Author Notes: As you might have noticed, I have kinda lost interest in this fic. But I know I still owe the readers a closure to this fic. This is something I created more than 3 years ago, and honestly (and I seek no justification), I don't really bother to check or revise the grammar and everything else anymore. Yes, I'm bad. But I just want to pay off my debt by settling this story now.

"Tomoyo, you know the tale of the Lying Goatherd?"

"The story of the Lying Goatherd, Mother?"

"Yes."

"I know it. It's about a goatherd who lied to the villagers that the goats were attacked by the wolfs. He lied about that several times. Then one day, the wolfs came for real and attacked his goats. He went to the villagers and asked for their help."

"What happens to him, then, Tomoyo?"

The Daidouji-san

Chapter 21: The Lying Goatherd

It had been easier to accept things after the harsh reality kicked in and that I finally surrendered.

Well, it was not entirely that easy, but it was arguably easier. I wondered whether it required me a bruised ego and a wounded heart to finally realize what an incurable jerk Hiiragizawa Eriol was and that I had wasted my time for him. The sacrifice was plenty, but hey, at least, I was able to go without any so-called regret –as Nakuru and Mizuki-san might have implied. I had tried to confess to him, I had tried to see the best sides of him. Nobody could blame if I had tried and I failed because Hiiragizawa was truly a despicable man.

I regretted how I was willing to be his victim for all those months, but more than that, I pitied him.

That vain man would never get his happiness that way.

The anger and disappointment had clouded my opinion regarding him, I knew this grudge would make me forget my love to him soon.

…

Oh, who was I kidding?

No matter how angry I was, no matter how much I didn't want to forgive him…

I loved him.

I cursed my self, I hated myself, but I still loved him.

Daidouji Tomoyo was doomed.

Many had questioned my decisions. One of them was Mizuki Kaho-san.

"Is it because of Eriol?" Mizuki-san questioned me. We were sitting on the bench park after I accompanied her to the bridal shop (fashion call for a desperate bride-to-be, or something like that). I had told her about my last interaction with him in his manor (only briefly though –as remembering those cruel words still wounded my heart). Perhaps it was females' friendship, perhaps it was something more, but I had a feeling that she was fully supporting me here.

I debated mentally but I finally gave her the reason. "…He's one of the factors. But I've decided this even before I confronted him that day."

"So…you have decided…" Mizuki-san trailed as she gazed to the beautiful scenery before our eyes. "You have decided to follow your Mother and Sakura and live in Hong Kong with them."

I weakly nodded, "Yes. I have decided."

"Your Mother knows this, doesn't she?"

Shaking my head slowly, I then smiled at Mizuki-san. "No, she doesn't know yet. My decision to live with her… this is actually the little surprise I'm planning to present her."

"So, it's for your Mother?"

"She is my main reason. Our relationship for the past years hasn't been so well and yet, we're mending our wrong ways. I know I will never forgive myself if I let Mother's dream dissipates, and yet, I feel that our relationship will only worsen if I am to be separated from her. So, there's only one solution: I will live with her in Hong Kong, to support her too. And besides… I miss Sakura-chan a lot."

"What about your college? Aren't you accepted in that bright university in Tokyo? I thought you were going there…"

The soft sigh escaped my lips. "I regret having to let go for such opportunity too. But on the other hand, a new opportunity is opening up for me in Hong Kong. I am accepted in the Faculty of Economy in one of the most prominent universities in Hong Kong. Plus, the college allows me to take short courses in a small fashion academy not so far from the campus compound. I can both pursue my dream as a fashion designer and continue on the Daidouji co."

I heard her chuckling. "You both are so similar. He, too, is enrolling in the law school and planning to take courses in the cooking academy."

"Similarity doesn't make us understand each other," I concluded.

Mizuki-san stared at me sadly and she tried to start a new topic that had little related to Hiiragizawa. "It's sad that you have to go when we're starting to bond up. Are you going to be there on my wedding ceremony?"

"I will. And I'll make sure to bring along Sakura and the others too."

"We'll be waiting, then." Mizuki-san warmly smiled.

I finished zipping up the last suitcase and Souma, my maid, carried it away into the baggage of the car.

