Urthe: Do we really have to do this?

Verthande: If you want your chapter posted, yes we have to!!

Urthe: This is so humiliating -_-… were did you get these bat costumes?

Verthande: Shh! If Skolde hears us… I got them from Tomoyo, aren't they cute?

Skolde: (behind them) If I hear you what?

Urthe and Verthande: (screams) IT WAS HER IDEA!

Skolde: So you're trying to post a chapter before getting the 100 reviews?!

Urthe: Gomen, demo we have to tell our readers to visit our new web page and to look at our channels and if we wait for 100 reviews… I'll write the next chapter when I get to be 2100 years old!!!!

Skolde: Okie, I'll let you post the next chapter under one condition….

Verthande: Which is…?

Skolde: I WANT ONE OF THOSE COSTUMES!!

Urthe and Verthande: (sweat drops) we don't own CCS! *whispers* CLAMP does

Skolde: On with the FICCY!!!

Tender Deception

Tomoyo looked at Koomi wide eyed. She thought she hadn't heard right and she asked:

"What do you mean by that?"

"What do you think I mean? I make love, intercourse!"

"But Koomi-Chan! You're younger that I am! Aren't you a virgin?"

"Oh please! You're talking like an old maid! What is really virginity? I think that being a virgin is something that's only on your brain. Let's said for a moment that I liked Eriol and I had sex with him. That's having no morals or virginity. But having sex, no, making love with your boyfriend, the person you love and intend to get married with, it's normal. If it wasn't I'd consider that I didn't love him and he, even if he loved me and stayed by my side, he would look for another woman so he could get satisfaction and I… wouldn't tolerate that!"

"Well there are many ways to think about such an issue. I on the other hand wouldn't be able to make love, even if I had a boyfriend"

"I don't know… they say you're about to finish your career, but I wonder where you studied, lived and were educated, because what you're saying sounds demented to me. Maybe you're so naïve that you consider that making love before getting married is an atrocity"

Tomoyo sighed. She looked in front of her. Slowly Eriol with hands on his pockets walked through the parking lot and seemed to be heading towards the two girls

"To tell you the truth" continued Tomoyo as she kept looking at the approaching figure "Maybe it's because I've never ever had a boyfriend. After I finished my primary school I went directly to study in an intern school, from there I went to the University in London…"

"And you finished here as a waitress? I don't get that?"

"Well you see it's really simple. I was tired of society. I wanted to be independent, to live out of what I earned. My mother doesn't know where I am or what am I doing to live"

"You mean you haven't told your parents you're here?!"

"No, demo I think mom understood finally. I send her a letter once in a while. She won't try to look for me either. She knows my level of maturity, my way of acting around other people, and when I write her, she knows I'm ok"

Eriol was in front of the two girls. His legs were separated and he looked at each girl as if he was deciding who was prettier. And they both were. Tomoyo's eyes gave him the sensation that he was looking at a clear evening sky.

"If you allow me I can stay with you girls here for a while" he said

The two girls looked at each other and automatically, as if they were being pushed by a spring, they separated from each other, until Eriol could fit between the two. He sat down and stretched his legs.

Tomoyo looked at his boots. They looked like a cowboy's and where filled with grease. His face seemed to be much tanned.

Suddenly, someone called Koomi from the kitchen and Eriol kept looking at Tomoyo with an expression that she thought was questionable. After a while he said:

"The day you want I can invite you to eat, well it has to be the day we have the afternoon free, on Sunday, when people don't come. I have those hours free in my contract"

"I'm free during those hours also" she said dryly

"Hey I remember your name Tomoy, but I forgot your last name"

"Amamiya"

"My name is Eriol, as you know. Have such a common last name that mentioning it is not even needed. People forget about it very quickly"

"Do you have a long time working here?"

"No, only 8 months"

"And you're fine, right? You live in the city?

"No, I began military service in a place that's very near and after I finished I found this job. One day I'll leave this place, don't know when though" and without further ado he asked:

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No"

And after the short answer, Tomoyo blushed. She felt relief that it was already dark and that the color on her face couldn't be seen. The only light came from the parking lot, but it was so far away from them that the light hardly reached to where they were sitting.

"I don't have a girlfriend either, but I would like one thought. I like you a lot. You seem fine and educated, I on the other hand am a blockhead, but deep down inside I'm loyal and sincere, even though I don't have a good impression of life. When you're far away from your family you always look fro something to get near to, and having friends is always pleasurable". And without thinking twice he put his hand on Tomoyo's thigh.

She quickly got up and Eriol broke in laughter. She was afraid this man wanted her to fall in love with him. For a moment she thought that one day she had to go home and obey her okaasan. There was too much money on the line, too many businesses and corporations.

