Well, I was finally clued in a little bit...But then school got really annoying and some of the characters for Broken Laws started yelling at me and it got really complicated. But I finally have it up! Yea!
Chapter 2: Sad and Lonely-Tomoyo
Seeing Eriol sitting there, calm and aloof like that in English was a small shock to the system. Not having seen him in seven years I, at the very least, thought it would take a wedding or a death to bring him back to Japan. But then, after seeing him there, copying the notes, I realized how silly it was not to recognize that he would come like that, expect the unexpected after all.
We chatted for a few minuets and then Miss Onizuka brought the class to attention and it was all notes and lessons from there. Good thing too because I really didn't have the resolve to put forth any real effort in class. Eriol said he came for a little visit, but knowing him, he probably had ulterior motives as well. The big question was whether or not magic was involved and Sakura in danger. I didn't think so, but once again expect the unexpected. I learned my lesson with Clow well.
My mind methodically cycled through each and every possible reason for his sudden appearance but the only one even worth mentioning was the one he gave, visiting friends. When class ended an hour later I had come no further in my investigations and had come to the conclusion that Eriol needed watching further analysis.
We walked to lunch together but not speaking. He immediately sat down next to Sakura and Syaoran while I got in line for the nutritious and delicious school lunch. When I got back to the table, Sakura was bouncing up and down and smiling like a fool. I listened to their prattle for a while, not really paying attention but letting the words flow over me like a soothing rain. Syaoran pretended to share her enthusiasm, but I could tell he enjoyed Eriol's sudden reappearance as much as he would enjoy having Touya around to observe his every moment with Sakura. Yet Eriol paid strict attention to her words as if there would be an exam on her latter on in the day.
I concentrated on understanding why he had come, as before. So when Sakura's words broke through my outer shell it startled me.
Eriol had stepped away from the table for a moment when the words left her lips. "It's strange though," She said. "He seems sad, sad and lonely." And all the lines connected.
What prevented Miss Mizuki from coming was that she did not know Eriol had come. And why had she not known, because she and Eriol were no longer a couple. Kaho had left him, probably for a younger man if I knew her as well as I hoped.
"Speak of the devil." Syaoran muttered as Eriol came back to the table.
His eyes settled on Sakura and glowed. Not the loving, possessive look that Syaoran often gazed at her with, but the soft, not entirely detectable look that a father would give his daughter. Only a few could tell the difference between the two glowers and I foresaw several rumors of unrequited love going around before the end of the day. At least I had the good sense to mask such feelings. Eriol would learn soon enough.
Eriol struck up a casual conversation with Sakura and I noticed that she carefully avoided the subject of her former teacher. Could Sakura sense Eriol's discomfort with that particular issue? If so, she probably did it subconsciously.
I scanned the crowded cafeteria and encountered many glances thrown our way. The ones I saw separated into two categories, angry and desirous. And it didn't take a genius to figure out why. In the years he had been gone, Eriol had turned into a rather good looking man. His shoulders had broadened but not overly so; he was tall but not towering. His face hadn't quite lost its boyish appeal but he still looked older then most of the guys in our class. And then he carried an air of sophistication or superiority; one could easily tell he had experience.
He, too, encountered those looks and a small scowl covered his lips at every one. Eriol had changed. But why? Did he resent these women because of Kaho, or did he have ulterior motives? Eriol obviously liked to spend time with Sakura, as evidenced by that smile that came on his face every time she opened her mouth to speak. So that ruled out woman-hater.
"Syaoran, could you help me with a math problem?" Sakura asked sweetly, batting her eyelashes.
As if Syaoran could ever say no. "Sure Sakura-chan, let me take a look at that question." And the two of them were lost to the world of mathematics.
"So, Tomoyo, since I have come in the middle of the year, perhaps you could tell me about some of the different clubs and teams here." Eriol smiled that serene little smile that always told me he had other things on his mind.
"Well, the clubs I'm most informed with would have to be choir, drama, and fencing."
"Fencing, now that's something I'd be interested in joining. When do you meet?"
"Actually we have a practice after school today, if you really want to come."
He smiled just a little more like a real person would. :Then I shall see you there."
"I need to go." Syaoran said with a little sigh. "Eriol, would you walk with me?"
