"Complicated Life"
By: Na-chan
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS and the other stuff in this fic. They belong to their respective
owners.
Author's Notes: This will be the LAST chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 10: The Aftermath
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three years later...
It was cold. Winter in Japan came swiftly without warning--just a few days ago leaves where still
falling from the trees. Snow covered the streets like icing on a cake. They fell in multitudes
and Tomoyo wouldn't have them any other way. She admired them in a child-like manner and tried to
catch some with her hands. Her boyfriend laughed at her antics.
"No one would have guessed you're the top student of Tokyo University," He laughed.
She blushed at the statement and stuck her tongue out at him. "You're just jealous, Eriol-kun."
Eriol chuckled. "Not exactly..." He adjusted his glasses and looked at her with a mischievous
glint in the eye. "Besides, we still have another semester until we graduate. I can still beat
you then."
"Yeah right." There was no suspicion in her eyes, no malice, just plain sincerity.
He winced.
"So are you really going to go into business?" The couple continued walking down the street,
window-shopping as they went.
"I'm not sure. It's hard to choose," She answered in an exasperated tone. She was full of this
post-graduate talk. Why can't somebody just choose for me? Are they even sure I can finish my
studies?
She groaned.
"Something bothering you?" He asked, concerned. He knew all about her uncertainties but he always
preferred to hear it coming from her.
"I hate having to graduate and going to business school! Or med school. Or even taking up law,"
Frustration was evident in her voice.
He laughed at her predicament, ignoring the stares they were getting from bystanders. "Maybe you
should have a talk with Daidouji-sama?"
"Maybe. During Christmas break..." She looked pensive at the idea.
He managed a small smile. "Daidouji-sama would be thrilled that you thought of asking her."
She smiled too. "Okay. But only if you come visit with me." Her mother liked Eriol very much. It
was probably his politeness and his honesty when the topic was about Tomoyo.
He shook his head. "I can't. My parents are coming over to visit." In his mind, he was torn
between seeing his parents and being with his girlfriend. But blood was thicker than water.
"Oh." She tried her best to suppress the disappointment she was feeling. 'This is Eriol!
He hasn't seen his parents in person for two years!' Her mind was reeling. 'But!' She looked at
him in the corner of her eye and noticed the sadness he was hiding. "That's great, Eriol-kun."
She hugged him briefly. She wasn't going to be selfish especially since it was almost Christmas.
"I know. Tomoyo-san...I..." He was trying to find the most apt words to tell her something of
utmost importance.
"What is it?"
"I'm--"
"Yo, Hiiragizawa! Daidouji!" He was cut short by Kazuma and Tsubasa. The inseparable duo came
bounding down the street towards them.
"Hi, guys." Tsubasa greeted. A huge smile was on her face. She nudged Tomoyo lightly. "So, how is
the date going?"
"Tsubasa!" The girls moved away from the boys to have some "girl talk".
"It's going fine...Eriol-kun's parents are coming for Christmas," Tomoyo looked at one of the
shops and smiled. "Isn't that one cute?" She pointed at a black cat plushie.
"Yeah. It looks a lot like Hiiragizawa-san's cat though," Her friend commented.
Spinel had been returned to Eriol after the incident in Tokyo Tower. He still appeared in
Tomoyo's apartment occasionally though.
"Want to see how much it costs?" Tsubasa offered.
"Uh-huh."
"Guys, we're going in this shop."
The two men nodded in agreement. A serious conversation was going on between the two and it was
better if the girls didn't hear.
"So, did you tell her?" Kazuma wasn't looking at Eriol.
"I was just about to." Eriol gave emphasis on the last three words.
"Oops. Sorry. But you should tell her now. She'd hate it if she heard from someone else."
"It's complicated. And besides, it's almost Christmas. I don't want her to feel depressed during
the holidays," He paused, "I'd hate to make her feel sad." He looked at the store where Tomoyo
and Tsubasa where in.
"Just don't take too long."
"I will tell her...eventually."
Yes, eventually...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the 20th of December when he had gathered up all his courage to give her the news.
Eleven fifty-seven.
She would be leaving for Tomoeda in two hours.
