The silence was oppressive. They weren't even looking at each other but avoiding all forms of communication, as if they were ready to bolt from the room any second now. At least they weren't arguing behind closed doors anymore. It was putting a strain on Eriol when his parents were fighting, so hopefully now things would get better.

Kaho struggled to put a bright smile. "Ready to go?" she asked Eriol. At the time she and Eriol were only friends, two lonely souls who happened to find each other. They'd met when he was the fourteen year old kid who's parents were constantly fighting while she was the foreign student teacher who just transferred into England. Ever since she learned he could speak Japanese, she was grateful for the little piece of home. And he liked spending time with her, or at least she hoped.

Eriol gave her a little smile, thankful for an exit out of the oppressive house. "Yes, let's go," he said, closing the front door behind him. He gentlemanly opened the door of the town car for her, letting Kaho get in before him. But she could tell his mind was clearly somewhere else.

"It seems your parents have finally reconciled," she consoled.

Finally turning to her, there was a thin line to his mouth. "They decided to get a divorce. A lawyer is supposed to come over and they're going to sign the papers today. Mother will be moving out of the house in a few weeks."

"Oh." Kaho put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Eriol, I'm so sorry."

Abruptly he asked, "Come to Japan with me." At her alarmed face, he explained, "I have an uncle and... a friend in Japan. I believe it's time for a visit. Kaho, you admitted you missed home. Let's go together."

Kaho couldn't help but think that he was simply avoiding the divorce by jetting off to the Asian continent, but she couldn't get past the way he said they would go together. Plus she was meaning to visit, so she simply agreed.

Therefore, that was how she found herself in a cab in Japan heading towards Clow Reed's grand mansion. Kaho remembered how animated and excited Eriol became the closer and closer they arrived. He had a friend who he met in Sydney but hadn't seen her in over a year, making this visit a reunion of sorts. It was Tomoyo this, Tomoyo that. "You're going to like Tomoyo-chan," Eriol babbled to her. "She's great. She has an amazing voice. Did I tell you how we won the Australian Concert even though we only met that day?"

Kaho held back a biting response. Yes, Eriol, she thought of sarcastically saying. I've heard the story only a hundred times. Care to tell me it again?

As the cab pulled up to the front of Clow's house, the welcome party was waiting for them. Which one was the Tomoyo Daidouji who Eriol spoke so highly of? Was it the exotic female with bronze-colored skin and her posture absurdly rigid? Or the waifish girl whose auburn hair was pulled childishly into a braid? What about the tallest figure of the bunch, with hair so blonde it could have been white- that person was too pretty; there was no way that could've been a guy.

But no. As soon as the car stopped, Eriol practically jumped out and hugged the dark-haired beauty who stood center. Of course. Tomoyo had to be the one with gorgeous long hair that fell in luscious waves and flawlessly wearing clothes as if she stepped out of a magazine shoot. Her smile was warm, bright, and downright elated as she and Eriol pulled back from the hug to get a proper look at each other. Her happiness mirrored Eriol's, the happiest Kaho had seen him in awhile.

Back in the vehicle, Kaho took a breath. There was no need to be the stranger; she was here as Eriol's friend. She stepped out of the cab and closed the door with a resounding bang. Immediately Eriol joined her side, the happy look still pasted on his face. "Uncle Clow, Tomoyo-chan, this is my friend Kaho Mizuki."

Somehow, Kaho thought with all her being that all she received was a fake smile from Tomoyo. It nowhere matched the brilliance of the grin Tomoyo had given Eriol seconds before. Something about the lavender eyes plainly didn't match the rest of her face.

It would be too many years too late when Kaho would realize that she had become the barricade between Eriol and Tomoyo.

Destiny at Work

Hitsuzen Seventeen

The Annual Announcement: Damsel

"Oneesama… You're not going to say dumb stuff like 'our love has to be mutual,' are you?"

