Fireworks
By: Kriste-chan

Disclaimer: CCS © CLAMP. Never owned it and never will.

There was something enchanting about fireworks on display.

Tomoyo loved the way it shoots off towards the sky during New Year's Eve—banging loudly; producing a distinct smell that could really penetrate through your nostrils; the bright, blinding light that sparks up towards the black sky, and the whole lot that went with it. For her, fireworks were a treat for one's achievements done in the previous year and it sort of bids everyone a new life, together with the challenge to do better and greater things throughout the length of the coming year. It only comes once anyway.

Contrary to people's perception, her tendency to keep quiet in a corner looking all dignified and reserved didn't affect her appreciation for loud, banging and mind-rattling noises. After all, noisy things weren't really that bad, particularly fireworks shooting off during New Year's Eve especially if it went with the cool wind breezing around you; people expressing their amazement at the spectacular display; children laughing and jumping and shouting for more...

Still, she would rather be in a quaint little place, appreciating the night's unique beauty, than inside the vast Daidouji manor. Ironically, she was just as solitary here as she was back there, even with crowds and crowds of merry people, but at least in the swing of the corner-most part of the Daidouji garden, she could be at peace.

Party people were scattered inside the manor and each were busy entertaining themselves with food and drinks and other similar stuff. It was getting tedious and tiring and the only highlight that she found to be amusing was the fib that Yamazaki narrated about mistletoes and how people under it were shot dead upon sight in the ancient times.

They were having fun, she thought with a smile. And she knew she should join them, but for some reason, she wanted to be alone. She wanted to stay away from the crowd; she wanted to sit down and...

Think.

She found herself chuckling after remembering Hiiragizawa's words. Six days ago, while they were walking towards Sakura-chan's house after their brief insanity at King Penguin, the bridge and the woods, she could remember him telling her that thinking and internalizing anything and everything too much wasn't healthy for one's health. Well, he was probably right about that. He should know. He'd been through it for two life times.

Maybe the reason why she wanted to think was the blow that she just took earlier when Li-kun decided to finally pop the question to Sakura-chan. She was informed about it days ago by Nakuru who seemed determined to finish all of the resolutions she listed in a piece of paper. A thoughtful look crossed her face. If she weren't mistaken it was resolution number nine. And after Sakura-chan had said yes, she heard her watch drop the bell.

Ten minutes left before New Year.

Ten minutes gone five. She really didn't mean to walk out on the merry grounds of her home. She was happy for Sakura-chan and Li-kun. Honestly, she was. But even though she continuously denies it, something still punched a hole in her chest. And it was what made her cry.

A person could lie to others, but lying to one's self would be futile.

How miserable she was at this glorious event. And if there was anything that she wanted to do at this moment, it was to find something equivalent to the pain that would make her feel better. She wanted something that could lighten up the load; she felt imprisoned, she felt the need to break free...

She saw a hand appear out of nowhere with a handkerchief.

Tomoyo looked up and saw Eriol sporting a worried look, "We could sprint out again if it would make you feel better." He said, looking a wee bit boyish. "Even with a sprained ankle, I'll run beside you."

At least he made her laugh.

Tomoyo took the handkerchief in his hand and gently dabbed the corner of her eyes to rid of the tears. It was foolish to cry over things like that and it could get really embarrassing to know that someone had actually caught you in a roll of your broken-hearted drama. "I'm sorry about your handkerchief, Hiiragizawa-kun."

"That's alright."

She sniffed and smoothed the folds of her top. "What are you doing here?" she asked out of pure curiosity and nothing more. "Aren't you enjoying the party?"

Hiiragizawa didn't reply for a moment; as if he was collecting his thoughts all together before drawing in a deep breath to drop the bomb, "I'm currently considering a lie to roll out of my mouth but I think that wouldn't be proper." he said bluntly, "I followed you out because I thought you might need company." He turned his gaze skywards, "After all, no one should be alone on the eve of the New Year."

Straight to the bone. Usually, Hiiragizawa was the kind of person who would add flowers and other arrangements to make words seem different and lighter in implications; but this time, he took his honesty to a different toll.

"I just want to be alone for a while." Well, that wasn't a lie. "And my New Year wouldn't be complete without watching the fireworks."

Hiiragizawa nodded. "Point taken then." He said, "But don't you feel a little cold in here?"

A bolt of understanding struck her. She doubted if Hiiragizawa really meant to say cold in physical terms and he knew more than to state something as obvious as the fact that she was wearing a long and warm coat.

Don't you feel a little cold in here?

She was cold in a sense that she needed someone to warm her frozen interior; the interior that lay behind the cold mask.

A miserable heart appreciates another.

"I'm used to the cold already." her voice emanated a cheerful light around the dimly lit garden, "And I'm sure, you could last longer in the freezer than I could since you grew up in a place with arctic winters?"

Hiiragizawa chuckled as he sat down beside Tomoyo. "Perhaps." He said, pushing himself to rock the swing back and forth, "And I'm really noticing your fondness for swings, Mademoiselle Tomoyo."

She laughed at him, "Don't call me that, it makes me sound a lot older."

"But that's what they'll call you in France, mademoiselle, and they don't complain about sounding a lot older." He pouted childishly and jumped up to his feet to do a curtsy. "And since I could hear music playing inside the manor, why don't you join me for a dance?"

Tomoyo balled her eyes around. "Doing a sprint on almost half of Tomoeda district is enough insanity Monsieur Eriol."

He pouted cutely, "But that was six days ago, Tomoyo-saaaan." and then whined.

But between all that, her laughter sounded like chiming bells and birds singing every spring time. And it was all that he could hear again.

"Well?" he bowed lower, offering a hand as she thought about it, "Would you do me the honor of being your first dance this coming year?"

Even the crowd that started a loud New Year countdown inside the manor from twenty, failed to stop the bells ringing in his ears.

Tomoyo sighed resignedly. "Oh alright..." she stood up and accepted his offer and then felt him plant a kiss on the back of her hand.

Sixteen seconds 'til the bell strikes twelve...

They danced to the slow waltz playing in their minds as the others count the New Year away. They didn't look into each others eyes; they didn't talk about things that could make the other hurt; they didn't want to feel anything but the growing fondness that they have for each other ever since the insanity occurred; and they... didn't speak at all. They just let the moment flow; Tomoyo's head was resting peacefully on Eriol's chest, while his chin was propped lightly on her hair.

Time slipped through as the final ten seconds of the year was shouted.

"Look up, Tomoyo-san." And she did, meeting a mistletoe hanging high above her head. "A mistletoe."

Tomoyo smiled without further consideration. "Am I supposed to be shot now?" she enquired.

"Well, according to Yamazaki," he said with a puckish glint glowing in his eyes, "THAT only happened during the ancient times."

"Really?" her voice implied amusement as she turned her gaze to look at the mistletoe again, "What do they do to people under mistletoes nowadays?"

One.

His kiss lingered on her forehead for seconds before he finally broke away with a gentle smile reserved for only her. "Happy New Year, Tomoyo-san."

The first will always be the sweetest.

"Happy New Year, Eriol-kun."

Spending holidays with someone special could really strike the chord of happiness within you like chiming bells of spring or the sound of birds sweetly singing.

And there was really something enchanting about Fireworks on display.

Feedbacks are as welcome as drops of rain in times of drought. C3

Happy New Year to One and All!

Kriste-chan