Disclaimer: Don't sue me. Everyone knows CCS is owned by CLAMP.
Author's blabberings: Alrighty! I'm back, after my long break... Yep! I was on break during the Lenten Season and I get to bring my brother's Apple laptop! Yay! Although, I really didn't like Subic at all... I wish we'd just gone to Boracay... So, how's all of you? Yeah, I posted my new fic (still don't know if I'm gonna continue it, though...) Anyway, thanks to my lovable reviewers. You make me want to shout... except my ortholaryngologist wouldn't let me (Aww, jeez!)
Elvirna: Hmm... The romance part is coming soon... Don't worry...
Seanjen: Arigato Gozaimasu!
Pulang Itim: Hmm... Let me guess... You're a Pnoi right? Tsk, tsk! I knew it! ... Well, I like Kaho too in a weird way since she is, no doubt, pretty and smart and caring... BUT she did break Touya-kun's heart! And Touya-kun's one of my most favorite characters coz he reminds me a lot of my brother (Leander)!
Gurla-Aya: No, I'm not evil... I'm just misunderstood, that's all...
Akizuki Sai: Yeah, I'm in Polsci too... I was supposed to get Psych but I changed my mind... I'll just have to shift next sem...
Momo-chan: Er... I really don't think I got that... Were you angry at Eriol or at Evans? You just keep mentioning "The guy"
Majah: Yes, it's possible to have NO girlfriend since birth at that age. Hey, my oldest brother is 24 and he never had a girlfriend... Well, at least that's what he says (oist, ate aina, is it true?)
Sparkling Ruby: Thanks!
So... Anyway, don't you just love those instant noodles that taste like real noodles? Well, I'm eating one right now... Although my mom keeps on scolding me. It's not that nutritious... Ah, well, who cares? My good ole Uncle Shinji just gave me these manga of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles and I admit they're good. (Heck! They're much better than good!)
Oh, yeah, about that thing about (it's redundant, I know) ignoring my brothers. I'd just like to say I can't just ignore them. Why? They're actually my inspiration, since I haven't got a boyfriend... They're my family and I love them very much. Even though they always torture me, boss me around, etc. they like support everything I do. (Like my kuya Lexus, yep, he doesn't like mushy sugary stories, but he still reads my work. Why? Because he loves me!) (Is that really true? Leander butts in)
Yeah, I'm getting dramatic again! And that's one thing I HATE! Oooh! ... Leander, give me back my teddy bear!
CHAPTER 7: LOST AND FOUND
Tomoyo stretched her arms above her head and yawned widely. She'd been officially President for 2 days. 2 whole, boring days with nothing to do except to sit, listen and smile to the people. Sure, she felt like a Queen, but a bored Queen at that. She wanted to do something fun! Something exciting! Something adventurous! Unfortunately, Sakura was the only one who could give her that kind of adventure. And unfortunately, she was not here right now.
She had transferred to the 40th floor, the former office of her mom. It was considerably larger than Eriol's, almost taking up the whole floor, and had a contemporary style. Not that she even cared. To her left side was a door leading to another conference hall and to her right, well, was something of a lounge. It might be large for her but she really didn't care about it. She was more interested with the view outside the window which was awesome from that height.
She took out her sketch pad, something she brought everyday, just in case an out-of-the-blue meeting popped up, and started sketching with a pencil. She wasn't that bad, but she wasn't that good either. Although, her professor did comment on how fluid her designs were.
"Just because you're the president doesn't mean you don't have to work." Eriol had just came in, a stack of folders in his arms.
Tomoyo groaned then closed her pad. She had been expecting this for a while now, not to mention missing it. "I didn't say I wasn't going to work," she replied calmly as Eriol placed the folders on her desk. "Ne, Hiiragizawa-kun, is there an amusement park nearby?"
Eriol looked suspiciously at her. "Yes… But, no!" he cut her off, already knowing what she was going to say next. "You can't go. You still have a lot of work to do." He pulled out his Palmtop and started noting things, even better than a PA or a secretary. "You have a meeting after lunch today. 1 o'clock sharp so don't be late. Li and I will be there. Then later, we're going to a dinner party held by the Prime Minister."
"You know, you sound more like my secretary than my CEO."
