Daphne: "Just a little warning, all of this chapter is T+E. I didn't mean
to make it that way, it just happened. Sorry if you don't like it, but
Tomoyo and Eriol need their mushy scenes.or in this case *very* mushy
scenes, too! I will also tell you that I am writing a new story, because I
have finished this one, and have started the sequel to it. If you do not
wish me to post the new story, please tell me. Otherwise, the new story
should be up in a few days, if I can work out all the kinks! Anyway, enjoy
this chapter, and please review to tell me what you think!
~*~*~*~
Forced to Love by: Daphne Li Chapter 11.
Eriol sighed as he looked up from his book. He couldn't concentrate, and it was becoming quite aggravating. Images of Tomoyo in the lovely lavender dress she had worn today kept running through his head, blocking everything else from his mind. With a growl, he threw down the book and stood up, pacing his room.
This was not supposed to happen! In his 'game of Love', you are not supposed to give your prey any headway! It is also forbidden to allow them to confuse you when you are about to bring them down a few rungs on the ladder. And most of all.you are not supposed to actually fall in love with them! Princess Daidouji Tomoyo had caused him to do all of these and *more* on his quest to bring her to her knees. And the worst fact was, he only needed one more opportunity alone with her, and she would be putty in his hands. Why was this bad? Because he finally realized that he had no wish to make her into putty! In fact, if he wasn't careful, he would be the putty, and she the convening little hand!
"Gods, what is she doing to me?!" He growled, stalking over to his window and looking out. After gazing out a few minutes, his sharp eyes detected a movement on his right. He looked over in time to see.Princess Daidouji Tomoyo herself, sneaking off towards the meadow. Now, his sly conscious returned, pushing the loving one back and taking over at the wheel.
'Follow her!' It told him. With a smirk, he did as he was told. He walked past Syaoran's room, where he also felt Sakura's aura, and his smirk widened a bit. Then he quickly snuck out of the castle and followed Daidouji up the hill and to the meadow.
By the time he reached to meadow, the full moon was high overhead, bathing the whole area in a watery, ethereal light. The wildflowers waved slightly in the warm breeze that was sweeping across the open space. No animals or little insects were in sight. For a moment, his eyes searched desperately, trying to catch some sign of his prey. Then there she was! Standing near the center of the meadow, her face turned up towards the sky. Eriol caught his breath, awe filling him. The violet-raven haired girl with amethyst eyes stood among the wildflowers, her lovely angelic face turned up towards the moon. Her pale skin caught the light of the moon and absorbed it, causing her skin to almost glow. Her hair was still caught up in the bun that it had been in earlier that day, but some strands had come out, and were waving in the breeze. The fabric of her attire seemed to glow with the same ethereal light as the moon, and it fluttered around her as the wind blew through it.
All at once, Eriol's resolve crumbled and he moved into the shelter of an aspen tree, not wishing to disturb her peace. How could he possibly make such a cherubic girl, fall?! Who would have the heart too, after they had seen what he had. Eriol's sly conscious was whimpering, back in the far corners of his mind, which left the conscious that was deeply in love to come to the surface. He sat there for over half an hour, watching her as she simply stood there and looked at the moon, her lips moving occasionally. Finally, she turned abruptly and left, never knowing that someone had been watching.
Eriol sat still, gazing at the place she had once been. He knew his sly conscious was gaining confidence again, and would soon come to the surface, but he was willing to fight it off as long as he could. With his mind reeling, Eriol slowly made his way back to the palace.
~*~*~*~
You are in LOVE.
That was what the moon had answered. And Tomoyo knew that she could no longer deny it. She *was* in love. In love with a flirty, sly, self- absorbed, and, in some ways.evil man. Tomoyo shivered that this realization. She quickly made her way back to her room, left the door wide open, and immediately raced onto her balcony for another look at the moon. It was as bright here, as it had been in the meadow.
"Are you sure?!" Tomoyo called to the moon, her eyes wide and desperate. How could this have happened? When she had guarded herself against it all her life, how could he have slipped so easily through the barrier, to win her heart? Why Prince Hiiragizawa Eriol? WHY?!?!
"Why?" Tomoyo whimpered, tears starting to fall down her cheeks. He would hurt her, wouldn't he? He was the kind of man who took a girl for a while, and then dropped her when another, prettier girl came by. That was just his way. And now, she would be his next victim. Just another head.and heart, n his wall of Bimbos! And there was nothing she could do about it! For once in her life, Daidouji Tomoyo had come across something in herself that she couldn't control. Or could she?
"I won't!" Tomoyo finally stated, angrily wiping the tears from her cheeks and straightening up.
"I won't allow myself to be broken down like this. I won't allow him to get the better of me! My feelings mean nothing anymore. Only what I know is right!" She stated, her eyes hardening, the resolve already taking it's toll on her.
