storypaint | New (Eriol/Sakura)

Comm: 52_flavours, 365_prompts
Words: 345
Fandom: Cardcaptor Sakura
Pairing: Hiiragizawa Eriol/Kinomoto Sakura
Title: New
Author: rhap_chan
Day: January 2
Prompt: 2. Kiss/09. more cocaine to kill the pain
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP. All fanfiction archived here is a derivative of canon material that is not my property. I do not profit from these writings. The opinions and actions expressed in these stories are not necessarily the views and beliefs of the original author or me.

Excerpt: The winter wind just made her blush, a kiss of color on her cheeks, mirrored by a brightness in her eyes.

The winter wind did not chill her, cocooned as she was in her happiness, in the feeling that finally everything could be all right. The winter wind just made her blush, a kiss of color on her cheeks, mirrored by a brightness in her eyes.

Still Eriol thought it was his duty to offer her his coat as he walked her home. They passed near the apartment where Syaoran had lived once and for a moment Sakura remembered vividly the day that Syaoran had returned from Hong Kong. It had been a much warmer day then, and she shivered and took Eriol's coat.

Eriol could see the loss in her eyes for only a moment and then she flitted onto new things, better things, because she had woken up yesterday on a new year to a brand new life free of Syaoran. He was glad she'd been able to let him go so easily. It had not been so easy for Eriol to lose Kaho.

And they walked, absorbed in their own thoughts, but only for a moment before the conversation turned to schoolwork and the weather. They were going to graduate this year, to step out into the world, and it was this subject that ceaselessly graced the lips of their classmates. Where would they go? What was next?

Eriol had no idea what was next, but he knew what he wanted, and he wouldn't let it slip away this time. He walked her to her doorstep, hardly feeling the chill now, not bothering to notice the clouded sky. The weather paled next to her, after all.

She handed him his jacket and there was one awkward moment when she fumbled for her key. Then there was another when he said, "Wait, for just a moment." When she paused, he leaned down carefully, blood thumping in his eyes, and kissed her cheek.

"See you tomorrow," she said, pulling away, eyes panicked, and when she fled into the house he felt as though his heart had been crushed in the door. Quietly he trudged home.