Chapter 19: Their Song

Eriol has been trying to catch Tomoyo's eye but she never seems to look directly at him. It may have something to do with the fact that she has been staring intently at her sketchbook since she finished eating her lunch. At least they're talking again. If you could call it that. Whenever he talked to her, she would answer in a very polite voice while her eyes were fixed at something above his right shoulder. As if he's a stranger. And she never let herself be alone with him. He sighed. Earning a glance from Li, he raised his eyebrows at his friend.

Syaoran looked at Tomoyo and said conversationally, "Have you decided on the song?"

Tomoyo looked up from her sketchbook and asked, confused, "Song for what Syaoran?"

"For your mother's birthday party, of course. Sakura mentioned that you plan to sing for her."

Sakura jumped to the conversation excitedly, "Tomoyo what song? You never did mention it to me."

"We still haven't decided it yet," Tomoyo answered, looking everywhere but Eriol.

"But it's only a week until your mother's birthday!" Sakura exclaimed. She glanced at Eriol who just shrugged.

"I've been busy," Tomoyo murmured.

"Busy with what?" Sakura's tone suspicious. When Tomoyo did not answer, she continued, "Don't tell me that you're making another dress for me. You told me that you've already finished it." Sakura frowned, trying to make sense of her thoughts. "Don't tell me that you still haven't made a dress for yourself!" she then took Tomoyo's sketchbook from her lap and leafed through it.

"What are you doing Sakura?" Tomoyo tried in vain to wrestle the sketchbook from Sakura.

"Choosing a design for your dress, I'm sure you've already made it on my size and it will only take little adjustments and you could wear it. There is simply no time for you to make another dress, you've got to practice you're..." Sakura forgot whatever she's saying and smiled at one of Tomoyo's drawing. "I see," she said in a soft voice then glanced at Tomoyo.

Tomoyo blushed crimson but said nothing.

"I didn't know you draw... people, Tomoyo," Sakura said.

"I usually don't," Tomoyo muttered.

Syaoran glanced quizzically at Eriol who just shrugged. Neither of them has any idea what the girls are talking about.

After a few moments, "Wow! Tomoyo, this dress is just gorgeous," Sakura gushed. Tomoyo scooted beside Sakura and looked at the design Sakura is admiring.

She smiled and said, "That's the dress I made for you for the party."

Sakura threw her arms around Tomoyo and thanked her friend over and over again. Tomoyo smiled, pleased at her friend's enthusiasm. Over the years, Sakura developed some flair for fashion that was sorely lacking in their childhood years. Now, she could spend hours discussing fabrics with Tomoyo but she still didn't like it that her friend insist in giving her some of her designs. She thinks that Tomoyo should take her designs seriously and be in business.

"I also designed Mother a dress for her birthday," she said leafing through the sketchbook to show her design.

"That's wonderful!" Sakura said, truly glad for her friend. It was Tomoyo's pleasure to design dresses for her family and friends.

Sakura continued to thumb her way through the sketchbook and paused, "This is the perfect dress for you Tomoyo," she said almost reverently.

Tomoyo said skeptically, "But I can't wear it to the party. Your dress is already white and that design will look best in white."

"We could wear both white on your Aunt Sonomi's party," Sakura said decidedly. "And the dresses are so different in designs that it wouldn't matter. And I think these outfits perfectly mirror our personalities."

"I can see what you mean," Tomoyo said, and they both laughed. They discussed what fabric to use and so involved with their conversation they forgot about they have company.

The two boys shared an agonized look. This is going to be a long lunch.

Tomoyo was wandering the halls of her school. Sakura has to run some errands and they are to meet up later in the afternoon to start her dress. Naoko and Chiharu were going to the salon to have new haircuts. Rika returned her book she borrowed ages ago saying something about it interesting inside before running to her photography club meeting. Tomoyo loves books but that book must be the most boring book she has read. She even forgot she has it and couldn't understand it being interesting for Rika. She didn't even finish the second chapter. She might give it a try again someday if Rika said it's interesting.

