"Very good improvement, Hiragizawa-san," said Eriol's doctor, checking up on the young man's previous injuries from the car accident. He then smiled happily. "And I am glad to hear that your memory is coming back."

Eriol stood up from his chair, smiling in return. "I couldn't have done it without the help of my friend," he replied.

"Oh? And who might your friend be? I will give her full credit on your recovery," said his doctor, handing Eriol a list of some medications that he might need in case.

Eriol accepted it as he peered through the glass window, his eyes running up and down on the raven-haired girl who was waiting outside for him. He returned his eyes to the doctor's and replied, "Tomoyo Daidouji."

The doctor smiled. "Very well then," he said, escorting Eriol to the door. "See you next month." His voice then turned serious. "Do take heed on those medications."

Eriol chuckled, radiantly grinning. "Of course, sensei. I wouldn't want to see her worried again."

"I'm serious, Hiragizawa-san. Your life depends on it and you know it. Haven't you told Mizuki-san and your other companions about it yet?"

Eriol paused. All this time, he was hiding something from Tomoyo...

"Yes," he replied honestly.

The doctor raised his eyebrow. "But then Hiragizawa-san, I am beginning to suspect that you haven't told Miss Daidouji about this."

Eriol opened the door, not bothering to look back. "I'm sorry...but I can't afford to either. Good day, Kimura-sensei."

Tomoyo stood up from her seat when Eriol came out of the room. He opted to leave already. When finally they walked alone together, Tomoyo seized the opportunity to talk to him once more.

"Eriol-kun," she spoke, trying to hide her shakiness. But unfortunately for her, Eriol knew her all too well.

"Okay, Tomoyo," he said with a sigh. He knew she wanted to know about the unexpected distraction Eriol wanted to tell her yesterday. But he fought back and told her he was deeply thankful that she helped him instead and denied that there was something more important he wanted Tomoyo to know.

What a big fat lie.

But Tomoyo could tell almost immediately.

Eriol stopped as Tomoyo watched him in awe when he took her hand all of a sudden. She felt her face heat up due to Eriol's tingling touch.

"Tell me, Tomoyo," he said gentlemanly, holiding her gaze. A change of topic may do. "Am I that repulsive?"

Tomoyo laughed. "What are you talking about? Why are you suddenly concerned about your obnoxious-ness when you, the heart throb Hiragizawa Eriol, has caught the charms of almost every girl in Tomoeda?" Tomoyo finally found her comfort to tease Eriol hastily, grinning at her reply.

"Every girl, you say, Miss Tomoyo?" he repeated, smiling lightheartedly. "Then that would include you?" he joked, causing Tomoyo to blush even more.

"E-Eriol-kun...you...you--"

"Ara? Nani..." Eriol bowed politely as if acting like a underdog to her. "Princess Tomoyo?" He grinned, making fun of the blushing girl.

"You may act cute in front of me, and it suits you well," she told him sarcastically.

Eriol chuckled, but inside him, he was desperate to tell Tomoyo something very important...before it would be too late. He considered himself as a total hypocrite and a liar, all just to cover up one fact he can never reveal...yet.

"Get some rest, Eriol-kun," Tomoyo told him after she noticed he hesitated to reply. He looked up at the smiling young woman. "Please?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*

Eriol found himself back in his home, resting (as Tomoyo suggested). He was getting worried if he had to tell her sooner or later.

'She might hate me if I continue lying like this,' he thought, rolling around his bed as if insomnia occupied his head. 'But she might get hurt...'

The door opened suddenly as Eriol looked up and saw Kaho.

"Not today?" she asked.

The young man sighed and stared at his blanket, averting his gaze. "I'm sorry..."

Kaho looked at him disappointedly, walking toward the boy. "You have to tell her sooner or later. You know it is inevitable, Eriol." She told him bitterly.

"But it isn't as easy as it seems." He looked up at the woman in front of him. "I may even fall for her..."

