A/N
This is one idea for a fic that's been on my mind for months.And it was begging to be written. Its a trial version.If I don't think people like it, I'll take it off. So,if you read this, and you like the idea, please tell me how you feel in a review.I need reviews to keep me interested in my fics. DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN CCS. CLAMP DOES!!!
"Could you pass the butter, Yamazaki-san?"A demure looking brown eyed woman asked politely, turning to her neighbor at the dining table.
"Why, certainly, Terada san" Came the equally contrite reply as the woman leaned over the table and picked the plate up daintily, setting it down closer to her friend.
"It has been a while since we last had tea together." Kaho Shimaki began, as the expressions of the women around her began to dull.
"Indeed it has." Tomoyo Hiragizawa agreed primly." We must do this more often, ne?"
The assents that rang out were as forced and proper as ever.
Naoko Yanagizawa sighed as she lowered her buttered scone to her plate and dabbed at her carefully made up face.
It was the same rigmarole, month after dull month. The women of the most influential and prestigious families in Tomoeda, perhaps even in all of North Japan held a tiny monthly affair where they met, made polite conversation and departed to their houses exactly an hour after their arrival.
There was no time limit on their stay. It was merely that no woman cared to stay longer. Some of them even timed their visit, down to the last minute.
This time, it had been Chiharu Yamazaki's turn to host the get-together.
It had started out as always.
The lady of the house met her guests at the door, invited them inside and they duly participated in idle chit chat for a quarter of an hour before tea was announced and they fled to the table.
It had been arranged to perfection. The cutlery gleamed, the forks and spoons were in the right positions, the table sparkled as a result of a vigorous scrubbing and polishing and the cuisine was, as expected, without fault. There were three kinds of jam and four kinds of biscuits—just as always. The cake was soft and easy on the sugar-just as always. And the cheese and buttered scones were set on pale blue patterned dishes that spoke eloquently of expense and high class-just…as always.
Tomoyo Hiragizawa sighed under her breath as she glanced at her half eaten plate. She had been toying with the cheese for over ten minutes and she was unwilling to eat the now scraped and crumbled looking mess on her plate.
Truly, she had not been able to pay much attention to the idle chit-chat the others had tried to get going.
All she could think of was her husband, Eriol, of her marriage, of her life
Lately, it seemed to her that Eriol was even more distant that he usually was. 'When was the last time we truly talked..? 'She thought sadly to herself. 'When was the last time he told me he loved me? The last time…we shared anything intimate…? And why do I feel as though as he is no longer faithful to me?'
She chastised herself silently for that thought immediately. There was no reason to doubt Eriol. The thought of it was absurd….impossible, even. But then, she couldn't help, but think of all the times he had called, telling her he would be late.
The times he had cancelled pre arranged dates that she had taken so much trouble with. The way he had replied to her query of whether or not he would attend the grand formal ball his aunt hosted every year.
The grand formal was an event no one of the elite class missed if they could help it. It was the crowning end to Spring and the most anticipated social event of the year.
Tomoyo closed her eyes silently. Her mortification at the idea of missing the ball had devoured her. She had remained silent at Eriol's hurried reply that he 'might not be able to attend this year' and that she should go by herself.
'Go by herself, indeed' She though bitterly.
Did he have any idea what it would do to her reputation if she were to turn up unescorted by her husband?
She had given up so much for him.
A promising career in designing, because he felt it would reflect badly on his position. A schooling that she had her heart set on. Her singing that she had loved so much.
Everything had been shelved away upon her marriage to Eriol Hiragizawa.
Her mother had been delighted with the match and had urged her daughter to become the perfect housewife, had urged her to shed her dreams and ambitions. And what had she gained?
In the beginning, everything had been wonderful. Eriol had proved to be a caring and devoted husband. But now…
Chiharu Yamazaki could not help feeling that her guests seemed distracted. She took her eyes off the teapot and chanced a glance at Naoko Yanagizawa.
The woman seemed to be immersed in her own world.
Chiharu sighed and glanced away.
She knew, as most of them did, that Naoko had abandoned a promising career as a fiction writer when she had accepted Takeshi Yamazaki's proposal.
Yamazaki would have been scandalized at the thought of his prim and proper wife resorting to an occupation.
