All in the Game of Love
Hellox hellox! Because I was busy with camp and all, I can only rush out this chapter today so here goes! This is the 17th chappie (AitGoL has come a long way, eh?) and I hope all of you still enjoy it like I do!
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!
*
It was like any other ordinary day.
Shafts of golden sunlight shone into the clear windows of Shades, displaying a picture of perfect beauty across the clean hallways of the school and the noisy hustling of the students rushing in and out of classes were of nothing unique on this day. The grasses on the field swayed with the steady movements of the air and the magnolia flowers planted on the grounds wilt slowly with the approach of the near winter.
Yet there was just something special today installed for some.
A few girls, to say the least.
When the large clock on the top of the tower strike 8 in the morning to signal the start of lessons, it, too, ignited the start of a clash soon to come. One by one, each girl that belonged to FEAT walked up to their lockers and yanked it open.
And then, of course, the sharp piercing of a scream would whip across the hallways of Shades.
For in the lockers of those girls, there were red everywhere. Paint, that is. Thick red droplets licked at all four corners of the small compartment and were spilled all over the textbooks and stationery placed inside. Red - it flooded the entire locker, and there was a small piece of paper stuck on the side of the inside.
On it, in bold dark letters written with a black marker, were the words:
'Play with the Blue-eyed Boy!'
And that was not all.
"Audrey! You wouldn't believe what happened to me during Physics class!" One of the older girls in FEAT spoke, her eyes flashing sparks of anger that shot out with immense threat, "My books under my desk were all soaking wet with ice water and I had to dry them up for hours! And the teacher was so pissed off with me that I had to beg him so many times not to put me in Detention today!"
Audrey slowed down her pace to match the footsteps of Melissa and started walking alongside down the stairway. Her big blue eyes flickered with equal anger and there was a trace of arrogance in them. "You wouldn't believe what happen to me! When I got into my class this morning, my whole desk was just flooded with red paint! Everywhere! ARGH!" To emphasize on her frustration, she kicked the banister on the side.
"I can't believe Eriol Hiiragizawa could be such a meanie!" Another piped in from the back and it turned out to be Donna, the woman who had tried to flirt with the blue-eyed boy at the fair some time ago but to no avail. She had received the exact same treatment Melissa did this morning and obvious displease now showed in her eyes.
"Exactly my point!" Audrey frowned. "I hate that Daidouji! Now what power does she holds that could possess Eriol to do something like this to us?"
"Perhaps she is a witch! And that's why she is able to put some sort of spell on our favorite number one boy!" Melissa suggested in her squeaky, sharp voice that easily made anyone grimace.
"Oh really," Donna rolled her eyes, not believing Melissa's theory, "Supposed she bribed him or something?"
"ARGH!" Audrey curled her fists, "I can't wait to get my hands on that Daidouji!"
A smooth voice then ripped from behind, silky like velvet yet with hints of spite lacing it. "We will all get our revenge."
It was Veronica. Now she walked up to join the rest of her group members. Her features split with an evil grin - a trademark known throughout Shades.
"How, Ronnie?" The girls asked in unison, all totally interested in the idea that they would love to get involved in, careless of the consequences.
"My cousin, Rad, has a whole troop of boys which detest Eriol. I was actually thinking of sparing him, since it is actually Tomoyo we hate. But after what he had done to all of us today, I think not now." Her eyes glimmered with haughtiness. "I shall give a call to Rad and ask him to deal with Eriol."
"Are you sure about this?" Donna asked with a gasp. She had always adored the blue-eyed boy, since he was always so domineeringly handsome with his enigmatic features capable enough to attract any girls to his side.
"Oh yes. If we hurt him, we would also end up hurting Tomoyo, too, is it not?" The slyness in Veronica's eyes never left, "And he wants us to play with him. We are merely complying with his wishes, eh?"
With that assurance, all three girls agreed to it.
That night, Rad Hidesys rang up his fellow teammates and plotted against Eriol Hiiragizawa. The combination of them and FEAT resulted in the birth of a deadly gang.
AEAT = Anti Eriol and Tomoyo.
*
Those blue, blue eyes gazed down at the delicate frame of the raven-haired girl. Slowly, they moved across the sight of those ivory skin before settling upon the peaceful look on her face. Her eyes were closed and a hand tugged under her cheek daintily made the entire picture even more arresting.
