Disclaimer : I don't own CCS. CCS is owned by CLAMP.

Chapter Dedication : To my beta Aoi Itsuki, who bore the trouble to beta this fic even when having to study for the tests… I feel bad. I hope you get the high score for your exam!

Thank You for reviewing the 8th chapter: change the ending?, skybluescramble (hey, I really like your fic..!), Death 101 – Fox Version, Midnight Ghost, Shanaa12, mysticalphoenix-avalon, animefan88tv, chainedheart999, cheng, tomoyo-amethyst, mggz, Malu Daidoji, poochyyxx, Krissy, asga, Shenhui, Nils, Fluff Inc (when will you update your fic? I'm waiting… ), and ChEF purple burp.. Wow, some of you actually still remember my previous fic, Mnemosyne's Labyrinth… Thank you so much! And thanks to you all for still giving this story a shot even when I'm starting to get slightly frustrated with it..

Summary : Once upon a time, with a Cursed Man and the soon-to-be Cursed Woman. Set 9 years post CCS series.

The Misfortunate Tale: Beauty and the Beast (Not)

:: Chapter 9 : :

Illogically Logical

"I heard that you broke up with Eriol-kun," commented Sakura to Tomoyo –who was currently in the Kinomoto Residence. The raven-haired cousin was switching shifts with Syaoran, who had class in the morning, to take care of the still injured Sakura. To the posed question, Tomoyo was tempted to explain how it was never a true relationship to begin with, but she realized that saying that would only lead to mountains of more explanations. So she declined her former intention and just gave Sakura a curt nod.

Sakura wasn't convinced by just this and questioned again, "Why?"
"We're just too different," Tomoyo replied with an answer she had often heard when people broke up. It wasn't the reason, but she presumed it was better than telling Sakura that Eriol had lied to her. Tomoyo knew that Eriol was still someone Sakura looked up in pure respect, and somehow she still didn't have the heart to ruin that perfect image of him in Sakura's eyes.

"That's too bad," Sakura sighed in disappointment.

"You looked the happiest when you were with him."

At this, Tomoyo couldn't help but to feel sinister.

Happiness, wasn't that an irony?

Counting days.

She didn't know why she was doing it, yet she kept on doing it.

The act was in vain –something that her younger self would have never imagined on doing.

But then she knew –she realized it all too well.

It had been 11 days and 10 hours since she last saw Hiiragizawa Eriol.

Again, the act was in vain.

Yet she still did so.

Thus, betraying her own logic, she resumed her counting.

…

It would be the 11th day and the 11th hour soon.

On the 17th day, Tomoyo finally decided to face the pain of her own blatant analysis.

It still hurt and twisted her heart to remember the guy who not only had lied, but had also tried to use her for his own benefit. The worst of it all was that she couldn't dare herself to come close in hating him.

It wasn't, she reminded herself, 'love' or what the others might have presumed. No, she supposed love was not the case. Not yet, at least. She liked him alright; she really liked him. Despite his fake smiles, his lies, his manipulation, even despite the fact that he loved another woman….

Tomoyo knew… she couldn't diminish her own feeling that easily.

Upon realizing that certain little fact, Tomoyo let out a tired sigh.

…

She couldn't forgive him yet, but she liked him. She didn't love him yet, but she had a feeling that she…eventually would.

Oh, she was doomed.

On the 21st day since she last saw Eriol, Tomoyo found a little surprise. It had nothing to do with Eriol, but later in the future, she would realize that it was connected to the certain blue-eyed sorcerer. This little surprise came from Araide Kaze on the lunch break in their campus' dining hall. Tomoyo was still in the mood to be by herself, so she chose to sit in the secluded part of the cafeteria. She was flipping the next page of a thick economy literature when the brown-haired guy came.

"May I sit here?" he questioned politely. Tomoyo vaguely thought that the person before her was slightly different from the usual Kaze she knew. The Kaze she knew was a nervous man who almost always kept on stuttering as often as it was possible. However, the current Kaze was much calmer –so much that he almost felt like a different man.

