Urthe: So here it is you guys my first posted story!
Verthande: Hope we don't get flamed
Skolde: Maybe we should introduce ourselves girls
Urthe: Okie. Hello everyone we are the 3 norns. I'm Urthe the Norn of the past. I write the fanfics…
Verthande: I'm Verthande Norn of the present. I take care of our IRC channel of the located on DALnet and also answer the e-mails…
Skolde: I'm Skolde the beta reader for Urthe stories.
Urthe: This is our first posted story, but there are a few rules to it. First NO FLAMES!!! If you don't like the story GO AWAY!!!! We accept constructive criticism but things like "your story sucks!" won't be allowed.
Verthande: Also NO GRAMMAR FLAMES. Let's make things clear, we are from Venezuela, but our father's are from Trinidad. That doesn't mean that even though we speak English we don't make mistakes when we write. Hey don't blame us for speaking two languages at the same time!
Skolde: Last but not least, if you like the story LEAVE A REVIEW; don't just go away, the juicer the review the better
Urthe: Now the last part, Hit it!
Verthande: we don't own CCS
Skolde: On with the FICCY!!!
Tender Deception
Tomoyo had been discussing with her mother for over two hours. To make matters worse almost all the bodyguards were there while she gave the dreadful news; standing there as statues, but something inside her told her they all felt pity for her.
"I have a deal" she said "Our companies have merged here and abroad. You don't know him, but he's really handsome. You have a year left to graduate, you're 22 and it's time for you to get married"
She glared at her mother, and Sonomi with a move of her hand made all the bodyguards leave. Now Tomoyo was going to be heard
"Mother I might be old enough to get married… but I don't even know the guy you pretend to get me married to! Are you crazy? He has so many companies he hardly ever comes to his house, I'm not even interested in meeting him for the matter. Even if he owns 50% of your business doesn't mean I have to get married to that 50%"
"But you haven't even met Reed!"
"What kind of a name is Reed?!"
"We've always called him that. He studied law and economy. Any day from now he'll arrive into the new manor that's being built right next to ours in his sport car. I'll buy you one as soon as you graduate. Please Tomoyo you have to understand, neither your grandfather or I want to destroy the society"
"And what does Reed say to that?"
"Well, it seems he hasn't given an answer"
"Of course. He doesn't even know what I look like"
"Are you going to continue with that? Your father and I met, fell in love, got married and before you were even two we divorced each other we couldn't stand living in the same house even if it was as big as a team park. But people tend to love each other after they get married, when they live together for a while and understand that they… click"
"They click? People don't click Mother! You sent me to study abroad. For 10 years you only went to visit me; I've traveled I when I come to my own house you treat me as if I'm simple merchandise and "sell" me, because there's no better way to explain it, to the partner of your company, telling me I have to marry him?
"That's what I said Tomoyo"
The young woman looked at her mother intently she was really angry with the absurd idea. Choosing a husband for a daughter was a thing of the past and not of this era so different from others, and so she answered her mother
"Well no okaasan. I'm used to traveling, so you'll give me a year of liberty. I'm not saying no in a definite way, but I want to get to know myself, and I want to work, away from your fortune. Next year I finish my studies, you'll retire and I'll take over the toy company as I promised. And if I like this Reed I'll marry him, but I have to like him mother… he has to make me fall in love with him… what does he look like?
"In the past 3 years I've only seen him twice, once when we went to England so he could take over his father's fortune and businesses when he was 20 and the last one when he finished his studies and came here to buy the lot next to ours to built the new manor next to ours, but he left shortly after finding it"
"What else?"
"Well… he's like you, a bit of an adventurer. He told his friends that he didn't want to get married, not with you, not with anybody. When they tried to show him your picture, he said no and that getting married so soon wasn't his intention. Then he left, nobody knows where he went"
"Well, I'm telling you, I'm not willing to marry someone I don't even know. When I talk to him, when I see if I like him, I'll tell you what I think. For the moment I'm going on a trip. You've taught me to travel alone; I've lived 10 years on my own, away from Nihon, its habits and customs. I want to get to know it my way, from my human and moral dimension, not yours, I'm tired of the bodyguards, and I want to know Japan my way. I have the right since I'm on age to live at least a year my way"
They discussed all night, even after all the maids were asleep. The battle was won by Tomoyo and she left very early the next morning. That afternoon Sonomi reunited with Fujitaka, Touya Sakura and her husband Syaoran, for lunch. Everyone agreed that Tomoyo had done the right thing, everyone but Sonomi that is.
