Author (9/26/13): This is my first ET fan fiction written ten years ago. I decided to edit this one to improve not only the grammar but also the writing style. I did change to major points of the story as those were parts of the ten-years-ago author of this fiction. Before publishing this one, I already had four S/S fan fictions (according to my pre-fic note before yet the three did not survive the massive change of the site and were removed (I guess due to violation in terms of language use). This was formerly entitled, "Just By A Bullet" and "A Fashion Runway Disaster"

Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura nor the fictional characters included in the series. I also do not own the other characters mentioned here that are from other anime series: Kyoko and Ren of Skip Beat, Juvia Lockser and Cana Alberona of Fairy Tail, Fuuko Kirisawa of Recca no Honou, George Koizumi of Paradise Kiss, and Mikasa Ackerman of Shingeki no Kyoujin. Aia Tachibana was a figment of my imagination and was not based on any true-to-life human being.

###############

Testing my Limit for You

A Tomoyo/Eriol One-Shot

###############

I was waiting in the airport with Eriol. Eriol's hand was on mine. I did not mind the gesture as we have been doing this for the entire time. Aside from that, my mind was already pre-occupied with worry as we silently wait on a bench.

"Tomoyo," Eriol called out my name. It snapped me out of my own thoughts. I looked at him with a quizzical look on my face.

"I was saying," he repeated, "that your hand seems to be cold."

"Is it?" I asked as I yanked my hand out of his and held it with my other hand.

He just smiled at me and said, "you must be thinking of something. You're in deep thoughts."

"Well," I looked at the big clock docked on the wall of the airport nervously and said, "I'm a little bit worried. Their plane should have landed here twenty minutes ago."

"Delayed flights are usual in traveling by air," he explained. I realized that it was his way of making me feel calm – his way of telling as if everything can be explained in a logical form. "Turbulence and other technical difficulties usually cause delay of flights. Aside from that, it is a domino effect. If one flight got delayed, the remaining flights would be delayed as well."

"Plane 3717DFK has now arrived. Again, Plane 3717DFK arrived." A feminine voice announced these words and it echoed in the whole airport. I quickly pulled out the piece of paper from the side pocket of my blazer jacket and scanned the flight number. It was the same 3717DFK plane that had arrived in Tokyo, Japan.

"See," Eriol smirked as he stood up from his seat, "now, let's find them."

I also stood up. I hastily walked through the entry point of arriving guests from the plane. Few people turned their heads to my direction but I dismissed their casual glances. Eriol followed me and said, "looks like Japan's most popular fashion designer will be mobbed by people later."

I shot a glance at him and answered, "sometimes I wonder whether winning the most-acclaimed award in the fashion industry is a good thing or not."

"It's because of that," Eriol smiled at me, placing his hand on mine. Our fingers interlocked – as if it was a fit made by heaven. "That we got together."

I smiled with his answer. It somehow triggered me to recall what happened a year ago. I could not help but recall our first meeting since he left Japan. It was in this very same airport.

I was standing near the arrival station, waiting for Eriol Hiiragizawa, a friend back in elementary days. He did not sever his ties with us even though he returned to his mother country. He would often send us an e-mail inquiring about everyone or call us asking for people's business.

"Daidouji-san." A voice called my name from behind and I looked back. I looked at him from head to toe, examining his suit matched with a blue plaid-designed tie and black shoes. At first glance, I was not able to recognize the owner of the voice. However, the cerulean hair and the pair of deep dark blue eyes behind the black frame of eyeglasses gave way for me to recognize him.

"Hiiragizawa-kun," I greeted back with a polite bow. "Welcome back to Japan."

"Ah," he answered politely, "it has been a while, hasn't it?"

I smiled back at him and commented, "your Japanese is still good."

"Well, it's Clow Reed's hometown," he answered indifferently, "so by default, it's my mother tongue."

Somehow, his answer killed the conversation. I looked back sideways. The female people around them were looking at them. Some were whispering quite loudly.

"Is this a shooting for a film?" Someone asked. "They look like popular actors; is this film or television shooting?"

"I think we're creating a buzz here," Eriol said, breaking a chuckle, "care for coffee somewhere?"

