Hey you guys! It took me a while to think about this chapter. Its totally different from what I had orginally written. But just as a heads up its mostly about the other half of the story that I seem not to have touched yet. SOrry but this time I won't be putting the names of the people who reviewed up. I'll do it for next chapter which is already under way and coming along very nicely I'm just a little stuck, don't worry its not writers block! So now let me stop babbling and let you start reading! Hope you love it and remember to review!
‡ †Moon Sight: Just for Tonight† ‡
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Syaoran's Point of View
That half-breed would be the death of me if I was not careful. She offered herself to me without an ounce of hesitation while only a few moments ago she had been attacked by a vampire of my own race. Was she not afraid of the pain she would feel? My mind searched and searched for a reasonable answer but I found none. I did not understand that half-breed at all. Now I stood with my back to the door listening to her speak to herself. Her voice small and clear seemed to float into my ears. I shook my head fiercely irritated by these emotions. She was nothing to me, just a pathetic half-breed. But how could I say that, if I had just told her she was important to me? Why was she important in the first place? Why did I care so much for her?
I debated in my mind whether to go back to the festivities or keep watch over her. It would be too much trouble to explain the blood stains on my shirt. The smell was different and the other guests would notice immediately. I could not allow that to happen. Sighing to myself I moved towards the wall by the door. There I stood listening to her breathing. I allowed my eyes to close and focused on her pure white light. It no longer was an annoyance to see. It felt reassuring to always see it no matter where I was. She moved from her place on the floor and stood erect. She staggered to the bed and nearly collapsed on it. The fool, after offering herself to me she was still affected by the loss of blood from the attack. She curled up on the bed and her breathing slowed every minute. I waited five more before going back inside the room. Gently a closed the door and walked to the bed. She laid there curled into a fetal position. She shivered now and then because of the cool air that seemed to blow directly on her. Her pale skin was slightly crinkled into little bumps trying in a futile attempt to keep her warm. Her facial expression was serene and calm allowing my mind to be at peace. At least when she slept the attack could be forgotten. But she was still shivering. My hands involuntarily reached for the black quilt and draped it over her cold body. Then I caressed her cheek gently. No pure blooded female I met could have ever made me do such an act. Yet here I was, out of my own will, caressing the smooth silk like skin of a half-breed. I cupped her cheek in my hand, a little surprised that she still had not noticed me. Any regular pure blood would have already noticed. Did she seem so fascinating to me because she was just an inferior race? No, I knew that was not the reason. With my other hand I brushed away the bangs that covered her forehead. There was still the stain of my blood kiss. My eyes wandered down to her pale lips and a sudden urge went through me. Immediately I took my hands from her face. Not knowing what else to do, I sat on the floor with one of my legs close to my chest. One hand covered my face and my ragged breath blew in it. I chuckled bitterly.
"What are you doing to me…?" I said. For a moment I hesitated then smiled, if it was of happiness or bitterness I did not know. "Sakura…"
With Tomoyo
Tomoyo glanced around the ball room trying to find her little cousin. She glanced at Kero in worry but he was already preoccupied with something else. Had he noticed something she didn't? Or was he just acting like a jerk? She didn't care to find out, Kero was already in a bad mood because of what had happened between them earlier today. But if he wasn't searching for her she didn't have to worry right? She gave herself a reassuring nod. Yes, she didn't have to worry. But now she was bored. Her back stayed to the wall as she watched the other Pure Bloods mingle. Her brother had abandoned her and gone somewhere else in the short minutes she was thinking to herself. She sighed. She had no desires to mingle with these Pure Bloods, they would probably kill her before she got the first word out of her mouth. But she had to say, there men were quite handsome. After a few more minutes of standing alone she got fed up. Her reason for being here wasn't to wishfully intermingle. She had a job to do. Across the room she had noticed that there was a library. The only problem was that she had to go through the thick sea of vampires. She heaved another heavy sigh. It was all for the sake of her research. So she gathered up her courage and tried to get through the crowd of vampires. Most of them danced so she tried her best not to interrupt them, circling around them, dipping under there raised arms, and sneaking past them. By the time she had reached the tall dark doors of the library she was exhausted. She glanced behind her to make sure none of them were looking at her like their next meal. Then she scurried inside of the room. She closed the heavy doors and breathed out in relief.