"Romance always ends up being a one-way street. You feel like you understand each other, but it's only an illusion." —Utako and Makoto Ogawa from Man of Many Faces

Author's Note: Cardcaptor Sakura and its characters rightfully belong to CLAMP. The following characters that appeared/mentioned in Hitsuzen Seventeen also belong to CLAMP:

Angelic Layer - Ringo Seto

Magic Knight Rayearth - Fuu Houoji, Umi Ryuuzaki, Hikaru Shido, Zagato, Lantis, and Zazu

Tsubasa RESERvoir CHRoNiCLE – Fai D. Flowright, Xing-huo (and Fei-wang Reed)

April First (12 years later)

"Today's the day, everyone! Head over to Tokyo Park where the biggest event of the season is happening. There's food, games, and prizes. You can even win a free copy of Destiny's new magazine. Learn more about Destiny at Work and its new services. Who will be the couples to watch this year? Come join me and find out!" Ringo Seto's peppy voice cheered from the front stage.

Fuu, accompanied by her friends Umi and Hikaru, headed towards the back of the stage. After telling the guard her name, she was told to look for a Zagato Cail.

Hikaru spotted someone she knew first. "Lantis-san! Hey! Do you know who Zagato Cail is?"

The tall, broad-shouldered man covered a look of surprise. "Hikaru-san. It's nice to see you again. Ryuuzaki-san, Houoji-san," he nodded to them. Easily able to look over the crowd to find his brother, he caught the Vice-Manager talking with the Pillar siblings. Knowing that the Internet pair was not supposed to meet yet, he told the trio of girls, "He seems to be busy at the moment. I'll tell him you checked in."

"Is that it?" Umi asked.

"We just needed confirmation you're here. Keep your phone on at all times, just in case an emergency comes up," he told Fuu. She nodded, trying to keep down the excitement and nervousness from meeting a friend for the first time. "Be here half an hour early before the announcement and wait at the left entrance of the stage for someone named Zazu. He'll give you more directions then. For now, take a look at the festival, check out booths..."

"We started to," Hikaru grinned. "Umi and I signed up to find a match."

"Hikaru asked for you as her matchmaker," Umi told him matter-of-factly, a wicked glint in her eye.

When Lantis turned to look at her, Hikaru blushed. "They said we could request someone. If you're too busy, it's okay," she added almost too quickly.

A dark-haired woman dressed smartly in a professional suit interrupted the conversation. "Sorry Cail-san," Meiling said as she reached out to loosen Lantis' tie. "Li-san needs to borrow your tie." For a few awkward moments, Meiling slipped the tie from the neck and then proceeded to tie it around Syaoran Li.

Lantis gave Hikaru and her friends a shrug. "Can't say no to my boss. And I'll take your case," he promised her. The red-haired girl smiled back.

After Umi and Fuu had to practically drag Hikaru out of the stage area, Fuu remarked, "So did you get a good look at the person who they're matching Syaoran Li with?"

Hikaru gave a soft grin to herself. "She's perfect for him," was all she said.

"One hour to the announcement!" Ringo's enthusiastically said. "If you're not here, then you're missing out! Did you know that the Married Couple of the Year gets to have an all-expenses paid marriage package? That's right, everyone. The engagement party, the bachelor parties, and the wedding of your dreams - all free! All that's required is that you are a client of Destiny at Work and are engaged, and you could get it all. Many couples will apply, but only one will win. So sign up today!"

Kaho reached out and turned off the radio. It was surreal how slowly time moved, she felt as if she was caught in a tank full of water. The resistance of the water felt exactly like how things were moving against her. She felt weary, tired... yet everything was still the same.

She still woke up alone, didn't she? He didn't bother to wake her up to say good-bye, again. He didn't leave a note or a voicemail. He didn't say the important words anymore... he didn't bother to exchange two sentences with her anymore, again. She barely got to saw him. Where was the dinner he promised? The long talk that was needed? Were they still engaged or was she just kidding herself?

Slowly Kaho raised the phone to her ear. "Sorry about that, Nakuru. The radio was too loud," she answered numbly.

"Kaho," sighed the web manager all the way from London. "It's been over a week already. Did you do it yet?"

She sat on her bed, resigned. "He's been busy all week, Nakuru. It's the announcement, after all."