Almost as if afraid to shatter the atmosphere, he leant forward to brush a thumb across that smooth cheek, treating it as though it was a priceless treasure fragile and breakable with his touch. He touched her with such tenderness like he had never known he could possess before. Never taking his eyes off her, he wondered how ever such beauty could still exist in this world. This girl - she should not be allowed humanity to taint her flaws.
She was just too innocent, too pure.
And there was no need to force his mind to take his gaze away from her either, for he already had been trying and trying for the past one hour. They were futile attempts, of course, for his heart never allowed his mind to do as it had wanted.
So there he was, sitting by his own bed, looking at the girl before him with such intensity that he himself didn't know how he could handle the humiliation if she was to wake up and look into those eyes. Yet because the temptation was just too magnetic, there was no way he could just look away and forget about how beautiful she looked right now.
Thus, his heart continued to run at its own speed - free like the dance of a bird, wild like the crackling of a flame.
He watched her stir once more and his guts twisted.
Was there a need for her to look so attractive right then? So mesmerizing? So beautiful? So…so tantalizing? Even when she slept, this girl spared no mercy to his racing mind.
That's just because she looks beautiful now. That's all. Nothing more. He assured himself as his gaze locked with her slumbering one.
Yet that one thought lingered in his mind and reeled in him like a runaway train went wild.
Nothing more?
Are you sure?
With this, he hastily looked away and stood up to his full height, ignoring the emptiness that was beginning to pit in his stomach and the loss that was beginning to tear his soul apart, "I'm sure."
"Sure of what, Eriol?"
Now, he hadn't realized he had spoken aloud.
He turned on his heels to meet the awakened form of Tomoyo Daidouji. Somehow, though, she still remained the same way she was. Her hand was still placed gently under her cheeks and her long, velvety hair still tumbled along the line of her shoulder blades before flowing down the side. Her eyes, now opened, looked clear and bright like the morning sun shining from atop.
"Good morning." She greeted, her eyes sparkly and carrying the usual optimistic light he always remembered in her. Her smooth soprano voice directed at him, setting his blood afire. That, he was unaware.
"Hey." He slid his hands into his pockets. He realized he did that whenever he was at a loss of words or was deeply in thoughts. What? Was he beginning to feel nervous?
No way in hell.
She sat up and pushed the blue sheets away from her, revealing his shirt that she still wore. As if feeling the past events rushing back in time, she placed a palm on her forehead before breaking into an impish grin.
"I'm feeling ok already." And she smiled at him.
"What you're supposed to be after all these long hours in bed, ain't it?" He asked with a straight, expressionless face. Years of trained discipline had him veiling his emotions easily.
"Aww, come on now, don't look so dull, Eriol," She gave a cheerful smile, "Smile for me, alright?"
Instantly, he felt those walls around his heart break apart and the mask on his face withering away. Yet a fraction of what he was remained, only the curve of his lips acting as a traitor.
"Hmm, let me guess, is Cookie Boy angry at his Strawberry Cake for having slept in his bed for so long?" Her fingers rested under her chin and she gave an innocent look meant for him.
And he melted.
"No." He turned around to avoid eye contact. He knew he was smiling already and that last thing he wanted was to have her see that.
"Ok." He heard her speak. "So…aren't you supposed to be at school, Eriol?"
Out of the corner of his eyes, he met her questioning gaze.
"No. You were sick." He replied.
Silence aroused and he faced her to meet her surprised look.
"I…I don't know what to say." She admitted, dipping her head. There was a flush to her cheeks and he thought she looked absolutely adorable that moment.
No, dammit, shut up and don't go there. He scolded himself.
"It's alright. You're better now and that's all that matters."
His eyes then rounded in amusement and shock. Now why in in the world had he said that? What kind of monsters had jumped into him and possessed him to say something so…so…out-of-the-world?
He then noted the softness in her eyes and decided it wasn't such a bad thing after all.
"Thank you." She said with the kindest eyes he had ever remembered. "Sorry if it was hard on you."
"It was nothing." He assured as he approached the bedside, settling down beside her. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes." Her eyes twinkled when she responded. "I can't thank you enough."
