It was half past nine. The girl waited patiently for her best friend, a certain kaijuu notorious for tardiness. If possible, she'd bet her hefty inheritance on two facts about Sakura Kinomoto: her ability to save the world and secondly, to be late. Always.
"So we meet again, Daidouji," the refined British tone belonged to none other than the dark-blue haired sorcerer. It was a disappointment.
Tomoyo pushed a dark lock behind her ear, where a silver earring with deep sapphire stones glinted. "So you're the one that's late this time, hmm?"
Eriol beamed at her, retrieving a silver pocket watch from a pocket. Its amethysts winked. Watch and earrings shared similar markings etched into the metal, gifts falsely given to one another by a scheming Kinomoto or Li. The victims played along to spare feelings and secondly, accepting the exquisite, lovely pieces for what they were: tokens of friendship, nothing more. "Syaoran gave me cryptic instructions, so as not to arise any suspicions. I've been standing on the wrong side of the street for twenty minutes."
"That still makes you ten minutes late." She exhaled deeply, the soft waves of dark hair framing her porcelain pale face shifted slightly. "Life would be so much easier if we liked each other."
"I'm hurt. I simply adore you," Eriol teased.
"You know what I mean."
"If we let them keep this up, there's going to be a date with you in a white dress and me waiting in a tux at a church."
"They're not above tricking us into marriage. Sakura knows my ring-size, and you're about Syaoran's height and build, he can easily find you some nice groom's wear."
"You'd make a beautiful blushing bride."
An exaggerated bat of her long, thick eyelashes and a flash of mischievous, clever violet eyes. "Only if I'm wearing my own threads."
"I'll give my best-man the memo to pass along to your maid-of-honor."
"Laugh now while we still can," Tomoyo said.
"We should just tell them the truth."
"She doesn't get it, Eriol. As much as I've insinuated my true feelings, the girl is in denial."
A text sound on his phone distracted him momentarily. He quickly typed a response and snapped the device shut. "Kaho says hi, and to take a minimum of four cheesy pictures to add to our future wedding album."
"Only if we have matching wedding dresses."
They shared a short-lived laugh, before tinkling with their respective friendship tokens again. Bouts of awkward silence would be nonexistent in the presence of Sakura and Syaoran, as they egged on the non-couple into close quarters and romantic situations that went nowhere.
Eriol asked, "What should we do on this date? Movies, dinner, hand-holding under the stars…?"
Tomoyo scrunched up her face.
"Laser tag?"
A smile mirrored by another.
They were most at ease as rivals.
Playing lovers was a fairytale with no ever afters.