Chapter 13: Still Waiting
Sakura's palace was once again crowded with the bodies of many people. Some dancing, some talking, some eating, some laughing, some climbing the stairs to Sakura's many-mansion rooms doing only God knows what.
Still there were about millions more people pouring into through the intricate French doors. There Sakura and Li stood waiting and greeting. But most of all waiting.
It was of the seventh hour now and she still stood by the entranceway waiting for any sight of Tomoyo. It seemed an endless crowd of people came in, but none of them were Tomoyo. Sakura grew worried. Syaroan... Syaroan knew something was wrong.
Still there was always an inkling of hope that Tomoyo would come with her mother in any minute. Sakura persistently stuck her head out every few minutes to see if Sonomi's car had pulled up to the valet. Syaroan, on the other hand, fidgeted with his watch every now and then.
Soon, Sakura saw the head of bobbing ebony locks head to the door and she was almost jumping with relief and excitement that Tomoyo had made it to the mansion all right, but it wasn't her.
It was a joyous Eriol. Arms hooked with his fiery ruby-haired wife. They stopped in front of their hosts.
" Hello, Eriol. Hello, Kaho." Greeted the ever so gentlemen-like Syaroan.
" Good evening, Syaroan. Good evening, Sakura."
But however Kaho tried to catch Sakura's attention, she was unsuccessful and lost through Sakura's wandering eyes. Syaroan looked down at his wife and gently squeezed her hand.
It was then that Sakura looked about and addressed the Hiiragizawa couple.
" Hi, guys!" Eriol locked eyes with his wife and chuckled at Sakura's child-like happiness. After all, it was nearing Christmas and he could always remember her and Tomoyo running downstairs Christmas morning and ravaging at the many wrapped present under their pine tree.
But then that happiness disappeared almost immediately as Sakura continued pursuing her nameless hunt for something in the crowd.
Curiously, Eriol soon found himself searching the crowd as well and asking Sakura. " What are you trying to find, Sakura?"
Syaroan glanced at Eriol bitterly. " She's looking for a person, dimwit."
Kaho and Eriol, who had now moved out of the entranceway, stood by their hosts, all four looking at the side of the door for whatever that had seemed to catch Sakura's interest.
Eriol whispered in Sakura's ear. " Who are you trying to find?"
Sakura didn't care to meet his eye, she just replied simply to his question. " Tomoyo."
Eriol jerked a bit from Sakura's head. ' Tomoyo...' he thought. ' He no longer knew what he felt about her. He wasn't sure if they were friends. If they were enemies. If they were only on speaking terms. He didn't know what his relationship was with her anymore.'
" Oh." He simply said back.
He stood still captured by his own thoughts.
Kaho now conversed with Syaroan and voiced her worriment over Tomoyo's absence.
" That is unlike her, Syaroan. Tomoyo is always prompt. She is not one who comes late to a party. Has she called?"
" No, Kaho. Sakura and I spoke with her over the phone around an hour ago and she was still home. Then again, it takes her an hour max to get here, but it's been more than and hour and there is no sign of her."
" Who was taking her?"
" Her mother--."
" SONOMI!" Yelled an over-relieved Sakura. Kaho, Eriol, and Syaroan jerked their hands quickly out the door. " Where's Tomoyo?"
Sonomi stepped out of the black stretch limo and preceded her way up the steps to meet Sakura at the door. " Tomoyo?" She asked smiling.
" Yes, Tomoyo." Sakura still wide eye with respite.
Sonomi now stared skeptically at Sakura. " One of my secretaries had said that Syaroan had called and left a message for me, so I assumed he must've gone and picked up Tomoyo himself because I was a bit late coming home from work."
Sonomi then glanced over at Syaroan. " Do-Do you mean that-that Tomoyo is not... here?" The four exchanged grim glances at one another.
