Disclaimer: I don't own CCS at all. Nor do I own the song 'Time of Your Life'. That belongs to Green Day.
A/N: Welcome readers. Thank you to all of you who've stayed with me. It really means a lot to me. This is the last chapter to this fic, so really read, enjoy, and review! Love you all, ja! ^_^
~*Until it was Too Late*~
by Cerulean Blue
Chp 4: Endings and Beginnings
After the congenial night with Eriol, Tomoyo began to question her relationship with Kazki. How come I never felt this good after a date with Kazki-kun? Not that I just had a date with Eriol-kun or anything…but wait. I have to stay true to Kazki-kun. I can't hurt him. Not after everything he's done for me. He can be sweet too She looked at the clock. 1:00 AM. I'd better get to sleep if I'm going to be decent for school tomorrow!
She went to sleep and had dreams of Eriol and Kazki. But whenever Kazki appeared in her dreams, something bad happened and it turned into a nightmare. She woke up with a sweat and sat bolt up.
She was breathing heavily. What do these dreams mean? Is Kazki-kun evil or something? I doubt it though. And whenever Eriol-kun shows up, my dreams blossom into a pleasant one… She looked at the clock. 3:30 AM. This is so confusing! @_@ Oh well. I guess I'll figure it out in the morning
The next morning, Tomoyo woke up late and rushed to school, which wasn't like her at all. The always punctual Tomoyo waking up late? It can't be…but it was.
She ran to the gate, bending down and out of breath.
"Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan. Woke up late this morning?"
She looked up. "Ohayo_Eriol_kun. HaiI_wokeup_late_today," she choked between breaths.
"Gomen nasai, Tomoyo-chan. I shouldn't have kept you out so late last night."
"No! It's not that. I just couldn't sleep, that's all. Don't be sorry. It was fun."
"You're too kind. Come on, we still have time for one song before class." He extended his hand for her to hold. Grasping his warm hand, they walked to the music room.
"What shall we play today?"
"Hmm. What about 'Time of Your Life' by Green Day?" suggested Tomoyo. "And we don't really need the guitar part that much, right? But it would sound better with it though—"
Eriol cut her off. "Okay. You know the lyrics, right?"
"Yep. Start playing."
Eriol skillfully glided his hands across the keys, projecting each note perfectly. Tomoyo accompanied beautifully as well on vocals. (I know it's not really their style but it's a good song. And no, Tomoyo didn't cuss in the beginning.)
~(f***)
Another turning point a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go
So make the best of this test and don't ask why
It's not a question but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
So take the photographs and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life~
Tomoyo sang nicely, making a fab female version of the song.
When they finished, a figure leaning on the frame of the door applauded. "Beautiful, beautiful."
"Arigatou," they replied together. Kazki winced when they did this. Why do they always say the same thing together? It's getting annoying and freaky he thought. But he brushed it off and turned to Tomoyo.
"Tomoyo-san?"
"Nani?"
"I'd like to talk to you after school. We'll talk on the way home when I drive you."
"Okay. Is something wrong?"
"No. We just need to talk. It's important, so don't forget."
"Okay…" She was worried. Something told her that he had bad news.
The day went by as usual again. Everyone had a nice day, but something that wasn't very nice was about to happen to Tomoyo. After school, she met Kazki at the front of the school. They got in the car, and were off to her mansion.
"Um, Tomoyo-san?" Kazki began uncertainly.
"Nani?" Tomoyo asked.
"I don't love you anymore."
"Nani?! Doshite?!" You can't just start a sentence with that with a girl! He pulled the car over in a parking space so they could talk.
"I just like you as a friend."
"Demo…demo…" she paused. "Kimi wo aishiteiru. And how can you start off with such a sentence?"
"Gomen nasai, I just wanted to get to the point, Tomoyo-san. Demo…watashi…watashi…I don't love you. To tell you the truth, I think I've mistaken friendship as love the whole time."
Those words tore her heart into a million irreparable pieces. "Demo, kimi wo aishiteiru…"
"Gomen nasai."