He gave her a pointed look. "I don't think that sounded like a compliment." She shrugged casually.
Tomoyo pouted. "You know, I was wondering how I could quit from my position."
"Too bad you couldn't." Eriol's voice was flat, except for a tiny hint of teasing. Something Tomoyo noticed and noted mentally in her head.
"Okay… So can I get a break every five minutes then?"
He glowered at her. "I don't think even the school gives that kind of privileges to students," he snapped and cut her off again when she started to protest. "No! Finish your work first then break! Later, I'll take you out to lunch."
"Like a date?" She smirked suggestively.
"No, like lunch meeting," he replied and she stuck out a tongue at him. "Finish your work or no lunch!"
"Yeah, yeah!" She pulled the top folder and opened it. "Slave driver!"
Eriol was just about to leave when he glared at her over his shoulder. "I heard that!" Tomoyo laughed cheerfully.
Syaoran stifled a yawn as he sat in his office, balancing his Parker pen on the top of his flat-screen monitor. He'd been bored to death ever since Eriol took away his toy, namely his cell phone, thinking that he's been spending all day chatting incessantly with God-knows-who! He was just talking for Sakura, for Pete's sake! The girl was asking questions about her cousin.
Right! Like they'd talk nothing about except Tomoyo for more than an hour!
He glanced at his watch then stood up, noting the time. It's nearly time for lunch, and since he wasn't doing anything yet, why not get an early lunch? Eriol wouldn't mind anyway. Besides, he still has a meeting after that and God knows he needed his energy to put up a good imitation of a very attentive person. As he strode towards the elevator, he thought of something.
Yeah! Why not invite the young President to lunch? Maybe they could talk more about Sakura since Tomoyo knows he fancies her. In an impersonal sort-of way.
He walked to the other elevator, the only one that goes up to the President's office.
Tomoyo yawned once more and buried her head in her arms, feeling them hurt for thinking too much. Finally, she had finished all her bloody paperwork. Finally, she could eat lunch! Her stomach was already rumbling because of too much coffee she'd been drinking the last couple of hours just to keep her awake. She was thinking of the restaurant Nakuru was telling her a few days ago. It was an Italian restaurant, much to her delight since she loved pasta and pretty good in cooking one. Maybe she should ask Eriol to eat there with her… Besides, he's a gentleman enough to pay for her. If not, well, she just had to kill him.
She grinned mischievously as she remembered what Nakuru said: Sure, the food's great except the price is not so… You need a briefcase of money before you could eat a full course meal.
She glanced at her silver wristwatch and sighed. Where in damnation was Eriol Hiiragizawa? She couldn't wait any longer and had to eat right now! If she died here of starvation, she'd haunt him for the rest of his miserable life. She tapped her fingers on the table impatiently.
Five minutes passed and she was tapping her foot. 10 minutes and she was pacing the room. 15 minutes, she screamed, causing her secretary to rush inside panicky.
"If another 5 minute passes, I swear I'm going to jump from this floor and it'd be all Hiiragizawa-kun's responsibility to clean up my remains on the pavement!" she cried in exasperation just as she heard a knock on her door.
She stopped and grinned. But realizing that Eriol never knocks, he only barges in, she faltered and acknowledged the person in. She suddenly brightened when she saw who it was. "Li! I'm so glad you're here!"
The young man looked confused. "You are?"
Tomoyo joyfully latched on his arm, her smile as wide and as bright as ever. "Whatever it is that you came here for, I'm so thankful!"
"Actually, I was—"
"Never mind that!" She started dragging him away. "C'mon! I want you to join me to lunch! My lunch partner suddenly disappeared and well, left me."
"He left you?"
"Technically, he didn't leave me but never mind! C'mon!"
Syaoran allowed himself to be dragged by the girl, looking thoughtful. After all, he was just about to do the same and ask her to lunch but she got to him first. It didn't really make a difference. Outside they passed by the desk of Tomoyo's secretary, who now looked relieved that her boss is all right.
" Tiffany," Tomoyo said sweetly to her. "If Hiiragizawa-kun comes looking for me, tell him to do us a favor and jump off the building."
The girl blinked at her, obviously confused. "Shall I tell Sir Hiiragizawa that you left with Sir Li?"
