I have stopped caring about Eriol." Tomoyo looked back at Ruby Moon, tears glistening in her eyes. "I realized today, that I'm going to put Eriol on hold for a moment. My children are more important. Unfortunately, until I see Eriol again, I can't give him up."
Ruby Moon took the crying Tomoyo into her arms. "I never told you this, but you know what the last thing Eriol-sama told Spinel Sun and I?" Ruby spoke softly. "He said, 'I love my wife. I love her so much that I would rather die than let her. But because of this, I know that I will make her unhappy. I leave you, Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun, to take care of Tomoyo Daidjouji and to make her happy.' Love is self-sacrificing, Tomoyo-sama. I am sure he will accept and understand your decision."
Year 9
"Hiiragizawa-sama, you are invited to join us--"
"Message four deleted. Message five."
"Mrs. H, would you like to go over the commercial plans over lunch--"
Tomoyo sighed as she listened to the useless words on her answering machine. It seemed everyone wanted her to join some kind of party, go out for lunch, in short, to take a break. But Tomoyo couldn't do that. She had to prove to Umbridge that she was capable to take care of her own children. And to do that, her business could not fall in disarray.
"Message five deleted. Message six."
"Tomoyo, it's me, Sakura."
Tomoyo stared at the answering machine as she slowly took her finger off of the deleting button, uncertain what to do. So many things happened in her life, and Tomoyo suspected it was true for Sakura as well, but the two of them were drifting apart. Again. When was the last Tomoyo remembered her friend?
"I know we haven't been talking for long, Tomoyo…" Sakura gave a sigh. "Well, I've been keeping touch with Nakuru, and she tells me that you've been working a lot lately. What happened, Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo sighed again. Too many things, Sakura.
"Nakuru tells me you'll be in Hong Kong in a couple of days. Do you want to talk then? I'll be here to listen…" Sakura's voice faded as Tomoyo, still undecided, headed back to her office in the large house of the Daidjouji Mansion in Tomeada. There still was unfinished work to be done.
~*~*~
Tomoyo was so absorbed in her work that she didn't notice two eyes carefully watching her. "It's two o'clock in the morning, Tomoyo-sama," Suppi said.
Tomoyo jumped as she looked up. "Spinel! Do not scare me like that!"
"It's two o'clock in the morning, Tomoyo-sama," Suppi repeated, flying closer to Tomoyo and landing on her desk.
Tomoyo glanced at the clock. "So it is. I don't see what is so important about it, Spinel."
The sun guardian's false form looked up at her seriously. "Recently you have been sleeping late. And you barely sleep for an hour." Suppi paused before continuing. "Is this work due later in the morning?"
Tomoyo took off the glasses she wore for work. Come to think of it, she was tired. "No, it's due next week. Why?"
"May I ask why you do this? Everything you have done so far is work and more work. Tomoyo-sama, you eat less, sleep less; you hardly take any breaks at all. This kind of cycle is not good for your health at all."
Tomoyo took some time to answer, because at that time of day her brain was not functioning easily. "You know why, Spinel. I need to show Umbridge I'm not the insane mother she thinks I am."
"But this lack of sleep and food just to get your business more successful that it already is? Do you really need to make that kind of sacrifice?"
"Yes," Tomoyo responded defensively.
Suppi had to pull out his trump card. "What happens you collapse? They will think you put work in front of children. That situation would not help you at all, Tomoyo-sama."
Tomoyo sighed, her head pounding. "Okay, I will go to sleep, Spinel."
But Suppi wasn't done yet. "Master turned work into play. Could you do the same? Have fun with what you have to do? Tomoyo-sama, Eriol-sama did things the way he wanted, not specifically the way Clow-sama wanted it to be done. Do things at your own pace, Tomoyo-sama. And have fun while you do it."
Tomoyo nodded as she stood to turn off the light and close the door of the office, but sleep overwhelmed her and she collapsed. Suppi transformed into Spinel Sun and carried Tomoyo to her room. The last thing Tomoyo thought of was that she just might see Sakura during her vacation to Hong Kong that week.
~*~*~
"Please leave a message after the tone."
