AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know that it is too quick... But the story begins after their marriage only... I really don't know much about japanese weddings and I have tried my best to bring it out properly... Please correct me if I am wrong anywhere...
Shanaa12: They really are an adorable pair...
James Birdsong,guardiana: Thank you for your review...
*Shiromuku- It is a white kimono a bride is to wear... It is just like the white wedding dress of a western wedding...
Tomoyo's P.O.V:
White was never a colour that suited me. But today I had no choice but to wear the white garment that hung in front of me. "Sakura-chan, can you help me wear the sash?" I called out as I struggled with the silver shaded clothing. Sakura obediently tied the sash behind me and smoothed out the creases.
Mother insisted that we have a contemporary style wedding as it was the tradition of our family to have Japanese traditional wedding. I was supposed to wear a pure white kimono without any designs in it. But now that I see my reflection the material shows off woven sun and moon shapes in silk. It was barely noticeable but I liked it.
"Did you select the material Sakura-chan?" I asked her as she started working on my hair.
"No... Eriol-kun selected it. He said this will really suit for your shiromuku*. Even Sonomi-san liked it." She said twisting my hair into a complex bun and fixing it on my head.
I can't believe that today is my wedding and yet I feel nothing. No anxiety, no excitement and to top it all no happiness. But I was really glad that it was a Japanese style wedding and not a Western style wedding. Kissing someone I don't love in front of so many people is not in my agenda. I was saving it for a person whom I love with all my heart and I guess it is going to stay that way forever.
Once she fixed my hair I was ready. I waited as Sakura went to get changed into her kimono. I was left alone with my thoughts for now. Won't be too long until this loneliness I enjoyed so much will be snatched away from me forcefully.
A lot of people have asked me out, some even went to the extent of proposing also. But I have never had the spark in me. All these years I was waiting for someone to truly love me. All these people who have approached me came to me only because of my looks or my money. I disgusted them all. After entering the business world I was able to see the true colors of the world and despised almost everyone. I was planning to stay as a spinster until mother suddenly wanted to get me married. Had she requested the same when she was fine I would have simply explained to her and gotten away with it.
But now was a different situation. I might not be a doctor but I know the seriousness of her illness. Just to make sure I showed her reports to another doctor and he confirmed that she had less time on earth.
I wonder how Eriol feels about the entire situation. He did mention once that mother saved his life and owed her. so he is doing all this as an obligation? Just at the thought I could feel my heart sink. I have always wanted to have a simple but happy family like the Kinomotos. Yet god decided such a loveless marriage for me...
Kami-sama has no mercy on me!
Normal P.O.V:
Only the close relatives and friends had gathered at the Shinto Shrine for the wedding. Sonomi sat on a wheelchair clad in a pale blue kimono with Fujitaka on her side who had chosen to wear a formal suit and not the traditional dress.
Then there were Touya, Yukito, Nakuru and a few friends from Tomoyo's college. Eriol was to arrive at the shrine any moment now with Syaoran. He had flown all the way from China to attend this sudden wedding.
Just on cue they both emerged on the entrance of the shrine. Eriol was clad in a dark blue kimono that had the Clow symbol on his chest and back while Syaoran was wearing a forest green kimono with the Yin Yang symbol. Once Eriol reached the priest they all waited for the bride to come. Tomoyo entered the dimly lit shrine just on time in her white kimono with Sakura following her. Sakura wore a baby pink kimono with star designs on it with a green sash.
The bride and the groom went through the purification ritual and it was the groom's turn to say his vows.
"I Eriol Hirragizawa, take you Tomoyo Daidouji as my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to be with you till my last breathe and protect you from the harsh world and loneliness. I swear to be by your side through thick and thin..." Eriol said as he looked into Tomoyo's eyes. This was the first time he has ever been this close to this raven haired beauty and he was mesmerized by her amethyst pools instantly.
"I Tomoyo Daidouji, take you Eriol Hirragizawa as my lawfully wedded husband. I am confident that God has chosen you to be my husband. I promise to help you through your hardships and stick with you till the end and be loyal to you." She said as if it was her dialogue in some theatre production.
