Stuck in the Middle

CCS

Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to Clamp.

Chapter 4 Let the Show Begin

Tomoyo hummed as she twirled and skipped to her room. She had just taken an hour-long bath, soaking into fragrant lukewarm water and using her expensive hair conditioner that makes her long raven hair soft and silky. She wanted to look her best that night.

She walked into her room and put on her ice blue gown, held up by thin straps that were tied around her neck with a long V-shaped neckline and no back. The back was tied with a thin strap of the same material in a crisscross pattern. She had made the gown herself, if she was going to be a designer, she would have to start wearing her own designs.

She then proceeded to her make-up, keeping it simple and natural and then tied her hair up into an elegant bun leaving two strands of hair on both side of where her bangs end and curled those two strands with big curlers. She quickly slipped on her high-heels, seeing how she only had fifteen minutes before guests, who were on time, comes in. She also had to take care of the early ones too and she needed to do a final check to make sure everything was ready.

She glided into the ballroom and ordered maids to test the sound system and the microphone, as well as light effects. She also checked for little garbage that was lying around unnoticed, as well as making sure that her maids know how to assists her guests.

Ding dong!

Someone's here already? I didn't know people were this punctual! Tomoyo rushed to the door and opened it to find Eriol standing in his tuxedo, looking like he usually does; prim and proper like a gentleman.

"My, you're early."

"Shouldn't the first thing you say be, 'my, you're looking handsome, Eriol'?"

"Nope, since you look nothing like that."

"I'm hurt."

"Don't be. You will be looking better when you go through my wardrobe."

"That was very mean. You're saying I look like a girl."

"I didn't say that. You just assumed. I meant wardrobe as in where my designs are stored."

"Of course, I knew that. I was just playing with you."

"Oh what fun you're having, but you should put that fun part of you aside because you have to be a host too. One person has limited abilities." Tomoyo pulled Eriol inside and stationed him by the door.

"All you have to do is to greet the guests and lead them up to the ballroom where I'll be. If Sakura and Syaoran come, tell them to find Aya by the platform or me if I'm not busy. If you see Chiharu, Takashi and those other people, ask them to help you and me, except for Kaho-san. The guys stay with you and the girls will be up there with me. Don't forget to tell the guys what to do. Now be good and don't embarrass me."

Tomoyo then walked up the grand staircase to the ballroom where everything was ready for the evening.

Eriol grumbled after Tomoyo disappeared from his sight, "I knew she was gonna make us her slaves."

Ding dong!

He opened the door to see Takashi, Daisuke, Maya, Tomoko, Hikki, Naoko, Chiharu and Rika. They came in and crowded around Eriol.

"I'm so glad you guys are here. It means less work for me. Ok listen up. The boys here stay with me to greet the guests and lead them to the ballroom, the girls are going up to see Tomoyo."

As soon as he finished, the girls were heading upstairs, leaving only Daisuke, Takashi and Eriol standing by the double doors.

Eriol noticed someone was missing and counted the girls, "Say, where's Meiling?"

Suddenly the door was forced open with a lot of power and Meiling appeared, running up to the ballroom in her skirt. Daisuke and Takashi looked back toward the door to see it swing forward, revealing a flat Eriol behind it.

Daisuke replied, "There's your answer."

Eriol rubbed his head with a groan. Meiling had the strength of a super woman. In fact, there is no mistake that she probably is one.

Bam! The door was opened forcefully as Sakura dragged Syaoran in while saying sorry for being late. Eriol rubbed the other bump on his forehead. Two times was too much.

Sakura hurriedly said to Eriol, "Sorry about that. Where's Tomoyo?"

Eriol shakily put up his hand and pointed in the direction of the ballroom.

"Thanks." Soon both Syaoran and Sakura were now going up the stairs by three steps by three steps.

Eriol sat down and said to Takashi and Daisuke, "I think I need a break. You guys can handle it." Then he slowly crawled to the living room to rest his "flat" body.

Daisuke shrugged, "Guess it is now up to us."

"Yeah, did you know that door slamming is an Olympic event back then. People would slam the door to see who could break it off its hinges. It's no longer an event since it wasn't a fair way to compete. The more you slam it, the more you wear it down, so the people that are next have a better advantage."

"I can't believe you expect me to believe that."

"I didn't. I just told you because it's educating."

Before Daisuke could argue back, a guest appeared.

In the ballroom, the first thing Tomoyo noticed was Syaoran and Sakura. Tomoyo was appalled to see Sakura dressed so casually. She tucked at her tee shirt and her loose shorts. "What are you wearing?" She turned to see Syaoran dressed in a similar fashion. "What has gotten into you guys? This is not track, it's a ball."