In front of her stood many tall and long shelves of books stacked upon books. Her eyes grew the size of plates as she looked at all the shelves that were neatly aligned. A little giggle of happiness left her lips and she immediately covered her mouth. She wasn't here for fun, she reminded herself. She shook her head and focused. She needed books, history books. She wondered if she would be able to find them in this wonderland. But she tried anyways. She passed through many different shelves admiring their intricate carvings and trying her best to read the ancient language that was inscribed on them. They only gave her a vague idea of what was in the shelves, this language was much different than the one she was used to. Maybe it was more ancient? She didn't know. When she reached the tenth bookshelf she glanced ahead of her, twenty more stood tall and proud. Tomoyo frowned. This really wasn't going how she wanted. She blew a puff of her breath in the air, and walked into the two rows of bookshelves she was examining. There was no way that she was going through all those tonight. Research was not that great for her feet to hurt this much. So with resignation she searched for a spot to sit down and rest her poor feet. To her surprise she found a long desk towards the end of the bookshelves. She practically ran to the desk and sat down in the large wooden chair. It was hard but it was enough for her to sigh in satisfaction. Then she turned her attention to the two rows of books behind her. This would take a lot of time but she had a feeling that the festivities weren't ending soon. She would start from the highest shelf. She dragged the chair to the center of the left shelf. Carefully she climbed on it and stretched to reach the first book. It was still too high. Still she somehow managed to get a couple of books. She dragged the chair back to the desk to sit and skim through the books and she repeated the processes until she had a stack of books on the desk. Two hours into a book she found she looked up at the stack and yawned. Rubbing her eyes slightly she picked up about five of them and dragged the chair back to the half empty shelf.
'How much longer can these people party?' She asked herself standing up on the chair.
She had to stretch her body again to reach the top shelf and place the books back. All five books put together were really heavy for her but she still strained herself to put them back. Without warning her heeled foot bent to the side cracking her ankle. She screamed as she feel. The books she still held were falling along with her. She braced herself to hit the hard wood floor. But her back never touched it. Instead she felt herself sit down on the desk that was four feet away. She opened her eyes and came face to face with someone's suited chest. She looked up and laid her eyes upon a small smile on the persons face.
"Hello again, Daidouji-san." He said.
"H-Hi..." She replied nervously. Would he be angry because she came in here without permission? Even though she couldn't imagine him angry if he actually was it would be harder for her to explain the reason why she was here.
"May I ask why you are in my study?" He asked raising one eyebrow in question. He stepped away from her a bit but his gaze did not waver. Tomoyo squirmed underneath it.
"This is a study?" She exclaimed. Though his unwavering gaze was hard to speak under his declaration sent her mind into a shock so she could think again.
"Yes, more accurately my study." He gestured to the bookshelves behind him. "I have collected these books for centuries in our language." He glanced back at the desk where she sat. "It astonishes me that you are able to read them. The ones you have over there are in a peculiar little language that I have yet to decipher." His eyes once again rested on her but he said nothing else.
She didn't know how to respond. His gaze had intensified and she was once again withering under it. But her eyes did not miss his attire. He was dressed in only slacks and a white dress shirt. The first couple of buttons of the shirt were loose exposing a small fraction of his chest. He was for some strange reason barefoot. His hair was tussled as if he had ran for miles and didn't take the time to fix himself up. Overall he looked disheveled and yet she couldn't help think that he was utterly gorgeous.
"I-I'm sorry for coming in without your permission." She said. For a moment she paused. Her voice...it felt like she had lost her voice. "I-I-I'll be leaving now." She said hurriedly getting up from the desk.
The minute her foot hit the floor she winced in pain. Eriol immediately lifted her up and set her back on the desk but the pain did not subside. She lifted her foot and gingerly placed it on the desk but put it back down.
"Hmm." Eriol mused to himself.
He took her leg and placed her injured foot on his hand. Once again she winced. He unstrapped the heel from around her ankle and gently took it off. This time she cried out in pain. The second the shoe was off he took her other foot and took off the shoe.
"Looks like its broken." He murmured to himself. "Ironic,"
Tomoyo glared at him. "What is so ironic about my broken ankle?"
He glanced up to her and smiled his eyes amused. "You cheer with your cousin yet you have not broken a single bone. But when you are searching for books on a chair with heels on is when you finally get it done."
