She Will Be Loved
Written by Iris Dreamer
DISCLAIMER: Card Captor Sakura belongs solely to Clamp. However, the plot is mine and I would like to remain it that way. Thank you.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I love University of Virginia. For those who are thinking of coming here, I definitely support your decision! For those who are seniors/juniors out there and have any questions, feel free to ask me. Leave a question and your email address in a review, or you're more than welcome to email me at: colors (underscore) of (underscore) iris (at) yahoo. (Sorry if that's confusing. It's also on my profile.) I'll be happy to answer any questions! It doesn't even have to be UVA questions; it can be just applications in general. I won't mind reading a few application essays if I'm not busy. Not that I'm saying I'm an expert, I'm far from that, but I'm here to offer any kind of help possible. :)
So, as you can all see, I've finally finished "Sort of a Fairytale" and I'm now writing a new story. This one is just going to be a sweet romance story; fun to write and fun to read. Haha. Still sticking to Card Captor Sakura, but I'm thinking of an Inuyasha one soon. Also I've noticed that many have been wondering about the original ending to "Sort of a Fairytale." I, unfortunately, do not have the ending with me here at UVA (its back home. However, if I have time, I'd love to write up the original ending once more. I'll have that posted as soon as possible? I have lots of work; so cut me some slack. But it would be fun to write. So if you want to read that other ending, please be a little patient. Meanwhile, enjoy this one.
Iris Dreamer
BACKGROUND: He's reached his happiest moment of his life: he has an awesome job, a circle of close friends, a good reputation, and most importantly, the girl he loves is now his fiancée. But happiness is short lived and everything he once had was thrown away and there he meets a girl that totally enraptures him, but this girl is just your normal, in the bad section of the city, prostitute.
DEDICATION: To all my readers. I love you all. Without you guys, I don't think I'd actually write out my stories.
SPECIAL THANKS: To all of my wonderful readers, those who have stuck with me even though I update after three months: AnimeObessionFantasy, Hououza, MewMewPower389, Dazzle4, LISA, and Cyan Moon. You guys are what keep me going! Special, special thanks to Cyan Moon, AnimeObessionFantasy and Hououza who I know have read my stories since the beginning of time. Cyan Moon, good luck with your graphic design application! I know you'll make it. And Hououza, you're the most understanding guy out there in the whole world and thanks ever so much!
CHAPTER FOUR: Change in Winds
"I want revenge," He continued to rant. "I want them to feel as hurt as I'm feeling right now. I want to make them acknowledge the wrong that they have done."
Syaoran paused to take a deep breath.
"Kira," His voice came out in a scared whisper instead of his loud yelling. "I," His voice cracked and he swallowed painfully. "Tell me what to do,"
Silence came and drifted over. Syaoran couldn't tell if she was still there, but at least she didn't hang up on him yet. Finally, a frustrated sigh came from the other end. "Meet me at the Starbucks on Northwest Avenue, near the public gym in thirty minutes." And with that she slammed the phone down.
She shoved the door of the telephone booth open and stormed out, muttering curses under her breath as she hailed a cab towards Northwest Avenue that was far from the slums. She couldn't believe what she was doing, but she knew if she was going to do something, farther away from her emotions was the one thing to do. But the more she thought, she knew that she should have hung up and just left, and walked out of his life. She couldn't believe that she was trying to hold onto something that wasn't even there. And in the end, it would be her, like always, that would be left behind, broken and unwanted. Yet she couldn't understand why she was doing this again and again.
"I'm really sorry about bothering you," He said as he walked over to her table in the corner of the room.
Kira looked up warily and nodded in a slight motion of her head that indicated for him to sit down. Syaoran timidly pulled out the chair and sat down. He found himself unable to meet her piercing gaze.
"Um, I," He stuttered and looked up. His eyes met her bright green eyes that drilled into his seriously. When her gaze met his, Syaoran found that whatever courage he had managed to scrap up had vanished into thin air. "Ah, never mind," He muttered and looked down at the table once more.
"You still haven't changed," She said, her voice nonchalant as she looked outside at the people. She glanced at him with the corner of her eyes, and smirked. "You're still a fool."
Syaoran looked up both flustered and angered at her comment.
"You're acting like a little boy whose play toy has been taking away."
"Tomoyo is not a play toy!" He said angrily.
A quite hush came over the coffee shop and Syaoran bowed his head embarrassedly while glaring at Kira indignantly.
"Syaoran? Is that you?" A soft voice asked confusedly.