She has absolutely nothing to do. Riyo cancelled yet again their cheerleading practice. If she didn't know any better, she might actually think that Riyo might be having some problems. She mentally shrugged. If Riyo did have some problems, it likely involves not finding the right shade of lipstick that matches their cheerleading uniform. Or maybe she was coming up with a plan to convince the principal that the girls' skirt should be strictly six inches above the knee. Now, she's being mean. Maybe her unkind thoughts was because last practice Riyo ordered her to do so many cartwheels that at the end of the practice, she's practically dizzy that she has to wait for exactly twenty minutes before she could stand straight again. Or is it because Eriol, in her own opinion, has been spending too much time with Riyo. She's jealous? She shook her head as if she could shake the thoughts out of her mind.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she collided with someone. Out of the blue, hands were on her shoulders, steadying her. Distracted from her thoughts, she looked up and saw Mito Dojima staring at her.

"I bumped into you again. There must be a lot on your mind lately. You always seem distracted," he commented mildly.

"Just have some things going right now," Tomoyo smiled, not wanting to elaborate on the dangerous direction her thoughts have taken.

"Want to have coffee? You look like you need a breather. No offense," he said, smiling sheepishly.

"None taken," this was just what she need, a breather, thinking it wasn't a bad idea at all. She was about to accept his invitation, when suddenly she heard a familiar melody. It was a familiar tune, a song from the past. She hasn't heard that song for a long time. She mumbled an apology to Mito and about getting something in the library she forgot.

Her feet automatically traced a route she has taken a thousand times before. To the music room. Later that day, she thought she already knew what she will find in the music room. Or rather who. But at that moment, all she knew was that it seemed so right, as she slid the door of the music room to find that it was him who was playing their song.

Their song.

Eriol was playing their song.

She couldn't think when she started to think of that song as theirs. It was the first song they performed together. She looked around the music room, half expecting to find Sakura seated at one of the chairs urging her to sing while Eriol played the piano.

When she turned again to him, he stopped playing and was smiling gently at her. She smiled back at him. He said simply, "Shall we?"

She nodded, perfectly understanding what he meant. And as he began to play again their song, this time she sang, just like they did years ago. It was years ago since she has last sung that song but she could still perfectly remember the words as he could perfectly remember the notes. They could have been back at the music room at their elementary school. Sakura was right, when they were together like this, it was almost magical.

When the song finished, she sat beside Eriol and laid her head against his shoulder. It was the most natural thing to do. All the awkwardness these past few days has been washed away but the song. Eriol said softly, not intruding with the moment, but blending with it, "Your voice has matured over the years, Tomoyo but it is still as beautiful as ever."

"And you still play the piano like a genius," she replied.

"It seems like we found the perfect song."

"Our song," Tomoyo said affectionately.

She didn't see the smile on Eriol's face when she said that.

Suddenly, Tomoyo laughed.

"What's so funny?" Eriol asked, curious.

"I wouldn't be chased by a grand piano later, would I?" Tomoyo teased. The friendly atmosphere between them is back.

Eriol has the grace to look sheepish at that. "I don't think I have apologized for that. I'm sorry. If it will make you feel better, I didn't intend for you to be hurt. I knew that Sakura.."

"..will never let her best friend get hurt, I know. And for your piece of mind, I did not take it against you."

"I'm really sorry," Eriol's voice turned serious again and Tomoyo knew that this apology has nothing to do with being chased by the piano.

"Friends?" she said in a cheerful voice, holding out her hand, trying to keep the mood light.

Eriol took her hand and said, "Friends."

Was it disappointment she heard in his voice or was it just her imagination?

"Want to get some ice cream?" he asked.

"Do you still like yours plain chocolate?" she asked.

"Do you still like yours with all toppings imaginable?" he countered.

Then they both laughed. Both were trying to forget what they felt like electricity when their hands touched moments ago. But both were happy as they can be. Back together. Even only as friends.

What do you think Sakura saw on Tomoyo's sketchbook which made Tomoyo blushed? wink

And Riyo was being mean to our Tomoyo... and Tomoyo jealous about Eriol spending too much time with Riyo.

Mito's invitation was rebuffed. His ego must be hurting a lot right now. And what do you think was bothering Riyo?

I'm so looking forward to Sonomi's birthday party. I already planned what will happen and the girl's gowns for the birthday that will surely dazzle Eriol and Syaoran. Dazzle. Must be all the Twilight I'm reading.

Can anyone tell me what that song was? I'm thinking of Tomoyo and Eriol moments in the cartoon series and I suddenly remembered the scene with Eriol playing the piano.

Don't forget to leave a review so I know your thoughts. Thanks for reading! Hope you like it.