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!

PS: You think this was too complicated a plot? Think again…after you read this chapter…hehe…

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Chapter 8: Ki iro no Yakusoku (Yellow Encounters)

Eriol trod heavily as he walked towards a building unfamiliar to him. Kaho had insisted that he should personally give out the invitations, and here he is acting as a postman for a day.

He had already given Sakura's, Syaoran's and the other people's invitations. The only one left is Tomoyo's. He wasn't really positive that the girl would come, but it is worth a try. After all, he had prepared an invitation for Hikaru, too. He called Tomoyo's house but she wasn't there. The secretary informed Eriol that during weekends, she spends time with her fiancé. Jealousy, torment and regret traveled from Eriol's pulses to his neurons, almost emanating out of his very skin. Still, he reminded himself. All will come to pass. People will forget. But thinking about that constantly is just too difficult.

Eriol hesitated a little as he approached Hasegawa Hikaru's apartment. Gingerly, he knocked. The sound echoed through the room, signifying that not so much people are home. A rustle and slight curse were heard, and the door opened.

There was Hikaru standing inside the doorframe with only a blanket wrapping his lower torso. "Oh, Hiiragizawa-san. What brings you here…at this time?"

Eriol escaped Hikaru's disguised glare and let his eyes travel towards the interior of the apartment. "I was...uh…just giving you this…"

"Hikaru? Who is there? Is it one of my bodyguards?" Tomoyo's figure appeared from what Eriol concluded to be the bedroom. Same as Hikaru, she had a blanket wrapped around her. She was apparently flabbergasted to see Eriol standing outside at the very moment. "Oh my…uh…Eriol…Wait, I'll just change to something…uh…decent." She ducked behind the door and disappeared.

Hikaru held the door open for him. "Come on in. Sorry, we were just kinda busy at the moment so…"

Eriol took the cue and politely refused to go in. "I just want to give you this." He handed two invitations to Hikaru. "I would really want you to come."

The other boy opened one envelope and read it. "A birthday, huh. Are you really planning on giving me one...or is it just Tomoyo?" A teasing smile played on Hikaru's face.

Clow's reincarnation held his reins. "You know very well I would not think of that." Tomoyo then appeared behind Hikaru, fully dressed.

"Gomen nasai, Eriol. What was it?" Hikaru tossed the envelopes to Tomoyo. "Oh," she softly said as she read it. "Your birthday…" Her fiancé went in to change into his clothes as she thoroughly read the card. "Anou…" Her face began showing worry.

"Please." Eriol looked behind Tomoyo to see if Hikaru is listening. "I really would like you to come. It will mean a lot to me."

She bit her lower lip and pondered. "Okay," she finally answered. "I never thought you would organize a party like this."

"That's because…After my birthday, and after the concert…Kaho and I…will go back to London." Eriol bowed his head to keep from looking on Tomoyo's horror-stricken face.

"Sou…sou desu…" In spite of disappointment, Tomoyo smiled. "Well, I guess even if you are far away, we can still be friends right?"

"Aa. Demo," Eriol leaned down until his mouth was level Tomoyo's ear. "I want us to be more than that." Planting a quick kiss on Tomoyo's cheek, Eriol fled.

~*~

"I'm really glad we ran to you, Mizuki-sensei!" Sakura happily hugged her former mentor.

"Yes, I am glad, too." She smiled at the couple. Syaoran gave her a bow.

"Say," Sakura said as she had thought of a wonderful idea. "Why don't you join us for dinner, Mizuki-sensei? Syaoran will be going, too." With much pushing and pleadings, Mizuki Kaho agreed to go to Sakura's house.

"How are you and Eriol-kun?" Sakura suddenly asked as they walked towards her residence.

Kaho was taken aback a bit but didn't show it. "Ah, we are just fine."

"Fine?" Kaho looked up to see Syaoran's eyes studying her.

The auburn-haired teacher gave a small laugh. "Yes. Eriol is very kind and loving. We are planning our wedding already."

"Wow, sugoi ne! Tomoyo-chan and Hikaru-san are planning their wedding, too."

"Hikaru-san?"

The Clow mistress nodded as she opened their gate. "Tomoyo's fiancé." Kaho nodded in understanding, as she contemplated on their situations.

"Oi, kaijuu," somebody called from the front door. Touya and Yukito were coming out of the house.

Sakura's ears grew red with fury. "Sakura kaijuu ja nai no!"

Touya smirked at his sister's reaction. "We're going to Yukito's tonight. I'm going to spend the night there. Don't forget otousan's reminder to keep all doors closed.

"Maa, Onii-chan. I've been doing that for years. You don't have to remind me!"

Her older brother nodded and glared at Syaoran. "If anything happens to Sakura while I am gone…"

"Onii-chan!" Syaoran was already blushing deeply.

Kinomoto Touya seemed to be enjoying all the show. He turned to Yukito. "Saa, shall we go?" He saw Yukito's gaze fixed on something. He followed his friend's gaze and frowned. Mizuki Kaho had entered their threshold.

"Konnichi wa, Tsukishiro-san…Touya…" Kaho bowed deeply. "It has been so long."

"Yes it has been," came Touya's answer. "I thought you were already flourishing in London."

