A.N: ahem..... I have just read a very dark fic, it was good though' very
good, but dark I guess.
Although I'm not sure what you guys would refer to as dark..... Don't ask me what it was coz I forgot the name..... hehehe..... I have a short-term memory..... or is it long term..... I forgot which one it was.....
I seem to be forgetting a lot......
Anyway, enough of my babbling, I'm sure you wish to hear, actually read no more of this.
On to the story......
Tears of the Phoenix
Chapter Three:
Eriol sat by the river, sketching the small kingfisher as it eyed the water with its beady eyes, in the search of a meal.
It cocked its head to the side quizzically staring at him as he put the finishing touches to the sketch.
"It looks pretty good....."
Eriol turned to see Tomoyo standing behind him admiring his sketch, her hair framing her face.
"It's nothing, just sketches....." he said closing the cover of the sketchbook.
"Eh? Not even a good morning......"She said sarcastically
Eriol smiled, "Gomen ne, Ohayou.. Tenshi-chan" he added fondly.
"No one had pet names for me....." She sighed, sitting beside him, snatching his sketchbook from his hands.
"Give that back!!" he yelled playfully, reaching for his sketchbook.
Quickly she stood holding it just out of reach, "Now what's so special in here that you don't want me to see??" she said flicking through the pages quickly
Quickly Eriol stood, trying to grab the sketchbook as she held it just out of reach.
Eriol grabbed Tomoyo around the waist, holding down one arm trying to reach for the other holding the sketchbook.
Suddenly he stopped realizing just how close he was to her.
He could feel his heart beating in his throat as he stared into her deep violet eyes. Kami-sama she was beautiful.
Quickly, when he saw fear cloud her eyes, he let go, taking a step backwards.
"Ano.... this is yours....." she said handing back his sketchbook, her cheeks flushing a deep red as his hand touched hers.
"Gomen Nasai, it was uncalled for behavior, it won't happen again," he blurted out.
"....."
He looked at her once again, a confused expression on her face, "Tomoyo, I......."
"Daijoubu da yo," she said softly turning around and straightening her kimono, "I have to go anyway......."
Eriol watched as she walked away, running her fingers through her hair.
He sat down with a thump by the riverside.
What had just happened?? What he had felt was like nothing he had ever experienced before.
Just holding her close, looking into her eyes made him content, gave him the will to get through his tough times. For a moment, he had forgotten about all his worries back in England and best of all, forgotten about the woman that awaited him patiently at home.
He felt as if just holding Tomoyo close was the only thing he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Hold her close, just stand in silence, embracing her essence and beauty.
Loving her and her alone was all that mattered......
'Love??' Eriol thought, Did he love her?? He hardly knew her?? How could you love someone you hardly knew??
"Damn, she really is something." He mumbled, running his finger through his hair.
What in the world was wrong with her?? What had come over her? Her throat had just dried up, her legs turned to jelly and everything around her seemed to disappear.
The way he looked at her, as if nothing else mattered, as if she would be the only person in his eyes forever more.
The way he held her, ever so gently, yet close enough for her to feel safe and as if she was wanted, she was needed, as if she were someone important.
Someone worthy of being loved.
Love?? Did she love him? What would it matter if he didn't love her??
But what if he did?
No, it couldn't be, she was just crazy...... No one would be stupid enough to love a person like her, she wasn't worthy of being loved by a person like him.
Anyway, how could she love him? She didn't know anything about him..... except he was different from all the other diplomats, and there was something about him, something so mysterious, every time she was around him, he'd make her heart beat faster and faster until she turned away.
At times she felt that she couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes as she felt her heart would just explode at the sight.
There definitely was something about him, but he was hiding something......
Tomoyo sat quietly in the courtyard, strumming the strings of the Koto, it's harp-like sounds filling the rooms nearby.
She sighed to herself as she ended the song, only to look up and see Eriol standing on the opposite side of the courtyard watching her with great interest.
"Ano..... Hiiragizawa-sama." She said standing, slightly shocked, unsure of how long he had been listening.
"It's very beautiful........" he smiled warmly
"Arigatou gozaimasu........" she said shyly, looking at the ground, her cheeks flushed with a pale pink
"Could you perhaps play some more for me to hear? I've never heard anything like it." he asked politely.
"Ano......."
"Play some more for our guest Tomoyo-san......" came her uncle's voice from behind her.
Hesitantly she sat down, placing her fingers lightly above the strings thinking carefully before strumming the strings.
After a moments pause, she strummed the instrument ever so delicately, the distinct Asian sound coming from the Koto.
After a while her uncle left, leaving Tomoyo alone with Eriol who had sat in front of her watching her play.
When she finished, she realized he was sitting next to her. Gently he touched her hand, "Tomoyo, about before........."