Despite her truthful mood to stay out of company, Tomoyo still couldn't lose her politeness. Tomoyo nodded towards Kaze's questioning gaze and gave him the permission to sit on the referred chair.

"I heard you broke up with Hiiragizawa-san," he spoke blatantly, deciding to ignore any prologue and choosing the very topic she hated to hear the most.

Her reply was short and prompt. "Yes."

Kaze tensed and Tomoyo felt his usual nervous personality was beginning to come back to the surface. Almost a whole minute passed in silence, until Kaze broke it again. "…Why?"

Almost automatically, like a well-rehearsed line on the script, she told him the same reason she told Sakura and the others. "We are just too different."

The brown-haired man gazed at his ex girlfriend for some moments before he leaned back and muttered. "Tomoyo, I-I really like you, you know? I-I know I cheated on you back then, but I realized later that apparently I… really, really like you."

The Daidouji heiress slowly smiled at such sincerity. If only men could be as honest as Araide Kaze was…, then life would not probably be that difficult. "…I like you too. But my feelings for you can never be anything more than platonic feeling."

He cringed slightly at the honesty of her words but he gathered up his courage and said, "I'm not giving up my feeling on you now. I will fight it –"

"Kaze –"

"But not when you're still like this."

Tomoyo was stunned upon hearing this and she stared deeply at Kaze. The guy realized the intensity of the gaze and scratched his head awkwardly. "W-well, I just want to say, t-that I will win you after you finish your problem with him."

The violet-eyed woman almost hesitated before speaking. Almost. "It's over between me and Hi –Eriol. We have nothing more to discuss."

"No, there is still something, isn't it?"

"No, there isn't."

"Yes, there is."

It surprised Tomoyo to find several different sides of Kaze that day. Knowing him since years past, she knew that this guy –albeit nervous to his deepest core – was a very kind and gentle man. But it was only at that moment that she realized that this ex boyfriend of hers was actually a very stubborn guy who held up his own opinion in his regards. Not only that, but Kaze also proved to have the type of courage that even Sakura didn't have the heart to say. Tomoyo could loosely remember how Sakura refused to question further about her broken relationship with Eriol. And while she thanked the Cherry Blossom for that, Tomoyo strangely didn't really mind Kaze's contrary action to confront the problem.

Kaze cleared his throat and began again. "Ne, Tomoyo?"

"Yes, Kaze?"

"Forgive me, but…I don't believe in your reason saying that you two were just too different. B-because what I see is actually quite the opposite. You share m-many similar things and you two look very compatible together." He paused and grimaced –his expression obviously showed disbelief –as if it was screaming 'What did I say?' or some sort. However, despite the sudden drop level of confidence, the brown-haired guy resumed his words. "Y-you seem to still l-like him a lot."

"…Not that it matters now."

"…But it does, doesn't it? You…are mad at him, but you still like him and…"

Although it nearly crushed her heart, Tomoyo waited him to complete the explanations.

"…And y-you just can't m-move on. Your heart is still attached to him. You don't love him, yet…" He added unsurely, "…you really like him. You like him so much that it's hard to let go. You're still curious about him. You're still curious about your own feeling. You're still curious about your relationship with him. You want to ask him questions, h-however getting back together with him is a pointless attempt in your mind."

He continued.

"You analyze things too much, and you realize that logically, it would be stupid to get back together with him."

"You're right," she interrupted, partially because she wanted to clarify things, partially because she wanted to stop him from reading her. "It is stupid."

"But your heart, your curious heart, is still unsatisfied, isn't it? That's why you're like this: static. You're not going forward, and you're not going backward either. You just… pause." He shrugged, debating on whether it was still appropriate for him to continue on. "And you will never consider me more than a friend until you're done sorting out your own feeling and your problem with him."

Tomoyo leaned back and deliberated. She supposed that 'Kaze's theory' wasn't exactly a theory, because weren't most relationships like that? Wasn't it common for someone not to be able to move on from their 'boy/girlfriend'? It was easy to tell. It was something that she often heard in her friends' complaints. It was, indeed, a normal problem, not a new theory. She had long heard and knew about this.

