III – A Birthday Party
Hectic weeks of preparations passed by much to Nakuru's surprise and amusement. She didn't know what kept her master so busy these days, and even though she asked Spinel, he didn't tell a thing.
The thing was that poor Spinel couldn't trust Nakuru's outspoken nature with such sacred information as a surprise birthday party. He knew that it was just a matter of time and resistance for the always hyper Moon Guardian to spill the soup and spoil the surprise.
The situation in both countries involved was very much the same, though the kind of work-load tended to differ; for Tomoyo's tight schedule had nothing to do with festive preparations but contracts, deadlines and board-meetings instead. However, both head-masters were equally efficient in their workings, thus assuring an all-round successful quest.
Short and soft beeps came from the intercom-link in the CEO's office, interrupting her train of thoughts. A sender digit pressed a red button allowing communication between her and her assistant.
"Is something the matter Saiko-san?" turning on the hands-free feature.
"There's an urgent call from New York for you," replied back Tomoyo's assistant.
"Communicate me please," said the young businesswoman before closing the link and getting a small black cordless receiver from its cradle. "Daidouji speaking," she greeted whoever the caller was in a cold-yet-polite voice.
"Miss Daidouji, this is James Collins from Daidouji Enterprises New York," he introduced himself before continuing. "I'm calling because there are some problems and we need your presence here as soon as possible..." explained the man over the phone, nervousness slightly noticeable in his rich voice.
"What kind of problems do you have?" inquired Tomoyo, looking for her agenda and flipping some pages until she reached the on-going week.
"As you know, Daidouji Enterprises is associated with NY & Co., so we can deliver our products here..." began to explain the man.
"Yes, I know about that," replied Tomoyo cutting her executive partner in mid-explanation wanting to get straight to the point with no useless delays.
"It's been a while since our products have been returned with no apparent reason. NY & Co., keeps on telling us that the stores are not selling our products and so they return them," explained the man seriously.
"But that doesn't make any sense," mused aloud the lady with slightly furrowed eyebrows while opening a file in her MacG5. "Aren't our products ranked on top in all of those consumer's polls and surveys?"
"Yes they are Miss and that's why I don't believe their reasons. It has to be something else," offered the man at the other end of the line
"It's the first time in the history of our business that something like this happens," she looked at her carefully planned agenda for a two-week period and sighed sadly. "I'll be there tomorrow night, so wait for me and don't talk about this to anyone besides me, understood?" asked the raven-haired woman trying to keep her cool.
"Yes Miss, good bye" agreed the man, for there was nothing else that he could possibly do.
"Stay in contact, see you there," said Tomoyo and hung up the phone.
"Damn Murphy's law!" seethed Tomoyo inwardly, a million things racing in her mind. With the touch of a button and some clear commands she had her meetings and appointments canceled until further notice and the private yet ready to take off.
It was sad, really sad, how her carefully made plans fell down like a castle of poker cards. It didn't matter how hard she worked and pushed herself to accomplish her deadlines and be able to be present at Annette's birthday. It all went to a waste. But, since faith is the last thing to lose, she breathed deeply and calmed herself down. She needed a tight grip on herself and a clear mind to sort out this enigma and fix the problem soon. Maybe she could still attend the party.
No matter, she thought it was best to write a quick letter to her childhood friend and explain her current predicament and apologize if she couldn't make it on time.
"Dear Hiiragizawa-kun,
I have urgent issues to attend in the U.S so I must go there as soon as possible. I don't know how long it'll take me but I'll try to finish on time for Annette's birthday party. I had planned to go to London next week and help you with everything you needed but now I can't. Please excuse me if I happen to not make it on time.
Yours,
Tomoyo Daidouji
P.S: I'll try my best to be there."
After sending the e-mail and finishing the report she was working on, Tomoyo called it quits and drove home. Ayame, one of her maids, greeted her and after some explanations about her young mistress situation, set up for the kitchen to cook the requested Soba.
The raven-haired girl went upstairs with a smile on her face after Ayame had told her how much she had looked like her younger self with the puppy-eyes and pouting lips when asking for her most favored food. She remembered that, as a child and whenever she happened to want something really bad that her mother would not allow, she changed tactics and placed her "lost-puppy" mask. It had always worked, and for what it seemed, it still does.
