Disclaimer: I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura nor its characters. This is a non-profit story written by me and inspired by the characters in the previously aforementioned anime series.
Note: This is from Tomoyo's POV.
Don't Ask by Tomoyo Daidouji
By animefanrk2k
"It's been three years, hasn't it?" I mumbled this to myself, my long, dark hair swaying in the wind from the open window I was in front of. Even this late at night, the streets lights were glaring on everyone below and I could rarely, if ever, make out any of the stars above. That's why I always gazed below. From here, from this fifth story window, I could make out a homeless person sleeping on subway vents, two shady characters at the street corner, and at least five separate piles of garbage. With only this view, I could never fathom how anyone could nickname this city "the capital of the world". Then again, this was my bias, since I preferred Japan. Still, there was a definite comfort I felt here. Despite the view right now, I've already lived here for a full year with those roommates that made me feel welcome. But those roommates were… "Unique," I said to no one in particular, finding it the correct word to describe them.
"What is?" I turned to see one of those "unique" roommates. He was the official "chef" of the house and overall, was probably the one that took care of all of us. Already, I had grown accustomed of thinking of "us" as a group. He had a slender, feminine build to him with light brown hair coming to his shoulders and bright green eyes. Many times, I would mistake him as my best friend back in Japan when I was drowsy. He also claimed I did this when I was drunk, but I refused to acknowledge this embarrassing fact. In any case, that friendly face smiled at me as he made his way into the room and plopped down beside me on my bed. He knew I disliked it when he distracted me from my brooding moments, but he did so just the same, perhaps, to cheer up my spirits a little. "Window gazing again?"
"Yes," I answered simply. This was Aoi. He was also Japanese, but only by blood. His mother was supposedly some upstanding lady who was connected to the Japanese government. In any case, I never really did understand why Aoi lived here in New York. Aoi claimed that he found it interesting to be here. I certainly couldn't doubt that the place was interesting, but then again, Aoi's "interests" were questionable.
For one thing, he had found me of great interest.
"Anyway, Aoi, why are you so late tonight?" I put on a faux pouting act, since he, and for some reason my other roommates, haven't arrived home until now. "I'm going to starve. You shouldn't keep a lady…"
It was then a small box was brought right in my line of vision. "Happy birthday, Tomoyo-kun," Aoi said happily with his usual yet unusual honorific for me. "It's September 3rd, your birthday, correct? I thought a small gift was in order."
I accepted the gift with surprise. I wouldn't have expected a gift or for anyone to celebrate or commemorate my birthday in any way, shape, or form here, especially after I left my friends and family behind. In the first place, I don't even remember telling anyone that my birthday was today.
As Aoi led me towards the apartment's dining room, a small area next to the kitchen that had a table and four chairs, I couldn't stop reminiscing about my last crazy roller coaster of a time before I finally left Tomoeda a year ago. Three years… I already said that before. It was indeed three years since HE had shown up in our lives over there and completely changed everything. To me, Tomoyo Daidouji, he was an enigma that impacted my life like no other individual has done before…
Eriol Hiragizawa…
Chapter 1: It All Began That Winter Day
That winter, I had gone to Narita Airport to greet him alone. Save for Touya-san who had driven me here and was waiting in the car for us, no one had come to greet Eriol Hiragizawa, but myself. It wasn't that none of our friends wanted to meet with a childhood friend. On the contrary, five years had made many of them curious as to how Eriol Hiragizawa was doing and to make up for those lost five years. However, while he was a friend, even friends had to prioritize what was more important. Winter was an inconvenient time for many of us. It was as simple as that.
Eriol Hiragizawa was an elusive friend, in my opinion. While he was close, he was still far. I still felt somewhat annoyed at times that I couldn't catch on to his true nature during the Sakura Card incident. His mask was absolutely flawless. Even now, as he walked towards me with that Kodak camera smile and wheeling the small carry-on suitcase of his, I could tell. Back then and now, that mask showed no weaknesses.
Still, I could very well say the same for myself. "Hiragizawa-kun," I said, as he got closer. Like him, I could perform my duties as a friend and the same smile was on my face.
"Daidouji-san, thank you very much for coming out to greet me," he said, extending his hand.