"Sure," I answered back as I allowed my male companion to lead. I followed him instinctively. We ended up in a coffee shop near the airport. He pulled a chair for me and motioned me to have a seat. When the waitress walked in, we ordered for two different beverages; he ordered tea and I ordered a cappuccino.

"How is Japan's most creative fashion designer?" He asked with a smile. His heart-warming smile made me blush. "I saw you once in a fashion channel in cable. You were being interviewed by an English reporter about your latest runway show."

"Oh that," I giggled, "it was my debut runway show."

"The collection is good," he complimented.

"I could not believe that the Eriol Hiiragizawa watch fashion channel," I giggled again as the waitress served our drinks. I stirred my coffee and then gave a sip.

"Nakuru seemed to be inclined towards fashion and beauty," he explained, "and I happened to be there when she was watching your interview."

"Of course, silly me," I thought, "am I actually expecting that he's looking out for me while in England?"

"Nakuru likes your design," Eriol courteously sipped from his tea, "maybe I could buy one of your designs for her."

"Sure," I replied enthusiastically, "maybe you can drop by at my shop at Shibuya."

"And I thought you are working for your mother's fashion company?"

I shook my head. It was the usual expectation of people from me – that after I graduated Fashion Designing and Merchandising, it would be straight into my mother's company. "I do not want to work under her care and name so I decided to create my own. It's not as extravagantly big as my mother's but the business is doing too good."

"You always have that rebellious attitude of yours," Eriol took a glance outside the coffee shop glass window, "not taking bodyguards, walking alone in the streets."

"I have issues with my mother's wealth," I rolled my eyes. "The biggest luck would be having a best friend for a supermodel. Having her as an endorser of my company really did a miracle for me to be able to penetrate the industry on my own and in a short time."

"Speaking of Kinomoto-san," Eriol looked at me while sipping his tea, "I heard that she's in Hong Kong as of now. Leisure or work?"

"She recently signed a contract with the Enquire Magazine for a promotional tour and photoshoot," I explained to him. "The tour would be finish in one or two years."

"There could be a chance that he'll meet the Lis." He smiled, showing his glossy white teeth and I nodded back. He was referring to the two Li friends of them – Syaoran and Meilin.

"It would take a while before she comes back to Japan," I melancholically shared. Even though I was happy for Sakura, I could not help but feel a tinge of sorrow. We have been inseparable since elementary and being away from her was like walking inside a dark room with nothing but pitch black darkness.

"You could venture into modelling as well and follow her," Eriol suggested as he looked at me with his deep cerulean eyes. It was a piercing gaze and I felt every inch of my body stiffen with his eye contact. "You have the same long legs like Sakura's and your body type could immediately get you a booking in a popular haute couture magazine."

"You know that I'm not fond of those things," I shyly answered, unable to look match up with his eye contact.

"Of course," Eriol broke his gaze. "You would always take the backseat and let other people taste the limelight."

"You all know how passionate I am with designing clothes," I defensively answered the truth. "I love doing this."

"Shame that the media can only get a short glimpse on your face, Tomoyo," he smiled as he stared at me for a very long time. His eyes, through light, glistened like a pair of sapphire gems.

"I'm intrigued about your life, Daidouji-san," Eriol stated as he placed his elbow on the table, his chin rested on his knuckle, "you barely tell things about yourself."

"That's because nothing's really remarkable about my life in the first way," I answered with a half-smile, "what am I supposed to tell you in e-mail."

"Yet, the media seems to know more things about your personal life," he shared, expecting a sudden reaction from me and he did not fail himself.

My jaw dropped, realizing what kind of things he had heard or seen from media. "Did you watch the interview of my ex?"

He nodded with a smile. I instantly covered my face with both hands, too shy to face the cerulean-haired man in front of me.

"It was messy," I shared as I removed my hands and looked outside the window, "I caught him kissing somebody else. It made me realize that he does not deserve me."

"It was really messy to date someone in your industry," Eriol answered seriously. "Dating a famous model, it will really make things messy."

"I tried to make our breakup an intimate one," I sighed heavily, "but after our breakup, he requested for a press release with the media practitioners."

"I saw that on the television," Eriol added. "It was a low blow for him to create such scandalous and fictitious tale about your break-up."

