Disclaimer: CCS in all its glory belong to the maniacally insane but genius minds of CLAMP. Oh and this is AU Arigatou Gozaimasu!
Third Month: Part One
Tomoyo walked silently towards the entrance of her childhood home. Childhood palace, really. The way there was beautiful as always, just before the entrance door, which had a pedament supported by round columns, there was a fountain. The centrepiece was a Water nymph sitting on a high rock with water pouring from her hands. Subtle enough, but Tomoyo always thought of the fountain as a magical place when she was a child, and now she looks at it as a memory of the years gone by. She fought back the tears stinging her eyes, the doctor told her it was normal for pregnant women to get weepy for no good reason. Well great, now she was going to be a puddle before she even faced her mother.
The day did not start out that well for Tomoyo. The moment that she woke up, she knew that she was not going to have a break from the nausea this day and made a bolt for the washroom. It was really unfair though, the fathers never had to go through anything. And the particular father of this child knew nothing at all. At that thought she felt a wave of anger, then frustration, followed by despair and hopelessness, then back to anger. Darned mood swings, but if they didn't make the day more interesting as long as she didn't prey on her coworkers and friends. None of them save Sakura and Syaoran knew anything, not yet. 'One step at a time' Tomoyo constantly reminded herself, but the fact that during that morning she went through a handful of emotions, felt her stomach was going to self-combust and that she was going to throw up her lungs made her want to catch the next plane to Nowhere Land and just live a life of solitude. But no, Sonomi Daidouji did not raise a weak child, and so here she was in front of the door, staring at the mahogony for what seemed like eons, until that is it opened and there stood her formidable mother. 'God save me' she prayed before placing a smile on her lips.
A smile, Sonomi noticed, that reached her eyes, but which was accompanied by something else. She would have to wait and see.
"Tomoyo, what in heaven's name are you doing there admiring the door? Come in sweetie." She pulled her daughter into a hug and Tomoyo welcomed the smell that was uniquely her mother, it was a comforting smell, for the most part, but at that moment, it made her stomach churn unpleasantly. Tomoyo fought hard against the nausea and won. This round.
A few moments later they were on the porch in the backyard, which faced no thing but lush, emerald rolling hills. Sonomi was beginning to grow suspicious of her daughter's behaviour since Tomoyo arrived. She had barely said three complete sentences together and maybe it was Sonomi's imagination but Tomoyo seemed reluctant to look her in the eye. The moments when Tomoyo could look into her mother's gaze, Sonomi feared that Tomoyo would burst into tears.
Something was definitely wrong and Sonomi was not going to wait much longer to find out what ailed her daughter, succumbing her to this unsure, overly emotional, nervous package in front of her. She had never seen her daughter so dsitraught since that time when Tomoyo confessed in breaking the crystal vase from Spain, which happened as Tomoyo was playing make believe that she was a sorceress and that the vase, which she filled with water was her "looking pond". The vase was too heavy for the little Tomoyo and she ended up in tears as she confessed to her mother. But back then, Sonomi noted, she didn't have the habit of going to the washroom every five minutes as her daughter seemed accustomed to doing now, even this very moment, excusing herself from the table for the fourth time.
Sonomi's mind went into overdrive. Perhaps Tomoyo was ill or perhaps something has happened to her business, which Sonomi knew Tomoyo would draw blood for. Tomoyo returned, somewhat paler than before and Sonomi, the usually calm and collected person that she was, was on the edge of panic, meanwhile Tomoyo was giving herself a pep talk in her head.
'Dear God, she knows, augh and this bladder of mine is not helping. No point in delaying the inevitable.'
"Tomoyo, you look frightened to death. Out with it, child."
"Mom." She was happy that her voice wavered only a little, taking another breath she continued. "I'm pregnant."
And then to Tomoyo's dismay and Sonomi's surprise, Tomoyo burst into tears. Tomoyo did not cry without good reason, she rarely cried. Sonomi, under any other circumstance, after receiving such life changing news would have began exclaiming and lecturing, but looking at her Tomoyo, she knew that it would not do, nor was it needed. Sonomi's daughter was too proud to ever shed tears and now here was her baby before her, in tears, a mere moment after confessing that she was with child. It was a good thing Sonomi hasn't taken to swooning, for if she was a lesser woman, she fancied she'd be unconscious on the floor.
But that wouldn't help either of them out now wouldn't it?
'At least she didn't say "Hey Mama, you're about to become a grandmother"' Sonomi bit back an smile, Pushing her shock aside, for indeed she was as shocked as to be numb with it, she stood and came around the table to wrap her arms around her daughter. Many questions flitted in and out of Sonomi's mind, but at the moment all she did was stroke her daughter's back.
