"Just for once, Eriol… I want you to tell me the truth."

He averted his eyes from her and sat awkwardly on the sofa.

"What do you mean? I never… lied to you."

"There you go again. You've been telling me lies all along." She was surprised of her own voice, surprised that she can still talk audibly, with all the pain and tightness she feels in her chest… in her heart.

"Just tell me the truth. Please."

She kneeled in front of him and took his hands in hers. This simple gesture alone made him look at her in the eyes.

"Do you love me?"

He winced inwardly, knowing very well he didn't have the heart to lie to her and he didn't have the heart tell her the truth either. He tried, he really did. He tried to pretend to himself that he loves her. But all he can say was…

"Tomoyo… I…"

He had the grace to look regretful and miserable as she stared at his eyes.

"I… I need you."

Letting go of his hands, she let the tears drop one by one on her dress as she hung her head to the side in shame. She knew right from the start that she alone is not enough for him to feel happy again, and for her to feel happy again as well.

But still, she persisted, risking a big part of her life, and most importantly, risking her whole heart.

She laughed bitterly. He can only stare at her in guilt.

"So… I'm still not enough for you to love again, aren't I?"

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I Didn't Mean to Make You Mine

By: -strictly ext only-

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Hiiragizawa Eriol placed the bouquet of red roses in front of the tombstone of the person he once loved.

Then he sighed, gazing at the red roses that he had placed there.

For him, red roses just don't suit a grave, a complete contrast. Roses are flowers that represent love, a love that's alive and unending. Roses' petals are soft and easy to draw. But the thorns… one can consider them as a rose's flaws, but some think that these thorns add beauty to roses. And thorns protect them from wicked people who intend to pick them up.

Sweet but dangerous.

Kaho…

But red roses reminded him of her.

He fingered her name, embedded on the stone. Mizuki Kaho… she died at a young age of twenty seven. Just like Kinomoto Nadeshiko, the Card Mistress' mother. Kaho was a strong and independent woman who believed that she can follow her dreams. Everyone does, don't they?

But her… she may have achieved it, but only for a short while. For her life was taken earlier than expected. Eriol can still remember how his guardian, Nakuru knocked frantically on his bedroom door, bringing him the most horrible news that he had ever heard in his life.

She told him bluntly, even though she didn't mean to do so, that Mizuki Kaho died in a car accident. She was supposed to go to Italy, for she loved traveling very much. Her dreams brought her to her death.

And he could not bring himself to believe Nakuru's words.

"Eriol-sama…" Nakuru choked down a sob.

Eriol, eyes wide and shaking, stared blankly on the carpeted floor. Kaho… dead?

But she was still here a while ago… she told me that she loves me… she told me she'd be back in a month…

No.

He bolted from his red armchair, grabbing Nakuru by the shoulder. She stared at him with frightened eyes, tears spilling down her cheeks. She had never seen her master act like a madman, and he never hurt her or Spinel.

"Nakuru… you're lying, right? Y-You're just kidding."

Eriol let go of her and pointed a trembling finger at the door. "She's behind this door, right? You two are playing a trick on me again."

He forced an easy laugh. "I tell you, it's not a really good joke." He shook his head slightly, as if disappointed.

Nakuru dropped to her knees, crying harder. "I'm sorry, Eriol-sama. I'm telling the truth."

"But she was still here this morning! S-She can't be…"

He punched the wall behind him, different thoughts of her fleeting in his mind. All he could think of is her smile as she held the handle of the door on her way out, her reddish auburn hair hanging past her shoulders.

"I love you, Eriol…"

"Eriol… Eriol…"

He didn't even notice that a tear had fallen to his cheek.

"I love you…"

"NO!"

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt something wet fall on his cheek.

It's raining.

Smiling slightly at the tombstone, he stood up and walked briskly to his car. He glanced at the other tombstones that he passes by, some of them, he noticed, were children. He suddenly wondered why children can die at an early age…

He shook his head lightly to let go of the thoughts. He tends to muse over things like this, and this isn't the time to do so.