"That is quite a pity, then." Came a voice. Tomoyo turned hard eyes to the person, knowing just who it was.
~*~*~*~
'I love her! There is no denying it now!' One side of Eriol's conscious yelled.
But the game! We almost had her! Just one more time.
'I don't care! The game has ended. For once, a woman has won, and there is nothing you can do about it!'
But.
'No buts!' His first conscious yelled, making Eriol cover his ears, even though it didn't help.
We really genuinely love her, don't we? His second finally asked, after a long pause.
'We do. I don't want to hurt her. She is too precious.'
But we can still tell her that we love her, even if she doesn't return it. I suppose we will just have to accept defeat. Hiiragizawa Eriol has been brought to his knees by a woman. The second said, actually sounding a bit proud of the fact. Eriol laughed and then entered the palace, fully intent on finding his room and going to sleep.
Along the way, however, there was a certain door that stood open invitingly. The room inside was dark, but Eriol could just make out where his precious Princess was. She was outside on her balcony, looking up at the sky again. Feeling a sudden need to talk to her, he silently closed her door behind him, locked it, just in case, and walked over to the balcony. She had been crying and speaking aloud to the moon again, but somehow, Eriol didn't find it strange at all. Suddenly, her voice rose.
"I won't!" Tomoyo stated, angrily wiping the tears from her cheeks and straightening up.
"I won't allow myself to be broken down like this. I won't allow him to get the better of me! My feelings mean nothing anymore. Only what I know is right!" She finished, her eyes hardening, the resolve already taking it's toll on her. Eriol felt as if ice had just been thrust into his heart. The cold spread throughout his body, and he felt numb. She couldn't possibly mean that.could she?
"That is quite a pity, then." He finally said, his voice soft. She did not seem surprised that he was there. She simply turned and looked at him with her cold eyes, which caused sadness to fill his heart.
"What? That you will no longer have an affect on me?" She asked sharply. He detected a slight shake in her voice, though. He shook his head and moved closer to her.
"No. That you would block your feelings like that. Wouldn't that push Alongue out of your heart? Not to mention Sakura and your mother." He pointed out. Her eyes widened, and he knew that he had hit her soft spot. With shaking lips she shook her head, as if unbelievingly and then moved away from him, until her back was against the railing, just like the last time.
"No! Not them. Only.I cannot let myself get hurt. I will not!" Tomoyo added for good measure. Eriol frowned.
"Let me ask you this, Princess Tomoyo, who would have the heart to hurt you? And let me tell you, that even if you do go along with your plan, they will notice, whether you do or don't want them to." He said in a deadly serious voice. Tomoyo's hand fluttered to her throat and her eyes widened even more. A cold wind had come up now, and it caused her to shiver. Eriol sighed and moved forward, taking her small hands in his.
"Come. I want to show you something." He said, drawing her into the room and shutting the door behind them. The room was still dark, but Eriol confidently made his way down the window-laden wall, opening all the drapes. This allowed the watery moonlight to come pouring into the room, lighting up that side of the room, clear till the bed. Tomoyo gasped.
"It is lovely when the moon trickles in like that." She whispered. He nodded, and led her over to the fancy piano-forte that sat in a corner of the room, along with some violins and a few flutes (Alongue had learned that Tomoyo liked music, so she had these brought up, just for show). He sat down, and began to play a sweet old tune.
"Why on earth would you say that you wanted to ignore your feelings? Why aren't they important to you?" He asked softly, over the music. Tomoyo looked down at her hands.
"I didn't know that you played the piano-forte." She commented, ignoring the question. He nodded slightly.
"I have since I was little. My mother made me learn and it grew on me I suppose." He said thoughtfully. He played until he reached the end of the song, and then he stood up.
"Do you dance?" He asked looking around at the instruments. Tomoyo looked up eagerly, her eyes bright.
"Oh yes! I love to." She said, and then looked back down, ashamed. He smiled and then waved his hand at the instruments. All at once, the instruments burst into a soft round of music, startling the girl. Then a smile graced her face.
"Magic." It was a statement, not a question. He nodded, and then took her hand, leading her to an open place in the room.
"May I?" He asked, bowing to her and then sweeping her into the dance. It was quite a fast dance, with many twirls, bows and curtsies in it. By the end of the song, she was giggling with delight.
"They will keep playing songs until we want to stop dancing." Eriol told her, as the music changed to a waltz. She nodded and then smiled.
"I used to dance with my mother when I was little. She is a very good dancer, and she taught me all she knew. I suppose that is why I love it so much." Tomoyo explained. He grinned.
"My mother forced me to go to lessons. I am afraid that I never appreciated them much, but the knowledge did save me a few times at balls and such." He admitted, making her laugh.