"Shhh, there now." She whispered softly.
Tomoyo was utterly disgusted with herself, the moment she burst into tears for the fact that she burst into tears. And at that berating thought she went through another round of tears, sobbing into her mother's shoulder.
Stupid, stupid hormones. After a moment she was able to calm herself down, fighting the urge sniffle. She was not a child. Unfortunately.
"Okay, I'm done." She croaked.
Sonomi eased her back and she took the chair she had abandoned and dragged it closer to Tomoyo.
"Tomoyo," She saw the steel in her mother's eyes and braced for whatever came next. The Apocalypse was what she was betting on, or perhaps Hell would open up and swallow her whole. "Were you raped?"
Tomoyo almost guffawed at that notion, but it was a logical question.
"No Mama, I assure you." She had no recollection of what happened that night, but she knew to the very depth of her bones that Eriol did not force her into the situation that she ended up in the morning she woke up.
"Who is the father?" This question had Tomoyo almost breaking into a sweat. She gulped. Count on her mother to cut to the chase.
"Eriol." She said quietly, meeting her mother's eyes, fighting the next round of tears threatening to overflow. This crying business was really too much for Tomoyo to take and she'd be damned if she was going to use it as artillery to get out of tough situations. It was not like Sonomi would buy it anyway. Tomoyo focused back on her mother's reaction to this revelation.
"Dr. Eriol Hiiragizawa?" Sonomi stood so abruptly, her chair almost tipped over. Tomoyo's eyes grew as large as two moons at this reaction. "Why of all the insolent, insufferable, outrageous…" She broke off and looked at her daughter. "Are you sure he didn't take advantage of you?" Tomoyo looked down at her lap and replied.
"No Mama, but I can't remember what happened that night."
"Oh Tomoyo."
"I'm sorry Mama." She said quietly.
Sonomi did not have all the details and she knew that Tomoyo most certainly did understand that it took two to tango, but by God, Eriol Hiiragizawa will pay for complicating her daughter's virtue.
"Did he propose marriage?" Sonomi asked. This time Tomoyo did guffaw and Sonomi knew for sure that it was not the case that the doctor did the gentleman-like action of taking responsibility. Well, well, well. "Does he know?"
Tomoyo solemnly shook her head.
"I wanted to go to you first before him." At that Sonomi smiled. So that was why Tomoyo looked like she was meeting her executioner when she first saw her at the door. She would not chastise her daughter, if there was one thing that she drilled into Tomoyo's head since when she became aware of the world around her was that her actions were her responsibility, be they justified or otherwise. Besides, what she planned on doing would probably be punishment enough, and Tomoyo would argue and perhaps hate her for doing it but she would have to wait and see and risk it all.
"You will keep the little one?"
"That goes without saying." She replied sternly but softly. Sonomi felt a little spurt of pride run through her.
"How far are you, dear?"
"Third month of the first trimester."
"Heavens Tomoyo, you don't look like it! Start eating more."
"It's the morning sickness." Tomoyo replied. "It just doesn't seem to go away."
"It was the same with me when I carried you." Sonomi smiled at the memory, then she sighed.
"You two made a wrong decision, and from this, there will be a child." She looked at her daughter and gave her a sad smile. "I, of all people should be able to understand that. But my dear Tomoyo, I always thought that you'd do better than your mother, that you'd conquer the world first."
Tomoyo felt tears slide down her cheek. Her mother was not only disappointed in her, but she felt sympathy towards her as well. These tears were not hormone induced; they came from the overflowing sorrow from her heart.
"You did conquer the world though Mama. I'm sorry." Tomoyo buried her head in hear hands. After a moment she felt her mother embrace her.
"Oh Tomoyo, there is nothing to forgive. Such is the way of the world isn't it my child? But what will you do?"
Tomoyo sniffed once, gathering her thoughts together once again.
"I will live life like I always have before this child." Afterwards…well she'll just have to wait and see.
*****
The mother and daughter enjoyed the rest of their lunch in peace. Tomoyo was relieved her mother didn't rave and rant and whatever else she expected that Sonomi would have done, which would have to be accomplished using her loud business like tone. She left afterwards feeling a little bit more at ease, but there was one more obstacle that she must face and that was the man who she hasn't spoken to for almost three months.
Sonomi watched from one of the windows as Tomoyo walked down the path away from the house. Tomoyo had refused a ride home, insisting that it was a beautiful day. Sonomi, who would have insisted otherwise, had other plans and therefore did not force Tomoyo into taking the car with the family driver. Sonomi picked up the nearest phone and dialled an extension number.
"Please have the car at the front in ten minutes, I have a little errand that I have to do." She hung up the phone and took a last glance back to where Tomoyo had just been, now no where in site.