"You don't need to worry yourself about it," she said softly, "It was a misunderstanding and dishonourable actions on my behalf, I'm terribly sorry and I hope you will accept my apology." She said, standing and bowing so low, her hair touched the ground.
Eriol stood as well, trying to stop her from bowing, "The apology should be mine,"
Tomoyo shook her head, "Gomen Nasai, Hiiragizawa-sama, you have no need to worry about me being in your way, I'll try to stay away from you and keep words between us at a minimum."
"Tomoyo, do things really have to be this formal between us??"
Tomoyo's head shot up from it's lowered position of staring at the ground, "I don't quite understand....."
"We were just getting along and because of a little misunderstanding, our almost-friendship is all going to go down the drain, I don't want things to work out that way."
Tomoyo just stared at him in silence.
"I couldn't have feeling for you any way. I'm already engaged, you see, almost to be married. I could never go against her trust...."
Tomoyo's eyes welled up in sadness, but she fought back the tears, 'All worked up for nothing,' she told herself sternly.
"You understand, don't you, I'd love to be friends with you......"
"What made you think that I had different intentions, Hiiragizawa-sama??"
Eriol looked at her as she regained her composure and stared at him, no emotion showing through her.
"You are an honoured and long awaited guest, it is not my place to have such...... thoughts about such a respected person. I'm sorry if I gave off the wrong impression...." She said her voice now formal and cold.
"So.... All's forgiven?? We're friends??"
"In a certain manner, but we could never be friends, as such, you are a guest and are to be respected, and be with privileges."
"Tomoyo, I want us to be friends......."
"I'm sorry, that's not possible." She said frostily as she walked away. Before she went inside the house she stopped, "If there is anything you wish to have, anyone you wish to see, do not hesitate to call on one of the servants, I'm sure that they will tend to your every need, if it's not satisfactory, then just tell me, they will be punished for their ignorance."
He could only watch in silence as she walked back into the house through the sliding door.
"Tomoyo....." he whispered softly, pain showing through his eyes.
That night Eriol sat on his futon, writing his journal under the candlelight.
"Sumimasen, Sorry to disturb you....." came a voice from behind the thin wall separating his room from the hallway.
"Hai, Ohairi kudasai......." [yes, come on in]
"Daidouji-sama has asked if there is anything you request......"
"Ahhh......hai, yes, I'd like to speak to Tenshi-ch.....Tomoyo-san."
"Gomen nasai, but Daidouji-sama isn't available at the moment......"
"Well, what's she doing??"
"I'm not allowed to say........"
"Why not??"
"Daidouji-sama privacy is important......."
Eriol thought for a moment. "I can't speak with Tomoyo-san, but I can have anything I want??"
The maid nodded, "Hai."
"Well, could you perhaps tell me a bit about Tomoyo-san......."
"Iie, I couldn't invade Daidouji-sama's privacy......."
"Oh well, I'll just tell her that my requests were not fulfilled."
The maid looked at him her eyes wide with fear, "Onegai, do not tell her that, oh please, don't"
"Well then, I'd have to find out what I want to know......."
The maid looked at him uncertainly but then thought a moment before responding, "Ask away........" She said softly, her voice filled with unease.
Eriol sat in the garden, the maid hadn't told him much, no more than what he had already known.
If that was all the maid had known about Tomoyo, how much more was she hiding from everyone.
Suddenly he heard a mournful cry only metres away. He crawled towards the noise and peered through the bushes.
There he saw the most marvelous bird, it's crimson feathers sparkling and glistening a goldish tint every time the moonlight hit its sleek body.
This must be the elusive phoenix, the Seika Ryoshi were so desperate to catch for so many eons, and here he was, Eriol Hiiragizawa, lonely and despondent diplomat, only a few metres from it.
He then suddenly saw it's beautiful eyes, crying huge tears. He watched as they rolled down its fiery cheeks turning into small gems as the hit the ground.
He looked once more at its huge eyes, gleaming and glimmering then gasped inwardly in shock.
At the same time, the Phoenix caught sight of him and suddenly flew into the sky in a split-second.
He watched as it flew away, voices being heard in a distance, probably voices of the Seika Ryoshi.
He felt a warm feeling inside as he walked over to where it had been standing picking up cherry red feather and a shining gem from the ground.
It's eyes, the phoenix's eyes, they were so familiar........
End of chappie!!!!
Woohoo, it's done, just a few more, well more like a lot more......
I don't think I'll get it finished this year, probably next year it'll be done.
But stay patient dear readers; it will be bigger and better than ever!!
Hey, that doesn't mean I'm stopping this until next year, no way, even I'm hooked, I want to know what happens......
Oh wait, I'm the author, how silly, I decide what's happening......
