Dear Sakura by Amazoness Duo and G.P. amazonessduo@hotmail.com pearsong1954@yahoo.com Dear Sakura-chan, I hope my letter reaches you well. It must be thrilling to be starting off on your new life with Li-kun in Hong Kong. I’m sure that the two of you will have many joyous days ahead as you explore your wedded bliss. Li-kun is truly a lucky man to have captured the heart of my beautiful best friend. I’m sending along a copy of the videotape I took of the wedding along with this letter. I’m sorry I didn’t catch the very end. I wasn’t feeling very well so I had to hurry home. But I think I caught the best parts of the wedding. Thank you again for letting me design your dress for your most important of days. You looked simply gorgeous. I think I can die a happy woman now that I’ve finally designed your wedding dress. But now that the honeymoon has been over for a while, how is life in Hong Kong? What are your plans? Do you think there are any children on the way? If you need any help with anything, please remember that I’m only a phone call away. I could always take a few weeks off of work if you do wind up needing any help with children anytime in the near future. But I’m sure that won’t be necessary. Li-kun has a lot of family there to begin with, so you would probably have more than enough help. I’m sure any children the two of you do have in the coming years would be wonderful, shining images of their mother. Not much has been happening here in Tomoeda. It’s been much too quiet without my favorite Card Mistress’s genki energy filling life’s everyday experiences. I’ve gone to work for my mother at Daidouji Toys and that has been going very well. I’m working as the head of design for a few different projects. One of the dolls we have planned is based a little on my sketches of you and some of your costumes. I hope Sakura-chan doesn't mind. I’ll send you one of the dolls as soon as we start producing them. Mother has been joking about retiring early and handing over control of the company to me, but I really don’t think I have enough experience yet. I get to see her more often now, so that’s a joy that makes going to work every morning very worthwhile. I still have some time to sing, but usually when I’m at home at night alone. It’s nice to lose myself in the music. It usually helps me relax after work. Sometimes I find myself sewing a design I had in my mind, but I all too soon remember that you’re not here to model it. My mind must be traveling too much to do such a silly thing. I can almost imagine you giggling behind me when I finally realize what I’m doing. I’d like to tell you what happened to your other friends, but I’m afraid I really haven’t kept in touch very well with Rika-chan and the others. The last I had heard, Chiharu-chan was going to get married to Yamazaki-kun. They must have decided to follow in your footsteps, Sakura-chan. I had heard a strange rumor that Nakuru-san had been dating Naoko-chan, but I can’t tell if it’s just a rumor or not. Though it certainly would be nice to know that everyone’s finding someone these days. I’m sure you already know about Touya-san and Tsukishiro-san and your father, so I won’t go into all of that, though I try to keep in touch occasionally. I tried to explain to Touya-san why you and Li- kun belong together, but I don’t think he understood. I’m sure he’ll come around in time. And please ignore whatever he has said about me recently. I’m sure Touya-san’s just overexaggerating. He and Tsukishiro-san seem to be doing quite nicely. They both think of you fondly and often. And you’re always in my thoughts, Sakura-chan. So remember that you’re always well thought of. How have you been doing with your magic? Have you been practicing? Now that Sakura-chan is the most powerful magician on the planet, I’m sure she has all sorts of things to do with it all. I’ve been thinking that you should get an atelier for your work or at least to keep the Sakura Cards. Because you could always use your own magician’s workshop. But then, your special brand of magic never did have to do with the Cards. It was how your warm and loving heart always opened up the hearts of those around you. I hope the Cards are all doing well. But with Sakura-chan as their mistress, I’m sure they’re all doing spectacularly. And please tell Kero-chan that I said hello and that I hope he has been eating well. It must be nice for him to be back home again in China, even if it has been a while. Please know that everything will always be all right. Because I believe in you, Sakura-chan. So I know it will. You’re just too sweet for things to go any other way. I miss you quite a bit, but I can always pop in one of my videotapes of you whenever I want to see your smiling face again. I’m very glad I captured all of those images of you when I had the chance. But I’m very happy to know that Sakura-chan is now a blushing bride and with her one, true love. I hope all is going well and that you are endlessly happy, Sakura-chan! And please send pictures!! With all my love, Daidouji Tomoyo Dear Tomoyo chan, Nihao! Thank you so much for your letter. I have been studying Chinese, and it is soooo hard. It looks