Thank you to Kurai-Mizuki for beta reading this chapter for me.

No matter how I try,

I can't see you any other way.

No matter how I try,

I can't listen to what you say.

No matter how I look,

Perfection is all I will see.

No matter how I look,

You're still an angel to me.

Spring; the time of year when everyone seems to be happy. The first sign of blossom brings hope to their hearts, it's the season of love. Children begin to venture out of the houses that they have been confined to all Winter long, embarking on adventures, exploring lost lands, going where no child has gone before!

Eriol watched over these children from his perch, the signs of a smile just noticeable on his face. He admired the innocence in which the young saw the world, almost everything was new: a chance for excitement. Only the threat of oncoming rain and dinner time could postpone their treks.

This magician had never had time for such play, he'd been thrown almost straight into the action, forced to mature quickly and lose whatever naïvity he had. He stared longingly down, that is where he wanted to be; pretending. Everything was so much simpler that way.

"Hey, dreamer!"

Eriol slowly lowered his gaze to the bottom of the tree, it was Syaoran.

"Aren't you going to come speak to me?"

"That would encourage you to stay." He said bluntly.

Syoaran frowned, "I told Sakura you'd come to the festival with us."

"What?" Eriol swung quickly down between the branches, now sitting just above Syaoran's head, "Us?"

"Yeah! Me, Sakura and Tomoyo."

Eriol glared at him, "To-"

"Oh come on, get over it!" He hissed, "Just because she said no, doesn't mean you can't be friends!"

"You don't understand."

Syaoran frowned, "Hey, it's not like you won't get plenty of time alone with her either!" He stared up at a reluctant looking Eriol, "It's Sakura's birthday tomorrow..."

Slipping off the branch to land next to Syaoran, Eriol glared, "If this goes wrong, I will hate you forever."

He raised an eyebrow at the magician, "You wouldn't last that long."

---

Towns all over Japan celebrate the arrival of Spring. As soon as the first cherry blossom appears, so does the new season...

The preperation had been gruelling in Tomoeda, but March 31st saw the shrine's festival begin on schedule. Arrays of stalls and fields bursting with fragrance, life and cherry blossom produced a perfect atmosphere.

The trees glistened with beautiful whites and pinks, the sunlight catching perfectly on each and every petal, as the Sun slowly began to sink, more subtle tones of warm orange and yellow completed the serenity.

Some of the blossoms were beginning to fall already, the gentle, soothing breeze carrying them softly to the ground. A blanket of pure, silken, smooth petals lay majestically between the trees.

The scene lay, undisturbed by the crowds that had slipped by previously.

The soft sound of laughter echoed around the area, as four teens sprawled themselves under a tree.

"Anyone want some ice cream?" Sakura chirped up, the day had been perfect in her opinion.

"Sure!"

"Sure!"

"Yeah, I'll come with you." Syaoran stood up from the tree and followed Sakura down the path, the sound of the newly content birds the only thing breaking the silence they'd left behind.

Eriol peered delicately around the tree at Tomoyo, his eyes were fixed and unmovable. She fitted so perfectly into the beautiful background. Her cheeks turned crimson as she noticed eyes fixed upon her, and she looked somewhat awkwardly around the field.

Finally, she addressed the culprit, her sweet amethyst eyes met Eriol's for only a split second before falling once more to her feet, "There's no need to look at me like that, I'm not going anywhere!" She laughed nervously, taking another quick glance towards him.

"You're...you're so beaut-"

"Look, Eriol..." Tomoyo cut off quickly, her shining raven locks of silky smooth strands whipped across her face, revealing those amethyst eyes...what eyes. But they were no longer filled with innocent beauty, but a seriousness, "I can't think of you that way. You are one of my best friends, I can't risk loosing you for something as petty as this. The only love I can give you is purely plutonic...do you understand?"

Eriol nodded, his eyes still lost within the pools of colour obscured only slightly by her hair.

"Then stay just friends?"

"I don't think I can."

"Then we'll leave it at that." Tomoyo rose from her seat, but was allowed only one step before bumping into the oblivious Sakura.

"Oh! This is yours!" Sakura thrust a cone of ice cream into Tomoyo's hand as she stumbled backwards, into Syaoran's catch.

"Watch out!" He grumbled, a small smile concealing itself from the outside world.

"Hoe! Sorry!"

After a few more seconds of hubbub, everyone had returned to the tree, eating peacefully. The soft, relaxed laughter blending in with the environment.

A gentle breeze continued to whisper playfully through the branches. It lay, undisturbed by even an arguement, it showed no signs of the days event. All that remained was a whispered apology sailing on the wind.

Lets stay friends,

I don't think I can...

"Sorry."