His head snapped up at the voice and he could feel his blood draining from his face when he saw her walking towards their table. His fist on the table was clenching harder for every second that passed by. Kira raised her eyebrow and leaned back on her chair, wondering how this was going to play out. Syaoran tossed Kira a panicked look before pasting a smile on his face. "Hey there Tomoyo, what are you doing here?"
She gave him a light smile. "The fashion designer from France that I told you about is visiting and I managed to get an appointment with her. I'm out here to buy some coffee for us." Tomoyo paused and looked at the sight before her.
"Hi, I'm Tomoyo Daidouji," She said politely to Kira.
Kira nodded her head back. "I'm Kira," She said.
Tomoyo blinked, and waited for Kira to say more but when she didn't, Tomoyo turned her confused look to Syaoran.
"So, Syao, what brings you here?"
"I'm drinking coffee with a friend?" He tried. Kira almost rolled her eyes at how begging Syaoran sounded.
Tomoyo frowned slightly. "I'm sorry," She said to Kira. "I don't believe we've ever met,"
"Most likely it has to deal with the fact that I'm an erotic dancer," Kira supplied with a sweet smile while Syaoran gaped at her.
"A what," Tomoyo asked, her eyes wide.
"An erotic dancer," Kira repeated. "I work at Goddesses and I met Li-san there. We occasionally bump into one another and we just came here over for coffee." She explained.
Tomoyo stared; the coffees in her hands were shaking. Kira smiled again and reached over and placed the coffees on the table. She got up and gently guided Tomoyo into the chair.
"Don't worry, we're not having an affair if that's what you're thinking," Kira added. "Li-san just wanted someone to talk to and that just happened to be me."
"But what could he have possibly wanted to tell you when he could tell me?" Tomoyo asked almost inaudibly.
"Oh, well, he saw you and your friend, Eriol, I believe that was what his name was, kissing on the sidewalk in front of your apartment." She said. "I believe you guys have a lot to talk about so I'll be leaving now. Shall I bring these coffees to the French designer?"
"She's at Caesar Hotel in the lobby, private room 104." Tomoyo answered in a dazed voice, her face paled nervously. "Her name is Kaho Mizuki. Thanks, uh, Kira,"
"No problem, Daidouji," Kira answered lightly. "I'll go talk tell her that you've got something important. In the meanwhile, talk everything out with him," She said, jerking her thumb at Syaoran.
"Well then Li-san, I'll be going." She walked out the door, heading towards Caesar Hotel, feeling quite annoyed with herself. She couldn't believe what she had just done, but she figured that was the only way she'd be able to get Syaoran off her back.
Tomoyo turned her head towards her fiancé after the girl had ambled out the door.
"Just what was all that about Syaoran Li?" Her voice was dangerously low.
"Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing?" Syaoran shot back. "After all, I'm only having coffee with her. You're the one who kissed Eriol."
Tomoyo sat there speechless. "You saw?"
He snorted. "What? You think that Kira was just lying?"
"How should I know?" She demanded. "It's not like I've met her before! Explain, Syaoran before I never let you have the chance to explain yourself."
"I should be the one saying that," He tossed back, glaring.
Tomoyo blinked, looking at Syaoran's profile. He was back to that cold demeanor that sometimes she vaguely saw glimpses of, but never directed to her. She bit her bottom lip and looked down, admitting defeat.
"I'm sorry," She whispered, tears forming at the corner of her eyes.
Syaoran sighed. "I shouldn't have yelled," He ran his fingers through his messy brown hair before locking his sharp amber eyes on her. "I'll go first," He offered.
"Just like what she said, I met Kira at Goddesses because my car broke down a few days ago and Moe offered to get it fixed for me. We met once of twice occasionally while I was driving home."
"I felt really torn that I couldn't bring you out yesterday. Truly. We had planned everything out for ages and I was really looking forward to it, but mother had wanted to talk to me about the upcoming business meet with a potential customer because I screwed the last one over."
His eyes strayed away from hers.
"I didn't want you to feel disappointed so I asked Eriol to take you out in my place."
He swallowed visibly.
"I, um, wanted to tell you that in person and I wanted to surprise you by driving over to your house," Syaoran's voice trailed off.
"And you saw me kissing Eriol," She finished for him.
Syaoran just nodded numbly.
"I'm sorry Syaoran," She apologized sincerely, reaching over and holding his hands in hers. Her amethyst eyes were wet with emotion. "I was just rushed to meet the fashion designer and we collided on the sidewalk. The kiss was purely just a mistake."
He withdrew his hands from her gently, not meeting with her face, knowing that she was confused for his actions. Syaoran cleared his throat and bit his bottom lip before opening his mouth to continue. "I overacted and I didn't know what came over me. I called Kira mainly because I met that night I was supposed to take you out," He admitted. "We never really talk much, but somehow I found myself telling how I had asked Eriol to take you out in my place."