It was really weird that neither the bride nor the groom used the word love in their vows. But it was the truth. They both were not in love when they are getting married and it was good not to lie in front of Kami-sama.
After the exchange of rings they drank sake from the flat cups that were stacked up on each other.
Tomoyo Daidouji is now officially Tomoyo Hirragizawa.
Tomoyo's P.O.V:
I am no more a Daidouji. The ceremony got over and we both have to give our offerings to the god. I turned around to see my mother with tears streaming through her pale cheeks with a smile on her face.
I went to her as she held my face in her fragile hands. "Your father is very proud of you Tomoyo-chan..." she said kissing my temple. I could feel the happiness radiating from her and that was all I needed. This is the best answer I could give to all those tears I shed.
I am supposed to go to the banquet hall where the reception was to be held. I got into the limo along with Eriol as everyone cheered and waved. A smile crept up on my face as I thought how dramatic these guys were. We were not going for honeymoon or anything and yet they cheer like this.
My gaze was fixed outside as we passed through the sceneries. Eriol cleared his throat to gain my attention. "You are happy right?" he asked with a doubtful look.
"Mother is happy and that is all I want!" I told him with the same smile plastered on my face.
His smile faltered a bit but he gained back the same old look and said "You never change, do you? Always living for others' happiness..."
He was right. "So when are you starting here?" I asked him trying to change the topic. Eriol shifted his head office to Japan and had already finished all the paper work needed. He said he needed a change from England and besides Tomoeda was a place he never gets bored of.
"There is still some interior work going on in the office. So I should be starting here in a week or so." He stated. "Your things are being moved to my manor as we speak..." he added.
All I could do was nod. We are married now and it would be really strange if I stayed in my mansion and he stays in his manor. But I suppose having Spinel and Nakuru will be fun...
"Are Spinel and Nakuru ok with me staying there?" I asked him.
He chuckled a bit and answered "They are more than delighted to have you in the house. Spinel said that he was glad that there will be at least one person who was not out of their mind in the home..." making me chuckle with him.
I did visit them a few times during their stay. I wonder how Eriol even puts up with those two. A hyperactive, childish guardian and a hypo active, mature guardian were a weird combo. But I guess that was the same balance that Clow saw when creating Kero and Yue.
I wonder how it will feel to have someone by my side all the time... All during my childhood I was alone in that huge mansion as mother would be busy. Then as I started college I did not even move out like most youngsters did. It made no difference for me. I was already alone and I didn't think I would have as much privacy I had in the mansion. Maybe Eriol would be a good company...
Normal P.O.V:
As she pondered over those thoughts they arrived at the banquet hall and when they both entered the hall they were surprised to see so many people in the lavishly decorated hall. They walked over to the main table and saw that their families had already arrived and were seated.
Tomoyo and Eriol took their seats and the hall got silent as Syaoran got up to deliver his best man's speech.
"I am not gonna give some big speech and bore you guys... Tomoyo has become a sister figure to me over these years I have known her. If you ever hurt her Eriol, I will make sure that you won't see the rising sun again... Owww!" he said as Sakura stomped his foot making the entire crowd erupt in laughter. "To my loving sister and my friend..." he said rising his glass filled with the sparkling liquid.
Slow music started filling the hall as the DJ announced "Yo new couple... Get on the floor and spread the love..."
Eriol extended his hand as Tomoyo gracefully accepted it and they went to the dance floor.
Eriol's P.O.V:
I don't know why but my heart is filled with this warmth from the moment this beautiful woman entered the shrine today. She looks like an angel in her shiromuku yet something is missing. Maybe it's the fact that her smile is not reaching her eyes. Or maybe it could be my imagination also. She looks like a petite doll as she moves in sync with me. We both never uttered a word after stepping out of the limo.
