Disclaimer: You know, if there's one thing i hate, it's a soon-to-lawyer who keeps bugging me! Go away! I told you, i don't own CCS for God's sake!
Author's Blabberings: Dang! Finally, an update! Thanks for my very lovely and nice beta-reader, Daidouji Dana-san! (gives you roses!) I'm having a peachy day today but don't ask why... (c'mon, little princess, tell us) You're still here, onii-chan? And i thought those aliens abducted you already! ... But then, i guess they couldn't stand someone like you... an arrogant know-it-all! (why you...) (shoo him away with a hand) So... Back to you folks! I'm so sorry but i'm going to be gone for, well, a week! i'm going to... Hong Kong! So i won't be able to update, unless i find a computer there and connect to the internet... But just in case... I'm going to be back next week... next week... next week... It's too long, ne? (nah, it's too short for us!)
Dana Daidouji: Yes, i think she should get a life insurance... And I think my brother should, too...
Gurla-aya: You study in an all-girls school? Tsk, tsk, tsk! You miss the wonderful life of a student from a co-ed! So many cute boys... :D
seanjen: yes, good luck for me... i heard people there are like breathing robots already!
Jo: Oh, it seems i'm not the only one who drank a gallon of coffee... You're so high on sugar... How i envy you...
Elvirna: You know... I always see mine on top...
Cristal-shian: Yeah, just like onii-chan... So cute yet so mean and arrogant and such a bastard! (Hey!) At least i gave you a compliment...
Pulang itim: Actually, i quoted my best friend there... (waves at reina!) and it's true, their minds haven't evolve yet... And there's something i read... an illness known only to men (courtesy of syaorannohime-sama)... Congenital Malignant PneumoEncephalopathy aka airheadedness, dumbness or density... whichever you prefer...
Umbiquitous me: The book? Ah, right! The book... It's also calledThe Testament by John Grisham... my soon-to-be-lawyer onii-sama is fond of those books he authored... He's also a lawyer and he gave me an idea... The book is actually a drama, not a comedy
Majah: I was thinking of making that rumor go way up in the sky...
Cloverluck11: thanks for the review!
Sakatrina90: I haven't got the time to email you since my schedule is way too cramped so... I suggest you use that author alert thingy... yep! They'll alert you when i update!
Mayie-chan: omaigash! You called me... you called me... the dreaded word... ate... Am i too old? Oh, gosh! For the first time in my life... I was called... An... An... An ate! (faints!)
Momo-chan: Yes, the review center can be VERY annoying... (smiles at the admin) Hi! ... Well, yes, i did make it look like that...
Akizuki Sai: That's too bad! No wonder you weren't replying. I thought you'd gotten mad over my review... I hope you get a new cellphone... I'm dying here! Dying without a textmate or a correspondent! (I can be your correspondent!) I need a human, onii-chan, not a robot!
Rose Mitzkah: er, the person... maybe you should re-read it... i think i mentioned it there... (scratches her head...) Mre SS fluff? er, i'll think about it... i'm not really used to that pairing... gomen, SS fans...
Whew! Finally! I really need to take a day off... Just finished the "distorted history" i made for our section in the year book. what did they think i am? A writer? Why don't they pay me? So, anyway, i just realized how cute Hyuuga Neji-kun is... Don't like Sasuke... Too many girls chasing him... But I like Kakashi... So dashing, so cute, so witty, so Eriol... (swoons) Anybody who has a Neji plushie, tell me and i'll buy it! ... (You like the guy without any irises nor pupils? I'd say you get a life, princess...) Yeah, like you don't like that pink-haired girl from Gundam Seed... (Not that i have anything against Clyne Lacus-chan... I think she's cute too...
So that's it for my blabbers... I talk to much, don't I? (Finally! It struck her!) I hope you enjoy this chappie... Dedicated to... my beta-reader, Dana-san, and ate aina and ate eirene who read my fics even though they don't leave a review... Ja!
It's shorter than usual but... Heck!
Neji-kun is soooo cute!
CHAPTER 12: NAKURU INTERVIEWS
"You mean you saw them last night?"
"Yeah, I did! They were leaving the Daidouji compound. Mr. Hiiragizawa must've taken her out on a date!"
"Really? But I thought it to be just a rumor."
"Apparently, the rumors are true!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! And I thought Mr. Hiiragizawa was still eligible."