"Your mother forced you to do a great many things that you didn't want, did she not?" Tomoyo asked, as the music changed again, this time, to a slow song. One of his hands found her waist and his other, her hand, and he twirled her around.
"She did. I didn't make it very easy on her, either. I am afraid I was quite the monster when I was small." He said. She smiled.
"Nothing has changed, then." She joked, making him smile.
"Actually, it has." Was all he said on the subject. They fell into a comfortable silence, simply dancing to the soft music and enjoying each other. This all seemed natural; so natural, in fact, that Tomoyo ignored the fact that her heart had sped up and Eriol's conscious finally ceased to bother him. They danced in the watery moonlight, which seemed almost heavenly now that the music was playing along with it. Tomoyo was content, and Eriol was happy.but one this still bothered him.
"But you still haven't answered my question, Miss Tomoyo. Why would want to ignore your feelings? Aren't they important to you?" He asked again, jolting her out of her reverie. With a sharp intake of breath, she pushed away from him, and since it was the nearest thing to sit on, collapsed onto the bed. The pretty music stopped abruptly, and Eriol came to sit by her side.
"Tomoyo, you cannot avoid the question forever. I will keep repeating it until I get an answer." He said. She looked down at her hands and bit her lip.
"My feelings are not important. The feelings of my friends and family are. I would be selfish to do things my own way. That is why." She lied; and he saw right through it. Grasping her upper arms, he gently turned her towards him.
"Let me rephrase that. I will not stop asking until I have the *true* reason." He said softly, looking into her amethyst orbs. Again, she avoided the question.
"Tell me, Prince Hiiragizawa, how many women's rooms have you invaded just to get them to fall for you?" She asked, her words stinging him. Still, he kept his smile plastered to his face.
"You are the first, actually." He said, his eyes never leaving hers. His fingers started to trace circles on her arms, making her shiver.
"Why do I not believe you?" She asked skeptically. He shrugged and moved closer.
"No one ever asked you to." He answered, his shock-inducing fingers now trailing up and down her arms, torturing her with a delightful half- tickling, half-pleasurable feeling. Still his eyes held hers, making her unable to move. His right hand trailed down and around her waist and held her.
".But I will if you want me to. Why don't you believe me?" He asked silkily, causing trembles to rush through her body.
"Because men like you." She whispered, trailing off as his eyes became impassive.
"What do you know about 'men like me'? Do I really have a category that you can put me in? Tell me, Princess Daidouji, how much do you know *me*? Not men like me, but me as me?" He asked softly, with just a touch of sharpness in his voice. At this, her eyes became wide and she couldn't find an answer. He nodded, his eyes leaving hers for the first time.
"That is what I thought." He said, his voice not much above a whisper. Even though his face was turned away, Tomoyo spotted a flash of hurt that appeared in his eyes. Immediately her heart dropped, and remorse filled her. Perhaps she had been wrong about him.
"Then who are you? You act just like them. Just like those horrible men who come to all of mother's balls. I go, wearing the dresses she chooses for me, because I want to please her. Usually they are dresses that are quite.uncomfortable for me to wear. I don't like them, but the men seem to. This pleases mother, that I am getting their attention. Then during the balls, she insists that I dance with every man that asks me, whether I want to or not. And when I do, they always flirt with me in the most disgusting ways, from holding me too tight to.trying to kiss me. Mother says that it is just a part of growing up, but if that is true, I don't want any of it!" Tomoyo finally burst out, tears filling her eyes. Eriol looked back at her, his eyes wide and shocked. She, the perfect Princess Daidouji Tomoyo, had to go through things like that?!
"After the balls, most of the men would come for visits, bringing me presents and things, flirting with me, trying to kiss me, never leaving me alone. I hate it. They think that I am like those other princesses who throw themselves at men, just because mother makes me dress like that. That is part of the reason I learned how to sew, so I could make my own things. When Sakura used to come over, we would talk and complain about it as though it were funny.but it is not." She whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks. He gently slid his arms around her and pulled her close, his heart crying out with pain and pity for her.
"When Sakura got married, and I was allowed to stay with Meiling after the wedding, I was so happy. I thought that I would be free of it for a while. But then you.you came. You were different. You flirted with me, even when I wasn't wearing one of those horrible dresses. You did it as a game, and were not really trying to win my heart, were you? That is why you are different." She said softly, meeting his eyes once more, pain welling over in them. He saw this, and gently wiped the tears off her cheeks with one hand, while the other tightened its grip on her.
"You are different as well, Tomoyo." He murmured, his midnight blue eyes searching her amethyst ones.
"You are unlike any other girl I have ever met. All those other princesses and ladies that I was introduced to.they expected me to be a flirt and to play games. At first, I found it disgusting and refused to do it, but soon my mother came to me and told me that that was how women worked. They liked to be teased and flirted with. I was revolted, but I went along with it, and it worked with every single girl I conquered. I never went past kissing their hands.I never saw any reason to, they were all so shallow minded that I didn't have to. I suppose I just got used to doing things that way, and eventually it became more like a game. But you didn't work that way. You didn't fall for the flirting or the game. You saw right through it." He commented warmly, as more tears spilled down her face.
