All in the Game of Love
Like I promised and kicking back once more, here is the 15th chappie. I apologize for the long wait and hope you guys enjoy it, alright? Please note that I'm rushing for time here…I need to get this done within an hour or so or else I'm dead! Anyway, time could not permit me to write this tomorrow as I have extra lessons and just could not let you guys wait out there for another two days! So here I am, rushing back home to finish this up!
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!
*
"Cousin, why the long face?" Veronica Hidesys asked as she glanced up from her study table, watching Rad as he stepped into the room with a sullen face. Adding to her worry, she had noticed his eyes swollen and his cheeks scarred. She stood up immediately, racing to his side, "Rad, what's wrong?"
"That bastard." Rad clenched his fist tightly, speaking with gritted teeth, "I'll make him pay back. Revenge? He wants revenge? He will get it from me."
"Cousin," Veronica eyed him with confusion, "Who are you talking about and what kind of state have you landed yourself in?"
"Eriol Hiiragizawa, that's what I'm talking about, Ronnie!" Rad bellowed, sinking down into the couch that leant against the wall of the room. He was massaging his cheeks with a grimace, recalling with anger how Eriol's hook had landed him in this pathetic state. Rad narrowed his eyebrows, already thinking of ways how to make Eriol pay. First, he would call upon his entire gang. Second, he would get them to jump upon Eriol and shred him into pieces until--
"Eriol?" He heard his cousin gasped. "What have he done?"
Rad looked up without shock. Obviously, he had heard about Veronica's infatuation with that blue-eyed boy. Veronica had been babbling to him about Eriol everytime he came over to her house for a visit. As cousins, they had grown up together since young and had spent many days of their childhood together playing. Rad shook his head, not believing it. He had witnessed his cousin growing up into a fine young lady with plenty of admirers and suitors. Surely her taste would not be that bad?
"Look at me, Veronica," He pointed to himself, "This is what your so-called boyfriend did to me."
To his utter surprise, instead of the sympathy he would have expected, Veronica simply broke into fits of laughter. The evil soundings pierced into the air and he glared at her in return, unable to fathom what had gotten into his dear cousin.
"My dear Veronica, this is absolutely not funny." He leant back on the red couch, crossing his arms in a firm way to express his displeasure. Veronica quietened down gradually but the hint of laughter remained vivid in her eyes.
"I am not very surprised, Rad. This is the defensive side that I love in Eriol best." She remarked with a satisfied smile, "Now what have you done to make that side surfaced within him?"
Rad looked away, his pride fragmenting into pieces as he recalled how that blue-eyed boy had taken him down so easily, forcing him to succumb to the brute force he had possessed. An evil smirk touched Rad's lips. That boy would understand the pure taste of revenge soon.
"I wanted to hit this hot chick when he came and landed me in this state." Rad's eyes locked onto Veronica's, "Satisfied with the explanation?"
Obviously, the menacing attitude ran along the family line.
"Hot chick…?" Smoke clouded in those orbs as Veronica pivoted, standing by the window to gaze out at the scorching sunrays that shone in. Yet there was something about the way she had spoken that proved the venom in her voice.
"Tomoyo Daidouji?" Her frame remained where it was, refusing to turn around to meet the inquiring eyes of Rad.
"You know her?" He asked.
Veronica finally turned around, the anger in her eyes matching those of Rad's, "Know her? For God's sake, she's a wench!"
She started pacing around the room with a string of mumbles under her breath. Rad leant in, barely making out what his cousin was trying to say.
"Boyfriend-stealer, bitch, whore, seducer…" Veronica's voice trailed off but Rad could tell she was still swearing with a litany of words that he remembered being used only when he was talking with his other gang members that swore as much as he did.
A grin played on his lips coolly, "Alright, Ronnie. Enough cussing there." Something flashed in his eyes hotly, "No more words. We need actions." Veronica stopped, their glances meeting halfway across the room before both faces broke into an equivalent evil smirk.
"I hate Tomoyo." She said with a lick of her lips, expressing her despise for that raven-haired lady.
"And I hate Eriol." Rad spoke evenly, although each word was carefully pronounced with spitefulness.
Their gazes met again, a silent deal and vow exchanged.
Those two would learn.
*
Eriol Hiiragizawa read the lines before shaking his head. He looked up to the ceiling, then back down again. Frowning, he shook his head once more. Nope, this was not good. He tried to clear his head and think again before putting his focus back onto the lines.
Still, that page remained a sheet of fuzzy words to him.
"Oh gawd!" He cried out annoyingly, sending the pillow on his bed flying halfway across the room, "This is going nowhere! I can't remember the lines and I'm only at the 5th page! I've been trying to memorize for 3 whole damn hours and I STILL CAN'T MEMORIZE!!!"
The door knocked before a head popped in.
"Are you alright, Eriol?" Ethan surveyed the room with dismay lining his voice. Obviously, what he saw had answered him. The blankets had fallen off the bed and were now sprawled on the ground. Tens of books were spilled across the room, some left lying opened. Pillows - all five of them, were thrown in all corners of the room. Scraps of papers were flung everywhere, some torn, some crumpled into pieces.
Hell had broken loose, Ethan thought with horror as his gaze finally settled upon the sturdy frame of his son, frustration and exasperation blending in his blue orbs.
"Is there anything I can help?" Ethan asked gently as he allowed himself in the room, careful not to trip over the blankets as he made his way towards the bed.
"Well, if you can spare me some of your brains, I will be glad." Eriol said sarcastically as he turned back to the play script that was in his hands. Ethan understood the situation and let out a small chuckle, sitting himself on the edge of the bed.
"Gotten yourself in a play, huh, son?" The elderly man picked up the novel that laid on the edge of the bed before he looked down at the script Eriol was reading.
"Ok, Dad, you have your fun. Now explain to me how I will be able to memorize a whole load of crap! I can't do this!" Eriol groaned as he pulled the bed sheets over his head, hoping it might cover his problem of memorizing lines as well.
"Why don't you call her?"
Eriol's head snapped up, looking at Ethan as though he had gone insane. His father was trying to stifle a smile to no avail, enabling the cheekiness he had not meant to display to rise to his features.
"Dad, what do you mean?" Eriol spat out, although knowing full well whom his father was referring to.
"Stop that pretence, my son." Almost as soon as he finished the sentence, Ethan bent towards the bedside table to pick up the cordless phone. Eriol could only stare in horror as the older man dialled a few digits on the number pad.
"DAD! HAVE YOU GONE INSANE!?" Realizing what his father was up to, Eriol recovered from his momentary trance and leapt forward, hoping to knock the phone out of his father's grip. Unfortunately, Ethan had sensed the agility Eriol was about to display and had moved aside, causing Eriol to land onto the floor with a sickening thud.
"Dad!" Eriol ignored the hammering on his head that had happened when his head had knocked onto the ground. "You better give that phone back!"
He was about to lung at his father when Ethan predicted his move easily again, moving aside so as to avoid that deathly grasp his son was now possessing.
By now, the older man was speaking into the phone.
"Hello, Daidouji residence?" Ethan spoke politely, controlling his laughter with difficulty as his son continued to reach for the phone in vain.
"DAD! NO!" Eriol slapped his forehead with dismay, knowing full well that there was no way in stopping his father now.
"May I speak to Tomoyo Daidouji?"
"Oh, hell…" Eriol slammed his face into the bed sheets, unwilling himself to picture what kind of situation he had gotten himself into this time. And to make matters worst, his father - of all people - was the one who had done it to him!
"I never ate your favorite chocolate, I never steal your favorite cookie, I never drank half a cup of your favorite mocha…" Eriol mumbled half-consciously to himself as his voice muffled with the sheets, "Why must you do this to me, Dad?"
Before he knew what was going on, Ethan had pressed the cordless phone onto his ear.
"Hello?" A familiar voice spoke at the end of the line as Eriol felt his heart churned.
He would find time to kill his father later.
As for now, he had to discover how to get himself out of this shit.
He glared at his father who was smiling back impishly, obviously glad that he had succeeded in whatever he was planning to plot.
"Umm…" Eriol started rather shakily as he held onto the phone, "Hello?"
"Eriol?"
He remained silent when he heard her speak again.
"Eriol, is that you?"
