Author's Note: Requirements needed when reading this fic: an open mind. This fic will be focusing on how Eriol and Kaho first met and fell in love. I'm going to be using the manga as reference *hugs her mangas*. ^_^ It is never said exactly how they met in the manga (the animé merely says that they met at a university), so this fic is kind of about a "missing scene". =) If you don't support the Eriol/Kaho coupling, I won't ask you to leave, but I do request you linger around for a bit. You might learn something about them that few have known. ^_^

Travelling New Paths: Prologue

By: Sakura

It had started off as such a beautiful night, one that neither may ever forget.

The beautiful - and only - daughter of the Tsukimine Shrine caretaker stood idly under the shade of a tall tree. Her kimono daintily dressed her as her long auburn hair danced playfully in the light breeze, her eyes sparkling with contentment. Her companion, a tall sober-faced youth with dark hair, gazed at her with unconcealed admiration. He resolved at that moment, as he leaned beside her on the tree trunk, that nothing could ever come between them and that they'd be happy together forever.

Mizuki Kaho took a sidelong glance at Kinomoto Touya, who caught it and moved closer to her. In a quiet but light tone, the shrine maiden proceeded to tell Touya the thoughts that had been troubling her for quite some time now.

"I'm going to England," she said suddenly, "to continue my studies." Those few words broke the magic spell of the evening. Touya took a step forward to face her, staring at her in utter shock.

"Study abroad?!" he cried. "When?"

"Tomorrow," was Kaho's murmured response. The one word slowly sunk into Touya's mind.

"But that's so sudden!" he protested, not wanting to believe what his beloved was saying. Kaho said nothing for a few minutes, trying to think of the best way to tell him.

"It's not sudden," she replied slowly, her face a mask of perfect calmness. But inside her, Kaho felt some of her resolve instantly evaporating. She hated so much to do this to him. "It was decided two months ago." Touya turned away for a moment, then, throwing the tree a punch, causing it to shudder slightly as leaves slowly fell to the ground, and faced her again.

"Why did you deceive me?" he asked, his voice filled with deep hurt. He honestly loved her more than anyone in the world, and she was second only to his family in his eyes. There was no one more beautiful; no one that could understand him and his powers half as well…

"But if you had known," she said with a slight smile, "we wouldn't have been able to get as close." She rested her head lightly on his shoulder as he placed his arm around her, a move that had become so natural to him, to hold her close. "I've been so happy because I like you," she continued. "These days have really been a lot fun because I was with you."

"Why," choked out Touya, in a voice that did not seem like his own, his grip suddenly tightening, "are you talking in past tense?" Kaho slipped out of his grasp to face him, placing her hand gently on his cheek, and looked up into his eyes.

"Let's just say goodbye, Touya-kun," she answered softly. This would be painful - for both of them - but she had no choice, none at all. "The next time we meet again…" she continued quietly, "we will each have found the one we truly love most. And then, we can be friends again." As she turned to leave, Touya took Kaho's hand in his and held it tight.

"I will never love any woman more than you, Kaho!" he declared passionately. "You're the only woman for me." Kaho started at this statement, her eyes wide. Then, a smile of understanding flitted across her lips.

"You're right," she replied with a mysterious smile. "I am the only woman you could ever love." Her expression softened for the briefest second. "But I'm sure you'll still find the one you truly love. I'm really not the one for you." Withdrawing her hand from his, Kaho turned around and walked away. Touya stared at her back with disbelief etched across every feature of his face.

Cupping his hands around his mouth, Touya took a step forward and shouted, "Kaho! There won't be anyone for me but you! Do you hear me?" When his beloved disappeared from view, Touya slumped his shoulders in defeat, leaning back on the tree trunk. His heart had been shattered…

Not so far away yet, a young woman shared a similar fate, as a tear rolled down her cheek. Her heart truly felt like it was breaking, too. But, now that all ties had been broken, Kaho knew it was time for her to leave Tomoeda behind her and look toward the future.

"Don't worry, Touya-kun," she whispered to herself. "The one you truly love will appear to you soon…" Turning her gaze to the full moon hanging in the sky, Kaho's fist suddenly clenched tight. "I'm certain of it." Meanwhile, she wondered if she would ever find the one who loved her the most…

She sincerely doubted it.

Author's Note: *smiles* I'm taking a little break from a few of my other CCS series fics to write this one. I truly adore the Syaoran/Sakura pairing, but as the Eriol/Kaho pairing is hardly touched upon, I decided it was time I got working on mine. Although this isn't the first E/K fic that I started, it is the first that I'm posting. =)

Hmm, I've never written a prologue before, unless you count the one I wrote many, many years ago that I think I trashed. Honestly, though, what do you think so far? Comments and criticism are quite welcome and enjoyed. Flames are, as well, to tell the truth. However, if you're going to flame me regarding this fic, if it is only because you dislike the Eriol/Kaho coupling, then I'll only say it now that that will be far too childish. I don't expect much feedback on this as hardly anyone cares for Eriol/Kaho, but to flame me because you hate them is just silly. ^_^ If you flame about Kaho being older than Eriol, those will be ignored, too, since Eriol is older than Kaho (and this has nothing to do with his being a half-incarnation of Clow Read). I'll get more in-depth regarding the age issue when I post the next chapter. =)

*Sakura
~The Animé Archives Team