Disclaimer: don't own them, wish I did. Oh but I do own any mysterious characters that I made up.

AN: sorry, sorry. I've been a little blocked when it comes to writing this story. I just want to get to the parts I want to get to. But that would leave me with an amazingly disjointed story which I just can't stand for. Anyway…on with the show

Previously- Upon being rejected by Eriol, Tomoyo, with a new determination, decides to throw herself into her work and get away from Tomoeda for a while.

What She Needs- Reliving the Past

Tomoyo stepped out from the plane's hatch on to the stairway. Wearily she clutched at the hand rail and started descending down the stairs. Somehow she had gotten air sick again. Worst, she wanted to throw up, but nothing came except for the putrid taste at the back of her throat. The whole ordeal gave her a dizzying effect she didn't particularly appreciate.

"Where are we now?" She asked as she drew her coat tighter around her, warding off the winter chills.

"Osaka" Kihone replied, walking along side her to the limo that was waiting for them. Once in the confines of the limousine Kihone began to read off their itinerary. "First we will go to the hotel. I have you booked at the Claiton Shin-Osaka. The trucks are not scheduled to arrive until four this afternoon, so that gives us time to have lunch with the director of the orphanage first. She thought it would be nice if we could personalize the gifts for the children. She knows exactly what they all want. She had them write letters to Santa and kept them for you. Thought maybe you would want to read them."

"Sweet." Tomoyo spoke as she fidgeted in her place. "Excuse me, driver! Could you turn up the heat, it's an ice box in here."

"The heat is up pretty high ma'am." The driver replied, glancing in the rear view mirror at her. "If you like, there is a blanket under the seat your assistant is in. Just lift the cushion."

Tomoyo gestured for Kihone to retrieve the blanket for her and promptly draped it across her shoulders and legs.

"So would lunch at Ko's be alright?" The younger woman had already started penciling it in to her planner when Tomoyo stopped her.

"Do you mind something lighter? I'm not hungry. Perhaps we could just go to a café or something. At least somewhere they don't mind if you just order coffee." Tomoyo glanced out the window at the town. People were already wide awake and filled the streets. Some were doing their holiday shopping. Other's tried their hands at holiday selling. Others seemed to have just stolen a day away from work to spend time with their family.

She watched them with envy, wishing to be with her own family. She let her thoughts drift to Sakura, Syaoran, and Nadeshinko. She had missed them dearly on the trip. Although she could hardly remember the last time she saw them. She was sure it couldn't have been too long ago. Yet her most recent memory of them all being together was at Syaoran's party. That same night their group was reunited. That same night she began her infatuation with Hirigazawa Eriol.

Tomoyo blinked a few times, only letting her thoughts linger on him for a moment. She had made it this far, made it to Osaka without him invading her thoughts. She wondered if it meant this stop was doomed. Would his cloud hang over her now that she has allowed herself the tiniest morsel of his presence?

A heavy sigh ensued, immediately causing concern for the over zealous assistant. "Is it your stomach again? Are you feeling alright? Would you like me to schedule you an appointment with a doctor while you are here?"

Tomoyo shook her head. "I'm just a little tired Kihone. Its nothing. I must be getting old, and traveling isn't suited for me anymore."

"Miss Daidouji, you are far from old. You still have years until you are thirty. I think it's because you haven't eaten this morning. All you had was that tea and that was hours ago." She opened the mini fridge next to her and pulled out an apple. "You should eat this."

Tomoyo rolled her eyes and reluctantly took the apple. "Thank you MOTHER. Remind me Kihone, who is boss in this relationship?"

The girl immediately blushed and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Sorry Miss Daidouji."

Tomoyo took a bite from the red apple, but for the remainder of the ride it sat cradled in her hand, hardly eaten.

There were so many letters to read. The orphanage director had left her quite a hefty stack of letters, some of which were pages long. But Tomoyo intended to read them all. They had so little and she was determined to give them everything they wanted.

She sat cross legged on her king size hotel bed with the letters sprawled about her. In her lap was a note pad to write down their names and what they should be given.

She smiled at the last letter she read, written by some war-obsessed boy that wanted to be a great pilot some day and in turn asked for several model airplanes. Quite goal oriented. Tomoyo jotted his name down and put some model airplane series next to it as well as a pilot's costume that was left over from Halloween.

She picked up the next letter that she found to her delight was written in lavender, her favorite color as a child.

Dear Santa,

I have been super good this year, but I don't want a lot for Christmas. All I really want is for Hikaru-kun to notice me. He is a very nice boy, just like me. We do not talk a lot. When we do, I get very nervous and I start to get red. He has very pretty eyes but sometimes they are so serious! I wonder what he is thinking about so hard. I don't know, but whatever it is makes him smile sometimes. Kawaii!!! I wish I knew what made him smile, then I would do anything I could to make him smile all the time! Please Please Please Santa, tell me what makes Hikaru-kun happy so that I may make him happy. Maybe then he will notice me, and I can tell him how I feel. Even though I haven't told anyone how I feel. Please Please. Thank You.

Koyanagi Sayo

Tomoyo felt like she was going to cry. She felt like she was nine again, doing anything to make Sakura-chan happy because she loved her. Now this little girl just wants the same for this little boy. Tomoyo could imagine that if she were told that all that would make him happy was someone else, she would gratefully let him be happy.

Now utterly curious, Tomoyo shuffled through the pile of still unread letters, looking for the one that belonged to the boy. At last she found it and it wasn't to her surprise that the letter was written in impeccably neat hand-writing, almost as if written by an adult.

Dear Santa, (If there is one)

Keiko-dono asked us to write letters to you. Even the ones that don't really believe must do so. All I can really say about your existence is that you have let me down before. So I don't know if I should really believe in you. But I will write one to please Keiko-dono. She promised not to read it, so I guess this can be a test to see if she was telling the truth. And if she is reading, I will put what I want…just in case.

If you are really Santa and all the stories I have heard are true, then you must have magic to do those things. That's what I want. Magic. They can solve any problem and its great for playing tricks on people. Ok, so I haven't been the best boy this year. But I don't get my wish, I don't have to believe in you. And I won't!

Hikaru Eisen

Tomoyo couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's letter. It truly brought her back to her days at Tomoeda elementary and of her friends. He was very much like the stubborn Syaoran it seemed. He also seemed to have the same mischievousness about him that was possessed by Eriol, past and present.

She picked up the earlier read letter and stared at the two. She would be good for him she decided. Someone to calm the little demon he hides inside him or maybe even awaken it a little.

Childhood emotions overflowed once again and Tomoyo was giddy with the prospect of playing matchmaker once more. She enjoyed it when it was Sakura and Syaoran. Of course she didn't fail to remember that Eriol's magic and partnership had been of great assistance then and would be wonderful to have now.

She sighed at the moment of nostalgia. Life had been so much easier then. So much easier to hide, to smile, to pretend. It had been so much easier with Eriol's friendship and help. She had forgotten that he served her as a fantastic distraction when she felt and an especially strong mournful longing for Sakura. For some reason, she felt she could share so much with him, all the while sharing nothing at all really. How life was easier then.

Tomoyo cursed the tears that ran down her cheeks and cursed Eriol for his presence in her mind. "I don't need him. I don't need his help here. I didn't need it then. I could have gotten those two together just as well without him. He didn't do much anyway. I can do this on my own."

She returned her attention back to the letters and moments later smiled when a plan came to her.

TBC- actually, this is gonna be kind of fun. Its cute…