The Ripple Affect
By: Xiao
` I wanted to bring another character into the story for Eriol's Dad's new girl. Technically, the first girl that came to mind was Nadeshiko, but she was too nice for Eriol to hate. In the end, I used Kaho. Yes, I know, Eriol and Kaho are the official canon couple, but I don't really like her. No offense to any fans. Anyway, no Kaho will be harmed in the writing of this chapter.
And also, I delayed writing this a lot. I completely got this damned writer's block and just got stumped on part of this. I guess all I have to say now is thanks much to Megami no Hikari, and her lovely story Trapped In Alone, because I got pretty inspired. Go read her story… Now, damn it! :/ `
-- Chapter VI --
"What the hell are you doing, Eriol?" Syaoran asked as he stood in the doorway of Eriol's room. It was getting to four o'clock in the afternoon and Eriol had just walked Tomoyo home and told her if she needed anything to call him. Now, he was kneeling in his closet with some cleaning machine and running it over the bloodstain on his carpet.
"Cleaning my room?" He said back, slightly sarcastic. He continued to spray the spot and press on it with the machine before drawing up faded red and brown liquid.
"Why? You never clean your room, Dad doesn't care."
"I've got to get rid of some things in here." He said, as he turned off the machine and ran his hand along the newly damp and clean carpet. For him, it was more like getting rid of the past to help with the future. But Syaoran wouldn't understand what he was talking about, and at the moment he didn't feel like telling his brother about the depressive girl that made him quit.
He heard the footsteps dim as he made his way down the hallway. "I'm going to start dinner, all right? How about once you finish a little bit up there you come down and help me." He said, it more being a statement than a question. Eriol nodded and stood, parts of his pants damp from kneeling in other parts where bits of blood had laid. As he went back to his room, he noted the hole in his wall and paused, before looking over at his clothes drawer. He then slid it in front of the hole, which was only a bit from where the clothes drawer used to be.
The phone rang and he heard his brother answer it, and thus ignored his brothers talking as he continued to pick up things – first all the stains, then the hole in the wall, now he had to pick up all the school papers and what lied between them. He went to the pile near his desk and picked them as he walked to the trashcan and tossed in the ones that were school. As he ran through each sheet, he came across a note scribbled in his own handwriting.
"To Whoever It May Concern," he read aloud, his voice kept at a whisper. "If you are reading this now, it is obvious that I am dead as a result of suicide. I have nothing more to say than to my Dad and Brother. Dad, you're the cause. Maybe if you weren't so fucked up I wouldn't be gone right now. You made me life living hell. And maybe if you were a decent guy Mom wouldn't have cheated on you. Syaoran, you went through everything with me. You're one of the best people I know. Thanks for everything; sorry you have to live through my suicide. That's it. – Eriol Hiiragizawa." He stared. He crumbled it up and tossed in his crash can and set his things back down before going to the kitchen, where Syaoran was finishing up his call.
"Dad is bringing that new girl over. He asked if we could make an extra plate." Syaoran stated, looking at his brother with a little bit of concern. He knew how he took it when their dad had mentioned it, but now actually meeting the girl that was a possible new Mom?
He sighed. "Yeah, okay."
---
"Mother, I'm going to call Sakura." Tomoyo said a she stood outside her mother's bedroom. There was an okay before Tomoyo made her way up the stairs to her room and flopped herself on the bed. She grabbed the cordless phone and dialed in her friend's phone number.
"Kinomoto residence."
"Hey Sakura. It's Tomoyo." She said, quietly.
"Hey! What's up?"
"I.. Um.. I need to talk to you about something that's going on in my life." She began.
---
They began to set the table as the car pulled into the front driveway. Eriol took his seat besides Syaoran and waited, while his brother quietly eyed him nervously, as if wondering what his reaction would be. Their dad entered, obviously not drunk, with a young woman. She had long auburn hair, with a pair of gentle eyes. Her outfit was nice, a skirt and shirt, and she was quite tall. They both were introduced and began to eat, Kaho chatting nicely with everyone.
"So, what do you do?" Syaoran asked, finally, after she asked them about what grade they were in and what they enjoyed to do.
"I'm an elementary school teacher." Syaoran and Kaho continued to chat, as Syaoran always did with guests. Eriol supposed that he talked more than he should of, but more than likely to cover up for Eriol's lack of talking. His dad eyed him.