"Yeah, too bad, isn't it? But don't you think it's strange. The President and Mr. Hiiragizawa have just been acquaintances for only three months and now…"
"Maybe they've known each other for a long time."
"Yeah, maybe…"
Tomoyo sighed heavily as she proceeded to her private elevator. It's already been a week since the rumor about her and Eriol came out but it was still "Hot off the press". Usually, gossips like that live for only a few days. It often doesn't survive the fast-pace world of gossip and scandal since more sensational and salacious news come out everyday.
But then, she couldn't blame them. After all, she supposedly had stolen their most eligible bachelor who supposedly had fallen in love with her which finally led to a series of very soap-opera-like moments.
She had nearly laughed out loud at Eriol's face when he heard the news a few days ago that they supposedly have a child somewhere in France. With the temper he had that day, she wasn't surprised if the tower was reduced to ashes anymore.
Why though, she asked herself as she stepped inside the elevator. Why was Hiiragizawa-kun so angry about it when everything seems to be like a stupid joke? Did he think it would ruin his reputation? Did he think I'm that bad to be even linked with him?
She let out a sigh and looked up at the intricately-designed ceiling. Eriol Hiiragizawa is quite difficult to decipher. One minute he's nice for a change and the next, he's like an angry dragon deprived of a hundred years worth of sleep.
The elevator finally stopped and the doors opened with a soft chime. She stepped out, only to find Eriol outside her door, waiting for her with several folders. She forced a cheerful grin.
"Good morning, Hiiragizawa-kun!" she greeted. "I hope you're not here to tell me that I'm late because I know I'm not!"
He raised an eyebrow at her as she opened the door. "What made you think I'll say that?"
She grinned at him, placing her bag on the couch. "I already know your habits, Hiiragizawa-kun." She walked behind her desk and sat on her chair. "You always wait for me outside my office at morning just to tell me that I'm late! I often think it's the sweetest greeting anyone could give me that early!"
"Did you eat something sarcastic again for breakfast?" He placed the folders on her desk then stepped away. "I swear that cook of yours makes very sarcastic foods."
"I'd say." She pulled the topmost folder and started browsing it. "Oh, look! You brought my favorite! Business proposals!"
Eriol rolled his eyes. "Really, Daidouji, too much sarcasm could lead to malfunctioning of your brain," he said dismissively. "It's not really good for your health."
"And since when have you been concerned about my health?"
"Since not so long ago!" he countered. "Anyway, Li called me last night…"
Tomoyo grinned at him. "What did he say? How was his visit to Japan? How's Sakura-chan? Did he ask her out?"
"Actually, he just told me he'd be coming home on Friday."
She frowned. "That's it?"
"Well, yes," he replied thoughtfully. "But he did ask about our children in France. He wanted to know if they are doing okay and if they're eating a balanced diet everyday." He let out an exasperated sigh.
The young amethyst-eyed President giggled. "I told you we have a kid somewhere!"
"And I told you that those rumors are really bad for us."
"Bad for your reputation, you mean," she said airily, starting to work. He stared at her in disbelief. He obviously didn't expect that. "C'mon, admit it, Hiiragizawa-kun."
"Yes, I admit it is bad for my reputation but it's bad for yours as well!" he retorted sharply. Tomoyo didn't say anything nor look up from her work. "People are now thinking that the only reason why you became President is because of my influence. They believe that we're having a romantic relationship. They think I'm influencing all of your decisions regarding the company!"
"But they're not true anyway…"
"Right, and that's what I'm trying to tell everyone!" he said. "I'm trying to save your reputation and the corporation. This isn't a joke anymore, Daidouji. It seems to me that someone, somewhere wants to destroy our names and the name of this company."
"So… It isn't a matter that you're actually… I mean, that you don't like me at all?"
Eriol stared at her in disbelief. He didn't know if the girl had just eaten something poisonous or if she had banged her head hard on the wall. He had to call Kaye and ask her if her Mistress had been involved in an accident inside the estate.
"What the heck are you saying this time?" he cried in exasperation. This girl was just giving him another headache. "Did you really think the reason why I threaten those media guys to stop publishing those stupid articles and sod off is because I don't like you? You've got to be the most insane President I've ever met!"
"So, you mean…"
"Of course not! For a smart lady like you, your imagination sure astounds me!"
