Thanks for all the reviews! Even though it didn't hit 10, I'll update anyway. Because I'm nice :)
Yes, Tomoyo is really Evil :D
And this is the chapter you've waiting for...
Sakura's back!
Eriol was cleaning the apartment toilet when Tomoyo popped her head in. What now? Eriol thought. More chores perhaps. He shook his head and continued his job.
"Eriol, you remember Sakura right?" Tomoyo started,
Of course he remembers Sakura - Tomoyo's best friend. They went to primary school, high school and college together. They were practically inseparable, even after Eriol showed up. It was only when Sakura went on an overseas exchange program that Eriol could spend more alone time with Tomoyo.
"No Tomoyo. I have Alzheimer¡¦s; therefore I can't remember your best friend that you talk about every second day"
"Okay, no need to be so defensive. Anyway, today is the day she's back!"
"That's wonderful."
"And last time I heard she's still single..."
"And I think one wife to boss me around is enough."
Tomoyo promptly responded with a swipe to Eriol's head.
"Not for you, moron. It's for your idiot friend!"
"I was just joking" Eriol explained, now rubbing his bruise.
Then Tomoyo's words sunk in.
"Wait, you want to hook up Syaoran with Sakura?"
Tomoyo couldn't suppress her grin.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm planning!"
That's right, Eriol now remember their little argument the night before.
"I don't know, Tomoyo. I think it's best to let nature run its course."
"Hohoho, you're so naive. They'll never get together if we don't guide them."
"Tomoyo, we really shouldn't force them into anything"
"Oh, I won't force them together. I'll just prod them in the right directions."
Tomoyo's prod is more like push. The kind of push you get when you're in the way of crazy housewives, upon hearing the intercom announcement of a discounted miracle grinder on the next aisle of the supermarket.
"Don't worry Eriol, I have everything planned. You just follow my lead."
And before she went, she added "Just don't screw it up, okay?"
Eriol could only nod.
Sighing, he went back to work.
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Sakura stepped off the plane at the airport. After a long exchange program to Australia, she was finally back home. She wondered how all her friends were doing and how much the town had changed. What new relationships their friends made what relationships broken. It was just past lunchtime. Although she was full from her lunch 40000 feet up, the food on commercial airlines left much to be desired.
As she waited for her luggage to appear on the conveyer belts, she started to plan the rest of her day. She would probably call a taxi to Tomoyo's place. She needed accommodation. Before she left for her exchange program, she was living together with Tomoyo on a rented apartment. After she left, Tomoyo moved in with Eriol.
Tomoyo said that Eriol's place had a spare room and initially offered to accommodate Sakura, but Sakura didn't want to intrude on the couple. Finally, it was agreed that while Sakura looked for her own place, she would live with the couple.
She decided she would have quiet walk downtown. See what had changed. What new shops open and what fashion they are selling here these days. No such luck though as her mobile vibrated. It was Tomoyo.
"Hi Tomoyo"
"Sakura! You've landed ne?"
"Yeah, I'm just waiting for my luggage."
"Well, Eriol and I are waiting at the arrivals, be quick okay?"
"Really? Tomoyo! You didn't have to come. I could've taken a taxi."
"It's really no trouble at all, Sakura."
"Okay, Thanks Tomoyo. I have to go now. I think I see my luggage is coming around."
"Okay, see you soon"
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Eriol and Tomoyo waited at the door where streams of people were pouring out. Tomoyo was anxious to see her friend in flesh and blood after being separated an ocean apart for a long time.
"What's taking her so long? What if Sakura had already walked straight by us?"
"She hasn't," Eriol reassured.
"Maybe she's changed so much, we don't even recognise her anymore!"
"Don't worry Tomoyo. Sakura sent us some recent photos of herself. She still looks the same, brilliant as ever."
Although they act like a married couple at home, whenever they are out in the public, they would look more like a normal
Then as they glanced at the door, she saw someone with deep emerald pools and auburn curls that hung down her cheeks.
"It's Sakura!"
Tomoyo yelled and frantically waved in the air, which immediately caught the attention of Sakura, along with just about everyone in the terminal.
"Yes she saw us already Tomoyo, no need to make a scene!" Eriol hushed.