The realization soon hit Sonomi that her daughter was still home by herself waiting. " No!?" The words barely came out in disbelief. " No... I must go back and fetch her! She's still waiting!"
Sakura gently clasped the hand of the senior Daidouji and led her to a seat by the door. " Shhh... I'll go get her auntie. It's ok. I just had thought that you were taking her. No, it was just a misunderstanding. It's still early to go get Tomoyo."
Sakura stood up from her kneeled position and came to Syaroan's arms. She whispered in his ear. " What are we going to do, Syaroan?"
" I'll go fetch her, Sonomi. You stay here with Sakura. I'll be back in less than an hour if I can help it." Syaroan beamed his cute smile and started shuffling his way to get his coat hung by the key rack.
" Sakura, where are the car keys?" He straightened his coat and gaited back to the worried stricken Sonomi and his wife. " Well, I don't know. It's your car, honey."
Syaroan stuck his hands into his coat pockets and futilely searched them over and over again trying to find the keys.
Kaho tugged at Eriol's shirtsleeve. " Darling, why don't you take Syaroan and the two of you can go get Tomoyo while I help Sakura and Sonomi."
" But---." Kaho gave him a confident nudge and pushed him in the direction of the door. " Don't worry, I'll be perfectly fine."
Eriol walked over to Syaroan. " Oh, alright." He slipped on his coat and grabbed the car keys. He heaved a sigh and planted a kiss upon Kaho's cheek as Syaraon pretended to look out the door with disgust written all over his face.
Syaroan grabbed Eriol's arm. " Ok, lover boy, let's go."
It was after Sakura had closed the doors and Eriol was halfway down the steps dragged by Syaroan when Eriol jerked his arm back ferociously and yelled.
" What the hell was 'that' all about?!"
" Nothing." Syaroan got into the passenger seat and looked straight ahead.
" What? You don't like Kaho?" He stuck the key in and revved the engine.
" Temper, temper, Hiiragizawa."
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" Y-You were different back then. You had ... had better control of your feelings before. You've let them out, Eriol. You show real, unadulterated sentiments of anger and fury..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Temper...'
He started the car and drove out the gates of the estate in silent contemplating.
After a block, Eriol still hadn't spoken a word to Syaroan.
" Uhh... this would be the time to retort your comeback at me, Hiiragizawa.... Hiiragizawa?"
Eriol stared frozen in time hearing words he wished were never spoken to him. Heard words he wished he had never said.
" Hey! Earth to Clow? Eriol? Fine. Don't answer. Let's hope the cat doesn't get your tongue when we arrive at Tomoyo's house. Must've been forever since you spoke with her. When was the last time you...?"
Eriol stared transfixed at road with hard cold eyes. " Shut, Syaroan."
Syaroan cocked a mischievous eyebrow. " Why?"
" I said... SHUT THE HELL UP."
Li was taken aback. " Woah, there. God, I'll stop. No need to go throwing all your anger out on me."
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The rest of the trip was made in silence. Only the cold wind blew by and whistled through the little opening of the car window. A daunting whistle that mourned the winter season. A whistle crying out to be heard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The house was dark for but maybe a little candle that sat itself by on the windowsill in Tomoyo's room.
Syaroan glanced over at the robotically quiet Hiiragizawa with his hands on the steering wheel. " Aren't you coming in?"
" No."
" Why--?"
" I said, No."
" God, thought you'd be jumping for joy to finally see Tomoyo again."
" We're just friends, you idiot."
Syaroan opened the car door allowing dusts of snowflakes to float into the car and grace the black leather interior.
" Who said you weren't?" He slammed the door a bit. Eriol, sat there waiting and watching as the relentless Li threw his hands against the door and kicked it open after a few knocks went unanswered.
' What the hell?' Eriol wondered why Li would do such a foolish thing as to break down the door.
But then, Eriol started to notice how long he had been wondering and thinking, hands frozen upon the steering wheel ready to take off. He fleeting looked at his watch. 7:55.