I got the feeling that the conversation would be less then friendly, but Eriol left with him anyway,
After the tow men left, Sakura moaned loudly. "I just can't shake the feeling that Eriol needs me to heal him, but I can't figure out why."
"Miss Mizuki did not come with him." I told her gently. "If I had to guess, I'd say they broke up or had a fight about something important."
"Yea," she sighed again. "But I can't fix that. I can't make her changer her mind and I don't know how to heal broken hearts. I'm really worried about him Tomoyo. He's not the same anymore."
"Perhaps he just needs time. Time is a great healer."
"We'll just have to wait and see."
I dreaded Japanese now. How could I confront Eriol about Kaho and get answers without causing him undo pain? But I was spared from that mess as the teacher walked in just behind me and taught from bell to bell. Eriol and I didn't have time to exchange two words, let alone an entire emotional discussion. Besides, I could wait to have my questions answered.
"Tomoyo-san, would you take me to the Fencing meeting today?"
"Of course, Eriol, do you fence often?"
"Not so much in England, the opportunity didn't come about much. Usually Kaho and I had other plans." The words were casual, but I sensed a more bitter look in his eyes. And then, he and Kaho usually had plans? Did that mean they didn't any more?
"I ended up taking it in gym class and the teacher recommended that I join the club. And, as they say, the rest is history." Better to keep him thinking of fencing then Kaho.
We continued down the hall towards the small gym, following the sounds to foils clanging together. Though we walked in silence, many of the others did not and the happy chatters filled the air around us. For which I was grateful.
"Ah, this club must be pretty popular." Eriol remarked upon seeing the large number of people in the room.
"That or people heard us talking and decided to check it out. I mumbled hoping that Eriol wouldn't hear. Something in his new manner almost frightened me. I really didn't want to see him get mad right now. "Well, see you in a bit then." I smiled and grabbed my gear.
Practice went well, as well as can be expected when half the students joined today. Most of the veteran members banded together in order to actually fence and to complain about all the newbie's. Half way through the practice, when Eriol had finally proved his competence with the foil, he also joined us.
"Have those girls ever heard of self control? As if I would even consider their proposals!" Eriol complained while suiting up for a bout.
"Don't be so hard on them that last girl only wanted some help in English." I reminded him gently as we crossed blades.
Talk about physical chess, not only was I defending myself from his verbal and bodily attacks but I was defending the other girls as well. This bout could not end well.
"The girls just like you. You can't blame them for that." I tactfully pointed out.
Unfortunately that comment must not have sat well with him, because he attacked in a flurry of fast paced lounges. Sweat poured down my face as I methodically parried each thrust. He seriously had some repressed anger issues.
"Those girls, as you so correctly called them, cannot now or ever understand the complex being that is me." He retorted, bringing his foil dangerously close to my heart.
Add a superiority complex to that previous assessment as well. "What happened to that kind, supportive, understand Eriol I knew before?"
The two of us paused in the attack for a brief moment before I started my own set of assaults. My moves were more obvious and attacks not as drawn out as during a regular bout with me. Our styles matched in an almost creepy way. During this match I was faced with my own fluid movements and subverted attacks. Excuse the cliché, but we danced back and forth testing one another, searching for that fatal weakness.
"You seem to have become educated in the ways of people, Tomoyo. But I wonder have you actually experienced these theories or do you just know what you see?" He taunted.
"Either you learned telepathy, Eriol, or you too gained this knowledge of reading people."
My whole body tingled with the energy that flowed across the strip. He didn't respond to my words which only added to the tension. The battle waged on with neither of us winning the advantage.
"I won't become your little charity project Tomoyo. You can't fix me." He attacked viscously.
He couldn't see through my mask, but a smirk slowly curled across my features. "I'm sure that Sakura-chan would love for me to put her mind at rest. She's very worried about you." My foil parried his attack and dashed forward in an attack of its own, landing right on his heart.
"Touché. Tomoyo, Touché."
Okay, so, now we have Tomoyo trying to help Eriol...but who can really help him. He has so many problems they make my head spin! No really you should see it...aeirol stop laughing at me...Anyway, maybe you guys can help me figure it out. What do you think will happen next?