Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this fiction but the plot is entirely mine as I based it from a story I'm making at the moment though I do want to own kawaii Eriol…
I'm so sorry for the late update, I had a summer training at school and it has taken up most of my time, please do keep up the reviews and I promise to update as soon as possible ,
Chapter 6 – Hectic, heck what will they do now?
"Ohayou! "a melodious voice greeted as Eriol walk down the stairs wearing a green turtleneck sweater and brown slacks.
"Ohayou!" he greeted back stifling a yawn, his left hand rubbing his eyes, the other holding his reading glasses.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning and he had a good night sleep in his room.
Four days after they have signed what he and Tomoyo referred to as the "stupid contract" they had to hurry after school to finish the house and to work on their school work and photo shoots as well. Last night, they were finally finished working on most of the rooms except for the library and Eriol has to admit that Tomoyo did a pretty good job in choosing the furniture that will match the house, but he was stubborn and proud, and he did not even want to agree that Tomoyo did more than good in decorating his room.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Tomoyo asked looking up from the morning paper she was reading. She was by the veranda and the morning autumn sun highlighted her face's features and her pale complexion. She was wearing an off-shoulder white dress, white- strappy sandals and matching black earrings and choker. She was as expressionless as usual but Eriol didn't mind, like that wasn't new, if Tomoyo wasn't expressionless she would be furious over something he did or failed to do, the only time she didn't actually argued with him was on their first night at the house for she was totally groggy, that's it, no more no less.
As of Eriol, he could say that he was pretty much like Tomoyo, they are both trying to comply with the contract as professional as possible, she does her part and he does his, though they still strangle each other with their smart retorts - which is nothing but normal.
"Y-y-yes," Eriol stuttered for no reason as he takes a seat on the breakfast table and looks down on his plate. He stifled a laugh. Tomoyo looked up amused by the unpredictable expression in Eriol's face.
"It's blueberry pancakes, I thought it would be fun to have them in the shape of animals," Tomoyo said as if to answer Eriol's thoughts as she sip her tea. Just as she was to raise her cup, Eriol caught sight of an undeniably genuine smile on her lips startling him.
Tomoyo smiling? He has to be dreaming. And the smile was then hidden by the rim of her cup.
"Itadakimasu" Eriol said as he pours some syrup over his pancakes. He could not help but give off a light laugh, if it was because of the idea of Tomoyo smiling or his pancakes in the form of small rabbits, horses and butterflies he doesn't know, he just laughed.
"Dostano? (What's wrong?)" Tomoyo asked.
"Nothing, I'm just quite amused," Eriol said with a laugh as he bites the ears of the rabbit.
"It's been years since I had ones like this," he admitted. Tomoyo shrugged with a smile at the thought.
"What would you like for lunch today? Steak? Curry? Salmon? Pescadore? Pasta?" she asked pouring some milk on a fruit bowl and placing it across Eriol's plate.
Eriol raised a questioning pair of brows.
"Pancakes alone is not nutritious enough for breakfast, have a fruit bowl afterwards," Tomoyo answered as she eats hers as well.
"Oniichan!" a bright voice called out surprising Eriol as slender arms hugged him by the neck, almost choking him.
"Hisashiburi, Nakuru-san, (it's been a while, Nakuru)" Tomoyo greeted with a nod.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked.
"Yes please. So how is my brother doing as your fiancée? You two seem to be getting along well," Nakuru commented taking a seat. Eriol almost spurted out his tea taken aback by the question. Tomoyo's expression remained cool on the other hand.
"He's quite a handful, I had to readjust my whole schedule just to adapt to his lifestyle," Tomoyo said without batting an eyelash.
"Excuse me, like what did you have to adjust in your schedule?" Eriol retorted. Nakuru sweat drop. She could feel trouble coming her way.
"For your information mister, I always had to keep an eye on you so you won't leave the TV on when you fall asleep and that you keep track of your time when you spend too much time on the computer," Tomoyo said in a matter-of-fact tone. Eriol's forehead creased.
"I've skipped a number of fencing practice just to drive you to your photo shoots, mind you. You're not the only one who has to readjust one's schedule," settling his teacup.