like kanji, but is very different. It's like being back at Tomoeda Elementary all over again. Even English wasn't this hard. So, it was great to get your letter and read someething in Japanese.It really is nice to hear from you. Oh, I forgot to say that Nihao means Konichiwa. This is one of the few words in Chinese that I know. I am still in a daze after the wedding and honeymoon. Your dress was so beautiful, and I got so many compliments. Thank you for working so hard on it. It must have been so much work, especially with all those bows. Syaoran-chan liked it too. He said it saved a lot of money. He's always thinking about finances these days, and I guess that's important now that I'm out on my own. Anyway, I was worried when I didn't see you at the wedding reception, but Father told me you were not feeling well. So, that's why I sent you my bouquet. I wanted you to have it, just like Sonomi-sama got my Mother's bouquet. I thought the sakura blossoms and roses would go nicely with the nadeshiko flowers in your little box. Remember when we found the shield card in your box? I still remember how mad Kero-chan got when he thought he was missing out on the cake. He says Chinese deserts are not as good as those in Japan. I don't really have much time for the Cards these days, what with housework and all. It is a big house, and I am trying to help as much as I can. Syaoran-chan is working hard at the family business. I thoought I might find a job there too, but he says I really couldn't do much, which is true, I guess. So, I do a lot of dusting, and cleaning, and washing. Maybe I could use the Erase Card to help out! Syaoran-chan's Mother does most of the cooking. I did a big family meal last week, but I don't think it went over too well. I guess his family is not really used to Japanese style cooking. They were much to nice to say so, of course, but there were a lot of leftovers. Tomoyo-chan, do you know much about Chinese-style cooking? Maybe you could send me a recipe that's not too hard, or some tips on what to do, if that wouldn't be too much trouble? Do you remember the Li mansion from our trip before? Most of Hong Kong is very crowded, but we live on Victoria Peak, which has fewer people. Much of the city is surrounded by hills and mountains, though parts in the north are flatter. Sunrise on the Bay is quite beautiful, with the little junks bobbing on the water and the sea birds circling in the sky. With spring almost over it's getting very warm, and sometimes the pollution is so bad it's better to just stay inside. But the City is exciting, especially at night. Syaoran-chan and I went out dancing last week at a big Disco. It was really nice of him, because he is so tired from work all the time. I was very happy to hear about your job. I'm sure you'll make a wonderful designer. The costumes you made for me were always so interesting. It's funny, but now I sort of miss wearing them. I never knew what you would come up with next. But I'm so glad you're happy. And I'm glad that you're still singing. I always felt so peaceful hearing you sing. Do you think you could send me a cassette tape of your singing? If it wouldn't be too much trouble, that is. I 'd like to hear you sing again. It certainly sounds like a lot is going on at Tomoeda. Chiharu-chan and Yamazaki-kun should make a wonderful couple. Yamazaki-kun is so smart, and knows about so many interesting things. And that is so odd about Naoko-chan seeing Nakuru-san like that. Umm, I think they must just be very good friends, don't you? Oh, and I heard from Oniichan just the other day. He calls all the time, and writes every week. He's always teasing me about something. I'm not sure what you mean when you said in your letter about ignoring what he has said about you recently. It's funny you should mention that, because about a week after we announced our engagement, Onnichan said he wanted to have this serious talk with me about something. I was really nervous, I thought he might want to talk about, umm, what married couples do and things like that. But all he said was that you love me. I told him I knew that, and he got really mad. He was practically yelling, "No, baka, she really loves you!" Well, of course you do, you've always been my best friend. Does he think I don't know my best friend better than anyone in the whole world? I think he was just so upset about Li-kun. But I'm sure you're right; he'll get to like him in time. And I don't think he spilled his drink on Syaoran-chan at the wedding on purpose, do you? Tomoyo-chan, being married is really wonderful! I'm with my one true love almost all the time. I'm really so very very happy. Someday I hope to come to your wedding. Are you seeing anybody that you like? I was sort of thinking that maybe you and Eriol would make good friends. I think maybe he even likes you, because he was always watching you. Just a thought. I know you told me that what you most want is for your special love to be happy, and I'm sure that if he is loved by you he must be very happy, indeed. I really miss you, too, Tomoyo-chan. I could never have a better friend than you. I already told Syaoran-chan that if we have a girl, I'm naming her after you. He was kind of grumbly, so I told him he gets to name the boy. Aiyaa, but it's not like we are having a child anytime soon! I mean, not that I know about. But I guess you never know about these things. Anyhow, thank you again for your sweet letter. I think about you when I see the soft, pale light of the moon. It reminds me of my beautiful friend back home. Sayonara, Kinomoto Sakura PS- I enclosed some pictures for you. There is Syaoran-chan and me on our honeymoon at the pool of the hotel, and Syaoran-chan and me on bicycles we rented, and Syaoran-chan and me in front of the house. PPS- What is an atelier? I couldn't find the word in my dictionary. PPSS?