Tomoyo thought for a minute then grinned. "Nope! Tell him a guy kidnapped me and you couldn't stop him and that even if you had tried to stop him, you still wouldn't have won!" Syaoran groaned behind her, knowing that he'd be the subject once more of Eriol's glares for a week if he found out he was involved again. "Do you want anything, Tiffany?"
"Oh, no, Miss. I'm quite fine!" The girl said, flustered.
"Hmm… I'll get you a cake, okay? Just don't tell Hiiragizawa-kun where I went to…" She smiled sweetly once more to her secretary then proceeded to dragging Li to the elevator. "Since you're so nice and visited me, I'll treat you to lunch!"
"Daidouji, that's not necessary—"
"But I insist!" she pleaded, using her puppy eyes. "Okay?"
"All right."
Several minutes after they left, Eriol came, muttering darkly under his breath under incompetent people who waste his time and energy talking. He had to stay with the new supervisor because the man couldn't seem to get what he was supposed to do. That is to supervise.
"Maybe I should just fire him!" he muttered.
He lost track of time because of that moron then lost more time because of the new Executive Manager of who-knows-what department came to say 'hi'. More like flirt with him. He had to let out a groan after that. Now, he wouldn't hear the end of it from Tomoyo.
He was about to barge in, something Tomoyo really gets annoyed about, when Tiffany, her secretary, called his attention.
" Miss Tomoyo has left a while ago, sir. She was kidnapped."
Eriol's jaw dropped at her. "What?"
"Well, Miss Tomoyo told me to tell you that someone kidnapped her and I couldn't stop the man."
"Who the hell was it?" he asked through gritted teeth. He was starting to dislike this every single second that passed that moment.
" Miss Tomoyo told me not to tell you."
He wanted to snap and demand the girl to tell him where Tomoyo went but he knew it wouldn't do well. After all, Tiffany had been the secretary of Madam Daidouji for some years now. More to the point, if Tomoyo found out that he'd snap at Tiffany, the girl surely would skin him alive and bury him six feet under. Not a nice way to die. She would give him a major earache or worse, an impromptu resignation along with "I'm going back to Japan!" declaration.
He pivoted and strode back to the elevator. He would just have to find her himself.
Tomoyo grinned widely at the food in front of her. She clasped her hands together. "Itadakimasu!" She then picked up her fork and pulled the plate of lasagna towards her. She then looked up at Syaoran who was smiling at her amusedly. "Is something wrong?"
They were eating at the building's cafeteria in the left wing of the lobby which looked more like a hotel restaurant because of the stateliness of the place. They even used porcelain for plates. Syaoran suggested the place, saying how great their pasta is, and how near it was. Tomoyo couldn't help but agree.
"Nothing, you just remind me of someone." He bit thoughtfully on his sandwich.
"Who? Sakura-chan?"
The moment the name left her lips, Syaoran choked like mad on his food that Tomoyo had to stand and pound on his back to help him. A few employees looked at their direction and Tomoyo smiled at them adorably.
"Really, Daidouji, I was talking about my sister," Syaoran replied helplessly.
"Oh!" She looked mildly surprised. "I didn't know you have a sister!"
"I have 4 older sisters, to be honest, and they're just as mischievous as you."
She grinned at him. "And let me guess, you're very spoiled when it comes to them." Syaoran shook his head, chuckling softly. "You know, Sakura-chan would like that. She always told me how she'd love to have sisters. Now she'd get 4 more!"
The young amber-eyed man merely sighed in exasperation.
Eriol stormed inside Nakuru's office, too desperate to find his little lost charge. The young woman looked up from her cake and stared curiously at him, wondering what made him go there.
"What's up?" she asked chirpily, stabbing a piece of her cake with her fork.
"Have you seen Daidouji?"
She shook her head, apparently too busy with her cake. "Isn't she always with you?"
"Apparently, she's not with me or else I wouldn't be asking you that question," he retorted. She shrugged nonchalantly, the fork stuck between her teeth. "She didn't come here?"
"Nope! Although, I wanted her to come here," the auburn-haired girl answered lightly, pointing the fork at him. "I wanted to ask her if she's busy on Friday night!"
