MMG Chapter 19: Her Battle for Happiness: The End
"I'm so happy! Tomoyo-chan, thank you! I love you!" Sakura exclaimed.
It had been two weeks since the card incident. School started about two days ago. (A/N: Umm… it was semestral break after the pageant! I forgot to tell you! Baka me) And Syaoran was able to go to school. He looked as if nothing happened. He even looked healthier and stronger than ever.
You may be wondering why Sakura said those things even if class had started two days ago. Well, it's because…
…
"Sakura, I know you still don't know what you feel. And that there's need to rush since I'm already cured…" Syaoran blushed more as her inquiring eyes connected with his determined ones. " B-but, can I… can you… would you…"
"Syaoran-kun." Sakura called him firmly. "You can say anything to me" Her face was also a light shade of pink but she was more at ease than the little wolf.
"Would you like to go out with me?" he asked, his head bowed and his hands clenched into fists. He was obviously nervous as to what her answer will be.
"Sure! We always go out with Tomoyo-chan and Eriol-kun, right?" she answered cheerfully with all her child-like innocence.
"No… I mean… just the two of us going out. A… a- a date" You might as well call him a live tomato by now.
"Oh…" Her face also turned an interesting shade of red. Well, what do you know, a pair of live tomatoes talking!
"Umm… you don't need to answer now."
"Hoe… Anou… we could go out, I think."
"Can… we have dinner tomorrow?"
"Sure"
…
And so, that day is today; the day of the date. Sakura asked Tomoyo to help her and, of course, she gladly accepted.
…
It was still early and their classes haven't started so they decided to hang out by the cherry blossoms first.
"Anou… Tomoyo-chan? Can I ask you something?" Sakura hesitantly asked as they settled under on tree.
"Sure. You can ask me anything." Tomoyo said, looking at the students walking to and fro the school.
"Have you… have you seen Eriol-kun?"
A great deal of emotions passed through her face; surprise, anger, nostalgia, sadness then finally, determination. "No. But I will see him somehow. I'll make a way"
Sakura smiled upon seeing the fiery fortitude in her eyes. This is the Tomoyo she liked best: the Tomoyo that does her best and does what she would have advised others to do.
"Hai! I'll help you!"
…
After class, the best friends told Syaoran that they would go home together and that he shouldn't wait for them. They had to prepare for the cherry blossoms' first date.
"Sakura-chan… You'll be so kawaii (cute) with this dress I made! I thought I wouldn't be able to give you my creations after you sealed all the cards…But now! Oh… this is priceless! Your first date!" Tomoyo was obviously back in her Sakura land; a place she hasn't visited for quite some time.
Her attitude then flew from ecstatic to slightly depressed. "But I wouldn't be able to tape it… Oh the harshness of this paradox!"
"Tomoyo-chan, are you sure you're alright? Maybe The Hope took half your normalness?"
Her best friend smiled amusedly. "Of course not Sakura-chan. If I lost my normalness, I wouldn't have thought of the perfect make-up for you!"
…
Sakura didn't reply. She saw someone she didn't expect to see… and with her brother too!
Nakuru was walking side by side with Touya. What's surprising is that they looked every inch normal, without the usual air of uncivilized ness. They even looked pretty serious about something.
Tomoyo also stopped and stared at the unlikely pair.
"Akizuki Nakuru…" she whispered in disbelief. She never thought she would ever see the moon guardian after what had happened. She didn't even though the name of the guardian before the incident! Before, she was just the persistent stalker of Touya. Sakura was the only one to fill her with information.
…
"Bye" Nakuru said with an uncharacteristic frown. She tiptoed and kissed his cheeks. Touya didn't make any move to swat the girl away like how he usually did. Instead, he just stood there with an identical frown.
It was rather suspicious looking, from the two girls' point of view. Nakuru walked away unenergetically. It was obvious that something was terribly wrong.
The two decided to approach Touya about it.
…
"Onii-chan? What happened?" Sakura asked her brother who was spacing out.
"Sakura! Don't surprise me like that!" he exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
"Hoe… I didn't surprise you. You were just spacing out so much" she explained with a pout.
Onii-chan didn't feel my aura? That's… new.
"Gomen ne, Kaijuu. (I'm sorry monster). I was just thinking of how much food I need to cook tonight for that endless pit you call your stomach" he grinned mischievously; though the smile did not quite reaching his brown eyes.
"Don't call me kaijuu" was Sakura's simple reply. If this was a normal day, she would have stomped on his feet and yelled at him. But this was no ordinary day. She needed to do two things first before she could go back to her simply happy life: comfort her brother, and tell him that she will not eat dinner at their house since she has a… date.
Both duties are relatively arduous.
…
"Touya-kun, what happened?" Tomoyo asked in concern. "Nakuru-chan didn't look like her usual self"
"Oh, you've met Akizuki…? Wait… You're classmates with that glasses boy, right?"
All Tomoyo could do was nod and silently comment that he hasn't been in any class these days.
"Figures. He might be preparing his things. They're moving to London. That's why Akizuki talked to me: to say goodbye."
