For Better or Worse
Chapter 2: Amethyst Reflection
"You should have just carried her upstairs!"
"She would do just fine on the sofa."
"But she wouldn't be much comfortable!!!"
"How would you know, dimwit?"
That was the first and last thing I heard before everything succumbed into darkness.
The haze that had been stalking my eyes had followed me ever since it started snowing. The heavy droplets of white fury obscured every possible visibilities and wondering around the city of London aimlessly without a single idea of where I was supposed to head was indeed a terrible or perhaps worse alternative one could think of. Often I have to snuggle into my long blue scarf to generate warmth for my freezing lips. Being born and lived in the east for almost my entire life, winter in England was exceptionally cold to me. In fact, life couldn't have taken a worse upturn right now.
As I turned into a contoured street, my conscience was already deserting me and so were my other senses. Yet I continued on, never once dared to look back and I walked and walked…
What soon followed after that, I couldn't recall back…
And during the flickering moment when I thought I'll be lost forever, a pair of comfy hand guided me through the darkness. Where am I?
…
I blinked. Once…twice………. and even go as far as thrice. My surrounding was different, leaving me with only amidst recognition of antiquity. Faint smell of cinnamon struck my nostrils and though the house may appear to look 'old' and 'classic', it offered tranquility, comfort and something else – which I just can't seem to point out. And I heard voices hovering above me.
"Nakuru-chan?" My voice was shaky and my throat was a burning sensation. I looked doubtfully at the image in front me. Perhaps it was only my illusion. I often hallucinate nowadays.
"Are you all right? Do you feel any pain anywhere?"
She was real.
I put on the most reassuring smile, one that didn't come from my heart, sadly. "Daijoubu, shinpai wa irimasen." I spoke in thick Japanese accent that made me gasped and cupped my mouth gently behind my hand. "Go… I mean sorry Nakuru-chan. I'm fine. Just feeling a bit thirsty."
"Of course. It must have been freezing outside."
Immediately, she got up and marched into the kitchen to prepare a cup of warm British tea for me. While she was at it, I watched the blazing fire with pure ecstasy and was glad it generated warmth for the very frozen me. Yet, I still couldn't believe that of all places I could have ended up in, it was Hiiragizawa-san's. A place that I was trying to avoid at all cost.
I shouldn't have come… I whispered without even noticed I had actually said it out loud.
"Why shouldn't you?" came a husky voice. It caught me by surprise and made me toppled off the sofa.
"I'm sorry Daidouji-san; I shouldn't have scared you like that."
"No, I should be the one who apologize, not you dear Spinel-san."
Adding a –san behind his name certainly felt foreign in my tongue. I guessed I should just drop the formality, but I couldn't for I was born pure Japanese which sometimes I wished I was not.
"Why…" came his voice once more, deep and intelligent. "Why shouldn't you be here, I dare ask Daidouji-san?" He fluttered a little and landed on the floor with arms crossed and legs crossed too. Oh, he reminded me so much of Kero-chan. And the sorrow resurfaced once more.
I was lost for words. I couldn't tell him, I just couldn't. If he ever knew the truth, the others back at Japan would know where to locate me. But just at that peculiar moment, she came and broke the uneasy silence. "Here you are, all warm and nice." Nakuru announced as she came back with a tray of cookies and a cup of brimming tea.
I merely accepted with a slight nod and quenched my freezing throat. It brought a burning sensation and untangled my frozen soul. But something out of the corner of my eyes caught my surging attention. It was something I've never realized before. The chair was empty. The same red chair that I once saw back in Tomoeda, inside a big classical mansion was empty…
"Where's Hiiragizawa-san?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Of all people that could have faint in front of my mansion, it was her. That's right, Daidouji Tomoyo, a name so familiar to my British tongue. It was not liked I invited her over, saying, "Hey, you there! Come faint in front of my house okay? Perhaps I'll be nice and let you stay as long as you like!" But no, she just come unexpectedly as if brought by the November wind and settled within the frame of my heart. The moment she stepped into my once peaceful life, I knew my world was about to take a different leap. But somehow my magic power didn't warn me that she was going to RUIN my life and changed me to a whole new person. This magic had its ups and downs. Sometimes I wished I don't have them and I could lead a normal life of a normal kid just like any normal British boy could. But I couldn't…… And that was how it all began.
