Do You Remember

by Regina

Eriol Hiiragizawa

Tomoyo Daidouji

Chapter Seven:

4 Days With You

A car drove to a rest house near the beach. And Tomoyo, who was inside, looking blankly outside the window. "Hey, Tomoyo, why are you so spaced out?" Sakura asked. "Oh nothing. I just feel so depressed. Rei just couldn't come with us today." Tomoyo said and sighed. That's right! The couple knows about Rei Hanabishi but they still have not seen him! "Oh, don't worry! I'm sure you could survive without each other for a day!" Sakura said. Just then, they arrived at the beach. Tomoeda beach. Tomoyo's mother owns the beach house so they have all the privacy they need. Sakura and Tomoyo went outside the car and together, they went running to the beach's shore. While the other two, Syaoran and Eriol, watched the ladies. "So, Hiiragizawa, you really don't intend on stealing her?" Syaoran asked him. "No. I don't want to make them unhappy. She looks very happy with her life, now." Eriol replied. "Well, I have to say, Hiiragizawa, I'm very proud of you." Syaoran said. "Well, we're not letting them have all the fun, right? Let's go!" Eriol said and run to the shores to play with the lovely ladies. "Hiiragizawa, I pity you." Syaoran whispered and then ran after him. After a while, Syaoran and Eriol left the Sakura and Tomoyo to put their things inside the house. But then, the two girls, bored playing around just the two of them, they also went inside, following the boys. "It's wonderful, Tomoyo!" Sakura said. "Yeah. Wonderful." She replied. They heard male voices coming from the kitchen and tiptoed to see what was happening. Sakura and Tomoyo took a peek to see Syaoran and Eriol trying to cook lunch for the four of them. When Eriol found the closet where the aprons were hidden, Tomoyo just had to stifle her laughter when his face was shown to her. "Hiiragizawa, hand me an apron, already!" Syaoran said. Eriol threw him one and Syaoran got to see why Eriol was shocked. "Are you kidding me?" Syaoran said, eyeing a girlish pink apron. "No, I'm not." Eriol said. "Well? Where's your apron?" Syaoran asked. "I'm not wearing any apron!" Eriol said. "Yes, you are!" Syaoran said and walked to the closet where Eriol discovered the hidden aprons. Eriol's face was a picture of horror when Syaoran smirked at him. Syaoran raised the apron he chose and ran to Eriol. But Eriol didn't run for it, too confused of what color the apron was, and was quickly tackled by Syaoran. When Syaoran got of him, he saw what color of apron. Lavender. Which made his thoughts come back to Tomoyo. "Hey, man! Are you going to help me cook, or what!" Syaoran yelled. "Okay, okay!" Eriol yelled back. "Come on!" Syaoran said. "Only for Tomoyo." Eriol muttered. The couple did not hear this. But since Tomoyo was a good listener, she got to hear it.

After a few minutes of failure, the girls decided to help them make their lunch. Tomoyo told Eriol something about, "You look great!" and gave him a thumbs up. The other three looked at Eriol and laughed along with Tomoyo. "Well, look who's laughing." Eriol mocked Syaoran. Syaoran looked at himself and realized that he was still wearing the pink apron. The boys blushed harder when the two girls laughed their all on them.

After 'teaching' the two boys how to cook, they managed to cook a whole fried chicken for their late lunch as to it was already 14:00. They all went to set the table outside the balcony. Sakura helped Syaoran prepare the table, while the other two were left at the kitchen. "Hiiragizawa, does it taste good?" Tomoyo asked. "What do you mean taste good? I didn't even take a taste of it, yet." He said. "Oh, is that so?" she said. She took a table knife and a fork from the cupboard and tried to put a small piece of chicken into his mouth. "Hiiragizawa, say 'ah'." Tomoyo said. "Daidouji, what are you doing! I'm not a child anymore!" he fumed. "Yes, I know. Pretend I'm the little wife, okay?" she said. "Little… wife?" he muttered under his breath. "Yes, little wife. So open your mouth and say, 'ah'." She said. But he still didn't move. Not a single muscle. It seemed like he was spacing out. So she took the opportunity to step on his foot. "Daidouji! What are you doing!" he yelled. Unfortunately, because he had his mouth open, she fed him the chicken and his mouth shut. "So, how does it taste?" she asked. "Good." He said. "That's nice. Clean up the mess we made, Hiiragizawa!" she said and took the plate of chicken and ran to the balcony. He was left, dumbfounded, until it all dawned into him. "Daidouji! Come back here!" he yelled.

