["IMPORTANT" A/N: For those of you who go around criticizing other
people's work. do what you want, but I'm not going to change how I do
things. I'm sorry if I'm not all hardcore about this as you, but hey, I'm
a freaking amateur and it's quite obvious that I'm not as perfect as you
"dubbed" writers are, so screw off if you don't have anything good to say.
Just don't read it. I'm not going to die if no one reads this stuff. I do
it out of sheer pleasure of having nothing to do. So, to "those" people,
don't tell me "oh yea. please don't write in slang" or " You're story is
shifting scenes unclearly" or whatever it is you have to say. If you want
me to write more and go on with my story, then give me a shout-out. If you
don't? I'm doing it, anyways. Happy? Well I hope you, have a nice day.]
Chapter 3: Kai
The sunbeams crept their way through the blinds onto the porcelain doll. Pale as the night moon, hair dark as the night sky, and mouth as red and full as the petal of a newly bloomed rose. Dawn arrived as these sunbeams touch the surface of this porcelain doll. Like the magic that touched Pinocchio, these rays of light stir the dark-haired doll. A twitch of her eyes, the flinch of her mouth, and the lift of a tired finger revealed the indication of life. Yes. The autumn child of September has awakened.
She slowly felt the surge of energy radiate through her body; the frail body of a girl no older than sixteen. A renewed life ran from the very tip of her skull down through her spine to the tips of her toes. She has undergone an eternity since her strength returned. Seven of the morning marked her clock as she slowly willed herself from upon the heap down comforters. A curl of her dark hair drooped from her head. She twisted the panels of her blinds and recoiled from the eye-blinding light that burned her eyes. She turned away from the luminosity like she did someone the night before.
Her light, dainty, little feet drew back from the coldness of her dark wood floors. Baring the freezing tingle on the pads of her feet, she gradually made her way out her bedroom door onto the carpet that covered her home's hallways and stairs. A step at the time and with one hand on the cherry wood railing, she leisurely went downstairs. Upon meeting the black marble tiles of the foir, she disappeared into the side hall and into the chef's kitchen out looking the herb garden and fountain fall in the side yard.
" Mademoiselle! You are sick! I will call for Yumi!" The Chef reached for the intercom.
" No, no! Please! I'm fine. I'm feeling quite better. It was just mere fever. I'm all right. There is no need for this entire racket so early in the morning."
" This is not acceptable at all! You will go back upstairs and rest yourself. God knows when a wind might hit and blow your frail self into the heavens. I will send for Yumi immediately!" He reached for the intercom button again, but not before stopped him with a tug to his arm.
" My mother told you, too, didn't she?" She knew somehow the word would slip and the household will know of her situation.
Silence. There was that awkward moment. She tried her best to convincingly change the subject.
" Tell me, I'm hungry, is there anything to eat, Paolo?"
" Oh -of course. You sit yourself there and I'll get you some of the European dishes you love so much. Will Eriol join us today, Miss? He loves these morning European dishes, would you like me to call -?"
" No! I'm quite sure he is very busy this morning with his work and wedding plans arriving so soon."
" I see, but he made sure, I think, that he came and dropped these flowers off himself, this morning." Paolo turned towards the vase of wildflowers sitting on the sill and carefully picked it up and placed it on the bar table next to her.
" Oh and I forgot," Paolo reached into his shirt pocket, " He told me to make sure that you received this note. Here, open it."
Tomoyo took the handed envelope and peeled open the flap.
Hey Tomoyo,
I'm sorry about last night. I should've congratulated on your wedding arrangement instead of ranting on about your notions and opinions on love. I guess the green monster just came out and I became aware of the fact that I'm going to have to let you go. You are my dearest friend and I will always hold you close to my heart. Wherever you may go, I will be there to support you. I know that we're both eloping early for our age and that I shouldn't be asking you this, but I can't help myself. Do you really love him? I meant Kai. You are only sixteen. I know I'm only eighteen, but I'm still older and I just wanted you to think this through. I must stop now, or else my concern in your decisions will drive me crazy and I might, accidentally, slip something offensive. .
Much Love, Eriol
She closed the letter. She held tight onto what may be the last letter Eriol will ever write to her before he became a married man. Every single word she read broke her weak heart a little bit more. She wanted to push it away to oblivion. She wanted her bed. She wanted to bury herself.
" I'm so sorry for all your trouble, but Paolo, I'm feeling once again a bit weak. I don't think I will be able to endure eating this morning. I am, truthfully, sorry."
" I understand. There is no reason to be sorry. After all, this is what I'm supposed to do. I'll have Yumi bring it up to you when you're ready. Can u manage the stairs?"
