Uhhh.. I know that not many of you read my stories. but still. gomen 4 not
updating. been slacking off cuz I jus came bac from vacation. k now. let's get bac 2
work.

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or any characters and yadda yadda yadda.


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'-Thoughts
"-Talking
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Hidden Self
By Violet Karuto

Chapter 2
A Day at School




It was still dawn at the Tomoeda area when Tomoyo woke up, sweating. She just
had the nightmare again. It's the 4th time this month and she's on the brink of sane. 'No,
no not this again... I can't take it anymore...'She shut her eyes tightly as she remembered
the scene in the hospital.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-FlashBack.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-


Tomoyo stared worriedly at the operation room; they have been in there for like 2
hours now. Her bodyguards surround her like always but they all have solemn faces on
thinking about their mistress, both of them. Finally the operation sign was taking off as
nurses rushed out the body and the doctor was standing defeated in front of the group.

"I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do"

Right there and then, Tomoyo's heart stopped so suddenly that she sat down hard
on the bench. Her face paled as she stared onto the ground murmuring to herself, the
others looked at her in sympathy and stayed silent. 'No, no... this is not true' her head keep
repeating as her mind try to keep a hold on reality. 'It's not suppose to end this way' she
fought back the tears that was swelling up in her eyes. 'No, not now' she thought, 'not ever'.
She had promised herself not to cry earlier that day before going to the hospital, no
matter what the results is. She's never cried in front of people and especially not in front
of her mother for she wanted to show her that she can be strong without her. She stood up
with shaky feet and thanked the doctor placing on one of her smiling masks, but
somewhere along the edges, its cracking.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.FlashBack Ends-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-


After that, the following months are like hell to Tomoyo. She had shut herself in
her room, avoiding as many people as possible. Sakura called for straight 4 days after
hearing what happened but she ignored them all. She knew she'll hurt her but she's just
too vulnerable right now to talk to anyone; especially her, because she knew she's going
to break down in front of her the moment she opened her mouth. Even though her maids
and bodyguards came occasionally to talk comforting words to her, she's not taking in
any of it but she still thanked them anyway. 'They don't know what I'm going through
right now she thought bitterly, and how dare they come up to me pretending to know
everything when they don't even know the real me?' She had to laugh at that. 'Yes, the real
me behind the perfect mask. I'm just getting too good at it, concealing myself from
everyone'. The rest of the night she slept holding herself tightly.


Tomoyo jolted herself back to reality as she sat up and looks at the clock beside
her. It was 6:30 in the morning; it's time to get up. After taking the morning shower and
getting dressed in the school uniform, she went downstairs for breakfast. Even though it's
6:30 in the morning, all the maids are hurrying around getting ready for a new day. All
the people under the roof know the habit of their mistress to wake up early. So they got
up extra early to prepare the house for the mistress.


Tomoyo strode to the kitchen and sat down at the long dinning table waiting.
Almost immediately, the maids hurried to get the breakfast to her table and set the
silverware ready.


"Ohayo Tomoyo-sama," said one of the maids while placing a napkin on
Tomoyo's lap.


"Ohayo Kotora-san," replied Tomoyo cheerfully while looking at her.


Breakfast has been a quiet one since she's the only one there; not did it matter
since her mother was always away. Tomoyo had gotten used to it and actually enjoyed
the morning peace alone with her thoughts. She had gotten over her some weeks after her
depression, not that she would call it that. And her heart had begun to recover a little bit
though not all together and probably never will be.


She gently dabbed the napkin at the sides of her mouth and stood up, took her
backpack, and began to walk towards the door. Instantly, there were two lines of maids
standing by the door bowing and greeted her a farewell. Tomoyo got into the limousine
her bodyguard warmed up for her and began the journey to school. Yup, just another
normal day in her life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
School

Tomoyo had arrived early, she knew, and walked into the deserted halls of school.
There were occasionally a gardener here or a custodian there, but they never paid
attention to her for she's always seen walking around school early morning. Tomoyo
loved the school in the morning for it was peace and quiet and she owned the music room
all to herself. School had become like her second home since who knows when and she
especially like the music room for Tomoyo sang in there for the first time of her life in
kindergarten. This is the place to go when she has problems to get it out. Every morning,
she would walk around the halls thinking about all that's happened to her ever since that
fateful day. Starting the morning ritual, she started towards the music room and as she
near it, she could hear music coming out. Curiously, she slid the door open only to reveal
someone playing the piano. Getting a better look, Tomoyo went in and shut the door as
quietly as she can and walk towards the piano. She gasped silently as she saw Eriol
Hiirigazawa sitting right there, in front of her, playing the piano in the early morning.
Suddenly, Eriol's attention was snapped back into reality as he sensed another presence
in the room and saw Tomoyo gaped at him in shock. He could only smirk to himself.


