Title: Ohayo!
Chapter 8: Fallen
"Well, I've checked your body and overall, you're healthy, Daidouji-san. I think…maybe because you have a lovely husband, ne (right)?" Doctor Sugumi smiles. Sonomi laughs heartily. 'Maybe yes…' she thinks. They're both talking about some of Sonomi's simple health problem when a nurse comes in and interrupts them.
"Ano (Umm)…Sugumi-sensei (doctor) we need your help in room 134," she smiles apologetically. The woman sighs and follows the nurse. Sonomi sits alone in the room, wondering what she should do. Suddenly, she sees something that catches her interest.
On the table, there is a file with Eriol's name written on it. The woman grabs the file and reads the document carefully 1. Being a doctor before she was married, it's not hard for her to understand the situation. He is dying! And he is having a financial problem!
No longer waiting for Doctor Sugumi to come back, Sonomi quickly stands and walks out of the room. She needs to talk to her husband immediately!
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Eriol tries to sit, ignoring the pounding ache in his head. He leans his body against the wall and closes his eyes. He can't understand! For his whole life, is that the only thing he's capable of? Burdening other people, creating problems, hurting them and making them worry… he is so useless!
Even though Syaoran and Yukito is acting normal, he could see how worry they are of him! Syaoran's performance in football is decreasing badly! And Yukito, every time he is back from hospital, he looks beyond exhaustion! As if…as if, he hadn't get a proper rest for a very long time.
Tomoyo? She is very observant. Sooner or later, she will know it even though he didn't tell her. And he, he didn't know how to explain to her because he didn't want to see her tears…
Eriol stands up and starts to throw all the things on his study table to the floor. Tears of frustration start to build up in his eyes. He can't take it anymore! The regret…the guilt…the pain…everything! He just want to run away and go to a place where there is no problems. Feeling exhausted, he slides himself on a corner of the room, clutches his hair and cries.
Syaoran's head turns towards the direction of his brother's room. Just now, he heard something breaks into pieces! Rising up from his own study table he rushes towards Eriol's room. He opens the door. Everything is on the floor, glasses scattering everywhere and Eriol curls his body that shakes uncontrollably.
Watching his brother in such a state, sorrow clearly shown on his amber eyes. He slowly but steadily approaches Eriol. He kneels down and his shaking hand touches Eriol's shoulder. Then, he hugs Eriol furiously, both Eriol and he himself cries.
"Why does it have to be you who suffers this fate? Why does you sickness must go worse instead of better? Why can't I do anything to help you when you're dying? Why? Why?!" Syaoran cries. Both of the brothers remain in that situation for a very long time.
Outside the room, a certain raven-haired girl sees and heard everything. And now she can be sure what she suspects is right.
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Tomoyo squeezes her lover's hand lightly. The day of the competition finally comes. She glances at her lover's face once in a while. He keeps on rubbing his chest once in a while with a pained expression. Tomoyo closes her eyes. If only she is blind…if only she is not observant enough to see the pain of his lover. If only…if only she is not there on that time and heard everything that he hides from her.
She snaps herself from her reverie when Eriol softly shakes her shoulder. She turns her head and sees Eriol's worry face. She shakes her head and smiles reassuringly. Eriol smiles and turns his attention back to the other contestant performance.
The contestant bows as they receives applauds from the audience.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please do give a heartily applauds to our last performers. They are Daidouji Tomoyo and Hiiragizawa Eriol from Tomoeda Junior High School," a lady announces. Tomoyo and Eriol walk into the stage and adjust their position. Eriol puts the violins on his shoulder and starts their show by playing 'To Zanarkand' melody as a teaser. The lonely tune rings in the air, silencing the bustling audience.
Then, he starts to play the real opening melody of 'Suteki Da Ne.' Tomoyo opens her mouth to sing.
Kaze ga yoseta kotoba ni The wind like a heart
Oyoida, kokoro That swims in the polluted world
Kumo ga hakobu ashita ni,The cloud, a voice
Hazunda koe. That carries the clouded future
Tomoyo closes her eyes and sings the song with her whole heart. Somehow, in her mind…she could reminisce his voice keep on reassuring her that everything is all right when things are falling apart.
Tsuki ga nijimu kagami ni, The moon,
Furueta kokoro, Torn heart in blur mirror
Hoshi ga nagare koboreta, The stars,
Yawarakai namida. Gentle tears in over flowing streams
Eriol's hand moves upwards and downwards. The tune turn steadily more yearning and forlorn as it proceeds further, like an unspoken pain. He closes his eyes and he let the melody control his heart.