"You're really quiet today, Eriol." He said as he noticed that Eriol was every once and awhile giving Kaho and Syaoran awkward looks. It seemed to him that Syaoran was okay with having another Mom, but Eriol couldn't give in that easily. Despite the fact that Eriol didn't like his mom that much, he had to admit that he couldn't replace her.
"I'm just tired, it's nothing. I've had a lot of homework lately and I was cleaning my room for awhile today." He said as he picked up his plate and pushed his chair out from beneath him before making his way to the sink and clearing his plate. He set it in the sink and made his way to the stairs. As he did, he faintly heard the topic of dating and marriage being discussed. He hissed, and ran up the stairs, no doubt coming to the conclusion of the worst instead of considering things like who Syaoran was dating, or if they new their mom was married again.
He walked into his room, shaking lightly. No, no one would replace his mom. No matter how bad she was for cheating on his dad, she just couldn't be replaced. It was that simple, and if that Kaho lady thought she could just budge into their life..
His body tensed and he clenched his fists, the nails he had digging into his palms. 'You need it,' he told himself. 'But you can't.' He said as he walked over to his night stand where his razor still sat, almost calling him to try it's blades. He should of thrown it away when he was cleaning, but he forgot.
Silently, he pulled the drawer opened and lift it up, his eyes gazing over the blades that held bits of dried blood, and yet were still sharp. His grip was tight around the handle, and his wrist just twitching lightly. 'No..' He told himself, again. 'How can you help someone when you can't even get over your own problem first?" He shook his head, put the little plastic cover over the blade before snapping the handle in half, which was fairly easy considering that it was plastic. He then tossed it into the trash and told him that he would be fine without it.
---
"Tomoyo," Sakura whispered, quietly after her friend had just explained her situation and the ended conclusion. Her voice was soft and caring, though filled with concern. Tomoyo sighed, pulling her knees to her chest as she let her chin rest on her knees. "Don't you think you should tell your mom? She could get you some help.."
"No." She shot back.
"You've got to, Tomoyo.. Please.."
"No, you don't understand. My mom expects me to be the best daughter, you know.. And what if she finds out that her supposed-to-be-the-best-daughter is cutting herself of a guy that she's trying to be friends with? She would freak out, and I don't want her to worry. I don't want anyone to worry about me, but.." She paused. Her mind was becoming dizzy and she was spinning onto different topics. "He found out, and I think he's going to help, though. He knows what I'm going through, he went through it too, right?"
The whole thing threw her mind into thinking. He went through the same thing, and now you were affected and now you're going through the same thing. Maybe it's going to happen to someone else. After all, you were a good kid and just wanted to help and now you're in the same thing. Doesn't Sakura want to help? Maybe she'd get herself into the same situation. 'Damn it, Tomoyo, why'd you have to throw a rock into the pond? Now it's going to affect the rest of the water.'
"Sakura? I've got to go. I'll talk to you later, okay?" Though, she did admit that she needed someone to talk to. But Sakura was her best friend, and there was absolutely no way she was going to drag her best friend into this situation. She even felt bad about letting Eriol get into it. She sighed as she hung up the phone, her friend arguing not to leave her like that and that they needed to talk.
"No one to help you now." She whispered as she pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her slender and pale arms around them, rocking back and forth slightly as if she trying to calm herself, by herself.
---
Their last class had been canceled because of the incoming storm. Over the intercom the principal said that it was best the children got home earlier, knowing that lots of the students walked, and it would be horrible to walk home in the thunder storm that was coming. And after all, it had already started to rain softly.
The rest of the day before the announcement was quiet. Each class usually had lectures except for Choir and Theater Arts, in which you were forced into the activities. In Theater, the teacher had canceled the Romeo and Juliet scenes due to tons of complaints from the parents. They were now doing a play and Tomoyo was the "director", Eriol the male lead role.
Tomoyo and Eriol barely talked at lunch, considering nothing had come up. Of course, Eriol knew Tomoyo was down in the dumps, but he was new at this and had no idea how to help her. Hr had decided to let this happened for today and think it over.
And now she had decided to get a head start on her walk home, cursing herself for bringing an umbrella and wearing short sleeves, which of course, was a mistake anyway, her cut still rested against her pale wrist. She grabbed her things from her locker and slung her backpack over her shoulder before walking out of the school, past a group of people, who weren't checking their volume of voice as they talked.
"She's such a freak," one girl commented as she watched Tomoyo walk by. "You see those cuts on her wrist? She's such a poser, she's trying to look cool. God, I hope she hurt herself in the process so she realized how fucked up she is." Tomoyo pace slowed down as she listened to the girls chatter, again wishing that she was smart enough to wear long sleeves.