"Ohayo Daidouji-san! My, what a beautiful morning don't you agree?"


'It would be if YOU weren't here' Tomoyo, angry with him for ruining the morning
peace of the school.


"Indeed it is Hiirigazawa-kun. And what, may I ask, are you doing here so early
in the morning?" She's starting to get irritated.


"Why, same as you my dear," Tomoyo was a little confused at what he just said
and was aware that he might knows something. So she gave him a baffled look. Looking
at her, he continued, "just enjoying the peace and quiet I guess. Isn't that what you're
here for" He had a sly grin on his face which went unnoticed by Tomoyo.


"Well of course, what else would I be here this early?" She said hesitantly still
unsure on how to get him out of her sanctuary. 'Well, at least he's half-right'. "How did
you know that I come here every morning? I don't remember seeing you here." She looks
skeptically at him and he just shrugs it off.


"I didn't say that you came here every morning and I just happened to be early
today." He smiled slightly at her while she had a hint of red on her cheeks for realizing
her mistake. Gotcha.


"Oh, ok I-uh-um yea. You played piano wonderfully." Said Tomoyo trying to
change the subject. The fact that she was actually stuttering was quite interesting to her.
'Hmm... I have to think about this'


"Thank you, Daidouji-san, it was quite a coincidence that I stumble upon this
room. So you come here every morning? What else do you do? I'm quite interested"
Eriol, amused, on how far he could push her.


"Yes, I-uh" she was stopped short when they heard the bell ring. Glad she was
saved by the bell; Tomoyo bid her farewells and hurried out of the room, leaving a
snickering Eriol.


"Yes, quite interested indeed."


'Who does that Hiirigazawa thinks he is?' Thought Tomoyo as she stormed down
the hallway, 'teasing me like that and being in my sacred place without my permission!
Great he just ruined ANOTHER of day of my life...and have to be right after my monthly
nightmare. I just can't take anymore of this'. Tomoyo shut her eyes and tried to get all the
thoughts organized. 'Not now, Tomoyo, you're in school!' With that, she let out a sigh and
opened the door to her classroom; plastered a smile on her face upon entering.


"Ohayo Tomoyo-chan!" greeted a cheerful Chiharu as Tomoyo walked into the
classroom.


"Ohayo Chiharu-chan" said Tomoyo sitting down in her seat.


"You're later then usual Tomoyo-chan, usually you're here even before the
teachers! Anything wrong?" asked a curious Chiharu.


"Oh nothing's wrong" Tomoyo laughed nervously, "I just had some-uh-some
technical difficulties with my car."


"Hey! Did you know that a long time ago, the people who created cars are
actually doctors?" said Takashi who suddenly sprang out of nowhere, "and-" a mallet
came flying from a corner towards him and hit his head before he finished; a fed up
Chiharu standing over an unconscious Takashi.


"Well, that takes care of our problem, so, who are you going with to the winter
dance?" asked Chiharu as she dragged Takashi's body aside.


"Oh, well, I don't think I'm going with anyone and besides, it's like a month
away."


"What do you mean `you're not going with anyone'? There's like a dozen love
letters at your desk each day! There's gotta be someone!" exclaimed a surprise Chiharu.


"Well, I'm not interested at anyone of them. Actually, I'm not interested in boys,
period." Replied a definite Tomoyo


"Not even me?" asked a husky voice from behind which Tomoyo knew so well.


"And what makes you think I'm interested in you Hiirigazawa-kun?" said an
irritated Tomoyo without turning around.


"Well first of all," said Eriol as he step closer to Tomoyo, "my charming looks
that makes half of school's female population drool?" Feeling uncomfortable, Tomoyo
backed away a little.


"Ha! Ha! Very funny," Tomoyo said sarcastically, "I'm going with no one
and that's that." She went back to her desk and sat down trying not to stare at those azure
eyes anymore than she have to.


Eriol chuckled slightly and sat himself down, as well, behind Tomoyo vowing to
annoy her one last time before this day ends. Oh, this is going to be a long day.

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a/n: SooOOOOO?? How you like it? I kno I kno, its short but.. well I'ver been preparing
for skool and I have to clean up my room!! It's a nitemare come tru I tell ya! So
pleeeeeeeeeeeeeez review no matter how bad the story is! Well Jaa for now~