(no subject)
Title: Shards
Author/Penname: Kainasilverbane
Rating:PG-13
Chapters: Chapter 5 WIP (EDITED!)
Pairings: FujitakaxKaho
Summary: My favorite chapter to write so far, lots of implied romance (But none really at all!) Many laughs, and Sakura gets covered in bows. Christmas is fun to write XD. Watch out for the mistletoe!!!!!
Warning, Notes: This chapter is REALLY REALLY LONG!!!! (lol, haven't most of them been?)
Link to previous chapter http://community.livejournal.com/reviewers_inc/6487.html
Disclaimer: CLAMP owns my soul, and I want to sell this to them, so I own nothing. YAY!!!!
Ooooh, I hope I got everything italicized correctly! *gnaws on fingernail*
“Forgien Language”
Telepathy/Personal thought <~ You’ll be able to tell which is which, I promise ^_^
Chapter 5
Her vision was blurry when she opened her eyes, and she had absolutely no idea where she was for a moment or how precisely she’d gotten there. She shivered slightly at the cold the bit through her entire body before she realized there was a heavy blanket covering her. Unconsciously she wrapped it tighter around her and closed her eyes again, still shivering.
A warm hand caressed her cheek and she latched onto it with her right hand, holding it there as though she’d be able to glean the heat from it to warm her whole body.
“Cold?” Asked a male voice and Kaho managed a nod. She heard more murmurings that her fevered mind couldn’t understand, and a few seconds later she felt another blanket being wrapped around her. Slowly, it felt like an eternity, she started to warm up and slipped into a dreamless sleep once again.
Some time later, she wasn’t sure how long, she woke again, nowhere near as cold and more alert than she’d been before. Opening her eyes held another improvement, she could see clearly and she knew where she was. Though how she’d gotten back into the Kinomoto living room was unclear to her, her mind was on something different, namely, what was all the noise about?
Sitting up and looking around drew her gaze over to a large Christmas tree in the corner behind the couch.
“Welcome back,” came Fujitaka’s voice and she turned to see him walking in from the kitchen. “And Merry Christmas.”
Kaho blinked in confusion, the last time she’d been conscious it had been three days before Christmas and she rubbed her head and asked, “How long have I been out?”
“Three days,” Fujitaka confirmed her mind’s question. “When we got back from getting the tree you came down with a fever that stayed fairly high for two of the three days. It slowly came down yesterday as we were going to bed. Do you remember any of it?”
“I remember someone touching my cheek and me feeling really cold,” Kaho thought back, but almost everything was blank.
“That would have been sometime yesterday morning just before your fever began to recede,” Fujitaka said in recollection. “You peaked at 105 degrees Fahrenheit before you finally started to come down.” Kaho’s eyes widened at the news, “Your body was making sure it didn’t catch any infections while it shut down for a while.”
“I guess it finally gave in,” Kaho smiled a little.
“You needed it,” Fujitaka said. “We were lucky too, your wounds rarely opened, I think maybe just once…”
“Merry Christmas Kaho!” Sakura said as she popped up behind the couch and startled the woman.
“Uh…Merry Christmas to you too,” Kaho stumbled over her words for a moment as the situation became strangely uncomfortable for her.
Sakura smiled and giggled, “I’m glad you’re getting better, you really started to scare us.” Kaho merely smiled at the girl, who went back to doing something near the tree. She looked up as Toya entered the living room and gave him a tentative smile in greeting.
“So you finally decided to wake up huh?” The young man asked her and Kaho made a face at him
“Toya, could you help me in the kitchen for a moment?” Fujitaka asked as he made his way back through the door.
“Sure,” Toya nodded and followed his father.
Kaho decided to make a get away, using a rarely used power to get her up onto the roof quickly and silently. There she sat near the top of the roof that faced the gate close to Sakura’s window for a while, letting the cool December breeze blow away whatever weariness she had.
Something warm and dark settled onto her shoulders sometime later and she looked up to see Fujitaka looking down at her, having settled his winter coat around her.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding out,” he said as he took a seat next to her.
“You guys needed your family time,” Kaho said as she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “It didn’t seem like a place for me to be in right now.”
“I see,” Fujitaka said as he looked down at the ground below before he looked up at the sky. “Is it really smart for you to be sitting out here all by yourself?”
“It’s all right, I can shield myself in a way that hides my magic, so even if he was in the area, he wouldn’t sense anything.”
“Like a cloaking device?” Fujitaka asked.
“Similar, yes, I guess you could look at it that way,” Kaho smiled a little at how the man managed to put together foreign magical ideas and analyze them with more commonplace inventions and more understood fantasy ideas.
“You didn’t have to you know,” Fujitaka said after a moment of silence, reffering to her flight from the living room, “You’re welcome to be apart of this.”
Kaho chuckled lightly, “Even after all the trouble I’ve caused you and your family? I should think you’d be happy to be rid of me.”
He echoed her laugh with his own, “It’s not really your fault. You came here to warn us, and in thanks I think it’s only fair that we help you out.”
“You’ve done more than enough to repay any service I’ve ever done for you, if I’ve ever done any at all…” Kaho said. “I feel as though all I’ve done since I got here was be a burden to you and Sakura, and now Toya depending how long he stays.”
“He’ll be leaving tomorrow, unfortunately,” Fujitaka answered. “He has a paper he needs to finish before class starts up for him soon.”
“And when does your work start up again?” Kaho asked. “I know you’re a professor at the college near here.”
He nodded, “Yes, but my college doesn’t start back up for another three weeks.”
“I see,” Kaho said. “I hope to be out of your hair before then anyways, so you’ll be able to enjoy some of your vacation before it’s over.”
Fujitaka was silent at that statement and mulled over a few things in his head before he asked, “Do you intend to take Eriol on all by yourself?”
“I’d prefer to,” Kaho answered. “It would put as few people in danger as possible….The only life I’d be risking by doing it myself would be my own. And I was alone for so long that I can only think about doing this all myself. I don’t want you or Sakura to be involved anyways. I couldn’t stand seeing either of you hurt because of me, or because of something I couldn’t prevent.”
“And how do you know we’ll let you get away with that?” Fujitaka asked, for the moment hiding his surprise at her concern for their welfare.
“What do you mean?” Kaho asked.
“How do you know we’ll let you go off on your own after all of this?” Fujitaka asked.
She stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say.
“Kaho, believe it or not, in these passed few days, no matter how quickly they’ve gone by, you’ve become a part of this family in some way.” Fujitaka said as he looked her in the eye, “And I don’t know if you’ve been apart of a family like this before, but for us, no one is ever allowed to do something by themselves as long as there is something the rest of us can do to help.”
Kaho looked at him in surprise, “I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, agreeing not to go off by yourself and do something reckless would be good enough for starters,” Fujitaka grinned smartly.
Kaho sighed, “All right, I promise I won’t go off and do things on my own anymore, or insist on doing so at least. You and Sakura have had pretty tight reins on me since I arrived here.”
“It’s good for you,” Fujitaka smiled. “Besides, it looks like you need a friend right now.”
“A friend?” Kaho asked.
Fujitaka nodded, “And possibly a hug, you look as though you’re in need of one of those too.”
She blinked at him, the concept of physical affection, something she’d been deprived of for a long time, was an action she was out of practice with. It wasn’t helping matters much that her heart was fluttering like a butterfly every time he spoke, or looked her in the eyes and smiled. She felt a blush lightly dust her pale skin at the offer and turned her gaze to stare at the roof instead.
Fujitaka tipped an eyebrow up at her reaction to his offer and a different smile crept over his features. Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, mindful of the slope on the roof, then carefully wrapped his other arm around the front of her in a somewhat awkward sideways hug. Resting his head against the back of her left shoulder, he felt her trembling and said, “It’s all right, relax, I’m not going to hurt you.”
Stilling herself, she began to relax in his warm embrace, leaning her head against his arm in an unsure show of mutual affection.
“Hello up there!” Called a high spirited young voice.