It would have reflected badly on his position as head of Yamazaki Works, a well known multibillion corporation that had dealings with nearly every country in the world.
Naoko had accepted his decision without complaint and had refrained from mentioning her interests again. However, Chiharu felt, that it was at times such as these, that Naoko truly allowed herself to dream of the imaginary world she had loved and rejoiced in as a teenager. Her eyes would take on a far away look and her lips would twitch slightly.
She, herself, could identify with Naoko's unfulfilled dreams. She had only just started work at the Japan Police Academy's Investigation Unit where she had been part of the interrogation team.
With a PhD in Psychology, she had been involved heavily with the lie detection analysis. She had only just begun to take an interest in the rehabilitation of inmates program when she had received a summons from the Yamazaki family.
Her family had been ecstatic at the alliance invite and Chiharu had been forced to give up on the life and freedom she had once had.
She had tried, over the years, to get over the bitter feelings that threatened to choke her when she remembered the dictate—A bride of the Yamazaki house was not permitted to work
She had brought up the topic tentatively with her husband. His shock had been answer enough. Chiharu had laughed it off, assuring him that she had no desire to work anyway and that being his wife was enough for her.
But now, as she glanced at the saddened faces around her, she wondered what had happened to the fiery young woman who had stood up for what she believed in and made her mark with her exceptional skills with getting to the root of the problem.
Kaho Shimaki sighed as she watched the changing expressions on her host's face.
Bankotsu had been away for a week now. She reflected sadly on the state of her marriage. As a wild and energetic teenager, she had been prone to all kinds of things like dying her hair pink, getting her ears pierced, drinking and clubbing on a regular basis.
She had even toyed with the idea of getting a tattoo of an angel and a scorpion on her lower back.
Her arranged marriage to Bankotsu had changed everything. More than anything, Kaho missed the passion she had been full of before her marriage.
The passion she had loved and embraced as part of who she was.
She suddenly realized that the dispassionate look on the faces of the women who sat by her, immersed in their own thoughts were shockingly similar to her own.
But what was to be done about it?
There was no escape from the monotony of their existences. There was nothing to relieve the drawn out theatre that played itself out everyday.
Things had never seemed so bleak before.
'Well...' She thought, glancing at her diamond studded wristwatch. 'It's nearly time to leave'
She prepared herself for another charming little dialogue thanking her host for the gathering when something happened that took the guests by shock.
Chiharu Yamazaki stood up from her table in one swift movement and slapped her napkin on the table.
"All right!" She announced firmly.
"That's it! I've had it with all this hypocrisy and pretension and all out fake politeness. And so have all of you, I'm sure"
For a few seconds, Kaho and the rest merely stared, dazedly at the figure of the woman in the dull blue kimono, trying to make some sense of her outburst.
Then came an added shock.
Prim and proper Tomoyo Hiragizawa burst into a peal of laughter and slouched back in her chair with a huge sigh.
"So….Someone actually came out and said it. My heartiest thanks, Yamazaki-san"
"Call me Chiharu".
Both women grinned and then looked around at their still shell-shocked audience.
"Don't you think this has gone on for long enough?" Tomoyo asked gently.
"I'm tired of this. I know most of you from school and Shimaki san; I'd really like to get to know you better. But everything's been so …forced…between us, all of us.
I'd just like to be friends, with all of you, get to know you, in an atmosphere that isn't constricting or imposing….I'm asking you to give me that chance…what do you say?"
For a few seconds, no answer seemed forthcoming.
Then, with a suddenness completely uncharacteristic of her, Naoko Yanagizawa grinned broadly, stretched out her hand and shook both Tomoyo's and Chiharu's heartily.
"Call me Naoko"
"I….Call me Kaho"
"It's Rika!"
"I'm Chiharu!"
"And I'm Tomoyo to all of you"
Naoko began to giggle helplessly.
"I can't believe how long this has taken" She said happily.
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"So, if you could, would you reverse the decision you made? You know….when you agreed to marry Yamazaki?" Naoko asked curiously.
All five of them were now lying back on deck chairs by the pool, sipping long cool glasses of watermelon juice. Chiharu had insisted on the move.