"Hello, Tomoyo-san. This is Julie. This- ah, isn't about work, but I just wanted to say something. I thought for a moment, that something was wrong with you. I'm not saying that when you were acting over-zealous about work you were horrible. Iie, in fact, your extra work pulled off! Taylor Fashions is not a small business anymore, but a major shopping line! The only thing I was concerned about was that you had been working too much. Not to say it didn't do anything, Tomoyo, but I think you've done enough work this half a year that I don't think you should come in for the rest of the year. Hah, I doubt you would do that. It's just, well, there are people who bury themselves in their work so much that they forget about everything else. I didn't want you to become that.
"And I'm glad you didn't. That flight to Hong Kong did work wonders! Just, Tomoyo-san, next time, don't do everything all at once. I wouldn't want the head of Taylor Fashions, and both Daidjouji and Hiiragizawa Corporations to collapse on me! The company moves at whatever pace you want, Tomoyo-san, but if it's too fast for you, then it's definitely too fast for us. In all, good work, Tomoyo-san. I'll put in a word for you to that cousin of mine- I will definitely have to change her mind about keeping you and your children separated permanently! You can bet my life that you'll have your children back. I promise."
Year 10
"Hurry up Blake!"
"You're too fast! You know you're older than me, Wyatt!"
"Aw, come on. Prue's going to wake up soon-"
Tomoyo hugged her warm overcoat tighter as Tomoyo decided to walk home after work instead of riding home. Then two little boys brushed against her, clearly in a hurry. One had dark brown hair and eyes with a reddish tint, about five. The other boy had blond hair and blue eyes, maybe about seven. The blond turned around, then shouted louder to someone behind her. "Aunt Meiling! The hospital's going to close already! Hurry up!"
Tomoyo froze. Meiling?! Ever since the Potters died, Meiling had gone missing for the past six years… "Well, if you help me with the presents, I might walk a little faster!" a female voice said behind her, coming closer. Tomoyo recognized the voice.
"Meiling?!" Tomoyo breathed.
Meiling stopped. She's changed somehow… Tomoyo noted as she took it all in. Meiling had her hair in loose waves and carrying a large bag. "Tomoyo…" Meiling said, smiling slightly. Meiling did not look surprised as Tomoyo felt she did.
The brown-haired boy was tugging on her clothes. "Mommy, we have to give the presents to her before she wakes up!" This brought Tomoyo to a new perspective. Meiling was a mother?!
Meiling did not turn her eyes away from Tomoyo, daring her to say something. "Honey, take the presents and go. I'll be right behind you, okay?"
"Okay!" he said, taking the bag of presents and ran as fast as he could to his blond haired friend. "Wyatt! Wait for me!" Meiling immediately started following him. Tomoyo walked closely by her. That boy reminds me of someone… I wonder who is the father? Tomoyo didn't know what to say.
"Meirin said you were coming to America, but he said nothing about San Francisco. He didn't tell me that I would meet you, either," Meiling finally spoke.
"Do you know that everyone in the Li Clan is looking for you?" Tomoyo finally asked.
Meiling looked at her. "That is an overstatement, Tomoyo. I know Syaoran and Sakura are looking for me, but they're not looking for me too closely. They know that Meirin's magic is just as strong as theirs, so I'll be okay. They also know that I have a reason I'm not coming home."
Tomoyo looked at her friend. "But you and I know that having a son is not the reason they would be expecting."
"I know." Meiling looked tired and shook her head. "They won't be expecting that he's not legitimate, or that I'm a single mother, either."
"Meiling!" the shocked Tomoyo said.
Meiling smiled. "It's the truth. And I will not let the clan take him. Over my dead body they will."
"So who's the father?"
Meiling's eyes saddened. "I think you already know, Tomoyo."
Tomoyo thought and nodded. "Do you know that he is-"
"Yes, I know. Another reason why the clan can't take him. He doesn't know yet."
Tomoyo nodded and she followed Meiling in silence. Meiling cleared her throat and spoke again. "So how are you, Tomoyo? Meirin has been telling me what has happened to you… I'm sorry for what happened, Tomoyo."
"It's alright."
"I'm sorry Tomoyo, really I am. I would have written to you, but…" The two of them reached the San Francisco Hospital. Meiling looked up. "But I had my own problems."
