A/N: I sincerely apologize for not uploading any new chapters for this story in such a long time. I know many of my faithful readers have probably given up on me and this story. However, for those of you who stuck with me throughout it, this is for you.

Chapter 9

At the Station

"Wake up!"

I bolted up in shock. Standing before me was Yoshino, holding a blanket, a grin on his face. He walked over to the window and pulled back the curtains, allowing blinding sunlight to filter in. I covered my eyes, still in shock.

"Y-Yoshino?!" I said. "What are you doing?"

"Ah! Isn't it beautiful out?" he said, totally ignoring me. How typical.

"Kouko! Pack shorts, shirts, underwear! And a bathing suit if you can find one!" he told his wife. I stood up, wringing my hair.

"Hey! Wait! You can't-!"

He grabbed me and shoved me into the bathroom, with some clean clothes, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

"You can complain later! Right now, just get cleaned up!" he said.

He then proceeded to shove my face into the sink repeatedly. I gasped for air, my hair clinging to my face. Why was I being abused like this?!

"Y-Yoshino!" I gasped. He chuckled. I didn't like the way it sounded.

Kouko bounded into the room, my trunk in her hands.

"Packed and ready to go," she said.

"And just where are we going?" I demanded.

They shoved me into their van, none too gently, and slid the door shut. I landed in a heap on the floor.

"We're going on a trip!" he said, grinning broadly.

"ARE YOU KIDNAPPING ME?!" I shouted. Kouko and Yoshino both laughed. I scowled.

"Yes!" they said in unison.

"Shut up! You'll thank us later," Yoshino said.

"I doubt that with every fiber of my being," I grumbled.

Suddenly, Sunohara appeared out of nowhere, waving his arms. Yoshino stopped the vehicle and leaned out of his window.

"Get in!" he said.

Sunohara climbed in, grinning like a fool.

"S-Sunohara!" I said. He chuckled.

"Did you get the tickets" Yoshino asked.

"Yep!" Sunohara responded, holding a bunch of tickets. "Plenty for all of us!"

I paled.

"A-All of us?" I stammered.

"That's right," Yoshino said.

I spotted Tomoyo and Kyou by the road. They, too, had bags, and were waving Yoshino down. No surprise there, really. I was now sandwiched between two violent girls and a world-class idiot. The story of my life, it seems. I scowled and glowered, not a bit happy. Tomoyo and Kyou giggled and hugged me, apparently trying to cheer me up. I glowered even more. They immediately quit when I stared daggers.

We then proceeded to board a train. Tomoyo handed out bento lunches. I did not open mine.

"Where are we going?" I shouted for the umpteenth time. Yoshino spoke up.

"Camping!" he said.

"Eh? Camping?" I repeated like an idiot. Kouko spoke now.

"Yep! There's a Big Dango Family camping event, and we decided to take you with us."

I stood up.

"What's the point?" I shouted. "She's not here anymore! What's the point without her?"

I moved to the back of the car and sat down.

"Next stop, I'm getting off and going home!"

"No. You're coming with us, whether you like it or not," Yoshino said.

"Why are you doing this?!" I demanded.

"Because someone asked us to," he said.

"Who?"

"I'll tell you… when you learn what it means to be an adult!"

He walked off. I sat there, stunned, shocked, angry. But, I knew he was right. The train stopped and the doors opened. We all filed out, following Yoshino.

"Okay, someone was supposed to meet us here. You two!" He pointed at Tomoyo and Kyou. "Go check out the ticket booth!"

They nodded and ran off.

"You!" He pointed at Sunohara. "Check out Platform 14!"

Sunohara nodded and scrammed. Yoshino turned toward me.

"You go to Platform 2."

I sighed and walked off. I had stopped trying to figure out what was going on a long time ago. I settled for Yoshino losing his mind. I walked up the stairs, looking at the ground.

"Ahem!"

I looked up.

Akio, Sanae and Ushio were there. Ushio was in Akio's arms, who had a blade of grass in his mouth. Ushio was hiding her face in his shoulder.

"What…" I muttered.

Ushio slowly turned her head to face me.

"Daddy?" she said.

She remembered me. Even after not seeing me for two years, she remembered who I was. I began to panic, silently. I wasn't ready for this. I turned, and began to walk away, but found my path blocked by Yoshino and Kouko. I looked to the left. Tomoyo. To the right. Sunohara and Kyou.

Crap.

I turned around to see Ushio on the ground, holding the Dango plush toy I had given her. She held it out.

"For you!" she said. Ushio began to run towards me, a huge smile plastered onto her tiny face. She tripped.

"Ushio be careful!" I shouted and ran towards her. I slid under her, catching her tiny body as she fell. She landed on my chest.

"Ushio, are you all right?" I asked.

She looked up at me, that same smile on her. I couldn't help it. I held her close and smiled. She giggled. I brought my head closer to hers and we touched our foreheads together. Ushio giggled again, obviously overjoyed to be with me.

I see it now, I thought. Nagisa, I can see it. The Tree of Promises is before me! And you standing there underneath it, waiting!

Maybe… maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

A/N: The Tree of Promises is a tree in Tomoya's dreams. He could never reach it until he opened his heart to Ushio.