But what she had never presumed before was the fact that apparently she became another proof of such a general conviction.

She had never considered herself extra ordinary (Sakura, with all the cards and magic, was extra ordinary. But Tomoyo? No, she wasn't). But perhaps, in slight arrogance, she had thought that she was different from the others. However, 'Kaze's theory' –although lacking the originality – had pointed out that Daidouji Tomoyo was strangely just like every other ordinary person.

And that she had the right to be so.

She chuckled and for the first time since she remembered, Tomoyo felt the weight slowly being lifted up from her heart. It was odd to find that Kaze, of all people, could do it. This guy, with his own nervous yet truthful and honest persona had made her regard queer things in a better perspective. She had to compliment him and told him that perhaps he was more persuasive than he (or she) originally presumed.

Tomoyo stared deeply into her friends' eyes. "So, let me review… you want me to finish things with Eriol because you think that he and I still have a chance together?"

"…Yes."

"Didn't you say you like me? I mean…" She chuckled, never quite understanding Kaze's logic. "Wouldn't you want me to like you instead? Why are you hooking me up with him?"

"I want you to like me." He sighed. "But not until you're sure that you don't have an inch of feeling towards that guy."

"Feeling for him? Which you presumed I still have?"

"Yes."

"…What if I do your advices, meet him, and eventually just fall in love with him for real?"

"Then I'm probably just the stupidest man alive." And despite his sympathy for himself, Kaze chuckled.

Tomoyo shook her head in amusement. She still couldn't quite understand Kaze's logic, yet she was truly grateful for having a friend who considered her feelings that way. "You sure are the most foolish saint, Kaze."

"That bastard," Hiiragizawa Eriol cursed under his breath as he dragged the magic mirror closer, only centimeters apart from his nose. On the glassy reflection, there was the sight of Tomoyo laughing at what Araide Kaze had just said. To his disappointment, the magic mirror only allowed the sorcerer to see things, not to hear things. He wished he knew what was so damn funny about the Ariade guy that made the Heiress look so amused. "I know it. I know he's planning to make Daidouji-san his. And he uses the chance when I'm not around her and –" Eriol continued his mutters of cursing until finally he called out, "Ruby Moon!"

A few seconds later, Akizuki Nakuru barged into the living room –where Eriol was at. Nakuru looked to see her master sitting on the throne of evil with the magic mirror in his hand. The Moon Guardian was baking cookies when her master called and she unconsciously brought along the bowl of dough along. "Aye, Master?"

"Ruby, do you still keep that voodoo doll you got from our trip to Africa last year?"

"Safely kept in my drawer, why?"

His sapphire eyes glinted maliciously. "I want to borrow it."

The chocolate-haired girl blinked several times before she widened her eyes in realization. "You're going to curse that poor boy? That's a crime, Master. A crime!"

"Like Eriol-sama has never committed one before," Spinel Sun commented lazily at the corner of the room. Its petite figure was hidden behind the book that was even twice its body size. "I recall 'stalking' is also considered crime in several countries' legal systems."

"I'm not stalking." The Sorcerer growled. "I'm merely guarding and watching over Daidouji-san. I promised to protect her, remember?"

"As I also recall…" Spinel murmured, not wanting to avert his attention from the book he was reading when it continued on, "She often complained that it was safest to stay away from you."

"Suppi, you meanie…" Nakuru defended her master. "Master's just worried about Tomoyo-chan's well being, isn't that right, Master? That's why he keeps stalking her for weeks already and –"

"You dare to call me a stalker too, Ruby Moon?" Eriol warned through his forced smile.

The reply came innocently, yet stabbing at the same time. "Aren't you?"

Ruby Moon was never the best lawyer.

Eriol tried to suppress down his temperament. "I'm just trying to guard her," he said through gritted teeth. "And I would do it in a much more normal way if only she hadn't the pure hatred towards me."

"…You can't conclude that easily that she hates you," Nakuru said softly. "We don't know that yet."