~*~
Meiling and Tomoyo were about to reach room 327 when a shimmer of blue lights suddenly appeared. When the lights disappeared, three women took its place. Meiling frowned at them. "You know, someone could have seen you orb in."
A redhead grinned sheepishly. "Well, luckily they didn't, huh, Meiling?"
The one with short dark hair said, "Are we late? We tried to finish as soon as possible-" she stopped when she noticed Tomoyo. "Oh."
The third one with long, black hair said, "Uh, hi? Meiling, where's Wyatt?"
Meiling smiled. "Don't worry, this is Tomoyo. She knows about magic too. It's all right. Tomoyo, these are the Charmed Ones. Paige, Phoebe, and Piper. Piper, Wyatt's inside."
The Charmed Ones went into the room as Tomoyo questioned, "The Charmed Ones?"
Meiling smiled. "Witches. Powerful ones." Meiling paused at the door, then turned around. "Tomoyo, you don't have to come in."
"Why…?"
Meiling frowned. "Well, it might prove to be shock to you…" Meiling opened the door and Tomoyo came in. At first Tomoyo noticed the Christmas decorations put up and the small tree with presents. Her heart clenched when she saw Wyatt hugging Piper and Meiling hugging her son- at least they had their children to hold. Then her eyes traveled to the patient of the room, with tubes connected to her and her heartbeat disastrously slow and faint.
For a moment Tomoyo couldn't breathe, because she was shocked. The patient had auburn hair- and when she woke up to Phoebe and Paige- she had blue cerulean eyes too. Tomoyo swallowed. This is *not* Ying Fa. Ying Fa's hair is browner than red like this girl's, and more blue than the pale blue of this one. Ying Fa is in England, not in America. But Tomoyo still couldn't breathe.
"Aunt Paige, Aunt Phoebe, you guys didn't have to do this…" she said weakly.
Phoebe smiled reassuringly. "Of course we had to, Prue. It's Christmas!"
Paige lowered her voice, grinning. "Besides, Blake and Wyatt feel guilty for teasing you."
"Do not! We were just being nice, that's all!" Blake, Meiling's son, said defensively.
Prue's blue eyes lit up. "Wow! Blake can be nice for once!" The women laughed and the two boys scowled.
A nurse popped her head in. "Excuse me, Ms. Haliwell? The doctors want to see you."
The three sisters looked at Meiling, who nodded. "You guys go ahead. I'll watch the three of them for you." Phoebe, Piper, and Paige left. "Tomoyo…?" Meiling asked softly. Tomoyo turned her head.
"Good God, she looks just like her," Tomoyo said softly. Meiling nodded.
"I never noticed it before, until today when I realized she might surprise you."
"Is she yours?" Meiling shook her head.
"No, but she almost is. I've been taking care of her since she was born… Tomoyo, do you remember Lily's miscarriage?"
Tomoyo stared at Meiling. "Are you telling me that- that's Rose?"
Meiling nodded sadly. "Yes, but because she was born prematurely, she's had some problems. She has a weak heart, and it usually doesn't complicate things, until recently when she had a nasty shock."
Prue realized that Tomoyo was there. "Hi! I'm Prudence Rosalie Potter. Who are you?" Tomoyo didn't know what to say. It was just too hard to see her daughter, but actually know that she wasn't her daughter at all.
Meiling smiled and took a chair near Prue. "She's a friend of mine, Prue."
"Why doesn't she talk?" Blake asked.
Meiling smiled sadly to her son and his friends. "Because Prue, you remind her of someone who she really wants to see. Wyatt, can you pass me that red and green box over there?" When Meiling was given the box, she opened it for Prue. "This is a present from Blake and I. Remember that dress we saw last spring at that new store?" Inside of the box was a beautiful light blue dress with flowers. Prue gasped. "See, here on the tag it says Taylor Fashions. But Madison Taylor is just another name for Tomoyo Daidjouji Hiiragizawa."
"Hirawawa?" Blake tried to say.
Meiling laughed. "Almost. And that woman you see over there? That's Tomoyo. She's the company head of Taylor Fashions."
"Really?" Wyatt asked.
"Really." Meiling said. Tomoyo smiled at Meiling. This was the side that Tomoyo never saw- the motherly side of Meiling. Meiling was speaking to them in soft, caring tones, and all three children were listening attentively. Even though Meiling was tired with all the stress and problems she had to go through, Tomoyo could tell that Meiling was happy.