Both Fujitaka and Kaho jumped apart and, while steadying themselves, looked down at the gate where Tomoyo and her mother stood, the young girl waving enthusiastically. “Merry Christmas!” She called.
Fujitaka chuckled as he stood and walked down the side of the roof and over to where it stemmed out over the front door and hopped down to the ground. “Merry Christmas Tomoyo, and to you too Sonomi. Will you be joining us as well?”
Sonomi smirked, “No, I just came to drop Tomoyo off. From what she’s been telling me, being outside by ones self isn’t the safest thing right now.”
Fujitaka rubbed the back of his head with an innocent laugh, “I’m sure Tomoyo will be fine, she’s not a target anyways.”
“Be that as it may, I still wanted to make sure she got here safely,” Sonomi said as she watched Kaho come up behind Fujitaka. “And you must be the one who brought that demon possessed boy here aren’t you?”
“I…” Kaho frowned.
“Now now Sonomi, her intentions for coming here were strictly to warn us,” Fujitaka explained. “It’s really mine and Sakura’s fault for her staying here so long. The injuries she has don’t make her fit for travel or fighting, so we’ve kept her here so she can heal.”
Sonomi snorted, “Which also isn’t working I hear.”
“That’s not anyone’s fault Sonomi,” Fujitaka said. “Her wounds stay open by the will of that demon and we’re doing everything we can so Kaho doesn’t fall victim to them.”
Sonomi’s eyes narrowed, “That’s just like you, always being kind, even to people you don’t even know.
Fujitaka smiled, “Can’t help being who I am.”
“Hm, yes, and you’re despicable,” Sonomi said as she kissed her daughter on the top of her head before walked back over to her car without another word.
Kaho ventured to say something, “Um…”
“Don’t worry,” Fujitaka said as he opened the gate and let Tomoyo scamper up and into the house. “That was Sonomi’s way of being nice.”
One of Kaho’s eyebrows twitched, “Really?”
He nodded, “Yes, she had a special dislike for me ever since Nadeshiko and I met and fell in love. I guess you could say she’s jealous for the years I was able to spend with Nadeshiko before she died. But Sonomi really is a nice person, she loves and adores Sakura like a daughter.”
“I see,” Kaho said quietly.
Fujitaka peered back over his shoulder towards the house for a moment, then looked back over at her, “I do believe we were interrupted.” He held out his arms to her, offering her the hug he had tried to give her on the roof.
Kaho studied him for a moment, her mind doing battle with the war raging in her heart, “Fujitaka…” she started, “I…I mean…” She looked down at the ground as she pulled the collar of his coat closed around her.
“Yes?” He asked, smiling warmly.
She bit her tongue and moved into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders and hugging him tightly, for a moment letting herself relax and forget about all of the horrible things that had happened and what would soon happen in the future. When she felt him hug her equally as tight her heart soared, but again she held her tongue, feeling as though she had no business caring about him as deeply as she did.
OOOO
Sakura, Tomoyo, and Toya squished their faces into the small vertical windows next to the door as they watched the goings on outside.
“I knew it,” Toya said.
“What? That Kaho and Dad care about one another?” Sakura asked.
“Yeah,” Toya scowled.
“I think they look cute together,” Sakura grinned.
“It’s a shame though that neither will tell the other how they feel,” Tomoyo said as she angled her camera against the glass. “They both have their reasons for it I guess.”
“Because Dad is loyal to Mother,” Toya said.
“Yes,” Tomoyo nodded, “And Kaho knows that and feels she has no business feeling the way she does.”
Sakura frowned and Toya grunted.
“You seem a little resistant to the situation Toya, does this trouble you?” Tomoyo asked.
“Yes…” Toya answered. “It troubles me. I’m afraid she’ll do the same as she did to me six years ago. Realized that she and I weren’t meant to be together, then left.” He frowned and narrowed his eyes, “I don’t want my father to feel the same way I did.”
Tomoyo frowned for a moment before adding, “I don’t think anything like that will happen, at least not until after this whole problem’s been taken care of. Kaho is pretty much bound here because of her injuries, and even if she tries to leave, Sakura and Mr. Kinomoto will make sure she doesn’t.” She grinned at Sakura. “But I do see your concern. I think right now we should just rely on the idea that they won’t tell each other.”
“Hmph,” was Toya’s reply.
Sakura watched her father and Kaho pull away quickly before they both sneezed and she giggled. “I think they know we’re talking about them.”
“Then we need to hurry up,” Tomoyo said. “You need to help me put up a few more decorations.”
“Okay,” Sakura grinned and followed Tomoyo back to the living room.
Toya watched them go before turning to look out the window for a few more seconds, “Not tell each other? In the end, it may be the only thing that saves them.”
OOOO
Both stood back and stared at one another, slightly embarrassed that their embrace had been ended by a simultaneous sneezing fit.
“Guess someone’s been talking about us,” Fujitaka said as he rubbed his still tingling nose.
“It’s either that or we’re allergic to one another,” Kaho said with a coy smile.
“Unlikely, I break out in hives when I’m allergic to someone,” Fujitaka jested, getting a small chuckle out of her.
Still chuckling she looked up at him, “Is that so?” She would have continued the jest, but a figure appeared behind the man and she swallowed her tongue, taking a step back in the process.
“Something wrong?” Fujitaka asked.
“Um, there’s someth- one…” Kaho tripped over her words. “Someone behind you.”
“Oh?” Fujitaka turned slightly and came eye to eye with his late wife, “Oh, hello Nadeshiko.”
“Hello love, I see you’re well.” The spirit smiled. “The last time I dropped by you were in a dead sleep and I was worried. I’m glad to see it wasn’t serious.”
“You must be talking about what happened a little over a week ago,” Fujitaka smiled. “It was a healing sleep, or at least the aftermath of. There was a fire at the hotel the University was holding its Christmas party at and I inhaled a lot of smoke and burned my lungs. Kaho saved me from a painful recovery.”
Nadeshiko redirected her gaze to Kaho, “Really? Well then I thank you for helping my husband.”
“Uh…you’re welcome…it was the least I could do after all he’s done for me,” Kaho said as she looked at the ground with another faint blush.
Nadeshiko noticed the reaction and smiled, “I see.”
Fujitaka quickly recapped the events that had transpired since Kaho had arrived and the story behind it. When he was through Nadeshiko studied them both before saying, “I thank you for coming to warn my family.”
“It was nothing,” Kaho said, even though it was the understatement of the year. The journey back to Tomoeda had hardly been nothing. “I fear I’ve caused them more trouble since I’ve arrived than when they knew nothing of this.”
“Now we’ve been over this,” Fujitaka started.
“I know,” Kaho said. “And I still feel I should just leave, but since I promised I wouldn’t, I need to find a way to repay you.”
“Why don’t you do what you do best,” Nadeshiko suggested.
“What’s that?” Kaho asked.
“Teach,” she clarified.
“Teach…?” she was puzzled for a moment, then her eyes lit up, “Oh.”
Fujitaka blink, “Now I’m confused.”
“I’ll teach you how to use your magic,” Kaho told him.
“Really?” His eyes lit up like hers at the thought of the idea.
“Of course,” Kaho smiled. “Thank you for the idea.” She looked over at Nadeshiko.
“You’re very welcome,” Nadeshiko mirrored her smile. “I’m glad you two seem to get along well.”
“Except when it comes to her eating habits,” Fujitaka mentioned. “Or lack thereof.”
“Well how do you expect me to keep such a girlish figure?” Kaho jested as she spun around, flaring out the ends of Fujitaka’s coat.
“You mean the half starved ‘I look like I’m about to die’ figure…” Fujitaka correctly identified her current condition and Kaho stuck her tongue out at him.
Nadeshiko chuckled, “I’m sure you’ll both come up with something to fix that.”
“Or I’ll just pin her to the floor again,” Fujitaka grinned.
The spirit giggled, “I should be going soon.”