While he was still grateful to Nakuru's soothing words, Eriol's conscience forbade him to ever feel that way. What he had done to Tomoyo was horrible. He had lied and tried to use one of the kindest woman on earth to fulfill his selfish demand. He wasn't sure that someone as pure as Tomoyo could really hate someone, but he thought it would be better if he expected the worst scenario. He was guilty. If there wasn't anyone who was going to punish him, then he would let himself drowned in his own pool of guilt.

And even with that, Eriol knew, his guilt and shame could never fix the pain he had caused to her.

21 days. 21 days he had watched her from a far (or stalked her, in Spinel's term). 21 days he had witnessed the woman's tortured soul. 21 days he had wished he could lift all her sorrow and bear it by himself.

21 days he hated himself.

And curse him, he knew it was still not enough.

Her little chat with Kaze that day had influenced Tomoyo's mind more than she had ever imagined. For the first time since she last remembered, she didn't do her essay on the scheduled time and she chose to concentrate her brain more on analyzing all the pros and cons of thestupidest ideas that had ever existed in her head. After several moments, she finished writing down the lists of negatives and positives. The list showed an unfair match, and she knew that logically she wouldn't do what she was thinking of doing.

"Your logic is binding you. Don't think, Tomoyo. Just do what your heart wants you to do."

And for the umpteenth time that day she growled upon remembering Kaze's certain words. That guy wasn't making it easy on her.

By doing this, she would be labeled as Tomoeda's idiot. Not that she cared much about labeling and what other people would think of her, but she indeed cared about her own principles and ideology. What she was thinking of doing was certainly something that insulted her praised logic, and in consequence, it also insulted her own pride. Breaking those ideals would be stupid, pointless, futile, stupid, unwise, and…did she say stupid?

She thought she really had lost her mind.

But you could never lose your heart and soul…

Thus, sighing and cursing herself, Tomoyo opened the door of her room and walked out.

Logic, be damned.

Eriol and the magic mirror were almost inseparable now.

He exhaled the smoke from the cigarette he was smoking and focused his attention back to Tomoyo who was reflected in the mirror. The girl made his heart beat in painful agony and worry. What did she think she was doing anyway? It was late –it was almost 10 PM – and she was walking by herself on the vacant street of Tomoeda. Didn't she know how dangerous it was? Eriol impatiently smoked again, trying to get rid of that bugging urge to just teleport himself to the girl's place and reprimand her to go home.

But he knew that she wouldn't like his presence there. So, all that he could do was only to sit on his throne of evil (with magic mirror on his left hand and the cigarette on his right hand) and pray to God that she wouldn't plunge herself into trouble.

"You're smoking again?"

He averted his sight to the source of voice for a swift of moment, only to affirm that it was really Mizuki Kaho who stood behind him. "Yes. It's the only thing that keeps me sane while watching over this damned reckless woman."

Kaho smiled softly. "You're either like her father or her obsessive ex boyfriend."

"Neither. I'm just a concerned friend."

"You're really worried about this girl."

"That's because this girl is worrisome. Even without my curse, she still confronts danger."

"Tomoyo is one of the most independent women I've known. She can handle trouble, unlike you, sometimes." The priestess giggled and gazed at the sapphire-eyed guy –the guy that she unfortunately couldn't ever consider more than a friend. She wasn't clueless on his affections towards her (moreover, when Eriol was showing clear indications of it), but Kaho had long realized that her feelings towards the Clow's Incarnation was not love in romantic terms. She cared very much about him though and she wished him the happiness he deserved.

If he thought that his happiness was to be with her and to make her his lover, she wouldn't (couldn't) neglect it–although she had often reminded him that her base of love was something platonic. Kaho cared for him so much, and if there was anything she could do to make him happy, she would do it.

"I'm sorry for telling her the truth," the Tsukimine Shrine priestess spoke softly. "If only I hadn't told her, then perhaps you and Tomoyo would still have–"

"No, it's alright. I'm the one who lied to you and told you that I had informed Daidouji-san about that certain detail. It wasn't your fault. I… should have told her myself earlier," Eriol murmured. "But then again, I guess it's better this way…"

Kaho gazed at the pale-skinned sorcerer. "Eriol…"

"At this point, it's better to be hated than to be loved." He concluded his words with a sad smile.

