Note: Heh heh, sorry for making you all wait for the third chapter! It took me so long to figure out how to continue on with my story and I'm back now... hope you all read and review! ^_^ From now on, the chapters will alternate between Eriol and Tomoyo.
Chapter 3 - Not Yet
TOMOYO ~ POV
"Hey! Wake up!"
I felt something wet hit my face. I heard a voice somewhere and the moment I heard it, I was forced to open my eyes and see who was talking to me. Blinking, the first thing I saw in front of me was the face of a familiar man I met before. I opened my mouth to speak, but I was far too weak to say anything. The familiar man took a step forward towards me and kneeled down to my eye level, his face filled with scorn. Once again, I tried opening my mouth to ask him who he was, my eyes still half closed and before I had the strength to, I felt something wet and refreshing against my mouth. I realized, after a couple of seconds, that he was feeding me water. After that, I heard his voice again.
"You look so pathetic when your knight and shining armor isn't here to save you," he whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "But then again, you're beauty never cease to shine."
Suddenly, I felt his handgrip around my tresses. I felt him pull my head back and the light from the lamp on the ceiling shining against my eyes. "It's time that you tell me where the Black Book is." I remembered Eriol mentioning something about a Black Book, but he never really explained to me what it was and I never really found out what it was when we wrote to each other. "WHERE IS THE BLACK BOOK?!" I heard him scream in my ears. I closed my eyes and waited until he let go of my hair and push my head back to its original spot. I didn't know what else to say. I could feel him circling me, like a hunter waiting to pounce at its prey. "No matter," he continued. "I'm going to keep you here until you start talking." With that said, the familiar man opened the metal door that I hadn't noticed was there and locked it behind him. I watched him disappear into the darkness.
I knew I had to get out, or he will keep me trap inside this place forever. I didn't know anything about the Black Book, but if I told him that some more, he will grow impatient and will start interrogating me some more. He will keep me as long as he wanted. Having the strength within me, I slightly looked over my shoulder at my hands tied with thick rope. Then I looked around me, hoping to find something sharp to cut the ropes with. As if luck was on my side, just in the corner of the small, metallic room, I noticed something shiny and sharp glaring at me. My heart started to beat with excitement, so with all my might, I placed my free feet firmly on the ground and started dragging the chair towards that shining glass. That small shard must have come from the broken window present above me. When I was close enough, I leaned back and slid a little off the chair and stretched one leg towards it, hoping to drag the glass with my foot. My hope felt high when my foot reached that glass in the corner, but as I tried dragging it towards me, it didn't budge at all. Taking a deep breath, I tried again, but it was no use- it would not move. Closing my eyes and praying to myself that it would work the third time, I leaned a little closer, did a double take by sliding off the chair a little bit and stretched my leg as far as it could go. I placed my foot on top of the glass and, closing my eyes and praying repeatedly that it would work, started skidding my foot back towards me. When I opened my eyes again, I noticed that the glass was gone from its spot. I felt my heartbeat in rejoice and I couldn't help but smile at myself. Now came the hard part and that was to lift the glass to her hands, while at the same time, try not to hurt herself during the process. I wasn't the type who was very agile, who able to move like a certain gymnast, but I knew how to improvise. Taking a deep breath, I moved my leg back towards the bottom of the chair, pushing the glass until it was behind me and leaned my whole body backwards. Anyone small and skinny could do it, so I leaned back a bit more, my back aching from the chair and prayed that I could reach the glass on the floor. However, the old, rotten chair was enabling me to do it. It took a lot of effort for me to do, so I gave up for a few seconds, and then tried again. This time, using my feet, I pushed as hard as I could until I flipped backwards. I banged my back hard against the floor, but I managed to keep myself from crying. During my time on the floor, I felt around for the glass, careful not to cut myself with it and when I finally felt the cold, glass against my fingers, I slowly picked it up and started cutting away, imagining myself back in Eriol's arms.
