A longer chapter, this features Tomoyo working hard for what she wants. Hell yeah, I love me some go getter Tomoyo.

xxx

018. Numbered

"I have a theory Sakura."

Sakura shifted her position on the bed and rested her head on her hands, "A theory about what Tomoyo?"

"A theory about why I'm so intimidating to boys." Tomoyo replied from her study table.

Sakura sat up, eyes wide, "You're not intimidating Tomoyo!" Tomoyo was fragile. At least physically, she was. Her mind though, was decidedly unfragile. Sakura shuddered inwardly as she recalled some of Tomoyo's more crazy schemes.

Tomoyo laughed, "Alright, fine, the theory is about why no guy approaches me then."

"Oh," Sakura nodded, "okay. Let's hear it."

"Number 1," Tomoyo lifted a delicate finger, "I am a Daidouji, which apparently translates into guy speak as off limits. Because, let's face it, Mother can be rather protective and cut throat if she needs to."

Sakura nodded sagely.

"Number 2," Tomoyo continued, "I have five bodyguards. Five!" She emphasised, waving her hand in front of Sakura's face hysterically.

Sakura shrunk back a little.

"They probably scare off half the guys who try to approach me."

Sakura nodded in agreement.

"And number 3," Tomoyo said as she plopped down on the bed next to Sakura, "the other half probably get scared off whenever Syaoran-kun glowers at them."

Sakura had to bite her lips to keep from giggling. "Syaoran can be rather overprotective. If you want, I can ask him to lay off threatening your admirers?" Privately though, Sakura thought Tomoyo had got it all wrong. Sure, the Daidouji name and bodyguards and Syaoran can be a little... discouraging to the potential admirer, but the real reason why nobody has approached Tomoyo was because Eriol had some weird, unspoken claim over her, although he himself was probably unaware of it.

"That's alright Sakura." Tomoyo said, breaking Sakura's train of thought, "I don't care for guys who cower at Syaoran-kun's feet anyway."

Sakura laughed, "I see. Well, do you have anyone in mind then?"

Sakura watched as Tomoyo flushed slightly, "Well, I was thinking lately, maybe... Eriol-kun."

"What? That's great Tomoyo!" Sakura leapt up from the bed, "I always wanted to say something, but I didn't want to push."

"Really?" Tomoyo smiled, "So you think that maybe there is something there with Eriol-kun?"

Sakura rolled her eyes inwardly, "Of course Tomoyo. You'd be blind not to notice this electricity between the two of you."

"There isn't any electricity." Tomoyo muttered, although Sakura thought she sounded like she didn't mind if there was.

Ignoring Tomoyo's last remark, Sakura dropped back down onto the bed, "This is great, I'm so glad you finally realised that Eriol-kun could be more than a friend!"

"Yes," Tomoyo stood and grabbed hold of one of her notepads, "In fact, I'm going to start planning my course of action now."

Sakura scratched her head, Tomoyo can be a little difficult to understand sometimes. "What course of action Tomoyo?"

"To get Eriol-kun to notice me of course." Tomoyo replied, matter of factly.

"Hoe?" Sakura was totally lost. Tomoyo was normally the crazily observant one. How could she not have realised that Eriol most definitely noticed her? In fact, Sakura amended in her head, she was sure Tomoyo was the only thing Eriol noticed these days any more. Then again, Tomoyo was always the sort to be attentive to everyone else and yet totally oblivious to her own situation.

"I think," Sakura advised gently, inching closer towards Tomoyo, "you don't have to worry about the first part."

"The first part?" Tomoyo looked up from her notepad, "About changing his prescription for his glasses?"

"Eh?" Sakura looked down at the incredibly long list Tomoyo was presently scribbling. When did that happen? "That's an awfully long list Tomoyo."

Tomoyo nodded, "Uh huh, it's my five step plan to getting Eriol-kun to notice me. The name needs a little work, but it'll have to do for now."

Sakura blinked, "Actually, don't you think it'll be better if you just let things develop naturally?"

Tomoyo paused in her writing, "I suppose, that too, is an option."

Sakura smiled and leaned back on the bed, daydreaming about double dates and electricity.

Tomoyo, on the other hand, was pondering deeply on her present situation. She realised that Sakura had rather fairy tale notions about love. It wasn't often that love just fell into your lap, like it did with Sakura and Syaoran. No, you had to fight for it sometimes. And Tomoyo, was most definitely a woman of action.

xxx

1. Give him special treatment so he would notice he's not just another friend to you.

"Good morning Tomoyo-san!"

"Good morning!" Tomoyo greeted back as she stepped into class. Spotting Eriol already at his seat behind her (again she thanked Kami-sama for somehow always placing Eriol behind in the seating arrangements), she smiled and made her way towards him, greeting her classmates along the way.

"Good morning Eriol-kun." Tomoyo said pointedly, staring straight at him.

"Good morning Tomoyo." Eriol greeted back, putting down his book.

"It is a lovely morning isn't it?" Tomoyo continued, still standing in front of his table.

If Eriol was puzzled by her sudden penchant for early morning conversations with him, he didn't show it, "Oh yes indeed."

"Just the sort of day we could spend sitting outside during lunch won't we?" Tomoyo watched as Eriol smiled on politely.

"I believe you are quite right." Eriol smiled pleasantly.

Tomoyo returned the smile, although she was already running out of things to say. Eriol didn't seem much like he was inclined to carry on the conversation and her eyes darted to the book on his desk, it'll be better not to disturb him she supposed. Picking up a bento from her bag, she placed it on his table, "I noticed you've been ordering from the cafeteria lately and Nakuru-san told me she burned all the pans in the house so you were having trouble cooking. I hope you don't mind, I packed another for you."

