Daphne: "Ohhhhhhh! Long, angsty chapter, again!! But I will give you
this...it ends all right. Enjoy!
~*~*~*~
Refuge
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 12.
...Hiiragizawa Eriol.
"No, I am not, Tomoyo." He answered in a murmur, moving closer to her. Yes, it must be! Why would he lie about such a thing? But this Eriol was not the same as the man who had left her. No, this young man looked much too wise beyond his years, and serious. He had an almost grave look on his face, and his eyes were full of something that she could not fathom; but the fact remained. Hiiragizawa Eriol was alive, and standing directly in front of her.
For a while, all Tomoyo could do was stare at him, and hope that he didn't disappear as he did in all of her dreams. When he didn't, she finally decided that it was all true. Before either of them knew what she was doing, she had stepped forward and struck him across the face...once, twice...three times. She pulled back to strike him again, but his hand caught her wrist. His eyes were now flaming with confusion and anger, and her eyes were filled with hurt, sorrow, and anger as well.
"How could you?! How could you stay away, and let everyone believe that you were dead?! How could you let us go through all that pain and torture? I hate you! I HATE YOU!" She shrieked, her eyes blazing with all her mixed emotions. His eyes filled with anguish and he dropped her wrist, allowing her to stumble back a bit.
"I know you do." He whispered, looking away. Tomoyo, who was about to continue with her rant, halted and gazed at him in shock.
"What?" She asked, amazed. He refused to meet her eyes, and kept his gaze trained on the water below them.
"I know you hate me. It is understandable, too. I suppose I don't deserve any welcome from you, considering all I put you through. I will not bother you again, I am sorry." He muttered, turning away and beginning to leave. Tomoyo stood, stunned for a moment, but then she lurched forward and grabbed his sleeve, much to his surprise.
"Why did you stay away? Why didn't you tell us?" She whimpered, her eyes searching his face. He flinched.
"I...had to for business reasons." He said hesitantly.
"Liar." She said dryly. He turned and something in her face caused hurt and annoyance to enter his being in even stronger waves.
"Fine! You want to know the truth? I stayed away because you said that no one would miss me! You said...you wouldn't miss me. Every day I went through *hell* trying to keep myself from running in here and stealing you away, whether you wanted me to or not." He finished, his voice dropping into a sorrowful whisper as he said the last words. Tomoyo felt guilt rush through her veins. Her words had meant that much to him?
"You were doing it for fame. You wanted to prove to everyone that you are a strong leader. But they already know that! This meant nothing to them! Then you just...stayed away because of what *I* said?! You are such a baka!" She yelled, stomping her foot as tears raced down her cheeks. Her hands were clenched into fists, and her unusually pale face was flushed with unimaginable emotions.
"Tomoyo, you don't know how much your opinion, your words, mean to me..." He started, almost desperately.
"They don't mean a thing, obviously! I hate you for what you have done! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" She screamed. In a sudden rush of sheer animosity, she rushed forward and pounded his chest as she repeated, 'I hate you'. Stunned, he simply stood there, and took her weak blows for a moment, thinking of what she had just said. Then he frowned, and grasped her wrists firmly, but softly, barely able to keep his torment and pain in check.
"Stop, Daidouji-san. Just stop! I am sorry that I have caused you grief. I am sorry for bothering you, and I am sorry that I came back. I will leave tomorrow, then you will never have to see me again." He stated, his voice going from almost a shout, to almost incoherent and filled with brokenhearted grief. Without warning, he stooped and pressed his lips over hers in an anguish-filled, desperately passionate kiss. Then, before she could say anything more, he had released her wrists and disappeared into the darkness. Tomoyo stood, shocked and crying for a moment, and then without another thought, she raced back to the palace, unaware that she had left the letter behind her, lying listlessly on the dock.
~*~*~*~
*Two hours later*
'What do I feel? Do I feel anything? Why am I like this? What reason do I have to live? Will anyone miss me if I am gone?'
