Chapter IX: Saturday Night Fever


Saturday night. It's been a week or so since my birthday and everything is back to normal. Well, that depends on what is your definition of normal. Sakura returned with her fiancé Li Syaoran to Hong Kong due to the end of their summer break, as well as mine. Too bad they only spent here not even a day, but we made it count. Dear Sakura always thoughtful of others. She really helped me that night, in her own simple way. Amazing how her naïveté transformed into such maturity without losing her innocence. She's really something to worship and care for. Thank the heavens for Li-kun.

I'm seated in the study room in front of the plasma screen with the DVD remote control in hand, skipping over Chobits opening for I've seen it over seventeen times tonight. I don't know why but I've been feeling warmer than usual for half an hour, but I'm also cold so I took a blanket from the closet we have here and wrapped myself with it.

School begins on Monday. Say good bye to your lazy days. I'm not somebody who wants to be un-occupied all the time, but to have a day off or two; that's something you can easily get used to, even if you don't want to at all.

Kami-sama I'm burning up! I went to okaa-san to check my temperature because I feel weird and she said it was okay; now I think she was mistaken. Darn soap-operas, always distracting people so! Funny thing is that I never thought mom as a telenovelas lover, but there's this one that has her glued to the TV.

My eyes begin to ache. This is actually something new. Finding my position in the couch uncomfortable and the cold unbearable, I return to my room; maybe it's warmer in there. I didn't know that the stairway was so long! I wish I can make it there on my own; otherwise I'll be missing a couple of teeth tomorrow.

That's not a reassuring thought.

Oh, thank you God I made it alive! I cheered mentally, looking at the flight of stairs below and becoming dizzy. I better get inside and go to bed as soon as possible. Opening the cherry-wooden door and closing it behind me with barely a click I made it inside. Years of ninja training to sneak out the house during the ol' card capturing days has its advantages. One learn how to be as stealthy as a cat!

Ow! I feel so hot (not in that sense. Hentais these days) I close my eyes trying to get some rest and see if the temperature goes down. I swear I must have 40°C.


What time is it? I wonder looking everywhere with misty eyes. What's this? Am I crying? And it seems it won't stop!

Let's review what your First Aid teacher taught you.

When in a case of fever, the last thing you can possibly do is to medicate yourself. Why? Because you don't know what's causing the fever and if you use the wrong medication, then you will most likely get worse. So, rub your skin to stimulate it to lose the excess of heat. You can also try applying cold cream, like Nivea Milk or something. If that doesn't work, take a cold bath, stay there for twenty minutes and dress with fresh clothes. Don't use any kind of artificial air conditioners. Open one of your windows and use the natural breeze. Place cold parchments in the forehead to help the body to get rid of the heat. If none of that is useful, take a medicine that you're sure is not contraindicated for any illness.

Well, I rubbed myself already and it didn't work. The windows… Well, I opened the blinds with the remote and also the window so I think it is okay; but just one window. The cold bath is another thing since I doubt it's even possible for me to get up right now.

The parchments you ask? I want to keep my life thank you very much! I won't go down the stairway even if my life depends on it. I prefer to die lying in bed than in a jumbled position at the foot of a marble staircase.

There are no other people in the penthouse, aside mother, who could help me given that Marie and Mr. Smith both leave in the evening and come back in the early morning. I would hate to wake up mom because I know just how much she deserves all the rest she can get. Is there something else I can do?

I remember that Eriol told me about this marathon of great ol' movies that the BBC would be broadcasting tonight and how he was planning on spending his last free night watching them. Maybe, if I'm lucky enough, I can reach him.

Decided to try my last resort, I searched the surface of my bed with blind hands until they brushed the metallic skin of the mobile phone.

With a hoarse voice I call his name in the Samsung color mobile and it dials the number by itself.

"Hello? Is something wrong Tomoyo-san?" I hear the concern in his deep and rich voice.

"H-Hi Eriol-kun… Well, not at all… I was just wondering if you could summon a bowl, a towel and some frozen-gel masks for me, in my room. Is that possible?" How I made it to pronounce such a long sentence remains a secret to me. Maybe it was the need to survive.

