Chapter 3:

The Gift

After the dance, Eriol went to the garden and saw someone.. Kaho Mizuki. Yes everyone! Kaho Mizuki's back in town. After studying in England, she went back to Japan. Don't worry. I didn't make any bad guys in this fic! Well, maybe.. LoL.. Well anyways.. She's back for something.

"Eriol, I guess you and Tomoyo will be…" Kaho started. "I'm not sure yet Kaho. I don't know if she has the same feelings I feel about her." Eriol interrupted. "Don't worry. I know she will. Don't jump to conclusions! You're too negative. Please, say hi to Tomoyo for me. And take care. Remember Eriol. She may be an ordinary human, but she does have amazing human powers even though she isn't a magical person. You got that?" Kaho said. "Maybe. But then again, maybe not." Eriol smirked. "Same as usual Eriol. I'd better go. I've got work to do." Kaho bowed and then left. "Ja! Take care." Eriol answered.

Back to the party…

"Dad!" Tomoyo shouted. "Hello my dear daughter!" Tomoyo's father then embraced her tightly. "Dad, I'd like you to meet Syaoran Li. He's Sakura's boyfriend." Tomoyo said. "Konbanwa Uncle!" Sakura beamed. "K-konbanwa!" Syaoran bowed. "Konbanwa dear Sakura. My, you've grown to be a charming young lady like your mother. I believe Fujitaka's here." Tomoyo's father said. "Yes Uncle. Do you want me to call him?" Sakura asked. "Oh no need to do that dear. I'll talk to him later." Tomoyo's father said.

Eriol then came running towards the group. "What did I miss?" Eriol asked. "Oh! I'm sorry for my rudeness. I'm Eriol Hiiragizawa. Nice to meet you Mr. Daidouji." Eriol said while rubbing his head because of his rudeness. "Oh no. It's okay. It's a pleasure to meet my daughter's… uh… Escort." Tomoyo's father eyed him suspiciously. "Um, dad, do you want to go outside to talk about some things with me?" Tomoyo interrupted the two of them. "Alright then dear." Tomoyo's father said.

When the two left…

"What the heck was that all about?!" Eriol asked Sakura and Syaoran. "Isn't it obvious dimwit??!" Syaoran asked sarcastically. "What Syaoran-kun meant was that Uncle was only being protective on her daughter because that's what a normal father would do. Right Syaoran?" Sakura asked Syaoran with a 'Go-ahead-and-try me' look. "Uh, r-right" Syaoran managed to stutter. Eriol just looked at the two and then stared at least five seconds to the retreating Tomoyo and her father.

At the garden…

"Dad?" Tomoyo asked. "Yes Tomoyo?" Her father gave her a smile. "Um, what do you think of Eriol?" Tomoyo managed to ask. "I think you two belong together. Go ahead. I just wanted to clear to him that if he does something to hurt you, I'll kill him." Her father then punched his hand with his fist. "Dad, he's a nice guy and…" "You love him. I can see that. Just be careful and don't do anything stupid that will make your career rot. Okay?" Her father said. "Yes dad. But I'm not sure if I… If I love him. I'm confused. He'd always be there for me when I need him." Tomoyo blushed. "I see. Just follow your heart but don't forget to think about it too. Whatever your decisions become, I'll, I mean we'll be there to support you." Tomoyo's father explained with a smile. Tomoyo nodded at this. "Dad, when you and mom got married, did you guys love each other?" Tomoyo asked curiously. "Why of course. Some things just didn't work out. We were both busy and we sometimes fight about small things. So that's the reason why we got divorced. I'm sorry Tomoyo." Her father said to her with his eyes full of sadness. "I understand father. I was just kinda curious." Tomoyo said with a smile full of understanding.

Fujitaka Kinomoto was watching the two of them by the fountain. He was smiling that annoying smile that always seemed to get in Sonomi's nerves. Tomoyo's father saw him and he smiled back.

"Tomoyo, it's late. You should go back inside. I have some business I need to attend to." Tomoyo's father explained. "But dad, please…" Tomoyo wanted to cry. "Please understand Tomoyo. I'll visit you more often because I've decided I want to stay here in Tomoeda for good. Don't worry about me." Tomoyo's father said hugging her. "You promise dad?" Tomoyo asked with her eyes filling up with tears. "I promise my darling. I love you and I really am proud of you." Her father said. "I love you too dad. I'm glad you're my father." Tomoyo said smiling. "Happy birthday Tomo.. Good bye." "Bye dad." Tomoyo said. She ran towards the party as tears fell on her cheeks once more. It's very hard for her because she hasn't seen her father in a very long time. But still she was glad that he came to the most special day in her life.

Back to the garden…

"I could have waited you know." Fujitaka said. "Why should I let my best friend wait?" Tomoyo's father said. "I see. What do you think of Eriol, Jin?" Fujitaka asked. "Well, I think he's a very charming young lad. But still, he shouldn't make my daughter cry or else, I promise I'll break his face." Jin answered. "Tough as always Jin! My Sakura has her own boyfriend too. But Syaoran hasn't proposed to her yet." Fujitaka said. "What do you mean PROPOSED Fuji?" Jin asked surprised. "I meant that Syaoran hasn't proposed to Sakura YET." Fujitaka said. "Does that have any connection with Tomoyo and Hiiragizawa-san?" Jin asked his eyes wide open. "Why do you say that?" Fuji asked. "No way! He's gonna propose tonight isn't he?!" Jin asked disgusted about the news. "How did you find out?" Fuji asked surprised. "You gave me hints." Jin said. "Very clever. (He clapped his hands)" Fuji said. "You're really annoying you know that?!" Jin yelled. "Why thank you." Fujitaka retorted. "Oooh!!! You make me so mad!" Jin screamed. "Don't tell me you're gonna do something about the proposal…" Fuji said.