"Wakarimashita, Kazki-kun. I hope you find someone else, whom you truly love and be very happy with her." Tomoyo's eyes became blank and dark, welling up with tears as she made for the door to exit the vehicle with her now ex-boyfriend in it. "Ja ne, Kazki-kun."
"Tomoyo-san, get back in the car. I'll drop you off at your house."
"Iie. I'll to call my mom to pick me up. She's on vacation this week, anyway."
"Tomoyo-san, let me give you a lift."
"Iie. I'm going to call my mother."
She stepped out of the automobile, ignoring his calls.
"Tomoyo-san!" he yelled inside the car. Sighing, he said to himself, "Alright then. I guess she'll be okay." With that, he drove away, leaving Tomoyo alone on the sidewalk. She picked up her cell phone and dialed her mansion.
"Moshi moshi, Daidouji residence. Daidouji Sonomi speaking."
"Moshi moshi Okkasan."
"Tomoyo-san? Daijobu?"
"Daijobu. Could you just pick me up at the Penguin Park?"
"Sure, but weren't you with Kazki-san?"
"Hai, demo…he dumped me…in more ways than one."
She gasped. "What happened? I thought you two love each other—"
"So did I," Tomoyo cut in.
"And how could he leave you in the park like this? The least he could do was give you a ride home," Sonomi continued.
"Could you just come and get me please? I don't want to talk about it. I'm fine."
"Sure. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes, okay? Be careful."
"Okay. Arigatou Okkasan."
"Ja ne."
"Ja."
Tomoyo hung up and walked to the Penguin Park, which was only a block away. She sat in her favorite swing and let the breeze sweep up her lustrous hair. She decided to contemplate about what had just happened. More tears welled up in her dark violet eyes, but she refused to cry.
I've got to stay strong. I'm a Daidouji. I can handle this
An hour passed by. She decided to call her mother's phone but there was no answer. She then called her mansion, but the line was busy, and it was too late to walk home alone. So she just stayed there and thought and thought until the clouds above her began to turn gray. They joined together, forming a gray sky. She looked up at the gloomy sky.
Oh, no. What if it begins to rain? Oh well, this weather is perfect for how I feel right now anyway
Then it began to sprinkle lightly, creating spots all around the ground below. Slowly, it rained harder and harder until Tomoyo was drenched and freezing. After much thought, she concluded that she also felt a love of friendship for Kazki, but it still hurt. It confused her. She couldn't even tell what was really love or friendship anymore, and she didn't want to make the same mistake again.
Okay, now I think I'm going to cry she thought miserably. Her crystal clear tears were cascading down her soft cheeks. I wonder what happened to Okkasan. I hope she's okay
She cried harder when she thought of everything that had happened. My boyfriend dumped me on my birthday, which everyone forgot, I can't even tell what my emotions are, and now Okkasan is no where in sight, while I'm stranded here and soaking wet. I need a friend
"I need Eriol-kun," she thought out loud, softly.
"You called?" A familiar voice she knew all too well came to the rescue. He shielded them with his umbrella.
"Eriol-kun! What are you doing here?"
"I came for you, Tomoyo-chan, demo, the better question is what are you doing here. You could catch a cold or even pneumonia!"
She shivered, despite her efforts to suppress it. "How did you know I was here, and that I was sad?"
"I sensed your pain. Now take off your thin jacket, Tomoyo-chan."
"Oh."
She then did as told and felt an extra chill as she held her jacket in her numb hands. But suddenly, she felt a thick warm jacket on her shoulders; Eriol had given his to her.
"Arigatou, Eriol-kun. But won't you be cold?"
"Iie. I'm fine. Now come with me to the limo. I'll take you home so you can put some dry clothes on."
"Iie, I want to drown in this sorrowful rain."
"Tomoyo-chan, you're going to get sick! Lets go."
"No. I want to soak a while longer," she persisted, sounding like she wanted to soak in a bathtub for a while longer, rather than the rain.
She went into the rain, out of the shelter of the umbrella, only to have Eriol run after her to cover her again.
"Tomoyo-chan, stop running. I don't want you to get sick!"