The next day she made it to the airport on time. The shiny black BMW limousine stopped at the private path in the airport and Tomoyo stepped out wearing low-cut, black, dressy slacks and a white tube-top. She had on high-heeled black shoes with a thin stripe on her toes and around her ankle to keep the sandal tightly in place. She also wore a jacket to cover herself from the cold. The hair was twisted and held by a black hair clip that got concealed under the thick cascade of inky black hair that hung over its confines and down her middle back. The accessories were kept black, silver and simple that gave off a sophisticated air while her makeup blended with her overall appearance.
One of the bodyguards, all dressed in black designer clothes, gave the luggage to the helper who loaded it on the jet before the passengers got inside and settled themselves.
As soon as the jet had took off and it was safe to use electronic devices, Tomoyo popped open her PowerBook and began to work on pending issues trying to get some things done ahead of time. Six hours latter, the notebook had ran out of batteries and thus she decided to take a nap instead of plugging the thing or changing the battery.
"What are we going to do now Daidouji-sama?" asked a slim and tall light-brown haired female bodyguard after 18 hours of flight.
"We are going to mom's apartment located on Fifth Avenue," she replied before taking a look at her Gucci wristwatch. "It's almost 1:30 AM here," said Tomoyo to no one in particular, looking through the dark tinted windows of the Mercedes-Benz Limousine.
Back in London and mingled in the morning traffic was Eriol's midnight-blue Ferrari 360 Spider. He was driving his darling daughter to one of the most exclusive private schools in the nation, despite her frantic complaints about school policies.
"Really dad, it makes no sense!" she cried out masking a yawn with a dainty hand, "why does school have to start so early? Wouldn't it be better if we move first period to nine in the morning so we'll be actually awake and alert?"
"I'm pretty sure that if it were to happen, students will still consider it, how do you say? Oh yes, bloody early," he answered very amused at the girl's criticism.
"Aw, that's not true! But, anyways, why are you taking me there this early? I wouldn't mind if I skip homeroom today you know? There's nothing important in there!" she said crossing her arms in front of her chest and looking at her left side thru the window.
"Because you never know, what if today the teacher informs something important and you aren't there to catch it? It's not like a classmate will give you the exact information," he explained calmly giving a side-glance at his pouting daughter. "Besides rules are meant to be followed, not broken."
"I disagree, rules are meant to be broken," she said airily.
"Who told you so?" though he already had his suspicions.
"Nakuru did."
"Figured out as much," he thought. "What she said is not true and you know it. Besides, can you imagine a world if rules were broken?"
"Chaos," she mumbled out from still pouting lips.
"Exactly. Now rise and shine young lady, we're almost there," he announced a tad bit more happily than she could tolerate at the moment.
Right after he had dropped off Annette at the very front gates of the girls-only academy, he made a quick detour and headed towards his office. The Hiiragizawa family was one of the wealthiest families in Europe, mainly thanks to Clow Reed and his undeniable success in both Asia and Western Europe. However, not one to sit on his laurels, Eriol had decided to invest some of his capital in stocks and financing independent businesses which proved to be a very profitable decision.
Tomoyo's e-mail was on top of his inbox when he opened it; but he didn't let it dampen his mood after he had read it. He knew that she could make it. He had faith in her.
In New York, things didn't seem any brighter. The young businesswoman had woken up before dawn and got ready for an intense day. She was determined on finding out what was exactly happening, who was behind it and for what purpose. Maybe she had overdosed her healthy quote of TV shows, but she couldn't stop herself from thinking that it was highly likely for the mastermind to be in her own lines.
She set up a meeting with her executive officers in the American branch and got as much information as she possibly could, trying to cover up all the details. Some declarations didn't seem coherent enough and she studied whoever fell in that department with attention. Life in business was not an easy pie, not in the slightest, and you couldn't trust everyone. You'd be better if you did everything yourself, but the enormous workload that her kind of business supposed was not to take lightly and thus she was obligated to delegate.
The goal of this game she found herself playing was to make Daidouji's American Branch go bankrupt. That way she'll be forced to ask some bank for a huge loan or borrow the money from the main office in order to pay their workers and any other debts they might acquire. It was either that, or leaving thousands of jobless people on the streets and staining the family business with a heavy load of bad credit history. Those were things that she would not allow, even if her life depended on it.
What could they get from this? That was something she thought while going through some notes and reports. Currently, the Asian was heading towards her next meeting at NY&Co., headquarters. Maybe they just wanted to make her vulnerable and disoriented enough to make her sell or something along the line. Yes, that must definitely be it.
