All in the Game of Love

Oh yeah! Finally updated! Heeheex! Sorry for the wait! Slacking as always!!!

ENJOY YEAH!!!

As always

Mysterio000

p.s. the almighty one!

**

"You're getting weirder each day, Eriol." Ethan Hiiragizawa said as he settled down beside his son in the living room. Eriol was propped up with a book in his hands, mind wandering off to his own engrossed world. It took him quite some time to lift his gaze up and look into the pair of dark azure eyes shooting curious looks at him.

"How come?" Eriol asked, sounding disinterested.

"You are…beginning to come home later than usual." His father stated. Eriol's eyes rounded in surprise, "That's not true. I'm just home…a few hours later."

"That makes a lot of difference." Ethan sighed, sticking his hands in the pockets, "Maybe it's time you explain why."

Eriol bit his lips as he debated whether to tell the truth or not. The fact was, Tomoyo was ALWAYS pulling him to places after school and he still had to walk her home after everything. Of course, everything in his after-school schedule had begun to stretch further.

"So…?" Ethan frowned, getting impatient.

"I have…extra lessons." Eriol ended with a sigh. He knew there was no way his father would see through that pathetic lie. Sensing his father's displease, Eriol gave way, "I went for…shopping."

"You shop?" The amusement in Ethan's voice was obvious. Eriol fidgeted uncomfortably under his father's glare, "Yeah…"

"Alright, son. Enough of your mind tricks. They don't work for me." Ethan stood up, giving Eriol a no-nonsense look, "What's up with you and Tomoyo?"

"WHAT?" Eriol could only look at his father dumbly as the sentence registered in his brain. Since when Ethan had the idea of him and her…AS A COUPLE!? It was unheard of! Well, they were…as a dare.

"I'm not stupid, you know. Don't take me for a fool. I know what's going on." Ethan shot Eriol a careful look as the latter winced inwardly, "Like what?"

"You are dating."

A statement, not a question.

Eriol almost skipped the caffeine in his cup of coffee as he choked a little, "Hello!? Come again?"

"You and Tomoyo are dating. Am I right to say that, son?" Ethan frowned at his son who struggled to find an answer.

"N-NO! That's so untrue! We are just…just…" Eriol paused. How could he tell his father that it all happened because of a dare?

"Well…" Ethan suddenly dropped his voice to a lenient tone before breaking into a warm smile, "I see you're growing up, Eriol."

EXCUSE ME!?!?

"I would love to meet this Tomoyo. How about bringing her over tomorrow for dinner? I'll be home by then." Ethan suggested, although something in his voice already confirmed the whole deal. Eriol could only leant back in despair and cover his face with his hands.

I'm doomed!!!

*

Eriol looked up dreadfully as Tomoyo skipped into the classroom with her usual chirpy smile as classmates waved fondly at her. He continued watching as she headed for her seat at the back of the class before bringing out all the envelopes from her backpack. Just as he guessed, they must be the letters she received each day from her locker. He looked on as she gathered all the letters and dumped them into a garbage bin at the back of the class.

She suddenly looked up, directly into his dark azure eyes before a smile touched her lips.

"It'll do you good to stop staring."

He blinked before turning back to his history book. Dammit! How could he tell her that his father wanted to see her!? It was totally embarrassing!

A head popped up nowhere beside him as the usual familiar giggle escaped from the raven-haired lady who settled down beside him, "So why are you looking so out-of-the-world today?"

Out-of-the-world?

Eriol looked down at his outfit in confusion. He was wearing his usual basketball jersey and jeans. What was so…OUT-OF-THE-WORLD about that?

"I don't understand you." He frowned, not letting his nervous side take over.

"You're nervous." She stated simply.

DAMMIT! HOW CAN SHE SEE THROUGH ME!?

"Why? Did a tough group of boys seek you for a challenge in basketball? Or did you forget to study for today's history test? Or did you forget to bring your wallet?" She queried.

Not this and not that.

"No." He answered flatly as she shrugged, "Or are you worried that I'll cause you your next financial crisis?" After all, she knew that she had spent a bomb yesterday on a jacket using HIS money.

"NO!" He spat out as the teacher walked into class, shooting him a weird look as he frowned and crossed his arms. Tomoyo sighed as she laid a money note on his desk, "I was just joking with you. I'm paying you back. Don't be angry, yeah?"

Her question went unanswered as she ran back to her desk before the teacher could start another round of lecture on punctuality again.

*

Eriol watched in surprise as a packet of nachos was thrown before him before another one came…And another…

Sour cream and onions, barbeque, spicy curry…

Then a packet of salted popcorns flew in his way before he looked up into those amethyst eyes.

"What are you trying to do?" He asked in a annoyed tone as Tomoyo sat before him at the cafeteria table.

"I'm treating you. In hope that you'll cool down." Tomoyo looked up with a sweetened smile, "Are you still angry with me?"

