UNMEI (DESTINY)
CHAPTER 5
Eriol paced silently by the gates of the Daidouji manor. He couldn't give any other explanation to why he was there except for the impulse the he simply had to be. He leaned against the railings and sighed. He tried to keep her out of his mind, but the more he denied his feelings, the deeper she crept into his heart. There was no escape from this incomprehensible emotion.
He watched the shadows dance upon her window. The curtains were drawn together and the lights were out.
'She's probably asleep,' he mused. Well, it was no surprise considering the lateness of the hour. 'I better go home,' he decided.
"Hiiragizawa-kun," someone called softly.
He turned around to face the object of his thoughts. "Daidouji-san…" he trailed off, giving her a questioning look.
"I was awakened by a…sad dream," Tomoyo said as she approached the fence.
"What was it about?" Eriol asked, hiding his astonishment from her unexpected appearance.
"Yumi's letter to Clow," she answered. She clasped the steel bars that separated her from Eriol and inched closer so she could see him in the moonlight. "What are you doing here?"
"Nothing…just walking around. I needed some fresh air."
"Really?" she laughed. "You've certainly come a long way for that."
"I did, didn't I?" Eriol grinned.
Tomoyo heaved a sigh. 'This is a good chance to let him know how I feel.' She lifted her chin and took a deep breath. "Hiiragizawa-kun, I---"
Eriol silenced her by placing a finger on her lips. "Don't. Please don't say it yet…not until we're both sure that what we feel for each other isn't some remnant of the past. I am not Clow…and you're not Yumi."
He lowered his hand and met her eye-to-eye. "We've got a lot of time to think, right?"
Tomoyo merely nodded.
He touched her hand and gently caressed it. "I want us to be together but not under the present circumstances."
"I…"
"I should get going," he said before moving away from her.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" Tomoyo asked hopefully.
"Of course," he smiled.
Maya shifted restlessly in her seat. She was currently in the Kinomoto's living room, being entertained by a talking stuffed animal. Sakura and Syaoran had gone out to shop for their evening meal and she was left alone in the house with Keroberos. She still wasn't quite used to having him around.
"Are you sure I can eat your cake?" asked Kero.
"Go ahead," she affirmed. "It's almost dinner time and I don't want to spoil my appetite."
"Yay!" the guardian yelled excitedly. He was about to sweep the snack off the plate when the front door opened followed by a couple of footsteps. He immediately froze in place and pretended to be a regular doll.
"I'm home," called a masculine voice.
Maya greeted Sakura's brother as he entered the room. "Your sister went to the market for---" She stopped in mid-sentence when Yukito came into view.
"Konnichiwa, Keitaro-san," Yukito addressed her in a pleasant tone.
"Finished with the lessons?" Touya inquired before she could acknowledge his friend.
"Uh…yeah."
"I hope Sakura and her friend weren't a bother."
"No…they behaved well."
"Good," he said. "I'm going up for a minute."
"I can't understand him," Maya remarked after he departed.
"Why?" Yukito asked, dropping down beside her.
"Well, he's treating me nice all of a sudden."
"That's just the way he is," he chuckled. "He was only uncomfortable with you at first."
"Perhaps."
"Anou…" he began. "I'm sorry if Yue offended you the other night."
"I've already forgotten about it," Maya assured. "Anyway, no harm was done."
"Arigatou," Yukito said gratefully.
"I can't believe that the two of you are the same person."
"Sometimes, I can't believe it myself. Touya thinks we're not so different, though."
"Touya…" she mumbled.
"Did you say something?"
"Ah…it's not important," she replied.
Maya and Touya walked in silence along the empty streets. They finished dinner much later than they had expected so Touya, like any gentleman, offered to take Maya home. They turned left at one corner and right at another. Very soon, they reached the Keitaros' red brick house.
"You live alone?" Touya asked, observing that no signs of activity could be seen or heard from inside.
Maya unlocked the gates but didn't immediately open them. She stood motionless and merely looked at her feet. "Yes," she answered sadly.