She had previously arranged for her colleague Collins to meet her at NY&Co., because Tomoyo had decided talking to her trusted mentors from Harvard Business School right before the upcoming confrontation. They had highlighted some aspects that, though she had already thought about, were not focused as accurate as needed to get a better picture of the war terrain.
Almost two weeks went by carefully planned meetings and maneuvers akin to CIA spy agents. The American branch top executives were monitored to exhaustion until information began to leak from mainly one of them.
It turned out that the whole conspiracy was planned down to detail by NY&Co., CEO who then bribed most of Daidouji Enterprises of America heads of department promising a nice piece of the cake plus job insurance; therefore they didn't have to fear for their position within the company.
Thankfully all incriminatory evidence was conveniently recorded and ready to be used on a trial under the charges of boycott among many others. Collins and all executives involved were promptly removed and the corporate lawyers were working on leaving without effect the service contract between both companies. For the time being, and while everything got solved, the American business departments were given to Japan's heads of department and some consultants were also added to support the task.
However, the new business statement had to be written, signed and consigned and it would take the legal team a good three more days. That is, the very day of Annette's party, and even though Tomoyo had urged her lawyers to have ready the document at first hour in the morning, she was still going to be a bit late.
On September the third, the doorbell could be heard everywhere inside one of the most well-known manors in all of England. A brown-reddish haired woman came to the principal door with slightly furrowed eyebrows in deep thought for they were not used to receive visits at first hour in the morning.
What she first saw thru the huge glass-panels framed within the door were balloons of all sizes and shapes and then many bags and boxes around a man in uniform whose face was hidden by the floating things.
"Special delivery," she heard and then opened the door completely dumbfounded.
"Does Hiiragizawa Annette live in here?" asked the man looking at a small tablet PC after the door was wide open.
"Yes, of course! Who sends this?" all but asked Nakuru not quite getting over her shock.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that Miss, anonymous sender," answered the man handing her the tablet and a pen to sign the electronic delivery form.
"I see," said the Moon Guardian taking it, signing it and handing it back.
"Thank you Miss and have a nice day," said the man giving her a nice smile and turning to leave.
Nakuru got everything inside and placed it nicely in the drawing room before sprinting upstairs to call her young mistress. She found Annette combing her hair in two pig tails with a navy blue silk ribbon.
"Good morning Nakuru!" she greeted amiably looking at the guardian's reflection on her vanity mirror. "I'm not late, right?"
"Happy birthday!" exclaimed the elder girl and swept Annette off her feet to embrace her tightly. "No, not at all," she then said as soon as the mistress was again on the floor. That is, after her face had turned an unhealthy purple color.
"Thank you!" she said between much needed puffs of air. "Then, what's up?" inquired the little girl re-arranging her now messy hair.
"I don't know, just come downstairs real quick!" said a hyper Nakuru.
Annette's eyes grew as big as saucers and her smile stretched a yard when she saw that magnitude of colors, bags and boxes. It was a delightful surprise to wake up bloody early in the morning, a good hour before dawn, to get ready for school and find out that gorgeous gifts were waiting for her downstairs.
Though every body had asked who the sender was, the answer was always the same: anonymous. Not even Eriol knew of this and that astonished Annette because she had thought at first that it was a surprise from her father.
Nakuru insisted that she opened them, but the clock was still ticking away and the birthday girl was getting late every minute. Clow's reincarnation saw her daughter's torn feelings of being on time or giving in to childish curiosity and excitement so he made it easier for her and promised to talk to the Principal if she arrived late.
Right at the same hour, a tastefully dressed young woman made her entrance thru the crystal-paneled sliding doors with quick but graceful footsteps. A slim attaché was firmly clutched in her right hand while her left hand pressed a tiny button in her hands-free set for she was currently having a phone call directly from overseas. It was her childhood's best friend wishing her a happy birthday and that was then it hit her: she had forgotten her very own special holiday.
It was amazing really how one could drown in work and forget about everything else and she could only wonder how many people, if not family, had been dragged down by money's crazed making-process. It had scared her a little, for there was one thing she feared in her life, and it was to turn out like her mother.
Don't get her wrong, for she understood and loved her deceased mother dearly and has a high respect for her. But it didn't take away the pain and heartache during the times she was simply "busy," "away" or just plain "unavailable". There were times as a child that she missed her mother's presence and comfort greatly and craved her attention. She couldn't help it, for despite everybody's opinion of her, that of a mature child way beyond her age, she was still very much a child.