These were the thoughts that were running through her royal highness Princess Daidouji Tomoyo's mind, as she gazed at the beautiful, deadly weapon in her hands. It was a decorative dagger, worn by royalty (men), at special occasions. It's golden hilt was studded with rubies, diamonds, amethysts and emeralds, and the blade was a two-sided silver blade, quite sharp, and quite deadly. She studied it in sullen admiration, and then turned it so the razor-sharp point rested on her breast.
'No one will miss me.' She finally concluded, pushing the blade so it just barely made a dent in her surreally pale skin. It was just then that she heard strong, firm footsteps on the stair. Becoming frightened, Tomoyo jerked the blade away from her body and hid it under her mattress, just as someone opened the door. Drat! She had forgotten to lock it. The door shut again, but Tomoyo knew that the person was now in the room with her.
With a look near dread, Tomoyo turned to see a soaking wet, neutral-looking Prince Eriol standing in her doorway. Tomoyo was startled by his appearance; she hadn't noticed that it had started to rain about an hour before. Without a word, he strode forward, and stopped right in front of her, holding out a strangely dry piece of paper.
"I thought I told you to burn this." He said in a harsh voice. Tomoyo winced, recognizing the paper as the letter he had written her two months before.
"Since when did I ever listen to you? And would you please leave? I thought you said that I would never have to see you again." Tomoyo reminded him. He sighed.
"That is beside the point; and I said *tomorrow*. Why did you keep it?" He repeated. She sighed.
"That is no concern of yours. Now get out." She pointed at the door, but he didn't budge. Instead, he frowned at her, and then shook his head.
"Daidouji-san, I wrote you this letter, so it *is* my concern. And I told you to *burn* it! If you hate me so much, why do you insist on keeping it?" He asked in an authoritative voice. She snorted in a very unladylike way, and then turned away from him.
"Will you please leave. I have more important things to do." She snapped, walking over to her window.
"Oh, that is right! I saw you hiding the 'more important' thing under your mattress as I came in. Shall we see what it is?" He asked in a teasing voice, sounding just like he used to. Tomoyo turned around in dread as he pulled the weapon from its hiding place.
In all his life, never had Eriol ever felt so horrified, no-so terrified as he pulled that dagger out from under the mattress. Had she planned on using this on herself?! Looking up, he saw the desperate look in her eye and he knew his assumption was right. For a moment, all he could do was stare at the weapon, thinking about what would have happened if he had been only moments later in opening her door. His eyes wide, Eriol threw the dagger into the corner, and turned dangerously dark cerulean blue eyes towards the girl, who now had her face buried in her hands. The room was silent.
"You were going to use it." He said dully, unable to take it all in. She nodded mutely, and then made to go over and pick the weapon up. With a swift movement, he grasped her upper arms near the shoulder and pushed her against the wall, none to gently.
"KAMI-SAMA TOMOYO! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE DONE TO EVERYONE?!" His voice was near a scream, as he shook her hard. She sobbed, no longer able to keep her tears silent.
"It would have *killed* Sakura if you had done that! You are her best friend. And your uncle! And Yelan..." He choked on his words, tears coming to his eyes. She had been planning on killing herself! She may yet, but not if he could help it.
"They wouldn't care! They never noticed me before! No one does! Everything is Sakura, Sakura, Sakura! Never me! Never me! Not even you understand that." She wailed, as his hands ceased to shake her. He paled even more at her words. With shaking hands, he pulled her close and hugged her tightly. She was too weak to struggle, so instead, she moved closer within his comforting arms.
"I do understand, Tomoyo. I do, because of you. All my life I have gotten my way...gotten everything that I wanted. Then when you came, I realized that I couldn't have you, because for the first time in my life, you refused me. You left me with an empty space, and I felt ignored. I felt hated, and un-loved. You! You did all that to me. And by killing yourself, you would be killing a part of every one of your friends and family...and yes, you would even kill me. Perhaps not physically, but mentally and every other way possible." He whispered, now rocking her in his arms. She pulled away and threw herself on the bed, still crying softly.
