So that was a long pause before I start the next chapter. Sorry for the long wait. Can't push myself a story if I don't feel like it. I've been too busy lately, I'm amazed I found time to continue this. (Or I'm just too stressed now so I wrote.) Anyway, I thought I'd borrow some characters from Special A. (Great anime!) but Kimiko is another original.


That little scene from three years ago that was undeniably distracting her on many occasions was haunting her in the form of a very arrogant man who indirectly kidnapped her best friend and now this – a dark-haired almost ethereal-looking being in front of her who was looking at her strangely until it suddenly occurred to Tomoyo that she was staring.

"Sorry. That was… It was rude of me to stare. You just… look awfully familiar. Nice to meet you too."

"Sorry. Have we met?"

How do you respond to this? It's pretty ironic how you tried to avoid someone only to bump into another who was closely associated with the very reason you're escaping. This was the Kimiko that was with him three years ago who according to Eriol confessed to him. The girl she was unjustly jealous about for so long. Then she remembered. Sui did mention he's studying in Hakusenkan where Eriol is. Talk about small world!

"No. But I saw you and heard about you from Hiragizawa."

"You know Eriol? You didn't mention that before."

"We hardly meet Sui and I just met Hiragizawa less than a week ago."

That's right. It was just three days ago when she met him. Granted that she had been in-love, scratch that, she had a crush on him longer than that, they had their first eye contact just a few days ago when he stole Sakura from her. But ever since he came in the picture, her stress-o-meter soared, she even got a fever. Why does he affect her so much?

"I hate him." Sui said with a straight face it startled her.

"You're just being a sore loser because you can't surpass him."

"He's the top 1 in Hakusenkan?!"

Hakusenkan University is the most prestigious University in Tomoeda and is divided into two classes – the normal classes and the Special A class. Special A or S.A. class composed of the top 7 of the graduating class with all kinds of privileges including a private room with complete facilities for cooking, music and sports center for their own use. Sui was the top 2 in the class but he refuses to accept this because his brother, the genius Kei Takishima, was consistently at the top spot. And that one person who he can't beat is Eriol Hiragizawa.

"That's right. Damn genius! I swear I was this close to stealing his spot away from him but he's too cunning."

"You do realize you just complimented him." Kimiko sighed and smiled. "See he always complains about the ranking and challenges Eriol a lot but the outcome's always the same. Sui is unbelievably smart but Eriol is always a step higher. " And she whispered a little loudly probably intending for Sui to hear. "But I think he actually admires him. He's just too stubborn to admit it."

"I heard that."

"Good."

Kimiko stared him down. Sui sighed but both of them suddenly stared at each other and their eyes smiled. These two are evidently so much in love with each other, Tomoyo felt a little jealous.

"Anyway, I didn't know Eriol has friends outside school, or outside S.A. for the matter. He rarely gives anyone attention unless it's all school and business."

Figures. He does seem a little too cool and arrogant to mix with just anybody.

"Well, it's a kind of business sort-of situation. Long story. My friend's doing him a favour."

"That's new. Eriol's asking for a favour. I'd like to hear that myself. What is he up to?"

Maybe she wasn't supposed to say anything. These two were undeniably close to Eriol and if he wanted to, he would have told them about his love situation so she doesn't think he'll like it if she spilled.

"Well, it's kinda confidential. Maybe you should ask him himself. But would you mind not telling him I said anything? Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."

"That's curious." That was Kimiko who was intently listening. Did she still love him? No. Sui and her was unquestionably inlove. She might just still care. "Don't worry. I'll make him tell without mentioning any of this. I have a knack for that."

"You're the only one who intimidates him."

"We were just friends longer." Then Kimiko looked at Tomoyo.

"By the way, while we're on this topic, rumors spreading that Eriol leaves early after school because he's meeting his girlfriend. Any idea where this is coming from?"

"Come on. Lay off the guy. He needs some time off school and work. Don't tell me you're jealous?"