He looked to the side as a smile took over his features tentatively at first, and then became sure and unafraid, "I wouldn't mind a treat actually."
She laughed, the merry sound of it tingling like the melodious chimes of silver bells, "Of course I do know what is expected of me." She pretended to think deeply before breaking into another smile of hers, "But actually, I have a good idea of what you want."
"Actually, I have a good idea of what you want…"
That single sentence ran vividly through his head.
He looked into her eyes only to meet her innocent smile, and then broke the eye contact quickly in hope to quench the unexplainable words rising within him. What was this that he was feeling? He could not apprehend it nor grasp it as easily as other emotions he could depict.
He had never felt like this in his entire life. Till this day.
"I…I-I don't know…what you're talking about." He had to stop from slapping himself. By God, he was stuttering!
A giggle spilled from her lips, "Really, Cookie boy?"
"Positive." He steadied his voice to make sure it sounded like what it should. If he was to stutter again, god knows where his pride would fly to! Especially in front of somebody like her!
"But you're sure you don't want anything in return?" She asked, her eyes serious this time. After all, he had done so much for her, hadn't he?
"I'm sure, I'm sure." He moved slightly, so aware of her presence breathing close to his skin. He was afraid his mind would betray him again.
Why should he be afraid?
He had no answer again.
"Alright then." She fell into silence once more, and then spoke. "Where were you last night? I didn't see you around."
"I…" His throat ran dry. Thoughts of last night always had him grinning in the darkness and grimacing comically at what he had done. Sneaking into Shades had been easier than he had expected. With his athlete capability, it had enabled him to accomplish his task faster than ever. He had been chuckling all night whenever he thought of the looks on their faces. But now…now, things were different. If Tomoyo was to ever learn of what he had ever done, she would…
He sucked in his breath. She would what?
I just can't tell her, dammit.
"I just went out to buy something. Why?" It was better to answer a question with another question, he remembered.
She shrugged and for a moment, he thought there were stains to her cheeks, "I just didn't see you around…I thought you left me alone or something." She giggled, "So I'm glad to see you around this morning."
"Oh." He stood up, unable to take the tension knotting in his stomach any longer. He didn't know why but the more he spoke to the raven-haired girl, the more he was feeling queasy inside.
And by hell, he was feeling like an awkward fool around her.
"Eriol?"
"What is it?" He slid his hands in his pockets as he walked towards the windows once more. Damn, but it was soon becoming a habit for him.
"I'm feeling pretty fine already. You should go to school. I don't want you to miss out anything. If you don't go back today, you'll have loads of work to catch up. You already helped me so much yesterday. I don't want you to work so hard again."
He spun around, stunned to silence.
I don't want you to…
She was kind. Too kind.
"It's alright. I'll stay." He affirmed.
"But--"
"You have not yet recovered, Tomoyo."
"I'm almost ok." She protested.
"Still--"
Abruptly, she cut in, "If I were to recover fully already, will you go back to school?"
He stared at her for a moment's hesitation before shaking his head firmly, "I'll stay."
She looked surprised, shocked even, at his answer, "…Why?"
He opened his mouth to speak before closing again. No words came to him as he tried to speak once more. Still, words failed him and he finally pursed his lips together and turned back to the window as a distraction from her intense scrutiny.
"I…I don't know." He said after a long while.
"Oh."
He heard the shuffling of her feet on the wooden flooring before she headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" He walked towards her immediately, amused at her sudden action.
"I'm hungry." She answered simply, an almost shy smile curling her lips as she exited to the hallway outside with Eriol protectively behind her heels.
"What would you like?" He asked, the mentioning of food causing his stomach to start growling. He had forgotten all about breakfast when he had stayed in the bedroom and had spent his time…spent his time…
Staring at her.
His cheeks felt hot. I was not!
It was her voice that shook him out of his dreadful thoughts. "I don't know, Eriol. But I loved the macaroni you cooked up yesterday. It was delicious."
He ignored the comment as he made his way down the stairway, deciding that the sudden increase of his heart pulses was due to the lack of sleep. Well, just perhaps. "Will sandwiches do today?"
"As long as it's from you, anything's nice." She said it so casually that she hadn't noticed the shades of red stretching across his features.