He dreaded it. The whole tell-your-girlfriend-the-truth-before-someone-else-tells-her.
The truth? He would be leaving Japan in a month. His parents weren't here for just a visit, they
were here to drag him back to England. The four years were almost up. He would receive his
diploma earlier than the rest, the mandatory requirements all finished. Tomoyo would graduate
cum laude and he would be but a memory in the campus.
He had known this time would come, he just didn't want to face it head on. Allowing himself to
fall in love with Tomoyo had not been a mistake--no, it was probably the only smart thing he had
done all his three years and eleven months in Japan.
But how well will she take it?
How well will she accept it if she finds out that I may never return?
Will she even talk to me after this?
There was only one statement for this.
He was so dead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Finally!" Tomoyo shoved the last piece of clothing into her already bulky suitcase. She surveyed
the room carefully, looking for anything that she might have missed.
It was spotless except for Spinel, who was curled up by the door, asleep.
She smiled at his contented figure and knelt down to pet his furry head.
"Wake up, Spinel. You're going back to Eriol."
It replied with a meow and went back to sleep.
She sighed. "Come on now. You won't see me in two weeks..."
The cat perked up at that as if it understood. It looked at her with its beady eyes and she could
almost swear that the feline was pleading her to stay. Which was silly since cats couldn't
comprehend what humans were saying. But this was Spinel. Spinel, who could tell the difference
between plywood and hardwood even when she couldn't. Spinel, who visited her every time she and
Eriol fought. Spinel, who spilled milk on Eriol's carpet but never hers. Spinel who...
And suddenly, tears threatened to come out from Tomoyo's eyes. It was as if she felt suddenly
lonely, as if someone of grave importance in her life was being taken away from her. That was
asinine. Nobody was going anywhere without her knowing about it.
Her thoughts were put aside when she heard the doorbell ring. Picking up Spinel, she hurried to
greet her visitor. She knew it was Eriol even before she neared the door. It was a peculiar
feeling; her stomach tightened as if it was home to a few hundred butterflies and her heart beat
started pulsating almost twice the speed it usually did.
She opened the door and smiled, "Konbawa, Eriol."
He returned the smile yet she could sense an impassive feeling coming from him. "Konbawa,
Daidouji-san."
Daidouji-san? What was going on?
"It's Tomoyo-san, Eriol-kun." She admonished him. He took no notice or if he did, he showed no
signs of such. There was a pause, "Well, what are you standing around there? Come in."
He followed her inside and she handed him Spinel.
"He was being stubborn again."
He merely nodded in acknowledgement. "Arigato."
"You're welcome."
Silence.
"What's wrong Eriol?" She knew. She knew something was troubling him. She knew him too well.
Even his family didn't know him enough to be able to decipher his moods. And she only knew him
for around 36 months.
"Nothing." He couldn't bring himself to tell her...no.
She sighed. "Now you're being stubborn." Something was definitely up. Eriol knew better than to
lie...
But she had been listening to Tsubasa's lectures on being a good girlfriend. Heaven knows where
the girl got that stuff from but they seemed actually true. A certain phrase her friend said came
to mind.
Everyone goes at their own pace. He'll tell you when the time comes.
And Tomoyo didn't let good advice go to waste.
"It's all right if you don't want to talk about it. Just call me if you're ready," She gave him
a small tired smile.
Eriol received it and gave her one of his own. It was genuine one, screaming sorry and thanks for
understanding! all in one.
"You're welcome."
And then he bade her goodbye with a hug that was unexpected and a parting kiss on the lips. He
didn't deserve her, didn't deserve her at all.
He was outside and once again he felt dead while his cat looked at him with accusing eyes.
He couldn't do it.
And Spinel couldn't do anything about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The train wasn't an option for someone who was taking one really big suitcase and a handbag to
Tomoeda from Tokyo.
First, both articles could get stolen.
Secondly, they would be such a chore to bring up and down the stairs of the subway.
And third, someone might get the impression that the person who was carrying said pieces of
baggage was running away.
That is why Daidouji Sonomi had been thoughtful enough to send a limousine to pick her daughter
up together with her luggage. Add in a chauffer and three bodyguards and you get one first class
land trip to Tomoeda.
