All in the Game of Love
HeLloX all once again! I'm back with the 12th chappie! Anyway, my exams are approaching very quickly and let me please emphasize, if my chapters are not good or anything, please note that I'm racing against time every time. I promise I'll be back in focus once my exams are over *in a month's time* so please rest assure!! Once again, thank you for the beautiful reviews in my previous chapter although I know it was a totally lousy attempt. Special thanks to those who had played That Thing You Do when reading! You guys always make my day a better one!
Big Big NOTE!!!: Oh for a treat, this chapter FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY tells of Tomoyo's feelings. Lots of you out there has been asking what does Tomoyo really feels for Eriol. All of you know Eriol is about to fall in love but…Tomoyo??? Your question is answered in this chapter so hope all of you will enjoy it.
Thanks a billion
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!
*
Tap tap tap.
Purple eyes gently locked with the white scraps of paper lying around the beautiful marble table. With a sigh, Tomoyo Daidouji leant back on the chair as she placed the wooden pencil down before her. Fingers tapping on her chin, she kept her focus on the blank sheet of paper before her as jumbled thoughts rushed into her mind every now and then.
What should I write?
Frowning, her eyes gazed around in hope of an inspiration for her latest punishment -- an essay. Like the umpteenth times, Mr. Whiteoak had punished her yet again for her short attention span during lessons. Every minute or so when he turned around from the white board, Tomoyo always happened to be caught doodling something in her notebook. Today, she was to write an essay to be handed in the day after tomorrow.
Her slender fingers unconsciously twirled the dark tendrils of her hair as she continued browsing the scenery. It was late afternoon and the sun had gone over to the other side. The smell of the light breeze was refreshing, almost ethereal and the small trees at her garden were beginning to carry a lighter color. Autumn was approaching of course, and the flowers were showing the first signs of wilting already.
Tomoyo drew a breath. The scenery was mesmerizing, of course. But she couldn't possibly devote a whole essay to that, could she? Mr. Whiteoak was a literature teacher, for goodness's sake, not a botanist! It would bore him endlessly and there was little chance he would reward the essay an A. Maybe she could write something that would amuse Mr. Whiteoak? After all, he was a man in his 40s who hardly showed any emotions when teaching. The only thing she knew about him was that he never allowed late work and was one of the strictest teacher around.
Hmm, I wonder if he has a wife or something? Tomoyo tried to picture the image of Mr. Whiteoak walking with another person hand in hand down a road. She shook her head. Downright impossible. She couldn't imagine Mr. Whiteoak giving a chance for a student who handed in late work. It just…wasn't him.
Doesn't he feel empty to miss out on love?
That single thought registered in Tomoyo's brain for a moment before causing her lips to smile almost evilly. That's it. She could write about love! She would love to see the engrossed face of Mr. Whiteoak when reading her essay!
She suddenly shrugged. But what could she write about love? Was there anything to inspire her in this life of hers? Sure, she had been in love couple of times when she was in Shades but she had pushed them off as merely crushes and moved on in life. Infatuations, puppy love…Whatever you call them. She had matured ever since and she had told herself she wouldn't allow infatuations or mere crushes to dominate her heart again.
Tomoyo leant forward to search for her favorite fountain pen in her stationery box when her eyes caught a glimpse of something too familiar hidden behind the pile of paper on the table. Almost afraid to hurt it, she picked it up and stared at it for a moment when a hearty smile painted her face.
The picture of the both of them…
With one soulful sigh, she placed it back behind the scraps of paper and turned her attention back to the empty foolscap. The essay…She really had to get it done by today.
But her mind was occupied all of a sudden, the momentarily distracting image of the previous photograph still lay vivid in her mind. The very picture of a certain blue-eyed boy fleeted through her thoughts and pushed out all others.
It was just annoying.
"Oh please, get him out." Tomoyo pleaded softly to herself as she picked up the pen and kept her eyes glued to the paper.
Nope, that was useless.
She scrunched up her face and thought.
Nope, that was also useless.
She swung her legs almost impatiently, hoping the idea of a love story would quickly come forming in her head and she could finish up the essay by an hour's time.
Nope. That didn't work either.
"Oh boy!" Tomoyo threw the pen down irritably at the foolscap before letting out a puff of air, "What are you doing to me, Eriol?"
She needed something to keep her busy again. Almost like an exasperating effort, she quickly snatched a book from the end of the marble table and opened it.
"Am I in love?" This thought kept running through my head again and again. I knew it was somehow useless to deny that question somehow. I have got to answer it today. So I--
Before she could even finish the first paragraph of the romance novel, she quickly closed it and stood up.
This was not good. Not at all.
Leaning against the brown fence that framed her garden, the wind was beginning to make its way around, twirling like a playful ribbon that could only find joy in those silky dark tresses of hers.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings outside before she let out a sigh.
She had been avoiding it for quite some time already, hadn't she?
I…
I… Her index finger brushed a stray hair behind her ears with the first sign of fluster appearing in her amethyst eyes. The thoughts were flowing in rapidly. She HAD to face them somehow.
I didn't like him. I really didn't. But…
Her innocent orbs looked into the skies, as though it held the answer to her jagged pieces of thoughts these days.
