A/N: I would like to thank my readers' support. To Property of Eriol, some of your assumptions/questions will now be answered. To Annonymous Amethyst, thank you for the beautiful review. It helped me get over the depressing state of not getting enough feedback. LOL To all who wished for a speedy update, sorry for this delay.


Act 16, Winter

"Eriol-sama?"

The young man knew that his reaction was going to be too slow, almost as if he needed to tease the person calling out his name. He leisurely looked up from his hands on the black and white panels that seemed to mock him these past few days.

Music was not at all comforting for him this time. Concentration was so hard to achieve, and it had become utterly frustrating.

A silver-haired man, who worked as the keeper of the manor, bowed conscientiously before advancing towards him.

"What is it, Yukito-san?" His question easily echoed in the sparsely decorated room. The pianist had requested to move the grand piano to the former living room because it had good acoustics, but he couldn't appreciate that fact at the moment.

Eriol turned his attention back to the keys in front of him without so much thought. He had been too detached lately to be able to keep his interest in things. And lately, other people's company eluded him. Yet he wasn't at all surprised because he had anticipated it.

"I have brought you tea," his attendant announced as he carefully placed the steaming cup on the antique coffee table nearby.

He was sure it was Earl Grey because that was the only kind that Yukito Tsukishiro served him since he came to Fukuoka.

The bespectacled pianist just mumbled his thanks but easily decided to neglect the drink. Its bitterness only reminded him of his relationship with his estranged father, Clow Reed, and he didn't want to deal with it in his mind tonight.

The housekeeper, who now was also his attending butler after Wei returned to Tomoeda, promptly left him alone to contemplate on his cheerless music again.

He was bound to participate in a competition next month, and he was physically, mentally and emotionally unprepared.

A tired sigh escaped his lips. The feeling of helplessness was threatening to overwhelm him once more.

The notes filled his thoughts as he willed his skilled fingers to move across the keys deftly. A random melody kept his concentration centered to what he was feeling for a while. His music would have confused anyone who would be listening. There was no order nor sense to it.

Tomoyo Daidōji would cross his mind so often now, and his guilt was consuming him day by day.

"It is not your fault, oniichan."

The small voice had to disrupt his delicate reflection, and he punctually stopped harassing the piano keys to glare at his pale hands. It would be unlikely of a Hiiragizawa to scowl at someone even when he was provoked.

"Everybody tells me that, Sakura-chan. But why can't I believe it?" His own voice rivaled the iciness of the weather but his cousin wasn't at all affected.

They grew up so close together to be able to tell that it was the frustration talking. Sakura was a few years younger than him but the look on her pretty face made her seem much wiser than he could ever be, and it was unnerving in a way. The girl with the most emphatic emerald eyes slipped gracefully beside Eriol, sharing his space on the bench and absorbing some of his depressed air like a sponge.

He would never know how Sakura did that.

"I understand why you are upset. You wanted to help her," she told him peacefully that he visibly relaxed. "You must like her."

The dark-haired young man didn't acknowledge her last words as he watched Sakura's hands move on the flats and sharps of the piano.

"I promised to keep her safe." The words were not all about chivalry because he was painfully aware that he was more than that now.

Sakura was playing a Beethoven piece, that one that he taught her years ago, and that one that also reminded him of the girl with the darkest hair and expressive amethyst eyes.

"Did you promise her that?"

This consciousness somehow disturbed him even more.

No. I promised myself.

His silence was compensated by his action to match his cousin's music. He was suddenly much more determined for some reason. There was strength in his euphony that mirrored his resolve.

"You must really like her," Sakura declared with a smile in her voice.

Those were Syaoran's words, too, and it had been more than a month ago.

"What is she like, oniichan?"

What was he going to say? His breath hitched as he tried to perceive her in his head.

Tomoyo was unexpectedly talented, considerably captivating, and very mysterious.

Is that all you know? Even his mind was challenging him.

She was too stubborn, a little insecure, quite lonely, and somewhat broken inside.

After a few seconds, Eriol Hiiragizawa realized what was most important.

"She is just like me."