Author's Notes:

Hello ^^ I am really glad you liked the past chappie. I kind of lost my writing mood back when writing that chapter, since I am preparing for my online novel, E+T, of course. It's entitled "Ice Maiden," but I am still checking if any fics are entitled the same (it is quite common, the name I mean). The online novel I am working on tackles an alter universe setting, with Tomoyo, Sakura and Syaoran as surviving members of a ninja clan and Eriol as the last member of an onmyouji (magician) family. Of course, you know what ensues: fighting. Based on my outline and stuff, the story will be about 30 chapters long, but taking consideration of my moody disposition, who knows? ^^ *sigh* I guess the Sakura X Syaoran fic will have to wait.

Ruby-servantof-eli: Thanks for reviewing! Hmm…looks like you got your request ^^ Next chappie is up!

KyteAura: I love "Carrie." Scary. Hmm…fic idea...ANYWAY, that person who was watching Tomoyo and Eriol was….nyehehehehe…I don't know. I can't even remember there was a person… *reads her own fic* Ah, yes…uh…am I the one who actually wrote this??

crystal~heart: No, I didn't see a blank spot in the reviews, though the number of reviews written is one number higher than the actual ^^ Mysterious person…*cries* I can't even remember that person…*tries to pull that person in the story*

Darkshadowheartless and Clownsareevil: Muses, heh? ^.^;;; Anyway, Tomoyo ran with Seguchi…hmm…

Polgara-C: Thanks! I'll try to make this chap more wonderful…hehehehe…

Athar_Luna: LOL…yeah. I love scenes where people get jealous and make themselves drunk. I remember Kaoru Kamiya from Kenshin… *Aoshi-sama!!!!!!* Ehem…yeah…about the kawaii chapter…this is it!

Me..: Cliffhangers…hehehehe…I used to do them LOTS of times *runs away before somebody could kill her*

KasumiDestruction: Seguchi? Nah, he's married. Don't mind the pie eating. It was made to make the fic longer and meet the maximum number of pages I can use…*grins* and about Tomoyo and Eriol making up…you'll get that for sure. ^^

raven: You don't like cliffhangers too…^^;;; *plans to have lots of cliffhangers ahead* Khekhekhekhe…

bishounen_lovah: It's ok ^^ You reviewed enough for me and I am really really kawaii…I mean happy! ^^;; Eriol groveling at Tomoyo's feet…maybe…Tomoyo's past….let's see…^^

# I dedicate this chapter to arashi009 cos she got the Nittle Grasper's lead vocalist who is also my current obsession: Sakuma Ryuichi. Even though he is 31 and still like stuffed bunnies and crayons, I love you, Ryu-chan!!!!!!! Thanks, arashi009! #

# In the past chapter, I said Seguchi was about Eriol' age…hell…not really. Seguchi is, like, 32. It just happened that he looked too young for his looks. Let me clarify: In this fic, Tomoyo is 19. Eriol is 22. ^^ Kaho was…oh well, who cares. She's dead anyway. ^.^ Gomen Kaho fans!!! #

CARESS OF VENUS

By nikki hiiragizawa

Chapter 9: Tomoyo's Past

Tomoyo did not look back as she ran up the stairs to her room. Biting her lower lip to keep herself from crying, she collected her clothes from the closet and stuffed them to her suitcase. Forgetting her toiletries, she hurried downstairs and went out the front door, not even caring if the host would frown at her for not saying good bye.

She could still hear the music from the ballroom even when the front door was shut. Slowly, she made her way through the garden. Half of her wanted to go back. She knew Eriol was drunk and is in a helpless condition. What if no one took care of him? Still, he shamed her in front of many people. That was unforgivable. Running her hands through her now limp hair, she pushed the heavy steel gate open and went out, calling a cab to take her back to Eriol's manor.

+++

Worry lined Sakura's brow as she placed a basin of water on the bedside table. Syaoran and Yamazaki finally let sleep overtake Eriol, whose wits haven't collected yet, on the bed. She bade the servant that she will take care of the young man herself and the attendant went out.

"Where do you think Daidouji-san will go?" Syaoran asked as he leaned by Eriol's desk, watching his fiancée wipe the other man's face with the wet towel.

Sakura shook her head and tucked a straying strand of hair behind an ear. "I haven't asked her where she stays. But I think Eriol will know where she will be when he gathers himself."