"Well, well" he said taking her by the hand and making her sit again. Don't be such a goodie two-shoes"

She pushed him using all her strength, but it didn't do too much, for Eriol was very strong, his thorax was almost square, his legs long…

The contact with his hands produced in Tomoyo a sensation of fear mixed with pleasure and it scared her, that's why she separated her hands from his in a rage full manner and passed her hands through her hair.

"I don't like to be touched in such a manner!" she said

Eriol laughed again in a playful way "You know what Tomoy? I think you know very little about men"

"Nothing! I know nothing! But I'll get to know about them when the time is right. If you really want to know I could've had a fiancée, but I don't want to have something imposed on me!"

"Hey, cool down! I didn't tell you any thing to get you all heated up!"

Tomoyo noticed that her temper had altered quite a bit indeed. She then calmly said:

"Well then, leave me alone!"

"You see, that's going to be a little hard. From the first day I saw you I liked you. It's the first time I ever liked a woman so much, to even think I could get married to her. Nothing like that ever happened to me. When I needed a woman to have a good time, I got her, but I never tricked her. I always told her "I want to be free independent, I don't want to get married, but I would love to spend a good time with you" So don't tell me that's being a bad person. It would be crueler to lie to you, make you fall in love with me, have sex with you and then leave you like so many men do. I can't do that, you either want to do it or you don't. Some women follow me, others don't, but I never hurt them. It's always respecting the other person"

He then stood up and looking at her he said:

"Tonight you learned a little more about me and I learned a little more about you, be sure that I'll continue trying to make you fall in love with me. I like you, I admire you. I love the way you gaze at everything, your good girl airs and it's really charming that being so innocent you decided to be a waitress…"

And with that, he left towards the cafeteria, laughing all the way.

A little while later Koomi returned, when Tomoyo's mind was a complete disaster

"Koomi-Chan, I'm going to bed. If you want you can come with me"

They slept together in the same room, with two parallel beds and a table in the middle of them. Koomi followed in silence. They both entered through the back door and went up the few steps that led them both to their room

When they entered the room, Koomi turned on the lights and noticed that Tomoyo was much altered. She asked her what was wrong because her eyes were shinning in a special way.

"I'm very preoccupied… I think Eriol is trying to seduce me"

"Well that's weird!" and without stopping her chattering se entered the bathroom "I tell you it's weird because Eriol of all the boys that work here, it the one that talks less. He never says anything; works a lot… never throws a pick-up line at a woman. He likes to look profoundly into people, but that's as far as it reaches"

Tomoyo undressed too. Hiromi-san had looked for her bags half an hour ago after he made her contract and she took her purple pajamas from her suitcase. She told Koomi everything Eriol had told her, and she saw that the amazement in the girls face only grew by the minute

"It shocks me because Eriol is so cold and distant, and he doesn't seem interested in anything but his work. I know the lives of everyone who works her, but of Eriol I know zip, nil, zero, nada. He came here one day and asked for a job, he looked serious and formal. Hiromi-san didn't think twice and hired him immediately. A few months later Miho-san offered him the place he has now, boss of the gas station workers"

"So Eriol's the boss of everyone else except of Hiromi-san and those who work in the cafeteria?"

"That's right, he's their boss. I like him a lot, but I wouldn't leave Watanabe-kun for him. I'm in love with Watanabe, but I won't deny that many times I wished I had an adventure with Eriol"

"That's quite a strong thing to say Koomi-Chan" said Tomoyo trembling

"Maybe, but it is also human. I can assure you that Watanabe as a lover is very passive; he's not the kind that looks for you day after day… or night after night. Watanabe and I make love on Sunday and he'll stay quite happy till next Sunday, instead Eriol… he's inciting, exciting and sensual. He's the type that will make you do something wild"

Tomoyo was already in her bed and she was very nervous, mostly because everything that Koomi said she had thought of it also, of course in her way, less ordinary, less clear, but she felt inside her a new situation, as if this Eriol whose last name she didn't know, produced in her mind and thoughts a new sensation that altered her completely.

In fact, she thought that if Reed continued trying to seduce her, she would fall for his charms. She imagined her mother, Sakura, Syaoran, Reed and everyone screaming at the top of their lungs at her, but she couldn't see herself with anyone but Eriol.

She slept very little and spent the whole night thinking of Eriol, because his figure with his hands inside his pockets was embedded in her mind.

It didn't last one, two or six weeks. Whenever he could, including when he went inside the cafeteria to eat and she would serve him, had something delicate and gallant to tell her

That day precisely was Sunday and lunch was being served, there was a lot of work

Tomoyo, Koomi and 2 new waitresses were serving tables as fast as they could, and when she had to serve Eriol a drink, he looked at her profoundly and whispered in a very low voice:

"What if at 3 o'clock I wait for you at the parking lot? You know I'm the personnel manager for the gas station and I can have a car all to myself, I never use it thought, but on this occasion I'll take it. What do you say?