Tomoyo's POV
He likes to tease people. Hiragizawa-kun is such a charmer but I bet he's just a sadist. Well that's what it looks like to me. But I couldn't face him after I gave him a glare so I looked away my eyes focused on the floor to my right. I concentrated watching the carpeted floor as if it was growing at an incredible rate. Hr chuckled seeing my feeble attempt to not pay attention to him. Was it just me or was even his laugh adorable? Things continued in silence between us. I didn't mind, this could keep my mouth and accent from embarrassing me even further. Apparently he wasn't satisfied with it. He turned around and crouched on the floor, his hands sticking out on the back. I looked down wearily at his back, I hope he wasn't expecting me to get on.
"Get on." He said and I sighed in exasperation, could he read my mind as well?
"Why? I can walk on my own." I said stubbornly. He looked over his shoulder giving me an I-don't-believe-you, look.
"Get on." he I insisted.
"The bone will heal on its own, don't worry about it I can walk." I said continuing to protest. With a sigh he stood up and sighed obviously slightly annoyed.
"And how will your bone heal exactly?" He asked staring down at me again. This time I didn't wither under it.
"I have healing abilities. My body lets me heal faster than any pure blood or halfbreed. I can do a little on others but my body can heal on its own." I really wasn't supposed to tell anyone this but he was getting a bit, annoying so maybe it I told him this he would leave me alone.
"I see." He said switching his piercing gaze to my ankle. It twitched a little. "Have you considered that it will heal up the wrong way? The bones may not be in the right place and can connect and heal badly. At this point a human doctor will have to break it again and re-align the bones. If that happens there is a high possibility that you will not be able to dance again."
I stopped breathing. He did not just say that did he? No, he couldn't have. I looked back at him. I stared into those deep haunted blue eyes of his. He stared back and then I knew he had said it. I started to hyperventilate. My chest constricted and I held it trying to breath. He came beside me trying to figure out what was wrong. My chest grew tighter the more I thought about what he said. I began to choke and cough not being able to get enough oxygen to my heart. I would have dropped on the floor if he wasn't there to keep me up.
"Daidouji-san! Hey calm down Daidouji-san!" He said desperation clinging to every letter he pronounced. My breathing completely stopped. "Tomoyo!" He exclaimed patting my back. This time I coughed but I could breath again. "Come now, breath. Easy long breaths." I did as he told me. "That's it, just breath."
I nodded as I was finally able to take even breaths. Not being able to dance was not a joke. At all. After the Revolution Kero said that I was a shell without a soul. I wouldn't respond to anything at all. Kero had suggested to Suki to put me in something that would make me move like dance or gymnastics, anything. They chose to put me in dance. I don't remember much before the dancing but I felt alive. If I stopped it would be like I would die.
"Don't ever joke about that Hiragizawa-kun." I said softly. "I do not joke about not being able to dance."
He gave me a look that I didn't recognize. Maybe a mix of regret and some triumph? It didn't matter. But he turned his back and crouched back down on the floor. He glanced back at me and motioned me to get on. I ignored the gesture until he smiled mischievously.
"Please do not be stubborn, Daidouji-san." He said. I shivered not liking the aura emitting off of him.
So carefully I arranged myself on his back. My arms hung loose in front of him while my chin rested on his shoulder. His short hair grazed my cheek and I had this feeling of calmness wash over me. It was a little unnerving how my body relaxed when I was so close to him. The one thing that didn't behave was my heart. Its beats were faster than before and getting faster still. I looked down only to come into view with his lips. Immediately I looked straight ahead. He started walking to the right, far away from the entrance to the library. As he walked my mind wandered. Was I heavy? Why was he so insistent to carry me? Why is it that my heart still wouldn't slow down? I could imagine he could hear it beating so wildly. But after he took a few more steps my mind became quite. My head rested a bit on his shoulder allowing my lips to brush his cheek. I felt him shudder underneath me.
"I like it better," I began to say not aware of my own actions. Why was I even speaking? My voice was not a whisper but had a different tone to it, a much lighter, persuasive tone. "When you call me Tomoyo."
His steps faltered. He stopped walking for a moment but then resumed not giving me a reply. A little more ways and we reached to a small door. He opened it but before he stepped through his head slightly turned to meet mine. His lips lightly touching my cheek.
