Disc: I don't own CCS. Or, for that matter, Creed. Not too sorry about that last one, though. In fact, there are a lot of things in this fic I don't own!
AN: Many apologies for the lateness of the chapter. I could have been done a lot sooner up I wasn't so lazy. Also, several times during the fic I ended up trading in-character dialouge for witty banter, but everyone likes witty banter so that's okay. Today, we learn about... absolutely nothing. And chinese food! I could really go for some of that right now... *badly off topic rantings* Enjoy the show! Or something.

MY SACRIFICE
2: I REMEMBER

Eriol woke up to the sunshine on his face and a very unpleasant backache. Sitting up on the carpet, he noted that Syaoran was gone already and that he had sheet marks down one side of his arm. He reached for his glasses- they were somewhere on the floor, surely- and put them on once he found them.

The clock on the wall told him it was quarter to ten. He'd slept in later than usual. Nakuru had always managed to sneak into his room and pounce him before seven. He wondered what his two companions were doing right now- thinking about him, probably. They hadn't understood why he had to go to Tomoeda. But then again he didn't either, so it evened out.

He got up off the floor, stretched his arms, and started out of the room and downstairs. The clothes he had slept in weren't particularly dirty, and he wasn't about to impose on Fujitaka in asking to lend him anything else to wear.

"Good morning, Eriol-kun!" greeted the man, smiling and carrying large amounts of laundry. "It seems you slept well."

He smiled back. "It seems I did. Where's Li-kun?"

Fujitaka sighed. "I'm not the best person to ask." he replied, frowning. "He left just as I was getting up. He could be anywhere by now."

"Ah. Nevermind, then." Eriol smiled brighter, although slightly annoyed. It seemed it was going to be quite a struggle to find his cute relation at any given time. "Is there anything I can do to help you around here?"

He shook his head. "That's alright. I wouldn't impose on a guest." He started towards the laundry room, then stopped and glanced at Eriol again. "Oh! That's right, I forgot. Daidouji Tomoyo called you to see if you'd like to have lunch together. Her number's on the callback."

Eriol nodded, walking to the phone and humming tunelessly as he pressed the button and the dial tone rang. "Hm? Oh, Eriol-kun?" asked Tomoyo on the other end. "I'm sorry, I'm in a meeting right now... Oh, about lunch."

"That's right. I'd love to have lunch together, thank you... Where's your house?"

She gave him the address, he wrote it down and folded it into his pocket. "It's within walking distance, so don't worry. If you're early Naoko-chan will open up the door for you. Yes, Tanaka, just a second. Don't interrupt your superiors on the phone... No, it's not-"

Before he could question her- again- about their former classmate's exact position in her life, she said a hurried goodbye and hung up.

Eriol shrugged philosophically. If she wanted him to know, assumedly he would find out once he got to the house and saw Naoko again. Waving to Fujitaka, he pulled on his shoes and started walking for the address.

The sun was out, the day was warm enough for autumn. The town was fairly quiet save an occasional person or two walking past him. He started to hum. Honestly, sometimes life in the town was a little too boring for his tastes. He would have been thrilled to stay there instead of heading back to London, if occasionally something would happen...

As he walked through a park, smiling at the children who ran past attempting to fly a kite, his eyes caught on a flurry of movement in the more sucluded area. He walked over and blinked to see Syaoran fighting within a grove of trees.

Or maybe fighting with them would be a better word. The chinese boy whirled around, turning as though to face some enemy behind him, and struck at the branches with the sword he was still using. It fell to the ground as he jumped and sliced a falling gold leaf neatly in two.

Impressed despite himself, Eriol leaned against a maple and continued watching. Syaoran's movements were graceful and well coordinated. Obviously he'd improved in the three years they'd last seen each other.

Syaoran turned again and snarled as he saw him. Rushing to the tree he pulled the sword up against his throat. "What the hell are you doing here...!?" he growled.

Eriol, noticing finally the tears in the other boy's eyes, remained calm even as the blade grazed his skin. "I was walking." he said quietly. "I saw you practicing, and was watching for a few minutes. Please put the weapon away before someone gets hurt."