“You can’t stay longer?” Fujitaka asked as she encircled her arms around his shoulders. “It’s Christmas after all.”
“I would love to stay longer, you know that, but I’m only given so much time for each visit, and I’m beginning to reach my limit for this one.” Nadeshiko explained, “I’m just glad I was able to speak to you.” She hugged him.
Kaho smiled at the two of them, happy seeing two people who loved each other so dearly together for a time. It made her realize how lonely she was and she wished she could go and leave them to be with each other for a few more minutes, but she felt it was inappropriate to also walk away at the same time.
You truly care for him don’t you?
Kaho nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Nadeshiko’s voice inside her head. She collected herself quickly and responded, I do, though I have no right to infringe on what you and he have.
I’m not a jealous person, Nadeshiko said, Nor did I wish for Fujitaka to spend the rest of his life without a companion.
He has Toya and Sakura, Kaho said. And he still loves you. I don’t think he’d turn his back on you just because you cannot be together like you were before. And now, because he can see you and interact with you again, it gives him all the more reason to stay loyal to you. It’s why I have no business being here.
But you can protect him in ways I cannot, and in ways that Sakura isn’t ready for yet, Nadeshiko pointed out. The battles that are in store for you are of the like Sakura would never fathom, or wish to fathom. It will involve inflicting pain on others, much blood shed, and even leaving someone behind in the end.
You know this…how? Kaho asked.
Nadeshiko smiled, I have my ways. There was a short pause as she said something vocally to Fujitaka before separating from him and floating over in her direction. I will see you again soon, and I hope on different terms. And with that, the spirit disappeared.
Kaho blinked, now more than ever torn on whether to tell Fujitaka her feelings, or let them lie. She truthfully didn’t know how Fujitaka felt about her, though he’d said he’d cared, she wasn’t sure if it was in the friendship sense of the word or beyond.
“I think we should go in,” Fujitaka said as he looked up at the sky, dark clouds beginning to cover the once blue area. “Or with our luck, we’ll be soaked.”
“That might be a good idea,” Kaho said as they both headed for the door as rain began to fall from the sky. Once inside they realized how cold it had been and relished the warmth of the entryway before heading for the living room to sort out the cause of all of the giggling.
Before they reached it though, Toya pulled Kaho halfway up the stairs to the second floor and blocked her path back down. The look in his eyes was that of warning, “You had best not pull what you pulled on me all those years ago on my father.”
Kaho frowned, “I’d never, and it’s not like I’m going to tell him anyways. It wouldn’t be right…”
“No, you’ll tell him,” Toya confirmed, though no longer possessing the magical gifts he once had, he still held onto something of a sixth sense, a small knowledge of certain things that were meant to happen. “You’ll have to, to get through your fight.”
Kaho narrowed her eyes at him, “I assure you I never intend to hurt him, nor did I ever intend to hurt you Toya, and you know that.”
His gaze softened, “I know, it just didn’t make your leaving any easier. And if that happens to you and my father, I don’t think I’d be able to forgive you again.”
“I understand,” Kaho said. “Both your unwillingness to forgive, and your resistance to all of this. It is awkward…but like I said, I’m not going to be telling him, so it doesn’t matter.” She shouldered passed him and down the stairs.
“You will tell him,” Toya said.
Kaho paused once, then continued down the stairs.
“Be careful, Tomoyo and Sakura put up mistletoe,” Fujitaka said as Kaho entered the kitchen where he was warming up apple ciders.
Kaho looked over the doorways and found three pieces of mistletoe, one over the entrance to the living room from the hallway, one on the connecting door to the living room and kitchen, and another over the kitchen doorway, the one she’d bypassed without knowing it. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“I didn’t see nuffin’,” Fujitaka said in English, the phrase amusing and made its point and Kaho chuckled.
“So how are we supposed to get into the living room?” Kaho asked.
“Run in when they aren’t looking I suppose,” Fujitaka answered.
Kaho looked out into the living room and waited until all three, or four if you wanted to count Kero, occupants were interested in something near the tree and hopped in, no one but Fujitaka catching under the mistletoe for that brief second. And as he had said, he wasn’t going to tell.
Kero looked up and whined, “Hey how’d you get in here?”
“I walked…” Kaho answered dumbly.
“Aww…and we didn’t catch you in the act,” he pouted.
“Who’d wanna kiss me anyways?” Kaho asked to no one in particular in English, knowing no one, except possibly Kero, and Fujitaka, would understand her. “What are you doing over there anyways?”
“Trying to guess what’s in the boxes,” Sakura answered.
“I see…” Kaho chuckled.
“Is it safe?” Fujitaka asked as he peered into the living room.
“They seem intent on their mission,” Kaho answered as she stared at the black TV screen, giving him access to the living room without seeing him pass under the mistletoe.
In the melee of the younger people opening gifts and people wandering back and forth to the kitchen, Fujitaka was caught first under the mistletoe by his daughter as he was going back in to get the now hot cider, giving him a peck on the cheek. He hid in there for a while and waited for the cider to cool to a drinkable temperature.
Mean while, Toya caught Tomoyo as she tried to run up to Sakura’s room for something and gave her a chaste, but affectionate kiss on the forehead. Sakura also caught Tomoyo again going into the kitchen to try and weed out Fujitaka and received another kiss, this one on the cheek, which filled the young woman with much joy.
“Looks like Tomoyo is getting caught in her own trap more than anyone else is,” Kero giggled as Toya was caught under the mistletoe by his father, who instead of giving him a kiss, blew a raspberry in his ear.
“Ew…now I have to go get spit out of my ear,” Toya rubbed his ear and darted out of the room faster than anyone could pin him for passing under the mistletoe.
After the initial obsession with catching people under the dreaded Christmas weed was over, most of the family settled down to open gifts and relax. Sakura was the unfortunate victim of being covered in all the bows, ribbon, and even the paper that was pulled off the gift boxes.
Kaho stood near the kitchen door, away from the entrance, and watched the evening wear on, smiling at the antics the family before her produced. She giggled as Fujitaka stood up and bolted to the kitchen, knowing still that the family would try and catch him for being under the plant if he didn’t hurry. She watched him pour another mug of hot cider, then add water to it and her curiosity perked. She knew all of the people in the room enjoyed they apple cider plain and not watered down, it was apparent because most of the were on sugar highs and bouncing off the walls.
“Here,” he said as he handed her the mug awkwardly, avoiding stepping out of the kitchen while she stayed in the living room. She raised an eyebrow at him as she accepted the mug. “I noticed you barely touched the mug of cider I gave you earlier and finally came to realize it was probably too sweet for you to handle, right?”
She smiled as she looked down at the mug of liquid that was warming her hands, “Yes, it would have made me sick if I’d braved it out and drank it like the rest.” She motioned to the hyperactive young teenagers. “I thought you wouldn’t notice if I just tried to sip at it now and again.”
“Nope, nice try though,” Fujitaka smiled as she sipped the warm beverage, testing it as she let it settle in her stomach. She nodded after a minute and smiled at him again in thanks. “I actually have something else for you upstairs, but I thought it might be little awkward to give it to you like this.”
Her eyebrows knitted together, “Why did you waste you’re money on me?”
“Wasn’t really a waste, and it’ll make it so you won’t have to keep wearing my spare shirts and sweats,” Fujitaka smiled.
“Aw, but you’re shirts are so roomy!” Mindful of her drink, she did a goofy little jig, letting his shirt billow out for a moment before settling back against her body as she leaned against the door jam with a grin.
“I’m sure you’ll like normal women’s clothes better than mine,” Fujitaka said.
“You like women’s clothes?” She couldn’t resist the opening.
“Yes, wait…what? No!” Fujitaka covered his face with his hands at being caught in the joke.
Kaho laughed, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.”
“I can tell…” Fujita mumbled from between his hands before he slid them away, “Ah well, I walked into it. Anyways, yes, so your new clothes are sitting up in my room and I’ll bring them down later for you, okay?”
