Disclaimer: I don't own CLAMP or any of their angsty beautiful characters

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"I'm sorry I misheard, your what?" Tomoyo said startled by what she thought she just heard.

"Oh my don't make me say it again! (Her mother said with a blush) I said that he is going to be your stepfather!"

"Oh...well you know what that means mother, you're a cougar!"
Tomoyo tried to make a joke while on the inside she was enraged at this young man who seemed to be taking advantage of her mother. Most likely some sort of gigilo who was only after her money. She would have to talk to her mother privately and warn her that marrying this "Kurogane" would be the biggest mistake of her life!

"Hmm" her mother said with a confused smile "I'm afriad I don't understand what that means but I'll take it as a compliment!"

"Well that's ok Mama I can tell you all about it when we catch up, why don't we go to the theatre, I have a present to give to you."

Turning her head to Kurogane and grabbing her mother's hand Tomoyo gave a slight bow and said "Excuse me but I would like to spend some time with my mother alone. You are welcome to tour the estate and get comfortable here. Let one of the staff know if you need anything, they'll be happy to help you."

Kuroganes stoic face gave a half-hearted nod but Tomoyo could see a slight aura of frustration glowing from his eyes. She felt goosebumps down her back and quickly turned around and briskly started walking to her destination.

"Tomoyo not so fast, not everyone has the legs of a ballerina you know!"Her mother called after her.

Tomoyo didn't speak until they arrived at the theatre, thoughts of how to tactfully approach the subject of her moms new love clouded her mind. She decided that the smartest way to bring it up would be afer she put her mother into a good mood.

"Mama please sit down in the seat over there, I promise it's comfy! Oh and close your eyes too because you wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

She recieved an incredulous look from her mother who then promptly shut her lids and scrunched her face in concentration, relying only on sound to try to make sense of what was going on around her. Walking up to the control room Tomoyo pressed play on the DVD machine and walked back to where her mother was seated waiting for "operation good mood" to take effect.

"Sakura-chan!" Her mother squeeled in delight as she saw an uncomfortable looking Sakura dressed up in one of Tomoyo's many creations. Along with Syaoran they were sitting in the playroom of the Daidoji estate surrounded by stuffed animals and drinking tea. "Tomoyo where did you find this? It's aboslutely ancient!"

With a grin Tomoyo teased "Well actually while you were gone all of the Kinomotos came over and we had a showing of all the old home videos! Sigh it was really quite a shame that you had to miss it"

Looking at her mothers horrified face,Tomoyo couldn't keep it in any longer and burst into a fit of giggles. After a slight reprimand from her mother they returned to watching the welcome home present. When it was finished Tomoyo was certain that Sonomi was satiated with the dose of cutness that had permeated the screen, especially after all the "oohs" and "ahhs"that came from her mothers mouth. Staring at the blank screen of the TV Tomoyo ruminated over how to delicately voice her concerns without upsetting to sound casual she asked "So please tell me about Kurogane."

"Oh well what do you want to know? He's twenty-five, from Kyoto and I met him in a bookstore in New York"

"And now he just happens to be your fiance?"

"Oh please let me finish, well the day I was in the bookstore the cashiers were pretty busy and accidently gave us each others book. I didn't realize it though until I was already back in my hotel room. Luckily I had been skimming my book earlier and had put my business card in there as a page keeper. He called me the next day and set up a time where we could exchange our books. I thought that was the last of him until I went to a business meeting the next day and sat down next to my new client only to realize that it was the owner of "Ninjas: Past and Present"!"

At this Tomoyo was laughing on the inside, Ninjas: Past and Present? Was he really six on the inside? She would have to find some way to tease him about this. But she quickly remembered her task and became serious again.

"But Mama he is so young, why would you want to be marrying someone close to my age?"

"Well sweetie, he's almost like you, he doesn't act his age. He is responsible, mature and an accomplished business man."

"Mom I'm just worried that he's tricking you. Many people would love to take advantage of our situation."