The brown-eyed man was quiet as Sakura continued to wipe Eriol's face. Suddenly, they were called to attention by Eriol's mutters. "What is he saying?"

"I cannot quite comprehend. He's slurring," Sakura complained as they both leaned closer.

Eriol was shaking his head. He was saying something about Tomoyo, yet he was murmuring Kaho's name too. His breaths came in gasps and his brow was furrowed.

"I pity him," Syaoran remarked as he moved away. "He cannot let go of the past, yet he cannot let Tomoyo go, too."

"Well," Sakura replied, finally dropping the towel back to the basin. "I can empathize more with Tomoyo. I mean, I don't know what exactly she is feeling right now, but I know that it must hurt to be rejected." She looked back at Eriol. "Looks like the girl has grown fond of Eriol-kun."

Both of them shrugged. Who knows something like this would happen in the party. They just hoped no one will miss them at the party.

"Kinomoto-san?" the same servant who came in before said as she opened the door a crack. "There's a phone call for Hiiragizawa-san. It's his housekeeper."

+++

Nakuru skipped all the way to the door, but wondering who could that person at the door be. When she opened it though, she frowned.

Their guest Tomoyo was standing behind the door, her shoes off and her hair in tangles, unable to be held for long by the little hair clips. She bit her lip as Nakuru stared at her. "Uh…hi."

"Tomoyo-san?!" Nakuru bade her inside quickly as she gathered herself. "What are you doing here in this unholy hour? You were supposed to be partying!"

The young woman rushed past her towards the stairs. "I am leaving."

"But you just got here…oh!" Nakuru followed her up the stairs. "You mean, like, vacation? Is Eriol-sama staying over with you at the villa? How nicey!"

"No." Tomoyo entered her room and rummaged through her real clothes and accessories. "I'm going back to my place." She removed the contents of the suitcase she was before carrying and replaced it with her real clothes.

The pink-haired girl stood frozen by the door. "Why?"

Tomoyo did not answer her and passed by the housekeeper as she sped out of the room.

"Wait! Tomoyo-san!" Nakuru matched the young woman's pace. "Why? You were happy here, right? You didn't even had your payment."

"Yeah…my payment." Tomoyo skidded to a stop by the stairs. "Eriol just waited for me to finish my job and then pay me." She blinked back tears and held the railing. "Well, that is what we talked about."

"Then why?" Lines scurried on Nakuru's face as she frowned. Apparently, Eriol had done something wrong again.

The tears cannot be held back and Tomoyo let them fall at last. "I can't take it! This torture!"

The housekeeper gently held Tomoyo's arm. "Why Tomoyo-san? Is he hurting you in any way? Is he stepping on your feet every time you waltz? Is he sexually abusing you??"

"No. No." Tomoyo hid her face behind her hands. "He…oh, I don't know Nakuru-san." She sniffed and wiped her tears, as Nakuru looked on sympathetically. "He's toying with my feelings as if I am some stupid girl!"

Uh-oh, I knew it would come to this, Nakuru thought. But she had no time to think. Tomoyo was now starting to go down the stairs. "Tomoyo-san, matte. Maybe you could, like, talk with Eriol-sama and then…"

"What is there to talk about?" Tomoyo snapped. "He could just mope and think about his wife for all I care! And to think I told him I liked him!"

"Tomoyo-san!" Nakuru caught the young woman's hand. "Please, maybe you need to rest for a while. You are not feeling well."

Tomoyo tugged to get her hand back. "Let me go, Nakuru-san. I really thank you, but I have to go."

"Please do not go, Tomoyo-san!" Nakuru set her mond on making the girl stay and then scolding Eriol's wits out when he comes home. "The night is deep. You'll get mugged…"

"I don't care!" the young woman cried. "I don't care if I get run over by a ten-wheeler truck!" She wept helplessly as she struggled to get out of the housekeeper's grasp. "No one ever cared for me except my mom, and she's gone!"

"Tomoyo-san…"

"Let me go!"

"No!"

"Let me go!" Tomoyo let out a powerful tug, releasing her hand. The force sent her reeling backward and missing her step. Suddenly, she was falling…

The last thing Nakuru felt was a forceful tug and she had to let go. When she looked up, Tomoyo was losing her balance and was sent falling down the stairs. "Tomoyo-san!" she screamed as she hurriedly down the stairs to help her supposedly future mistress. "Tomoyo-san, are you alright?"