"I suppose that we were both misunderstood, then." She managed to say. He smiled.
"It came with some nice complications, though. We got to know more about each other, and came to an understanding." He mussed, as she looked down at her hands and nodded. He sighed.
"You are a special person, Tomoyo. I wish your mother had seen that before she made you wear those dresses. You didn't deserve that. You are beautiful without the dresses." He murmured sympathetically his eyes roving her lovely face. A smile trembled to her lips, but there was disappointment in her eyes.
"Yes. Beautiful. That is what they all said . What is beautiful? A thing that names someone. But is that really them? Isn't there more to them than just 'beautiful'? Is there not more to me?" She burst out, talking to herself more than she was to him. He smiled and looked deep into her eyes, causing her mind to reel.
"No, that is not all of them. Yes, there is far more to them than just 'beautiful'. And to you as well. Here is some more of you. Smart, talented, clever, funny, loving, caring, joyful, deep, sweet.absolutely wonderful..." He trailed off as his lips found hers in a sweet, tender kiss. Tomoyo stiffened as shockwaves of pleasure rippled through her body, leaving her weak with delight.
"I still want an answer." He murmured into her ear, causing her to tremble.
"I don't know what you mean." She breathed, and then gasped as his wonderful lips trailed down her neck, leaving her breath ragged.
"Yes you do. You know perfectly well what I mean." He chided softly. She moaned as his lips caught a sensitive spot on her neck and stayed there, torturing her delightfully. In return, she leaned down and kissed him on a sensitive spot, just below his earlobe, causing him to catch his breath.
"I can't." She began, but his lips upon hers silenced her. He gently caressed her mouth, making a warmth rise in the pit of her stomach and quickly spread to her whole belly. He looked up, and saw that her lovely pale skin was bathed in moonlight, making her seem even more fragile, angelic and forbidden to him. Feeling insignificant next to her, he floundered for some comfort in an answer from her.
"You can. Tomoyo, please." He whispered, as he kissed her forehead and then worked his way down her temple to her cheek. His arms released her and trailed up to face. He cupped it in his hands and then pulled away from her, gazing longingly into her eyes.
"I've.I've already broken it, anyhow." She whispered, her fingers trailing up his cheek and running gently through his midnight blue hair. He closed his eyes and enjoyed it for a moment, but then opened them and made eye contact again.
"Tomoyo, what do you have to fear by telling me?" He asked, his voice serious. She gazed imploringly at him, and when he remained unmoved, she broke down.
"I didn't want you to win me over. I didn't want to loose my heart to someone I was sure I couldn't trust. But it didn't work." She said bitterly, looking away. Eriol's heart jumped and he felt like dancing. He had won her heart after all! With happiness raging through his veins, he dipped down and captured her lips in a passionate and thorough kiss. She was stunned. She had been sure that he would get mad and leave the room, but this.this was so unexpected and so.heavenly! Nothing could compare with the sensations that were running through her body right now. There was only him. Only Eriol.
"Tomoyo, you are a dear." He whispered, his lips finding her neck once more. Tomoyo gasped with delight and dug her fingers through his hair. His hands slid to the front of her dressing gown, and before she knew it, it had been unbuttoned and thrown onto the floor. Gently, his hands caressed her neck and shoulders, and then trailed down her arms, taking the straps of her nightgown with them. His lips traveled down her bare shoulder, and then returned to her neck, leaving her breathless for more. She gently kissed behind his ear, and then kissed his earlobe. He choked and looked up at her, his eyes darker than usual.
"I love you, Eriol. I cannot deny it anymore, nor can I help it." She whispered desperately, ducking her head in shame. He simply smiled and lifted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"And I love you. You have taught me things about myself that I never even knew. I love you even more for that, Tomoyo-tenshi." He breathed, taking the pins out of her hair and then watching as the silky violet-raven locks spilled over his hands. He gently played with her hair a bit, twisting it this way and that, occasionally brushing his hands across the bare skin of her back. She trembled and happy tears came to her eyes. Slowly, experimentally, she unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt, just to see what he would do. When his lips covered hers in a passionate kiss, she decided to go further. Her lips never breaking away from his, she finished unbuttoning his shirt and then allowed her hands to tentatively explore his wonderfully muscular chest. With a groan, he pulled away, breathing hard.
"Gods Tomoyo! What are you doing to me?" He whispered, his hands going back to where the nightgown straps lay on her arms and slipping them off fully. Tomoyo gasped.
"Eriol." She whimpered desperately, as he gently pushed her downwards, laying her down on the bed.