The four of them, eating at the balcony, telling jokes, throwing compliments for the food. But then, Eriol asked a question which made the couple blush. "How many children are you planning to have for the coming future?" As the other two predicted, they did blush. Tomato like, I tell you. Tomoyo could only giggle at their childish acts while Eriol smirks. But then he turned to Tomoyo. "How about you, Daidouji?" Tomoyo smiled softly at him and said, "I'm not sure yet, Hiiragizawa. Not sure yet." Syaoran and Sakura stopped blushing and looked at Tomoyo. They have never noticed it before but every time the topic of babies came, she would just ignore them or engage another topic. "You never talked to your fiancé about it yet, Tomoyo?" Sakura asked. Tomoyo struggled for a moment and then said, "Well, I don't want him to think of staying in our bedroom, right?" she said. So dense, Syaoran and Sakura just laughed their head off while Eriol looked at Tomoyo knowingly. 'Later, we'll talk.' He whispered to her when the other two weren't looking. She nodded at him slowly. And they continue their chitchat.

By the time of 21:00, the four of them had decided to go to their separate bedrooms. Each of them is separated. The four of them said their good nights and went to their rooms. Eriol waited for the Syaoran and Sakura to close their doors. When they did, he glanced at Tomoyo's door but was surprised when it was already closed. He sighed and snapped his finger.

Tomoyo's Room

Tomoyo went to her balcony and gazed at the moon. She always did this. Since that day she felt like something was missing. She always did this to forget it. And then her problem about the topic of children… and Rei.

"Daidouji-san." Someone whispered. Tomoyo turned around fast and was surprised to see Eriol, standing there. She was certain she had locked the door. And she heard nothing. Not even a 'click' from the doorknob. "I see you're wondering how I got inside?" he asked. "Actually, I am. You better not be one of those who trespass houses! One some call a thief!" she said, and they laughed a little at her comment. But then, that was stopped when Eriol became serious. "But really, Daidouji. Why don't you want to talk about babies?" he asked, leaning on the railing beside her, savoring the sound of the ocean. She didn't answer. She just leaned her head on her shoulder and cried. He understood her feelings. But he doesn't know which reason. "What's the problem?" he asked. "It's Rei. He… he doesn't want any off springs." She sobbed again, after finishing her sentence. "Why not?" he asked. "He said a child would be just trouble. You see, he had a dark past, Hiiragizawa-kun." She said. "Does anyone else know?" he asked. "No one. I told no one else but you. Because you were the only one who asked." She said. "And you still love him even if he doesn't want to have off springs?" he asked. She didn't answer him. But he felt a weak nod on his shoulder. 'I'm doomed. Maybe Clow and Rumiko just weren't meant to be.' Eriol thought. He took Tomoyo's fragile body and made her stand by the railings. And he pulled her to his chest as a friendly comfort. "Do you want me to tell you a story, Daidouji-san?" he asked. He didn't hear an answer again so he just looked at the stars and continues to his story, anyway.

"Once upon a time, there was a sorcerer. Everyone was afraid of him. Because he was most powerful. He had the greatest magic powers one would want. He could do anything. Except make someone fall in love with him. He can't change feelings of those who hate him. Of those who despise him. So he just had to put up with those people. He liked parties. But he wasn't ever invited to one. Because the people doesn't want him there. So in one party, he wanted to know what might be there. It was safe. Because it was a mask ball. There, he met a lady. Everyone looked up to her. Everyone likes her. Maybe because she was beautiful, and she has a heart that would just lighten up everyone in a room. He likes challenges. So he asked this lady for a dance. And there, he fell in love. Since then, they became friends. And they began to see each other more and more. But then the lady's parents found out that he was the 'evil sorcerer' as people called him. So they tool her away from him. And then, years later, she came back and met up with him again. Her love didn't waver. But she saw that… he was fighting with other sorcerers. He was fighting. And he was also killing. She was so devastated with what she saw. And then she knew the reason her parents drew her away from him. So she killed herself, hoping to find true love through the next life. With him." He finished his story, and looked down at Tomoyo who was already sleeping in his arms.

"But then again… in the next life… I think they can never be together." He whispered to himself. He carried Tomoyo's body and went inside, to her room. And then he tucked her in bed. He gazed at her face. She was beautiful under the moonlight. "Is there a chance for Clow and Rumiko if the other doesn't remember anything?" he said to himself. "Eriol-kun, I didn't know you have a habit of talking to yourself." Someone whispered. He jumped with shock, seeing Sakura standing by the door. He didn't sense her aura. Sakura must be getting stronger. "It's just because of a silly thing people call love." He said, and snapped his fingers. E vanished through thin air. "Eriol-kun… if only you knew Tomoyo-chan's feelings before you gave her that ring." Sakura whispered.

