Chapter 7: Paranoia
It's been a week since Eriol left. Soon came the day of Tomoyo's move and many of her friends were upset. Especially Sakura.
" Please, Tomoyo. You can stay with us. We have so much room here."
" Sakura, I don't think it's a matter of how much room or else I'd be home. Sakura, it will only be for a while. Just to take my load off. Have some time to myself before I'm tied down and taking over mother's business. Think of it as a vacation."
Sakura whined on and on, but it was time Tomoyo left. She needed to. Her current doctors aren't doing anything for her. Her mother, therefore, transferred her over to another set of doctors. By moving away, she could get the attention and care she needed and the doctors would have easier access to her home. As oppose to having to drive a mile to reach her.
" Are you positive?"
" I'm sure. So don't worry! I'll try to visit you every other weekend. And you can always call." Sakura pouted.
Tomoyo came over and hugged Sakura. " I'll miss you too, but it's not the end of the world. I've gone for weeks at a time with mother before and you were just fine."
Sakura thought about it for a while with the childish blank expression. A smile crept upon her face. She blinked away bordering tears and beamed at Tomoyo. " HaHa, you're right. Look at me." She sniffed loudly.
" Exactly." Tomoyo looked at Sakura sweetly.
A yell rang from downstairs. " TOMOYO! Kai's here. Are you ready?"
" YES, MOTHER!"
Sighing deeply, Sakura stood up and straightened her apparel. " Here I'll help you with your luggage."
Slowly and carefully they descended downstairs. Knowing Tomoyo was still a bit weak; Kai took a hold of her arm when she reached the bottom step. " Thank you."
He smiled back. " It's nothing."
Kai and Tomoyo made their way out of Sakura's home and into Kai's car. What seemed like "final" goodbyes were made and together, the two sped a way.
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They invaded the home. It has been well kept since the last time she was there. Precisely two years ago during summer. The last summer she had with Eriol.
" So this is where you and Eriol spent most of your summers? Impressive. A very cozy summer home, I can say."
" Yes, yes it was."
Tomoyo clambered upstairs with Kai following behind with her belongings. She settled herself in the same room she had when she stayed there.
She had an exquisite view of the beach.
" Hey, look, Tomoyo! You see there?" He pointed at the small inlet only she and Eriol knew about. " Well, you can't really see it from here, but that there is where we're going to be married."
The thought of marriage chilled her.
" You okay, Tomoyo?"
" Yea, it's a bit cold."
" I'll go down and see if I can start the heater."
" Ok, you go do that. I'll just be up here unpacking."
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The piercing ringing of the phone startled Tomoyo. It was far too cold to get out of bed and answer it.
She almost forgot that Kai was staying with her until she heard his muffled voice answer the phone from downstairs. She brushed the thought away and again slowly immersed herself with her novel.
Moments later, Kai came in distressed. On the verge of tears. Frustration. Misery. Sorrow. It was all there. He came and set himself on the chair placed beside her divan.
The look on his face nearly broke her heart in two. She was quick to comfort. She sat up on her bed and laid her book onto the coffee table. He sat bent over, hands clasped together and head lolling.
An unspoken understanding was met and she leisurely unclasped his hands and took it into her own. She had no idea why he was in this temperament, but she wanted to be there for him. He was someone who needed to be watched over now. Eriol has what he needs now.
She gradually got onto her knees and elevated herself to his eye level.
One glance at her and a tear fell. He looked down at her hands intertwined with his. She withdrew her hand from his and lightly nudged his face upward. She thumbed away a threatening tear from his lower lash. He broke.
She felt her own façade breaking. She took the hand she still had holding his and pulled him closer to her. He collapsed onto her bed with her continuingly cradling his wrecked exterior.
" Shhhh." He rested against her locking her from movement. She stroked this wispy sepia hair.
" Go to sleep" She whispered to him. " Shhh. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
All that seemed to do was make him clutch to her tighter.
" Shhhhh. Sleep." She little by little lowered herself and the helpless boy down. He still refused to let go and any attempt of resistance only strengthened his grasp.
So she lay there beside him until and after he had fell asleep. She stared at his face for what seemed to be forever. He reminded her of a sleeping little boy. The thought averted her into remembering Eriol. When summer storms stirred the waters, she would curl up in a ball until Eriol came into her room, instinctively and warmed her bed with her.
Her recollection of better days soon tired her. Kai's breathing soon fell in sync with hers as she, too, drifted off.
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England
" Kaho?" He approached her cautiously in his home library.
She looked up with her beautiful glimmering eyes. " Yes, Eriol?"
He shuffled his feet. " There's something wrong."
" There is?"