"You do not understand what you are getting yourself into. But very well, I will do as you wish, Tomoyo." He said hoisting me back up on his back. For some reason or another, my lips remained sealed but my heart, went up seven more beats.
Before when he carried me the short distance his breathing was normal. It was as if he wasn't carrying anything at all on his back. But after wards when I had said what I did, his breathing became uneven and ragged. When he replied to me his voice was deep and persuasive. Like mine had been just a few moments earlier. What was happening here?
He opened the door slowly as it creaked, protesting loudly on its opening. I looked down and there was a narrow hallway heading towards another exit. He went in and closed the door behind us. His breathing had stabilized again. At a moderate speed he walked down the hall being very considerate of my ankle. It took him only a couple of minutes to reach the other exit. But when he stepped out of the hallways I sucked in a gasp of surprise.
I knew this home was huge but this was plain ridiculous. There was what seemed like to be a part of a lake here. There were trees that reached far passed the protective fence that I hadn't seen. Some bore fruit and others were proud to stand and show their beautiful, glistening green leaves. At the bases of the trees were flower beds. They held a variety of different flowers going from local to exotic. All around us was short, lush grass. Not one spot was left without the plant. But he didn't stop walking. He carried me a few ways into the trees. When we finally emerged again their was a Japanese garden in front of me. A small pond was protected by smooth stones by the edge. Above the pond was a small bridge. It arched up into the air then descended back down onto the other side a little ways from the pond. Such a beautiful sight.
Normal POV
Tomoyo continued to stare at the mesmerizing Japanese garden. Who would have thought that Pure Bloods liked this type of thing. Humans were the ones who admired the beauty of simplicity. Why would sadistic vampires want the same thing? Who knew? But as she continued to stare without any regards to the man beside her, he watched her. From the corner of this eye he tried to see her face and the expression she was making. The wind blew behind them allowing their hot bodies to cool down a little. Her hair was pushed into the air blinding him on both sides not allowing him to see anything to the side of him. The smell of Jasmine filled his nostrils making him visualize a life in ancient Japan sipping tea of the same smell. He gave up on trying to look at her and stared straight ahead to the garden in front of them. Then he made his way towards the bridge and stood in the center of it.
"I want to show you something more, if you wish." He said his voice low. For a second she thought she hadn't heard him.
"There's more to show me?" She asked as she climbed off his back. He only nodded.
"Yes." He replied. She let out a small sigh. She knew she should be careful around him, but it was almost impossible to do when he made her calm and serene. Like the lake that was now below them, calm only moving when the wind pushed it to the stones.
While she was watching the little ripples the wind made Eriol had switched their positions quickly. Now he was behind her and she in front. Surprised was not shown at his quick movements it was silly of him to expect it. She was already used to them, although he hadn't seen her use her speed before.
"I was heavy wasn't I?" She asked still staring out at the pond.
Eriol chuckled lightly. "On the contrary," He lifted her up by her arms and placed each one of her bare feet on top of his shoes. This did surprise her and a shiver went down her spine when he breathed in her ear, "You are as light as a feather, Tomoyo."
This time he really did watch her. Her expression changed from surprised to happy. A feature he had noticed in all women when you said they were light. Her eyes warmed a bit as she stood on his shoes. She wasn't really standing though. He held her up still. Then slowly, almost deliberately he moved his hands from her arms to her hands, sliding them so he could feel her silken skin against his rough hands. He heard her beat stop then begin again and felt her body temperature rise. The wind came again but to no avail, this heat couldn't be soothed with mere gusts of wind. He slightly jerked her body so that it was pressed against his own. Her lips parted as a nervous breath left them. He chuckled once again. He lowered his head so his lips brushed her left ear slightly.
"Close your eyes and listen." He said doing so himself. For a second she hesitated but then obeyed. She listened but all she could hear was her rapid heartbeat. "Calm down." He whispered. Damn him and his heightened senses she thought to herself. But she breathed in and out trying to calm her racing heart. It listened but only for small fractions of time. As he still waited her heart finally listened to her and stopped its wild beating. He nodded, "Good," he said. This only made it skip again. "Now try to listen again."
"I don't hear anything." She said doing her best to hear what he heard. But all her ears caught was the wind or insects speaking to each other. Was that it? Was he going to do a cheesy line about the universe and being able to listen to your heart? If he did she swore she would walked away. No matter how bad her ankle was, she would open her eyes and walk away. Quickly.