Kaho nodded, goofiness having disappeared for the moment, “Yes, and thank you. I wasn’t expecting it. I’ll find a way to repay you as soon as I can.”
“Just think of it as an extra magic lesson,” Fujitaka grinned.
“I guess I can deal with that,” Kaho mirrored his grin with her own.
“Oh, and by the way, you’ve stood under it to the point where I can’t say you didn’t,” Fujitaka mentioned.
“Huh?” She was puzzled for a moment, then she felt the blood drain from her face as she looked up, realizing only then that instead of settling against the door like she’d originally intended, she’d settled on the inside of it, leaning against the door jam. She looked up at the mistletoe and swallowed. Then at the thought of what would happen next reached her mind all of her color returned quickly, plus some, adding a faint red tinge to her cheeks.
“I caught Kaho under the mistletoe!” Fujitaka announced and Kaho whined as the rest of the living room’s occupants turned to watch, some of them having great big grins plastered on their faces while another merely looked like he was going to be sick.
“Kero if you’re going to be immature about it then leave,” Sakura scolded the guardian as Tomoyo scrambled for her video camera while Toya, though as against the idea of a possible relationship forming between the pair, couldn’t resist grinning at the surprised look on Kaho’s face.
“Tomoyo do you have to…?” Kaho looked pathetically at the camera.
“Of course, I have to capture everything that happens at this Christmas party so I can add it to my video collection,” Tomoyo smiled, then giggled obsessively.
“You need a new hobby…” Kaho mumbled to herself, then realized how close Fujitaka was and had to catch herself before she dropped her mug of cider. The light blush that had dusted her face before darkened noticeably to the onlookers, who chuckled to themselves.
“We can kidnap her camera later,” Fujitaka promised and Kaho was surprised to find a similar blush was creeping across his cheeks as well.
She didn’t remember when his hands had settled onto her shoulders, or the last time her heart had been racing as fast as it was, and she was sure though that people could hear it. She wasn’t sure when her eyes had fallen closed either, but when their lips finally met tentatively, she felt like she’d been zapped with electricity. Her hands tightened around the mug of cider so she wouldn’t drop it and the blush on her face exploded, the temperature in the room for the both of them sky rocketed.
The kiss was innocent enough, barely a brushing of the lips, but it lingered there for a moment, giving it the illusion of possibly something more. But it was no more romantic than the one Toya had placed on Tomoyo’s forehead, chaste but affectionate in its own right.
When it finally ended, Kaho’s eyes opened instantly and she swallowed hard and bit her tongue to keep herself quiet. For reasons she couldn’t explain, she felt herself panic and did the only thing she could think of, set the mug of cider on the dining room table, then phase outside like she had earlier that afternoon. There she stood in the front yard in the pouring rain, allowing the icy water to cool the burning sensation she was feeling inside and letting it numb the panic sense she’d felt only moments before.
“What was that?” She asked to no one but herself. She touched her fingers to her lips as she looked at the ground, her rational mind again fighting with her heart and wishing more than ever that she could leave and not come back.
She remembered times similar to that, but there had been no joy involved. Nor had it been by her own will. Only crushing and violent, and phantom pains shot through parts of her body that had perviously been numbed by the rain.
Suddenly the icy rain that had been pelting her body stopped, “Kaho?”
She jumped and stumbled away and stared at the figure that appeared next to her in the darkness. Fujitaka stood before her, umbrella in hand, with a worried expression on his face. “You all right?” He asked.
“I…yes…I…I think so…” she nodded dumbly.
“You sure?” He took a step closer, and she in turn took a step back. “I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have done that.”
“No…it’s all right…I just…” she trailed off and avoided meeting his gaze, “…never mind.”
Fujitaka studied her for a moment, “You know, you can tell me whatever it is you’ve been trying to say.”
Kaho looked up at him, unwillingly getting pulled him by his warm brown eyes. She frowned and said, “I have no business telling you what I want to say.”
Fujitaka frowned, “I see.” He tried to take a step towards her again, but again she stepped away. “So that’s how it’s going to be?” He stepped away, “Don’t stay out here too long, you just got well again. I’ll make sure there are towels by the door for you when you come in.” When he received a nod, he turned and walked back into the house.
Toya met him at the door, “You’re going to let her stay out here?”
“She won’t be much longer,” Fujitaka said as he folded the umbrella and set it near the door to dry.
“You won’t tell her, will you?” Toya asked.
“Tell her what?” His father replied.
“How you feel,” the younger man answered.
Fujitaka smiled as he stared at the floor, “I’m loyal to your mother Toya, and you know that. What I just did in the living room was wrong and misleading.”
“No matter how much I dislike the idea of you two possibly getting together, I’m not going to let you lie to yourself either,” Toya said.
Fujitaka clenched his fists at his sides, “I’m not lying to myself Toya, the only reason she’s staying here is because she’s hurt and unable to fight on her own, and she also agreed to teaching me how to use the magic I’ve gained. That’s all.” With that, he made his way upstairs.
Toya watched him go with frown, “You don’t take well to lying to yourself, do you?”
OOOO
Kaho stared at the door, listening to the conversation going on on the other side of it. Something inside her was screaming, while something else was breaking, and yet at the same time she felt something else building up, an emotional barrier that she’d used before while on her way here. She knew she needed it now so she would be able to live in the same house with the people she cared for, while not having the same feelings returned.
“Was it something I did?” She asked herself, “Did I do something to make him change his mind about how he felt? Or had he always felt this way, and I’m just too stupid to notice?”
She sank to her knees and wondered, Is this what heartache feels like? Is this what I did to Toya when I left him? If it is, I deserve it…she felt tears burn her eyes, but she wiped them away before they could fall. Standing, she walked out from under the overhang of the door and looked up at the roof. Crouching and routing some magic down to her leg muscles, she leapt up and onto the roof, landing silently and surely. There she perched at the peak of the roof and stared out over the rainy neighborhood for a while, thinking about what she needed to do to get out of there as fast as possible.
“Next time Eriol shows his face…” Kaho said to herself. “Even if it just means I lure him away, it means I’ll finally be out of their lives.” Sighing, she looked up at the clouded sky, rain pelting her face.
She sat out there for about an hour, during said time she watched the light turn on in Sakura’s room and the girl opened her window to look out. Her surveying didn’t last long for she quickly pulled her head back inside and shut the window, the light extinguishing only a few seconds later.
“They must all be getting to bed…” Kaho murmured to herself. “I guess this would be a good time to go in now that the living room is cleared out.” She slid soundlessly down the roof and leapt to the ground, then walked to the door and walked inside. She stood in the entryway, soaked clothes dripping and creating a large puddle on the floor.
She spied two towels that had been left by the door and picked one up and unfolded it, using to try and catch the water streaming from her soaked hair.
“Here,” came a masculine voice.
Kaho jumped for the second time that evening and looked up into Fujitaka’s eyes. She blinked at him for a moment, then noticed he carried a neatly folded set of clothes for her in his arms. “Um…thank you…” she took the offered clothing. Before she said anything else, he turned and headed back towards the stairs. “Wait…”
Fujitaka turned and looked over at her.
“Um…I just wanted to apologize…for anything I said or did outside that may have hurt or offended you in any way,” she told him.
Fujitaka studied her for a moment, “No, I’m the one who needs to apologize.”
“What? Why?” Kaho asked.
“For leading you on, I’m sorry, if I did so,” with that he turned and walked back upstairs.
Kaho watched him go, I’m such an idiot. She told herself.
OOOO
She plopped back down on the couch a little while later, dry and changed into the clothes Fujitaka had given her. Sighing, she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them.
“I guess I don’t have to worry about telling him after all,” Kaho said. “He wouldn’t care anyways.” Tears came to her eyes, and this time she didn’t stop them, and she cried silently in the dark living room until she slipped into sleep, her mind haunted by a love she could never have.
OOOO
Yes, still long, but it's been edited once. Any other corrections or crits are great accepted!