"She doubted Eriol that, oh," Syaoran paused, fumbling over words, "She doubted my decision I suppose," He finished lamely.
"You didn't overact," Tomoyo told him. "I did. Just seeing you with another girl with coffee made me leap faster to conclusions than you seeing me kissing Eriol."
She gave me a roguish grin. "I suppose we both have had our share of stupid mistakes," Tomoyo said. "Forgive?"
Syaoran nodded, amazed at how the situation was no progressing. "Forgive."
"I'll come over for dinner okay?" She asked, with a soft smile. Syaoran nodded and she left go of his hands. "I'm going to go back to the fashion designer now."
"And uh, if you see Kira, well, just tell her,"
"I know," Tomoyo smiled. "I'll tell her that you said thanks," She leaned over and gave him a light kiss on the lips. "I need to thank her as well. Maybe there's something that I can do for her."
Kira walked into the hotel, holding two cups of coffee. After asking directions to the lobby, she searched for the room number 104. After knocking on the door politely, she opened the door.
"Mizuki?" She asked timidly.
A woman with long elegant red hair turned from her position where she was looking outside the window. Kira almost gasped when she saw how pretty she was. She gave a slight smile. "How may I help you?"
"I bumped into Daidouji and she has a bit of a problem so she's going to be delayed. But I brought your coffee."
"Thank you," Mizuki reached over for a cup of coffee slowly. "What's your name?"
"I'm Kira." She replied simply.
"Just Kira?"
"Just Kira," She reaffirmed.
"Then I won't ask anymore questions Kira," She replied. "I'm Kaho Mizuki." The fashion designer smiled. "I'm Japanese by blood but I've grown up in France," Her eyes twinkled.
"This is perfect. I wanted to ask someone who doesn't really know about fashion designing, no offense to you, about what they think of this piece of work."
Kira nodded and Mizuki motioned for her assistant to bring her a dress. She gasped when she saw the work. It was a long halter styled dress in the color of red wine at its finest. The straps were made of gauzy cloth and pink gems. The bottom of the dress had an uneven cut that made the right side longer than the left, with more gauzy material that made the dress seem to flow so naturally.
"It's gorgeous," She said. "It seems to have such grace and beauty,"
Mizuki raised her eyebrow. "You have exquisite taste. This is actually a sample from Tomoyo Daidouji's portfolio. She wanted me to see some of her works and write up a recommendation to allow her to enter a fashion show on Tokyo at the end of the month."
"She made this?" Kira praised. "It's a piece of artwork."
Mizuki studied the girl and smiled. "Tomoyo may be a wonderful designer, but she needs a model to bring out the features of her art."
"I agree. It would be like putting a famous picture into a crudely made picture frame on the side of the road. All would be wasted,"
"I think you will do wonderfully for the job," Mizuki continued.
"What?" Kira jerked. "But I know absolutely nothing about modeling."
"Don't be so quick to judge yourself!" The fashion designer scolded. "Are you busy right now?" When Kira shook her head, a delighted smile came upon her face. Standing to her feet and dragging the younger girl into a standing position as well, she propelled her to the bathroom.
"Go try this on," She urged, placing the dress into her hands.
Kira's eyes widened. "I can't possibly do that!" She protested. "This is such a grand piece of work and must have cost so much effort and work for Daidouji. I can't just go around and trying her masterpiece! What if I ruin it?"
"You obviously know its value, which means that I know if you don't that you won't ruin the dress." Mizuki informed her. She shoved her gently towards the open bathroom with a warm smile.
"Now go on and try on the dress. I want to see if my hunch is correct."
Kira looked at him one more time before sighing in defeat and gently closed the door behind her. She stood at the mirror and studied herself critically in the mirror. Her hair was messy and tangled since she had just gotten out of bed. She was dressed in a regular purple shirt with jeans and worn sneakers on her feet. Kira frowned and let a sigh out loud as she started to undress.
She didn't know what Kaho Mizuki saw in her, because she obviously didn't see it.
Kira ran a finger gently on the gorgeous dress, admiring its silkiness under her finger. It was gorgeous, more than that actually. It was full of style and grace, and Kira doubted that she was the one for the dress. How could she, an erotic dancer of such low class where something of high elegance?
Everything seemed like a child's play, like a little girl trying on her mother's clothes that just didn't fit. Kira was that little girl, who wanted to be wearing those pretty dresses but knew that it just didn't fit.