"Tomoyo you may think that but it is not your decision who I marry. You are being prejudice by basing your opinions of him on looks alone. Why don't you try to get to know him; tomorrow I would like you two to go to the CLAMP atelier and you can help him pick out his tuxedo for the wedding. I'm killing two birds with one stone, it'll help you two meet and with your help he'll look splendid on our wedding day!"

Tomoyo looked down and mumbled a "yes", she knew she wasn't going to win this argument and decided to raise the white flag. She would have to go and find specific evidence on why it wouldn't be practical for Sonomi to marry Kurogane. Until then she would have to be indifferent of her opinion of him.

"Good girl, well I think we may have let him wander around for long enough, how about we finish catching up later?"

Tomoyo slowly wandered to the garden with her school work. When she was upset the large Sakura tree in the backyard always was a comfort to lay under it ever since she was little. She thought about the cold look that Kurogane gave her, something that she wasn't used to and it made her blood freeze. She decided to be on her best behavior tomorrow, to respect her mothers wishes, but anything suspicious would be immediatly reported to Sonomi as evidence for her cause. With her collective thoughts slowly buzzing around in her head, she gradually drifted off to sleep. She was almost there until her 6th sense picked up and made her feel as if she were being watched. Immediately she sat up and looked around, seeing nothing but feeling a gentle breeze she decided to lie down again and see if the creep watching her would show itself again. About ten minutes later she saw a shadow slinking along a long line of bushes.

"Excuse me but I don't think you could be more obvious."

Kurogane stopped in his tracks and muttered a quick "Damn it" then turned around to look at the sitting Tomoyo who seemed to be in a good mood with the smile on her face, but the look in her eyes made him feel he was in danger.

"And may I ask why your creeping around the garden? I didn't think that would be one of your hobbies"

Tomoyo wasn't expecting what sounded like a low growl to come from his mouth before he quickly said

"I wasn't looking for you, but I was looking for someone to tell me where the hell I am. This place is too damn big to navigate!"

Tomoyo laughed, suprised at his blatant honesty. A quick thought came to her mind, now would be the perfect time to mess with him.

"Well sir I thought all Ninjas new how to find their way around with their eyes closed. Could it be you're still a Ninja-in-training?"

The beet red color he turned mixed with the wide-eyed shock of his face sent her into hysterics. He could be a source of entertainment, if little more.

"Fine you don't want to help me I'll find my own fucking way out of here."

"Oh please stop, I'll help you get back to the house. I can be your sensei!"

Standing up Tomoyo looked over his way, gave a small smile and told him to follow her. Walking back to the mansion invoved crossing a small stream full of large rocks made for passing. Tomoyo was quite adapt at skipping over them, but the big splash that came from the person behind her followed by the string of curses let her know that being around him might be better than she thought.

"Oh my you're not hurt are you? I wouldn't want mother to be upset with me for letting you become injured!"

Kurogane had picked up on her teasing voice by now and quickly muttered a "shut up" as he was thoroughly embarassed with himself.

"Oh well that's no way to address your future step daughter, here give me your hand and I'll help you out." She extended her hand out to Kurogane in the water but she didn't see the evil look on his face as he quickly pulled her in the water with him. Sputtering and shocked, Tomoyo looked up at Kurogane who was now laughing and climbing out of the stream. "Hmm" she thought to herself "this might be more entertaining than I first imagined".

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Yay, second chapter done! I thought since I didn't do it for the first one I'll tell you a little bit about why I like Kurogane and Tomoyo together. While I know that cannonly Sakura is Tomoyo's "most important person", I want someone to feel the same way about Tomoyo. I know that she is fine with having an unrequited love for Sakura, but I just feel that Tomoyo is such a great character that I want someone to be completely in love with her. I love Tomoyo's and Kuroganes's relationship in Tsubasa, and not so much Kurogane and Fai's (don't get me wrong it's not like I don't like the yaoi thing, it's just that for some reason I just don't like those two together) so I wanted to write a piece where they are each others "special someone". Look forward to Chapter 3!