The World Came Crashing down.
WHAT???
…
"Tomoyo-chan… I can handle myself. It's time for you to chase after your happiness"
Sakura-chan… Arigato
The plum nodded with determination. I'll catch up.
"Ja ne, Sakura-chan" (See you later, Sakura) She ran towards the direction Nakuru went to.
Contrasting to popular belief, this girl can also be athletic; especially when something this important is on the line.
"By the look of this, she flew there"
Duh… Even if she can really be athletic and all, it would be inhuman for her to catch up with a flying girl, given that she was treated like a princess all her life.
Guys, let's face it. She cannot surpass Sakura's over energy even if she tries with all her might.
So she used the last card she has: her super body guards.
…(Super anime mode!!!)…
She took her cell phone. (Insert Power Ranger theme song here ^^)
It was no ordinary cell phone. It was a cell phone made only for THE Daidouji heiress, with built in fashion catalogs and… a tracker to boot!
"This is Tomoyo. Please fetch me here in less than five minutes."
After only 15 seconds, the body guards arrived. She immediately went inside the limousine-like car. "We need to go to the airport. Fast!"
"Hai, Ojou-sama" (Yes, Little lady/master?)
The girl in black pressed a red button which sped up the car. Another body guard took a cell phone and dialed a number. "This is Daidouji security A. Open the alternative route to the airport. Make sure that no one will pass there. Ojou-sama is with us."
(Mecha sequence… roads opening and blah, blah, blah! Transformers…! Joke!)
In just a matter of minutes, they arrived at the airport.
…(Back to normal mode)…
"I'll go there now. Thank you" she bowed politely with her well-known grace. She hurried to the airport where, she knew instinctively, a special encounter would happen.
Eriol-kun… Where are you?
She looked left and right for any sign of the azure haired Londoner. He is just here. She'll find him. She trusted her instincts because even if she didn't have magic, she has this certain connection with him. They feel each other even from far away.
…
"Tomoyo-chan? You're here?" Nakuru was beyond surprised to see the girl there.
"Nakuru-chan…" There was a hint of sadness and anger on her voice.
"Why…? How…?"
"I want to see Eriol-kun" Her voice was firm and resolute.
"Tomoyo… didn't I tell you? He's having a hard time. Don't make it harder for him. When he sees you in his current condition, we don't know what will happen. He might break down from the mere stress"
"But…"
"Stop it, please. You'll just hurt him"
…
Hurt him? Me… hurt him? I never… I will never… No… I can't.
…
"You know, I've been thinking about this and I have thought of a perfect setting for us." A voice suddenly butted in. A cat-like flying stuff toy emerged from Nakuru's handbag.
"Suppi-chan. Eriol-sama told you to hide as much as you can." Nakuru scolded.
Ignoring her comment, he continued his suggestion. "We would give you rules of communication. If you disobey just one of these, you will never see Eriol-sama again"
"Rules…?" Tomoyo mused over the choices. It was a risk she didn't know if she should take. Hmm… "Deal." She replied with all seriousness. If this will give her a chance, then she will take the risk. Better anything than nothing at all.
"We only have some moments left before our flight so I'll make this quick. First, you cannot show up in the one year duration of our stay in England, starting right now. Second, you can only write to him using a pen name, like what he did. Third, don't ever mention anything about the cards nor about the things that happened."
Tomoyo frowned. Those were… a lot, and hard.
At the same time, Nakuru sighed, giving up. She didn't intended for any of this to happen. She expected that they would just peacefully go away from this country and return to Clow's true home. But then, Spinnel just had to make it more difficult.
Well, might as well ride with Spinnel. After all, Tomoyo looked like she needed more explanations.
"We asked him some questions and we found out that all he remembers about you is your name, that you are his classmate, and that you are Sakura-chan's best friend
"He has more memories about Syaoran. He remembers that he is also searching for the cards and that he has some magic.
"Sakura-chan is still the same in his memories except that he doesn't remember her being the card mistress. Or that she was the masked girl.
"He doesn't remember the letters he gave you and he doesn't remember your pageant either. He doesn't know about the void and the mirror because it was mainly about you"
…
That much? He lost that much memory? No wonder his guardians were protecting him this much.
I don't want to hurt him with my selfish reasons. As they say, what you don't know won't hurt you. If Eriol-kun doesn't know about me and about the things that have happened, he will not be hurt. As long as I keep quiet, he will have a peaceful life. His happiness over mine.
"I won't show up." She said with sadness in her voice. "I don't break my promises" she assured. Then with a final glance at them, she walked away. "I'll go now"
…
"Flight 990… last call for flight 990 to England"
Sometimes, life is just like this. Too unfair. 'Cause in love, it's either both will win or none will. It's the simplest truth.
Someone will give; intent on making the other happy. Someone will receive without knowing, or appreciating. And life will go on as this truth continues to pass on from generation to generation.
…
As we ponder on these words, one heavy heart went out of the airport as an empty heart flew to England.
.
.
.
The End? Owari?
It's something that ends with tears. Yeah. Live with it.
.
.
.
??
Take note of the question mark.