Everywhere I Am, There You'll Be: Chapter 3

Everywhere I Am, There You'll Be

A CCS Fanfic

by SyaoranSword

Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything related to Card Captor Sakura. CLAMP and other companies I may not know of own it all. This is a fanfic and not part of the "official" storyline. The story is only meant for the enjoyment of the author and any would-be readers.

Notes: Moving right along with this story. I know I should focus only on one series at a time, but the idea for "The Testing of Li Peony" just wouldn't go away. Believe it or not, that fic is going to be mostly humor. What's so funny about facing Yue? Patience… ^_^ Back to EWIATYB, later chapters might have a chance of me on the receiving end of flames. I guess that's a price I have to pay for originality. Anyway, send in the fanfic!

~~~ (place) ~~~ = scene change

" " = dialogue

[ ] = thoughts

( ) = commentary

Chapter 3: Moving On

~~~ Sakura's House ~~~

"Let's eat!" said the six people seated at the Kinomoto's dinner table. Fujitaka was glad to see his daughter in high spirits again, and he made a feast to celebrate. There was enough food to feed over 10 people, but Touya called Yukito to come over, so the amount turned out to be just right.

"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura sweatdropped as she saw Tomoyo still hadn't put down her V8. (Her camcorder, not a juice drink!!) "Shouldn't you be eating?"

"And miss taping your kawaiiness during this celebratory meal?" Everyone else sweatdropped as she giggled. Tomoyo had rummaged through Sakura's closet to pick out the outfit Sakura wore at that moment. The future fashion queen found a green short-sleeve blouse, white knee-length pleated skirt, and two pink ribbons in her hair. Tomoyo would have preferred to have her sewing kit and some cloth to whip together something special, but she was content since she thought Sakura was kawaii in anything.

Eriol took this chance to pick up a shrimp with his chopsticks and stuff it into Tomoyo's mouth. "You're not going to be able to do anything later if you're hungry Tomoyo-san. I'm sure Sakura-san won't mind if you tape her cuteness later." They both blushed after realizing Eriol had his chopsticks in Tomoyo's mouth.

"Hoe?" Sakura was confused at why her friends' faces turned a deep shade of red. (Dense!)

"You had us worried there kaijuu."

"I'm fine now onii-chan…" Sakura smiled as she silenced her brother with a hard kick to the shin under the table, "… and I'm still not a kaijuu!"

"Touya, you should stop teasing your sister. You'd get hurt less often that way." Everyone including Touya laughed at his true observation.

[It feels good to laugh again.] Sakura smiled, envisioning a certain chestnut-haired teenager chuckling during one of their tender moments. [I'll be happy for you Syaoran-kun, because I know that everywhere I am, there you'll be.]

The meal continued as two figures watched over the group.

"I'm glad Sakura-chan is all right. I was worried about her."

"I was too. She'll be able to continue her life now." He turned to look at the one accompanying him. "It was the least I could do. Before I met her, I thought of nothing but myself. Now she is my only thought."

"Sakura-chan has that kind of effect on those around her. Everyone can't help but love her." She smiled at him. "You would have been a fine husband for my Sakura-chan."

He smiled back. "All I want is her happiness, and I'm glad I can watch over her from now on."

"Although she is strong enough to not need our protection, she is glad to know we will be guarding over her."

