Disclaimer: I own no CCS – Tomoyo and Eriol included.

Dedication: To the very sweet Amethyst Sweet Angel-chan. The whole chappie is for you

Chapter VIII – Three Days

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high

There's a land that I heard of

Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true

The whole city was covered with white and the night sky was a blanket of stars to that winter evening. By the moist pavement of the busy streets of London a tall man with tousled midnight hair and dark blue eyes runs his way through the crowd and the honking cars that nearly run unto him.

He just arrived from the other side of the globe and is in such a hurry that he grew impatient of the congested traffic before him he left his guardians in the cab and ran his way to the hospital.

The wind was blowing a bit harsher than usual and the edge of his black trench coat is damp and his hair was messier than it was before. Nearly sliding, he got into the hospital, to the nurse's desk and rushed to the elevator, went to the fifth floor and rushed to the hall. Outside a room was a depressed group consisting of Meilin, Syaoran, Touya, Yukito and Sakura slouching at wooden benches cups of coffee clutched by their gloved hands.

His steps reverberated throughout the hall and they looked up to see his messed appearance.

"Eriol-kun…" Sakura said approaching the gentleman with a tear-stained face. Eriol looked at her. Dark patches were below her eyes indicating her lack of sleep and her eyes were all red from all the crying she did. Instinctively, Eriol hugged her and Sakura cried yet again.

"She remembers nothing, Eriol-kun- not Meilin-chan, not Syaoran-kun, not even Sonomi-san! She does not even remember me…" she cried, her tears not coming to an end. Eriol patted Sakura comforting her in vain. He himself was shaking in attempts not to cry.

"I didn't know… she never told me… I didn't know… I thought she was just tired and way too busy to remember stuff… and now… and now her dementia is getting worse…" she said in between her sobs.

Dementia, scientifically defined as a group of symptoms marked by gradual changes in brain function and the ability to think, reason, and remember. For six years, no one knew. Until a couple of days earlier, Sonomi Daidouji announced to them that Tomoyo's ill and that she's taking her to London in hopes that the doctors there can find the cause of her dementia and cure her. Sakura who was surprised by the announcement insisted in coming with them. Her family and Syaoran followed as well.

Eriol learned about the news when he was in India to settle something and was not able to join them in their trip due to a storm.

No one noticed the signs – the forgotten names and rendezvous, the depression, her sudden lost of interest in videotaping or even in clothes, the changes in mood, the sudden hostility. They thought she was just being a normal-forgetful teenager, they thought she was merely changing or having a bad day. They didn't know it was something worse.

Sonomi who knew all the while did not utter a word about it to anyone upon her daughter's request, but with her daughter's condition worsening she broke her promise and sought for help from Fujitaka and Sakura.

"How is she now?" Eriol asked breaking away from the hug and walking towards the others. Sakura sat beside Syaoran and dried her eyes.

"She was hysterical earlier. She keeps on crying and was throwing a fit. The doctors gave her valium so she could sleep. She's so stressed out… she remembers no one" Meilin said not looking up. She couldn't, because if she does her tears will spill and she doesn't want to cry. She already did her share of crying in Tomoeda. She's afraid that if she cries, her eyes would dry up and she could no longer cry again.

"Where's Daidouji-sama?" Eriol asked.

"She's at the hotel. She hadn't had much sleep and is totally stressed out. She insists in staying, but Dad managed to persuade her to rest for a while." Touya said without his usual sneer or side comment. Now is not the time for such.

"Where are Nakuru and Spinel Sun?" Syaoran asked.

"They'll be catching up," Eriol said. "I'll go check on her." And he disappeared to the door.

---

Someday I'll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

And way above the chimney tops

Is where you'll find me

The hospital room was dull and was totally bathe in white. By the bedside table were roses nearly wilting and a stack of leather books of what Eriol suspects to be Tomoyo's journals. Walking towards the bed he watched the sleeping figure of his old friend back in elementary snuggled under the covers. The valium has succeeded in lulling her to sleep but it failed in removing the dark patches in her eyes and the sad aura within her features. Eriol sat at the chair beside the bed and watched her.

Even in such conditions she was still beautiful. Asides from her sudden lost of weight, she was still the same as he last saw her six years ago. Her raven hair sprawled carelessly over the white sheets just like when she slept in his house. Her skin was as pale as ever making a stark contrast with her dark lids that still curl like crescents.

