Disclaimer: sigh... It's not like I own CCS...

Author's blabberings: (Geez, onii-chan, stop bothering me! Manahimik ka naman!) Mou! My computer has done it again! It crashed once again... (I told you we should buy another one!... What do you mean, we can't?... It's not fair! Why do I have to share with onii-chan?) So, anyway, I'm starting to get frustrated. I haven't got a voice and I couldn't sing! I couldn't even shout at my dear brother... Anyway, thanks for my wonderful, superb and sugoi reviewers who never fails to amaze me. (You still read this? says my very nice and very sweet brother)...

Sparkling-ruby: Is it fun to be the youngest? Depends on what type of older sibling you have (too bad i got 4 very mean brothers! I wish i could've gotten an older sis...) Anyway, I've got a soon-to-be-lawyer brother (alexander), a sweet-gentleman-but-playboy brother (daryl), a laconic, walking snowman brother (lexus) and a very annoying, very irritating one whose hobby is to tease me to death (leander)... You call that fun?

Majah: Sorry for the errors... My brothers were too busy to proofread it... Sorry again... Anyway, yes, they affect me alot since, after all, they are older and wiser (i don't think that applies to kuya leander) and nicer (again, that doesn't apply to leander)... How old are you anyway? They 24, 21, 19, 17... And i'm 16.

Gurla-aya: Yes, Hiiragizawa-kun has a "girlfriend" (evil cackle) You just have to read to find out!

Anyway, that's all for now... I still need to visit my very cute, handsome and youngortholaryngologist (is this correct?). If anyone's curious what that means, it's an ENT.

Ja for now...

CHAPTER 6: AGE DIFFERENCES, POWER SUIT CRISIS AND FRUSTRATIONS IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM

"Here's your daily dose of paperwork!" Nakuru chirped brightly as she deposited a stack of folders on top of Tomoyo's desk. The young woman groaned and stared helplessly at the stack before burying her head in her arms. "Cheer up, Tomoyo-chan! Soon you'll be the president and Eriol won't have the power to torture you anymore!"

"I doubt that…" the girl mumbled in reply, letting out a sigh. "Which reminds me, where is Hiiragizawa-kun?"

"He's at the cafeteria but he told me he'd be up in a while," the auburn-haired girl replied nonchalantly. "Anyway, Syaoran wants to thank you for giving him Sakura-chan's number. So that's why he's grinning the past few days!"

Tomoyo smiled. "Tell him he's welcome!" She then winked conspiratorially at Nakuru. "Sakura-chan kept asking me about Syaoran-kun so I couldn't resist giving him her number."

"Do I smell matchmaking here?" Nakuru said slyly and the two girls laughed.

After a while, the door opened and Eriol stepped in with a mug of coffee for him. Nakuru waved at Tomoyo goodbye then bounded out the room ever so cheerfully, patting the younger man on the head. Tomoyo sat up straight and peered at him as he sat on the couch, picking up a new business magazine and reading the headline. It was his office, yet he's letting her use it for the sake of their lessons. It was very, um, nice of him, if anyone asked her. He watched him lean back on the seat and drank his coffee.

"Don't I get one as well?" she asked.

"Hmm?" He turned his eyes towards her.

"I asked if I could get coffee as well…" She sighed and pulled the top folder from the stack. "Don't I get a break or anything?"

"You've just started," he replied calmly.

"Well, I've been sitting here since who-knows-when!" she retorted, starting to balance the sums, her calculator beeping every second. She was quiet for a little moment, trying to make sure everything was properly reviewed, before turning to him. "Ne, Hiiragizawa-kun?"

"What is it?"

Tomoyo looked up at him, placing her chin on her palm. "I've been wondering…" she said slowly. "You look just like my age yet you act like a grumpy, grouchy old man who'd live for a hundred years. Are you reincarnated or what?"

Eriol snorted and deliberately ignored her.

"No, seriously, Hiiragizawa-kun," she said lightly. "I'm really curious about your age. How old are you?"

"Did you know it's really rude to ask people these kinds of questions?"

