Part One: Golden Cage
She was quiet, this nine-year-old. Though she was supposed to be noisy and happy and active, she wasn't. Daidouji Tomoyo sat curled up on her bed, a book in her hands, her pet cat Siel settled gently on her lap. Her grayish-black hair just brushed her shoulders, and her serious, dark violet eyes followed the words on her book silently.
Her face was grave, so different from what a nine-year-old's should be. Her room was beautiful. It was pink, a light shade, with the theme of clouds. Like a well-off rich girl's should.
"Tomoyo!"
Tomoyo looked up, and Siel leapt off her lap as she stood up. Neatly, she put her book away and stepped out of her room. "I'm coming, Mother!" She descended the steps gracefully, careful not to let her dress get in her way. Her dress was new; she didn't dare to spoil it. When she reached the bottom, she saw her mother, Daidouji Sonomi, frowning slightly, positioned outside her father's closed study door.
Sonomi drew her close and whispered into her ear, disturbing slight strands of hair that hung close to her face. Tomoyo nodded silently. "Yes, Mother, I understand," she said quietly. "It's not a very big deal, after all, it's only four dollars," her surrogate mother assured her. Sonomi pushed the door open and Tomoyo stepped through, curtseying automatically. Her etiquette, manners, and proud bearing just came with her new name, Daidouji.
"Father."
Hiiragizawa Eriol peeked around the corner and inched closer to the closed door. Sonomi had entered the room after the young mistress of the house. The servants were curious, and Eriol, who was the newest errand-boy, was appointed as the one to eavesdrop and to find out what happened. This appealed to his sense of adventure. It would be interesting find out why the master of the house was so furious.
He didn't have to eavesdrop. The master, Daidouji Thaniu, was yelling so loudly the house shook.
Tomoyo raised her chin slightly to face her father, and her face betrayed no expression except a slight sadness. "Look here," Thaniu said, his voice tightly controlled. "This morning, your mother gave Jiu five dollars. When he came back, he had none of it. He said that he gave four dollars to you. What have you done with so much money?"
Tomoyo inclined her head to look at her brother, Jiu. He was smirking. "I have not received any money from Jiu, Father," she told him. "Don't you dare lie to me! I did not take you in for you to be ungrateful!"
"I'm afraid there has been a mistunderstanding, Father. I did not leave my room this morning."
"Jiu said that he gave you four dollars and when he asked you where it went, you smacked him in the face and told him to mind his own business! Even though he is younger than you, you are merely a girl! Now give me the four dollars! Now!"
"Father, I haven't got - "
Thaniu gave her such a blow that Tomoyo was flung to the ground. Tomoyo did not allow herself to cry, but she now trembled in fear. He could do anything to her. She was completely at the mercy of Thaniu.
Outside, Eriol was also trembling: not with fear, but with rage, with the injust of the whole thing. Through the keyhole, he spied a pale and shaken Tomoyo making her unsteady way towards him. A red mark was already forming on her face.
Quickly, Eriol padded down the hallway with soft footsteps. He dared to peek around the corner as Tomoyo flew up the steps and then down again, clutching a few dollar notes in her hand. She tripped and fell. Eriol, brought up well, wanted to help her up, but dared to do nothing as Tomoyo opened the door and entered. Swiftly, he returned to his station and continued listening.
"So, you have taken four dollars from Jiu! You ungrateful child!" Thaniu roared. Tomoyo did not cower, but she held herself straight and tall. She did not speak.
"Admit it, girl!"
Tomoyo looked up, and saw Sonomi behind Thaniu. Sonomi's striking eyes, filled with tears, begged her just to confess - even if it wasn't true. Tomoyo obeyed her mother's unspoken plea. "Yes, Father. I took Jiu's money by force. I apologize, Father."
Thaniu gave her a parting slap and Tomoyo retreated out of the room. Sonomi did not move, but gazed at her new daughter with profound sadness. Disobey Thaniu, and you'll be in deep trouble. She'd learnt her lesson when she'd married him.
This time, Eriol stood, steadfast, by the door as Tomoyo came out. Even though he barely knew her, and thought her to be aloof, she was admirable for her courage. She was clutching her face, and still looked pale, but there was no trace of tears in her eyes. Before he knew what he was doing, he went up to her shyly and offered her his handkerchief.
Tomoyo looked at him, and she managed a small, bitter smile. "Thank you for your kindness, sir," she said softly. Eriol bowed hastily. "No, no, Daidouji-sama - "
"Please, I'm Tomoyo."
"Tomoyo-sama - " Eriol's eyes widened as Thaniu stormed out of the room with a jeering Jiu in tow. With agile, swift movements, Eriol ducked out of sight, leaving Tomoyo to disappear in the same way up the stairs.