"Tell her you love her then," Kaho suggested, smiling. "Your love for her will never be forgotten even after you...you--"

"When the time is right," Eriol cut in, smiling back. "Even death cannot set us apart...I can see it in her eyes vividly."

"Eriol..."

"Thank you for helping me realize that, Kaho. And if you'll excuse me, resting is now my top priority...at least, at the moment. I can't deny the fact that I do feel weary."

"Very well then. Good night." Kaho walked outside as she closed the door.

'I was expecting you to tell her during those days when I was away...'

She walked in her room. "Before it's too late, Eriol...you must tell her. Your days are now numbered."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning, Tomoyo went to school. It was a Monday that day, and she was getting worried since Eriol hasn't arrived yet.

"Where in the world is he?" she wondered, taking notes of the teacher's discussion. She stared at the empty seat in front of her. "It isn't like him to be absent when the exams are coming..."

"Tomoyo-chan, what happened to Eriol-kun?" Kinomoto Sakura asked her bestfriend, who was arranging her assignments for the day.

"I-I'm not sure," replied Tomoyo, not bothering to look back at her.

"Tomoyo-chan...?"

Tomoyo smiled forcefully. She finally faced her cousin and answered, "I'll call him when I get home. These assignments are too much so I can't visit him yet."

With that, Tomoyo walked to her home, not minding what Sakura's reaction was. For some reason, Tomoyo felt scared that something might happen to Eriol.

"Hello? Ah, Nakuru...yeah, it's Tomoyo," she said, talking on the phone.

"Master suddently got sick, Daidouji-san," explained his servant at the end of the line.

"I-Is he okay...?" Tomoyo felt her voice tremble.

Silence...

"U-Uh...yeah! Y-Yeah, he is!" replied Nakuru half-heartedly. "But...I'm afraid..."

Tomoyo felt her grip on the phone. "N-Ne, I'll check on him tomorrow...but that wouldn't be necessary if he goes to school right?"

Silence once more...

"I'm not sure he'll be in school tomorrow either." Nakuru's usual genki self disappeared and turned serious... dead serious.

Tomoyo smiled forcefully. "O-Okay. I'll be there tomorrow so wait for me!"

She hung up on Nakuru, thus the end of their conversation. Nakuru put the phone down and whispered, "Make sure you'll be on time, Daidouji- san...because I'm not sure if you can even see him alive by tomorrow."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next day, Tomoyo was on her way to Eriol's home, walking on the sidewalk. The weather was cruel and it didn't give in. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt suddenly uneasy. But all of a sudden, the grey skies poured down rain, soaking the young woman.

"Of all the days..." muttered Tomoyo.

She finally arrived at Eriol's place and knocked on the door. "Please make him okay," she whispered to herself. "Kami-sama...please..."

The door was squeaked open by a tall red-haired woman, looking at the soaking Tomoyo. "Please come in, Tomoyo."

The raven-haired girl walked in the dim-lit mansion, giving her a sense of uncertainty.

Kaho walked toward one of the couches, asking Tomoyo to come sit down with her. The seriousness of her tone ordered Tomoyo to listen.

"Eriol is..." Kaho faced Tomoyo, looking at her intently. "He is sick."

"T-Then it isn't that serious," Tomoyo tried to smile, trying to reassure herself that Eriol just caught a common cold.

"Sick, Tomoyo," repeated Kaho, telling her with her eyes that she was serious.

Tears threatened to spill from the younger female's eyes. "W-What are you talking about...? He was just fine the other day," the look on Kaho's face told her everything. "N-No...he isn't going to..."

"He has Dementia," Kaho began. "It was in his genes. But the car accident triggered the disease to start occupying within himself. There was no cure..."

Tomoyo could not believe her ears. "All this time...he knew?"

"He only wanted to live the rest of his days with you, as if there was no such thing as death. You, Tomoyo Daidouji, convinced him that death doesn't exist," Kaho said, trying to make Tomoyo understand.

