Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the character that I made up. All belongs to Clamp. All hail the great Clamp. ^_^
A/N: Hi all! Hope you like this fic and hope this is original! But, it probably sounds like a lot of other fics mashed together. Anyway, read, enjoy, and REVIEW! For those of you that are also ff authors, please, especially you guys, review because you know what it's like to write fics and get or not get reviews! ^_^ Love ya. Ja ne.
Summary: Eriol and Tomoyo are best friends. Tomoyo likes Eriol but he doesn't realize that he also likes her until she gives up on him and finds someone else. Will she come back to him? How does he deal? (Full on E+T and a dash of S+S) R&R!
~*Until it was Too Late*~
by Cerulean Blue
Chp 1: Best Tomodachi's
It was a nice sunny day when two best friends were blithely walking to school. The young lady by the name of Daidouji Tomoyo with silky purple-black hair, smooth milky skin, and sparkling violet eyes giggled lightly as her best friend told a nice joke. Her best tomodachi had soft midnight blue hair, an equal complexion, and azure eyes framed with thin glasses, going by the name of Hiiragizawa Eriol. Both were so carefree, and unaware of the events that lie ahead of them.
"Tomoyo-chan, do you have plans after school?" Eriol asked hopefully.
"Iie. Would you like to go somewhere?" Tomoyo answered.
"Hai. Would you like to accompany me to Penguin Park for an afternoon of leisure?"
"I'd love too!" she cried excitedly. …I also love you she thought sadly, knowing that confessing would only complicate things and ruin their friendship. But as usual, she skillfully hid her sorrow behind a lovely smile. Eriol, who would always be able to see through her masks, didn't notice this time because he was too busy thinking of the day ahead of them.
"Great then. We'll walk there after school," Eriol said with a smile.
Tomoyo would sometimes try to drop hints for Eriol, trying to tell him without having to actually say those three precious words. She wanted to be subtle, and not too obvious. Though whenever she did drop a clue, Eriol would think of it as a friendly gesture and nothing more.
The other thing that stood in her way was another woman he liked. She had long ruby red hair, blazing red eyes and a fairly fair complexion: Kaho Mizuki. Kaho was a nice woman, but they just didn't seem right for each other. But they had been together for about a week already.
The worst part was that Eriol would always talk to Tomoyo about seeing Kaho, being best friends and all with Tomoyo. It made Tomoyo feel rejected because she was discarded by two of her best friends: Eriol and Sakura. So it always hurt her to hear him talking about Kaho that way, yet Eriol would always remain ignorant to this misery. She longed to be the only one that Eriol would talk about in such a way, but knew that it wouldn't happen…at least not any time soon.
Tomoyo needed someone to return her love and be there for her. Every night she was covered in darkness and loneliness, like a veil of isolation and solitude was pulled over her, suppressing her. No matter how hard she tried to suppress these dejected feelings, they would always overshadow her instead. But every morning, she displayed an ersatz smile to fool her family and friends, all except Eriol. He understood her, and was always capable of bringing relief and comfort, but when he was droning on about Kaho, his infatuation would blind him of the truth.
Tomoyo had thought of going to Eriol for comfort and expounding these troubles, but she thought that it would make him poignant as well. And we all know that Daidouji Tomoyo would never want to cause pain or misery to anyone, no matter what the cost, especially if that cost was her own happiness. She was all too willing to give up her happiness for someone else's, and was always telling herself that her loved ones' happiness was hers. But it wasn't complete happiness, only partial. The only way to have complete contentment was for her to actually experience it.
___________________________
They reached school shortly and entered the classroom. As usual, they were the first ones there. So they put down their backpacks and went to the music room; it was their favorite room, and they had made a routine out of it. Every morning, they would put down their things in their classroom, then walk over to the music room.
"So, what do you want to play today, my lady?" Eriol played.
"Hmm, how about Fur Elise?" Tomoyo replied.
"Demo, there's no lyrics to that song."
"I know. I want to just hear you play today."
"You don't want to sing?"
"Not today."
"Doshite?"
"I just don't feel like it right now," she said, thinking of her troubles.