"Yeah, she hangs out with that other freak, Eriol. I mean, damn, what the hell is their problem? Attention seekers?" Another boy commented in return. The rest of the group laughed in unison.
"Well, that's what you get from new kids, huh? She should of stayed with her old school, at least she'd be amongst her own kind. I bet you people from her old school were a bunch of dumb asses like she is, too. And then that Eriol, he just shouldn't even be here. I mean, holy shit, have you guys seen what he does in lunch? He's jacked up, I swear!"
"Yeah, he must of affected that other girl! They're both so pathetic!" That was the last thing she heard as she walked and was eventually out of hearing distance. Her eyes were already beginning to sting as tears mixed with the rain drops. No one ever talked bad of her, and everything was now so new. She was one of those girls who people liked. And out of all the times they had chosen to talk about her? Now? She was having a hell of a time right now. Maybe if they talked about her when she was back to normal, it wouldn't of hurt her.
She wiped her eyes as she hurried down the sidewalk of the park. She had to get as far away from those people as she could, and running was the only thing she could do right now. The rain began to a little heavier every few minutes, and eventually the street lights came on because of all the clouds covering. She tripped on a part of the sidewalk and landed on her knees and hands, skinning them. She stared at the ground for a long minute, watching the blood run across the creamy gray surface. With a sigh, she looked down the sidewalk, and stood.
She didn't want to go home anymore. She just wanted to find a place in the park and sit and be alone for a long time. Sighing, she grabbed her bag and made her way to the penguin slide and sat under it, as far away from the entrances as she could and just cried, her hands and knees stinging lightly but not exactly hurting her.
She just sat. She had nothing else to do and she didn't want to do anything else but be alone. It was probably two hours, just sitting there. The rain still poured, and she dug through her backpack for a coat, which she draped around her knees and legs and just tried to relax and think.
For the longest time, there was nothing but splattering of water against surfaces until finally she heard that familiar voice calling her name. She didn't respond, and kept still even though she knew that he would find her very quickly.
And very quickly he did. A few moments later she saw Eriol squat down, see her, frown and crawl into the space before sitting next to her. Tomoyo didn't even spare him a glance, and kept her eyes focused either in front of her or on her shoes, or whatever else she felt like staring at, except him. "What are you doing here?" She asked, finally.
"Looking for you. Your mom got scared that you didn't come home and Rae-Lynn knew that you hung out with my every once in awhile, found your directory, found my name and number, and called me and asked about you." He said, pulling his knees to his chest. "I said I didn't know where you could be, that you left before I did but I would go and see if I could find you."
"Oh." She felt stupid for not realizing that. He took a glance at her, and saw that her eyes were tinted pink, every now and then a tear ran down her cheeks. She was shaking, slightly, still slightly damp and obviously cold. Without even thinking, he sat forward, took off his own coat and handed it to her. She blinked before realizing that he was trying to let her use it and then took it, smiled lightly at him before putting it on.
"How long have you been looking for me?"
"No idea." He said. She looked at him, and noticed that at least he was smart enough to wear long sleeves to keep him warm through this rain. He didn't have an umbrella, but at least the coat he had handed to her had a hood to it.
Silence.
"What's wrong? Why didn't you go home after school?" His tone was soft and warm, enveloping her. She sighed, recalling the same events from previous. The quotes made me those other students running laps across her mind.
"Nothing." She mumbled as she noted that he was looking at her, all covered in concern. He sighed, knowing that she was obviously lying to him. She even knew that he knew she was lying, and just looked the opposite way. "Some people were talking bad about me and you when I was walking down the hall. They said that I was a freak and an attention seeker for cutting myself, and that you were just jacked up 'n all." He grunted in response and went out and extended his hand to her.
"Yeah, I know exactly who you're talking about. They always talk about people who are less than perfect, and then they think they're better than everyone and that people who have hard lives are just fucked up people who crave attention. I swear." She took his hand and came out from that place, wobbling lightly as she stood. The rain was still hard, but Eriol still let her have his coat. "Don't even listen to them, they're a bunch of close minded bastards who have no life, and you shouldn't even listen to what they say." He offered his arm for her, knowing that she was probably going to stumble because she had been sitting for so long. She took it.
"Here, I'll walk you home, okay?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't want to go home. If my mom finds out about all those people talking about me and how I intentionally didn't come home, she'll throw a fit and get mad at me and then make a big deal and call the school about those people." She said, quietly as they began to walk. He nodded lightly and stopped. He took a side glance at her.