"Dear Sui. I already told you I'm over him and all over you." That made Sui blush so much he bowed his head to unsuccessfully hide it. A real sight to behold! "But aren't you even a wee bit curious about our proud and cold topnotcher's supposed girlfriend. Someone did saw him with a girl in the mall."

Oops. The mall incident. Rumors spread fast. What was she supposed to say?

"Maybe someone thought she saw him."

"I'm asking your friend."

And Kimiko looked at her like she was sure Tomoyo knows something even though Tomoyo was sure she was doing a great job hiding her thoughts. This girl can read minds! And she knows it because she also has strong powers of observation.

"You can ask him about it. We're not that close." Which was true anyway.

"Maybe I really will."

"Eriol's not going to like you snooping on his personal life."

"He might not like it but he won't hate me for it. A curious person must know and I will know with minimal damage." With all her proud elegance, she looked pretty childish when she's determined on something. Sui has found an amazing woman but he is going to have a hard time keeping secrets with this woman not that Sui keeps secret. He was the most honest man Tomoyo knows. Probably because he sucks at lying.

They stopped by on a teashop and Tomoyo just couldn't refuse their offer when both of them was pleading for her to join them. Sui was one of her closest friends though they don't see each other often but he was an easy person to get along with. And Kimiko was also growing on her. She was an excellent storyteller and she'd probably won the most charming person award if there was one. Eriol must have really been so much inlove with Kaho if he turned this one down. She quickly dismissed the thought. Eriol's lovelife is none of her business.

She found herself amused by Kimiko's tales of Sui's feat when he was still chasing after her. Turns out Sui already knew she was inlove with Eriol but that did not stop him from bugging her every now and then confessing to her like it's his everyday routine. He was so persistent it was both irritating and amusing. When he found out she confessed and got rejected, he sat with her and never said anything. Kimiko said she offered to be Sui's girlfriend that day but she was once again rejected.

Sui was constantly interrupting Kimiko ever since she began telling Tomoyo more about Sui's other side. Tomoyo was amused her friend has this side to him. But now he was madly blushing and was trying his best effort to stop Kimiko from talking.

"Oh come on. I can't be prouder with you at that moment."

"I want to hear."

"But. That's. I give up but I don't want to hear this. I'm paying the bills." And he got up.

"He didn't need to go there to pay."

"Leave him be. I bet he's too shy to hear what you're about to say."

Kimiko smiled. "He told me he'd make me fall inlove with him first and he told me that with so much honesty and conviction, he already got me the minute he said it. But that's just our little secret. I was also a little pissed at his rejection, I had my fun with him before I gave in."

Both of them were lucky to have found each other.

"Anyway. You said you know Eriol?"

That surprised her. "Not until recently but yes. Why do you ask?"

"Do you also know about Miss Kaho?"

Does she know anything?

"She was a practice teacher in my grade school."

"Eriol seems pretty down lately and the only person that can make him so vulnerable is Miss Kaho. I don't know if you already know this but you seem to have a good idea of what I'm talking about. Did something happen to her?"

She seems genuinely worried, she found no reason to lie. "Miss Mizuki is getting married with my friend's brother. Sorry. But that's all I'm telling. You can get the rest of the story from him."

"She's the reason why he rejected me. He was so inlove with her. He still is though sometimes I think it's out of habit. Miss Kaho is a very special person to him after all. But that's all I'm telling. Anyway, if she's getting married, he's sure to do irrational things so please keep an eye on him for me. I may not be inlove with him anymore but he's still a dear friend and he's too proud to say he's hurt."

Keep an eye on him! Not when she already decided to ignore him. But she can't say no to a sincere request like that. Besides, Sakura might also get hurt from all this so she nodded. "I'll try."

"Do you like him?"

She panicked! The calm Tomoyo Daidoji panicked so much, she almost dropped the tea she was drinking. Where did that come from?

Kimiko laughed. "Don't worry about it. A lot of girls like him. You know what? I'll be rooting for you!"