"I said 'no'." Eriol irritatingly blew his bangs from his face.

"See? You're angry already." Tomoyo held up a cup of peppermint ice cream, "Alright, don't say I'm treating you badly. I'm sacrificing a small fortune on this treat just for you."

"Small fortune, alright." Eriol snorted as he began to munch on the nachos.

"So…are you still angry?"

"NO! Leave me alone!"

Silence.

"Why should I?" Tomoyo teased.

"…Why shouldn't you?" Eriol retorted back.

"Alright, alright! I'll just take it that you're suffering from psychological problem today!" Tomoyo gave a reluctant sigh before standing up and heading off.

…Did I go wrong?

"Dammit." Eriol threw the packet of nachos down before looking at the dismissing figure of his 'girlfriend'.

"T-Tomoyo!"

She turned around, smiling, "Why? Complaining that I've only given you 3 packets of nachos?"

"N-no."

There was a moment of silence when Tomoyo cut in, "Let me guess. You decided that peppermint was not your flavor and that maybe strawberry kicked in now?"

"No…"

"So why did you--" Before she could finish, Eriol adruptly broke her sentence.

"My dad would like you to come over for dinner tomorrow."

Tomoyo's eyes rounded.

*

"Did he think I was so cute that he has to have me over for dinner to liven up the atmosphere?" Tomoyo teased as they went shopping the next day after he sent her back home for an outfit change and picked her up again. She was, as usual, dragging Eriol to every girl-stuff shop and he didn't enjoy it at all.

"Please." He rolled his eyes as Tomoyo fingered a blue shirt, "How's this?"

"I'm not paying for it." Eriol pronounced as he began to move out of the shop until a pair of hands grabbed him back again.

"How's this?" Tomoyo giggled as she placed a blue bandana on Eriol's head, "You look cute!"

"Please!" Eriol shoved the piece of cloth away as he walked out of the shop.

"Eriol!" Tomoyo sighed as she tagged behind again, "Alright, alright, we'll go get something for you."

"Unnecessary. I'm not that rich." Eriol bluntly replied.

"Bleah! Whatever!" She stuck out her tongue as they walked along the shops before Tomoyo stopped outside a gift shop. He let out a groan as she silenced him with a poke in the ribs.

"Look! That's so cute! A figurine of Snow White and his prince!" Tomoyo eagerly pointed out to the porcelain objects displayed outside.

"…Maybe." Eriol said with a shrug for he could not deny it was beautiful. It really was.

"Can I go take a peek, please?" Tomoyo pleaded, knowing Eriol's patience was getting to the limit. He frowned, "I'm not to make any decisions for you."

Tomoyo quickly took his hand and pulled him into the crowded shop. She pointed to the figurine and asked the sales assistant for it.

"Tomoyo…It's worth…more than $200." Eriol muttered softly, but enough for her to hear.

"It's really beautiful." Tomoyo replied as she waited for the sales assistant to return back.

"I'm sorry, Miss. The figurine is sold out." The polite lady said apologetically.

"Aw, man! Do they sell it any other places?" Tomoyo asked eagerly.

"I'm sorry. The figurine was a limited edition. I doubt anymore are selling."

"Oh…Then it's fine." Tomoyo threw a smile as she dejectedly took Eriol's hand and walked out of the shop.

"It's just…a figurine." Eriol tried to console her, though trying to make it sound as if he didn't care.

"I know." Tomoyo shrugged, "But it was nice."

Eriol looked at the clock in one of the shops, "It's already five."

"Your father will be home that soon?"

"No. Around six."

Tomoyo winked mischievously, "And what do we do at your mansion for one hour? Eat, sleep, play?"

"You can leave out the 'sleep' part." Eriol crossed his arms, saying.

"Why? Will I be sleeping with you?" Tomoyo laughed heartily.

"…I never implied that." Eriol grew annoyed again.

"Liar liar." She teased.

*

Tomoyo peered into a room painted blue before looking at Eriol, "That's your room?" Eriol nodded, "Don't go in."

"What if I do? What will you do?" Tomoyo teased as she took her first step into his room. His eyes grew big.

"NO, YOU DON'T." He warned but she took no heed of it. She took a glance around his room, "You have a very organized room."

He sighed as Tomoyo narrowed her eyes at a corner but breaking into a knowing beam, "You read romance novels?"

"I don't!" Eriol protested.

"Oh really? And what excuse do you have?" Tomoyo continued her merciless teases as she pulled out a Nicholas Sparks's novel from a shelf, "You were saying…?"

A frown overcame his lips.

A giggle escaped from hers.

"And what do you have to say? That you have an imaginary sister who reads it to you every night? Or that your mother used to read this to you when you were a little kid?"

K.O.ed.

Eriol could only shuffle uncertainly on his feet as Tomoyo continued eyeing his room.

"There is nothing wrong with reading them." He argued back.