The red-haired lady wanted to say something but before she managed to do so, her eye caught a small detail. Kaho leaned forward and pointed at something on the magic mirror Eriol was holding. "Eriol, isn't that –"

Focusing his attention to whatever Kaho pointed, Eriol soon discovered that on that vacant street of Tomoeda, there was a strange man who trailed Tomoyo, who was walking all by herself. Eriol's heart skipped a beat as he sensed the danger. Without wasting any second, he stood up, exchanged the Magic Mirror with his staff, and cast a spell to teleport himself.

Even half way to his place, she still had doubts lingering on each cell of her brain.

It was annoying, the way that her heart and mind battled like this. The inner battle was also dangerous, as Tomoyo was too preoccupied with such a clash that she barely felt the presence of a person lurking behind her.

Thus when a rough hand was slammed against her mouth to shut her up in silence, she wasn't ready. She panicked when she should have been thinking logically. The man was aiming for her purse, she realized. Tomoyo knew that she should have let go of the purse to save her life. But since she was panicking, she did the contrary and she found herself in a stubborn fight against the man who was trying to rob her purse.

Her hand was hurt when she tried to keep the purse in her possession. Given another second, perhaps she would have succeeded. But since she didn't have that extra meaningful second, she was less lucky –the guy managed to hit her head with a beer can. The hit wasn't that fatal to make her lose any consciousness (though it still hurt beyond words…), but it was successful in making her lose the attention and instinctively let go of her purse.

Having reached his goal, the drunken man ran away.

"Damn that –" she muttered under her breath and saw him go with her purse –disappearing into the darkness.

But then she heard scream. Male scream. And then she heard what seemed to be a commotion. However, it was so dark that she couldn't see and decipher anything. Soon, Tomoyo could hear the sounds of footsteps approaching and she took some steps backwards in automatic defense. She was prepared to run (her logic was working now and she realized that she should have done so since the very beginning), but the stranger's presence was too near. He spoke.

"Your purse," he announced.

Tomoyo carefully looked up to see Hiiragizawa Eriol standing in front of her, handing her purse over. There was sudden butterfly inside her stomach when she gazed at him. She doubtfully took the purse and murmured the soft gratitude. A second later, the half-English guy started his series of reprimands. "For someone considered to be so wise, you sure are very, very reckless, Daidouji-san. What the hell were you thinking anyway? Why were you walking by yourself at such hour? You're a girl, you should have realized your situation and position! And you should have used the car and –"

She was surprised with the sudden scolding; however she still tried to defend herself. "I was about to use the car. But then I realized that I was in the middle of heavy deliberating. I was not sure whether I could drive safely with so many thoughts and analysis in my head and –"

"And you thought you could walk safely?"

"…I thought so."

Eriol sighed. "Do you know how thoughtless you were?" he complained once again.

Tomoyo ignored the comment and only questioned back. "How could you be… so coincidentally here anyway?"

"It's not coincidence. It's because I watch over you through the Magic Mirror and –" Eriol paused upon realizing little secret he had uncovered.

She gazed at him in disbelief. "Are you a stalker?"

He groaned. "Not you too…"

He had too many people calling him a stalker that day.

There was an awkward silence and he realized that he was the one responsible for it. "I'm… sorry for appearing before you. I know you told me that you didn't want to see me again and –"

"Hiiragizawa-san." She cut his words and took a deep breath. "I came to talk to you."

He blinked as if not believing her words. "Talk to me?"

"Yes," she replied uncertainly. However, there was no turning back now. "Can we talk elsewhere?"

"…Sure," he answered doubtfully, but he guided her back to his manor anyway.

Tomoyo had rehearsed what she wanted to say for countless times, and yet when she faced the real situation, she couldn't speak a word.

She and Eriol were by themselves in the spacious living room of the Hiiragizawa Manor. The ticking sound of the old grandfather clock was agitating the two even more. Tomoyo suddenly had a nauseous feeling and she seriously considered turning back to follow her logic instead of her heart.

