Daidouji Tomoyo was the least expected guest he would find standing in his doorstep, but Eriol Hiiragizawa knew it was his raven-haired classmate alright. There was no mistaking the delicate features of her angelic face and the melodious tone of voice.
His fists clenched. Who would have thought that beneath her almost-divine exterior was a scheming devil's mistress, who manipulates the love affairs of other people like string-bound puppets?
"Good afternoon, Hiiragizawa-kun," she greeted, evidently ill at ease. Who wouldn't, the way he was glowering at her.
"Good afternoon," he said stiffly. He refused to open the door wider for her, even to give her an invitation to let herself in.
"Er, is Nakuru there?" she asked, fidgeting under his piercing gaze.
"I don't think so," he said coolly.
Silence.
"Anything more I can help you with, Daidouji-san?" he asked coldly.
She exhaled audibly, then faced him courageously. "Hiiragizawa-kun, I know that you are not, well, delighted to see me…after what happened between you and Mizuki-sensei…"
Oops, she thought when she saw his face turned darker. She continued quickly. "…but maybe, we can put things behind already. After all, it's been some months already, and they're planning to get married already-"
"They're planning to get what?!" His voice rose dangerously.
Tomoyo took a step back cautiously. She had never seen her classmate this angry before. "Er, they're planning to get married, Mizuki-sensei and Touya."
"I will not allow it!" he declared.
"What will you do then, tell it to the Supreme Court?" she asked, unable to suppress her amusement. He was as entertaining as he was frightful when he was furious; whoever said that a woman scorned was scary should meet a Clow Reed reincarnation scorned.
She instantly became the target of his blazing eyes. "You do know very well that it's all your fault." His voice calmed, but that doesn't mean his poison did too.
"It's not my fault- they were just destined to fall in love," she shrugged, her voice even. It was betraying the panic within her, that Hiiragizawa Eriol might seek revenge on her. Now she knew why Cupid chose bow and arrows as his tools- to protect himself from the jilted people who also loved the people he matchmade. She vowed to take one too the next time.
"Destiny my foot! You manipulated them!"
"I didn't; I just helped them see how much they still care for each other." Tomoyo sighed, for she couldn't understand for the life of her why an all-knowing mage couldn't digest the simple fact that there is such thing as star-crossed love.
Then it hit her. If Eriol didn't believe in it, how could she proceed with her matchmaking plans for Yukito and Nakuru?
"You still manipulated them," he pointed out.
Tomoyo sighed. "Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Back when we were in fifth grade, you created gigantic pool waves, oversized stuffed bears, and sudden blizzards. Heck, you even locked two people in an elevator and threatened to put the town of Tomoeda into endless slumber, just to make Sakura-chan transform those cards. Now look who's more manipulative between the two of us?"
When she saw him grimace, she knew she won a point. She fought back a proud grin- Daidouji Tomoyo was not only skilled in matchmaking, she also knew how to fight verbal battles- and win one. Now that she made a point, she must give the coup de grâce, the final blow. She was going to make him relish her victory by leaving with the final say.
She pivoted, her hair flying behind her shoulders. "I think I'll see Nakuru in the university. Good day, and nice seeing you again, Hiiragizawa-kun."
When she had walked several meters away already, she realized that now more than ever, she made her situation difficult. How could she push through with her matchmaking plans aggressively if she couldn't set foot on the Hiiragizawa mansion?
She massaged her aching temples- she needed a cup of coffee. It would set her mind straight, for sure.
The minute she stepped into the café, she felt everyone's eyes on her. Understandable, because her matchmaking prowess was already well-known, thanks to the power of the word of the mouth.
She got a free mug of frothy coffee, because the manager of the café had become one of her clients half a year back. She smiled when she remembered that the happiness the manager of the café was looking for all her life was closer than she thought- the janitor of the establishment that had been with her all her life too.
She chose a seat a little far from the crowd so she could think. She needed to assess the situation of her current matchmaking project.
One, Nakuru and Yukito both had a thing for Touya.
Two, Ruby Moon and Yue were competitors for the same master.
Three, Eriol would not let her into his house so she could get started on warming Nakuru up for Yukito.
The first two problems were already an all-too familiar obstacle for her. She knew she could solve that, if only she tried hard enough. Yue wasn't as tough as he thought, and she would just have to concentrate on his weakness- little girls.