Nakuru rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and I'm the one who reveals to the whole world that Destiny's just a click away, but I still make time to talk to you everyday. What kind of boyfriend ignores the girlfriend who hopped onto a plane for his birthday? You don't deserve this."

Kaho leaned back, flopping onto the bed like a dead weight. Fiancé, she wanted to correct. "I love him," she whispered to herself.

"You are an amazing, intellectual, considerate woman. You don't deserve a man who treats you like anything less." Nakuru told her. After a beat, she added, "But whatever you decide, I'm sure it's the right one."

For a full minute Kaho listened to the deadening dial tone before ending the call on her side. Then she lay still for an hour before she sat up and finally moved. It was time to get out.

"You don't want a scoop?" Fai teased a plastic spoon packed with ice cream in front of Touya. "It's delicious. Your girlfriend has good taste."

Touya resisted the urge to glare. At his refusal, Fai shrugged and fed the scoop to Yukito, who obediently opened his mouth. Touya tried not to stare. Today Fai had opted to go out without his usual outfit, so that meant the whole world now knew about Yukito's orientation. Touya decided he was just being overprotective of his best friend; the rising anger in his stomach couldn't be anything else.

After swallowing, Yukito cast over a concerned look. "Still worried about Sakura-chan? If you're really bothered, I could talk to Tomoyo-chan for you."

"Nonsense," Fai rebuffed. "Daidouji-san knows what she's doing. Besides, Sakura-chan deserves a chance to be happy. Even if it doesn't work out, Sakura-chan won't regret trying."

"That's what I'm worried about," Touya muttered. Sakura couldn't handle another bad breakup, and this one was sure to end up that way, no matter what his girlfriend may believe. But the foreigner was right, his little sister should be happy. Touya couldn't say no to that.

So that's why he and Yukito closed Chiroru Bakery for the day. He had to be there when the Announcement was given, when the moment Sakura and her new boyfriend would be official.

"Ooh, they're starting!" Fai grinned, sitting up. The audience gathered around the main stage quieted, eager to learn Destiny's new couples. Ringo Seto, the emcee, kept things light but suspenseful as she passed out free gifts to the audience instead of the gossip. Already Touya was bored, he'd been to each of the previous Announcements in support for his girlfriend at it was always the usual: Tomoyo and Eriol would declare the names of the Couple of the Year and the new celebrities would enter the stage, making a huge show out of it. Then there would be the red ribbon ceremony, where the couple would tie the colored ribbon to each other to symbolize destiny and all that. Then it'd be over and he could head to his father's house with his girlfriend and celebrate his little sister's birthday.

Seeing Kaho was a small surprise and Touya was about to call her over when he noticed the defeated lost look on her face. He mumbled some excuse to his companions before making his way through the crowd to her. She strayed at the edges of the crowd, clearly not wanting to get any closer but longing to. "Mizuki," he greeted when he came near as the audience applauded when Destiny's Married Couple of the Year was named. He could care less.

The brunette woman turned ever so slowly to look at him. When he finally pushed through the last people, she nodded in response, saying, "Kinomoto." They were acquaintances at best, their respective others being the closest of friends. It was something they had in common, but that was all. That may have been the reason why Touya picked up on her distress; he was the only one who could understand the difficulty of dating a president of Destiny.

He noticed the wheeled suitcase in her hand and took a double take. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Home," she replied, not taking her eyes off the stage. He looked, someone named Fuu Houoji and Ferio Pillar were exchanging shocked but excited looks on stage- they must have been the Internet couple he'd heard about. That's not what she was focused on, however, so he watched as she stared at Hiiragizawa openly, memorizing each feature of the fiancé's face. It was as if she was committing it to memory.

"Are you all right?" he asked her kindly. Kaho didn't answer while Sakura and Syaoran Li came on stage, happy as can be. It was now official: Sakura was dating again.

"They forgot to mention another couple," Kaho at last spoke, saying more than one word and a full sentence this time. She didn't look away from the front to see his bewildered face but she explained herself in her next comment. "They make the picture of a perfect couple, don't they?"

Glancing back at the stage again, Touya watched his girlfriend and Hiiragizawa beam together, proud of their work. Together they handed out the red ribbon and Touya could almost hear the little laugh Tomoyo gave at a comment Hiiragizawa said. Touya shook his head, turning back to Kaho. "It's not like that. We of all people should know."

