This chapter kicked my ass. It took the longest to write -.-;;. I spent hours in front of my computer only to get a few lines down. A couple of days ago, a miracle happened—I wrote a page of it! Then it went back to the slow pace the next day -.-;;.I'm suffering from very severe writer's block--more severe than it ever has. Hopefully it won't be too much to discontinue this fic. I'd hate to do that to everyone waiting on this story to see the outcome. T.T
In the end, I'm very satisfied with how it turned out. Happy reading, and don't forget to review.
Previous Chapter:
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She laughed at his antics before hooking her arm with his, and they both pushed open the doors of the quaint coffee shop.
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Chapter 5: Small Talk
"I'm just curious," Tomoyo began, put down her cup of coffee and stroked the pastel pink lipstick mark she had left. "What has been happening in the life the reincarnation of Clow Reed? More magic?"
Eriol averted his attention from the window displaying the passersby of the small coffee shop. "Only once in a while. Sometimes its necessary to keep my own sanity."
A look of puzzlement grew on her flawless features, and one finely sculpted eyebrow quirked up in question.
As if on cue, a small crash was heard throughout the café, turning the heads of the individuals inside. Two people had bumped into each other, causing sugar packets and miniature cartons of cream to fly everywhere. The man helped the woman up from the mess-laden floor, both blushing from embarrassment.
Tomoyo shifted her attention back to the mischievous sorcerer sitting with her, who was smirking at the 'accident' that took place. "So you still use your magic to manipulate events, just like you did with Sakura to change the Clow cards?"
A mysterious glint flashed on the surface of his wire-rimmed glasses. "Of course. But it's only to give them a little push into the right direction of a good relationship. Besides, it's what they want. A little peek into what they're thinking tells me that. My hunches nag at me if I don't do it."
"So that makes you quite the little matchmaker, ne? It brings about the thought about how many couples you've put together." She brought her finger to her chin to make a 'musing' pose.
"I've also been a substitute teacher for a bit. The kids remind me of the times when we attended the elementary school. Along with the enticing fights involving the cards."
She laughed lightly, "I especially remember the times you used me in a few events, particularly the one involving the piano. You must remember that one," Tomoyo said looking at him expectantly. Eriol let out a nervous chuckle—which rarely happened to him nowadays—before clearing his throat to answer.
"You know I truly apologize for that incident." He clasped her hands for more effect, and added an irresistible lost-puppy look. "Please forgive me for causing that little occurrence."
Tomoyo rolled her eyes at his childishness and withdrew her hands. "Naturally. But don't think its because you look cute with that look on your face."
"Really? You think I look cute?" Eriol exclaimed, exaggerating his expression even more.
She giggled, covering her mouth with one hand. It was almost absurd to think that he seemed more mature when they were in Terada-sensei's class. "Yes. Now stop looking at me like that." She couldn't help but smile at him.
And it was that smile that took his breath away. It was her eyes that his wanted to meet. It was her selflessness that amazed him. And Tomoyo was the same girl that he knew back then, in essence anyway. Except now, she had someone who loved her. Junshi. And she loved him too. Supposedly. Well, she was engaged. Damn it, why did he always have to think about that? His eyes drifted back to the large windows in the room, mind deep in thought.
"Is there something wrong Eriol-kun?" Tomoyo tilted her head forward, trying to look into his eyes.
Eriol turned back to her, attempting to speak with as much reassurance as he could. "Of course not. I'm just thinking a bit. Why do you ask?"
She hesitated to answer, and nibbled on her lower lip. She didn't want to seem to be prying into his personal affairs. "You seem…to be wandering off somewhere else. Your attention strays from everything around you. Constantly distracted is a way to put it. Is there something bothering you?" Her eyes were etched with concern and worry.
He was quick to make an excuse. "Not really, I'm just looking forward to a few things that I left in Japan."
Tomoyo nodded her head, but inside she was thinking, 'What is it that you're hiding Eriol-kun? Don't you trust me? Is it too painful to talk about?'
"How's Kaho-sensei?" She asked, attempting to probe into his mind. She watched him intently, but his expression didn't falter or flinch.
"She married a fellow she met at a bookstore. A good man to be sure. Last time I heard, they were living happily with their 3 children." He smiled. He watched as Tomoyo drew a surprised expression on her face, and then hesitated with another answer.
"But I thought…" She stopped in mid-sentence to rephrase her words. "Weren't you with Mizuki-sensei before?"
"That is true. I was with her for a prolonged period of time, but that was in the past. Our ages…were too far apart." A confused expression came on her face, and encouraged him to elaborate on the subject. "It is true that Clow Reed lives in me, but that does not make me him. He and I are two different entities—just because he was an equal age with Kaho, doesn't mean that I was as well. Put simply, I am Eriol Hiiragizawa—not another Clow Reed."