"You. I… It's not like that at all!"

"You're easy to read."

"You're probably the first person to say that to me."

"I have a feeling we're a little similar."

"I might."

"What?"

"Just a little. Like him, I mean. But just a little. He irritates me." Tomoyo murmured. She decided to tell. Kimiko was easy to talk to after all and she's practically still a stranger so it doesn't matter if she tell him.

"His arrogance does have a way of crawling down to your nerves but it's easy to forgive him once you get to know him. And good luck. Miss Kaho is not an easy competition even though she's not reciprocating his feelings."

"I didn't say I'll compete! I said I like him but that's all. I like a lot of people."

"Ohh," she said it a little too mischievously. Tomoyo didn't know why she felt panicky and a little defensive. Maybe she shouldn't have told her that. But before she could even retaliate, Sui came and looked at them like they were strangers. Kimiko with a sly smile and Tomoyo whose blush was visible in her pale skin. Sui pried for information but Kimiko stood up and drag him outside. He was begging to know what Kimiko said to Tomoyo about him. Kimiko teased him and said it's confidential. Tomoyo was laughing but her conversation with Kimiko bothered her. Does she still like him or is this the result of her three-year delusion for him?

They bid goodbye when they reached a corner. Then Kimiko went and whispered, "Just don't make him do something he'd regret. " She stepped back and waved her goodbye while shouting. "You have my vote! Good luck!" which left Tomoyo so red, it was un-Daidoji like. She can hear Sui's demand to know what's happening. Then she saw her kiss him immobilizing him. Kimiko held his hand and they walked like the sweet couple they are.

But Tomoyo was more bothered of the vision that suddenly popped in her mind when she saw them kissed. She imagined herself with Eriol ki…kissing! And she was suddenly the color of tomato. She felt so embarrassed with herself, she looked around for people who might think her lunatic. Luckily there were just a few bystanders who weren't looking. She had no comment about her train of thoughts. She needs to straighten up and get some rest. Maybe her fever isn't down yet. Great. That Kimiko gave her strange ideas. She was never this confused her entire life.

It's normal to like him. Everybody likes someone. And someone like him should have plenty of girls swooning over him. Why is it bothering her so much? She can't possibly love him? That's insane. She barely knew him. She was just plain attracted to him. Besides, he's the first ever guy she was interested in. Why is her heart pounding so much?

She can't go home in her confused state. The maids would pry and Aoi would know something's wrong and the last thing she wants are more questions! So she decided to pass by Rika's shop first to buy a cake.

But her mind changed when she got there and saw Rika through the shop's glass window entertaining another perfect couple – Toya and Kaho. She never saw a childish side to Toya except when he's with Sakura and Yukito. He always keeps a straight face to other people. But now, he looked like a troubled kid who couldn't refuse to the lady feeding him cake. And Miss Mizuki was looking so amused and happy like she was a different person from the teacher she knew in elementary. Rika must have noticed too because she looked at the two like she couldn't be any happier for them.

Miss Mizuki is a gentle person. She's beautiful and mature and kind. Everybody adores her. If, and only if, this was her competition for Eriol's attention, she'd understand completely if she lost. But that's not going to happen because she already decided to stop thinking of him. If only… If only her heart will listen.

She turned back and decided to head home. She baked herself a cake, took a slice and gave it to her maids. She took a hot bath and changed in her pajamas, got herself ready to finally finish her draft for her final paper.

And then she noticed a message from her answering machine.

Beep. "Hi. This is Li Syaoran. Sorry I just called. My mom insisted I go see you but… a. No I mean. I want to go see you too even without my Mom's… IjustwantyoutoknowI'llbetherefridaynightsolet'smeetSaturday,Bye!" Beep.

That's right. She almost forgot about her first date.


Yea. Syaoran's back! I'm going to have to leave you hanging again. Can't promise when the next chapter's going to come out but there will be. Happy days!