"Is this the last one, Tomoyo-sama?" she questioned.

"Yes, it's the last one."

"The driver is ready. You want to go to the airport now?"

I looked up at my wristwatch. It was still 6 in the morning. My plane boarded at 10 in the morning, so I still had plenty of time. "I need moments. Tell the driver to wait me for a while."

"Will do, Tomoyo-sama," spoke my lady maid as she excused herself from my room and left me alone.

My decision to live in Hong Kong for had affected many things, mostly the employees of the Daidouji Mansion. Since I wanted to keep my decision as a surprise present to my Mother, I had not consulted her a lot, but I had planned to give the decisions to the maids and other employees. I had spoken to the HRD manager and she told me she could accept more staffs to work in several departments. So, I told my maids and employees to choose their paths. They can remain working in the Daidouji Mansion in Tomoeda (still we were still going to keep the manor we needed someone to take care of it while Mother and I were away. Besides, we would be back to Tomoeda someday and we would still need the residence neat and tidy), or they can go with me to Hong Kong and took care of the Daidouji residence in Hong Kong, or they can choose to start a new career in the Daidouji company.

The older employees, like the housekeeper and the chief butler had chosen to take care of the current Daidouji Mansion in Tomeoda, I supposed they loved the manor so much and I appreciated them for it. The younger employees, the young maids and others, mostly chose to try working in the office of Daidouji co. I still had my personal bodyguards and lady maid willingly chose to follow me to Hong Kong though.

Even with the employees' issue taken care of, it still wasn't easy to part with the home I had been living in for my entire life. I knew that the big manor didn't always provide me the best memories (after all, I never regarded those lonely nights in the manor as something worthy to remember), but it still felt weird to part with it.

It was even harder to part with Tomoeda.

The little town was where I grew up, where I got my life lesson, where I wanted to be back one day.

I only told few of my friends about my plan to go to Hong Kong. Since I didn't want to cause such commotion so early after we graduated, I chose to only tell Rima and Naoko about this. They had strongly opposed at first but after I told them my intention to mend my bond with Mother, they accepted it a lot better. I also told Chiharu (and telling Chiharu meant telling Yamazaki too) and Rika (and equally, telling Rika meant telling Terada-sensei too), since they were my precious friends and I couldn't just depart without saying anything to them. Yukito was also informed and I certainly couldn't forget to tell him.

Kurogane had been the one with the least opposing when I told him my choice. After all, that guy was a liberate man who wouldn't mind someone making a rather drastic choice for her own future. He was supportive and yet still showed the hint of worries (in Kurogane's case, due to his stoic attitude, any little hint was considered big enough).

"Be careful there," he had told me.

"I will. You too," I had returned the sayings. We didn't talk much (we understood each other better than mere words anyway) and I ended that quick phone call.

The soft knocks on the door broke my slow trains of thought. "Tomoyo-sama? Are all your bags and luggages ready?"

I turned around to see the aging man standing on the door. My butler, who had been very helpful in taking care of all this moving out issues. He was the one in charge to inform the competent authority and assisted me in getting my license to stay in Hong Kong. He was such an intelligent and wise man – I had offered him a good position in the because I was sure he could do it, but he had politely refused.

"Yes, Souma has carried them all, Katsumoto-san."

He gazed sadly at me. "It's like letting go of my granddaughter. Forgive my impoliteness, Tomoyo-sama, but I truly regard you as my granddaughter."

"I'm honored that you consider me so, Katsumoto-san."

"I hope you and Sonomi-sama will be back to Tomoeda before I die…"

"Katsumoto-jii-san!" I scolded him. "Don't talk about such pessimistic thoughts. Mother and I will be back here someday. Tomoeda is still our home. You don't have to worry."

Katsumoto laughed softly. "Alright, alright. So…are you going to leave now?"

I gave one last long stare at my bedroom before turned to him. "Yes. I'm ready."

And I closed the door.

"Now I'm the only one alone in Tomoeda…" huffed Naoko as she took off her glasses to wipe the tears. Chiharu patted Naoko's shoulders and perhaps the pig-tail-haired girl was still slightly guilty for her own decision to leave Tomoeda. I smiled apologetically at Chiharu before turning back to Naoko again.

