Chameleon
Chapter 14
Y-you…bastard… I-I don't think I can forgive you…
Good bye… Hiiragizawa Eriol.
I can never forgive you…
Good bye… Hiiragizawa Eriol…Good bye…
He opened his eyes and the darkness soon greeted him. It had been days… 2 months or so since they last separated and still he couldn't get her off his mind.
She was haunting him. Daidouji Tomoyo. She was haunting him.
"Damn it," murmured he as getting up from the bed which he currently had lain. His hand reached to the nightstand beside him, grabbing the bottle of scotchthat had been faithfully accompanying his days and nights of loneliness.
Ever since Eriol walked out of the cottage that very day, he just made himself disappear. As if he had never existed. His manor was sold, his bank account was closed, and all accesses to him were clearly disabled. Without any notification, he had resigned himself from the gang he was working with previously. He moved from a town to another. Never staying in for more than 3 days. He did all of that so nobody could ever track him.
And it was a success. Hiiragizawa Eriol was out of anyone's supervision. Nobody could track him. Not Tomoyo. Not his uncle. Not even his gang.
He was doing that job pretty well.
At least until that night.
When the door of the motel he was at, was knocked.
"M-miss Tomoyo?"
The raven-haired girl stopped playing the harp and looked at the voice's source. "Yes, Rina?"
"T-there's someone waiting in the foyer. A woman. She wants to see you,"
Tomoyo exhaled a tired sigh. "I'm sorry, Rina. But… I don't want anybody to disturb me these times. I'm not…feeling pretty well. Could you please tell her that I'm not in the right condition to see her?" and then she turned her reddened eyes to the harp again –ready to play with her fingers and those strings.
"She said her name was Eliza,"
The young mistress quickly paused.
"E-Eliza…you said?"
"Have our skills finally improved, or is it just you getting weak, Hiiragizawa?"
Eriol looked up to see a bald guy –twice bigger than he was – that was also a member of the gang. Akito or something was his name. Behind Akito was another guy, a very tall one –whom Eriol recognized him as Robert.
"None of your option. Your skills will not going to improve in hundreds years, and I'm not getting weak, okay? It's just that I think maybe following you out will be more entertaining than just waiting in that motel. So, any tricks for tonight? I'm getting bored, you know," snickered Eriol.
"Tricks? You mean… like blowing your head off?" mumbled Akito as pressing the mouth of his gun to Eriol's temple.
"Hold on, Akito. Ralph will shoot you himself if you harm him," warned Robert.
"Oh, so the big boss himself is going to join our little party? What an honor," the blue-eyed guy said unaffectedly.
"Well, well… You and your still flattering mouth, Hiiragizawa," said another new voice.
A middle-aged guy with grayish hair and warm facial expression walked into that warehouse. Akito quickly let go his grip on Eriol, and Robbert bowed his head a little.
"Ralph,"
"Mrs. Eliza…"
The sapphire-eyed woman lifted her chin and looked up to the housemistress. "Tomoyo…"
"Y-you can go now Rina," dismissed the young mistress.
With a slight bow, the head maid leaved the room.
"I-I…" the younger woman started, but ended up saying nothing for the next few seconds. Tomoyo had never prepared herself –nor that she even expected her (ex) mother in law to visit her. What was she going to say to her? Had she heard about the divorcing? Was Eliza mad at her?
"I've heard about you and Eriol. I'm sorry," Eliza spoke. Clearly making it easier for Tomoyo then.
"W-well…"
But not that the situation was getting better. What would she say then? Had Eliza known as for why her son and Tomoyo divorced? Had the older woman realized what did her son really did?
The silence was not helping either.
"Er…"
"Where's your mother, Tomoyo?"
"Ah. Mother… she is out with her friends,"
"Nobody else in the house?"
Tomoyo answered the question confusedly. "W-well… the part-timer maids should be home by now. Only me and Rina here,"
Eliza nodded slowly. She then heaved a deep sigh. "Tomoyo… I…I really like you. That's the first thing I want you to know. But I… have to do this to pay the big mistake I've done in the past,"
Those words didn't clear any things.
"Mrs. Eliza? What do you mean?"
Eliza stared into Tomoyo's eyes, and tears started to swell her beautiful blue eyes. Hoarsely, the middle-aged woman said, "I'm sorry."
Tomoyo wrinkled her forehead. "What for?"
But the raven-haired lady didn't get the answer. She just felt the familiar sting on her neck and all fell into blackness once again.
"My, my. "Is it just my feeling, or are you not very happy to see me again, Eriol?" said Ralph.
Through gloomy eyes, he eyed his leader. And remained silent.
Ralph grinned. "Haven't met you for quite some time, and look about the difference you've made. You become more courageous, eh? That you are not afraid of the consequence of disobeying my order,"
"… I don't understand what you're talking about, Ralph,"
"Ah… and have the guts to lie to me even," the gang leader spoke –still with his smile plastered on. Ralph walked closer to his right man. Without any warning, Ralph then punched him on the stomach. "Why did you let the girl alive?"
The pale-skinned guy let go a small grunt of pain.