As a few drops of blood fell onto Eriol's shirt, Syaoran came to his senses and lowered the sword with an expression of vague horror on his face. "I'm sorry," he managed as if the words were choking him.

"That's alright." replied Eriol, smiling and nodding as though he wasn't just about to be decapitated. "It looks like you've gotten quite a bit better with that since we last met, hm?"

"I probably couldn't beat you, though," muttered Syaoran as he wiped the slightly bloody edge on the dry grass and started half-heartedly swiping at the leaves again.

Eriol shrugged. "Who knows? I'm afraid I haven't been fighting at all. I'm probably rusty enough that you could." Calling a sword up from somewhere, knowing fully that it was a dumb idea to waste power on impressing his cute relative, he too began attacking the leaves.

Glancing at him and smiling ferally, Syaoran moved into an attacking stance. "Let's go."

"Can't," responded Eriol, letting the sword disolve and smiling. "I'm having lunch with Tomoyo-san in a while, and I don't think she'd be very happy if I showed up bleeding and spewing intestines all over her carpet." He caught a falling leaf and played with it as he talked. "Some other time, maybe. Do you come here often?"

Nodding, Syaoran continued his one sided fight. Eriol blinked- was it just him, or did the chinese boy just slice that leaf widthwise?- but decided that if he was going to attempt making conversation he might as well continue with it. "Instead of going to classes, I guess." At another nod, he sighed. "What's your major?"

"Don't have one," was the response, quiet as it may have been. "I'm first year. I don't know what I want to do yet." He sighed too and sheathed his sword.

"And Sakura-chan's?"

A growl, and what might have been a fresh tear. "You have no right to say her name."

Eriol sighed yet again. The whole situation was going around in circles, and he couldn't really help Syaoran if the boy didn't want to be helped. "She's gone, you know." he said quietly.

"You think I don't know that?" asked Syaoran, kicking a tree and catching a stray tear with his tongue. "I know that. Nobody knows that better than I do." He gave a small choked noise that sounded suspiciously like a sob. "Now go."

He left, of course. The crying made him vaguely uncomfortable for some reason.

***

Tomoyo's house was a comfortable, classy little thing- white and modern with a lot of windows and balconies. Eriol wondered briefly why she hadn't just stayed at her mother's mansion instead of buying a new house as he rang the doorbell.

"Come in!" said Naoko cheerfully, hurriedly answering the door.

If nobody else had changed very much, Naoko certainly had. She still wore glasses, although they were slightly less obtrusive. Her hair was long and almost feathery and lighter brown, although still framing her face. She wore no makeup and gave the impression of someone just coming to terms with the fact that they were beautiful.

She blinked. "Eriol-kun? Oh, that's right! Tomoyo-chan said you were visiting. I'll get you some lunch, I guess her meeting's running late..."

"That's fine." replied Eriol, taking off his shoes and stepping inside.

Naoko, leading him into the kitchen and the bright sunlight the window gave, started poking through the fridge. "Sit down, please... We've got some instant ramen, bits and pieces of the lasagna Tomoyo-chan made last night... Um, I baked some bread the other day, and there's sandwich filling in the cupboard."

"A sandwich would be wonderful." replied Eriol politely, looking at the refridgerator door. He'd found it was one of the things that you could tell people by. This one held fridge magnets, family photos, and some business dates- nothing with the answer he was looking for.

"Right!" Naoko said cheerfully, closing the door and taking a loaf of bread from one of the cupboards. "So," she started, cutting off two pieces of bread and spreading them methodically, "Eriol-kun, how are you doing?"

He smiled again. "Couldn't be better." The girl had never been very close to him, and he had no qualms about lying shamelessly to her; he might have done the same even to Tomoyo if not for the fact that she knew things eventually anyway. "Yourself? College, I assume?"

Naoko nodded as she slid the sandwich onto a plate. "College and work, yes. I'm thinking of becoming a teacher, actually... People tell me I'm good with children, and it would be a lot of fun."

"Work?"

"Mm, I'm paying my own way through school." She handed him the plate, smiling sheepishly. "I sell shoes. It's not a great job, I guess, but the pay isn't very bad."

Eriol raised an eyebrow. "A shoe saleswoman, hm? I always figured you'd be a librarian." He took a bite of his sandwich and chewed, smiling.