"A woman is different to a man" she said "A man has a little more freedom or is completely free. That Reed said he would leave after hearing the news is completely normal. One day he'll meet Tomoyo and he may or may not fall in love with her. Her case is different. A woman, with all the education she has, will never be like a man. She's 22 years old, hasn't graduated and she left early this morning with her suitcases, clearly stating that she wanted to earn her life. That she wouldn't tell me where she was going, because she had all the intention of living off her earnings wherever she was and I'll know of her when she felt it was needed. But that for the time being, nobody would be hurt if she stayed 1 more year away from her home, she had been away from it for 10 years"
"And that makes you mad Sonomi, doesn't it?" said Fujitaka amused at Sonomi's behavior
"Well… no. I'm afraid some loser comes along and steals her away from Reed. The thing about the business is important also. When you divide companies, they always tend to have cracks, keeping them complete is like insurance for the future"
In that moment Sakura intervened
"For the moment we know that Tomoyo and Reed are educated, brave and can confront life on their own. They gotten an education precisely to know how to defend themselves in the real world and that's what they're doing. One day, they'll come back; meet and maybe they'll fall in love. If not, you shouldn't force Tomoyo into the marriage.
They talked a lot, and in the end when night finally arrived, they all agreed that both Tomoyo and Reed should choose their destinies and that they should work and live out of their own income.
Reed had left with that intention. He left his money in charge of his investors and decided to leave for at least a year. He would be a normal guy, just like Tomoyo intended to be a normal girl, with the objective of knowing exactly what that meant.
When they said their goodbyes, they all reached an agreement: They considered both Tomoyo and Reed to be very competent, responsible people who were very hard workers also. They had never disagreed with their elders wishes, except this time and it was comprehensible since they didn't love each other and hadn't even met.
The new house that Reed had finished building was separated from the Daidouji manor by only a gate. It seemed Reed had lived for a while in Tomoeda and ended falling in love with the place, but he went back to England soon after to take care of his fortune along with his investors. Reed never met his parents, they died shortly after he was born and he was left in the hands of an aunt and her little daughter. When he was twelve the aunt died and he was left with his 18 year old cousin to take care of him. She continued her mother's work and made a great effort to make him a man of many talents. He came a year or two after Tomoyo headed to London to start studying there, while he went to America.
When his cousin called him to see the new house and meet Tomoyo he refused. Instead he took all his belongings and headed where no one could get him. He said he wished to work, to meet people of a different class than his own. He hated to be so mature; he wanted to be free of responsibilities for a while.
With the same resolve, Tomoyo packed her bags and left. She hated being an heiress. She was glad that Sakura had finally accepted the Amamiya name so she wouldn't have to receive the fortune of her grandfather; she had enough with her mother's. It would be a burden to have to take care of that also. Before she left, Tomoyo turned to Sonomi once again:
"You've educated me very well mother. I've spent my entire life with the daughters and sons of ministers and millionaires. I didn't find any differences between me and them because I had the same education they did. But I have to be true to myself: I'm human, loyal and humble. That's why I want to work, earn a living, meet people like the ones I want to be like. I want to get to know about that life, because I've already had my share of this one"
As she returned home, Sonomi looked at her bodyguard and smiled.
"Want to know something Miho-san? I'm glad my daughter turned out to be just like she is. Simple, noble, with a great heart, open minded. I rather have that than any rich brat… believe me I've given her lots of chances for that"
That morning Tomoyo took the train that would take her to Tokyo city. She would be once more in a crowded city. Her mother had given her an electronic agenda which included a map of the city. There was a small village on the outskirts and there she found a hotel to spend the night.
The next day she headed into the city with her camera and her bag, and headed out to find the job that would give her something to eat for the next 12 months.
In a highway crossing there was a big gas station, with a restaurant in the middle. Something allured her to it. On the back there was a big cement wall and on the front there was a ramp and 9 gas pumps, and many men working, some selling gasoline, others cleaning around.
She remembered a picture of that particular place. When her mother gave her the electronic map, she had a picture of the gas station beside it on her night table. On it she saw they were looking for employees-
Everything was clean. She liked the place and decided to enter the cafeteria. She didn't take her suitcases. She wanted to be sure, because whatever job she took had to be humane and entertaining, most of all it would teach her how common people and lived as they moved in and out of the gas station.
As she passed in front of the gas station and its workers she saw they were dressed in navy blue overalls with the words "Moon and Stars" embroidered in white. She liked the name also and slid into the cafeteria, not without hearing the voice of a young man who commented with sarcasm:
"You look too elegant little girl. You either stop sticking up your nose at us poor people or you won't get a job here"
Tomoyo's blue eyes and black hair seemed to shimmer under the sun. She was thin, but she had a shapely figure. She turned to face whoever made the comment, a little irritated but hiding it under a cool manner and said:
"Why do you think I'm looking for a job?"