"I do not mean that much to you, Majesty. I do not mean that much to anyone." She whispered, causing his heart to wrench within his chest. Slowly, he sat down next to her and hesitantly began to stroke her back.
"But you do, Tomoyo. You mean so much more to me than you will ever know, my love. Remember the letter? My feelings for you have not changed. I love you, Tomoyo, I love *you*." He emphasized the last word, leaning close to her flushed cheek and whispering into her ear. She shuddered, and then tilted her head so she could look at him out of one eye. Gently, he reached up and brushed his finger across her wet cheek. Her eyes closed, in an almost calm look, and then opened again, staring at him.
"Why?" She asked simply.
"Because a love like this is different than most. Sakura and Syaoran have it, as do Touya and Siefa, although they do not realize it yet. I have it for you, and it will never leave. I know that you cannot possibly return it, and I ask no more than this: That you rethink doing this, my love. I cannot bare to think what would happen if..." Unable to continue, Eriol buried his face in her neck, pulling her into his arms and clutching her to him. Tomoyo stiffened for a moment, trying to sort out her thoughts. But the sensation of his warm, moist breath on her neck caused her to loose her train of thought every time she regained it, and also caused her to melt in his arms meekly. Slowly, she allowed her gaze to wander over his countenance. His blue-black hair had since dried from the rain, but his pale skin still held a light-pink tinge to it from the cold. His body was shaking for some reason, which caused something alien to well up in Tomoyo's chest and choke her.
Without thinking, and without really wanting it, she allowed her hands to trail up to his chest and rest there, causing them both to shudder. Tomoyo felt a trill of pleasure race through her fingers as they felt his toned muscles beneath; it was then that she realized something.
"You are all wet...and cold!" She gasped, pulling out of his arms and staring at him in horror. He frowned at the feeling of emptiness in his arms and looked down at his wet clothes.
"No matter. The only thing that matters right now is that you are all right. Please tell me that you won't do that again?" He pleaded. She turned away, her face down.
"Who did you say would miss me?" She questioned in a soft voice.
"Yelan, Fujitaka, Sakura, Touya, Meiling, Rika, Naoko, Chiharu, Syaoran..." He paused, as her eye-lids closed over her eyes, as if to hide an inner struggle that was taking place. He sighed.
"And I. Mostly I." He murmured, his voice deep with emotion. He stood up and pulled her up with him. Taking her hand, he walked over to the place the knife had fallen and looked at it for a moment. Then, with gentle hands, he picked up the now harmless knife off the floor, went over to the window, and tossed it out into the night. Tomoyo gaped, and then giggled at his antics, as he shut the window again, and then came back. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his wet body and holding her there.
"Eriol...tell me again, what the letter said, please." She whispered. Eriol frowned and then looked thoughtful. Slowly, he began to repeat it word-for- word.
"To my Dearest Princess Daidouji Tomoyo:
If you are reading this, then I am already gone. I am sorry if I have caused you any bother, or any undue strain, by making you promise not to tell anyone of my true reasons for leaving. But there is one thing that I never got the chance to say last night, my dear.
I love you, Daidouji Tomoyo. I always have. Ever since I first saw you, wandering around, lost in my gardens when you were only eight and I was ten. I tried to hide my affections for you behind annoying jokes and the occasional offending comment, so as not to wither your child-like innocence. It hurt me so much to say those things to you, though I will admit that I got a sort of satisfaction out of it, knowing that you would never have the chance to feel the same way about me, as I did and do about you.
Now, after you read this letter through once, I want you to burn it in the next fireplace that you pass. I do not want this letter burdening you for the rest of your life, and I do not want you feeling guilty about anything you have said or done. I had all of it coming, and I deserved what I received." After reciting this, he paused, wondering what her point was. She nodded and he went on, but this time, she joined in.
"I must depart now, but again I will say that I love you, Tomoyo and I wish you all the happiness in the world.
Till' next we meet,
Hiiragizawa Eriol." They chorused. Then Tomoyo frowned slightly.