**********************
ERIOL ~ POV
I slammed my fists hard on the table, heat rising up in my face from anger and frustration. I couldn't take this anymore! We weren't going anywhere just by looking around for her in the large city of London. It's been a few hours now since Kaho came to me, telling me about her husband and Tomoyo. I told Nakuru and Spinel-sun to turn into their true forms and go out into the city to look for her and they haven't returned yet. I looked out the window, placing my hand on the windowsill and imagined Tomoyo's smiling face reflecting back at me. I should have stayed by her side. I could have stayed at my mansion back in Japan and could have protected the Black Book there, but what was the point? If I kept it there, I would endanger everyone else I cared for. I wouldn't have any problems if only Tomoyo stayed in Japan. She was going to be Jiro's bait from now on.
"Eriol-sama?" I turned my head around and noticed Nakuru and Spinel-sun back to their false forms, walking inside the room. I could see, from their faces, that they couldn't find her. Of course they wouldn't. Jiro was doing a great job hiding her and London was far too big for them to cover every hiding spot they could think of.
Sighing and feeling a little disappointed, even though I knew they wouldn't have any luck finding her, I turned my whole body around to face the window once more and nodded. "Thank you for trying, Nakuru and Spinel-sun. Could you leave me alone for a while?" In the corner of my eye, I could see a figure appearing only to me.
Nakuru and Spinel-sun obeyed. They bowed their heads and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind them. I looked out the window. The clouds were forming into rain clouds and just as I thought... it was going to rain- a sign of darkness. "What do you want from me, Jiro?" I spoke out loud. "Where is she?" I jerked my whole body around to face the intruder.
A shadow appeared beside me. That same shadow stepped into the light of the moon and showed his face to me. Even though his appearance was that of his nephew, I could still see Jiro's smirking face, which made my blood run cold. "My Eriol, I had no idea you had it in you still. I thought you gave up your use of magic and wish to live as a normal person?" Jiro took a step forward, towering me only five inches. Kei was tall, but not tall enough for me to be overwhelmed by his height. Cowards like him did not easily intimidate me.
"You're pathetic..." I turned back around to the window and closed my eyes. "...Using Tomoyo as a shield, because you are such a coward to face me alone." I clasped my hands behind me and took a deep breath, trying not to lose my temper on him. There was no point in doing that, because I knew I was going to beat him even when
Anger rose in Jiro's face as I watched him from the reflection in the mirror. "I'm facing you right now, aren't I?"
I laughed, too menacingly, but I was too angry to realize the extent of that cruel gesture. Then again, Jiro made my life a living hell so I had no reason to doubt my anger towards him. I thought for a moment for something calming to say. I wasn't about to lose my temper towards him. It would show Jiro how weak I could me. "You want the Black Book so bad that you would sacrifice an innocent life?"
Jiro said nothing, confirming his answer. I stood there, continuously watching his reflection through the window, without a doubt in my mind that my decision would be to kill him if I found out that Tomoyo was hurt in any way, even if he is inside the body of Kaho's husband. "You know I will not hesitate to kill you if you do anything to harm her. Think how Kaho will react." I knew I was being unfair to the red haired woman, but I couldn't help it. I was feeling rather irritable and worried for Tomoyo that even Kaho could not replace my heart from frustration. Clearing my head of those thoughts, I took a deeper breath. "I thought you loved Kaho. Don't you care about how she feels?"
The tall man said nothing for a while and then, "That was in the past. Kaho has truly changed her heart from me and turned her back against me. Kei is a more dependable candidate than Kaho will ever be. He is my nephew after all." Jiro turned away from him and before he left, he turned his head towards me and smirked. "Think about what you're doing, Eriol. You're also sacrificing the one who is even more valuable than Kaho was." With that said, Jiro disappeared once again into the darkness.