"Wow, you must be rich, Ms. Hiraga- Hiwagi- Heragi-" Prue said, awed.
Tomoyo smiled. "Call me Tomoyo, please."
Prue shook her head. "It's not very nice. I have to respect the older people."
"Like me?" Wyatt teased. Prue made a funny face at him. Tomoyo just had to smile at Prue's innocence. I can't compare her to my daughter… these two are obviously different and lead very different lives. My daughter will willingly give up her life, but this one will hang onto her very last thread.
~*~*~ Later, at the Halliwell house ~*~*~
"Please tell me you're joking," Meiling desperately said. The three sisters looked at her sadly. The seven of them, including Tomoyo, Madison, and Meirin, were sitting around the table. It was late, and the two boys were already sleeping. The Charmed Ones delivered the bad news: Prue was going to die.
"From the very beginning, Meiling, you've known that Prue had a weak heart," Meirin said.
"That doesn't mean she has to die!" Meiling said.
"Be quiet! The children might hear you!" Piper scolded.
"I know how you feel, Meiling," Phoebe said. "Prue still has a destiny to fulfill. But all evidence seems to point to it. The doctors can't do anything."
"And magic can't either," Paige said quietly. "We've looked in the Book of Shadows for anything, but nothing will help."
"She's using her own magic to stay alive," Madison said calmly. "That destiny she has to fulfill- the magic that ties with it- is feeding her life force. The longer she breathes, the longer she is weakened, both magically and physically. Our magic can't save her. She will just use it up for her life force."
"We can't teach her to not use her magic, Meiling," Meirin said, reading her mind. "It's much to late. Nothing, not even magic, can save her."
They were all silent. This can't be her last Christmas…Tomoyo thought sadly. She looked at the four women, Piper, Paige, Phoebe, and Meiling. Prue was not their daughter but they treated her as one. They don't deserve to lose her…even if I lost my children, I did not lose them forever. With time, I will see them again, even before Ying Fa will have succumb to destiny and die. But Prue didn't fulfill her destiny yet… she should live to finish it… A thought struck her.
"Would power of the divine heavens save her?" Ying Fa can save her, I know it.
Year 11
"Sing for us Mira!"
"Catch me if you can!"
"WAH! Haley, she hit me!"
The pencil that Tomoyo was holding snapped. Just like her patience did. Tomoyo stood up, opened the door of her study room and yelled, "WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?!" The children in the other room suddenly quieted. Satisfied, Tomoyo slammed the door closed and returned to her work.
It happened about a month ago, when Tomoyo found all seventeen children in her house. Madison and Nakuru brought them home because the orphans were without their orphanage and their caretaker. They had been living on their own under the oldest orphan Haley, who was only fourteen. She quit school and worked, but it didn't pay the bills. They ended up on the streets, and the two moon guardians decided to step in and help them by providing them food, clothes, and shelter.
Tomoyo was not at all happy.
~*~
Haley put a finger to her lips, making the be-quiet-sign to her partner. She wanted to listen to the conversation. Miss Ruby and Miss Madison were in the other room, talking about- what was her name? A Japanese one… ah, oh well they were talking about Mrs. H. Haley smiled. Her 'brothers' and 'sisters' called her Missy Mean behind her back, even though she chastised them about that. Now, though, they were calling her Scrooge because she was grumpy like that character of the play that Miss Ruby and Miss Madison took them to see.
"She's more touchy than usual," Haley heard a voice say. She knew that voice. It was a voice that was always heard, but she could never see the person talking. Haley peeked inside again. It was only Miss Ruby, Miss Madison, and their cat. She knew there was something strange about the whole house, but they were so kind so she didn't ask.
"Touchy?! She's been like that since Sakura told her Ying Fa was going to Hogwarts! You know what that means," Madison said. Ying Fa? Hogwarts?
"It's judgment day coming sooner, now that it just leaves Harry to go to Hogwarts," Ruby said. "She doesn't want that to happen." Harry? Who or what is Hogwarts?
"You'd think that with all the children in the house, she'd liven up," Ruby said.
Madison shook her head. "There is only two children she wants to see: Eli and Ying Fa. Nothing else will cheer her up except her own children."
