Seasons
Chapter 6: Sora
Sora.
The morning sky was a brilliant blue, the sun barely just coming up. London, too was beginning to wake, the cars beginning to honk, and the people coming out.
In the window of a white and blue mansion, a little stuffed…cat, it seemed, looked out at the city, and its eyes softened. So it wasn't stuffed after all, and it sighed, looking at the morning dew on the roses, the flurry of wings, the chirping of birds and crickets. It's good to be home…
His keen ears suddenly twitched, and his eyes moved to the side, as it heard muffled tiptoes. It didn't sound like Ruby or Eriol-sama, he thought to himself. Stretching out his pale blue wings, he flew silently effortlessly into the hall, in time to see a dark head pop into the sitting room. Tomoyo-san?
Curiously, he now flew into the sitting room, where he found her, white hands and nose pressed against the clear window in quiet delight. He now remembered that the sitting room had the biggest and best view for the sunrise and the garden. Timidly, quietly, he settled on the girl's frail shoulder. The girl was not alarmed, her violet eyes were clear and steady, and she spoke softly, "Ohayo Spinel san."
Spinel Sun nodded greeting, "Ohayo Tomoyo-san. Why are you up so early?"
Tomoyo's red lips curved up. "I wanted to see the sun rise. Since we arrived too late last night to see the sunset, I didn't want to miss the sunrise, especially not in Eriol-kun's home." She sighed as the bright rays touched the garden, making the dew sparkle. "It's so beautiful."
Spinel Sun, too smiled. "Sometimes," he remarked, "you forget about the little things."
Tomoyo nodded, knowing full well what he meant. She stated slowly, "It's been half a year. Eriol-kun's taken me all over the world. And now…I'm glad he was strong enough to take me back here, even though all those memories are here."
Spinel Sun's eyes narrowed in concentration. She had pronounced his name with so much…tenderness and with so much…love, almost. Spinel wondered what this could mean. The feeling startled her herself in her voice, and her mind swirled with confusion. What does this mean? Her heart began to beat wildly as she thought of him. I didn't feel this way since…
Quickly shaking these thoughts away, she pounced on what she felt was a safe subject, interrupting Spinel's thoughts. "Do you have a cook?" she abruptly asked, the sudden thought occurring to her.
Spinel Sun's eyes now widened at this unexpected question. "I…we…no. Eriol-sama likes to cook, but his attempts…and Ruby does too, but that…"
She smiled brightly. "I see. I like to cook. And I don't think I'm too bad…" There was a glint in her eyes, and she dragged Spinel Sun into the kitchen.
+ + +
The rays of the sun filtered through the dark curtains. He felt the subtle warmth and snuggled deeper into the blankets, not wanting to wake up. Everything around him was warm and familiar, and he sank deeper into the fluffy blankets searching for another familiar thing that would never be there.
It wasn't there, and never would be. Still he searched, wanting and not believing.
+ + +
The kitchen was alive with the smells of the morning and the bustle of happiness. Nakuru had come down, complaining about the noise, but the complaints died at the sight of food.
The tables and dishes were all set and ready; all that was missing was, "Eriol-kun," she crinkled her nose, wondering why he wasn't awake.
Spinel Sun and Nakuru were bickering already, so she quickly told them, "I'll go get Eriol-kun up, okay?" Before they could answer, she had already run up the stairs to the big antique wooden doors.
Hesitantly, she opened the creaking doors and peered in. "Eriol-kun?" she called softly. There was a slight ruffle in the blanket. She smiled. "Eriol-kun," she repeated more loudly.
He disappeared deeper into the folds of the blankets, not quite hearing, but hearing something familiar that he wanted so badly.
She skipped over to his bed, putting her hand on the bulge in the blanket. She shook a bit, "Eriol-kun, wake up," she sang.
He still didn't budge, only hunched into himself.
Laughing lightly, she peered under the blanket, sticking her head in. "Eriol-kun," her singsong voice continued.
What happened next was a blur.
His hands brushed against something soft, familiar, and not familiar. Closing around it, he brought it close to himself abruptly.
She gasped as he grabbed her hand, still laughing a bit. "Eriol-kun, what…"
His grip was powerful and unyielding; she could feel herself go into the blanket, so that her hand wouldn't hurt. His other hand now found her face, feeling her velvet skin.
"Eriol…"
He crushed her to him, feeling her body bend against his. Familiar. Unfamiliar. Wanted. Needed.
