Fourth Month: Cravings
Wednesday afternoon of the fourth month found the Daidouji heiress sitting in the waiting room of Tokyo's Fertility Clinic calmly leafing the latest edition of Vogue. A cinamonn-eyed woman holding a clip-board approached the lady who she came to identify as a frequent patient and informed that it was her turn to go in.
"Good afternoon Eriol-san, how are you today?"
At the sound of her voice he tore his eyes from the Sony Vaio flat-screen monitor and smiled warmly at the sight she made wearing a white, imperial-cut dress with strings holding it in place on her slender shoulders. It gave a nice view of her round breasts without being inmodest and a pastel pink ribbon made of silk was tied in a cute bow at the front just below the bossom. The lenght of the dress reached her knees and she wore a pair of flat-heeled slippers the color of the ribbon held in place with a white strap that buttoned at the side. The dark wavy hair was woven into an intrincate French braid embedded with pink and white ribbons. She had on little makeup, just two drops of foundation with a touch of powder, a hint of lip-gloss and black eye-liner in the inside of the eyes so their uncommon color was emphasized.
"I've never been better... But please tell me something, did I die and am now in Heaven?"
She chukled lightly and her shiny lips broke into a smile before replying, "don't be silly! You're very much alive as far as I'm concerned. Why would you say such?"
The Brittish lad rested his chin on top of his intertwined hands that were propped up on his desk supported by the elbows and gave her a dazzling smile with innocent azure eyes. "Oh nothing, I just thought that a tenshi had come to greet me and show me around for I've been a good ol' fella here in the mortal world."
The young woman laughed out-right at that. Such a heavenly sound was it that Eriol had to fight the urge to pinch his arm in case this angel was deceiving him and he no longer belonged to the land of the living. "Though I find it most endearing Eriol-san, flattery will get you nowhere. Should we do what we're supposed to do? I'm kinda short in time."
He turned serious at that and straightened his posture. "What a pity! I had forgotten how busy your schedule is."
Right at that moment, a nurse knocked once and then entered to inform that the ultrasound room was set up and ready.
Tears threatened to fall down Tomoyo's powdered cheeks when she saw the tiny form of a child growing within her body and the fast but steady beating of its heart. Eriol printed out a photo of the child which looked like taken with a Polaroid camera and handed it out to her. He then left to give her some privacy to unrobe and clothe herself again.
"Everything is going on perfectly. There is no need to worry. However you are to continue taking the vitamins I reciped you and inform me inmediately should something happen." He instructed in a no-nonsense tone of voice while looking at his young patient straight to the eye.
"Hai," was the quiet, subdued if you will, reply he got while she tucked behind an ear a strand of hair that had gone unbound from the gentle grasp of the braid.
"On other things, the date of the clinic's anniversary is coming soon," he began to say looking intently at her to catch every gesture she would make. "There's going to be a formal dinner and a ball right after that. A partner must be brought and..."
During the time he spoke, the Daidouji heiress doned an array of facial features until she settled for a slight frown of confusion.
"You want me to go to the dinner and ball as your partner?"
"Yes," he said with a sense of finality and intensity that she was taken aback even if it wasn't apparent to the world around her.
"I'll be honored."
Saturday morning of the third week in the fourth month found Sonomi's daughter casually walking through the aisles of a 7-11 grocery store. She had on white maternity capris with a long-sleeved lavender Hindu-styled blouse and lavender flip-flops with white heels. Her abundant hair was held up with a pair of jeweled chopsticks in a simple yet fancy twist with some strands of hair framing her face and cascading down her shoulders and back. Her elegant hands held a shopping basket in front of her while she looked at some goodies with something akin to childish delight and wonderment.
Finally she stopped at the ice-cream refrigerators, gray-purple eyes set on the seemingly last can of vanilla and honeyed hazel nut cream. She couldn't wipe off the almost silly smile from her face when her hand reached out to grab her bounty.
However, the deities above would not let her get her way easily for another hand had also reached out and grabbed the can, resulting in one pale hand on top of a lightly toned one.
It was as if a bucket of freezing water poured down the dark haired girl for she returned from the la-la-land that had abducted her brain once the delicious blend of cream had entered her sight.
"Excuse me, I believe I got to it first." She heard a womanly voice say and blinked away the last remains off her hazy vision.
True enough, if her hand was atop somebody else's then she hadn't very well caught the frozen can first, now could she? Still, some sector of her brain refused to believe such and so she turned to face the enemy.
"Sumimasen, demo I think that's not true."
All she got was the raised eyebrow of a woman heavy with child as an aswer. Just peachy.
"And how could that be, if it is me who has the hand on the can, mmm?" The other woman had shoulder-lenght chocolate-brown hair tied with a white scrunchie, dark brown eyes with gold specks in them perfectly aligned with a cute nose and pouty lips in a heart-shaped face. She seemed to have a slender complexion and that brought out her pregnancy more, which looked to be in the seventh month or so. She had on a cute motherhood dress the color of bottle-green and low-heeled sandals. A fully loaded shopping-cart waiting at the woman's side.
Tomoyo began to do her breathing excersises for she was beginning to get mad. It was ridiculous really. It was, after all, a stupid can of ice cream which so happened to be the stupid flavor she had been stupidly craving all day long.
