A/N:.... For the first time in my life I actually have nothing to say.... very peculiar.... Thanx to all who reviewed. And enjoy!
Disclaimers: This year for my birthday I asked for omnipotent control of CCS and the G-Wing boys. All I got was a lot of chocolate, an annoying sister and a huge headache.
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Part II: Stranded: Misdemeanours
Cheery rays of sunlight streamed through the lacy curtains and spilled on the face of a sleeping young man. Eriol turned his head away from the disturbing light and buried it underneath his pillow. It was too early, and the bed just so happened to be warm and comfy. Sweet visions were about to start dancing in front of his lids when a delicious aroma filled his nostrils: laches (1) and possibly eggs and bacon.
He dazedly lifted the comforter and stood on wary feet. He walked to the strange shaped window and opened the weathered shutters; he took a whiff of the air, relaxing. He marvelled at the scenery of the garden. Emerald grass gleamed in the bright sun, the various flowers bursting with colours. The apple tree stood as the main focus, beyond it was the fishpond. Outside the town's parameters, stretched the seemingly never-ending forest, the far away mountains faintly visible from the treetops.
He sighed, it was so peaceful in Vergel, he wished he could stay in this town forever; this would be a perfect place to raise a family. For a second he was struck with a vision of himself sitting on a porch swing, his children playing with Spinel's wings, his wife snuggled lovingly beside him. He shook his head; such thoughts were forbidden and would likely drive him stark raving mad.
It has been a week since the company arrived in this realm and a week since Hanney took them into her home. The people of this town were still afraid of them, and so the local inn refused to take them in. They also didn't have local money. Hanney let them stay at her house in exchange for help with domestic chores; after all, she was an old woman. Eriol did not mind the strenuous corporeal labour; he felt he owed it to the hostess.
His thoughts were interrupted by the growling of his stomach, and he suddenly remembered that he was hungry. Pulling on a clean cotton shirt and simple brown work pants, he turned from the scenic vistas and headed for the stairs. He didn't bother with either buttoning the shirt or brushing his dishevelled locks and strode into the kitchen area.
No one noticed his presence and he just stood there. Nakuru and Spinel were bickering over the feline guardian's meal (Nakuru wanted Suppi to sample some of her laches). Hanney was no where in sight, probably in her office, he thought absentmindedly. Nadia was munching on her breakfast while watching his two guardians, stifling giggles once in a while.
Tomoyo was kneeling down in front of Hein, his small hands wrapped around her slender neck. She wore a simple lemon coloured sundress that reached to her ankles (it used to belong to Hanney's daughter before she passed away). Her cheeks were rosy and she practically glowed with natural beauty. Ever since arriving in this town, she seemed healthier, had in fact gained a light tan. Tomoyo's hair was pulled into two pigtails, and Eriol felt a boyish urge to tug on one of those.
He was about to grasp one ebony plait when she turned around and startled him. She looked at him questioningly, then noticed his state of dress (or undress) and puffed out her cheeks.
"What's for breakfast, woman?" Eriol asked teasingly, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Oh, no!" She exclaimed. "You are not getting one morsel of food until you are properly dressed!"
He looked down at himself and grinned lopsidedly. "And what, my I ask, is wrong with my attire?"
"For starters, your shirt is opened!" Tomoyo retorted loudly.
By now, every one's eyes were on the two of them, by they didn't notice, nor did they care. "And you have a problem with that?" Eriol asked, hoping that he in some way unsettled her.
"Of course not! There's no reason for me to be!" 'Yes, there's a problem!' her mind screamed, 'You are too gorgeous to look at!' She did not feel comfortable with his exposed chest right in front of her. Tomoyo felt a certain pleasant, indescribable sensation ran through her, and fought valiantly to contain a blush. She didn't like the effects of Eriol presence had on her and was determined to ignore them for as long as she could.
"So what, are you gonna make me starve simply because you cannot stand the sight of my beautiful chest?" Eriol asked, a bit hurt that she in no way found him attractive.