He, himself, thought of going in and seeing what was up inside.
But then he saw a slight figure at door waving at him.
It was Li.
He looked startled. From inside the car, he could hear Li yelling amidst the snowfall. " She's not there."
Not there? Of course, she's there. That's where I left her doomed to wait for my forgiveness.
She's sick. She can't go anywhere. No, not in this cold. Where would she be? Li was playing with his head. Of course he was. After all, he did ask me if I was going in to see her. It's a trick...
He threw open the car door and ran towards the house slipping a few paces due to the snow.
He hastily ran up the steps to her room, hoping, it was a lie. Hoping it was all a lie. That maybe... just maybe, Li was up to his antics.
He turned the corner step before he reached the last step. Her door open ajar. A little light illuminating within the room. Li's hushed voice calling out her name, opening her closet, looking under the bed, shambling around the room and opening the windows calling out her name.
He could hear his shoes knocking on the wooden floor. " Close the windows, Li."
Li turned around surprised. " I thought you weren't coming in."
" Where is she, Li?" Eriol asked ignoring Li's statement.
" Does it look like I know right now?"
A creak. " Did you hear that, Li?"
Li halted his rantings and quietly neared a concentrated Hiiragizawa. Afraid to make a sound, he whispered airlessly. " What do you hear?"
Lo! It creaks again.
" That."
" You mean, that creaking sound?"
Eriol mutely nodded.
" But I knocked down the front door."
" Shhhh." Eriol cautiously walked out her bedroom door.
" Hey! Where are you going?" Li hissed under his breath.
" Go call Sakura and the others. Find the authorities... do something."
Li rolled his eyes. " And what the hell are you going to do?"
Li followed the descending Eriol down the staircase. " I'm gunna go find her."
Eriol sent Li a brief glimpse and turned his back, running down the hallway into the kitchen. Li pulled out his cell and dialed for the mansion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I ran. Ran because I knew somehow that if I didn't, I'd never see her again. I headed toward the kitchen to the back door. There it was left partly open letting in a cool breeze that disturbed the kitchen fireplace. I opened it and cringed as miniscule snowflakes blew against my face.
Footprints. Faded footprints, but they were there. I followed it to the backyard gate where, it too was left open and unlocked. I lightly pushed the metal clasp. It burned of cold loneliness.
This led me to the little rock valley that her and I used to slip down from to get to the beach quicker. There it went straight to our beach shore. I had reached the final step when I felt lost. I couldn't feel her presence anymore. For about a mile out, all I could see was limitless sea and a trail of shuffled sand interlocked with particles of flurry.
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" TOMOYO!" He yelled. " TOMOYO!"
He brushed a hand through his hair and glared about him aimlessly. He ran pointlessly down the beach shore. He was frustrated. Oh so frustrated. ' Where are you, Tomoyo? Please answer. Please answer. Come home. Come back to me.'
Tears mixed with frost stung his eyes and he quickly wiped them away when he heard.
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It's dark.
Walking to salvation.
Walking to light.
Leaving this world.
She could see it. There's no turning back. It's right there. But 40 paces more and she'll have peace. God, was bringing her home to serenity. Every time she stepped a tread, she could feel agony leaving. Evaporating from her body. Every step suppresses and forgets the past.
Every step left Eriol. She knew it was better this way. Soon, she'll forget him completely. All she'll know is that she is damned to wait outside the gates of heaven until somehow, someone is able to save her. Then she'll wait... wait until he meets her here at the gates and then...
" Tomoyo?"
She stopped. It was none other. None other, but Eriol...
Yea, sorry, this and the last chapter was kinda crappy. I've had so much homework and just this morning, I didn't even go to school because I woke up late. Mother threw a fit. Had so much hw due today in which I did at home. Had a huge test that will determine whether I pass by math class or not. Alright, read and review. Please do so, it tells me what I can do to make it better. Get your friends to read it, read it yourself, wutever.