He never did talk to her again. Thaniu always seemed to stand in their way.
{Eight years later ... }
Eriol's tongue stuck out in concentration, just slightly, at the corner of his mouth. With a delicate snip and snap, he sliced it off easily. Satisfied with the results, he leant back as the sun forced beads of perspiration down his handsome face.
The bush he had been pruning looked beautiful and absolutely perfect. The only thing was that it looked almost icily perfect, as if it looked down on him, the expert on herbs and plants. Eriol sighed. Everyone in the house was like that.
No one took the time to appreciate the simple yet complicated beauty of the sunset, no one took the time to stop and sniff at the fragrance of the flowers.
No one, save Daidouji Tomoyo.
He had seen her lately, after she had returned from her boarding school. And he remembered her: the girl whom her father looked down upon. He remembered the handkerchief he had given her, and also, he was amazed at her.
At her fairness; she was simply beautiful in every which way. Her grayish hair was finely spun, as if out of a magical loom. Her lips were a light pink that was the exact shade of the sakura blossoms. Her deep lavender eyes held a sadness he could not discern, a mystery that enchanted him, a problem that he wanted to entangle. At seventeen, Tomoyo was petite and delicate; so much that Eriol wanted to protect her - from what, he could not tell.
He had never seen her smile.
Eriol frowned. There was also the fact that she had magic. Not much, that was true, but certainly - the presence was unmistakable. She could turn out to be a dangerously magical young woman if he trained her so. With a grim smile, Eriol reached up and fingered the pendant that rested on his neck. It was a deep blue, the color of the sky at midnight, a striking color. Rain. Ice. Air. As long as it had water - in whatever form - Eriol could command it.
He wondered if Tomoyo was aware that she had magic. He had never come across anyone like him, anyone that controlled forces that could not be explained to human beings.
Until now.
Until her.
He took another step back.
"Yeeeaooow!" Eriol flung his arms up, windmilling frantically. He sprawled backwards over the rake that lay in his path, gleaming innocently in the late morning sunlight. His prunes flew out of his hand, and even as the impact dazed him, he heard a soft, surprised cry: Tomoyo's voice.
"Daidouji-sama!" He sprang up. God, if I'd hurt her, I'll die guilty. Baka me! he cursed at himself as he swivelled his head in every direction. Then, he remembered, and swore at himself again: Find her aura!
Almost immediately, he pinpointed it, a faint violet. He ran towards the source, and found her, eyes closed, pale face turned to the sunlight. "Dai - daidouji-sama!" he choked out as he stood a few meters away from her. "I'm so sorry!"
Tomoyo turned towards him. She did not smile, and the sadness in her eyes was magnified. "It's fine, I didn't - " she started, then broke off. "Is that you?" She peered at him closely, and a note of excitement rang in her voice.
"Me?" Eriol pointed at himself, then smacked himself in the forehead mentally. Of course it's you, dammit! She doesn't talk to ghosts, does she?
"Yes - you gave me a handkerchief, did you not? When I was nine?" Tomoyo fumbled in her pocket and drew out something she held tenderly in her palm. Eriol recognized the silk handkerchief; indeed, it was his.
"Yes, Daidouji-sama." He took it from her carefully and slipped it into his pocket.
"Didn't I tell you to stop calling me Daidouji-sama? I'm Tomoyo, plain and simple." Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in her hands, her tangled hair falling over her face like a curtain swinging closed. Eriol stood as if rooted to the spot. She did not make a sound, just sat there for what seemed like an eternity. "Tomoyo-sama," he began, awkwardly using her first name. "Is there something wrong?"
She raised her head then, and Eriol was stunned to see traces of tears on her cheeks and more brimming in her eyes. This girl ... who hadn't even cried at blows rough enough to knock her unconscious ... was crying now!
"Please," She forced out. "Just Tomoyo." Then she swung towards him, her hair flying, the sable shadow of her hair straining to keep up. Her voice was eager although no smile appeared on her lips.
"You can help me, can't you? Please!"
Oh, guilty, guilty me! I keep writing new fics and literally abandoning the old! All those reading Diary: True Confessions, please spare me! I know, I'm so awful, not updating in goodness-knows how long.
I keep getting inspired by wonderful E + T fics out there ... can I mention the ones written by fireblaze - Plum Blossoms and On The Line? They're simply magical. ^-^
Oh, but don't worry. //holds up crossed fingers// I'm finishing chapter one of the next part of Diary: True Confessions and also more of Destiny's Threads. And I'm considering another yaoi fanfic.
R & R please! And if you want me to e-mail you when I upload the next part, state so in your review. Arigatou gozaimasu! ^-^