Flashback

Eriol is gone for a few minutes. He returned with two ice creams in his hands. He handed her the vanilla ice cream. Tomoyo mumbled her thanks. As Eriol sat beside her, he spoke.

"Listen carefully. We have to finish the potion before the Halloween party, which will be held at the 30th. We still need to get two more ingredients. I have the last ingredient."

Tomoyo nodded as she ate her ice cream.

"How will I do the next step?"

"You should accomplish it tomorrow. Be careful of doing it."

"Hai."

Chapter 3

Obstacles and Screw-ups!

The next day, Eriol waited for Tomoyo at the school gate. Soon enough, he saw Tomoyo getting down from their limousine. Tomoyo ran fast towards Eriol. He greeted her.

"Ohayou gozaiamasu, Daidouji-san."

"Oh, ohayou!"

"Don't forget the next step. His hair is a very important ingredient. Make sure that no one will catch you."

"Hai."

"Let's go."

As their art class is approaching near, Tomoyo is getting more and more nervous. She looked at the back of the classroom beside the window, where Eriol is sitting. Eriol saw her looking at her and raised a thumbs-up. Tomoyo smiled at him.

At last, their art sensei arrived. The teacher spoke,

"OK class, bring out your scissors, paste, and art paper."

Tomoyo's hands are trembling as she reached for her scissors and other materials. The sensei spoke again.

"Follow the instructions written on the board. You may begin now."

The tension inside Tomoyo is starting to build up again. She looked around to make sure that no one is looking at her. Then, she started to bring

the scissors near Syaoran, who is in front of her. Trembling, she started to cut a few strands of Syaoran's hair. Suddenly, someone spoke loudly.

"Tomoyo-chan, what are you doing?"

It was Takeshi. His loud voice made her surprise, making her cut a lot of hair. She was aghast. Quickly, she put the hair in a plastic and ran away

from their room. Nobody noticed her since they were too busy with the activity except for Takeshi and Eriol. Eriol went near to their sensei.

"Please excuse Daidouji-san. She seems unwell."

The sensei nodded his head. Then, Takeshi was already making a noise.

"Tomoyo-chan is cutting Syaoran's hair a while ago!"

Chiharu glared at him.

"What kind of stupid fib is that?"

"Demo, it is true! I saw it with my two eyes! If you don't believe me, you better take a look at Syaoran-kun's hair."

Syaoran became so irritated on what he heard. It seems that Tomoyo is getting into his nerves. Immediately, Sakura, Chiharu, Rika, Eriol, and

Takeshi went near Syaoran to look at the hair on the back of his scalp. Luckily, it is not obvious that Tomoyo has cut his hair. Sakura laughed.

"You must be hallucinating, Takeshi-kun. His hair is intact!"

Chiharu glared at Takeshi.

"You are so baka!"

Then, she hit Takeshi on the head, making him whince in pain.

"Ouch!"

Rika put her arms akimbo.

"Takeshi has nothing to do, that's why he is making a fib again!"

"Demo... demo..."

Chiharu snapped at him.

"Urusai, baka!"

The sensei heard their noise. In a loud voice, he reprimanded them.

"What's the commotion all about?"

They became silent. Chiharu is glaring at Takeshi. She mouthed the words 'baka' as she stared angrily at Takeshi, who is trembling in fear. Eriol went near his sensei again.

"Sensei, I am going to check Daidouji-san. She might have collapsed on her way."

"Hai, you may do so."

Eriol ran fast out of the classroom. He looked for Tomoyo.

"Daidouji-san, Daidouji-san! Where are you?"

After a few minutes, he saw Tomoyo on a secluded place of the school. He noticed that Tomoyo is crying. Eriol went near her. He got her handkerchief from her hands. He wiped her tears away.

"Don't cry, Daidouji-san. Everything's all right. It is not apparent that you have cut his hair. I saw everything. In fact, they thought that Takeshi-kun is just telling a lie."

Tomoyo looked at him, her eyes are still sore.

"Hontou? Is it really true that I did not screw up everything?"

Eriol just nodded. Tomoyo smiled. After a few seconds, Tomoyo spoke again.

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"Let's see if I can grant you that favor."

"Can I call you by your first name?"

"Sure."

"Arigatou, Eriol-kun. Errr, can I ask another favor?"

"What is it?"

"Can you call me by my first name?"

"Sure why not, Tomoyo-chan."

Eriol grinned at her.

"Arigatou, Eriol-kun."

A momentary silence filled them. After a while, Eriol spoke.

"Dai... I mean, Tomoyo-chan... There's one more thing."

"Hai?"

"We need to have his fingernails. I will take care of that. I'll do that tomorrow."

"How will you do that?"

Eriol grinned slyly.

"Just wait. You'll know tomorrow. Let's go now to our classroom."

Tomoyo smiled happily as she walked beside Eriol.

TBC