"Oh…and writing them?" Tomoyo held up a writing pad from his wooden desk as a quick flush came to Eriol's cheeks.

"Don't touch it!" He suppressed a yell as he lunged for it.

"Oh no you don't!" Tomoyo laughed as she opened the pad, "Let me read, alright?"

"NO!!!" Eriol was now shouting as he chased Tomoyo around the room.

" ' It was a cold, dreary night when a girl stepped out into the rain and--' " She couldn't continue as Eriol tried desperately to reach for the writing pad.

" 'And watch the doves fly past with the last trace of summer skies withering away.' " Tomoyo giggled as she fell back onto the bed in order to avoid Eriol's deadly grasp.

"Wow! You write well!"

"TOMOYO!!!"

Tomoyo giggled endlessly as he crawled above her, lunging for the object in her hands, "GIVE THAT BACK!"

"I'm not!" Tomoyo stuck out her tongue playfully as she rolled to the other end of the bed, continue reading it when he landed atop her again, eyes glaring down, "You're dead!"

"Oooh! I'm scared!" She was now laughing uncontrollably when his hand knocked the pad out of her grip. A struggle continued thereafter as they fought for the pad at the other side of the bed.

"STOP IT!" Eriol shouted as his fingers grasped the pad but was pulled away when Tomoyo beat him to it.

"I'd like to see you try! Just let me read it!"

"In your dreams! I'm telling you, Tomoyo, I'm turning nasty if you don't return it!"

"Bleah!!!" She teased as she opened the writing pad once more when she felt the first tickle of his fingers.

"Eriol, don't do it!" She yelled in between giggles as she tried shoving him away, "Please!"

"Return it!"

"I'm not!

"Do it or else I'll never stop tickling you!"

"AHEM."

Fingers froze.

The writing pad flew out of her hands.

It was definitely not spoken by either.

A familiar baritone voice reached the two pairs of ears without a doubt of clarity, "…Eriol, is that Tomoyo in your hands?"

Eriol quickly crawled down the bed clumsily as he ran a finger through his messy hair. Tomoyo hastily recovered her composure as she placed the writing pad back on the desk and stood beside Eriol, throwing a bright smile.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hiiragizawa."

Ethan slowly eyed the two of them before nodding, "Let's head down for a cup of cider." With that, he moved down the stairway to the living room, a satisfied smile planted on his face.

Eriol frowned and looked at Tomoyo, "It's all your fault."

"Me? You were refusing to let me read it! After all, I am your girlfriend, am I not?" She pouted good-naturedly, "And you assisted me in giving your dad a really bad impression."

"Back to square one: It's all your fault." Eriol muttered under his breath.

"I heard that!"

*

"So what are you planning after graduating?" Ethan asked with a business-like tone as he brought the cup of cider to his mouth, sipping it slowly.

Tomoyo made no hesitation as she broke into smile, "I'd like to go out there to work but there will be a chance I'd like to pursue my singing diplomat once more."

Before Ethan could ask another question, Tomoyo continued, "I used to sing in elementary school in the choir. But I quit after that when I suffered from a minor problem with my throat. I'm better now and there might be a chance I'll be pursuing that career once more."

"That sounds good." Ethan paused before asking, "So…What is it in Eriol that attracts you?"

Both looked stumped.

Tomoyo suddenly let out a giggle, "Apart from the fact that he's suave, cute and charming, he is really nice and caring. I like his headstrong attitude with a little stubborness on top of it. Well, he's just…a great boyfriend."

She shot a impish grin at Eriol would could only look back at his father and shrugged uncertainly.

"That's…very unbelievable but nice at the same time." Ethan was wondering as to believe Tomoyo or not. He stood up with the empty cup in his hand, "I'll go refill my cup. The two of you can continue chatting."

As soon as he walked away, Eriol shot Tomoyo a death glare, "Excuse me? What were you talking about?"

"I was speaking good of you! Then what else do you want me to do? Pout and say, 'He's not my boyfriend'?" Tomoyo reasoned with a roll of her eyes.

Eriol sighed, "Now he totally believes that you're my girlfriend."

"But of course! You were right on top of me when we somehow landed in the bed just now! What will be your first thought if you were him?"

That got Eriol even more stumped.

"You won't even want to think about it." Tomoyo said before laughing, "I thought it'd be more fun to put an act before your dad and sees the way he reacts."

"…Fun…?" Eriol shrugged just as Ethan's footsteps could be heard approaching the living room .

Tomoyo quickly sensed it as she leant forward to peck Eriol on the cheek, "Something like this…You know?"

Eriol's eyes darted quickly to his father only to see him gaping and returning back to the kitchen again.

Checkmate.

**

END OF…CHAPPIE!!!

Haha! it's a bit complicating here and there but I hope you're still able to catch on the contents! Email me for any queries or just drop a review! R n r!!!

As always

Mysterio000

p.s. the almighty one!