"What happened Tomoyo-san? Are you sick or something?" And since the background of our conversation is suddenly quiet I assume he pressed mute in his TV remote.

"Mmmm… I'm running a fever right now, but I don't want to wake mother up and scare her to death." Besides, I don't know if I can even make it to her room.

"Are you sure that you're going to be okay? Is it all that you need?" He sounds just like an overprotective father. What a peach!

"Hai! Demo… Gomen for bothering you at this hour Eriol-kun." Really, I should hang my head in shame.

"Nonsense Tomoyo-san, the items that you requested are going to be delivered right away." Was he scolding me?

"Arigato." And I hung up the phone.

Closing the flip and placing the mobile near reach I close my eyes for a brief moment and try to clean my face off all the tears. My face is all sticky-wet!

I see a flash of light and I turn to face it, those must be the items that Eriol said he would summon for me.

"Eriol-kun? What are you doing here?" Somehow my voice manages to sound utterly surprised.

"I couldn't let you alone, seriously Tomoyo-san, your unselfishness is going to kill you someday." Coming closer with the bowl and all the other items inside it.

"You should have stayed home; I can take care of myself!" I cried out. "What about the movies marathon?"

"Please allow me the benefit of the doubt," while having a seat on the edge of the bed, "oh and there's no problem! We have the same satellite company so I can watch my movies here while I keep and eye on you." And he smiles so sweetly!

"Oh I hate this; I don't want to be a burden to you!" Am I pouting? Oh God.

"Cut it out, will you? Who said you were a burden anyway? I'm here on my own free will so keep quiet and surrender to me now!" Adopting the poise of a strict father. "Have you been crying?"

"Of course, because of this stupid fever that gets my eyes misty and won't leave me alone!" Using the cuff of my blouse to dry my face.

"Shhhh… Alright baby-girl, relax now that your daddy is here." He says brushing aside the hair that fall in front of my forehead with his slender finger.

I can't help but giggle. "My daddy? Dear Lord Eriol-kun!" Shifting into a more comfortable position.

"Yeah yeah, you can say anything you want, but only because you're sick… Now, where's the remote?" Placing the frozen gel mask in my forehead.

"Hmmm… It's over the desk." Pointing the direction with one lazy finger.

"Alright." Making it levitate and come to his out-stretched hand.

"Ara, ara… Aren't we lazy today? What's with the sudden show off of magic?" Cocking a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Oh how it hurts! My head is splitting into two!

"Desperate situations require desperate measures, now try to rest… Does something hurt?" Turning on the plasma screen on top of the electric chimney in front of the bed.

"Now that you ask, yes… My head is breaking into two, no, four pieces!" I cry out rubbing my aching temples.

"Take this," handing me a pill, "don't worry, it has no contraindications. I took some notes too you know?"

"You better because I'm trusting you and my life is currently in your hands," placing the white pill inside my mouth and swallowing with no need of water. That's a trick I praise myself about. "May I ask you something?" Turning over my head to look at him.

"Yes of course!" He says absent-mindedly pressing the buttons of the Direct TV remote to get to the BBC.

"Why don't you just use some magic on me?" This thing I wonder.

"Magic is contraindicated to cure one's or somebody else's illness." His voice is serious so he's speaking the truth. Well, he can also sound serious when he lies so let's assume he's being honest.

"Ah..." Closing my eyes and sending my prayers to the heavens for the pill to work its effect soon.


I can feel the light through closed eyelids and come to the realization that it's already morning. Judging by the brightness of it I guess it must be nine in this Sunday morning; my last free day. I feel my face with tentative fingers and find it sticky laced with some wetness. Suddenly I remember what happened yesterday night and it makes my eyes to shot open right away.

Eriol is sprawled in the couch tucked in a lavender blanket that he kind of must had found out in the closet. His hair is ruffled which gives him an adorable messy appearance, earning a smile from my dry lips.

I try to get up and walk to the bathroom to cleanse myself before he awakens but I feel dizzy and sick with a wave of nausea. Just plain wonderful! This is what makes a great day. You can say that stubbornness is one of my qualities and so I make it there in one piece using my own two feet. I almost jump out of my skin when the mirror enters my vision with my reflection in it. I look as if an eighteen-wheeled truck ran over me, twice! Turning my back against it I begin to fill the bathtub with warm water and add the salts. Making sure that nothing necessary is missing in the tray beside it, I strip off yesterday's clothes and abandon myself in peaceful relaxation embraced by the water.