Tomoyo felt a small smile blossom on her face but she hid it behind the curtain of her ebony tresses, not wanting the young man to see it. "Well, I was just assuming—"
"Well, you assumed wrong!" Eriol let out another annoyed sigh then glanced at his watch. "You know, I would've started working some time ago if I hadn't—"
"Hadn't what? Polluted the air with your incessant talking? Waste my precious oxygen inside this room?"
Eriol muttered darkly under his breath before storming out, slamming the door behind him. When his footsteps had disappeared, Tomoyo sighed in relief and smiled widely.
At least it wasn't her at all…
"Too bad it isn't true! You two could've been a cute couple!"
Nakuru remarked as she sat inside Eriol's office that afternoon, tapping a fountain pen on the couch's arm. She hasn't got anything to do so she decided to go office-hopping, much the younger man's disdain.
"Why would you wish it was true, Nakuru?" Eriol asked wearily, looking at her over his glasses.
"Because!" the woman replied shortly as if the word itself was the answer. "Besides, don't you think she's a gorgeous, smart and wonderful girl? I mean, did you know that 99 percent of the men in this corporation is mad about her?"
He raised a dark eyebrow. "Oh, really? And who's the 1 percent?"
"You!" Nakuru answered matter-of-factly. "And I'd probably say Syaoran as well, but I'm sure he likes her too, in a brotherly sort of way. Heck, even Evans is in love with her! At least that's what I heard."
"And your point is?"
The cinnamon-eyed girl threw her hands in the air in frustration. "Why is it that you cannot see what we all see in Tomoyo-chan?"
Eriol shrugged. "I'm not sure about that," he declared. "I guess I'm simply allergic to women."
"Really? But then why aren't you sneezing whenever you're with me?"
The CEO rolled his eyes at the blatant ignorance of his cousin. He could not believe that she is his Vice President on Finance! "For the love of God, Nakuru, that was just a figure of speech!" he exclaimed irately. He was tempted to give a lecture on figures of speech but thought better of it. The girl was probably more inclined to Math than English.
"Oh? I don't get it!"
Eriol wanted to throw the annoying girl out of his window. In the past, if someone annoys you, throw him out the window. Today, throw someone out the window and you find yourself having conference with a bunch of lawyers. This time, instead of wasting his saliva, energy and oxygen, he just looked down and continued his work.
"Eriol, you think Tomoyo-chan's pretty?" the girl suddenly asked.
He glanced up and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess she's pretty…"
"Is she beautiful?" she asked again.
"Didn't I just say she's pretty? If she's pretty, then she must be beautiful, right!" His patience was starting to wear off again.
"Okay, so is she gorgeous?"
Eriol removed his glasses and resignedly rubbed his eyes with a hand. "Nakuru, how do you define gorgeous?"
Nakuru looked thoughtful for a few minutes. "Er, someone who is pretty and beautiful?"
"Bingo!" Finally!
"Okay… So you think she's gorgeous then?"
"YES, NAKURU! YES, FOR GOD'S SAKE!"
The auburn-haired Vice President of Finance nodded brightly. "Right! … Next, do you think she's smart?"
He scowled at her. "What is this? A talk show?" he asked irritably.
"Just answer the question, buster! Do you think she's smart?"
"If she wasn't, then she wouldn't be taking her second degree, would she?" he snapped.
"So… Is that a yes or a no?"
Eriol slapped his forehead. He didn't know whether to feel (1)remorseful for his cousin's lack of common sense, (2)afraid that his cousin's ignorance might be hereditary or (3)frustrated by his cousin's constant yakking. "It's a yes, Nakuru!"
"Oh!" The girl's eyes widened in understanding and nodded. "Okay! … Finally, do you think Tomoyo-chan's a nice, sweet and loving person?"
"Well, yes…" he answered almost hesitantly.
"So you mean, you think she's a wonderful person?"
"Yes." Eriol decided to be straight-forward with his answer just in case they ended up in another grammar misunderstanding.
"All right! Since you think Tomoyo-chan's gorgeous, smart and wonderful, then I therefore conclude that you like Tomoyo-chan!"
Eriol shot her a very long look before turning back to his work wordlessly.
Nakuru grinned. "I take that as a yes since silence means yes!"