"If you want, we'll go to my house, make up and excuse for you not being home and then I'll take you home?" He asked, trying to be polite, knowing that she was still feeling pretty bad. She nodded, and they turned around, walking in the opposite direction than they did before. He knew that Syaoran would give him a hell of a hard time about bringing a girl home, and how he shouldn't of done that because they would have to cook everything and then his dad would come home and get mad at them for having a girl over. He didn't mind that much anyway, considering he knew what Tomoyo was going through for the moment. At sometime or another, he probably did something of the sort anyway.
He flashed a smile at the girl beside him, though. He knew he had to make this less tense, and at least try to make her feel a bit brighter. It would be too much to have to be so tensed about her whole situation for them to last their whole walk and talk. He pulled the hood over her head, which was too big, and pulled it over her eyes. "Come on, you'll get soaked.." She chuckled at his tone of voice and pushed it back.
---
They paused, outside of Eriol's house. At the moment, Eriol was wondering exactly what Syaoran would do when he saw him with some girl. A second later, he decided that whatever Syaoran thought could go to hell. Tomoyo was still upset and he was going to help her out, and then come up with an excuse to help her with what her mom would say to her. They entered, him opened the door for her. The two took off their shoes and Eriol lead her down to the kitchen, letting her sit while he made her and himself some tea. At the moment, Syaoran was upstairs and unaware that Eriol had come home. He handed her a cup of steamed hot tea before sitting across from her at the table.
"Thank you." She said back, politely. He nodded, took a sip and glanced around. "Is your brother home?"
"Yeah, he's upstairs." He replied.
"Can I meet him before we go to my house?" She asked, quietly. Eriol had no idea why she would want to meet his brother, but he nodded very slightly and took another sip of his drink. The two sat in awkward silence before he brought his voice to work.
"You know, we can just tell your mom that you made a wrong turn on your way home and got lost." He said. She was sipping her tea quietly before she looked at him. "I mean, I'll say I found you at the park, which is okay because there's a lot of parks around here."
It was so simple, but at least it would work.
"Yeah, okay."
The phone then rang, filling the room with it's dead B flat rings. Eriol paused, his body tensed. Either his dad, and if it was him, he would ask about who was over and all. The other possibility was it was Tomoyo's mother. The second choice would, obviously, be better.
The two stared at the phone on the wall. A few moments later, Syaoran came down the stairs to see if Eriol was back. His eyes fell on Tomoyo, and for another long moment Tomoyo and him locked their eyes. He then looked back at Eriol. "Tomoyo's mom is on the phone. She wanted to talk to you."
"Okay." He said as he stood up and went to the phone on the wall. Syaoran hung up his cordless phone before making his way down the stairs as Eriol talked to Sonomi Daidouji. "Moshi moshi, this Eriol." Pause. "Yes, I found her Miss Daidouji." Pause. "Yes ma'am, I'll be walking her home in a few minutes." Pause. He looked at the lavender haired girl, pressing his hand to the mouth piece. "Do you want a ride home from your mom, Tomoyo?" He asked. She shook her head. "No, she said that she would rather walk home." Pause. "Yes ma'am, she's fine." Pause. "All right. Good-bye." He hung up and walked over to his brother and Tomoyo. Eriol stood next to Tomoyo and eyed his brother cautiously. He wanted to see his reaction when he introduced her.
"Syaoran, this is my friend Tomoyo. Tomoyo, this is my brother Syaoran." He said, Syaoran grinned. "She was the one I went out looking for when her mom called us." He tore his gaze from Tomoyo and took a long look at Eriol.
"Which, by the way," Eriol said after basically having a staring contest with Syaoran. "Your mom wants me to take you home as soon as I can. You ready to leave?" He asked. The girl nodded and stood up from her seat and made her way back to the door after she made a polite 'nice to meet you, Syaoran,' to Eriol's brother. Eriol followed behind her.
"Don't take too long, we still have to cook and Dad's new," he paused in his talking to think of a good way to describe Kaho. "friend is going to be coming to dinner once again. He called me while you were gone and said to make an extra plate." Eriol grunted but nodded as him and Tomoyo exited the front door and back into the pouring rain.
She sighed, quietly, still not wanting to go back to her house, but didn't say anything. Instead, she just linked her arm around his as a form to comfort herself. He smiled, quietly, hoping that at least she was feeling a bit better. They didn't speak all that much during their walk home, until they came to the gates of the Daidouji house.
She stopped, and let go of him. "Well.."
