For Better or Worse
Chapter 4 : First Strike
[Tomoyo]
It isn't hard to figure what Eriol adores most or least. But one thing for sure, it's hard to read what's in his mind most of the time. I've totally underestimated him although he really isn't as tough as he looks. If only I could get the mask off him somehow, I'm sure his true character, his true self would be revealed.
[End of Tomoyo POV]
She crept slowly into the luxurious room which was well lit with array glimmers from the sun and iridescent mobile charm tinkling in the wind. Faint wintry smell drifted in lazily from the opened window and over series of walls, it decided to nestle comfortably together with the inner atmosphere. The room hasn't change much the last time she visited, only that it somehow held a gloomier feeling. It was as if this very chamber accommodates a sick and confused mind. The wallpapers, the accessories… Just the thought of it was enough to scare her beyond words.
No, she had to do what she came here for and she will carry out her task as she was supposed to.
In the middle of the room, stood a four-poster bed elegantly under streams of sunlight. Tomoyo made another step, paused, listened and continued her pace. She had it all planned out. She was going to give Eriol a scare he can't forget.
Unceremoniously, she tiptoed across the room and settled behind an oaken closet. She bid her time while straining her ears for any sounds or perhaps snores just to prove her instinct was right all along. She had to find the prefect timing to make her next move. Her eyes were keen like tigress sneaking on its prey and within the distance; she spotted a lump on the bed. This is it. It's now or never.
And so she made her final move – plunged onto the bed, struggled the figure or rather choking him and then shouted a very loud – Aha! –, all the while anticipating an outburst from the sleepy head when a voice, thick with morbid irony and sarcasm came drifting towards her.
"Yes, Daidouji-san?"
Tomoyo's ears perked up instantly as if she had just overheard a ghostly voice which was actually not very far from where she sat. Realization dawned upon her and when she noticed the lump on the bed wasn't him, she froze and tensed up. She caught a glimpse of his visage under her silky ebony hair. She gulped.
"Uh oh…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
[Tomoyo]
This can't be happening! No, it can't be!! He…he…how could he be awake so early?? That was not what my source told me…that darn Nakuru.
Oh my god, how am I supposed to confront him? I would look like an idiot if I were to say I had mistaken him for Nakuru and was trying to bully Nakuru into baking some apple pies for me.
What am I supposed to do?
[End of Tomoyo POV]
*~*~*~*~*~*
[Eriol]
This couldn't be the more interesting day of my life – a mad woman who I had saved not long ago was trying to kill me right now, in my room, on my bed.
Isn't this a great way to start a day?
[End of Eriol POV]
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Yes Daidouji-san?" he ventured once more and shot it straight at that woman that was comfortably sitting on his bed. Yes you heard him right, his precious and very costly indeed bed. He stepped out from the shadow and tapped his toes silently, literally demanding an explanation to her senseless act. And as he stood in his full form, the image of a powerful sorcerer glowed momentarily in the gossamer threads of light. A grump look satiated his feature.
Tomoyo on the other hand looked as if she would never live through that day at that very spot. Not only she failed her task but had in return had given advantage to her enemy to strike her and counterattack anytime from a favorable range. Her heart hammered rapidly and colors began to drain, ever so slowly from her face. She now looked just like the first day she arrived at the Hiiragizawa's mansion, pallid and withered.
"Daidouji-san?" She shivered momentarily. "Daidouji-san?"
She remained silent for a while. Eriol waited patiently but his tolerance was fading off too, bits by bits. And when things couldn't get more worse, the most peculiar thing happened –
She started laughing.
Tomoyo actually started laughing loud. Eriol blinked out of mingled frustration and curiosity.
"Haha…I thought…haha…ha…you…was…Nakuru…haha."
Yeah right. Eriol thought sarcastically. Anyone could sense easily the feignity in her voice.
"Didn't you want to choke me to death just a moment ago?" he continued sweetly with hints of deadly consequences behind every word.
"Choke you? Please!!!" Tomoyo pretended she was suffering from a terrible howling by rubbing fake tears from her eyes. "How could you think of me so lowly?"
Eriol arched a brow. "Really?" he seemed unsatisfied with the given answer.