"A new beginning" She had said firmly and the others had voiced no complaints. They had been able to borrow swimsuits and Tomoyo and Kaho were now lounging in the shallow end of the pool, occasionally splashing each other and laughing.
Chiharu looked up thoughtfully from glass. "I don't know" She said hesitantly.
"I love my husband, truly. But sometimes…." She trailed off and looked at Kaho who was engaged in trying to duck Tomoyo after a particularly vigorous splash.
Naoko nodded her head. "I understand" She said softly.
Chiharu flashed her a small smile.
"I guess I feel the same way about Hiten…I was bitter, you know? In the beginning… but now… things have just settled down... and I'd hate to disrupt things. It's just, I feel as though I'm not even me any more and I don't know myself. Writing was my world. And now, Hiten commands most of my attention, when he's there to receive it. I've had to change, for him, and I'm not sure if I like the person it's made me. I…" She hesitated for a second, and then continued on bravely.
The others had ceased their activities and were now clustering by the two. Rika had abandoned her inspection of the diving board and was now perched precariously at the edge of the pool.
"I lack… I miss... "
"..the passion" Kaho finished
"Hai" Naoko smiled.
"I miss my life as it used to be and I want a vent for all my feelings, my passion for life.."
"Are you sure it's not a passion for anything else?" Tomoyo teased.
"I could have sworn I had some rather suspicious sounds from your hotel room, the last time we were at the Annual General Conference"
Kaho blushed furiously, then shook her head furiously in denial as the others fell over laughing.
"It's not what you think!" She protested, though beginning to laugh a bit now.
"Bankotsu stubbed his toe and then cut his hand on the mirror when he whirled round. He…" She blushed
"He wouldn't let me administer first aid. He said it hurt too much. And then, when I tried to get him to lie down, he got to his feet and limped around the room while I tried to catch hold of him"
Tomoyo was now gasping as she struggled to breathe, having laughed herself silly at the thought of the uptight man being scared of first aid.
Chiharu grinned as she thumped Tomoyo on the back.
"Seriously, though…" She said. "What Kaho says makes perfect sense. It's the passion I miss most….and….Yamazaki…he's not… a very passionate person. It feels as though, a part of me is always missing when I'm with him. And I can't help but feel incomplete and insecure, because I don't really recognize myself anymore."
"Eriol…he…" Tomoyo hesitated before continuing determinedly on.
"I'm scared of how things are going. He…I'm not certain if he's cheating on me. It feels silly, at times to even entertain that thought. But he's being so distant and I feel alone and vulnerable. It seems to me he's always in charge of the relationship and I don't have a say. I want… I want children... And he says he isn't ready. I…"
Here, she broke down.
Months of having kept her feelings bottled up inside, finally beginning to take its toll on the disconsolate woman.
Rika and Chiharu patted her back sadly while Kaho fumed.
"If he's cheating on you, I'll fucking kill him!" She said angrily.
"Kaho…" Rika said quietly." She's not sure of it, remember? And I really, honestly don't think he's cheating on you, Tomoyo. Don't worry. We'll find a way.We really will."
"Short of hiring a private detective, there's hardly anything else I can do" Tomoyo said bitterly. "And I can't do that. Things might blow up if Eriol ever found out I was having him followed."
"All right. That's enough of that." Naoko said firmly. "We need to take our minds off these things, relax a bit, enjoy ourselves, and take some time out for us to do what we want to do."
"I completely agree." Chiharu's features stretched out into an evil grin.
"And I know JUST the place!"
"What do you have in mind, Chiharu?" Tomoyo asked wearily, noting her grin anxiously.
But Chiharu only grinned wider.
"We're having an emergency meet of the FTH organization." She said, firmly.
"Backtrack here!! FTH????" Kaho asked curiously.
"Yup! Frustrated Tomoeda Housewives" Chiharu beamed.
"Thursday, next week, 7 pm, sharp!! I'll make all the arrangements. Don't forget to tell your people you'll be out late!!"
"Late? How late?" Rika asked, worriedly.
"Never you mind." Chiharu said firmly. "Just get yourself here at 7 and I'll do the rest. Oh!! And before I forget, " She smirked.
"Get ready to party, people!!
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