Chapter 2: Misery loves company

Tomoyo slipped the key into the lock and opened the door to the large mansion she bought mere days before. The mansion was very old and decorated in dark tones and dreary patterns. Tomoyo took off her coat and placed it on the coat rack. She had already been through the house once, before she had bought it. Furniture had been bought and delivered already, as well as Tomoyo's possessions. One of the parlors on the first floor was a music room with a baby grand piano. Upon entering the room Tomoyo saw the shelves bare and dusty surrounding a dismal fireplace. She lit a fire to warm up the room, quickly dusted off the shelves and started putting books up. After the third box was finished she began on the last. As she began pulling books out of the box she found a biography of Mozart, her mother's favorite composer. Seeing the book brought back the too recent memory and pain of losing her mother. She angrily chucked the book into the fire. Soon many more books followed.

"Eriol-sama, you cannot stay cooped up in this house wallowing in self pity forever." Suppoi admonished.

"Suppoi-chan is right! You need to get out and meet some new people." Nakuru agreed.

Eriol suddenly got up from the chair, grabbed his coat from the rack, and headed for the door.

"Where are you going Eriol-sama?" Suppoi inquired.

"Out." He replied and slammed the door.

'I have to get out of here before I burn everything!'

The fire was raging now, fed by Tomoyo's anger and the papers and books she had sacrificed to it.

'Why? You want to burn it all. I know you do.'

'Shut up.'

'I am you. Burn it, burn all of it!'

'No, no! I won't give in to this!' She mentally shouted, clutching her head.

She ran from the room, hastily donning her coat in her mad dash to escape.

Eriol was seated in his usual spot at his favorite bar, nursing a beer. He let the alcohol seep into his system and start to numb him. Suddenly, the door opened and in through the door walked a young woman drenched with rain. She walked over to the bar, sat down and ordered a drink. Eriol thought for a moment that he knew her, but the feeling passed.

She lifted her face as the bartender handed her the drink, her once luminous eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

He was sure it was she. No one else had her remarkable amethyst eyes. He casually got out of his seat and moved to sit next to the young lady.

"Tomoyo-san, is that you?" Eriol asked.

She turned her head to the man speaking to her.

"Hiiragiziwa-kun, I did not realize you lived in London."

"I would never have expected to find you in a bar Tomoyo-san. Are you here with your mother?" He asked.

She could feel her eyes begin to burn with unshed tears, so she bowed her face to hide them.

"She… she's dead." She replied, tears now falling free.

"I'm sorry Tomoyo-san. I had no idea."

"Please. I just need to be alone."

The time passed as Eriol watched Tomoyo try to drown her sorrows in alcohol. After an hour he noticed Tomoyo getting up to leave. She stood up, took a few unsteady steps and fell. Eriol darted off his stool and caught her. He heard her murmur a slurred thanks.

"Tomoyo-san, you are in no condition to be alone."

He picked her up and carried her out to his car, and placed her in the passenger seat. Since he had no idea where she was staying he drove back to his mansion.