"Ohayo gozaimasu Tomoyo-san," I hear the greeting of sweet Eriol once I step inside the room after my cleasing ordeal, "how are we feeling today?" A yawn escapes his mouth in the cutest of ways.

"Morning!" It seems that I regained some of my genki-ness. "Better than yesterday, demo, my tummy is not playing nicely with me today." I say patting my stomach with the right hand.

"Well, at least you are feeling better, ne?" He said with closing eyelids, turning on his side. I can tell he's really tired.

"Yes, and it's all thanks to you!" I beam at him. "Wouldn't you like to use the bed instead?" Seeing as to how he was falling asleep again.

"Don't worry. Besides I love your couch very much, it really is comfortable." This is something that needs no proof for I, myself, have fallen asleep there too countless of times.

"Alright then, oyasumi!" And taking a white remote I close the window and shut down the blinds, leaving the room in complete darkness as if it were actually night instead.

Taking one last look at the sleeping figure of my best friend I decide to go to the kitchen and eat something light. The last thing I need is to faint because of a case of energy-drain.

Opening the huge stainless steel door of the refrigerator I look over the dairy section and grab one can of solid yogurt with peaches and then close it again. It won't hurt, right?

"Good morning honey, how are you?" I hear mom's voice and I almost jump a mile. I didn't sense nor hear her coming.

"Not so good, I thought I was going to be fried yesterday!" I said pulling the metallic-like-adhesive off the pot to open it.

"Oh baby, I'm so sorry! Are you alright now?" Motherly concern painted all over her pretty face and she rushed towards me to feel the temperature in my forehead.

"I am better, yes, but my stomach is being nasty," I pouted. She knows how much I hate to be sick of my stomach, "Eriol-kun looked over me all night long. He's now sleeping upstairs in my room." I inform her taking half a spoon of the white, creamy product.

"Really? How come you didn't call me?" She asked opening the fridge and taking out a jar of orange juice.

"I didn't want to scare you, besides; I don't think I could get out of bed even if my very life depended of it. It took me like forever to get through the stairs." Chewing carefully before swallowing, even if it is a soft, creamy thing.

She looked sternly at me and then said, "next time make sure to tell me, okay? I guess you'll like my delicious chicken soup with potatoes and carrots for lunch!" Now I remember that Marie asked for a day off.

"Sounds great! Can I go to the study?" I ask bringing up the yogurt.

Mom doesn't like any of us to eat outside the kitchen, and when we do is for something exceptional.

"Yes, you can. I shall spoil you a little now that you are sick, but don't get used to it!" Mother says with a serious face and laughing eyes.

"Yes sir!" And I walk off the kitchen with the idea of finishing Chobits in mind.


My dear Eriol woke up two hours past noon. Poor, poor guy! He must have been really tired because I know he's an early-morning person. He came to the study with a can of yogurt too while I was checking my e-mail account and looking for some updates on Sadly there are none, it seems that my favorite authors are all very busy for it's been quite some time since I last read of them.

"Konbanwa Eriol-kun!" I say giving him a hundred-watt smile. I'm feeling better now, even if my tummy complains when I move too much or too recklessly.

"Hello my lady. I am most glad that you're alright now," he's seated in the black, leather chair facing me with his ice-melting smile, "it took a bit of magic to make you dream peacefully."

I arch one of my eyebrows at this. "To sleep peacefully? What do you mean?" Tearing the gaze from the screen and giving it all to him.

"Late at night or early in the morning, however you'd like to put it, you were tossing and turning murmuring something about giving in an assignment late and how you didn't study for your finals." Taking a spoon-full of his creamy breakfast even if it's a bit late to call it that.

I end up frowning lightly at him. I don't remember anything of it. "Honto ni?"

"Hai!" He says getting more comfortable in the chair and playing with the silver-plated spoon.

"I don't remember anything," I say in a whisper trying to gain some memories of that tortuous night, "arigato! Demo, how was your night?"

