I'm back! I can't believe it's been months since I last updated. I'm really sorry for the hold-up. I've been way too busy about school work and stuff lately that I haven't been able to check my mail.
Disclaimer: I own no Eriol or Tomoyo or any CCS character, just the plot. End of story. Period… oh and beware of OOC-ness.
I wish to thank Captain Canija for reminding me that I have a story to finish, for to be honest with you I have been literally busy the last few months that in fact I am on my way to a one week seminar tomorrow and I thought that I have to at least update Project Engagement, Hontoni Gomen nasai!
Please do keep up the reviews…
Captain Canija and all my wonderful reviewers this chapter is for you.
Chapter 14 – Spreading Rumors: Yamazaki's s Scheme
Eriol groaned as he slowly opened his eyes to eye the clock in his bedside table.
5 am- Too early for anything- Especially if it is a Saturday… mostly a Saturday after a hectic week of being the talk of the town due to the mouth of a wicked friend announcing his so-called engagement. Yes, it is too early for anything and yet the racket downstairs doesn't seem to cease in disrupting his peaceful slumber.
Tugging the covers close to him, he plopped a pillow on his head in attempts to muffle the screeches and shrieks from downstairs with not much success.
Groaning, he wondered on what could be the cause of such a racket in the break of dawn when the only residents in the manor was he, Tomoyo and Mrs. Drew and the rest of the housemaids who for all he know have the decency to work quietly when almost the entire town is asleep.
Plopping yet another pillow on his head he struggled to continue his much needed and disrupted slumber only to feel the sheets being pulled from him and to find Shaoran's wicked face smiling at him.
"Rise and shine sleepy head, breakfast is in ten minutes" Shaoran said with a smirk.
"What are you doing here? It's 5 in the morning. Can't you just leave me in peace?" Eriol scowled pulling back the covers back to him.
"Get up. We have plenty of work to do today," Shaoran said dragging Eriol out of the bed to the bathroom. Eriol who was totally exhausted and sleepy groaned in frustration as Shaoran splashed cold water on his face and shut the bathroom door close on his face with only a "Make sure you get downstairs in 10 minutes".
Being totally awake, Eriol had no choice but to take a bath and go downstairs. Just as he was to go downstairs he found a number of familiar faces who he was certain were his classmates in homeroom greeting him good morning and walking pass him carrying a bunch of boxes and disappearing by a hallway. Eriol rubbed his eyes. At that moment, he doubted if he was truly awake. He took a quick glance at his wristwatch. 5:15 am.
He need not have to pinch himself to confirm his doubts for just as he was to turn at a corner he stepped on a what seems to be a piece of rag and slipped the whole way down the stairs and his senses were back to normal.
"Just on time, let's go" Shaoran said a stopwatch on one hand and a notebook on the other. Without even minding to help Eriol get up he led the way to the veranda where Yamazaki, Yuki-niichan, Touya and Kaho were having breakfast.
"You know, I can really get used to living here," Touya said in between bites of his blueberry waffles.
"The food is just perfect," Kaho said taking a sip of her tea.
"And what brings you people here so early in the morning?" Eriol scowled as he took a seat casting daggers on everyone at the table.
"You're up already, here's your breakfast, eat it while it's still hot." Tomoyo interrupted as she entered the veranda clad in washed denim jeans and an oversized dark blue shirt a plate of freshly made waffles in one hand and settling it in front of Eriol who all of a sudden was tongue-tied. Without skipping a beat she poured him a cup of coffee, added a cube of sugar in it and stirred the contents of the cup. Yuki-niichan and the others smiled at the observation.
"Just what on earth are you guys here?" Eriol hissed.
"Why, Yamazaki-san told me that you guys have a school project to work on, did you forgot?" Tomoyo asked innocently walking back to the kitchen to get some more tea.
Eriol's eye began to turn big like saucers and was to start a machine gun of litany and complains when Yamazaki silenced him by flashing a Polaroid photo of his messed up experience in Tomoyo's room. Colors crept to Eriol's face.