"Did you ever doubt that this would happen, Tomoyo?" He asked, his lips delicately playing with the sensitive skin of her neck. She moaned and shook her head, her fingers running through his hair.
"No, never." Was all she managed to say, before his lips captured hers once again.
~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~
Forced to Love by: Daphne Li Chapter 11.
Eriol sighed as he looked up from his book. He couldn't concentrate, and it was becoming quite aggravating. Images of Tomoyo in the lovely lavender dress she had worn today kept running through his head, blocking everything else from his mind. With a growl, he threw down the book and stood up, pacing his room.
This was not supposed to happen! In his 'game of Love', you are not supposed to give your prey any headway! It is also forbidden to allow them to confuse you when you are about to bring them down a few rungs on the ladder. And most of all.you are not supposed to actually fall in love with them! Princess Daidouji Tomoyo had caused him to do all of these and *more* on his quest to bring her to her knees. And the worst fact was, he only needed one more opportunity alone with her, and she would be putty in his hands. Why was this bad? Because he finally realized that he had no wish to make her into putty! In fact, if he wasn't careful, he would be the putty, and she the convening little hand!
"Gods, what is she doing to me?!" He growled, stalking over to his window and looking out. After gazing out a few minutes, his sharp eyes detected a movement on his right. He looked over in time to see.Princess Daidouji Tomoyo herself, sneaking off towards the meadow. Now, his sly conscious returned, pushing the loving one back and taking over at the wheel.
'Follow her!' It told him. With a smirk, he did as he was told. He walked past Syaoran's room, where he also felt Sakura's aura, and his smirk widened a bit. Then he quickly snuck out of the castle and followed Daidouji up the hill and to the meadow.
By the time he reached to meadow, the full moon was high overhead, bathing the whole area in a watery, ethereal light. The wildflowers waved slightly in the warm breeze that was sweeping across the open space. No animals or little insects were in sight. For a moment, his eyes searched desperately, trying to catch some sign of his prey. Then there she was! Standing near the center of the meadow, her face turned up towards the sky. Eriol caught his breath, awe filling him. The violet-raven haired girl with amethyst eyes stood among the wildflowers, her lovely angelic face turned up towards the moon. Her pale skin caught the light of the moon and absorbed it, causing her skin to almost glow. Her hair was still caught up in the bun that it had been in earlier that day, but some strands had come out, and were waving in the breeze. The fabric of her attire seemed to glow with the same ethereal light as the moon, and it fluttered around her as the wind blew through it.
All at once, Eriol's resolve crumbled and he moved into the shelter of an aspen tree, not wishing to disturb her peace. How could he possibly make such a cherubic girl, fall?! Who would have the heart too, after they had seen what he had. Eriol's sly conscious was whimpering, back in the far corners of his mind, which left the conscious that was deeply in love to come to the surface. He sat there for over half an hour, watching her as she simply stood there and looked at the moon, her lips moving occasionally. Finally, she turned abruptly and left, never knowing that someone had been watching.
Eriol sat still, gazing at the place she had once been. He knew his sly conscious was gaining confidence again, and would soon come to the surface, but he was willing to fight it off as long as he could. With his mind reeling, Eriol slowly made his way back to the palace.
~*~*~*~
You are in LOVE.
That was what the moon had answered. And Tomoyo knew that she could no longer deny it. She *was* in love. In love with a flirty, sly, self- absorbed, and, in some ways.evil man. Tomoyo shivered that this realization. She quickly made her way back to her room, left the door wide open, and immediately raced onto her balcony for another look at the moon. It was as bright here, as it had been in the meadow.
"Are you sure?!" Tomoyo called to the moon, her eyes wide and desperate. How could this have happened? When she had guarded herself against it all her life, how could he have slipped so easily through the barrier, to win her heart? Why Prince Hiiragizawa Eriol? WHY?!?!
"Why?" Tomoyo whimpered, tears starting to fall down her cheeks. He would hurt her, wouldn't he? He was the kind of man who took a girl for a while, and then dropped her when another, prettier girl came by. That was just his way. And now, she would be his next victim. Just another head.and heart, n his wall of Bimbos! And there was nothing she could do about it! For once in her life, Daidouji Tomoyo had come across something in herself that she couldn't control. Or could she?
"I won't!" Tomoyo finally stated, angrily wiping the tears from her cheeks and straightening up.
"I won't allow myself to be broken down like this. I won't allow him to get the better of me! My feelings mean nothing anymore. Only what I know is right!" She stated, her eyes hardening, the resolve already taking it's toll on her.
"That is quite a pity, then." Came a voice. Tomoyo turned hard eyes to the person, knowing just who it was.
~*~*~*~
'I love her! There is no denying it now!' One side of Eriol's conscious yelled.
But the game! We almost had her! Just one more time.