I guess she has no idea what to talk about. I can understand her feelings very well. Had I been the long lost friend she would have spoken to me like there is no tomorrow asking about my life and stuff. But now I am her husband. She must be feeling very awkward because I know for a fact that she was single all this time. At first I thought that it was her feelings towards Sakura that did not allow her to move on. But when I asked her about it she politely answered that she has always seen Sakura as a sister and she has been single because she never came across her destined one.
Ah! Destiny is something I should be talking about. It was already prophesied that I will be marrying a person who has no magic yet has all connections with magic. When I read Clow's prophecy I was really confused by the statement. But now I understand what he meant by 'Connected with magic but not a magical being'
I looked at her as she danced with a small smile on her face yet her eyes were fixed on something or rather someone behind me. I turned to see that it was her mother sitting on her wheel chair returning the same smile.
I returned the gaze on her porcelain face only to meet with her amethyst eyes. Something in those eyes draws me towards them. in this moment I felt like nothing else existed except for this wonderful woman I am dancing with.
My trance was broken as I felt a slight tap on my shoulder and saw that Fujitaka wanted to dance with my wife. 'My Wife' those words sound so right and good. I gave her hand to the fatherly man as I went to sit near Sonomi.
"How are you feeling tonight Sonomi-san?" I asked the pale figure. Just a few weeks of hospitalisation and she looked like she had transformed into a vampire.
"I am feeling much better now Eriol-kun. Now that Tomoyo is in safe hands I can rest peacefully..." she said with her eyes fixed on her daughter who was dancing like a swan in the middle of the floor.
Normal P.O.V:
A comfortable silence enveloped them both as they both had their eyes fixed on the bride. Slowly Sonomi turned to see the look on Eriol's face and her eyes softened. Eriol looked at Tomoyo just like a father would look at his child having fun.
'You are a precious thing to be protected Tomoyo...' he thought.
"Promise me one thing Eriol-kun..." she said gaining his attention. "Promise me that you will look after Tomoyo just like the way you see her now..."
His eyes widened a bit. 'How did she know?' he thought and said "Hai! I will protect her with my life Sonomi-san..."
Eriol and Tomoyo arrived at the Hirragizawa Manor at night to be welcomed by Spinel. "Welcome home mistress... Congratulations..." he said sitting on Tomoyo's shoulder.
Eriol showed her to her room which was opposite to his own room. Conveniently Nakuru's room was on the higher floor and she went straight to bed claiming that she was too tired. "Please call me if you need anything... You can knock my door no matter what time it is..." he said and left her alone in the big room. As said earlier all her things were arranged in her room. She changed into some comfortable night gown and stood in front of Eriol's room.
She was about to knock but decided not to disturb him and turned to leave. The door opened revealing Eriol in a simple t-shirt and shorts. "Come in..." he smiled.
"How did you know?" she asked him once she sat on the edge of his bed.
"You forget that I sense auras. What is troubling you Tomoyo?" he asked her not realizing that he was no more using the honorific.
"Tonight is our first night and..." she trailed off. She did not know why she wanted to knock his door in the first place. He laughed.
"You want to talk about our relationship inside this house?" he asked her straight. She nodded making him laugh more.
"The great Tomoyo Daidouji is nervous and shy..." he teased her as she spoke "I am now Tomoyo Hirragizawa... So I can be shy..."
He did not expect this reply. He went to sit beside her with a moderate gap between them. "For the world out there we might be husband and wife... When inside this house we both are just friends staying together..." he said but feeling a pang in his chest while saying the words 'just friends'.
"But I need to warn you... I will never let you be alone even for a minute!" he winked. "We can think about giving this relationship a chance later when you are used with me hovering around you..." he added.
She chuckled "Thank you Eriol-kun... For everything..." and extended her hand. He shook her hand and with that they said their goodnights and she left for her room.
Eriol lay on his bed as a heavy sigh escaped his mouth. 'Life is definitely going to be interesting from now on...' he thought closing his eyes and escaping to the deep pits of sleep.
At last this chapter is over... I had a hard time trying to think from both their perspectives...
And yes Tomoyo has never kissed a guy before... ;)
Reviews are welcome...