Disclaimer: I own not Cardcaptor Sakura. Yeah. Life bites, don't it?

Chapter 1: Change

Daidouji Tomoyo was a good best friend. She supported her best friend in everything she did, she had a funny habit of videotaping her best friend in everything she did, she cheered her best friend up whenever she was feeling down, and she was there for every little thing that her best friend went through.

Part of the reason might be because her best friend had lost her mother at a young age. Her best friend was stuck with a loving father and a loving older brother -- although he didn't show his love like you would normally show it. She didn't have any female guidance, to put it simply. And it was Tomoyo's duty as a best friend to provide that female guidance.

Daidouji Tomoyo also happened to be in love with her best friend.

No, she didn't just love her, as in a friendly way.

She was in love with her best friend.

But did she tell her? Did she confess? Did she get her to come around like a best friend always could? Did she simply disregard the fact that her best friend was happily involved in a relationship?

No. Of course not. She kept everything bottled inside, refusing to let Sakura know that her love for her was anything different than a best friend's.

Others knew. They saw and they looked, and they pitied her. But Tomoyo held her head up high and refused to be thwarted. Her best friend was happy. Sakura-chan was happy.

And who was she to ruin that?

If Sakura-chan was happy, then she was happy.

"Her happiness is my happiness."

If she told Sakura-chan, then Sakura-chan would obviously be sad because she couldn't ever return Tomoyo's affections the way Tomoyo wanted her to. It wouldn't be fair, it wouldn't be right to ask that of her. Sakura-chan wanted everybody to be happy.

And Tomoyo wanted whatever Sakura-chan wanted.

Even if it ate her up inside.

---

"So we were going out to eat ice cream," Sakura told her animatedly, waving her arms around to make her point, "and Syaoran bought three servings of chocolate ice cream --"

Tomoyo nodded. She had to watch and smile and nod. It was part of being a best friend.

"-- and then Oniichan showed up --"

Tomoyo flinched. Already it was sounding dangerous.

"-- with Yukito-san --"

Tomoyo raised an eyebrow.

"-- and they decide to go sit in the booth right next to ours."

Tomoyo sighed dramatically and dejectedly, mostly just for show. "I'm sorry," she said sympathetically. "It must be horrible having someone like that."

Sakura sighed, collapsing on her desk. "You're soooo lucky, Tomoyo-chan! You're an only child!"

Tomoyo smiled. "But you know Touya only does that because he loves you."

Sakura pulled a face. "I know. But I wish he'd show it differently."

"But I wish he'd show it differently."

How many times had Tomoyo thought the exact same thing? She wished Sakura would love her... differently. But what good was wishing? It couldn't be. It would never be.

Tomoyo sat back, leaning fully into the plastic back of her chair, dangling her legs. Idly she fiddled with the hem of her skirt, half-listening to her best friend.

Even now, it hurt.

---

He looked the same as he did before he left. The same dark blue locks, the same piercing azure eyes, the same clear glasses. Taller, maybe, and considerably more muscular, but he was still the same person, wasn't he?

He smelled the crisp autumn air. The leaves would change color soon. They were already on the verge of it, going from the fresh green to the pale yellow.

Tomoeda really hadn't changed, he realized as he pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. It was still the same, less-than-ordinary city he had spent some of his time in. This had certainly been full of memories, hadn't it? With a wry half-smile on his face, he wondered, vaguely, fleetingly, if he ought to visit some of his old friends.

"It's still the same, isn't it?" Nakuru stated eagerly, walking to stand beside him. She held Spinel to her chest, looking out in the direction Eriol was looking at.

"It is," agreed Eriol.

Days passed, as they always did. With the unstoppable flow of time came obstacles, and challenges. It brought the new fragrance of life, the faded scent of memories, and pain.

Outwardly, he acted the same, of course, smiling with that same smile of his. He continued to tease his little descendant, continued to make things a little more interesting than they usually were. But he kept his distance. He built up a wall around himself, almost unknowingly. He watched from the sidelines, never taking part, never stealing the show. His show-stealing days were over. Now, he was content to be an observer.

It was still the same class he had left behind, he thought mildly, there was Sakura-san, his little descendant, Yamazaki, Chiharu, Naoko, Rika... but there had to be someone missing. Someone was missing, someone crucial, someone very, very important.. yet he couldn't quite place his finger on it..

The classroom door swung open, and Sakura looked up. She smiled at the newcomer.

"Tomoyo-chan!"

Eriol raised an eyebrow. Had it truly been so long he had forgotten? He really must have been tired if he had forgotten about Daidouji-san... she had, after all, played a crucial role.

"Sakura-chan," acknowledged Tomoyo in a much calmer manner. She smiled at the auburn-haired girl, the smile that she reserved only for her, and her alone.

Oh. Of course.

How had he forgotten?

"You were on vacation in Osaka for the past week, so you missed it," Sakura informed Tomoyo. "Sooooo guess what? Eriol-kun came back!"

Tomoyo blinked, digesting this information. "He did?"

Sakura nodded. "Yup! And he's right there!" He pointed to Eriol's seat, a little bit away from the circle of students.

For the first time in nearly six years, sapphire met amethyst.

The world seemed to stop.

"Hiiragizawa-kun," Tomoyo said curtly.

Eriol inclined his head, just a little bit. "Daidouji-san."

Frozen. Frozen.

Melting.

All so suddenly.

Outside, the leaves fell steadily from the trees. They changed color, from green, to orange, to yellow. Changing, changing, never ceasing.

Because change was inevitable, after all.

-- tsuzuku: to be continued --

Okiedokie, I've never been good at this kind of fic -- you know, the serious kind. I haven't exactly planned out exactly how this fic is going to go, but I'm planning for it to be a dark, angsty kind of story.The kind I haven't had much experience with, so deal with me! ;;

Comments and criticisms are always welcome!