Tomoyo was not moving.

+++


When Eriol fluttered his eyes open, he was already in his bedroom, with Syaoran on his bedside. "Oh, the party…" he muttered as he started to get up.

"Lay back, young man," Syaoran sternly said. "You've had too much to drink. We do not want you messing up the party again."

Eriol nodded and laid back, until he digested Syaoran's words. "I messed up the party?"

The brown-haired boy nodded. "Yup. Practically dissed. You really made a great spectacle of Daidouji Tomoyo." He pressed a finger on Eriol's shoulder blade. "That is why you are here."

"Tomoyo-san…" Concern became apparent on the young man's face. "What happened?"

At that time, Sakura came in, near tears. When she saw that Eriol was awake, she went up to him and hit him severely with a pillow. "You wretched man!" she yelled as she pummeled Eriol with the large pillow. "I am ashamed of you! Really ashamed!"

"What…ouch! What did I do?" Eriol tried to shield himself from Sakura's hits, but the young woman was obviously set on hitting him squarely on the face. "What happened?"

"What happened? You are asking me what happened?" Sakura was on the verge of throwing Eriol the basin on the nightside table so Syaoran taught it would be best to restrain her. "You make a fool of Tomoyo-chan when she was helping you to go to your room, cos you're so drunk, and then you shout out her and forced her to make Kaho come to you! Didn't you know Tomoyo-chan placed all her best in the song she sang for you? Oh, how could you, Eriol-kun…" After a long sermon, Sakura burst into tears.

Eriol could not believe what happened. "I did?" He practically shamed Tomoyo. Standing up, he prepared to go out. "Where is she? I want to apologize to her…" He looked at Sakura, who was sobbing helplessly against Syaoran. "I am sorry, Sakura-san. It was stupid of me to be drunk."

"Apparently, you are the stupidest, Eriol-kun," Sakura sniffed.

The young man bit the inside of his cheek and went to Sakura. "Where is Tomoyo-san? We needed totalk about this."

Sakura cried even more at his question, making him even more worried.

"Sakura-san.."

"Nakuru-san, your housekeeper, called in minutes ago. She said Tomoyo fell down the stairs while they were arguing about Tomoyo leaving."

"What?!"

"She still unconscious, but the doctor is on the way. Nakuru said…wait! Eriol-kun!" Eriol ran out of the room.

It was all my fault, he thought as he ran down the stairs. I shouldn't have said that! Not when I am ready to tell her…not when I finally decided that I loved her…

He went out and got his car, hoping that there is still time for him to say those words that meant a lot to both him and Tomoyo.

+++

The room was so dark. She looked around for a source of light. There wasn't any.

That was weird. Usually, her mother would leave the lights on because she knew how frightened her daughter was of the dark, but tonight she didn't come. Her mother didn't come at all.

"Okaa-san!" she called through the locked door. "Okaa-san! Let me out of here, please? It's so dark…" She knocked with her small fists, hoping that her mother outside would hear her and open the door. But no one came.

She began to cry, numerous drops of tears flowing down her face. She didn't want to be alone. She was scared. Her mother was not here to tell her stories. Her mother was not here…to be with her.

"Okaa-san!" she shouted, a bit louder now. "I do not want to stay here! Okaa-san!"

A voice, muffled because of the locked door, reached her ears. "Hang in there, honey," the voice said. "I'll just talk to somebody and then I'll go in there."

"But, please turn on the lights…" she sniffed.

The voice was quiet for a while, the voice of her mother. Slowly, her mother replied. "Be quiet. Do not make a sound. I'll come for you later, I promise. Now, go to sleep."

The young girl pounded the door. "But I do not want to…"

"Tomoyo-chan!" the voice sternly said. "I won't go there if you keep it up like that. Now sit down on the floor, and close your eyes. No matter what you hear, do not go out, understand?"

Tomoyo sank down to the floor, her nightdress reaching almost to her ankles as she stretched it over her knees. "Hai, okaa-san…"

She was almost asleep, tired from waiting, when she heard a thud coming from the outside. She instantly stood up, but she remembered her mother's warning and she kept quiet.