I thought about what he said. Slamming my fists against the window, almost shattering them into pieces from my anger, I closed my eyes and for a moment there, I thought I felt Tomoyo's heart crying out for me. I knew then that I had to keep searching for her. I couldn't give up the Black Book... not yet.
****************
TOMOYO ~ POV
I had made it out quicker than I thought. I ran as fast as I could, not willing to stop even for a few breaths, in case the man were to ever find me. I had come out from a small, abandoned warehouse, I noticed, but there was no time for me to ponder that. I had to keep going. I didn't know where I was going, but all I could think of was being in Eriol's safe arms. I stumbled against a rock, but it didn't matter to me. When I was able to keep my balance, I ran faster. It seems that every obstacle I ran into, it motivated me to run faster. I couldn't stop now. Not yet.
My eyes were blurry still. The rain began to pour lightly on my head, and then it got heavier after a couple of minutes. I couldn't care less what I looked like, but I knew I probably looked terrible in the eyes of the people inside cars that passed by me. My feet were bare and cold once the wet mud touched my skin and my eyes began to water. It was already dark, but I couldn't remember exactly what time I was kidnapped and what time I woke up. I ran a couple of small intersections, making cars stop for my sake. They honked at me, waving their fists at me and calling me 'scrubber,' whatever that was. They didn't even stop to look at me and wonder if I was hurt or not. All they cared about was probably going home to their warm beds and eat something warm to get the cold away from their system.
I ran even faster. My legs were ready to fall off, but I knew I had to keep going. I ran across another street and before I realized that I was walking in the middle of a highway, I collapsed in the middle of it. I wanted to get up. I told myself to get up, but I couldn't. I was tired and hungry. I could feel the ground shake as cars just drove by me and I could feel eyes staring at my back, wondering what I was doing there. I closed my eyes, giving up in trying, but before I could, I felt a car stopping. I heard voices- both belonging to two women. I could hear their heels clinking the ground and the honks of cars, angry for stopping in the middle of the road. "Oh bugger off!" came one woman's voice, shouting at one of the drivers. "Are you all right, dear old girl?" I wanted to answer, but I couldn't. My throat was too dry to speak and before I could decide what to tell them, fatigue took over me and I collapsed back on the ground. My mind finally consumed in darkness.
**************
ERIOL ~ POV
"I'm sorry, Eriol-sama, but there is just no sign of her," came her voice from the front door the moment she stepped in. I rubbed my temples in frustration. I was getting impatient more than before.
"WHY DON'T YOU TRY AGAIN?!" I yelled. I looked up, my eyes filled with scorn. Nakuru looked at me. I could tell she was trying to hold back tears. Taking a deep breath, I rubbed at my temples again. I had no reason to be angry with Nakuru. They tried their best after all. "I apologize, Nakuru. You two did a great job looking for her. Why don't you both rest now? We will try again tomorrow."
If only Nakuru hadn't said anything. If only she followed my orders and went to bed, but my servant was brave and I commended her for that. "Eriol-sama, I think you should just give the Black Book to Jiro. I think it is the best choice."
I jerked my head towards her and frowned. "I will not give up on Tomoyo that easily, Nakuru! Listen to what I said and go to bed!" I was losing it. I was yelling at my trusted servants. "You don't tell me what to do! I make my own decisions!"
Nakuru clenched her fists at her sides, tears falling out of her eyes. Without another word, she turned and ran upstairs. The whole time, Spinel-sun hadn't said a word; instead, he followed Nakuru upstairs to comfort her. I watched the two leave and when they were out of my sight, I landed on the couch closest to me lazily and thought for a moment about what I said. I couldn't believe what I said. I knew Nakuru was right, but... what I said to her was also true. I couldn't give up on her... not yet...
GoodGurl: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! NANI? U say? Heh heh, am I ever mean or ever mean? ;) Don't worry all stories have happy endings. Oh yeah, just to warn you, this story will have a shorter chapter than the other one, iono, depends how it goes. BTW: With tempers flaring in the Hiragizawa household, how will the crew ever find Tomoyo? And what about Tomoyo? What's going to happen to her? Stay tuned! ^_^
Chapter 3 - Not Yet
TOMOYO ~ POV
"Hey! Wake up!"