"It's not as if I won't be back to Tomoeda again, Naoko…" I hugged her. "And you are fine now. You'll be having a great college time in Tomoeda and you are going to love your life here…"

She wiped another tear. "Yeah. I-I have founded my place here, Tomoyo. I hope you'll find yours too."

"I will, I know I will," I told her. I then turned to Rika and Chiharu, indicating them to have a group hug. It felt the hard to separate with them. I knew that we hadn't hung around together that much since Junior High, but I still considered them to be in the circle of my inner friends. I didn't want to let go my hug of them, but Souma had told me we had better wait in the airport's waiting room since the plane would depart soon. Reluctantly, I followed my maid's advice. I stared at the crowd, hugged Rima and my other high school friends, and also Mizuki-san.

"I was hoping that he would show up, but perhaps his arrogance is truly incurable. I'm sorry that he couldn't make it here, Tomoyo," she told me about a certain blue-eyed Sorcerer.

I shook my head. "He wouldn't come. I didn't tell him I was leaving." Mizuki-san quickly let go of her embrace and stared deep at me. I knew she wouldn't approve my decision but… "It's not that he would come even if I told him anyway." I shrugged.

"You should –"

"It's the end, Mizuki-san. He ended it. And I would accept it," I told her with a big smile, but my tone was final.

My decision was final.

There was still dissatisfaction on her warm orbs, but despite how much I liked Mizuki-san, I sadly couldn't follow her silent plea to give that bastard another chance.

It was enough.

I had had enough.

"Tomoyo-sama…" Souma called again and I knew I had a valid reason to stop guiltly staring at Mizuki-san's eyes.

Guilt?

For Hiiragizawa?

I didn't do anything wrong.

I might disappoint Mizuki-san, but Hiiragizawa didn't need any of my symphaty. Not that he ever wanted it, anyway.

The farewell had been quick and considerably a positive one –they cried, I cried, but at least, we had smiles on our faces. I gave one final wave before following Souma and Ayako, my bodyguard, into the immigration section. There was several emigration inquires and procedures that I had to follow through. Souma assisted me in taking care all of those and after we had finished, we went to the waiting room. There was a vacant seat and I chose to rest myself there. It was only seconds after I sat that my cell phone rang.

Kurogane's Kyoto's number.

I picked it up.

"Hello, Kurogane."

"Sorry for not being able to see you off in the airport."

"It's alright. You don't have to bother yourself that much, Kurogane. I'm fine."

"…I couldn't be on line for long and I'm sure you'll be told to turn of your cell phone soon, but I just want to… well…tell you to take care of yourself."

I smiled softly at his awkwardness. "I am a big girl, Kurogane. I appreciate your concern, but I will be alright."

"You always say that."

"Because I know that it is the truth."

He snorted. "Woman…"

"Yes, Kurogane?"

"…Just take care of yourself."

I giggled slightly. "I will."

"Tomoyo-sama, we have to get inside the plane now," Souma told me and I nodded to her.

"I have to go now. I'll call you once I get in Hong Kong. Bye, Kurogane!"

"Aa. Bye," he replied shortly, awkwardly. We ended the call and I put back my cell phone on my hand bag. Souma and Ayako already stood up and I followed their suit. Other people in the waiting room were preparing to get inside the tunnel that would lead us to the plane. I sighed. I still couldn't believe that I finally decided to leave Tomoeda, my hometown, like this. But it was for my Mother and for my better life too. So I supposed it was necessary –and I had to do so. Besides, I had nothing else to regret even if I left Tomoeda.

Really?

I couldn't block the image of Hiiragizawa inside my head.

My heart still wrenched a lot.

And that was why…

He was one of the reasons I was leaving Tomoeda.

I had to escape him.

I returned back my attention to the real life, and looked up at Ayako's back as she queued in front of me, while Souma chose to stay behind. An old couple several people away in front of my queue line was having trouble with their ticket and it bought us time. I was asking Ayako about one of my suitcase when a strong hand gripped my wrist and pulled me away by force from the queue. I lost my balance and I could see Souma tried to stop me from falling, but before she could reach my hand (or before I could reach her hand), a pair of arms had steadied my posture.