The raven-haired heiress looked thoughtful. "All right, let's find out, shall we?" She raised a hand and started ticking off her fingers. "You start college at 17 and Business Administration and Accountancy usually take 6 years, if you take them together. Then you need one year for your internship and another for you recommendations and work experiences." She wordlessly ticked her fingers one by one. "So, roughly… You're probably 29 or 30."

"I am not that old, thank you very much. I'm only 25," he told her flatly, walking to his small ref.

Tomoyo stared at him and started mental calculations again. "You're kidding right?" she asked apprehensively. "I mean… That can't be possible, you know. You usually start to work after you graduate and in your case, it's supposed to be at 22 or something."

"Sure it is," he answered, shrugging his shoulders. "I started working here during summer of my second year then the corporation volunteered to be my internship company during my third year. Madam Daidouji then officially hired me after I finished my course after 4 years. Li was then hired a year after me."

"Just four years? I'd say you've done a pretty good job," she said pointedly, sounding really impressed. "I mean, you seldom get to see CEOs who are only 25 years old." She then sighed, tapping her pen on her paper. "Which reminds me again that I really miss my school right now."

Eriol raised an eyebrow at her before settling back on the couch. "I've never met anyone who's as addicted to studying as you."

"I'm not addicted!" she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Besides, there's nothing wrong in wanting to learn more! From the tone of your voice, it seems you never liked school."

"It's not that I didn't like it," he rebuked. "Anyway, if you like learning very much then why don't you try to be serious when it comes to your training?"

"I'm only serious when the topic is interesting enough." She grinned at him, knowing where it'd lead to again. "Unfortunately, our topic on how to rule a corporation and be a tyrant to your employees isn't interesting enough to motivate me to work."

Eriol scowled at her. "Very convenient."

She grinned then returned to her paperwork, starting to work enthusiastically. "I know!"

A week has passed since Eriol's great feat of sleeping at the airport for 10 hours, something that Tomoyo and Syaoran had always mentioned at least once a day. In that span of time, Syaoran had grown closer to Sakura through their phone conversations, Nakuru had finally realized how much calories she was taking in daily and Tomoyo had at last got the hang of her dull job, much to Eriol's relief.

"You want me to meet them? Tomorrow?" Tomoyo echoed as she searched for a proper and stylish business suit for her. Eriol had volunteered to come with her so he could at least check what type of clothes the young woman was going to buy. Apparently, he still doesn't trust her when it comes to clothes.

"Can you do it?" Eriol asked her.

"I don't know…" Tomoyo picked out two suits from the rack and showed it to him. "Is the red okay? Or should I go with the blue?"

Eriol rolled his eyes. "Is choosing the color of the suit a matter of life and death?"

She stuck out a tongue at him, returning the clothes. "I don't understand why you businessmen had to don those stiff-looking clothes," she commented, sounding exasperated. "I mean, no style, no chic. If I become President, I'll change the dress code!"

"You can't," he told her impassively. "The suit is like a symbol of formality. It defines that we do not joke about things."

"Yeah, I know. You couldn't even take a joke well!" She sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "I'm not used to wearing these kinds of clothes… I'd look…" She shuddered. "Boring! It's just not my style!"

Eriol raised a dark eyebrow at her. "If you're complaining too much, then wear something semi-formal in solid colors."

"Hmm…" She looked deep in thought for a moment then snapped her fingers. "You know, I didn't think that would come out from the likes of you." Eriol stared at her reproachfully. "But then, you just gave me a great idea! I'm glad you suggested it!" She took his hand and started dragging him. "C'mon! You'll be my boyfriend for the day!"

"Do I have to!" Eriol whined as the girl held a death grip on his hand.

"Of course you have to! You're my boyfriend for the day!"

Eriol never had a girlfriend all his life. Not because he's not good looking. On the contrary, girls flocked him like bees flock honey. He's just too busy with study and work that he never had time. That's why he always tries to distance himself when it comes to women because he didn't know how to act in front of them. Of course, only when it to business matter does he starts to become comfortable with women.

"Okay, how do I look?" Tomoyo asked him, stepping out of the dressing stall.

"Er…" He surveyed her, head to foot. "Do you really want my honest opinion?"

She hesitated. "Is it really that bad?"

"No, but…" He let out an exasperated sigh. "What am I supposed to comment?"