"Hiiragizawa-san?"
Soft footsteps paddled across the carpeted floor. I sensed her presence, a jovial one indeed but I didn't bother to look up. Perhaps she would grow tired and decided to leave me alone for the day.
"What are you doing?" Her tone was thick with curiosity. Damn, she really don't understand body language, does she? And, I thought those who had just fainted needed more rest. She sure proved me wrong.
"Book." Duh!
"Of course. But just exactly what book are you reading?"
Man, she just doesn't get it, does she?
"Milady," I replied. "It's just like any normal book one finds interesting to read." Translation : This is a book, I am a lone ranger, and you were just saved by me. And oh yeah, mind you, you're in MY house and your filthy presence in my room is really annoying me. So what are you doing here? SCRAM!!
Her eyes twinkled with merriment. That was liked another slapped to my face.
Man…
*~*~*~*~*~*
Boy, he sure was hard to talk to. Nakuru said he had never talked more than one sentence to anyone ever since he returned back to England. Well, well, well… Mr-I-hate-to-talk-so-I-prefer-to-shut-up-and-so-do-you, this turned out more intriguing than I thought. This is indeed a quest, my friend. Heh.
But the little conversation I had with Nakuru a while ago suddenly decided to take action. Task: Screwing up Tomoyo Daidouji feeling.
"But I've never see Eriol so eager before."
"Eager?" I looked up to meet a pair of crimson eyes with hints of dark emotions. "What do you mean exactly?"
"That was the first time I actually see him do much more than sitting around, reading a book and unpleasing the pleasant life out of me. He had run over to save you when he saw your fallen figure. Usually he wouldn't even lay his eyes on any girl he met down the street, let alone touch anyone. I could see he had changed a bit and that's good. I thought I'll never see him smile ever again."
I was speechless. One, I really don't know what to say, am I suppose to be honoured or what? Secondly… a little break just to induce her and my fellow readers…
"Please, Daidouji-san –"
"Just call me Tomoyo." I smiled sweetly.
"Right, Tomoyo, please… save Eriol. Save him from the terrible fate."
What?
" Please…save him… from himself."
My eyes windened. "From himself? But—"
I woke up with a start from the reverie. Oh my… my head hurts even more than I expected. I stroke my temples lethargically and then something out of the blue caught my eye! What the –
I was not in Hiiragizawa's study any more. In fact, I was lying on a four-poster bed with an amethyst silk quilt wrapped comfortably around me. An abrupt movement hovered above me and then a shadow loomed over my petite figure. I stirred a bit but my eyes were still not opened yet.
"Take care of her Nakuru. I'll be in the study if you ever need me." I recognized the voice… it belonged to…
"It's not like you ever leave the study for anything." Nakuru laughed but as sudden as it have come, her tone of voice changed all of a sudden. "You really do care for her, didn't you?"
Hiiragizawa grumbled a reply but I could not hear anything anymore for that time fatigue took her chance to embrace my fallen figure and I felt homesick. I really do miss them back in Japan…
And of all things I could have done, my eyes felt warmed…
And I cried silently.
*~*~*~*~*~*
To those who had reviewed. Thank you!!!! I'm out of school already, so I have more time to update my fics. To anyone who wanted an update whenever I post the next chapters, just leave your mail through your review. That's all. Tata!!
P.S. I just realize my grave mistake – a lot of grammatical mistakes in my fic. So, I've fixed them here and there. Enjoy.
Signing out,
Psycho_kyugurl