" Play along… or else…" Yamazaki mouthed. And in an instant Eriol lose all the strength to talk.
"You've changed," Yuki-niichan said controlling his laughter as he sipped his coffee with shaky hands. Eriol looked at him questioningly.
"You were never that talkative and polite the same time. You're becoming more evil especially with your scowls," Yuki-niichan said in an I- know- something-you-don't smile.
"And just what kind of project is this?" Eriol asked through gritted teeth. Somehow, he doesn't like the idea that his friends are here early Saturday morning talking about a presentation in English class, and to top it off, Yamazaki's threatening flashing of the Polaroid photo of his messed up experience in Tomoyo's room… it was way too fishy, like a math equation:
Yuki-niichan Shaoran Kaho x Touya x Yamazaki / a Polaroid photo and an English Project = VERY BIG TROUBLE
"Yamazaki just volunteered to be the director for our class's entry to the annual Winter Play festival," Kaho simply said helping herself with some more waffles.
"You did? And since when did you learn to take responsibility??" Eriol asked incredulously as he started to eat as well.
"ERIOL! How could you? And to think it is my ever-so-good friend who speaks ill of me?" Yamazaki said feigning hurt.
"Actually, he volunteered upon learning that the winning team would be excused from the year-end exams," Touya muttered. Eriol rolled his eyes.
"And how did I get involved in the picture?" Eriol asked crossing his arms not minding the mighty and noble speech Yamazaki was giving out about being a shepherd among lost sheep, Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt and diving the Red Sea in half and stuff.
"Simple, you're the leading man," Yamazaki said without skipping a beat and drinking his coffee.
"I'M THE WHAT?" Eriol demanded, not believing what he just heard,
"Leading man, the main character- the protagonist in other words." Yamazaki said like as if he is reciting ABC to a three year old.
"And since when did I become the leading man?" Eriol demanded not willing to give up without a fight.
"Since…" Yamazaki said in a whisper and pausing for effect.
Eriol stared at him with a mixture of challenge and threat. He held his breath for what seems like eternity staring at Yamazaki's stoic form which slowly diminished and replaced by a wicked smirk and with a teasing voice called out, "Tomoyo-san, I have something to tell you!!!"
Eriol groaned for the umpteenth time. For the last hour and forty five minutes, correction, two hours and forty eight minutes he has been struggling to memorize the lines for their class's film, with no such luck, unfortunately. Everyone was working like crazy having a deadline to beat and a slave runner director on top and the chaos is driving him crazy.
He can't believe that Yamazaki blackmailed him to such. But he has no choice, not unless he has plans of finding his body six feet under the ground if Tomoyo learns about the photo, that his. And so far, the option never crossed his mind, for he knows better than deal with people's wrath.
He has to admit though that Yamazaki did a great job in distributing the work that in just a couple of hours, the whole manor was redecorated to fit a setting that of the eighteenth century. The curtains, the carpet, every detail was put into account, much to his amazement. He was surprised that even his costume was ready.
"The sooner I finish this, the sooner I'll get rid of them," he muttered under his breath as Rika, the costume designer called for him to get changed for filming will start in few minutes.
While Eriol was changing his costume, the filming for the first part of the film already started by the dining room with Yamazaki giving last minute directions to the crew. Eriol hasn't met any of the cast as he was busy memorizing his lines and Rika had to make a few adjustments to his costume. By the time he was through, the film was already for the second act set by his bedroom balcony.
"You understood now?" Yamazaki asked after dictating the details of the act. Eriol shrugged sheepishly and slouched by the table by the veranda as instructed earlier making a small place for his head to rest on as the table was stacked with old books thicker than his spine. According to Yamazaki's instructions, he was to act asleep as the female character arrives surprising him. He was only half listening to what Yamazaki was saying for he was busy recalling his lines, but he did not mind. Like what could happen anyway? After all the script was all about a man falling for his sister-in-law just when his wife is about to conceive for their first child, who wouldn't get confused?