"Turning around things and telling people that I was the one who cheated." I could feel the tears forming from the corner of my eyes. I blinked away the feeling – dissolving the formation. I would not want to cry in front of Eriol.

"I do not believe his statements," the gentleman assured me as he sipped his tea, "I know that you cannot do something like that."

"It seems that you are well-knowledgeable about my love life," I looked at him with my eyes narrowed.

"Blame Nakuru for it," he replied with a laugh, "she really has a penchant for Japanese channels and fashion industry."

"How about you?" I tried steering away the topic back to him. "How was London?"

"It was the same old London," he replied nonchalantly, "however, there are things here in Japan that I really miss."

"Like?"

"You?" He shyly answered my question with another question.

I laughed at him and yelled, "seriously!"

"The places," he seriously answered, "the food, the company."

"Is your stay for real?" I asked with both my elbows on the table, my hands supporting my chin. "Or is this a vacation?"

"It actually depends," he adjusted his eyeglasses. "It depends on the course of things."

"Don't you have a girlfriend to tend to in London?"

"What are you talking about," he replied with disgust on his face. "I do not have one."

"Well, I am just assuming since you never cared to divulge information regarding the romantic side of your life."

"What kind of information am I going to divulge," he replied nervously, "if I have zero information to begin with."

"What do you have in mind when you booked your flight over here?" I inquired as I noticed a familiar figure outside the window of the coffee shop. "What made you change your mind?"

The figure from the outside somehow spotted and recognized me as well. I narrowed my eyes upon seeing the woman's definite features. She went inside the coffee shop and greeted me, "well, who would expect Tomoyo Daidouji here?"

"Aia," I called her. Eriol, on the other hand, was surprised as well. I cleared my throat and introduced my companion to Aia Tachibana out of respect. "This is Eriol Hiiragizawa, a friend of mine from England."

I looked at Eriol and said, "Eriol, this is Aia Tachibana."

Aia reached her hand to Eriol and smiled at him. I rolled my eyes as I watched Aia flirtatiously looked at Eriol.

"I see you managed to find a new boyfriend after Masaki broke up with you," she stated in an insulting way as she flipped her fiery red hair, "could he be the one Masaki's mentioning in his interviews."

"Tomoyo wouldn't do something like that," Eriol defensively answered for me, "we're not even together."

Ignoring Eriol, she said directly to me, "let's see how media would like to have a scoop on Daidouji's new beau."

"He is not my beau," I answered angrily. My hands were curled into balls of fist, ready to hit her surgery-produced face. Then, I felt Eriol's hand on my hand and it made me feel somehow relieved that he was there to stop my self-destruction.

"You're only good when it comes to scandal," Aia pointed out as she looked at me from head to toe, "your designs – a total waste of materials. They're garbage."

"Don't you have something better to do than talk trash to me?"

She clicked her tongue and ignored my question. She made another flipping of her hair and walked out of the coffee shop.

"Don't mind her," Eriol suggested. "People who have nothing to show tend to tell unnecessary things."

"We'll see in the awards night," I gritted my teeth.

"Tomoyo," Eriol called my name once again and it made me return from my sudden trance of recollection. "Are you spacing out?"

"I couldn't help it," I answered with a smile, linking my arms around his. "I can't help but remember the time I fetched you here in this airport."

"You really have no idea that I came back for you," he grabbed my head and pulled it closer to his lips. He planted a soft kiss on my head.

My eyes wandered around once again, looking for my expected guests. From afar, I quickly noticed the one I had been waiting for. With her yellow summer dress and black beret, the woman was waving hysterically.

I was not able to contain myself and ran towards them. From afar, I knew it was Sakura Kinomoto, my best friend. She is noticeable with her shoulder-length brown hair and infectious smile. It wouldn't be a surprise to anyone if they found out that she is one of Japan's supermodels.

Behind her were two familiar people as well – Meilin Li and Syaoran Li, the Chinese descents who used to be our classmates back in elementary. Meilin had cut her hair and was now sporting a bobcat look while Syaoran retained the same scruffy hair he had during our elementary. I could not help but smile. I immediately hugged Sakura.

"To-chan," she hugged back, "I miss you!"