Suteki da ne, Isn't it wonderful?
Futari te wo tori aruketa nara, To walk together, hand in hand
Ikitai yo, It's my deepest desire to go
Kimi no machi ie ude no naka. To your city, your house, into your embrace
She opens her beautiful amethyst eyes that glisten with tears.
Sono mune, The heart
Karada azuke, Entrust in you 3
Yoi ni magire, Lost in confusion
Yumemiru. My dream ends 4
Like crystal, tears slowly makes it's way down her face. The soft shade of yellow spotlight shines on her, making her looks angelic. Eriol feels as if something wrecks his heart when he sees her cry.
This is the part where his violin plays the longest solo role without Tomoyo's voice. Somehow the melody sounds so melancholic without it's companion…it's soul mate. Both of them are drowned in the lonely melody that entangles into one.
Kaze wa tomari kotoba wa, The wind, gentle illusionary words
Yasashii maboroshii, Leading to nothingness
Kumo wa yabure ashita wa, The cloud, faraway cries
Tooku no koe. Shredding the future apart
Tsuki nga nijimu kagami wo, The moon, a heart that flows away
Nagareta kokoro, Within a blurred mirror
Hoshi ga yurete koboreta, The stars, trembles in overflowing
Kakusenai namida. Awakening tears that has lost
Tears couldn't seem to stop falling from her eyes. This pain, it can't be erased. She really didn't want to lose him when she still yearns for his care, his smile, and his touch. Call her selfish, she'll admit that but please, don't let her lose her lover.
Suteki da ne,Isn't it wonderful
Futari te wo tori aruketa nara,To walk together, hand in hand
Ikitai yo,It's my deepest desire to go
Kimi no machi ie ude no naka. To your city, your house, into your embrace
Sono kao,Those face
Sotto furete,His gentle touch
Asa ni tokeru,Dissolves as dawn approaches
Yumemiru.My dream ends 4
He opens his eyes, as sadness reflects briefly in his midnight blue eyes before it shields itself back into façade.
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"Let's celebrate our Tomoyo and Eriol who helps the school to win the competition 3 years in a row!!" Daidouji Kazuka's voice booms in the living room. Everyone cheers happily. Tomoyo and Eriol smiles humbly, feeling both embarrassed and proud.
Tomoyo wears a loose light purple dress up to her knees. Eriol wears a white turtleneck shirt with black jacket. He wears jeans too. People are chatting around, some of them laugh with delight. Eriol stands on a corner of the room, leaning against the wall alone. Feeling bored, he walks out of the living room and walks towards the balcony.
After hours of searching in vain, Tomoyo finally found Eriol among the crowd. She calls him but he didn't hear her voice as he keeps on walking away. Tomoyo follows Eriol's step and finally reaches the balcony. She closes the door, a little furious.
"I know you heard me," her voice strained. Eriol smiles and nods his head.
"Yes, I do," he answers.
Tomoyo furrows her eyebrows. "So why didn't you reply?"
"I want you to follow me so that we'll be alone," he chuckles as he hugs her. Tomoyo's face turns into a deep shade of red. She buries her face into his chest. Eriol slowly inhales the smell of her hair.
'Like a lavender,' Eriol thinks with a smile. Both of them stand in silence for a long period, watching stars.
"Eriol," she whispers and releases herself free from Eriol's grasp. Then, she puts her hand on his cheek and looks into his eyes.
"You becomes so pale and frail lately. I really don't understand how I fail to realize all that…" tears cascade down her face. Midnight blue eyes widen with shock.
"How do you know? Yukito or Syaoran?" he asks with slight anger in his voice. Tomoyo shakes her head.
"I know that from your eyes. The kind of eyes that could never lie to his lover… And you, you can always be sure that I'll never leave your side," she smiles sadly. Eriol touches both sides of her cheeks. Slowly he plants a kiss on her lips.
'Arigato…(thank you) honto ni, arigato (really, thank you)'
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"Yukito-san," Kazuka's calm voice shakes the light haired man from his reverie. Yukito smiles professionally. He shakes his hand with Kazuka as the man slips something into his palm.
Yukito opens his hand just to see that there is a check in his hand. He looks up towards Kazuka with a face full of doubt.
"What is this for?" he asks.
"For Eriol. He feels like a son to me. To think all over again, I have to correct that into future-son-in-law," he smiles jokingly. Yukito, Syaoran and Sakura's eyes widen with surprise.
"You…know?" Sakura asks with a disbelief expression. Kazuka's face turns serious at once. He nods his head and sighs heavily. Yukito stares at the check. After a while, he returns the check back towards Kazuka. The other man raises his eyebrow.