The raven-haired lady suddenly had a sunny smile on her cherry lips as she entered her office and closed the communication link with Sakura for the call had just ended. There were people that always brought her back to reality preventing her from losing the right perspective. She was her mother's anchor to the "real world" as she puts it, and her dear cherry-blossom was hers. In the end, it didn't matter how much our how little one does, it's all about the little details. For small, simple and caring details tend to weave into your heart and soul far much faster and stronger than the fanciest of gifts ever could.
The CEO's assistant had come in after a quick knock and a court "come in". She greeted her boss good morning and handed her a black folder that had fake but elegant leather finishing with a smile. Tomoyo took it eagerly, her contentment coming off from her in waves, and she wasted no time in opening it. Before things could ever get labeled in her mind as "done" she had to do a quick yet effective review of the consigned document. Twenty minutes later had the document signed and handed back to the assistant with clear instructions to deliver it immediately to the legal counselor, while the lady hurriedly but demurely made her way towards the awaiting vehicle outside. She had a flight to take.
The godfather clock at the Hiiragizawa Manor showed five minutes until eleven in the evening. The small party mainly consistent of the young heiress' classmates was long dissolved, leaving her alone in the expanse gallery that had housed the celebration.
Eriol had wondered one too many times what was taking his Asian friend so long and he was beginning to dread that she might not show up after all. No matter how logic that reasoning proved to be, especially after her short written notice, he still found it hard to completely believe and an unexpected feeling of disappointment seemed to engulf him even though he didn't exactly know why.
Just when his hopes seemed to squish themselves out of existence and he had turned his back from the receiving room entrance, the rich and melodious sounds of the doorbell chimed to life. A smirk devoid of evilness made itself visible on soft chiseled lips for his faith had not be tested for nothing and his silent prayers proved to be answered. She had arrived.
He walked casually to open the door since no body else had seemed to acknowledge the calling sound. It was best this way and he would not have it any other way. However, he was rendered speechless and rather dumbfounded seconds after he had opened the double-paneled door.
A woman stood in his doorway, with the light of the chandelier above streaming down on her revealing a rare shade of inky-black with purplish accents colored tresses tied up in a ponytail blowing softly by a rush of cold northern wind. She had on a white and extremely short, pleated, mini-skirt that revealed long and slender pale legs, further emphasized by black high-heeled shoes that covered only her toes and fastened securely an inch above the ankle with silk ribbons much like a ballerina's. The upper section of her anatomy was covered by a black halter top that pooled a bit at her narrow waist. To offer some protection against the chilling breeze of autumn she wore an off-white long jacket that reached her knees. Her face had on little makeup and the unblemished quality of her milky skin shone the more natural and brightly; in all reality it seemed to glow by itself.
"Good evening Hiiragiwaza-kun," she greeted smoothly and pleasantly, "can't you remember a dear old classmate of yours?" she breathed and her eyes seemed to be taken over by the many stars there were in the skies above, though she was not staring at them, but at the silent figure of her childhood friend instead.
Suddenly the words spoken by his darling sweetheart upon her arrival a couple of months ago came back to mind in a rush. "You just don't know how beautiful she is now!" had exclaimed his daughter all starry-eyed and he felt that she hadn't make her justice with such a simple statement for the young woman before him was simply breathtaking.
"But of course Daidouji-san!" he said, recognition clicking in place. "Please come in, it's chilling out there!" and stepped aside to let her get inside.
She smiled graciously and nodded briefly before doing as told. It was getting really cold out there.
"I'm so sorry for being so late but my flight got delayed due bad weather," she apologized sincerely stepping further ahead into the Londoner's stately home and turning around to face him. "How is everybody?"
It seemed that Eriol couldn't get over his shock-induced state of mind yet, but he somehow managed to appear as cool and normal as he possibly could given his sorcerer background. "Think nothing of it; we are glad that you finally made it. Here, let me have your coat," he said stretching out his right hand ready to accept said clothing. "Everyone is doing great; they are in one of the galleries."
"Could you please take me there? I'm dying to greet them all, especially my little friend," she asked with a fond smile at the remembrance of recent and childhood memories while carefully taking off the Ralph Lauren coat and handing it to him.
He diligently hanged it inside a closet kept for that purpose and acquiring a prince-like stance told her to follow him, which she dutifully did; a girlish but strangely alluring giggle escaping her throat at her classmate's antiques. He was so very unique that it bordered on funny. He led her directly towards sculpted oak double doors promising a later tour of his home due to their current circumstance. They talked within the boundaries of polite and diplomatic conversations to fill in the silence of the lengthy trip.