He gingerly curled a strand of her hair in his fingers and sighed. He could not believe he did not notice as well. He could not believe he did not notice even before Sakura split Clow's power in half.

Why else would he find her in his doorsteps, disoriented? Why else is she fond of taking videos?

"So I won't forget," she told him back then in Penguin Park when he asked her the reason of her fondness in taking videos.

When she asked him if it's wrong to forget, he thought she just had an argument with her mother who probably forgot a promise or something. He didn't think that she literally meant it as a whole.

He was lost in his thoughts he did not notice a pair of purple eyes staring at him with interest. When he did, he found her opening her mouth a number of times, doubtful of who he is and uncertain in asking for his name.

"I'm Eriol, remember? … How are you Tomoyo-chan?" he said giving his first name instead of his last.

He did not know why. They weren't exactly close but he wanted to go beyond the line. There's something he needs to know.

She smiled.

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true

"Eriol-kun… I'm fine… just a bit drowsy…" she said stifling a yawn. Eriol smiled at her and cupped her face with his right hand.

"You should sleep…" he murmured adjusting Tomoyo's blanket.

"I had a dream…a nice dream…" she started looking at him in the eye like as if looking at them reminds her of something.

"What did you dream of?" he asked.

"I was just a little girl… I was in a park… by the swings... I was struggling not to cry…" she continued.

Eriol looked at her surprised.

"And then there was this boy… do you know what he said?" she said lying sideways to look at Eriol better.

"You know, there's nothing wrong in crying, at times you just have to let it all out," they said in unison.

This time it was Tomoyo's turn to look surprised.

"How did you know?"

Eriol smiled and took hold of her hand.

"I just do."

"And then I cried… and he wiped my tears very gently, I barely felt his fingers on my cheek… he told me… told me… that… every cloud has a silver lining…" she said stifling another yawn and drifting back to sleep.

"The world may make you cry today, but you'll smile certainly by tomorrow," Eriol finished for her this time a tear escaping from his eye. She was a broken angel. And he felt broken as well. More tears streaming from his eyes he planted a kiss at the back of the small hand he's holding and wept.

He found his answer and he wept over the time he lost for not finding it earlier.


If happy little blue birds fly

Beyond the rainbow

Why, or why, can't I?

---

It snowed yet again the following morning and Meilin hugged on her coat as she stopped in front of the door a bouquet of violets and magnolias in hand. Tomoyo was singing and she wishes not to interrupt such a beautiful song. One of the nurses in duty passed by her and smiled.

"Ms. Daidouji seems to be in a good mood today, she's been singing since she woke up…Mr. Hiirigizawa's visit seems to cheer her up" the nurse said. Meilin smiled. They learned of Eriol's distressed appearance in the hospital from the head nurse last night on their way back to the hotel. He was all messed up after running his way in the streets and nearly tripping to the nurse's desk.

"Is he her boyfriend? The other nurses were really thrilled by the way he looked so worried and all…" the nurse asked delighted.

"They're good friends…" Meilin said excusing herself as she enters the room, no longer minding if she interrupts Tomoyo's singing. She did not want to answer the nurse's question. She does not know how to do so. But she has an idea of how things are going.

"Meilin-chan!!!!" Nakuru squealed crushing Meilin with the tightest bear hug known to man.

"Good morning, Meilin-san," Eriol greeted upon sight of her, looking up from the morning paper he's reading.

"Good morning," Tomoyo greeted looking up from what she's writing, a sleepy Spinel Sun in her lap.

"Good morning. Did you have a good sleep?" Meilin asked escaping from Nakuru's killer hug and taking the vase and throwing the wilted roses in the trash bin.

Tomoyo nodded and returned to her writing.

"Hiirigizawa, I heard you dashed to the hospital like a madman last night, the nurses were asking about you." Meilin started replacing the water in the vase and placing the fresh flowers she brought with her.

Spinel and Nakuru looked at their master, curious.

"Oh that… I was quite in a hurry… a bit… worried…" Eriol mumbled trying to cover his face with the paper he's reading.

Meilin grinned.

"Where are Sakura-san and the others?" Eriol asked changing the topic.

"They'll be here later, they just need to run some errands," Meilin replied placing the flowers in Tomoyo's bedside table to which Tomoyo thanked her.

"By the way, the doctor allowed Tomoyo-chan to go out for Christmas with a nurse. I'm holding a small party for everyone in my house," Eriol said.

