DISCLAIMER: I do not own CCS or any of its characters. CLAMP does. This plot is a product of my imagination. Any similarities to other fan fictions are unintentional.
AMETHYST EYES
By bishounen lovah
Chapter 14
He woke up the day after she said good-bye.
That was two months ago. He never saw her again nor had he heard from her either. In the hospital, still weak, he asked for her countless of times but his colleagues couldn't tell him anything about why Tomoyo couldn't or wouldn't come. They could only recount what happened after that fateful incident when she was 'forced' to shoot him.
Once strong, he wasted no time trying to get hold of her. He went to her apartment but she wasn't there. He went to the Daidouji mansion but they wouldn't let him enter. He tried to call her but she's always unavailable.
Why was she avoiding him?
Was it her idea or was Sonomi forbidding her any outside contact?
No. She would never let her mother dictate her life again.
Was he the only one she'd been avoiding or was there others?
No, it was only him. But why?
Eriol could only think of two reasons. Either she's feeling guilty about shooting him or she does not love him anymore and did not like to be reminded of her mistake.
He prefers the first one better.
Actually he would like it more if she stopped this nonsense and talk to him but it looks like her mind's already set. On what, he doesn't know. He was sure of only one thing: he would never see her unless he does something about it.
"Oi, Hiiragizawa, do you copy?"
The loud crackle of his two-way radio broke through his dark musings. He cursed himself rather loudly. Good thing he was alone in the car where he was stationed. Never before had he been so distracted. And to think this stakeout was the most important he'd ever handled. "Sorry about that. I was thinking," he replied through the radio.
"Well stop it and focus at the task at hand," Nakajima replied. "Our butts are on the line here and if Chief finds out about this..."
"He won't," he assured, his voice full of confidence he didn't feel. They had gone behind their superiors' backs before. Sometimes they were caught, sometimes they weren't. They always got off the hook though. But this was different. If caught, they can kiss their badges good bye.
No. Think positive, Hiiragizawa. Everything will turn out smoothly.
This wasn't the first time they'd forcefully 'invite' someone for an interview without a warrant. But the circumstance of this case was different. It was making his sweaty hands grip the steering wheel more tightly.
"Heads up," another voice was heard from the radio. It was Egami. He was the guy who lifted Kazuma's print from Tomoyo's angel brooch but right now he was posing as a valet. On cue, guests started streaming out of the large estate. For nearly an hour, Eriol and his men patiently waited for all the guests and hired help to leave. And then he saw the target.
"On my signal," he radioed. They waited for the newly weds to get in their limousine and drive off. The moment the car disappeared from view, Eriol gave the signal to close in.
Several men dressed in black rushed from their posts and hiding places. They were all cops but their attire made them look like nasty terrorists. They held large guns and donned masks that covered their faces except for their eyes. They couldn't risk being recognized.
Amidst the confusion, Egami slipped behind the target and put her to sleep by spraying a harmless sleeping concoction in her face. He was already running off to the getaway vehicle when her bodyguards realized that their ward was being kidnapped.
"Tomoyo-sama!"
The bodyguards dared to draw their own weapons despite the ones pointed at them. One was about to shoot the valet when she was stopped.
"Don't," Sonomi said in a calm voice. One of the 'kidnappers' ordered the bodyguards to drop their guns and Sonomi nodded her consent. The other kidnappers grabbed them with gloved hands. They gathered the women, tied and blindfolded them. The knots were tight enough to give them trouble and loose enough for them to work out after a few minutes. It would buy Eriol and his men enough time to make their getaway.
The Daidouji matriarch was still whereas her bodyguards were frantic to untie the ropes on their hands and feet. She wasn't worried about her daughter's safety. In fact she knew that Tomoyo had never been safer.
Though muffled, she recognized the man's voice. Besides, she'd know those blue eyes anywhere.
You'd better make her happy or I'll have your head for this, Hiiragizawa.
~Scene Change~
Once they had reached the outskirts of Tomoeda, two of the cars from the convoy took a left turn at an isolated dirt road while three others honked their 'good lucks' as they went past and drove on to Tokyo. The two cars stopped after a while and four men got out, two from each. Nakajima and Egami got out from the lead car while Eriol and another cop got out from the one behind. The four discussed their route and plan for a while then Eriol and Egami switched places. Eriol got in the back of the lead car while Nakajima reclaimed his place in the driver's seat.
Eriol arranged his precious hostage closer to him with her head on his lap. The backseat offered enough comfortable room for them although Tomoyo was curled up in an unconscious heap. He reached at the space behind his head for the thick blanket, careful not to dislodge the small spray bottle he 'borrowed' from the crime lab. He didn't want to take any chance in case the initial dose wears off before they reach their destination.
As soon as he finished covering Tomoyo with the blanket and found a more comfortable position, he allowed himself to study her. It had only been two and a half months since he'd last seen her but it felt much, much longer. She still looked as beautiful as ever but noticed that she lost a lot of weight. Half of him wanted to frown at this knowledge while the other half secretly took pleasure that she looked as miserable as he.
He had spent many sleepless nights and equally disturbing days thinking about her. He only hoped that her weight loss was because she was affected with their separation and not because she was still tormented by her past. He brushed her cheek just below her silky lashes and trailed his fingers down to her lips which he traced with his thumb.
How he missed her!
Even now his eyes couldn't stop raking her delicate features, memorizing every inch just in case she disappears again. But it wasn't enough. It could never be enough. If ever his plans don't work out…if ever she tries to run away again he'll follow her to the end of the world until she gives in and be his. Come hell or hide, he'll make her his. It may sound too sappy but he was desperate.