This gave Tomoyo some time to get down from the satin-draped bed and sauntered almost lazily over to him. She grinned widely and then stared right into his azure eyes. Her ebony, almost stain liked hair that graced her womanly visage cascaded down her shoulders which she simply brushed them away with her hand. They were just inches away when their eyes met and Eriol could feel her body heat and at the same time feeling a blush creeping onto his face. He quickly suppressed them with wistful thoughts for he had long perfected the art of acuity; to act fast when problems in hand were slipping.
"Perish the thought," Tomoyo whispered almost inaudible. "It's not encouraging to think unhealthy thoughts in the morning."
A smirk was formed on Eriol's lips almost naturally, almost lazily. "The same theory applies to incorrigible acts in the middle of a pleasant morning especially when you're in someone's adobe."
She soon found herself smirking too. They just had too much in common. "That make us equal don't you think?"
He averted his eyes elsewhere. "Whatever."
*~*~*~*~*~*
[Tomoyo]
It was not what exactly I had in mind but I was glad the awkward moment had finally come to an end. As I walked out of the room, I could still feel the intensity of his eyes burning at the back of my neck. I venture a pry and found him making his bed and flourishing the curtains. It was hard to believe how he actually did that when I'm pretty sure he had his eyes on me all the time. Trust me; you wouldn't want to know too. It is all too scary.
And that Nakuru, I can't wait to have my hands on that grouchy neck of hers once I leave this room.
You just wait and see Nakuru…oh you just wait and see.
[End of Tomoyo POV]
*~*~*~*~*~*
She hunched over the table and made a grab for the toast when another hand anticipated her attempt and deftly took the toast away from her reach.
"Hey, that's mine!"
Eriol, who was already munching half of the toast ignored her wails and carried on with his breakfast. This was because he held on to his principal of life: "Never talk while eating" and the same goes to "Victory prevail for those agile in food-snatching so stop whining."
Tomoyo graced her lips with a pout and sipped the remaining of the brewing coffee. The atmosphere grew frigid cold right after that. At the end of the table, Nakuru, who was evidently been beaten up by our protagonist, announced cheerfully her plans of the day, another part of her evil scheme. "I'm going shopping today down at Avenue Street today. Now who wants to follow me raise up their hand!"
Silence swept passed and the others been ignorant chose to continue their breakfast.
"Aww…come on! It would be fun! I heard there would be sales going on and there would be a parade down the street." And then she nudged at Spinel who shot a piercing glare at her.
"Yeah, it would be fun," he repeated the words dully and started on a meager plate of heaped sandwiches in front of him.
"See? Even Spinel was excited to go." Nakuru blabbered on cheerfully.
Still, no response came out from the silent couple in front of her. Not willing to give up, Nakuru looked on hopefully from Tomoyo to Eriol and then from Eriol back to Tomoyo. None, however, was paying attention to what she was saying.
"I'm done." Tomoyo announced to no one in particular and excused herself from the breakfast table.
"Where are you going?" Nakuru asked impatiently.
"The decision is made and I see no harm on witnessing a parade down an English street. I'm going upstairs to change."
Nakuru's eyes went teary, too happy with her answer. "Do you want to join us Eriol, huh, do you want to join us?" she jabbed and tugged on Eriol's cuff. Jab, tug, jab, tug.
"Do you want my shirt or something?" Eriol inquired, glaring at her. "Cause I thought you don't like cyan."
"No, you can keep the shirt. I don't want it. I was just wandering…"
Eriol disrupt her words with a sarcastic tone. "You really do like my shirt don't you?" He shot another question as he realized Nakuru's fingers was still jabbing and tugging at his cuff.
"No. I don't like it." Eriol eyed dangerously at his cuffs.
"I could give it to you willingly if you ask for it nicely."
"No and yes. No for I don't want your shirt and yes for I really hate cyan."
"How about I give you this shirt in exchange for a tranquil life?"
Nakuru shook her head, restraining her almost erupt temper. " All I want to know is whether you want to go with us or not?"
Eriol simply proceeded with his breakfast quietly. "Do I look like I have a choice?"
"No." She answered happily and proceeded to clear up the table even when she knew that Eriol was not done yet.
Blast… He merely thought bleakly. This is going to be yet another long day.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Wah…look! A motorcycle!!"
