All in the Game of Love
Alrighteez!!! Just came back from school without a heck for homework in order to complete this chapter for yer guys! Oh yeah, I'm soooo good eh!!! *erHz…on second thoughts*
Anyway, hope ya enjoy this story so far and the chapters upcoming! Luv yer lotz!
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!
**
Ethan Hiiragizawa took a quick glance at his son before focusing on Tomoyo who was smiling innocently at him as he took his seat before them once more with another cup of cider in his hands.
"So…what have you guys been talking when I wasn't around?" Ethan inquired, trying to hide the suspicion and curiosity behind his forced smile.
"About school and stuff." Tomoyo broke into a beam, "How's life for you, Mr. Hiiragizawa?"
Ethan arched a well-curved eyebrow before sipping on his cup, "Everything is fine."
"And Mrs. Hiiragizawa?"
The elderly man definitely did not expect that curveball and he could only stare dumbly at Tomoyo for a second before straightening himself up.
"She is fine, too."
"How do you know? Did you communicate with her just lately?" Tomoyo asked with mock innocence, knowing full well that Eriol's father was struggling to find answers to these questions.
"Well…Through email, yes." Ethan hesitated for a moment, "Theresa has always been fine and well."
"Wow. So your wife is an independent woman."
"…I guess so."
Ethan squirmed under the dreadful tension as silence took over once more. He was getting more and more uncomfortable with the sharp instincts his son's 'girlfriend' possessed. He was afraid he would answer a question wrongly and flopped the whole conversation up. Tomoyo could almost see through him!
Admist the silence, Eriol shot a sideway glance at Tomoyo who merely ignored it. The teenager was beginning to wonder if it was a big mistake for bringing Tomoyo here. But was it his fault that his father called her over?
Eriol looked at his father who was deep in thought. Did he regret having Tomoyo visiting over, too?
"Well, Mr. Hiiragizawa, thank you for dinner. The food tastes marvellous." Tomoyo gave a light smile as she fed herself with another spoon of soup.
"It's of no problem." Ethan said, relieved that the conversation was heading a new direction, "Do you cook?"
"When my mother needs help in the kitchen, I would give a hand." Her eyes twinkled, "Would you like me to cook something for you one day"
"That sounds good." The father replied as the conversation went rolling on.
Eriol looked on in amusement as Tomoyo and his father clicked well in every conversation soon after. Her manners were perfect and she always knew how to brighten up the atmosphere when the conversation died off. He could tell she had greatly impressed his father and had left him equally amused as well.
"Mr. Hiiragizawa, can I request something?" Tomoyo suddenly asked as the two men looked up from their desserts.
Ethan gave a nod as the smiling girl continued, "Will it be okay if Eriol walk me home after dinner?"
"Of course. Isn't it what he's supposed to do?" Ethan looked curiously at Eriol who was muttering some things under his breath that could not be easily decipher.
"Thank you." Tomoyo looked at Eriol before giggling to herself.
*
"Good bye, Mr. Hiiragizawa!" Tomoyo called after as she and the blue-eyed boy stepped out from the mansion, "Thank you for a fantastic dinner!"
Ethan nodded with a light smile just as the door closed, leaving the couple on their own thereafter.
"How did I fare?" Tomoyo asked, looking up at Eriol.
"…You did amuse my dad by a great amount."
"So is that a good or bad thing?" She queried as Eriol stuck his hands in his pockets, hesitating for a moment.
"I don't know. I think he's fond of you." Eriol hated to admit that but it was true. He could tell that his father was satisfied with everything about Tomoyo .
"Really?" Tomoyo's eyes lit up before giggling, "What about you?"
"In your dreams." Eriol's irritation recovered once more.
"I'll dream on then." A laugh escaped from her lips.
A question tugged on the young man's heart before he voiced it out, "Are you trying to play with my father's mind?"
Tomoyo raised a surprised eyebrow before smiling wistfully, "Sort of."
"So that was why…you did that during dinner? In order to surprise him or something?" Eriol asked, trying in hope that Tomoyo could catch on what he was mentioning about.
"Did what?" Confusion flooded into her eyes before she giggled knowingly, "Oh that. I just wanted to see the surprise look on his face, that's all."
"…Well, you succeeded definitely." Eriol mumbled.
"Aw, come on! It was fun!" Tomoyo argued.
"For thoroughly convincing my dad that we are going steady?" Eriol shot back.
"We ARE going steady." Tomoyo teased.
"Argh! What am I supposed to do with you!?" Frustration rise within Eriol as he quickened his pace, leaving Tomoyo to catch up with him.
"Maybe you can play along!"
