Chapter 11
Sakura and Syaoran sighed in defeat when Tomoyo turned up two hours later from her bedroom with two boxes.
"I still cannot get over the fact that Tomoyo can make clothes that fast! It's practically unnatural," grumbled Syaoran as Tomoyo threw his box at him. Catching it with a grin, he opened it and lifted his eyebrow in appreciation. The suit was like any others except that it was more handsome, black and was easy to run in.
"What is the erm… added feature for?" he asked Tomoyo, who didn't answer, as Sakura stared wearily at her own box. Hermoine and Ron were urging her to open it and just then, Ginny and Harry entered the common room. Spotting Tomoyo and Syaoran, Ginny and Harry froze.
"Come on, stop gaping at us! Harry, have you got your suit yet?" asked Tomoyo as she crossed her arms over her chest. Harry looked blankly at Ginny and Hermoine and the two girls just shrugged.
"Suit? Oh suit. Erm… what should I say?" asked Harry desperately as Syaoran bit his lips to contain his laughter. Tomoyo lifted an eyebrow and threw him another box that was on the floor. Harry caught it and stared at it as if it contained a time bomb that would explode soon.
"It goes with Ginny's dress," said Tomoyo with a small smile. Harry and Ginny blushed furiously and looked away. The whole room erupted into laughter.
"Well, at least I am off the attention hook. Thanks Harry, though you were always on it," said Syaoran with a grin. It was evident that Ginny and Harry remembered him and Tomoyo.
"Well, Sakura, aren't you going to open your box?" asked Tomoyo with a glint in her eyes. Sakura looked at Syaoran and he shrugged.
"What could go wrong?" he asked. Sakura braced herself. She should trust Tomoyo; her clothes are all the best! But sometimes she gets carried away and her designs can become wild…
Sakura opened it and everyone gasped. It was a simple gunmetal gray halter-top evening gown that came with a removable wrap around skirt. Under the dress laid a pair of pants that blended with the dress. Sakura looked at Tomoyo in question and Tomoyo just smiled.
"The same reason why I made Syaoran's suit a little more flexible than normal. When there is erm… you know…" Tomoyo trailed off and stared at the neckline of Sakura's robes where her star key laid safely hidden. Sakura, Kero and Syaoran understood and nodded. The rest just looked at each other and shrugged.
"Thanks for the dress Tomoyo," said Sakura as she hugged her best friend happily. Syaoran nodded and Tomoyo clasped her hands together happily.
"So! Lets see how you look in the suit and dress, Sakura and Syaoran. Come on! Off to the bathroom you go, MOVE!" squealed Tomoyo as she pushed Sakura and Syaoran to the direction of the bathrooms. Sakura and Syaoran looked at each other and sighed. Sometimes, having a friend who is a genius at making clothes can be a little tedious.
Sakura sat down on the chair in front of the mirror in her bedroom as Tomoyo combed her now long curls into a tight chiffon bun. Tomoyo herself was wearing a stunning blue strapless ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and tiny sparkles sprinkles all over it. It brought out the color of Tomoyo's eyes and made her look stunning with her hair flowing on her shoulders. Sakura sighed and Tomoyo jerked her hair none too gently, making Sakura wince.
"Don't move!" scolded Tomoyo. Sakura rolled her eyes. She hated getting her hair done!
"Tomoyo, you look fabulous tonight! If Eriol were here, he would be blown off his feet!" said Sakura excitedly. Sakura could see Tomoyo blush lightly in the mirror from the compliment.
"Thanks. You have no trouble blowing Syaoran off his feet. You're stunning as you are," said Tomoyo with a wink. It was now Sakura's turn to blush. Tomoyo patted a strand of Sakura's hair in place and smiled happily,
"There. Done. No matter how hard you run, your hair won't get lose." She said as Sakura surveyed herself in the mirror.
"Lovely dear. And I mean it this time. You both girls really look fabulous. I've been saying this to every girl but this time it's most sincere." Said the mirror in a croaky voice.
"Thanks!" said Sakura and Tomoyo. Catching Tomoyo's eyes in the mirror, Sakura smiled and stood up. Tomoyo linked her arms in Sakura's and they walked out of the room.
As they both ascended the stairs, they noticed Hermoine and Ron squabbling again.
"And to think that the squabbling would stop after they came together, guess I was wrong," sighed Harry as he watched the two squabble heartily. It seemed that Ron had told Harry about Hermoine's little erm… incident in his room. Sakura smiled and shook his head.
"Old habits die hard, I guess." She said as she felt someone's hand on her waist.
"Hi, you look fabulous," breathed the voice. Sakura looked up and smiled.
"Hi, and so do you," Sakura said as she gave Syaoran a peck on the cheek. Sakura and Syaoran noticed Tomoyo whipping up her camera from behind her and they both sighed.
"Yup, you said it Sakura. Old habits DO die hard," said Syaoran with a grin as Sakura linked her arms through his and they walked out of the common room together, with Hermoine and Ron squabbling heartily at the back. Ginny and Harry were talking animatedly and Tomoyo just continued filming them both.
Tomoyo sighed and watched her favorite couples through her camera. They looked so happy that Tomoyo almost felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of not having a partner. Well, what did you expect? Tomoyo reprimanded herself silently. That Eriol would just pop out of nowhere?
"Well maybe he would," someone breathed into her ear. Tomoyo jumped and almost lost the grip of her camera. She turned and stared into the blue eyes of Eriol. He placed a small kiss on her lips and tears welled up in her eyes. She threw her arms around him and sobbed heavily. Eriol rubbed her back comfortingly and threw a wry glance at the amused group in front of him.
"And I thought that she would be happy that I'm here," he said dryly. Sakura and gang laughed and Tomoyo hit him on the shoulder as She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
"I'm happy that you're here. That's why I'm crying!" she exclaimed. Everyone erupted into laughter and Syaoran raised an eyebrow at Eriol.
"So, what brings you here?" asked Syaoran. Eriol just smiled at him mysteriously.
"The same reason as you are," he said. Syaoran got the idea but he growled playfully.
"I really hope you're not here for Sakura because I am," he said. Eriol laughed and put his arm on Tomoyo's waist.
"Nah, I'm here for Tomoyo and the ball," he said, making everyone laugh and Tomoyo blush.
"Anyway, it's good to have you here. Come one! Lets go before we're late! I'm not planning on a grand entrance," said Hermoine as she pulled Ron behind her.
"What's that all about?" asked Eriol blankly. Tomoyo giggled and grinned.
"Let's just say that the two lovebirds have finally erm… come together," said Tomoyo with a hearty wink. Eriol shook his head in amusement and led Tomoyo to the great hall where the ball was held.