"I haven't…" It was Eriol who spoke. "I haven't had the chance to properly apologize. For everything I've done. I'm sorry. I am really sorry. If there's anything I could do to make those up, just say it."

She shook her head, indicating to him that she didn't need him to do anything. Biting her lower lip unconsciously, Tomoyo slowly began explaining. Her own voice sounded foreign even in her ears. "You see, Hiiragizawa-san… what I'm about to say is… by far, the most illogical thing that my brain has ever come up with and, well…"

She paused for so long that he had to question back. "Well…?"

"It's…really not easy."

"Alright. Then don't say it."

"But I have to say it."

He shrugged. "Then…say it."

Tomoyo sighed, trying to calm herself down before strengthening her will to speak in one quick sentence. "I… want to help you again to remove the Curse."

She talked fast, but his keen hearing could hear each word perfectly. Thus, when he leaned forward to say "WHAT?", it wasn't because he hadn't heard right, but it was simply because he couldn't believe what she had just said.

Tomoyo gave a slow nod, confirming his doubts. Eriol was left dumbfounded. The only thing that escaped his mouth was, "You're crazy."

She sighed. "I am."

"You're stupid. And very, very reckless."

"Yes, I am."

"Do you have any idea what you're talking about?"

"I hate to say it, but…yes. I'm perfectly aware of what I'm saying. Though, I still can not believe it myself."

"Then you'd better not believe it!" he spat. "You were saying the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, Daidouji-san! I don't know if you have some sort of amnesia or something, but you surely remember that I've lied to you and tried to manipulate you before, right?"

"It's still clear in my head," she replied.

"Then… what the hell do you think you're proposing?"

"I'm…proposing to help you. I've promised earlier to help you erase the curse, and despite whatever you've hidden from me, I still owe you the promise and I will help you out."

Eriol shook his head in disbelief. "This is not about promises anymore, Daidouji-san. This is about how you would only get into more troubles if you ever get involved with me. I thought you were wiser when you snapped at me weeks ago. At least that time, you were wise enough to get away from me. Why don't you just stick to that thought?"

"Am I not allowed to help a friend?"

He let out a dark chuckle. "I don't deserve your help, Daidouji-san! You're too foolishly kind for your own good. You're –"

"I want to help you, Hiiragizawa-san," she cut his screeches, tired of him reprimanding her, tired of everyone questioning her determination. She had enough of her own mind reprimanding her; she didn't need him to do the same thing.

He sighed. Those violet eyes were becoming his weakness lately. It was as if he was cursed by her; she could say anything with those eyes and he knew he wouldn't have the power to refuse. But despite how many times he wanted to surrender himself to Daidouji (and her stubbornness), there was still this voice in his head that reminded him that he was a dangerous person –someone she should not have meddled up with. In the end, he questioned her. "Why? Why do you want to help me? Haven't I created enough troubles for you? Haven't I lied to you? I have even tried to use you to fulfill my personal selfish desire. Why do you still want to help me?"

She sighed, and again, it was her turn to think. This was the question that she couldn't really answer, no matter how many times it had wandered inside her head. There were theories and guesses (like how she just wanted to be responsible for something she had committed or how she just simply wanted to help a friend, or how she wanted to prove to him things), but in the end, she knew that those were only minor reasons. There was this certain reason that was dominant, and yet she, again, hated to feel such…a common feeling.

"There are several reasons, but mainly… perhaps…"

"…"

"…well…perhaps…"

"Yes, Daidouji-san?"

"Perhaps because I miss you."

His lips were parted open unconsciously. Then his heart skipped a beat and he blushed. Those were totally what he would usually describe as uncharacteristically girlish actions. But beyond that, he gaped in disbelief at her. Someone as pure and as kind as Daidouji Tomoyo couldn't have…missed him, right? He was…good for nothing, he only hurt her, and he only caused her troubles, why would she miss someone like him?

The silence he provided raised the nervousness she had inside. What came next from her mouth was a series of mumbles. "I don't even know why I miss you. It's crazy, it's pathetic, it's stupid, but I really feel that way and I miss you so much. So much, that I think I'd better be tortured by you, I'd rather be fooled by you than to pass another day without seeing you."