"Who do you think I am? A manipulator?" He spat out.
"Well, not quite. Just play along for fun?"
"Example? Hugging you when he's around? Holding your hands when he's watching?" Eriol retorted with a snort.
"That's a good idea!" Tomoyo snapped her fingers.
Eriol let out a puff of breath. That girl was sick!!! There was no way he could tolerate her anymore.
"Ok ok, I was just joking. Don't get so quick-tempered, alright?" Tomoyo went after him once more as he strode down the street to her home.
*
Eriol sighed as he closed the door after him. He had just came back from walking the raven-haired lady home and he had to admit he didn't have the most wonderful walk. He was just glad he didn't faint and drop dead from exhaustion. Ethan greeted his son as he walked down the stairway. A smirk was painted on his face.
"Don't say anything." Eriol quickly cut in as he collapsed onto the sofa, beginning to wonder seriously if he was getting a fever. Of course, he was not.
"Why not? You've got a beautiful and smart girlfriend." Ethan smiled as he patted his son on the knee, "Don't let Tomoyo go."
But I'm dying to let her go.
Before anymore words could be exchange, the telephone rang as Ethan rushed to pick it up.
"Hiiragizawa residence. Who is this?"
Eriol sat up with curiosity as his father winced, handing his son the phone, "Your…friend."
Eriol was about to speak into the phone when a screechy voice was heard screaming at the other end as more feminine voices shouted at the background. He could guess it was one of those I-love-Eriol supporters calling him again.
"Who's this?" He put the phone a few centimetres away for fear his ears would ring with pain after the call ended.
"Hello Eriol," A seductive voice echoed from the line, "I'm Veronica, your proudest supporter. How would you like us to play a trick on your girlfriend? I am sure she would love that."
Eriol was silenced into thought when he replied, "It's none of my business."
On second thoughts, he wished he hadn't said that. What if Tomoyo got into trouble the next day? What if she was absent in school the next day? There were too many 'what ifs' running in his mind that instant!
"Ooooh!" Squeals were heard from the other end of the call as Eriol grimaced, "We can see you don't love her at all, Eriol! Maybe you should reconsider your decision seriously and pick someone like me. I'm Veronica, remember. If you decided to change your mind, do not hesitate to look for me, you got that?"
As if I would settle for a bitchy girl like ya…Get away from me!
"Anyway, Tomoyo would definitely enjoy the 'treat' tomorrow! Be rest assured we'll give her the attention she has always wanted!"
Eriol was about to say a word when Veronica hung up. The young man leant back on the sofa, a train of thoughts running through his head when his father interrupted them.
"What's wrong?" Ethan asked, puzzled.
"…Nothing." Eriol stood up and headed for his bedroom.
After all, Tomoyo was not related to him, right? So why should he care?
*
His slight fears were gone when he saw Tomoyo skipping into class the next day.
Nothing strange, nothing bad about her. Hoping nothing could go wrong today, hours and hours soon went by.
After lunch break, Tomoyo still looked fine and cheerful.
Ok, so nothing's wrong yet. Maybe that was just a prank call.
But he still could not help feeling worried as he kept glancing around to make sure his 'girlfriend' was fine.
The final bell went off as the optimistic girl approached Eriol, "Hello, Eriol! Are you going to walk me home today?"
"And if I don't?" Eriol asked. He knew he better would, worrying that something would happen to her. But either way, he still could not, for he had detention classes later on.
"Aw, come on. Please?" Tomoyo gave her best puppy eyes as Eriol sighed, "I can't, really. Mr. Ohra sent me for detention classes."
"Too bad." Tomoyo made a face before giggling, "It's ok. Do you want me to wait for you?"
"No. Just head home." He was thinking something would break out if she stayed in school so she had better go straight home.
"Oh, alright." Tomoyo beamed before waving, "See you tomorrow."
Eriol nodded as she walked out of the classroom.
He looked around. Nothing unusual.
So…that caller couldn't be serious, could she?
*
Tomoyo hummed a song as she headed out of the school compounds. Looking up, she could tell rain was about to pour and she decided to take a shortcut back home. Keeping her fingers locked, she hoped to make it home in time.
Walking for a few distance, she suddenly came to a pause and turned around. Did she hear footsteps trailing behind her? Her eyes only meeting the empty sight behind, she put her strange instincts aside when she felt it again.
Someone was present and was hiding.
She looked around, curious eyes scanning the surroundings when shadows were seen approaching closer to her behind the brick wall. She took a few hesitant steps before stopping.
"Is somebody there?" A lump got caught in her throat as she narrowed her eyes to take a closer look. Her heart was thumping as she make her way closer to the shadows.