A while later, she escorted Tomoyo to Eriol's room.

The girl found him sitting up on his bed, greeting her with a sincere smile. She walked to his bed side and smiled only half-heartedly.

"How are you?" was all she could manage to ask.

"Tired," replied Eriol. Indeed, he felt quite tired. He lay his head on his pillow, making Tomoyo feel very hesitant.

"Eriol-kun..."

"I can't stay too long, Tomoyo," he explained, his azure eyes held the gaze of Tomoyo's purple ones that were moist. "I have to..."

"Eriol-kun! Eriol-kun!"

Tomoyo shakily held onto Eriol's hand, gripping it tightly. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, praying for the boy to be alright.

"I'm just so glad you came..." Hiragizawa Eriol squeezed Tomoyo's hand when all hope seemed to be lost.

She looked at him, smiling bitterly with her tears running down her face.

Maybe this time, he won't make it...

"Don't let go, Eriol-kun," she told him, now drawing his hand onto her heart. "Don't let go...Don't let go...please..." she pleaded. "You can't go! We have a lot of things to do together. Let's watch the sunset, play the piano for me, bake a cake together..."

It pained him to see Tomoyo cry in front of him. Eriol brushed her silky hair with his hand, breathing weakly.

"I'm afraid I can't," he whispered softly. "I don't want to let go so I can be with you...but--"

"Then don't!" she pleaded desperately. Her heart was now aching so badly that she felt her body become numb. She cried even harder, tears spilling painfully.

Eriol then felt his chest tighten and his grip on Tomoyo's hand loose. Maybe...

"I may never get to do everything you've mentioned anymore," he began.

"Eriol, don't say that!" she begged him.

"I may never be here for you whenever you need me the most..."

"Eriol..."

He smiled. "But I will always remember in my heart that I have loved an angel by the name of Daidouji Tomoyo."

Tomoyo paused.

"And maybe, just maybe, she would feel the same..."

She was speechless. Was he serious? But before she could reply, he slowly leaned, his lips softly brushed against hers in a loving kiss.

"E-Eriol...please..." deperation in her voice.

"Just let go Tomoyo," he said weakly. "After all we've been through, I learned the essence to love despite imperfections, despite hindrances and despite the past."

Eriol Hiragizawa took one last long look at his inamorata. "For as long as I am imprinted in your memory, that would be my happiness for eternity."

Tomoyo gripped his hand. "Eriol, no!!! I love you!"

His heart stopped beating...

"No..." Tears escaped Tomoyo's eyes. She trembled upon seeing the lifeless body.

Hiragizawa Eriol has left...

~~~~~~~~

17-year-old Tomoyo carried flowers in front of Eriol's grave, smiling. She placed the boquet, remembering his tender loving smile.

Momories of the mind are only remembered for a short while. But the heart can never forget the love shared between two people.

"Happy birthday, Eriol-kun."

*~+OwArI+~* _________________________________________________________________

A/N: Yey! I finally finished it!! This is my VERY belated b-day present for Eriol-kun. Hehehe...it's angsty in the end. Don't flame me because I killed Eriol-chan!! I just wanted to write an angst this time, okay?? Please R This is dedicated to my fwends who 'generously' reviewed this fic. Somo na cge remind ninyo, ipa-basa raman diay nako. Joke lang!!! ^^ Sory kung cliché or baduy

Special thanks: Gingernap7, Nikui-chan and Yume @_@ Nadz, y did u get the "J" sa imu penname? Uuy...guilty!! hehehe...pEaCe!!!!

Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. If this story's plot has already been taken, I apologize. 'Ey, typical for me to kill someone with a sickness or a car accident! @_@ If syaoran no hime is reading, I think I took some parts from your E+T "First Time I Love Forever" Sowee po!!! I'll give you credit and worship you for the rest of my life for that!!!