She pouted at him, realizing what he's trying to imply. "Hiiragizawa-kun, is that the way to compliment your girlfriend?" she said dryly. "If I'd known you better, I'd say you never had a girlfriend all your life!" Eriol suddenly looked away, colors creeping up to his neck. Tomoyo's eyes widened and she stifled a laugh. "Hah! I didn't know that!"

"Shut up!" he snapped. "There's nothing wrong with that!" He now positively resembles a ripe tomato under the burning sun.

She laughed softly behind her pale hand. "I know. I never had a boyfriend either, but I least I know how to get along with guys!" He scowled at her deeply and she shook her head. "No wonder you never got a girlfriend. You may be a winner in the good-looks category but you're way low on the personality category."

"What the heck does that mean!"

"It means that your cuteness isn't really an asset since your personality stinks," she said bluntly, walking back into the stall. Suddenly, she stuck out her head between the curtains, grinning adorably. "Don't worry! I still see you as a cute but grouchy guy who knows nothing except torture other people!"

Eriol blushed at her words. Obviously, the cute part got him. "Just shut up!" he snapped again.

Tomoyo pulled back her head and started changing. "Ne, Hiiragizawa-kun?"

"What is it!" he asked impatiently.

"Do you know how to kiss a girl?"

"What kind of an inquiry is that?"

She shrugged. "I was just curious…"

Cyrus drove his Mistress the next day to the tower as ordered by Eriol himself. Tomoyo, wearing a pair of black slacks, black stilettos and a sleeveless turtleneck white top, combed her long hair. She had to act more lady-like, more graceful, more poised. In short, every bit like a President.

Eriol was waiting for her in the lobby. He surveyed her clothes for a minute then nodded. "I see you're getting better in choosing what to wear."

"Yeah?" Tomoyo pulled at the collar of her blouse. "I was thinking of wearing a sundress…" Eriol face-faulted. "Only I voted against it since you might wreck havoc and destroy the corporation. Not that I don't want that to happen."

"The sundress suits you just fine," he said as they stepped in an elevator. He pressed the button with the number 39. "But you'll soon be a respected member of the society. You should learn to be formal."

"That would be boring!" she replied nonchalantly. "If I become a respected member of the society—" She used her fingers to emphasize the phrase. "—I'll always be watched like a microorganism in a laboratory! I don't like being watched and stalked."

"It's not that bad. You get a lot of privileges."

"Like what?"

"Like respect and reverence. You will be regarded with esteem and admiration. In short, almost everyone will worship the ground you walk!"

"Almost!" she pointed out. "While the rest would want to put a bullet through my head." She shook her head. "I've been considering this since last night. Being an important person may have its privileges but it comes with your life on the line!"

"You're too pessimistic!"

"I'm not! Did you know that many influential people die early, not because of assassination?" she told him and Eriol looked confused. "Rich people tend to think that their lives are always in danger so they don't sleep, afraid that they might be attacked, nor eat, afraid that they might be poisoned. Add their usual workload and you get fatigue and insomnia."

"Then these people would worry about their insomnia," she continued nonchalantly, bobbing her head as if listening to music. "They worsen their situation by not sleeping and only thinking of their problems. Their physicians and doctors give them pills, not knowing that these also drain their energy, physically as well as mentally. Soon, these people grow insane, malnourished and paranoid. Soon, they either jump to their deaths, hit by a car or die in sleep."

Eriol stared at her, trying to digest what she just said. "I'd say that was pure rubbish but you had almost convinced me," he said and she grinned. "Where do you learn things like that?"

They stepped out into the carpeted hallway and walked to the only door at the end of the corridor. "Touya-kun is a good teacher," she replied, turning to him. She raised her hands and started fixing his tie.

"What are you doing?" he asked, trying hard not to sound flustered.

"Don't worry, ice blue eyes, I won't strip you naked," she said, giggling. "I just want you to look perfect so the board people would be impressed!" She patted his chest.

"I'm not—"

"I know…" She stepped in as he opened the door for her. "I know."

"Good to see you again, gentlemen."