" I will be fine, thank you. Winter always makes me a bit weak inside even if I'm not sick. I will see you later. Thank you, once again."
She got off her stool, but before turning back and reaching for a single wildflower. She took the long way and went across the living room and toward the entrance of her staircase. Before stepping onto the first step, the door chime rang. Hesitantly, she grasped hold of the silver brass knob to the front door. ' Might as well open the door while I'm up.'
A cold gust of wind chilled her. She focused to see who was at the door with her dark ringlets blowing and arms wrapped around the buttoned-up shirt she wore. Wind and snow rushed inside the room frosting her unclothed feet and rosy cheeks. Then she saw him amidst the entire flurry.
" Kai?" she said in a meek little voice.
" Tomoyo! Why are you answering doors and not in your bed: safe and warm?!" He barged through the door and abruptly closed it. " Dear one, you shouldn't be down here and so thinly dressed. Tomoyo?" She looked at him with stillness. " Tomoyo, are you ok?"
A haze filmed her dull eyes. ' It wasn't Eriol. It wasn't Eriol.' Her mind closed all connections to her limbs. She fell into void.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Warm. Slippery, wetness of an unknown substance was poured down through her throat. Yearning for the grace of the air to touch her lungs she sat up to spew at the liquid.
" Tomoyo!"
She tried to converge the images of the man before her. Someone who was the owner of brown, wispy hair; a skinny, concerned face; a dimpled smile of relief; and caramel eyes. Someone who wasn't Eriol. It was Kai. She gave way into his lean body, half-awake.
Kai. Someone she could call her own and who willingly followed her to the ends of the earth. What more could a girl want? He surely was one of the most charming men she had ever met in her life. The definition of Kai would be: sweet, hardworking, caring, considerate, and comforting. His loving eyes looked into a person's soul and engulfed the person's heart with pure reliability. Kai was one who you could always rely on. She admired him for every aspect of his personality and his looks. He was, in other words, perfect. He was the boy every girl wanted to live next to. He was simply Kai. He lent a hand when needed and he always knew what to do when things go bad. Simply Kai. He had always been there for her every need. She held him close to her heart as Eriol held her close to his heart.
" Tomoyo?" he broke the silence.
" Yes?"
" I know your mom had already agreed to my proposal to you, but what of you?"
Silence. That damn uncomfortable pause. ' What is there to think about? I could not ask for someone so caring, so loving, and so respectful to my own needs as I can him. Eriol is moving onto a different part of his life. I might as well move on with someone as Kai. Damn the mixed emotions of a teenage girl.'
" I concur with her. I could not ask for someone like yourself."
" Tomoyo?"
" Yes?"
" I love you."
" I -I love you too."
Chapter 3: Kai
The sunbeams crept their way through the blinds onto the porcelain doll. Pale as the night moon, hair dark as the night sky, and mouth as red and full as the petal of a newly bloomed rose. Dawn arrived as these sunbeams touch the surface of this porcelain doll. Like the magic that touched Pinocchio, these rays of light stir the dark-haired doll. A twitch of her eyes, the flinch of her mouth, and the lift of a tired finger revealed the indication of life. Yes. The autumn child of September has awakened.
She slowly felt the surge of energy radiate through her body; the frail body of a girl no older than sixteen. A renewed life ran from the very tip of her skull down through her spine to the tips of her toes. She has undergone an eternity since her strength returned. Seven of the morning marked her clock as she slowly willed herself from upon the heap down comforters. A curl of her dark hair drooped from her head. She twisted the panels of her blinds and recoiled from the eye-blinding light that burned her eyes. She turned away from the luminosity like she did someone the night before.
Her light, dainty, little feet drew back from the coldness of her dark wood floors. Baring the freezing tingle on the pads of her feet, she gradually made her way out her bedroom door onto the carpet that covered her home's hallways and stairs. A step at the time and with one hand on the cherry wood railing, she leisurely went downstairs. Upon meeting the black marble tiles of the foir, she disappeared into the side hall and into the chef's kitchen out looking the herb garden and fountain fall in the side yard.
" Mademoiselle! You are sick! I will call for Yumi!" The Chef reached for the intercom.
" No, no! Please! I'm fine. I'm feeling quite better. It was just mere fever. I'm all right. There is no need for this entire racket so early in the morning."
" This is not acceptable at all! You will go back upstairs and rest yourself. God knows when a wind might hit and blow your frail self into the heavens. I will send for Yumi immediately!" He reached for the intercom button again, but not before stopped him with a tug to his arm.
" My mother told you, too, didn't she?" She knew somehow the word would slip and the household will know of her situation.