Sakura's palace was once again crowded with the bodies of many people. Some dancing, some talking, some eating, some laughing, some climbing the stairs to Sakura's many-mansion rooms doing only God knows what.
Still there were about millions more people pouring into through the intricate French doors. There Sakura and Li stood waiting and greeting. But most of all waiting.
It was of the seventh hour now and she still stood by the entranceway waiting for any sight of Tomoyo. It seemed an endless crowd of people came in, but none of them were Tomoyo. Sakura grew worried. Syaroan... Syaroan knew something was wrong.
Still there was always an inkling of hope that Tomoyo would come with her mother in any minute. Sakura persistently stuck her head out every few minutes to see if Sonomi's car had pulled up to the valet. Syaroan, on the other hand, fidgeted with his watch every now and then.
Soon, Sakura saw the head of bobbing ebony locks head to the door and she was almost jumping with relief and excitement that Tomoyo had made it to the mansion all right, but it wasn't her.
It was a joyous Eriol. Arms hooked with his fiery ruby-haired wife. They stopped in front of their hosts.
" Hello, Eriol. Hello, Kaho." Greeted the ever so gentlemen-like Syaroan.
" Good evening, Syaroan. Good evening, Sakura."
But however Kaho tried to catch Sakura's attention, she was unsuccessful and lost through Sakura's wandering eyes. Syaroan looked down at his wife and gently squeezed her hand.
It was then that Sakura looked about and addressed the Hiiragizawa couple.
" Hi, guys!" Eriol locked eyes with his wife and chuckled at Sakura's child-like happiness. After all, it was nearing Christmas and he could always remember her and Tomoyo running downstairs Christmas morning and ravaging at the many wrapped present under their pine tree.
But then that happiness disappeared almost immediately as Sakura continued pursuing her nameless hunt for something in the crowd.
Curiously, Eriol soon found himself searching the crowd as well and asking Sakura. " What are you trying to find, Sakura?"
Syaroan glanced at Eriol bitterly. " She's looking for a person, dimwit."
Kaho and Eriol, who had now moved out of the entranceway, stood by their hosts, all four looking at the side of the door for whatever that had seemed to catch Sakura's interest.
Eriol whispered in Sakura's ear. " Who are you trying to find?"
Sakura didn't care to meet his eye, she just replied simply to his question. " Tomoyo."
Eriol jerked a bit from Sakura's head. ' Tomoyo...' he thought. ' He no longer knew what he felt about her. He wasn't sure if they were friends. If they were enemies. If they were only on speaking terms. He didn't know what his relationship was with her anymore.'
" Oh." He simply said back.
He stood still captured by his own thoughts.
Kaho now conversed with Syaroan and voiced her worriment over Tomoyo's absence.
" That is unlike her, Syaroan. Tomoyo is always prompt. She is not one who comes late to a party. Has she called?"
" No, Kaho. Sakura and I spoke with her over the phone around an hour ago and she was still home. Then again, it takes her an hour max to get here, but it's been more than and hour and there is no sign of her."
" Who was taking her?"
" Her mother--."
" SONOMI!" Yelled an over-relieved Sakura. Kaho, Eriol, and Syaroan jerked their hands quickly out the door. " Where's Tomoyo?"
Sonomi stepped out of the black stretch limo and preceded her way up the steps to meet Sakura at the door. " Tomoyo?" She asked smiling.
" Yes, Tomoyo." Sakura still wide eye with respite.
Sonomi now stared skeptically at Sakura. " One of my secretaries had said that Syaroan had called and left a message for me, so I assumed he must've gone and picked up Tomoyo himself because I was a bit late coming home from work."
Sonomi then glanced over at Syaroan. " Do-Do you mean that-that Tomoyo is not... here?" The four exchanged grim glances at one another.
The realization soon hit Sonomi that her daughter was still home by herself waiting. " No!?" The words barely came out in disbelief. " No... I must go back and fetch her! She's still waiting!"