Eriol's Room

"Looking at our situation here, I guess I'll just have to wait for you again in the next lifetime, huh, Rumiko?" he told himself. "Yo, Hiiragizawa." Someone said. Eriol looked at the direction. "Li? I didn't know you were here. Here in my room." Eriol said, sarcastically. "Come on, Hiiragizawa, spill. Do you honestly think there would be a next lifetime for the both of you? How are you sure of that? What if in the next life time, she would still find someone else?" Syaoran replied to him. "Look, Li! If I were to take action now, what would Daidouji think of me? That I'm a stranger, coming out of nowhere? And then I befriend her? And then I just steal her away from her fiancée! What should I do! I couldn't do anything anymore aside from watching her fall for Rei harder!" Eriol yelled at Syaoran, spilling everything that he was thinking of since they met again. Syaoran sighed and leaned back again at the door. "We should have never let you come back, Hiiragizawa." Syaoran said. "I can't just let her be like that. I just… I just had to see her again." Eriol said. Syaoran looked at him and sighed again. "What are you going to do now, then?" he asked. "I'll just… watch them." Eriol replied. "Suit yourself. Just make sure, Hiiragizawa… make sure everything will be just fine." Syaoran said, opened the door and went outside. "Everything will be just fine." Eriol muttered to himself.

Outside Eriol's Room

"What did he say to you, Syaoran?" Sakura asked her fiancé. "Sakura… do you want to help the both of them?" Syaoran said. "Sure. Anything. Just to make everything the way it was supposed to be." She said. "Then we have to do this on the engagement party. But for now…" Syaoran bent down to her and whispered to her what they're going to do.

The Second Day

"Hiiragizawa-kun! Be nice to us! We are girls, after all." Tomoyo said. "Yeah right." He replied. "Begin!" Syaoran yelled. Sakura threw the volleyball on the air and hit it fiercely. Syaoran hit it back to Tomoyo. Tomoyo hit it back and 'accidentally' hit Eriol on his face. "I didn't know Hiiragizawa could be stupid at times," Tomoyo said. "Daidouji, Hiiragizawa is always stupid! Even when we were on the 5th grade!" Syaoran said, smirking. Eriol and Sakura felt cold at the back of their necks when he mentioned something about their '5th grade' "Fifth grade? Li-kun, you studied here at Japan with Sakura and I." Tomoyo said, confused. "Ah, ahahahahaha… that was nothing, Tomoyo-chan. Syaoran-kun must have not slept well last night!" Sakura said. "But Sakura, why would Li not sleep well?" Tomoyo asked. "It's because Sakura and him were together last night!" Eriol said, pushing Tomoyo to the ocean. "Hey! Let's play in the ocean, instead!" Sakura said, cheeringly. So cheerful that Tomoyo just forgot about their previous situation. Syaoran walked beside Eriol and silently muttered, "That was not a nice excuse, Hiiragizawa." "Well, it is true, now, isn't it? Whispering to each other at the front of my door." Eriol replied. Syaoran mentally smacked his hand to his forehead. 'Damn! I forgot this ancestor of mine had magical powers too.' He thought. 'Well, I didn't know that my cute little descendant was forgetful.' Eriol thought back to him. Syaoran snickered at Eriol and thought, 'Stay out of my mind!' 'As you wish.' Eriol thought back to him. "Hey! Aren't the two of you going to join us?" Sakura told them. The two males smiled up at her and then Syaoran called out, "Coming!" and then he ran to the ladies who were waiting for them. While Eriol was just standing there… watching Tomoyo play with them on the water. Well, at least that's what he thinks. "Hey, Hiiragizawa, aren't you going to join us at all? Are you sure you're just going to stand there?" her voice said. He looked in front of him, and his eyes went straight to stare at her eyes. And he had to fight the urge… to kiss her. "Of course I am." He reached his hand to her as an offer. And she took it. As friends. 'Before I met you, I never knew what happiness is.' He thought. Syaoran and Sakura, who were behind them, watching them, exchanged worried glances. "Hey! You to get your buts here!" the couple chorused. "Coming!" the other two yelled back.

After playing in the water, of course they got tired. And they retired to the living room after they finished from the shower. The four of them, sitting there, doing nothing. Nothing but staring at each other. "Hey, what do you guys want to do now?" Sakura asked. "I don't know. What about you? Any ideas?" Syaoran asked back. "What time is it, anyway?" Eriol asked. "It's already 6 pm." Tomoyo said. "I know! How about we go out for dinner?" Sakura said. "That's a nice idea!" Tomoyo said. "Get dressed, you guys! We're going out!" Sakura said. The other two groaned. Ladies just loves to dress up, now, don't they?

