Disclaimer: I do not own any characters of CCS for they belong to Clamp, however, I do own the plot to the story...-^_^-

WoLfePaWs: Here's the sixth chapter for you readers! ^_^ Specially dedicated to Eriol-kun for his birthday [Wai! I share the same birthday as this charming bishounen, can you believed it? Ureshii desu wa!...even though he's only a character in the manga/anime]...*coughs* By the way, the chapter title have nothing to do with the chapter if you're wondering, just that I cannot think of an appropriate title, so...Okay, go read and don't forget to press the review button at the end ^_

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In case you are wondering:

~*~: Change of scene / change of POV / starting of story

' ': Characters' thought

" ": Characters' speech

* *: Characters writing on whiteboard

~ ~: Song

Summary: Tomoyo had found out that she liked the reincarnation of Clow Read on the day he left for England after Sakura had transformed all Clow cards into Sakura cards...However she also knew that there was already someone else in his heart. Devastated, she shut herself off from everyone, including her best friend. What will happen if she turned into a mermaid, will her heart freeze or will her love save her from the cold-hearted beings?

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- Chapter 6: Otanjoubi Ometetou, Eriol-kun! -

The sight of young man with that compose demeanour had brought on such shock to her, that she stopped in mid-song. Abruptly, as if an insect had broken free from the spider's trap, the crowd of entranced men came back to their senses. Confusion was written all over their faces as they wondered how they had gotten to their current destination, without an inkling of what was really going on in the first place. Seeing as the spell to hold any men mesmerised was broken, Eriol urged her to continue with her song. Tomoyo, not wanting to ask what the cunning sorcerer was planning, obliged.

"Yami no chikara o himeshi kagi yo

Shin no sugata o ware no mae ni shimese

Keiyaku no moto Eriol ka meijiru

Release!"

As Eriol finished muttering the incantation necessary to bring forth his magic, a golden staff with the symbol of the sun appeared, replacing that of a tiny, golden key, which was hovering over his palm a second ago.

"Song, imitate Daidouji-san and create a diversion for us," Eriol muttered. A formless, nacreous mist coalesced into a shape of a spirit being. The Song.

'How? The cards only listen to Sakura-chan...' Tomoyo's thoughts were cut off as she felt an arm slipped around her waist in an embrace. Looking up at the owner of the arm, she saw Eriol glancing off to the distance as if he had saw something, which the others failed to see.

"I think they are getting closer. Rika-san, it's time to make a move."

A moment after he had finished talking, a bright red flash emanated from his golden staff, blinding everyone in the process. When the light had died down and she could open her eyes again, she found herself standing inside a room, Rika's living room, to be exact. Sakura was standing near Syaoran, her pink staff positioned in front of her. After a while, small particles of light gathered towards where the star was, forming into a shape of a card. The Song gain its original card form and flew towards Sakura's waiting outstretched palm.

"Eriol called for me to borrow Song, through his magic," Sakura explained.

Then, without warning, she darted towards Tomoyo and flung herself into Tomoyo's embrace. Tomoyo's eyes widened when she felt wetness staining the clothes on her shoulder. She pulled Sakura away from her, only to see Sakura's wide, sad eyes glazed with unshed tears and also, the small wet trails running along her face. Tomoyo reached up to gently wiped away the tears at the corner of Sakura's eyes, while staring into her eyes, willing her to not be worried. Standing just beside Tomoyo, Eriol was watching the two with an unfathomable expression on his face.

"Maybe, you could explain a bit more as to how the three of us aren't affected by Daidouji's song?" Syaoran spoke up suddenly, his expression was solemn as he looked towards Rika, who was seemingly in deep thought. Rika snapped out of whatever was bothering her and smiled.

"Yes, I have already decided to explain to you when I get back, even if you did not ask me about it."

"But it's a little bit weird, not to mention amazing. I mean, Hiiragizawa-kun and Sakura-chan have magical powers, can you believe it? Pretty unbelievable, to have friends with such powers. It's all so complicated and confusing though," Yamazaki said, his index finger pointing towards heaven as if making his point.

"Yes, quite right. But after meeting Rika-chan, I can't really bothered to be surprise about finding out that my own students possess magic," Terada spoke up matter-of-factly.

"If a couple is truly deeply in love with each other, the Siren's song will not be able to reach the ears of the man who is already committed to the woman he loves. In other words, no matter how beautifully a mermaid sings, the man will not be affected if he is strong in keeping his love going. I'm married to Yoshiyuki-san because he is my true love, Li-kun must have love Sakura-chan very deeply to even pay that much attention to the song," at this, colour stole across Syaoran's face. Meanwhile, having regain her cheerful countenance, Sakura beamed proudly at her lover.

