Ehhehee ^^;; this chapter is more of an extension of chap 12. Gomen if it took so long.
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Tomoyo looked at him for what seemed like an eternity before she asked her own question. "Will you honestly say it to my face that you are doing this because you love me?"
"T-Tomoyo…" Eriol froze.
They looked at each other for what seemed like eternity before she got up gracefully and took off the bracelet.
"Give this to me only when you are ready to answer my question." With that, she strode out of the room., leaving Eriol silent.
That night, Eriol gazed at the bracelet that Tomoyo left on the table. He picked it up and inspected it, Tomoyo's words echoing over and over.
"Do I love her? Do I?" he asked himself over and over. He couldn't say anything for sure. All he knew was that he loved being with her every minute. He adored her wit, her vitality, and her cheerfulness. He adored her kindness, and he realized only now why people look up to this nakoudo. This smart, sensible, and down-to-earth nakoudo.
Because when he once thought that the nakoudo was merely meddling with silly love affairs of people, he could now see that she was actually reaching out and touching the hearts of people who need it most…like him.
He got up and sat down by the window, sighing. Could he really be in love with her and he just didn't notice it because they had never talked about it out loud? That he was comfortable with the idea that his undeniable attraction with the nakoudo was purely sexual attraction?
Suddenly, the phone rang. He didn't really want to pick it up, but wanting to go back to his pondering as soon as possible, he answered the call anyway. He just promised to hang the phone later.
"Hello?"
"Eriol-kun? It's Sakura."
"Yes, good evening. What can I do for you, Sakura?" he asked, voice strained.
"Listen, you have to decide now what to do. Tomorrow, Tomoyo-chan leaves, and if she does, chances are, she will already try to forget you. Would you like that to happen?" she asked.
"What do you mean she's leaving?" he asked, forehead creasing.
As briefly as she could, she tried to explain the situation. In the end, Eriol nodded. "I'll go there right now."
When he placed the phone down, he picked up his jacket, mind in turmoil. "How dare you, Daidouji Tomoyo, leaving just when I think I'm falling for you. You should have been considerate enough to give me at least a parachute."
He arrived in the living room of the Daidouji mansion where Tomoyo was seated in front of the television and VCR. She was holding a microphone.
"Tomoyo, we need to talk," he said quietly. "Sakura told me you were leaving."
She blinked, then pulled him beside her. "Here, take this. I'll just ask for another microphone."
"What?!"
Soon, the maid arrived with a new mic. She took it from her gratefully then turned her attention to the VCR. "Let's see…ah, this song!" She sat back on the couch and smiled at him. "You take the blue part and I'll take the pink lyrics. We'll sing together the green lyrics."
And before he could further protest, the song intro began to play. It was a song that sounded new to Eriol's ears.
Tomoyo smiled at him then began to sing.
Be still my heart
Lately its mind is on it's own
It would go far and wide
Just to be near you
Eriol saw the blue lyrics, and tried to sing them to the tune of the song.
Even the stars
Shine a bit bright I've noticed
When you're close to me
Tomoyo gave him a "you-did-great!" smile before she continued.
Still it remains a mystery
The green lyrics appeared on the screen.
Anyone who seen us
Knows what's going on between us
It doesn't take a genius
To read between the lines
And it's not just wishful thinking
Or only me who's dreaming
I know what these are symptoms of
We could be in love
Tomoyo continued the song.
I ask myself why
I sleep like a baby through the night
Maybe it helps to know
you'll be there tomorrow
Her purple eyes shook, but she continued the song. She was alone though, for Eriol had stopped singing and began to gaze at her as things began to fall in its place in his mind and heart and soul.
Don't open my eyes
I'll wake from the spell I'm under
Makes me wonder how Tell me how
I could live without you now
And what about the laughter
The happy ever after
Like voices of sweet angels
Calling out our names
And it's not just wishful thinking
Or only me who's dreaming
I know what these are symptoms of
We could be in love
Then slowly, Eriol lifted his mic, just as the blue lyrics rolled out. He knew he would be out of tune, so he decided to just speak out the lyrics. "All my life, I have dreamed of this. But I could not see your face."
Tomoyo was near to tears, because his voice rang out with so much sincerity when he spoke. "Don't ask why two such distant stars can fall right into place."
The chorus played on, but they weren't looking at the screen anymore.
"What do you think?" she asked softly.
"What do you think?" he asked huskily. "You're the one who's going to leave me even before I realize things."
"Eriol-kun, if ever you decide that you love me, I will come back. I'm just leaving to give you some space to think," she explained.
"I was really going to decide soon, it's just that it takes time for some things to penetrate my mind," he said, grinning sheepishly. "I guess you guys call that state of mind 'stupidity'?"
"That, and much, much more," she said, smiling sweetly.
"But kidding aside, Tomoyo," he said softly. "When Sakura told me you were leaving, you sent me into panic. I don't know what I would do if I wake up tomorrow only to find you gone. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because the kind person you are, Eriol-kun, I know you might end up saying things that I'm sure you will only say out of guilt. No, I don't want that." She turned the VCR off then faced him. "I want you to say things because you are ready, and not because you are pressured."
"But back to the original question," he said. "What do you think?"
"A-About what? World peace?"
"Something much more important to me, Tomoyo-san," he murmured. "In fact, the most important issue in my mind right now."
She remained looking at him, blinking.
He brought out the bracelet again and slipped it around her wrist again, and at the same time whispered, "Could we be in love?"
She smiled tearfully. "I'm sure I am, and you, Eriol Hiiragizawa-kun?"
"Yes, nakoudo. The moment I kissed you, you have cast your own powerful spell on me; something that Clow reed can't even break." He pinched her nose fondly. "I love you, Daidouji-san. Thank you for giving me the reason to believe in silly old love again."
"You're welcome," she said, laughing. "It's my job."
"I'm glad that you came and touched my heart," he whispered before pulling her closer to kiss her.
"That sure was easy," said Nakuru as she and Yukito walked back to Eriol's mansion. The two had just finished videotaping Eriol and Tomoyo's karaoke moment and confession, under Sakura's orders.
Yukito laughed. "Yes, Nakuru-san." He glanced at his wristwatch. "Hmm, we still have a time for some ice cream. So what do you think?"
"About your wristwatch?" she asked. "Fashionable."
He messed her hair fondly. "No, about the ice cream."
"It depends on the flavor," she said knowingly.
Laughing once more, he took her by hand and pulled the still puzzled Nakuru with him to the ice cream parlor.
The end
(the song used above was by Lea Salonga and Brad somebody. The song is entitled "Could We Be in Love?". This is for disclaimer purposes.)