She couldn't quite place the expression on his face. After a few seconds, he seemed to recover and thanked her profusely. She shook her head, insisting it was nothing.

Shooting one last smile at Eriol, she turned and sat on her desk, taking out her notepad to review her second step of attack.

2. Stake your claim subtly.

"Eriol-kun! I was wondering if you could help me with this problem in my English homework? It's awfully difficult and you're the smartest person in the whole school. I was wondering if perhaps you could meet me after school to go over some of the exercises?"

Tomoyo's eyes flashed dangerously at the girl from the class next door. Before, Eriol could politely decline (or at least, he better had been thinking of politely declining her), Tomoyo spoke up sweetly, "Actually Sato-san, Eriol-kun has a meeting with the choir teacher after school. I'll be happy to help you with your English homework if you like. My English is probably not as good as Eriol-kun's but I'll do my best."

"Your English is superb Tomoyo. I'm sure Sato-san would benefit much from your help." Eriol piped up, smiling at Tomoyo.

Tomoyo preened inwardly.

"Oh well," the girl from next door began, "That's alright, maybe another day then Eriol-kun." And with a flutter of her eyelashes and a swish of her impossibly short skirt (as a member of the Student Council, Tomoyo had half a mind to tell her to lengthen it), she trotted out of their class.

Tomoyo eyes narrowed as she left and quickly, she took out her notepad and drew a line across the second step on her list.

3. Stake your claim overtly.

The bell rang for break and the hallways were crowded with students going over to the cafeteria. Eriol and Tomoyo, on the other hand, were meeting their friends outside for lunch and so were the lone rangers moving against the flow of students. Just as she was being jostled back and forth amongst the crowd, Tomoyo realised that it was the perfect time to enact step 3 of her plan.

Reaching out a hand, she surreptitiously placed it on the crook of his right arm.

Eriol looked down immediately at the contact. Tomoyo tensed inwardly. Perhaps it was a little forward of her? Quickly, she tried to pull away, ready to explain that she was merely trying to stay close to him, in case they got separated in the crowd. But then, Eriol covered her hand with his own and guided her through the students and towards the doors that led to the school field.

Tomoyo ducked her head to hide her smile and to avoid the glares some girls were sending her way.

4. Create opportunities to spend time together

"Eriol-kun!" Tomoyo called as she caught up with Eriol at the school gates.

He turned and smiled as she reached him, "Tomoyo, what a surprise! Are your bodyguards late in sending you home?"

"Nope, I gave them the day off." Tomoyo replied breezily, as she adjusted the bag strap on her shoulder.

"Oh." Eriol replied, a strange expression on his face.

"Yes," Tomoyo continued, "I decided I was going to walk home today!"

"Alone?" Eriol questioned, "It's a pretty long walk back."

Tomoyo laughed, "Yes, but it's nice to get a break from the bodyguards sometimes." She took a step away from Eriol, "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then Eriol-kun!"

"Wait!"

Tomoyo turned around to look (hopefully) at Eriol, "Yes Eriol-kun?"

"Could I..." Eriol asked tentatively, "walk you home?"

Tomoyo beamed. "I'll like that. Thank you."

5. Be direct.

The walk home was mostly silent. Eriol seemed to have things on his mind. And Tomoyo was trying to gather up the courage to take her last step in her carefully crafted plan. Looking up, she realised she was almost to her house. Purposely slowing her steps, in an effort to buy more time, she didn't realise she had actually stopped until Eriol turned around when he realised she wasn't next to him, looking rather confused.

"Tomoyo? Are you alright? Did you forget something?" He asked her, looking a little worried.

"Ne, Eriol-kun. Are you free tomorrow?" Tomoyo asked, completely ignoring his question.

Eriol nodded slowly, "Yes, of course." He walked back towards Tomoyo, "Did you want to practice some more for the choir competition?"

Tomoyo shook her head, then taking a breath, she answered, "No. I was going to ask you out on a date actually."

She was met by silence.

Tomoyo bit her lip, "Eriol-kun?"

"You're asking me out on a date." Eriol confirmed, in a rather distant tone of voice.

"Well, yes." Tomoyo nodded, not quite daring to meet his eyes.

"Oh."

More silence. This is definitely not in the plan.

Wincing inwardly and deploring her 5 step plan, Tomoyo added, "You are quite free to decline Eriol-kun. Don't feel bad about telling me no."

"No!" Eriol suddenly shouted.

"No?" Tomoyo wasn't quite expecting such a harsh rejection. Eriol was a gentleman after all.

"No! I mean, no! That's not what I meant." Eriol replied, flustered, his eyes wide open.

Tomoyo just continued to blink in confusion.

"No I mean, yes, I would love to go out on a date with you." Eriol said again, when he finally seemed to regain some control over his speech.

"Really?" Tomoyo couldn't help the little sprinkling of hope that seemed to blossom in her chest, "Because this is not a friendly date Eriol, this is a I-want-to-be-more-than-friends date." Tomoyo clarified.

"Oh good." Eriol sighed with relief, "Because I most definitely want to be more than friends."

Tomoyo smiled. She liked being a woman of action.

xxx

I'm thinking of writing a piece showing Eriol's point of view throughout Tomoyo's 5 step plan. Should be interesting no? Although it probably would go something like this.

Today I went to school and Tomoyo made me a bento. Could she be any more perfect?

Then some simpering girl came to ask for my help with homework and Tomoyo volunteered her own services instead. She has a heart of gold.

After that, she touched me in the hallway! She actually placed her hand on my arm!

Then I walked her home after school and she asked me out on a date. I think I nearly died.

The end.

The next chapter will feature fireman!Eriol, if all works out well (read, if I can actually squeeze some time out of doing my classical literature essay).