"Madison!" They all heard Tomoyo bellow across the hall. They all exchanged glances and left the room to see what she wanted.
"So Mrs. H has two children, Eli and Ying Fa?" Haley mused. "I wonder where they are… and Mr. H too." she frowned. "Maybe they left and that's why Mrs. H is so mean." Haley looked to her companion, her favorite little sister, Mira. Mira was only three or four years old, but Haley could tell her golden brown eyes shimmered with intelligence.
Haley grinned as a light bulb went off. "What do you think Mira? Christmas is coming soon. Do you think our brothers and sisters could change our own Scrooge? I bet your singing would help. And maybe a play of our own…"
~*~
And Tomoyo was touched. It took seventeen children to change her heart, but at least she wasn't Scrooge anymore. She got to know the children better, and her favorite was Mira. Tomoyo decided to help them. Social Services would have to send someone to watch them, and Tomoyo would gladly give her house to be the new orphanage. Daidjouji Corporations would use part of its profits to fund the new orphanage, and of course Brian helped out too. The Hiiragizawa Corporations and other organizations would help many other underprivileged children. And most importantly, Haley could finish high school.
Suddenly, a shriek outside of the house broke though Tomoyo's thoughts. Tomoyo looked up just in time to see a hit-and-run accident. Tomoyo narrowed her eyes. I think I know that car…
"Call the ambulance!" Madison said as she burst into the house, reaching for the phone. "There's been an accident, and a child has been hit…"
Tomoyo's eyes looked outside as her heart stopped. Hastily, she ran outside to comfort the sobbing Haley. "Mrs. H, I shouldn't have let her gone outside…" Tomoyo hugged her closer as she swallowed, knowing the truth. Little Mira was dead on Christmas Day.
Year 12
Silence…
Tomoyo tucked an unruly hair behind her ear, looking around her. The graveyard was empty, leaving her in an eerie silence. Dressed in black for reverence, Tomoyo stopped at a certain grave and placed a bouquet of flowers for her now dead mother. "Daidjouji, Sonomi Amamiya. Blessed Granddaughter, daughter, wife, mother, and friend. We shall never forget how she touched each and one of our lives," it read. Tomoyo bowed her head. Merry Christmas, Oka-san.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Tomoyo," a heavenly male voice said. Tomoyo turned to see the ghostly apparition of Akito Daidjouji, her father.
"Father?" Tomoyo gasped. "What are you doing here? How can I see you?"
Akito looked sadly at his daughter as he sat next to her, taking one rose from one of the bouquets from Tomoyo and placing it on his own grave next to Sonomi's. "I've been appointed to ease the transition from life to death for the casualties of The Magic War."
Tomoyo paled. "Meaning you're my Angel of Death? Already?"
"Soon, Tomoyo."
Tomoyo averted her gaze by standing up and moving to the next grave. Placing another bouquet on Fujitaka and Nadeshiko's grave, Tomoyo remained silent, thinking. The Magic War, the war that Tomoyo would have to die… the war that might take Ying Fa…
Ying Fa…The name resonated in her head. Ever since Cho had gone to Hogwarts, she never wrote in the notebook anymore, cutting Tomoyo's only personal contact with her daughter, though Eli did… Tomoyo remembered the promise she made to her daughter.
"Otou-san, I can't! At least not yet. I- I still have to see my children again- and Eriol!- at least one more time before I go… I can't go yet…Will you wait, …please?"
Akito smiled at his daughter, nodding. There is still a place for her husband in her heart.
Year 13 [All lyrics and translations are from .com]
"Mizu in utsur tsuki wo miru kara / yurete shimau/ zujou ni aru hikari wa sore wo / tada mite'ru dake…/ Looking at the moon reflected in the water / I couldn't help but shake / The lights overhead / Just look at that…
"Sora wa takaku hateshinai keredo / hikari dake wa oshiminaku aru / donna toki mo mimaotte-iru yo / ai to you na no Perfect World / The sky is high, unending, but / Light is the only thing it doesn't hold back / I will always be watching over / The Perfect World called love." [The song is Fushigi Yuugi's Perfect World, here sung by Tomoyo]
"And that's a wrap! Wow, Tomoyo!" Yukito enthusiastically said, as he clapped and his partners took off their headphones. In Beijing, Yukito, Feimei, and Touya ran a radio station, Revelations 101.9, which was internationally known.