She pulled down the toilet lid and sat down, across from the dress that hanged from it's hanger on the back of the door. Kira sighed out loud. Maybe she should just go back outside and apologize for Mizuki for all the trouble that she had caused. But, if she wasn't coming back anymore, Kira's heart went out to the dress. If she wasn't going to come back, perhaps she should try on the dress. To feel what it would be like, to toss her realities behind and be a little girl once again.
Getting up to her feet, Kira took down the dress with care and placed it against herself before sliding into the dress.
After pulling up the zipper, Kira straightened and looked at her reflection and let out a gasp. She walked towards her reflected image as if almost in trance and her eyes widened when her fingertips came in contact with the cool glass.
It was then she noticed a second person in the mirror behind her. Whirling around, Kira's eyes widened when she noticed it was Daidouji and her hand flew up to her slightly opened mouth.
"I'm so sorry," She breathed out. "I shouldn't have tried out the dress and without her permission to say the least," Kira apologized. "I'll take it off right now."
Tomoyo shook her head with a soft smile and walked over to the flustered girl. She pushed a strand of auburn hair from the girl's face. "Stand up straight," She told Kira.
Meekly Kira did as she was told. Tomoyo stepped back and looked at her critically. She walked around her a few times before coming back to her beginning position in front of Kira. There was a slight frown on her face. "I'll be right back," She told the girl. "Don't run off."
Kira nodded and sighed loudly when the girl hurried off outside the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She looked at her image in the mirror. She had done it again. She had gone and messed up someone's life. Again. Like she always did.
The door opened quickly again and Kira straightened. In Tomoyo's hands were a brush, a small bag and a pair of red heels.
She gave the frightened girl a reassuring smile. "Size seven?" She asked.
Kira could only nod.
"Try these on and then sit down on the chair in front of the mirror." Kira slipped off her tennis shoes and put the elegant shoes on carefully. Those probably had cost another fortune as well.
Tomoyo placed the brush and the bag on the vanity table. "Wash your face first and then we'll get down and do some makeup and do your hair." She grinned at Kira through the mirror.
Kira blinked and nodded in understanding and reached for the face wash, obediently cleaning her face.
When she was done, Tomoyo took the brush and began gently combing her hair. Kira's eyes widened in surprise at the soft touch and almost cried at the thought of how long it had been since someone had brushed her hair.
"You know," The girl said in a soft voice, "I never got to say thank you at the coffee shop."
"You don't have to," Kira replied.
Tomoyo exhaled lightly. "I admit that I was a bit jealous when I saw you and Syaoran together in Starbucks. My head immediately jumped to the conclusion that he was seeing someone else."
"Ironic," Kira said sarcastically, for a moment forgetting her position, "because he was thinking of the same thing."
Tomoyo paused and for a moment Kira pondered the thought of apologizing and leaving, but Tomoyo continued her task of brushing Kira's hair. "You don't have to apologize," Tomoyo said with a light knowing smile. "You were honest, which was what probably saved everything. Syaoran would have made up a lie."
"He can't tell a lie even if his life was at stake," Kira mumbled, unconsciously rolling her eyes at the thought.
To her surprise, Tomoyo let out a giggle. "You're probably right," She admitted. "How long have you known Syaoran?"
She shrugged. "For like a week or so. We never really talked or anything,"
"But it was you who he came to talk to. You must mean something to him."
Kira snorted inelegantly. "I mean nothing to him."
"Syaoran hides his feelings well with a gruff exterior," Tomoyo confided. "There are few he confides his thoughts to,"
"I'm just one of those one night stands where passion overcomes all," Kira tossed. "I'm not going to steal your fiancé."
Tomoyo laughed. "I'm saying that he thinks of you as a friend."
"He shouldn't," She said bluntly. "People like him shouldn't be associating with people like me. And neither should you. I shouldn't even being here."
Tomoyo stopped her fingers that were working little clips into Kira's hair. "You shouldn't let the class division stop you. It's only a divider if you let it to be." She grinned and clipped the last clip in her hair. It was let down and Tomoyo had placed little clips that had little red and pink beads on them on the side of her head.
"It's not that simple," Kira said flatly, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "I feel like a child playing dress up."
"You look gorgeous," Tomoyo told her. "Now turn your face to me so I can apply some light make up on."
Kira sighed and closed her eyes as Tomoyo brushed makeup lightly over her eyelids. After a few quick strokes, Tomoyo told her to open her eyes and look at her reflection. Kira opened her eyes and gasped.
"Admit the fact that you look absolutely stunning," She declared proudly. "Now let's go outside and show Mizuki."
Kira shook her head. "I can't do that. I shouldn't be doing this," She bit the bottom of her lip out of nervousness.