"Would we?" She abruptly turned her whole stance to look at him. "What if we're the only people they're fooling? The paparazzi could get a hundred of incriminating photos of those two lovebirds together and all they'd have to do is pull one of us out to deny it. For all we know, they could be dating and we're their alibis."

"No." Touya said, rather forcefully.

"No one knows that she's actually your girlfriend. No one even knows that he's engaged! He doesn't even wear his ring, saying that's it better if publicity doesn't catch him and put me in the spotlight. They say they're protecting us, but how is this any different from any secret fling that exists?"

"Kaho!" Touya almost shouted, wincing as curious minds turned to look. He gently led Kaho away from the crowd to a less populated area, grabbing a free drink from one of the vendors to calm her down. They settled next to a shrub, Touya waiting as she gulped the soothing liquid down. He didn't know what to say. Whatever was happening between Kaho and Eriol had nothing to do with Touya and Tomoyo. They had their own problems to work out and Tomoyo as Eriol's best friend was not even part of the equation… Right?

"I can't remember the last time he said it," she said, staring into the plastic cup. "The last time he said he loves me. I hardly even see him, but I miss his voice… his smile… his laugh… I don't even remember if he said it when I arrived for his birthday." Kaho started shaking her head. "You never think it's the last. Why don't I remember?"

"He loves you. You know that," Touya insisted. "You're engaged; that's got to mean something."

Her eyes immediately snapped to his. "He said he loved me when he proposed. I remember now," she drifted off again. There was a visible sag to her shoulders as her voice broke. "That was three years ago. Eriol proposed three years ago. I was going to leave him because he was spending too much time back then trying to start Destiny at Work with Tomoyo, but then he got down on one knee and said he loved me and asked me if I would marry him. I was going to leave him but I said yes. I said yes."

"He loves you," Touya repeated.

Kaho continued as if she hadn't heard him. "But here we are, three years later and still engaged. We haven't even started planning, haven't set a date, haven't thrown an engagement party. There's a couple, right now on that stage, who's going to get married before Eriol begins to think of his own wedding. We've been engaged for three years and nothing's changed. Nothing at all."

She gasped quietly, her eyes fluttering closed in pain as the tears escaped. "Why can't I remember the last time he said 'I love you' first?"

How come I don't remember? Came the nagging thought in Touya's head. His jaw clenched. Sure, Tomoyo said those three words many of times. On many occasions she said those eight letters before he did… Right?

But this wasn't about him and Tomoyo. So Touya held back his malicious thoughts and found he had nothing to say. He could not repeat his last sentence again, believing it now even less than Kaho did. There was nothing he could do to relieve her.

Is this how I'm going to end up?

"You should leave him," came a new voice. They looked up to see a young woman dressed in all black with another figure outfitted in dark scarlet. "Break it off. End it. Find someone new."

NO.

Touya leapt to his feet, outraged. "Who do you think you are, listening to private conversations? We didn't ask for your opinion. Leave before you regret it."

Xing-huo ignored him and instead focused on the girlfriend. "You already know this. You know the relationship will never go anywhere, so you know you need to get out before you waste any more of your time. You're already packed with a suitcase in hand. The only reason you're here is because you hope to find at least one pathetic excuse to remain bounded to him. It's not worth it. Give up."

"How about you give up," seethed Touya. "Kaho, don't listen to her. You, the both of you, leave." He continued to glare at Xing-huo until Ruby Moon wisely pulled her away.

The words of a perfect stranger slapped Kaho with perfect clarity. The tears stopped and she stood, throwing the paper cup away. "Kaho…" Touya tried to say.

She felt a bit stronger, a little more in control. "I'm going home," she told him, her voice not even wavering. "Then I'm going to take the entire day to gather my things… and if he's not back to stop me, we're officially over." Touya shook his head, not liking the plan, but Kaho gave him a steely look. "Don't you dare tell him, Touya. You can't be there every time to help him. He needs to do this, on his own, for himself… and I only hope you don't end up like me. Tell Sakura-chan I said happy birthday, okay?"