"Lights, Camera, ACTION!" Yamazaki said and the film started rolling. Eriol closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He couldn't remember what Yamazaki said on how the girl will surprised him so he remained stoic in his position waiting. 30 seconds… 40 seconds… 50 seconds… one minute… one and a half…
Time was ticking and he was growing impatient for the other character's arrival. He was to open his eyes and whine when he heard aloud crash and found most of the books and a bunch of leaves flying in the air with a dark haired woman on top of him!
"Wha… what the???" He managed to utter as he struggled to get up.
"Are you alright, miss?" he asked his face painted with panic. He looked at the woman and realized who the girl was, "Tomoyo? What are you doing here?" he uttered in surprise.
"CUT!" they heard from the corner of the room.
"What did you mean Tomoyo?? We're in a play here Eriol. You were to say "An angel?" remember?" Yamazaki said rubbing his temples.
Eriol blinked, unable to process what is going on right before his eyes.
"Why is she in the film?" Eriol asked.
"Because her role is Madison?" Yamazaki said wryly,
"Nice try, Yamazaki. I'd appreciate though if you tell me how you got her into this." Eriol said with a warning voice.
"Well…The issue about your engagement with Tomoyo-chan is still fresh to the public and the class and I thought that it would help a lot if we make use of that to attract more viewers." Yamazaki said naturally. "She agreed anyways," he added.
"You agreed?" Eriol asked Tomoyo in surprise.
"Yamazaki promised to get my project for me if I did it," Tomoyo replied much to Eriol's surprise. This is going to be yet another long, long day…
----
Sai-chan appears on the screen and waves.
Sai-chan: Konnichiwa minna-san. It's been a while. The film Eriol and the gang will be having is actually another fic (ExT as well) and I will be showing only a few parts. It will be out perhaps by Christmas vacation or as my schedule permits. I'm still thinking of good ways of presenting the film as I want it to be kind of raw and unexpected. Please do tell me if you want to read the whole play in the fic or would want to know more about it and I would happily furnish you with the details.
For now here's Eriol-kun for the next chapter preview:
(Eriol can't be found)
SOMEBODY SAVE MY SKIN!
Next on Project Engagement: More Torture
Read and Review! Adieu!
Disclaimer: I own no Eriol or Tomoyo or any CCS character, just the plot. End of story. Period… oh and beware of OOC-ness.
I wish to thank Captain Canija for reminding me that I have a story to finish, for to be honest with you I have been literally busy the last few months that in fact I am on my way to a one week seminar tomorrow and I thought that I have to at least update Project Engagement, Hontoni Gomen nasai!
Please do keep up the reviews…
Captain Canija and all my wonderful reviewers this chapter is for you.
Chapter 14 – Spreading Rumors: Yamazaki's s Scheme
Eriol groaned as he slowly opened his eyes to eye the clock in his bedside table.
5 am- Too early for anything- Especially if it is a Saturday… mostly a Saturday after a hectic week of being the talk of the town due to the mouth of a wicked friend announcing his so-called engagement. Yes, it is too early for anything and yet the racket downstairs doesn't seem to cease in disrupting his peaceful slumber.
Tugging the covers close to him, he plopped a pillow on his head in attempts to muffle the screeches and shrieks from downstairs with not much success.
Groaning, he wondered on what could be the cause of such a racket in the break of dawn when the only residents in the manor was he, Tomoyo and Mrs. Drew and the rest of the housemaids who for all he know have the decency to work quietly when almost the entire town is asleep.
Plopping yet another pillow on his head he struggled to continue his much needed and disrupted slumber only to feel the sheets being pulled from him and to find Shaoran's wicked face smiling at him.
"Rise and shine sleepy head, breakfast is in ten minutes" Shaoran said with a smirk.
"What are you doing here? It's 5 in the morning. Can't you just leave me in peace?" Eriol scowled pulling back the covers back to him.
"Get up. We have plenty of work to do today," Shaoran said dragging Eriol out of the bed to the bathroom. Eriol who was totally exhausted and sleepy groaned in frustration as Shaoran splashed cold water on his face and shut the bathroom door close on his face with only a "Make sure you get downstairs in 10 minutes".