"When opportunities are given to you, you're supposed to take them." Tomoyo told her. "I'm giving you the choice to be my model, or you could continue being a dancer," She continued
"It's not that," She whispered, looking down at her hands in her lap. "I would give anything to get away from that hell, but it's something that I can't do."
Tomoyo sat down on a chair next to her. "Want to tell me why?"
"I have a friend. I can't just leave her," Kira finally admitted. "It's wrong for me to get out of the hellhole, but I can't leave her there. I'd rather be with her together in that shit than to be better off myself."
Tomoyo's eyes softened and she reached over to hold Kira's hands. "You're so strong and brave," She said. "Let me help you. You've helped me and Syaoran. It's only right that I help you now. I'm sure between you, me, and Mizuki, we can think of some kind of job that your friend can have to help us. So what do you say?"
"I'll need to talk to her." Kira whispered.
"You have all the time in the world," Tomoyo answered. "No, wait, let me rephrase that. You have until tomorrow afternoon if that's possible." She grinned.
Kira looked at the other girl, the tears that had threatened to spill were coming back, and she blinked furiously. "Why are you so nice to someone that you don't even know?"
"I could say that same of that to you," Tomoyo replied as she stood up. "You helped Syaoran even though you don't know him."
Kira locked her gaze with Tomoyo's and when she finally pulled away, Kira nodded. "I'll give this a try,"
Tomoyo's eyes lit up. "Great! Now let's go out to Mizuki."
When the two girls walked out, Mizuki's eyes glanced into Kira's with a secretive knowing look before smiling widely at both of them. "You're a natural. Both of you are."
Tomoyo flushed with pleasure.
"I'll be writing up that recommendation letter by tonight and I'll have it sent in tomorrow morning. Daidouji, if you please, I'd like a word with Kira here," the French designer said. "It'll only take a few minutes.
"Of course," Tomoyo said gracefully. "I need to go make a phone call anyhow. I'll be right back,"
Mizuki watched the girl leave before training his attention on Kira who was looking out the window.
"Have you changed your mind?"
"I don't know," She replied. "Everything feels surrealistic. Half of me wants to jump up with joy, but the other half of me knows that I'm not worthy of this."
"Why do you say that?"
Her shoulders slumped and Kira turned around. "I'm an erotic dancer, and that's nothing to be proud of at all."
"You can change what you do,"
"It's hard to run away from your past."
"Whoever said anything about running away from your past?" Mizuki asked. "You should work with your past, Kira, not run away from it. Your past is part of who you are. It has helped molded you the way you are. Your past is something not to be ashamed of."
Kira gave her a half smile. "You're exceptionally wise. Are you a part time philosopher?"
"Everyone has his own demons to fight," She responded softly, a knowing smile playing her lips.
Kira nodded and didn't say anything; no words were needed.
"Daidouji told me when she saw you in the dress, she wanted you to work for her, and that was before she did your hair and your makeup." Mizuki informed her. "So I'll need to have you come in tomorrow along with Daidouji and I can fill in you both about the upcoming fashion show in Tokyo. At three o'clock in this same room."
"I'm still in a contract currently," Kira informed. "I'll need to talk to my current employer before signing any other contract."
The designer nodded. "Any thing else I need to know?"
"I have a friend," She said bluntly.
"Your manager," Mizuki replied just as smoothly. "Bring her along tomorrow as well."
Kira blinked at the older woman before her. "What – how?" She said confusedly, losing all her strong firm presence she carried about her.
"You're not completely solid, as you would like to think," She told her with a wry smile.
Kira just raised her eyebrow with her arms crossed. But before she could say anything more, Tomoyo had come back into the room with a bright smile.
"Well, are we done today?" She asked.
Mizuki nodded. "Kira go get undressed. Daidouji, we're meeting up here at three tomorrow, think you can make it?"
"Think?" Tomoyo replied. "Of course I'll be here. Kira, what about your friend?"
"She'll be her manager," The fashion designer told her. "We'll get everything settled tomorrow."
Kira looked at the two, who had done so much for her in a blink of an eye.
"Thank you," She whispered quietly. Tomoyo grinned.
"Thank you!" Tomoyo answered. "I've found the perfect model, what else could I ask for? Now come on, I'll help you undress."
It was fast with Tomoyo to help and Kira found herself relaxing with the soft caring girl. No wonder Syaoran fell in love with her, Kira thought to herself. Tomoyo was nice, generous, sweet, and everything that she wasn't. She gave off a friendly, motherly vibe the way she lathered attention over her. She gave a half smile.
She missed trusting people in a long while.