"I told you, we did not keep them here!" her mother was exclaiming.

"Shut up!" an unfamiliar voice yelled. "Your husband himself told us before he left that…"

Tomoyo heard her mother running towards the door, her bedroom door. "I do not know anything of my husband's affairs!"

"Oh so you won't tell us, eh?"

The young girl froze. She heard her mother being slammed on her own door. She wanted to call out to her mother, but she cannot. Her mother told her not to shout. "Okaa-san," she whispered instead.

"Get out of here," her mother was weakly saying on the other side of the door. "Or else I'll call the

police."

Footsteps, heavier ones, were heard approaching the room. Tomoyo returned to her crouching position and covered her mouth to stop herself from whimpering. "You won't tell us, bitch," the man was saying. "You have no use at all!"

Bang!

After the loud sound, Tomoyo heard a thud against the door. She heard footsteps leaving, with the man shouting for them to search the whole house. The girl trembled in fear. Where was her mother…

"Tomoyo…-chan…"

"Okaa-san!" Tomoyo pressed her ear on the other side of the door. "Open the door, Okaasan!"

"Tomoyo…-chan…go out of the window and run to the police station. Tell them bad men are after your father."

"Nani?" the girl tried her best to reach the knob. She reached for it, and opened the door. "Okaasan!!"

Her mother was lying near her door in a pool of blood. Instead of being pleased, her mother looked at her, horrified. "Run now, Tomoyo-chan!"

"Okaasan, you are hurt…" Tomoyo kneeled down beside her mother but her mother pushed her away.

"Go now, Tomoyo! Run as fast as you can, or the bad men will get you!"

Bad men? Tomoyo shivered. That must be the men talking to her mom a while ago. She nodded, although reluctant to part from her mother.

"Go out through your bedroom window," her mother ordered and she obeyed. A small trellis was leaning against the wall of her bedroom and she used it to go down. She ran as fast as she could towards the gate. Shocked, she found herself staring at the body of their driver, and their servants in the garden. Tears once more filled her eyes, but she cannot make a noise, otherwise the bad men will get her. She ran and ran…until she heard a voice.

"Look! In the garden! The girl is escaping!" Heavy footsteps followed her small ones, and she tried to speed up. She went out of the main gate to the road, but her oppressors were gaining on her. Her legs were already giving way. Crying helplessly, she forced herself to run a bit faster.

"Hurry up!" the men were shouting. "She will get away!"

She continued running, and looked back once to check on her chasers. She didn't recognize any of them ,but she knew they were her father's acquaintances. Feeling her energy drop to zero, she stumbled and fell to the ground.

Tomoyo could feel them approaching her, and sneering, Waiting for her doom, she did the best thing she could do…scream.

+++

"Tomoyo-san!" somebody called her urgently. "Tomoyo-san, wake up!"

She opened her eyes and sat up, panting heavily. Her clothes and hair were drenched in sweat, and tears were streaming down her cheeks. She looked to her left where the voice came from and recognized the person beside her. "Eriol-san?"

The young man smiled dimly and handed her a glass of water. "You must be having a nightmare. How is your injury?"

Injury? Tomoyo took the glass of water and moved to sweep her hair off her face. Suddenly, she felt something on her head.

Bandages. She was injured. But when? Images of what happened at the banister registered in her mind and she finally understood why she ended up here. She then remembered why the argument with Nakuru happened in the first place and looked away from Eriol. "You shouldn't worry about me," she suddenly replied coldly. "You should get some sleep."

Eriol shook his head. "I did something very wrong tonight," he said. "We must forget that for a minute though. I am quite concerned with your condition. Are you alright now? You were screaming for your mother a while back."

"Oh." Tomoyo could vividly remember her dream. She could feel the hot tears trickling down her face once more. "'Kaa-san…" Suddenly, she felt the press of Eriol's hand on hers. "It was horrible…" She wept anew, biting her lip to keep from crying out loud.

"It's okay, Tomoyo-san," Eriol comforted. "It's just a dream."

The young woman shook her head. "No, it's not." She held the blanket covering her closer, as if afraid that someone might snatch it away. "My mother. I dreamt about her. She was killed."

"Killed?" Eriol cannot believe what he was hearing. Tomoyo never talked about her family life. "By whom?"