By: Xiao
` I wanted to bring another character into the story for Eriol's Dad's new girl. Technically, the first girl that came to mind was Nadeshiko, but she was too nice for Eriol to hate. In the end, I used Kaho. Yes, I know, Eriol and Kaho are the official canon couple, but I don't really like her. No offense to any fans. Anyway, no Kaho will be harmed in the writing of this chapter.
And also, I delayed writing this a lot. I completely got this damned writer's block and just got stumped on part of this. I guess all I have to say now is thanks much to Megami no Hikari, and her lovely story Trapped In Alone, because I got pretty inspired. Go read her story… Now, damn it! :/ `
-- Chapter VI --
"What the hell are you doing, Eriol?" Syaoran asked as he stood in the doorway of Eriol's room. It was getting to four o'clock in the afternoon and Eriol had just walked Tomoyo home and told her if she needed anything to call him. Now, he was kneeling in his closet with some cleaning machine and running it over the bloodstain on his carpet.
"Cleaning my room?" He said back, slightly sarcastic. He continued to spray the spot and press on it with the machine before drawing up faded red and brown liquid.
"Why? You never clean your room, Dad doesn't care."
"I've got to get rid of some things in here." He said, as he turned off the machine and ran his hand along the newly damp and clean carpet. For him, it was more like getting rid of the past to help with the future. But Syaoran wouldn't understand what he was talking about, and at the moment he didn't feel like telling his brother about the depressive girl that made him quit.
He heard the footsteps dim as he made his way down the hallway. "I'm going to start dinner, all right? How about once you finish a little bit up there you come down and help me." He said, it more being a statement than a question. Eriol nodded and stood, parts of his pants damp from kneeling in other parts where bits of blood had laid. As he went back to his room, he noted the hole in his wall and paused, before looking over at his clothes drawer. He then slid it in front of the hole, which was only a bit from where the clothes drawer used to be.
The phone rang and he heard his brother answer it, and thus ignored his brothers talking as he continued to pick up things – first all the stains, then the hole in the wall, now he had to pick up all the school papers and what lied between them. He went to the pile near his desk and picked them as he walked to the trashcan and tossed in the ones that were school. As he ran through each sheet, he came across a note scribbled in his own handwriting.
"To Whoever It May Concern," he read aloud, his voice kept at a whisper. "If you are reading this now, it is obvious that I am dead as a result of suicide. I have nothing more to say than to my Dad and Brother. Dad, you're the cause. Maybe if you weren't so fucked up I wouldn't be gone right now. You made me life living hell. And maybe if you were a decent guy Mom wouldn't have cheated on you. Syaoran, you went through everything with me. You're one of the best people I know. Thanks for everything; sorry you have to live through my suicide. That's it. – Eriol Hiiragizawa." He stared. He crumbled it up and tossed in his crash can and set his things back down before going to the kitchen, where Syaoran was finishing up his call.
"Dad is bringing that new girl over. He asked if we could make an extra plate." Syaoran stated, looking at his brother with a little bit of concern. He knew how he took it when their dad had mentioned it, but now actually meeting the girl that was a possible new Mom?
He sighed. "Yeah, okay."
---
"Mother, I'm going to call Sakura." Tomoyo said a she stood outside her mother's bedroom. There was an okay before Tomoyo made her way up the stairs to her room and flopped herself on the bed. She grabbed the cordless phone and dialed in her friend's phone number.
"Kinomoto residence."
"Hey Sakura. It's Tomoyo." She said, quietly.
"Hey! What's up?"
"I.. Um.. I need to talk to you about something that's going on in my life." She began.
---
They began to set the table as the car pulled into the front driveway. Eriol took his seat besides Syaoran and waited, while his brother quietly eyed him nervously, as if wondering what his reaction would be. Their dad entered, obviously not drunk, with a young woman. She had long auburn hair, with a pair of gentle eyes. Her outfit was nice, a skirt and shirt, and she was quite tall. They both were introduced and began to eat, Kaho chatting nicely with everyone.
"So, what do you do?" Syaoran asked, finally, after she asked them about what grade they were in and what they enjoyed to do.
"I'm an elementary school teacher." Syaoran and Kaho continued to chat, as Syaoran always did with guests. Eriol supposed that he talked more than he should of, but more than likely to cover up for Eriol's lack of talking. His dad eyed him.