Kira walked out in her regular clothes, but her makeup was still up and her hair was much smoother than it was when she had walked in earlier that day. She found Mizuki sitting in a chair smiling amiably at her in a way that resembled so much like her mother, Kira almost cried at the feeling of longing. But the tears choked in her throat, and all she could manage to do without crying was a word of thanks before heading towards the door to leave.
"No need to thank me," She said, with a smile. "I'm only returning a favor. Nadeshiko was a pleasure to work with."
She stopped in her tracks. "How,"
"You truly are your mother's daughter." She answered. "So I'll see you tomorrow and please bring your friend with you, Kira." Mizuki paused.
"Or should I say Sakura Kinomoto?"
"Yuki, I don't care if you're still at work but I really, really need to talk to you. Please." Kira blabbered once her friend picked up.
"What? You're falling head over heals in love with Syaoran?"
"NO!"
"He loves you?"
"Yuki!" Kira shrieked loudly. "Will you please get serious?"
"Okay," Her best friend relented. "I'm listening."
"So I called Syaoran back and we ended up talking at Starbucks. And then we bump into his fiancée Tomoyo Daidouji there, and then," Kira's voice trailed off. "Aw, crap, Yuki. It'd be much better if you just came now and I could explain everything to you."
Yuki laughed.
"Can't you hint about what's so important?"
"I found us jobs, real ones. What do you say?"
"For real?"
"I think so,"
"Oh my gosh," Yuki said. "Yes! I say yes!" She screamed.
The two girls laughed.
"Oh crap!" Yuki whined in the mist of their laughter. "Everyone here at works thinks I was being proposed! Sakura! This is your entire fault!"
"Screw that," Her friend paused, "Meiling. We're taking up real jobs, we should be able to step into the light right? We can't sign real contracts without our real names, now can we?"
"Good, because I'm tired with hiding ourselves with aliases," Meiling declared with conviction. "Now I'm actually on my way back. And I'm dying to know what happened that caused you to sound, well, almost truly happy. I haven't seen you really happy in ages now, Sakura."
"I could say the same about you," Sakura said with a sigh. "Have we been fooling ourselves all these years?"
Eriol shook himself from daydreams for the millionth time that day. He groaned and looked at the blank computer screen. He had to type up a case proposal and so far all he had typed in the last three hours was the name of the company. The little vertical line on flashed repeatedly and looking at it again, Eriol's mind wandered off to the events that morning. His hand couldn't help but touch his lips lightly as he thought back on that brief, accidental, and horridly sinful kiss.
"You keep zoning out," A voice drawled.
Eriol's head snapped up at the voice of the speaker.
Syaoran sighed and pushed off the side of the door he was leaning against. Walking over, he sat himself down on the seat across from his best friend's chair.
"Look, here buddy," Syaoran said looking at his best friend. "I know you're probably thinking about what happened this morning with Tomoyo,"
Eriol jerked away from Syaoran, his wide eyes open. "It was an accident, Syaoran. I swear to God it was!"
His best friend grinned. "Of course it was, Eriol. You wouldn't betray me, I know that."
Eriol groaned inwardly when he heard Syaoran's words that were so trusting of him. If he really knew what was going through his head about Tomoyo.
"But I probably couldn't say the same for me," Syaoran's voice faded into seriousness. "When I saw you two this morning, I was going blind with fury. I called up a random girl that I met at Goddesses actually,"
"What?"
Syaoran sighed and rubbed his temples. "Yeah, I met this girl. Her name's Kira, and like we talked and stuff. I mean, she gave me her number, and I called her." He snorted. "It was actually a sex phone line."
If Eriol wasn't shocked that Syaoran knew what had happened that morning, he would have snickered in response. But all he could mutter was a wry grin.
"Anyhow, surprisingly, she called me back since I was stupid enough to give her my number the first time we met. We went to a Starbucks to chat. And unfortunately, or fortunately, we bumped into Tomoyo. Kira basically told Tomoyo out blunt what I had seen and left for me to talk to Tomoyo. We settled everything out just fine," He concluded. Syaoran gave his friend a smile and patted him on the shoulder.
"So stop brooding over it, Eriol. You're the best man, literally,"
Eriol managed a weak grin. "So everything's fine now?"
Syaoran nodded. "Of course," He said. "Tomoyo's coming over to dinner, and you're more than welcome, you know that."
"I might, if I get this proposal done." He winced.
Syaoran looked over at the table and saw all that Eriol had done that afternoon at work and shook his head in sympathy. "Eriol," He said, patting his friend on the shoulder, "I totally understand,"
"Oh, and Eriol?" Syaoran paused.
Eriol looked up from his work.
"Do you think I should postpone the wedding?"