"Demo, I won't hear your beautiful voice," he pouted, making a puppy face.
"You'll live. Now could I hear you play the piano?" she giggled, hiding the fact that her heart melted at the sight of his adorable puppy face.
"Alright. Whatever pleases your majesty," he said, bowing playfully, and then taking his seat on the piano bench. Tomoyo sat on one of the desks, resting her troublesome head on her arms.
Eriol played skillfully. The music flowed through Tomoyo like a river flowing to the sea, except more harmonious. (You pick a song cuz I can't decide on one right now.) The song lasted a while, but it seemed to end too soon. In that brief, yet not so brief moment of composition, Tomoyo forgot her worries and quandaries. She seemed to get lost in the music, swimming in a wave of notes and rhythm. As Eriol played the last note, the song ended, letting reality slip back into Tomoyo's heavy heart. She applauded.
"That was beautiful, Eriol-kun."
"Arigatou."
"Could you play another one?" she asked hopefully.
"Hai, demo the bell is about to ring," he said, looking up at the clock. There was only about 10 seconds before the bell would ring; notifying everyone that school has begun.
Ringggggggg! And that was the bell.
Tomoyo sighed as they walked out of the room and on to their homeroom. She still wanted to stay there, in hopes of once again losing herself in the music.
"Cheer up, Tomoyo-chan. We can make music later," Eriol said, seeing the glum look on her face. "Besides, a frown doesn't suit your kawaii face."
"Arigatou, Eriol-kun. Did you just say 'kawaii'?"
"Hai, I did. What about it?" He put on a curious smile.
"Nandemonai," she giggled.
"What is it?" he asked, amused.
"It's just that you've never said that before, and it is unlikely for you to say it."
"Whatever cheers you up. Now return to your usual genki self. You know that your radiant beam can spread a smile on anyone's face."
She began to smile. "Arigatou gozaimasu, you're so sweet." If only you were mine… she thought. "I can't say that enough. You always do these sweet little things for me. Arigatou again." She hugged him.
"Nandemonai, Tomoyo-san. I love you."
She froze. "Nani?" She was a little bewildered and a bit hopeful.
"I mean I love you as a very good friend." He chuckled.
"Oh." She smiled, but she lost that bit of hope. "In that case, I love you too, Eriol-kun."
"I'm glad."
The two exchanged pleasant smiles and walked in the classroom, greeted by classmates and the usual punctual Syaoran. (Sakura wasn't there yet, of course.)
"Ohayo, Syaoran-kun, Naoko-chan, Rika-chan, Chiharu-chan, Yamazaki-kun."
"Ohayo!"
Taking their seats, the usual lecture began. And as routinely, Sakura barely made it on time. When she walked to her seat, she gave Syaoran a kiss on the cheek, making him blush again, even though she gave him one everyday.
As the lecture went on, Sakura was beginning to doze off. This time, she had a prophetic dream.
*Dream Mode*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Dream Mode*
Everything was misty and there was fog everywhere. She wasn't exactly part of the dream, but she was observing from an angle. A slender figure appeared out of the fog; it was Tomoyo. Sakura was about to give her a shout of hello, but decided against it, and let the dream continue. She saw Tomoyo wandering around, her eyes yearning for something, seeming to be looking for someone. After a little more searching, Tomoyo found Eriol as he appeared out of the mist somehow. Her eyes lit up like never before, as if all the joys in the world were all collected in those amethyst pools, when Eriol hugged her. They broke apart. But then he just stood there, smiling like a pal when another guy appeared. The other guy saw Tomoyo and swept her into his arms. She was reluctant at first but after another good look at Eriol, Tomoyo turned to the other guy and drowned herself in his grasp. They disappeared together with a slight frown on Tomoyo's face, leaving Eriol all alone with a figure with red hair appearing by his side. With a glance at the red-haired figure, Eriol then seem to realize something and began to chase after them. He ran and ran, but he still couldn't catch up to them even when he was only about a foot away from the two. Tomoyo looked back at Eriol with what seemed like a thirst, eyes wistful. Then for the first time in the dream, someone spoke. "Tomoyo-chan…matte…" Eriol said, while his voice was echoing around the entire scene. But Tomoyo only stared at him a little more and turned back to the other guy. "Tomoyo-chan…" Eriol repeated, this time more distressing and softer, yet still echoing. Suddenly, he turned to Sakura and shouted her name. "Kinomoto! Kinomoto!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*End Dream Mode*
*End Dream Mode*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sakura aroused from her deep reverie and looked up sleepily to see the face of her angry teacher. "Hoeee! Gomen nasai, sensei!" she quickly cried.
