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!

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

CHAPTER 9: Momo iro no Kangae (Pink Contemplation)

Tomoyo did not attend their usual practice. Eriol, worried sick, waited for her until darkness covered the horizon. Where could she be? He wondered. He could not possibly call her at home, since they had changed their number. Sakura and Syaoran are out on a date and Eriol does not know where they are or how to contact them. Maybe she has some things to do in her other clubs? He opened the door of the music room and went out. Something crunched beneath his shoe and he found out that it was an envelope. Looking for any clue about who left it there, Eriol picked it up and opened the envelope.

Inside was a familiar parchment. He instantly knew that this letter came from Tomoyo. The cream stationery is unmistakable, unmistakable because this was the stationery they were supposed to use for the invitation to their wedding. Wincing, he unfolded the paper.

Eriol, (it said)

I will not delay the true purpose of this letter. I just want you to know that after the concert, I will no longer have anything to do with you. I will attend your birthday as a friend, but I shall leave as a mere schoolmate. I am so sorry.

Hikaru is getting suspicious. He wants me to get away from you. If he finds out that I'm still doing things with you aside from the practices, he will throw me out of his household and will withdraw their assistance to our business. I consider the matter very grave, especially for my mother.

I also wanted to say sorry --- for all those things I have done that were enigmatic and at the same time, hurting. I never wanted to leave you at that time without saying a word, yet if I tell you the truth, Kami knows what will happen. Maybe this is what we are destined to be. I know that Kaho will give you the greatest joy I can never give you, and Hikaru will compensate for me as well.

Goodbye, Eriol. It was the greatest time of my life…when I met you. I know that you will always pursue your dreams with or without me. And I promise you that I will cherish every minute, every second of our love, for that is never lost…

For the last time, I love you,

Tomoyo

Tears flowed mercilessly. Muttering curses all directed to himself, Eriol slumped on the floor and wept. No, Tomoyo. Kaho will never fill in the spaces you have left behind…this is all wrong…

He stood up and slowly went out of the building. Must I? he asked himself. Must I go with the changes? Is Kaho enough for me…with her, I can settle peacefully…He shook his head. I do not know what to do anymore, and there is no one to help me…

~*~

Daidouji Sonomi stopped knocking on her daughter's door. She turned to maid beside her who was carrying a tray of food. "Please inform me the moment she opens the door." The maid bowed and Sonomi went down the stairs. She picked up the phone in the corridor.

"Hello? Yes, this is Daidouji Sonomi, Tomoyo's mother. May I speak to Hikaru? …He is not there? Oh…thank you for your time…Tomoyo? No, Hikaru is not with Tomoyo, she is home. Jaa na."

Sonomi leaned against the wall. "Tomoyo…please tell me what is wrong…"

~*~

"It's been a long time since we went out by ourselves," Syaoran smiled as he watched Sakura dig in to her ice cream.

Sakura laughed. "I was expecting you were going to say you haven't had chocolate ice cream sine who-knows-when," she teased.

"Tsk. You know you are more important than chocolate."

Sakura smiled sweetly at him. "Of course."

"Hey you guys!" Hikaru came walking towards them. "It's so nice to see you here!" He pulled out a chair next to them even though he is still uninvited.

Sakura looked away from Hikaru's piercing eyes, while Syaoran, who already felt Sakura's uneasiness, kept quiet.

"So, how is life today, eh?" Hikaru asked, fixing his eyes on Sakura. "mine was very very pretty." Sakura bowed her head as Tomoyo's fiance reveled in her confusion.

"Uhm, we were just leaving, Hikaru-san," Syaoran announced. "Sakura's been feeling a bit sick lately."

Hikaru did not even look at Syaoran. "Is that so? Maybe you're already tired. Do you want me to take you home? I have a car." He looked meaningfully at Sakura's boyfriend.

Syaoran's patience began to boil. Under the table, Sakura held his lap. "No, thanks, Hikaru. I'm sure Syaoran and I will manage." She stood up and slightly bowed to Hikaru. "See you later!" She and Syaoran went out of the ice cream parlor.

"Sure, Sakura," Hikaru muttered. "I'll see you later."

~*~

"What is his problem?" Syaoran crossly asked as they reached Sakura's home.

His girlfriend could only shake her head. "I really don't know. He's been behaving that way lately."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Syaoran demanded in a hushed voice. "You should've told me when he started looking at you that way!"

"Why? How was he looking at me?"

Syaoran sighed. "He was looking as if he is about to lunge at you. You better tell Tomoyo-chan about that."

"There's no need. It might break Tomoyo-chan's heart more." She smiled at Syaoran and hugged him. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"Of course, I have to." They shared a long lingering kiss, and Syaoran went home.

"Hikaru better keep his hands to himself," Syaoran muttered as he looked up to Sakura's window.

~*~

Tomoyo's phone rang and rang. Her phone is different from the phone used by her mom, so no one but Tomoyo can answer it. Sakura dialed her number again and again.

