Disclaimer: I don't own CCS
~Just This Once~
Chapter 4: Conflict
What previously happened:
***
…H-Hiiragizawa...it's Eriol… Syaoran swallowed, his eyes locked onto Eriol.
He felt his soul tremble. ...oh, God.
"Syaoran-kun...?" Eriol slowly withdrew his hand, looking at Syaoran
strangely. "Daijoubu desu ka...?"
Syaoran had
suddenly grew pale all of a sudden…
***
The very
first thought that came into Syaoran's mind was: Oh God. I have to get out
of here. Now now now now now…
Syaoran
shakily set down the teacup on the table and got out of the bed, across from
Eriol. The realization that he cared for Eriol was still shocking and foreign
to Syaoran's emotionless, cold demeanor.
"Syaoran-kun, what's the matter?" Eriol grew worried, watching
Syaoran back away from him.
"...it
was supposed to be Sakura or…or at least Meiling, damn it!" Syaoran
growled, furious with himself.
"What
are you talking about?" Eriol asked, bewildered, partly wondering if the
Vitamin pills had some kind of strange effect.
Eriol's
words rang in Syaoran's head…
'..more than a friend...you're in DENIAL
then...might not know or accepted the fact that you're in love with that
person...you're willing to go at any length for that person...'
…and it was
ERIOL all along! Syaoran clenched his teeth.
The words
echoed through his head. Syaoran always knew he felt..differently..toward Eriol
than with Sakura...he didn't understand the feelings....but now...
I won't...I
won't let him find out! Syaoran couldn't stand it. He went for the door,
not caring that his body felt languid and heavy. He forced his shaky legs to go
forward. I CAN'T let him find out…
He reached
for the doorknob, but...
Quickly
moving forward, Eriol stood in front of the door, blocking Syaoran's path with
his body.
"Syaoran-kun, what's wrong? Why are you acting this way?" Eriol
demanded, utterly puzzled by the boy's sudden action.
"Out of
my way." Syaoran growled, his brown eyes serious and dark.
"Well,
at least your sore throat is better—"
"Hiiragizawa!" Syaoran glared.
"Do you
actually think you can walk to your apartment in your condition?" Eriol
asked, his gray eyes narrowed with seriousness. "I doubt you can even walk
down the stairs without falling!" he glanced at Syaoran's legs that
slightly trembled with vain effort.
"I'll
take the risk!" Syaoran snapped as he stepped to the side and walked for
the door, but Eriol simply shadowed Syaoran and stood in his path once again.
Their eyes
met again, their glares clashing…
"I
already told you once to get out of my way!" Syaoran didn't know how much
longer he could stand upright.
If he collapsed in the snow—fine! As long as
he was off Eriol's property, that is.
"And I
already told you that I wasn't going to let you leave until your temperature
goes down!" Eriol retorted.
They glared
each other down.
"I'm
not going to tell you again, Hiiragizawa." Syaoran said in a low,
threatening voice, his brown eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I
don't care how many times you do or don't say it, I refuse to let you leave in
such ill conditions." Eriol said, his gray eyes could have pierced through
solid metal.
Syaoran
clenched his teeth and pushed Eriol aside with one arm, Eriol grabbed Syaoran's
forceful arm and pulled him forward. Syaoran gasped, not expecting for Eriol to
react so quickly.
Eriol
swiftly turned Syaoran around and pinned him to the wall by the door.
"If you
didn't know, I was being totally serious," Eriol informed, his gray eyes
locked onto Syaoran's brown eyes. Syaoran slightly blushed, seeing how close
they were...he tried to hide it as best as possible. "I won't let you go,
Syaoran." Syaoran blushed a brighter red.
Syaoran must
be furious Eriol thought. Why else would he be so red in the face?
Suddenly in whirl, Eriol found himself now
pinned to the wall by Syaoran. Eriol blinked, not expecting so much strength
remaining in Syaoran's body.
"I was
being serious, too, Hiiragizawa." Syaoran growled and pinning Eriol to the
wall by the elbows.
Eriol
winced. Syaoran had turned him to the door, the doorknob was pressing into
Eriol's back (A/N: being hit by a doorknob hurts like hell! I know this by much
experience).
"Well,
I think we should do what's best for you," Eriol remarked, his voice tight
because of the uncomfortable position he was in.
Eriol pushed forward, having difficulty, but
managed to turn Syaoran around and pin him against the wall again. "And
that is for you to stop being stubborn and listen to my advice!!"
Syaoran's
back was pressed hard against the wall.