Who dared to pull me away in such abrupt, rude, manner –and –

My train of thoughts was momentarily halted when I was face to face with the person with the clearest blue eyes I had ever seen, that I had ever noticed.

Hiiragizawa Eriol.

I felt blood rushed faster in my veins, I felt my heart skipped a beat, I felt like I choked the air when I looked at him.

He was panting, sweats rolled on his pale face –as if he had just had a marathon or something, and he glared at me.

"Tomoyo-sama," Souma, again, reminded myself and thankfully became my savior –as her words broke the spell Hiiragizawa might have cast on me. "The plane is –"

Despite the thousands of questions running in my head (plenty of questions, which actually led to only one big inquiry: What was Eriol Hiiragizawa doing here?!), I jerked my wrist from his grasp and turned to face Souma and walked into the queue again. "Ah, sorry, Souma. I'll have to queue from behind again. You go first to your seats, I insist –"

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" the rough, still breathless voice was questioning me.

It still pained me to look at him, it still wounded me to hear his voice. He probably only came to give cruel farewell or something, and I had learned, I had learned a lot. So I would just ignore him and repeated the queuing process and –

"Don't ignore me, Daidouji Tomoyo," he scowled darkly.

I gave no damn.

I couldn't always give him the attention he wanted. He thought my world revolved around him? I would prove him how wrong he was, how –

A surprised gasp escaped my lips once I felt the same cold hand grasped my wrist, twirled me around, and pulled me away.

"Tomoyo-sama!" Souma and Ayako shouted as jumping out of the queue, but their steps were halted immediately when Hiiragizawa turned to them and spoke in the cold, polite manner.

"You two, go back to your lines and sit nicely on your seats in the plane. I just have a little business with your Mistress."

I stared in disbelief as Ayako and Souma stood in rigid forms and replied in the same dull, monotone voice, "Yes, Hiiragizawa-sama." They then turned around and walked back to the queue line.

"What did you do to them?!" I screeched but instead of giving me explanations, Hiiragizawa only tightened his grip on my wrist and pulled me away.

There was a difference of powers between a man and a woman, and I repeatedly cursed such fact as I couldn't get his grip off my hand. I tried to stop walking, but he was persistent as he pulled me to one of the dark corner, twirled my body until my back touched the wall, and without giving any notice, slammed one of his arms on the wall beside my head. I glared in distaste at the show of such rude gestures and stole glances behind him – come on, someone should just save me from a crazy Sorcerer who –

Hiiragizawa flicked his finger and fell the similar rush of strong air that made me momentarily close my eyes. When I opened them again, I only looked at Hiiragizawa's face in front of me and noticed the stillness of –

Oh God.

He had stopped the time again, literally.

"This way, you won't complain, right?" he questioned, without wanting to know my answer (like he ever gave any damn about it). I hated how he thought he could read what was on my mind. It was true that perhaps sometimes he could 'control' me, but that didn't give any legitimation that he knew what I thought, what I wanted, what I felt…

He especially always failed to know what I felt –what I truly felt.

"Unfreeze the time," I told him in mandatory tone. "I want to go –"

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" Again, he interrupted my words. Again, he was being the same jerk.

I sighed tiredly, but I realized he wouldn't return back the time until I answered the question. Fine, I wanted to say this since a long time ago, anyway. "Why do I need to tell you?"

My answer must have displeased him and I sinisterly wondered why. Was it because he was disappointed he was not the center of my world? Because he hated the fact that I thought and spoke the words that were not planned by him?

Eat that, Hiiragizawa.

His jaw clenched hard and there was turmoil of emotions in his eyes that felt like…

No.

I refused to try reading him again.

At the end, he would only be that unreadable guy –why did I even bother to seek an impossible answer?

I sighed. Suddenly, I felt tired, so tired. The months that I had passed with him only brought burdens and pain, I was really sick with such feelings. "Return back the situation, Hiiragizawa. I really –"

"Because…" he cut my words and I momentarily tried to trace back what question he was trying to answer. "…because you love me."

I widened my eyes.

He continued, "You need to tell me you're leaving, b-because… you love me."