"No bother or undue strain? How could you possibly say that? And you have loved me since you were ten?" She whispered, her eyes trained on the front of his drying white shirt. He sighed.
"I didn't want you to feel guilty, Tomoyo. It wasn't your fault that I left. It was my own..."
"Duty. I see that, now. You had to do it, for your country, and for ours." She finally admitted, guilt lacing her words. He held her closer.
"Since you were ten. You have loved me that long." She murmured, her hands playing with the ties his shirt-neck, distractedly. Eriol caught his breath and waited for the response he knew would come.
*I am sorry, Eriol, but I just don't feel the same way...*
"I couldn't say that I loved you before..." She began, and his heart tore into pieces again.
"But I realize now, that I do...and have ever since that night you left, maybe even before then." She commented thoughtfully. Eriol didn't know what to say, how to react. Relief, elation, joy...and sheer ecstasy raced through his being. Her eyes were now on the ties that had come undone under her nervous fingers and a light blush had appeared on her cheeks.
"Tomoyo, you just made one big mistake." He finally muttered. She looked up in fear.
"I have?"
"You have. You forgot to...kiss me." He chuckled, dipping down and capturing her mouth in a breathtakingly passionate kiss. Tomoyo's heart raced to her throat and choked her with emotion, while he shook with joy at the fact that the woman he had always loved, was now all his. With a gasp, Tomoyo finally pulled away, panting for breath. They were both silent for a moment, lost in each others eyes, until they heard thunder rumbling outside. Tomoyo quickly pulled away, her cheeks heating.
"You are getting me wet." She commented dryly, trying to keep her dignity. He snorted and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her closer. She frowned and turned away from him, only to find his arms wrapped around her waist. With a smirk, he gently traced a path down her cheek and neck with his finger, and then allowed his lips to follow his finger. Tomoyo gasped and threw her head back, allowing him better access to her neck. Her eyes closed in ecstasy as he began to take small love-bites on her neck.
"Eriol..." She moaned, trying desperately to gain some control over the situation. Eriol chuckled against her pale skin.
"If I am getting you so wet with my clothes, that can be easily remedied." He commented in a teasing voice. She simply whimpered, as he turned her back around and kissed her lips tenderly.
"How?" She managed. Eriol's face gained a sly look.
"You seem to be getting a the idea!" He teased, eyeing her hands which had found their way through his undone ties, and were now unconsciously stroking his bare skin. She then realized what he was saying and what she was doing.
"Eriol, really!!!" She cried, her eyes widening as the blush reappeared on her cheeks. Eriol gently rubbed her cheeks with his thumbs and cupped her chin in his hands.
"I am quite warm now, love. I don't need any remedy but you." He murmured, kissing her lightly on the lips as he said this. Tomoyo shuddered, and felt her knees grow weak and unable to support her. She fell onto the bed, and since he had had no warning, he was pulled down with her.
"You are just falling for me, aren't you?" He laughed, capturing her waist again. She didn't say anything, but simply stared up at him, her eyes shining. Slowly, she allowed her fingers of one hand to trail over his cheeks, and the other to rub his back. He smiled and gently kissed her.
"How is it possible that you could love me, even when I was so horrid." She whispered.
"Easily. My heart has always belonged to you, and even when we were small I knew it." He answered. Now a sly glint entered her eyes.
"Just how much?" She teased. He looked at her in astonishment.
"Do you even need to ask?"
"Please, Eriol. Tell me how much." She whispered, her eyes pleading and her lips pouting. Gently, she allowed her hands to run along his chest, but only just barely. Eriol groaned, unable to deny her anything, but realizing at the same time, what she was trying to do.
"This much." He answered, kissing her chastely on the lips.
"This much." This time he kissed a trail down to her throat. Her breathing became shallow and forced, and her head fell back onto her pillows. He moved up so he could reached her face again, if need be.
"This much." He finished, waving his hands at the candles around the room, causing them to go out, and then pulling her into a passion-filled kiss.
"I love you, my tenshi." He whispered.