" Don't you feel it?"
She shook her head.
" I fear something is wrong. I don't know exactly what. Something. Someone is dying. Death is near. Somewhere." He was frustrated.
" You're worried and your worries are making you paranoid. I know Tomoyo is sick, but I don't seem to see anything life-threatening."
" If it's not her, something else is wrong." She looked up at him understandingly.
He abruptly came out with it. " I gotta go. Forgive me. I know we've only been here for four days, but this... curiosity, you can call it, is killing me. The fact that no one in Tomoeda has been returning my calls makes it all worse."
She, too, now became a bit concerned herself. " They haven't?"
He shook his head. " No. They haven't."
She agreed. " You're right. Maybe you should go back. That's very unlike them. Especially Sakura. She always calls back. It'll be all right. I'll stay to discuss the plans with the wedding planner. You go on."
A grin spread across his face. He ran to Kaho sitting there with open arms. He kissed her briefly. " I'll be back. There's nothing that can keep me away from you." His smirked warmed Kaho and every space of the room. " I'll go pack a bag and I'll leave tomorrow morning."
" Ok. You do that."
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He pulled up on the driveway of "their" old summerhouse. Everything was fine according to Sakura since he arrived the night before. Now he had to go check up on Tomoyo.
He got out of his car and came up to the door. He rang it.
No answer. He rang it again.
It hadn't occurred to him until then that he could just get the spare key and open the door.
He looked up and found himself amused that "their" old wind chime still hung from "their" flowerpot. He looked around and vigilantly unhooked the dangling flowerpot and detached the potholder.
There it was. The metal key was right where they left it. He put the pot back into its place and inserted the key and twisted. The oak door opened with ease and he met the warmth the old-furnished home. The house always seemed to reek of apple cinnamon spice. Then again, their nanny used to always bake that for desert while their stay.
He dropped the key and threw his scarf Kaho made him wear onto the couch. He ascended the stairs pausing a few steps to glance at a few childhood pictures taken of them on the beach. They were good times. Irreplaceable times.
He sensed her breathing. She must've been sleeping. He guess he'd just have to get the truth out of her later. His hand came into contact with the cold brass knob. He cleared his throat and turned the handle. If he had known, he would've reconsidered before going in.
If he had known that she had someone else to reassure and comfort after he left, he wouldn't have barged in to see or care if she was in danger or not.
It's been a week since Eriol left. Soon came the day of Tomoyo's move and many of her friends were upset. Especially Sakura.
" Please, Tomoyo. You can stay with us. We have so much room here."
" Sakura, I don't think it's a matter of how much room or else I'd be home. Sakura, it will only be for a while. Just to take my load off. Have some time to myself before I'm tied down and taking over mother's business. Think of it as a vacation."
Sakura whined on and on, but it was time Tomoyo left. She needed to. Her current doctors aren't doing anything for her. Her mother, therefore, transferred her over to another set of doctors. By moving away, she could get the attention and care she needed and the doctors would have easier access to her home. As oppose to having to drive a mile to reach her.
" Are you positive?"
" I'm sure. So don't worry! I'll try to visit you every other weekend. And you can always call." Sakura pouted.
Tomoyo came over and hugged Sakura. " I'll miss you too, but it's not the end of the world. I've gone for weeks at a time with mother before and you were just fine."
Sakura thought about it for a while with the childish blank expression. A smile crept upon her face. She blinked away bordering tears and beamed at Tomoyo. " HaHa, you're right. Look at me." She sniffed loudly.
" Exactly." Tomoyo looked at Sakura sweetly.
A yell rang from downstairs. " TOMOYO! Kai's here. Are you ready?"
" YES, MOTHER!"
Sighing deeply, Sakura stood up and straightened her apparel. " Here I'll help you with your luggage."
Slowly and carefully they descended downstairs. Knowing Tomoyo was still a bit weak; Kai took a hold of her arm when she reached the bottom step. " Thank you."
He smiled back. " It's nothing."
Kai and Tomoyo made their way out of Sakura's home and into Kai's car. What seemed like "final" goodbyes were made and together, the two sped a way.
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They invaded the home. It has been well kept since the last time she was there. Precisely two years ago during summer. The last summer she had with Eriol.
" So this is where you and Eriol spent most of your summers? Impressive. A very cozy summer home, I can say."
" Yes, yes it was."
Tomoyo clambered upstairs with Kai following behind with her belongings. She settled herself in the same room she had when she stayed there.
She had an exquisite view of the beach.
" Hey, look, Tomoyo! You see there?" He pointed at the small inlet only she and Eriol knew about. " Well, you can't really see it from here, but that there is where we're going to be married."