"I don't like romantically like her," he explained, forcing a calm voice. Since when did Nakuru learn these things? Shouldn't these be taught in Psychology? "I like her because she's… she's… different from other girls I've met."
"Really? How? In what way? In what sense?"
The young man felt annoyed. He really had to check the different TV stations in London and see if one of their hosts had died and started to possess Nakuru's body. Not only was this person preventing him from finishing his work, she was also trying to get rid of his sanity. One more ridiculous question and he'd jump out of the window, if that's the only way to escape the mad chatterbox.
"Look, Nakuru, I don't like Daidouji! Period! Is there something in that sentence that you don't understand?"
Nakuru frowned at him disdainfully. "Why don't you be honest with your feelings once in a while, Eriol?" she said in retort. "Didn't you know that liars go to hell?"
"Yes, and apparently nosy and annoying people as well!"
"I don't see any reason why you should deny it anymore," she said thoughtfully. "There's nothing wrong with it anyway."
"There is something wrong. She's my boss, I'm just an associate. Don't you think that would complicate things?"
"So you're finally admitting you like her?"
Eriol scowled at her. "Look, Nakuru, what part of the 'I don't like Daidouji' you don't understand? Is it the 'don't' part?"
"What I don't understand is the 'Why can't you be honest to yourself?' part! You really don't have to deny it!"
"How would I deny something that isn't even true?"
"I don't know! You tell me!"
The young man was already struggling to keep hold of his waning patience and yet, Nakuru was provoking him into letting it go as well as his fiery temper. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. It wouldn't help if he suddenly blew up like Mt. Vesuvius and destroyed the compound and the area within a 10-mile radius.
"Nakuru, there is nothing for me to deny. I have no feelings for the President. If there is, then I don't know what to call it. All I know is that my feelings for her are that of an older brother to his sister."
"I'm sure there's a romantic feeling somewhere deep down!"
"Wherever it is, it must be deep, deep down!" he replied wryly.
"I swear I'll dig it up! I'll dig it up and show you!"
"Good luck then!" He folded his arms across his chest. "So, is there anything else?"
The auburn-haired woman was reluctant in letting go of the topic but she had no choice. "Hah! Don't think that you've already won! It was just our first battle! There will be more to come, I assure you!" she told him, rising from her seat. He raised a mocking eyebrow at her. "I'm not through interrogating you! Soon, I would finally uncover the truth about your feelings for Tomoyo-chan!"
Eriol made a shooing motion with his hand. "Go, Nakuru, just go," he said wearily. "I'm sure there are people out there who need distraction from their work. Bother them. Annoy them to death. I really don't care. Just leave me alone!"
The Vice President of Finance stalked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Eriol's more difficult than what I expected! He's tougher than a poorly-done steak covered with melted marshmallows!
As she waited for the elevator, she thought of what else she could do with her free time. Then, a mischievous smile blossomed on her face.
Hmm… Why don't I interrogate the sweet Plum Blossom next?
"Pen… Pen… Where's my pen?"
Tomoyo searched her desk, her drawers, her portfolios, her things but no pen came up. Tiffany had always complained about the shortage on pens but she didn't know it was this serious.
One of the causes of the shortage was probably Eriol. After all, he kept slamming things on her desk, which results to a force that sends her pens in a projectile motion aimed at several directions in her room. Another was that he kept taking pens and not returning them to her. Didn't he know that the reason she couldn't finish her work earlier is because she couldn't find a pen to use to sign the documents?
"I should ask Hiiragizawa-kun to go shopping with me for pens!" she grumbled as she bent on all fours on the carpet, still searching for her beloved pen under her desk.
"Tomoyo-chan! What are you doing down there?"
The Head of the Daidouji Group looked up with startled lilac eyes and found Nakuru, peering over her desk warily. "Oh, hi, Nakuru-chan! How nice of you to visit me!"
"What are you doing, Tomoyo-chan?"
"I'm trying to look for my pen," she said, forcing a smile then crawling under her desk. "I need it to sign the last documents before I return them to Hiiragizawa-kun."
"Ah…"
"Anyway, what brought—itai!—you here?" Tomoyo asked, rubbing the part of her head that made contact with the wooden desk.
"Well, aside from Eriol's legendary temper and hot air, I need to ask you a few questions."
Tomoyo, thinking it was just harmless, risk-free inquiries, agreed. "Fire away, Nakuru-chan!" She continued to search for her missing pen.
