"Final Resolution"

By: Na-chan

Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura is not mine. It belongs to CLAMP and Kodansha and I'm a shameless

girl for using it without permission.

A/N: It's sweltering hot and I'm writing about snow. The white (it's kind of yellow if you ask

me), cold phenomenon is something I've never actually experienced. Our country won't survive a

day with snow.

Chapter 3: White Christmas

***

"Tomoyo-san?" Eriol asked once more, this time with more conviction. His azure eyes sparkled in

the night, his spectacles absent.

"Hai, it's me."

He sighed in relief. She didn't sound like she was in danger of any kind. Maybe now she was

ready to talk. "I'm sorry," He began.

"No, it's not your fault. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did," She paused thinking of the

most appropriate word to use, "it was very immature of me."

"But do you still want to be with me?" His question shocked not only her, but also himself.

"...I don't know anymore, Eriol-kun. I'm confused," She admitted openly. He could hear her exhale

over the line.

Eriol shook his head in frustration. "I'm unsure too. But at least I'm trying to sort things out.

I don't want us to end up hating each other. I don't want to hurt you..."

"I can't stop you from going. It's your choice and I won't stop you. I'm supposed to be

supportive," She bit her lip, in attempt to stay the tears that were once again threatening to

fall. She wouldn't cry. That would make things worse. She shouldn't have made that call

anyway.

I won't be selfish. I won't hold him back. If his future is not with me then so be it...

There was only silence between the two lines. Static made it almost tolerable.

He spoke first, "I didn't want it to end this way. I'm sorry for everything...I've caused you

much confusion and grief that I--"

"Everything? I'm not regretting anything, Eriol." She interrupted, all the while removing the

honorific from his name. "All those years you've made me happy. I don't know how I would have

turned out without you."

A rueful smile passed his features, unbeknownst to her. "And I you. God, Tomoyo I love you. We

can make a long distance relationship work." He suggested, hope instilled within him. "Can you

wait for me for a few years?"

Her answer came swift. "No," She said purposely. It was like a stab to his heart but he knew he

had been a disillusioned fool to expect.

"I see--" He started, ready to make a farewell speech even though he would be there for a few

more weeks. This was more painful than death...

"No, I'll wait for you forever." She continued, setting aside what he was trying to say.

It took a while for him to process what she had just said but when it did finally sink in, Tomoyo

had already had a head start laughing.

"I should have seen the look on your face, Eriol! I wonder if Okaasama has any digital

videophones to spare. That would have been priceless!"

"That wasn't funny, Tomoyo. I actually thought it was over and I was going to die any minute,"

Eriol said while fits of giggles continued, much to his chagrin. When they finally stopped,

Tomoyo stopped to catch her breath.

"That's for making me cry a few days back. Revenge is a sweet thing," She had explained simply.

He narrowed his eyes. "Oh, really?" A plan formed in his mind. And it was under time constraint.

***

December 24, 10:54 PM, Tomoeda, Daidouji Mansion

"Okaasama! Sakura-chan and the others are here!" Tomoyo called from the living room. It was very

unladylike of her to do so, but a strange sort of happiness was bubbling inside of her. It was

Christmas Eve and the fact that she and Eriol had patched things up earlier (okay, much, much

earlier) made it even more joyous.

"...I'll be down in a minute, dear! Let them in already!" Sonomi replied just as loudly.

Tomoyo opened the door for her awaiting guests. "Merry Christmas!" She greeted them.

"Merry Christmas, Tomoyo-chan." Her cousin, Kinomoto Sakura greeted back as she hugged the

dark-haired hostess. Behind her stood her father, Kinomoto Fujitaka, her fiancé, Li Syaoran,

her brother, Kinomoto Touya and his friend, Tsukishiro Yukito. Each held a plastic bag with many

gifts.

"Please come in. Mother will be down in a moment," Tomoyo explained as she led her visitors into

the living room where a decorated pine tree stood. Balls of gold and silver hung at its boughs

and long metallic strips of the same colors dangled loosely around the greens. At its feet were

numerous presents with tags.

"Suteki!" Sakura cried as she observed the beautified tree, together with the other ornaments

that decorated the room. She turned to face the younger Daidouji. "It looks better every year."

Tomoyo nodded. "I didn't want to change the decor from last year but Okaasama insisted. Especially

these." She eyed the golden strip of metallic paper that had just fallen on her head.

"Please take a seat," She said exasperatedly.

Sakura giggled as she placed her plastic bag by the other gifts under the tree. She plopped down

into a seat beside Syaoran, who had been given the same invitation. Tomoyo sat across from them

on a leather armchair.

"Ne, Tomoyo-chan. Isn't this exciting? Only one more hour until Christmas!" Sakura thrilled as

Syaoran stopped himself from rolling his eyes.

"Actually kaijuu, it's still one hour and TWO minutes away," Touya corrected as he examined the

sleek grand piano on the far side of the room. "Being with that gaki has dulled your senses."

"Nani?"

"Maa, maa," Yukito said from beside the younger Kinomoto male, trying to calm down Syaoran whilst

giving Touya an evil look. "To-ya doesn't mean that, right, To-ya?"

"Che." Touya returned his attention back to the musical instrument.

The young hostess let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Sakura. "At least those two haven't

changed. It's kind of refreshing," She commented.