"Stop where you are." A hoarse voice croaked out.
A man.
She turned around as a bald man grinned haughtily, a heavy baton in his hands. Tomoyo stepped back, eyes growing wide as the man swung the baton around coolly.
Was he going to beat her up?
Part of her wanted to run but she was frozen to the ground with fright. She turned around, hoping to find an escape route but what she saw only confirmed her biggest fears.
Four more men were rounding her up, cornering her to a secluded area of the alley.
She was beginning to panic but she hid it well with a firm face, "What do you guys want?"
"You." Another man answered darkly as she looked around hastily for something to get her out of this. Anything!
"Don't bother, young lady. You're trapped." A man said with glee before rubbing his hands together, "You're ours for today."
"Dream on!" Tomoyo spat out as a slap quickly came in contact with her cheeks.
"Shut up. Don't waste your breath talking. You'll still end up in our hands." The man who slapped her growled.
"I think you should shut up! You don't have any right to slap me, you--" Tomoyo sink onto the floor with pain as a man swung his baton at her.
"Strip her." The man ordered as panic sprung in her eyes, fighting to get back her strength.
"D-DON'T!" She pleaded as they threw her to another corner, dying to pounce on her.
"Please, don't! Please!" She gasped as her sweater began to tore off with the merciless grasp of these men.
An evil laughter broke out from behind the wall as Tomoyo stared at the female with hatred admist the struggle.
Veronica.
*
"Damn that Mr. Ohra! What the hell was his logic when he said everything was just a bluff! Damn him!" Eriol cursed as he headed out of the school gate. He vowed to get his revenge one day. Damn that teacher for wasting his time!
He suddenly recalled Veronica's threat last night as his heart jumped with worry. Did something happen to Tomoyo when he wasn't around? He had better make sure.
He tapped his fingers impatiently on the telephone book as he phoned her house at the nearest booth. It rang for several times before he finally hung up.
Strange…She should be home by now. He looked at the clock hanging from the tall tower of Shades before shrugging.
"Gone shopping by herself?" After all, she was one of the most unpredictable girl alive. Surely she was safe?
He finally gave up worrying as he headed to the ice cream shop, hoping it was open for the day. It wasn't, of course and he started for home.
It wasn't long before he started hearing muffled cries coming from a distance.
"P-Please don't!!! Please!"
Eriol stopped dead in his track, catching his breath.
Was that…?
"TOMOYO!!!"
He threw all caution to the wind as he sprinted all the way to where the voice came from. True enough, the dark alley proved his conjuction was right. The men were lunging for Tomoyo!
"Damn them all." Eriol's eyes flamed with fire as his eyes saw the men trying to undo her shirt. Without warning, he pounced on the first man, giving him a hard right hook on the chest, sending him flying to the wall. The second man retaliated fast but succumbed to Eriol's kick in the chest.
The three men quickly ran away, thinking Eriol was a plain-clothes cop.
The two beaten men cowered with fright and ran to catch up with their friends. However, Eriol caught one of them by the collar, pulling him closer until they were only a few inches away.
"Touch her again and I'll make sure your entire gang will never see the lights of tomorrow." Eriol warned, the same glow of anger seen in his eyes before the frightened man promised and ran off.
Eriol stared after them, hatred and anguish mixed into one in his eyes, which proved a powerful emotion as he clenched his fists into a firm grip.
An almost inaudible sniff rung out from behind as he quickly spunned around, kneeling before a fragile Tomoyo who was hugging herself, still trembling with fear.
"Tomoyo…" His eyes softened as he held the poor girl by the shoulders, "Tomoyo, did they hurt you?"
He didn't have to know the answer, of course, for blood was trickling down her cheeks as he watched intensely at the injuries she had suffered. He grimaced as she looked up, tears springing in her eyes.
"C-Can I…" She started off weakly, meek and frightened as she fought hard to keep the tears from falling, looking into the soft eyes of Eriol.
Eriol looked at her for a long time before he nodded, pulling her into his arms. He knew she needed the comfort now.
And as the first tear of Heavens showered on them, Eriol looked down at the girl in his arms, crying softly as he could only hold her to calm her down.
"You're safe now, Tomoyo…Everything's over…" Eriol whispered over and over again as the girl in his arms could only wordlessly cling on to her savior……..
Right then, she had never felt any safer in his embrace.
**
END OF CHAPPPIE!!!
Ok, maybe that was a bit sudden. I ran out of ideas. Whateva! Hope ya enjoy. That was a stupid ending. I thought for like 15 minutes before I could come up with a pathetic ending sentence. Forgive me on that. Heee
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!