Do You Remember
by Regina
Eriol Hiiragizawa
Tomoyo Daidouji
Chapter Five:
9 years later
"Hey, Sakura, you and Li are invited to the party tomorrow night at 7:00, okay? It's set on the 1830's or something. It's a mask ball." A 20 year old Tomoyo said. "Sure, Tomoyo. We'll be there." another 20 year old woman replied. "But why a mask ball?" Sakura asked Tomoyo. "Well, I don't know. I just want it to be. That's all." Tomoyo told her. "Daidouji-san, do you mind if I invite someone?" Syaoran asked her. "Sure." She replied. Then the couple went away after talking to Tomoyo.
It had been 9 years after that. About that letter. And the ring. That's right. Tomoyo doesn't remember Eriol anymore. 9 years they have deceived her. 9 years, she had forgotten someone who helped her cope with life. But at the same time, someone who made her best friend love someone who was suitable for her. But it doesn't matter. She doesn't remember him. And her feelings.
Tomoyo went inside the house and inside her room. She sat on her bed. And something gleamed on her finger. She raised her right hand to her eye's level. It was a ring. She doesn't even know who gave it to her. But Sakura and the others told her to always wear it. She stared at it very long. Perhaps she had amnesia? No way. If she had, then her mother and friends would have told her.
She laid herself on her bed and feel asleep.
The Next Night
"Hi, Tomoyo! Hey, nice outfit." Chiharu told her. "Thanks." She replied. The others came inside and slowly, the ballroom was getting crowded. But not too crowded.
Tomoyo walked everywhere inside the ballroom. Talking to people. Here and there. But these people. They are very kind. And then she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned around. She blinked twice when her face turned to a heaving chest. 'This guy must be really tall.' She thought.
The man bowed and offered his hand to her. "May I have this dance?" he offered. "Yes." She said. Then they went straight to the center, attracting so many people. But Tomoyo didn't seem to notice them. She was wondering as to who this man was.
"Excuse me, I don't want to be rude, but, did I invite you?" she asked him. "No. My cousin invited me." He answered. "Okay. Then perhaps, I invited your cousin?" she asked. "Yes." He said. "Oh. I remember someone telling me they'll invite someone else." She said. They continued to talk while dancing.
Meanwhile...
"Hey, Syaoran. Is it a good idea to let her meet him again?" Sakura asked her fiancé. "Sakura, it's about time they meet again. Besides, this is for their own good. It is Clow Reed's promise to Rumiko." He told her. "Yeah." She replied.
"But who may you be?" she asked him. "It is common sense not to introduce ourselves as to this is a mask ball." He said. "You're right." She said.
Then he looked at her right hand and smiled at her. " A ring?" he said. "Yes." She replied. "You might be tired. Do you want to come to the balcony with me?" he asked. "Sure." She said.
He took her hand and went outside with her. As they stopped outside, the cold breeze of the night blew through her. And he watched as her raven locks flew in the direction the wind goes.
"About this ring." She said which broke his train of thoughts. "I don't know who it's from. My friends, my mother, and servants, and the other people… told me not to take it off. I don't know why I shouldn't though. There were times when I want to throw it but then… there's something that's telling me not to. A woman's voice. And sometimes, a man's." she explained. "Really." He said. She looked at him and their eyes met. "Mr., I don't know about you, but… it seems like I met you long ago." She said. "It's just your imagination." He said, and had had a sad smile put on his face with her not noticing. "Yeah. Maybe you're right." She said. "You shouldn't take off that ring, then." He said. "Why not?" she asked. "It maybe important. Maybe someday, something will happen that it would be needed. Promise me you won't take it off." He said. "Sure. I don't know what's the big deal but, I'll try." She said.
After their 'long talk', they were called by the guests inside. Eriol opened the door for her… but closed it with enough time to let a part of her dress to get stuck on the door. She didn't notice so… it tore apart.
The Next Day
Tomoyo woke up late the next morning. As she stepped on the clean carpet on her floor, her phone rang.
"Hello? Oh, hey, Sakura! Visit here? Sure! You're bringing someone else? I would be more than glad to meet Syaoran's cousin. Okay, bye!" and she hang up. It means Sakura and Syaoran are coming to her house this morning. They are bringing someone else which is Syaoran's cousin.