But everything changed when I tried to understand him a little more. Things…were no longer the same. He is stubborn…He's too collected sometimes but…Come to think of it, he's kind of cute.
When that certain thought lit up in her mind, an almost shy smile did the same as well.
Do you love him?
Tomoyo's eyes rounded as the unexpected thought suddenly hit her like a sledgehammer. How was she supposed to answer that? Her heart was fragmented into confusion and she felt as though she was lost in them. She looked to the skies again.
I…I don't know.
Her conscience spoke up again.
Is it because you're afraid?
She paused. Why should she be?
Finally giving in to her true thoughts, she gave a silent sigh.
Well…I think so…
But why?
Because…Because…He dislikes me?
That made perfect sense. So what was she to do?
I…I don't know, too.
Her brain turned into a piece of tranquillity when the wind played with her tresses once more. That afternoon, the wind seemed to be her companion, her strength, and the supportive pillar behind her winding thoughts that never failed to keep her in a state of confusion.
She held out an open palm to grab the air before a giggle flowed with her breath.
The wind had told her what to do.
As though she was revived with new energy, she skipped back to the garden table to finish up the essay. Everything was going to be ok.
Whether you like it or not, Eriol, I promise I'll bring back those cheery eyes of yours again!
*
"Goddammit! Just shoot those bloody freakers down!"
From a certain manor and a particular room, a masculine voice was nearly yelling the house down as he expertly made his way across terrorists and the baddies. Dammit, the enemies weren't getting anywhere near him!
With quick fingers, he armed himself with powerful combats before charging head on before releasing the bomb. His lips drew into a smirk as a set of points appeared before him on the screen.
Ah, he beat the crap out of the terrorists again. Counter-Strike was getting too easy a game for him.
Eriol Hiiragizawa was about to change the map into something more interesting when the doorbell rang on his front door. Letting out a reluctant sigh, he rushed down the stairs to yank open the door…only to come face to face with…
"Tomoyo!? What are you doing here?" He sounded surprised, of course. He hasn't expected her arrival that evening.
The amethyst-eyed girl glanced around the manor before breaking into a beam, "I'm here to return your Tee and jeans! Here." She held out a plastic bag as Eriol took it with a quick nod, "Thanks. You may leave."
Her eyes widened. That's it?
"You're not inviting me in?" Tomoyo pretended to pout, "Come on, Eriol! At least let me stay for a cup of cider or something?"
"I was--" Before Eriol could come up with a smart excuse, Tomoyo had barged into his house.
"What the--TOMOYO!!!" Eriol chased after her, making sure she had no chance of stepping into his room. It had been a hell of chaos the previous time.
Eriol stepped before his room just as Tomoyo came colliding into him. He had gotten there before her and she was definitely not pleased.
"Let me through." She whined.
"Ain't, no. Hell broke loose the last time. I ain't letting you enter." A perfect excuse lit up his mind, "Besides, Dad is on the way home already."
"He'll understand. Come on, let me in!" Tomoyo took a quick peek into his room, catching the sight of his computer switched on. What was on the screen? Her eyes blinked and they rounded almost immediately.
Her 'boyfriend' played Counter-Strike to pass time!?!?
Eriol gave a groan, "Don't say a thing, Tomoyo."
"You are strange!" She stepped into the room when Eriol finally relented.
"Are you playing the counter or terror?" She shot the one question that stunned Eriol to the bones. He could only stare at her as though she had cornstalks growing out of her brain.
"You know about Counter-Strike?" He gaped dumbly.
"Not really. It's just getting pretty popular nowadays." She explained as Eriol gave an unconscious nod, hitting the game again.
"So let me guess, you rather choose a game of virtual reality over me?" A mock hint of disbelief entered her voice as she stood behind him to watch him take down a whole bunch of terrorists before aiming the bullet at another one.
"Whatever." It took him a minute to answer back as he only concentrated on the game.
Silence.
"Can I play?" She asked out of the blue.
That got Eriol turning around on the chair instantly.
"Are you insane?" He looked at her to make sure the cornstalks he was seeing were merely hallucinations.
"No. Teach me." She instructed simply as she pulled another chair beside him.
"Well, this may be tough for you." He licked his lips uncertainly. There was no way Tomoyo could thrash the online mankind out there.
"Stop despising me, sweetheart. Now let's get rocking." She took over the keyboard as Eriol lifted up his hands in mock exasperation, trying to ignore the tug at his heart once again whenever the word 'sweetheart' filled his ears.
"Alright! I give up!"
"Good. Now which is the reloading key?"
Eriol sighed as he started showing her the basics of Counter-Strike.
This would be funny.
*
"Damn those terrorists! Get the other side and finish the rest!"
"Aye aye, Sir Eriol!"
Within an hour, Tomoyo had easily caught on to the basics of the game and with the help of Eriol, she was handling the terrorists pretty well. The two had gotten so involved in the game that nobody had noticed that another hour had gone by.
"Great! Now we're out of bullets!"
"We need to find the shop area quickly."
"Over there!" Eriol said, excitement obvious in his voice as Tomoyo moved the character over when a terrorist rushed into sight.