Her voice was now muffled, buried in his chest, but still she laughed, as though it was a joke. "Eriol-kun, what are you doing?"
And then she felt something warm, damp, and soft on her lips. Her mouth opened in shock, but was quickly closed as his lips caressed hers desperately. The kiss swept through her body, leaving her shaking and helpless. And still, he pressed her closely, as though embedding her into him.
+ + +
They were finally having a somewhat civilized conversation finally, after that long fight about…about really nothing. Spinel Sun was carefully nibbling at the white bread, when Ruby Moon spoke.
"Eriol-sama is healing."
Spinel Sun looked up. "Yes."
"Not because of time," Ruby Moon's voice was nonchalant, and she continued to stir her tea. "Or us, I'm ashamed to say."
"There is nothing to be ashamed about," Spinel's voice was equally calm. "Just because he needs Tomoyo."
"Oh, I'm not ashamed. Not really," her voice was now sheepish. "I'm just glad that Tomoyo…"
"The point, Ruby, is that they're developing feelings for each other, and don't know it," he finished, guessing accurately. "That was what you meant to say, I presume?"
"Well…" she hesitated. "Yes and no."
Suddenly they heard a scream, followed by a loud slap. Both winced visibly. When they opened their eyes again, they briefly saw Tomoyo run out the door. Her face was glistening.
Then Eriol was standing there, glasses, hair, and clothes askew. Now they turned their eyes on him.
Ruby Moon finally spoke. "Okay . . . I guess you should go after her. What did you do to the poor girl anyway?"
He straightened his glasses before answering. "I…kissed her." Neither of them answered. He looked at them, exasperated. "Well…?"
Spinel Sun now spoke. "Do you love her?"
He hesitated, not sure what to answer. "Well, hurry up!" Ruby Moon's voice was loud. "You don't want her to get away, do you?"
He nodded and ran out the door after her. Spinel Sun looked at Ruby Moon carefully. "He loves her."
"Yes," she nodded. "But that's not what I meant."
"Then what?"
"It's not that they don't know…it's that they don't want to know. They're afraid. They're denying. Everything they've been living on is their pain. Now…" she trailed off.
"He'll never forget Sensei," he stated, back to that noncommittal voice.
"Like Tomoyo will never forget Sakura-chan. Who can ever forget their first love?" she asked, stirring her tea again. Spinel Sun nodded in turn, bending to nibble at his toast.
+ + +
He found her, sitting on a bench in the midst of his rose garden, staring blankly ahead. "To…Daidouji-san," he corrected himself, breathless.
"So now I'm Daidouji-san," Tomoyo's voice was carefully guarded, polite.
"Y-I mean, no…but…" he stammered, still standing, aghast at her coolness. Didn't she just slap him across the face with all the anger she could muster? "Aren't you…mad?" he finally countered.
She was silent for a moment. "I don't know what to feel," she said softly, her eyes still not meeting his. "How do…you feel?"
Eriol grimaced. "I…I…" The question Spinel asked him had tortured him the whole run here. A strong feeling grew in his heart, and he knew what he had to say. Because she was sitting there, and she was what he needed, and she was all that he ever, ever wanted to have. To love, to hold, to cherish. "I love you Tomoyo," he finally said, almost in wonderment.
"I know," she still remained clam, but a silent sob shook her body. "I know but what if it dies? What if it disappears? You still love her."
Her… He nodded, unable to deny, but his heart was filled with his newfound conviction. "And don't you still love her?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "Yes."
"Do you love me?" he continued to interrogate.
There was hesitation, but the answer was the same. "Yes," she said without hesitation. "I think I do."
His heart welled in happiness, but he kept himself calm. "Then?"
"Then?" she echoed, turning her head towards him for the first time, "I can't give my all to you. And…to me, it's terribly unfair. If you love someone, you should be able to give them your all…"
He was startled to see tears in her violet eyes. He took her small hand in his. "Why are you afraid?" he was gentle as he caressed her hand.
She suddenly laughed, tears streaming from her eyes. "God, I love you Eriol. You're the only one…who ever understood me." She was smiling now. "And I thank you for that."
He bent down and touched his lips to hers. "I thank you for being here," he smiled too, "with me."
Their lips met again.
Only a few wispy white clouds dotted the sky, but it couldn't hide the brilliance of the bright blue sky. Even if it rained, there would be some place that carried a patch of blue.
Sora.