"You're…um…" Touya cleared his throat. "You're always welcome at our home."
"Thank you," Maya said, her face brightening up considerably.
"Well…ah…I have to go. Good night."
"Good night," she replied as she watched him leave.
After a few moments, she proceeded inside the house. 'Yeah, he can be nice,' she thought, smiling to herself. Touya's kind words had lightened her dark mood.
Sakura munched on a cookie while watching Eriol and Tomoyo talk. 'They look perfect together,' she thought. She had only learned that her best friend was actually Yumi a couple of days ago and she was a little hurt because Tomoyo hadn't told her earlier. But she understood how confused her friend must have been after knowing the truth so she didn't hold it against her.
"Does it bother you?" Syaoran asked. "Seeing them together?"
"Not really," Sakura smiled, taking another bite of her cookie. "Well, they seem to have forgotten about us," she commented.
Syaoran agreed, directing his gaze toward Eriol and Tomoyo. The two did seem oblivious to the world.
Maya laughed as she laid a fresh pot of tea on the coffee table. "Why are you looking at them like that? Haven't you ever seen people having a conversation before?" she said, joining them on the couch.
Sakura and Syaoran blushed.
"Anou…your house is really nice," Syaoran blurted to cover their embarrassment at being caught spying.
"Arigatou," Maya replied. "My father had it built before he and my mother got married."
"Is that your family?" Sakura inquired, referring to the portrait on the opposite wall.
"Uh-huh. They…passed away…in an accident."
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be. It was a long time ago. Besides, I've got many memories to remember them by."
"Who is this?" Syaoran said, approaching the painting and pointing to one of the figures.
"My older brother."
"Wow…" Sakura murmured as she noticed what Syaoran obviously had.
"Why do you ask?"
"He looks so much like…" she trailed off.
"Clow Reed," Syaoran finished.
Outside the Keitaro residence, atop one of the adjacent buildings, a shadow stood, observing the events taking place within the red brick house. The being, having a slender body, short burgundy hair, and deep violet eyes, spread its black wings and took to the skies. It spared another glance at the scene below before flying away and disappearing into the clouds.
Maya bid farewell to her young guests and headed back to the house. She was about to go inside when someone called out to her.
"You…" she croaked. "It can't be…"
The stranger touched a hand to her forehead, causing her to pass out. He caught her in his arms and carried her inside the house.
Tomoyo looked at Eriol through her eyelashes. He was walking her home and he had been quiet since they left Maya-san.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No, nothing's wrong," he answered, not the least bit convincing.
"Please," Tomoyo beseeched. "Tell me."
Eriol sighed. He didn't want to worry her, but he didn't want to keep secrets from her either. "Someone was keeping an eye on us."
"What?!" Tomoyo, alarmed by her companion's statement, stopped in her tracks.
"Don't worry," he assured, clasping her hand tightly. He urged her to continue walking and added, "He's long gone now."
He didn't let go of her hand as they moved on. "I'll protect you," he said a few moments later.
Tomoyo smiled. For the first time in her life, she felt truly secure.
Maya stared absent-mindedly at the bulletin board in front of the University's main building. She was trying hard to remember what had happened after Sakura and the others left yesterday, but all she could recall was seeing a hand over her eyes before losing consciousness. The next thing she knew, she was lying in bed, the alarm clock was ringing, and it was already morning.
Her instinct told her that yesterday's incident was somehow related to Sakura's attack. She would hate for anything bad to befall Sakura. The girl and her family had come to mean so much to her in the short span of time that she had known them. She knew that, if something were to happen to Sakura, her father and her brother would be greatly hurt. And she didn't want to bring them pain, not when they treated her like family.
'I have to discover the truth or Sakura may end up suffering from the consequences,' she thought.
"Hey," Touya greeted as he approached Maya. "Do you want to go home together?" he offered.
"Sure," she said. "Sakura-chan and Li-kun might already be waiting for me."
"Shall we go?"
"Um," she nodded.