"Yes she is." He sighed. "I don't have to worry. She'll find another to love. I'm sure she will." Both glowing figures faded from the night.

~~~~~~

[Kinomoto-san is a superb chef. About as good as I am.] The dark-haired boy chuckled to himself. [It's funny that I don't remember Clow-san having enough cooking talent for two people.] Eriol dug in his pockets for his keys. [Come to think of it, I don't remember Clow-san picking up a sewing needle either.] He opened the door to his house and called, "Nakuru-kun, Spinel, I'm home."

"Master, where have you been?!" screeched his feminine-looking creation. "I prepared an exquisite meal just for you, but you didn't come back after your research!" She pointed to a plate set on the dining table with various items charred beyond recognition.

"Gomen nasai. I should have called to say I was having dinner at Sakura-san's house."

"You had dinner with my precious Touya-kun? And you didn't invite me???" she cried with waterfall tears.

Eriol sweatdropped. "I was concerned mostly with Sakura-san coping with Li-kun's death. She nearly killed herself, but my cute little descendant saved her in time. He told her to let him go, and that is what brought her back. Sakura-san invited me and Tomoyo-chan to stay for dinner, and we gladly accepted for her happiness."

Nakuru raised her eyebrows. "Since when did you start calling Sakura-chan's kawaii little friend by 'Tomoyo-chan?'"

Suppi added, "Are you harboring feelings of affection for her Eriol-sama?"

He felt his face heat up from his guardians' direct questioning. "My relationship with Tomoyo-san is none of your concern."

"But it is mine, Eriol-kun."

He froze upon hearing Tomoyo's voice behind him. Eriol turned around and met her dark eyes, shimmering in the light of the fireplace. Her mouth was set in a rare frown. "To- Tomoyo-san!" he backed up in surprise. "Wh- What are you doing here?"

"You made me promise to tell you about Sakura-chan's condition."

"I was there. I already know she'll be okay now, so why have you come here?" His question came out harsher than he intended. Eriol could see the tears brimming in her eyes, and his heart wrenched at the sight.

"You also told me that your door is always open to me, Eriol-kun."

[I did, didn't I…] "Yes I did. You are welcome to come whenever you please, but I do want to know why you're here."

Tomoyo nodded before answering, "I want to talk with you about certain things that I have been thinking." She stepped closer to him as he awkwardly stepped back. "Can we just have a little conversation between friends, Eriol-kun?"

His gentlemanly nature simply refused to ignore her request. "H- hai." He turned to his creations. "Nakuru, Spinel, I wish to talk with Tomoyo-san alone. Both of you should retire for the night."

"Hai Eriol-sama. Oyasumi-nasai." They ascended the stairs, leaving the two humans alone in his study.

"So… Tomoyo-san, would you like anything? Tea? Cookies?"

"Some tea would be nice."

Within minutes, Eriol had set up the arrangement for their evening tea. He sat comfortably in his favorite chair by the fireplace, while Tomoyo sipped her tea, sitting across from him. "It's the perfect atmosphere. Don't you agree Tomoyo-san?"

She set down her cup on her plate. "It depends on what kind of mood you're trying to create Eriol-kun." The only source of light in the room came from the flames. The crackling of the fire filled the silence in dialogue. They were absorbed with the other's complexion, the fiery glow masking their true paleness. "If you intended a romantic one, I think you succeeded."

He chuckled. "Now why would you think that I would create a romantic setting for you?"

She sipped her tea again before smiling at him. "I am very observant Eriol-kun. You've said so yourself. I am the most perceptive person you've ever met without magic."

He closed his eyes, held up a finger, and moved it in a 'no-no' fashion. "That's not true." Eriol stretched his magical senses. "You're the most perceptive person I've ever met, period." He smiled, taking in the faint purple ambiance coming from his guest. Sapphire met amethyst. "You know what I've done, haven't you Tomoyo-san?"

"You've given up even more of your magic, and you didn't think twice about what the consequences would be."

"Correct as always my dear Tomoyo-san. Now tell me why I did it."

"Ever since the day you moved back to Tomoeda, I've seen how you have acted around me. It was because of Mizuki-sensei, wasn't it?"

Eriol flinched at the teacher's name. "Hai. Kaho."

"She told you that she wasn't the one you loved the most, and that it would be best for you to find your true love before either of you would be severely hurt."

"Not bad. Please continue."

"You felt crushed, and you withdrew into a deep depression. The worst part of it was that you couldn't talk to anyone about how you felt. Nakuru-san and Spinel-san would not understand, and you don't have any friends other than Mizuki-sensei in England. The only comfort you received were from letters written by me and Sakura-chan. You were composing a reply to me when you realized who you loved the most." She blushed.

Eriol smiled tenderly at her. "Go on."

"From there you immediately packed your things and flew back to Japan, where you completely lost your courage to confront her about your feelings. You spent over a year getting as close to her as possible without letting your feelings for her known. And that is where we are tonight."

He applauded her. "Well done. You read my memories with incredible sharpness."

"The only part that wasn't clear to me was how you felt when you saw Mizuki-sensei again at Li-kun's funeral."

"We both felt grief over my descendant's death. Nothing more, nothing less." He took a sip of tea before saying, "Now it's time for your bedtime story Tomoyo-san." Eriol set his cup down and stood up. "I'll start from when Li-kun and Sakura-san saw each other again for the first time. You were there when they hugged and later when they reaffirmed their love with something more intimate than a pinky promise." He watched her cringe as he paced between her and his chair. "You felt clashing emotions, yet you still put up a happy front for Sakura-san and Li-kun, not daring to tell the girl you loved your feelings. You let yourself become their tag-along, knowing that they would grow even closer. All of this happened, but you felt little resentment towards Li-kun. Sakura-san still remembered you as her friend, and that was what kept you from breaking down."

Tomoyo released a few tears. "She and Li-kun were my true friends. How could I not be happy for them?"

Eriol nodded. "That's how you felt, until a certain Englishman came back into your life."

"You mean English boy."

They shared a laugh. "It all depends on how you see it. Anyway, you and him gradually became quite an unusual pair. You were always together with him bringing torment down on a cute little couple and yet your own hearts were so far apart. While he desperately tried to find a way to tell you his feelings, you were strangely unaware of your own feelings for him." Tomoyo gasped. He knelt beside her and wiped her tears away. "Until now."

"He couldn't bring himself to tell me how he felt for me. So instead, he showed me during Sakura-chan's meeting with her angel." Tomoyo produced the handkerchief Eriol had given to her earlier that day. "I've been as dense as Sakura-chan."

"We all have momentary lapses Tomoyo-san." He cupped her chin in his hand. "So where do our stories go from here? Will tonight just be two people meeting… for a moment… in the darkness? Will there be a tragic ending, or just the beginning of another glorious chapter?"

Tomoyo was startled at the sight of unshed tears glistening behind the glasses of the boy on one knee beside her. She had never seen him cry, and something inside her made Tomoyo see him in a different light. In one swift movement, Tomoyo took off Eriol's glasses and used the handkerchief on him, surprising them both. "I'm here for you, Eriol-kun." She placed his eyeglasses back on his face. "I understand. You and I are more alike than just in appearance." She gave him a genuine smile. "We both have looks that can be deceiving. That's why we need someone that can see past them and recognize the hurt concealed behind the cheery smile we show to the world." Tomoyo stood up, bringing Eriol with her. "Can I be that someone for you Eriol-kun?"

He smiled softly as he placed his arms around her waist. "Hai. Only if I can be that someone for you Tomoyo-san." Tomoyo placed her arms around his neck, and they hugged, crushing each other close.

She craned her neck close to his ear and whispered, "As my friend, and even more so now, you could call me Tomoyo-chan."

He murmured back, "I just didn't feel right about it until now, Tomoyo-chan." She squeezed him a little tighter.

"So when will we let Sakura-chan know about us?"

He put on an evil grin. "Let's see how long it takes for her to figure it out."

The two newfound lovers continued their embrace as Nakuru and Suppi-chan looked on. "Master is happy again!"

"Indeed, she has healed the wound left by Kaho-san."

"I hope now that Master has another girlfriend that he'll be less grouchy."

"We should leave Eriol-sama alone as he ordered us."

"I know who's going to be the center of juicy gossip tomorrow!" Suppi-chan sweatdropped.