Tomoyo turned her back on Eriol and left him without giving him an answer or serving him the drink

When all the cars left and the workers finished eating, Eriol appeared in the cafeteria once again, wearing a pair of white pants and a sweater outside them

Tomoyo was serving a table, wearing black jeans and a long sleeved red shirt, looking very graceful. She didn't wear any makeup except a very tenuous red on her lips. Her hair was done in a ponytail and on her feet she wore black sandals.

Eriol got closer to her as he always did, as if sliding through the floor as he walked.

"Hey Tomoy, I'll wait for you outside. I'll be next to the car. Don't be a fool by staying here on your own. It's Sunday, we have the afternoon free. I'll respect you as much as you want me to respect you… think about it"

She had thought about it. She was going to accept the invitation. She couldn't hide that Eriol made her terribly nervous and he knew it. As she continued thinking and not giving an answer, Eriol took her hand and smiled.

"I'll wait for you outside. Koomi left already with her boyfriend, the other girls will stay so they can continue their shift. You can stay too, but then you'll miss out on a fun-filled afternoon, an splendid one, we'll dance and eat…"

It was then when she noticed, he was leading her into the car. Her black sandals seemed to make no noise as she walked. She would've loved to scream at the top of her lungs that she didn't want to go anywhere with him, but she saw herself walking with desperation towards the car. She was filled with fear, but she kept on walking. When they reached the car Eriol opened the door silently for her.

Tomoyo entered quietly in the car, but there wasn't any doubt that she was altered about the whole situation.

Eriol sat in front of the steering wheel. He started the car and pressed a button that lowered the hood of the car. A soft breeze indicated that the air conditioner was working

"Shall we go now? You'll tell me if you wish to see more of the country side or if we should go to the city. I'm willing to do everything you want me to and I'll tell you again, I like you… a lot. I'm not sure if I'm going to ask you to marry me…"

Tomoyo gasped. She remembered her mother and the promise she had made to her.

"…probably not" continued Eriol "but at least let me love you, let yourself be loved, I'm a very good observer, and I'll tell you how I think you are"

Eriol made a pause in the conversation and Tomoyo noticed that the car ran without hurry, as if the person that was driving didn't care to arrive in time where he was headed

"I'm a normal person Tomoy, maybe a little ordinary. But deep down inside I'm a great psychologist, and whenever I see you what I observe, and don't take it harshly is knowledge, ingenuity… and fear. I tell you again, you don't have to be afraid of me. Today I'll try to tempt you, I'll ask for more intimacy, but if you say no, I won't force you to it, I won't touch you. I won't deny I'd love to, but I won't do it without the permission of the lucky gal who has a chance with me. I've never forced anyone, and I tell you this because I want you to relax a bit, stop being so reticent and become a reasonable person with whom I can spend a wonderful Sunday afternoon"

"It's just that I don't know you" She said with a tremble in her voice "I only know you work in the same place as I do and that you've chased me ever since I arrived with your persistent way of looking at me, the fresh way you use to talk to me when you hardly even know me and to top things off you try to convince me into taking me wherever you want!"

"I won't deny I went a little over the top for your attention but… you're a woman, I'm a man, there's nothing else. I don't know if I love you, I like you so much it's almost as if I did. On the other hand… what's love got to do with it when there's desire? (Verthande: isn't that a Tina Turner song? Urthe: ¬¬ how old are you girl? Skolde: ^_^ I think it is. Don't belong to us by the by) One attracts the other, and I can't deny that I want and desire you so much, that maybe that same desire makes me love you madly"

They already reached the city. As they got out of the car once it had been parked Eriol who was taller than she was, passed his hands over Tomoyo's shoulders and whispered in her ear

"Since we aren't really hungry, let's go and have a drink. I know of a place that even thought it's a bar also has a party saloon that's quite pretty. It's called "Utopia". Please, don't think it's something weird. There's an orchestra on stage and a dance floor, just that. Of course…" he said grinning "…there are also private rooms and I won't deny I would love to ask for our drinks in one of those"

"No"

"You're a terrible hard-headed gal!" he said "It's crystal clear we like each other, and we're wasting precious time, not to say a great opportunity. Why are you being so stuck up, when everything in this world is open and every single thing is forgivable or forgettable, especially when it come to love which is pleasure in it's maximum level?

"If you keep talking to me that way I'll turn back, take a bus and return to the gas station"

"All right, All right! You'll see how bored you'll get with my silence"

And so they entered the bar, sat on a stool and Eriol asked for a beer. He asked Tomoyo what she wanted, but she didn't answer, so he took the liberty of ordering the same for her. He then took out a box of cigarettes and a lighter, placing them on the table. When she saw the lighter, Tomoyo couldn't hide her amazement.