Being totally awake, Eriol had no choice but to take a bath and go downstairs. Just as he was to go downstairs he found a number of familiar faces who he was certain were his classmates in homeroom greeting him good morning and walking pass him carrying a bunch of boxes and disappearing by a hallway. Eriol rubbed his eyes. At that moment, he doubted if he was truly awake. He took a quick glance at his wristwatch. 5:15 am.
He need not have to pinch himself to confirm his doubts for just as he was to turn at a corner he stepped on a what seems to be a piece of rag and slipped the whole way down the stairs and his senses were back to normal.
"Just on time, let's go" Shaoran said a stopwatch on one hand and a notebook on the other. Without even minding to help Eriol get up he led the way to the veranda where Yamazaki, Yuki-niichan, Touya and Kaho were having breakfast.
"You know, I can really get used to living here," Touya said in between bites of his blueberry waffles.
"The food is just perfect," Kaho said taking a sip of her tea.
"And what brings you people here so early in the morning?" Eriol scowled as he took a seat casting daggers on everyone at the table.
"You're up already, here's your breakfast, eat it while it's still hot." Tomoyo interrupted as she entered the veranda clad in washed denim jeans and an oversized dark blue shirt a plate of freshly made waffles in one hand and settling it in front of Eriol who all of a sudden was tongue-tied. Without skipping a beat she poured him a cup of coffee, added a cube of sugar in it and stirred the contents of the cup. Yuki-niichan and the others smiled at the observation.
"Just what on earth are you guys here?" Eriol hissed.
"Why, Yamazaki-san told me that you guys have a school project to work on, did you forgot?" Tomoyo asked innocently walking back to the kitchen to get some more tea.
Eriol's eye began to turn big like saucers and was to start a machine gun of litany and complains when Yamazaki silenced him by flashing a Polaroid photo of his messed up experience in Tomoyo's room. Colors crept to Eriol's face.
" Play along… or else…" Yamazaki mouthed. And in an instant Eriol lose all the strength to talk.
"You've changed," Yuki-niichan said controlling his laughter as he sipped his coffee with shaky hands. Eriol looked at him questioningly.
"You were never that talkative and polite the same time. You're becoming more evil especially with your scowls," Yuki-niichan said in an I- know- something-you-don't smile.
"And just what kind of project is this?" Eriol asked through gritted teeth. Somehow, he doesn't like the idea that his friends are here early Saturday morning talking about a presentation in English class, and to top it off, Yamazaki's threatening flashing of the Polaroid photo of his messed up experience in Tomoyo's room… it was way too fishy, like a math equation:
Yuki-niichan Shaoran Kaho x Touya x Yamazaki / a Polaroid photo and an English Project = VERY BIG TROUBLE
"Yamazaki just volunteered to be the director for our class's entry to the annual Winter Play festival," Kaho simply said helping herself with some more waffles.
"You did? And since when did you learn to take responsibility??" Eriol asked incredulously as he started to eat as well.
"ERIOL! How could you? And to think it is my ever-so-good friend who speaks ill of me?" Yamazaki said feigning hurt.
"Actually, he volunteered upon learning that the winning team would be excused from the year-end exams," Touya muttered. Eriol rolled his eyes.
"And how did I get involved in the picture?" Eriol asked crossing his arms not minding the mighty and noble speech Yamazaki was giving out about being a shepherd among lost sheep, Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt and diving the Red Sea in half and stuff.
"Simple, you're the leading man," Yamazaki said without skipping a beat and drinking his coffee.
"I'M THE WHAT?" Eriol demanded, not believing what he just heard,
"Leading man, the main character- the protagonist in other words." Yamazaki said like as if he is reciting ABC to a three year old.
"And since when did I become the leading man?" Eriol demanded not willing to give up without a fight.
"Since…" Yamazaki said in a whisper and pausing for effect.
Eriol stared at him with a mixture of challenge and threat. He held his breath for what seems like eternity staring at Yamazaki's stoic form which slowly diminished and replaced by a wicked smirk and with a teasing voice called out, "Tomoyo-san, I have something to tell you!!!"