"Are you telling me to be grateful that you drive me to my photo shoots?" Tomoyo said crossing her arms.
"No, and are you telling me to be grateful for keeping watch of me when I leave the TV unattended?" Eriol retorted.
"No, what I'm saying is you're much of a child that you can't look after yourself," Tomoyo snapped back.
"I give the same statement to you. You're much of a child you can't even go out alone," Eriol said with a smirk.
"So now I'm a child,"
"You started it,"
"Well, if I am a child, don't you think it is childish on your part to snap back?!"
"Like starting nonsense argument isn't childish!"
"FINE! I'm childish! Are you happy now?" Tomoyo glared.
"Mighty glad I am. Now, if you'd please excuse me I have a soccer practice to prepare to," Eriol said with a smirk as he stood from his seat putting on his reading glasses.
"I have to go myself, I have a photo shoot in an hour and a half," Tomoyo said standing up.
"Wait a second!" Nakuru called out slamming her hands on the table and knocking her teacup stopping the two on their tracks. She couldn't believe how impossible the two individuals in front of her are. One moment they seem perfectly normal the next they've become aliens lost in Pluto.
"No one's going to soccer practice or photo shoots, you hear me? You two will go back to your seats and listen to what I have to say," she demanded in a scary angry voice. Eriol looked at Nakuru. He never heard her freak out this will probably be the first time he will.
"And why should I?" Eriol demanded not giving in to Nakuru's slight outburst.
"Because of this…" Nakuru said pulling up a neatly typed document from the satchel she brought with her.
"And what on earth is that?" Tomoyo asked her hands on her hips.
"This is your schedule for the whole day, Mom had me drop by to give this to you guys," Nakuru said as she sits back in her chair.
"Schedule? What schedule?" Eriol asked in confusion as he walks back to his chair. Tomoyo followed suit as she had one of the maids clear the table.
"In case you have forgotten, the contract you two have signed has entitled certain tasks upon your shoulders to make sure that you would most certainly exert an effort in making such an arrangement work out. And asides from the seven months domestic training, our mothers thought that you guys are to spend some time together every weekend to become closer," Nakuru reminded.
"But I have a photo shoot today and Eriol has soccer practice, we can't practically cancel everything just because of such. Besides I'm already sick of seeing him 24/7," Tomoyo said in total annoyance.
"Well, guess what?" Nakuru said looking at Eriol and Tomoyo in the eye.
"Your photo shoots and soccer practice has already been cancelled, Mom has already taken care of it, so you guys now have to go as instructed here," Nakuru said placing the document at the breakfast table.
"She cancelled everything???" Eriol exclaimed, his eyes not blinking as he stared at the document in front of him.
"Yes, she did. And if I were you, I would just comply if you don't want to be reprimanded accordingly. I have to go I still have some things to attend to. Oh, and make sure you follow as instructed, they're having you watched. Bye!" Nakuru said disappearing from the veranda before Tomoyo and Eriol could even start a litany of complaints.
Today was surely not their day once again.
---
"What do you think of this one?" Tomoyo asked scrutinizing a dark blue long sleeved polo as she shows it to Eriol who was by the boutique's lounge reading a book. They were at the mall and have gone shopping after watching a movie just as instructed in the schedule brought by Nakuru that very morning. They could have just gone their own ways but from Nakuru's last reminder, they knew better than mess up with the situation, they would just have to get over things as quick as possible. And so far things are going out pretty smoothly asides from the every 5 minutes argument they always have.
"What's that for?" Eriol asked looking up as he adjusted his glasses at the brim of his nose.
"Nothing, just an addition to your wardrobe, I think it looks quite nice," Tomoyo said as she examined the sleeves carefully.
"And since when have you been interested in my wardrobe?" Eriol asked looking at Tomoyo, closing the book he was reading.
"Well, we've been shopping for more than four hours and I just thought that you haven't bought anything for yourself yet." Tomoyo commented. The truth was she was quite surprise at the endurance of the lad catching up with her shopping spree without any complain, he just followed her, helped her with her shopping bags and let her be as he reads a book in the boutique's lounge and she felt kind of guilty for enjoying herself with Eriol tailing her silently.
"I'm not that interested in such," Eriol simply said returning to the book he is reading.