'I don't care! The game has ended. For once, a woman has won, and there is nothing you can do about it!'
But.
'No buts!' His first conscious yelled, making Eriol cover his ears, even though it didn't help.
We really genuinely love her, don't we? His second finally asked, after a long pause.
'We do. I don't want to hurt her. She is too precious.'
But we can still tell her that we love her, even if she doesn't return it. I suppose we will just have to accept defeat. Hiiragizawa Eriol has been brought to his knees by a woman. The second said, actually sounding a bit proud of the fact. Eriol laughed and then entered the palace, fully intent on finding his room and going to sleep.
Along the way, however, there was a certain door that stood open invitingly. The room inside was dark, but Eriol could just make out where his precious Princess was. She was outside on her balcony, looking up at the sky again. Feeling a sudden need to talk to her, he silently closed her door behind him, locked it, just in case, and walked over to the balcony. She had been crying and speaking aloud to the moon again, but somehow, Eriol didn't find it strange at all. Suddenly, her voice rose.
"I won't!" Tomoyo stated, angrily wiping the tears from her cheeks and straightening up.
"I won't allow myself to be broken down like this. I won't allow him to get the better of me! My feelings mean nothing anymore. Only what I know is right!" She finished, her eyes hardening, the resolve already taking it's toll on her. Eriol felt as if ice had just been thrust into his heart. The cold spread throughout his body, and he felt numb. She couldn't possibly mean that.could she?
"That is quite a pity, then." He finally said, his voice soft. She did not seem surprised that he was there. She simply turned and looked at him with her cold eyes, which caused sadness to fill his heart.
"What? That you will no longer have an affect on me?" She asked sharply. He detected a slight shake in her voice, though. He shook his head and moved closer to her.
"No. That you would block your feelings like that. Wouldn't that push Alongue out of your heart? Not to mention Sakura and your mother." He pointed out. Her eyes widened, and he knew that he had hit her soft spot. With shaking lips she shook her head, as if unbelievingly and then moved away from him, until her back was against the railing, just like the last time.
"No! Not them. Only.I cannot let myself get hurt. I will not!" Tomoyo added for good measure. Eriol frowned.
"Let me ask you this, Princess Tomoyo, who would have the heart to hurt you? And let me tell you, that even if you do go along with your plan, they will notice, whether you do or don't want them to." He said in a deadly serious voice. Tomoyo's hand fluttered to her throat and her eyes widened even more. A cold wind had come up now, and it caused her to shiver. Eriol sighed and moved forward, taking her small hands in his.
"Come. I want to show you something." He said, drawing her into the room and shutting the door behind them. The room was still dark, but Eriol confidently made his way down the window-laden wall, opening all the drapes. This allowed the watery moonlight to come pouring into the room, lighting up that side of the room, clear till the bed. Tomoyo gasped.
"It is lovely when the moon trickles in like that." She whispered. He nodded, and led her over to the fancy piano-forte that sat in a corner of the room, along with some violins and a few flutes (Alongue had learned that Tomoyo liked music, so she had these brought up, just for show). He sat down, and began to play a sweet old tune.
"Why on earth would you say that you wanted to ignore your feelings? Why aren't they important to you?" He asked softly, over the music. Tomoyo looked down at her hands.
"I didn't know that you played the piano-forte." She commented, ignoring the question. He nodded slightly.
"I have since I was little. My mother made me learn and it grew on me I suppose." He said thoughtfully. He played until he reached the end of the song, and then he stood up.
"Do you dance?" He asked looking around at the instruments. Tomoyo looked up eagerly, her eyes bright.
"Oh yes! I love to." She said, and then looked back down, ashamed. He smiled and then waved his hand at the instruments. All at once, the instruments burst into a soft round of music, startling the girl. Then a smile graced her face.
"Magic." It was a statement, not a question. He nodded, and then took her hand, leading her to an open place in the room.
"May I?" He asked, bowing to her and then sweeping her into the dance. It was quite a fast dance, with many twirls, bows and curtsies in it. By the end of the song, she was giggling with delight.
"They will keep playing songs until we want to stop dancing." Eriol told her, as the music changed to a waltz. She nodded and then smiled.
"I used to dance with my mother when I was little. She is a very good dancer, and she taught me all she knew. I suppose that is why I love it so much." Tomoyo explained. He grinned.
"My mother forced me to go to lessons. I am afraid that I never appreciated them much, but the knowledge did save me a few times at balls and such." He admitted, making her laugh.
"Your mother forced you to do a great many things that you didn't want, did she not?" Tomoyo asked, as the music changed again, this time, to a slow song. One of his hands found her waist and his other, her hand, and he twirled her around.
"She did. I didn't make it very easy on her, either. I am afraid I was quite the monster when I was small." He said. She smiled.
"Nothing has changed, then." She joked, making him smile.
"Actually, it has." Was all he said on the subject. They fell into a comfortable silence, simply dancing to the soft music and enjoying each other. This all seemed natural; so natural, in fact, that Tomoyo ignored the fact that her heart had sped up and Eriol's conscious finally ceased to bother him. They danced in the watery moonlight, which seemed almost heavenly now that the music was playing along with it. Tomoyo was content, and Eriol was happy.but one this still bothered him.
"But you still haven't answered my question, Miss Tomoyo. Why would want to ignore your feelings? Aren't they important to you?" He asked again, jolting her out of her reverie. With a sharp intake of breath, she pushed away from him, and since it was the nearest thing to sit on, collapsed onto the bed. The pretty music stopped abruptly, and Eriol came to sit by her side.
"Tomoyo, you cannot avoid the question forever. I will keep repeating it until I get an answer." He said. She looked down at her hands and bit her lip.
"My feelings are not important. The feelings of my friends and family are. I would be selfish to do things my own way. That is why." She lied; and he saw right through it. Grasping her upper arms, he gently turned her towards him.
"Let me rephrase that. I will not stop asking until I have the *true* reason." He said softly, looking into her amethyst orbs. Again, she avoided the question.
"Tell me, Prince Hiiragizawa, how many women's rooms have you invaded just to get them to fall for you?" She asked, her words stinging him. Still, he kept his smile plastered to his face.
"You are the first, actually." He said, his eyes never leaving hers. His fingers started to trace circles on her arms, making her shiver.
"Why do I not believe you?" She asked skeptically. He shrugged and moved closer.
"No one ever asked you to." He answered, his shock-inducing fingers now trailing up and down her arms, torturing her with a delightful half- tickling, half-pleasurable feeling. Still his eyes held hers, making her unable to move. His right hand trailed down and around her waist and held her.
".But I will if you want me to. Why don't you believe me?" He asked silkily, causing trembles to rush through her body.
"Because men like you." She whispered, trailing off as his eyes became impassive.
"What do you know about 'men like me'? Do I really have a category that you can put me in? Tell me, Princess Daidouji, how much do you know *me*? Not men like me, but me as me?" He asked softly, with just a touch of sharpness in his voice. At this, her eyes became wide and she couldn't find an answer. He nodded, his eyes leaving hers for the first time.
"That is what I thought." He said, his voice not much above a whisper. Even though his face was turned away, Tomoyo spotted a flash of hurt that appeared in his eyes. Immediately her heart dropped, and remorse filled her. Perhaps she had been wrong about him.
"Then who are you? You act just like them. Just like those horrible men who come to all of mother's balls. I go, wearing the dresses she chooses for me, because I want to please her. Usually they are dresses that are quite.uncomfortable for me to wear. I don't like them, but the men seem to. This pleases mother, that I am getting their attention. Then during the balls, she insists that I dance with every man that asks me, whether I want to or not. And when I do, they always flirt with me in the most disgusting ways, from holding me too tight to.trying to kiss me. Mother says that it is just a part of growing up, but if that is true, I don't want any of it!" Tomoyo finally burst out, tears filling her eyes. Eriol looked back at her, his eyes wide and shocked. She, the perfect Princess Daidouji Tomoyo, had to go through things like that?!
"After the balls, most of the men would come for visits, bringing me presents and things, flirting with me, trying to kiss me, never leaving me alone. I hate it. They think that I am like those other princesses who throw themselves at men, just because mother makes me dress like that. That is part of the reason I learned how to sew, so I could make my own things. When Sakura used to come over, we would talk and complain about it as though it were funny.but it is not." She whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks. He gently slid his arms around her and pulled her close, his heart crying out with pain and pity for her.
"When Sakura got married, and I was allowed to stay with Meiling after the wedding, I was so happy. I thought that I would be free of it for a while. But then you.you came. You were different. You flirted with me, even when I wasn't wearing one of those horrible dresses. You did it as a game, and were not really trying to win my heart, were you? That is why you are different." She said softly, meeting his eyes once more, pain welling over in them. He saw this, and gently wiped the tears off her cheeks with one hand, while the other tightened its grip on her.
"You are different as well, Tomoyo." He murmured, his midnight blue eyes searching her amethyst ones.
"You are unlike any other girl I have ever met. All those other princesses and ladies that I was introduced to.they expected me to be a flirt and to play games. At first, I found it disgusting and refused to do it, but soon my mother came to me and told me that that was how women worked. They liked to be teased and flirted with. I was revolted, but I went along with it, and it worked with every single girl I conquered. I never went past kissing their hands.I never saw any reason to, they were all so shallow minded that I didn't have to. I suppose I just got used to doing things that way, and eventually it became more like a game. But you didn't work that way. You didn't fall for the flirting or the game. You saw right through it." He commented warmly, as more tears spilled down her face.
"I suppose that we were both misunderstood, then." She managed to say. He smiled.
"It came with some nice complications, though. We got to know more about each other, and came to an understanding." He mussed, as she looked down at her hands and nodded. He sighed.
"You are a special person, Tomoyo. I wish your mother had seen that before she made you wear those dresses. You didn't deserve that. You are beautiful without the dresses." He murmured sympathetically his eyes roving her lovely face. A smile trembled to her lips, but there was disappointment in her eyes.
"Yes. Beautiful. That is what they all said . What is beautiful? A thing that names someone. But is that really them? Isn't there more to them than just 'beautiful'? Is there not more to me?" She burst out, talking to herself more than she was to him. He smiled and looked deep into her eyes, causing her mind to reel.
"No, that is not all of them. Yes, there is far more to them than just 'beautiful'. And to you as well. Here is some more of you. Smart, talented, clever, funny, loving, caring, joyful, deep, sweet.absolutely wonderful..." He trailed off as his lips found hers in a sweet, tender kiss. Tomoyo stiffened as shockwaves of pleasure rippled through her body, leaving her weak with delight.
"I still want an answer." He murmured into her ear, causing her to tremble.
"I don't know what you mean." She breathed, and then gasped as his wonderful lips trailed down her neck, leaving her breath ragged.
"Yes you do. You know perfectly well what I mean." He chided softly. She moaned as his lips caught a sensitive spot on her neck and stayed there, torturing her delightfully. In return, she leaned down and kissed him on a sensitive spot, just below his earlobe, causing him to catch his breath.
"I can't." She began, but his lips upon hers silenced her. He gently caressed her mouth, making a warmth rise in the pit of her stomach and quickly spread to her whole belly. He looked up, and saw that her lovely pale skin was bathed in moonlight, making her seem even more fragile, angelic and forbidden to him. Feeling insignificant next to her, he floundered for some comfort in an answer from her.
"You can. Tomoyo, please." He whispered, as he kissed her forehead and then worked his way down her temple to her cheek. His arms released her and trailed up to face. He cupped it in his hands and then pulled away from her, gazing longingly into her eyes.
"I've.I've already broken it, anyhow." She whispered, her fingers trailing up his cheek and running gently through his midnight blue hair. He closed his eyes and enjoyed it for a moment, but then opened them and made eye contact again.
"Tomoyo, what do you have to fear by telling me?" He asked, his voice serious. She gazed imploringly at him, and when he remained unmoved, she broke down.
"I didn't want you to win me over. I didn't want to loose my heart to someone I was sure I couldn't trust. But it didn't work." She said bitterly, looking away. Eriol's heart jumped and he felt like dancing. He had won her heart after all! With happiness raging through his veins, he dipped down and captured her lips in a passionate and thorough kiss. She was stunned. She had been sure that he would get mad and leave the room, but this.this was so unexpected and so.heavenly! Nothing could compare with the sensations that were running through her body right now. There was only him. Only Eriol.
"Tomoyo, you are a dear." He whispered, his lips finding her neck once more. Tomoyo gasped with delight and dug her fingers through his hair. His hands slid to the front of her dressing gown, and before she knew it, it had been unbuttoned and thrown onto the floor. Gently, his hands caressed her neck and shoulders, and then trailed down her arms, taking the straps of her nightgown with them. His lips traveled down her bare shoulder, and then returned to her neck, leaving her breathless for more. She gently kissed behind his ear, and then kissed his earlobe. He choked and looked up at her, his eyes darker than usual.
"I love you, Eriol. I cannot deny it anymore, nor can I help it." She whispered desperately, ducking her head in shame. He simply smiled and lifted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"And I love you. You have taught me things about myself that I never even knew. I love you even more for that, Tomoyo-tenshi." He breathed, taking the pins out of her hair and then watching as the silky violet-raven locks spilled over his hands. He gently played with her hair a bit, twisting it this way and that, occasionally brushing his hands across the bare skin of her back. She trembled and happy tears came to her eyes. Slowly, experimentally, she unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt, just to see what he would do. When his lips covered hers in a passionate kiss, she decided to go further. Her lips never breaking away from his, she finished unbuttoning his shirt and then allowed her hands to tentatively explore his wonderfully muscular chest. With a groan, he pulled away, breathing hard.
"Gods Tomoyo! What are you doing to me?" He whispered, his hands going back to where the nightgown straps lay on her arms and slipping them off fully. Tomoyo gasped.
"Eriol." She whimpered desperately, as he gently pushed her downwards, laying her down on the bed.
"Did you ever doubt that this would happen, Tomoyo?" He asked, his lips delicately playing with the sensitive skin of her neck. She moaned and shook her head, her fingers running through his hair.
"No, never." Was all she managed to say, before his lips captured hers once again.
~*~*~*~