Tanjoubi Omedetou, Eriol – kun. : A CCS fic

by: nikki hiiragizawa sailorsjini@yahoo.com

Genre: drama/romance/E and T pairing

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I know you already know this, but in case you don't know yet, I want to let you know that I know CCS is not mine. The wonderful CLAMP ladies own them. Please I do not need anyone suing me… The song "Scarlet", on the other hand, was taken from the series Ayashi no Ceres. It was the opening song and coincidentally, Tomoyo's seiyuu Iwao Junko sang this song.

Nikki: Whew! I just made a fic in time for Eriol's birthday. This is for all you growing E/T fans. If you are other than pleased to see E/T pairings, you better not read this. Anyway, too much talking has got to stop. On with the fic!

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CHAPTER 5: Aoi no Zan'nen (Blue Regrets)

Eriol traced the keys of the piano with his fingers. His head ached due to too much thinking…about him…about her…about them…Why was it that I cannot comprehend what is wrong? Nakuru told me that I am shutting myself out from reality…I do not know…

A shuffle was heard and he looked up. Tomoyo entered the room cautiously, head bowed. "Kon…Konnichi wa," she greeted with no enthusiasm.

"Konnichi wa." Eriol watched her as she laid her things on a nearby desk. Kami-sama, is it true, I am still in love with her…but…Kaho… He shook his head to release those thoughts.

"Is something wrong?" Tomoyo asked as she opened a window. She then turned around and looked quizzically at Eriol, although concern was absent from her face.

"Uh, no. I was just thinking about..Kaho." Not a good lie…but it is a half-truth. Tomoyo shrugged and opened her music folder. Eriol smiled at her but she stared blankly at him. "Tomoyo…"

"Yes, Hiiragizawa-kun?"

Eriol winced at the formality. "I thought you call me Eriol when we are alone," he miserably complained.

"What difference does it make? They're both your names," Tomoyo haughtily answered. "The only thing that will be different is that it will be Kaho's name when you get married right?"

"Ha…hai."

"Then forget the name. What was it you were saying?"

Eriol bowed his head. "Nan demo nai."

Tomoyo delicately arched an eyebrow but did not ask further. She walked up to the sapphire-eyed boy and opened his music folder for him. She laid it by the piano ledge and pointed to some notes using a pen. "Now, there will be some corrections here. This," she pointed to a note. "This should be C minor. The one who wrote this piece must've been in a daze." She giggled composedly.

Eriol was in a daze. Tomoyo's voice blew in his ear, just the thing she used to do when she was lying close…very close to him. Her hair spilled over his shoulder as she leaned to mark the page. Eriol's breathing came in short haggard breaths as Tomoyo's figure stood close to his sitting on before the piano. "There, I have marked it so that you will not forget it. I really know how forgetful you are. Even over dinner you forget to…" Tomoyo paused and dropped the hand writing on the page. She coughed nervously and Eriol turned to ask her what's wrong. His turn made their faces even closer, and they both gasped.

Tomoyo backed away instantly and ran a hand through her hair. "Ah, I guess we should practice now."

"Tomoyo…"

"Hikaru would be very angry if I can't sing him a great song during the contest so maybe we should, like, start?" She flashed Eriol a nervous smile and stood a safe distance away from the person sitting on the piano.

Eriol slowly nodded and began his warm-up exercises for the piano. Suddenly the door burst open. A girl came in and bowed.

"Sumanu, Hiiragizawa-san, Daidouji-san," she greeted. "Kayama Nikki desu. Sumeragi-sensei sent me here."

Eriol nodded. He knew this girl. Kayama-san is the current vice-president of the Council. She is also the girl Kurashige-san is currently dating. Apparently, he threw his ideas of dating Tomoyo away. A triumphant snigger almost erupted from him. Instead, he coughed. "What is it, Kayama-san?"

Kayama-san continued. "Sumeragi-sensei wants to inform you that the musical concert has been postponed."

"Nani?" the two simultaneously asked.

