*Pulls out her tongue*
I'm sooooo going to be killed by all of you..... *readers all positioned to hurl tables, knifes, chairs and whatever they can get their hands on at me* Sigh.... really sorry I took such a looooonnnnnngggggggggg time to update!! *Puts on a sympathetic look* Hehe.... ^_^
Okie, anyway, this first chapter is mostly about Eriol and his lovable Suppi-chan, not forgetting our beloved hyper-active Nakuru. (Did I spell her/him wrongly this time? I apologize for the previous prologue- I spelt her/his name incorrectly) Now....hope all of you will enjoy this chappy, especially with the few surprises I've added in, lurking there, waiting for you to find! ^_~ And don't forget to R+R, thanks!!!!
Some explanations: thoughts are in italics.
Some emphasized words are also in italics
Disclaimer: (whispers urgently...'Am i supposed to like put this in every single chapter?!! .............my pooooooor fingers are gonna get so bored and stiff!) La Di Da, not me, remember? O_o
Charming, aren't you?
Chapter 1: Chance meetings
Eriol locked eyes with a hidden Suppi-chan and uncontrollably heaved a sigh. Both of them unwilling turned their heads towards an overly enthusiastic Nakuru, who was at the very moment jumping up and down through the security checks.
People were giving her (in this story, i'm going to refer to Nakuru as a 'her') deep frowns or faces which could be clearly defined as- 'what on earth is this over-aged child doing-?' Some older women just shook their heads, and muttered audibly, "Young people nowadays..."
After going through the usual security check and getting their luggage, they were finally free. Eriol saw Nakuru drag an extremely unwilling Spinel out of the airport doors, swinging him round and round on the pavement excitedly as she skipped...
...Well, Spinel looked dead to the world. He smiled.
Putting his first foot forward out of the sliding doors, Eriol stepped into Tomenda for the second time in his life.
He breathed in deeply, inhaling the slender scent of lavender....nearer... so familiar.....yet somehow, so distant.... He shook to clear his head. No, it can't be. He must be imagining things.... Yes, that's it- just imagining things....
Eriol indicated to Nakuru that he was moving off by slightly tilting his head to the right side. She got the hint immediately as she abruptly stopped twirling in circles and started to run towards him- apparently, to her impromptu viewers, onto him- but Eriol side-stepped her at the very last second, (when she had already leaped into the air to land on his back) causing her to scream and fall flat on her nose.
"Pity, it waaas actually quite a pretty nose." Spinel whispered, happily stressing heavily on the word 'was'.
Eriol raised one of his eyebrows and peered at the 'black cat'. It was one of his famous looks- and that made Spinel smile. Both of them ignored the ear-piercing screams coming from their left, and started across the original path, smugness written on one and amusement on another.
"You'll have to move, dear..." Eriol cajoled, saying this statement without pausing to turn back.
Nakuru yelled a little more, just to steam off (or that, at least, was both of their speculations) then jumped up and yelled for them to wait up for her... as they passed from her line of sight. She had to run to catch up with them...
...And both of them wore fixed, identical expressions- the usual straight faces with just about the slightest hint of satisfaction.
Mission three hundred and ninety-seven: Accomplished.
~*~
After bagging in all their belongings in their temporary hotel, Eriol decided to get down on task- to find a girl to play the part of his wife. And he had just thought of the girl to play the part.....
How did I ever get stuck with this flimsy excuse of mine....? Sometimes, I really do surprise myself....
Sighing, he strolled through the Sakura Park, sorting out his thoughts while admiring the full blooms of spring. The atmosphere lightened his mood, letting him relax and breathe in the sweet scent of the delicate flowers. He felt at ease, a sense of peace he had remembered he had had before, a long time ago when he was at this same spot. The cross-section of two widespread Sakura trees and two equally old oak trees, all forming the different edges of a square...
...A lovely yet mysterious area, where the petals flowed and drifted leisurely, ever so slowly letting the breeze carry it to a hidden place, a spiral encirclement, where fairy tales could, would happen. He stood there for an endless moment, enjoying what feelings the place could evoke in him, and what he could do, just by being there, to make the magical place discovered.
A fairytale... it could happen here. A beautiful, magnificent one that would take the breathe out of .... my lady. My lady. That had a nice tinge to it. A romance....
A flicker of movement. Then another. Then more... and suddenly, he wasn't the only one there, oblivious to the world as it was to him just an eternity ago. The trace broken, he shook his head to clear off his boyish thoughts. What triggered that thought...?
He shook his head softly, pivoting his face to one side. Gazing at the four ancient elders surrounding him, he bowed his head just a little to acknowledge the fact of the illusions he put on himself and set off to his aim once again.
~*~
"Sakura, are you... feeling fine?" Tomoyo questioned her best friend innocently. She sent a silent, enquiring look to her, as she rocked her swing to and fro.
Sakura took a long time to ponder upon the 'seemingly' easy question. At last, a murmured 'I...I don't honestly know' was heard by Tomoyo, so light till it seemed more like the wind whispering into her ear, teasing her.
Silence inevitably followed. Both of them sat on the swings that told of their childhood- the place where they always sat when either of them was troubled. It was a part of them.
Definitely Syaoran.
"Is it about... Syaoran, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo breached the topic delicately. Tread this issue lightly.....
Another long bridge of silence followed. Tomoyo stared intently at the wrinkles on her cream dress, all the while pushing herself gently forward. The creaking sound made by the friction of the rope and metal bar seemed thunderous in that tense moment, while Sakura was unconsciously gripping her hands till they were white.
"Are you alright....?"
The wind shuffled and swirled around their feet.
"I'm... I'm... Tomoyo, I'm scared!" she abruptly exclaimed.
"I'm scared I'll disappoint him!" Sakura shot her a tortured look, now gripping her dress till it was in danger of being torn.
"Don't worry, Sakura-chan, you won't." Tomoyo smiled, "He will not be disappointed, you'll see." At least we're on a topic which I can handle now... the silence was really deafening just now...
"I just know that I'll be absolutely, and I mean, absolutely speechless when......"
~*~
Eriol moved with ease to the direction of the playground, and when he did saw it, it brought back fond memories of his childhood. The penguin slide in the middle, the roll-about, the swings....
The swings....? When did the swings come up....? And who...
As Eriol approached the playground, the backs of the two figures loomed closer and the scent of Lavender swirled around him. With each step forward, the more puzzled he became, as two auras were felt, one- a powerful, strong one that was highlighted in twists of gold and pink while the other, a gentle, wavery feeling filled with the lightest touch of violet and white intertwined together.
A pair of long, slender and graceful limbs swinging to and fro...
A cream dress, though simplistic, that further definites the great design...
And the extensive wealth of midnight in her hair......
As Eriol reached an arms length away from the particular woman, his bits and pieces of thoughts suddenly clicked. And what conclusion it came out startled him acutely. The only thing was that they, or in particular, she, hadn't sensed his presence yet due to their intense conversation. And that was something he was counting for.
"So, dear Miss Tomoyo, how wonderful to see you again."
~to be continued~
So how was it....? Alright? Hope this chappy will capture your interest... ^_~ And please remember to review!!!! Thank you ever so much!!