Kaho smiled sweetly at him. "You haven't been around lately, have you?" she said. "Besides, I will always come back here. Something is making me come back here." She looked meaningfully at the dark-haired boy. Yukito also looked at Touya, although his gaze was of concern.

"Good luck on finding that something, then, Kaho." Touya held Yukito's shoulders possessively. "Let's go, Yuki." They started to walk away when Kaho spoke again.

"I would like to check if Eriol has already given you the invitations? They are for his birthday."

Sakura rummaged through her bag and produced two envelopes. "Hai. Here they are."

Her former teacher smiled. "Please do come. It will mean a lot to us. Touya, you can attend, too and bring Tuskishiro-san, too." She looked at Yukito with a bit of annoyance. "You must come. Or else…" she glanced back at Touya. "I shall be missing you."

Touya produced a sound that sounded like a snort and looked away. Yukito worriedly bowed his head. Touya's grip tightened on his shoulders as he bent down to tell Yukito that it is all right.

"Saa, we will try to go, Kaho. Say hello to your fiancé for me." Touya gave he a weak smile. "Come on, Yuki."

"Aa, To-ya. Jaa na!" The two disappeared around the corner.

Sakura's mind was filled with question marks. Eriol-kun has Mizuki-sensei, but he's always been with Tomoyo-chan lately. And Mizuki-sensei is…Onii-chan…

~*~

Eriol's face glowed with displeasure as he looked at his carpeted floor. On the floor was Clow's seal that gives Eriol the ability to view whatever he feels like seeing. He saw Kaho flirt with Sakura-san's brother, and his hands gripped his armchair. She…I thought so…she still likes Kinomoto Touya… He waved a hand towards the seal and the view changed. In place of Sakura's residence was a small room. Dark-haired Tomoyo sat by her dresser. "Eriol's birthday…" Eriol heard her mutter. He looked closely to peer into Tomoyo's face. She was crying.

The magician's heart almost broke in two. He never wanted to see Tomoyo cry…he never wanted to make Tomoyo cry! The burden in his seat of passion doubled as he personally saw Tomoyo's anguish. Reluctantly, he turned away from the seal.

Behind the door, Nakuru and Spinel were watching him again. "What was the Master seeing into a while ago, Suppi?"

"I am not Suppi! He is seeing into Sakura's house a while ago, cross-dresser. I saw it."

Nakuru quietly glomped Spinel. "Then, why is he frowning as if he saw something sad?"

"Maybe…" Spinel's eyes glowed. "Maybe he saw Sakura-san's brother and Yue's false form doing something and he did not like it!"

"Oh you and your false hunches! I already told you that…"

"I forgot. Anyway, Yue is…!"

"SUPPI!"

~*~

"Moshimoshi, Kinomoto desu." Sakura's sleepy face turned into a wide-eyed one. "Hikaru-san! Why…why are you calling me at this late?" She looked at the clock hanging on the wall. It says One AM. "Did something happen to Tomoyo-chan?"

The voice on the other end chuckled. "No, of course not."

"Then what…"

"Wouldn't you like to guess?" Hikaru's voice taunted her.

Sakura frowned. One AM is not a time for guessing games. "Not really Hikaru-san. Why did you call?"

A sigh was heard from the other end. "I just wanted to hear your voice that's all."

Hooee? "My voice? Why?"

"I don't know." There was a pause. "I guess…I'm really attracted to your voice."

"Hooooeeeee?!" Luckily, Touya was not home so he didn't hear Sakura's shocked voice.

On the other end, Hikaru chuckled at Sakura's surprise. Tomoyo's friends had always been interesting. Maybe that is because Tomoyo is sweet and nice. However, it is this friend of hers that captivates him…Kinomoto Sakura. . . Too bad her boyfriend is so overprotective. Well, we'll see, Hikaru mused amusedly.

~*~

Syaoran was crossly dialing Sakura's number. "Why is the line busy? Who would she be talking to at this late? Tomoyo sleeps early, and Sakura's father and brother aren't there…so…" He picked up his personal handy phone and dialed Sakura's cell phone number.

Sakura could hear ringing up in her room. "Uh, Hikaru-san, I have to go, maybe Syaoran is calling me on my personal phone. Jaa na!" Sakura quickly dropped the phone on its cradle and skipped upstairs.

"Hello? Syaoran! I'm so glad you called!"

Syaoran frowned. "Why is that?"

"Oh nothing…I just missed you that's all. Anyway, why call this late? Did you forget something?"

"Aa. I forgot to tell you that I love you before I left your house."

"Oh…" Sakura unconsciously blushed as Syaoran continued their conversation.

"Kuso." Hikaru scowled. The only time he can call Kinomoto-san is now, and it failed. "Oh, well," Hikaru smiled to himself. "Tomoyo is nice, too, anyway. I can meet up with Sakura-san later when she breaks up with that guy from Hong Kong."

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Nikki: Now, isn't it nice to have another conflict ahead? *insert kitsune laugh here* No I do not intend to make this longer. I just cannot find anything that Kaho and Hikaru will do so I made them do more things…lol…

Anyway, this fic is finishing fast. I hope you all have loved it *sigh* Thanks for reading up to this part. I promise I'll make it a nice ending for everyone. Jaa na!

Ganbatte ne!

~nikki