"Oh shut up, will you?" He chided her as they stepped into the kitchen. The presence of one Tomoyo Daidouji was enough to change his entire life. And now. She was doing too much to him. This pure torture - he wondered how long more he was able to take it. She was causing too much unknown emotions to swallow his heart. Emotions he couldn't explain, emotions he didn't know.
Why, oh, why had he brought her to his house only to suffer and experience such torment?
No, not physical. Emotional. Now what power did she held that could make him feel like this so?
And for that, he had no answer again.
*
The night looked bleak.
The stars dimmed behind the dreary wools of the clouds and the moon from the murky darkness blurred even more as it moved further away. The street lamps did nothing to brighten up the atmosphere as Eriol walked across the desolated path situated behind his manor. The sun had set hours ago and now, it was only just him alone along this path.
Yet even in this situation, he still felt light and strangely warm, despite the temperature of the surroundings beginning to dip with nature to act as its course.
He let out a sigh.
Tomoyo had been a great help in the kitchen for both breakfast and lunch when he realized she was a better cook than he was. She had assisted him in making the sandwiches and had whipped out a humongous plate of pasta for lunch. It had been delicious, indeed.
Then she had gone home after having a long talk over the phone with her father. Eriol had insisted on walking her home since she was still having a slight cold but she had promised she would be fine.
And another sigh escaped.
Involuntarily, he wondered how those FEAT girls looked when they had gotten their surprise of the day. Surely they had looked funny. He could imagine the screams from those girls as they ran around hollering for each other.
But you know the consequences, eh, Eriol? They are a huge bunch of girls, you know.
Eriol nodded firmly to himself. Recalling what Tomoyo had gone through because of him, he made a silent vow that he would protect her if anything like that happens again.
He then stopped in his path, sensing the presence of another.
No, it wasn't Tomoyo. For that he was sure.
His eyes shot towards the side where shadows were creeping up on the thick bushes before they engulfed the entire grounds around it. His blue orbs widened when he saw the shadows began to form into something more recognizable.
People.
And then something else jutted out which caused his eyes to widen even more.
They were holding sticks. Hard, long sticks.
He turned around, his famous mysterious eyes piercing out calmly from the strands of his dark azure hair. Though his heart sped up a few notches more due to the stark fear that was beginning to collect within him, his mask was flawless with calm and absolute coolness.
From the shadows stepped out a group of boys around his age. They held weapons - batons, sticks, poles - and they were advancing on him quicker with each step they took.
He recognized the first one who was leading all of them on.
Rad Hidesys.
Those blue eyes slit with warning as he did nothing to retreat. He stood there, strong and whole, and as one Eriol Hiiragizawa.
If this was what destiny had him face with because of Tomoyo, he was more than willing to accept it.
With nothing in his hands but determination and the image of Tomoyo replaying in his mind over and over again, he stepped forward.
He was ready to take on anything.
"You played pranks on our girls." Rad spoke evenly, careful enough to place enough spite into each syllable. "And now you shall pay."
He replied with the one-liner that shocked them all. "I'll be glad to."
Rad cocked an eyebrow arrogantly, but the momentary admiration fleeting past his eyes was unmistakable, "You are willing to go through this?"
Eriol understood it all. He was outnumbered and he would have to tolerate the pain of all this after everything ended.
Yet the image of Tomoyo continued to haunt his mind.
He took another step forward that would readily lead him straight to the gateway of Hell.
"I am ready."
**
OoooH! So cool, huh? Go,Eriol, go Eriol! Now let us all chant together again! GO, ERIOL, GO, ERIOL!!!! I wrote this at night and I'm quite sleepy already so spare me if there are any mistakes and errors. I wrote the final section (where Eriol met those guys) with the mp3 'Numb' by Linkin Park blasting through my computer so it's totally nice! I like the song a lot!! Yippee!! Well, it's not necessary that you know but because I'm bored so I decided to let you on this inessential 'secret' of mine. Heehee.
To demi-kaijuu = haha, I like to put 'p.s. the almighty one' to let people note and never forget that I'm the one and only mysterio000 to reign this world! But if you still don't really understand, p.s. means 'please note'. So thank you for asking me this so I can clarify it here!
Well yeah, so just enjoy it and drop a review kee?
As always
Mysterio000
p.s. the almighty one!