"So did everyone else." responded Naoko, sounding a little bit guilty. "I tried it for a while, and I really liked it, but..." She trailed off, shrugging, and Eriol decided to leave it alone. Some things were better untouched.

He nodded. "At least you tried it. The important part is to try many different things when you're young, you know."

"Does that apply to you too, Eriol-kun?" replied Naoko, laughing slightly.

Eriol laughed in response, shrugging. "I suppose it does, come to think of it." He smiled at her and wondered how to bring up the subject as delicately as possible. "Naoko-san, about you and To-"

The front door opened and closed again. "I'm back!" shouted Tomoyo's voice as her footsteps echoed down the hall.

"Welcome home!" yelled Naoko back. Eriol blinked as her face lit up like a star. "Tomoyo-chan, Eriol-kun's already here! I got him something to eat!" She almost bounded to the hall. "I've got to go to work now, so I'll see you for dinner."

Tomoyo nodded and gave her a light peck on the cheek, causing the brown-haired girl to blush furiously. "See you then," she replied, watching and waving as Naoko put on her shoes and headed out the door.

"Hello." said Eriol simply, raising an eyebrow at her as she sat down across from him at the kitchen table. "Since when?"

She shrugged philosophically. "It's been almost a year now, I think. She didn't really want to live in mother's house, so we ended up moving." Getting up to fetch herself a glass of water, she turned to look at Eriol over her shoulder. "I suppose a bit of surprise would be too much to ask?"

"Surprise isn't healthy." replied Eriol cheerfully, finishing his sandwich. "It dulls the mind and gives you early wrinkles. Concealing it was one of the things Clow Reed learned early. Why and how?"

Sitting back down, Tomoyo took a sip of her water and smiled. "Why isn't really your business, Eriol-kun, as much as you know I hate to keep things from you... As to how," a small smirk flittered across her face, "let's just say it involved a very expensive hotel room, some very good wine, and several orgasms."

Both parties burst into rather amused laughter, Eriol's low chuckle complementing his companion's high tones. "You know," he started in an attempt to stop, "you just gave me about six early wrinkles. Tomoyo-san, I didn't even know you had it in you to say things like that, let alone do them..."

"Never underestimate a Daidouji." replied the plum-haired woman, displaying a rare grin. "It leads to a dull mind. I don't suppose Clow knew *that* one."

Eriol, after he finished laughing, heaved a suddenly tired sigh. "I don't suppose you love her, do you." he said without any real question. "Not if you're still watching and waiting like you were since I knew you. It's quite cruel of you, Tomoyo-san."

Tomoyo merely bit her lip. "You're right." she replied, after a long pause. "You're right... But sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. I'm doing this to make things right. I'd really rather avoid the subject."

"That's your choice." said Eriol diplomatically, deciding a change of subject was probably wise. "You know, I saw Li-kun on the way here. He was mincing up the foliage. Kinomoto-san and his wife want me to try and help him... do you have any ideas?"

"Not one." said Tomoyo, as if automatically. "I've been thinking about it, you know." She sighed and shook her head. "No matter how hard I try, I just... you of all people should know how much he loved Sakura-chan."

Eriol nodded slowly. "Still." he started. "If he loves her, he should let go. She'd hate to see him like this."

"Of course she would." Tomoyo allowed herself a brief sentimental smile. "That's the kind of person Sakura-chan is."

Getting up from his chair, Eriol started to pace the room. "The only real way I can see is to help him forget about her. How can we do that? Get him going back to college, maybe? He needs some sort of goal in life." He frowned. "I guess I could cast a simple spell of some kind."

Tomoyo shook her head. "Would that really help him?"

"It wouldn't, you're absolutely right." The boy shook his head. "You're right... This is a rather troublesome situation. I'll just have to keep talking to him until I can find a solution."

She nodded. They talked for a while more, about simple things that didn't really matter, about safe things like what he would write another book about and her fashion line for next summer. Eventually, as the clock on the wall read five, he shrugged at her and said that he should probably be heading back. She nodded, and he shoved on his shoes to start walking home.