While hugging me, he noticed the man I was with and greeted him with a grin, "Eriol-kun."

"Sakura," Eriol greeted back with a closed smile. Sakura let go of me and approached the cerulean-haired guy.

"You owe me a lot explanation," Sakura sheepishly grinned at him and gave me a wink.

Meilin who was behind Sakura cried out once she figured out my identity.

"Tomoyo!" She hugged me tightly and squeezed my body.

"How are you, Meilin?" I asked in a struggle. She realized that I was having hard time breathing and let go of me. I let out a squeal when she released me from her grasp.

I smiled at the auburn-haired male behind the two girls and greeted him, "Syaoran, you look well."

"For a business CEO," I added as I looked at him from head to toe. He, surely, changed a lot after going back to his homeland. However, he retained his messy hair from elementary days and he was sporting a simple shirt and pair of pants. It was a total contrast to Eriol's clean and professional long-sleeved shirt and slackpants, "you look rather simple."

He blushed upon hearing my comment. Sakura took his arm and pulled him alongside her and said, "well, he really needs some fashion advice, Tomoyo."

"Just wear whatever is comfortable to you, Syaoran-kun," I smiled as I looked at Eriol's face as well. It was already a habit of mine to check on him every now and then. My eyes caught his as well and we smiled at each other. It gave me an urge to hold his hand as well.

"I'm glad that you had persuaded your boyfriend to have a vacation here, Sakura," Eriol broke our gaze and said to my best friend. He approached me and put a hand behind my back.

"Oh," Sakura giggled as she patted Syaoran's head, "it's a good thing that I was able to persuade this one to take a break from work."

As Sakura explained how she was able to win the argument with Syaoran regarding the vacation, Eriol lowered his mouth near my ear and whispered, "you should stop staring at me like that."

He was referring on the gaze I gave him a while ago.

"We could go home right after this," he seductively whispered to my ear, "and we continue what we're supposed to do this morning."

What he whispered made me blush furiously. Somehow, my mind wandered off to the point of this morning wherein he could not help himself. At that time his hands were wandering to the different regions of my body and it somehow made me feel quite dirty to think of such things in a public place like the airport and in front of my friends.

I pinched him on his side and he whined softly. I whispered back at him, "later."

"Where are you going to stay, guys?" I asked, completely cutting off what Sakura was narrating.

"Oh, that," Sakura suddenly remembered and blushed furiously. "Well, is it okay if Meilin stays with you guys?"

"You know," Meilin teased as she looked at the couple with her, "I would like to give these two some privacy."

"Well," I looked at Eriol's face. He seemed to be surprised with the arrangement.

He let out a soft sigh and answered, "of course, that wouldn't be a problem."

"This will be a great vacation!" Meilin squealed. I looked at Eriol again and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

I whispered, "thank you."

"You know how far I can go for you," he whispered back with a smile.

"I know that that you can go farther than this," I whispered again.

It somehow made me recall the situation wherein Eriol was tested in term on how far he can go for my sake and he had proven his stance – he is willing to give his life in exchange for mine.

Sakura's absence was definitely filled in by newly arrived Professor Eriol Hiiragizawa, who took a sabbatical leave from his university to spend his vacation in Japan. Although he had informed me beforehand that he had task to do in the country, I never noticed him doing other things aside from hanging out with me.

He would usually hang out with me in my shop. While I was busy designing and sewing clothes, he would work on professorial lectures with a laptop on the desk.

He would always bring me coffee or lunch whenever he would drop by as well. For evenings, we would usually have our dinner together or catch a movie if there is something interesting. It was like I found a new best friend in form of Hiiragizawa.

It was the awarding ceremony for the highest award-giving body for the fashion industry and I invited him as my partner.

I jumped out of my red sports car, wearing a silk red dress that fit the every curve of my body. I walked on the red carpet as fans and media people try to mob me and get a pre-ceremony interview. The security of the event attempted to contain the fans and the media as I went inside the building.

I noticed Eriol, standing and waiting for me, near the door. He was wearing his usual black suits and his black spectacle. Somehow, the ambiance of the place and his look made me feel that I was about to enter Junior-Senior Promenade.

I approached him and he said, "you look stunningly beautiful, Daidouji."