Eriol raised his eyebrow. "Well for one, your mom will have you head on a sliver platter for being so irrational. But why are you thinking about it?"
"That's the whole point. I'm acting really irrational."
"Then shouldn't you marry earlier?"
Syaoran sighed. "I don't know really. I feel as if I might be pressuring Tomoyo into this all so quickly. I feel like I don't know her as well as I ought to."
"Syaoran, please don't tell me you're having second thoughts about this," Eriol warned.
"I'm not," He said empathically. "I just wonder," His voice trailed off and Syaoran shook his head. "Oh, never mind. Eriol, good luck with your work and hopefully I'll at least see you before I head out to work tomorrow morning,"
Eriol nodded with a strained smile. "I'll try my best,"
"And, Syaoran," He called after his friend who was halfway out of his office already. Syaoran paused, looking over his shoulder questioningly. "Perhaps you should talk to Tomoyo what you just told me,"
Syaoran paused and finally nodded his head in consent. With a stiff way that guys always said goodbye, he walked out and headed towards his own office.
Eriol watched him go, his eyes clouding over with trouble. Sighing, he turned to face his computer, determined to get his mind off of improper thoughts by throwing himself into a pile of work.
"I don't really think so Daidouji-san," She protested. "This is wonderfully nice of you and you've done already a huge amount for me and my friend."
"Kinomoto, don't argue with me, really. I would love to have you two over for dinner and I'm sure Syaoran will be pleased that he can thank you person," Tomoyo wheedled. "He's an awesome cook, and I've baked my famous strawberry cheesecake that absolutely no one can refuse,"
"Daidouji-san," Sakura said, "We really don't want to be intruding on both of you,"
"It's not a romantic Friday night dinner by any means, Kinomoto," Tomoyo responded. "Eriol's coming over as well, which would be perfect! You have to meet him; he's a wonderful gentleman. Besides, I'm sure Eriol would love the addition so he won't feel awkward."
"Furthermore, I need to know you two more outside of formal occasions so the three of us can work wonderfully well. The fashion show is at the end of the month, which I might add is two weeks and a half away, and I hardly know the both of you."
Sakura sighed. "Okay, Daidouji-san. Just this once however," She told the happy girl at the other end of the phone. "If you want to know us better, I'd feel much more comfortable if I don't feel like intruding your private lives."
"Nonsense, Kinomoto," Tomoyo scolded lightly. "Now, the dinner's going to be at seven pm and get a pencil and paper so you can write down Syaoran's address,"
Sakura scribbled it down and after saying a polite goodbye, hung up the phone with a loud sigh.
"Well, she seems awfully nice," Meiling commented.
"She is," Sakura admitted, "But I don't understand why she's doing all this."
"You saved their marriage pretty much," Meiling said sarcastically. "Of course the girl is head over heals in love with you,"
"Meiling,"
"Seriously," She protested. "Look at it. Any other girl would have blown up when she knew that her fiancé was meeting up with an erotic dancer from a club."
"She was the one kissing his best friend. Any other guy would have broken up immediately."
"And whose side are you on?"
"Neither!" Sakura answered sharply. "This has nothing to do with me,"
"It has as much to do with you as Li's best friend," Meiling answered. "But I admit that everything's pretty much messed up."
Sakura's eyes narrowed. "You're not helping,"
"I'll help you decide what to wear to dinner?" She offered with a teasing grin.
Sakura tried to stay angry but burst out into laughter. "All right, manager, let's see what you can do."
"Syaoran, Sakura and Meiling are coming over to for dinner," Tomoyo called after hanging up the phone. I'm going to go buy some drinks."
"Take my car with you," Syaoran answered from where he was cooking in the kitchen.
"It's a nice warm night outside. I'll be back in a few minutes," She said, quickly taking the pair of keys that Syaoran had given her and walked outside. She let a breath out when she walked out of the apartment complex. Looking up at the window that was lit, she sighed.
Tomoyo walked towards the supermarket slowly, turning thoughts in her head. It had been three days since her confrontation with Syaoran at Starbucks. It had been three days since she met Sakura and Meiling. It had been three days since she was accepted into the fashion show.
It had been three days since she had met Eriol. She had talked to him on the phone once, to tell him that she was qualified for entering the fashion show.
Somehow she felt like he was avoiding her, or perhaps she was avoiding him. Three days had passed and she hadn't dropped by the office with her usual two cups of coffee: one for Syaoran and one for Eriol.
She wondered how things would be when Eriol came over to dinner tonight.
She walked into the brightly lit 7-11 and headed towards the cooled drinks. As she opened the refrigerator door, a voice called her name.