Better go home before Ruby Moon strangles me again…

He chuckled quietly at the thought. He and his guardians had become closer after Kaho passed away. The first few months after she left were hard for him, and he thanked his guardians for always being there, comforting him even though he acted a bit harshly to them.

They understood him in a way friends usually do.

And Ruby Moon and Spinel are his only real friends. And Kaho too, of course.

Standing in front of his car, he fumbled for his car key in his pocket.

Only to find out it's not there.

He looked back to where he had walked, particularly at the ground. It might have fallen on his way to his car. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture made when he's quite nervous.

If only he could make it levitate to his way.

It had been a long time since he last used his powers, and besides, he had given half of it to Fujitaka. He abandoned being the reincarnation of the most powerful mage in the world, in exchange of living as ordinary human beings do.

It was what… It was what Kaho advised him to do.

He looked up at the sky. It was starting to rain harder than before. He really had to find his car key, or else… How could he go home?

"I believe this is yours?"

He looked down, startled, seeing a pale hand holding his car key.

"Ah, yes. Thank…" His sentence trailed off as he turned to look at his life saver.

Her eyes have the most beautiful shade of amethyst, twinkling slightly as she smiled at him. Black hair tumbled down past her shoulders, curling just at her waist. Her fair skin was shadowed by the white umbrella above her, and her petite form is clad in a pink satin chemise and black pants. She was pretty tall, nearly as tall as him, partly because of the high-heeled sandals she's wearing.

"…you."

The woman chuckled as he gaped at her.

She took his hand and placed the car key in his open palm. The sudden contact stiffened the both of them and she stared confusedly in the man's eyes.

She felt as if she had met him before and not just now.

His eyes are blue… blue as sapphires.

Where had she seen those eyes before?

Gripping her purse, she racked her brain for an answer. But as she was getting at it, she then realized that the man in front of her was already soaking wet.

She moved the umbrella so that both of them would be sheltered from the rain.

"Thanks."

Taking off his glasses, Eriol pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the fogged up glasses. He didn't notice that the woman he is with was looking intently at him.

She jolted, feeling the surge of familiarity that confirmed her instincts upon seeing his azure eyes closer that seemed even bluer without his glasses.

His eyes are blue, his hair, the same shade, and he was taller than her, probably past six feet. His skin is as pale as hers, and he was wearing a white turtleneck and black khakis.

She only frowned more as she realized that his taste of clothing is as awfully familiar as his face.

It unnerved her to no end. She felt as if she had to know who this person is.

"Are you… are you alone?"

"Yes." Eriol put back his glasses and nodded to the direction of his sleek black car. "You want a ride? Since you gave back my car key, I wanted to repay you. If you don't mind…"

She shook her head lightly with a smile. "I brought a car with me, you see."

Eriol nodded slowly. "Oh."

"Um, this is a silly question but… Have we met before?"

Eriol raised an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side. "I… I don't know, but I also think you are familiar. Is it okay for me to ask your name?"

She smiled. "I—"

Both of them stared at her purse, where the ringing was coming form. She smiled apologetically. "Wait a second. Could you hold this for me please?"

Eriol took the handle of the umbrella from her.

"Sorry." She said before flipping her phone open. "Hello?"

Eriol looked around as he waited for her to finish her phone call. Come to think of it, she's right. They really have met somewhere before. If only he could remember…

He glanced at her profile—she seems to be the same age as him. And there were only few people he knew among his age.

And with that pretty face of hers, he was sure he would have remembered it clearly.

"Ah, yes. I'll be there. Just give me ten minutes, Aya."

She turned to him abruptly.

"I'm sorry, but I really have to go. It's an emergency."

Eriol turned to look at her, but she was already on her way to her car. He looked at his hand. He was still holding the umbrella.

"Wait! Your umbrella, Miss—"

The car had already driven off.

He sighed, looking up at the umbrella hovering above his head. So much for that. Getting inside his car and placing the wet umbrella on the seat beside him, he stared at it for a while before starting the engine and driving off.

He thought about her all the way to his house.