"You are not bad yourself, Hiiragizawa," I smiled at him and took his arm as he escorted me to our seats.

Just as we placed ourselves in our designated seats, one of the guests approached me and said, "I would like to congratulate you early, Miss Daidouji. You will surely bag this year's Fashion Designer of the Year."

"Oh," I answered softly, "the ceremony has not yet begun so there is no need to-"

"Your works are truly a breeze of fresh new air in the fashion industry," the woman raved, "in fact, I purchased some of your works."

"Well," I was in a lack of response due to surprise, "thank you very much."

The guest smiled at me as well and went to her designated seat. Eriol, who witnessed the entire scene, asked about the woman.

"She is Kyoko of LME," I gasped, "one of the most respected actesses in the acting industry."

"It's a good thing that you listened to me," Eriol replied with a smile as he placed his hand on mine.

"I wasn't really planning on attending this," I shyly said, unable to look at the man beside me.

"You are one of the most popular designers in Japan," he answered logically, "and attending such events would help you boost your charisma to the people."

"Why are you doing this to me, Eriol?" I asked, "being nice and all."

"Because I am willing to go farther for you," he smiled mysteriously. Somehow, his answer did not make any sense at all. I was about to ask for his clarification but I noticed Aia who was fast approaching us. She stopped in front of us and tauntingly said, "here comes Miss Playgirl with her new boyfriend."

She laughed at both of us. I was about to stand up and do something horrible to her but Eriol gave a good grip on my arm, signalling me to ignore the woman's taunts.

Aia left us with a smirk on her face. I felt the heat rising to my cheeks and my ears. Eriol placed his hand on my cheek and said, "it's a good thing that you ignored her."

"I swear," I gritted my teeth, "I just want to do something horrible to her."

"She's just nervous," Eriol calmly said, "that you're competing against her."

He held my hands and kissed them gently. It made me feel the rising of the blood to my cheeks and my ears. Although it has the same physiological effect with my anger towards Aia, the feeling was totally different. It was as if I would melt in my very own spot. My mind went totally blank as I felt his lips brushing on my naked skin.

"Good evening to all of you," the male emcee greeted. The announcement suddenly broke my trance. I jerked my hand away from him and focused my attention towards the stage. I could still feel the fast thumping of my heart.

"Good evening, Ren," the female emcee greeted to the male emcee as well. "It really is a pleasure to have the most heartthrob actor of Japan with us today."

"Thank you for that compliment, Keiko," he answered stoically, "but maybe we should all start with the Japan's Top Model of the Year."

"Alright," Keiko, the emcee, started, "the nominees for Japan's Top Model of the Year are Juvia Lockser, Fuuko Kirisawa, Cana Alberona, Mikasa Ackerman and Sakura Kinomoto."

When the crowd heard the name of Sakura, they all went wild. Ren had managed to control the crowd by clearing his throat before he announced the winner, "and the winner is Sakura Kinomoto."

"Unfortunately, Miss Sakura Kinomoto cannot join us today because she is currently at Hong Kong for his Enquire contract," Keiko exclaimed.

As the ceremony pushed through, I could feel the fast beat of my heart. After winning three out of four nominations, I couldn't help myself but feel queasy. It was as if I can feel that something was about to go wrong.

"And the nominees for Fashion Designer of the year are Miss Aia Tachibana, Miss Sonomi Daidouji, Mister George Koizumi and Miss Tomoyo Daidouji," Ren announced.

"Well, this year's competition is definitely the most controversial and most talked about," Keiko laughed on stage.

The other emcee, Ren, who seemed to be uninformed about the controversies, asked her, "why, Keiko?"

"Well, we have a mother-daughter rivalry going on here," Keiko explained to Ren and the audience, "with the unexpected appearance of Tomoyo Daidouji and her new line 'Breathtaking' and not becoming a part of Sonomi Daidouji's company – it was truly a shock."

The audience murmured. I tried to look for my mother and when I met her gaze, she smiled at me proudly. This made me feel like I have nothing to lose.