And I only looked at the man with such disbelief, with anger that was unexplainable. "Because I love you?" I snorted and pushed him away. Strange enough, he only stumbled weakly, so different from his rather persistent and stubborn gesture moments ago. "What a selfish answer, Hiiragizawa. And such a selfish man you are. And stop this damn spell! I need to go to Hong Kong and –"

"I don't want you to go."

I froze.

…

And I looked up at him, surprised.

By the look on his face, he was equally as, if not more, surprised. Like he couldn't believe it was his own mouth which muttered the word. His sapphire eyes widened in confusion and his finger instinctively touched his own lips. There was frown on his feature and I felt that he was thinking the same thoughts that were running in my head.

Disbelief.

Impossibilities.

Perhaps… just perhaps… he had changed?

But…

The conscience kicked in and I realized one thing.

He was a good actor, and he could feign honesty like a true award-winning performer.

With a long, deep exhale of breath, I walked pass him with a snort. "That's such a great act. Brava. You almost got me there," I told him with a sweet saccharine smile.

He didn't even deny.

Great.

I knew I could never trust him.

"Don't go, Tomoyo."

…

It was his voice, it was the way he called my name, it was him –all of him, that made my emotions resurfaced. Before I could help myself, I asked him the stupidest question. "Why?"

"I-I…I don't want you to go."

I turned around and faced him again. "Why you don't want me to go?"

Fool me.

Fool Tomoyo. You would only be fooled by him again, you knew that, didn't you?

"I don't know," he replied slowly.

I just had to chuckle darkly. He didn't even know why he didn't want me to go. I decided to put sarcasm and helped him remember his vile self. "You don't want me to go because you hate to lose your toy, don't you? You don't want me to go because you won't have any object you can torture. You don't want me to go because –"

"Those are not the reasons," he interrupted me again.

I sighed in exhaustion, in pain, in annoyance. "Then what?!"

"I don't know why," he told me, and before I could cut the words with more annoyed remarks, he had spoken his next lines. "I don't know why, I can't even u-understand why I just teleported myself and ran w-when Kaho told me you're leaving. I-I don't even know why I am here, I don't even know why I'm muttering all of these a-and..." he sighed and his pale fingers snaked into his dark hair and squeezed a part of his hair hard. "I don't know. I just don't know." His eyes landed on me and he sincerely (or as I wanted to believe him to ever be 'sincere') questioned me, "Do you really need an answer? Do all things need answers?"

I forced my tone to be normal, but my voice cracked when I told him. "Because I just don't –can't– understand you. I never understand you! You ruin my life, you always do. One moment you're nice, the next moment you're back to your cruel self. T-then one moment you make me think like you're worth fighting for, and the next moment I just keep on questioning myself why I ever fall for you in the first place," I sighed before the next series of words flowed slowly. "One moment, I just want to believe you… but on the other hand, I know that I can't believe you. I can't believe a liar."

"Then…" he trailed. "Believe me this time."

My laughter was dark, empty, and underestimating. "Believe you this time?! What's there to believe? What? You don't even know –"

"Believe me when I tell you that I don't want you to go."

"I –"

"And believe me, even when I don't understand why, I know that the reasons why I don't want you to go are not because I want to torture you or because I want to consider you as my toy."

"But that's all my existence is to you. A toy, am I wrong?" I questioned him and he seemed to question himself.

…

I deliberated.

I love this guy, I truly do. But…

"What do you want this time, Hiiragizawa Eriol? What haven't I given you? I've provided you enough amusement, I've lowered down my Daidouji pride for you. What else? What else do you want to rip away from me?"

There was silence.

3 seconds.

5 seconds.

10 seconds, perhaps.

I lost track in counting, and it had been too long, and he still couldn't provide me the answer and –

"I want you to stay," he repeated.

I snorted. "That's impossible. I have bought the tickets and I have decided to live a new life with my mother. You won't be able to stop me."

"Then…at least, I want you to forgive me."

…

I stared at him for the longest time. Did my ears hear it right? Was he playing any trick on me? Because, if I didn't misinterpret it, it was highly possible that he was…apologizing?

…

Apologizing?

