Disclaimer: I don't own CCS

Oh, Ladies and Gentlemen!

Chapter 10 :: Every Step We Take

"I'm sorry I come without earlier notice,"

Eriol set the cups and pot of tea on the table before taking his seat in front of the red-haired lady. "It's alright," he said as stoically as he could. Though it was hard. His lover for 12 years showed up suddenly –he really didn't know how he should feel. "Is there any problem?" he asked after pouring the tea to her cup and handed it elegantly to her.

"I just…" Kaho took the cup and put it down. Then took the spoon and stirred it in the tea. She looked fidgety, he noticed. This was why he could conclude that there must be something wrong. The Mizuki Kaho he knew was never the woman to lose her control.

"What is it, Kaho?"

"I just don't know where else to go,"

He took a deep breath and examined the woman.

She looked thinner and her eyes had lost their usual warmth. In one look, anyone could tell that something really bad must have happed to the red-haired woman. And Eriol himself, even caught the non-verbal indication that Kaho wanted him to do something –to comfort her. But even the idea to use the opportunity to show her that he cared, didn't really matter anymore.

But then again, he did ask her, "What happened?"

"You prove yourself to be right again, Eriol…" her hands become more uneasy. "It's not working well,"

"What's not working well?"

"Touya. And our relationship together. We've just… cancelled our engagement,"

…

…

He didn't know how to react. Even the happiness he thought he would acquire once he learned Kaho was free didn't come as expected.

So a silence was what he provided her.

"H-he's a nice guy," Kaho countered, feeling that his silence was actually a mute questioning. "Caring, although not very vocal about it… He's alright. I care for him, I really do… it's just that… Perhaps… we're moving a little too fast…"

Her voice became indistinct. And suddenly… he just felt… tired. "So what do you want now, Kaho?" Eriol asked without the single care to be polite

The first voice in his head regretted such a bad timing. Why now? Why Kaho came to him just after he had discovered the possibility to be happy with Tomoyo? Okay, so he realized that what happened between him and Tomoyo may just be temporary crush (God, please… make it just temporary… He wouldn't know what to do if his feeling went deeper than that)… but still… it was a relationship that he was having with the violet-eyed woman.

But the other voice reminded him the ground knowledge. This was… Kaho, for God's sakes. This was the woman he had loved for years… could he really slip away the chance that was lied temptingly before his eyes?

"I-I want… I mean… I don't even know what I want… but I think I… want to sort my feelings outs," she spoke.

He waited.

"And I…" she continued. "I think I want you to be there throughout the process… A selfish desire yes –" Kaho quickly added even before Eriol could say a single word. "But I just… don't know what else to do. Or where else to go,"

Inside he laughed bitterly. Was it the way she thought of him? As some loyal dog who would wait even after she had abandoned him cruelly before?

Perhaps…

Yes.

He was such that kind of dog.

And even if that dog had fallen for another girl, he would always have a master that almost practically held control on each of his decision.

And before he gave it a second thought, words had rolled automatically out of his mouth. "I need to tell you something,"

Kaho immediately looked straight to her face. A hint of fear was evident in her expression. "What is it?"

Eriol went into a long silence and deliberated. Could he spill their secret here?

Daidouji Tomoyo was… not a mere partner for him. As he got to know her better, he found out how lovable the girl really could be. She was the best companion that he had never had –even compared to Kaho. She had filled his days with warmth and… truthfully, he didn't think he could pass his days sanely post Kaho's engagement, it it weren't for Tomoyo's presence. She meant a lot, A LOT to him, but…

But…

This was Kaho they were talking about. Kaho, the woman whom he had loved for 12 damn years! The love that he thought he had lost, but came back again to him…

Damn, he hated the situation.

"Eriol?"

He cleared his throat and gazed back to the priestess. Before his mind (or his heart, or his conscience, or whatever) could take control, he had spilled it, "It's fake,"

"Fake? What is?"

"My …relationship with Daidouji-san,"

She looked back with puzzlement.

He sighed. "We're not real lovers. We did it just to… to get you back to me,"

Silence.

"Do you… get what you want?" the woman asked carefully.

Eriol chuckled darkly and asked her back instead, "Do I?"

Kaho averted her gaze and after moments of silent consideration. "I told you. I need to sort my own feelings towards Touya, and if you ask what I want, I want you to be by my side during the process. So… I think… I won't mind giving us another shot, Eriol. We can re-start things all over again and see how it will work out this time. So to answer your question, yes, you might get what you want. You might get me back, but…" she paused to search for his dark gazes. "But the question now is… do you want it now?"

He didn't reply.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Eriol decided that he never had fear in dealing a girl. Nope, he was a ladies' man. He knew how to handle women of all types and in any kind of circumstances…

Until now.

"God damn it, just ring the bell, Hiiragizawa," he murmured to himself.

So there he was. The so called ladies' man, rooted to the spot before the door of the apartment of one Daidouji Tomoyo. For 5 whole minutes, he had been stupid enough –raising his hand just to pull it back down an inch before touching the bell button.

He was about to press the bell button (This time for real! … Or so he had assumed…) when the door opened in front of her.

