.Chapter Seven:

Tomoyo stared at the videotape in her hands, mind racing. It was the tape that she had gotten of Syaoran admitting his feelings for Sakura. She was tempted to show it to her, just walk over to her house and hand it over. If only for the fact that once it was done they would finally be together. Because she knew it had to happen. It was what Sakura wanted even if she wasn't aware of it. Syaoran was the best person for her.

And Eriol…

She shook her head. How silly and shameful that everyone would love Sakura and that she would feel…left out. That was Sakura. Beautiful, inside and out. Which was why she cared for her so much herself. Who could she blame, really?

The phone rang and a part of her wanted to let it keep ringing. Just ignore it while she thought out what to do. At the point they were at, Sakura would never admit anything, especially if she didn't understand what she wanted to admit. Syaoran knew exactly what he wanted but he feared the demise of their friendship. Eriol was just having fun with the entire thing. And she…

She was left feeling left out.

"Moshi moshi." She said finally, reaching up and answering the phone on the third ring. She lay back in bed with a sigh, twirling the videotape in her hand.

"Daidouji Tomoyo, kudasai." Came a formal voice on the other line.

"Speaking." she said with a frown at the familiar voice. "Eriol-kun?"

"Yes, it's me. How are you?" he asked smoothly, ever the polite young man even if he was exceptionally powerful. Half the time Tomoyo didn't know whether to like him or fear him.

"I'm fine. Surprised to hear your voice on my phone, that's all." She said truthfully. Surprised but not disappointed.

"I was meaning to ask you about today. I sensed that you weren't happy. I sense it now. And I knew I would find you at home." He explained simply.

Tomoyo shrugged at no one in the room. "No, I'm fine. Just…contemplating a few issues that are running through my head." And she looked once more at the videotape in her hand.

She felt him accept her answer. "Do you regret the bet I made with my descendant?" he asked her almost cautiously.

She blinked, sitting up in bed slowly. "No…" she said hesitantly, and she forgot all about the tape in her hand, looking down at it with unseeing eyes. "I know this is best for Sakura. Without someone to give the two of them a push nothing will come of it." She cocked her head, long hair falling in waves to pool in her lap. "And I want her to be happy."

He inhaled on the other side of the line and she could just picture him standing before his fireplace, one hand shoved into his pocket. "I know what you mean." He said quietly. "I understand."

She smiled faintly. "I know you do."

There was silence from the both of them and it was strange but for the first time the silence was not awkward. For the first time that she had known him she actually didn't mind hearing his breathing in her ear, didn't mind feeling his presence.

"You'll find someone, Daidouji-san." He suddenly said, causing her to rear back in surprise. "You'll find someone who will return your feelings and it won't hurt as much."

She swallowed, blinking at his words. How strange. How utterly strange that the last person she would have thought to comfort her, would. And strange that he knew what she felt even better than she did herself.

"Tomoyo." She said faintly. "Call me Tomoyo."

He paused on the other line, breath faint. And then, "Tomoyo-san."

She smiled, finding that she liked the way her name sounded on his lips. And then the awkwardness started settling once more and she said, blushing a beet red and thanking God that he couldn't see it, "So, what about the plan? What are we going to do now? You made Li-kun quite…agitated today."

He chuckled. "Yes, yes I did. And such a small gesture, too…"

Small gesture. She shook her head. Had he kissed her hand she would have reacted the same way as Sakura.

Had he kissed her hand?

She snapped out of it. This was Eriol-kun. "Yes, well…I still have the tape. Any good uses come to mind for it?"

He didn't answer for a moment. "Actually, I had the strangest notion today of giving it to Yamazaki-san. But knowing the way he is he would probably take the tape and turn its contents inside out to suit his stories."

Tomoyo laughed, nodding in agreement. "That he would." She said. "Sakura's still a bit tired from the fight with the Arrow Card. If the Dream Card had any effect on her she didn't let on about it to me." And that hurt a bit. She thought Sakura would come straight to her and tell her.

But than again, Sakura probably thought it was just a small crush that she was squashing. Not love, like what she felt for Yukito-san.

It was sad to be lost in love.

"I was sensing a bit of…tension, between Sakura-san and my descendant earlier. After he left the field. The last thing we need is him blaming her for not knowing how he feels for her." Eriol said slowly.

Tomoyo pouted a bit thoughtfully. "Perhaps I should speak with him? Again?"

"No." he said after a slight hesitation. "I'll speak to him."

"You?" she echoed reluctantly.

"Yes. Me. I'll speak to him and you speak to Sakura. Maybe see if you can bring up the slight…affection you've noticed she holds toward him." He said and she knew a plan was working its way into being in his head.

"Affection?" she repeated after him, smiling. "I'm sure I can do that. She's just gotten home from cheerleading practice. I'm sure I can stop by for a little while and talk to her."

"Perfect." He said, finally settling. "Then I'll go now to see my descendant."

"All right." She nodded. "I'll…talk to you later, then?"

"I'll call you." He said, the plan worked out. "Take care."

"You, too." She said quietly and as he hung up she slowly lowered the phone, clicking the OFF button.

No time to waste. She had to go see Sakura-chan.

"Tomoyo-chan!"

Sakura looked the slightest bit surprised to see her. She held the door open, stepping aside. "Come in." she invited the long-haired girl.

Tomoyo entered, slipping off her shoes and donning the house slippers. "I wasn't sure if you were home yet from cheerleading practice." She lied, standing straight as she finished.

"I got out about an hour ago and came straight home. Daddy's still working at the university and 'ni-chan will be home soon so I have to start dinner."