They were
both breathing hard, especially Syaoran because of his illness. Still, Syaoran
stubbornly struggled again, but to no prevail. He was tired, sick, and he knew
Eriol had plenty of strength left.
"Give
up?" Eriol asked with a smirk that seemed a bit evil.
"...
... ..." Syaoran let out an angry sigh and glared at Eriol. He refused to
be beaten. He noticed that Eriol was looking at him in a strange way.
"What are you looking at, Hiiragizawa?"
"…What
did you mean when you said 'it was supposed to be Sakura or at least
Meiling'?" Eriol asked slowly.
Syaoran's
eyes widened as he instantly blushed a brilliant shade of red. He turned his
head away, his brown eyes locked onto the floor.
"...ignore what I said," Syaoran murmured, "it was nothing
important."
"Heh,
then why are you so tense?" Eriol asked slyly, noticed that Syaoran's arms
had grown tense in his hands.
"…hmph." Syaoran continued to look at the floor. What if Eriol
found out that..I...like him more than I should? …god…I can't let THAT
happen…I'll just be making it harder for the both of us if he finds out…
Eriol
noticed that Syaoran's facial expression showed that he was in deep, internal
conflict...
Syaoran
shifted his eyes and stared at Eriol's face, seeing the gentleness and refined
clemency of his porcelain visage...
. ..the power Eriol
possessed was great and almost frightening, but his gray eyes hide it away with
modesty. Eriol...was...different...one of a kind...and Syaoran knew this all
too well.
Their eyes
locked again, but Syaoran slowly averted his gaze back to the floor, his face
still turned away.
Why do I care for him more than a friend? Syaoran questioned himself. Heh...That's
too easy of a question to answer.
"Syaoran-kun..." Eriol said softly, having a 'feeling' on what
Syaoran was thinking about.
Syaoran
shifted, "Let go of me." his voice dull.
"Why?
Is it uncomfortable for you to be this close to me? Or are you simply
afraid?" Eriol asked with a small smile that was laced with mockery and
amusement.
"What
did you say?" Syaoran whipped his head to the front and glared at Eriol,
their faces inches away.
Suddenly
Nakuru's words entered Eriol's head...
'Why are you
so hesitant to do what you want? You never were before, why are you now?...Why
don't you take the chance? That's what you'd usually do if you really care for
someone...well...I've read a lot of romance books and all...so...I guess I
don't really know...'
Eriol's eyes
burned into Syaoran's, the clashing of gray and brown was intense...they both
were locked in the searing, burning heat that was either of rivalry, hate,
or...something quite the opposite...
...perhaps...I
waited long enough...too long, actually... Eriol thought. ...but isn't
staying apart for the best? ...heh. Perhaps not...
"...kuso yaro..." Syaoran cursed, but his brown eyes softened
unwillingly, slowly giving into Eriol's warmth.
"Why do
you say that?" Eriol asked quietly, almost a whisper, feeling intoxicated
by the heat between himself and Syaoran.
"...because..." Syaoran murmured, almost feeling as he was caught
amidst dream and reality.
Eriol's eyes
wandered down Syaoran's face and glanced at his lips, tempted to capture the
little wolf's lips with his own. He looked back into Syaoran's eyes, waiting
for him to finish talking before taking the next step forward.
Syaoran HAD
to tell Eriol...he knew it...this would be the only time...
"Please
do answer my question about Sakura and Meiling...you don't want to stay pinned
against the wall all night, do you?" Eriol asked slyly.
Syaoran
glared, slightly blushing.
"L-look, you damned idiot...I...I don't know why and I..I don't care if
you feel the same way or not," Syaoran's eyes grew insecure and dreaded
rejection, yet was still determined to get the confession out of his mouth and
off his back.
Eriol
silently held his breath, waiting for Syaoran to finish completely, just to
make sure that they both were on the same page...
Syaoran
finished (finally!), "But, Eriol (NOT Hiiragizawa), I..I don't care for
Sakura or Meiling the same way I...," Syaoran drew in all the courage he
could gather within himself. "...the same way I care for—!!"
"SYAORAN-KUN!!"
Syaoran and
Eriol both were startled.
"How
dare you climb through the window!?! That's illegal, you baka!! Hey!
Stop!" Nakuru yelled, outraged.
"Well,
you guys wouldn't let me in! So I had to make my own entrance!!" Meiling
snapped.
"...well...I didn't think we would have any guests," Eriol said with
a weak laugh. "Such a surprise..."
The burning
atmosphere between them had shattered like glass upon a cold rock-hard floor.
Eriol and
Syaoran looked at each other, then looked away simultaneously.
Eriol held
in a disappointed sigh, trying to compose himself back to normal, trying to
slow down his heart rate.
Syaoran felt
a great disappointment slam down upon him...
He looked at
Eriol, seeing that the mage's face held a forlorn expression and downcast eyes.
"Can't
you wait downstairs, Meiling-chan?!" Nakuru yelled and ordered Meiling to
come back down. "Don't go up there! You don't have Eriol-sama's
permission! DON'T MAKE ME COME UP THERE AND DRAG YOU BACK DOWN, GIRL!!"
Nakuru and
Meiling started bickering, their voices rang throughout the whole house like
fighting birds.
"...ahem..." Eriol drew himself away from Syaoran. Syaoran felt the
disappointment grow heavier when Eriol's hands let go of Syaoran's arms.
Their eyes
still averted from each other, Eriol looked to the right and Syaoran looked to
the left.
An image
from Syaoran's dream flashed into his head:
---*---
Nani!?!
Syaoran felt the ground beneath disappeared in a whirl of darkness, his eyes
widened. The grip between Syaoran's hand and the unknown-person's hand
loosened...
He gasped as
he was slowly falling into the darkness, his hand slipped from the other
person's. Syaoran felt as if he lost something (or someone) precious.
"...IIE!!" he yelled, disappointment, frustration, regret, and
sadness struck him like spears all at once.
---*---
Syaoran
clenched his teeth and narrowed his eyes...he could kill Meiling...it was very,
VERY tempting to do so at the moment...
"I
don't trust HIIRAGIZAWA," Meiling declared loudly. "There was always
something suspicious about him!"
"Well,
there always something annoying about YOU, but we never said anything
before!" Nakuru snapped back.
...again...the bickering started.
"Well,
it seems an escort here has come to take you home," Eriol smiled, even
though it hurt him badly. "Aren't you glad?" Eriol walked over and
opened the door.
Syaoran's
hands curled into fists for a moment, then forced himself to relax. His heart
was still beating wildly, pounding in his ears.
"...yeah. Great." Syaoran nodded his head, his voice dull. He pushed
himself off the wall and went for the door.
Meiling
turned her amber eyes toward Syaoran who appeared on top of the stairs.
"Syaoran-kun!!" Meiling rushed up the stairs, relieved. "You're
all right—hey!!
"Ah,
ah, ah," Nakuru grabbed the back of Meiling's jacket and pulled her back
down. "I told you, you don't have Eriol-sama's permission! And Syaoran-kun
is really sick, the last thing he needs is for you to hug him! I don't want
Syaoran-kun to be exposed to bad medicine."
Meiling
turned a furious red and spun around, glaring daggers at Nakuru, "WHAT DID
YOU SAY!?"
"It's
all right, Nakuru-chan," Eriol said calmly with a fake, yet flawless
smile. "Please, Meiling-san, why don't you come to kitchen and we'll
prepare a quick warm cup of tea for you?" he offered politely.
Meiling
paused, narrowing her eyes, but let out a sigh of defeat, "It IS cold
out...fine. I accept."
Eriol
smiled, "Nakuru-chan, please show her the way..."
Nakuru was
reluctant, crossing her arms and frowned, "Hmph..."
"Please, Nakuru-chan." Eriol said.
"...fine...yes, Eriol-sama..." Nakuru mumbled. "Just to tell
you, if it weren't for Eriol-sama, I would have thrown you out the house from
the top floor, so be grateful!" Nakuru snapped at Meiling.
"I'd
like to see you even try!!" Meiling snapped back.
"Nakuru-chan—" Eriol chided with subtle warning.
"Meiling—" Syaoran chided with noticeable annoyance.
"...okay, okay..." Nakuru and Meiling both grumbled and made their
way to the kitchen, glaring swords and daggers at each other.
Eriol took a
step down, glancing at Syaoran.
"Do you
need help going down the stairs?" he asked quietly.
"...no." Syaoran mumbled, gripping the railing and slowly descended
the stairs. He stepped past Eriol, they glanced at each other for a few
seconds.
"We
should...forget anything ever happened." Syaoran said quietly and turned
his head away. He descended the stairs ahead of Eriol.
"...
... ..." Eriol closed his eyes, his head slightly dropped as the stabbing
pain of disappointment attacked him. He forced himself to speak.
"...Of
course, Syaoran-kun." Eriol agreed quietly, descending the stairs.
"How do
you like the tea, Meiling-san?" Eriol asked, sipping his tea.
"Nakuru-chan made it herself."
"It's
too weak," Meiling declared.
Nakuru's
eyebrow twitched.
"It's
too sweet...too much honey. The honey tastes cheap, too," Meiling added.
A large
stress-mark popped on Nakuru's head, her eyebrow twitched again. She grit her
teeth.
Eriol-sama
is here...I. Cannot. Do. Anything. He. Will. Be. Upset…
"And it
has a horrible after-taste." Meiling finished. Meiling pushed the teacup
away disdainfully.
Another
stress-mark popped on Nakuru's head. The teacup Nakuru held in her own hand
almost cracked. She was about to stand up and yell, but she saw Eriol give her
a 'look'.
Nakuru
cursed mentally, both in English and Japanese. She forced herself to calm down,
but was instantly relieved when an idea entered her head.
"Let me
make a different cup of tea for you then," Nakuru said through her
clenched teeth. She took Meiling's cup and walked away to the kitchen,
muttering something like 'damn Chinese witch...'
A sweatdrop
ran down Eriol's head. Syaoran was unusually quiet, not touching the tea,
simply staring at the brownish-gold liquid.
"Hiiragizawa," Meiling said, looking at Eriol with narrowed eyes.
"What happened to you and Syaoran? You guys skipped three classes."
"Oh.
That," Eriol smiled. "Is that why you were worried about
Syaoran-kun?"
"Yeah," Meiling nodded her head. "The only time when Syaoran-kun
would skip a class is when he's half dead somewhere...and YOU were missing for
class, too. So I suspected it had something to do with YOU."
Eriol
chuckled, "Well, it's simple, really. Syaoran-kun was very ill and fell
unconscious and since my home was closest, I simply brought him here and let
him rest in one of the guestrooms."
"...oh..." Meiling blinked. "That all?"
"Of
course," Eriol answered, sipping the tea again. "What else could we
do?" Eriol glanced at Syaoran, Syaoran looked at him and then they both
looked away.
"...oh...well...I still don't trust you." Meiling grumbled.
Nakuru
brought back another drink for Meiling.
"This
is Ocha. I hope you enjoy it!" Nakuru said sweetly, setting the teacup in
front of Meiling.
"Hmph." Meiling glared at Nakuru. She sipped the tea, seeing it was
quite delicious and took another sip.
"Hurry
up, Meiling," Syaoran grumbled. If he had to leave, he wanted to go home
now. "I'm tired." ...I'm tired of all of this...I should have told
Eriol sooner...NO! I shouldn't tell him at all!
"Okay—" Meiling nodded.
"By the
way! Syaoran-kun, didn't you leave your...coat...upstairs in the bedroom?"
Nakuru asked.
"...my
jacket...? I left it at school." Syaoran replied.
"Your
shoes then." Nakuru said again.
"They're by the doorway." Syaoran pointed.
"Your
bookbag then!" Nakuru grew desperate.
"It's
right there." Syaoran pointed to the doorway again.
"Your
school blazer!" Nakuru exclaimed desperately.
"What
are you talking about? I'm wearing it right now..." Syaoran looked at
Nakuru strangely.
"You
might have left something up there, just go up there and check, will
you?!?!" Nakuru exclaimed, frustrated.
A sweatdrop
ran down Syaoran's head, he arched his eyebrow.
"Eh...ikitamae." Nakuru added sweetly and politely.
"Hmm..." Eriol narrowed his eyes slightly. Nakuru was definitely up
to something...
Syaoran got
off the chair, out of the dining room and ascended up the stairs.
"Eriol-sama," Nakuru gently pulled Eriol up and off the chair,
"you go, too." Nakuru winked at him.
"...Nakuru-chan?" Eriol arched his eyebrow.
"Hey!" Meiling stood up. "If he goes, *I* go!!" suddenly
Meiling wavered on her feet. "...what..what's h-happening..to....me?"
Suddenly
Meiling fell to the floor, on her side. She snored softly. A smug smirk grew
upon Nakuru's lips.
"What
did you do?" Eriol blinked, half-amused and half-worried.
"Well,
I must have..accidentally..put the sleeping pills in her tea. Oh, you know, how
clumsy I am!" Nakuru answered with a mischievous smile.
"...Nakuru-chan," Eriol chided, but he couldn't help but smile.
"When Meiling-san wakes up...she'll be very angry..." he wasn't
worried at all. Meiling was not the one he was thinking about...