Tomoyo opened the door for Sakura, Syaoran, and the other person. Who else would it be, anyway? "Good morning, Tomoyo!" Sakura and Syaoran chorused. "Good morning to you, too. Please come in." she replied. They went pass her but the other 'person' stayed there, standing. Looking at her. She turned to him and cocked her head to the side. "Aren't you coming in, Mr.," she said. "Eriol Hiiragizawa." He told her. He went inside her house and sat down with the couple. "Please go to the garden. I'll have Kaori bring tea and cake over." Tomoyo told them. The three went to the garden while she went to the kitchen and told Kaori to bring her tea outside. After that, she went there herself.
The four of them sat with the presence of comfortable silence. Until Sakura broke it. "Eriol-kun, this is Tomoyo. Tomoyo-chan, this is Eriol." She told the both of them. "I know." Tomoyo said. Syaoran and Sakura froze on their spot with what Tomoyo said. "How did you know?" Syaoran asked, making sure that Tomoyo was still wearing the ring. "He told me earlier." She answered. The couple relaxed. They thought she had taken off the ring. That means trouble for deceiving her for 9 years.
"There are so many flowers. You seem to like them, Daidouji-san." Eriol told her. "Yes. I like magnolia and violets as well. But I like cherry blossoms the most." She replied.
Then Tomoyo turned to the three of them. "Hey, guys, I danced with someone last night." She said. "Who was it?" Sakura asked. "I don't know him." Tomoyo answered. "What did he look like?" Syaoran asked. "Well, he wore an almost all black outfit. He also had pale skin. And when I looked through his mask, he has blue eyes. More like sapphire. But I like to call it 'azure'. Oh yeah, and he tore my dress." she said. "Tomoyo-chan, that was Eriol-kun." Sakura said, giggling at her best friend. Tomoyo ignored her best friend's teasing kind of laugh and turned to Eriol who was smiling innocently at her. "That was you, Hiiragizawa-kun?" Tomoyo asked. "Yes." He answered. "Oh." She muttered. The three of them laughed for a while because of Tomoyo speaking about 'the guy she danced with last night' which she didn't know was sitting beside her.
"Oops!" Eriol yelped. He 'accidentally' dropped his tea on Tomoyo. Tomoyo stared at her dress calmly. She stood up which made the three to look up at her. "I'm going to change my clothes." She said and went away.
After a while, she returned and sat down with them. "I do need a stroll around Tomoeda." Eriol said. "Sorry, Eriol-kun. But I have some things to do tomorrow." Sakura said. "I have a previous engagement." Syaoran replied. The couple turned to Tomoyo, waiting for her to say something. Tomoyo sighed and said, "If you need a stroll around here, Hiiragizawa-kun, I could show you around.". While Eriol and Tomoyo were talking about where to go tomorrow, the other couple shared looks with each other. 'Matchmaking time.' They thought.
The Next Day
Tomoyo waited patiently for Eriol at the swing o Penguin Park. He told her to meet him there tomorrow, 1:00 in the afternoon. It was strange, though. It was already 4:30 in the afternoon, and he wasn't here yet. Loyal and patient, isn't she?
Behind, her, she hasn't noticed a couple spying on her… so far. "Where is he, Syaoran?" Sakura asked him through a whisper. "I don't know. Let's call him." He said and took out his cell phone. He dialed Eriol's number and got frustrated when he wasn't answering. "Poor Tomoyo-chan. She's had been sitting there for more than an hour now." Sakura said. "If I see him tomorrow, I'll brake his nose." He whispered.
They looked to see if Tomoyo was still there on the swing. Thank god, she's still there. Then they noticed someone approaching Tomoyo. It was Nakuru.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Nakuru yelled and hugged Tomoyo tightly. 'Oh no! she doesn't remember!' she thought. "(Cough) Eriol-sama cannot come today, Tomoyo-chan. He suddenly had an emergency. Goodbye!" she said and ran away.