"Tied him to the chair, Akito," ordered the boss. "Guess that someone needs some sense to remind him what a big mistake it is… to ever betray me."
If not too eagerly, Akito began to punch and hit the Hiiragizawa guy.
Eriol was already choking out the blood, when Ralph told his minion to stop.
"Care to explain why you even dare to disobey my order, Eriol?"
"…"
Ralph then smiled. "Do you fall in love with her?"
Akito then laughed. "Yeah…! You're falling in love with that bch! Oh My! The Great Hiiragizawa Eriol is –,"
The bald man didn't continue his words. For a bullet was already shot and now rested in his head.
"I don't like anyone to interfere my conversation," murmured Ralph –as he slipped his gun back to his coat. He narrowed his eyes as looking down at Akito's dead body, before turning to Robert. "Get his body out of here and burn it,"
Robert slowly nodded his head and he then dragged his companion's body out.
Now, as there were only the blue-eyed guy and his leader, the interrogation started again.
"You really are someone I can trust my life on, Eriol. You're my right hand. I can forgive you, but don't ever make me questioning your loyalties again,"
Eriol subconsciously nodded. Damn. Those punches and hit had really made him dizzy and he had almost lost control of his own body now.
"But still… I need proof. I need proof that you won't ever betray me again," and he smirked. "You may come in, Madam."
The door of that warehouse creaked when it was opened.
Though it hurt so much to do it, Eriol could manage to look up to see the new comer.
First, he saw Robert. He had come back from the mission of get rid of Akito. And behind him was someone…It was Eliza.
Oh, he really had bad feeling about this. And his feeling was right.
Next to Eliza, with bandage covering her mouth, ropes tying her hands, and a man securing her, was… her.
Tomoyo.
Damn.
She stared at his figure. Him. The coldhearted killer who had ruined her life. The cruel and invincible guy. He was there. Looked like nothing but a helpless man with those ropes tying him to the chair and the bruises and bloods. He looked the worst that he had ever been.
He finally had to pay for all that he had done.
And Tomoyo should be happy about that. She really should. Hiiragizawa Eriol had killed her fiancée, and he had turned her life to hell too. Right. He deserved that. He really deserved that, right?
Deep down, seeing him that way was the last thing she ever wanted to see.
Okay, she admitted. She loved him. And yes. Those days after he walked away out of her life 2 months ago were some of the hardest time of her life. But still…
"So… Is this the girl who has weakened you, Eriol? That has turned my best killer to a pathetic guy like you? If you aren't the case, I think I can understand. Such a beautiful lady you are, Miss Daidouji," spoke Ralph as grabbing Tomoyo's chin. "I'm not usually interested in women, but because you could really tangle Eriol's heart, then maybe I should check you myself, eh?"
She narrowed her eyes in both disgust and fear.
"Don't touch her. She really has nothing to do with all of this,"
Ralph smiled as turning his gaze to the speaker. "Well, Mrs. Eliza… We have none of that settled in our agreement,"
"But still –," Eliza's words were cut by the gray-haired guy.
"You know Eriol? One of the reason I didn't kill you… yet, is because your mother and I had an agreement. If she could bring Miss Daidouji here, I promise I wouldn't kill you."
"Which is why now I demand you to release him!" shouted the mother.
Ralph calmly gazed at her. "But I have my own way to conclude problems, Mrs. Eliza. Don't get me wrong. I really do like your son. And that's why I have to test him first. But if he fails, then I'm sorry, he must die,"
"But in our agreement…"
"And besides, how dare someone like you pretend to care for him? You were the one who abandoned him, right? Do you think that if you do this for him he will be grateful and forgive all your mistakes to him?"
Those words silenced Eliza.
"So," continued Ralph cheerfully. "Release him, Robert. And give him your gun."
Robert nodded and did his job's order. After giving Eriol his gun, that tall guy then moved next to his colleague that was standing behind Tomoyo.
Eriol confusedly stare at the gun in his hand.
"Okay then, Eriol. Kill the girl, and I shall let you alive," spoke Ralph.
Tomoyo blinked.
She just misheard, right?
Seemingly, as Eriol slowly walked to her and pointed the gun to her, it wasn't just a misheard or a joke.
Tomoyo stared directly into his sapphire and blank eyes, but Eriol quickly broke the eye contacts. He gripped tighter at the gun.
She knew that in any minutes he could just blow her head off. Knowing that in any seconds, he could just pull the trigger and took her life away. Besides, with her hands roped and two men guarding her, she really couldn't do much but to just let herself surrender to fate. Eriol was and would never be the one with feeling. How could she ever hope that he could feel any emotion? He was hopeless. She was hopeless. They were.
The gun's cold mouth touched her pale skin. Following her instinct, she looked up. She needed to. For the last time, she needed to look at him. Looked at the guy that had both caused happiness and sorrow to her. That had made her hated and loved him at the same time.
But then she saw it. She caught it.
Pain.
There was a glint of pain crossed his eyes.
And suddenly, all her angers and hatred towards him were just… gone. Vanished. Just like that. Just that easy.
He was afraid. He was hurt. He was confused. He was just like her.
Slowly, she felt her fear deceased. She stood in front of him, and she knew that somehow, he was worth her trust. So she did.