Eriol watched as his father left the room, flashing a thumbs-up to his son beforehand. He gritted his teeth. How fortunate to have such a father!
"Hello?" She spoke again.
"Um, yeah…I'm here." He was conscious of his heartbeat thudding against his ribcage and he breathed in deeply. With uncertainty of how to start this conversation. Nothing more. He convinced himself as thoughts coursed through his mind, wondering how he was to get out of this trouble still.
There was silence when a giggle rang, warming something in his heart he never knew existed.
"Why did you call?" Tomoyo asked.
Eriol frowned slightly and noticed as much as she was trying to sound optimistic, there was something different about her he could not quite place.
"Tomoyo?"
"Hmm?"
He paused, deciding that his instincts were right. He tried to confirm it. "Are you alright?"
"What?" He heard her sneeze and he cringed inwardly. Was she sick? If she was, then there was no wonder why her voice had sounded thicker than usual.
"You are sick." He stated firmly as he heard her break into a round of sneezes before she returned to the phone.
"Sorry about that." She apologized, sniffing a little before speaking again, "What did you say?"
"Are you sick?" He pressed on, although he was positive about the answer already.
"I…I think so." She spoke, dipping to a softer tone and it appeared to Eriol that it took her a struggle to raise her voice.
He remained silent, unsure of what to say when she broke it.
"Can you hear me, Eriol?" She asked in a louder voice.
"Yeah, I can." Eriol replied as he set himself on the bed, pulling back the blankets onto the sheets so that they covered him now.
"Why did you call?" She asked faintly before he heard her move away, coughing.
"Tomoyo, are you there?"
"I am. Sorry, I couldn't help it."
"I just wanted to call you up about the script." He hesitated, "Never mind about that then." He heard her cough once more before he gripped the phone closer to his ear, "You better take care of yourself. I'll tell Mr. Whiteoak that you won't be in school tomorrow."
"I'll be comin--"
He cut her off abruptly, "Listen now. Just go back and sleep, alright? Don't come to school tomorrow."
"But--"
"I'll get your homework for you. Go rest now." He assured firmly, knowing that she was too exhausted to protest.
"Thank--"
"Just hang up the phone." He cut her off again, allowing the annoyance to rise up in his throat. To his amusement, another giggle escaped from her lips.
"No, you hang up first."
Eriol rolled his eyes. Even when she was sick, this girl would spare no mercy to her childish behavior!
"Now don't be stupid. Hang up." He ordered, deciding that he would not do so until she did.
Why? His conscience kicked in that night.
Shut up. His mind growled back in thought, silencing it.
"Alright then." He heard a yawn from the other end of the line, "Good night, Eriol."
"Night." He uttered softly before he heard a click. A heavy sigh came from his throat as he placed the phone back onto its stand, thoughts running wildly in his mind.
Shut up. He growled loudly this time, unsure of the emotions that fleeted through his mind and his heart. Exasperatedly, he sank back down onto the sheets, holding up the script in his hands.
His eyes hovered over them before he kicked the bed.
"Eriol?"
One eye peeked open when he already could guess who it was. He eyed the familiar head popping in again before he pulled the blankets over him completely. Shoving aside thoughts of killing his father, he decided he would handle him another day.
As for now…
"Sleep." He commanded himself softly and his body surrendered to the order almost immediately. He silently thanked his father for turning out the lights as his mind finally drifted off into the darkness.
An image of a raven-haired girl flashed across his mind before it dissipated.
*
He walked the halls of Shades the next day with a sense of something amiss. He frowned, opening his locker as the usual amount of letters flowed out. He idly bent to pick them up before dumping them into the garage bin beside. Strangely, it was as if everything he did today was missing with a jigsaw puzzle. Even gulping his breakfast down this morning had created a pit of emptiness inside him.
Collecting his books, he made his way up to the classroom, not understanding any of this. Had he eaten something wrong last night? He shrugged before taking his usual seat at the front of the classroom, ignoring the stares the girls were giving him as always.
He took out his books from his backpack before a small piece of paper slipped into his hands. Curious, his eyes wandered over it before smiling secretly in recognition.
