A/N: Lookiez here! An update! Sorry guys, this took a while. I was going through finals when I wrote the last chapter so now that I'm finally home, I can write again!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything (It's depressing everytime I write this).
HourGlass
Chapter 4
By Violet Karuto
-.-
"E-Eriol"
Tomoyo shut her eyes tightly as the memory seeped forbiddingly into her mind. That was not her voice, she told herself stubbornly, not the voice that was filled with so much love and tenderness, not her eyes that was looking so longingly into his, wanting to be his. That was not her.
Who was it, then? Her mind teased back slyly, who was the one that walked towards him, leaned towards him, and almost kissed him? Who was the one who wanted to know him, get closer to him, and remember him?
NOT. ME.
With a final struggle from her resilient and, Tomoyo started to suspect, traitorous conscience, the voice died down and Tomoyo was left with her own thoughts once more. She is currently on her way home from the gallery and scenes from the incident that happened some minutes ago hounded her all the way back.
He is driving her crazy, this person, this man from her past and present. Why did he have to appear in front of her after so many years of silence? She was perfectly content living her peaceful life in little Tomoeda, slowly making new memories of her own and recuperating from that incident 5 years ago. She has almost regained all her lost memories of her friends and family and she was fine with that. But now he shows up demanding the world from her. In fact, if he wanted her to remember him so badly, then just tell her who the hell he is instead of playing all these mind games with her.
Tomoyo's spiraling thoughts and debates with herself brought her to a pause in front of a crossroad a couple blocks from her mansion. Not wanting to go home just yet and spend even more time alone reflecting all that transpired today, she decided to take a detour and clear her thoughts and finally enjoy what's left of a nice Sunday afternoon. That, in effect, brought her attention upon a certain auburn hair and emerald eyed cousin of hers since Tomoyo usually spends Sunday afternoons with Sakura, updating each other on current gossips.
And that, in consequence, refreshed her memory of the last instance she's seen her friend, running away with box in hand, the box that he gave her.
"ARGH!" Tomoyo held her head in her hands in frustration, "Get out of my head, Hiiragizawa! Get out of my life!"
"Tomoyo-chan?"
Almost expecting to see Sakura, Tomoyo turned and blinked at the stranger women behind her. Sporting long deep wine colored hair, the women is probably five or six years older than her, with long graceful arms and legs. Currently, she's holding a paper bag in one arm, coming back from grocery shopping perhaps, and a glistening lollipop in another, apparently plucked out of her mouth not a second ago.
"Oh! I was right!" She squealed in delight as she quickly bounced towards Tomoyo, "How have you been, Tomoyo-chan? It's been years since I've seen you! Oh! Suppi will love to hear this! He always preferred to talk to you more than me, or so he says, but I know he loves me!"
Barely registering a thing she's said for the past 10 seconds, Tomoyo can only stare at this super hyperactive woman who claims to know her. More of her past coming back to haunt her? Perhaps.
"Ano…This may sound rude, but do I know you?"
"Oh!" At that moment, it appears as if some sense has finally clicked inside the stranger's head for she stepped back and regarded Tomoyo in a different light. "I'm sorry, I forgot about the whole incident. It's just, it's been so long and I've missed you Tomoyo-chan!"
Sighing tiredly, Tomoyo debated whether if she could strangle this happy little sunshine in front of her and hopefully pass it off as a joke between friends since the woman seem to know her so well. Instead, she smiled at her and held out her hand.
"Hi, I'm Tomoyo Daidouji, and you are…?"
"Ah!" Sticking the lollipop back into her mouth, she grasped Tomoyo's hand in a firm grip, "I'm Nakuru Akizuki but you can call me Nakuru-chan, that's what you used to call me." With that, Nakuru smiles happily at Tomoyo as if all the memories they've had together would suddenly integrate themselves into her head and the world will be good again.
"I'm sorry, Nakuru…chan", this is just not her day, "But I do not remember you…or a 'Suppi' whom you spoke of earlier. This is all really new to me still, but maybe we can begin as friends again?"
"Alright then" Nakuru nodded to herself in confirmation, "I know you'll remember me in no time! As a matter of fact, come with me so you'll see Suppi-chan too! I wonder if Eriol-kun's home today….?"
"Hiiragizawa?" Tomoyo blinked in surprise. That name is the last thing she expects to hear from the woman in front of her.
"Ah! So you DO remember him! I mean, I didn't really believe Eriol could be so cruel after all that's happened, you two were just so happy. I've always thought he was putting on a show when he used Erase on you, and I guess I was right!"