The thought of marriage chilled her.
" You okay, Tomoyo?"
" Yea, it's a bit cold."
" I'll go down and see if I can start the heater."
" Ok, you go do that. I'll just be up here unpacking."
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The piercing ringing of the phone startled Tomoyo. It was far too cold to get out of bed and answer it.
She almost forgot that Kai was staying with her until she heard his muffled voice answer the phone from downstairs. She brushed the thought away and again slowly immersed herself with her novel.
Moments later, Kai came in distressed. On the verge of tears. Frustration. Misery. Sorrow. It was all there. He came and set himself on the chair placed beside her divan.
The look on his face nearly broke her heart in two. She was quick to comfort. She sat up on her bed and laid her book onto the coffee table. He sat bent over, hands clasped together and head lolling.
An unspoken understanding was met and she leisurely unclasped his hands and took it into her own. She had no idea why he was in this temperament, but she wanted to be there for him. He was someone who needed to be watched over now. Eriol has what he needs now.
She gradually got onto her knees and elevated herself to his eye level.
One glance at her and a tear fell. He looked down at her hands intertwined with his. She withdrew her hand from his and lightly nudged his face upward. She thumbed away a threatening tear from his lower lash. He broke.
She felt her own façade breaking. She took the hand she still had holding his and pulled him closer to her. He collapsed onto her bed with her continuingly cradling his wrecked exterior.
" Shhhh." He rested against her locking her from movement. She stroked this wispy sepia hair.
" Go to sleep" She whispered to him. " Shhh. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
All that seemed to do was make him clutch to her tighter.
" Shhhhh. Sleep." She little by little lowered herself and the helpless boy down. He still refused to let go and any attempt of resistance only strengthened his grasp.
So she lay there beside him until and after he had fell asleep. She stared at his face for what seemed to be forever. He reminded her of a sleeping little boy. The thought averted her into remembering Eriol. When summer storms stirred the waters, she would curl up in a ball until Eriol came into her room, instinctively and warmed her bed with her.
Her recollection of better days soon tired her. Kai's breathing soon fell in sync with hers as she, too, drifted off.
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England
" Kaho?" He approached her cautiously in his home library.
She looked up with her beautiful glimmering eyes. " Yes, Eriol?"
He shuffled his feet. " There's something wrong."
" There is?"
" Don't you feel it?"
She shook her head.
" I fear something is wrong. I don't know exactly what. Something. Someone is dying. Death is near. Somewhere." He was frustrated.
" You're worried and your worries are making you paranoid. I know Tomoyo is sick, but I don't seem to see anything life-threatening."
" If it's not her, something else is wrong." She looked up at him understandingly.
He abruptly came out with it. " I gotta go. Forgive me. I know we've only been here for four days, but this... curiosity, you can call it, is killing me. The fact that no one in Tomoeda has been returning my calls makes it all worse."
She, too, now became a bit concerned herself. " They haven't?"
He shook his head. " No. They haven't."
She agreed. " You're right. Maybe you should go back. That's very unlike them. Especially Sakura. She always calls back. It'll be all right. I'll stay to discuss the plans with the wedding planner. You go on."
A grin spread across his face. He ran to Kaho sitting there with open arms. He kissed her briefly. " I'll be back. There's nothing that can keep me away from you." His smirked warmed Kaho and every space of the room. " I'll go pack a bag and I'll leave tomorrow morning."
" Ok. You do that."
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He pulled up on the driveway of "their" old summerhouse. Everything was fine according to Sakura since he arrived the night before. Now he had to go check up on Tomoyo.
He got out of his car and came up to the door. He rang it.
No answer. He rang it again.
It hadn't occurred to him until then that he could just get the spare key and open the door.
He looked up and found himself amused that "their" old wind chime still hung from "their" flowerpot. He looked around and vigilantly unhooked the dangling flowerpot and detached the potholder.
There it was. The metal key was right where they left it. He put the pot back into its place and inserted the key and twisted. The oak door opened with ease and he met the warmth the old-furnished home. The house always seemed to reek of apple cinnamon spice. Then again, their nanny used to always bake that for desert while their stay.
He dropped the key and threw his scarf Kaho made him wear onto the couch. He ascended the stairs pausing a few steps to glance at a few childhood pictures taken of them on the beach. They were good times. Irreplaceable times.
He sensed her breathing. She must've been sleeping. He guess he'd just have to get the truth out of her later. His hand came into contact with the cold brass knob. He cleared his throat and turned the handle. If he had known, he would've reconsidered before going in.
If he had known that she had someone else to reassure and comfort after he left, he wouldn't have barged in to see or care if she was in danger or not.