It's rather ironic that I was listening to the song "Umbrella" when I finished typing this. (--") I hope it's good! I have no self-confidence! Review, please!

.o0o.

Tomoyo sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Just my luck," she muttered to herself, watching the rain fall on the ground, forming puddles. She really should have checked the forecast. But it had been so bright and sunny this morning that she hadn't thought to get an umbrella, or even a good raincoat – she'd just taken the walk in the warm weather instead of bothering to drive.

And now, she was stuck under the overhang of the building, wondering what to do.

Reflecting back, I should have asked a friend for a ride home. Oh, wait – that's right. I didn't have anybody close enough to me to ask. Well, there was one person, but I was avoiding him, so I wasn't exactly up to calling him for a favor. But, he managed to "ruin" everything anyway, as always.

"No umbrella, Daidouji-san?"

For a change she didn't jump at Eriol's voice from behind her. Actually, she had half-expected it. He always seemed to appear right behind her. "I thought it was going to be a nice day. But now, I see it isn't," she said. Eriol chuckled, obviously catching the double meaning of her words.

"I forgot an umbrella as well," Eriol admitted.

Tomoyo turned and smiled politely. "And why were you here in the first place?"

"I came to see if I could talk to you."

"When was this?"

"About an hour ago."

"Good. My secretaries did as ordered and didn't let anybody suspicious in. There's a first."

"I'm suspicious?"

"Of course you are. You don't need an umbrella, you can teleport anywhere you like without a single drop on you, yet you remain here. Hiiragizawa-kun, you are extremely suspicious."

"That's true. I can also teleport an umbrella to this place, though, and that's far more fun."

Tomoyo sighed. "Such a powerful sorcerer resorts to blackmail?"

Eriol gave her his cheerful cat-smile. Her heart sped up a little bit. "Maybe."

"I think I'll find some other way to get home, but thank you for the offer," she said politely. "Perhaps the rain will stop."

Contrarily, it poured harder, and lightning flashed in the sky. Tomoyo winced at the thunder's crash. She shook her head in annoyance, and said to Eriol, "Fine. But shouldn't you use your magic for worthier purposes then persuading me to let you walk me home?"

"I should," he said, still smiling. He lifted hand, and with a small "pop" a little umbrella appeared there, which he snapped open immediately.

"Impossible," Tomoyo muttered under her breath, also still smiling.

"As always." He bowed, and held the umbrella out in the rain, motioning for her to step under it. "After you?"

Once we were walking, my anger faded. He didn't try to make me talk. We strolled under the umbrella in comfortable silence. The sound of the rain falling on the umbrella and the sidewalk had a very calming effect. I would even go so far as to say I was enjoying the walk, at least until a certain friend of mine overheard a random person on the street.

"Did you hear that?"

Tomoyo looked at him and shook her head, wondering.

She had fallen into Eriol's trap. "The woman who just passed us said to herself that we made a cute couple. So, do you agree?"

Perhaps under other circumstances I might have formulated an acceptably sharp retort; however, when he was hovering over me, standing a little too close, and whispering his question right in my ear…

Heat flooded her face, burning bright red.

I found myself absolutely speechless.

"Is that a yes?" he teased.

My brain scrambled for an answer, and I found an answer alright – but not to his question. I found the answer to why I was acting like this. I realized then that since the planning for Sakura's wedding had begun, I had been slowly, but surely, falling in love with him.

"N-No!" she squeaked out. "I…"

Suddenly his eyes became less teasing and laughing. They were caring and gentle.

She couldn't look away. He couldn't either.

Eriol's lips lowered to touch hers in a soft kiss.

Tomoyo fell into the kiss without a second thought. She didn't even feel the rain on her when the umbrella fell to the ground. His arms moved to hold her waist, and hers went around his neck. Sparking heat raced through her from everywhere they touched. Her mind sung with joy.

And then Eriol pulled away all of a sudden, shoving her back. She tripped over her own feet and fell on the hard cement, breathing hard and she looked at him in confusion. She didn't even help when she hit – she was too trapped in what had just happened. Eriol stared back at her, breathing just as hard, with just as much lost confusion.

Tomoyo found inside herself the strength to stand up, barely. She stood angrily.

Seeing the scathing look she gave him, Eriol stammered, "Tomoyo-I-"

"What the hell was that? Hiiragizawa, what the hell was that? You always were a manipulating person, so what are you up to now?"

"Honestly-"

"Oh, honest? You've been trying to get me to be honest this whole time. I'm perfectly fine, as I've said, and I don't need your help, or your games! That's honesty? Now how about you show some for once? What are you up to? And what are you hiding?" She was on a roll now, crying, and she couldn't stop herself. "Don't play dumb. You expect me to be honest when you're never truthful yourself? I'm sick of that damn smile of yours, of always hiding what's happened to you! Even when you're hurt you never show it, yet you're asking me? I've had enough of it! Just be fucking honest for once, and maybe I'll be honest back! But maybe not, because I've had it with your shit, Eriol!"

Her tears ran down her face, mingling with the raindrops soaking her to the bone. Shaking with both rage and cold, she turned on her heel and ran, leaving Eriol staring after her in shock.

She heard him yell after her, "Tomoyo! You're going to-"

Her heart was beating far too fast. The stress that had been hanging over her for the past two weeks caught up with her at least, and exhaustion dragged the emotionally wrecked Tomoyo into the darkness.

I fell.