Before Eriol could inquire even more, Kaho walked in, an envelope in her hands. She blinked at Eriol whom she didn't expect to see there. Inside Nakuru's office. "Oh, hello, Eriol. What brings you here?"
"I'm looking for Daidouji," he replied bluntly.
"Oh? Did you lose her?"
"No… Her secretary told me she was kidnapped." He looked really annoyed, taking into account his balled fists.
"What?"
"Not that kind of kidnap!" he shot irritably. "It means she went with someone else and didn't want to let me know about it."
The two ladies nodded in understanding and he let out a frustrated breath.
"God, you gave me free will to choose my friends and I chose two airheads! Forgive me!" With that, he stomped out of the office, leaving them laughing.
"Anyway, how's my cute and sweet cousin?" she asked innocently, this time, spooning some custard in her mouth.
"How should I know?"
The dark-haired girl chuckled. "Oh, c'mon, Syaoran-kun!" she teased. "I know you've been calling Sakura-chan ever since I gave you her number!" Syaoran had the grace to blush at her words. "Besides, blame Hiiragizawa-kun! He kept complaining the other day about you, saying how lazy you are and how you keep on ignoring your work and calling someone!"
"That idiot!"
Tomoyo giggled. "He thinks you should just work at a call center."
"Well, in my opinion, he should keep his thoughts to himself!"
"No, really, how's Sakura-chan?"
Syaoran mellowed at the name and continued eating his forgotten sandwich as Tomoyo pulled the plate of French fries towards her (did I mention she was so hungry?). "She's okay. She says she misses you a lot. Her brother seems to make more fun of her now that you're gone, not to mention he's fond of suddenly interrupting us from the extension line."
"Typical Touya-kun," she responded and Syaoran wrinkled his nose, chewing his sandwich thoughtfully. "You don't like him, do you?"
"Now that's an understatement," he replied wryly. "Why did you think I don't like him?"
Tomoyo shrugged. "From the tone of your voice?"
"It's that obvious, huh?"
She grinned at him. "It's okay. A lot of guys from the University don't like Touya-kun as well," she told him and his eyes narrowed into slits. "They think he's a bother and a big impediment to them when it comes to Sakura-chan. They just don't understand that he only tries to protect me and Sakura-chan from the likes of them."
"From the likes of what?"
"Clingy and hard-to-shoo-away stalkers and suitors." She popped a fry into her mouth. "Come to think of it, I miss Touya- kun whenever he would scare away those guys. It always brought laughter to my eyes."
"Yeah, I could tell!" Syaoran replied, his words oozing with cynicism.
Tomoyo placed a hand over her mouth, stifling a giggle. "Oh, gomen ne…" she apologized dramatically. "I forgot that I should be helping you, not scaring you away."
The young man blushed darkly again, saying nothing again.
"You know, I think you should go to Japan," Tomoyo suddenly said and he looked up at her as if she just asked him something personal. "Just for a vacation. I mean, you've been working hard, helping me and Hiiragizawa-kun a lot in the corporation… And it's a nice opportunity to see Sakura-chan again."
"Can't," he answered shortly. "Hiiragizawa will be out for my blood if I do that."
"You make him sound like a murderer or something!"
Syaoran ignored her remark. "Anyway, I really have a lot of things to do than go on a vacation," he continued. "I'm too busy."
"Everyone's always busy in my mom's office! You people work all day, all week, all year, not even taking a moment to take a time off." She pouted cutely, sticking a French fry in her mouth. "No wonder you guys are so boring! Just look at Hiiragizawa-kun! I can't believe he could manage all those work and still look like a human!"
"Well, Hiiragizawa's actually different. He's a freak when it comes to work."
Tomoyo placed a hand under her chin and ate the last of her fries pensively. "I know, why not go to Japan like you have something to do at a branch there?" she suggested then gazed at him intently. "You have a branch there, right?"
"Sure we have… But what the heck am I going to do there?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just the decision-making body here, ne?"
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "You just can't decide for yourself like that. You have to take into consideration what might happen, the pros and cons and possibilities. Sometimes, decisions would tell what type of life a person would live."
"I know… I just want to help…"
He smiled fondly at her. She looked more like his younger sister than his boss. Just like Meilin. "It's okay. Thanks anyways. You're a nice person, really. I just don't understand why Hiiragizawa couldn't see that."
