Author's Notes: I can't fully explain how deeply touched I am to read such wonderful reviews. It has been rare and to receive such praises is more than enough to make me smile. Thank you for all your reviews.

Cayenne – I didn't really abandon this, I just needed some time to finish my other fics. But I promise you that this month, I will be concentrating on this project. And I should be the one to thank you.

Lady Error – thank you for considering this as one of the greatest.

Kataru – thank you for reviewing almost every chapter. Your little notes made me smile.

Syaoran-Lover – Harume-san is my character. I'm sorry for not clearing that up earlier. I am pleased that you like the way the characters are reacting.

Sobakasu03 – Akira always seem to know more than he would actually let us see. I like using him as a camera that sees everything.

Goldmund – I will tell you why Suoh asked for Nagisa's hand in marriage. But not now. ::winks::

Minna, I hope you like the new installment. I promise I will update as soon as possible. Please continue to read and review, ne?

And before I forget… BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOKORU!

Disclaimers: CCD and all its characters still aren't mine.

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Until When

Chapter Eight

To be honest, Suoh didn't really know what to do.

He had been sitting on their porch for the last five hours since he got home. He sat there and watched as the sun went down and gave way to the crescent moon. He sat there and thought about the sun and the moon; Nokoru and Nagisa.

The sun had always been the first one to step down and give way to the moon. This was the way it was created and this had to happen to complete a cycle of one day. And that had always been what happened in his life.

Nokoru would step down and give way to Nagisa.

He had never noticed it. It just seemed so natural for Nokoru to be so kind to the ladies; to put their concerns before everything else including himself.

However, that wasn't a plausible excuse. Nokoru was supposed to be his one.

He had been too preoccupied with Nagisa to see past those smiles. He had caused pain to the one he swore to protect with all his might and he did not know that he was doing so.

He felt guilty for not being able to feel how hurt Nokoru had been. He felt guilty for even using Nagisa as an excuse when it was entirely his fault.

It was his fault that this had to happen…

He thought he could balance it: protecting his one and the one he loved. To protect the two people he loved most in the world.

But…

"You haven't eaten dinner, Suoh-san," came the voice of Suoh's mother from behind him, startling him.

She raised an eyebrow, obviously not expecting such a reaction from him.

"Ara? You must be too deep in thought as not to sense my presence."

Suoh stood up and bowed. "Forgive me, mother."

His mother remained silent, regarding him with her golden eyes. Then she turned to gaze at the moon that hung above them. Suoh followed her gaze, silently wondering what was going on his mother's mind. It was a whole minute before she spoke up.

"Who will you die for when the day comes, Suoh-san? Nagisa-san or Nokoru-san?"

Suoh returned his gaze back to his mother, tilting his head.

"Why are you asking me this, kaasan?"

She met her son's gaze. "There is only one who you can fully protect and that is your one. Your One is more than someone you protect; he is someone you are willing to give your whole being to."

She paused, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You can never have two people to protect, Suoh-san. You can only give yourself to one person – the one who truly holds your heart. I trust that you can pick the right one."

Help me, he wanted to say. Help me pick the right one.

"But how do I know who the right one is?" he asked instead.

"Look inside your heart and let it decide, musuko [1]. Sometimes what the mind doesn't know, the heart does," she answered, before leaving him alone – yet again – with his thoughts.

Suoh sighed, turning his heel to head inside. He was confused – really confused. How could his heart decide when it is the one in question? He sighed again. He needed to think but for now, he needed something to eat.

After all, how could he think clearly if he was hungry?

The winds blew stronger as a pair of emerald eyes opened the luscious green leaves of the tree near the porch of the Takamura dojo.

"You must've been too deep in thought to be off-guard just like that, Takamura-san."

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Akira slumped on his couch, tired to the bone. He had just finished cooking twelve kinds of dishes his mothers had requested earlier that evening. And of course, whatever his mothers wanted, they would get.  He glanced at the clock. It was only eight thirty in the evening but the chef desperately wanted to snuggle under his covers.

He stood up, stretching his tired muscles. A long, warm bath sounded nice before sleeping. But before he could toddle towards his room, the doorbell rang.

Who could that be at this hour? He thought.

Curiosity winning over his fatigue, he proceeded towards the door where their butler was ushering in whoever it was. His gray orbs widened at the recognition.

"Yudaiji Idomu-san?"

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"There should be a good reason why gathered us on such short notice," Akira said as he offered something to drink to his guests.

"Of course there is," the redhead answered, smiling.

Yudaiji Idomu had gathered all those he knew cared for Nokoru, Suoh and Nagisa in Akira's mansion. He was pleased that every one of them was there: CLAMP Gakuen's Rijchou, Suoh's mother, Anita, Marron, Ohkawa Utako and even Kirasagi Hikaru was present.

"And that would be?" Utako asked.

"Nokoru-kun, Takamura-kun and Azuya-san."

Seven pairs of curious eyes were now directed at Idomu, eager to know how he knew what was happening when the pianist had been overseas all the while.

A smile graced the redhead's features, pleased that he had gotten their attention.

"I have known for quite some time now that Nokoru-kun holds special feelings for Takamura-kun. On the other hand, Takamura-kun is Azuya-san's boyfriend-now-fiancé. "

Hikaru was taken aback. "They're engaged?"

"I don't understand," Akira said. "How did you know that they're engaged?"

Utako was nodding, obviously wanting to know how. "As far as I know, the only people they told about it are…"

"It doesn't matter how Idomu-san knows," interjected Suoh's mother. "Let him continue with what he was saying."

"Thank you, Takamura-ojousan," Idomu said, grateful that she had stopped the parade of questions at bay.

"I believe none of us have been blind to the fact that Takamura-kun does hold special feelings for Nokoru-kun as well and yet he refuses to acknowledge it. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't love Azuya-san. The problem here is that he loves both of them and is willing to protect both with his life. But…"

"But he can only protect One," Suoh's mother interjected.

Rijchou closed her fan, agreement written on her face. "I believe that Yudaiji-san is insinuating that we help him decide. Am I right?"

"Yes," he answered, then turned towards Utako. "I know that you are her best friend, Ohkawa-san, and believe me that this is not to hurt her. This is for her own good too."

Utako sighed. "I know. It's better to know now than know it when their hands are tied."

"So what's your plan, Yudaiji-san?" asked Anita, who had remained silent for quite some time now.

"Because whatever it is, you can count us in," added Marron.

Hikaru smiled. "The same goes for me."

One by one, they nodded. Suoh's mom thought that even though it would have been better to let her son decide on his own, waiting for that to happen might take a lot more time than needed. Rijchou thought it best too to leave everything into Suoh, Nokoru and Nagisa's hands but she had done enough of that for the past couple of years.

Akira was worried, the memories of the damage Idomu caused years ago flashing in his mind. But something was telling him to trust the red-haired lad. Something was telling him that this was the help that he had been silently asking for.

"Ijyuin-san? What about you?" asked Idomu, looking straight at those gray orbs – willing him to erase all those doubts and trust him.

Akira smiled, seeing the sincerity in Idomu's eyes. "What are we waiting for? Three hearts have waited long enough."

And Idomu's smile grew wider.

Tsuzuku…  

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Author's Notes: Did you like the appearance of the other characters? Hope you did because they will play a big role in the next chapters!

[1] son

Preview: Akira now has all the help he can get. But what is Idomu planning? How exactly is he planning to get the truth out of Suoh? And why is he so determined to do this? The answers are on the next chapter!