I met his hand with my own in a handshake. "It's been so long. How have you been, Hiragizawa-kun? How were things in England and how is Mizuki-sensei?" I smoothly responded to his greeting with my own, as if we were two business professionals meeting at the airport. I would say that would not be far from the truth. In reality, Eriol Hiragizawa and Tomoyo Daidouji were two people with a professional relationship that happened to coincide with one another due to a certain mistress of the Sakura Cards. Even now, I would not have come out if it weren't for my bubbly and oh so cute friend's pleas that Eriol would be "sad" if no one were here to meet him. I highly doubted the validity of that argument since I highly doubted Eriol Hiragizawa could feel sadness, but if it was for Sakura-chan's smile, I was willing to comply.
"About that," Eriol began, the two of us now walking towards the exit of the airport. "I'll explain later." A strange response. However, it didn't bother me in the slightest. It wasn't as if I was actually curious about Eriol Hiragizawa's life, personal or otherwise, but common courtesy dictated that I act cordially and not pry if it was specifically requested that I don't. "But how is everyone here? How is Sakura-san?"
I wish I could answer the same way that Eriol Hiragizawa just did. To begin with, the fact that she wasn't here would usually set off alarm bells a few kilometers away, maybe to the point where a secret underground organization under Tokyo would mobilize. However, the reason why everyone's favorite heroine, Sakura-chan, wasn't here were far from that. "Everyone's doing fine. Sakura-chan left with Li-kun for their annual visit to Hong Kong a few days ago." Syaoran Li's claims that the dates of said vacation not be changeable due to him having bought the tickets months in advance were to me, his small act of defiance to pay back Eriol Hiragizawa for all the teasing that he was the butt end of years ago. While that was all fun and games, Sakura-chan asked her best friend to go in her place.
And here I was, passing time with small talk with one Eriol Hiragizawa. Sakura-chan, I hope you're happy and not only because you're with Li-kun.
"So I heard," Eriol responded. 'Then don't ask,' I thought to myself without showing it on my face. "But once again, thank you very much for coming out to get me."
"It's no trouble at all, Hiragizawa-kun. We are friends, after all." Once again, it was a picture perfect duo with equally picture perfect smiles and picture perfect masks. I think that if either of us were into acting, we'd have win an Oscar award by now.
And with that, we arrived at the exit and to Touya-san waiting in his car.
"So where will you be staying?" I asked this to Eriol Hiragizawa. The car was a little cramped in the backseat, but wasn't uncomfortable, except that I was now in close proximity with the man himself. I would have taken the front seat, but it was a small mess of textbooks, job applications, and such, things that Touya Kinomoto deemed necessary and carried around with him at all times. I was not one to judge nor dissuade older brothers in their pursuit of fulfilling college lives and careers. That was my excuse anyway.
"Ah, there actually happens to be another one of Clow Reed's mansions that are in Tomoeda." Ignoring the convenience of such a thing happening, Eriol Hiragizawa calmly gave the address to Touya-san. Afterwards, he turned to me, seemingly eager to keep up our small talk. At the very least, I noted that his Japanese hasn't diminished at all, since the last time I saw him. "I'm surprised that Keroberos decided not to come."
I let a small giggle out at this. I already had expected such a question and thus, was prepared with a response and the aforementioned giggle. "Well, I told Kero-chan that he would probably cause a scene at the airport. You know how he can't sit still for long and I'm sure he would cause a ruckus. He complained a little before I bribed him with some cake." The Tomoyo Daidouji cake is said to be so effective on the guardian of the Sakura Cards that it could probably make him turn on his master. At least, that's what Sakura-chan said to me jokingly. Speaking of Kero-chan, that brought up another thought. "I'm equally surprised that you didn't come back with Akizuki-san or Spinel-san, Hiragizawa-kun." Spinel Sun aside, I could not imagine Nakuru Akizuki missing out on the opportunity to bother both Touya-san and Yukito-san after all these years.