I felt something wet hit my face. I heard a voice somewhere and the moment I heard it, I was forced to open my eyes and see who was talking to me. Blinking, the first thing I saw in front of me was the face of a familiar man I met before. I opened my mouth to speak, but I was far too weak to say anything. The familiar man took a step forward towards me and kneeled down to my eye level, his face filled with scorn. Once again, I tried opening my mouth to ask him who he was, my eyes still half closed and before I had the strength to, I felt something wet and refreshing against my mouth. I realized, after a couple of seconds, that he was feeding me water. After that, I heard his voice again.
"You look so pathetic when your knight and shining armor isn't here to save you," he whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "But then again, you're beauty never cease to shine."
Suddenly, I felt his handgrip around my tresses. I felt him pull my head back and the light from the lamp on the ceiling shining against my eyes. "It's time that you tell me where the Black Book is." I remembered Eriol mentioning something about a Black Book, but he never really explained to me what it was and I never really found out what it was when we wrote to each other. "WHERE IS THE BLACK BOOK?!" I heard him scream in my ears. I closed my eyes and waited until he let go of my hair and push my head back to its original spot. I didn't know what else to say. I could feel him circling me, like a hunter waiting to pounce at its prey. "No matter," he continued. "I'm going to keep you here until you start talking." With that said, the familiar man opened the metal door that I hadn't noticed was there and locked it behind him. I watched him disappear into the darkness.
I knew I had to get out, or he will keep me trap inside this place forever. I didn't know anything about the Black Book, but if I told him that some more, he will grow impatient and will start interrogating me some more. He will keep me as long as he wanted. Having the strength within me, I slightly looked over my shoulder at my hands tied with thick rope. Then I looked around me, hoping to find something sharp to cut the ropes with. As if luck was on my side, just in the corner of the small, metallic room, I noticed something shiny and sharp glaring at me. My heart started to beat with excitement, so with all my might, I placed my free feet firmly on the ground and started dragging the chair towards that shining glass. That small shard must have come from the broken window present above me. When I was close enough, I leaned back and slid a little off the chair and stretched one leg towards it, hoping to drag the glass with my foot. My hope felt high when my foot reached that glass in the corner, but as I tried dragging it towards me, it didn't budge at all. Taking a deep breath, I tried again, but it was no use- it would not move. Closing my eyes and praying to myself that it would work the third time, I leaned a little closer, did a double take by sliding off the chair a little bit and stretched my leg as far as it could go. I placed my foot on top of the glass and, closing my eyes and praying repeatedly that it would work, started skidding my foot back towards me. When I opened my eyes again, I noticed that the glass was gone from its spot. I felt my heartbeat in rejoice and I couldn't help but smile at myself. Now came the hard part and that was to lift the glass to her hands, while at the same time, try not to hurt herself during the process. I wasn't the type who was very agile, who able to move like a certain gymnast, but I knew how to improvise. Taking a deep breath, I moved my leg back towards the bottom of the chair, pushing the glass until it was behind me and leaned my whole body backwards. Anyone small and skinny could do it, so I leaned back a bit more, my back aching from the chair and prayed that I could reach the glass on the floor. However, the old, rotten chair was enabling me to do it. It took a lot of effort for me to do, so I gave up for a few seconds, and then tried again. This time, using my feet, I pushed as hard as I could until I flipped backwards. I banged my back hard against the floor, but I managed to keep myself from crying. During my time on the floor, I felt around for the glass, careful not to cut myself with it and when I finally felt the cold, glass against my fingers, I slowly picked it up and started cutting away, imagining myself back in Eriol's arms.
