1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

homecoming

"home sweet home," said syaoran, opening the doors of the old li house. "phew! it's so dusty!"

"it's been seven years since anyone lived here," watanuki (or was it now li kimihiro?) followed his new-found

other in.

"fourteen since i saw it last." syaoran appreciated it when watanuki squeezed his shoulder. "there's something i have to tell you. you'd better sit."

watanuki dusted off an old chippendale and sat down.

"do you remember your parents?"

"our parents, you mean. they died a long time ago and then i… um, gave up the memories of them."

yes, for my sake he made a wish and gave up those memories. what a guy. "do you believe that they are dead?"

"aren't they?"

"what if… fei wang implanted a false memory? you gave up the memory of our parents, but fei wang made you think they died for you?"

watanuki was silent for a while. "are- are they alive then?"

"yeah. they had to leave, because of your wish-"

"then it was worth it," watanuki sighed, hiding his face in his hands. "i've felt so guilty, all this time… i thought it was my fault that they're dead-"

"they wouldn't want you to feel that way-"

"but they're alive after all," watanuki smiled up at syaoran, tears streaming. "they're alive!" he took syaoran's hand and continued, "you'll never be alone anymore syaoran!"

syaoran was just amazed. he still thinks mostly of my happiness? then he started worrying. do they remember me?

the phone rang. the boys looked at it, knowing who it was, and suddenly nervous about talking to the parents they had not seen in seven and fourteen years.

"i- i'd better get that." said watanuki. "hullo?"

there was a pause. then a female voice said, "are you kimihiro-kun?" in the background, a man, amazed, said, "you can tell just from hello?"

"i am kimihiro," said watanuki, wondering not just at the familiar form of address, but the yearning he felt. he did not recognize the voices at all, yet he felt a huge longing to meet them. "are you- are you –"

"we're your mother and father, kimihiro-kun, though you don't remember. are you well? i'm so sorry you had to go through life alone like that, it must have been so hard…"

"it was my choice. i couldn't let syaoran suffer alone. may i call you mother?"