"SHOOT!!!" Eriol had to keep himself from yelling his lungs out.
"Try shooting, dumb bell! We don't have bullets!!!" Tomoyo let out an annoyed sigh as the terrorist rewarded them with a headshot, ending their life in the virtual world instantly.
"Ok, I swear that was stupid of us." Eriol grumbled.
They entered another realm with other players for another round of shooting.
Another half an hour ticked by…
"Oh great! This is getting tougher by the minute. Mind if I take over?" Eriol asked as Tomoyo shook her head, moving to the other side of the huge chair to allow Eriol enough space to sit.
"Now let's continue kicking the butts out of the rest."
"Try shooting the butts out of them."
"Good one." Eriol couldn't help but allow a satisfied smile to light his features as his fingers moved over the keyboard almost like a professional.
*
"Aren't you playing?" Tomoyo inquired as she turned on the chair, shooting Eriol a curious look as he lay down motionless on the bed.
"I'm worn out. You go ahead." He rolled to the other side with a grunt before closing his eyes in exhaustion.
"Isn't your father coming home?"
"I lied."
A pillow came hitting him lightly in the chest as he sat up, hair messily ruffled as Tomoyo stuck out her tongue, "Liar liar, pants on fire."
"I don't give a damn. Now stop throwing the pillow at me and leave me to slumber." He lied back down.
"Or else…?" Tomoyo returned the statement with a teasing voice.
"Or else I swear I would do the same." Eriol replied lazily, pulling the sheets over him.
There was silence for a moment when a pillow came flinging onto his bed.
"TOMOYO!!!" He sat up now, fully alert as he grabbed hold of the two pillows and flung it back at her. She avoided it easily as she ran out of the room.
"You can't catch me, Eriol!"
"We'll see about that!"
Grabbing five pillows in his arms, he raced after her.
Not too long later, a squeal filled the whole manor.
"ERIOL, DON'T!!!"
*
Eriol dashed back into his bedroom as Tomoyo came close at his heels with the five pillows in her hands.
"You're trapped, dumb bell!" Tomoyo gave a hearty laugh as she jumped on Eriol who had hidden in the bed sheets to avoid the mad flinging. She quickly lifted up the covers and shoved all the pillows in his face as he gave a mock moan.
"Oh I'm hurt!" Eriol said through muffled laughter as he pushed aside the pillows and rolled to the end of the bed in a lazy manner, "I'm gonna take a quick slumber for a moment."
Tomoyo sat on his bed with an arched eyebrow, "Are you that tired already?"
"Hmmm…Didn't sleep well last night." He trailed off sleepily.
"Alright. Shall I sing you a lullaby?" Despite her raspy breathing from all that running, she still carried the capability to tease him.
"…If that will help me to keep awake, go ahead."
"Eriol!"
Despite his sleepy state, he was able to let out a soft snicker.
"Can I join you in bed?"
WHAT!?!?!?
His eyelids shot up instantly as he tossed around to meet the giggling expression of Tomoyo.
"I'm not planning to harm you, duh! I'm just tired, too."
He let out a sigh, "Just as long as you don't get too close."
"I wouldn't want to be." She stuck out her tongue as she climbed to the other end of his bed, giggling at the glare that Eriol shot her.
"Thanks anyway." Her light tone was beginning to dip as weariness started to dominate her mind.
"You're not going to sleep there for long, are you?" Eriol asked.
"Don't worry. I'll be out of here as soon as possible. Once I get a wink or two…" Her voice softening when a question aroused from within, "Still want your lullaby?"
"If you desire to, go ahead." Inwardly, Eriol was curious as to what the Shades people, who knew her during the elementary days, meant by calling her the songbird of her previous school.
He suddenly perked up as he heard the first note she had sung.
There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again
I'm awake in the infinite cold
But you sing to me over and over and over again
He had to admit she sounded so much like an angel right then, he had to control his hallucinations of having an angel appearing before his eyes, spreading her wings. He was downright crazy now, he was sure.
So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray to be only yours
And pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope
Before he could pretend to mock her of how she was keeping him awake right then, he could sense she was drifting off into sleep. He gazed at her motionless form before leaning forward to check on her.
Her eyes were closed and a serene look had taken over her soft features.
Without knowing the reason why, a smile reluctantly tugged on his lips as he returned back to his original position, his mind giving into the darkness as well…
You're my only hope…
The last sentence twirled drowsily in his mind before falling into a world of his own.
**
END OF CHAPPIE!!!
I swear, this was my longest chappie to date. It took me…2 hour and 45 minutes to write this. Now I have to study even more tonight to make up for the lost time. Well, I hope this chapter is going somewhere for our kawaii couple and I hope all of you will understand how Tomoyo feels now!
The song is taken from Mandy Moore's album entitled Only Hope. It's a popular song but if you haven't heard of it, you would like to download it 'cos it's nice. I really got to go!! This chapter not only drains out the energy of ExT, it's also making me its victim! Hope the first part didn't really put all of you to sleep since there weren't much interesting stuff going on! But anyway, drop a review and I hope you enjoyed that!
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!