*****
Eriol was sitting in his home office, enjoying the rest of the afternoon with some quiet time to himself and ignoring all the work that he had to do when he heard voices coming from the other side of the double door.
"He can and he will see me." Said a woman's voice outside the hallway, a woman of class and he assumed, a woman of the world from hearing the tone of her voice.
"What gives you the right to just barge in here and think you own the place?" That was Nakuru's voice that followed, spunky as always. He really should go out there and make sure that no blood was shed, no windows broken.
"Oh, believe me I have all the right in the world." And with that Sonomi Daidouji, in all her glory, burst into the office and came face to face with the master of the house. Sonomi Daidouji. Eriol stood as she entered and raised an eyebrow. This would certainly be interesting. He saw the red in her eyes and realized that he was in over his head. The CEO of Daidouji Corps and the well renowned professor had little in common and therefore moved in different circles and now she was here standing before him, clearly infuriated and all the more intimidating because he was her target.
"Explain yourself Dr. Hiiragizawa."
"Do have a seat Mrs. Daidouji."
"I will stand thank you, now tell me, what on earth have you done to my daughter?!" Eriol managed not to blanch but instead raised an eyebrow once again and noticed that Nakuru still lingered at the doorway.
"Excuse me." He bowed slightly towards Sonomi and headed towards the door, closing it on Nakuru's face. He turned and saw that Sonomi had not budged from her position, still facing his desk, arms crossed, ready for battle.
"What did I do to Tomoyo?" He asked.
"Don't even think about throwing my questions back at me young man. She came to me today and told me the most fascinating news." By the tone of her voice Eriol believed that whatever news Tomoyo gave to her mother, it certainly was not fascinating. His mind told him that Sonomi now knew what had happened two and a half months ago and now was out for his head.
"Sit down Professor, you're going to need to." As to why I'm giving you a warning I do not know, I'd rather see you fall on the floor really, she thought to herself. Eriol eyed her sceptically, but regardless, did as she advised.
"Have you the slightest clue of what state my daughter is in right now? I rather imagine not, or else I would expect you to be by her side this instant." Some how, Eriol had the most ridiculous notion that Tomoyo was sick, but brushed that aside because her mother was here in front of him and not with her as she knew he would be. "I won't beat around the bush anymore boy." Eriol forced himself to remain neutral in expression at hearing the word "boy". "My daughter is pregnant with your child, Eriol." She stopped to see how he would react and upon seeing the reaction on his face, she wished she had not told him to sit down for she was sure he would be flat on his back had he remained standing. To his credit, he did not go off denying such an accusation, but that made it all the more truthful. Before Sonomi sat the shocked father of Tomoyo's child.
"Now professor, tell me, what happened that night?"
"I suggest you find out from your daughter." He, through some miracle managed to look Sonomi in the eye, his voice stern and unwavering. Inside though, chaos was breaking loose. Tomoyo was pregnant? With HIS child? He wanted to storm out of that room and run all the way to Tomoyo's place to get the truth out of her, perhaps shaking her in the process for making him go through this little vis-à-vis with her mother all by himself. But no, he wouldn't because Sonomi was here and chances are so werre her bodyguards, who are all probably outside waiting to jump him if he tried to make an escape.
"Well, I would, and certainly would have done that by now if she remembered exactly what had happened that night."
"She doesn't remember?"
"Do you
think I'd make something like this up?"
"No ma'am, but in that case, I
suggest you wait until she remembers for you may accuse me for making things
up."
"I'll take that for now. As for the present, do you plan on marrying my daughter"?
"I beg your pardon?"
"I mean after all that is the only course of action to take at the moment, and I know that despite everything, you are a decent man, or else I wouldn't have made such a suggestion to you. I would have had you arrested or perhaps shot." There was a gleam in her eyes and Eriol did not know if Sonomi was kidding. Sonomi did not joke around often, and certainly not in circumstances such as this. He thanked the heavens he was raised a gentleman; else he may be dead on the street somewhere.
"Madame, listen to yourself. I remind you this is the twenty-first century, not the nineteenth. You cannot come in here and demand that I marry your daughter, nor do I doubt that she would like the idea herself."
"Professor, I did not demand, I suggested it. But it is something that I truly hope you follow up on. Now." She stood up, as did he. Not a moment too soon, for Eriol was about to ask her to leave and he did not know how she would have taken. It was utterly ridiculous, this was his house and in the last half hour he has thought of escaping it and hesitated upon dismissing his guest. He would not have hesitated a few years back. "I believe I have trespassed on your time quite enough this afternoon. If you know what is good for you and Tomoyo, think about what I've told you Eriol."