~~~~~~

The next few years passed like the wind. Sakura, Tomoyo, and Eriol had graduated, but not before Sakura received the shock of her life. She had caught the couple kissing each other at a school dance, and was very happy for the two of them. All of them were now in Tokyo University. It was the first day of classes.

"HOEEE!!! Wait up Tomoyo-chan!"

"Sakura-san, you're roommates with her, and you don't leave at the same time?"

"That's our Sakura-chan. She slept right through Kero-chan's incessant yelling."

"I don't think Cerberus can be used as a substitute for an alarm clock." They all laughed.

"Eriol-kun and I have our first class together here. We'll meet you for lunch afterwards, Sakura-chan."

"Ja ne Eriol-kun, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura walked in the opposite direction of Eriol and Tomoyo. She unfolded her schedule. "Let's see. My first class is in the Art Building. That would be… ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CAMPUS?!?! HOOOEEEEE!!!" She ran leaving a dust trail behind her.

~~~~~~

[Another year of college… another year without any friends…] The chocolate-haired young man sighed, trudging towards the Art Building. [I'm cursed to live a life filled with loneliness.] He dragged his feet toward the front doors. [I wish I wasn't so different, that I didn't have to hide anything.] He pulled the door handle toward himself. [Why me?]

"GOMEN NASAI!!! OH NO! I'M LATE!!" He looked up to see Sakura running straight towards him. She saw the open door and rushed through. "ARIGATO!! JA NE!"

He stood stunned with his hand still holding the door open. His eyes were widened completely from what had happened. [Who in the world was that?!?] He let go and the door swung back into place. [I've never felt anything like it before.] The image of Sakura dashing replayed over and over in his head. The young man then entered the Art Building as well. [So I'm not the only one after all…]

To be continued…

Evil, evil cliffhanger!!! Just who is this mysterious person? You'll find out soon enough ^_^. Oh, and please read "The Testing of Li Peony" as well! Sakura and Syaoran's daughter goes through several trials to claim her mother's title. It's going to be mostly humor as she is put to the test in some rather unusual ways… Read and review please!