"That sounds wonderful, I'll bring some moon cakes at the party" Meilin asked seating by the sofa where Nakuru was now busying herself knitting.

"I'll be going out for some last minute shopping later this afternoon, is there anything you want?" Eriol asked politely.

"Cerberus is a monster, I suggest you get loads of sweets for tomorrow, about three times than normal," Meilin said with a laugh.

"And let them burn the house?" Eriol chuckled.

"I heard that Eriol-sama," Spinel said opening one of his eyes.

"And so did I…" Nakuru warned.

Eriol pretended to look guilty and to their surprise Tomoyo started laughing.

Eriol and Meilin watched her with amusement.

She was laughing. That was a good sign.

---

The day before Christmas Eve, the whole Hiirigizawa manor was bustling with activity especially the kitchen where Meilin, Sakura and Fujitaka are in charge. The rest were decorating the house with Christmas ornaments and making last minute preparations for the party.

"Tomoyo-chan?" Eriol peered at the library door. By the throne of evil was Tomoyo resting near the fireplace, her nurse, Sally reading her one of the entries in her journal.

"Mr. Hiirigizawa," Sally said looking up.

"She just fell asleep, sir." She said closing the journal.

"I see… the others are having a snack downstairs, why don't you join them? I'll watch over her for now," Eriol said taking the journal from Sally who followed as told.

"How about you sir?" she asked before leaving.

"I already ate, you go ahead," Eriol said taking the armchair Sally sat at earlier. Upon losing sight of Sally he turned his gaze to the sleeping Tomoyo in his so-called throne of evil. He smirked.

Tomoyo was a complete contrast to his throne of evil. As the name implies, his throne of evil is simply full of mischief and she was innocent – not to mention, beautiful and right now he is simply watching her in awe for no particular reason.

The realization sinking in his mind, he removed his gaze and turned to the leather book in his lap. Preoccupying himself he turned to the first page.

I fear.

I fear for life and death that it brings.

I haven't seen yet the world in its full glory and without me knowing my sun is already setting and bringing me to my end.

I cannot live though in fear, for it will spoil what little I have, depriving me not only what I cannot have but even what I have.

I've lost more than enough. I don't want to lose more.

For now, I'll simply believe and remember. A friend told me once, that forgetting is not really a big deal for it is for this purpose that the heart exists…

…To remember what the mind forgets...

My life may be evanescent but I wish my heart to be immortal…

Eriol froze. Something in him was aching and before he could further think he hugged the sleeping Tomoyo who awoke at his sudden action.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing… nothing's wrong…" he murmured burying his face in her hair.

---

The party was far better than expected. After the great feast they all had karaoke by the living room.

Spinel who got high with sugar created a fuss and sang Catch You Catch Me with Kero and to everyone's astonishment Yue with them. After the trio's song even Sonomi and Fujtaka are not spared.

Nakuru on the other hand chased Touya all over the manor insisting him to wear the sweater she knitted for him - which in Spinel's opinion looks more like a rag than a sweater. The chase only ended when Eriol brought out the strawberry cake Nakuru's been dying to taste, only to be furious upon realizing that Yukito had a larger slice.

It was by almost two in the morning when they retreated to their rooms and slept. They plan on going for some sight seeing the following morning and take pictures by the Big Ben.

"Did you have fun at the party?" Eriol asked tucking Tomoyo to bed.

"Yes, everything was lovely," Tomoyo said.

"Good night," Eriol whispered walking to the door only to feel Tomoyo's hand catching his.

Eriol looked at her quizzically.

"I love you," she whispered. His heart swelled.

"I love you too," he said giving her a peck on the forehead.

"I want you to be happy," she said still not letting go of his hand.

"I am happy – very much," Eriol replied with all sincerity.

"Then I'm glad," with that she let go of his hand and Eriol exited the room.

Losing sight of Eriol she then closed her eyes to oblivion.

Eriol who just walked out of the room did not know that it was goodbye.

Sai-chan: I guess, people got the impression that the fic is already through last chappie, sorry my mistake, it still has one more chapter to go. Extreme angst next, so please review!

Babylonianprincess: Not yet, in two more chapters, this one included. Thank you so much! Hope to hear from you again.

Amethyst sweet angel-chan: Thank you so much! Your reviews really make my day. I understand how you feel about school work and all, and some teachers can really get in one's nerves at times – have tons of them as well… anyway… I know you can do it!