She was about to snatch the can from her and run as if the devil himself was at her heels but something else caught her attention. It was a fairly good-looking man walking hand in hand with a little girl that sported some of his own looks. By the route they had been taking, it would come as no surprise if they were headed towards the enemy. With this in mind she changed tactics, fixing the woman with her most innocent eyes and sweet, heart-felt, apologetic smile at the same time she retreated her hand.
"Mommy!" Cried out a girly voice.
The chocolate-eyed woman, feeling no threat coming her way, turned around to face her daughter; hand slipping from the can and leaving it unguarded.
Tomoyo smirked and congratulated herself for the obvious genius of her little trick and the convincing quality of the little act while wasting no time to grab the bounty, turn on her heels and run for all she was worth towards the cashier.
"Mission accomplished." She said to herself while turning the key in the ignition, revving the engine of the silver Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class Roadster while eyeing the white plastic bag with all of her purchased goodies sitting innocently on the passenger's seat.
Later in the evening, she sat comfortably on a plush sofa in the entertaining room of the family residence basking in the delicious flavor and creamy texture of the valued prize slowly melting on her tongue. Disney's Beauty and The Beast Platinum Edition DVD played for the third time in a row. French was the preferred language and a dreamy, if not silly, smile looked to be permanently sketched on the rosé lips.
Work that month was taxing but otherwise uneventful. Her mother had been out of the country for a week now and was expected to return soon. Tomoyo had called Syaoran for lunch one day and gave him the photo of his child. He had been so happy to have it!
A knock was heard on the cherry-wooden door of Tomoyo's room and she called whoever was there to come in.
"Ojousama, Eriol-san is here to see you," said a middle-aged woman in a black and white maid uniform after a bow, "he is waiting for you in the sitting room."
After thanking and dismissing the maid, she looked at her reflection in the mirror one last time before grabbing her pouch-like purse and leaving the security of her room.
As told, she found Eriol regally sitting in one of their white plush sofas near the contemporary, high-tech chimney. He was calmly drinking from a cup of steaming tea with an air of old-fashioned aristocracy that she wondered if he truly belonged to the twenty-first century.
"Evening, Eriol-san."
The lad, who was absorbed in the wonderful blend of the Grey Earl tea graciously served by one of the overly hospitable Daidouji household maids, almost dropped the delicate china cup that screamed expensive in every possible direction; but luckily he caught himself in time.
There, in front of him was his darling patient in a layered dress made of gauzy silk the color of ripe peaches over a taffeta under-dress that reached an inch above her knees at the front and half-calves at the back. It had an imperial-cut that hugged her round breasts and helped to disimulate her round belly giving her a more slender sillouhete. The dress was off-shoulders and the puffy sleeves were not attached to it, held in place by firmly tied beige, silk ribbons instead. She had on a pair of cute flat-heeled slippers that resembled the footwear of a ballerina, also fastened with ribbons tied at mid-calf. The usually wavy hair was now lusciously curled and sparkled with a dew of pearls. Makeup was kept at the minimum under the philosophy that less means more. She wore diamond-bud earings, a silver trinklet-bracelet and a platinum ring.
She looked every bit the fairy tale enchanted princess and he found himself breathless.
Tomoyo stood there with a dazzling smile while gauging his appearance. Women are allowed to do that too after all. He was stunning in his own right wearing that black Armani tuxedo with a shawl collar. His midnight blue hair had been combed when damp, that she could tell, but allowed to dry off and settle to its own will giving him a fashionable dishveled look. The tuxedo fit snuggly to his manly form without being constrictive. The jacket outlined strong, broad shoulders and nicely muscled back and arms. He had diamond cuff-links and a platinum Rolex watch with embedded sapphires and diamonds. She also noticed that he had favored rim-less glasses in place of the thin-rimmed ones she knew him to wear.
"Oh my fair lady, aren't we looking gorgeous tonight?" He said with a courteous bow, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.
"Yes, we are." She said and giggled at his antics while a rush of color shot to her cheeks.
They exited the stately home soon after and Eriol guided her towards his parked light platinum Cadillac XLR with his right hand gently placed on the small of her back.
Everyone at the reception had to do with the lovely couple. Old ladies marveled at the innocence of young love while men patted Eriol's back congratulating him for his superb catch and gave him meaningfull glances that his partner did not acknowledge as deep in conversation as she was with their wives.
Younger women were another story altogether. Some of them would be friendly and ask for any beauty tip from the pregnant girl to help them improve their looks; while others had on faux amiable expressions while inwardly seething in rage for they knew that Dr. Hiiragizawa was so very out of their league now.
When in the company of hormone-driven youths, the European lad had wrapped a protective arm around the waist of his date who was so unaware of the carnal desires she inspired. At those times she found herself leaning on her friend's muscled chest, relaxing in his presence; so much that she often tended to get light-headed.
They did manage to engage in complex and interesting conversations with some important ladies and gentlemen from Japan's society. Tomoyo made wonderful acquaintances and exchanged many a business card.
After a long string of dances, it was settled that the most comfortable way to waltz was back-to-chest, so Eriol got the intimacy he wanted while Tomoyo burrowed support from him; both of them swaying and occasionally twirling to the tune.
It was a great night.
She was brought home at three in the morning and walked to her very door, such as in every modern time princess' dream.
She was given her first kiss... A most tender, the sweetest thing.
... And she had kissed back.