Title: Never -- Chapter Three
Author: Syaoran No Ichiban Aikousha
Style: Series
Author's Notes: e_e; All right, so the last chapter sucked. :B I promise that I'll work harder on this one. I won't let you down! ::Fanfare:: u_u; Okay, enough of this... lets just get on with the story.
Disclaimer: Oy, this is getting annoying. / Cardcaptor Sakura and it's characters don't belong to me. This plot does, though.. :D
' ' - thoughts
[ ] - change of scene
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'August 14...'
Eriol sighed, staring at the date on the calendar. He looked to the next day, the one circled with a red marker.
'August 15.'
He walked back to his chair and watched as the sun rose out of the dawn horizon, its gleaming rays falling onto the tea inside the cup he held, hands wrapped about the heated drink, absorbing its warmth as he slowly took a small sip, careful not to burn his mouth. He turned his head away from the window for the light caused a blinding glare upon the lens of his glasses. Suddenly, a ring blared through the silence he had been enjoying. He stood up and walked to the telephone.
'So early... wonder who it is..' He thought, lifting the receiver to his mouth as he answered softly, "Moshi-moshi. Hiiragizawa desu. Sakura-san?"
"Eriol-kun! I hope I didn't call too early. You weren't asleep were you?" The girl's voice asked sheepishly.
"No, I'm awake. Is there something wrong?" Eriol replied, placing his tea onto the counter.
"Yes... I-I think there's something wrong with Tomoyo-chan. I feel like she's avoiding me... like I did something wrong and I don't know what. I'm afraid if I ask, she'll be mad and won't tell me... Have you.. noticed something?"
"Tomoyo-san? Yes, she has been acting a bit quiet lately, but I don't think it's something you've done wrong..."
"So.. it isn't my fault?"
"No."
"But then what is it? I'm just so worried about her now. I didn't notice anything until my dad brought up that he hasn't seen her in a while... then I realized that she's been so.. "busy" these past few weeks."
"Sakura-san, rest assured that it isn't you she's mad at. Honestly, though, I don't think she's angry at all... perhaps confused, depressed... but not angry." Eriol said.
"Should I talk to her? I am her best friend ..." Sakura said slowly.
"I don't think she'll confess anything; it's worth a try, but I wouldn't do it. Maybe you should just pay a little more attention to her." Eriol suggested, "Why don't you two go to the park together and talk about happy things?"
"Thank you, Eriol-kun. You've been helpful. I'll ask Tomoyo after school. All three of us can go together!" Sakura exclaimed happily.
"Three?"
"Would you like to come, too, Eriol-kun?"
"Oh, no, I'm busy, but... who's 'three'?"
"Tomoyo-chan, myself, and Syaoran-kun! I hope this'll cheer her up!" Sakura said before hanging up.
"Sakura-sa--!" He heaved a disappointed sigh and dropped the receiver onto the hook. She obviously did not understand that Tomoyo was just upset because Sakura and Syaoran spent so much time together. He knew she wouldn't go. Maybe Sakura isn't the best person for Tomoyo to talk to. With that, he sat down, grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper, and began writing.
[Evening]
*Ding Dong*
Eriol quickly stood up and walked to the door. He opened it with a slight smile on his face as he gestured for his guest to enter.
"Thank you for inviting me, Hiiragizawa-kun, but what did you wish to speak to me about?" Tomoyo asked, removing her shoes and following Eriol into the living room.
"As I said in the note... it is something urgent. Now, I know the last time I spoke to you... it didn't exactly go the way I had planned..." Eriol started. Tomoyo simply nodded as she was suddenly reminded of the topic of Eriol's last conversation with her.
Eriol smiled, trying his best to not make her feel uncomfortable, "Anything new, Tomoyo-san?"
"Oh, nothing at the moment..." Tomoyo said, smiling back at him.
"I... I have a strange feeling that you know why you're here... do you?" Eriol questioned.
"Well, y-yes... I think I do..." Tomoyo replied, fidgeting a bit as she stood in front of Eriol.