"I do not know," Tomoyo replied. "I was, like, eight years old back then. They entered the house and killed all the servants. Okaa-san told me to stay put in my bedroom and not make a sound. Suddenly, they were right behind my door and they shot my mother."

Servants? Eriol thought. "Why did they kill your mother?" He gripped Tomoyo's hand tightly as she struggled not to cry.

"I don't know even that. I guess my dad made some bad business with them. I went out of the room and saw my mother bathing in blood and she told me to run away. I did, until those guys so me. And then…" Tomoyo's breath came in quickly, and Eriol rubbed her back. "And then they gained on me and all I can do was scream." She cried hysterically and Eriol pulled her to his chest, comforting the girl from those nightmares.

"Did you know what happened…after those men approached you?" Eriol asked. He felt Tomoyo shake her head.

"The last thing I remember," she replied, her voice muffled by Eriol's coat, "I was on a warm bed, and some nuns were watching over me. They let me stay in their orphanage and taught me how to sing psalms. However, when I was thirteen, I was ashamed of depending on them, so I left and lived in the city."

"Is that so?" the young man murmured. He ran his fingers through Tomoyo's hair as the young woman tried her heart out. "When we met…"

"When we met, I was looking for a job since the last one threw me out. I couldn't pay for my apartment's rent so I decided to eat your offer and sing and play like some stupid rich person." She dried her tears and backed away from Eriol. She knew she shouldn't be doing this. She shouldn't let that person who rejected her feel any pity for her.

Eriol was quiet for a while. "I…did something very bad tonight," he at last said.

"Oh you shouldn't mind that," Tomoyo replied. "I'll be going back to my flat first thing in the morning."

"No." Eriol sat on the bed, cornering Tomoyo between him and the headboard. "I hurt your feelings."

The young woman shakily smiled. "I told you not to mind me, I'll be…" Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. Eriol was kissing her.

The young man raised a hand to cradle her face and touched her lips gently, coaxing her to do the same. Tomoyo closed her eyes, wanting this to last…wanting Eriol to love her just for this moment. She held his arm and let herself flow with the breath- taking rapture.

When they finally let go of each other, both of them were flushed, their breaths fast, and their eyes practically locked within each other's.

"Eriol, I…"

The young man held her cheek and smiled. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have said those awful things to you."

"You…" Tomoyo forced her dazed mind to think logically, but after that kiss, it was difficult. "You don't have to…you love Kaho…"

"But I love you," Eriol suddenly cut in.

Purple pupils dilated in surprise. "You love me?" No, it was not possible that Eriol will fall in love with her. Maybe he just pitied her because of her life story. "But…"

"I meant to tell you, after you sang," Eriol continued. "But I saw you dancing with somebody else and lost my reason. I made myself drunk. And now I have made you injured." He bowed his head. "It's all my fault. I should…"

"No." Tomoyo almost looked fearful as she glanced at him. "I…"

"What is it?" he asked as removed his hand from her face.

"Please say it again," Tomoyo requested. "I must be…well…I must have misheard."

Eriol smiled. "I love you. I loved you ever since I saw you in the park. I just cannot come up to terms with my emotions. But everything is alright now."

The young woman smiled, eyes threatening to cry again. "You know how I feel?"

"Hai," Eriol said as he nodded. "And I am happy." He shifted on the bed to embrace Tomoyo, feeling the warmth that would shun his sadness away.

"I am, too." Tomoyo hugged him as tightly, not wanting to let go.

+++

Nakuru closed the bedroom door and smiled widely. She had heard everything, as she was supposed to bringing in tea. She was glad Eriol had found someone at last, and was hoping that her master would forget about his sadness soon.

"I hope Tomoyo-san would be like this as well," she sighed as she glanced at a painting hanging by the corridor. "Tomoyo-san," she whispered. "Please make Eriol happy."

TBC…

Author's Notes:

*laugh* you think it's the end ne? Not yet! Anyway, I'll be having classes soon. That is why I might be able to update only once a week (especially now that I have to think about the next happening in the story..ohohohohoh). Anyway, please be patient for a while,for there's more mysteries to solve.

I hope you got Tomoyo's life story..hehehe…now the questions to the next chapter is this: They both loved each other at last…but will it last? Stay tuned.

Reviews make my fingers type faster so onegai!