"Phew!" the couple chorused. "That's it! I'm going to kill him!" Syaoran yelled. "I knew it!" Tomoyo yelled when she heard Syaoran's voice. "I knew there was someone spying on me!" she yelled. "But Tomoyo, we were just worried." Sakura said. "Yeah. And he proved it. I'm going to kill him when I see him!" Syaoran yelled. "Don't worry, Syaoran… I'll kill him myself! 'Emergency' my foot! That's it! I hate him! I hate him!" Tomoyo yelled.
The couple just stared at her. They only saw her like this when she was really frustrated. When she was really mad. 'Well, there goes our matchmaking plan.' Sakura thought.
Later at Night
Tomoyo went outside to her balcony and stood there, watching the moon shine it's glory on her. Then she remembered what happened hours ago.
"(Cough) Eriol-sama cannot come today, Tomoyo-chan. He suddenly had an emergency. Goodbye!" the woman told her.
'He did that on purpose.' She thought. 'He's should have called if he wasn't coming! I hate him! I really, really hate him!' she thought. Then she stared at her ring again. But she was reminded by that night at the balcony. When Eriol told her some things. She shook her head and went inside her room.
She laid on her bed and fell asleep. But for some strange reason, she dreamed of it again. That woman. But she doesn't remember. Anything.
The Next Day
Tomoyo was standing at her balcony, talking to someone on her phone. "Hang out later? Sure. Okay. Bye!" she told the person on the other line.
Syaoran, Eriol, Sakura and Tomoyo were going to the amusement park together. Oh, what joy! Hiiragizawa will be there.
Later
Tomoyo waited for the three of them to arrive. She was always the first one to arrive. And surely, Sakura would be the last.
Someone touched her shoulder and she froze on her spot. It didn't feel like Syaoran. And she doubt it was Sakura. "Daidouji-san…" the person whispered behind her. She turned around and hit him with her bag. "That isn't the right way to greet a lady, Hiiragizawa-kun." She said. "Well, that isn't a way to greet a man either." He replied. "Sorry." She apologized. "Doesn't matter. I started it anyway." He said. "You should have called if you weren't coming!" she yelled at him. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he yelled as she hit him with her bag numerous times. When Tomoyo calmed down, she whispered, "I wonder where they are.". "Those two are the last. Sakura-chan is always late, though." He told her. "How are you suppose to know that?" she asked. "I just do." He answered.
Tomoyo looked at the entrance and saw a brunette coming their way. Sakura and her boyfriend. "Well, it's about time you two got here." Tomoyo said. "So, what do you want to ride, first?" Syaoran asked the group, ignoring Tomoyo's comment. "The roller coaster!" Sakura said. The other two nodded along. "Okay. But I get to sit beside Sakura." Syaoran said.
The four of them ran to the roller coaster. Tomoyo had no choice but to ride beside Eriol, of course. At the beginning of the ride, Eriol stared at Tomoyo when her camera popped out of no where. He watched her as she video taped the four of them. He looked at her when she wasn't. 'Same as before.' He thought. "HOOEEE!" Sakura yelped when the ride went faster. "Kawaii!" Tomoyo whispered. Eriol heard her, though. 'Way same as before.' He thought again.
At the end of their ride, Syaoran was already dizzy with spirals on his eyes. Tomoyo giggled at this. 'They are so cute, together.' She thought when Sakura helped Syaoran get out of the roller coaster.
The rest of the day was normal. Well, except for the fact that Eriol kept on getting to Tomoyo's nerves by pulling some pranks on her.
7:00 at night , they went to eat at a restaurant. They talked about some things which are not really important.
"Hey, Tomoyo, it's valentines day tomorrow. Any date?" Sakura asked. Since Tomoyo had so many suitors, it was impossible she had no date. "No one for now. I think I'll pass." She replied. "If there's someone, introduce him to us, okay?" Syaoran said. "Sure." Tomoyo replied. None of them noticed the look Eriol made when he heard this. "Yeah. If she does have a date." Eriol interrupted. Syaoran looked at him secretly smiling at his own comment. "Why Eriol? Are you jealous?" Syaoran asked. "Me? Jealous? Why should I be?" Eriol asked back. "I dare you to find a date until tomorrow! You should bring someone, Hiiragizawa." Syaoran said. "You bet!" Eriol said. "That's settled!" Sakura said. "Same time, same place tomorrow." Tomoyo said. "Wait! There's another dare," Syaoran said. "What?" Eriol asked. "Tomoyo should found you a date." He said.