"Well," Kayama-san pressed her forefingers together. "He said that the concert will be way way after the school ends. Probably it will take place by the end of March."

"But," Tomoyo butted in. "The next school year should be starting by then."

"Didn't you know, classes are going to start late next year. I believe the concert will be during the last week of March. That is all I have to say. I'm sorry to disturb your practice."

"No, it's nothing." Tomoyo smiled at her.

"You are very kind, Daidouji-san. I must go and let you practice." They heard Kurashige calling Kayama-san in the hallway. "Got to go. Arigatou." Kayama-san left and closed the door.

"Well," Eriol finally said. "Maybe we should continue?"

"Continue? We haven't even started." Tomoyo let out a small laugh and Eriol laughed with her. They then remembered what their position is (which is that they aren't reconciled) and instantly stopped. Tomoyo lowered her amethyst eyes.

"So, does that mean I'm forgiven?" Eriol hopefully asked.

Tomoyo hurriedly picked up her music piece, almost dropping it in the process, and smoothed her skirt. "Let's go practice?"

Letting out a sigh, Eriol nodded and prodded the keys with his fingers.

Listening to Tomoyo sing was like listening to an angel. Her voice floats like the wind, reaching Eriol's heart and tightly, very tightly squeezing it. He looked up and watched Tomoyo sing, and felt something. Kami, does that mean I really love her? It was like the first time I realized my feelings. It was like holding her for the first time…the first kiss…Why am I thinking about these things??

Tomoyo closed her eyes as she sang the song. She already knew it by heart. I didn't even know where I got the enthusiasm for this concert. My mom won't be able to come, only Hikaru can go and watch…a distressing thing, and here the last person I wanted to see is my partner. Yet, this practice…makes me tingle all over. She turned her attention to Eriol's playing. This practice…why am I so excited about it…what if…Oh no… Tomoyo opened her eyes to look at him and saw him looking at her.

Oh no, he's looking at me!

Oh no, she looked at me!

At the same time, Tomoyo dropped her music folder and Eriol struck a wrong key.

"Oh, I…I am sorry" Tomoyo frantically chased the music sheets flying around the room. Eriol closed the window and helped Tomoyo pick up the rest. Purple met sapphire and held for a while.

"Eriol…"

Eriol gave Tomoyo a smile. "You finally called me by the first name." Tomoyo suppressed a smile. "I'm so sorry," he finally said. "I was wrong. I…I did not intend...I didn't want to make you…I…I want us to still be friends."

Tomoyo stared at him. "I guess I really hurt you that much because you wouldn't do that if you weren't…" Tomoyo looked for an appropriate term. "if you weren't pissed off."

Eriol laughed and took her hand, which was still holding the music sheets. "I am…I was…but you see I don't think we should…"

"Tomoyo?" the door opened and Hikaru entered. Tomoyo almost reeled back and fell on her back, but she was able to control herself. "Hikaru. We were just ending the practice."

Hikaru looked around." And you are playing "pick up the pieces"?

"Uh, no." Eriol nodded to him. "Tomoyo just got the music sheets scattered because of the wind." Hikaru's gaze strayed towards the close window and Eriol quickly interrupted. "And I closed the window so that there wouldn't be any more mess."

The other boy nodded and helped Tomoyo up. "Ready to go, honey?" he asked as he looked meaningfully at Eriol.

"Hai." Tomoyo slung her bag over a shoulder. She faintly smiled at Eriol. "Till tomorrow, okay?" She wrapped an arm around Hikaru's arm and they left.

Eriol sat back on the piano and banged the keys, making a horrible sound. He sat for a while and scared into space. "Tomoyo…what should I…Kuso! I forgot about my date with Kaho!" Hurrying to get out, Eriol gathered his things and left, too.

~*~

"Hikaru! What do you want?!" Tomoyo hit the side of the car, hard. Hikaru advanced towards her, frowning. They were standing outside the school.

"You were flirting with him again, weren't you?!" Hikaru accused her.