"You think it would work?" Tomoyo said, slipping her own pair of headphones off.
"It should," Touya said. "The chiisai kaiju promised she would even force them to listen."
Feimei hit her partner none to lightly. "That's my niece you're talking about, not some little monster!"
"Itai! Jade's my niece too, Feimei!"
Tomoyo wryly added: "And me three." Tomoyo didn't know what to do. She completely lost connection with her children; Cho never wrote in her notebook anymore and Eli rarely did. Also, Umbridge caught the gifts that Tomoyo would always give to her children every occasion and returned it back to her. Tomoyo had no Christmas presents to give to her children. Depressed, under the name of Plum, Tomoyo confessed her hardships on air to the world. Plum's story touched the hearts of many, and they even gave her gifts by using the Revelations mail address. Later Tomoyo found out that the deejay she confessed to was actually Yukito.
Tomoyo gave the many gifts to the Haley and other orphanages, but Tomoyo still couldn't do anything about her children. Then Sakura told Tomoyo suggested that she should sing. Jade immediately agreed, and they set a date so that when the next time Jade visited her cousins, she would make Cho and Eli listen to their mother singing on the radio. Tomoyo dearly hoped that her children heard her; there was no other way she could make contact with them and give them her Christmas present.
~*~
"Tomoyo! Turn your radio to 101.9!" came Sakura's response through the phone the next day, which was Christmas Day.
"Why?" Tomoyo said as she turned it to the radio station of Touya and Feimei. It was their shift, which was the most popular of Revelations. Sakura answered that an unidentified tape was received at the station, which all it said was that Touya and Feimei had to play it during their hour. It was playing at the moment, and Tomoyo was speechless while she listened.
"Kirameki tamae / sadame no hoshi yo / ima usure-yuku / ishiki ni wa {Cho} Please shine / Star of Desiny! / Now, it's fading / In my consciousness" {Eli}
"Sore wa ichido no wakare / soshite towa no saikai / watashi wa iru / tomo ni ikita/ kioku no / naka ni itsumo…{Cho} That was our first parting / but then we'll meet again eternally. / I'll still exist. / The two of us will / Always live on / In my memory…" {Eli}[Fushigi Yuugi's Sadame no Hoshi; Star of Destiny, here sung by Cho and Eli]
"Shinjite ii yo yume wa yattekuru / Kimi no tame dake ni / Naitemo ii yo donna kanashimimo / Tsubasa ni kawaru sa sono mune de / You can believe you dreams are coming / Just for you. / You can cry because you can make any sadness / Into wings in your heart.
"Dareka wo mamoru koto nante / Kantan ni dekinai ne / Kimi ni furuame mo/ Tomrarenai yo / Dakedo akirametaku wa nai / Chippokena yuuki demo / Protecting someone / Is not an easy thing to do, is it? / I can't stop the rain / From falling on your head either. / Even with only a little courage-- / I don't want to give up. [Rurouni Kenshin's Namida wa Shitte iru; Tears Know, here sung by Eli]
~*~
"Tatoe tookute mo kitto tadoritsukeru tsuyoku shinjite'ta / ano hi no watashi ga ima mo kokoro de nemutte-iru / garasu no bara yori mo hakanakute moroi no ni / yume miru koto wa naze sadame na no deshou / I used to believe without a doubt that I could reach my dreams, no matter how far off they were. / But that me from long ago now sleeps inside my heart. / Dreams are more fragile and fleeting than a glass rose, / So then why are we destined to dream?
"Futatsu no yume ga ai ni natte/ ai ni narenai koto mo atte. / Sometimes two dreams can turn into love, / But there are also times when they can't." [Ayashi no Ceres' Scarlet, here sung by Cho]
~*~
Well, Merry Christmas to you too, my children. Tomoyo smiled.
Year 14
"Kirei! The tree looks beautiful!"
"Jade, look- hey, where did it go?"