Sakura gently clasped the hand of the senior Daidouji and led her to a seat by the door. " Shhh... I'll go get her auntie. It's ok. I just had thought that you were taking her. No, it was just a misunderstanding. It's still early to go get Tomoyo."
Sakura stood up from her kneeled position and came to Syaroan's arms. She whispered in his ear. " What are we going to do, Syaroan?"
" I'll go fetch her, Sonomi. You stay here with Sakura. I'll be back in less than an hour if I can help it." Syaroan beamed his cute smile and started shuffling his way to get his coat hung by the key rack.
" Sakura, where are the car keys?" He straightened his coat and gaited back to the worried stricken Sonomi and his wife. " Well, I don't know. It's your car, honey."
Syaroan stuck his hands into his coat pockets and futilely searched them over and over again trying to find the keys.
Kaho tugged at Eriol's shirtsleeve. " Darling, why don't you take Syaroan and the two of you can go get Tomoyo while I help Sakura and Sonomi."
" But---." Kaho gave him a confident nudge and pushed him in the direction of the door. " Don't worry, I'll be perfectly fine."
Eriol walked over to Syaroan. " Oh, alright." He slipped on his coat and grabbed the car keys. He heaved a sigh and planted a kiss upon Kaho's cheek as Syaraon pretended to look out the door with disgust written all over his face.
Syaroan grabbed Eriol's arm. " Ok, lover boy, let's go."
It was after Sakura had closed the doors and Eriol was halfway down the steps dragged by Syaroan when Eriol jerked his arm back ferociously and yelled.
" What the hell was 'that' all about?!"
" Nothing." Syaroan got into the passenger seat and looked straight ahead.
" What? You don't like Kaho?" He stuck the key in and revved the engine.
" Temper, temper, Hiiragizawa."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Y-You were different back then. You had ... had better control of your feelings before. You've let them out, Eriol. You show real, unadulterated sentiments of anger and fury..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Temper...'
He started the car and drove out the gates of the estate in silent contemplating.
After a block, Eriol still hadn't spoken a word to Syaroan.
" Uhh... this would be the time to retort your comeback at me, Hiiragizawa.... Hiiragizawa?"
Eriol stared frozen in time hearing words he wished were never spoken to him. Heard words he wished he had never said.
" Hey! Earth to Clow? Eriol? Fine. Don't answer. Let's hope the cat doesn't get your tongue when we arrive at Tomoyo's house. Must've been forever since you spoke with her. When was the last time you...?"
Eriol stared transfixed at road with hard cold eyes. " Shut, Syaroan."
Syaroan cocked a mischievous eyebrow. " Why?"
" I said... SHUT THE HELL UP."
Li was taken aback. " Woah, there. God, I'll stop. No need to go throwing all your anger out on me."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rest of the trip was made in silence. Only the cold wind blew by and whistled through the little opening of the car window. A daunting whistle that mourned the winter season. A whistle crying out to be heard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The house was dark for but maybe a little candle that sat itself by on the windowsill in Tomoyo's room.
Syaroan glanced over at the robotically quiet Hiiragizawa with his hands on the steering wheel. " Aren't you coming in?"
" No."
" Why--?"
" I said, No."
" God, thought you'd be jumping for joy to finally see Tomoyo again."
" We're just friends, you idiot."
Syaroan opened the car door allowing dusts of snowflakes to float into the car and grace the black leather interior.
" Who said you weren't?" He slammed the door a bit. Eriol, sat there waiting and watching as the relentless Li threw his hands against the door and kicked it open after a few knocks went unanswered.
' What the hell?' Eriol wondered why Li would do such a foolish thing as to break down the door.
But then, Eriol started to notice how long he had been wondering and thinking, hands frozen upon the steering wheel ready to take off. He fleeting looked at his watch. 7:55.