It was a gold lighter and so big was her amazement that he quickly noticed

"What's wrong? A working man can't have a golden lighter"

"I don't know what to say, that lighter is a very valuable jewel and I don't believe you're rich Eriol"

"Well, you're wrong! I have a splendid salary, great tips and I live alone. I'm a spender, not a saver. I like whatever's good and I buy it. Why should I be so miserable than having money I should deny myself the things I need or like? I think you've gotten the wrong idea, honey!"

And putting his hand on his right pocket he took out a silver cigarette case

"You see? When I want to presume with a girl, I show off my jewels and since they're a little innocent, they think I'm prince charming dressed as a gas station worker"

Tomoyo thought that Eriol wasn't prince charming, but even dressed with the blue overalls he used at work, he looked quite attractive. Of course she didn't tell him what she was thinking

Get back to earth Eriol" she said "You're a great guy and not for having that cigarette case or that lighter. You can try to conquer me, but only by being yourself I can guarantee you'll get somewhere. I don't promise anything though"

"So… if I say that I want to marry you, you'll change towards me and begin acting more generous toward me?"

"I'm not saying that! In fact I'm not even sure I could marry you if I wanted" the last bit was said with a sad tone in her voice. Eriol noticed.

"Who's not going to let you?"

"I don't know"

"You know you're resulting very mysterious"

"I can say the same. You don't seem like a common man; in fact I think you're a man of worldly knowledge"

Eriol broke out in laughter. And then, without missing a beat and still laughing, he reached out and held her hand, turned it with the palms upwards and kissed it with open lips

Tomoyo felt such a new, strange and deep sensation, that it seemed that he was making love to her. She pulled her hand away and drank some of the beer in her glass

"Don't do it again!" she said. "I've got a great deal of respect for myself, and for the same reasons I have the same respect for others, which indicates that they are supposed to emulate me!"

"Look Tomoy you're really pretty, really attractive but you're living in a world filled with clichés, those things you say are obsolete. I've never fallen in love with anyone, and now I can't stay without hearing your voice for a few minutes. I'll say you're very beautiful Tomoy, I've never spent one minute of my life thinking only of one woman only. I was always a ladies man, but now I find myself wanting, longing for only you"

"Look Eriol, I don't understand what you're trying to tell me"

"We better go and dance and stop talking, because in the end neither your reflections nor mine are going to answer this great question that is our lives. I like you so much Tomoy, I'm beginning to think I love you, maybe your ideas are more clear than mine"

Tomoyo thought without moving or stop sipping on her drink that she'd rather not dance, that she preferred he didn't touch her. She was thinking of leaving the gas station so she could return to Tomoeda.

Sonomi must've returned from her business trip to Argentina, where she spent the whole summer. Now Tomoyo wanted to return because this whole situation was making her terribly nervous

Her mother had always been her confidant, and she could tell her what was happening. She had fallen in love with a common man, who didn't look so common at all, but evidently he was a gas station worker and a poor man compared to all the fortune that was behind her. While she thought of that, Eriol got off his stool and helped her down. He circled her waist and looked deeply into her eyes.

"They're so blue" he said "that whenever I see them I feel as if I'm watching the clearest late afternoon sky surrounded only by peace and beauty. Yes you inspire passion Tomoy. You're vehement and passionate, but there's something about you that softens even the way you look at people. You're a naïve and innocent girl. You've never fallen in love, have you?"

Tomoyo shook her head slightly; she didn't want to accept she was entranced by what this man was saying.

"And you're here from somewhere" he shook his head and made a sound with his tongue "Nope, I don't imagine you living an adventure or an obscure or fake life. You're so sweet, maybe soft on the outside, but you're as hard as a rock on the inside. I've heard you only have one year left to graduate… but me… I'll never stop being a simple gas station worker… What can I offer you? I mean what I'm saying because I can't take this as a joke… this feeling"

"What are you feeling?"

Tomoyo was getting impatient, as she feared the attraction this man had over her, it also made her feel fearful and anxious, 2 complex feelings that lived inside her.

She was afraid because she knew she was destined to obey her mother and what she imposed, because as much as she said she wouldn't do it, she knew that one day she would get tired of the loneliness and the inappropriate way of living. She would return to Tomoeda, to her people, to her world.

And the anxiety she was experimenting was being caused by Eriol, for he was right, she had fallen in love with him immediately.

Urthe: Second chapter finished yay!!!!!

Verthande: Urd has her own Xanga!!! Her user name is Urd go there and talk to her

Urthe: Remember you can contact us by writing 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 DALnet or to Aniverse and enter #Anime_Avalon. We'll be waiting for you guys there

Skolde: Since you read all the way here, why not leave a long review? You know the kind we love to have?!!!

Urthe: See you in a week!