"I love you, my Eriol." She answered breathlessly, before his lips descended again on hers, and she gave herself up to him.
~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~
Refuge
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 12.
...Hiiragizawa Eriol.
"No, I am not, Tomoyo." He answered in a murmur, moving closer to her. Yes, it must be! Why would he lie about such a thing? But this Eriol was not the same as the man who had left her. No, this young man looked much too wise beyond his years, and serious. He had an almost grave look on his face, and his eyes were full of something that she could not fathom; but the fact remained. Hiiragizawa Eriol was alive, and standing directly in front of her.
For a while, all Tomoyo could do was stare at him, and hope that he didn't disappear as he did in all of her dreams. When he didn't, she finally decided that it was all true. Before either of them knew what she was doing, she had stepped forward and struck him across the face...once, twice...three times. She pulled back to strike him again, but his hand caught her wrist. His eyes were now flaming with confusion and anger, and her eyes were filled with hurt, sorrow, and anger as well.
"How could you?! How could you stay away, and let everyone believe that you were dead?! How could you let us go through all that pain and torture? I hate you! I HATE YOU!" She shrieked, her eyes blazing with all her mixed emotions. His eyes filled with anguish and he dropped her wrist, allowing her to stumble back a bit.
"I know you do." He whispered, looking away. Tomoyo, who was about to continue with her rant, halted and gazed at him in shock.
"What?" She asked, amazed. He refused to meet her eyes, and kept his gaze trained on the water below them.
"I know you hate me. It is understandable, too. I suppose I don't deserve any welcome from you, considering all I put you through. I will not bother you again, I am sorry." He muttered, turning away and beginning to leave. Tomoyo stood, stunned for a moment, but then she lurched forward and grabbed his sleeve, much to his surprise.
"Why did you stay away? Why didn't you tell us?" She whimpered, her eyes searching his face. He flinched.
"I...had to for business reasons." He said hesitantly.
"Liar." She said dryly. He turned and something in her face caused hurt and annoyance to enter his being in even stronger waves.
"Fine! You want to know the truth? I stayed away because you said that no one would miss me! You said...you wouldn't miss me. Every day I went through *hell* trying to keep myself from running in here and stealing you away, whether you wanted me to or not." He finished, his voice dropping into a sorrowful whisper as he said the last words. Tomoyo felt guilt rush through her veins. Her words had meant that much to him?
"You were doing it for fame. You wanted to prove to everyone that you are a strong leader. But they already know that! This meant nothing to them! Then you just...stayed away because of what *I* said?! You are such a baka!" She yelled, stomping her foot as tears raced down her cheeks. Her hands were clenched into fists, and her unusually pale face was flushed with unimaginable emotions.
"Tomoyo, you don't know how much your opinion, your words, mean to me..." He started, almost desperately.
"They don't mean a thing, obviously! I hate you for what you have done! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" She screamed. In a sudden rush of sheer animosity, she rushed forward and pounded his chest as she repeated, 'I hate you'. Stunned, he simply stood there, and took her weak blows for a moment, thinking of what she had just said. Then he frowned, and grasped her wrists firmly, but softly, barely able to keep his torment and pain in check.
"Stop, Daidouji-san. Just stop! I am sorry that I have caused you grief. I am sorry for bothering you, and I am sorry that I came back. I will leave tomorrow, then you will never have to see me again." He stated, his voice going from almost a shout, to almost incoherent and filled with brokenhearted grief. Without warning, he stooped and pressed his lips over hers in an anguish-filled, desperately passionate kiss. Then, before she could say anything more, he had released her wrists and disappeared into the darkness. Tomoyo stood, shocked and crying for a moment, and then without another thought, she raced back to the palace, unaware that she had left the letter behind her, lying listlessly on the dock.
~*~*~*~
*Two hours later*
'What do I feel? Do I feel anything? Why am I like this? What reason do I have to live? Will anyone miss me if I am gone?'