"What about Hiiragizawa?"

Rika looked at the said subject. "I'm not sure if Hiiragizawa-kun has a lover, but if he does, then it would be the same as what I said about Li-kun. If not, then it is a special case. Most often than not, single men are the victims to the Siren's song. The only time he is not affected, is due to the fact that he himself possess strong love for the singer," Rika rendered, glancing at Tomoyo, who looked away. Rika might not have any idea, but Tomoyo did. Eriol already had Mizuki-sensei, and it was pretty obvious he loved her very much.

To steer the subject away, Tomoyo showed her whiteboard to Rika, who agreed after reading the contents.

* Rika-chan, we should start dinner now... *

"I'll help too!" Sakura chirped, relieved to have Tomoyo back again.

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"Why do I have that feeling that Tomoyo-chan is trying to avoid you?" Yamazaki asked Eriol, who merely shrugged.

"So you knew all these times, about Daidouji's feelings," Syaoran stated flatly, glaring a little at Eriol's lack of emotions. Eriol returned the glare with an amiable smile.

"Which is why I have come back, permanently," Eriol replied calmly. Syaoran stared, incredulous.

"Are you back, just so to tortured her? Can't you see how miserable she is?...All of us know about the relationship between you and Mizuki-sensei," Syaoran gritted out.

"Iie. It was already the past, with Kaho-san. Now, we are just merely friends. She had already being married to her high-school sweetheart for two years now. It was her, who told me that there's someone waiting for me here, in Tomoeda." Everyone blinked at Eriol's casual attitude towards the subject. Syaoran shook his head after a moment, and sigh.

"Sometimes, I don't get you, Hiiragizawa..."

"You don't get me all the time, my kawaii descendant."

"Stop calling me that!" Syaoran growled.

"Okay, enough about that. Your constant bickering is not going to turn Daidouji-chan back," Terada intervened helplessly, a large sweat-drop could practically be seen hanging by the side of his forehead.

"Yes, you are right, Terada-sensei. And I know exactly the way to turn her back."

"I don't know why, but suddenly I'm a bit afraid of you, Hiiragizawa-kun," Yamazaki replied nervously.

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"Tomoyo-chan, we have to think of some ways to change you back into a human. It will be difficult for you, seeing as you can't speak without attracting unwanted attention from men. Not to mention, the Mothers that I have heard from Rika-chan are most disturbing..." She stopped when she saw Tomoyo shaking her head.

* I forget being unhappy since becoming what I am now and I feel carefree as I am. Unless I meet the one I truly love, I cannot change back. *

"But..."

"It will not work if the love is only one-sided, Sakura-chan," came Rika's voice. Both Tomoyo and Chiharu nodded.

* The love we find might not be the one to return our feelings. So it will be pointless unless the man love us back. * Chiharu showed her whiteboard with a simply resigned look on her face.

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Dinner was a quiet and uneventful affair, well, not exactly uneventful.

"Daidouji-san." Tomoyo looked up from her food at Eriol's smiling face. She felt like melting right there and then, but managed to be composed. She tilted her head slightly, indicating that she was all ears.

"Come live with me and my guardians in the manor," Eriol proposed, his words carefully deliberate. Everyone stopped eating and peered curiously at Tomoyo, waiting to see her reaction. There was none.

"There is a purpose in inviting you over to stay with me. Since the Mothers are after you, not to mention your friend as well, it would be a bit too dangerous in staying here if they knew you're putting up in Terada-sensei's home." Everyone, except Eriol, almost jumped out of their seat when Tomoyo uncharacteristically slammed her hand on the table and stood up. Both her hands flew around fluidly, gesturing in what was unmistakably, sign language.

* Thank you for the offer, Hiiragizawa-kun, but I decline. I believe I am capable of protecting myself. *

With this, she silently excused herself and walked out of the kitchen.

"Sakura-san, stop her," Eriol spoke. Sakura looked at him, wide- eyed.

"How do you expect me to stop her?"

"Use The Watery to imprison her. I believe she'll change into a mermaid upon having contact with water?" Eriol inquired, looking calmly to Rika and Chiharu for affirmation. Both nodded.

"Watery, create a water prison to confine Tomoyo-chan in, release and dispel." A mermaid-like elemental being made entirely out of water, burst forth from a slender pink card and slipped through the kitchen doorway, into the living room. A moment later, a terrified shriek could be heard from the living room. Sakura winced.

