Recap: Tomoyo and Lantis went out on a date. Tomoyo sends a letter to Eriol asking him to explain himself to her and she gets a reply.

Chapter 14

Tomoyo and Lantis have been an item for about 6 months now. The time passed in such peace and bliss. Tomoyo almost forgot about Eriol. He was no where to be seen. School had been out for a while. That was the only chance she got to see him, and make sure he is alive and well.

Occasionally they would write letter to each other but nothing out of the normal. Everything is wrong. They seem distant now.

Tomoyo went with Lantis to dinner one night. They were at Red Robins, enjoying their meal. This was the closest restaurant near the movie theater.

"So do French fries really taste better when you dip them in ranch?" Tomoyo asked skeptically.

"Of course, maybe even better than ketchup!" Lantis said, handing her a fry dipped in ranch dressing sauce.

Tomoyo laughed, "Ok this isn't so bad."

They finished their meal with conversation and a chocolate fudge sundae to share.

Lantis drove her home.

"It's early, still." Lantis stated.

"Yes, it's not so bad."

"Do you think you want to go for a walk or something?" Lantis asked with a wistful look in his eyes. Tomoyo was oblivious to the look.

Tomoyo lived by a canal and they decided to take a walk along that trail. The night air was cool and refreshing. The crickets were chirping peacefully in tune. The sky, a beautiful pink and orange with violet taking over. They walked in silence for a while, taking in their surroundings.

As they were walking back to Tomoyo's home, Lantis stopped her. There was a bench along the trail and he sat her down. The half moon was out and shining brightly. A few bright stars were twinkling too. This reminded Tomoyo of the shooting star when she was with Eriol.

Why did I remember that? she thought, I'm not with him at the moment. It shouldn't have came up. She kept up the musings in her head until she involuntarily turned and saw Lantis looking at her. He put his arm around her. And tried to kiss her but she pushed him away gently.

"Not yet," she whispered to him. Lantis, defeated looking, ruffled his hair and nodded.

He took both her hands into his own and said, with much emotion, "Tomoyo, I like you very much. I don't even know how to put this. You are everything every thing to me." Pause.

Tomoyo's breath stopped. Her heart beat faster. Oh no.

Lantis continued as she didn't say anything, "You make me happy. You don't have to say anything back to me, but it would be nice," chuckle, "but I think I'm in love with you, Tomoyo."

Tomoyo gasped. Tears rose to her eyes but she dare not let them fall. "What?" she asked, half broken, but she new perfectly well.

"I love you," he said again with more courage.

"You… can't. It's not possible."

"Yes I can. And I do."

Tomoyo took her hands from his and got up. "I'm sorry Lantis, but I can't."

"Why?" he demanded getting up also.

"Because… I don't think that I love you." Her tears falling, one by one. Lantis tried to wipe them away for her but she backed away.

"Tomoyo, that's fine. I can wait."

"But I can't live with it. I'm sorry Lantis, but I have to break off this relationship with you. It has really been wonderful, but… I just can't do it anymore." She broke off and ran the opposite way of her house.

Lantis didn't know what to do. Should he follow her? He was terribly hurt at the suddenness of it all. I'm so stupid, he thought. I just had to tell her how I feel.

Tomoyo, being all alone now. Sat down on the pebbles and cried until no more tears fell. She felt as if she didn't have the energy to do anything. She got up on wobbly legs and started walking home. The air seemed still and chilly.

I wish I didn't run so far, she thought.

When Tomoyo got into her house, she quickly turned on the shower and got it. She wanted the warm water to wash away what happened earlier that night. She didn't want to remember anymore. She wanted it to all go away. No luck.

As she slept that night, she didn't dream. She found it easier to sleep and forget. For the next following days. She did nothing but sleep, occasionally waking to go to the bathroom and eat something.

