Disclaimer : Card Captor Sakura belongs to CLAMP. I don't own CCS.

Recap: In the attempt to 'reincarnate' his Kaho, Hiiragizawa Eriol wished to erase Daidouji Tomoyo's memories. But apparently the spell didn't work as it was supposed to, and the two dark-haired were bound to live together –even when they disliked each other. But after saving her from falling off the cliff, they started to find mutual understanding and perhaps something more…

Mnemosyne's Labyrinth

Chapter 11

: :Shouldn't, Wouldn' t, Couldn't: :

"Here,"

Eriol diverted his attention from the newspaper he was reading and looked up to see Tomoyo standing before him with hand extended with medium-sized blue box. "What's this?" he genuinely inquired. It was another day in March, months had passed, bonds were tightened, and the same pretty lady, but with the slightly different atmosphere.

She raised a questioning eyebrow to his inquiry. "Haven't you ever heard about 'Birthday Present' before?"

Birthday…

Tomoyo nodded. "Yes. March 23rd. I asked Nakuru-san. Today's really your birthday, right? Or does reincarnated sorcerer don't normally celebrate birthday?"

"Normally, there wouldn't even be any reincarnated sorcerer," he pointed out.

"I know," she smiled playfully. "But would you make me extending my hand like this all day long?"

"No, I…" he carefully took the gift from her hands. "I just…"

"Oh, don't act like you've never received any birthday present before –"

"Truthfully, I've never received any birthday present. You're… the first…," he cleared his throat unconsciously. "Ruby, Spinel, and… Kaho… used to just hold little parties just between the 4 of us,"

"Well, that's considered a birthday present too,"

"But, technically, this is…" he lifted the box and studied it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. "…The first time I ever received a true gift box,"

The raven-haired girl sat next to the sorcerer. "Just open it. But don't expect much. I don't know if it's really your taste or not,"

After all, it was only a week before when she first found out his birthdate. Nakuru had mentioned it in one of their baking time together. And the information about the reincarnation's birthday did make her confused in the debate: whether to give or not to give him the gift.

Her relation with Eriol had taken a positive turn. He was officially her friend now. He was fun (in his own way of fun, of course), very intelligent, pleasant to talk to (generally). And to think, he had played his role as a very good host –especially after the incident that happened in the cliff weeks ago.

But the problem was, he was still Hiiiragizawa Eriol.

It would be so awkward to suddenly just give him birthday present.

Although that at the end, her first thought win, and she decided to just try making him the gift. She didn't really care whether the Sorcerer liked it or hated it–her job was only to present him the gift. To her perfectionist persona, she just hoped that she had more time to prepare the gift, because with only 1 week span of time, what she could present him was just –

"A jacket. You made it," he concluded.

She nodded again. "Made from special fabric so that you could wear it even in Spring. If you don't like it, you can just return it or–"

"I'm a man of courtesy," he cut her. "And refusing present isn't exactly polite, so I'll accept it…" he said as folding the jacket neatly and put it on the lap.

And he took a deep breath.

He didn't let it go for some passing seconds…

… until he finally let it out with a very quick murmur of what sounded like 'thank you'.

There wasn't a smile, nor a proper gratitude, but his slightly blushing cheek made Tomoyo felt like all her effort to make the jacket paid off. Living with him for months had gave her some views about Hiiragizawa Eriol –to learn that all his arrogance, selfishness, and temper were actually only another form of his usual awkward and lonely (or socially-inept?) persona. He was hard to understand, but once he started to show his true self beneath all those layers, she thought that she could understand him just a little bit more.

So, smiling at his usual antics, Tomoyo then spoke, "You're welcome,"

He didn't say anything as a reply. He just sat there for the longest time (and to think that the silence was weirdly comforting), until suddenly he stood up (he put the jacket neatly on the couch) and muttered something.

"I… have something to show you. Follow me,"

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"Are you really sure this is okay?" Tomoyo asked as her steps halted before entering the certain room.

Eriol paused. His grip on the door's knob tightened. After exhaling a deep breath, he replied, "Yes, it is," and opened the door. "Come,"

Warily, she gazed into the surrounding before stepping carefully into the territorial. "Well, last time I was here, you snapped at me and threw me out of the house…" she trailed as examining the room beter. Mizuki Kaho's room was the same as what Tomoyo remembered. The same Victorian decoration that gave the feeling of classical, refined beauty, yet without overdoing it. Her last visit to the room had been in night time, but now, in daylight (with little sunray peeking through the small window), she could see more. And she could judge that the room was indeed a very beautiful place to admire at. "You seem to take a very good care of her room," she commented.

"Of course. I take good care at each of Kaho's belongings. Sit, Daidouji-san," he said as dragging the chair for her.

"What is it that you want to show me?" Tomoyo questioned as sitting on the chair.

