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Chapter 3
That night,Kaho visited her master in his bedroom.She was not the
least surprised to see him staring dreamily at a picture in an
ID.She didn't need a crystal ball to predict who owned the ID.
"Good evening,Master."she greeted as she sat in front
of him.
Eriol's face burned as he quickly tried to hide the ID but the
woman quickly swapped it away from him.She sighed before showing
the picture.
He turned into a deeper shade of red."S-She means nothing to
me."
"I hope so,Master.I trust you're aware of the impending
crisis."said Kaho gravely.
He shut his eyes tight."Yes,I have no means of escaping my
fate."
"That is why I don't want you to get too asttatched to
MS.Daidouji.I want you to accept your fate easier.If you fall in
love with her and the time comes for you to go,you might find it
hard to say goodbye."
He opened his eyes and looked beggingly at the red-haired
woman."I want to retire to my bed now."
She stood up."Goodnight,young master.Be strong."She
returned Tomoyo's ID before leaving the room.
December 18
"I haven't thought of a good idea for our art project
yet.How about you?"asked Tomoyo as they walked to school
that morning.
He smiled mysteriously."It's a secret."
She pouted before laughing."Ok,if you say so.Speaking of
gifts,I'm shopping for christmas presents tomorrow afternoon.Do
you want to come?"
"Well.."
"If it's not possible,I can change the schedule.."she
added.
"No,tomorrow is fine."he replied.He didn't have the
heart to turn her down again after she had been so kind to offer
him so many invitations.
Her face brightened."Great!"
Eriol's pencil broke off for the fifth time.He was
irritated..VERY irritated.He looked at the boys who were flocking
around Tomoyo's desk like butterflies as Tomoyo dictated the
recipe for blueberry cheesecake.
"Of all the recipes in the culinary world,why did they have
to choose THAT recipe for the Home Ec project?"he muttered
wryly.
"Eriol!"Sakura called him over to her desk.
He stood up grudgingly."Good morning,Sakura."he said
through gritted teeth.
"Oh Eriol!Wipe that silly scowl of your face!It's almost
christmas!"
"I can't help it!Those fools are surrounding our desk and
suffocating me and Tomoyo!"he said as he sat down in front
of her.
She winked."Admit it!You're furious!Very,very,VERY
furious!"
He forced a blank stare.
"You know what I mean!"She leaned over to his ear and
whispered conspiratorially,"It's only natural!Tomoyo is one
of the prettiest girls in the campus.Of course half of the male
population would pounce on the opportunity to get to talk to
her!"
"Why are you telling me this?"
Sakura smiled."Because you look quite homicidal to me.Just
to avoid the bloodshed.."
"What?"
"You're jealous."she stated softly.
"OK,so even Sakura knows that I like Tomoyo.Big deal!Surely
nothing can be much worse than that!"Eriol told himself
soothingly while inside the Men's CR.
"Hiragizawa!"
"Or maybe not."he muttered as he scooped some more
water to his scarlet face.
Li Syaoran sat on the sink,frowning."We need to talk."
"If it's about Tomoyo,forget it!"he snapped.
Li shook his head."Why did you go back to Japan?Are the
cards on the loose again?"
"No,I just want to get away from the gray loneliness of
London."
"Will you still go back there?"asked Syaoran.
"No.I will spend the rest of my days here."replied
Eriol.
"Is it because of a certain someone?"he pressed.
Eriol immediately knew where the conversation was heading.He was
tired of denying so in a resigned tone,he said,"Fine.I love
Tomoyo.Satisfied?"
Li jumped down and grabbed him by the collar."Listen
Hiragizawa,you better be sure about your feelings!Both Sakura and
I love Tomoyo very much,and if you dare hurt her or make her
cry,I swear,I'll kill you."
He smiled weakly."Don't worry,Li Syaoran.I do not intend to
tell her how I feel."
Li released him."But why?"
At the same moment,Eriol collapsed to the floor.He was twisting
and turning in pain as the fluorescent lights of the room
flickered.All the faucets turned on at the same time while the
mirror and the windows cracked.
"Hiragizawa!!"Li quickly attended to him."What the
hell is going on??!"
When Eriol didn't reply,he used his power to calm him
down.Minutes later,Eriol slumped down the floor,catching his
breath."See..see what I mean?This is the reason why I can
never tell her how I feel.."
"Hiragizawa,don't speak!Rest if you must!"Li ordered.
"I'm dying."
"B-But how.."
"My power is eating me up."explained the boy.Though
still dizzy,Eriol forced himself to sit up.He looked at the
brown-haired boy."Do not tell anyone about what you have
seen and heard in this room,understood?"
"But-"
"Understood?"His voice sounded more urgent.
Li nodded."Gentlemen's agreement."The two men shook
hands.
CHAPTER 4 PREVIEW
"What do you want for christmas,Eriol?"asked Tomoyo
eagerly.
"Long life."He absentmindedly replied.Realizing what he
said,he covered it with a forced laugh."A girlfriend would
be nice too."
Tomoyo froze."A girlfriend,you say?"
Eriol was silenced too.