"Don't
worry! I'll just throw her—I mean...I'll just gently put her in one of the
closets--BEDROOMS! One of the bedrooms, I meant!" Nakuru said quickly,
laughing nervously.
"Demo...why did you do that to Meiling?" Eriol asked.
"...I...oh, Eriol-sama, don't be angry with me, but I was
eavesdropping!" Nakuru confessed nervously with a smile. "I heard you
and Syaoran-kun talking because I listened through the vents..."
A sweatdrop
rolled down Eriol's head. There was never any privacy when Nakuru was around...
"And...when something was about to happen..you two were interrupted
because of this stupid Chinese girl...so...I just wanted you to get another
chance with Syaoran-kun..." Nakuru murmured.
Despite
Nakuru's good intention, Eriol let out a frustrated sigh. Nakuru grew very
nervous. You rarely see Eriol angry...
Eriol tried
to control his anger, "Nakuru, it was a GOOD thing that nothing happened
between me and Syaoran! ...it isn't normal for me to care for him so deeply!
You know that!!"
"No!
No, I don't know! All I know is that you love him! And that's all!" Nakuru
burst out, surprised that she was yelling at her master, but she went on,
"and you know what?! There's no such thing as 'normal'!!"
Eriol opened
his mouth to protest, but...
"She's
right, Eriol-sama," Suppi flew in and hovered next to Nakuru. "There
is no such thing of 'normal' or 'right' when it comes to love---I read many
newspaper, magazine, and internet articles on this, I know what I'm talking
about." Suppi remarked logically.
Nakuru's
eyes softened, almost like a gentle sister's, and said, "Eriol-sama, we
don't care who you love...as long as you're really, truly happy."
"That's
absolutely right," Suppi nodded. "We wouldn't be your servants if we
didn't support you."
"Hai!
We'll be right behind you through anything and everything!" Nakuru added
firmly.
By his
guardians heartfelt words and efforts, the anger and frustration vanished like
vapor and Eriol slowly smiled softly, "...domo arigatou gozaimashite,
Nakuru-chan, Suppi-kun..."
"Dou
itashimashite." Suppi nodded his head.
"Now go
and hurry up there, will you?" Nakuru urged.
Eriol
nodded, a genuine smile upon his face, "...I can never repay you two for
this..."
"Don't
worry about it, Eriol-sama----" Suppi said, but...
"—Just
remember Christmas is almost here! And New Year is, too!!" Nakuru
interrupted. They knew how she adored gifts…
"...
... ..." Suppi rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. "Please just go,
Eriol-sama."
Eriol nodded
and turned away with a smile and left, ascending up the stairs to tend to the
unfinished business...
Nakuru
sniffed, "He looked so happy for once, Suppi-kun..."
"That
he did..." Suppi smiled with satisfaction, crossing his arms.
"I'M SO
HAPPY FOR ERIOL-SAMA!!!" Nakuru grabbed Suppi in a death hug and cried
happily for her master.
Suppi turned
a purplish-blue hue, lacking oxygen.
"...can't...breathe..." Suppi struggled.
"...N-Nakuru...need..a-air..."
"Eriol-sama will be so happy once Syaoran-kun accepts his own feelings for
him!! Do you think Syaoran-kun and Eriol-sama will be together,
Suppi-kun???" Nakuru asked happily.
"...t-tasu..kete!" Suppi started turning a dark shade of blue.
"Yare!!
Dinner! I almost forgot!" Nakuru exclaimed, dropping Suppi on the floor.
She rushed into the kitchen, smelling the scent of something burning...
@_@;; Suppi,
gasping in precious air.
~*~ Author's Note ~*~
I tried
really starting the romance now...^^;; Please tell me what you think! I'm
trying to keep them both 'in-character'! I'm trying not to make it sappy and
all...I still want Syaoran to have his cold, tough exterior, so I gotta think
of a way for Syaoran to love Eriol...but not be all 'emotional' and
'sentimental' And I want them to have a difficult time finding peace...well,
I'll try my best!
Thank you
for reading! I'm writing the next chapter, but school is beginning and I gotta
get ready instead of writing...but I can't help it! I must write on!! ^^;
~*~ Glossary ~*~
Kuso yaro: Damn you (one of the many rude ways of saying this phrase ^^ )
Ocha: Green tea
Ikitamae: Please go
Demo: But
Domo arigatou gozaimashite: Thank you very much
Dou itashimashite: Your welcome; don't mention it
Tasukete! : help!
Yare! : oh, my goodness!; oh!