"Nakuru-san, I don't understand…"
"It's Nakuru-CHAN! Well, anyway, just come and you'll see!" With that, Nakuru bounded down the street and Tomoyo could do nothing but follow with a dumbfounded expression. Minutes passed and Tomoyo found herself walking along a large property with high fences, looking this way and that, trying to distract herself from the dire situation ahead, literally and figuratively speaking. Nakuru bounced along in front of her, humming an indistinctive tune, clearly unaware of the distressed state her companion is in.
"Ano…"
"We're here!"
The fence that they were walking along so diligently for the past few minutes ended abruptly at an intricate gated entrance. Surprised, Tomoyo looked at the massive property in front of her, taking in the whole landscape of the mansion, no, more like a castle, that could probably give the Daidouji mansion a run for its money. Coming back to herself, she realized that Nakuru is already holding the gate open, waiting for her to enter. Rooted to the ground, Tomoyo debated against the decision but Nakuru made the decision for her.
"Come on, Tomoyo-chan! Suppi'll be so happy to see you, and so will Eriol-kun, it's been a while since you've visited afterall."
The mention of his name stopped Tomoyo in her thoughts. She could feel the blood thumping in her ears and the clammy sensation on her hands, as if her whole body is anticipating some momentous event. One part, she admitted, wanted to see him very badly, as if every particle of her being is clamoring for his touch, aching to hear him speak her name again. The other part, the more sensible side of her, is blaring warning bells in her head telling her to get the hell out while she still could.
But the warning bells underestimated the will and pride of the Daidouji blood. Standing before the gates, Tomoyo perceived a sense of challenge radiating from this very property, as if daring her to enter, teasing her mind while at the same time enticing her to step through the gates. It's as if this whole place was filled with his presence, doing its best to muddle her senses like he did that very afternoon.
She'll be damned if she walk away now.
Determinedly, she allowed herself to be led into the gates and onto a long gravel road that leads to the mansion in a distance. Nakuru smiled at her and walked on ahead, knowing that she'll follow. Although she never noticed before, because of all the thick bushes lining around the property, the inside of the gate was a totally different place. All around them, Tomoyo saw an expanse of garden with all types of vegetations planted in an artistic fashion. In a distance, she could hear water running, perhaps a fountain, and found herself relaxing in this pseudo Garden of Eden. It was simply not of this world.
"Eriol-kun likes to do a lot of gardening in his spare time", Nakuru supplied from the side, "It's a wonder why he's still so pale, given his time spent under the sun"
"Hiiragizawa-kun did all this?" Tomoyo asked, a bit surprised, though somehow she almost knew of this particular hobby of his.
"Yeah, though Suppi and I would rather stay indoor, you know? There are other ways to enjoy a nice vacation without getting sunburned. Though I would love to see what Suppi would look like with patches of burned skin on him. Hm, maybe not, since his fur has always been pretty thick" Once again, Tomoyo found herself lost in Nakuru's own musings as the yet unknown 'Suppi' keeps presenting himself into the conversation… wait a minute,
Fur?
"Ano…if you don't mind my asking, who is Suppi? I seem to know him pretty well from what you are saying"
"Ah, well…" she gave Tomoyo a side glance that did not go unnoticed, "You'll see"
And so, they stopped in front of an old looking mansion that looked like something from an old English novel while Tomoyo tried to take in its presence, ignoring the possibility that Hiiragizawa is probably looking down at her from one of the many windows up high, smiling that damn smile of his.
Somehow Tomoyo felt as if she had just, very neatly, dug her own grave.
"Well then, come in Tomoyo-chan" Nakuru said as she pushed open the oak door into the lobby of the house. A great chandelier hung directly above them as Tomoyo followed Nakuru past one of the spiraling staircase and into the kitchen down the hall. Setting the grocery down on the marble island in the middle of the kitchen, Nakuru grabbed two cups hanging from the top and set one in front of Tomoyo.
"You used to make the best tea in the house, Tomoyo-chan" she listened as Nakuru started to set the water pot to a slow boil and threw some indistinctive stuffs into it from a tin can next to her, "Even Eriol-kun had nothing to say about it, and you know how always have something to say about tea" Taking the milk out of the fridge, she then proceeded to pour some out in a small saucepan and heated it as well. "You always tried to teach me, but I guess I never got along with the teapot. I've gotten better, though, but it's just not the same."
All the while she talked, Tomoyo tried to imagine this stranger Tomoyo Daidouji that Nakuru is talking so fondly about. Though Tomoyo was never smitten about tea and its different kinds of flavorings, she admit, that she does have a hand in preparing a pot that her mother's guests always gush over. But right now, being here, listening to a stranger she met not 5 minutes ago talk about another her from another time makes Tomoyo feel displaced somehow.
She did not belong here.