Oh well.
As always
Snow Flower
Although I'm not sure what you guys would refer to as dark..... Don't ask me what it was coz I forgot the name..... hehehe..... I have a short-term memory..... or is it long term..... I forgot which one it was.....
I seem to be forgetting a lot......
Anyway, enough of my babbling, I'm sure you wish to hear, actually read no more of this.
On to the story......
Tears of the Phoenix
Chapter Three:
Eriol sat by the river, sketching the small kingfisher as it eyed the water with its beady eyes, in the search of a meal.
It cocked its head to the side quizzically staring at him as he put the finishing touches to the sketch.
"It looks pretty good....."
Eriol turned to see Tomoyo standing behind him admiring his sketch, her hair framing her face.
"It's nothing, just sketches....." he said closing the cover of the sketchbook.
"Eh? Not even a good morning......"She said sarcastically
Eriol smiled, "Gomen ne, Ohayou.. Tenshi-chan" he added fondly.
"No one had pet names for me....." She sighed, sitting beside him, snatching his sketchbook from his hands.
"Give that back!!" he yelled playfully, reaching for his sketchbook.
Quickly she stood holding it just out of reach, "Now what's so special in here that you don't want me to see??" she said flicking through the pages quickly
Quickly Eriol stood, trying to grab the sketchbook as she held it just out of reach.
Eriol grabbed Tomoyo around the waist, holding down one arm trying to reach for the other holding the sketchbook.
Suddenly he stopped realizing just how close he was to her.
He could feel his heart beating in his throat as he stared into her deep violet eyes. Kami-sama she was beautiful.
Quickly, when he saw fear cloud her eyes, he let go, taking a step backwards.
"Ano.... this is yours....." she said handing back his sketchbook, her cheeks flushing a deep red as his hand touched hers.
"Gomen Nasai, it was uncalled for behavior, it won't happen again," he blurted out.
"....."
He looked at her once again, a confused expression on her face, "Tomoyo, I......."
"Daijoubu da yo," she said softly turning around and straightening her kimono, "I have to go anyway......."
Eriol watched as she walked away, running her fingers through her hair.
He sat down with a thump by the riverside.
What had just happened?? What he had felt was like nothing he had ever experienced before.
Just holding her close, looking into her eyes made him content, gave him the will to get through his tough times. For a moment, he had forgotten about all his worries back in England and best of all, forgotten about the woman that awaited him patiently at home.
He felt as if just holding Tomoyo close was the only thing he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Hold her close, just stand in silence, embracing her essence and beauty.
Loving her and her alone was all that mattered......
'Love??' Eriol thought, Did he love her?? He hardly knew her?? How could you love someone you hardly knew??
"Damn, she really is something." He mumbled, running his finger through his hair.
What in the world was wrong with her?? What had come over her? Her throat had just dried up, her legs turned to jelly and everything around her seemed to disappear.
The way he looked at her, as if nothing else mattered, as if she would be the only person in his eyes forever more.
The way he held her, ever so gently, yet close enough for her to feel safe and as if she was wanted, she was needed, as if she were someone important.
Someone worthy of being loved.
Love?? Did she love him? What would it matter if he didn't love her??
But what if he did?
No, it couldn't be, she was just crazy...... No one would be stupid enough to love a person like her, she wasn't worthy of being loved by a person like him.
Anyway, how could she love him? She didn't know anything about him..... except he was different from all the other diplomats, and there was something about him, something so mysterious, every time she was around him, he'd make her heart beat faster and faster until she turned away.
At times she felt that she couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes as she felt her heart would just explode at the sight.
There definitely was something about him, but he was hiding something......
Tomoyo sat quietly in the courtyard, strumming the strings of the Koto, it's harp-like sounds filling the rooms nearby.
She sighed to herself as she ended the song, only to look up and see Eriol standing on the opposite side of the courtyard watching her with great interest.
"Ano..... Hiiragizawa-sama." She said standing, slightly shocked, unsure of how long he had been listening.
"It's very beautiful........" he smiled warmly
"Arigatou gozaimasu........" she said shyly, looking at the ground, her cheeks flushed with a pale pink
"Could you perhaps play some more for me to hear? I've never heard anything like it." he asked politely.
"Ano......."
"Play some more for our guest Tomoyo-san......" came her uncle's voice from behind her.
Hesitantly she sat down, placing her fingers lightly above the strings thinking carefully before strumming the strings.
After a moments pause, she strummed the instrument ever so delicately, the distinct Asian sound coming from the Koto.
After a while her uncle left, leaving Tomoyo alone with Eriol who had sat in front of her watching her play.
When she finished, she realized he was sitting next to her. Gently he touched her hand, "Tomoyo, about before........."