"You're really quiet today, Eriol." He said as he noticed that Eriol was every once and awhile giving Kaho and Syaoran awkward looks. It seemed to him that Syaoran was okay with having another Mom, but Eriol couldn't give in that easily. Despite the fact that Eriol didn't like his mom that much, he had to admit that he couldn't replace her.
"I'm just tired, it's nothing. I've had a lot of homework lately and I was cleaning my room for awhile today." He said as he picked up his plate and pushed his chair out from beneath him before making his way to the sink and clearing his plate. He set it in the sink and made his way to the stairs. As he did, he faintly heard the topic of dating and marriage being discussed. He hissed, and ran up the stairs, no doubt coming to the conclusion of the worst instead of considering things like who Syaoran was dating, or if they new their mom was married again.
He walked into his room, shaking lightly. No, no one would replace his mom. No matter how bad she was for cheating on his dad, she just couldn't be replaced. It was that simple, and if that Kaho lady thought she could just budge into their life..
His body tensed and he clenched his fists, the nails he had digging into his palms. 'You need it,' he told himself. 'But you can't.' He said as he walked over to his night stand where his razor still sat, almost calling him to try it's blades. He should of thrown it away when he was cleaning, but he forgot.
Silently, he pulled the drawer opened and lift it up, his eyes gazing over the blades that held bits of dried blood, and yet were still sharp. His grip was tight around the handle, and his wrist just twitching lightly. 'No..' He told himself, again. 'How can you help someone when you can't even get over your own problem first?" He shook his head, put the little plastic cover over the blade before snapping the handle in half, which was fairly easy considering that it was plastic. He then tossed it into the trash and told him that he would be fine without it.
---
"Tomoyo," Sakura whispered, quietly after her friend had just explained her situation and the ended conclusion. Her voice was soft and caring, though filled with concern. Tomoyo sighed, pulling her knees to her chest as she let her chin rest on her knees. "Don't you think you should tell your mom? She could get you some help.."
"No." She shot back.
"You've got to, Tomoyo.. Please.."
"No, you don't understand. My mom expects me to be the best daughter, you know.. And what if she finds out that her supposed-to-be-the-best-daughter is cutting herself of a guy that she's trying to be friends with? She would freak out, and I don't want her to worry. I don't want anyone to worry about me, but.." She paused. Her mind was becoming dizzy and she was spinning onto different topics. "He found out, and I think he's going to help, though. He knows what I'm going through, he went through it too, right?"
The whole thing threw her mind into thinking. He went through the same thing, and now you were affected and now you're going through the same thing. Maybe it's going to happen to someone else. After all, you were a good kid and just wanted to help and now you're in the same thing. Doesn't Sakura want to help? Maybe she'd get herself into the same situation. 'Damn it, Tomoyo, why'd you have to throw a rock into the pond? Now it's going to affect the rest of the water.'
"Sakura? I've got to go. I'll talk to you later, okay?" Though, she did admit that she needed someone to talk to. But Sakura was her best friend, and there was absolutely no way she was going to drag her best friend into this situation. She even felt bad about letting Eriol get into it. She sighed as she hung up the phone, her friend arguing not to leave her like that and that they needed to talk.
"No one to help you now." She whispered as she pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her slender and pale arms around them, rocking back and forth slightly as if she trying to calm herself, by herself.
---
Their last class had been canceled because of the incoming storm. Over the intercom the principal said that it was best the children got home earlier, knowing that lots of the students walked, and it would be horrible to walk home in the thunder storm that was coming. And after all, it had already started to rain softly.
The rest of the day before the announcement was quiet. Each class usually had lectures except for Choir and Theater Arts, in which you were forced into the activities. In Theater, the teacher had canceled the Romeo and Juliet scenes due to tons of complaints from the parents. They were now doing a play and Tomoyo was the "director", Eriol the male lead role.
Tomoyo and Eriol barely talked at lunch, considering nothing had come up. Of course, Eriol knew Tomoyo was down in the dumps, but he was new at this and had no idea how to help her. Hr had decided to let this happened for today and think it over.
And now she had decided to get a head start on her walk home, cursing herself for bringing an umbrella and wearing short sleeves, which of course, was a mistake anyway, her cut still rested against her pale wrist. She grabbed her things from her locker and slung her backpack over her shoulder before walking out of the school, past a group of people, who weren't checking their volume of voice as they talked.
"She's such a freak," one girl commented as she watched Tomoyo walk by. "You see those cuts on her wrist? She's such a poser, she's trying to look cool. God, I hope she hurt herself in the process so she realized how fucked up she is." Tomoyo pace slowed down as she listened to the girls chatter, again wishing that she was smart enough to wear long sleeves.