Like a mute movie, the flashback went through my mind in an unstoppable stream. The times when he mocked me, the times when he bertrayed me, the times when he disappointed me, the times when he toyed with my feeling, the times when he left me, the times when he stepped and crushed my hope, the times when he hurt me, the times… all those times…

I shook my head. "I can't. I'm sorry, but I can't forgive you. You've…hurt me too much."

Before I could stop it, I began to weep. I wept for myself, I wept for him, I wept for us.

"Don't cry –"

"You're the one who makes me cry!" I sobbed uncontrollably. "You're the one who hurt me the most, you're the one who –"

He pulled me into a kiss. Gentle, calm, slow –he kissed me like he meant it, he kissed me until my knees went weak, he kissed me until I lost my balance –until I had to clling to his strong arms to support my standing feet.

A kiss so sweet, so intoxicating, so truthful.

In other word, a kiss that was most impossible.

I pushed him away.

And I stared at him incredulously. "You…think that your kiss can solve the problem?"

He didn't answer and I cursed this man to be that egoist, to ever think that he still could do anything to control me.

He was wrong.

I had changed. He made me change.

By curiosity, or by sheer sarcasm, I challenged him with a simple question. "Do you love me?"

…

"…I don't know."

…And perhaps a simple 'no' would have been much better. Such ambiguous answer… he really knew me well, didn't he? He knew that this way, I would only make me depend on him more. He knew that I would not be able to give up hope and –

No.

I had to stop this. I had to end this endless link that would only make me pity myself more.

I chuckled darkly. "I hate you, Hiiragizawa Eriol."

He flinched and stared me in disbelief for a moment, before he spoke back, "You're lying." Perhaps he was only giving himself reassurance. Such a sad man.

I didn't reply his accusation; I only stared at him in silence.

When there was voice that broke the silence, it was his. "Then… what do I need to do to make you forgive me? What do I need to do to make you believe me? What do I need to do to make you love me again?"

"Are those even important for you?" I muttered under my breath. I was tired of his word games, I was tired of him, I was sick of seeing him. "Well, Hiiragizawa. For instance, you can at least get off my life. That way, perhaps I can hate you less."

"But…" He paused. "That way… I won't be able to see you again."

"Well, isn't that nice? Finally, my life is freed from you."

"But I can't," he told me. "I…don't know what I'm feeling to you, Daidouji-san. But I…" he gritted his teeth. "To be separated from you, it's –"

…

I almost gave in.

Hiiragizawa Eriol was a lost man. Perhaps he didn't even realize what nonsense he was mumbling about.

"10 years," I decided on instance.

"What?"

"Leave me alone now, and come to me again 10 years from now. If you at least have a feeling, if you've found out what you're feeling to me and that feeling still lingers even after 10 years… then perhaps…I will reconsider you. I might forgive you," I forced a smile. "You like games, don't you, Hiiragizawa? Then this is my game. Are you in?"

His sapphire eyes widened. "I…"

"Now," I soflty spoke. "You'll at least try not to disappoint me more. Unfreeze the time. Now."

I thought he would not comply, but surprisingly, he slowly flicked his finger and the airport was filled back with sounds, with movements, with life. Hiiragizawa stared deep at me with his usual enigmatic eyes and I knew I would only waste my time reading him out. So, I only gave him a curt nod and a polite smile. "Thank you. See you in 10 years –if you're still up to the game by that time."

I walked away.

He didn't even stop me.

I tried my best not to think of him again, because I had made my decision. I tried to act casual when I approached Ayako and Souma and repeated back the queue into the plane. I was fortunate enough that the queue was not that long. In moments, the line moved forward and I gave the ticket to the airport officer. He checked it and flashed an approving smile –in which I returned, by default. Souma and Ayako had gone inside the tunnel that led into the plane. Before I passed the door, I stole the slightest glance at him.

His blue eyes were locked on me.

And despite my inability to read them, I felt like I could comprehend him more by the eyes, not by his words.

For a slightest second, I doubted my decision to leave Tomoeda, to leave him.

…

But…

In the end, I took the step forward and got behind the door, to the tunnel, to the plane, to leave him.

I knew that it was probably the wisest decision I had ever made ever since Hiiragizawa Eriol re-entered my life.

"What happens to the Lying Goatherd, Tomoyo?"

"Nobody helped him. Because nobody could trust a liar."

To Be Continued