**********************
ERIOL ~ POV
I slammed my fists hard on the table, heat rising up in my face from anger and frustration. I couldn't take this anymore! We weren't going anywhere just by looking around for her in the large city of London. It's been a few hours now since Kaho came to me, telling me about her husband and Tomoyo. I told Nakuru and Spinel-sun to turn into their true forms and go out into the city to look for her and they haven't returned yet. I looked out the window, placing my hand on the windowsill and imagined Tomoyo's smiling face reflecting back at me. I should have stayed by her side. I could have stayed at my mansion back in Japan and could have protected the Black Book there, but what was the point? If I kept it there, I would endanger everyone else I cared for. I wouldn't have any problems if only Tomoyo stayed in Japan. She was going to be Jiro's bait from now on.
"Eriol-sama?" I turned my head around and noticed Nakuru and Spinel-sun back to their false forms, walking inside the room. I could see, from their faces, that they couldn't find her. Of course they wouldn't. Jiro was doing a great job hiding her and London was far too big for them to cover every hiding spot they could think of.
Sighing and feeling a little disappointed, even though I knew they wouldn't have any luck finding her, I turned my whole body around to face the window once more and nodded. "Thank you for trying, Nakuru and Spinel-sun. Could you leave me alone for a while?" In the corner of my eye, I could see a figure appearing only to me.
Nakuru and Spinel-sun obeyed. They bowed their heads and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind them. I looked out the window. The clouds were forming into rain clouds and just as I thought... it was going to rain- a sign of darkness. "What do you want from me, Jiro?" I spoke out loud. "Where is she?" I jerked my whole body around to face the intruder.
A shadow appeared beside me. That same shadow stepped into the light of the moon and showed his face to me. Even though his appearance was that of his nephew, I could still see Jiro's smirking face, which made my blood run cold. "My Eriol, I had no idea you had it in you still. I thought you gave up your use of magic and wish to live as a normal person?" Jiro took a step forward, towering me only five inches. Kei was tall, but not tall enough for me to be overwhelmed by his height. Cowards like him did not easily intimidate me.
"You're pathetic..." I turned back around to the window and closed my eyes. "...Using Tomoyo as a shield, because you are such a coward to face me alone." I clasped my hands behind me and took a deep breath, trying not to lose my temper on him. There was no point in doing that, because I knew I was going to beat him even when
Anger rose in Jiro's face as I watched him from the reflection in the mirror. "I'm facing you right now, aren't I?"
I laughed, too menacingly, but I was too angry to realize the extent of that cruel gesture. Then again, Jiro made my life a living hell so I had no reason to doubt my anger towards him. I thought for a moment for something calming to say. I wasn't about to lose my temper towards him. It would show Jiro how weak I could me. "You want the Black Book so bad that you would sacrifice an innocent life?"
Jiro said nothing, confirming his answer. I stood there, continuously watching his reflection through the window, without a doubt in my mind that my decision would be to kill him if I found out that Tomoyo was hurt in any way, even if he is inside the body of Kaho's husband. "You know I will not hesitate to kill you if you do anything to harm her. Think how Kaho will react." I knew I was being unfair to the red haired woman, but I couldn't help it. I was feeling rather irritable and worried for Tomoyo that even Kaho could not replace my heart from frustration. Clearing my head of those thoughts, I took a deeper breath. "I thought you loved Kaho. Don't you care about how she feels?"
The tall man said nothing for a while and then, "That was in the past. Kaho has truly changed her heart from me and turned her back against me. Kei is a more dependable candidate than Kaho will ever be. He is my nephew after all." Jiro turned away from him and before he left, he turned his head towards me and smirked. "Think about what you're doing, Eriol. You're also sacrificing the one who is even more valuable than Kaho was." With that said, Jiro disappeared once again into the darkness.
I thought about what he said. Slamming my fists against the window, almost shattering them into pieces from my anger, I closed my eyes and for a moment there, I thought I felt Tomoyo's heart crying out for me. I knew then that I had to keep searching for her. I couldn't give up the Black Book... not yet.