At The Restaurant

"We made a reservation." Syaoran said. "What is the name, sir?" the waiter asked. "The reservation is after Ms. Tomoyo Daidouji's name." Syaoran told the waiter. "This way ladies. And sirs." The waiter said. They went to a private room. But was surprised to see only one table. "Um… there must have been a mistake. I reserved for four people. In one table." Tomoyo said. "Sorry. But there are only two rooms left. Each with one table. We are very sorry, ma'am. We thought it was a one on one." The waiter said. Tomoyo sighed and said, "That's fine." "So I guess I'll go with Hiiragizawa?" Syaoran said. "No! You're going to go with me!" Sakura told Syaoran. "But what if Hiiragizawa tries something?" Syaoran reasoned to Sakura. "Do you think of me as someone who would do something like that?" Eriol asked Syaoran. "Hiiragizawa, if that person is you, I would never doubt it!" Syaoran said. "Hey, guys! We're disturbing the silence in here!" Tomoyo fumed. "Tomoyo-chan's right. See you later then, you two!" Sakura said. "Hiiragizawa! Don't try something funny!" Syaoran mocked Eriol. "Don't worry! I'll never do something like that to Daidouji-san." He replied, as the couple went inside the room. "The other private room is this way, sir, ma'am." The waiter said, sweat-dropping.

They arrived there, only a few steps away from the previous room. The waiter opened the door for them and closed it once they stepped in.

"Well, this room has a nice view, now, doesn't it?" Tomoyo said. She looked beside her only to see Eriol, looking at her in such a way she did not want to see a man to look at her. "Hiiragizawa-kun… why are you looking at me like that? What is it? Is there something on my face?" she said, to lighten up the atmosphere. But he didn't help one bit. He advanced to her until they were face to face. The dimmed light from the candle made it a little romantic. And Tomoyo did not like it one bit.

He cupped her face with his right hand and placed his left hand on her waist. He whispered to her ear, "Dance the last time with me." And he swayed her there, in the room. With no music. "Hiiragizawa-kun, aren't you acting a little bit too weird lately?" she asked. "I don't act weird. I'm normal. Well, at least that's what I think. What do you think about me? Do you think I'm normal? Or is the other way around?" he asked. "Hmm, actually, no. I find you quite normal. After all, all people are different. No two are the same, right?" she said. "Is that so? I'm glad you think that of me." He said. She leaned back a bit to see his face. "Why are you asking me these questions, anyway?" she asked. He stopped waltzing her around and looked back at her. "Don't you know?" he asked her in a pained voice. "Know what?" she asked, slightly feeling her knees getting weak. "I have met you before," he said. Both of their eyes darkened and a symbol from the ground showed below them. "Rumiko." He continued.

"Hey, Syaoran, did you feel anything?" Sakura asked. "What are you talking about? It's just the two of us here. Let's just enjoy it." Syaoran told her. "Yeah, you're right. I'm just being paranoid." She said.

The glow from below them disappeared, slowly. And both of them opened their eyes.

"It's been a very long time, Clow." She said. "Yes. A very long time." He replied. "How many decades has it been, Clow?" she asked. "I don't know. It had been too long, Rumiko. Too long." He said as he embraced her tightly. "What will happen now?" she asked. "Well, with Tomoyo engaged to another person, I'd say we'd just have to wait for what will happen." He said. "And what if Tomoyo and Eriol doesn't end up together in the end? What are we supposed by then?" she asked. "I'll just have to reincarnate again." He said. "Until we get together?" she asked. "Yes. Until we get together. But hopefully, this would be the first and the last." He said. "Okay." She said. "How about we say goodbye for now, again?" he asked. "But we haven't seen each other for a long time now." She said. "You can wait until then, now, can you?" he asked. "Okay. For you, I'll wait." She said. And then, they sealed their first meeting for a long time with a kiss. And the light below them, appeared again.

"Syaoran, there's something wrong." Sakura said, worried. "I know. Let's go." He said. He grabbed her hand and dragged her outside to the next room.

Eriol and Tomoyo opened their eyes and Tomoyo had to push him away with fright. Eriol got surprised with her sudden action and it suddenly sunk in his mind why. The two of them looked down at the floor, confused. When Eriol was about to apologize, the couple barged in. and the two of them looked the couple.