"Tomoyo-san, I'm not forcing you to tell me anything you don't want to. Don't think that I am... I just want to help." Eriol explained. Tomoyo slowly lifted her head, her eyes meeting with Eriol's. So much could be seen in those dark midnight prisms, full of emotion and gentleness. They urged her to say something, comforting her at the same time.
"I-I..." Tomoyo stammered.
"I'll start." Eriol said, seeing her relax a bit as he said that, "Tomoyo-san, you still are Sakura-san best friend, right?"
"I'm...not too sure anymore." Tomoyo whispered softly. Eriol nodded, trying to avoid questions like "Do you love her?" and "How do you feel about Li-kun?". Mostly questions that would probably make her feel strange.
"You shouldn't ignore her." Eriol said.
"I'm not.. I just...."
"Sakura-san feels very bad about this..."
"She has Li-kun to comfort her."
"And you think you're all alone?"
"I am."
"You're not."
"I have no one."
"You have me. I'm just as much your friend as I am hers."
No reply.
"Tomoyo-san, I know how you feel and what you're going through..." Just then, tears welled up in Tomoyo's eyes, tears of pure sadness, but also anger.
"How could you??" Tomoyo said in an angry whisper, "You've never lost someone you loved."
"I have."
"But I never had the chance to tell her how I felt!" Tomoyo said in a louder tone.
"I know.."
"No, you don't. You want to help me, but you can't! You can't!" She shouted as the tears were released, sliding down her cheeks, burning with anger. She cursed at herself for her actions.
"You didn't let me try..." Eriol said.
"You'll never understand.."
"If you don't tell me, how could I even try to help?"
"It won't be any use!"
"You can't hold it in forever, Tomoyo-san..."
"I can and will!"
"Tomoyo-san, I--"
"You lost Mizuki-sensei because she left. I lost Sakura-chan because she loves someone else! How do you think I feel?!"
Eriol stood silently, filled with pain. He let his gaze drop to the ground, staring at it, lips trembling as he stood.
"H-Hiiragizawa-kun.. I.. I didn't mean to..." Tomoyo hated herself. She wanted to die for the way she made Eriol feel. Guilt combined her emotions, along with pain and confusion. "I...I am so sorry..." But words meant nothing now. Saying 'sorry' wouldn't take back what she said. Wouldn't erase the way Eriol felt. However, he ignored his hurt and smiled at Tomoyo.
"Tomoyo-san, cry. You need it." He said softly.
"Hiiragizawa-kun.... I just can't... can't..." She suddenly threw herself onto him, weeping onto his shoulder, letting out all her feelings of unhappiness, seeking comfort from him as tears cascaded from her eyes, her hands clinging desperately onto him. He slowly circled his arms around her and held her in a gentle embrace. A strange feeling was stabbed into him. A bright and serene feeling he had never experienced. What was odd is that it happened when Tomoyo was so miserable. When she was sobbing terribly... within his arms.
"Hii-Hiiragizawa-kun..." Tomoyo whispered.
"What is it?"
"Thank you."
"So.. I helped?"
Eriol watched as Tomoyo released her grip on him and stared up into his eyes. She never wanted this moment to end... why? Something inside her urged her to return to his embrace, but she resisted. Instead, she decided to end this awkward moment and leave before she caused more trouble to him.
"I'm... I'm going to go now." Tomoyo said.
"Are you sure? You can stay if you want." Eriol asked, not sure if she still felt mad. Not just that, though, oddly, he wanted her to stay.
"No, I'll be fine... thank you, again." Tomoyo headed to the front door. On the way, she spotted his calendar and the date circled. Curious, as anyone would be, she pointed to it, "Is something big happening tomorrow?"
"Yes, rather." Eriol answered, looking to Tomoyo.
"What is it?" Tomoyo asked.
"The day I go back to England."