Touya had never felt so helpless as he watched Kaho walk away. Things didn't have to end this way, did it? It seemed so unfair: Hiiragizawa was being tested without his knowing. In a few years, or maybe even months, who would be the one to walk away? Would it be him? Or would it be Tomoyo? Did it have to be doomed to fail from the start?

"Hey." A hand touched his shoulder gently and Touya turned to his the concerned face of his best friend. "You missed the entire announcement, and I was getting worried… To-ya, is everything okay?"

Yukito's eyes blinked owlishly behind his glasses in genuine worry and Touya almost felt relieved. Then Touya noticed the clasped hands Yukito shared with Fai, the blonde foreigner who simply raised eyebrows in a silent question. "Peachy," he muttered, turning away with a desperate need to see his girlfriend. "Everything's just peachy."

The transvestite was staring at her again. "Yes?" Xing-huo asked pointedly. "Is there something you want to say to me, Ruby?"

The mass of pink hair slowly shook no. "I was simply thinking your father would've been proud of you." Xing-huo avoided the perceiving gaze. "Manipulating someone's fears and worries is exactly the kind of thing your father would have done. Bravo, for separating Hiiragizawa from his fiancée."

Xing-huo continued to remain silent.

"I thought you were different, Xing-huo, but I suppose you did inherit the sadistic enjoyment."

That struck a nerve in the woman's spine and Xing-huo straightened up like she had been shocked. Whipping around with a fierce glare, she spoke no louder than a harsh whisper: "I don't pay you to be my therapist, Ruby Moon. I pay you to be my bodyguard, to work for me. Keep your thoughts to yourself or else you aren't going to get paid." She coldly smiled. "Now book a flight, Ruby. We're going home to see daddy dearest."

He was still frickin' here. Touya glared at Eriol from across the room. England was about nine hours behind Japan and Kaho could already be halfway packed. What was the man doing here at Sakura's birthday party? Hadn't he spared a single thought for his potential ex-fiancée, wondered where she was? And why should Touya even care?

Eriol looked his way and Touya tried to look busy. At least he would keep his promise to Kaho and not tip the bastard off. Instead, Sakura did it for him. "Hey Eriol-san, where's Mizuki-sensei?"

He honestly looked surprised. Eriol really didn't know. The idiot president of a love-matching company spent a look around the room as if he really expected Kaho to show, and then Touya watched as the man's face crumpled into confusion. Eriol turned to Spinel to ask her the same question and she shrugged. "-haven't seen her all day."

Touya couldn't help himself. Hiiragizawa couldn't fail the unknown test. "I think she went home," he blurted yet impossibly casual at the same time. "She said Happy Birthday, Sakura."

Oh. The realization dawned on his face… but Eriol didn't look worried at all. It was as if now that he knew where she was, he didn't have to keep thinking about her anymore. Touya bit back a growl. Eriol would definitely fail and there was nothing Touya could do about it. So he did the only thing he could do: he grabbed Tomoyo from a conversation with Syaoran and Fanren Li and pulled her into the next deserted room that happened to be the library.

"Touya-" Tomoyo started when he had pushed her flush to the back of the door. He wasn't going to hear the rest of it; he attacked her mouth with dangerous ferocity and need. He tried to calm down the uneasy feeling pooling at the pit of his stomach with the sweet taste of her lips, her curvaceous earlobe, her shapely neck. He traveled back up her face to return to her mouth, his tongue darting in deeper, deeper for the flavor he could not get enough of.

Then, in the next instant it changed. Her hand moved up his tense arm and rested at the back of his head, grabbing the dark curls for a closer, stronger hold. Her mouth conformed to his and responded with equal passion. He was no longer holding her to the door as she closed any distance between them, pulling her shapely body flush with his. Her neck was stretching, reaching to meet his ardent lips. He swooped down on her pulse spot, sucking, biting. Tomoyo sighed happily in ecstasy. "Missed me?" she asked in breathy gasp.

The jealous monster could just curl up and die.