"Okay, first, what do you think of Eriol?"
"Well, I think he's a very insane workaholic who knows no emotion except exasperation, frustration, anger and impatience."
"Oh… okay! Next, do you think that Eriol is handsome?"
"Actually, since the opinion of the majority of women in this building is that he's handsome, even though I couldn't see it because his over-inflated ego blocks it, I'd have to agree so as not to be attacked by a hoard of Eriol Hiiragizawa fans."
"That's a yes, right?"
"Yep, I'm afraid so."
"Okay then, next, do you think that Eriol is wonderful?"
"Wonderful in what sense? In cracking very corny jokes or in supplying sarcasm in every sentence?"
Nakuru shrugged. "I don't know… In all aspects maybe?"
"Well, maybe not in all, since I doubt someone would call a person who drives them mad wonderful. Nevertheless I won't deny that he's sometimes charming and a gentleman and sweet. But that's basically it!"
"Okay, last, do you like Eriol?"
"Sure I do! I mean, I like him because he can be very sweet and caring!"
Nakuru raised an eyebrow. Not the answer she was looking for. "Okay, let's scratch that, do you love Eriol?"
There was a loud thump from under the desk and a soft cry of pain. Soon, Tomoyo emerged, rubbing the top of her head gingerly. "Itai…" she whimpered slightly then looked at Nakuru. "What were you saying again, Nakuru-chan?"
"I was just asking if you love—"
The door suddenly opened and Eriol stalked inside. "Daidouji, I need those—" He stopped when he saw Nakuru grinning at him and Tomoyo still rubbing her hurting head. "What happened?"
"She, er, bumped her head under the desk," Nakuru answered cheerfully.
"Idiot!" Eriol muttered before going to the mini-refrigerator and grabbing an ice pack from the freezer. He then strode over to Tomoyo and held the pack carefully on top of her head. "You're too old for Hide and Seek! What were you doing under the desk? Trying to count the dust bunnies?"
"No, I was looking for my pen!" she answered reproachfully. "You didn't take it again, did you?"
"No! Why the heck would I take your pen?"
"It's your habit to take things from my desk without permission and not returning them! I was just going to suggest you that we go shopping for pens!" she argued. Eriol groaned in disbelief. "Ouch! Hey! Watch it!"
"I am watching it! You're the one who keeps moving!"
Tomoyo glared at him darkly then smiled at Nakuru, who was grinning at the both of them. "What were you saying again?"
Nakuru's gaze snapped back at her. "Well, actually…" She met Eriol's inquiring gaze and grinned slyly at him. "Actually, it's nothing. I got all the answers I needed anyway!"
"Who did you say I love?" Tomoyo asked blankly.
The cinnamon-eyed girl took a step backwards and laughed nervously when she saw Eriol's you're-going-to-be-in-trouble-when-I-find-out-what-you're-up-to glare directed at her. Usually, she liked that look whenever he would see Li doing something suspicious, like nicking sweets from his ref, but she didn't like it when it was directed at her. "Ah, er, it's nothing really, Tomoyo-chan!" she stammered. "I-I guess I'll see you later!"
"Sure, Nakuru… chan…" Tomoyo faltered when Nakuru suddenly left the room at breakneck speed. She looked up at Eriol who was still holding the pack and glaring at the swinging double doors. "What happened to her?"
"Maybe she realized she's still got a lot of things to do," he answered absently. "What did she say she was doing here?"
"She wanted to ask a few questions," Tomoyo replied casually.
"Questions?"
"Yep, questions about you!"
"About me?"
Tomoyo scowled at him. "Is it just me or are you just really slow on picking things up today?"
"Shut up and sit still!"
Nakuru panted heavily upon reaching the elevator and pressed the button to the level of her office. She just got to get out of that room and out of Eriol's deadly glare. If looks could kill, the young man would've killed her for the millionth time that day.
Hah! At least I'm getting closer to my goal!
Just seeing the two act like that in front of her made her sure about her inference. It was so obvious, so clear, so noticeable, but how come they're still denying it?
Maybe it's really true, a part of her mind told her. They really have no feelings for each other. Just platonic ones.
If that's true, then I'd eat my jacket! Nakuru clenched her fist. It has to be true! I know it has to be! I just have to catch them off-guard!
review, review, review... So tired...