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e_e; Okay, it turned out all right. Now I must go and write the next chapter... :D
- Syaoran No Ichiban Aikousha -
Author: Syaoran No Ichiban Aikousha
Style: Series
Author's Notes: e_e; All right, so the last chapter sucked. :B I promise that I'll work harder on this one. I won't let you down! ::Fanfare:: u_u; Okay, enough of this... lets just get on with the story.
Disclaimer: Oy, this is getting annoying. / Cardcaptor Sakura and it's characters don't belong to me. This plot does, though.. :D
' ' - thoughts
[ ] - change of scene
------------------------------------------------
'August 14...'
Eriol sighed, staring at the date on the calendar. He looked to the next day, the one circled with a red marker.
'August 15.'
He walked back to his chair and watched as the sun rose out of the dawn horizon, its gleaming rays falling onto the tea inside the cup he held, hands wrapped about the heated drink, absorbing its warmth as he slowly took a small sip, careful not to burn his mouth. He turned his head away from the window for the light caused a blinding glare upon the lens of his glasses. Suddenly, a ring blared through the silence he had been enjoying. He stood up and walked to the telephone.
'So early... wonder who it is..' He thought, lifting the receiver to his mouth as he answered softly, "Moshi-moshi. Hiiragizawa desu. Sakura-san?"
"Eriol-kun! I hope I didn't call too early. You weren't asleep were you?" The girl's voice asked sheepishly.
"No, I'm awake. Is there something wrong?" Eriol replied, placing his tea onto the counter.
"Yes... I-I think there's something wrong with Tomoyo-chan. I feel like she's avoiding me... like I did something wrong and I don't know what. I'm afraid if I ask, she'll be mad and won't tell me... Have you.. noticed something?"
"Tomoyo-san? Yes, she has been acting a bit quiet lately, but I don't think it's something you've done wrong..."
"So.. it isn't my fault?"
"No."
"But then what is it? I'm just so worried about her now. I didn't notice anything until my dad brought up that he hasn't seen her in a while... then I realized that she's been so.. "busy" these past few weeks."
"Sakura-san, rest assured that it isn't you she's mad at. Honestly, though, I don't think she's angry at all... perhaps confused, depressed... but not angry." Eriol said.
"Should I talk to her? I am her best friend ..." Sakura said slowly.
"I don't think she'll confess anything; it's worth a try, but I wouldn't do it. Maybe you should just pay a little more attention to her." Eriol suggested, "Why don't you two go to the park together and talk about happy things?"
"Thank you, Eriol-kun. You've been helpful. I'll ask Tomoyo after school. All three of us can go together!" Sakura exclaimed happily.
"Three?"
"Would you like to come, too, Eriol-kun?"
"Oh, no, I'm busy, but... who's 'three'?"
"Tomoyo-chan, myself, and Syaoran-kun! I hope this'll cheer her up!" Sakura said before hanging up.
"Sakura-sa--!" He heaved a disappointed sigh and dropped the receiver onto the hook. She obviously did not understand that Tomoyo was just upset because Sakura and Syaoran spent so much time together. He knew she wouldn't go. Maybe Sakura isn't the best person for Tomoyo to talk to. With that, he sat down, grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper, and began writing.
[Evening]
*Ding Dong*
Eriol quickly stood up and walked to the door. He opened it with a slight smile on his face as he gestured for his guest to enter.
"Thank you for inviting me, Hiiragizawa-kun, but what did you wish to speak to me about?" Tomoyo asked, removing her shoes and following Eriol into the living room.
"As I said in the note... it is something urgent. Now, I know the last time I spoke to you... it didn't exactly go the way I had planned..." Eriol started. Tomoyo simply nodded as she was suddenly reminded of the topic of Eriol's last conversation with her.
Eriol smiled, trying his best to not make her feel uncomfortable, "Anything new, Tomoyo-san?"
"Oh, nothing at the moment..." Tomoyo said, smiling back at him.
"I... I have a strange feeling that you know why you're here... do you?" Eriol questioned.
"Well, y-yes... I think I do..." Tomoyo replied, fidgeting a bit as she stood in front of Eriol.