Author/Penname: Kainasilverbane
Rating:PG-13
Chapters: Chapter 5 WIP (EDITED!)
Pairings: FujitakaxKaho
Summary: My favorite chapter to write so far, lots of implied romance (But none really at all!) Many laughs, and Sakura gets covered in bows. Christmas is fun to write XD. Watch out for the mistletoe!!!!!
Warning, Notes: This chapter is REALLY REALLY LONG!!!! (lol, haven't most of them been?)
Link to previous chapter http://community.livejournal.com/reviewers_inc/6487.html
Disclaimer: CLAMP owns my soul, and I want to sell this to them, so I own nothing. YAY!!!!
Ooooh, I hope I got everything italicized correctly! *gnaws on fingernail*
“Forgien Language”
Telepathy/Personal thought <~ You’ll be able to tell which is which, I promise ^_^
Chapter 5
Her vision was blurry when she opened her eyes, and she had absolutely no idea where she was for a moment or how precisely she’d gotten there. She shivered slightly at the cold the bit through her entire body before she realized there was a heavy blanket covering her. Unconsciously she wrapped it tighter around her and closed her eyes again, still shivering.
A warm hand caressed her cheek and she latched onto it with her right hand, holding it there as though she’d be able to glean the heat from it to warm her whole body.
“Cold?” Asked a male voice and Kaho managed a nod. She heard more murmurings that her fevered mind couldn’t understand, and a few seconds later she felt another blanket being wrapped around her. Slowly, it felt like an eternity, she started to warm up and slipped into a dreamless sleep once again.
Some time later, she wasn’t sure how long, she woke again, nowhere near as cold and more alert than she’d been before. Opening her eyes held another improvement, she could see clearly and she knew where she was. Though how she’d gotten back into the Kinomoto living room was unclear to her, her mind was on something different, namely, what was all the noise about?
Sitting up and looking around drew her gaze over to a large Christmas tree in the corner behind the couch.
“Welcome back,” came Fujitaka’s voice and she turned to see him walking in from the kitchen. “And Merry Christmas.”
Kaho blinked in confusion, the last time she’d been conscious it had been three days before Christmas and she rubbed her head and asked, “How long have I been out?”
“Three days,” Fujitaka confirmed her mind’s question. “When we got back from getting the tree you came down with a fever that stayed fairly high for two of the three days. It slowly came down yesterday as we were going to bed. Do you remember any of it?”
“I remember someone touching my cheek and me feeling really cold,” Kaho thought back, but almost everything was blank.
“That would have been sometime yesterday morning just before your fever began to recede,” Fujitaka said in recollection. “You peaked at 105 degrees Fahrenheit before you finally started to come down.” Kaho’s eyes widened at the news, “Your body was making sure it didn’t catch any infections while it shut down for a while.”
“I guess it finally gave in,” Kaho smiled a little.
“You needed it,” Fujitaka said. “We were lucky too, your wounds rarely opened, I think maybe just once…”
“Merry Christmas Kaho!” Sakura said as she popped up behind the couch and startled the woman.
“Uh…Merry Christmas to you too,” Kaho stumbled over her words for a moment as the situation became strangely uncomfortable for her.
Sakura smiled and giggled, “I’m glad you’re getting better, you really started to scare us.” Kaho merely smiled at the girl, who went back to doing something near the tree. She looked up as Toya entered the living room and gave him a tentative smile in greeting.
“So you finally decided to wake up huh?” The young man asked her and Kaho made a face at him
“Toya, could you help me in the kitchen for a moment?” Fujitaka asked as he made his way back through the door.
“Sure,” Toya nodded and followed his father.
Kaho decided to make a get away, using a rarely used power to get her up onto the roof quickly and silently. There she sat near the top of the roof that faced the gate close to Sakura’s window for a while, letting the cool December breeze blow away whatever weariness she had.
Something warm and dark settled onto her shoulders sometime later and she looked up to see Fujitaka looking down at her, having settled his winter coat around her.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding out,” he said as he took a seat next to her.
“You guys needed your family time,” Kaho said as she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “It didn’t seem like a place for me to be in right now.”
“I see,” Fujitaka said as he looked down at the ground below before he looked up at the sky. “Is it really smart for you to be sitting out here all by yourself?”
“It’s all right, I can shield myself in a way that hides my magic, so even if he was in the area, he wouldn’t sense anything.”
“Like a cloaking device?” Fujitaka asked.
“Similar, yes, I guess you could look at it that way,” Kaho smiled a little at how the man managed to put together foreign magical ideas and analyze them with more commonplace inventions and more understood fantasy ideas.
“You didn’t have to you know,” Fujitaka said after a moment of silence, reffering to her flight from the living room, “You’re welcome to be apart of this.”
Kaho chuckled lightly, “Even after all the trouble I’ve caused you and your family? I should think you’d be happy to be rid of me.”
He echoed her laugh with his own, “It’s not really your fault. You came here to warn us, and in thanks I think it’s only fair that we help you out.”
“You’ve done more than enough to repay any service I’ve ever done for you, if I’ve ever done any at all…” Kaho said. “I feel as though all I’ve done since I got here was be a burden to you and Sakura, and now Toya depending how long he stays.”
“He’ll be leaving tomorrow, unfortunately,” Fujitaka answered. “He has a paper he needs to finish before class starts up for him soon.”
“And when does your work start up again?” Kaho asked. “I know you’re a professor at the college near here.”
He nodded, “Yes, but my college doesn’t start back up for another three weeks.”
“I see,” Kaho said. “I hope to be out of your hair before then anyways, so you’ll be able to enjoy some of your vacation before it’s over.”
Fujitaka was silent at that statement and mulled over a few things in his head before he asked, “Do you intend to take Eriol on all by yourself?”
“I’d prefer to,” Kaho answered. “It would put as few people in danger as possible….The only life I’d be risking by doing it myself would be my own. And I was alone for so long that I can only think about doing this all myself. I don’t want you or Sakura to be involved anyways. I couldn’t stand seeing either of you hurt because of me, or because of something I couldn’t prevent.”
“And how do you know we’ll let you get away with that?” Fujitaka asked, for the moment hiding his surprise at her concern for their welfare.
“What do you mean?” Kaho asked.
“How do you know we’ll let you go off on your own after all of this?” Fujitaka asked.
She stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say.
“Kaho, believe it or not, in these passed few days, no matter how quickly they’ve gone by, you’ve become a part of this family in some way.” Fujitaka said as he looked her in the eye, “And I don’t know if you’ve been apart of a family like this before, but for us, no one is ever allowed to do something by themselves as long as there is something the rest of us can do to help.”
Kaho looked at him in surprise, “I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, agreeing not to go off by yourself and do something reckless would be good enough for starters,” Fujitaka grinned smartly.
Kaho sighed, “All right, I promise I won’t go off and do things on my own anymore, or insist on doing so at least. You and Sakura have had pretty tight reins on me since I arrived here.”
“It’s good for you,” Fujitaka smiled. “Besides, it looks like you need a friend right now.”
“A friend?” Kaho asked.
Fujitaka nodded, “And possibly a hug, you look as though you’re in need of one of those too.”
She blinked at him, the concept of physical affection, something she’d been deprived of for a long time, was an action she was out of practice with. It wasn’t helping matters much that her heart was fluttering like a butterfly every time he spoke, or looked her in the eyes and smiled. She felt a blush lightly dust her pale skin at the offer and turned her gaze to stare at the roof instead.
Fujitaka tipped an eyebrow up at her reaction to his offer and a different smile crept over his features. Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him, mindful of the slope on the roof, then carefully wrapped his other arm around the front of her in a somewhat awkward sideways hug. Resting his head against the back of her left shoulder, he felt her trembling and said, “It’s all right, relax, I’m not going to hurt you.”
Stilling herself, she began to relax in his warm embrace, leaning her head against his arm in an unsure show of mutual affection.
“Hello up there!” Called a high spirited young voice.