"Yes, you do." He whispered. "Its a beautiful melody that humans often compose. A beautiful sound that becomes even more beautiful at night at this place." His breath was beginning to send more and more chills down her spine and her stomach wasn't being very nice either. What was it that humans called it, butterflies? Never the less she tried once more.
She blocked out the feeling of her back against his chest and his lips hovering over her ear. The wind and the insects became quite all around her. Then she heard it. The music of a loan piano, far away but still she heard the keys that were struck and the melody that was produced. He was right it was beautiful. Slowly a graceful routine popped up into her head. But that was when he brought her back.
"Tomoyo, my dear." He whispered. His voice to much more huskier an lower than before. But this time she could hear him loud and clear.
"Hmm." She replied still drunk with the melody in the distance.
"Come back." He said. She opened her eyes a little but she was not as mesmerized by the music as before. "Now dance."
"Dance?" She exclaimed her eyes now fully opened. She craned her neck so she could stare at him. "Are you insane? You were the one who told me I could screw up my ankle. And there ain't no way that happenin' on my watch buddy."
Eriol stared down at her. If she could describe the expression she couldn't. All she could say that it was short of his jaw falling to the ground. But that was an exaggeration. She had not realized her mistake until she backtracked in her mind. Then her face turned beet red and she turned her body back to face the lake. How embarrassing! She couldn't believe her accent came out and at such a wonderful evening too.
"No...um...what I was trying to say was...ummm..." She mumbled to herself trying to come up with a good excuse for that little outburst. How was she going to explain herself? "Its...what...its just..."
Unexpectedly his hand left hers and traveled up ever so slowly to her cheek. Gently he pushed it so her head would turn to look at him and the small smile gracing his lips. She blushed harder and fumbled with her words even more.
"Tomoyo," He said instantly making her quite. "Your much to adorable for your own good." He said. If she didn't know better she would have thought steam was coming out of her head. Adorable? Really?
"It was not." She said puffing air into her opposite cheek. He chuckled even more.
"Yes it was." He protested jokingly. Then he sighed happily and once again said, "Dance." He slid his hand back down to her own.
"B-But you said-" She began but one breath on her neck sent trembles all through out her body once again making her silent.
"Do not worry of what I said prior." He whispered. Then he squeezed her hands gently. "I'll be your arms." Then he shuffled his feet. "I'll be your legs. So do not worry. Whatever indication of movement I will move your body..." He trailed off for a moment. Something that she deemed rare of such a sophisticated vampire. "Let me be your arms and legs, let me be one with you..." Once again he didn't complete his sentence. Then he let out a small breath. "Just for tonight, my dear."
Eriol looked down at her face. The beautiful face that he had dreamed about too many times before. Her porcelain skin shinning against the midnight moon. Her large amythest eyes gleaming with their own light. Her pink lips narrow and small set in a line of thought. Her body, slender and thin pressed against his own with no other intention but to hold her. Just for one night, to get away from the terror and uncertainty of his world, just for one night to be with a women he knew, somehow he could grow closer with and not be revered as a Prince. Just for one night he wanted to be part human as she was, just for one night. Then to his surprise she settled against his chest laying her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes listening to the sorrowful melody that played over their heads. Somehow she felt like underneath his words he wanted her to trust him, so if only for this night she would. His feelings she felt them as well, the distress and pleading, the sadness and remorse, the little happiness he had gained that night. If only for tonight she would like to make it more that just a little.
"Alright." She whispered. For the first time this night although her voice was low, it was clear in her own ears.
He didn't understand what she was agreeing with but at the subtle movement of her arm he moved it wide to the left. The next impulse he didn't feel. His eyes for a moment were blurred by a motion that was not in the present. He saw what would happen later on in their lives. Not in his brothers which had been happening since birth but if himself and a women that he did not recognize. The women appeared in many other snips of the not too distant future. Then he recognized her at the last moment of his visions before they faded away into nothingness as if they were only dreams. It was the same women in his arms. When his eyes finally adjusted back to the present she stared at him eyes filled with worry. He only smiled and she tried to return it. Then she turned her head back forward and slightly moved her legs to step and he obeyed. Her impulses and his movements allowed her as he said to dance. Left, step, right, step, twirl, step, he followed these simple motions that she wanted. He knew she could do much more than that, why she did not was beyond him but he had no complaints. The piano began to slowly come to a stop and so did her movements. They came to a complete stop as the last few keys of the piano were struck.