… Silence …

"No." Jin replied. "Good." Fuji said with a smile. "Why?" Jin asked confused. "Because, Eriol's a nice guy." Fuji answered. "I can see that. Just one wrong move and…" "Oh just shut it Jin." Fuji didn't let him continue.

Back at the party…

"Hey Moyo!!!" Sakura said. "Hey Sakura!" She greeted. "Are you alright? You seem so stressed!" Eriol said. "Just shut up Eriol!" Syaoran said. "Hey you guys!" Chiharu Mihara said. "Why do you always have to fight with each other?" Naoko asked. "Yeah it's kinda annoying sometimes." Rika said. "Did you guys know that cakes long ago were covered with mud as frosting and then they eat it with skulls as their bowls?!" Takashi lied. "Oh shut up Takashi!!!" Chiharu yelled. The gang just laughed at this while Chiharu again strangled Takashi to death. "Hey the party's almost over everyone!" Touya said. "Yeah. We'd better go home." Yukito said. "Awwww…" Everyone groaned. "Well anyway! Happy birthday Tomoyo!!!!" Everyone managed to say.

After everyone was done saying good byes, Tomoyo took a bath and then went straight to her bed. She even forgot to turn off the lamp shade coz she was too tired to move. She fell asleep and forgot about something.

YES EVERYONE… THE GIFT…

It was almost 3 am in the morning and Tomoyo hasn't called Eriol. "Is she gonna call or what?" Eriol asked out loud. "Master, I think you should just ask her straight ahead." Spinel said. "Master, can't we just do this tomorrow? I'm tired and sleepy!" Nakuru whined. "But I need to know her answer to my proposal!" Eriol screamed. "Maybe she didn't accept it." Nakuru said. "Shut up Nakuru-baka!" Spinel said. "Maybe you guys are right. This is hopeless. I knew it. She likes someone else. You guys can go to bed. Just leave me alone." Eriol said as he smiled a smile of pain. "Finally!" Nakuru said. "But master…" Spinel said. "Just leave me in peace." Eriol said. "As you wish master." Spinel said his eyes full of worry.

5 am…

Tomoyo woke up from her sleep. She was still tired but she thought of something she forgot to do. "What was that thing I was gonna do earlier?" Tomoyo asked herself while rubbing her eyes. She jumped out of her bed and slipped on her slippers. She decided to go downstairs to get something to drink. She saw one of the maids making some breakfast. It was Kasumi. "Kasumi-san, can I have a glass of milk?" Tomoyo asked politely. "Why of course Tomoyo-san. My, you're up early. You want some hotcakes and bacon?" Kasumi asked. "Yes please." Tomoyo smiled.

Back at the Hiiragizawa manor…

Eriol's POV

"I shouldn't have proposed. I knew that she doesn't love me. I'm so stupid!" He thought. "Tomoyo, why don't you love me? I love you so much but you broke my heart. I've decided I'll just stay here all my life till I die. I won't eat, I won't sleep, I won't drink. I will not do anything. I just wanna die. Just let me die! I love you so much so if you don't love me, just let me die!!!" Eriol thought. He was sitting on his throne of evil his eyes closed. Thinking of Tomoyo. He wasn't crying because he was afraid that someone might see him but there's no one going to see him. He was just afraid to admit that he was afraid to show his true feelings to himself.

Back to the Daidouji Mansion….

"Kasumi-san?" Tomoyo called out. "Yes Tomoyo-san?" She asked. "Do you think I love Eriol?" Tomoyo asked. "I'm not sure Tomoyo-san. But I do know one thing." Kasumi said. "What?" Tomoyo asked curiously. "I know that he loves you deeply. He looks at you with those kind eyes full of love. You look at him that way too. But I'm not too sure that you love him as much as he loves you." Kasumi said with a smile. "I see. Oh no!" She exclaimed. "What is it Tomoyo-san?" Kasumi asked with surprise. "What time is it?" Tomoyo asked. "It's 5:50 in the morning Tomoyo-san." Kasumi answered while drops of sweat falling down her head. "I forgot about Eriol!" Tomoyo exclaimed while running up to her bedroom. "Huh?" Kasumi asked to thin air.

I inside Tomoyo's bedroom…

"I totally forgot about him!" Tomoyo said. "Where's that box?!" She saw it in her dresser. When she opened it she saw a ring and a letter. Written in the paper was:

Dear Tomoyo,

Happy 18th birthday! I want you to know that you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I've always wanted you to be in my arms. I've always wanted to touch you. I've always wanted your lips to be with mine. You've always been inside my mind. I think about you every moment in my life. I want you to know that I love you very much. I've always thought of confessing it to you but I always felt shy about it. But now, I want to ask you something I've wanted since I met you. I know we aren't in a romantic state even before but please answer this question. Will you marry me?

Your Knight in Shining Armor

In this chapter... it's kinda confusing... oh well...