"Kinomoto, just pay attention and wipe the drool off your face."
"Hai," she answered, face flustered from embarrassment.
She then jot down a quick note to pass to Syaoran: 'meet me at the fence right before lunch. We need to talk, and don't bring Eriol-kun or Tomoyo-chan with you.'
Syaoran nodded to Sakura, indicating that he got the message and knew what to do. When the bell rang for lunch, Sakura and Syaoran met at the fence without Tomoyo or Eriol.
"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?" Syaoran asked her.
"I think I had a visionary dream in class today," she replied.
"What was it about? Something bad? Another Clow Card? Another magical force?"
"Iie. It was about Tomoyo-chan and Eriol-kun."
"Oh," he said, his spirit lowering. I guess he was hoping for another exciting adventure with Sakura like the old times.
She then began explaining the whole dream to him.
"So what do you think it means?" he asked.
"Well, I'm not sure, but I think it means that Tomoyo-chan loves Eriol-kun, but he's already with Mizuki-sensei. So soon, she finds someone else that she doesn't really love, but just sort of likes him. And after they get together, Eriol-kun realizes that he does love Tomoyo-chan as more than a friend, and tries to get her back, but it's too late because she's with that other boy."
"So we have to make Hiiragizawa realize it before it's too late?"
"Hai."
"Wow, you've really improved your dream deciphering skills. But what do we do?"
"Thanks. Lets start by making them eat lunch together and say that we can't eat with them."
"Okay. Lets go."
They walked over to the usual cherry blossom tree to tell Eriol and Tomoyo that they 'couldn't eat with them'.
"Konnichiwa Tomoyo-chan, Eriol-kun!" Sakura greeted.
"Konnichiwa, Sakura-san, Li-kun!" they replied.
"Konnichiwa Tomoyo-san, Hiiragizawa. Um, we can't eat lunch with you today," Syaoran answered. "We have to work on our math with the sensei, and we're eating lunch in his classroom."
"Oh. Okay then. Have fun you two," Tomoyo said, smiling.
They strolled off into the building, pretending to go to class, when really they just went to eat in an empty classroom.
"Well that was suspicious," Tomoyo said, turning to Eriol.
"Hai. I bet they're up to something," Eriol returned.
"Yea. If they wanted to spend time alone, they would've just told us. And Syaoran-kun definitely doesn't need help with math."
"So what do you think they have in mind?"
"I'm not sure. We're usually the ones with the plans to get them together."
He chuckled. "Hai. You don't think they're trying to get us together do you?"
Tomoyo blushed ever so slightly, trying to hide it. She suddenly knew that that was exactly what the two were planning. Sakura and Syaoran knew she liked Eriol, but Eriol was with Kaho already.
"I don't think so," she answered, lying to her best friend and faking a laugh. Eriol didn't suspect anything, so he didn't see through her antics this time, which was a relief to Tomoyo.
As the days passed by, Sakura and Syaoran's plan became more obvious, though Eriol didn't think that that was their intention. The two kept setting up Eriol and Tomoyo, hoping that Eriol would actually take a good look at Tomoyo before it was too late; but he didn't. On the up side, though, he and Kaho were beginning to have more and more brawls. And he always consulted Tomoyo when he needed help. Tomoyo, on the other hand, felt sorry for him that his relationship was failing, but a tiny, tiny part of her was glad because if they broke up, she'd have a chance with Eriol. Eriol was just dense on love. Unfortunately, Clow Reed never mastered the beauty of love, so Eriol wasn't so great either. But he always had Tomoyo there to help keep his relationship going. She was always a comfort to Eriol and vice versa. If it hadn't been for Tomoyo, they'd probably have broken up by now.