Tomoyo sat in the back of the car, deep in thought. Facing her were two bodyguards, both female.
The third one was in front with the driver.
She looked out of the window to avoid looking at the two women in front of her. They were nice
people in general but she didn't fell like talking today. Not when her boyfriend was trying to
hide something from her.
"Are you all right, Tomoyo-sama?" One of the guards asked, lowering her glasses. It was the
younger of the two, Orihime.
The girl nodded then sighed. "It's nothing."
Orihime didn't not push the subject any further.
Silence.
Suddenly, Tomoyo's cellphone rang. She answered it, not caring much who it was.
"Moshi, moshi."
"Tomoyo," To her surprise, the person on the other line was Eriol.
"Ara, Eriol-kun."
"I have something to tell you."
Her forehead creased. This sounded important. "Go on."
She heard Eriol inhale before he spoke, "I'm leaving."
Leaving?
"For where?" She gripped the phone tightly. She had to hear every thing he was saying.
"I'm going back to England."
"When? Did your parents cancel their trip and decided that you come instead of them?" She was
being optimistic.
"They're still coming."
"Then why?"
"Tomoyo-san, I'm going back for good. I don't think I'll return." He had said what she had
dreaded most. She had known he would go back to his European home. But it was too soon.
There was a pregnant pause.
"Are you still there Tomoyo?"
"Y-Yes. I'm glad for you, Eriol-kun." She tried her best to keep her tears from falling.
He was going to leave her for another country.
What about me?
An involuntary tear slid down her pale face. Her bodyguards looked concerned and Tomoyo knew that
it was time to end this call before she broke down into sobs. "I need to go. Thank you for
telling me." She tried to smile but to no avail.
"I love you, Tomoyo-san. See you in two weeks."
The line went dead and the Daidouji girl cried.
It was over.
~~~THE END~~~
Author's Notes: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I am so evil. Yep, that's the ending. You didn't like the
first one so I broke them up. Sorry guys. If you review lots maybe I'll make another chapter that
would have a happy ending despite what I said/wrote earlier.
By: Na-chan
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS and the other stuff in this fic. They belong to their respective
owners.
Author's Notes: This will be the LAST chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 10: The Aftermath
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three years later...
It was cold. Winter in Japan came swiftly without warning--just a few days ago leaves where still
falling from the trees. Snow covered the streets like icing on a cake. They fell in multitudes
and Tomoyo wouldn't have them any other way. She admired them in a child-like manner and tried to
catch some with her hands. Her boyfriend laughed at her antics.
"No one would have guessed you're the top student of Tokyo University," He laughed.
She blushed at the statement and stuck her tongue out at him. "You're just jealous, Eriol-kun."
Eriol chuckled. "Not exactly..." He adjusted his glasses and looked at her with a mischievous
glint in the eye. "Besides, we still have another semester until we graduate. I can still beat
you then."
"Yeah right." There was no suspicion in her eyes, no malice, just plain sincerity.
He winced.
"So are you really going to go into business?" The couple continued walking down the street,
window-shopping as they went.
"I'm not sure. It's hard to choose," She answered in an exasperated tone. She was full of this
post-graduate talk. Why can't somebody just choose for me? Are they even sure I can finish my
studies?
She groaned.
"Something bothering you?" He asked, concerned. He knew all about her uncertainties but he always
preferred to hear it coming from her.
"I hate having to graduate and going to business school! Or med school. Or even taking up law,"
Frustration was evident in her voice.
He laughed at her predicament, ignoring the stares they were getting from bystanders. "Maybe you
should have a talk with Daidouji-sama?"
"Maybe. During Christmas break..." She looked pensive at the idea.
He managed a small smile. "Daidouji-sama would be thrilled that you thought of asking her."
She smiled too. "Okay. But only if you come visit with me." Her mother liked Eriol very much. It
was probably his politeness and his honesty when the topic was about Tomoyo.
He shook his head. "I can't. My parents are coming over to visit." In his mind, he was torn
between seeing his parents and being with his girlfriend. But blood was thicker than water.
"Oh." She tried her best to suppress the disappointment she was feeling. 'This is Eriol!
