Chapter 15: With Hiirigizawa Eriol

"Where are you going Sakura?" Tomoyo's question caught me off-guard. I looked at her questioning face and tried to smile. "I-er-I was just going out for a walk."

"Walk?" she raised an eyebrow. "Why today specially?"

"Oh, just like that," I blurted out, feeling extremely nervous. "It's a nice day isn't it?" I felt a bit guilty for not telling Tomoyo the truth, but she seemed overly suspicious for some reason. She turned her face away from me, frowning. I shrugged and picked Kero up from the floor. "Come on Kero, let's go."

As soon as I opened the door, I heard Tomoyo speaking to me. "I know where you're going Sakura. You're going to meet Eriol isn't it? He must have asked to act as a mediator between us or something."

I gaped at her. How did she guess? Oh well…I suppose everyone is not as thick as me…

Tomoyo had a calculating look in her eyes. "Since you are going to meet him anyway, tell him to stop taking others' help to talk to me. Can't he act like a man and do it himself?" I saw that even though she was frowning, her lips were twitching slightly upwards. I smiled at her, relieved that she wasn't angry after all. "I'll tell him that." And saying that, I stepped out.

I reached the meeting place to find Eriol already there, admiring the fountain in the middle of the park. Seeing him I had to admit that Eriol was very good-looking, and I even would have had a crush on him, if it weren't for the fact that he is so…weird. Well, he is, at least in my opinion. But I was happy Tomoyo's dating him-they make a very good couple, as Tomoyo herself is very…well, weird.

I giggled and that brought Eriol's attention to me. "What are you giggling at?"

I shook my head. "Nothing." He looked at me sceptically, and after a pause he said. "Hmm…I didn't think you would come, to tell you the truth."

"Why not? It's the first time I have seen you and Tomoyo fight- and that too because of me. I have to set matters right…even though I have no idea how."

At that he chuckled. "Well, you are right," he said, looking at me intently. "It was because of you that we fought, after all. You're responsible for this mess."

"What? Don't put all the blame on me." I immediately felt annoyed at him for saying that. "You were the one who started it with all the 'you're-obsessed-with-matchmaking' thing. You know, it was really rude of you to say that. After all Tomoyo just wanted what she thought was good for me. And god knows what else you said to her, to make her so upset!"

Eriol's eyes widened and he held up his hand. "Hey, calm down. I was just joking. I didn't mean it. I know it's my fault. I shouldn't have said those things to her." He looked shocked at my outburst, and, for a moment, so was I. I wasn't the type to get all offensive on someone, more of a laid back person.

I folded my arms. "So what else did you say to her?"

"I told you on the phone."

"Apart from that."

"Well, I said that for two people as thick as you and Syaoran, a little push (as she had put it) wasn't enough. More like a kick on the backside." He said with a mischievous grin.

"What?" Seeing the expression on my face he burst into laughter. "Sometimes I have to agree with Tomoyo- you are kawaii."

I blushed remembering Eriol's earlier statement. He had said it as if Syaoran and I were a predestined couple or something. I turned away and there were a few very awkward moments of silence. Finally I managed to say, "So, why did you call me here?"

"Hmm?" He seemed to have been suddenly lost in his own thoughts. "Oh, yes I…tell me- does Tomoyo know you're here?"

I bit my lip. "Umm…I didn't tell her."

"So I take it that she doesn't know."

"Well, she might…"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "I see, so she does know."

"I swear I didn't tell her. I don't know how but she guessed it on her own."

He smiled. "It's okay, I know she's smart." He remained silent for a while. "What did she say?"

"She-er-she said that-well-you should be a man and go and talk to her yourself."

He raised an eyebrow. "But I thought she didn't want to talk to me."

I shook my head in indignation. "You think a fight can be resolved through the phone? You've got to talk face-to-face, you know. I thought you knew that, since you pretend to be the ladies' man all the time."

He stared at me. Then suddenly he grinned. "So you're not so thick after all, are you?" I kept quiet, not knowing what to say. "Thanks. I needed that telling-off. I have been a jerk haven't I?" I nodded. "But your statement…that I pretend to be the ladies' man, let me correct you- I am the ladies' man." I rolled my eyes. "For instance I can make you blush right now." Before I could open my mouth, he took my hand and kissed it. And I predictably went as red as possible. "See?" he said with a superior smirk on his face.

I pulled my hand back. "Whatever. Just keep these charms for Tomoyo. Won't affect me."

"I know." He was again lost in thought for a moment before he grabbed my hand again. "Come with me." He said, walking off and pulling me behind.

"What? Where?"

"To my house."

I had to run to keep up with him, and with the corner of my eye I saw Kero trotting along behind. "Why?"

"I want to show you something."

It was the first time I had been to Eriol's house and the unfamiliar atmosphere made me feel a bit nervous. I sat on the sofa self-consciously. "So you live here all alone?"

"Yeah." He answered from the kitchen. "Sometimes it gets pretty lonely, but slowly you get used it."

I stood up and walked towards the kitchen. He seemed to be searching for something in one of the cupboards. "What are you doing?"

He looked at me and smiled. "I'm making tea."

"Tea?" I asked incredulously. "I don't need tea."

"Well, I do. I'll just make for myself then."

I blinked. "Umm…you wanted to show me something, right?"

"Hmm…yeah." He said distractedly and looked down at Kero, who was busy searching for something to eat. He bent down and picked up something brown from the floor and held it up questioningly. It was the stuffed bear.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Not again, Kero."

Eriol chuckled. He observed it for a moment. "You know, the story about the gypsy-woman giving it to me and all that 'perfect match' thing I told you about?"

I nodded, remembering.

"I made it up."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know, really. I just did, for some reason. Tomoyo's influence, perhaps."

I frowned in confusion. "So this- this isn't yours?" I asked pointing to the stuffed bear. He shook his head.

"Oh." For some odd reason, I felt disappointed. I turned away and spotted a picture of Tomoyo and Eriol cuddling. "Do you love her?"

Eriol seemed to be surprised at the sudden question. "Huh?"

"Tomoyo. I know you like her; she's your girlfriend. But do you love her?"

He stared at me for a moment before answering. "I- I don't know…maybe…" he paused for a moment. "Yes, I think I love her." He smiled at me and I smiled back, feeling happy for my sister, but at the same time, feeling slightly lonely. How I wished there was someone who'd love me like Eriol loves Tomoyo…

"Great, there's no milk. How am I supposed to make tea now?" Eriol's outburst shook me out of my thoughts.

"Er…"

"Look, I'll just go and buy some milk, okay? Do you mind waiting for some time?"

"Well…I'll just go back home now…"

"No, I still haven't shown you what I brought you here for." He smiled. "It will just take a few minutes. After all, I need to make it up to Tomoyo, don't I?"

I stared at the door, wondering at Eriol's sudden need to have tea. And what exactly did drinking tea have to do with making up to Tomoyo?

It was now more than 10 minutes since he had gone to buy milk. I sighed and went into the kitchen. Maybe I could start off myself. As I started looking for the necessary things, I heard the front door open.

I sighed in relief that he was finally back. I started walking out of the kitchen, when a familiar voice made me stop dead in my tracks. "Eriol? Are you in?"

No way, I thought desperately, don't tell me…

I came out hesitantly to find a pair of amber eyes staring at me. "Sakura?"

Oh no. Oh no. Now what am I going to do? What am I going to say? How could Eriol leave me here alone when he probably knew that he was going to come? How could he? Or perhaps, that's exactly what he had meant to do…

I bit my lip and looked up. "Hi…Syaoran…"