A scowl was visible beneath the handsome feature of Hiiragizawa Eriol who looked like he couldn't be more bored than right now. Being a millionaire with uncountable amounts of piling assets and property, Eriol still could not believe that normal everyday stuffs like – motorcycle – still amazed his guardian as if she had not seen them before. They owned a big mansion in Chestier Street, two grand convertible Ferrari, one big cruise in the east coast, The Hiiragizawa investment, lands and lands of grape vine (no idea why) and more…yet this did not seemed to go into Nakuru's head. Tomoyo however, found the delightment of showing and shoving things at Nakuru, for example –
"Look, pen!"
"Wah…pen!!" Nakuru squealed and snatched the lavender-filtered pen away from her. Even Tomoyo now found Nakuru's behavior fairly odd but opted to speak nothing.
"Now, look, car!!"
"Wah…car!"
Eriol shook his head. He pocketed his gloved hands and pretended he did not know them. Passer-bys shot him looks but he reflected them off with his coolness. But things were beginning to get out of hand when –
"Look Eriol, plane…" Nakuru's voice trailed off as her eyes were too, trailing away with the white plane. A couple of girls who happened to pass by giggled at Nakuru odd behavior.
A nerve was grated somewhere inside his head. "Enough of this!" TWHACK!
"Owwwwwwwwwwww~~~!!"
Nakuru stumbled off while clutching the sore part of her head. "What did you do that for?!!"
The innocent paper fan vanished into the air (Imagine chibi Eriol with a fan and was wacking Nakuru happily – pet abusing) and was replaced with a rather sober look. "Do – not – do – that – again." he gritted.
"But – but –"
Tomoyo rolled her eyes. She knew she would be telling her grandchildren one day…how a nutcase acted when he was exposed to too much of tension. She smothered a laugh and pretended she had missed the entire exchange.
The sky was showering with flakes of mingled snow and confetti, obscuring the blue blue sky. A multi-coloured fantasy car skidded passed them, followed by jubilant-looking army of men performing the acrobatic skills in front of millions of citizen and a band of musicians trailing behind them. Tomoyo was clapping, along with thousands of others whose hearts were enraptured completely that evening. She too was pretty much enjoying the festive evening.
The temperature dropped drastically suddenly and she absent-mindedly scraped her hand together to conjure heat for she had left her gloves on the couch back in Eriol's mansion. Eriol upon deducing her current situation offered his scarf and gloves which was declined politely.
"It's okay. The night is getting rather warm."
"Don't be an idiot. Take them and put them on. I don't want you to fall sick and again and I will have to carry you all the way back into my house."
Both being new and wise to his sudden change of demeanor, she accepted it gratefully and coiled the scarf around her neck and the gloves into her frozen fingers. Yet a small smile could be seen if one cared to inspect closer. And as she was in the process of putting them on, she noted a particular strange man, clothed in full black and holding something that resembled a phone, a crossover over of a mobile phone and walkie-talkie, observing her at the opposite street. She tried to shrug off the random thought but then a dreaded feeling dawned came drenching her as she cringed back, knocking into Eriol and Nakuru. Nakuru caught her perfectly on her shoulder blades and felt apprehensive to her sudden behavior. She averted her gaze to her master who in return nodded and fully understand her message. He too had felt an alarming danger too right now, but the evanescent feeling went as fast as it had come. No one, however, had notice the silence of the young Tomoyo, and when Nakuru finally felt she was weighed down by something, both of them realized Tomoyo was shivering and terrified look etched her once beautiful features.
Nakuru went completely ballistic but Eriol stared beyond the massive crowd of human, searching for the peculiar man.
Who…who could that be?
*~*~*~*~*~*
The long awaited chapter had finally finished at last. I wish I could have written somehow longer but Muse isn't entirely in the right condition so forgive me is there is any misunderstand or confusion. Believe me…look
Kyugurl : Muse, look, me!
Muse : Wah……you!
There you are, inspired by muse.
To those who had been reviewing and supporting me, I'm in debt with you guys. Without readers and reviews I wouldn't want to think where I might be heading. And yeah, the Eriol part with paper fan was inspired from another anime Saiyuki, lol. Eriol was acting out of contrary but this also shows that he is opening himself up. Suspense, suspense… Until next time!