Wheeling her luggage towards the pair, Sakura beamed a smile.
"Hey guys"
"SAKURA! You're finally here!" Tomoyo was ecstatic.
"Was the airplane ride bad? Have you eaten?"
"The airplane ride was alright, and yes, I did eat lunch on the plane. But the food was you know, so-so"
Tomoyo was about to ask another question when Eriol interrupted.
"Ladies, let's get back to the car. You'll have all the time in the world to talk."
zz
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Sakura waited in the car as Eriol and Tomoyo had a conversation outside. Glancing out the window, she saw them to be having a debate of some sorts. Was it about her living arrangements with them? Maybe Eriol changed his mind. She wondered if this is what it's like to be married - Having frequent private scuffles all the time. She sometimes envied them.
Indeed they were having an important conversation.
"I don't care how you do it, but just make sure you show up for dinner at our place with him. And I repeat WITH Syaoran okay?"
"Are we going invite Takashi and Chiharu as well?"
"NO, and I would rather not invite you too, if I could help it. But having just the three of us would make it highly suspicious, especially at your place."
"But I don't think he'll come after what happened last time..."
"Well, Eriol, that's your problem. Mark my words: I won't let you in tonight, until you have Syaoran with you!"
"But it's my property!"
"Well, it won't be yours any longer, if you're not careful."
"Okay, okay."
Eriol surrendered and now, he had to concoct up some plan to get Syaoran to dinner.
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Back at the apartment, Sakura moved her stuff into the spare room. There was no bed, but Eriol had a spare futon.
Leaving the girls to unpack, Eriol tended to the greater problem at hand. What is he going to do with tonight?
Grabbing the keys, he decided to pay Syaoran a visit.
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Eriol arrived at the door of Syaoran's apartment. It wasn't hard to trick Syaoran to go with him, but doing it in a way that will have minimal impact on his conscience isn't easy. The door sprung open, with Syaoran standing in door way. Eriol decided to get his mission over and done with.
"Hey, are you doing anything tonight?"
"No. Why?"
"Hey do you want to come over?"
"To your place?"
"Yes, to my place..."
"Uhh... Is Tomoyo going to be there?" Syaoran hesitated. The last dinner at Eriol's was a traumatic experience.
Eriol paused, and remember Tomoyo's words concerning the apartment.
"No, Tomoyo's not going to be there."
Eriol didn't like lying to his best friend, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
"Did you invite Takashi as well?" enquired his best friend.
"Yes, don't worry Syaoran. I've taken care of everything."
"What are we going to do there though?"
"Look Syaoran, what's with all the questions? Just come over for dinner!"
"Do you want me to bring some DVDs to watch?"
"Bring whatever you like!" Eriol was getting really agitated. "You can bring your TV, VCR, kitchen sink, your whole house for all I care."
Syaoran could only stare. He didn't understand why Eriol was in such a mood. He wasn't used to Eriol having such outbursts.
"Eriol, are you alright?" he offered in genuine concern.
"It's... nothing. It's just... work. Stressful." Eriol gave a tired smile.
"Oh." Syaoran gave a sympathetic look.
Eriol spent the rest of the evening at Syaoran's place. Usually he would be relieved to spend some time with friends, but this time, he couldn't stop worrying about tonight.
Syaoran still felt uneasy. Something was not right. However, he couldn't find a good reason to refuse his friend invitation.
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It was 6:00 PM. As they proceeded up the stairs to the apartment, Eriol was profusely perspirating. He was about to knowingly send his friend to a trap. He knew that if there was no happy Sakura and Syaoran ending, Syaoran will remember this day and hate him forever. Tonight will be marked as the first step to the downfall of their friendship. If however, Syaoran and Sakura do end up together, they may just one day laugh about this over lunch. But in the game of love, everything is unpredictable. And now, here he is, hedging his bets on one ideal, but improbable outcome. It's All or Nothing.
I'm sorry that's there's no S&S yet. This chapter originally had part of the dinner started as well, but I didn't want it to be too long, because it's a pain to proofread.
The good news though, is I can promise that there will be an update no later than a week.
Like it? Hate it? Please review! More reviews equals faster updates :D
22/1/06