"What is keeping you Eriol? Kill her!" Ralph's voice was thundering again. "You're not really falling in love with her, right?" Ralph asked, with –someway – fear of knowing the answer. "That girl is just the same, Eriol! I don't know what has she done to you, but she's just the same! She will leave you someday –just like the others!"
"…I'll never leave you, Eriol,"
"Bullshit! Remember all the pain and loneliness you've felt Eriol!"
Eliza bit her lower lip and bowed her head as guilt rushed to her.
"You're not born to be loved! That girl will eventually leave you! You'll see! She will! She speaks like that just because she has never felt any pain like you and I have!!"
Tomoyo gritted her teeth. How dare he… Saying that she has never felt any pain…
"That bch is lying! She's never care of you! I am the only one who does! I picked you up from street when nobody else wanted to! I have given life to you! And I want your loyalty in return! Kill her!"
"It isn't 'life' that he thought he has given to you, Eriol. Stop all of this. Don't hurt yourself anymore…"
"KILL HER!!!"
Eriol took a step forward and pressed the gun's mouth to her temple.
This girl… the one who had broken all of his arranged mind, who had re-structured his thought –his opinion about world. The one who had turned his world into something chaotic … and never the same again.
He needed to kill her.
He needed to kill her, so that his composed life would be back again.
…
But if she died…
If he couldn't see her again, couldn't touch her again, couldn't love her anymore…
He just couldn't live.
Pulling the trigger, two gunshots were heard.
One bullet was shot to Robert's right chest, and the other was to the black-suited man's stomach. Though they were still alive, they both fell to the floor and remained still.
"What the –," Ralph didn't finish his words because now the cold gun's mouth was on his temple. "Eriol?"
"… I don't want to be your doll again, Ralph. I'm tired,"
Ralph slowly spoke. "I was your only savior. You wouldn't be that ungrateful and kill me, right?"
Eriol paused. While behind him, Eliza was heading to Tomoyo and let her out of the ropes' tie.
"… I won't. You're right. You were the only one who cared for me when nobody else did. But this have to end, Ralph. We are going to the police and admit all of the sins we have made,"
"Police?! Are you insane?!"
"Choose that… or I will shoot your head,"
Ralph raised his chin arrogantly. He paused for a couple of moment before finally he sighed and nodded. "Alright. You're right. I admit… I'm tired also,"
Eriol nodded also and put down his gun.
Nobody moved.
"You fool," a dark voice was heard from behind.
Turning around quickly, Eriol then aimed the gun to the gray-haired man. But Ralph was faster.
"NOOOO!!!!!!"
Eriol felt a strong push and the later he had hit the ground. He slowly got up and turned around. And he saw Eliza. She was lying on the ground, her pale hand was clutching her stomach. The dark cement floor and the dim lightning had almost made the blood's droplet invisible, but he still could see them.
It was silent for a moment, and Ralph was the one who broke it with his crazed laughter. "Like mother, like son. You two are just foolishly the same." His laughter ended and he pointed the gun to Eriol. "You've disappointed me, boy. Go to hell. Wait me the –,"
A loud 'bang' sound was heard. Ralph chuckled. "I forgot you bih," and he then fell down to the ground. Not moving.
Behind the gang leader, was Tomoyo. Panting, she was still holding the shaft that she used to hit Ralph's head. "Is he… dead?" asked her trough shivering voice.
Eriol studied him and then slowly shook his head. "He's just collapsed. Good job,"
Tomoyo nodded quickly and then weakly murmured, "Mrs. Eliza…"
The middle-aged lady whimpered. "T-Tomoyo?"
Holding back her tears, the violet-eyed young woman walked closer and bent down.
"I'm sorry," Eliza said as tears started to fall from her bluish orbs. "I'm so… sorry…"
"D-don't talk, Mrs. Eliza. W-we still can s-save you… But if you talk…"
"It's too late and we all know that,"
Tomoyo gritted her teeth. "N-no. I-It's not…"
A comforting smile was formed with Eliza's thin lips. She signaled Tomoyo to come closer to her and then the older woman whispered to the other one. "Take care of Eriol. You need him and he also needs you. You can do it. I believe you…"
Tomoyo bit her lower lip and gradually nodded.
Eliza smiled at her, before turning her head to Eriol. Her hand slowly reached up and held his.
"You've grown up, Eriol…"
"…"
"I regret that I've never been there beside you. And I have make your life miserable… but can you… can you forgive me?"
He fell silent. A droplet of tear then fell on Eliza's cheek. But it wasn't hers. It belonged to her only son.
"… I have forgiven you…" He gently clutched Eliza's hand. "Mother,"
Eliza's eyes softened. She smiled for the last time and mouthed a 'thank you', before closing her eyes forever.
The dark haired guy took a deep breath and then reluctantly let go of his mother's hand and put it on her chest –joining her other hand. "Until our next meeting,"
Tomoyo held her hands up to cover her face and wiped her tears away. "I-I'll call the police and –," she looked up and saw Eriol was lying on the ground beside Eliza.
Fearfully, she called for him. "Eriol?"
No response.
TBC