I will be at detention class after school today! Need not walk me home! Don't miss me although I know you will. =)
Luvs, Tomoyo
He had recalled her placing the paper under his desk when he had returned back to class to pick her up after school. Unfortunately, Mr. Ohra had been displeased with her that afternoon and she was to stay back.
Eriol's eyes traced over the note once more, noticing how she replaced the plain dot of the letter 'I' to a lovely heart shape. Beside her name, she had drawn a stick figure of a girl in a small dress that she had colored pink with her pen. A smile lit his features. Tomoyo, creative? There was not a doubt.
He looked up to see more of his classmates entering the room before turning to the back, where one table sat and looked empty. Returning his gaze to the front, he realized what this missing jigsaw puzzle was.
Oh shut up. You're not supposed to feel this way. He chided himself as the teacher walked into the classroom, causing the rest of the students to rise to their feet immediately.
You hate her, remember?
He paused.
No, I don't.
He could no longer deny the fact that he had learnt to like her sunshine personality. Without this sun to shine on him today, no wonder the feeling of emptiness swallowing his entire soul.
He lowered his head to the desk, not even caring if the teacher had shot him daggers when he had refused to stand up to greet him. His focus was lost even though his orbs were unconsciously concentrated on the textbook before him. Try as he wanted to put a block against all his unwanted, rushing thoughts, he had failed thoroughly.
He raised a lazy eye towards Mr. Ohra, who was in the middle of his lecture.
He then glanced around the room, feeling those thoughts in his mind clear one by one. Those students doodling away in their notebooks meant nothing in his reality, previous thoughts of attacking terrorists in Counter-Strike when he got home were lost, Syaoran and Sakura giving him smirking and knowing glances went ignored as his heart came to settle on one, single thought that left him in a trance and wondering what in the world had led him to this.
Goddammit but I miss her…
*
"Eriol!" Syaoran called, taking a step forward, "Eriol, where are you going?"
The blue-eyed boy ignored the call as he continued to make his way hurriedly down the steps of the stairway before exiting out of the school grounds in record time. Back at the corridor, Syaoran was shaking his head in wonder and amusement.
"What the hell?" He was puzzled.
"I think he's dying to see Tomoyo, you think?" Sakura said in midst of giggles.
Outside, Eriol was heaving as he ran across the road towards the candy shop. Quickly handing over the money, he grabbed a few lollipop sticks before rushing off to the food centre, and then the medicinal shop.
*
He pressed on the doorbell and waited.
It was a couple of minutes before the door held open, revealing an elderly lady whom he acknowledged as Tamara Daidouji, Tomoyo's mother. She wore a surprise look as she contemplated the boy before her. It was a moment before she spoke, wearing a neat smile.
"You are Eriol Hiiragizawa?"
Now, he was surprised. He hadn't expected to be recognized since they had not met personally before.
"Oh I'm sorry," She extended a hand, "I am Tamara, Tomoyo's mother. I could recognize you since your voice on the phone suits your looks perfectly."
That was one curveball he had not expected. Now he knew where Tomoyo had inherited her sharp instincts and sudden questions that could drive one crazy. He quickly regained his composure and returned the handshake firmly, "Eriol Hiiragizawa is right, Mrs. Daidouji."
Her womanly pair of eyes twinkled, resembling those of Tomoyo's, "Are you here to visit Tomoyo?" By now, she had noticed the plastic bags he carried with him and reckoned he must have came with a purpose.
"Well," Knowing full well it was rude to avoid gazes, he kept his eyes locked on Tamara although it took all his willpower to do so. Something in him wanted to stir away from the question but it was unavoidable, "That will be correct. Is she asleep?" He glanced up at the building, focusing on the window that remained close with a curtain. "If so, then I better be going."
"Oh no, no," Tamara took off her apron that evidenced that she had been in the kitchen awhile ago, "Feel free to visit her."
"Thank you, Mrs. Daidouji." Eriol bowed slightly, displaying his polished manners before he took his cue and stepped into the well-furnished house.
The look of it surprised him and he hadn't expected such a homely feeling upon his first step. There was something about the surroundings that enticed him, something that he could not just place in words. It was some sort of sensation that overcame him, shattering into an explosion before it could be properly defined.