_____________________________
The next morning at school, there was a new transfer student.
"Class, we have a new student today. I'd like to introduce Kazki Matasuki. He is from Tokyo, Japan." Terada-sensei turned to Kazki. "Take a seat next to Daidouji-san. Daidouji-san, please raise your hand."
Tomoyo raised her hand, indicating that she was Daidouji-san. Kazki sat on Tomoyo's right side. He had dark purple-black hair that was darker than Tomoyo's hair and much blacker, same color eyes as his hair, and a fair complexion.
She turned to him. "Pleasure to meet you, Matasuki-san."
"The pleasure's all mine, Daidouji-san. I have a feeling that we're going to become good friends," he said, already falling for her ravishing beauty.
"Maybe." She returned her attention to the sensei, not really believing his comment.
At lunch Kazki asked Tomoyo if he could join them. Out of politeness, she agreed. She didn't really favor this guy, but she figured it was better to gain a friend than a foe.
"Konnichiwa, Sakura-chan, Eriol-kun, and Syaoran-kun. You guys don't mind if Matasuki-san eats with us, do you?" Tomoyo asked them as she reached the cherry blossom tree.
"Not at all," Sakura answered cheerfully.
"It's fine with me," Eriol also answered.
"Sure," Syaoran grumbled.
So they sat down and began a formal conversation.
"So why did you come to Japan, Matasuki-san?" Sakura started.
"Well, my family decided move here after my father got a job here," he replied.
"Oh, how interesting. I moved here on business too, a while ago," Eriol spoke up.
"Oh, I see," Kazki answered, not really interested in his history. The only one on his mind was the beautiful Tomoyo beside him.
Lunch passed by and soon the end of the school day came. As usual, the four buddies walked home together, but today, Kazki decided to tag along.
"Hi, Daidouji-san. Hope you don't mind me tagging along," Kazki said innocently, walking rudely between Eriol and Tomoyo while they were talking.
"I don't, but you're interrupting our conversation," she snapped, going over to Eriol's other side. "Gomen nasai, Eriol-kun. What were you saying?"
"Nandemonai, Tomoyo-san. You could speak with Matasuki-san first," answered the gentlemanly Eriol.
"Iie, I don't have anything to say to him at the moment." They walked a little faster, leaving Kazki a bit behind. He bumped into Sakura, he was so slow.
"Oh, gomen, Kinomoto-san," he said.
"Nandemonai, Matasuki-san," she replied, but Syaoran glared at him.
"Uh, Kinomoto-san, could I talk to you alone, for a minute?" he asked.
"Sure, Matasuki-san. Hold on Syaoran-kun," she answered. "Nani, Matasuki-san?"
"Uh, does Daidouji-san have a boyfriend? Is Hiiragizawa her boyfriend?" he asked when they were out of earshot of Syaoran, Eriol, and Tomoyo.
"Iie. Eriol-kun is Tomoyo-chan's best friend, though she really admires him, and they are very close."
"Oh."
"Doshite? You like Tomoyo-chan, don't you?" A sly smile appeared on her face. (Funny how she can be so dense in her own love life, yet so knowing when it comes to other people's romances.)
"Hai. Kinomoto-san, could you help me?"
"Uh…I don't know. I don't think I should meddle with these things."
"Onegai? I really like her."
"No, I couldn't. Don't worry, if you two were truly meant to be together, you'll end up together."
"Sure," he answered, sadly. "I guess you're right though. I'll find a way to get her."
"Uh, sure…" Sakura said skeptically.
"Well, ja ne, minna-san. My house is this way," he said, turning right at the fork in the road.
"Ja ne," they replied.
Sakura turned to Li. "Syaoran-kun, I think Matasuki-san is the other guy that's going to butt in. We've gotta stop him before it's too late."
"Sakura-san, don't worry, maybe it won't happen. I mean you saw that Tomoyo-san didn't even really like him."
"Yea, I guess, but the minute she starts to like him, we're going to plan B."