"Finally, we're getting into the subject of your love life." She smirked mischievously as his cheeks warmed and eyes widened in mock terror.
"Must we? It isn't that interesting of a subject…" He smiled a bit and laughed with a hint of nervousness—damn, he had tried to cover it up!
She put a hand up and shook her head. "Nonsense. Any subject concerning my friends interests me." Nothing could stop her now!
But with the exception of a certain circumstance, of course.
Just then, the entrance of the café opened abruptly, and attention centered on an auburn-haired young woman. She spotted them and made her way to their table, almost skipping, and set herself in the seat next to Tomoyo.
"Sakura-chan," Eriol greeted. "How are you doing? I haven't been able to speak to you that much since I arrived here."
She laughed merrily. "That's right! We should arrange something, so everyone can learn about what you've been doing the last decade or so. —'And maybe then you can finally tell her how you feel, Eriol-kun.' She thought.
Tomoyo sighed—she was so close to finding out some juicy secret of Eriol's! But, it could wait for a few days she supposed. After all, her wedding would be coming in a few months, and he probably would stay around to make up for lost time. Besides, she didn't have her video camera with her at the moment—praise Sakura for giving her a chance to record wondrous footage of their English friend!
Eriol smiled and agreed to Sakura's idea, relieved that the spotlight was off of him for the moment. But he knew that when the time came that everyone was present, he would be pressured to confess his feelings. Sadly, all he knew about how he would tell her was that it had to be discreet and not too sudden. "But when do you think everyone can meet at one place? I'm sure we'll have some trouble finding a day where we all have time for some leisure." He questioned, creasing his forehead in thought.
"Don't worry Eriol-kun! Just leave everything to Tomoyo and me!" She started pushing him out the door—a playful smile prominently showing on her face—but stopped midway. "Oh! And don't forget to tell us when you're available too!" After nearly heaving her friend out the entrance, she then proceeded to talk to Tomoyo alone.
"Sakura-chan, did you have to throw him out the door?" She tried to ask sternly, but a smile of her own appeared as well.
"Don't worry about it! Now we can have woman-to-woman talk!"
She smiled. It had been a while, and they could discuss important things together—what's been bothering them recently to their love lives.
"So it's good to see Eriol-kun now that he's been gone all these years, ne?"
"Of course. I received a few letters every couple months from him over the years."
"If I remember correctly, you would always get especially excited when you received those letters. Isn't that right?"
"Well, that is true…" Her words trailed off as she fidgeted nervously with her hair. She didn't like where this conversation was going.
"And I also remember that you liked him when we were in elementary. As in, a little bit more than a friend?" Sakura pressed the subject more and smiled impishly as she watched Tomoyo turn a slight pink.
"I-it was a childish crush." She didn't think that Sakura would remember such a thing. And bring it up after he was just there no matter!
"But you acted exactly like I did when Syaoran went to Hong Kong."
Tomoyo eyed her best friend suspiciously, but failed to fight off her blush before doing so. "Are you suggesting something, Sakura-chan?"
"What do you mean?" Emerald eyes sparkled innocently.
"There's a reason why you want to have this 'woman-to-woman' talk." She made a cautious pause. "Well, are you?"
Her best friend expelled a deep sigh, dropping her shoulders a bit. "I don't know any other way to ask you this, but," the pause made Tomoyo uneasy. "Why do you love Akushiro-kun? Do you know if he's really the right man?"
The question shocked her—how could Sakura ask such a question? But now that she thought about it, there wasn't a specific reason why she was marrying Junshi. If she remembered correctly, they were together almost a year before he proposed, making it almost 2 years being a couple. But what compelled her to accept it? The memory was clear, but her feelings at that time were a little blurry. Why had she accepted?
"Well, do you know?" Sakura's voice broke her away from her thoughts.
Tomoyo bit her lip. "I don't know Sakura-chan. I really don't know."
She almost jumped in her seat. "There's hope for Eriol-kun!" But the only problem was getting her to come to her senses, and get out of the engagement as well.
Tomoyo finished her answer, "But I know that Junshi can take care of me, and love me. And I know because of that, I want to marry him."
"But Tomoyo, is that the kind of answer you should be giving?"
"Do you not want me to get married to Junshi?"
She bit down on her lip. When the idea was put that way, it made her feel guilty. "I just want to you make sure if he is the right one for you. That's all."
"Sakura-chan," she shook her head and breathed out deeply. "I choose who I want to marry. No one else does. And I chose Junshi. As my best friend for nearly all my life, can't you be more trusting in what I do?"
She smiled softly and nodded. "Of course, Tomoyo. Of course I will." Her smile turned roguish, "By the way, I couldn't help but notice that you and Eriol were getting along so well before I came in…"
"Sakura," she said warningly, "don't even try it."
Her hands went up, "Sorry!"
TBC