Before she realized it, however, a steaming cup of tea was sitting in front of her, its aroma tickling her nose and invading her senses. Nakuru sat across from her on a kitchen stool and looked expectantly at her, raising her own cup to her lips. Wrapping her hands around the cup, Tomoyo closed her eyes and took a small sip, letting the liquid course through her body. Sweet warmth seems to tingle its way to her finger tips and settle at the bottom of her stomach, working its magic through the rest of the body. The aftertaste left a pleasantly satisfied Tomoyo in its wake, basking her in the sweet flavor that is so reminiscent of a spring afternoon.
"Wow"
Nakuru just smiled, "My reaction exactly when I had my first cup. You might not remember it, but your body still does and that still makes you who you are, Tomoyo-chan"
Taken back by the astute observation, Tomoyo can only stare solemnly at her and then down at the cup, thinking over the comment. She was right, Tomoyo shouldn't loose herself in somebody else's memory because that is exactly what it is; somebody else's. She may not remember all of this in another time, but she is still the same Tomoyo Daidouji and she can make new memories as she go along, and that is what makes living worthwhile. No use mourning the past.
"Ano…"
"Well then!" jumping off the stool, Nakuru proceeded to the grocery bags on the table, "Dinner isn't going to prepare itself, so I'll just get to it then. You're staying for dinner, right Tomoyo-chan?"
Now, if it was her usual self, Tomoyo would've seen that similar pair of puppy eyes a mile away, given how much time she spends around Sakura. But because this isn't the usual her with her usual accompaniment and definitely not in the usual setting, Tomoyo could do nothing but succumb under those damned twinkling orbs targeting at her on full power.
She sighed in defeat, "I suppose…"
"Great!" Nakuru bounced around the table and grabbed Tomoyo up in a hug, "In the meantime, why don't you visit Suppi? He's in the library down the hall, I'm sure you guys have a lot to catch up on."
"Nakuru-san…I'm not sure…" Tomoyo said reluctantly as Nakuru plucked her cup out of her hands and started to push her out of the kitchen.
"Sure you're sure! It's like making new friends again, except you two already know each other! Just head straight down this hall here, the door to the library should be open. Now off you go" With that, Tomoyo was left in the hallway hearing the occasional squeal of "Ohhh, chocolate! Suppi'll love this!" behind the door in front of her.
Left to fend for myself, thought Tomoyo as she wandered down the hall, and if I see Hiiragizawa, I don't know if I can control my urge to slap him or follow my baser instincts and run away. Now what a grand scenario that would play, a slap and run maneuver by your truly, the ever graceful Tomoyo Daidouji.
Suddenly a twinkling of notes echoed itself off the walls and threw her out of her own musings as she paused and trained her ears to listen more carefully. Someone's playing the piano. And, after a moment of hesitation, Tomoyo trail off the hallway, pass by the lobby entrance, and slowly made her way to a slightly ajar door hidden under one of the grand staircases. The view from the door partially showed the right end of the bench, though not facing her, and the slightly fuller view of the grand piano that is currently played by none other than-
With a gasp Tomoyo stumbled away from the door and slapped her hand on her mouth hoping against hope that the occupant of the room hadn't heard her. To her horror, the sound from the piano came to a sudden pause and all was still. Did he hear me? Oh my God, does he know I'm here? Any moment now, Tomoyo expects one Eriol Hiiragizawa to fling open the door to see who has interrupted his playing and, upon finding her, would…he would…Who knows what he'll do!
However after a minute or so, the longest minute to date, the playing resumed and she let out the breadth she was holding. Right, maybe he's taking a break to stretching…or something. As unlikely as that possibility went, Tomoyo diligently went back to the hallway to seek out the library once more. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can…oh, there's still dinner. Deciding that thinking too much will just give her a headache, Tomoyo concentrated on the task ahead and saw the open door at the end of the hall and the books that lined the walls within.
Arriving at the doorway, she poked her head in to survey the room. It was actually pretty cozy, with nice comfy looking lounge chairs scattered around the room with the occasional coffee table and book stand. But after a few glances, it was obvious that the room was empty.
No Suppi.
Not knowing anywhere else to look, Tomoyo let herself in to browse the selection on the walls. Although the library in her mansion is also something short of magnificent, it's a totally different feel here, probably because the atmosphere seem so much older, like a trip back into the history books. Picking up a book on the bookstand next to her, she started leafing through the contents.
"Tomoyo-san?"
"Wah!" Dropping the book in surprise, Tomoyo whirled around to face what she originally thought was a stack of books on the lounge chair.
"Kero?"
-.-
A/N: …because I don't know anywhere else to stop the story. This chapter went on longer than I anticipated so by now even I'm excited to get this part off my hands so I can bounce around a little.
Hope I didn't disappoint with my extended wordiness (I realized now that I was a bit verbose at parts).
Happy Summer