Do You Remember

by Regina

Eriol Hiiragizawa

Tomoyo Daidouji

Chapter Eight:

Fiancee

Syaoran, Sakura and Eriol came to Tomoyo's house because of the 'emergency'. They were waiting inside her room for a while. The truth was, her mother called the four of them. She said she wanted them to meet someone. While the couple was secretly planning something for their two other friends, Eriol was already miserable on the inside. But he still kept his mask plastered on his face. But he smiled a little when Tomoyo came inside. But he almost lost it when she came there holding someone else's hand and was followed by her mother. The three of them sat with her friends. Syaoran dangerously eyed the man, while Sakura turned her gaze from Eriol to Tomoyo. The guy stood up and looked at Tomoyo for a while, and smiled for her. Eriol felt a little jealous of him. He was supposed to be the guy she was smiling at. "Good morning. I am Rei Hanabishi." He said. Syaoran stood up and eyed the man. "Since when did you meet?" he asked. "9 years ago." Rei said. "How come Tomoyo didn't tell us about you?" Sakura asked. "Ask her yourself." He told her. "Why didn't you tell us about Rei, Tomoyo?" Sakura asked her. "Well, I thought by that time, Hiiragizawa-kun would have already told you." She replied. "What! Don't you even trust me, Daidouji-san!" Eriol shot up from his seat, looking at Tomoyo with a look of disappointment on his face. "Don't worry, Hiiragizawa-kun. I was just kidding." Tomoyo said, and all of them laughed inside the room. Eriol was secretly dreading this moment. It was hard for him. Pretending to be happy. Forcing a laugh. But for Tomoyo to be happy, he would do almost anything. "Hey, does everyone want to go out to Priffle Princess Café, maybe?" Rei said out loud to inform everyone. Everyone nodded and they went outside the manor.

On their way to the Priffle Princess Café, Eriol was trying hard not to put his mask off, while Syaoran and Sakura are trying so hard not to feel sorry for Eriol. It's just that… he looks so left out. Their group was on all couple basis. Syaoran and Sakura, Rei and Tomoyo… and he is all alone at the back.

By the time they reached the Priffle Princess Café, they sat on a small table, ordered their desired drinks and talked about the upcoming engagement party.

"So how does it feel being engaged to my Daidouji?" Syaoran asked Rei. "It feels wonderful. It's just like getting married top Aphrodite." He replied. Tomoyo giggle at his comment and slapped his arm gently. "You flatterer." Tomoyo giggles. While Sakura was looking at Eriol and back to the couple. Syaoran was just about to ask another of his 'stupid' questions when Sakura elbowed him at his stomach. Tomoyo and Rei stared at the other couple weirdly. "What's wrong?" Tomoyo asked. "Nothing. Syaoran has a stomachache. Right, Syaoran?" Sakura asked. "No, I do…" Syaoran, hesitating to continue his sentence when he saw Eriol staring at his cup of coffee. "Hiiragizawa, is there something wrong?" he asked Eriol. Eriol woke up from his trance and saw that the other four were looking at him weirdly. "Of course I'm fine. Why shouldn't I be, anyway?" he asked back. "Well, it's just that, you've been staring at your cup since we got here." Tomoyo said. "Nah. It's nothing. I assure you that I'm just fine." Eriol told her. Tomoyo nodded and looked back to Rei who was smiling at her, sheepishly. Eriol's blood boiled. But he just can't tell her that, now, cant he?

After a while of talking, they finished their cups and got tired of the view. So Tomoyo decided to go to the Penguin Park.

Penguin Park

Tomoyo and Sakura sat on the swings while Syaoran pushes Sakura. And Eriol and Rei both watched them, leaning on a near cherry blossom tree.

"How long have you been Tomoyo's best friend?" Rei asked Eriol. "Two months ago." Eriol said. "That's lucky. I got to get to call her by her first name 3 years later." Rei said. "Really? You mustn't have noticed. Daidouji-san still calls me 'Hiiragizawa-kun'." Eriol said. "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that." Rei said. The both of them looked at Tomoyo's direction and got her attention. Well, at least Rei did. She smiled at the two of them and waved a little. They smiled back at her and continued their talk. "You know, there's something about you that makes me think you two have met long ago." Rei said. "Really?" Eriol said. Rei nodded and looked once again at Tomoyo's direction. "The way she looks at you tells me that she have once met you long ago. Long before I met her." Rei said. Rei looked at Eriol, while Eriol looked down. Rei smiled secretly to himself. Tomoyo approached the two of them and kissed Rei on the lips. Then Eriol started to remember that night.

Flashback

(After the talk of Clow and Rumiko)

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, he heard footsteps.

He approached Tomoyo right away and touches her forehead. And then a little light appears. 'You have to forget everything.' He thought. And then the couple came in.

End Flashback

Eriol sighed. Everything was Clow's fault. If he hadn't promised Rumiko, then this wouldn't have happened. 'Yeah, but it was his decision.' He thought. 'Yeah, but if Rumiko didn't get jealous then all of these wouldn't have happened.' He battled with himself.

"What are you thinking of, Hiiragizawa-kun?" Tomoyo asked him. "Nothing important." He replied. "Nothing important? You seemed very deep in thought back there." She said. "What I mean is, it is never supposed to be a problem to you." He told her. Tomoyo got out of Rei's embrace and faced him. "Why is that?" she asked him. "Just because." Eriol replied. Tomoyo showed him a face of pouting, which, he found very cute. "Oh, come on! Am I not your friend?" she asked him. "I am your friend. But sometimes, Daidouji-san, there are some things better not said." He told her. She smiled up at him and said, "Okay. But whenever you need to tell me, I'm just right here, okay?" she said. "Okay." He assured her. 'But I think that's not going to happen anymore, Daidouji-san. You'll have to spend more time with fiancé now.' He thought to himself.

"How about going back to Tomoyo's house?" Rei said aloud to everyone.

Tomoyo's House

Eriol was sitting there, with them, of course, but he was getting a little uncomfortable. Tomoyo snuggles with Rei. –No—make that a LOT uncomfortable. He was the only one without a partner in here! He knows Syaoran and Sakura were giving him worried glances. But that didn't stop him from staying there. He might be jealous and uncomfortable, but he was still Tomoyo's best friend and he needed his consent tonight whether to marry Rei or not. And he was going to support her decision. What will make her happy, then so be it.

He stood up, like that day in the garden, made everyone in the room look up at him. "What's wrong, Hiiragizawa-kun?" Tomoyo asked him. "Nothing. I just have to go now. I really need to go and feed my cat." He told her. "Is that so?" she said. She looked at Rei and asked him if they should let him go. And then suddenly, Rei stood up as well. "I'll escort you to the gates." he told Eriol. He nodded and said a little goodbye to Tomoyo and the other couple.

At The Gates

At the main gate, both of them stared at each other. It was dark… and raining. Unlike a while ago when Tomoyo was around. It was so quiet. Until Rei spoke up.

"So, do you approve of me?" he asked Eriol.

"Why are you asking me this?" Eriol asked him back.

"You are her best friend, am I right?" Rei asked.

"Of course I am." Eriol replied.

"Then, answer me. D you approve of the ceremony tomorrow?" Rei asked.

"Ceremony?" Eriol asked him.

"The engagement party." Rei answered him.

It was quiet again, for a while. Then the sound of thunder came.

…

Then his answer finally came.

"I approve."