"I was not! We were practicing. Didn't you see we were…"

"Staring into each other's eyes as if time has stopped!" Hikaru snapped. "Look, we had a deal. I do not want anything to stop it. Omae wa ore no mono da! I weill not let anybody take you away from me."

Tomoyo's eyes widened. "Nani shite hoshi?"

"Leave him," Hikaru answered. Tomoyo nodded submissively. Hikaru reached for her and she flinched. "I'm sorry I hit you," he said as he hugged her. "It won't happen again. I promise."

Tears flowed from Tomoyo's eyes as she nodded again. However, her thoughts were nowhere near her answers. Promise…nobody promises without breaking them anymore…

~*~

Kaho was waiting by the Tsukimine shrine, tapping her foot impatiently as Eriol pulled up in front of her. "What took you?" she crossly asked.

"Gomen," Eriol apologized. "They made me stay for some school work." He gave Kaho a long, lingering kiss. Suddenly, an image of Tomoyo perked up his mind. He jerked away from Kaho.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing, I was just tired from practice," Eriol lied, leaving the fact that the practice includes Tomoyo. He knew how jealous Kaho is of Tomoyo.

"Maybe," Kaho started as she tilted her head up for another kiss. "We could just stay at home…watch TV…"

"Yeah," Eriol murmured as he kissed the red-haired woman. "In bed…we better go." He guided Kaho into the car and drove off to his home.

~*~

Tomoyo rested her eyes as she took a break from the internet. "I forgot my computer files are still on my computer back in Eriol's office," she loudly said. " I should get them tomorrow." She looked back at the screen. Slowly, she typed out Eriol's name. E-R-I-O-L…she mused. His last name is pretty long. Hiiragizawa….She entered the cursor and typed her irst name below Eriol's. Tomoyo… Smiling, she typed Hikaru's last name beside her name. Tomoyo Hasegawa…She wrinkled her nose. That didn't sound so good. She backspaced the letters and formed a more interesting last name. Tomoyo…Hiiragizawa…Tomoyo Hiiragizawa…She leaned back on her swivel chair and smiled at the screen. Wouldn't it be so wonderful to have that name, she regretfully thought.

You must leave him, Hikaru had said. Yes, our relationship must only be business-oriented…Nothing else…nothing… Tomoyo closed her eyes to hold back tears. Maybe it was a bad idea to sing at the concert…but Eriol will be there…Tomoyo sighed. There is nothing I can do but go with the flow.

~*~

"Eriol?" Eriol opened his eyes and found himself looking to red pools.

"Hai?"

Kaho wrapped the blanket closer to her. "There is something wrong with you today, isn't it?

"No, why?"

"Because," Eriol could see the smallest of a frown on Kaho's face. "Because you weren't so

enthusiastic tonight, unlike before when we…"

Eriol slid his arms to her waist under the covers. "I'm sorry. I just have too much in my mind

right now."

"Right." Kaho raised a hand to his cheek. "Do you mind telling me?"

Eriol laughed. "No, it's not really that big a problem. Just tiring."

"More tiring than this?" Kaho coyly asked. Eriol laughed and hugged Kaho closer. For a moment, he forgot all about her…Tomoyo…but lying in bed with Kaho for the night is not enough to make his life move again.

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

Sumanu - Excuse me. Kayama Nikki desu - I am Nikki Kayama. Omae wa ore no mono da! - You belong to me! Nani shite hoshi? - What do you want me to do?

Nikki: AAAAHHHH! The suspense is killing me! Anyway, I hope Tomoyo gets over Hikaru soon…but why is she acting sooo weird…hehe…you'll find out soon!

Nikki while writing:

Nikki: must write…must write…

Left part of mind: Oooh…look! "Scariest Places on Earth" is on!"

Nikki: Where?

Right part of mind: Face the screen!

Nikki: Oh okay.

Left part of mind: Wow! Dad brought ice- cream! Mango-flavored ice cream!

Nikki: Must eat! Must eat!

Right part of mind: (drags Nikki back to swivel chair) Write now or your reader's gonna kill you.

Nikki: o.o….OK…

Arigatou for reviewing and reading!!!!!