"You don't need to worry yourself about it," she said softly, "It was a misunderstanding and dishonourable actions on my behalf, I'm terribly sorry and I hope you will accept my apology." She said, standing and bowing so low, her hair touched the ground.
Eriol stood as well, trying to stop her from bowing, "The apology should be mine,"
Tomoyo shook her head, "Gomen Nasai, Hiiragizawa-sama, you have no need to worry about me being in your way, I'll try to stay away from you and keep words between us at a minimum."
"Tomoyo, do things really have to be this formal between us??"
Tomoyo's head shot up from it's lowered position of staring at the ground, "I don't quite understand....."
"We were just getting along and because of a little misunderstanding, our almost-friendship is all going to go down the drain, I don't want things to work out that way."
Tomoyo just stared at him in silence.
"I couldn't have feeling for you any way. I'm already engaged, you see, almost to be married. I could never go against her trust...."
Tomoyo's eyes welled up in sadness, but she fought back the tears, 'All worked up for nothing,' she told herself sternly.
"You understand, don't you, I'd love to be friends with you......"
"What made you think that I had different intentions, Hiiragizawa-sama??"
Eriol looked at her as she regained her composure and stared at him, no emotion showing through her.
"You are an honoured and long awaited guest, it is not my place to have such...... thoughts about such a respected person. I'm sorry if I gave off the wrong impression...." She said her voice now formal and cold.
"So.... All's forgiven?? We're friends??"
"In a certain manner, but we could never be friends, as such, you are a guest and are to be respected, and be with privileges."
"Tomoyo, I want us to be friends......."
"I'm sorry, that's not possible." She said frostily as she walked away. Before she went inside the house she stopped, "If there is anything you wish to have, anyone you wish to see, do not hesitate to call on one of the servants, I'm sure that they will tend to your every need, if it's not satisfactory, then just tell me, they will be punished for their ignorance."
He could only watch in silence as she walked back into the house through the sliding door.
"Tomoyo....." he whispered softly, pain showing through his eyes.
That night Eriol sat on his futon, writing his journal under the candlelight.
"Sumimasen, Sorry to disturb you....." came a voice from behind the thin wall separating his room from the hallway.
"Hai, Ohairi kudasai......." [yes, come on in]
"Daidouji-sama has asked if there is anything you request......"
"Ahhh......hai, yes, I'd like to speak to Tenshi-ch.....Tomoyo-san."
"Gomen nasai, but Daidouji-sama isn't available at the moment......"
"Well, what's she doing??"
"I'm not allowed to say........"
"Why not??"
"Daidouji-sama privacy is important......."
Eriol thought for a moment. "I can't speak with Tomoyo-san, but I can have anything I want??"
The maid nodded, "Hai."
"Well, could you perhaps tell me a bit about Tomoyo-san......."
"Iie, I couldn't invade Daidouji-sama's privacy......."
"Oh well, I'll just tell her that my requests were not fulfilled."
The maid looked at him her eyes wide with fear, "Onegai, do not tell her that, oh please, don't"
"Well then, I'd have to find out what I want to know......."
The maid looked at him uncertainly but then thought a moment before responding, "Ask away........" She said softly, her voice filled with unease.
Eriol sat in the garden, the maid hadn't told him much, no more than what he had already known.
If that was all the maid had known about Tomoyo, how much more was she hiding from everyone.
Suddenly he heard a mournful cry only metres away. He crawled towards the noise and peered through the bushes.
There he saw the most marvelous bird, it's crimson feathers sparkling and glistening a goldish tint every time the moonlight hit its sleek body.
This must be the elusive phoenix, the Seika Ryoshi were so desperate to catch for so many eons, and here he was, Eriol Hiiragizawa, lonely and despondent diplomat, only a few metres from it.
He then suddenly saw it's beautiful eyes, crying huge tears. He watched as they rolled down its fiery cheeks turning into small gems as the hit the ground.
He looked once more at its huge eyes, gleaming and glimmering then gasped inwardly in shock.
At the same time, the Phoenix caught sight of him and suddenly flew into the sky in a split-second.
He watched as it flew away, voices being heard in a distance, probably voices of the Seika Ryoshi.
He felt a warm feeling inside as he walked over to where it had been standing picking up cherry red feather and a shining gem from the ground.
It's eyes, the phoenix's eyes, they were so familiar........
End of chappie!!!!
Woohoo, it's done, just a few more, well more like a lot more......
I don't think I'll get it finished this year, probably next year it'll be done.
But stay patient dear readers; it will be bigger and better than ever!!
Hey, that doesn't mean I'm stopping this until next year, no way, even I'm hooked, I want to know what happens......
Oh wait, I'm the author, how silly, I decide what's happening......
Oh well.
As always
Snow Flower