"Eli, there are some times I don't need telepathy…"
Tomoyo shook her head, smiling. Julie smiled just as wryly. "Your children are really something, you know that?" They watched Jade marvel at the Christmas tree, unaware of Eli cowering under Cho's angry glare with his mistletoe in hand. It was Christmas again, and Tomoyo would not ask for anything more. Julie's promise came through. Social Services looked over Tomoyo's past work and agreed to let Tomoyo see and spend time with her children again, under the condition that she was watched at all times regarding her children. It was a torture probation, but getting able to see Ying Fa and Eli again was worth it.
"Happy?" Naoko Chang asked her friend. Tomoyo nodded. Naoko smiled wistfully. "I thank you for everything, Tomoyo. It is every woman's wish to have a happy family with a good husband, children, and a stable home. I thought I would never be able to live that dream, but because of you I was able to."
Tomoyo looked at Naoko. Because Naoko could not bear children, she and Tzao were willing to adopt. And because of Tomoyo's rash behavior, Ying Fa and Eli were put up for a foster home, and it was lucky that Naoko was chosen to be their new parents. However, at the way things were going, Tomoyo would be able to have them back.
Naoko shook her head. "I know what you're thinking, but it's okay. They have always belonged to you. And what you have given, you can take back. You have given me the chance to be a mother, and now it is your turn, Tomoyo. It is the least I can do for what I have done."
Tomoyo shook her head also. "It's not your fault that my daughter acknowledges you as her own mother. You are the only woman who has been the mother for her. I hope to remedy that, but I will not let my children forget you. You have been there for them when I could not. You and Tzao both."
Naoko smiled. "Arigato, Tomoyo. May you succeed in regaining what you have lost."
Year 15
"Hold still a minute, Sirius!"
"Heck, no! It hurts like hell!"
"I'll get Meirin…"
"Damn…"
Yup, the notorious Sirius Black joined Tomoyo for a Christmas recently after his escape. Well, not "joined", because it sounds like he did it voluntary; but Meirin found the fugitive and "kidnapped" him, bringing him to Tomoyo's house. Sirius still can't get used to the fact Meirin looks exactly like Meiling, only with magic, stronger, and more boyish.
Tomoyo at the moment, was tending Sirius' wounds. Sirius hadn't gotten hurt from the Ministry, however, he had gotten badly hurt from Sorcerers. Li Elders, to be exact. Sirius tried to contact Meiling by going up to the Li Mansion- but the Elders were not so willingly to let a lowly wizard, a fugitive, have any relationship with their family.
Even if Sirius was already family and didn't know about it.
"You still love Meiling, don't you?" Tomoyo questioned.
Sirius wryly smiled. "Yes. Forever and always. Love is something that brings both heartache and hope, so the dementors weren't able to take it completely away. I just- I just want her back. All these years… Tomoyo, she's avoiding me, isn't she?"
Tomoyo carefully avoided his eyes. "Meiling is just busy, Sirius." When Meiling nearly begged the Li Clan to help Prue, they found out about her son. Like what they had done with Syaoran, the Elders wanted to teach little Blake about magic and sword fighting and whatnot since he had magic. It was only lucky that Blake had a destiny different that the Elders intended, a destiny that required him to stay with the Charmed Ones. However, Meiling was not so lucky.
Sirius sighed. "You can keep saying that, but I don't think I'm going to believe it."
"Good morning Meiling," Tomoyo softly said to the woman silently watching the sleeping wizard. Meiling jumped, surprised.
"Tomoyo! Don't do that to me again!" she said equally soft.
"If you love him, you should stay. You've been avoiding him ever since he escaped," Tomoyo said.
Meiling shook her head. "It's just… I've always wanted to see him. I've waited for the moment he would come, but now since it's here I don't know how to act. I'm just so confused. I do love him Tomoyo, but who can I blame for what has happened to me?"
Tomoyo remained quiet. Is this how I will feel when I see Eriol again? Confused and torn? But love… I do not know- my love for my children, and the other children I have met over the years is greater. Eriol has diminished to almost nothing.
Meiling faintly smiled, noticing Tomoyo's turmoil. Sometimes love lasts forever, unnoticed. Meiling frowned again, looking back at Sirius. Pain; hurt and comfort at the same time, filled her heart. Meiling took a present from her pocket and placed it next to him. "Merry Christmas, Sirius." She clasped her sun emblem on her necklace, signaling Meirin and disappeared.