Everyone was worried. They didn't know what was going on… Until Lantis told them the story. He had enough nobility to be honest and not lie about the whole thing. They sympathized with him and tried to console her, if they could get into her room. Her mom had been away on business and wasn't aware of the pain her daughter was in. She was isolated from everyone.

Sakura found the key to Tomoyo's room two weeks later. She snuck into Tomoyo's house and got into her room. It was about 10:30 in the morning.

Tomoyo was sleeping peacefully, her chest heaving up and down with her breathing. Sakura didn't want to wake her up, but this whole sleeping thing was getting ridiculous.

Sakura gently poked Tomoyo on the side. She ended up turning over on her side. After a few moments, Tomoyo was on her back again.

She's never going to wake up, thought Sakura, I have to try something different.

Sakura got on the bed and laid on top of Tomoyo.

I can't pull my blanket up, Tomoyo thought, What's on top of me? She carefully opened her eyes and saw Sakura staring back at her. "Good morning," Tomoyo said, with a groggily voice.

"Hey sleepy head, get up."

"My, aren't we demanding," but Tomoyo said it with a smile. "Well get up if you want me to get up."

"Oh yeah."

Sakura took Tomoyo to the mall. Shopping is always a good way to cheers someone up; a girl at least. It was nearly lunch time when they began starting to get tired. Sakura went to go get some food and Tomoyo was sitting at table waiting for Sakura to come back.

It's really busy today, Tomoyo thought. Where did all these people come from? Why is it taking Sakura so long?

A few more minutes pass and Sakura is no where to be seen. All of a sudden, something catches her eye. Lantis! With another girl! It's been about three weeks and he's suddenly over her?!

Oh, my gosh, Tomoyo gasped, He was so lying when he told me he loved me. That was all lies. He's such a player! She was disgusted. And I have this feeling he's kind of gay.

She got up, angry at everything and decided to walk out of the mall. But she was confused with all the people and didn't know where to go.

Eriol, at that exact same moment was in the skate store buying new bearings for his board. He saw Tomoyo and his heart fluttered.

What is she doing here alone? I thought Sakura was going to take her out. Where is she? But Tomoyo didn't notice Eriol. He saw that she was staring intensely at a couple. And noticed who it was. Lantis and some other girl. He looked back at Tomoyo again, anger rising in him and a terrible sadness for her.

He left the store, leaving his stuff behind and followed Tomoyo as she was trying to leave the mall. I can't believe Sakura would leave her here all alone!

He caught her right when she walked out of the double doors. She was crying hard. He held her against him. His strong arms not letting go.

Tomoyo didn't know who was holding her at first. She tried to struggle free, but she didn't have enough strength to do it. Then a breeze blew and she caught the scent of him. She stopped.

Eriol! She immediately thought. She turned around in the arms of her captor and looked him in the eyes with her watery ones. They were so warm and full of love. But yet, he looked so hurt and wistful. Her breath quickened.

"Are you ok?" Eriol asked when she didn't say anything as they were looking at each other.

She nodded, but hot tears still slipped. Eriol wiped them away. She was so beautiful; every single time he saw her.

"If you are, then you wouldn't be crying." He said softly.

She shook her head. "It's not that. I want something that I can't have."

"Is it Lantis?"

"No." Eriol was relieved to hear this and waited for her to say some more, but she kept quiet.

"Then what do you want?" He asked full of emotion, staring straight into her eyes, not breaking contact with them.

"You," she finally said with a deep breath.

Eriol was startled, he couldn't believe that she still liked him. His hand still cupped the side of her face. He tilted her head and kissed her. She gasped lightly but liked it. Her first kiss. And so was his. Her tears stopped. She was happy; utterly and truly happy. She smiled back at Eriol.

"I love you," she whispered as she put her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too."

-Fin.

Joanni: I'm so done!! It's finished. Did you like it? Or does it need work?? Yay!! Tomoyo and Eriol are together. I'm happy. But it's ENDED!! Bah… now I'll have to write another story. Plz read and review.