Eriol pressed his lips together as he surveyed everyone from his position at the head of the table. All the 20 board members were there, looking at him expectantly. Tomoyo looked paler than usual as she sat on his right hand. Beside her was Li Syaoran and opposite him was Nakuru Akizuki. On his left was Kaho Mizuki, a brown envelope under her arms on the table.

"All right, shall we start?" Eriol said evenly and the members nodded, finally getting down to business. "As we all know, our dear President passed away 3 weeks ago, and since then, we were business as usual even without a President." He glanced at them, briefly meeting their eyes. "When she died, she left a will to her lawyer, Mizuki Kaho."

A fuss erupted at the table. Eriol saw Syaoran placed a protective hand over Tomoyo's. He sighed and held up a hand. Silence immediately ensued. "Shall we continue?" His voice was firm and authoritative. "All right, why don't we let Mizuki speak and explain the will to us so we could understand it more clearly?"

Kaho stood up, the envelope in her hands. "In here is the original copy of the holographic will written by Madam Daidouji herself. Her signature had been authenticated by another lawyer aside from me." She pulled out the will, written on a legal-sized white paper, and raised it for everyone to see. "She had written 3 conditions. First, only I, Mr. Eriol Hiiragizawa, Mr. Syaoran Li and Ms. Nakuru Akizuki are to be informed of this will. No one, aside from the other person inside this will, is to know about its contents."

She glanced at them. No reaction for now so she continued. "Second, she leaves all her assets, estates, establishments and properties under her biological daughter, Tomoyo Amamiya Daidouji, who is currently living in Tomoeda, Japan with the President's cousin-in-law, Kinomoto Nadeshiko."

Kaho was about to continue when a young man stood up abruptly, slamming a fist on the table. Tomoyo eyed his messy dirty-blond hair and blood red orbs. Quite unusual color of eyes, she mentally noted. "This is preposterous! How can she leave everything to an anonymous girl? She had an illegitimate child we didn't know about?"

"I am not an illegitimate child!" Tomoyo burst out, standing up as well and glared back at him defiantly. The young man looked quite taken aback but he regained his composure once more.

Eriol placed a hand on her shoulder gently. Tomoyo reluctantly sat back down, still glaring at that nameless man. "Sit down, Evans. She's not an illegitimate child. We can prove that using the blood tests of her, Madam Daidouji and Sir Kotarou." He frowned at him. "Besides, you are in no place to argue. After all, you have neither connection nor relation whatsoever to Madam Daidouji."

The young man sat down, glaring daggers at Eriol.

"And Mr. Evans, your reaction would've been perfect if you had done it after the third condition," Kaho said acidly before continuing. "Anyway, for the last condition, before someone rudely interrupted me, states that the position of President will be handed over to Tomoyo Daidouji as well. Anyone who contradicts or refuses to accept the conditions of this will shall be forced to resign immediately. Any of their stocks will then be again bought by the corporation or auctioned."

There was deathly silence all over the room. No one spoke nor reacted. There were no murmurs, no whispers. The silence was more deafening than a girl screaming. Tomoyo wondered if she could actually hear a pin falling. Until…

"To an ignorant child?" one of the men exclaimed quietly but Eriol heard him all the same.

"She is hardly an ignorant child, Mr. Bryant, I assure you that," he said in his authoritative tone. "When we found her, Ms. Daidouji is currently finishing her second degree. I think you should've told that comment to one of the board members." His gaze transferred to Evans who was still holding a glaring match with him.

"Are you insulting me, Hiiragizawa?" the young man shot angrily.

"In not so many ways."

"But, Mr. Hiiragizawa, she is just a child. We can't just entrust the corporation to a child."

Eriol looked sharply at the man who commented. "Well, for your information, Ms. Daidouji, a child maybe in your eyes, is very capable in handling the corporation. She is excellent in decision-making and considers everyone's well-being. I'd say she's best-suited for this job."

"I can tell," Evans scoffed. "It's not really that obvious. I've almost forgotten you're in the same plane as her."

Eriol's eyes narrowed at him and turned into ice again. "What the hell are you implying?"

"What I'm saying is you are also chosen by Madam Daidouji, placed in that position, were you not?" the blond sneered. "Were you not criticized as well because of your age being placed as CEO? No wonder you sympathize with her."