"As you said, he's different," she replied, thinking again. She tapped her chin in thought, frowning at her empty plate. "Hey! I know! Why don't you file a vacation leave then? Hiiragizawa-kun wouldn't bother you because of that."
"Poor child, you don't know how Hiiragizawa's mind works!"
"Yes, but—"
"There you are!"
The two looked up and saw Eriol marching towards them angrily. He was really pissed off, judging the way his eyes were icily transfixed on Tomoyo as he approached them from the entrance of the café. "I've been looking everywhere for you! How the hell could you just disappear like that without even leaving a message!"
"You were taking too long and I was getting really hungry!" she reasoned out, pulling out a chair for him. "And then Syaoran-kun came so I asked him to lunch! Seriously, I was really hungry."
"Still, that's no reason for you to suddenly leave! You could've waited for me a little longer! And to add, you just have to ask you secretary to lie."
"But I was so hungry!"
Now, a lot of people were looking at their way and Tomoyo was feeling a little conscious about herself. Eriol threw her an icy look then started for the doors. "Well? Are you coming?" he snapped, looking at her over his shoulder.
God! They looked like those guys from the telenovelas.
Nevertheless, she stood up, smiling apologetically at Syaoran. "Can you bring this cake to Tiffany?" The young man nodded curtly and she followedhim to the entrance of the café. "I promise I'll pay you later, Syaoran-kun!"
They managed to get to his car without any more commotions then she slid inside, not even waiting for him to open the door, and waited quietly for him. Soon, he came in and stuck the key in the ignition.
"You shouldn't have left!" he said shortly, turning on the engine.
"And let me die of hunger?" she shot back angrily.
He ignored her words. Instead, he proceeded scolding her like a little girl. "And your secretary didn't help! She really had to say you were kidnapped!"
"I asked her to do that because I knew you'd go ballistic if you found out I left!"
"Of course I would! Who wouldn't?"
"You weren't really serious that someone kidnapped me! I mean, who, in their right state of minds, would even try to kidnap me in the middle of broad daylight, in the middle of a populated building?"
Eriol said nothing in response and a tensed silence hung in the air. It was really thick that he felt suffocating under a minute.
"You really didn't have to be rude…" she said softly. "It was my fault… Not Syaoran-kun's…"
"I was worried, Daidouji! What did you expect me to do, just smile?" he scolded and she winced at the tone of his voice. She knew she was wrong for doing that but… "You have no idea that I've been running around the building like a headless chicken looking for you! You said nothing, left no message, didn't tell me whom you went with! What was I supposed to think?"
She wanted to laugh lightly. After all, it was funny to imagine Eriol running around the building, looking for her. But instead she hung her head, not replying. They parked at a fancy restaurant but didn't get out for a moment. Tomoyo was still busy fiddling with her charm bracelet, staring outside.
"Sorry…" she mumbled. "I didn't think you'd get worried like that…"
He waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it. Are you hungry? My treat."
She smiled at him meekly. "Thanks but I already ate…"
"C'mon! You can't just leave me eating!"
"I can watch you…" Her grin widened and Eriol looked warily at her. "Besides, from what I heard from Nakuru-chan, you look really kawaii when eating!"
He blushed darkly, knowing what the word means, then rolled his eyes, opening his door. "Damn it. C'mon, let's go."
"I take it back!" she said brightly, following after him. "You're even cuter when you're blushing!"
Review, review, review... So how was it? Good? Bad?
My brother says it's not half bad (Yeah, and the rest are bad!) Mou, onii-chan, you're really rude! There's no preview for today. Why? Bcoz i'm tired. I'm dead tired! Oh, goody! It's Easter Sunday! I get to hunt Easter Eggs! Thanks for the reminder, Leina!
Oh, yeah! Anyone who can be my beta-reader? I'd really appreciate it. My oldest brother's got a lot of work to do, my laconic brother is, well, laconic and I doubt he'd do it for me, my playboy brother has yet another date(!), and my pesky brother will just pester me! Enough!
Ja for now! I still have to get my sleep! ... Oh, and the movie Elizabeth is, well, I don't know! I'm not a movie critic!