"I have to hand it to you, Hiiragizawa, I've heard of lots of techniques men use to get their women, even used some of them, but this tops the lot. She must be some girl." Nakajima said as he periodically observed Eriol through the rearview mirror.
"Yeah," he replied but didn't bother to look up.
A few more minutes of silence passed. Nakajima still couldn't believe his eyes. The elusive Eriol Hiiragizawa…smitten beyond words. He surprised Nakajima. Heck! He surprised the whole division (minus their superiors) when he asked for their help.
Fact number one: Eriol Hiiragizawa is a one-man police department. He never asks for help. Not unless he has already exhausted all possible solutions.
Fact number two: Eriol Hiiragizawa is the cleanest cop there is. He never uses his badge for personal reasons.
Fact number three: Eriol Hiiragizawa is a cold bastard. A good cop…a decent friend…but a cold bastard. At least he once was.
None of them, not even Eriol himself, had ever imagined that he'd ever find interest in another human being, least of all fall deeply and irrevocably in love with her. Though who could blame him? Tomoyo Daidouji, like Eriol, was one of a kind.
"You suit each other well," Nakajima voiced out.
Eriol finally looked up in confusion. "Uh, thanks."
"Don't worry about the mother. Chief Hanagata agreed to take care of her and promised to call me once she filed the report. We could stall and probably buy you 24 to 36 hours. That ought to give you enough time to fix things with your princess."
"Thanks. I owe you guys."
"Nothing to thank us about. You just provided us an entertainment that would last for a long while. You've just unwittingly gave us something to pester you about. Once you set foot in the precinct, you'd be sorry you ever called for help."
"Keh! I'm starting to regret it already," Eriol replied in sarcasm. But deep inside he didn't mind. He knew of the consequences and he's willing to face them as long as everything turns out well between him and Tomoyo.
It took them almost two hours to reach the safe house hidden in the foot of a mountain. Fortunately, their 'hostage' slept like a rock. She didn't even stir when Eriol carried her into the cabin and deposited her on the bed. Her exhaustion and need for rest was apparent.
By the time he managed to stop gazing at her, his men were all set to go. The provisions were carried in. The generator was ready for the night. The car was brought to the back, hidden underneath the seats were his mobile phone and two-way radio in case things don't go as planned.
Nakajima handed him the set of keys. He also gave him his handcuffs and a perverted grin. "Just in case things get kinky," he explained.
Eriol's scowl would have gotten its desired effect had it not been for his sudden blush. The guys gave him encouraging slaps on the back then left the cabin with unified laughs. He stood there for a second then shook his head good-naturedly. The guys would never let him live this down, he was sure of it.
He hid the cuffs and keys in one of the kitchen's overhead cupboard then proceeded to cook dinner. Afterwards, he sat beside the bed and waited for Tomoyo to wake up.
He was on the verge of falling asleep himself when her head turned in the slightest movement and her lips parted to let out a soft sigh. Eriol straightened from his very uncomfortable position and held his breath. It wasn't long before amethyst eyes opened and took in her surrounding. Her eyes roamed then widened in surprise and went back to his still form
"Eriol," she whispered. The way she says his name never fails to evoke emotions in him. At this moment there was a hunger he'd never known before, brought by months of imagining hearing her voice only to realize that he was fooling himself.
It wasn't fair. Her hold on him wasn't fair.
But, God, it felt right.
He helped her sit up and waited for her to remember and piece everything together. He knew from her gasp and accusing glare that she already did. It wasn't hard to connect him to her latest abduction. After all, he was still wearing his all-black outfit.
"What's going on?" she demanded, her eyes flashing in anger or some other deep emotion.
He tried to reach for her, to calm her, but stopped when she shirked away. "I'm sorry, Tomoyo, really I am. I know what a despicable thing I did considering your past trauma but I had no other choice. I had to see you. I needed to see you."
From her eyes and facial expression, he could see her indecision teeter from anger and incredulity to acceptance and desire…desire to give in, if nothing else. He decided to take the plunge, hoping that his words would reach her.
"I love you, Tomoyo."
It reached her all right. There was a brief pleasure before her beautiful eyes hardened. She threw the blanket aside then quickly stood up, so fast that her still fuzzy mind reacted. He caught her but she shrugged his hands away once she was more or less composed.
"You said what you wanted to say, Hiiragizawa, now I demand you bring me home."
"No!" Eriol grabbed her elbow and forced her to face him again. "You've had your chance. I gave you your space. Now it's my turn. I won't let you push me away again. At least not until I know why you've been avoiding me."
"If I told you, would you leave me alone?"
He pretended to consider this for a while then smirked, "No."
"Of all the—!" she sputtered out then yanked her arm away. She looked around then stormed out of the cabin.
He looked up and said a silent prayer to whichever heavenly being was listening in to give him strength then followed her outside for round two.
To be concluded…
BISHLOV NOTES:
[1] The LAST CHAPTER won't be up until I update my latest pet project "Passion". I know, another stupid plugging but what the heck! It's a Rika+Terada AU romance so if anyone's interested…
[2] About my CONTINUITY ERROR, it involves chapters 11 and 12. In chap11, I wrote that Tomoyo checked all of the windows and doors if they were open so that she and the girl could escape. In chap12, there were snipers who were watching the windows but didn't see Tomoyo checking them. Those two scenes should have coincided but I was too lazy to edit it or change the flow of the plot. So now you know.
[3] *Sniff sniff* I'm gonna start thanking you guys now since this story is at its end. I never expected this to have lots of readers since E+T is too common. I owe the success of this fic to my reviewers because they pushed me and corrected me and cursed me and threatened my life and did everything possible in such small review boxes. KISSY THANKS, MINNA-SAN!!!