-----

"Aya, what happened? Why the sudden meeting?"

Daidouji Tomoyo sat on her desk to fix some things before going to the emergency meeting that Aya, her secretary, told her.

Aya was a petite lady, with dark brown hair; cut layered to her shoulders, and has black eyes. Tomoyo is very fond of her, because she thought that Aya is just painstakingly similar to Sakura.

Aya fumbled for something in the piles of folders on Tomoyo's desk. She faced her and smiled apologetically. Tomoyo instantly knew what that meant.

"He forced you again to tell me it's a meeting, but he really just wanted to talk to me alone."

Aya nodded frantically. "Yes, yes. It's about your mother's will again."

"Again? After all these months he's still thinking about that?" Tomoyo frowned. Hayashi Shinji was the former Vice President of Finance of her mother's company, until Tomoyo came and took his position. Shinji, at twenty six, was a formidable man; the employees tend to be scared of him. But Sonomi thought that he did a great job as a VP, so he was included in her will, even if Tomoyo was against it.

Her mother died nine months ago, leaving all her assets and the toy company to her. Tomoyo was never really ecstatic about it, but Shinji sure was. There was a condition in her will that Shinji will be back as the VP of Finance, and Tomoyo, of course, the CEO. Tomoyo hated it, but all she can do is follow her mother's last wishes. She silently wondered why a stranger like Shinji was included in her will.

Up to now, Shinji is insistent that there is something wrong in the will. But Tomoyo knew he just wanted to take the company from her.

And she isn't so stupid to allow him to do so.

"I'm really sorry, Tomoyo-san."

"Don't worry. I'll leave now, before he gets mad at me again. He always does, anyway." Tomoyo smiled at Aya before leaving the room.

"Good luck, Tomoyo-san."

"Yeah, I'll be needing it."

"For the last time, I tell you, there is nothing wrong with Mother's will! Why can't you just accept the fact that she had given it to me and not to you?"

Tomoyo had already stood up from her seat. She was fuming in anger at the guy. He didn't even have the authority to scold her, for heaven's sake! She was the CEO and he was just the VP, not the other way around.

Shinji chuckled mockingly. He also stood up, pulling lightly at his tie. He decided to mock her even more. Their so-called rivalry would soon get into his nerves, and he didn't want to make a bad impression to Sonomi, if by any chance, she could see them.

"So, the Daidouji heiress also loses her patience! You were known for being patient and kind to everyone in this company." His voice was obviously full of contempt.

"But why won't you grant my request?" He continued in a different tone, a dangerous tone that offered a tense atmosphere in the room.

Tomoyo, on the other hand, was shaking in anger. This jerk just won't give up! How tempting it is to send him flying outside the window. Why can't he just accept reality?

She frowned. Of course. Shinji wanted to disgrace her reputation to the whole company.

Sighing, she tried to stop herself from throwing the pen she was holding at his head. It had been very tempting from the start. "I already showed you the original copy of Mother's will. Just give it up."

With that, she left the room, ignoring them when he tried to call her, saying that the so-called "meeting" isn't finished yet. But for her, it was already finished. Why would they still talk about it anyway?

She didn't choose to be in this position, now why did her mother leave her with this? It wasn't her choice, at all. Her dream was to be a fashion designer, not to be a CEO of a toy company. She didn't want any rivals. She just wanted to enjoy what she's doing. Now why can't she be given that?

Sighing again, she headed to the cafeteria. She needed a break from all of this.

---

"Well then, how did your trip go?"

Eriol smiled as he sipped from his cup of tea, amused by the couple that sat across the table. It had been a very long time since he last saw them, more than nine years even. And look at them now, all grown up, happy, and will be married soon.

"Oh, it was okay. Except, the stewardess was ogling him like there's no tomorrow! I could do nothing but glare at her; I hated the way she looked at him."

Eriol nodded his head in understanding. People change, but maybe in their case, just a bit. Okay, that's an understatement. Maybe they hadn't changed at all.

"But nonetheless, I trust him, so it's okay."

Eriol chuckled. Or maybe they really had changed for real.