He hasn't seen his parents in person for two years!' Her mind was reeling. 'But!' She looked at
him in the corner of her eye and noticed the sadness he was hiding. "That's great, Eriol-kun."
She hugged him briefly. She wasn't going to be selfish especially since it was almost Christmas.
"I know. Tomoyo-san...I..." He was trying to find the most apt words to tell her something of
utmost importance.
"What is it?"
"I'm--"
"Yo, Hiiragizawa! Daidouji!" He was cut short by Kazuma and Tsubasa. The inseparable duo came
bounding down the street towards them.
"Hi, guys." Tsubasa greeted. A huge smile was on her face. She nudged Tomoyo lightly. "So, how is
the date going?"
"Tsubasa!" The girls moved away from the boys to have some "girl talk".
"It's going fine...Eriol-kun's parents are coming for Christmas," Tomoyo looked at one of the
shops and smiled. "Isn't that one cute?" She pointed at a black cat plushie.
"Yeah. It looks a lot like Hiiragizawa-san's cat though," Her friend commented.
Spinel had been returned to Eriol after the incident in Tokyo Tower. He still appeared in
Tomoyo's apartment occasionally though.
"Want to see how much it costs?" Tsubasa offered.
"Uh-huh."
"Guys, we're going in this shop."
The two men nodded in agreement. A serious conversation was going on between the two and it was
better if the girls didn't hear.
"So, did you tell her?" Kazuma wasn't looking at Eriol.
"I was just about to." Eriol gave emphasis on the last three words.
"Oops. Sorry. But you should tell her now. She'd hate it if she heard from someone else."
"It's complicated. And besides, it's almost Christmas. I don't want her to feel depressed during
the holidays," He paused, "I'd hate to make her feel sad." He looked at the store where Tomoyo
and Tsubasa where in.
"Just don't take too long."
"I will tell her...eventually."
Yes, eventually...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the 20th of December when he had gathered up all his courage to give her the news.
Eleven fifty-seven.
She would be leaving for Tomoeda in two hours.
He dreaded it. The whole tell-your-girlfriend-the-truth-before-someone-else-tells-her.
The truth? He would be leaving Japan in a month. His parents weren't here for just a visit, they
were here to drag him back to England. The four years were almost up. He would receive his
diploma earlier than the rest, the mandatory requirements all finished. Tomoyo would graduate
cum laude and he would be but a memory in the campus.
He had known this time would come, he just didn't want to face it head on. Allowing himself to
fall in love with Tomoyo had not been a mistake--no, it was probably the only smart thing he had
done all his three years and eleven months in Japan.
But how well will she take it?
How well will she accept it if she finds out that I may never return?
Will she even talk to me after this?
There was only one statement for this.
He was so dead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Finally!" Tomoyo shoved the last piece of clothing into her already bulky suitcase. She surveyed
the room carefully, looking for anything that she might have missed.
It was spotless except for Spinel, who was curled up by the door, asleep.
She smiled at his contented figure and knelt down to pet his furry head.
"Wake up, Spinel. You're going back to Eriol."
It replied with a meow and went back to sleep.
She sighed. "Come on now. You won't see me in two weeks..."
The cat perked up at that as if it understood. It looked at her with its beady eyes and she could
almost swear that the feline was pleading her to stay. Which was silly since cats couldn't
comprehend what humans were saying. But this was Spinel. Spinel, who could tell the difference
between plywood and hardwood even when she couldn't. Spinel, who visited her every time she and
Eriol fought. Spinel, who spilled milk on Eriol's carpet but never hers. Spinel who...
And suddenly, tears threatened to come out from Tomoyo's eyes. It was as if she felt suddenly
lonely, as if someone of grave importance in her life was being taken away from her. That was
asinine. Nobody was going anywhere without her knowing about it.
Her thoughts were put aside when she heard the doorbell ring. Picking up Spinel, she hurried to
greet her visitor. She knew it was Eriol even before she neared the door. It was a peculiar
feeling; her stomach tightened as if it was home to a few hundred butterflies and her heart beat
started pulsating almost twice the speed it usually did.