"Yeah, she hangs out with that other freak, Eriol. I mean, damn, what the hell is their problem? Attention seekers?" Another boy commented in return. The rest of the group laughed in unison.
"Well, that's what you get from new kids, huh? She should of stayed with her old school, at least she'd be amongst her own kind. I bet you people from her old school were a bunch of dumb asses like she is, too. And then that Eriol, he just shouldn't even be here. I mean, holy shit, have you guys seen what he does in lunch? He's jacked up, I swear!"
"Yeah, he must of affected that other girl! They're both so pathetic!" That was the last thing she heard as she walked and was eventually out of hearing distance. Her eyes were already beginning to sting as tears mixed with the rain drops. No one ever talked bad of her, and everything was now so new. She was one of those girls who people liked. And out of all the times they had chosen to talk about her? Now? She was having a hell of a time right now. Maybe if they talked about her when she was back to normal, it wouldn't of hurt her.
She wiped her eyes as she hurried down the sidewalk of the park. She had to get as far away from those people as she could, and running was the only thing she could do right now. The rain began to a little heavier every few minutes, and eventually the street lights came on because of all the clouds covering. She tripped on a part of the sidewalk and landed on her knees and hands, skinning them. She stared at the ground for a long minute, watching the blood run across the creamy gray surface. With a sigh, she looked down the sidewalk, and stood.
She didn't want to go home anymore. She just wanted to find a place in the park and sit and be alone for a long time. Sighing, she grabbed her bag and made her way to the penguin slide and sat under it, as far away from the entrances as she could and just cried, her hands and knees stinging lightly but not exactly hurting her.
She just sat. She had nothing else to do and she didn't want to do anything else but be alone. It was probably two hours, just sitting there. The rain still poured, and she dug through her backpack for a coat, which she draped around her knees and legs and just tried to relax and think.
For the longest time, there was nothing but splattering of water against surfaces until finally she heard that familiar voice calling her name. She didn't respond, and kept still even though she knew that he would find her very quickly.
And very quickly he did. A few moments later she saw Eriol squat down, see her, frown and crawl into the space before sitting next to her. Tomoyo didn't even spare him a glance, and kept her eyes focused either in front of her or on her shoes, or whatever else she felt like staring at, except him. "What are you doing here?" She asked, finally.
"Looking for you. Your mom got scared that you didn't come home and Rae-Lynn knew that you hung out with my every once in awhile, found your directory, found my name and number, and called me and asked about you." He said, pulling his knees to his chest. "I said I didn't know where you could be, that you left before I did but I would go and see if I could find you."
"Oh." She felt stupid for not realizing that. He took a glance at her, and saw that her eyes were tinted pink, every now and then a tear ran down her cheeks. She was shaking, slightly, still slightly damp and obviously cold. Without even thinking, he sat forward, took off his own coat and handed it to her. She blinked before realizing that he was trying to let her use it and then took it, smiled lightly at him before putting it on.
"How long have you been looking for me?"
"No idea." He said. She looked at him, and noticed that at least he was smart enough to wear long sleeves to keep him warm through this rain. He didn't have an umbrella, but at least the coat he had handed to her had a hood to it.
Silence.
"What's wrong? Why didn't you go home after school?" His tone was soft and warm, enveloping her. She sighed, recalling the same events from previous. The quotes made me those other students running laps across her mind.
"Nothing." She mumbled as she noted that he was looking at her, all covered in concern. He sighed, knowing that she was obviously lying to him. She even knew that he knew she was lying, and just looked the opposite way. "Some people were talking bad about me and you when I was walking down the hall. They said that I was a freak and an attention seeker for cutting myself, and that you were just jacked up 'n all." He grunted in response and went out and extended his hand to her.
"Yeah, I know exactly who you're talking about. They always talk about people who are less than perfect, and then they think they're better than everyone and that people who have hard lives are just fucked up people who crave attention. I swear." She took his hand and came out from that place, wobbling lightly as she stood. The rain was still hard, but Eriol still let her have his coat. "Don't even listen to them, they're a bunch of close minded bastards who have no life, and you shouldn't even listen to what they say." He offered his arm for her, knowing that she was probably going to stumble because she had been sitting for so long. She took it.
"Here, I'll walk you home, okay?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't want to go home. If my mom finds out about all those people talking about me and how I intentionally didn't come home, she'll throw a fit and get mad at me and then make a big deal and call the school about those people." She said, quietly as they began to walk. He nodded lightly and stopped. He took a side glance at her.