"By the way, does Daidouji-san know that you two are here?"

"Oh, no. I didn't inform her that we're coming here. Why, have you met her lately?"

Eriol shook his head. "But I'd like to."

"WHAT? I'm warning you, Hiiragizawa, don't you dare harm her or you'll be sorry."

Eriol only smiled saccharinely as if to annoy him. "Of course I wouldn't…"

And to make things worse…

"… my kawaii descendant."

Oh, he had mentioned the taboo word.

Said 'descendant' frowned and prepared to throw his fist to his face. If there was one thing he isn't really good at, it's controlling his patience, especially when it comes to the reincarnation of the most powerful mage in the whole wide universe (he really, really hated to admit that to himself), Hiiragizawa Eriol, the weasel.

"Syaoran!"

Kinomoto Sakura pushed her fiancée back to his seat and held his hand. This seemed to calm him down, his fists loosening and his shoulders relaxing slightly. Nonetheless, he still glared at Eriol.

Sakura decided that it's best to change the subject, since the two men are having a heavy staring contest, and she didn't want any trouble happening while they're at the restaurant, it will attract people's attention.

"So… how have you been doing, Eriol-kun? How's Mizuki-sensei?"

That question alone made Eriol's eyes darken and his shoulder tensed. He shifted in his seat, gazing outside the window and constructing the answer to Sakura's question with much more uncertainty.

It had just been nine months, and he realized just now that he hadn't remembered to inform them. But they should know, of course. There's no reason in hiding it. Why would he?

It's just that it's hard to say.

Unintentionally, he smiled weakly. He meant to paste a fake smile again, the thing that he usually does when he literally wanted to hide his real thoughts. "She passed away… nine months ago."

That was all he had to say. Sakura and Syaoran gaped at him in shock, wondering if he would suddenly laugh and point at them, telling them he's just kidding.

But the fact that he sounded so remorseful and sad made them believe and feel the same way that he's feeling. Mizuki Kaho had been a part of their life after all.

Even Syaoran had the decency to feel depressed.

"Is that so? I'm sorry…"

Sakura glanced at Eriol as he took a sip from his cup of tea, obviously trying to shake away the thoughts off his head. The couple decided it's best to leave the subject; it only made the tense atmosphere thicken.

"Ah, Eriol-kun, we're planning to visit Tomoyo. I haven't seen her in years and we have a lot to catch up on. You want to come with us?"

Sakura put on her most cheerful smile; it's the least she could do for now. She would have to ask someone who knows about Mizuki-sensei's death, but that would have to wait. Now, all she could do was to cheer him up.

She nudged Syaoran, sending him a look that told him: 'I'll let you know what's the real meaning of pain in the ass if you don't cooperate,' or something like that.

Syaoran stood up and placed his hands inside his pockets. "Hiiragizawa, sulking is prohibited while inside my car. You really have to change your depressing mood before we go visit Tomoyo."

Sakura fought the urge to laugh. What Syaoran said wasn't really comforting, but in Syaoran language, maybe that's the most comforting he could tell Eriol. After all, he is listed as number one in the Eriol Hiiragizawa hate list.

Eriol stared at Syaoran amusedly for a moment before looking at Sakura who was smiling at him and then with a shrug, stood up as well. "If you say so, my kawaii descendant."

Syaoran shuddered at the name he called him, but since it was a sign that he's finally back to normal again, he ignored it and placed a wad of cash on the table.

Sakura smiled at him. Turning to her, Syaoran whispered in a monotone voice, "I like him more when he's depressed."

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A/N: It's been so long since I posted an ExT fanfic. I love writing one-shots you see, and SasuSaku is slowly getting my attention. But I thought that since I improved a bit, I might as well post a fic. I missed Eriol and Tomoyo romance, you know. And I also missed being able surf the net every single day. I wasn't able to for a month! For "Prank" readers, I'll be posting my update in a week. Just wait patiently... Sorry. "

Okay, I'm off.

This is -strictly ext only-, shutting up after some sensible babbling… zzZzz…

PLEASE REVIEW.