Both Fujitaka and Kaho jumped apart and, while steadying themselves, looked down at the gate where Tomoyo and her mother stood, the young girl waving enthusiastically. “Merry Christmas!” She called.
Fujitaka chuckled as he stood and walked down the side of the roof and over to where it stemmed out over the front door and hopped down to the ground. “Merry Christmas Tomoyo, and to you too Sonomi. Will you be joining us as well?”
Sonomi smirked, “No, I just came to drop Tomoyo off. From what she’s been telling me, being outside by ones self isn’t the safest thing right now.”
Fujitaka rubbed the back of his head with an innocent laugh, “I’m sure Tomoyo will be fine, she’s not a target anyways.”
“Be that as it may, I still wanted to make sure she got here safely,” Sonomi said as she watched Kaho come up behind Fujitaka. “And you must be the one who brought that demon possessed boy here aren’t you?”
“I…” Kaho frowned.
“Now now Sonomi, her intentions for coming here were strictly to warn us,” Fujitaka explained. “It’s really mine and Sakura’s fault for her staying here so long. The injuries she has don’t make her fit for travel or fighting, so we’ve kept her here so she can heal.”
Sonomi snorted, “Which also isn’t working I hear.”
“That’s not anyone’s fault Sonomi,” Fujitaka said. “Her wounds stay open by the will of that demon and we’re doing everything we can so Kaho doesn’t fall victim to them.”
Sonomi’s eyes narrowed, “That’s just like you, always being kind, even to people you don’t even know.
Fujitaka smiled, “Can’t help being who I am.”
“Hm, yes, and you’re despicable,” Sonomi said as she kissed her daughter on the top of her head before walked back over to her car without another word.
Kaho ventured to say something, “Um…”
“Don’t worry,” Fujitaka said as he opened the gate and let Tomoyo scamper up and into the house. “That was Sonomi’s way of being nice.”
One of Kaho’s eyebrows twitched, “Really?”
He nodded, “Yes, she had a special dislike for me ever since Nadeshiko and I met and fell in love. I guess you could say she’s jealous for the years I was able to spend with Nadeshiko before she died. But Sonomi really is a nice person, she loves and adores Sakura like a daughter.”
“I see,” Kaho said quietly.
Fujitaka peered back over his shoulder towards the house for a moment, then looked back over at her, “I do believe we were interrupted.” He held out his arms to her, offering her the hug he had tried to give her on the roof.
Kaho studied him for a moment, her mind doing battle with the war raging in her heart, “Fujitaka…” she started, “I…I mean…” She looked down at the ground as she pulled the collar of his coat closed around her.
“Yes?” He asked, smiling warmly.
She bit her tongue and moved into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders and hugging him tightly, for a moment letting herself relax and forget about all of the horrible things that had happened and what would soon happen in the future. When she felt him hug her equally as tight her heart soared, but again she held her tongue, feeling as though she had no business caring about him as deeply as she did.
OOOO
Sakura, Tomoyo, and Toya squished their faces into the small vertical windows next to the door as they watched the goings on outside.
“I knew it,” Toya said.
“What? That Kaho and Dad care about one another?” Sakura asked.
“Yeah,” Toya scowled.
“I think they look cute together,” Sakura grinned.
“It’s a shame though that neither will tell the other how they feel,” Tomoyo said as she angled her camera against the glass. “They both have their reasons for it I guess.”
“Because Dad is loyal to Mother,” Toya said.
“Yes,” Tomoyo nodded, “And Kaho knows that and feels she has no business feeling the way she does.”
Sakura frowned and Toya grunted.
“You seem a little resistant to the situation Toya, does this trouble you?” Tomoyo asked.
“Yes…” Toya answered. “It troubles me. I’m afraid she’ll do the same as she did to me six years ago. Realized that she and I weren’t meant to be together, then left.” He frowned and narrowed his eyes, “I don’t want my father to feel the same way I did.”
Tomoyo frowned for a moment before adding, “I don’t think anything like that will happen, at least not until after this whole problem’s been taken care of. Kaho is pretty much bound here because of her injuries, and even if she tries to leave, Sakura and Mr. Kinomoto will make sure she doesn’t.” She grinned at Sakura. “But I do see your concern. I think right now we should just rely on the idea that they won’t tell each other.”
“Hmph,” was Toya’s reply.
Sakura watched her father and Kaho pull away quickly before they both sneezed and she giggled. “I think they know we’re talking about them.”
“Then we need to hurry up,” Tomoyo said. “You need to help me put up a few more decorations.”
“Okay,” Sakura grinned and followed Tomoyo back to the living room.
Toya watched them go before turning to look out the window for a few more seconds, “Not tell each other? In the end, it may be the only thing that saves them.”
OOOO
Both stood back and stared at one another, slightly embarrassed that their embrace had been ended by a simultaneous sneezing fit.
“Guess someone’s been talking about us,” Fujitaka said as he rubbed his still tingling nose.
“It’s either that or we’re allergic to one another,” Kaho said with a coy smile.
“Unlikely, I break out in hives when I’m allergic to someone,” Fujitaka jested, getting a small chuckle out of her.
Still chuckling she looked up at him, “Is that so?” She would have continued the jest, but a figure appeared behind the man and she swallowed her tongue, taking a step back in the process.
“Something wrong?” Fujitaka asked.
“Um, there’s someth- one…” Kaho tripped over her words. “Someone behind you.”
“Oh?” Fujitaka turned slightly and came eye to eye with his late wife, “Oh, hello Nadeshiko.”
“Hello love, I see you’re well.” The spirit smiled. “The last time I dropped by you were in a dead sleep and I was worried. I’m glad to see it wasn’t serious.”
“You must be talking about what happened a little over a week ago,” Fujitaka smiled. “It was a healing sleep, or at least the aftermath of. There was a fire at the hotel the University was holding its Christmas party at and I inhaled a lot of smoke and burned my lungs. Kaho saved me from a painful recovery.”
Nadeshiko redirected her gaze to Kaho, “Really? Well then I thank you for helping my husband.”
“Uh…you’re welcome…it was the least I could do after all he’s done for me,” Kaho said as she looked at the ground with another faint blush.
Nadeshiko noticed the reaction and smiled, “I see.”
Fujitaka quickly recapped the events that had transpired since Kaho had arrived and the story behind it. When he was through Nadeshiko studied them both before saying, “I thank you for coming to warn my family.”
“It was nothing,” Kaho said, even though it was the understatement of the year. The journey back to Tomoeda had hardly been nothing. “I fear I’ve caused them more trouble since I’ve arrived than when they knew nothing of this.”
“Now we’ve been over this,” Fujitaka started.
“I know,” Kaho said. “And I still feel I should just leave, but since I promised I wouldn’t, I need to find a way to repay you.”
“Why don’t you do what you do best,” Nadeshiko suggested.
“What’s that?” Kaho asked.
“Teach,” she clarified.
“Teach…?” she was puzzled for a moment, then her eyes lit up, “Oh.”
Fujitaka blink, “Now I’m confused.”
“I’ll teach you how to use your magic,” Kaho told him.
“Really?” His eyes lit up like hers at the thought of the idea.
“Of course,” Kaho smiled. “Thank you for the idea.” She looked over at Nadeshiko.
“You’re very welcome,” Nadeshiko mirrored her smile. “I’m glad you two seem to get along well.”
“Except when it comes to her eating habits,” Fujitaka mentioned. “Or lack thereof.”
“Well how do you expect me to keep such a girlish figure?” Kaho jested as she spun around, flaring out the ends of Fujitaka’s coat.
“You mean the half starved ‘I look like I’m about to die’ figure…” Fujitaka correctly identified her current condition and Kaho stuck her tongue out at him.
Nadeshiko chuckled, “I’m sure you’ll both come up with something to fix that.”
“Or I’ll just pin her to the floor again,” Fujitaka grinned.
The spirit giggled, “I should be going soon.”