The dark-haired young man forced himself to calm down so as not to create bloodshed in the room. Not that he wanted Evans to go out of this room without a mark. Au contraire, he wanted Evans to go out with a limp. But then, he didn't want the new President to be traumatized by the event.

"Well, from my opinion, at least I did something that benefits the corporation," Eriol said in retort. "Obviously, you must have forgotten about that deal I got from Mr. Allen. How much was that again? 150 million dollars?"

Before any more insults and invective were thrown, Tomoyo stood up again. "Look, I know I don't seem to be type who'd become President of a large corporation but I'm trying my best. I've been working hard everyday, trying to learn the basics in handling the reins of the company," she said, looking at each of them. "But give me a chance to prove myself. I admit I'm still not good but if we work together, we can do great things. I'm sure that's what my mother wanted. She wanted us to cooperate, not argue."

No one said a word except for the silver-haired young man. "Yes, I definitely agree with her, don't you, gentlemen?" he said smilingly.

One by one, the men nodded in agreement. "She's right. We can make a difference." "She may be young but her wisdom is beyond her years." "Spoken like a true Daidouji."

"I'm impressed on how fast people change their opinions," Eriol said dryly to Syaoran. Kaho gave him a sharp jab on his side and he glared at her. "What?"

Kaho gestured quietly at Tomoyo who was smiling and blushing at the compliments. "Introduce her now!" she hissed.

Eriol stood up and cleared his throat. "Right, now that everything's settled, let me introduce to you formally our new President, Tomoyo Amamiya Daidouji."

There was a loud applause and many stood up to shake the young President's hand. Eriol adjourned the meeting and Evans was the first to get out of the room, wearing a very ugly look. The silver-haired man was the last.

"That was very well said, Ms. Daidouji," he said pleasantly, his smile very warm and brotherly. Almost like Touya's. "I look forward working with you sometime." With that, he left them, briskly walking out of the room.

"Who was that?" Tomoyo asked after the door had swung itself shut. "He seemed nice."

" Tsukishiro Yukito. One of the few decent and real guys in this place," Syaoran replied, grinning. "Hah! Finally, someone had shown that Evans who's the boss."

"That would be me and Daidouji," Eriol answered flatly.

"What's the deal with him anyway?" the raven-haired president asked irritably. "It's not like he's the only one shocked with the news." She rolled her eyes, scowling slightly. "I know I was shocked."

"Well, for one, he's part of the I-hate-Li-Syaoran-and-Hiiragizawa-Eriol club," Kaho replied, organizing the papers on the desk and sliding them inside a white folder. "He came here a year before Eriol and Syaoran did, and he thinks he's the favorite of Madam Daidouji. Unfortunately, he didn't know that the Madam knows these two blockheads quite a long time."

Tomoyo looked at them in disbelief. "Is he really that shallow?"

"He thinks that Eriol and Syaoran used connections to get to their positions right now," Nakuru added. "Well, maybe they did but who knows?"

Eriol snorted, glaring at his cousin. "He's just too stupid to get his head out of his butt!"

"I finally knew blissful narrow-mindedness when I met him," Syaoran remarked.

"I agree." the blue-eyed CEO smirked.

Kaho shook her head, smiling. "You guys really get along when planning a horrible death for Evans, don't you?" She then turned to Tomoyo. "Don't worry, we'll give you all the help we can. Just ignore Evans."

"Yep, Mizuki is right!"

Tomoyo smiled at all of them. "Thanks you guys…"

Review, review, review... And rejoice as well! Finally! I'm through with my clearance! Wahahaha!

Hah! You thought it was Kaho? Tsk, tsk! You should've known I wouldn't include Kaho here! She's done much interference in CCS... (hides from Kaho fans).

Here's the preview of the next chappie: LOST AND FOUND

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"I was worried! What did you expect me to do, smile?" he scolded and she winced. "You have no idea that I've been running around the building like a headless chicken looking for you! You said nothing, left no message, didn't tell me whom you went with! What was I supposed to think?"

(-.-)

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Hmm... I wonder what happened... Hah! You just have to find out! 'Til next time! Ja ne! (c'mon, onii-sama! You promised you'd go with me to my doctor!)