"The marathon was very good! I can't tell when I fell asleep though. I remember waking up and turning the TV off early in the morning and that's all."

"Does it mean that you don't remember when we talked before?" Could this be?

"When did we talk?" His face shows genuine doubt, a look that's so priceless! He, being a reincarnation of one of the most powerful mages of all times!

"You don't remember? Are you serious?" Intertwining my fingers and resting my chin on the hands with the elbows on top of the polished desk.

"Honto ni Tomoyo-san, I don't know what you're talking about." Taking another spoon of the white, firm yogurt.

"Well, I woke up at nine-something and got cleaned. When I got out the bathroom you were awake and greeted me so I told you to move to the bed where it's more comfortable but you said that you liked the couch as it was and so I left to let you rest," I said off-handedly and then burst out in a fit of giggles, "so it means that you are a zombie?"

"A sleepy one it seems… But it only happens when I'm dead-tired." He said chuckling.

"Ara, ara… I am so sorry Eriol-kun! How can I make it up to you?" Getting up and walking towards him. I smile sweetly at him, cupping his face with my hands.

"You don't have to Tomoyo-san." And he smiles at me so sexily.

Darn boy!

"Are you sure? Don't you want something from me? You know I'll do everything for you!" Kissing him lightly on the forehead.

"Now that you put it that way… I can think of very nice ways to make you pay for my nursing services." His smile develops into a smirk. An evil smirk that goes along with a devilish glint in his sapphire eyes.

Not good, not good.

"Is that so? May I know how?" Like a moth attracted to the flame I ask and will surely burn in shame.

"Those kind of things are not fitted to your innocent mind, Tomoyo-san." His voice dropped an octave and sounded so husky!

It's time for a counter-attack! (That I'm sure I'll later regret). I put on a seductive smile of my own and sit on his lap. An arm around his shoulders and behind his neck with my free hand on his toned chest. "Oh really? Shall I assume that you are a perverted man then?"

He looks somewhat startled at my actions but his display of puzzlement doesn't last long. "That depends on your point of view fair lady."

I nuzzle my nose against his neck and smile. "You know, I wouldn't mind a bit of a dictatorial government right now. Democracy makes us think too much some times."

"So, are you willing to surrender yourself to me? I thought you had a higher spirit." Placing the emptied pot of yogurt on the desk.

"Sometimes we need to be carried away. It takes so much energy to stand by ourselves." He smells so nice. I really wouldn't mind stay like this forever. However, the butterflies in my stomach are upsetting.

"It will only take a kiss from your lovely lips to pay your debt." He encircles my waist with two, strong arms; holding me close to him.

"It's that all? Are your favors so cheap?" I ask mockingly, but I'm burning inside.

Shame on you Daidouji Tomoyo!

"Again, that depends on you." I can feel him smile, even if I'm not facing him.

"I don't like to be in debt with anyone, so I shall give what you ask for."

I leave his neck to hold his face with both hands and lean my face towards his. I see his clouded eyes and smirk inwardly for it means I don't go completely unnoticed by him. With this thought in mind I close in and kiss him… In the tip of his aristocratic nose.

"There you go, I am no longer indebted to you." Smiling widely at him.

"Indeed." But it took him a second to reply.

"There you are!" Says okaasan bursting in the room with a white apron tied around her magnificent body. She's so pretty! I wonder why she doesn't have any suitors or the like. Maybe she lost interest after the whole ordeal with father. "Tomoyo, darling, the soup is ready! Come so you can eat some… And you too Eriol-kun!" She then closes the door and leaves.

"You heard her! Let's get going or else she'll get mad at us and you don't want to know her evil side," I say to him, planting a kiss on his right chee,. "besides, it's not everyday when we get to eat okaasan's wonderful cooking, ne?" Unwillingly, yes, but I get up.

"I am sure, and it smells greats!" Says Eriol when his body is free of any extra weight. And I'm not heavy!

"The last one to make it to the kitchen is a rotten egg!" I exclaim and begin to run for dear life with Eriol hot in my tracks!


Tsusuku

To Chiau-imouto-chan: as you might now, this chapter was based on real life facts. Now, could you tell me which are those? grins