He didn't answer, but his action conveyed the message: He grabbed something from the desk and showed it to her.

She widened her eyes. "Hiiragizawa-san, this is –"

"Yes. The chest where Kaho Mizuki's memory is stored,"

Still in disbelief, she chuckled nervously, "T-the same chest that made you shoo me away,"

He chuckled lightly. "Yes, the very same chest,"

"And now you want me to…?"

"Open it,"

She blinked and gazed back and forth at the chest and Eriol. "You want me to… open it?"

"Yes,"

"Why? What for?"

"This chest… contains all memories that Kaho has when she was still alive. And thus, besides those things that you saw about me and Kaho, there is also what Kaho remembered about other people… And those other people… includes Sakura. In short, this chest contains Kaho's memory about Sakura,"

She paused.

Eriol shrugged uncomfortably. "I thought that you're now accepting Sakura's death better. So I guessed that you may want to … reminiscence her or something… and –" Eriol sighed, and seemingly he ran out of words. "Well, if you don't want to then –"

"I want to see," Tomoyo slowly stated.

Eriol momentarily took a deep breath. "Anytime you're ready,"

"I'm… ready,"

He nodded and opened the chest.

The same blinding light shone from the chest and consciousness left her.

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The World inside Kaho's memory was as white as ever. It was neither hot nor cold. It was neither beautiful nor ugly. It was the emptiness and the glass. Always them, only them.

Having visited this world before, Tomoyo knew exactly where to go if she wanted to see the certain 'show': the wide, big glass which magically worked like the divider to the other dimension – to the dimension of Kaho's memory.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

She gasped upon knowing that she was not the only one on that white world.

"Hiiragizawa-san? What are you doing here?"

"Just watch," he replied before he did the familiar chant. "I call upon the powers of the day and the night. Sun and Darkness unleash your might. Release!"

His sun key turned into his Sun Staff, and with graceful movement, he knocked the edge of the staff to the firm glass. And as expected, the area of the glass where his staff touched turned wobbly until it created a big door-shaped like hole. "Come," he said as taking her hand and guided her into the glass world.

Fog started to fill their surrounding, but instead of black like what she saw when she peeked into Kaho's memory about Eriol, it was now pink. It wasn't long until the fog diminished and she was greeted with the sight so achingly familiar that it almost broke her heart: the classroom of Tomoeda Elementary School when they were still in the 4th grade.

"We can stop if you want to," he said to her.

"No. I want to see,"

His grasp on her hand tightened in the gentlest way. This action started her, but Tomoyo knew that she would never want to complain about it.

"Tomoyo-chan…!! Have you done the Math homework?"

"Yes, I have Sakura,"

"Hoee??! I haven't done it! I totally forgot to do it last night!"

"You want to see mine?"

"No, Tomoyo-chan! You've done it with hard work! I can not just copy it!"

"It's alright, Sakura-chan. I don't want you to be punished for –"

"No, Tomoyo-chan! I'd better be punished then copying your homework!"

"Sakura, you haven't done your homework?"

"Mi-Mizuki-sensei! I-I…No, I haven't... I'm sorry,"

"I'm afraid I can not put you into the special case, it will be unfair with the other students,"

"Yes, I understand, Mizuki-sensei… I'm sorry…"

"You can not touch her. She's just a memory,"

Tomoyo blinked and she realized that she had just raised her arm and tried to touch the chestnut-haired little girl. "A-a. Yes. I-I forgot…" she said as nervously pulling her hand back. "It's just… she looks so real…I was just wondering whether Sakura-chan is…" Tomoyo sighed.

He put his hand on her shoulder. "Is this too much for you?"

She debated with herself.

Yes, yes… how could she be this stupid? How could she just pretend that she was strong while she was actually not? Seeing Sakura seemingly alive (while the real fact was, she wasn't) in front of her turned out to be more bitter than Tomoyo had originally thought. Then why had she challenged herself upon it then?

Because perhaps…

She wanted to move on.

For the first time since her mother and Sakura's death, Tomoyo wanted to… finally stand. To finally accept…

But could she?

She could.

She had to.

"I miss her," she muttered as a droplet of tear fell from her violet eyes. "I really, really, miss her. I wish both Sakura-chan any my mother were still here, I wish they were –"

"They can't. You know that,"

More tears fell.

Tomoyo didn't even realize that she could still cry. After all those cold and hard exteriors, she couldn't deny the fact that she was just a vulnerable woman. "I-I know… It's just… It's just…"

"You don't need to get so rushed. Moving on is a hard thing. Everyone have their own pace. Some are quick to move on, some just need more time. And it's very human to take your own timing nice and slow. Consider yourself a development. Few months backward you couldn't even accept their death, few months backward you comforted other people with their lost just so that you could get distracted from believing Sakura and Daidouji-sama had passed away. But now… you're ready to face the piece of Sakura's memory… You're moving on… with your own pace… and that's alright,"

She chuckled cynically. "I don't believe it turns out to be you who comfort me,"

He gazed at her with unreadable expression. "…I myself still can't believe it," he then cleared his throat. "You still want to see?"