And with that she turned and walked out the door. Eriol stood watching after her wondering if that was a threat. He certainly would not put it past that woman. He heard the front door open and close.
Before he could so much as sigh with relief Nakuru stood in the doorway and gaped at him. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly reminding Eriol of a helpless fish out of water, but his sister, though a lot of things, was certainly not helpless. What she could be, however, was a tornado – loud, violent and unpredictable. By the look in her dark eyes, Eriol knew that he was going to get hit by one.
"You got Tomoyo pregnant?" Her voice was calm, but Eriol knew better.
Eriol put his hands in his pockets, not knowing what to do with them. In fact, he did not know what to do. Period. Nakuru stalked towards him and started poking him in the chest, matching every word said.
"You – got – innocent – Tomoyo – pregnant!" To Nakuru's dismay, Eriol did not budge from her assault. The damned man was built like a rock.
"It seems so." He muttered more to himself, rather than to her.
"Hell, Eriol, how come?"
"I don't know… I didn't mean to…" Eriol stopped after realizing that all the words what would come out of his mouth at that moment would sound horribly mundane, not to mention that they would fall on deaf ears, for once Tornado Nakuru got going, people just got out of the way and let her run her course. Right now, she was pacing, her sable hair flying as she turned. She suddenly stopped, turned and faced him.
"How…?" She broke off and held her hand out, saying, "Scratch that, I'm innocent, but not ignorant. I'd rather give that cat of yours a bath rather than dwell on that thought." Eriol decided to hold his tongue after hearing his sister refer to herself as "innocent". In any other situation, he surely would have said something, but he was in no place to do so, he may as well sign his will. His thoughts began to take a path of their own. Tomoyo was pregnant with his child and for three bloody months, yet he's heard nothing, not so much as a "How do you do" from her. Just how long did she plan on keeping this from him? If Tomoyo did not tell her mother, would he still be ignorant of the situation right now? For the next three months or more? Curse that girl. He did not need her mother storming into his house to lecture him on responsibility and duty, and now he had to deal with Nakuru. Said sibling stopped pacing when she saw Eriol's expression; eyes half closed, his mouth set on a thin line, his eyebrows furrowed together.
"So my dear brother, a fine mess you have here."
"I don't need any of that from you." He so much as growled at her.
"No…"She mused, "Because Madame Daidouji just gave it to ya better than I ever could."
Eriol glared at her. What bloody century was it? He felt like he was stuck in the nineteenth century where when one takes a virgin's virtue, they are then obliged to marry her. Cursed hell!
"So what are you going to do?" Nakuru broke through his thoughts. Eriol was thinking that he needed a drink. Sonomi Daidouji had just come in here, dumped this news that he was going to be father and was practically forcing him, if not threatening him into marrying her daughter, a woman he just could not seem to see himself with for the rest of his life.
"I say marry her." Nakuru said non-chalantly.
"Damn it, Nakuru." Eriol then started pacing. Was everyone against him?
"Don't curse at me Eriol. This is Tomoyo we're talking about."
"Exactly, this Tomoyo we're talking about. I just can't see it."
"And why can't you marry her? Wasn't it that you loved her once before?" Eriol's head snapped up at those words, he almost tripped over his own feet.
"No Nakuru, what that was back then was perhaps infatuation, admiration. Nothing more. What was in the past stays where it is."
"So why, after realizing that she was, as you assumed, out of your league, for the last nine years, you've been playing the ladies' man?" It took all of Eriol's control not to shake the all-knowing Nakuru. "Why did this happen? What happened two and a half months ago Eriol?"
"I need to think. I'm going for a walk." He burst out off the room without another word. Nakuru followed him to the door and yelled out "You better have an answer when you get back Nii-san!" Using the term she called him when she first came into his home. "Or I won't let you find any peace and quiet day or night!" She did not even wince as she heard the front door slam shut. The black cat on the windowsill opened his eyes and yawned. Nakuru glanced at him and sighed.
"You have it too easy cat. I'm going shopping."
*****
Fresh air. Eriol did not realize just how much he was suffocating in his own home. Still, he felt frustrated and confused and perhaps even hurt. For once in his life, a life that he controlled fully and wholly, where he made every step decisively, he did not know what to do. But one thing was for certain; he was going to confirm all that had happened today from the very source herself.
tsuzuku
A/N: At least I got this out in less than a month. I realized it was going to be a long month for everyone in this story so I had to split the third month into two. And for note's sake "vis-à-vis" is francais "face to face". I'm so grateful for the reaction that I'm getting from this story, like I said, anything that has a naked man in bed during the prologue does have appeal ahhahahah. Thank you everyone, I'll try to get the second part up soon.