Eriol opened one panel just wide enough to allow him a view of the insiders without giving away his presence at the door and then turned to the lady. He informed her that Annette was seated with her back at the door and Tomoyo could barely restrain the mischievousness and excitement to surprise her little friend that bubbled from within her chest.
"Can I go in? I just want to surprise her!" she told him in an excited whisper with twinkling eyes; and that reminded him of the times when she schemed to get Sakura model one of her costumes.
Even if he wanted, he found that he couldn't deny her anything at all as long as she kept looking at him like that, so he moved to let her go thru the doors following closely behind. That proved to be a contra-producing move as soon as he got acquainted to her nude back thanks to her black top. When had his cute little girl friend transformed into this stunning creature?
Tomoyo walked on; completely unaware of the appreciative thoughts she was gaining from the handsome man behind her. Nakuru momentarily looked at her, complete surprise showed on her beautiful face; but when she was about to tell, the new comer gave her the universal signal to shut up: the index finger in front of shushing lips. Thank to the gods above, she got the unspoken command quickly and did as told, being rewarded by a devilish smile alike that of her master's.
How sweet! The girl was still unawares, and though the cat-like creature had also seen her, he remained silent. Tomoyo covered Annette's gray-blue eyes with her hands smoothly and whispered, "o-tanjoubi omodeto gozaimasu Annette-chan!"
What happened right after that was a blur of movements and voices. The young heiress bolted upright in no time, getting herself free from the Asian's hold and turned around breaking in an emotional cry after her eyes had assured her that her ears had not betrayed her and hugged the woman's tall frame tightly. Tomoyo caressed the girl's hair to calm her down and got on her knees to be at eye level with her, greeting her and wishing a good happy birthday. Nakuru clapped in excitement barely waiting to hug the life out of the camera-girl as soon as Annette had let go. Spinel watched the scene unfold with amusement and surprise for he had not been aware of the woman's visit. Eriol stood behind, smiling devilishly sweet and thanking all deities he knew of for a job well done.
After greetings and hugs were exchanged between all the present, Tomoyo was lead thru corridors, doors and rooms to the kitchen with a promise of a sweet fruit salad after Eriol had almost spooned out of her that she had not eaten anything since lunch and that was a sub sandwich. Seated at the black-marble toppled kitchen counter in one of the many stools and with a dignified cobalt-blue bowl with carefully cut little squares of papaya, pineapple, watermelon, melon and some sliced bananas Tomoyo engaged herself in a friendly tetê-a-tetê which eventually led to the confirmation of Eriol's early suspicions about the anonymous gifts.
Placing the now emptied bowl in the dish-washer that blended wonderfully in the stainless-steel environment, the master of the household announced that they were to depart towards the music dome. Said place was a huge almost-circular room with an impressive cupola made only of glass and steel that showed clearly the midnight velvety sky. Ceiling-to-floor window panels were everywhere and it appeared that the whole structure was made of glass as if to not obstruct the view of the wonderful garden outside. All sorts of instruments were everywhere in the room, but the favored one was a black and shiny grand piano. A huge plush circular carpet took over the white marble floor and looked extremely comfy to tumble down and sleep in. Cushions were tossed over the carpet, on the floor and over inviting sofas giving it a carefree feeling as if to smooth the dullness of proper elegance.
The music dome was filled with floating pink and lavender balloons that had thin strips of either color trailing down almost touching the floor. Most of them had small pieces of delicate stationery paper with a few lines carefully written. In the center of the room was a modestly-sized but handsomely decorated cake with white frosting and blue inscription with cherry petals as if those were blown away by a soft breeze.
"Welcome ladies to the celebration of your birthday," announced Eriol smiling at both birthday girls.
Annette squealed in delight while a single tear rolled down Tomoyo's porcelain-like cheek. She hasn't been expecting that her long-time-no-see friend had remembered her birthday and wanted to celebrate it. It was also a blissful coincidence that it was the same day of his daughter's. She took some steps towards him and bowed as was custom when thanking others in her country but he just nodded and smiled, embracing her in a warm hug as soon as she had straightened up. The young woman hugged him back by sheer instinct basking in the scent and manly support he provided and that she didn't knew needed.
The instructions to a birthday-present rally game were rather simple really. Annette's arena was the pink balloons, leaving Tomoyo with the lavender ones. They had to look for discovery instructions in the tiny letters attached to said balloons that would lead them outside the music dome and into the whole house to a room where Eriol had thought fit to hide the present.