"And then, we also have Aia Tachibana, the five-time fashion designer awardee, and her head-to-head rivalry with Tomoyo Daidouji-"

"Maybe we should get on with the announcement of the winners, Keiko," Ren interrupted the female emcee's flow of thoughts. Keiko, apologetically laughed and announced the winner.

"And the winner is Miss Tomoyo Daidouji and her shop, Breathtaking!"

When I heard my name, I thought the world stopped for a minute or two. I can hardly people's cheers and greetings. I looked at Eriol who was smiling at me. It was his voice that only came to my senses.

"Come on," he said to me and released my hand, "stand and get that trophy."

I went to the stage and received the trophy from Ren and Keiko. I looked at my mother who was among the audience. She was standing and applauding for me. I could not help but look at her with tears forming on my eyes.

"First and foremost, I would like to thank my mother, Sonomi Daidouji, for respecting my decision on having my set of dreams, and to those people who believed in me," I choked on the microphone, "Of course, my best friend, Sakura, who served not only as an inspiration for my creations but also as a supporter of my line. I wanted to thank all the models, my staff, and to my dear friend, Eriol, who was with me the entire time even when he was still in England."

I could see him smiling from his seat. Somehow, something is urging me to come to him and hug him tightly.

I ended my speech with "I will never forget all of you."

"They will never forget you as well," Aia stood from her seat and shouted, "even if you're already in a grave."

She approached me and pointed a shotgun at me. I felt my body froze from the moment she shouted at me. I was speechless.

"Now, everybody," she called the attention of the guests and event staff, "nobody moves or this woman would really taste the bullet inside her body."

Aia approached me and pulled my hands. She pulled my body in front of her, serving as a barricade against the security guards who were already in the scene.

Aia led me to the backstage room and locked the door. She pointed the gun at me again. The back stage has no windows and has only one door. I could hear outside that people are panicking.

"Sit there," she commanded me to a chair and I did what was told.

"I don't get it, Aia," I asked, confused as to why the woman was totally angry at me.

"Your naivety annoys me, Tomoyo," she answered as she sat on a desk, still pointing her gun towards me, "My fashion designing career is considered undisputed for five years and in those five years, I am the most popular fashion designer. Your mother could not even topple me from the top of the food chain."

I swallowed hard.

"And then you arrived," Aia continued, "the fresh graduate who took everything away from me – my fame, my glory, my reputation."

"This is competition," I argued back.

"It was no longer a healthy competition," she answered indifferently, "when you dated Masaki."

"Don't put the blame on me," I answered back, looking at her teary-eyed expression, "I should be the one who's angry at you – catching the two of you intertwined while we were in a relationship."

"You are just a toy for him." Tears started to fall from her eyes. "I am the one he truly loves."

"If kill you, I would no longer have a rival," she laughed while crying. She sounded like a complete lunatic and it made me feel more stiff – it was as if my body would not cooperate and was awaiting for its impending death.

I wanted to shout my mother's name for help, or my best friend's yet the name I muttered was, "Eriol."

"Now," Aia laughed hysterically, "farewell, Tomoyo."

I closed my eyes tightly, afraid that I would see how Aia would actually shoot to kill me. I heard her triggered the gun and a gunshot was heard; however, nothing felt different to me. I opened my eyes and I looked at my body. It had no stain of blood. I was left unscathed.

"How did he-" The gunner was surprised to what happened. "I locked the door."

Aia dropped her gun and opened the door. The security guards instantly caught her and arrested the woman.

I looked around and noticed that someone was on the floor in front of me. I approached the figure and instantly recognized him due to his outfit. I immediately approached him and held him with my trembling arms. My red dress was already soaked with his blood coming from his side.

"Eriol," I whispered as tears fell from my eyes. He opened his eyes and smiled at me.

"I told you, I am willing to go farther for you," he answered weakly, "to the point that I am willing to sacrifice my life for yours."

"Eriol," I cried as people from the emergency ambulance took him from my arms and carefully transferred him to a stretcher.

"Spacing out, again," Eriol whispered. I immediately hugged him. I could feel the bullet scar on his side even though he was wearing long-sleeve polo. I pressed the part of his polo – the part wherein his scar is located.

"I assume that you're thinking about it again," he worriedly looked at my face, holding my cheek with his hand.