“You can’t stay longer?” Fujitaka asked as she encircled her arms around his shoulders. “It’s Christmas after all.”
“I would love to stay longer, you know that, but I’m only given so much time for each visit, and I’m beginning to reach my limit for this one.” Nadeshiko explained, “I’m just glad I was able to speak to you.” She hugged him.
Kaho smiled at the two of them, happy seeing two people who loved each other so dearly together for a time. It made her realize how lonely she was and she wished she could go and leave them to be with each other for a few more minutes, but she felt it was inappropriate to also walk away at the same time.
You truly care for him don’t you?
Kaho nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Nadeshiko’s voice inside her head. She collected herself quickly and responded, I do, though I have no right to infringe on what you and he have.
I’m not a jealous person, Nadeshiko said, Nor did I wish for Fujitaka to spend the rest of his life without a companion.
He has Toya and Sakura, Kaho said. And he still loves you. I don’t think he’d turn his back on you just because you cannot be together like you were before. And now, because he can see you and interact with you again, it gives him all the more reason to stay loyal to you. It’s why I have no business being here.
But you can protect him in ways I cannot, and in ways that Sakura isn’t ready for yet, Nadeshiko pointed out. The battles that are in store for you are of the like Sakura would never fathom, or wish to fathom. It will involve inflicting pain on others, much blood shed, and even leaving someone behind in the end.
You know this…how? Kaho asked.
Nadeshiko smiled, I have my ways. There was a short pause as she said something vocally to Fujitaka before separating from him and floating over in her direction. I will see you again soon, and I hope on different terms. And with that, the spirit disappeared.
Kaho blinked, now more than ever torn on whether to tell Fujitaka her feelings, or let them lie. She truthfully didn’t know how Fujitaka felt about her, though he’d said he’d cared, she wasn’t sure if it was in the friendship sense of the word or beyond.
“I think we should go in,” Fujitaka said as he looked up at the sky, dark clouds beginning to cover the once blue area. “Or with our luck, we’ll be soaked.”
“That might be a good idea,” Kaho said as they both headed for the door as rain began to fall from the sky. Once inside they realized how cold it had been and relished the warmth of the entryway before heading for the living room to sort out the cause of all of the giggling.
Before they reached it though, Toya pulled Kaho halfway up the stairs to the second floor and blocked her path back down. The look in his eyes was that of warning, “You had best not pull what you pulled on me all those years ago on my father.”
Kaho frowned, “I’d never, and it’s not like I’m going to tell him anyways. It wouldn’t be right…”
“No, you’ll tell him,” Toya confirmed, though no longer possessing the magical gifts he once had, he still held onto something of a sixth sense, a small knowledge of certain things that were meant to happen. “You’ll have to, to get through your fight.”
Kaho narrowed her eyes at him, “I assure you I never intend to hurt him, nor did I ever intend to hurt you Toya, and you know that.”
His gaze softened, “I know, it just didn’t make your leaving any easier. And if that happens to you and my father, I don’t think I’d be able to forgive you again.”
“I understand,” Kaho said. “Both your unwillingness to forgive, and your resistance to all of this. It is awkward…but like I said, I’m not going to be telling him, so it doesn’t matter.” She shouldered passed him and down the stairs.
“You will tell him,” Toya said.
Kaho paused once, then continued down the stairs.
“Be careful, Tomoyo and Sakura put up mistletoe,” Fujitaka said as Kaho entered the kitchen where he was warming up apple ciders.
Kaho looked over the doorways and found three pieces of mistletoe, one over the entrance to the living room from the hallway, one on the connecting door to the living room and kitchen, and another over the kitchen doorway, the one she’d bypassed without knowing it. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“I didn’t see nuffin’,” Fujitaka said in English, the phrase amusing and made its point and Kaho chuckled.
“So how are we supposed to get into the living room?” Kaho asked.
“Run in when they aren’t looking I suppose,” Fujitaka answered.
Kaho looked out into the living room and waited until all three, or four if you wanted to count Kero, occupants were interested in something near the tree and hopped in, no one but Fujitaka catching under the mistletoe for that brief second. And as he had said, he wasn’t going to tell.
Kero looked up and whined, “Hey how’d you get in here?”
“I walked…” Kaho answered dumbly.
“Aww…and we didn’t catch you in the act,” he pouted.
“Who’d wanna kiss me anyways?” Kaho asked to no one in particular in English, knowing no one, except possibly Kero, and Fujitaka, would understand her. “What are you doing over there anyways?”
“Trying to guess what’s in the boxes,” Sakura answered.
“I see…” Kaho chuckled.
“Is it safe?” Fujitaka asked as he peered into the living room.
“They seem intent on their mission,” Kaho answered as she stared at the black TV screen, giving him access to the living room without seeing him pass under the mistletoe.
In the melee of the younger people opening gifts and people wandering back and forth to the kitchen, Fujitaka was caught first under the mistletoe by his daughter as he was going back in to get the now hot cider, giving him a peck on the cheek. He hid in there for a while and waited for the cider to cool to a drinkable temperature.
Mean while, Toya caught Tomoyo as she tried to run up to Sakura’s room for something and gave her a chaste, but affectionate kiss on the forehead. Sakura also caught Tomoyo again going into the kitchen to try and weed out Fujitaka and received another kiss, this one on the cheek, which filled the young woman with much joy.
“Looks like Tomoyo is getting caught in her own trap more than anyone else is,” Kero giggled as Toya was caught under the mistletoe by his father, who instead of giving him a kiss, blew a raspberry in his ear.
“Ew…now I have to go get spit out of my ear,” Toya rubbed his ear and darted out of the room faster than anyone could pin him for passing under the mistletoe.
After the initial obsession with catching people under the dreaded Christmas weed was over, most of the family settled down to open gifts and relax. Sakura was the unfortunate victim of being covered in all the bows, ribbon, and even the paper that was pulled off the gift boxes.
Kaho stood near the kitchen door, away from the entrance, and watched the evening wear on, smiling at the antics the family before her produced. She giggled as Fujitaka stood up and bolted to the kitchen, knowing still that the family would try and catch him for being under the plant if he didn’t hurry. She watched him pour another mug of hot cider, then add water to it and her curiosity perked. She knew all of the people in the room enjoyed they apple cider plain and not watered down, it was apparent because most of the were on sugar highs and bouncing off the walls.
“Here,” he said as he handed her the mug awkwardly, avoiding stepping out of the kitchen while she stayed in the living room. She raised an eyebrow at him as she accepted the mug. “I noticed you barely touched the mug of cider I gave you earlier and finally came to realize it was probably too sweet for you to handle, right?”
She smiled as she looked down at the mug of liquid that was warming her hands, “Yes, it would have made me sick if I’d braved it out and drank it like the rest.” She motioned to the hyperactive young teenagers. “I thought you wouldn’t notice if I just tried to sip at it now and again.”
“Nope, nice try though,” Fujitaka smiled as she sipped the warm beverage, testing it as she let it settle in her stomach. She nodded after a minute and smiled at him again in thanks. “I actually have something else for you upstairs, but I thought it might be little awkward to give it to you like this.”
Her eyebrows knitted together, “Why did you waste you’re money on me?”
“Wasn’t really a waste, and it’ll make it so you won’t have to keep wearing my spare shirts and sweats,” Fujitaka smiled.
“Aw, but you’re shirts are so roomy!” Mindful of her drink, she did a goofy little jig, letting his shirt billow out for a moment before settling back against her body as she leaned against the door jam with a grin.
“I’m sure you’ll like normal women’s clothes better than mine,” Fujitaka said.
“You like women’s clothes?” She couldn’t resist the opening.
“Yes, wait…what? No!” Fujitaka covered his face with his hands at being caught in the joke.
Kaho laughed, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.”
“I can tell…” Fujita mumbled from between his hands before he slid them away, “Ah well, I walked into it. Anyways, yes, so your new clothes are sitting up in my room and I’ll bring them down later for you, okay?”