These were the thoughts that were running through her royal highness Princess Daidouji Tomoyo's mind, as she gazed at the beautiful, deadly weapon in her hands. It was a decorative dagger, worn by royalty (men), at special occasions. It's golden hilt was studded with rubies, diamonds, amethysts and emeralds, and the blade was a two-sided silver blade, quite sharp, and quite deadly. She studied it in sullen admiration, and then turned it so the razor-sharp point rested on her breast.
'No one will miss me.' She finally concluded, pushing the blade so it just barely made a dent in her surreally pale skin. It was just then that she heard strong, firm footsteps on the stair. Becoming frightened, Tomoyo jerked the blade away from her body and hid it under her mattress, just as someone opened the door. Drat! She had forgotten to lock it. The door shut again, but Tomoyo knew that the person was now in the room with her.
With a look near dread, Tomoyo turned to see a soaking wet, neutral-looking Prince Eriol standing in her doorway. Tomoyo was startled by his appearance; she hadn't noticed that it had started to rain about an hour before. Without a word, he strode forward, and stopped right in front of her, holding out a strangely dry piece of paper.
"I thought I told you to burn this." He said in a harsh voice. Tomoyo winced, recognizing the paper as the letter he had written her two months before.
"Since when did I ever listen to you? And would you please leave? I thought you said that I would never have to see you again." Tomoyo reminded him. He sighed.
"That is beside the point; and I said *tomorrow*. Why did you keep it?" He repeated. She sighed.
"That is no concern of yours. Now get out." She pointed at the door, but he didn't budge. Instead, he frowned at her, and then shook his head.
"Daidouji-san, I wrote you this letter, so it *is* my concern. And I told you to *burn* it! If you hate me so much, why do you insist on keeping it?" He asked in an authoritative voice. She snorted in a very unladylike way, and then turned away from him.
"Will you please leave. I have more important things to do." She snapped, walking over to her window.
"Oh, that is right! I saw you hiding the 'more important' thing under your mattress as I came in. Shall we see what it is?" He asked in a teasing voice, sounding just like he used to. Tomoyo turned around in dread as he pulled the weapon from its hiding place.
In all his life, never had Eriol ever felt so horrified, no-so terrified as he pulled that dagger out from under the mattress. Had she planned on using this on herself?! Looking up, he saw the desperate look in her eye and he knew his assumption was right. For a moment, all he could do was stare at the weapon, thinking about what would have happened if he had been only moments later in opening her door. His eyes wide, Eriol threw the dagger into the corner, and turned dangerously dark cerulean blue eyes towards the girl, who now had her face buried in her hands. The room was silent.
"You were going to use it." He said dully, unable to take it all in. She nodded mutely, and then made to go over and pick the weapon up. With a swift movement, he grasped her upper arms near the shoulder and pushed her against the wall, none to gently.
"KAMI-SAMA TOMOYO! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE DONE TO EVERYONE?!" His voice was near a scream, as he shook her hard. She sobbed, no longer able to keep her tears silent.
"It would have *killed* Sakura if you had done that! You are her best friend. And your uncle! And Yelan..." He choked on his words, tears coming to his eyes. She had been planning on killing herself! She may yet, but not if he could help it.
"They wouldn't care! They never noticed me before! No one does! Everything is Sakura, Sakura, Sakura! Never me! Never me! Not even you understand that." She wailed, as his hands ceased to shake her. He paled even more at her words. With shaking hands, he pulled her close and hugged her tightly. She was too weak to struggle, so instead, she moved closer within his comforting arms.
"I do understand, Tomoyo. I do, because of you. All my life I have gotten my way...gotten everything that I wanted. Then when you came, I realized that I couldn't have you, because for the first time in my life, you refused me. You left me with an empty space, and I felt ignored. I felt hated, and un-loved. You! You did all that to me. And by killing yourself, you would be killing a part of every one of your friends and family...and yes, you would even kill me. Perhaps not physically, but mentally and every other way possible." He whispered, now rocking her in his arms. She pulled away and threw herself on the bed, still crying softly.
"I do not mean that much to you, Majesty. I do not mean that much to anyone." She whispered, causing his heart to wrench within his chest. Slowly, he sat down next to her and hesitantly began to stroke her back.
