Author's Notes: First of all, thanks to everyone. You have been wonderful and I thank you for continuing to read this. I'm happy to be able to give you just a bit of escape from the usual world to this.

It has been a wonderful seven months. Thank you.

Disclaimers: CLAMP Gakuen Tanteidan belongs to CLAMP. Only the story line is mine.

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Epilogue

"Promise me that you'll join us this Christmas. Promise me now or I won't let you go."

A sigh escaped my lips followed by a sheepish smile. Every time he turned those golden orbs and pouty lips at me, I couldn't resist any request. But who could? Indeed, who could resist Imonoyama Nokoru and his charms?

"Mou… You've never spent Christmas here ever since."

This was one of those times I hated having a web cam.

"Ok, Nokoru. I will be there on Christmas Eve."

The blonde practically sparkled and I knew the web cam was probably having a hard time processing all those colors.

"Thanks, Idomu! And remember, Christmas Eve here in Japan and not in England!" he reminded, noting the time difference.

I nodded then waved goodbye to him. "Regards to Suoh, Akira and Ohkawa-san."

He nodded, smiled and finally disconnected. I disconnected as well and closed my laptop. Then yet another sigh escaped my lips.

It has been five years.

Five years since I saw Nokoru personally. Five years since that fateful night. Five years since Suoh made that decision. Five years since he chose Nokoru.

Five years. And we all knew he had made the right choice.

A nostalgic smile found its way on my lips. I could still remember everything as if it were yesterday.

I could remember the horror of waiting for Suoh to pick. I could remember the desire running in my veins – the desire to shout at him to pick Nokoru. I could remember the shock in those azure eyes as the ninja wrapped his arms around him. I could remember the tears that flowed, the smile that shone, the hug they shared as they fell faster to the ground.

Then in one flick of my hand, a parachute opened from Nokoru's back. They were safe.

I still can't help but laugh whenever I reminisce that part.

There was shock written all over Nokoru's eyes as they landed. I remember the relief I felt when I saw them safe. The worry beforehand was worth it.

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"Nokoru…"

His golden eyes widened at the sound of my real voice. "Idomu…"

Suoh's eyes were on me, narrowing as it dawned to him. "You were the one behind this…"

I smiled.

It was fun to see them torn between getting mad at me and being thankful. Although, Suoh was more on the enraged side. I couldn't blame him.

But then Nokoru smiled. "Still the master of schemes, ne Idomu?"

There was a rustle of leaves behind them that attracted our attention. Azuya-san had landed and her eyes were brimming with tears.

Suoh stood but with no words to say. The girl ran away. There were no words needed anyway. It was clearly written in front of her eyes. She didn't need to state the obvious.

Nokoru just stood beside his ninja, feeling his pain. And I stood there, watching, knowing that I didn't need to react or say anything. It was one of those times when silence was needed. A time when the lack of words seemed to say everything that was needed to say.

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"Maestro, the curtain will open in two minutes."

"Thank you."

I rose to my feet, straightening my clothes. And with one last look at myself in the mirror, I headed out the door.

I could never forget the look in Azuya's eyes.

However, it was to be expected. Love was never fair and their situation was no exemption. Suoh had to pick one. And in the process, the other would be left alone and hurt. That was love – the combined pleasures of heaven and pains of hell.

I bowed to my partner, greeting her wordlessly. She smiled faintly but only briefly before the curtains opened. The crowd applauded. It was show time.

The melody that the flute produced was melancholic, the sorrow of its owner flowing in those notes. My hands flowed with the music, sharing her emotions, producing a familiar song.

A song of the heart.

Suoh talked to Azuya before she flew to Paris for further studies in the most prestigious music school in the world. It was a proper decision, that I could say, for it was painful to live your life with the one you love but cannot have just right beside you.

But again, there were no words and if there were, there were only little. Suoh asked her to keep the ring saying that he did love her before and that was a proof of it. She smiled, albeit bitterly, before she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek for the last time.

The notes heightened, her strings producing every heartache. It was eerily sad yet beautiful at the same time. I glanced at her. She had her eyes closed.

She could not look at Nokoru and he understood that. But he asked his ninja to hand a letter to her. A letter which I presume contained his apologies and wish for her to smile again.

In a way, Azuya has smiled again.

It had taken time, yes, but that was to be expected. A love so deep as hers was not forgotten easily. And I don't think it would ever be.

But wounds become scars and scars will eventually fade with time.

And until that time, we would share a melody of melancholy, a song of longing, a rhythm of heartaches. A tempo we both knew would fade sooner or later. A tune that would be replaced by another.

Someday.

Applause filled the hall. Some were standing, some were crying.

Love was danced with two different sets of steps. One led to happiness, the other led to pain. One produced smiles, the other tears. A tempo that produced two beats.

Nokoru and Suoh had finally stopped dancing the tunes not meant for them and danced the right steps. And even if it meant that Azuya would dance a different step alone, we all understood it somehow. That was the way love worked.

I glanced at her and smiled.

Yes. Someday, there would be a new beat for the both of us. And that dance would lead, hopefully, to our own heaven. Whether we were together or not.

But for now, I would play a song like hers. Play it until it fades into memory.

Until that day comes.

-Owari

Thank you everyone. Thank you.