Vexed, Tomoyo allowed him to take his breakfast but did not speak a word to him for the duration of the meal. While the atmosphere between the two was tense, Nakuru was having a field day. If anybody paid attention to him, they would have noticed the devious gleam in the guardian's eyes and the little sadistic gears in motion. No body did, however, and the maniacal guardian was working over load to muster evil schemes.
"Hanney said that she needed some products from the market. Do you two mind doing that?" Nakuru finally said, addressing the two. In their naughtiness, Eriol and Tomoyo didn't even perceive the hidden intentions of the guardian. Spinel, however, did and stifled a snort.
"Fine," they said simultaneously, glaring at the air in front of them.
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"What else do we have to get?" Tomoyo asked resignedly as she wove through the crowd in the market place.
"Red Ale and some ointments." Eriol replied just as wearily.
The two of them made their way to the Pharmacy, which was located at the other side of town. Tomoyo was still slightly shaken from the morning's incident. She let the cool breeze calm her nerves. As the air seeped through and past her, she began to regret her cruel words towards her companion. I wasn't his fault that she was afraid of what his simple touch, glance or melodious words did to her.
"Eriol, I'm sorry," She said out of the blue.
"I know. And I'm sorry, too," he responded. They exchanged cordial smiles; their spirits lifted considerably, they marched on with more vigour.
In no time they reached the Pharmacy, stepping inside with an extra bounce to their step. A pretty petit lady with flaming hair and green eyes welcomed them at the counter. Eriol confidently strode to the counter and with a charming grin handed the list to the girl. The clerk scanned the contents of the piece of paper, and reached for a bottle of moss green liquid.
"'Ere you go, handsome," the woman said with a syrupy smile, handing the phial to Eriol. The leer made Tomoyo cringe, and she wanted to slap the girl silly for reasons unknown to her. Steeling herself under control, she just watched the two interact.
Eriol grinner in return, thanking the lady for her assistance. The two of them were about to exit the establishment, when the clerk's voice stopped their progress. "Ma'be ye can drop by later, after you dispose of yer sister?" The woman purred suggestively and winked, sending a shiver of contempt down Tomoyo's spine.
Tomoyo looked scandalized. With a barely suppressed glare towards the lustful woman, she dragged Eriol out of the store. Stomping angrily, she made her way to the local tavern. Eriol merely smirked at her retreating back.
'Who does that hussy think she is!?' Tomoyo fumed silently. How could that woman possibly consider her Eriol's sister?! They looked similar, she had to admit, but not to the extent of them being relatives. She became even more enraged at Eriol's corresponding behaviour to the woman's advances. Something vile formed at the pit of her stomach, her delicate hands clenched in tight fists and her mouth was set in a firm line. Tomoyo felt like hurting someone.
Underneath her wrath, however, lingered uncertainty. What *did* Eriol think of her. That woman in the store was pretty; surely Eriol would be attracted to her. There wasn't any reason for him to find *her* attractive. They were mere friends, she heard him say so often. Tomoyo felt a stab of pain in the vicinity of her heart, but refused to ponder its source.
They reached the pub, The Broken Bottle, and she was about to come inside when a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She looked into Eriol's cobalt depths.
"Relax, Tomoyo. You look like you just had kittens." He joked. Opening the door before she could react, he ambled into the dimly lit room.
Following close behind him, Tomoyo stopped in her tracks. She had never visited a bar before, but it was close to what she imagined one to be. The heavy smoke hung in the air; filling her lungs and making her feel slightly light headed. There were a few men sitting on the chairs in front of the counter and in the tables beside the stained glass windows. Some of them leered hungrily at her, and she unconsciously moved closer to Eriol. Scantily clothed waitresses walked to and fro. Tomoyo couldn't help but feel a bit sick.
The bartender behind the counter gestured for them to move closer. He was a bolding man with a soggy face and buggy eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, and Tomoyo noted with some disgust the state of decay his teeth were in. While Eriol took care of the business, Tomoyo distracted herself from the stares with the multi-colour array of bottles behind the barkeeper.
