Chapter Seven: Warmth
Soujiro was still pondering the question that Li had put to him earlier. You care about Daidouji-san, don't you?
Did he? Li had said that Kinomoto-san was the only one who could make him feel warm with just a touch or a look. Daidouji-san made him feel warm when he saw her happy. He liked feeling like that. He liked making her happy. Did that mean he cared about her? He wanted to say yes.
"Thank you for waiting, Seta-san, Syaoran-kun," Kinomoto-san was smiling brightly as she walked toward them.
Soujiro saw Daidouji-san waking behind her friend. She looked a little different than she did before they went out. She still had the…peng-uin in her arms, but the way her lips were curled into a slight smile made him feel odd, and her face seemed a bit more colored than before. Probably just flustered from paddling around the pond. As they approached, she looked at him briefly and away again. He felt that warmth again, this time in his face as well as his chest.
Kinomoto-san giggled behind her hand, and Li looked at her strangely, "What are you laughing about?"
Kinomoto-san looked straight at Soujiro, "I've never seen him blush before! He's so cute!"
Soujiro was confused. Me? Blushing? I've never done that before. She must be mistaken. Then he heard Daidouji-san giggle as well. She was looking at him now, "She's right, you are cute when you blush."
Soujiro blinked. He scratched the back of his head, laughing a little, "I'm flattered…I…uh…don't really know what else to say." He was feeling a little uncomfortable, which didn't usually happen to him either.
Daidouji-san walked near him, and he stopped moving. She was still red from blushing before, "Seta-san, will you walk with me?" She kept looking at him and back to the peng-uin she held in her arms.
"If you want, I'd be happy to," he wasn't sure what he was getting himself into now. He felt distracted by her. Not that he really minded, but it made it difficult for him to act normally.
Kinomoto-san stood next to Li, "We'll meet you guys later." She was smiling slyly, then she winked at them both. This is getting strange. Li looked like he was about to ask her something when she suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him back toward the festival, "Syaoran-kun, would you get me another cotton candy?"
They turned and started on a path that he assumed went around the small lake she and Kinomoto-san had just been on. They walked in silence for a while. The stars and the sliver of moon reflected off the water were the only light now. The sounds of the festival could barely be heard.
As they walked, he realized that he had been smiling. Not a smile he used to hide the ghosts of those he had killed or the pain he felt in his heart for them. He felt…happy. He looked at the girl walking next to him. She somehow made him forget about the monster that he had been. The dim starlight made her seem so wonderful. She truly was the kindest person he had ever met.
Kindness was difficult for him. He had been an assassin most of his life. Kindness was not something he had ever learned. But something about this girl named Daidouji Tomoyo made it so easy for him. It was like a part of him that he never knew had existed had been awakened. For the first time since he could remember, he was able to forget about the demons of his past and feel again.
"Sakura-chan told me about your step-family," she said solemnly, "I'm really sorry."
He stiffened. "It's ok, the past is the past, you shouldn't worry yourself about my hardships," he replied, trying to convince her not to worry.
Her voice became sad, "You shouldn't have had to grow up without someone who cared about you." He wasn't sure what he should say to her now. What could he say to her?
"I…" he was becoming uncertain, "I don't want you to feel sad…especially not because of me."
"You've done everything you can to make sure others are happy," his walk slowed, she held the stuffed animal tightly, "You gave me this penguin just to make me happy." He stopped, and she had moved in front of him, but she hadn't turned to face him.
"You worry so much about ensuring the happiness of others," her voice was shaky now, "you forget about your own."
She knelt down and gently set the peng-uin on the ground. "I don't want you to be lonely."
She stood and turned to him slowly. Her hands were clasped over her heart, and her crystal blue eyes were full of tears. It pained him to see her full of sadness like this. Especially since she was worried about him. "Seta-san?" her voice was quiet.
He replied with the same quiet tone, "Yes?"
"Can I call you Soujiro?"
"Yes...may I call you Tomoyo?"
She lowered her head slightly and slowly took a step forward toward him. He was confused. What should he do? How could he console her? I don't understand!
She was inches away from him. He could hear her breathe. Tell me what you want, Tomoyo! What do you want me to do?!
She slowly unclasped her hands and moved them forward. He tried to think, but he couldn't sort out one thought from the other. Her hands rested on his chest.
So many thoughts went through my head, it was like I wasn't thinking at all.
Her head moved forward onto his shoulder.
I was frozen, and yet I felt warm.
He could feel her tears warm his neck. He tried to move his arms. They were shaking, but they found their way to her shoulders.
I became more aware of my feelings for her, and her touch didn't make me freeze anymore.
They pulled each other closer.
It just made me feel warm, and content.
He lightly rested his head on hers.
That's when I realized…
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Well, well… It only took me the better part of a year to update this fic. I apologize to any of you out there who were waiting on this, as you obviously had an awful long time to wait.
Anyhow, I am actually writing my brains out with my current Oh! My Goddess project (which is now in the 60K word region). Due to this, I will not be doing much of anything with my other stories until it is finished. I might go back and do some small revisions or chapter updates here and there, but it will likely be a while longer before I do anything more with this fic, though I may come back earlier if enough of you ask (^__^)!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this. Feel free to check my other stories as well!
Thanks for reading!
Boogiepop