Touya pulled back to look at her and the ethereal moonlight that danced in her eyes. She'd responded. She'd cared. Touya had been right from the get-go; he and Tomoyo had nothing to do with Eriol and Kaho. Touya leaned in to give her a short kiss on the lips, a kiss sweeter than any other kiss he had given her in the last five minutes. "Very much," he answered her question.

Tomoyo smiled, reaching up for a short peck. He pulled her back for another kiss, longer this time. He missed this: kissing her, her being in his arms, her sweet fragrance surrounding the air around them. He kissed her sweetly and deeply, knowing full well he loves this woman and she loves him.

"Tomoyo! We're going to be late for the red eye!" Eriol interrupted, knocking on the door. Touya groaned, hating him even more now. "Are you coming to London with me or not?"

Everything froze as Touya remembered. Tomoyo was going with Eriol to open the London branch. Work, work, work; Eriol, Eriol, Eriol. The monster within him sat up curiously, holding its breath, ready to come back at any moment. Yet his girlfriend was unaware of this inner turmoil as she jumped off his lap, giggling. "Sorry. Duty calls," she told him as if that would make everything all right.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Touya nearly barked out in harsh tones.

She turned around, a small smile in place. Kissing him softly on the forehead she whispered, "We'll continue this when I get back, okay? I promise."

Touya watched her walk out the door to smile at Eriol and vanish into the hallway with Eriol. He'd waited for a few minutes, but she never came back. Not even to say goodbye. Anger came back with a vengeance and Touya kicked the love seat in front of him. "Love you too," he bit out. Damn Kaho was right.

"Why can't I remember the last time he said 'I love you' first?"

Thank You to whitewave16, Annonymous Amethyst, gabyhyatt, Inuyashangel, ROAR-Lisa, StarAngel02, Emerald Divinity, CheeseyCraziness, PaCT, SnowCharms, Fallen from the sky and Crazy heart for your reviews! Keep them coming!

whitewave16: Thanks! Don't worry, there are many more 'dates' to come.

Annonymous Amethyst: I was laughing too when I wrote that scene. How many times could I write it before even I got sick of it? lol!

gabyhyatt: Yay, a new reader! Thanks for adding this story to your story alert. Thank you so much!

Inuyashangel: ahaha! Meiling, everyone hates you now. (Meiling: And I have to thank, don't I?) lol, at least Sakura and Syaoran are a little bit more than friends now that it's 20 chapters later. Glad you enjoyed it!

ROAR-Lisa: Who's she saying it to? (grin) who wouldn't want to know?!

StarAngel02: Thanks! But as for Meiling... we'll just have to read to find out, ne?

Emerald Divinity: Thank you so much! Well, this chapter wasn't much of a SxS chapter (as it's focused on the ExK break up) but hopefully I can add a moment next chapter. Just keep reading!

CheeseyCraziness: Thank you! lol, it's all good. I love your reviews, long or short! (grin)

PaCT: WOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love every single one of your many reviews! I'm amazed how your guesses turn out to be right on the mark, like when you guessed S/M had a past, Touya's jealousy, or even when you guessed Tomoyo would add Sakura and Meiling's name in the program! So, here are some answers: Yes, Kurogane will make a small appearance. Yes, Syaoran and Meiling still have unresolved feelings to sort out, but no, will hopefully not hook up again. (Which is why they can't just move on.) Yes, Meiling's system will play a part later. And later we'll find out what's so bad about Meiling, maybe in five or so chapters? Thank you so much for your reviews and comments and adding this story to your favorites and story alert, they made my day!

SnowCharms: Meiling is the main road block in Syaoran and Sakura's relationship, but hopefully that will clear soon. S+S all the way, right? (smile)

Fallen from the sky: It's really such a shame, ne? But eventually they shall get their act together and realize what's up! As for Meiling... we'll see!

Crazy heart: Another new reader! Welcome! Thanks for also adding this story to your story alert. (grin) Meiling and Syaoran… now that's a possibility! Keep reading and you'll find out!

Coming soon:

"Of course you love him," Sakura smiled. "I thought it was obvious … You should tell him. He would want to hear it."

…

"I'm only going to say this once," Meiling said as she looked at him seriously. "I love you."

Don't forget to review!