What was it about the sun setting in the east? It can't happen… yeah, of course it can't. But it did. Today.
Today, when my heart was on the line, when my hopes and dreams were almost all achieved, I lost. I lost everything. I wandered for a while, hoping that this nightmare would end, but it was no nightmare was it? The greatest gift I could receive, was snatched away from me, by a cruel sick joke. I lost. I'm sorry. I can't find the way out of this pit of darkness. Slowly, even my light is being extinguished. I'm drowning in the dark.
Written: Friday, August 22.
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That was the last entry, and the most ironic thing was that it was the first in the diary as well. She flipped through the blank pages, wary of the tears that collected in her eyes. Then she flung it at the wall, where it hit with a sickening splat. She frantically wiped the tears from her eyes, hating them, and unable to stop them. She walked to the window, looking as the waves came and went, with no hurry.
A little boy, around the age of three, ran across the sand, his mother trailing after him. When she finally caught him, she picked him up and spun him around laughing merrily. Then, she noticed the woman at the house and waved brightly. The woman at the window waved back, smiling, just barely.
She watched, even after they were long gone. She wished for a second, that even she could have a beautiful family like that, with a little girl, in her own arms, but quickly dismissed the thought, finding it almost repulsive. She had given up on love a long time back. Sure, she was going to be a matchmaker starting tomorrow, but that's only because the father-like man, who had saved her from her own demise, asked her to do it.
And just as she thought about him, a man in his early 50s, knocked on the door. She opened the door, and smiled, seeing him trying to sneak in a bite of the candy bar he held in his hand. He smiled sheepishly and said, "I figured that you'd like some company. It's too beautiful a night to be home all alone. See," he held up two grocery bags and continued, "I brought ice cream, your favorite and mine, and some chocolate syrup to go with them. So, what do you say?"
She giggled and said, "Many thanks Hima-san." He groaned and said, "Don't call me that! Don't you like saying Uncle Gary?" She nodded and let him in. But as they walked to the back patio she said, "Hey Uncle Gary, didn't your doctor say to cut down on the sweets?"
He smiled slyly and said, "Of course. But the old man says things like that to everyone. The towns folk said that it's because he can't eat sweets, so he doesn't let anyone else." She smiled softly at his child-like behavior as she went in to get spoons and napkins.
By the time she came out, the lawn chairs were set. She handed him his spoon and took her own, dipping it slowly into the napoleon that she held, savoring the first taste. After a while of pure silence, he asked, "So, do you have everything ready for tomorrow?" She sighed and said, "I guess. But tell me again why I'm doing this." He smiled and said, "My nephew is very touchy. He will not get married, and his mother is forcing him to find a wife. He hates the idea of being arranged to be married with someone. So, she's sending him over here to pick a suitable girl."
She asked, "But why does this have anything to do with me? If he needs a wife, let him find one." Gary sighed and said, "The problem is, knowing my nephew he'll somehow run away or doing something else instead of falling in love. And we can't have that, so, I thought, anyways you're on vacation, and you being the one who's found so many people their soul mates, that you can help him as well."
She sighed and stared up at the stars. He said softly, "I know what you're thinking about. But the past can't hold you back. I mean, look at you. 9 months ago, you started a fashion line that's now the most popular thing in the world. It's affordable to all kinds of people. So you needed a little push, but still, you've picked yourself up. It's time to move on. I'm not telling you to go fall in love again…but don't just push everyone away. Some people can be loyal friends, if nothing more."
She looked at him, looking into the sincerity of his eyes and nodded slowly. She looked back up at the sky and whispered, "I know I should. But in a way, I'm afraid. Afraid of what's to come. I don't think I could stand another heartbreak." Then she shrugged and turned to him smiling. She said, "But maybe this is the chance to restart. So what kind of a personality does your nephew have?"
He smiled back and thought, 'That's my girl.' He said, "Well, he's pretty tall and good looking from what I hear. But he's always so business oriented that he never looks at the beauty of the world around him. Since the entire enterprise was left on his shoulders, he's become pretty reserved, unless he's around family."
She
started drinking the melted ice cream at the bottom of the cup and then stopped
to ask, "But what are his physical traits? Hair color, eyes, stuff like that…"
He continued, "Think he's around 25 and he has navy blue hair, and azure
eyes. Really deep, almost like yours,
except they're dark and mysterious. Oh,
and I forgot, could you pick him up at the airport tomorrow? My car is in the shed."
Tomoyo giggled and commented, "I keep telling you that you should replace your car. I mean, one of these days it's going to fall apart on the streets of Tomeada, sort of like in a cartoon." He huffed and said, "I'll have you know that my father kept that car in top condition and it-"
"- works well and always will," she finished. 'How many times have I heard this same lecture?'
He got up and stretched saying, "Well child, it's past your bed time, and if you're going to help me tomorrow you need to be fit and fresh. I'll be leaving." She stalled, "but wait, you never said his name or what time I'm supposed to pick up your nephew." He said, "Oh! My dear, you're right. His flight should be arriving about 10:34 or so in the morning. And, his name is Eriol. Eriol Hiiragizawa."
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Tomoyo yawned and stretched looking at the alarm clock next to her. It read '9:30' and that's when it hit her that she was supposed to pick up someone today.
She frantically got dressed, almost successfully putting her sock on top of her heeled shoes. She finally sat down on her bed, breathing quietly, and said, "He wouldn't mind, hopefully." She looked at herself in the mirror for a final check up. She wore a casual gray knee-length skirt, with a lavender top. She had also had a small white scarf that she tied around her neck. Her hand almost reached to her make-up kit when she scolded herself thinking, 'you're not going on a date Tomoyo. You're doing a favor.'