"I don't care if I get sick! I just want to drown in my anguish." She restarted her cry-fest. "I don't care what happens to me. I just want get away from reality. It's too hard right now. I need some relief, and I'm all alone."
"I'm here, Tomoyo-chan. I can be your relief. And knowing that you're not giving up, I'm going to drown with you." He dropped the umbrella, dropping its shelter along with it. Soon he was soaking wet as well.
"No, Eriol-kun. You'll get sick. I don't want you to suffer too."
"But I am suffering when I see you like this." He pulled her into a warm, yet freezing embrace in the rain. "It hurts to see you in so much pain and misery, Tomoyo-chan. It pains me to be incapable of doing anything to help you."
"Gomen nasai, Eriol-kun. I had no idea. I never meant to cause anyone pain. But you know, you're my only console; my little piece of paradise. You're the only one I can really talk to and the only who can understand me." When she heard what she just said, something inside her clicked; reality dawned on her. The feeling deep inside her that she had buried a long time ago suddenly revived itself.
"I'm glad. Just remember that I'm always here for you, no matter what, Tomoyo-chan. And be happy."
"Domo arigatou, Eriol-kun. You made me realize something."
"What is it?"
"I still love you." She looked into his deep blue eyes. "I've always loved you, even when you were still with Mizuki-sensei. I just never had the guts to tell you, and it didn't seem as though you'd return these feelings too, so I gave up."
He stared back. "I do love you, Tomoyo-chan. You should have said something. But I didn't realize it until Matasuki-san took you away from me; when you were always busy with him, and didn't seem to have much time left for me. Kimi wo aishiteiru, Tomoyo-chan. With all my heart and soul."
Her eyes lit up like a million blinding studio lights when she heard those words come out of his mouth. (Not exactly that bright, but you get the picture.) "I love you too. May I…" She looked at his lips, uncertainly and blushing.
He bent down to caress her soft cherry lips with his own. They shared their first kiss in the cold rain, but the rain wasn't all that cold anymore. It was, in fact, kind of warm now. All of their suppressed feelings suddenly burst out. That kiss was its gateway out.
"I'll take that as a yes," she said when they broke apart.
He smiled and bent down again. The rain saturated his words as he uttered, "You'll never be lonely again, Tomoyo-chan. Not as long as I'm here…and Happy Birthday! My present is at my house."
"Domo arigatou. I'll always be here for you too, Eriol-kun." She paused. "I can't believe you remember! Arigatou!!!" She jumped on him for a grateful hug.
"How could I ever forget my beautiful plum blossom's birthday?"
"Well, no one else remembered besides me."
"That's where you're wrong. Nakuru-san, Spinel-san, and I have been planning this for weeks. Just that we couldn't find you today after school until I sensed your pain. And Sakura-san and my descendant have something planned for you for tomorrow. Would you like to come over and give your mother a phone call from the limo? Or do you want to go home?"
"I'd like to go with you to your house, if that's okay."
"Of course it is! Now let's go, my lady, before we both get pneumonia."
They got in the car happily with Tomoyo leaning on Eriol, and him holding her tightly. Nakuru drove them to Hiiragizawa Manor. "Aww, this is soooooooo KAWAII!!!" she squealed. (Dangerous thing to do though, allowing Nakuru to drive--especially when she's really hyper.) The clouds in their path parted. Rays of golden light shone down brightly, creating a rainbow effect.
In the car, Tomoyo thought, So this is love…I never want to let go again
"You won't have to," Eriol answered, as he read her mind. "I'll always be here for you."
THE END
A/N: Yay! I'm done! So how was that? Sorry for making everything happen so quickly, and the weird mix of Japanese and English. I just wanted to finish it, and not drag it on and on. The whole story probably took place a couple months time period. But I think I made the ending too mushy! I can't help it. I guess I kinda got caught up in the moment, but I'm too lazy to change it. Besides, the birthday thing lightened it up a bit, right? But this only the first ending; I've decided to give this fic two endings. Plz tell me which one is better if you review! I'll post up the second one later. Anyway, thanks for reading! Did you enjoy it? Weird? There's only one word I have for you: REVIEW! ^_^ Also, ja ne and arigatou!
