Surprise!
Preparations
Chapter 3
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Hilton (Syaoran's birthday)
Through the doors of Hilton's best ballroom, chaos reigned. People were everywhere, preparing for some big party. A pretty, young girl with gleaming brown hair stood in the middle of it all, holding a clipboard and pen, yelling out orders. "Nani! Touya! Don't you DARE rip that tablecloth! You owe me that much at least! No, no, no! Kero, the streamer's are supposed to be hung, not glued! Eriol-kun, go help him! Ahhhhhh, Yukito-san, watch out for that table!"
The pale man barely dove out of the way as waiters rolled a large round banquet table into the mess. Sonomi and Fujitaka were setting up the good china after Touya and Yukito had spread out the dark green table cloth. Nakuru was dashing to and fro, arranging the center pieces that consisted of vases and vases of blooming peony blossoms. Spinel Sun and Ceroberus were in their miniature forms and were trying to pin up the streamers, tapestries, and other wall decorations, but they would probably have more luck looking for water in Death Valley. Therefore Eriol was commanded by Sakura, who was looking a bit less innocent and more domineering with her wish to give her sweetheart a perfect birthday, to assist them.
"Sakura-chan?" It was Tomoyo, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, scribbling over a notepad and occasionally referring to other pieces of paper scattered around her. She, out of everyone in the room, was the only one who was not either yelling or running around like crazy. "Would you like to review the menu before I take it to the hotel kitchen?"
"Sure, Tomoyo-chan! Food is what the party revolves around! Besides Syaoran-chan of course." Still calling out instructions, Sakura skipped over to Tomoyo's small corner and scanned the list. "Oh, Tomoyo-chan it's--Kero! Don't you DARE force-feed Spinel that sugar!--perfect! I'm sure--Touya, stop it!--Syaoran will--Nakuru, when you're done, could you please ask the general manager for the dance floor equipment?--love it very much!"
Tomoyo smiled, happy that Sakura liked the results of her hard work. Budgeting the foods, making sure they featured Li-kun's favorites, and still have enough variety for people with allergies or preferences was a lot harder than it seemed. Since it was going to be formal with a full course dinner, the hotel kitchen could never have done everything themselves and on time. Besides, some of Li-kun's favorites were unique, and she had spent some time going through the phonebooks, the newspapers, and the Web to get the caterers. Then she had to schedule it so that the food arrived at a specific time and that there would be a place to store it all until it was served.
The purple-eyed girl sighed, her fingers just itching to pick up the video camera that laid so temptingly near. Too bad humans didn't have more arms, then she would have been able to write and record at the same time. Tomoyo drifted off a bit, dreaming about a future homo sapiens with four arms. (eheheh . . . Tomoyo thinking, eh?)
Eriol laughed inwardly as he lost sight of Kero beneath a huge tangle of green streamers. Spinel Sun was having trouble with the masking tape Sakura had told him to replace the pins with--as pins would have probably caused even more difficulty for the plushie-like animal who did not have hands. Still, seeing the state his reincarnation's daughter was in, Eriol was not going to go against orders. With a flick of his fingers, all the streamers swirled away from the struggling Sun Guardian and magically held themselves to the walls and ceilings. Another wave of the his hand made the tape neatly tear itself into little centimeter-long pieces and fly to stick the streamers in place. Withdrawing his magic, Eriol smugly smirked and viewed his handiwork. Deciding not to waste anymore magic, Eriol got out a ladder from a nearby closet and started to manually pin up the huge pieces of paper that bore the words "Happy Birthday, Li-kun!" in graceful Japanese and Chinese calligraphy.
Tomoyo returned from her trip to the kitchen and was wondering what to do. Akizuki-san was now running in and out, carrying in decorative, miniature cherry trees to be placed around the room, but she had some workmen who had delivered them to help her. Kinomoto-san already had Yukito-san to help and almost all the tables were finished. Walking around, she almost tripped over something. Catching herself on a chair the hotel staff had carried in, she looked at the culprit. A pile of rolled up posters were lying at the base of a tall ladder. Looking up, up and up to the apex, Tomoyo saw Eriol teetering back and forth, tearing off pieces of clear masking tape and using them to hold the large posters of writing up.
Cupping her hands around her mouth, she yelled, "Hiiragizawa-san! Would you like me to help?"
For a moment, Eriol looked like he was about to fall, but he managed to right himself and glanced down at the beautiful girl who had almost made him lose his balance. "Go ahead Daidouji-san, I'm sure they have another ladder here someplace."
In no time at all, all the preparations were finished and the ballroom was ready for the star--Syaoran Li.
Sakura cheered. "Good work people! Now got to your rooms and change! I'll get Syaoran here on time!" She turned to glare at Touya. "Ni-chan, you better do what you agreed to do and dim the lights!"
Touya smirked at his little sister, but did not say anything--he was enjoying her discomfort faaaar too much. Yukito smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, Sakura-san. If he does not do it, I will."
Sakura returned his smile with an even bigger one, "Arigato, Yukito-san! I'll see you later then. Bye Tomoyo, Kero, Eriol, Spinel, Nakuru! See you later Otou-san, Daidouji-sama!"
Tomoyo got all starry-eyed, "Oh, Sakura-chan is going to look sooooo KAWAII in the dress I made her!" She turned thoughtful. "I wonder how she will get Li-kun to wear a tuxedo?"
Nakuru, who overheard her, snickered. "It'd be easy for HER, Tomoyo-chan! One good teary-eyed look would melt him like ice cream!"
Eriol smiled darkly, "Just think of what'll happen when my cute little descendent sees all of us HERE to celebrate HIS birthday!" To add to the villianous image, he started to cackle evilly and eagerly rub his hands together, causing Touya to s-l-o-w-l-y move away from the other half of his father's reincarnation.
Tomoyo stared strangely at the still maniacally laughing Eriol for a second or so before starting to herd everyone out of the ballroom. "Come on, people! Let's go get ready to knock the socks of Li-kun, ne!"
Everyone cheered and fled back to their rooms to change their attire.
End Chapter 3
Hiyo, it's me again! So, what'd you think? No E&T YET, but wait a few more chappies. Romance takes SOME time to develop after all. I couldn't make it love at first sight because the CLAMP manga ends with Eriol still dearly infatuated with Kaho (DIE, you evil, red-headed witch! Not that I have anything against redheads) and merely friends with Tomoyo. Coming Soon-Show Time!
Until next time! AnimeJo
Oh, yeah--Read and REVIEW, please?----look at this upside down!