Their chores finished, the two headed home, both lost in their thoughts. Eriol thought of his impression on the woman at the pharmacy and grinned unconsciously. Tomoyo thought of the impious stares she got from the men in the pub, and suppressed a shudder.
When they reached the house, both went separate ways. Tomoyo went to the room she shared with Nakuru and Nadia to take a nap she felt she deserved; Eriol went Lord-knows-where to do Lord-knows-what.
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A strange noise woke Tomoyo up. Her mind still fogged with sleep, she wondered where it came from and who in their right mind dared to make it. She tried to block it with her pillow, but her curiosity took the better of her. Pulling on a light dress, she walked downstairs and towards the back garden, where the clamour seemed to be coming from.
After approximately five minutes of searching and her curiosity level rising, she found the source behind the apple tree. Fighting back a laugh, she stared at Eriol. He was sitting waist beep in the muddy waters of the pond. His face smudged with dirt and his hair and clothes soaking. A weed hanging off his left ear, his glasses no where to be found. He was a sight to behold and laugh at.
Sensing her presence, he glowered angrily at her. The look on his face caused Tomoyo to burst in hysterical laughter. His frown deepened just as a water drop fell from his nose.
"What are you doing in there?" Tomoyo asked, holding her aching sides.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm taking a bath," He replied scornfully at her.
"Really? I didn't know you enjoyed bathing in mud. Maybe that's why illiterate women find you attractive," She retorted just as sarcastically.
"Actually, this was Nakuru's idea of a sick joke," He corrected her seriously. After a pause, he said, "Well, are you just gonna stand there? Come here and help me!"
"And what if I don't? Are you gonna threaten me with a soaked and muddy shoe," Tomoyo said back teasingly, beginning to return back to the house.
"Maybe I will!" Eriol exclaimed and aimed a ball of muck at her retreating back.
Not expecting the attack, Tomoyo did not have time to dodge the slime ball. She watched affronted as the mud spread along her back and some of her front. Deciding that leaving would be equivalent to surrender, she walked to the edge of the pond, just out of Eriol's reach.
Picking up the mire at the base of her feet and scrunching it up in an orb, she threw it directly at her nemesis' face. Unable to manoeuvre out of the way, the mud landed in the face of it's target, who was too stunned to do anything but sputter. With a satisfied smirk, Tomoyo tuned around to walk back into the house when her foot slipped on a toadstool. Her arms flailing, she went sailing into the water. Sitting dazed on her rear end, she was barely aware of Eriol's tenor bursting in a laugh. They were now on equal ground.
Looking down at herself, she found that she was in the same state of disarray as her companion. Suddenly, her soprano voice joined his tenor in bubbly mirth, together creating a perfect harmony. They laughed for a while, letting all the tension they felt trickle away like sand in an hourglass. After that they just looked at each other smiling, coming to a silent agreement.
Awkwardly tuning to sit on her knees, Eriol followed suit. One on their knees, they began to crawl to the edge of the pond. Once on dry ground, the two collapsed in yet another fit of laughter. Sighing contently, they looked to the late afternoon sky. In pallets of vivid purple and tangerine, occasional bird flying above, the day was coming to a close. Tomoyo was beginning to wonder at the different shapes of the clouds when a loud ringing disturbed both of them out of their relaxed sated.
Looking perplexed at each other, they went into the house. Inside, Hanney and the rest were gathered around the table. Both of them ignored the inquiring quirk of Hanney's eyebrow and the squeal of delight form Nakuru. Settling on the chairs, they began pelting questions all at once at their hostess.
"Simmer down, young 'nes," the woman held out her hands.
"What's going on?" Tomoyo fired as soon as silence reigned.
"The country's bien' invaded," Hanney said solemnly. Everyone present in the room gasped. The woman continued, "I dunno who ye are or what's yer business in 'ere, but I sure know one thin', yer not safe in this town."
The foursome looked at each other worriedly; their next path had been decided for them
(tbc)
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(1) laches -- this world's equivalent of pancakes, only more crispy and sweeter.
Sorry for pathetic attempts at humour and my poor use of the English language. ;___;