Disclaimer: All characters portrayed in this fanfic are property of CLAMP and their company people. They're not mine. Well, except that is, the people that I'll be making up. :D

AN: I'm extremely sorry. That's all I can say. Granted, I did promise to get a chapter out soon after my last chapter, but I've been caught up in school and practice. Besides the fact that my brain is/has been overworked, I've also had writer's block. I can't promise that I'll have the next chapter up soon, but I'll try. I know this is a short chapter and the next chapter will have more; once my writer's block is gone. I hope no one has lost interest because of the period of my inactive uploading... As always, please R&R, I'll be grateful.

A dark haired sorcerer paced, huffing around his lonely apartment apparently worried. The sky's moon and stars weren't shining as they usually were, rather they were hidden behind sullen clouds, making the air crisp and cooler than normal. The atmosphere was rather dusky without the millions of self energized orbs brightening up the evening sky.

Absentmindedly Eriol took a seat at the edge of the couch, deep in thought, his dark blue hair a messy array upon his head. There he sat for minutes which seemed like hours, staring at nothing in particular. He was worried, he had to admit it. It was almost midnight. Tomoyo never came home this late, it wasn't like her.

Sure they weren't on the best of terms at the moment, but surely she wouldn't spite him and make him worry just because of that? She wasn't that type of person. Right? His mind blanked on him; he had no answer for that. He knew she had changed. Who she changed into though, he wasn't quite so sure. She didn't wear her emotions on her sleeve like others did. She would go through great lengths just to keep them hidden. Nevertheless, the only possible explanation for this circumstance was...he paused to think. Was she in trouble?

He clenched his fists as numerous thoughts of murder, abduction and rape rampaged his mind. The thoughts only served to make him that much more disturbed and anxious. His mind played a game of tug of war, pulling at the various possibilities of which could delay the dark haired danseuse.

Concern turned into anger and he finally gave up. Growling loudly in annoyance he proceeded to the piano room with a heavy march. It was then that the apartment door creaked opened and he froze, seething with hushed anger.

Eriol was rather irked when Tomoyo slipped by him without so much as a 'Good Evening' or 'Hello.' He waited impatiently, his eyes boring a hole in her back as she paused with her hand on the door knob to her room. "What?"

Eriol's eyes narrowed, "Is that all you can say? You're not even going to give an explanation?" The young mage knew he sounded horribly harsh, but he couldn't help it.

"Why should you care," it was more of a statement then anything else. His mouth snapped shut when she basically screamed the next sentence at him, "You think I'm a weakling anyway. You think I'm fragile," her words held a strong note of bitter distaste as she threw daggers with every word.

He blinked. "No I don't! How did-"

Tomoyo scoffed, cutting him off, "How?" She looked over her shoulder at him while she opened her door, a distasteful expression upon her face. "Too caught up in your lovely little girlfriend to remember your petty little friend was nearby were you?" she sneered sharply.

Eriol's face held an air of pensiveness and his lips were in a thin line. "That was uncalled for. Yo-"

She cut him off again, "Oh really? I think it was very appropriate." Tomoyo was ready to slam her bedroom door in his face when he grabbed her arm. It startled her that he could move so fast given the amount of time. She took an unsteady step back to balance herself.

"Don't ever speak like that again." His azure eyes held a look of undoubted seriousness for the situation.

Tomoyo's eyes searched his before darting down to her wrist where his hand was gripping her tightly. Surely tight enough to leave marks. When she looked back up at him her eyes were trembling. Startled, Eriol dropped her wrist as if he touched fire and backed out of her room with an apologetic grimace, "I-I'm sorry."

Before he could explain himself however, Tomoyo had already slammed the door in his face for the last time that night. Eriol flinched. He was no longer angry or annoyed. But he was still very much concerned. Concerned and at a loss of words for his own actions.

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"I was thinking we could go to California for vacation this summer. Just you and I. Wouldn't that be fun? We cou--Hey," Akiko's perky self dimmed and she paused. Eriol was staring down at nothing in particular as they both sat on a bench watching the glimmering waters of the deep cerulean river. She leaned forward, tapping her boyfriend on his forehead right above the bridge of his nose. "Eriol?"

Eriol blinked a couple times before he looked at her quizzically. "Yes?"

"Are you even listening to me?" came the frustrated sigh.

"Of course I am," Eriol recovered quickly. He had actually picked up bits and pieces of her one-sided conversation. "But I think we should go to Japan this summer."

The brunette's nose wrinkled up, "Japan? Why?"

He chuckled at the expression on her face, "Because it really is beautiful there. You'd love it, plus it helps that I know some friends there."

Akiko shrugged and dismissed it as if the destination didn't matter, "As long as you're going with me."

"Always."

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Tomoyo's keys clattered to the floor as she stared blankly at the simple note on the door.

We're moving into my Manor. You can't refuse, for I've transferred all your belongings there already.

The address is:

385 Wellington Road

Arlington

London SW20 8AH

-Eriol

Snapping out of her stupor, the young adult walked away briskly. Her hands balled up in fists and her face fuming.