- Kero sends his love, and Syaoran-chan sends his regards. Dear Sakura-chan, I’m very happy that you received my letter well and that everything seems to be falling in place for you. I knew that you would be just fine in Hong Kong, what with a new husband and your entire life ahead of you. I know many wondrous surprises must await Sakura-chan in her new life. Thank you so much for sending me the pictures. I’ve watched all of my videotapes through again, so it was nice to see some new images of you. I have them framed on the nightstand next to my bed. You looked so joyous on your honeymoon. I gazed at your smile for hours after I found the enclosed pictures. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you that happy before. I’m so pleased that Li-kun can bring out that sweet smile in you. It always makes me happy to see you smile, so I’ll keep the pictures very close to me. That way I will know that my sweet Sakura-chan is happy out there in Hong Kong. I would love to see anymore pictures if you ever accidentally order extra prints. Gomen nasai! I guess I’ve been thinking about the old days too much recently. An atelier is a magician’s workshop, a place to refine their magic and to write about their accomplishments and their work. I was in the library and I started thinking about Sakura- chan with her own atelier and I thought it might be nice for the world’s most powerful magician to have her own. But it sounds like you’re already so busy with everything else. Yes, I think that you should definitely use your magic around the house. I’m sure the Sakura Cards would love to help their mistress clean house. It reminds me of when you couldn’t come to our picnic because of your chores. But now I’m an ocean away so I can’t just stop by to help. I’m sure you’d make such a cute housewife cleaning up with the Sakura Cards. And I’m sure Kero-chan would love to offer his help as well, if he’s not busy trying to eat you out of house and home. Please give him a hug for me. And give Li-kun a kiss filled with your love. I’m so sorry to hear about the troubles you’ve been having. But I know that if you believe in yourself, you’ll manage to overcome anything. Nothing ever stood in Sakura-chan’s way for long. With a little work, I’m certain that you’ll learn Chinese quickly enough. Just remember, don’t let yourself get too nervous. It’s like when you were cheerleading. Sakura-chan was the most graceful, nimble cheerleader when she was throwing herself into it, but whenever you started thinking about other things or started to get nervous you would have a lot of difficulty. I still think you were cute when you would make little mistakes like that, but that’s not the point. The point is that Sakura-chan will look cute no matter what she does. Wait, that's another point altogether. The point is that you will undoubtedly work everything out if you give it your all. Please remember that you’ll always have my love and support, no matter what happens or where you are. As far as the cooking goes, I’ve enclosed several recipes that I looked up and one that I always enjoyed. I went to our chef and asked her to explain it all to me and went through it step by step so it should be easy enough to make. Li-kun’s family seems very warm from what I remember, or at least interested in cute things, so Sakura-chan should have no problem. Li-kun’s mother, Ieran-sama, seemed to be rather strict, but she was a very perceptive woman. I had a chance to talk with her while you were saving everyone else back in our trip to Hong Kong. I was surprised she had picked up on so much. Please don’t let her intimidate you. She really is a wonderful woman underneath it all, even if Li-kun seems a little scared of her. Thank you so much for sending me your bouquet! I wish I could have been there to catch it, but I started to feel a very sharp pain near the end and had to leave. I’m eternally grateful to be able to hold it close to me now. It really is beautiful, just like the bride. I’ll keep it safe in my little box right next to your mother’s bouquet and the eraser you gave me when we first met. The flowers really do compliment each other. I think that it fits perfectly. You and your mother seem to share the same fate the same way that I seem to with my mother. You and Li-kun looked very happy together. I’m really so sorry that I couldn’t be there for all of your wedding. I tried and I told myself that I would stay, but I just wasn’t feeling well enough at all