He didn't look up when another set of footsteps joined his own. "Hello." said Syaoran quietly, walking next to him with his sword slung over his shoulder.

"Hello." said Eriol cheerfully in reply. "Have you had a good day, Li-kun?"

The Chinese boy didn't answer, which wasn't surprising at all. "Is Daidouji well?" he asked, looking at the trees as they walked past them.

"She's fine. So's Naoko-san. You haven't seen her lately?" Shake of the head. "Tomoyo-san's a very nice person, isn't she?" Nod nod. "You should talk to her a bit more. I'm sure she misses you." Shrug. "Li-kun, please use your words. I feel like a grade school teacher."

Syaoran looked vaguely embaressed. "I don't really have anything to say." he said quietly. "Um... I don't know... is she well?"

"You mean Kaho, right?" asked Eriol cheerfully, having long ago realized that Syaoran never called people by any name if he could possibly avoid it. "I don't know. I suppose she is. We broke up a few weeks ago."

"Sorry." he replied, keeping in step.

Eriol shook his head. "It's fine. Nothing to be sorry about- it's not like you caused it, Li-kun, even if I do love you the most in the world any day."

The boy blushed- he smiled, at least some things could still make him react nonviolently- and averted his eyes. "Stop that. You know what I meant, Hiiragizawa. I'm just sorry it happened. I thought you two would keep going forever."

"So did I." responded Eriol, almost having to make an effort in keeping his voice even. He grinned as a sudden idea struck him. "Li-kun, let's go out for dinner!"

The boy blinked. "Right now?"

"No time like the present. I've got enough on me to treat you, and you need to eat and so do I. We'll go for Chinese. You like Chinese, right?"

"Yeah."

"It's settled, then. Let's go."

Syaoran shrugged out a semi-nod, and Eriol sighed inwardly in relief. At least he was making a bit of progress this time.

***

The restaurant they ended up at was fairly classy, although not so much that they refused to let the two young men have a table. As they sat down, they were approached by one Mihara Chiharu in a heavily Chinese dress. She smiled at them, snapping her fingers.

"Uh..." she started. "You're... Hiiragizawa-kun, right?" He nodded, and she smiled. "Yeah, I thought you looked familiar." Staring at Syaoran, she managed to pretend the sword he was carrying didn't exist. "Li-kun too! I haven't seen you for the longest time. How've you be- No, I'm sorry, that's not the best question to ask... Um... Can I get you some drinks?"

Eriol shot her a dazzling smile. "Just water, thanks." He did have money, but drinks usually cost more than they were worth. "For him too."

"Who says I just want water?" muttered Syaoran to himself.

"When I'm paying, you do." replied Eriol.

Chiharu laughed. "Okay. I'll be back to take your orders in a bit." She placed two menus on the table and departed.

Eriol turned to Syaoran, who was scanning the menu. "Anything I should avoid on pain on death?" he asked cheerfully.

"I'm not the one you should ask..." replied Syaoran. "This isn't Chinese cooking, really. I mean, it started out traditional, but now it's almost totally different from what I used to eat at home." He smiled, a tiny little thing that nevertheless brightened his face. "I remember thinking it was so strange when I first came to Japan."

He nodded. "That's very true. Most things change when they're brought over to other cultures." He pointed to a random kanji on the menu. "For instance, how do you pronnounce that in Chinese?"

And so they talked about language. The conversation was interesting, and not at all one sided- it seemed that Syaoran talked easier about things that didn't directly involve him. By the time Chiharu came around for the orders they sounded like normal friends.

"I'll have what he's having." said Syaoran quietly.

Eriol mock frowned. "Li-kun, that's supposed to be my line. Hm... I'll get the beef chop suey, please, Mihara-san."

"Okay..." replied Chiharu, dutifully writing it down. "At least you didn't get the szechwan soup. You don't want to know what they put in that stuff, you really don't."

Syaoran, looking mildly preturbed, watched as she walked away to the next table. "What *do* they..."

"Your guess is as good as mine." responded Eriol cheerfully. "I'm no expert when it comes to food."

Dinner was good. Eriol had occasional problems getting used to chopsticks again- he would have assumed he'd remember it by now- but the food was nice and it seemed Syaoran was finally warming up to him a bit.