Silence. There was that awkward moment. She tried her best to convincingly change the subject.
" Tell me, I'm hungry, is there anything to eat, Paolo?"
" Oh -of course. You sit yourself there and I'll get you some of the European dishes you love so much. Will Eriol join us today, Miss? He loves these morning European dishes, would you like me to call -?"
" No! I'm quite sure he is very busy this morning with his work and wedding plans arriving so soon."
" I see, but he made sure, I think, that he came and dropped these flowers off himself, this morning." Paolo turned towards the vase of wildflowers sitting on the sill and carefully picked it up and placed it on the bar table next to her.
" Oh and I forgot," Paolo reached into his shirt pocket, " He told me to make sure that you received this note. Here, open it."
Tomoyo took the handed envelope and peeled open the flap.
Hey Tomoyo,
I'm sorry about last night. I should've congratulated on your wedding arrangement instead of ranting on about your notions and opinions on love. I guess the green monster just came out and I became aware of the fact that I'm going to have to let you go. You are my dearest friend and I will always hold you close to my heart. Wherever you may go, I will be there to support you. I know that we're both eloping early for our age and that I shouldn't be asking you this, but I can't help myself. Do you really love him? I meant Kai. You are only sixteen. I know I'm only eighteen, but I'm still older and I just wanted you to think this through. I must stop now, or else my concern in your decisions will drive me crazy and I might, accidentally, slip something offensive. .
Much Love, Eriol
She closed the letter. She held tight onto what may be the last letter Eriol will ever write to her before he became a married man. Every single word she read broke her weak heart a little bit more. She wanted to push it away to oblivion. She wanted her bed. She wanted to bury herself.
" I'm so sorry for all your trouble, but Paolo, I'm feeling once again a bit weak. I don't think I will be able to endure eating this morning. I am, truthfully, sorry."
" I understand. There is no reason to be sorry. After all, this is what I'm supposed to do. I'll have Yumi bring it up to you when you're ready. Can u manage the stairs?"
" I will be fine, thank you. Winter always makes me a bit weak inside even if I'm not sick. I will see you later. Thank you, once again."
She got off her stool, but before turning back and reaching for a single wildflower. She took the long way and went across the living room and toward the entrance of her staircase. Before stepping onto the first step, the door chime rang. Hesitantly, she grasped hold of the silver brass knob to the front door. ' Might as well open the door while I'm up.'
A cold gust of wind chilled her. She focused to see who was at the door with her dark ringlets blowing and arms wrapped around the buttoned-up shirt she wore. Wind and snow rushed inside the room frosting her unclothed feet and rosy cheeks. Then she saw him amidst the entire flurry.
" Kai?" she said in a meek little voice.
" Tomoyo! Why are you answering doors and not in your bed: safe and warm?!" He barged through the door and abruptly closed it. " Dear one, you shouldn't be down here and so thinly dressed. Tomoyo?" She looked at him with stillness. " Tomoyo, are you ok?"
A haze filmed her dull eyes. ' It wasn't Eriol. It wasn't Eriol.' Her mind closed all connections to her limbs. She fell into void.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Warm. Slippery, wetness of an unknown substance was poured down through her throat. Yearning for the grace of the air to touch her lungs she sat up to spew at the liquid.
" Tomoyo!"
She tried to converge the images of the man before her. Someone who was the owner of brown, wispy hair; a skinny, concerned face; a dimpled smile of relief; and caramel eyes. Someone who wasn't Eriol. It was Kai. She gave way into his lean body, half-awake.
Kai. Someone she could call her own and who willingly followed her to the ends of the earth. What more could a girl want? He surely was one of the most charming men she had ever met in her life. The definition of Kai would be: sweet, hardworking, caring, considerate, and comforting. His loving eyes looked into a person's soul and engulfed the person's heart with pure reliability. Kai was one who you could always rely on. She admired him for every aspect of his personality and his looks. He was, in other words, perfect. He was the boy every girl wanted to live next to. He was simply Kai. He lent a hand when needed and he always knew what to do when things go bad. Simply Kai. He had always been there for her every need. She held him close to her heart as Eriol held her close to his heart.
" Tomoyo?" he broke the silence.
" Yes?"
" I know your mom had already agreed to my proposal to you, but what of you?"
Silence. That damn uncomfortable pause. ' What is there to think about? I could not ask for someone so caring, so loving, and so respectful to my own needs as I can him. Eriol is moving onto a different part of his life. I might as well move on with someone as Kai. Damn the mixed emotions of a teenage girl.'
" I concur with her. I could not ask for someone like yourself."
" Tomoyo?"
" Yes?"
" I love you."
" I -I love you too."