Author's Notes: Just to clear things up since I forgot to put translations in the second chap. 'Ikanaide' means 'Don't go'. 'Tsuzuku' means 'To be continued'. Nokoru may seem a bit too OOC and does Suoh but I wanted to show what emotions can do to a person. I'm posting them in small chapters since I don't want to write a full-length long shot fic. By writing it that way, it might drag. So, here is the third installment. Thank you to my reviewer. This is for you.

Until When

Chapter Three

They suggested that he take a vacation.

Right after the funeral, they suggested it.

At first, Nokoru was indignant about it. He strongly objected that he needed one off put his mind off the loss of his sister. He said that it was better to concentrate on his work at the council than to relax somewhere. He didn't want his mind to stop working. He wanted it to work and work so that he would not even think about Harume's death.

But Suoh, Akira and even the Rijchou were hardheaded about the vacation. After all, they said, it wasn't good to waste the summer by working. In the end, Nokoru had no choice but to give in.

And so here he was now – sunbathing near a private pool of some resort with his two best friends.

Nokoru inhaled the fresh air and sighed. And he actually liked it.

Maybe Suoh-tachi were right. Maybe a change of view was all I needed.

He looked around him and saw Akira and Suoh playing in the water. It was good that they were having fun. He smiled. He was happy to note that Nagisa and Utako weren't there with them. It wasn't because he disliked them or anything, he just didn't want to be reminded of how alone he truly was. It was a good thing that Rijchou had strictly said that it would only be the three of them.

He closed his eyes. Ah, yes. It was all good.

He hadn't even closed his eyes for even ten minutes when he heard voices around him. He opened his eyes and saw Akira and Suoh standing on either side of him.

"Ne, Ijyuin. Do you think it is right for Kaichou to be sleeping while sunbathing on a day such as this one?" Suoh said, smirking and crossing his hands as he did so.

On his left, Akira shook his head. "It is totally unacceptable, sempai."

Nokoru cleared his throat. "Both of you know that I don't swim."

But the blonde's protest went on deaf ears.

The smile on Suoh and Akira's faces widened as they picked Nokoru up and stated running towards the swimming pool. The youngest Imonoyama started flailing his hands.

"Put me down! I demand that you both put me down NOW! SUOH! AKIRA!"

But both of them just smiled as they counted to three before throwing their president into the pool.

"SUOH!"

"Ichi…"

"AKIRA!"

"Ni…"

"I am going to drown!"

"SAN!"

"SUOH! AKIRA! I'M GOING TO DROWN!"

Suoh smirked.

"That's why you're my one, Nokoru!" he shot back as he jumped into the water to 'rescue' the blonde.

Blue eyes widened as he heard those words come from the ninja's mouth. Suoh had called him by his given name.

Akira shook his head. If only his sempai had meant those words in the way Nokoru wanted to, it would've been better. He glanced at his two best friends just in time to see Suoh carry Nokoru on his back. There was a blush on Nokoru's face.

The chef almost laughed. A piggyback ride and Kaichou blushing like mad. Ah! I wish I had my camera with me!

"I will always be here to save you --- protect you from anything and everything, Imonoyama Nokoru," he heard Suoh say as Akira rushed to get his camera. He just had to take this picture.

"Because you are my one," Suoh said, looking back to gaze into Nokoru's teary eyes.

Akira had found the camera.

Nokoru smiled and hugged Suoh closer. "Arigato, Suoh."

**Click!**

--*--**--*--

It was already late in the afternoon when the trio decided to call it a day in the pool. Since they were all in vacation, Akira proposed that they eat in the restaurant inside the resort. It had been rumored that the restaurant served good food.  

"The meal was just lovely," Nokoru complimented as the waitress cleared their dishes.

"I agree," Akira said. "Perhaps we can compliment the chef?"

"Of course you may," a lady's voice came from behind them.

Suoh's eyes widened in recognition. "Anita-san! Marron-san!"

Nokoru stood from his seat to face his two friends. Truly, it was their friends that they had helped out once, years ago. They stayed in touch through the years, writing e-mails to each other occasionally.

"Anita-san, I did not know you could be more fabulous than when I last saw you in that picture you e-mailed me last month," Nokoru said, kissing her hand.

Anita blushed. "Oh Nokoru-san! You haven't changed! You still flatter me to no end."

"But he is not lying, Anita-san," Suoh said.

Akira nodded. "You really look wonderful. Ah! The wonders love can do to people, na Marron-san?"

Marron blushed. "Come on. You didn't ask for the chef just to tease him about his personal life, didn't you?"

The trio laughed and offered them a seat.

"Of course not," the treasurer said after containing his laughter. "We also want to tease the chef about the very fine dinner we just ate."

"Thank you very much. Marron has been working so hard since he got the position as head chef of the resort."

"But I have nothing to worry about," Marron said, squeezing his girlfriend's hand. "As long as I have Anita with me."

Anita smiled then turned towards the others. "How are you and Nagisa-san doing, Suoh-san?"

The blue-haired boy blushed a little, still not comfortable with speaking about his personal life.

"We're fine. If fact…" He paused suddenly remembering that he had not yet told Nokoru and Akira about what happened on his last date with his girl.

"I can't believe that I totally forgot."

"Totally forgot what, Suoh?" asked Nokoru, sipping his fresh ripe mango shake.

"Kaichou, Ijyuin, Anita-san, Marron-san… Nagisa and I are engaged," the ninja said, face glowing with happiness.

Akira's eyes widened.

Anita covered her mouth in shock.

Marron congratulated him.

Nokoru dropped his glass.

"Kaichou? Are you ok?" asked Suoh, concerned about the blonde's reaction.

Nokoru stood up, eyes hooded as he whispered 'Sorry' and left, leaving everyone, except Akira, in a state of shock.

Akira closed his eyes. Why did this have to happen now?

Tsuzuku…

--*--**--*--

Author's Notes: Am I bit too cruel to Nokoru to give him some happiness then snatch it away quickly? **laughs** Anyway, that piggyback ride scene was loosely based in the first episode of Flame of Recca where Recca swears to Yanagi that she will be his princess and him her ninja, vowing to protect her from everything. Maybe I've been watching too many FoR reruns lately. By the way readers, please do give me a ting of happiness by pressing that review button at the end of the page. Thank you!

Disclaimers: Sadly, CCD still belongs to CLAMP. If it did belong to me, Nokoru would have Suoh all to himself without that violet-haired girl to ruin their perfect little lives. Hehehe…