"I know your intention is kind but I'm sorry, I can't accept this…"
"Yukito-san!" Syaoran turns his head towards the older man. Kazuka is about to ask Yukito when they hear shout that comes from the balcony. They rush towards the balcony and sees Eriol sitting on the floor and coughing non-stop.
His face pale and glistens with sweat. His left hand grasps his chest, moaning in pain. His breath is rather short and ragged, as if he could never get enough air in his lungs. Eriol's expression clearly shows agony that he hides carefully from the others before.
Yukito quickly scoops Eriol into his arms and puts him into his car. Sakura and Syaoran follow his car while the Daidouji excluding Takumi 1 uses the other car. Takumi left to deal with the party that they held in the house.
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"Yukito-san, we need to operate him as fast as possible. His lungs are getting more and more damaged in a very fast period. If we didn't operate him now, the percentage for him to survive is very low," Dr Sugumi says in a very worry expression.
Kazuka overheard that and taps Yukito's shoulder.
"Go and sign the permission letter. I'll deal with the payment," he smiles reassuringly. Yukito smiles slightly and walks into Dr Sugumi's room.
Syaoran, Sakura and Tomoyo walk into the ICU slowly. They close the door noiselessly. They watch a certain dark blue haired boy who lies on the bed with complicated machines hooks on his half-naked body to keep his heart beating.
Tomoyo closes her mouth as she makes a chocking sound. Syaoran closes his eyes with frustration. Sakura puts a hand on Syaoran's shoulder as a sign of support. Eriol seems to be glowing in the dark. His eyes closed revealing his handsome feature. Somehow, on that time he looks like a fallen angel…
He opens his eyes slowly, watching his loved ones crying over him. He smiles sadly.
"Ne, it hurts much more to 'cough' see you all look- 'cough' looking so dep-depressed," he speaks with difficulty. The others turn their head towards him. Syaoran slowly approaches him and ruffles his head. Eriol pats Syaoran's arm weakly before he clutches his chest and coughs furiously. Sakura wipes her tears with the end of he long-sleeved shirt.
Tomoyo rubs Eriol's back to ease his coughing. Yukito stands silently, as if paralyzed. Syaoran, Sakura and Yukito walk out of the room, giving privacy to both of the teen.
"Tomoyo," he whispers. The girl stares at her lover's face and smiles softly.
"I…'cough' love you," he whispers into her ear. She shivers slightly when she realizes the distance between both of them is within an inch.
"I'll wait for you! No matter how long it takes to see you again, I'll wait!! I could never, and will never be able to love anyone else as much as I love you!!" she hugs him furiously and cries in his chest. Eriol closes his eyes and swallows back the tears that threaten to fall. He rests his arms weakly on Tomoyo's back and comforts her.
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All of them wait outside of the room. Syaoran stares at the window silently with Sakura in his arms.
Flashback
"I have to warn you from the start that he may not survive. The chance for him to stay alive is only 50-50…" The doctor says grimly.
"Please, we can't afford to lose him Sugumi-sensei," Tomoyo says with tears in her eyes.
"I'll try my best. But, this actually depends on how strong the patient's will to live and God's will…"
Ends Flashback
Syaoran let go of an exhausted sigh.
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Tomoyo opens her eyes just to see Eriol already wakes up. Her eyes glisten with tears but she hastily wipes them away. Tomoyo hugs him and gives a happy cry.
"I really love you," she laughs in her cry. Still weak after the operation, he merely smiles softly.
He squeezes four times her hand. Tomoyo immediately understand the sign and calls the others outside of the room.
They laugh happily when they see that Eriol wakes up.
"Hey, still alive and kickin'?" Syaoran asks his brother mischievously.
"Alive enough to kick you…" he whispers softly. The others laugh. Eriol stares intensely at Tomoyo and smiles meaningfully. He still has a debt to pay her. And he promises after a month, he'll pay back the 'suppose-to-be-beautiful-memories' that they lost.
And he loves her so much more. Because she is the most beautiful girl he ever know for his whole life, beautiful in every way. In his eyes, she will always shine like the sun in the morning. Every 'Ohayo' (Good morning) that she says is the sign that he is alive enough to love her…
Owari
1 Okay, I know this is very wrong but plz, ignore rules for a while!!
2 Remember? Daidouji Takumi is Tomoyo's brother that Eriol found at the Daidouji Cakehouse.
3 Actual meaning is 'entrust in your body' but doesn't that sound a little funny?
4 Actual meaning is 'It was a dream' but it makes more sense if I say 'my dream ends'.