"But you do, Tomoyo. You mean so much more to me than you will ever know, my love. Remember the letter? My feelings for you have not changed. I love you, Tomoyo, I love *you*." He emphasized the last word, leaning close to her flushed cheek and whispering into her ear. She shuddered, and then tilted her head so she could look at him out of one eye. Gently, he reached up and brushed his finger across her wet cheek. Her eyes closed, in an almost calm look, and then opened again, staring at him.
"Why?" She asked simply.
"Because a love like this is different than most. Sakura and Syaoran have it, as do Touya and Siefa, although they do not realize it yet. I have it for you, and it will never leave. I know that you cannot possibly return it, and I ask no more than this: That you rethink doing this, my love. I cannot bare to think what would happen if..." Unable to continue, Eriol buried his face in her neck, pulling her into his arms and clutching her to him. Tomoyo stiffened for a moment, trying to sort out her thoughts. But the sensation of his warm, moist breath on her neck caused her to loose her train of thought every time she regained it, and also caused her to melt in his arms meekly. Slowly, she allowed her gaze to wander over his countenance. His blue-black hair had since dried from the rain, but his pale skin still held a light-pink tinge to it from the cold. His body was shaking for some reason, which caused something alien to well up in Tomoyo's chest and choke her.
Without thinking, and without really wanting it, she allowed her hands to trail up to his chest and rest there, causing them both to shudder. Tomoyo felt a trill of pleasure race through her fingers as they felt his toned muscles beneath; it was then that she realized something.
"You are all wet...and cold!" She gasped, pulling out of his arms and staring at him in horror. He frowned at the feeling of emptiness in his arms and looked down at his wet clothes.
"No matter. The only thing that matters right now is that you are all right. Please tell me that you won't do that again?" He pleaded. She turned away, her face down.
"Who did you say would miss me?" She questioned in a soft voice.
"Yelan, Fujitaka, Sakura, Touya, Meiling, Rika, Naoko, Chiharu, Syaoran..." He paused, as her eye-lids closed over her eyes, as if to hide an inner struggle that was taking place. He sighed.
"And I. Mostly I." He murmured, his voice deep with emotion. He stood up and pulled her up with him. Taking her hand, he walked over to the place the knife had fallen and looked at it for a moment. Then, with gentle hands, he picked up the now harmless knife off the floor, went over to the window, and tossed it out into the night. Tomoyo gaped, and then giggled at his antics, as he shut the window again, and then came back. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his wet body and holding her there.
"Eriol...tell me again, what the letter said, please." She whispered. Eriol frowned and then looked thoughtful. Slowly, he began to repeat it word-for- word.
"To my Dearest Princess Daidouji Tomoyo:
If you are reading this, then I am already gone. I am sorry if I have caused you any bother, or any undue strain, by making you promise not to tell anyone of my true reasons for leaving. But there is one thing that I never got the chance to say last night, my dear.
I love you, Daidouji Tomoyo. I always have. Ever since I first saw you, wandering around, lost in my gardens when you were only eight and I was ten. I tried to hide my affections for you behind annoying jokes and the occasional offending comment, so as not to wither your child-like innocence. It hurt me so much to say those things to you, though I will admit that I got a sort of satisfaction out of it, knowing that you would never have the chance to feel the same way about me, as I did and do about you.
Now, after you read this letter through once, I want you to burn it in the next fireplace that you pass. I do not want this letter burdening you for the rest of your life, and I do not want you feeling guilty about anything you have said or done. I had all of it coming, and I deserved what I received." After reciting this, he paused, wondering what her point was. She nodded and he went on, but this time, she joined in.
"I must depart now, but again I will say that I love you, Tomoyo and I wish you all the happiness in the world.
Till' next we meet,
Hiiragizawa Eriol." They chorused. Then Tomoyo frowned slightly.
"No bother or undue strain? How could you possibly say that? And you have loved me since you were ten?" She whispered, her eyes trained on the front of his drying white shirt. He sighed.