'I'm sorry Tomoyo-chan, but this is for your own good.'

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'Humiliations, no matter how indirect or inadvertent it may be, I will not take. Not even from Hiiragizawa-kun! Did he even know of my feelings for him? For heaven's sake, I rather die than live with him - facing him just for today is already enough to dampen my mood. I just cannot imagine living, not to mention see...' her incessant thoughts were briefly cut off when an elemental mermaid darted pass her and trapped her in a water globe.

She shrieked in horror when she realised that it was Watery. Looking down at herself, she could already see pearlescent scales appearing on her legs. No doubt it was Eriol's idea, for Sakura was too guileless to do such a thing. Everyone appeared in the living room a few moments later, save Rika and Terada, who were currently clearing the table.

"Let me out!" She cried indignantly, pleadingly at Sakura [mermaids are able to speak underwater]. Sakura sighed.

"I'm sorry, Tomoyo-chan, but Eriol-kun is the one calling the shots here." Tomoyo looked at Eriol sharply, a poisonous look in the depths of her eyes, enough to kill anyone who met her gaze.

"Could we have a little bit of privacy, please?" Eriol asked, not taking his eyes off Tomoyo. Everyone replied by leaving the living room. Tomoyo took in a deep breath and asked Eriol what did he want from her.

"Am I that difficult to be with, Tomoyo-san?" Tomoyo's heart skipped a beat at hearing Eriol addressed her by her first name. "Do it for your friends, if not for me. Sakura-san is worried for your safety and if you continue to be stubborn, there's no telling what will happen to you."

Tomoyo seemed to be considering what he said. He did hit her weak spot. If there was one thing that she hates, it will be to make her friends, especially Sakura, worried.

'I guess there's no choice...if the Mothers didn't exists, I wouldn't have any problems with declining his invitation to live with him...argh, I hate it when he knows my weaknesses and use them to manipulate me...' She made a face, which Eriol found amusing. However, even before he could ask [even though he could easily read her mind, but decide against it since it would be impolite], Tomoyo features softened considerably and she yielded to his request.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, something interesting was happening as well.

Chiharu got a little annoyed, when she noticed Yamazaki kept staring at her without any reserve, not to mention the smile he wore on his lips was most disturbing [for Chiharu, the smile was indeed disturbing].

"Will you go out on a date with me, Chiharu-chan?" Yamazaki blurted out impulsively. Everyone stared incredulously. Sakura choked on her tea, Syaoran's mouth was agape and Terada's eyebrows were arched. Chiharu blinked. Rapidly, she scribbled on her whiteboard.

* Excuse me, what did you just say? * Rika giggled to herself, placing a jug of water and an empty glass in front of Chiharu. Chiharu poured herself a cup and gulped down the contents.

"Will you go out on a date with me? I'm serious about what I say, if you think otherwise," Yamazaki repeated patiently. Chiharu drank another cup of water and watched the boy in front of her doubtfully.

"Go on, Chiharu-chan, there's no harm in going on a date with him," Rika prompted softly. Chiharu shrugged.

* Whatever you say...okay, I'll go out with you...in any case, I'm eager to break my curse as well. *

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"Ah, it looks as though the little treasure you found had a powerful sorcerer protecting her. I suggest we do something fast, before the sorcerer warms her broken heart," the rich, female voice drawled, watching a scene unfold in the large bubble hovering in front of her and her companion she called sister.

"And Chiharu seems to be going in the same direction as well. What am I going to do? In just a short time, I'm going to lose two of my best girls, is there nothing we can do?" the other complained, swishing her tail furiously, as if throwing a child's tantrum.

"Patience, sister. One, we can get rid of the boys and bring the girls back. Two, we can lure the girls to us and keep a close watch on them, until they're too far gone for true love to save them. The first one, we can apply to Chiharu, since the boy doesn't seems to possess any powers strong enough to parry our attacks. The second one, we can apply to Tomoyo, since she doesn't know us. Chiharu made a mistake in not introducing her to us; therefore, she doesn't know what we look like. Bringing her to us would be easy."

"The second option is going to be difficult, seeing as she is constantly going to be watched by the sorcerer. Worst, she was already in love with him even before I discover her, and an added disadvantage as he doesn't seems to be affected when she sings."

"All the more challenging. We haven't had such exciting problems on our hands for so long, I'm going to be bored to tears." Saying this, she made her point by smiling a malicious smile, her lusciously crimson red lips parted to show a row of pearl-white teeth slightly sharper than most normal human beings.

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...Tsuzuku...