Eriol groaned for the umpteenth time. For the last hour and forty five minutes, correction, two hours and forty eight minutes he has been struggling to memorize the lines for their class's film, with no such luck, unfortunately. Everyone was working like crazy having a deadline to beat and a slave runner director on top and the chaos is driving him crazy.
He can't believe that Yamazaki blackmailed him to such. But he has no choice, not unless he has plans of finding his body six feet under the ground if Tomoyo learns about the photo, that his. And so far, the option never crossed his mind, for he knows better than deal with people's wrath.
He has to admit though that Yamazaki did a great job in distributing the work that in just a couple of hours, the whole manor was redecorated to fit a setting that of the eighteenth century. The curtains, the carpet, every detail was put into account, much to his amazement. He was surprised that even his costume was ready.
"The sooner I finish this, the sooner I'll get rid of them," he muttered under his breath as Rika, the costume designer called for him to get changed for filming will start in few minutes.
While Eriol was changing his costume, the filming for the first part of the film already started by the dining room with Yamazaki giving last minute directions to the crew. Eriol hasn't met any of the cast as he was busy memorizing his lines and Rika had to make a few adjustments to his costume. By the time he was through, the film was already for the second act set by his bedroom balcony.
"You understood now?" Yamazaki asked after dictating the details of the act. Eriol shrugged sheepishly and slouched by the table by the veranda as instructed earlier making a small place for his head to rest on as the table was stacked with old books thicker than his spine. According to Yamazaki's instructions, he was to act asleep as the female character arrives surprising him. He was only half listening to what Yamazaki was saying for he was busy recalling his lines, but he did not mind. Like what could happen anyway? After all the script was all about a man falling for his sister-in-law just when his wife is about to conceive for their first child, who wouldn't get confused?
"Lights, Camera, ACTION!" Yamazaki said and the film started rolling. Eriol closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He couldn't remember what Yamazaki said on how the girl will surprised him so he remained stoic in his position waiting. 30 seconds… 40 seconds… 50 seconds… one minute… one and a half…
Time was ticking and he was growing impatient for the other character's arrival. He was to open his eyes and whine when he heard aloud crash and found most of the books and a bunch of leaves flying in the air with a dark haired woman on top of him!
"Wha… what the???" He managed to utter as he struggled to get up.
"Are you alright, miss?" he asked his face painted with panic. He looked at the woman and realized who the girl was, "Tomoyo? What are you doing here?" he uttered in surprise.
"CUT!" they heard from the corner of the room.
"What did you mean Tomoyo?? We're in a play here Eriol. You were to say "An angel?" remember?" Yamazaki said rubbing his temples.
Eriol blinked, unable to process what is going on right before his eyes.
"Why is she in the film?" Eriol asked.
"Because her role is Madison?" Yamazaki said wryly,
"Nice try, Yamazaki. I'd appreciate though if you tell me how you got her into this." Eriol said with a warning voice.
"Well…The issue about your engagement with Tomoyo-chan is still fresh to the public and the class and I thought that it would help a lot if we make use of that to attract more viewers." Yamazaki said naturally. "She agreed anyways," he added.
"You agreed?" Eriol asked Tomoyo in surprise.
"Yamazaki promised to get my project for me if I did it," Tomoyo replied much to Eriol's surprise. This is going to be yet another long, long day…
----
Sai-chan appears on the screen and waves.
Sai-chan: Konnichiwa minna-san. It's been a while. The film Eriol and the gang will be having is actually another fic (ExT as well) and I will be showing only a few parts. It will be out perhaps by Christmas vacation or as my schedule permits. I'm still thinking of good ways of presenting the film as I want it to be kind of raw and unexpected. Please do tell me if you want to read the whole play in the fic or would want to know more about it and I would happily furnish you with the details.
For now here's Eriol-kun for the next chapter preview:
(Eriol can't be found)
SOMEBODY SAVE MY SKIN!
Next on Project Engagement: More Torture
Read and Review! Adieu!