near the end. If I can ever make it up to you, I will do all in my power to, Sakura-chan. I’m sure it was all lovely. Touya-san videotaped the rest of it for me, but I have yet to watch it. I guess I’ve just been too busy. Hong Kong is such a beautiful place. So it’s the perfect place for Sakura-chan to live with her beloved. You must be so happy there. I was watching ‘Sakura-chan’s Trip to Hong Kong’, the video I took when we went all those years ago, and it was absolutely stunning. I can just imagine Sakura-chan living there now. I hope it’s even more wonderful. I wasn’t really paying attention to the scenery all that much at the time, although it made a wonderful backdrop. I’m glad that the city is exciting enough for you. It’s all so much bigger than Tomoeda so there must be much more to do. I can see you and Li-kun dancing in my mind. That does sound like fun. Mother knows of a restaurant near here with a very nice dance floor. I’ve gone with her several times and I always like watching the people dance. I hope Li-kun has more free time soon to take you out more. It sounds like Sakura-chan really enjoyed herself. Sakura-chan misses my costumes? I giggled when I read that. You always looked so embarrassed when I’d unveil a new costume for you. But you always wore them for me. Thank you for putting up with the constant wardrobe changes. You were always my inspiration. I had actually started designing costumes for you four months before I found out you were a magical girl. That’s how I had a van full of them by the next night. Most of them were already finished, it’s just that I finally had an excuse to get you to wear them. You really did look cute in all of them. I still have one of your costumes half finished on my desk. I should put it away, but I haven’t had the heart to. It seems to cry out for me to finish it, but I can’t quite get myself to work on it. Maybe I’m not meant to finish it. It does make a good reminder of things for me. I haven’t really videotaped anything recently either. You were always the most beautiful thing for me to videotape, so there hasn’t been a reason to. I put my camcorder and a few other old things I don’t need anymore up in the attic. If you do wind up pregnant anytime soon, I can always send it to you so you can videotape everything. I’d love to see you throughout your pregnancy and when you finally have a child. I still have my old videos of you, so I can always watch them if there isn’t anything new to videotape. So please just ask me if you need it. You’ve seen me videotape enough that I’m sure Sakura-chan would be a natural with it! And you would make such cute home movies. I know it. Work has been busy as of late, but it can’t be helped. Our new doll needs to be out in the next few months so I need to finish my final designs on her. Mother tells me not to worry about it, but I’m just glad to be able to work on it. It’s fun to toy with different ideas and sketches and talk to all of the people working on the project about what would or wouldn’t work for the doll. I’ve already changed the design several times, but now I’m mostly refining it. I’ll send along a copy of my latest sketches to see what you think. Again, I’m sorry if she looks too much like Sakura- chan. I’m still trying to decide what to do with the hair, so that’s not quite the final look of the doll yet. This letter’s going to be heavy with all of the things I need to send! I’ll have to start shipping Sakura-chan’s letters off in boxes. I added the cassette tape you asked for. I haven’t sung in front of anyone for quite a while now, so I found myself getting a little nervous when I made it. I’ve only been singing to myself lately, so it’s different knowing that Sakura-chan will hear it sometime after she gets this letter. But after I got into singing, I think it went by much too quickly. It was nice to have someone to sing for. I tried to add all of the songs I know that you like. The last one is a little sad, though, but I thought it was a nice ending to the tape. I really hope you like it! I wish I could help more with telling you what is going on here in Tomoeda, but I really don’t know for sure other than the few times I’ve met up with the others in a shop or from hearing what someone else said, so I guess you’ll have to rely on Touya- san mostly for that. I’m really not sure what is going on with Nakura-san and Naoko-chan, but it would be nice if everyone’s finding their special someone. I’m glad that Touya-san’s keeping in contact with you. He’s a very good big brother. Hai, I think Touya-san was just worried about the wedding when he said all that. Don’t worry about it. Sakura-chan will always be my best friend so there’s nothing for him to worry about. And Touya-san and Li-kun are both very protective of you, Sakura-chan, so that is probably what causes most of the conflict between the two of them. When Touya-san sees how happy you are, he’ll have to realize how good you and Li-kun are for each other, just like I always knew you would be. It makes me so happy to hear that you’re enjoying married life so much. You make such a wonderful blushing bride and Li- kun makes a perfect husband for you. This is what I always wanted, to know that Sakura-chan was happy and taken care of by her true love. I would love for Sakura-chan to come to my wedding, but I’m not sure if I’ll be having one. I’m just content knowing that my love is out there happy, even if I can’t be with them. Thank you for your suggestion, Sakura-chan. I’m glad you’re thinking about me. Eriol-kun and I do have a few things in common, but I think he understands that we wouldn’t work out in the end. And I believe that he left with Mizuki-sensei as well, so I’m sure they’re quite content back in England. Please don’t worry about me. I’ve never been any good at relationships. And I’ve been keeping rather busy with work and all as it is. I am very honored, Sakura-chan. Arigato gozimasu! I would love to know that you had a daughter named after me. You always were an amazing best friend. And I hope we always can be. I hope that you and Li-kun are blessed with a child, boy or girl, sometime soon. I know you would be a perfect mother. Your gentle, warm heart would truly help with rearing a child. And thank you again for thinking about me. It makes me happy knowing that we may sometimes be thinking of each other at the same time, even across the ocean. Thank you for writing me back so quickly, Sakura-chan. I always look forward to hearing from the cute Card Mistress. I was so thrilled to receive your letter. I can almost hear your voice when I read through it. If I don’t finish this up, I’ll be late for work! I’m sending along the cassette you asked for, several Chinese recipes, and the design for the doll I’m working on. I hope that everything is perfect for Sakura-chan! Your eternal friend, Daidouji Tomoyo Dear Tomoyo-chan, Thank you so much for your wonderful letter, and all the things you sent. I'm sorry it took almost a week for me to reply. I was sort of busy, and a lot of things have been happening. I was also very tired. But now, I have so much to talk to you about that I don't quite know where to start. I guess I'll start with that. Tomoyo-chan, I am so happy to have you to write to! There really is no one here in Hong Kong that I can talk to the way I can talk with you. Poor Syaoran- chan is so busy at work that he usually goes straight to sleep when he comes home. When we do have time to talk, well, I do most of the talking and he does most of the listening. He really never did talk much, as you probably remember. And I know that a lot of what I want to talk about is silly, though he is always very nice about putting up with me. Sometimes I talk with his sisters, and they are a lot of fun, but of course there are things I cannot tell them about. Then there is Ieran-sama, but I will mention this later. Thank you thank you thank you for the wonderful recipes and all the cooking tips! I made dinner for the family last Tuesday and this time there were almost no leftovers at all. I was very nervous with the new dishes, especially the shredded pork, but with all your helpful hints and loving support I felt as if Tomoyo-chan was at my side the entire time. I got many compliments, even one from Ieran-sama. When she asked me where I got the recipes, I told her they were from you. She said, "Ah, that explains why they are so good." I think she remembers you fondly. Oh, and I have enclosed a picture of the main dish, so you can see how it turned out. Doesn't it look yummy? I am very glad you enjoyed the pictures I sent. I felt sort of sad that you put your video camera away. It seems odd to think of you without it. Anyhow, they say here in China that a picture is worth one thousand words, so I decided to buy a camera and make my letters longer. I went shopping last weekend and bought a Japanese camera, a Canon, and the price was very low compared to back home. Syaoran-chan helped me to figure out how it worked. Unfortunately I ruined a few rolls of film before I got the hang of it. So from now on, I will try to have pictures so you can see what is going on with your friend from accross the seas. I'm so happy that you liked the bouquet from my wedding. Hopefully someday you will be able to see the whole wedding when you watch Touya's videotape. Unfortunately, he isn't very good at videotaping. There are a lot of shots of me in his film, but not many of Syaoran- chan. Tomoyo-chan, I wanted to ask you about your not feeling well at my wedding. I was really scared when you talked about a "sharp pain". Are you OK? Have you seen a doctor? Is it anything serious? Please tell me the truth about this. I have been worried about you ever since I read that. I almsot called you. If anything were to happen to you, I don't know what I would do. Please take very good care of yourself. Even though you are far away, you are so important to me, and I think about you often. Oh, and why is there an eraser in your box of special things? I vaguely remember giving you an eraser when we first met. I thought you were so very pretty, but looked so lonely on your first day in class. Someday I would like to go to that restaurant by your house with you and your mother and Syaoran-chan. Then you could watch us dance! I'll bet Sonomi-sama is a wonderful dancer. Does she ever dance there? Tomoyo-chan, I'll bet you would be a wonderful dancer, too. When I went to buy my camera, I had lunch in a hotel restaurant. It was very high up and overlooked a large dance hall. There was a ballroom dancing contest going on, and all the couples were swirling around so beautifully down below. With their gorgeous dresses and elegant dancing I thought of you. Aiyaa, I guess you are not the only one thinking of the old days lately, ne? To tell the truth, I am thinking about you a lot for some reason. That's why, even though I am still a bit sleepy, I wanted to write to you before another day was gone. Oh, please don't worry about me, though. Let me tell you why I am so tired lately. After reading your letter, I thought it would be fun just to talk to the Cards, because it has been such a long time. But when I finally found the box and opened it up, some of the cards had gone to sleep. It was very surprising, and I felt bad for ignoring them for so long. I have been using my magic to wake them all up, and am all finished except for Fight and Power. I saved those for last because it will be exhausting to wake them up. I thought perhaps Sleep or Dream were behind everything, but when I talked to them they said they did not do anything, and the cards have never lied to me before. I spoke with Kero about all this, and he seemed puzzled. Well, I suspect it is because I was ignoring them for so long. I will try very hard to talk with all of them more often. So, there is nothing to worry about with me being a little tired. I thought the drawings of your doll were very pretty. And so many different costumes! I'm sure you'll think of a beautiful hairstyle for her. You always did such wonderful things with your own hair. It - does- look like me, but I guess that makes sense, since I was always wearing your designs. Daidouji Toys is very lucky to have such a wonderful designer working for them. I would love to have a doll when they come out, so I can show everyone here what my best friend does back home. As for Irean-sama. Tomoyo-chan, I don't think she likes me very much. Syaoran-chan says she is still mad about our getting married in Japan without her permission. I know I do a lot of things wrong, and have much to learn about being a good wife. She is critical, and I know that she is like this because she wants the best for Syaoran- chan and the family. . I know that if you say she is a good person it must be true, because Tomoyo-chan knows more about people than anyone. But when she does look at me she seems so angry, although when I was cooking the shredded pork dinner she looked at me as if she were very sad, and felt sorry for me. I don't know what to do but try my very hardest to be a good wife, and hope that someday she will like me just a little. I do wish you were here with me. I always felt so much better when I could talk with you about things like this. I miss you, Tomoyo-chan. I got a very sweet letter from Naoko-chan. It was so odd, because we were just talking about her. She is attending Tokyo University, and is sharing an apartment in the city with Nakuru-san. She is doing well, making straight A's, which is what you would expect. She was always so smart. She said she got the apartment because there was some gruesome murder there, and hoped it would be haunted. Hoeee! She also said she is very much in love with Nakuru-san. It is sort of confusing, but I was glad to hear she is so happy, and seems to have found her special someone. Tomoyo-chan, this reminds me that there is something I wanted to talk with you about. I know you said to me once that what makes you happiest is knowing the person you love is happy. But Tomoyo-chan, don't you think that person would be even happier knowing that you loved them? I have never known anybody quite like you. I always thought you were the kindest, smartest, sweetest, prettiest, most talented person I've ever met. If I was the man you loved, I would want to know that! It would make me so very happy to have someone like you. Do you think that maybe they do not love you? I can't imagine anyone who would not love Tomoyo-chan! You really should tell them, and you might be surprised. Just because you have never been in a relationship is no reason to think you are not any good at them. I was never in a relationship before, but now Syaoran-chan and I are so very happy together. So, I really think you should consider telling your special person just how you feel. Besides, I want to go to Tomoyo-chan's wedding and take pictures with my new camera! And thank you so much for the cassette tape with your singing on it. Your voice is as beautiful as ever. It brings back so many memories of you. Please don't get upset, but hearing you made me cry. I guess when we were together, I always thought it would be like that. I always thought Tomoyo-chan would be there to talk with, to help me, and to cheer me up. Now that you are so far away, I know better what I have lost. I am so happy with Syaoran-chan, but I miss my Tomoyo- chan so very much. . Thank you again for all the lovely things you sent. Love, Sakura PS: Thank you for telling me what an atelier is