Eriol laughed. "Well, if it's Spinel Sun, he should be meeting me at the mansion. I had him arrive earlier to prepare the place." His mention of there being another mansion of Clow Reed's conveniently located in Tomoeda was once again thrown into suspicion, but I once again let it slide. "As for Ruby Moon, she won't be joining us. She wanted to stay back and finish her studies at Cambridge University."
There was a small bit of surprise value in that last statement for Touya-san. I could see it from how his eyes suddenly shifted onto Eriol Hiragizawa through the rearview mirror. "That Akizuki said that?" It seemed Touya-san was indeed curious.
Eriol Hiragizawa smiled at Touya-san. "Oh, do not worry. It's just that Ruby Moon has finally begun to seriously consider the future. Ruby Moon told me 'I want to stay here. I like this world and the people'. She said you and Yue are an interest to her." Touya-san let a small gulp escape his lips and he went back to concentrating on the road.
I let a small giggle out and faced Eriol Hiragizawa. "It seems that everyone is in good spirits." It was here that I swore for the briefest of moments there was a look on Eriol that looked as if it were real emotion. At least, that was what it seemed like. The moment passed swiftly and I had to wonder if I had ever saw it at all when gazing upon that perfect smile mask again.
"Yes, it seems that everyone is in good spirits, Daidouji-san."
We arrived at the esteemed second mansion of Clow Reed that also happened to be located in Tomoeda. At least, that is what I want to say, but it really looked just like the mansion that Eriol used to live in five years before. The location was different than the first one, since the first one's location was still an amusement park and quite the successful one now. I briefly wondered if there were more of these mansions just lying around in Tomoeda, but abandoned the thought. If this were really Eriol Hiragizawa's doing, then he could easily make a "third" or "fourth" legacy of Clow Reed appear here in Tomoeda that we all happened to miss despite being residents here since the days of our youth. He was a crafty magician, at least. "This is the place," Eriol Hiragizawa said pleasantly, almost as if he were inviting either Touya-san or I to comment on this mansion. Touya-san too could tell the likeness was just too coincidental. He wisely chose to stay in the car while I stepped out with the suspect.
In any case, I wouldn't fall for such a blatant landmine asking to attempt a punchline against this man. He was an equal to me in all aspects of hiding true intent. "It certainly has a nostalgic feeling to it, Hiragizawa-kun," I said, mask in place.
Eriol Hiragizawa didn't seem bothered by this, but then again, he never seemed bothered by anything, save the time he apologized for putting Sakura-chan through that ordeal where he made Sakura-chan turn all of the Clow Cards into Sakura Cards. "If you want, you can come in for some tea."
"Another day, perhaps," I answered smoothly, if you don't mind me saying so. "I'm sure you still have to settle in and all. Plus, the flight's a long one, Hiragizawa-kun. So we'll do it another day."
I thought Eriol Hiragizawa would make a sly retort like 'oh, I'm already settled in', but it seemed that we would continue such odd word games at anther time. At least, that's what I thought as he made his way towards the front door of the mansion. Instead, right before he closed the door, he surprised me. "Then I'll look forward to it, Daidouji-san." With that, he disappeared inside and closed the door to the mansion.
"Eh?" Right there, he really did surprise me. That was definitely not an Eriol Hiragizawa-like gesture. I didn't realize it at the time, but this was the defining moment that would start everything.
Author's Notes:
And thus, the first chapter in… well, more than one chapter, is completed. If you could not tell, this is going to be a ExT fanfic, so if for whatever reason you were oblivious to that despite there being only two characters talking for most of it, then you have now been fairly told.
If you haven't noticed, Tomoyo's thoughts are a little more… sarcastic than maybe what you're used to. Essentially, the idea is that a more grown up Tomoyo wouldn't be all flowers and kindness. She is her own person with her own problems, but in the end, she's an extraordinarily good person despite her own thoughts and such. Because she is such a strong character, I want this fanfic to shine with her own opinions and at times, snappy comments on various situations.
Finally, if you haven't done the math yet (or didn't care for that matter), +5 years mean that they're around the 16-17-age range, so their second to last year of high school. And for those of you who are wondering, the prologue takes place about two years after that, on Tomoyo's 19th birthday.
Questions, comments, and criticisms are all welcome. I'll take them in stride.
Until the next chapter,
animefanrk2k