He, himself, thought of going in and seeing what was up inside.
But then he saw a slight figure at door waving at him.
It was Li.
He looked startled. From inside the car, he could hear Li yelling amidst the snowfall. " She's not there."
Not there? Of course, she's there. That's where I left her doomed to wait for my forgiveness.
She's sick. She can't go anywhere. No, not in this cold. Where would she be? Li was playing with his head. Of course he was. After all, he did ask me if I was going in to see her. It's a trick...
He threw open the car door and ran towards the house slipping a few paces due to the snow.
He hastily ran up the steps to her room, hoping, it was a lie. Hoping it was all a lie. That maybe... just maybe, Li was up to his antics.
He turned the corner step before he reached the last step. Her door open ajar. A little light illuminating within the room. Li's hushed voice calling out her name, opening her closet, looking under the bed, shambling around the room and opening the windows calling out her name.
He could hear his shoes knocking on the wooden floor. " Close the windows, Li."
Li turned around surprised. " I thought you weren't coming in."
" Where is she, Li?" Eriol asked ignoring Li's statement.
" Does it look like I know right now?"
A creak. " Did you hear that, Li?"
Li halted his rantings and quietly neared a concentrated Hiiragizawa. Afraid to make a sound, he whispered airlessly. " What do you hear?"
Lo! It creaks again.
" That."
" You mean, that creaking sound?"
Eriol mutely nodded.
" But I knocked down the front door."
" Shhhh." Eriol cautiously walked out her bedroom door.
" Hey! Where are you going?" Li hissed under his breath.
" Go call Sakura and the others. Find the authorities... do something."
Li rolled his eyes. " And what the hell are you going to do?"
Li followed the descending Eriol down the staircase. " I'm gunna go find her."
Eriol sent Li a brief glimpse and turned his back, running down the hallway into the kitchen. Li pulled out his cell and dialed for the mansion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I ran. Ran because I knew somehow that if I didn't, I'd never see her again. I headed toward the kitchen to the back door. There it was left partly open letting in a cool breeze that disturbed the kitchen fireplace. I opened it and cringed as miniscule snowflakes blew against my face.
Footprints. Faded footprints, but they were there. I followed it to the backyard gate where, it too was left open and unlocked. I lightly pushed the metal clasp. It burned of cold loneliness.
This led me to the little rock valley that her and I used to slip down from to get to the beach quicker. There it went straight to our beach shore. I had reached the final step when I felt lost. I couldn't feel her presence anymore. For about a mile out, all I could see was limitless sea and a trail of shuffled sand interlocked with particles of flurry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" TOMOYO!" He yelled. " TOMOYO!"
He brushed a hand through his hair and glared about him aimlessly. He ran pointlessly down the beach shore. He was frustrated. Oh so frustrated. ' Where are you, Tomoyo? Please answer. Please answer. Come home. Come back to me.'
Tears mixed with frost stung his eyes and he quickly wiped them away when he heard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's dark.
Walking to salvation.
Walking to light.
Leaving this world.
She could see it. There's no turning back. It's right there. But 40 paces more and she'll have peace. God, was bringing her home to serenity. Every time she stepped a tread, she could feel agony leaving. Evaporating from her body. Every step suppresses and forgets the past.
Every step left Eriol. She knew it was better this way. Soon, she'll forget him completely. All she'll know is that she is damned to wait outside the gates of heaven until somehow, someone is able to save her. Then she'll wait... wait until he meets her here at the gates and then...
" Tomoyo?"
She stopped. It was none other. None other, but Eriol...
Yea, sorry, this and the last chapter was kinda crappy. I've had so much homework and just this morning, I didn't even go to school because I woke up late. Mother threw a fit. Had so much hw due today in which I did at home. Had a huge test that will determine whether I pass by math class or not. Alright, read and review. Please do so, it tells me what I can do to make it better. Get your friends to read it, read it yourself, wutever.