She grabbed an apple as she ran out the door, and walked towards her car, when she remembered that she needed something to alert Mr. Hiiragizawa. She opened the garage quickly, grabbing a piece of cardboard that hap hazardously sat on top of a shelf. She always had emergency markers in her car, so she ran in, and turned on her Land Rover, looking at the clock for a second, which now read, 10:25.
She hummed to herself, after the initial hustling and bustling; she had turned on the radio and found out that most flights were delayed elsewhere. She got to the airport and walked towards the baggage claim where she would be receiving him. She sat down in the hard chairs, taking out a black permanent pen to write Mr. Eriol H. in bold letters. Too bad the sign was small, or she would have been able to fit his entire last name on there.
She settled down, but just then, the arriving bell had rung, and she got up, again, unconsciously smoothening her skirt out and standing by the others who seemed to be waiting to pick people up.
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He sat waiting for his doomed days to begin. The plane was still landing, and he had already received a feeling of dread bubbling up in his stomach, as if it was a pit of fire. His mother had insisted on his vacation, as had his father. His uncle was known to be a bit, strange in the head, and so Eriol was afraid of what mishaps would occur.
His uncle had said, "Come over and just enjoy the city if you don't want to find a bride. No one's forcing you; just that there are many beautiful Japanese lasses here." Eriol groaned. Supposedly they had arranged for a matchmaker for him. And if that weren't enough, he was going to be shown all the brainless and beautiful women of the country, by, someone whom he presumed would be a balding short chubby man.
Why could no one understand that looks weren't a priority for him? Sure, he'd like to have beautiful children as well, but it was a close second on the list of qualities he looked for in a girl.
He sighed and got up from his seat, exiting the plane, and absorbing the warmth of the sun. He really loved Japan yet had only visited when he was young. As he walked into the airport, he made a promise to himself that he'd evade all the girls as much as possible and just enjoy his vacation.
Just as he walked in through the gate, he looked for someone who was there to pick him up. He saw a man who fit his description but his board said Mr. Riley. Then he scanned the people waiting. This tall man with a moustache, held a board saying, Li, ehe, had to bring them in, and then he started reading the names itself… Chang… Henley… Hiiragizawa… Wu… wait, Hiiragizawa?
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He looked at the person holding the sign and then thought, 'what the heck?! They decided that this should start right away or something?' He walked up the girl, she didn't seem too mature, and said, "Where's the old balding man?" She looked shocked and stuttered, "e-excuse me?" He rolled his eyes saying, "great, I haven't even been here for five minutes and I already found a b and b." She looked appalled and then straightened up saying, "If you're talking about Uncle Gary, he couldn't make it because his car's in the shop." She thought to herself, 'he didn't mention rude on his little list of characteristics.'
"Well," he asked snapping her out of her trance. She looked up to him, yes, up, since Tomoyo was unfortunately a meager 5' 4" compared to him. Her eyes flashed a little and she said, "what?" He said, "Well, are you taking me home or something?" She cleared her throat and said, "Oh. Yes. Well, I guess, follow me."
She led him to her silver Land Rover, opening the trunk for him to put his luggage in. He snorted and said, "Where did the driver go?" She said, "I'm the one driving." He stepped back and said, "I don't think they allow little girls to drive. Not even in Japan." She tried to contain her anger and then said in a low, strained voice, "For your information, I'm twenty four. Now, if you could please sit, I could drop you off at your house."
He complied, much to her relief. The drive was silent, with Tomoyo going at the speed limit, if not a little higher, trying to get to his house as soon as possible. When they stopped at an intersection he asked, "So are you one of the potentials my parents were talking about?" She growled out a no and then he continued, "But there are women like you right? Just trap a rich guy, get his money."
She slammed on her breaks, the car behind her barely missing her car. She snapped towards him and yelled, "What do you know about me to make that kind of assumption! And as for your kind information, just to clear things up, my name is Tomoyo Daidouji; daughter of Sonomi Dadouji and owner of Dreamscape Incorporated. I might not have as much money as you, but I'm successful and I don't need to make people fall for me."
He rolled his eyes and said, "Sheesh. Good for you, and anyways I was just asking. No need to try and murder me with your screeching." She was about to say something back but instead bit her cheek and started driving again, this time more wildly and urgently, getting him to Uncle Gary's house in less than 5 minutes.
_ _ _ _ _ _
She got out of the driver seat and helped him by putting his luggage out. He just got out and stood exclaiming, "Wow. I don't remember uncle's house being like this. It seems like such a relaxing spot. Don't you think?" She just dragged his bags towards him, seeing that she earned no help and walked back towards the trunk.
Eriol felt a little bad at making her that angry. It seemed like even she didn't want to be there. So he tried making small talk with her, but as of now it wasn't working.
She sighed softly, leaning against the trunk door, knowing that she shouldn't be so mean to him. Just then, Uncle Gary walked out the door, and said, "Hey, look who's here. My favorite nephew!" Eriol chuckled and said, "I'm your only nephew too, Uncle." Tomoyo was opening the door of the car when the uncle said, "Hey, where're you running off to. Come, have an early lunch with us." She sighed and little and smiled lightly saying, "I'll come back later. I already have lunch prepared anyways. Bye." She waved rolling down her window and no one protested.
When she was still in hearing distance though, Eriol yelled, "Watch the speed limit Miss Daidouji."
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A little sadness, a little fluff, kind of made the chapter a little even…
Well, whaddya think? Likey? No likey? Review!
~*Spectraangel*~