She blushed deep red after saying it.

And he was still silenced, dumbfounded beyond word.

Daidouji Tomoyo, THE Daidouji Tomoyo, the supposedly intelligent, wise, and strong-willed lady had just admitted that she… missed him? Missed him enough so that she wanted to bear all that pain again for him?

Even after she found out the real truth? His real intention?

"…I can't let you," he finally said. He shook his head and murmured to himself. "I won't let you help me."

"…Why not?"

"Too risky, too dangerous."

"I'm a grown-up woman. I know what I'm doing, Hiiragizawa-san."

"You don't. This is too dangerous."

"I'm alright. Let me do it, let me help you."

"No, you can't. I'm not letting you."

"Hiiragizawa-san, I –"

"I don't want to hurt you!" he snapped suddenly. He hated to see that shocked and surprised look on her face, but he realized that it was better this was better that she hated him – it was much better than to make her offer herself as a victim for him. It annoyed him that she wanted to be his victim. It was honestly loathsome.

But Daidouji was a courageous woman that even the wrath of the incarnation of the world's strongest sorcerer couldn't deter her. "My pain is my own business, Hiiragizawa-san."

"It's not!" he shouted. "I don't want you to feel any pain! Please, Daidouji-san, for the sake of your heart, a-and my heart, do not get hurt…"

Tomoyo paused and then provided him a calm reasoning. "I will get hurt more if I pass another day without you," she said calmly, strongly. "Don't get me wrong. I don't love you, not yet, at least. But I really like you. That much, until I'm willing to bear all the pain."

"You're willing to fall in love with me?" he asked incredulously.

She nodded. Unsurely at first, but later, she affirmed it with a more certain utter. "Yes."

He was bewildered.

Never before in his life had he anyone who was willing to truly fall in love with him. He recognized devoted loyalty in Yue, Cerberus, Ruby Moon, and Spinel. He recognized deep concern and upmost care in Mizuki Kaho. But those were never love. Never a true love.

And yet, this girl…stupidly and crazily offered herself to fall in love with him.

What a crazy world.

Eriol suddenly felt tired. "And what are you planning to do after you fall in love with me? After The Curse is erased?"

"Don't worry, I won't interfere your happy life with Mizuki-san."

His sapphire eyes gazed at her as if she had confessed the greatest sin. "Then, why do you want to sacrifice yourself to fall in love with me? What for?"

"Hiiragizawa-san…" she sighed. "This discussion won't meet a conclusion if you keep on asking such questions. I don't know why I would go this far and why I would let you go afterwards. I can't think about it. This is something that has passed the boundaries of logic and I cannot explain that."

"But you will only get hurt in the end…"

"You can…" she shrugged. "…do your original plan afterwards. You can erase my memory, you can erase my feeling. Fair enough, isn't it? That way, the curse can still be lifted after I fall in love with you. I won't get hurt and you don't have to feel any guilt either, because I will forget."

"But –"

"Isn't that your original plan?"

"Yes, but –"

"This will benefit the both of us. And most importantly, nobody will get hurt."

He deliberated for a long time.

…For the painful agony.

Until finally, he spoke.

"I don't want you to do this for me."

"No, Hiiragizawa-san," Tomoyo shook her head. "I want you to do this for me."

"But –"

"Please…"

Crazy.

This woman was crazy. How could someone be that altruistic, be that stupid, be that stubborn?

Then again…

Well, he was… equally…

"Hiiragizawa-san?"

In the end, he replied with a reluctant, yet final tone. "Fine. I agree. I… hope you can help me erase this curse again."

Tomoyo nodded and Eriol sighed. He knew that Daidouji Tomoyo was a persuasive person, but he hadn't realized that she had reached such level that could practically affect his principles. He truly, full-heartedly didn't want to hurt her, but now that he had fulfilled her wish (a wish that was for his sake too, at that), he would try his best to protect this girl from any threat.

…Because it was his responsibility.

…

And, perhaps because… (he hated to admit this, but…) he shared the same reasoning…

…

Because, God, he missed her too.

: : To Be Continued : :