"Try it on," Tomoyo insisted as she took the book away from Eriol and shoved him to one of the dressing rooms.
When Eriol went out of the dressing room, Tomoyo gave him one scrutinizing look. Eriol looked at her blankly as if to ask her opinion.
"Hmm…" Tomoyo said as she walked near him tousling his hair a bit and opening the first button of the shirt.
"Perfect" she finally said as she removed Eriol's reading glasses.
Eriol blinked. He was lingering the smell of Tomoyo's hair when he heard her comment. Her hair smelled of plum blossoms, sweet.
"We'll take it, miss. Just include it to the other articles we bought," he heard Tomoyo say as she gets her purse.
Eriol shuddered grateful that Tomoyo did not saw him startled, shoving the thoughts about plum blossoms aside.
"I'm just hungry, that's all" he thought to himself.
"Shall we go get a bite? I'm quite hungry," Tomoyo asked as they walk out from the boutique.
"I guess so," Eriol said simply with a shrug.
They then found themselves in a cafeteria having some lasagna.
"Their lasagna is quite good," Tomoyo commented.
"Yeah" Eriol agreed as he finishes his meal.
"You've bought quite a handful here," Eriol said staring at the parcels Tomoyo has bought placed in one chair.
"Would you want me to help you carry them later?" Tomoyo said taking another bite of her lasagna.
"No need to, I'm used to long shopping sprees with my Mom," Eriol replied drinking his soda.
"So, you go out with your Mom a lot?" Tomoyo said starting a conversation.
"Kind of, she always has me and Nakuru tag along with her. Naturally, Nakuru enjoys shopping and stuff," Eriol said.
"Don't you?" Tomoyo asked looking at him.
"I enjoy it in a way that it is a means for me to spend some time with my Mom once in a while, she can be very demanding though" Eriol said looking around the cafeteria. It was a beautiful English inspired one with quaint metal candelabras and a homey atmosphere.
"You're right on that one," Tomoyo agreed.
"Who could have thought that I would be spending the 12th of November, a Saturday at the mall?" he said as he glances at their schedule for the day.
"We're almost through, do you still have any store in mind before we go home?" he asked looking up at Tomoyo.
"It's the 12th of November?" Tomoyo asked startled.
"Y-yeah… why?" Eriol replied surprised by the change in Tomoyo's expression. It was a mixture of surprise, sadness and … pain?
"Let's go!" Tomoyo said grabbing Eriol by the arm.
"Go where?" Eriol asked as he quickly grabs their parcels and placed a number of bills by the table as he try to catch up with Tomoyo's pace.
"Hayaku (hurry)" was Tomoyo lone reply as they head to the car.
---
"Just where are we going?" Eriol asked as he followed Tomoyo walk out of the car in a hurry a bundle of lilies in one hand.
Tomoyo did not reply she was way too caught up with her thoughts to answer back. She did not even mind that she is not wearing her trench coat through the cold autumn wind.
"Hey!" Eriol exclaimed trying to control his temper as Tomoyo turned at a corner.
"Just what has gotten in to her? One moment she was crazy over shopping and now she's as silent as a mute!" Eriol thought to himself.
Before Eriol realizes it, they were in the cemetery by the river.
"A graveyard?" Eriol said to himself as he walks to where Tomoyo is.
"Just what is the idea? It's already five in the afternoon, don't tell me you want to go ghost hunting?" Eriol snapped annoyed. Tomoyo did not reply once again, she knelt down at a gravestone and removed some of the dried leaves that have covered it.
"Hisashiburi, okaasan. (It's been a while, Mother)" he heard Tomoyo whisper as she place the lilies carefully by the grave.
"Okaasan?" Eriol repeated his eyes widened in surprise.
---
shows Eriol without his glasses standing at a graveyard fallen leaves flying everywhere
This is me Eriol. Now I'm confused... did I just heard Tomoyo say "Hisashiburi desu ne, okasaan" to a grave? But what about Aunt Sonomi?
Is that tears I just saw... Oh-o...
Next on Project Engagement, the gaki spills it all on Chapter 7: Secrets by the Grave
Read and review! Adieu!
Sai-chan: I repeat, PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks!