Disclaimer: I don't own any ccs characters. :( They all belong to CLAMP.
I've been looking forward to writing this chapter for such a long time hehe...;)
The day dawned bright and clear. Tomoyo woke up with the birds, determined to go through this day happy. This was the first time in two weeks where she would not be able to see her Eli, but since he was a secret, she would be unable to mope about it. None of the servants were awake yet, so Tomoyo tried to make breakfast for herself.
Sonomi awoke to an angrily uttered oath and the sound of clattering pots. Throwing on a bathrobe, she ran downstairs, expecting to see a servant who had hurt herself and instead, seeing her daughter, who had just burnt some bacon and dropped a hot pan on the floor. Sonomi was astonished. "Tomoyo! What are you doing? You know you could have just asked a servant to make breakfast."
"Well, I didn't want to. Besides, I've been up for a while now," Tomoyo said apologetically.
"You have a busy day ahead of you. I really want you to look your best tonight," she said, because tonight is when Eriol Hiragizawa is going to be blown away, she added silently.
"What do I need to do?"
"Technically, you have the whole day to yourself until around three. But, I know you like to leave home during the day, don't leave home," Sonomi ordered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eriol would not be able to see his beloved Phoenix today. Today, his mother was making him stay home because of Tomoyo Daidouji's birthday party. He had to look his best. Apparently, Tomoyo didn't know that they were getting married, so Eriol was ordered to act like any other guest at the party.
This was strictly going to be an Elite affair. Tomoyo hated press and Sonomi Daidouji made sure that there would be no pesky reporters to report on her daughter's birthday. Eriol had to admire Sonomi for being able to pull that trick off. Tomoyo was hailed as the belle of the Elite, just like he was apparently drop dead gorgeous; normally, reporters would want to be anywhere any of those two were. He sighed.
Eriol really didn't care who he married until now. Tomoyo is probably going to be prissy and perfect. He envisioned a woman who cared only about her appearance and had to make sure that every eyelash was curled and every nail was painted. Eriol shuddered. He wanted someone who was more daring and carefree, like Phoenix.
Eriol sighed again. Today was going to be a long day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The guests started coming at six. Tomoyo welcomed them all graciously. Most of the invited were people she knew and were friends with. A few were people she hated and some were people she had never met. It was a good thing her mother had made this party reporter free, or else Tomoyo would have had a very hard time acting like she was enjoying herself. Tomoyo's close friends, Melly and Greta, suddenly saw someone at the door. They were surprised not only because this person came unusually late but also because of who he was. Eyes wide, they rushed back to Tomoyo.
"Tomoyo, hunni. You'll never believe who else got invited!" Melly excitedly whispered.
"Try me," she responded wryly. Tomoyo had been surprised half the people her mother invited had even shown up.
"Eriol Hiragizawa!!!!!" Greta squealed, "isn't he cute????"
Eriol stood in the doorway and looked around for Tomoyo. He was supposed to go wish her a happy birthday. She was standing a little ways away from most everyone else, talking with two of her friends. He made his way to her. One of them saw him and told the others. Tomoyo smiled a smile that did not reach her eyes. Tomoyo stepped forward and held out her hand. "I've tried to greet all my guests, but it would seem my mother added more people to the guest list than I had anticipated and my efforts to welcome everyone have been thwarted." Tomoyo had only wanted to shake hands with him but he bent over and kissed it instead.
Tomoyo raised her eyebrows. "Pictures of you do not give you enough credit; you're much more beautiful in person," Eriol said in his most charming voice.
She heard Melly gasp. "If you're expecting me to swoon over that comment, forget it." Greta coughed.
Eriol grinned at Tomoyo's response and at her friend's reactions. "My mother tells me you are like a younger version of your mother."
"Really? How so?" Tomoyo asked, intrigued.
"I distinctly remember an article about you in the news reels a few months back..."
"I remember. I was in a horrid mood that day," she replied frostily.
Eriol looked around, an ice carving on the buffet table caught his eye. "That bird. The ice sculpture on the table. What is it?"
"A Phoenix."
"Interesting. You're a shape shifter? I take it the phoenix is your favored form?"
"Indeed. If you'll excuse me..." Tomoyo picked up her skirts and left him standing there with a perplexed look on his face. Melly and Greta followed her.
Eriol watched Tomoyo very closely the rest of the night, trying to imagine what life would be like with her. She winked once. She smiled a genuine smile a few times. She looked very familiar. As he took a drink of punch, it hit him. He choked on the drink and nearly dropped the glass. He was afraid that his new revelation was a trick his mind was pulling on him because he desperately wanted it to be so. He watched this perplexing creature named Tomoyo Daidouji for a few more minutes and was convinced. She was his Phoenix.
Now what was he going to do? What should he tell her tomorrow? Should he pretend like he didn't know for another week? Would he even be capable of doing that for another week? Was there a reason she didn't know about her own wedding?
You should tell her as soon as possible, said a little voice in his head.
There's probably a reason she doesn't know she's getting married. I should keep it a secret. he said.
NO! You should tell her.
Shut up. I'm keeping it a secret.
You should tell her, that crazy little voice just had to have the last word. Eriol threw his hands in the air, "I give up," he said to himself. The people around him gave him funny looks. What was the governor's son doing?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So, Eriol decided to keep his secret for another week. He could wait, or so he thought. He ended up slipping a note to Phoenix one day. Oakwood plaza, Parks District, Midnight it read. Phoenix/Tomoyo looked at him and nodded.
Tomoyo showed up early that night. The plaza was not very well lit. There was a street light at every corner and at the center, but they were all very dim, since it was the middle of the night. She saw a figure walk towards her. Eli. She ran to him and gave him a kiss. "Why did you want to see me this late?" she asked.
"Tomorrow is my last free day," he said.
"Yes, but that still doesn't answer my question," she slid her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. "What was so important that you couldn't tell me in the Underground?"
Eriol hesitated. He took a deep breath. "I know who you are...Tomoyo Daidouji."
a/n: dun dun dun!!!! the suspense! How is Tomoyo going to react?