Looking up she found herself lost in bright azure eyes. "Eriol!" She exclaimed, smiling. "What are you doing?"
He grinned, raising up two bottles of soda. "If I remember, our fridge is out of drinks. I thought I'd pick some up for dinner tonight,"
"Good memory," Tomoyo told him, closing the door shut. "Do you think two would be enough? The two girls who I'm working with, Sakura and Meiling are also coming over for dinner."
"Well, there are always a few stray cans of beer," Eriol replied, walking towards the cash register. "So how have you been Tomoyo?" He asked as he waited for the cash register to ring up his items.
"Good," She answered, walking out of the store with him. "How are you? Syaoran tells me that you're totally submerged with work."
Eriol laughed. "That would be a good way of describing how much work I have. How about you? How does it feel to be on your way of creating your dream come true?"
She glowed. "Wonderful. I can hardly describe it." She whispered. "Thanks Eriol."
"For what?"
"You're the one who introduced me to Mizuki-san," Tomoyo said. "You really don't know how much that means to me. You've done so much for me, and I've done nothing for you in return," She looked up at him, her eyes watering from thanks.
Eriol smiled lightly and reached over to wipe her tears with his thumb gently. "Don't say things like that Tomoyo. You mean more to me than you give yourself credit for,"
She blushed, her eyes looking down.
"You just go achieve that dream and I'll count your debt repaid," He said. "How about it?"
"Thanks," She whispered, giving him a tight hug.
"You're welcome, Tomoyo," Eriol answered, hugging her lithe form gently.
The two were so lost in their world that they had not heard the cough the first time. When it came again, the two blinked.
"Excuse me, I was wondering if this is," Sakura's voice stopped when she identified Tomoyo. "Oh, I didn't see you there Daidouji-san," her voice polite. "Is this where Li-san lives?"
Tomoyo blushed and nodded. Withdrawing from Eriol's embrace, she quickly straightened herself. "Eriol Hiiragizawa, this is Sakura Kinomoto and Meiling Rae. Sakura, Meiling, this is mine and Syaoran's best friend."
"Nice to finally meet the two ladies Tomoyo's been raving about," Eriol said, grinning.
Sakura gave a small smile. "Daidouji-san gives us too much credit. She's she one who's really special."
"Well, let's not just sit here. Come on in," Eriol said, gesturing to the apartment.
Tomoyo nodded. "Why don't you all go up first? I have something that I want to say to Kinomoto-san,"
Eriol nodded. "Well then, Rae-san, let me have the honors of showing you where Syaoran and I live," He told Meiling. "I really so hope that he didn't shove everything dirty into my room again,"
Meiling laughed and followed Eriol upstairs. Sakura watched them go before turning towards Tomoyo, her eyebrows raised. "You wanted to say something?"
"What you saw, it wasn't what you think it was,"
"What do you think it was?" Sakura replied.
"A hug," Tomoyo answered. "Really, but that was it. I just wanted to thank him for introducing Mizuki-san to me and helping me to achieve my dream. That was all there was to the hug,"
"I wasn't questioning," Sakura answered.
Tomoyo sighed. "I know, but I felt like I should clarify things between me and Eriol."
"If there's a person that needs the clarification most, it would be Li-san. You don't owe me anything. This is between the three of you,"
"But if there's one thing that I can say," Sakura continued, "Don't mess up your life. I suggest you to think clearly."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Tomoyo asked, her eyes narrowing.
Sakura raised her eyebrow and grinned. "I guess there's no point sugar coating it."
"Who do you love?" Sakura fixed her eyes on Tomoyo's, "Eriol Hiiragizawa or Syaoran Li?"
And that would conclude the chapter. Took me forever getting this chapter out. I felt like deleting this chapter every single time I reread it. I personally think that I'm moving too fast and leaving out the plot to actually move. Sakura's getting more and more out of character, much to my dismay. But then again, I suppose she's to be out of character with the light I've shaded on her in this fanfiction. Sigh. Not my best, I must admit.
Anyhow, instead of deleting this chapter and rewriting one from scratch, I've decided to post it and see what you guys think. Hopefully there are still people reading this, despite my lack of commitment lately… or perhaps lack of inspiration.
I'm thinking of moving away from Card Captor Sakura, and starting something anew. Sorry to those card captor fans (I'm still one I assure you that), but maybe through using a different plot and character ground I may be able to conjure up some inspiration. No worries; I won't start on something new until I finish this. College has taken up way more time than it in high school and I can no longer manage the grand feat of balancing two stories at once, like I used to do.
Enough of my blabbering. I would love you if you give me some feedback so I can know what I'm doing good and what I should improve on.
Thanks!
Iris Dreamer