"They get out of hand sometimes but I know they won't hurt each other. They love me too much,"

Sakura said, aiming a special smile at her protesting fiancé.

"I didn't say that!"

Tomoyo smiled sadly. Those two were like peas in a pod. Inseperable.

She was thinking too hard and too deep, that she did not notice that a worried Fujitaka was

behind her.

"It's Christmas Eve, Tomoyo-san. Please don't look sad," He said in his paternal tone. Tomoyo

started to object but silenced immediately.

"Gomen ne, Kinomoto-sensei. I was...thinking."

"Ah. Well, please don't burden with yourself too much. Your mother worries." He gave her a warm

smile.

"Hai."

I don't feel complete yet...why?

A female voice came from over Fujitaka's right, the figure obscured by the man's height.

"Merry Christmas, Kinomoto-sensei."

"Sonomi-kun. Merry Christmas."

Sonomi smiled at him. "Now, we're all here." She said as she looked at her daughter. "Let's have

fun tonight."

***

11:56 PM

"Only four more minutes!" Sakura reminded as she plucked a card from her hand and threw it on the

glass coffee table. A queen of hearts. She picked up another card from the deck in front of her

and frowned. Around her, the other players looked upon with anticipation. The two parents had

taken to the dining room and the only people left in the living room (aka. Sakura, Syaoran,

Tomoyo, Touya and Yukito) were playing cards.

Tomoyo picked up Sakura's discarded queen and added it to her hand. So far so good. She smiled

in satisfaction.

Ding dong.

"I'll get it!" Tomoyo stood up from her chair. All the servants were on vacation until the next

day and even their cook left three hours ago.

"But it's your turn--" Syaoran started but was cut off as Tomoyo hurriedly took out a card and

laid it down, along with all the other cards.

"Forty-one!" She cried happily and disappeared into the hallway.

Touya threw all his cards down angrily. "She won again! How many times has she won, Yuki?"

"Around seven. We've played four card games already, not counting the one you didn't remember the

name of. The one where we needed to slap the cards before the other players...?"

The younger Kinomoto groaned.

"Tomoyo-chan always wins. Her luck's very high," Sakura said wisely as she remembered losing to

her cousin ten straight times. Syaoran nodded.

"Daidouji has many unique gifts," He added.

Everyone agreed.

***

11:58 PM

The bell rang again.

"Coming!" Who was this person anyway? Tomoyo yanked the door open and was greeted at the sight of

white plum blossoms.

"Delivery for a Miss Daidouji?" A short man held the bouquet and a card.

"Yes, that's me."

"Here," The man handed Tomoyo the flowers and the piece of paper. "Merry Christmas." Then he

hurried down the steps and disappeared into the night. The sky was clear and the moon stood, an

impeccable circle in the cloudless night.

Tomoyo watched him leave and wondered who had sent him. It would certainly have been expensive

to send such flowers that bloomed in a different season especially on Christmas Eve. Her

attention turned to the card.

She read it silently.

As the snow flakes cover the ground,

In the darkness of the night,

You are an ethereal sight,

Your voice, a melodious sound.

A pale face framed with dark hair,

Painted on its surface, your smile,

Those amethyst orbs and their observant stare,

Everything about you I desire.

She was overwhelmed by the sudden feeling of longing.

"Eriol," She whispered unconsciously to the wind, clutching the bouquet tightly.

"...Tomoyo-san." Eriol's charismatic baritone came from the shadows, startling her.

"E-Eriol-kun! How did you? Why are you?" Tomoyo was shocked beyond words. She tried to grasp the

words but nothing came out.

He was in a teasing mood, much to her dismay. "Revenge, my dear is sweet. A very special girl

told me that."

She scowled, something very uncharacteristic of her.

"You're evil, you know that?"

He laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" She finally managed to ask. Her curiosity was gnawing

at her.

"I wanted to surprise you. Besides, Tomoyo-san, I don't think telephones are good substitutes

for real people," He explained, staring into her eyes.

"I think so too."

"And your Christmas gift...I forgot to give it to you before you left," He presented her with a

velvet case which she received gratefully. She opened it to reveal a platinum chained necklace

with amethyst gems.

"This is too much Eriol-kun!"

He placed a finger to her lips, silencing her effectively. "It was money well spent."

"And the flowers?"

"They weren't cheap."

She shoved him playfully with one hand, the other supporting the white blossoms.

He caught her hand in time and he placed it on his heart.

"Eriol!" A faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks.

His lips quirked and he bent down and his lips met hers. She kissed him back, embracing him with

her arm that held the flowers while his hands encircled her waist. When they broke apart, Tomoyo

was smiling.

"The flowers got crushed."

"I'm sorry."

In the distance, a clock was heard, signaling the strike of midnight.

"Merry Christmas, Tomoyo-san."

"Merry Christmas, Eriol-kun."

They closed the distance between them once more but this time, they placed the flowers on the

shoveled pathway. The snow came afterwards.

***

Snow covers everything in white.

It covers the sadness softly.

If there is happiness, it decorates it beautifully.

The snow continues to fall...

A/N: I like card games a lot. Especially Speed. I'm not a fan of Forty-one but it looked like

the best game to place in the story. To those who are wondering what cards were in Tomoyo's hand,

they were all Ace, King, Queen, and Jack of Hearts.

The very very end. No more sequels, no more additional chapters. Please review!