"It's obvious. You don't have a car or a cycle and you're looking around with attention. If you tell me what you want I can orient you. I'm not a bad boy. Name's Eriol, what's yours?"
Tomoyo hadn't thought of the name she would use. She didn't want to use Daidouji because everybody would know who she was. It was then when she had an idea.
"I'm Amamiya Tomoy"
"Tomoy? What a weird name. I would call my girlfriend Tomoy, maybe my daughter if I had one, but… women like you? So pretty and gorgeous, but don't let that comment go to your head, don't want your ego to sky rocket to the moon"
"Thank you Eriol, but now, leave me alone"
And so Amamiya Tomoy was born. Using the maiden name of her mother and dropping the last letter from her name did the trick. If she dared to use her mother's name it would do nothing good to her intention of living a normal life for the Daidoujis also owned gas stations.
She looked one way, then the other. She noticed the cute pink tables, the open doors and the boy that cleaned them. On the other side there was a bar with stools.
There were many persons drinking coffee or sweet drinks, Tomoyo deducted that they were the owners of the cars that were on the parking lot. She sat on a stool and a waiter came up to her.
"What do you wish miss?"
"To talk to the manager"
"Do you have a date?"
"No. I simply wish to ask him for a job. I don't think this place has many employees, especially female workers and in this kind of place that is what's needed"
The waiter looked at her quizzically, and then told her that he would take her to Hiromi-sin's office, who happened to be the manager
"You may be right. There are certain hours when there's a lot of work here and drivers want a quick service to take on the highway, and if they pass at lunch hours they always stop here. They leave their cars and trucks on the parking lot and rest here. Look at those two; they're waiting for someone to serve them their food.
He touched a door using his knuckles; she then heard a voice that said: "Come in"
The waiter pushed the door and while on the threshold he introduced Tomoyo:
"Hiromi-san, this young woman comes for a job and wants to talk to you"
"Yeah, yeah. Let her come in and you return to the cafeteria"
Tomoyo entered the office and man who had grey hair at the temples and wrinkles on his forehead and around the eyes, gave her a signal to sit on a chair that was in front of his desk while he faced her behind it
"Sit down, tell me where are you from what's your age and if you've worked before"
"My name is Amamiya Tomoy". I'm a student and I need money to get through my next semester during the winter. I don't have much money left, but I plan to earn it during the summer, so I can go to college on winter.
She took a seat and without saying anything else, she waited for his answer. He looked like a nice person, but there was a gesture in his face that indicated her that he was tired
"You've never worked have you? I can see it in your hands. They're fine hands. You're going to mess them up in this job, that is if I accept you and you agree with my conditions"
"I need the job" she said
"You find me in a moment where I need employees. This is a very frequented gas station and it's located on a key spot. The food is very good and everything is very neat. We have a very good cook and great serving personnel. We make sure the clients are well attended. Old man Shuji makes great food. Koomu is very genki. I'm not the owner of the gas station but the real owners make sure that every gas station with the name they own are close to perfect. This afternoon I'll make you a temporal contract. If everything turns right I'll leave you here all summer. The salary isn't spectacular, but you earn a lot with the tips. Look for Koomu; she'll give you your uniform. You know, blue with a white apron with the words moon and stars embroidered on it, which is also the name of the cafeteria.
Tomoyo considered herself very lucky. She would do everything possible to make everyone like her, especially Koomu and Shuji-san since they were almost like her bosses.
She found Koomu at the cafeteria, finishing cleaning the tables and putting flowers on the small crystal vases. Tomoyo noticed that she was a nice girl. Koomu looked at her with curiosity and when Tomoyo finished talking to her she only exclaimed:
"Aren't you a little too delicate to be working as a waitress Amamiya-san?"
"Please call me Tomoy Koomu-Chan" she answered "I only have one year to finish my studies, but I don't have any money, so I decided to work in anything that can so I can get enough money to graduate."
"That's so great! If Hiromi-san accepts you it's going to be such a relief. I'll give you your uniform; you'll put it on and come on over here after you finish and help me set the tables. This place is the last stop after leaving the city, and the first you see before entering, so if you cross during lunch hour you stay here to eat. Besides we have fame for being clean, cheap and good. The owners of the gas station lend us their names so we can exploit it, but we have to pay them a huge rent. Come on follow me"
She served tables that same day, she did it delicately, but not with the elegance she could have done it with. She had to be cautious; nobody could know she came from a golden crib, an intern student from an elite foreign college.