"Plan B? What was plan A?"
"Plan A is to let nature run its course. We'll stick with that for now."
"Okay," he agreed. "But what's plan B then?"
"Plan B is we take matters into our own hands and try to get Eriol-kun and Tomoyo-chan together as much as possible, and keep Matasuki-san away from Tomoyo-chan."
"That should be simple," he replied sarcastically.
"Don't worry, everything will work out. I can feel it."
"Whatever you say, Sakura-san."
They continued walking home.
Tomoyo and Eriol, on the other hand, had stopped at Penguin Park, as decided before school. As usual, Tomoyo sat on her favorite swing and was given a push by Eriol.
"So why did you want to come here today, Eriol-kun?" Tomoyo asked with a hint of concern in her voice.
"I just wanted to talk to you about something," replied with a hint of distress in his voice.
"Daijobu? Is something wrong?"
"Daijobu. It's just that lately, Kaho-san and I are having strife after strife. I don't get it. She's always complaining and picking fights with me. One day she's fine and lovey-dovey, the next, she's raging or being a grouch. Do you have any idea of what I could do to calm her?"
"Well, have you tried sitting down and talking to her?"
"Tried that."
"Have you tried reasoning with her?"
"Yep."
"Have you tried using your charms?"
"Did that too."
"Maybe you two should consult professional help."
"I think that's going to far. We've only been together for about two weeks or so. That stuff is for married couples."
"Well, did you forget an important date? Like your anniversary or her birthday, or something like that?"
He thought for a moment. "Nope. I'm sure I didn't forget something."
"Maybe she wants you to spend more time with her."
"Come to think of it, she did mention something like that before…"
"Then maybe that's it." Tomoyo tried to sound as supportive as possible, but it was tough. She loved him and wanted to be with him, yet here she is, helping him mend his relationship with the other woman. Besides, if Eriol decided to spend more time with Kaho, he'd have less time for her.
"I think it is, but I can't spend every second of my life with her. I have other things to do too. And I've already given her most of my free time." What Eriol didn't realize was that he had, and still was, devoting most of his free time to Tomoyo; not Kaho.
"Eriol-kun, I don't want you two to end your relationship and be unhappy, but maybe you two just need some time alone."
"What do you propose?"
"Well, maybe you two should see other people or take a break from each other. Unless you don't want to!" she quickly added, not wanting to sound as though it were her goal to separate them.
"You know what?"
"Nani?"
"I think you're right. If it hadn't been for you, we'd be broken up already. So I guess Kaho-san and I aren't meant to be together."
"But, will you two be sad?"
"Iie. In fact, I think both of us would be better off if we ended this now." He sounded a little too cheery, but it was fine with Tomoyo, as long as they were happy.
"Are you sure?"
"Hai. I'm very sure. I think I'll talk to her later."
"Okay then, if that's what you want."
"I'm sure that's what I want," Eriol answered. "Kaho-san is too complicated and she expects so much from me. It's hard for me to talk to her about my troubles like I talk to you, and she's always confiding in someone else, rather than me." He paused. "You know, if we weren't best friends, we'd make a pretty good couple."
Tomoyo blushed. "Eriol-kun? I think you just need to rest and think about everything first, before you jump to conclusions."
"Sure."
They continued their conversation, and led it to another subject. Afterwards, they walked home together with a light heart.
Later that day, Eriol had a talk with Kaho and they were officially broken up. It wasn't that bad for them. Kaho had shed many tears, no doubt, but she now knew that she didn't really love Eriol either.
On the other street, Kazki was busy thinking of ways to win Tomoyo's heart. He thought he'd act really sweet and maybe give a bouquet of cherry blossoms the next day, maybe chocolates the next, continue his 'charms', and finally ask her out. If it turned out ok, he was gonna ask her to be his girlfriend, and hopefully for him, she'd say yes.
"You'll be mine soon, Daidouji-san. You'll see," he said aloud to himself in his room.
To be continued…
A/N: So what do you think? Review, Review, and review! ^_^ I know this isn't much of a story yet, but just wait 'til the other chapters come out. Thanks for reading! Ja ne.