As the game progressed, the instructions became trickier in form of riddles, some of them even containing material of general knowledge. It was a way to test Annette's tutoring and Tomoyo's knowledge without them directly knowing while having fun.
Following the many clues there were in the entire manor, Tomoyo found herself at the foot of a wide white marble staircase. She looked in all directions and read the paper firmly clutched in her right hand.
"I'm glad you made it, though the game isn't over yet. Here's one last clue: there's a realm above hell and heaven where Orion's many stars witness the sleep of their beautiful fallen angel".
Now, where would that be? She thought giving a last glance at the paper. If she was led to a stairway then she had to go upstairs and find out. Thinking that she was now in the first floor, labeled in her mind as "hell", the second floor would be "heaven" thus leaving the third floor to be the realm above.
Things got a bit complicated as soon as she reached the third floor. The staircase led her to an almost semi-circular area with a common space that had a beautiful round table adorned with a gorgeous flower center-piece. There were three white doors with golden knobs at her right, three more at her left and a double-paneled door in front that followed the general pattern.
From what she remembered of her self-taught astronomy lessons, Orion was located to the right and if it were to witness the sleep of somebody, then said person's room would be located there. Now, the question is: which door is it?
Looking up to try paint the constellation's map in her mind, she noticed that the task had already been done for she found herself face-to-face with the autumn sky thru another masterfully built dome. Soon she found Orion and it seemed to be exactly located above the very last door.
Behind that door and after a short hall with a mirror and a slender table with a lavender flower-arrangement was a large room with almost-white, soft lavender painted walls. To the left was an entertaining area complete with a white sofa that had brightly colored pillows in various sizes and shapes, a rectangular low table made of light cherry-wood and a full home-theater system. To the right was a queen-sized bed framed by two small tables with a cute lamp each exquisitely draped in lavender sheets of silk and a white warm duvet. The right wall was a window panel with doors that opened to a balcony with a great view of the purple garden below. A lounger and a table were placed in a corner meant to be used in spring or summer time. At the far end of the room, following the line of the entrance was a walk-in closet with an adjacent full bathroom that had a Jacuzzi and shower-stand.
On the bed was a square black velvet box with a royal-blue bow. Tomoyo opened it slowly and held her breath for there laid an innocent-looking jewelry set made of diamonds and sapphires. A card was attached to it and she promptly read.
"Dearest Daidouji-san,
With this humble gift I want to wish you a happy birthday and thank you again for honoring us with your magnificent presence. I hope this is one of many birthdays to come.
Sincerely yours,
Hiiragizwa Eriol."
First things first, that was in no way a "humble" gift, she thought with a smile; being accustomed to that kind of things and thus acquainted to its price tag. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to accept such a generous gift, but it would also be considered rude not to. What to do? She asked herself while closing the box and exiting the room to meet the house master.
"Thank you very much Hiiragizawa-kun for such a lovely gift," she said in the music dome where the Hiiragizawa family was gathered.
"I'm glad you like it," he replied with a sincere smile and gestured for her to get closer to him.
As soon as Tomoyo was within hand-reach, he took the box from her hands and opened it. Precious gemstones twinkled merrily at him and he picked up the bracelet to then fasten it around her right wrist. The ring and earring-buds followed soon after leaving a necklace still in the box because the top she wore didn't make it justice.
Nakuru and Annette admired the Japanese girl's gift and commented effusively on its undeniable beauty. The little girl had returned moments before Tomoyo and launched herself at her father thanking him over and over again for his gift: an iBook.
Some hours past midnight found them singing "Happy Birthday" with Eriol playing the piano for them and after each one had eaten their slice, big or small depending on who was eating, weariness began to show itself on the party-goers.
Annette excused herself and went to sleep grateful that it was now Saturday. Eriol escorted their guest to her assigned room which was the same where she found the gift. Nakuru decided to take the cake to the kitchen and properly store it with Spinel tagging along.
"Arigato for a wonderful evening Hiiragizawa-kun," thanked Tomoyo with a sweet smile.
"You're welcome. However it must be me to be thanking you. I won't ever forget what you did to be here tonight, my family and I greatly appreciate it," he replied taking her hand in his and softly kissing it.
"We are even then," using the hand he kissed to place some stubborn tresses behind her right ear. "Good night," and gave him a quick peck on a nicely-shaved cheek.
"Night," managed to wish Eriol in return before she disappeared behind the white door with a smile and a nod, once again dumbfounded.