Kaho nodded, goofiness having disappeared for the moment, “Yes, and thank you. I wasn’t expecting it. I’ll find a way to repay you as soon as I can.”
“Just think of it as an extra magic lesson,” Fujitaka grinned.
“I guess I can deal with that,” Kaho mirrored his grin with her own.
“Oh, and by the way, you’ve stood under it to the point where I can’t say you didn’t,” Fujitaka mentioned.
“Huh?” She was puzzled for a moment, then she felt the blood drain from her face as she looked up, realizing only then that instead of settling against the door like she’d originally intended, she’d settled on the inside of it, leaning against the door jam. She looked up at the mistletoe and swallowed. Then at the thought of what would happen next reached her mind all of her color returned quickly, plus some, adding a faint red tinge to her cheeks.
“I caught Kaho under the mistletoe!” Fujitaka announced and Kaho whined as the rest of the living room’s occupants turned to watch, some of them having great big grins plastered on their faces while another merely looked like he was going to be sick.
“Kero if you’re going to be immature about it then leave,” Sakura scolded the guardian as Tomoyo scrambled for her video camera while Toya, though as against the idea of a possible relationship forming between the pair, couldn’t resist grinning at the surprised look on Kaho’s face.
“Tomoyo do you have to…?” Kaho looked pathetically at the camera.
“Of course, I have to capture everything that happens at this Christmas party so I can add it to my video collection,” Tomoyo smiled, then giggled obsessively.
“You need a new hobby…” Kaho mumbled to herself, then realized how close Fujitaka was and had to catch herself before she dropped her mug of cider. The light blush that had dusted her face before darkened noticeably to the onlookers, who chuckled to themselves.
“We can kidnap her camera later,” Fujitaka promised and Kaho was surprised to find a similar blush was creeping across his cheeks as well.
She didn’t remember when his hands had settled onto her shoulders, or the last time her heart had been racing as fast as it was, and she was sure though that people could hear it. She wasn’t sure when her eyes had fallen closed either, but when their lips finally met tentatively, she felt like she’d been zapped with electricity. Her hands tightened around the mug of cider so she wouldn’t drop it and the blush on her face exploded, the temperature in the room for the both of them sky rocketed.
The kiss was innocent enough, barely a brushing of the lips, but it lingered there for a moment, giving it the illusion of possibly something more. But it was no more romantic than the one Toya had placed on Tomoyo’s forehead, chaste but affectionate in its own right.
When it finally ended, Kaho’s eyes opened instantly and she swallowed hard and bit her tongue to keep herself quiet. For reasons she couldn’t explain, she felt herself panic and did the only thing she could think of, set the mug of cider on the dining room table, then phase outside like she had earlier that afternoon. There she stood in the front yard in the pouring rain, allowing the icy water to cool the burning sensation she was feeling inside and letting it numb the panic sense she’d felt only moments before.
“What was that?” She asked to no one but herself. She touched her fingers to her lips as she looked at the ground, her rational mind again fighting with her heart and wishing more than ever that she could leave and not come back.
She remembered times similar to that, but there had been no joy involved. Nor had it been by her own will. Only crushing and violent, and phantom pains shot through parts of her body that had perviously been numbed by the rain.
Suddenly the icy rain that had been pelting her body stopped, “Kaho?”
She jumped and stumbled away and stared at the figure that appeared next to her in the darkness. Fujitaka stood before her, umbrella in hand, with a worried expression on his face. “You all right?” He asked.
“I…yes…I…I think so…” she nodded dumbly.
“You sure?” He took a step closer, and she in turn took a step back. “I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have done that.”
“No…it’s all right…I just…” she trailed off and avoided meeting his gaze, “…never mind.”
Fujitaka studied her for a moment, “You know, you can tell me whatever it is you’ve been trying to say.”
Kaho looked up at him, unwillingly getting pulled him by his warm brown eyes. She frowned and said, “I have no business telling you what I want to say.”
Fujitaka frowned, “I see.” He tried to take a step towards her again, but again she stepped away. “So that’s how it’s going to be?” He stepped away, “Don’t stay out here too long, you just got well again. I’ll make sure there are towels by the door for you when you come in.” When he received a nod, he turned and walked back into the house.
Toya met him at the door, “You’re going to let her stay out here?”
“She won’t be much longer,” Fujitaka said as he folded the umbrella and set it near the door to dry.
“You won’t tell her, will you?” Toya asked.
“Tell her what?” His father replied.
“How you feel,” the younger man answered.
Fujitaka smiled as he stared at the floor, “I’m loyal to your mother Toya, and you know that. What I just did in the living room was wrong and misleading.”
“No matter how much I dislike the idea of you two possibly getting together, I’m not going to let you lie to yourself either,” Toya said.
Fujitaka clenched his fists at his sides, “I’m not lying to myself Toya, the only reason she’s staying here is because she’s hurt and unable to fight on her own, and she also agreed to teaching me how to use the magic I’ve gained. That’s all.” With that, he made his way upstairs.
Toya watched him go with frown, “You don’t take well to lying to yourself, do you?”
OOOO
Kaho stared at the door, listening to the conversation going on on the other side of it. Something inside her was screaming, while something else was breaking, and yet at the same time she felt something else building up, an emotional barrier that she’d used before while on her way here. She knew she needed it now so she would be able to live in the same house with the people she cared for, while not having the same feelings returned.
“Was it something I did?” She asked herself, “Did I do something to make him change his mind about how he felt? Or had he always felt this way, and I’m just too stupid to notice?”
She sank to her knees and wondered, Is this what heartache feels like? Is this what I did to Toya when I left him? If it is, I deserve it…she felt tears burn her eyes, but she wiped them away before they could fall. Standing, she walked out from under the overhang of the door and looked up at the roof. Crouching and routing some magic down to her leg muscles, she leapt up and onto the roof, landing silently and surely. There she perched at the peak of the roof and stared out over the rainy neighborhood for a while, thinking about what she needed to do to get out of there as fast as possible.
“Next time Eriol shows his face…” Kaho said to herself. “Even if it just means I lure him away, it means I’ll finally be out of their lives.” Sighing, she looked up at the clouded sky, rain pelting her face.
She sat out there for about an hour, during said time she watched the light turn on in Sakura’s room and the girl opened her window to look out. Her surveying didn’t last long for she quickly pulled her head back inside and shut the window, the light extinguishing only a few seconds later.
“They must all be getting to bed…” Kaho murmured to herself. “I guess this would be a good time to go in now that the living room is cleared out.” She slid soundlessly down the roof and leapt to the ground, then walked to the door and walked inside. She stood in the entryway, soaked clothes dripping and creating a large puddle on the floor.
She spied two towels that had been left by the door and picked one up and unfolded it, using to try and catch the water streaming from her soaked hair.
“Here,” came a masculine voice.
Kaho jumped for the second time that evening and looked up into Fujitaka’s eyes. She blinked at him for a moment, then noticed he carried a neatly folded set of clothes for her in his arms. “Um…thank you…” she took the offered clothing. Before she said anything else, he turned and headed back towards the stairs. “Wait…”
Fujitaka turned and looked over at her.
“Um…I just wanted to apologize…for anything I said or did outside that may have hurt or offended you in any way,” she told him.
Fujitaka studied her for a moment, “No, I’m the one who needs to apologize.”
“What? Why?” Kaho asked.
“For leading you on, I’m sorry, if I did so,” with that he turned and walked back upstairs.
Kaho watched him go, I’m such an idiot. She told herself.
OOOO
She plopped back down on the couch a little while later, dry and changed into the clothes Fujitaka had given her. Sighing, she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them.
“I guess I don’t have to worry about telling him after all,” Kaho said. “He wouldn’t care anyways.” Tears came to her eyes, and this time she didn’t stop them, and she cried silently in the dark living room until she slipped into sleep, her mind haunted by a love she could never have.
OOOO
Yes, still long, but it's been edited once. Any other corrections or crits are great accepted!