"Tomoyo-chan, what's wrong with you?" She already sent an SMS to Tomoyo's handy phone, but there is no response. Sakura was left with no other choice but to call Tomoyo's mom.

"I am sorry, Sakura-chan. She is still not opening her door. I wish I could help her somehow, but she won't answer anybody."

"Oh." Sakura closed her worry-filled eyes. "Thank you, Mrs. Daidouji." She hung up and heavily went up the stairs.

"Sakrua." Touya looked over his shoulder as Sakura passed him and Yukito. "What's wrong with Tomoyo?" Sakura looked surprised, but she shook her head. Not answering her brother's uestion, she proceeded upstairs.

"To-ya," Yukito said as he worriedly glanced at Sakura's retreating back. "You think everything is alright? Kaho was also behaving unusual today?"

Touya thought deeply and pulled Yukito closer to him. "I do not know, Yu-ki. It's better if we do not meddle with such things."

~*~

Eriol lay on his bed with wide-awake eyes. He had called Sakura a while ago and asked her to call Tomoyo. Sakura replied that Tomoyo was refusing to talk to anybody, even to her. She has been cooped up in her room for two days.

The dark-haired boy frowned. He could not possibly communicate with Tomoyo, for either she will be angry or he will be shooed away by her mother or boyfriend. He turned to his side and watched the clouds drift by his balcony window.

Still, he knew Tomoyo will be coming to his birthday, which will be in two days. Demo…demo…how will I face her. How will I comfort her, if I couldn't placate my very self…

A knock was heard and Kaho entered the room. "Gomen ne, Eriol," she sweetly apologized. "There's a celebration at Tsukimine jinja and I was very late."

"It's all right." Eriol moved over to give Kaho space on the bed. "You haven't been coming home this past few days."

Kaho nodded. "I was busy arranging your party," she explained. "And I have been roving around, looking for familiar faces."

"And you finally met Kinomoto Touya?" Eriol asked without looking at her.

The red-haired woman flinched, but did not falter. "Hai. It was nice seeing old friends again. You must have enjoyed it, too, ne?"

"Hai…old friends…"

~*~

"Kuso, I thought Sakura would be here." Hasegawa Hikaru adjusted his sunglasses and slapped his steering wheel. "Now where did she and that baka boyfriend of hers scuttle to…hmm…" He eyed a red-haired woman walking towards a store. "Now where have I seen that…picture…Tomoyo…ah!" Getting out of his car, he followed Mizuki Kaho into the store.

"Hi." Kaho whirled around, and saw an unfamiliar face staring at her.

"Yes? What can I do for you?"

Hikaru chuckled. "I believe we haven't met before. I'm Hasegawa Hikaru." He held out a hand.

"Ah, you must be Tomoyo-san's fiance."

Hikaru made a face, but nodded. "Yep."

"I'm…"

"Mizuki Kaho. I have heard so much about you."

Kaho raised a brow. "Hontou?"

"Hai. Tomoyo always mention you when we talk about her friends."

Quite in disbelief, Mizuki stared at the young man. "Oh."

Hikaru eyed Kaho's groceries. "You need a lift?"

"Thank you, but…"

"Oh please. I plead you." Laughing, Kaho agreed.

"Do you think what you are doing is right? I mean you should be with your girlfriend to arrange you wedding." Kaho and Hikaru sat in a coffee shop far from their destination.

Hikaru quietly sipped his cappuccino. "I do not think so. I believe our fiances are also seeing somebody else. They are fooling around, you know."

Kaho almost dropped her teaspoon back into her cup. "I beg your pardon?"

"Admit it, Mizuki-san. Sparks between our partners have not died out." He faced Kaho with a smile. "Do you plan on just letting it happen?"

Kaho looked away. "Well, if Eriol…if he…doesn't love me then we are not meant to be."

"But…you would like to be with him, right?"

"Of course! I mean we …"

"Right." Hikaru lighted a cigarette and puffed out smoke rings. "Love makes you foolish. You will just let him go after all your efforts?" He gave a little laugh. "Too bad Tomoyo depends on me so much that she cannot afford to let me go."

Kaho sat up stiffly. Her annoyance for Tomoyo suddenly turned into more like pity. Staying with a man like this forever is…cruel. He way he talks of Tomoyo is like talking of a pet. Am I wrong? She asked herself. Maybe, I was wrong about Eriol…maybe Tomoyo needs him more than I need him… She glanced back at the boy who was endlessly talking about his success with Tomoyo and glowered. Even if she hasn't been close to Tomoyo, she cannot handle such humiliation by this man! She picked up her bags and bade her goodbye as politely as she can.

Eriol… she thought as she traveled home. I guess we should talk.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Nikki: I have made Kaho good! AHHHHHHHH! Hmm. Anyway, this is getting pretty climactic, and at last! You're going to see the song…::sigh:: I hate making endings.

Please hang on for a little more, ne!

Ganbatte!

~nikki