"Whoops, Hiiragizawa-san!" exclaimed the Daidouji heiress. "What are you doing standing in my doorway?"

He stuttered. "I-I was about to press the bell button, I swear!"

She chuckled. "Whoa, calm down, Mister. Don't worry, I believe you,"

"... You're going out?"

"No, I just want to empty my trash bin. Come inside. I'll be with you in a moment," Tomoyo said as walking past him. 3 minutes later, she came back to her apartment and sat in front of him on her couch. "Okay. So, what business brings you here today?"

She seemed to be in her good mood, he noticed. Not that he was exactly that pleased. He was afraid that her mood would be ruined later.

"I…" he began.

Damn, for the rarest time, Eriol didn't know how to start a decent conversation.

"You… what?"

He stared deep into her eyes. Funny. He was both scared and eager to get drown to those beautiful amethysts orbs.

"There's something wrong, isn't it?" she stated.

He paused. "No. There isn't anything wrong. In fact… everything is back… to its right track,"

"Then why do you look so gloomy?"

He didn't reply.

"Hiiragizawa-san?"

Silence.

"Eriol?"

He took a quick breath. "It's over. Our partnership,"

Tomoyo blinked. "What? Why?"

"They cancelled the engagement. Kaho came to me last night to explain it,"

"They… you mean Mizuki-san and Touya-kun? B-but… how could they? I mean… I thought their relationship was going just fine!"

"Yeah, I did think so too. But Kinomoto also mentioned something about this on the previous beach trip. So… yeah. I guess they've had a rather… rocky relationship all along,"

"My God… I still couldn't believe it. Mizuki-san came to you and –" she paused. "She came to you?"

Now Eriol felt like he was in Kaho's situation the night before. Fidgety. And nervous. Hell.

"Yes,"

…

"Oh," she softly spoke. "So… you two are… back together?"

Eriol didn't know why it felt so hard to say yes. So in the end, he only gave her a nod.

"Oh," she repeated rather dumbly. "I see…. Well… congratulation. This is what you've been working hard for. I'm glad… Really, I do!"

"…"

"You know, I still couldn't believe that your plan is working so well! Good Lord, Hiiragizawa. Your cheesy scheme actually works out! That's so great! That's so –"

"… stop it," he murmured.

"Stop…what?"

He looked down. "Stop pretending to be alright while it's obvious that you're just… not alright,"

Tomoyo chuckled and laughed slowly. "Not alright? Are you an Einstein for my feelings now?"

"I said stop it. Cry if you want. Punch me if you want. I don't care. Just do what you want to do,"

"Why should I cry and punch you anyway? I have no grounds to," she reasoned logically.

But to both their ears, her voice cracked.

"Daidouji-san… please…"

She laughed some more. "Please what, Hiiragizawa-san? Do you really want to see me cry that bad?"

Yes.

Perhaps his evil sadistic side wanted to see her cry.

But with all honesty…

Perhaps… perhaps…

He just wanted her to stop him.

"Daidouji-san," His voice was as hoarse as her. "Tomoyo… I told you to stop putting up your mask in front of me,"

"But I'm not putting up any mask –"

"STOP YOUR FUCING ACT, TOMOYO!! DAMN IT! FOR ONCE, CAN'T YOU JUST BE HONEST TO YOURSELF? I HATE IT WHEN YOU'RE LIKE THIS, YOUR ACT IS JUST PLAINLY DISGUSTING!!" He shouted.

Tomoyo was taken a back. Surprised.

But her surprise couldn't match the shocked expression he had on his face. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I –"

"Disgusting, eh? That's interesting. For all of my life, this is the first time someone ever call me 'disgusting',"

"I'm sorry. I lost my control. I'm sorry, To –"

"You know what, Hiiragizawa?" she cut him icily. "Do you really want to know what I'm feeling? Do you really want to know how fuced up I'm feeling currently?! Well, yes, you may be right. I'm disgusting. SO disgusting. I feel this… this… jealousy, even though while I know that I have no right to feel that way. I feel mad, I feel like a lunatic! And yes, Hiiragizawa… on the top of that, the WORST part is, I think I'm in love with you! Madly in love with you. It runs so deep, it's eating me inside, and I HATE every second of it!" She shouted. A frustrated tear fell from her eyes but she quickly wiped it. "There, Hiiragizawa! You got what you want. Happy with that?!"

"Tomoyo…" He ran out of words to say. She loved him? For real? "I'm sorry, I –"

"You say 'sorry' one more time, I swear, Hiiragizawa, I'm gonna slap you. Don't you see? The more you apologize, the more I am disgusted with myself. Now go,"

"But –"

"Go,"

He paused.

"I really don't want to see your face right now. Go," she muttered darkly.

Eriol hesitated before then sighing and walked to her apartment door.

"I'm sorry," he spoke before closing the door and leaving her alone.

She murmured sinisterly, "I owe you a slap, Hiiragizawa,"

To Be Continued

A/n: My deepest apology, but I don't promise new update next week. I'll try to update like usual though. Although I'm not really sure, but I hope to see you soon!