Now Eriol Hiiragizawa was the problem. Nakuru opts to stay home with her master all the time, and she wasn't sure if Eriol would let his servant talk to her, even if she claimed that she has the cure for Spinel's weird behavior towards sweets.
Give Kaho Mizuki back to Eriol?
Nah. Why ruin Touya and Kaho? Besides, her teacher deserves more than someone as narrow-minded as Eriol.
But Eriol minus Kaho equals Grouchy Eriol. Now, Grouchy Eriol times Nakuru plus Yukito equals doomed matchmaking.
So, to solve the equation, she needed to balance.
Feeling inspired, she took out her handy pen and notebook and began to write.
"Rule of chemistry: both sides must be equal." Her eyes lit up. "I know!" She clapped her hands in delight. "Hiiragizawa-kun needs a lovelife! If he is in love, then he would be too distracted to even get in the way for my matchmaking plans!"
There was a problem though- he was already in love, and with the wrong woman. Tomoyo sighed. "Mr. Nobody is not so perfect anymore." She decided to brainstorm for women who could be Eriol's match.
Someone who could match wit with his.
Someone who understood that he was more than an average Londoner. Someone who could digest the issues he has about his existence and identity.
Someone with lots of patience, one who could understand how his gray matter works.
Someone who could make him forget that Kaho Mizuki once became the center of his life.
In short, someone who doesn't exist.
Daidouji Tomoyo's tinkling peals of delighted laughter echoed inside the café, making everyone smile too. The Tomoeda nakoudo is up to something yet again.
"Who was our guest awhile ago, Master Eriol?" asked Spinel when it saw its master glaring at the front door as if it was the gates leading to Hades' underworld ball.
"The bane of my love life," he said through gritted teeth.
Spinel smirked. "Pardon? Whose love life?"
Eriol glared at the feline. "I didn't know that your auditory senses are nulled by sweets too."
The cat snickered. "Just making sure I heard it right."
Eriol muttered colorful profanities under his breath while the feline listened, marveling at his fluency.
"So, was it a girl scout selling cookies?" asked the cat.
"It was the famed Daidouji Tomoyo-san, the Nakuodo." Eriol exhaled sharply. "Everyone's love know-it-all."
"You don't seem to be fond of her," said Suppi. "I remember that back in your elementary days, you seem to talk to her a lot."
"Which was before she took a matchmaking career," he retorted. "She used to be a sweet, nice lass back then."
"Master, then and now, she had always been addicted to love. No matter if it wasn't her in love, just as long as she finds people around her in love too." Spinel shrugged. "That's the nature of a hopeless romantic."
"Nonsense. She's meddling with others' affairs."
"Duh. As if you didn't too."
"I had a valid reason!" he said indignantly. "It's for the sake of the clow cards."
"She has a valid reason too," defended the feline. "She's doing it because she wants people to experience the magic of falling in love. And when had love become an invalid reason in the rules of life?"
For that, Eriol had no ready reply. Instead, he said," Which side are you on? I am your master!"
"I didn't say you weren't." Spinel looked at its master squarely. "And I am doing this for your own good too. It's time for you to move on."
"Not without getting justice with what she did to me and Kaho!" said Eriol firmly.
"That very thing-your thirst for revenge- would make you unhappy, Master," said Suppi. "And all Nakuru and I want is to see you happy. Is that too much to ask for?"
"I will be happy once I get Kaho back and I teach the nakoudo a lesson she will never forget."
Spinel shrugged- no use in arguing with a man whose mind was closed and unaccepting. "So what's the big plan?"
Eriol hesitated.
"I take it you have none yet."
"I'm working on it," said Eriol, scowling. He wasn't called the Second Clow Reed for nothing.
That night, Tomoyo read the likes and dislikes of Yukito with women, courtesy of her equally-sneaky-if-she-wants-to cousin, Sakura. She smiled sheepishly- this was going to be harder than she thought. Nakuru was the opposite of everything Yukito wanted- from attitude right down to zest overdrive. Their only common ground was Kinomoto Touya and the Clow Mistress, and they were still rivals there.
"Ah, but a Daidouji never says never!" She made a quick note on her pad. She would get Yukito and Nakuru together, no matter what!
Now as for Eriol's mystery woman…
Tomoyo looked at her database of single women. None were good enough for his taste.
She shook her head. "Erase, erase! Eriol is not good enough for anyone, that's it."
But if she wanted to make headway on her matchmaking plans, she must find the perfect girl for him, FAST!
Tsuzuku