"… Yes, just a little more…"

-

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She opened her eyes and realized that Eriol had dragged both of them back to the real world. Seeing Sakura in the world of Mizuki Kaho's memory had been… almost indescribable to her. The pain was still there when she looked at those happy emerald eyes. Sakura looked and seemed so alive, it was almost like a bad dream that she was no longer in this world. Watching her, Tomoyo felt neither happiness nor sadness, but at least…

"Tomoyo-chan!!"

And that big, cheeky grin…

At least… she didn't regret it.

"Are you alright, Daidouji-san?" came the deep voice which showed genuine concern.

Genuine.

"Hiiragizawa-san?" she asked as staring into those admittedly beautiful blue eyes. "I-I'm fine. Don't worry. And… thank you,"

"Don't mention. You deserve it,"

Tomoyo smiled warmly. "Why are you being so nice to me? Not that I'm ungrateful, but you were… a lot crueler back then," she chuckled, remembering the times some months backward when he often let his temper got to her.

Smirking, Eriol replied, "Pardon my misplaced enthusiasm back then, Daidouji-san. I assure you that none of those will happen again,"

"I do hope I can count on that promise, Hiiragizawa-san," she grinned.

And smiling was a bad action.

Don't you know what you're igniting with that pretty smile?

"Tomoyo?"

She looked up in surprise.

Firstly, he had called her by her first name, instead of the usual 'Daidouji-san'.

Secondly, she realized their sudden proximity. They were close. Really close. She could even smell his nice fresh and masculine scent…

And his warm hand… somehow… on the beck of her neck, pressing with firmness yet gently…

And the beautiful, perfect lips of him that moved nearer and nearer…

And her pausing heartbeat…

She could…

She would…

"Eriol-sama, Ruby and I –"

Both dark-haired pulled away as Spinel opened the door in creaking sound. The perspective feline could instantly tell that there must be a damn good reason of why the two people were suddenly avoiding eye-contact with each other and possessing the same red blushes on their faces. Spinel's keen sense could tell a few options, but knowing perfectly neither of the human would like it if he tried his guess, Spinel just decided to ignore his own guessing.

"I-I'd better be back to my room," exclaimed the hurried-looking Tomoyo.

Eriol nodded, still with avoiding gaze. "Sorry… Daidouji-san," he muttered quickly. "It was just… I was just… a bit taken away,"

"Y-yes… I'm sorry too. I-I'll leave now," and the violet-eyed quickly made her way passed the floating Spinel, out of Kaho's room, and headed upstairs to her room.

Spinel averted his attention back to the now frustrated master. "What did you do?"

"…I almost kissed her,"

"You almost what?"

"I was just a bit taken away,"

"You're not just a bit taken away, Master. Your relation with Daidouji-san even makes me wonder whether you still plan to make her the vessel for Mizuki-san's memory or not,"

"That's… unquestionable,"

"Then what's unquestionable?

"I… I love Kaho…"

"Yes, you do. But you're falling in love with other woman too. That is also unquestionable,"

He was silenced.

And sometimes, Spinel was merciless enough to shake his belief. The feline calmly spoke, "You want to reincarnate Mizuki-san using Daidouji-san's body, and yet you're giving Daidouji-san a new strength. You're giving her a new life will. And I'm sure that you know… if you want to execute your first plan, you can never let Daidouji-san's having life will," Spinel sighed. "Although you know that Ruby and I never support your idea to reincarnate Mizuki-san,"

The dark haired magician dropped himself to Kaho's bed. "I know… I know what I must do, but I just…don't want to see Daidouji-san sad or cry or…" he sighed. "I don't even understand why I'm doing this… I should be loyal to Kaho, I really should, but Daidouji-san is…She's…"

"You're starting to fall in love with her,"

"…"

"Eriol-sama…"

The sorcerer gritted his teeth in frustration. "I don't know… But if it's true, then what must I do, Spinel? Tell me, what must I do?"

Spinel looked at his dear master's eyes. Such confusion was obviously written on the usually know-it-all and wise eyes.

The feline could only shake his head. "I don't know Master. I don't know…"

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Unbeknown to any of the Hiiragizawa Manor residents, down there, in the underground room, place where Eriol kept all the Sakura Cards after Kinomoto Sakura died…

The Book of Clow flipped opened and some cards began to quiver in rhythmic tempo.

: :To Be Continued : :

A/n: Writing this chapter is hard… I think it's very rough and ruthless… Sorry…

I'll work harder in the next chapter…