"I'll pay." said Eriol cheerfully when the bill came. Syaoran opened his mouth to protest, and he shook his head. "No, don't worry. I said I had plenty of money, didn't I? Besides, Li-kun, you've payed me enough by being such a wonderful conversationalist!"

Syaoran shrugged. "Alright, then."

As the two exited the restaurant, Eriol looked up into the sky. It was dark, of course, and speckled with the same stars that were shining in London right now. "Nice night." commented Syaoran shyly, breathing in the cold air.

"Indeed it is." replied Eriol. "But it's much too late to be going home now... Say, Li-kun, we might as well find ourselves a hotel and stay there tonight!" He grinned. "I have just enough to get us a nice room. With soundproof walls, even."

The Chinese boy actually laughed a little, rolling his eyes. "Hiiragizawa..." he started. Eriol had to lock his jaw to make sure it didn't fall open.

"Alright, alright." responded Eriol. "But it was worth a try. By the way, Li-kun... You don't have to call me that, if you don't want to. 'Eriol' is just fine. I'm at least used to my first name from Nakuru."

Syaoran paused for a moment, visably thinking. "Okay." he said, somewhat reluctantly. "Eriol, then-"

A soft meow came from the pavement. The two looked down to see a tiny black cat, looking at them soulfully. Eriol smiled and picked it up. "Hello." he said to it. "You're looking for food, I suppose. Can't really help you there." The cat purred happily as he stroked its fur.

"Funny." commented Syaoran thoughtfully. "I've been seeing a lot of cats like that around lately... I think the first time I saw one was-" His eyes went wide for a few seconds, and he almost growled at Eriol.

"Li-kun?" asked Eriol, blinking.

The Chinese boy said nothing, but ran out into the night like someone was after him.

If Eriol had thought about it, he could probably have come up with a tirade bad enough to bleach hair. "Damn it." he muttered tiredly, absent-mindedly petting the cat in his arms. "I guess you don't know what's going on here, hm."

"Mrow." the cat responded, jumping away from him and stalking off. Eriol shrugged, disheartened, and started off for Fujitaka's house.

Most of the lights were off when he got home. Eriol assumed it was close to midnight- he'd spent a lot of time just standing in place thinking on the way home. It was odd the way time moved in small towns.

The door was open, thankfully. He took off his shoes and walked up the stairs to the bedroom. Syaoran was curled up on the floor, sound asleep but looking decidedly uncomfortable. Eriol sighed- appearently he'd decided to keep the agreement- and sat down beside him.

He sat that way for a while, just looking. Syaoran's eyes were red-rimmed as they always seemed to be; a few strands of hair fell across his face. He reached over and brushed them off. The light from the window illuminated the tears still in his eyes. Eriol wiped them away, gently, careful not to let Syaoran wake up. The Chinese boy rolled over and murmured something.

Eriol shrugged, getting up and lifting Syaoran into his arms. He placed him on the bed, tucking the cover in over him. He then sprawled onto the carpet and fell asleep in minutes.

***

"I've read the bible!" sang Amy loudly, dancing around with her hairbrush. "I've read Dylan! I'm reading people now, because it's much... more... chilling!"

She winced and turned away. The American girl didn't seem to know how to deal when people cried, and it would be much to uncomfortable if she noticed. "Sorry, but please quiet down a bit? I need to study for the grammar test..."

"Sure, Sakura... Y'know, sometimes I end up forgetting you're an ESL. You're just so... Dunno... not Asian."

Shrug. "You're going out?"

"Yep. With Mark... Oh, you don't know him, do you? He plays soccer." Amy winked. "And he has a lot of friends, if you catch my drift. You should come with me."

Sakura shook her head. "I'm fine." she waved goodbye, smiling as the other closed the door and headed out.

Almost instantly a number of shadows on the wall became solid, and she smiled again sadly. "I'm sorry I always keep you like this..." she started, breaking into fresh tears. "It's just so nice to have someone to talk to. Kero-chan doesn't know what to say, and neither do you, but... At least you all try..."

The cards simply nodded and embraced her in varied textures of being.

"Within my heart are memories, a perfect love that you shared with me..."

END 2/3