****************
TOMOYO ~ POV
I had made it out quicker than I thought. I ran as fast as I could, not willing to stop even for a few breaths, in case the man were to ever find me. I had come out from a small, abandoned warehouse, I noticed, but there was no time for me to ponder that. I had to keep going. I didn't know where I was going, but all I could think of was being in Eriol's safe arms. I stumbled against a rock, but it didn't matter to me. When I was able to keep my balance, I ran faster. It seems that every obstacle I ran into, it motivated me to run faster. I couldn't stop now. Not yet.
My eyes were blurry still. The rain began to pour lightly on my head, and then it got heavier after a couple of minutes. I couldn't care less what I looked like, but I knew I probably looked terrible in the eyes of the people inside cars that passed by me. My feet were bare and cold once the wet mud touched my skin and my eyes began to water. It was already dark, but I couldn't remember exactly what time I was kidnapped and what time I woke up. I ran a couple of small intersections, making cars stop for my sake. They honked at me, waving their fists at me and calling me 'scrubber,' whatever that was. They didn't even stop to look at me and wonder if I was hurt or not. All they cared about was probably going home to their warm beds and eat something warm to get the cold away from their system.
I ran even faster. My legs were ready to fall off, but I knew I had to keep going. I ran across another street and before I realized that I was walking in the middle of a highway, I collapsed in the middle of it. I wanted to get up. I told myself to get up, but I couldn't. I was tired and hungry. I could feel the ground shake as cars just drove by me and I could feel eyes staring at my back, wondering what I was doing there. I closed my eyes, giving up in trying, but before I could, I felt a car stopping. I heard voices- both belonging to two women. I could hear their heels clinking the ground and the honks of cars, angry for stopping in the middle of the road. "Oh bugger off!" came one woman's voice, shouting at one of the drivers. "Are you all right, dear old girl?" I wanted to answer, but I couldn't. My throat was too dry to speak and before I could decide what to tell them, fatigue took over me and I collapsed back on the ground. My mind finally consumed in darkness.
**************
ERIOL ~ POV
"I'm sorry, Eriol-sama, but there is just no sign of her," came her voice from the front door the moment she stepped in. I rubbed my temples in frustration. I was getting impatient more than before.
"WHY DON'T YOU TRY AGAIN?!" I yelled. I looked up, my eyes filled with scorn. Nakuru looked at me. I could tell she was trying to hold back tears. Taking a deep breath, I rubbed at my temples again. I had no reason to be angry with Nakuru. They tried their best after all. "I apologize, Nakuru. You two did a great job looking for her. Why don't you both rest now? We will try again tomorrow."
If only Nakuru hadn't said anything. If only she followed my orders and went to bed, but my servant was brave and I commended her for that. "Eriol-sama, I think you should just give the Black Book to Jiro. I think it is the best choice."
I jerked my head towards her and frowned. "I will not give up on Tomoyo that easily, Nakuru! Listen to what I said and go to bed!" I was losing it. I was yelling at my trusted servants. "You don't tell me what to do! I make my own decisions!"
Nakuru clenched her fists at her sides, tears falling out of her eyes. Without another word, she turned and ran upstairs. The whole time, Spinel-sun hadn't said a word; instead, he followed Nakuru upstairs to comfort her. I watched the two leave and when they were out of my sight, I landed on the couch closest to me lazily and thought for a moment about what I said. I couldn't believe what I said. I knew Nakuru was right, but... what I said to her was also true. I couldn't give up on her... not yet...
GoodGurl: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! NANI? U say? Heh heh, am I ever mean or ever mean? ;) Don't worry all stories have happy endings. Oh yeah, just to warn you, this story will have a shorter chapter than the other one, iono, depends how it goes. BTW: With tempers flaring in the Hiragizawa household, how will the crew ever find Tomoyo? And what about Tomoyo? What's going to happen to her? Stay tuned! ^_^