"Sirius," Tomoyo said, watching him getting ready to leave.
"Thank you for letting me healing me, Tomoyo. Thank you for everything you've done."
"You should stay, Sirius. You're safe here."
He shook his head. "But you're not. I could be causing you danger. I'll be fine."
Tomoyo frowned. "What is it?"
"What is what?" Sirius said, going to the room Buckbeak was in.
"Why are you in a hurry? Is it Harry?"
Sirius paused and looked back at her. "It just dawned on me that someone might be using the Triwizard Tournament to kill him. I have to watch him."
Tomoyo nodded, understanding. "You can always use Kaho's mansion to stay in.
Sirius shook his head again. "You've done enough, Tomoyo. And the mansion is too far from Hogwarts."
Tomoyo sighed. Meiling wouldn't like it if Sirius was always in trouble. "Be safe, Sirius. We're always here to help."
"Thank you."
"And Sirius?"
"Yes?"
"Watch my daughter, please. Something will happen. I know it."
Year 16
"To-ya!!!!!!!!!"
"Nakuru, get off me!"
"What food? Yukito ate them all!"
"Ha! I win!"
"No! I lost!"
The sounds from the other room were barely audible as Tomoyo picked up the picture frame back from the fireplace. It was a picture that Tomoyo had digitally changed, because there was no such picture. It was picture of all four Hiiragizawas- Eriol, Tomoyo, Eli, and Ying Fa. Tomoyo cradled the picture tenderly.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Meiling's voice said.
Tomoyo looked at Meiling, hugging the frame. Meiling raised an eyebrow. "Where's Cho?"
"At Hogwarts for the break." Tomoyo paused. "There's something she's not telling me."
"Like what?"
"For once I don't know. It could be a number of things… Cedric, Harry, Eli, Jade, me…"
"Eriol?" Meiling suggested. Since Meirin the Sun Guardian was always with her, Meiling had been told of what could happened in the future and already knew that Eriol was Cho's DADA teacher. Tomoyo didn't know… yet.
Tomoyo shrugged. "Quite possibly." Then her eyes saddened. "Meiling, I don't know what I feel for him. It's like he's vanished into a far memory."
Meiling sighed. She knew how Tomoyo felt, because she was going through almost the same thing. "You love him, Tomoyo. You just don't know it."
"Love? You make it sound everlasting, Meiling." Tomoyo shook her head. "I can't love him…"
"You do, Tomoyo. Do you think about him even when you always tell yourself you wouldn't? Do you feel a pain in your chest when his name pops up? Do you see him whenever you see your son? Do you find yourself crying and you don't know why? It's because you love him, Tomoyo. It's simple as that."
And Tomoyo found tears trailing down her face. Salty drops splashed on the glass of the picture frame. Meiling sighed and took out a handkerchief, and carefully took the framed picture. She wiped the tears off the glass and placed it back on the fireplace. Then she fiercely took Tomoyo into her arms. Tomoyo sobbed even harder.
"You love Eriol, Tomoyo. You can't feel it in your heart because you don't know how to reach it. When you see him again, which you will, you'll find out that your heart has contained so much love for him over the years. That is why you're crying, Tomoyo. You love him. Your body and heart knows it, but your mind doesn't. But it will soon enough.
"Don't ask when. The time will come, and you will embrace it." Meiling exhaled heavily. "Only if I had the courage to do the same. But we will be strong, Tomoyo. They need to understand how much pain they have made us go through. And for our part, we need to understand how much pain they have been through too."
Meiling gave Tomoyo her handkerchief. "So dry your tears, Tomoyo. The day will come. And on that day we will not cry. Because we are strong."
I promise… I promised that I would love you forever, Eriol. I still do, and it hurts me. I promise… I promised that I wouldn't hurt your father, Ying Fa. Only if you come back. I promise… I promised that I wouldn't cry for Eriol, Meiling. Because we are strong.
But Eriol… I might have to break my promise. You've hurt me, and every single day without you here to heal it…you've made it worse. And my destiny to die is coming soon. My time is running out. My only hope is to see my family again. Eli, Ying Fa, and you, Eriol. You still have to know about our children.
I do love you, but at this moment it is too to express it now. We have unfinished business.
We need to finish it.