"If you want, we'll go to my house, make up and excuse for you not being home and then I'll take you home?" He asked, trying to be polite, knowing that she was still feeling pretty bad. She nodded, and they turned around, walking in the opposite direction than they did before. He knew that Syaoran would give him a hell of a hard time about bringing a girl home, and how he shouldn't of done that because they would have to cook everything and then his dad would come home and get mad at them for having a girl over. He didn't mind that much anyway, considering he knew what Tomoyo was going through for the moment. At sometime or another, he probably did something of the sort anyway.
He flashed a smile at the girl beside him, though. He knew he had to make this less tense, and at least try to make her feel a bit brighter. It would be too much to have to be so tensed about her whole situation for them to last their whole walk and talk. He pulled the hood over her head, which was too big, and pulled it over her eyes. "Come on, you'll get soaked.." She chuckled at his tone of voice and pushed it back.
---
They paused, outside of Eriol's house. At the moment, Eriol was wondering exactly what Syaoran would do when he saw him with some girl. A second later, he decided that whatever Syaoran thought could go to hell. Tomoyo was still upset and he was going to help her out, and then come up with an excuse to help her with what her mom would say to her. They entered, him opened the door for her. The two took off their shoes and Eriol lead her down to the kitchen, letting her sit while he made her and himself some tea. At the moment, Syaoran was upstairs and unaware that Eriol had come home. He handed her a cup of steamed hot tea before sitting across from her at the table.
"Thank you." She said back, politely. He nodded, took a sip and glanced around. "Is your brother home?"
"Yeah, he's upstairs." He replied.
"Can I meet him before we go to my house?" She asked, quietly. Eriol had no idea why she would want to meet his brother, but he nodded very slightly and took another sip of his drink. The two sat in awkward silence before he brought his voice to work.
"You know, we can just tell your mom that you made a wrong turn on your way home and got lost." He said. She was sipping her tea quietly before she looked at him. "I mean, I'll say I found you at the park, which is okay because there's a lot of parks around here."
It was so simple, but at least it would work.
"Yeah, okay."
The phone then rang, filling the room with it's dead B flat rings. Eriol paused, his body tensed. Either his dad, and if it was him, he would ask about who was over and all. The other possibility was it was Tomoyo's mother. The second choice would, obviously, be better.
The two stared at the phone on the wall. A few moments later, Syaoran came down the stairs to see if Eriol was back. His eyes fell on Tomoyo, and for another long moment Tomoyo and him locked their eyes. He then looked back at Eriol. "Tomoyo's mom is on the phone. She wanted to talk to you."
"Okay." He said as he stood up and went to the phone on the wall. Syaoran hung up his cordless phone before making his way down the stairs as Eriol talked to Sonomi Daidouji. "Moshi moshi, this Eriol." Pause. "Yes, I found her Miss Daidouji." Pause. "Yes ma'am, I'll be walking her home in a few minutes." Pause. He looked at the lavender haired girl, pressing his hand to the mouth piece. "Do you want a ride home from your mom, Tomoyo?" He asked. She shook her head. "No, she said that she would rather walk home." Pause. "Yes ma'am, she's fine." Pause. "All right. Good-bye." He hung up and walked over to his brother and Tomoyo. Eriol stood next to Tomoyo and eyed his brother cautiously. He wanted to see his reaction when he introduced her.
"Syaoran, this is my friend Tomoyo. Tomoyo, this is my brother Syaoran." He said, Syaoran grinned. "She was the one I went out looking for when her mom called us." He tore his gaze from Tomoyo and took a long look at Eriol.
"Which, by the way," Eriol said after basically having a staring contest with Syaoran. "Your mom wants me to take you home as soon as I can. You ready to leave?" He asked. The girl nodded and stood up from her seat and made her way back to the door after she made a polite 'nice to meet you, Syaoran,' to Eriol's brother. Eriol followed behind her.
"Don't take too long, we still have to cook and Dad's new," he paused in his talking to think of a good way to describe Kaho. "friend is going to be coming to dinner once again. He called me while you were gone and said to make an extra plate." Eriol grunted but nodded as him and Tomoyo exited the front door and back into the pouring rain.
She sighed, quietly, still not wanting to go back to her house, but didn't say anything. Instead, she just linked her arm around his as a form to comfort herself. He smiled, quietly, hoping that at least she was feeling a bit better. They didn't speak all that much during their walk home, until they came to the gates of the Daidouji house.
She stopped, and let go of him. "Well.."