She opened the door and smiled, "Konbawa, Eriol."
He returned the smile yet she could sense an impassive feeling coming from him. "Konbawa,
Daidouji-san."
Daidouji-san? What was going on?
"It's Tomoyo-san, Eriol-kun." She admonished him. He took no notice or if he did, he showed no
signs of such. There was a pause, "Well, what are you standing around there? Come in."
He followed her inside and she handed him Spinel.
"He was being stubborn again."
He merely nodded in acknowledgement. "Arigato."
"You're welcome."
Silence.
"What's wrong Eriol?" She knew. She knew something was troubling him. She knew him too well.
Even his family didn't know him enough to be able to decipher his moods. And she only knew him
for around 36 months.
"Nothing." He couldn't bring himself to tell her...no.
She sighed. "Now you're being stubborn." Something was definitely up. Eriol knew better than to
lie...
But she had been listening to Tsubasa's lectures on being a good girlfriend. Heaven knows where
the girl got that stuff from but they seemed actually true. A certain phrase her friend said came
to mind.
Everyone goes at their own pace. He'll tell you when the time comes.
And Tomoyo didn't let good advice go to waste.
"It's all right if you don't want to talk about it. Just call me if you're ready," She gave him
a small tired smile.
Eriol received it and gave her one of his own. It was genuine one, screaming sorry and thanks for
understanding! all in one.
"You're welcome."
And then he bade her goodbye with a hug that was unexpected and a parting kiss on the lips. He
didn't deserve her, didn't deserve her at all.
He was outside and once again he felt dead while his cat looked at him with accusing eyes.
He couldn't do it.
And Spinel couldn't do anything about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The train wasn't an option for someone who was taking one really big suitcase and a handbag to
Tomoeda from Tokyo.
First, both articles could get stolen.
Secondly, they would be such a chore to bring up and down the stairs of the subway.
And third, someone might get the impression that the person who was carrying said pieces of
baggage was running away.
That is why Daidouji Sonomi had been thoughtful enough to send a limousine to pick her daughter
up together with her luggage. Add in a chauffer and three bodyguards and you get one first class
land trip to Tomoeda.
Tomoyo sat in the back of the car, deep in thought. Facing her were two bodyguards, both female.
The third one was in front with the driver.
She looked out of the window to avoid looking at the two women in front of her. They were nice
people in general but she didn't fell like talking today. Not when her boyfriend was trying to
hide something from her.
"Are you all right, Tomoyo-sama?" One of the guards asked, lowering her glasses. It was the
younger of the two, Orihime.
The girl nodded then sighed. "It's nothing."
Orihime didn't not push the subject any further.
Silence.
Suddenly, Tomoyo's cellphone rang. She answered it, not caring much who it was.
"Moshi, moshi."
"Tomoyo," To her surprise, the person on the other line was Eriol.
"Ara, Eriol-kun."
"I have something to tell you."
Her forehead creased. This sounded important. "Go on."
She heard Eriol inhale before he spoke, "I'm leaving."
Leaving?
"For where?" She gripped the phone tightly. She had to hear every thing he was saying.
"I'm going back to England."
"When? Did your parents cancel their trip and decided that you come instead of them?" She was
being optimistic.
"They're still coming."
"Then why?"
"Tomoyo-san, I'm going back for good. I don't think I'll return." He had said what she had
dreaded most. She had known he would go back to his European home. But it was too soon.
There was a pregnant pause.
"Are you still there Tomoyo?"
"Y-Yes. I'm glad for you, Eriol-kun." She tried her best to keep her tears from falling.
He was going to leave her for another country.
What about me?
An involuntary tear slid down her pale face. Her bodyguards looked concerned and Tomoyo knew that
it was time to end this call before she broke down into sobs. "I need to go. Thank you for
telling me." She tried to smile but to no avail.
"I love you, Tomoyo-san. See you in two weeks."
The line went dead and the Daidouji girl cried.
It was over.
~~~THE END~~~
Author's Notes: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I am so evil. Yep, that's the ending. You didn't like the
first one so I broke them up. Sorry guys. If you review lots maybe I'll make another chapter that
would have a happy ending despite what I said/wrote earlier.