Sakura gave a confused look, "I think we'd know if this is a ball or a track meet. You don't need to teach me. After all, I did participate in track, unless…" Sakura stole a look at Syaoran.

Syaoran scowled, "Do I look that stupid to you?"

Sakura blushed, "No, but if Tomoyo wasn't referring to me, then I thought it must be you."

"Now I know who this stupid one is. Tomoyo was referring to the way we dress and she's not satisfied," said Syaoran smugly.

"Why didn't she just say so? It's stupid of her to say it that way when she could have just said I don't like your clothes."

Tomoyo stomped her foot, "Hello, I'm still in this conversation and I don't like to be called stupid."

"Thanks to your comment, I was called stupid too," shouted Sakura and Syaoran.

Tomoyo cowered a little from their loud voices, "Sorry, now tell me why you're dressed this way."

"Because it's convenient."

"This is a ball."

"We know. That's why we both brought our clothes. Of course, Sakura took a little longer, since she had to decided which dress to wear."

"Why bring it if you're not gonna wear it? I don't see your bags with you?"

"Remember, Tomoyo-chan? We are your models, so why bother changing into our bothersome clothes if we have to take it off later to model your clothes."

"That does make sense. Okay, then go and change when everyone's here."

"Sure."

"Thanks to you guys, I didn't greet anyone yet and there's already fifteen people here." Tomoyo hurried up to her guests and started talking with them.

Syaoran turned to Sakura, "Guess we don't fit in too well here."

"No need to state the obvious."

"There's like already a lot of people in here."

"I know. Maybe we should get ready now."

Sakura and Syaoran walked to the platform stage and saw Aya there.

"Miss, mister, mistress had put the clothes in the dressing room in order. Someone will assist while you're changing." Aya left as soon as she finished speaking.

Meanwhile, Tomoyo was standing in the space behind the chairs surrounded by tables of food and drink, talking with a couple of professional designers.

"I love your designs," exclaimed Tomoyo.

"Glad to see you're a fan. I thought I'd come, since I have a habit of coming to see designs of young designers for inspiration. Seeing people with such creativity makes me think of when I first started and that always gave me some encouragement."

Tomoyo glanced around, "I'm glad, I think it's time I get this party started. I'll talk to you later."

"Sure."

Tomoyo spotted Aya and grabbed her by the arm, "Where's my models?"

"They are at the back stage, mistress."

Tomoyo walked to the changing room area to see Syaoran and Sakura already dressed up in their first outfit. And she liked what she saw. Sakura had her already curled brown locks up in a high ponytail. She was wearing a white top with a gold swirl made with glitter in the middle. The top has loose sleeves that went to her elbow, one shoulder was bare and the strap holding that side up was visible, the other shoulder was covered. The top was tight around her chest, so it doesn't reveal anything since the top only covered up to the ribs. She was wearing a short faded blue low-waist jean skirt with a blue triangular translucent cloth tucked into her skirt so the longer end dangled to her right calf. On her feet were white leather boots that goes to her knees.

Syaoran had his hair spiked a little at the tip. He was wearing a red long-sleeved shirt with a V-shaped slit with the end pointing to the side. There was another short slit on the hem of the shirt. He wore the same faded blue loose jeans that had a few small worn out holes all over and white running shoes.

Tomoyo became starry eye again, "Oh, the perfect outfit to wear to an informal dance or a club. Okay, you guys get ready. You know what to do, remember last night."

She took a deep breath, and walked through the doorway of vine and morning glory onto the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take a seat," she paused as sound of rustling was heard down below, "I am glad to have you here today. I am Tomoyo Daidouji and I wish be a professional designer. This is the first fashion show I've held, so please don't judge me too harshly. Thank you."

Clapping was heard.

"I know the show was originally called 'Innocence', but I have made a slight change and decided to call it 'Pair'. So the main theme is that there will be a male model and a female model that will model clothes of all kind. The first theme is 'Youth and Innocence'. Now let the show begin!"

Author's Notes:

I know it's a boring chapter. Originally I was going to include the actual fashion show in this chapter, but it'll take longer to post, so I decided to post this up first.

This was originally chapter 3 in my outline, but somehow the outline was expanded too long to be part of chapter 3. Anyway, I posted two chapters in one month. I thought it'd take me longer. Congratulations to me!

Thanks to

Animekid9

Animemistress419

chikichiki

Inu's Girl08

maixwolfblossom

Mew

sakura tenshi.AnGeL oF lOvE

Soleil666

Wolf Jade

romantic-is-best

Thanks for the comments and idea! I'll use Animekid9's idea in the next chapter. Have a great summer!

Remember if you need an update of how the story is going; check my profile.

Kawaii Tenshi no Hikari

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