"I'll help." Tomoyo volunteered and followed as Sakura led the way to the kitchen.

"So, what brings you by?" Sakura asked as they both put on aprons. The kitchen was clean and vegetables littered the counter, still in paper bags.

"Just thought I'd stop by and chat. No one is home and I had finished all my schoolwork so I figured why not?" she turned Sakura around, noticing she was having trouble tying the apron behind herself and she did it for her.

"Arigato."

They both started pulling out the vegetables, Tomoyo reaching for a potato peeler. The small silence was comfortable, utensils being taken out for the preparation of dinner.

"Sakura-chan."

"Hmm?"

Tomoyo hesitated, pulling loose the long potato peel she had shaven off. "What were you and Li-kun arguing about today?"

Sakura slowed in the middle of slicing carrots. "Um, I'm not sure, really." She said thoughtfully. "He got mad during practice and walked off and went I went after him he was a bit mad at me too, I think…"

"Why?"

Sakura shrugged. "Something about him not having reason to be mad at me for not knowing…something." She looked horribly confused and she spun to look at her worriedly. "He was quiet all day to day, Tomoyo-chan. I didn't know what to say to cheer him up, not with the look on his face. All through classes I have with him and all through lunch period. He seemed so spaced out…"

Tomoyo sighed inwardly.

Li-kun…

"This worries you a lot, doesn't it?" Tomoyo said though, allowing a smile to light her face. "You've been paying him a lot of attention lately. It makes me wonder what's going on…"

"T…Tomoyo-chan!" she stuttered, blinking with wide eyes. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Of course not, Sakura-chan." She said, accepting it like she always did.

Sakura spared her a glance. "You don't believe me." She stated knowingly.

Tomoyo lifted her eyebrows, back to peeling. "Something is going on with my best friend and she won't tell me what it is…" she said with a little shrug.

Sakura stared at her with a slight smile. "Iie, Tomoyo-chan! It's not like that-"

"Of course not…"

"Tomoyo-chan!"

Tomoyo laughed at the feigned irritation in her friend's voice. "I know something is up, Sakura-chan. It's so obvious-"

"It is?" Sakura gasped and a moment later she lifted a hand to her mouth, as if to squelch the rest of what might have been a longer sentence.

Tomoyo pointed at her, throwing her the 'Ah-hah!' expression. "I knew it!"

"Tomoyo-chaaaaaaaaaaaan!"

She laughed at her friend, going back to peeling the next potato. "Just tell me already! I'm hurt that you haven't told me already!" And she said it as a joke but she realized that she meant it, that it did hurt the tiniest bit.

Sakura felt a sweat drop run down the side of her head. "It's nothing. Just a crush-"

"On Li-kun?!"

Sakura clapped a hand over her friend's mouth and looked around as if afraid that Syaoran could somehow hear from his house. "Ssh, Tomoyo-chan!" she hissed.

Tomoyo threw her hand off, giggling. "Oh, I'm so happy for you-"

"It's just a crush!" Sakura argued. "Once I see Yukito-san I'm sure it'll be all over…"

Tomoyo blinked at her owlishly. "Nani?"

Sakura nodded, not repeating the sentence, and she went back to slicing the carrots into small round pieces.

Oh, no, not a wall. She was not about to hit a wall and take it.

"Demo, Sakura-chan…" she said slowly, "Y…Yukito-san…"

"Hanyaaaaaaaaaaaan…"

"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo said, cutting her off in the middle of Schweeeeeeet mode. "Yukito-san and Touya-kun…"

"I have to tell him soon." Sakura said, cutting her off. "I should tell Yukito-san soon. Sometimes, I can't take it, Tomoyo-san. Seeing him and knowing I have all these feelings inside for him but never being able to do anything with them!" she sighed thoughtfully.

Tomoyo felt her bubble burst. Not two but three men after her. No, that was a lie. It was obvious, if to no one else but her, that Yukito was not the one for her. But who was she to disappoint her? It was such a triangle. Syaoran loved Sakura. Sakura loved Yukito. Yukito loved the both of them like siblings. Eriol was in it to bring Sakura and Syaoran together.

She was getting the slightest bit dizzy from the information. She glanced over her shoulder, looking around for Kero-chan and not seeing him anywhere. She would have to talk to him soon. Maybe he could find a way to relay a message to Yue-san about Sakura's feelings.

"Tomoyo-chan?"

She blinked, coming back to the subject at hand. "Hmm?"

"I'll get over these feelings for Syaoran, right?" she asked, looking worried once more. "I'll get over them when I tell Yukito-san the truth, right?"

Tomoyo felt the earth shift under her. Things were spiraling way too quickly out of control. "S…Sakura-chan. What if you're not meant to be with Yukito-san?" and the moment Sakura whirled to stare at her with a hurt expression she cursed herself. "I mean, Yue-san is the real person and Yue-san…well, he doesn't like anybody! Yukito…Yukito-san doesn't even really exist…"

It sounded harsh to her own ears and she grimaced upon finishing.

Sakura bowed her head, slowly cutting the rest of the carrot she held.

Tomoyo gazed at her sadly. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. I know you feel for him." And she sighed. "Yes, once you tell the person you love the most how you feel and once they say it back, you'll forget about everyone else. You'll forget all the little things like crushes. Infatuations."

Just please let that person you confide in be Li-kun…

Sakura smiled slowly, eyes on the vegetables.

"Arigato, Tomoyo-chan."

Tomoyo sighed.

Oh, don't bother thanking me…