Later
Syaoran and Sakura went to their separate homes which left the two alone.
"So, ready to find a date, Hiiragizawa?" Tomoyo asked. "You bet!" he said. "Great! You need some flowers and chocolates and then you can ask someone on a date!" Tomoyo said. She ran some where and came back with a bouquet of flowers. "What? Is that for me?" he asked. "Idiot. It's for your date." She said. "No need to be rude." He said. "Sorry." She replied. "And the chocolates?" he asked. "No need for chocolates, now! It's late! Now go ask some girls!" she said.
Tomoyo sat at the fountain waiting for Eriol to come back. It seemed so quiet and glowing with the moon shining on her. It seemed like a romantic scenery. Then she noticed Eriol coming back to her, so she stood up. "Found any dates?" she asked. "There were girls who flirted but I could tell they just lusted over me anyway. There were some who already had dates." He said. She looked down and looked away worrying what the consequence might be on their dare. Then she felt a hand touch hers. "Daidouji-san, would you be my date?" he asked softly. The people around them looked at them sweetly as if they were the cutest couple they had ever seen. The people around them approached watching the sweet scene, waiting for the girl's answer. But their face faulted when she answered, "What are you doing!". "I'm asking you out on a date. What else?" he said. The audience laughed at the couple at the middle and cheered when she said, "Okay." He could tell she was very annoyed. That's why he was very happy.
The Next Night: 6:00
"Where's Eriol? I told him to bring his date here." Syaoran said, getting frustrated. "Don't worry, Syaoran. Nothing bad will happen. But I'm worried about Tomoyo, though. She was never late before." Sakura replied. "It would be better if Eriol asked her out instead." He said. "I thought you assigned Tomoyo to found him a date on purpose so they could be together." She said. "I did do it in purpose." He said. "So what are you worried about?" she asked. "What if she found a date for him last night?" he said. "Don't worry. I doubt that." She replied when she saw Eriol and Tomoyo going their way.
"So you never did find a date." Syaoran said. "What are you talking about? My date's right beside me." Eriol replied. "Why are the both of you late?" Sakura asked. "He came to pick me up and I was still choosing an outfit so he had to wait for me." Tomoyo said. "So, where are we eating, anyway?" Eriol asked, changing the topic. "Come with me." Syaoran said. "Where are we going?" Sakura asked. "Going to eat at my condo." He answered. "Is your house romantic at his moment, Li-kun?" Tomoyo asked. "For tonight, yes. I asked Wei to cook for the four of us." He answered. "It's almost like he knew I was going to date with Hiiragizawa-kun." Tomoyo whispered to Sakura.
Syaoran and Sakura went to his car, while Eriol and Tomoyo to Eriol's car.
Syaoran's Car
"That was pretty close, Syaoran." Sakura said. "It's a good thing, though." He replied.
Eriol's Car
"Hiiragizawa-kun, don't you have this weird feeling? It feels like they already knew you were going to be my date." Tomoyo said. "You know my 'cute little descendant'." He replied. "Cute little descendant? What do you mean by that?" she asked. "Oh, nothing. Just a pet name." he answered. 'I have to be careful.' He thought.
The rest of their drive were quiet. Tomoyo was thinking of why he referred to Syaoran as his 'cute little descendant'. He was worrying that she might be suspecting something.
For not such a long time, they got to Syaoran's condo. But Tomoyo's seat belt can't be taken off. That's their problem. "Hey, is this another one of your pranks?" she asked, irritated. "No. you're just using enough strength." He said. He moved closer to help her take it off. But when he looked at her… 'When did our faces got so close?' they thought. Eriol didn't take notice of what he was doing. He just came closer to her. 'This is wrong.' Tomoyo thought. When his face was dangerously close to her, she said, "Umm, you know, they are waiting for us outside." "Oh. Sorry." Eriol replied. He looked at the seat belt and took it off quickly. He got out of his car and ran to the other side and opened her door. She stepped outside and took his offered hand.