I just can't leave her alone. I have nothing against Mizuki-sensei (I will call her that because I want to :) but I think Eriol is for Tomoyo! So I have written this sidestory (uhmmm, it's actually more of an afterstory because it happened a little later in the fic but in a different setting and centered a different character).

Should I say it again? I do not own the characters. They're all from CLAMP's CCS. But Ren Li is mine! Who is he? Read to find out!

Sidestory

Kaho Mizuki. She was not too lucky when it comes to relationships. Her first love was Toya but she was perhaps just attracted in his ability to sense and see what ordinary humans can't. She was just a little infatuated with him and she felt it wouldn't be that way forever. That was why she told him that the next time they meet they would both be in love with a different person. And they did. Toya was together with Yukito and she was happy with Eriol. The only problem was when Eriol went to Tomoeda. Kaho followed when everything was over and when she did she noticed a subtle difference in the Clow Reed reincarnation. He had a slight hesitation when talking to the Daidoji girl, a feeling that leaned towards denial and she had her suspicions. The strange thing was she was more amused than angry. But Eriol didn't tell her anything so she dismissed the thought. But in England, she would look at him smile at every letter he received from Miss Daidoji. It was amusing to say that least that the great sorcerer did not notice that he was slowly being drawn to the woman whose letters he was excited about. Of course, he would always be by her side. He was the perfect gentlemen after all but she didn't have his full attention now and oddly enough, it didn't hurt her at all. That this man she thought she loves, and maybe she did, is not hers anymore. But maybe she really was just infatuated with his power just like she had with Toya. This time she was looking for the Clow Reed in Eriol who gets more and more confused and depressed every day that he won't receive a letter from her. It was frustrating to watch. Despite all his glory, he was just a kid after all. That was why she suggested returning to Tomoeda and letting him confirm his feelings. She liked this man but maybe he just wasn't for her.

So when she received his letter that he was together with Daidoji, Kaho was actually happy for them. Finally! And Eriol, kind as he is, wrote to say sorry to her despite how she had assured him everything was alright. She wasn't lying about that. The only thing that was a little lonely somehow is the thought that maybe she just wasn't for anybody. She was probably not meant to be in any relationship.

She took a sip of her coffee. She decided to stop thinking about those trivial matters. She made it a routine to stop by at this coffee shop before going to the school she teaches. The atmosphere relaxes her. And then someone came in, someone with a strong presence that startled her. A man, probably in his late 20s or early 30s garbed in midnight blue suit, black shoes and a really big black bagpack that was a little mismatch to that formal look. He was strikingly handsome in her opinion and she was sure everyone would agree since she was not the only one looking at him, with his jet-black hair which was a little messy like he just got out of bed but suited him perfectly nevertheless, giving him a boyish look but never less of a man, emphasizing his pale complexion and perfectly chiseled face. She thought he didn't look like an Englishman and then he spoke in Chinese. Kaho could only understand a little Chinese so she could only pick up a few random words that she can't make any sense of. He looked exasperated with whoever it was that he was on the phone with but his dark brown eyes were contradicting his sighs because it was expressing a hint of fondness. She wondered if he was talking to his wife. And she wondered why she would wonder about that. He stopped talking in the phone for a while to order an espresso and he spoke in fluent English. Why was she looking at his every action and why does she feel strange around him? Does this man also possess some power? She decided she was thinking too much and that it was time to drop this foolishness about a stranger. She finished her coffee, stood up and got out.

She just took a few steps when she felt a hand on her shoulder and to her utter disbelief, it was that Chinese guy! It turned out she forgot her filecase. Again! She apologized for inconveniencing him but he said not to worry because he was going the same way anyway and he told her she just made him faster. She smiled at that. Then they began having a little chat. She found out he was an archaeologist from China and he was invited to be a guest speaker in the same school she teaches in. They were headed in the same direction so they introduced themselves. And that was when she found out that his name was Ren Li and he was the one who taught Syaoran, who was his cousin by the way, martial arts. The person on the phone was his sister by the name of Meiling who was constantly complaining about Syaoran's decision to study in Japan. Kaho told him she knows Syaoran and he asked her if she also knows about the Clow cards. She said she was surprised he could ask that to a stranger but he told her he doesn't think she didn't know anything about it. A long conversation followed. One would look at them and immediately conclude without an inkling of a doubt that these two gorgeous people have known each other for a long time when in fact, they've just met. Kaho was finding him charming but she should be on her guard. She remembered that strange feeling around this man like he has a powerful presence. It was what she felt when she first met Toya and Eriol. Since this guy is in the Li family, she must have been drawn to his power too.

They have entered the school grounds and they were now at the building where Kaho teaches.

"Well, I guess we'll see each other again sometime."

"Later then." Kaho smiled.

"When?"

"I just have the feeling we'll meet again." She was always right when it comes to these things.

"Okay. It was nice meeting you. I'm tempted to say it's a pleasant coincidence that we met but there is no coincidence in this world, only…"

She was shocked, it was her favorite quote so she decided to finish it for him. "...inevitability. I wholeheartedly agree to that."

"Yes. Then as you said, see you later."

And they saw each other at lunch break. By then, he told her about Meiling and Syaoran and how they were when he taught them martial arts. Despite saying it was hard work to teach one very serious brat and a very bubbly sister who won't stop complaining, he looked like he was fond of the two. He told her that he focused himself in martial arts because he didn't have any magic powers, the same as his sister Meiling.

"It's rare for someone in the Li family not to have any magical powers."

"I hear that a lot."

When school was over, Kaho and Ren 'coincidentally' ran into each other at the gate. By then, Ren told her he was going to be in England for a week because of a seminar and since he knows no one here, he asked Kaho if she was free two days later because it was his free day and he was wondering if she could tour him around. He was stuttering when he asked and she found it rather cute especially for someone as handsome as him so she agreed. Why not? It was Sunday anyway and he was fun company after all.

"Okay, but I'm not at all fit to be a tour guide. I get lost too often. And I mean it."

"That would make our date even more fun."

She can't just fall in love with anyone who has magic every time? And then, she just realized something. He told her he didn't possess any magic. If he didn't have any magical powers, what was that presence she felt in him? It was the same feeling when she met Toya and Eriol. And then the answer came but she wouldn't acknowledge it just yet. At least for now.

Done! Well, how was it?

Note: Wei was not in the manga as far as I can remember so I thought I'd make up a new character that took his role as Syaoran and Meiling's trainer in martial arts. Meiling was not in the manga either but she was in the anime and I thought I will also borrow her.

That's it then. Happy days!