His eyes settled upon the spiral stairway that led above before he headed in that direction. The wooden flooring beneath his feet felt warm as he walked past a few rooms that had appeared clean and fresh in his eyes. Surely Tamara Daidouji had been a great housekeeper to accomplished such a clean job.
Despite the numerous rooms on the second storey, he could easily tell which was Tomoyo's, for already he could see the decoration she had done outside her room. She had painted the door a beautiful blend of blue and pink and it stood out among the rest. There were a few other pictures painted on the outside that amazed him even further.
He hesitated before taking a few steps towards the door. Then he knocked.
"Tomoyo?" He called when there was no answer. "Are you there?"
Discovering the door was not locked, he twisted the doorknob before allowing himself in. At first glance, the sight of the room was spectacularly colourful and he was impressed himself. This, he thought, was definitely Tomoyo's room. The walls were painted with a light touch of sunny yellow alongside with sunflowers and dandelions drawn onto it. With the grounds that appeared blue and the bed sheets and blankets a fading purple and pink, it was a total contrast compared to his own room back home, where blue reigned completely.
His eyes softened as they landed on the petite frame of the raven-haired lady. She was asleep and her back was turned on him. Yet there was something about the way she looked right then that had Eriol churning in the stomach. He shrugged it away quickly as he took a few certain steps forward, settling himself on the chair beside her bed where he could view her.
An overwhelming sensation of déjà vu washed over him as he recalled how he had watched her when she had slept over at his manor. Still, she looked the same - her crescent eyelids closed into a peaceful slumber, her silky tresses cascading over her shoulders, her breath wheezing in and out softly as she slept.
He looked away.
No, don't look. This is bad. He scolded himself and cursed under his breath. The last thing he wanted was to be caught looking at her when she was asleep. He was not sure if he could take the stab of humiliation he was to face if done so.
"Eriol?"
He snapped out of his trance immediately, thanking God that he had pulled his gaze away from her in time. He glanced back down on her where she had awoke, sitting up on the bed by now. Her face, he noticed, was a sheet of pale ivory, unlike the rosy colors she used to carry.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, not hiding her surprise.
"…Your homework." He quickly found the perfect excuse as he handed over a stack of papers to her.
Still, he was of no match to her perceptiveness for she shot him a look of wonder.
"Well," He scratched his head, "You have not eaten, I presume."
She let out a wan smile, fighting to keep herself optimistic around him although the cold she caught was taking a toll on her and the burning fever she felt was not of any assistance either.
"I don't have any appetite."
He mocked a sigh, opening up the Styrofoam packet that contained several rice puddings in it, "Now don't you dare upset me."
In spite of herself, she giggled softly, for the first time realizing that he was sweating thoroughly. She realized that he had came over straight after school to see her and she was earnestly glad.
"Thank you." She expressed a smile as he handed her the packet, only to lean forward furthur to get a better look at the stuff he had bought in the plastic bag. It revealed a few sticks of lollipops, titbits and a few bottles of prescribed medicine.
"Eriol?" She asked uncertainly.
She watched him firmly nodding as he placed the plastic bag on the desk beside her bed. "You can have them all."
"Wow." She smiled. "Thank you." Impulsively, she leant forward to wipe the beads of perspiration on his forehead, realizing that the sweat was beginning to soak through his entire jersey.
"What--?" He was silenced by the exquisite gentleness in her touch immediately and he hastily looked away to avoid threading on dangerous territory.
Or rather, to avoid his mind from threading on dangerous territory.
As the two continued chatting above at her house, both were oblivious to the glarings that penetrated invisibly below, hidden behind a shady oak tree.
One of them stepped out, wearing a smirk.
"Cousin, do you think it is time?"
Another stepped out, his boots clicking heavily on the ground.
"Take action. Now."
Behind them, a whole troop of men and women made their appearance and saluted officially.
"YES, SIR!"
**
END OF CHAPPIE!
Believe it or not, I forsake an entire day to write this chapter out. Because I was so stressed out already *it's late at night now*, this chapter became a lousy attempt. I hope all of you will not hold it against me since it's so bad and all but please forgive alright! I promise the next one will be better so please stay tune!
Please do not hold it against me if I have some great errors! I really whizzed through this whole chapter without really checking! I am so late!
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!