"Tomoyo-san, I'm not forcing you to tell me anything you don't want to. Don't think that I am... I just want to help." Eriol explained. Tomoyo slowly lifted her head, her eyes meeting with Eriol's. So much could be seen in those dark midnight prisms, full of emotion and gentleness. They urged her to say something, comforting her at the same time.
"I-I..." Tomoyo stammered.
"I'll start." Eriol said, seeing her relax a bit as he said that, "Tomoyo-san, you still are Sakura-san best friend, right?"
"I'm...not too sure anymore." Tomoyo whispered softly. Eriol nodded, trying to avoid questions like "Do you love her?" and "How do you feel about Li-kun?". Mostly questions that would probably make her feel strange.
"You shouldn't ignore her." Eriol said.
"I'm not.. I just...."
"Sakura-san feels very bad about this..."
"She has Li-kun to comfort her."
"And you think you're all alone?"
"I am."
"You're not."
"I have no one."
"You have me. I'm just as much your friend as I am hers."
No reply.
"Tomoyo-san, I know how you feel and what you're going through..." Just then, tears welled up in Tomoyo's eyes, tears of pure sadness, but also anger.
"How could you??" Tomoyo said in an angry whisper, "You've never lost someone you loved."
"I have."
"But I never had the chance to tell her how I felt!" Tomoyo said in a louder tone.
"I know.."
"No, you don't. You want to help me, but you can't! You can't!" She shouted as the tears were released, sliding down her cheeks, burning with anger. She cursed at herself for her actions.
"You didn't let me try..." Eriol said.
"You'll never understand.."
"If you don't tell me, how could I even try to help?"
"It won't be any use!"
"You can't hold it in forever, Tomoyo-san..."
"I can and will!"
"Tomoyo-san, I--"
"You lost Mizuki-sensei because she left. I lost Sakura-chan because she loves someone else! How do you think I feel?!"
Eriol stood silently, filled with pain. He let his gaze drop to the ground, staring at it, lips trembling as he stood.
"H-Hiiragizawa-kun.. I.. I didn't mean to..." Tomoyo hated herself. She wanted to die for the way she made Eriol feel. Guilt combined her emotions, along with pain and confusion. "I...I am so sorry..." But words meant nothing now. Saying 'sorry' wouldn't take back what she said. Wouldn't erase the way Eriol felt. However, he ignored his hurt and smiled at Tomoyo.
"Tomoyo-san, cry. You need it." He said softly.
"Hiiragizawa-kun.... I just can't... can't..." She suddenly threw herself onto him, weeping onto his shoulder, letting out all her feelings of unhappiness, seeking comfort from him as tears cascaded from her eyes, her hands clinging desperately onto him. He slowly circled his arms around her and held her in a gentle embrace. A strange feeling was stabbed into him. A bright and serene feeling he had never experienced. What was odd is that it happened when Tomoyo was so miserable. When she was sobbing terribly... within his arms.
"Hii-Hiiragizawa-kun..." Tomoyo whispered.
"What is it?"
"Thank you."
"So.. I helped?"
Eriol watched as Tomoyo released her grip on him and stared up into his eyes. She never wanted this moment to end... why? Something inside her urged her to return to his embrace, but she resisted. Instead, she decided to end this awkward moment and leave before she caused more trouble to him.
"I'm... I'm going to go now." Tomoyo said.
"Are you sure? You can stay if you want." Eriol asked, not sure if she still felt mad. Not just that, though, oddly, he wanted her to stay.
"No, I'll be fine... thank you, again." Tomoyo headed to the front door. On the way, she spotted his calendar and the date circled. Curious, as anyone would be, she pointed to it, "Is something big happening tomorrow?"
"Yes, rather." Eriol answered, looking to Tomoyo.
"What is it?" Tomoyo asked.
"The day I go back to England."
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e_e; Okay, it turned out all right. Now I must go and write the next chapter... :D
- Syaoran No Ichiban Aikousha -