Once again he looked down at her as he had done many times before that night. He let go of one of her hands and slightly pushed her face towards his. They stood there completely entranced with each other. He began to near his face close enough that his lips would rest upon her own. But suddenly she jerked back ever so slightly. He switched the position of his lips so they could touch the center of her forehead. Then he continued to look into her large eyes which were now in a sea of confusion.
"E..." She began biting her lip, she continued. "Eriol...-kun." She murmured.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Thank you." She replied with a small smile although smiling was the last thing she wanted to be doing now. She closed her eyes a little trying to clear the confusion she felt. Then she felt something soft on her lips. When she opened her eyes again she saw him...kissing her. What surprised her even more was that she closed her eyes willingly and allowed him to keep on kissing her.
It was as if time had stood still for that moment. When she had first closed her eyes, was this what she expected? A kiss from the enemy, or rather from someone that others considered the enemy. His kiss wasn't rough like the other boys she had kissed. He wasn't trying to touch her body in any sexual way like those jocks. It was just a simple, sweet kiss. This made her want to really smile and laugh and be happy. Because that one kiss seemed to determine their relationship from then on, even though she had not realized it yet.
In the distance there was a rustle in the bushes. She opened her eyes and pulled away from him then looked over his shoulder. Kero was standing at beside a tree. Her eyes widened as he stared right back at her his expression unreadable.
"Onii-chan!" she exclaimed.
Kero turned his back to her and went walking the other way he had came. She wanted to try to stop him, try to reason with him. So she hurridly stepped off Eriol and took four steps toward her brothers back only to be hindered by the pain in her ankle.
"Onii-chan!" She shouted trying to get his attention. She took another step and the pain increased. She screamed and dropped to the floor holding her injured leg. "Onii-chan wait! Please, Kero just wait!" She continued to shout as tears began to flow down her cheeks. Eriol was instatnly beside her holding her shoulders pressing her down, not allowing her to stand up. "Let me go, Eriol! Onii-chan! Onii-chan!" She continued to shout be to no avail. Kero never turned back around. "Kero-nii'-chan..." She murmured to herself.
Her mind brought something back to her memory. A scene that had only happened hours before. Her brother in front of her in their kitchen. He was looking down at her with the same eyes that he had watched her with just a few moments ago. They were hurt and sad with a slight sliver of anger that she knew if kindled would out shine the flames of hell itself. Just moments ago, hell is what she saw.
"Tomoyo, you don't even realize what's happening." He said shifting his gaze from the floor to his sister. Her wide innocent amethyst eyes stared up at him betraying her confusion. Kero sighed. His sister was so hopeless. He loved her to death but she was just hopeless. He closed his eyes and relaxed himself. He took deep easy clean breaths. Then reopened his eyes. His sisters expression remained unchanged. "You'll realize it soon enough. Come on, lets get you ready for that party." He said nonchalantly offering her his hand. She gratefully accepted it.
She hadn't grasped the full meaning of his words until now. When it was already too late to help mend the wounds she had inflicted on her dear brother. So know she stared at the wooden bridge underneath her wishing with all she could that it would collapse. Eriol could say nothing as he watched her. Already a part of his vision was fulfilled. It was entirely his fault that she was like this. If he had wanted to he could have prevented all of it by just walking away. But he didn't, he was too selfish and he wouldn't leave the only person who would give him happiness.
"Eriol-kun..." She said turning her soulless eyes to him. He flinched slightly.
"What is it?" He asked trying to act innocent.
"What's happening to us?" She asked looking back at the spot that Kero had left. "What is really happening to us? Why am I hurting my dear big brother like this?" She said tears brimming in her eyes. Eriol didn't move to wipe them up. He wanted to stay as distant from her as possible but still have her close enough to be just for him. Humans would call it using someone but he put it in another context, it was a benefit. "What is happening to us?" She repeated hopping he would answer. She couldn't feel what he was feeling. She couldn't control her emotions. She was broken and needed to be consoled by the person who, with her had taken this risk but the worse thing is...he didn't.