"I didn't want you to feel guilty, Tomoyo. It wasn't your fault that I left. It was my own..."
"Duty. I see that, now. You had to do it, for your country, and for ours." She finally admitted, guilt lacing her words. He held her closer.
"Since you were ten. You have loved me that long." She murmured, her hands playing with the ties his shirt-neck, distractedly. Eriol caught his breath and waited for the response he knew would come.
*I am sorry, Eriol, but I just don't feel the same way...*
"I couldn't say that I loved you before..." She began, and his heart tore into pieces again.
"But I realize now, that I do...and have ever since that night you left, maybe even before then." She commented thoughtfully. Eriol didn't know what to say, how to react. Relief, elation, joy...and sheer ecstasy raced through his being. Her eyes were now on the ties that had come undone under her nervous fingers and a light blush had appeared on her cheeks.
"Tomoyo, you just made one big mistake." He finally muttered. She looked up in fear.
"I have?"
"You have. You forgot to...kiss me." He chuckled, dipping down and capturing her mouth in a breathtakingly passionate kiss. Tomoyo's heart raced to her throat and choked her with emotion, while he shook with joy at the fact that the woman he had always loved, was now all his. With a gasp, Tomoyo finally pulled away, panting for breath. They were both silent for a moment, lost in each others eyes, until they heard thunder rumbling outside. Tomoyo quickly pulled away, her cheeks heating.
"You are getting me wet." She commented dryly, trying to keep her dignity. He snorted and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her closer. She frowned and turned away from him, only to find his arms wrapped around her waist. With a smirk, he gently traced a path down her cheek and neck with his finger, and then allowed his lips to follow his finger. Tomoyo gasped and threw her head back, allowing him better access to her neck. Her eyes closed in ecstasy as he began to take small love-bites on her neck.
"Eriol..." She moaned, trying desperately to gain some control over the situation. Eriol chuckled against her pale skin.
"If I am getting you so wet with my clothes, that can be easily remedied." He commented in a teasing voice. She simply whimpered, as he turned her back around and kissed her lips tenderly.
"How?" She managed. Eriol's face gained a sly look.
"You seem to be getting a the idea!" He teased, eyeing her hands which had found their way through his undone ties, and were now unconsciously stroking his bare skin. She then realized what he was saying and what she was doing.
"Eriol, really!!!" She cried, her eyes widening as the blush reappeared on her cheeks. Eriol gently rubbed her cheeks with his thumbs and cupped her chin in his hands.
"I am quite warm now, love. I don't need any remedy but you." He murmured, kissing her lightly on the lips as he said this. Tomoyo shuddered, and felt her knees grow weak and unable to support her. She fell onto the bed, and since he had had no warning, he was pulled down with her.
"You are just falling for me, aren't you?" He laughed, capturing her waist again. She didn't say anything, but simply stared up at him, her eyes shining. Slowly, she allowed her fingers of one hand to trail over his cheeks, and the other to rub his back. He smiled and gently kissed her.
"How is it possible that you could love me, even when I was so horrid." She whispered.
"Easily. My heart has always belonged to you, and even when we were small I knew it." He answered. Now a sly glint entered her eyes.
"Just how much?" She teased. He looked at her in astonishment.
"Do you even need to ask?"
"Please, Eriol. Tell me how much." She whispered, her eyes pleading and her lips pouting. Gently, she allowed her hands to run along his chest, but only just barely. Eriol groaned, unable to deny her anything, but realizing at the same time, what she was trying to do.
"This much." He answered, kissing her chastely on the lips.
"This much." This time he kissed a trail down to her throat. Her breathing became shallow and forced, and her head fell back onto her pillows. He moved up so he could reached her face again, if need be.
"This much." He finished, waving his hands at the candles around the room, causing them to go out, and then pulling her into a passion-filled kiss.
"I love you, my tenshi." He whispered.
"I love you, my Eriol." She answered breathlessly, before his lips descended again on hers, and she gave herself up to him.
~*~*~*~