"I could not help but recall it every time I would feel this scar," I said in a sad tone of the voice, "I feel like this is my fault."

"You know how far I am willing to go for you." He kissed me lightly on my head and removed my hand on his side.

When he kissed me, I could not help but think of what happened in the hospital after he was admitted due to gunshot.

I was already in a panic-stricken mood, pacing to and fro along the hallway of the hospital. Nakuru, who was with me the entire time, told me to relax but I could not. I couldn't help but feel the agitation and worry. It had been four hours. I could not help but think how come the surgery was taking too long.

The doctor came out of the emergency room. Upon seeing the medical practitioner, I immediately ran towards him and asked, "is he alright?"

"He lost too much blood," the doctor announced, "but he will be alright. He is already out of danger."

"Can we now visit him?" I asked.

"I'm afraid that you cannot as of now," the doctor replied, "he is now asleep so please give him some rest."

I volunteered to take care of him while he was admitted in the hospital. Once his consciousness returned, I was the first one he saw sleeping beside him – my head rested near his hand, my fatigued face, my teary-eyed expression and all he ever muttered was the word, "hey."

I opened my eyes and jerked, rubbing them with my hands. He was staring at me with a weak smile on his face.

"Do you need something?" I asked, ready to become a servant of his whims.

He shook his head slowly and reached for my face. He caressed my cheek and said, "it was a good thing that you are safe."

"This is my entire fault," I cried, "that bullet was meant for me, not for you."

Nakuru entered the room and was surprised to see her master awake. She greeted him with, "it's a good thing that you're back, Master Eriol."

"You came here all the way from London?" He asked weakly and the red-haired woman nodded with an answer. "Teleport as our power is pretty much convenient at times like this."

"Good," Eriol smiled at her. "I assume that you took care of this lady here."

He was referring to me with his cerulean eyes.

"A pain in the ass, Master Eriol," Nakuru rolled her eyes. "She keeps on insisting that she stays here."

I remained silent. Somehow, I was already feeling the toll of fatigue and stress.

"You are also a pain the ass, Master," Nakuru continued, "Imagine – The Clow Reed, one of the powerful mages living was killed just by a bullet."

"I could be reincarnated again," Eriol jokingly answered back.

"You are insane," Nakuru shouted, "Why did you not use your power? You could have killed."

"We cannot expose our powers just like that easily," Eriol replied, "and who could have thought that human body is too much fragile."

"You even have an inkling of how fragile human body is," Nakuru retorted, "yet you seemed to have enjoyed testing its limit."

"I am fine, Nakuru," Eriol sighed, "and I am breathing."

Nakuru rolled her eyes again and left the room. The only ones left were me and Eriol.

Eriol looked at me and apologized, "for making you worry."

"The bullet is for me," I answered, sniffing.

"I can go farther than this for you," he smiled at me, wiping the tears off my cheeks, "even though I find the limitations of a human life too much constrained to begin with."

"I do not get it."

"Tomoyo, I have never felt something like this for a human in all of my cycles," he explained, "yet there is something in you that makes me want to push myself beyond my limits."

I could not help but continue to cry.

"Even though the limits of the human body seemed not to have the endless capacity of a mage," he laughed, "now I truly understand the feeling of my other half-reincarnation – Sakura's father. To truly love a human, someone whose possibility of reincarnation is as feeble as the chance of experiencing one true love."

With such reminder from the past, I replied hastily to him, "I know how far you can go for me."

He gazed to me. His cerulean eyes met my pair of amethysts.

"Yet, I wouldn't want a sacrifice of life on your part," I added. "No more testing of your limits."

"Noted, madam," he answered back before the other three noticed our private conversation.

"You wouldn't mind if you postpone all those lovey-dovey sessions, right?" Meilin teased. "We are in a public place after all."

I blushed furiously upon hearing the Chinese visitor. Eriol, on the other hand, remained calm and was smiling back at the other three.

The three started to walk out of the airport. The two of us, Eriol and I, followed them. I immediately reached for Eriol's hand and gripped it tightly, never wanting to let go.

If this is my one and only cycle, having a slight chance of being reincarnated, I wanted to spend every single minute of my life with him.

As a plain human being, this is my limitation: to love him forever.

###############

FIN

###############