She copied Koomu, and they quickly became friends. She had doubts about the length of the skirt and her cleavage looked too open, but Koomu said it was ok. The navy blue uniform with the white apron made her look very pretty
When lunch was over, Koomu turned to Tomoyo. She was younger that Tomoyo, but she was more street wise. She had brown hair and black eyes. She had a cute face and was quite pretty. She had a nice body shape, but she felt sad because unlike Tomoyo…
"Your breasts make your cleavage look enticing… mine looks flat, unless I put cotton balls on it"
Tomoyo blushed at the comment
"Anyway" continued Koomu "I like the way you serve your tables, you do it very delicately, not too elegant or clumsy. I'll tell Hiromi-san to make you a longer contract so you can stay here during the summer. There's another boy on the gas station, his name is Eriol"
"I've met him. He's very fresh and foul-mouthed…"
"And so handsome! He's definitely a bishonen!" said Koomu filled with enthusiasm
"Don't tell me you like him?" said Tomoyo laughing out loud "Does he hit on you?"
"I wish!!!.... But he's so seductive and when he takes the blue overalls and puts on his regular clothes, the only thing I want to do is take him to bed with me! Those eyes, those lips, those muscles…" she sighed heavily and added "…that cute little ass!"
They decided to go out, so the girls of the night shift could clean the cafeteria.
"Let's go and eat something. I'll tell you more about myself and if you want you can tell me about yourself also. I'm a nurse, but I never find a job during the summer. I do it every year. I have a boyfriend, you know? He's a taxi driver with his own car. We bought a little apartment so that when we get married we have our own place and we'll both pay the mortgage. Hiromi-san will tell you that you have Sunday afternoons free, because we hardly have customers. They close the gas station and the cafeteria and every body leaves 'till late at night"
"Demo… I haven't looked for a place to sleep in!"
"And you don't have to. There are beds on the basement. We hope they bring more employees, because 2 girls serving tables isn't enough. You should go and talk to Hiromi-san, he's waiting for you"
Tomoyo walked into the office once again and Hiromi-san gave her a document
"Here, you've told me your family name, so I made out your contract. Its temporary you know. Koomu is satisfied with your behavior and so am I; you seem like a humble girl. You'll see in that document that you have Sunday afternoons free as everybody else. Sunday nights there's a lot of work, Shuji stays here along with a few girls that serve the tables until the next cook comes and takes his place"
He kept talking, but Tomoyo was reading the document. Since she found everything to be in order she signed. She was quite happy with her salary since it was more than what she expected. And besides money wasn't a problem. She had her credit card. If she needed a high amount of it, she could always go to the city and use it.
She wouldn't tell Sonomi where she was, nor intended to after summer, she would go back and finish the first semester of her career.
She thought of Reed. Whoever he was he must be doing the same thing that she was doing, experimenting with his freedom. She would meet him on the offices of the corporation that they would both own, married or single, she didn't have any intention of getting married with the man her mother choose for her.
When night finally came, after serving the tables the cars began going out, each one following their way, Tomoyo went outside the cafeteria without taking her uniform. She sat on one of the benches that were on one side of the entrance. A while later Koomi went outside also and sat next to her. They both watched the last trucks being filled with gasoline. They saw the workers on their navy blue uniforms matching their own
"Look at Eriol" said Koomi
"Eriol what? Doesn't he have a last name?"
"I think Eriol hasn't told anyone his last name except Hiromi-san, but that's not the problem! I mean look at him! His shift is over; he's taking away his uniform! Look at him for God's sakes woman! He's wearing jeans and a white sleeveless shirt. He's tanned from working under the sun all day. Those blue eyes and that raven black hair, you can deny Tomoy that he's really attractive"
"Sometimes Koomi I wonder if you're really in love with your boyfriend"
"Of course I love Watanabe! In fact I love him so much that Sunday afternoons, when I leave here, I go to our little apartment, wait for him and after having lunch, we make love"
Urthe: First chapter finished yay!!!!!
Verthande: remember, since you read all the way here remember the rules at the beginning and leave a nice review
Skolde: Since this was a 10 page story we won't write the second chapter till we get 100 reviews. AND WE MEAN THAT!
Urthe: (Shrugs) okie…..
Verthande: Anyway if you want to contact us write us at urthewishbringer@hotmail.com or if you just want to talk to us download an IRC program like mIRC, this one you can get at www.mirc.com go to Aniverse and enter #Anime_Avalons. I'll be waiting for you guys there
Skolde: Me Too!!!
Urthe: Anyway, thanks for reading. Bye!