Syaoran looked at the both of them, taking in the looks in their faces and then he asked, "Okay, spill. What happened in here!" "Nothing." Eriol said, emphasizing with the sway of his hand what he was saying to him. Sakura went over to Tomoyo and asked her what's wrong but she just smiled up at her and also said nothing. Sakura looked at Syaoran worriedly. And then Eriol walked to Syaoran and whispered to him, "I think Clow came and took a little bit of my time." Syaoran's face darkened and muttered, 'Stupid ancestors. They never do anything right.' Tomoyo looked up at everyone with a happy face and said, "Let's just go to the park, then, everyone. I'm sure it's much more comfortable there." Everyone nodded and apologized to people who heard the quarrel from inside the room.

Penguin Park

Tomoyo and Sakura sat on the swings and talked lightly. While Eriol and Syaoran leaned on the tree, near the swings. "So, tell me, what really happened in there, Hiiragizawa?" Syaoran asked. He waited for Eriol to speak for himself. "I don't really remember anything, you know? But I suspect Rumiko and Clow talked." He said. "And why were the two of you gaping at each other when we came in?" Syaoran asked. Eriol sighed and said, "He kissed her." Syaoran looked at Sakura for a while, and took a look back at the dark sky. "What did she say to you?" Syaoran asked. "Nothing." He said.

The Third Day

Eriol lay in bed that morning. He wasn't able to sleep. He was too busy thinking about what would Tomoyo think of him now. What would their reaction to one another be like? Are they still going to stay as friends? Or are they back to strangers, now? Massaging his temples with his fingers, he got up, got a shower, and got dressed. And then he hesitated if would go them and meet them for breakfast. But then his hand just groped the doorknob and opened it.

He walked to the kitchen, to see who was cooking breakfast today. To his dismay, he just has to deal with Tomoyo because they were alone in the kitchen. Or should he just pretend to go up his room, again?

He turned his heels to go up his room again but then he was stopped. "Stop right there, mister! Help me cook in here!" he turned to look behind him, to see Tomoyo, glaring at him. He sighed and went beside her. "What are you cooking, anyway?" he asked. "Pancakes. What else?" she said. "And what can I do to help you, now?" he asked. "Set the dining table, of course! I'm sure Syaoran and Sakura will be down any minute." She said, as she continued cooking the pancakes.

As he arranged the table, he glances at her, now and then, until Syaoran and Sakura went inside. "Good morning." The couple greeted. "Good morning." Eriol and Tomoyo said. Syaoran, Sakura and Eriol sat down and Eriol looked at Sakura's smiling face so early in the morning. "Why are you smiling like that, Sakura-san?" he asked. She giggled a little before she answered him, "It's nothing, really. It's just that… you and Tomoyo sounds like a newly wed couple." Eriol got frightened at what she said because Tomoyo might remember what happened last night at the restaurant. But when he looked at her, she was acting as if nothing happened. She was still beaming with that angelic smile of hers while he was already panicking. She sat down beside him and then he dreaded it when she looked at him with worry. "Is there anything wrong, Hiiragizawa-kun?" she asked. "N-no! Everything is just fine." He said.

As the day went on, they didn't really do anything but to talk, sitting by the seaside. Until it was dawn. Yes. Until they saw the sunset. Well, actually, it was only Eriol and Tomoyo because the couple decided to go inside for Sakura is getting cold by the ocean's breeze. And the other two, staying beside one another. Was already enough. Well, for one of them, at least.

"Ne, Hiiragizawa-kun, what do you think of Rei?" Tomoyo asked. "I don't know. I haven't even met him before." He said. "Well, I have told you some stories about him, right? So what do you think of him?" she asked. "I don't know. What do you think?" he asked back. She thought for a second and looked at the setting sun in front of them. "Well, he's kind, he's gentle, and he's handsome. And loyal." She said, smiling. Eriol cursed himself for asking that question. He stood up, and told her, "Let's go inside. It's getting dark now." She nodded and went inside with him.

The Fourth day

(The Last Day With You)

Eriol stared at the ceiling. He was already dreading it. It was his last day to spend with Tomoyo. It was very fast for him. It was like only yesterday when they met. Once the second time around. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in!" he said. "Hiiragizawa-kun. There had been an emergency. We have to go back to Tomoeda. Now." Tomoyo said, and closed the door without waiting for an answer. He stared at the door, now. He knew he was going to meet her fiancée.

Tomoeda

Eriol was now getting conscious. He was panicking. All of them were in the living room, waiting for Tomoyo to speak up when someone else entered. "Good morning. My name is Rei Hanabishi."