Dinner and a Song

Chapter 18: Heart ache

The next morning Tomoyo called her Mother and told her everything that had happened and she called Rika to tell Nobu-san she was taking a sick day. Tomoyo hadn't felt this terrible since Shin and this was even worse because she loved Eriol more then anything and he didn't care. Tomoyo sighed sitting at her couch and looked at the money she had left over after sending her mother some money. 500 yen, that was fairly good. Tomoyo sighed again and looked to her left seeing her mother's picture. It was comforting and she was now looking forward to going home more then ever. Tomoyo got up and walked to her room seeing all the prizes she and Eriol had won at the park festival. She frowned and walked over to her closet taking out a box and putting everything Eriol gave her in it.

The Prada dress and shoes; no matter how much she liked them, their pictures, and small memories, she packed it all. Tomoyo looked to her finger and was about to pull off the ring but she stopped. 'Well, your my girl.' Eriol voice rang in her head and her heart throbbed. Tomoyo looked away from the ring and ignored it. Tomoyo closed up the box and put Eriol's address on it. She then headed for the office on the first floor giving the box to an American massager who could hardly hear her when she spoke because of the heavy metal blowing in his ear.

Meanwhile Eriol laid in his bed looking to the ceiling that was a slight blur without his glasses and then he heard someone knock on his door startling him. Eriol sat up and walked slowly to the door hearing the small sound of heavy metal music. Eriol opened the door seeing the blond American head banging to the music. Eriol sighed and the message stopped and smiled. "THIS IS FOR YOU!" He shouted as if Eriol couldn't hear him. Eriol thought he had clearly gone deaf from the loud music. Eriol took the package without glancing at the label and sighed the clip broad the messenger was holding out and shut the door. He simply put the package at the door when his breath caught seeing Tomoyo's address on it but he didn't open it. He couldn't.

Eriol walked away from the package and went to the bathroom for a hot shower. Usually when he came out of a shower he felt ready and refreshed for anything but this time he felt like curling up in a ball and hiding under his bed. Eriol looked to his glimmering ring, he wanted to remember Tomoyo but it only made the continuous pain in his chest hurt even more. Eriol looked to his answering machine and pushed the play button. There was only one new message: "Eriol, it's Sakura. Syaoran and I are coming over tonight for dinner if that's not a problem, Syaoran had a feeling you would want some company and he wants to try out this new gadget his company is making, anyway we'll see you tonight." The machine beeped.

Eriol just realized that Sakura and Syaoran didn't know about Tomoyo and him breaking up. What was he going to say to him? 'It wasn't working out?'. No! Sakura seemed so sure that Tomoyo loved him and she did but he dishonored her by going with Indigo to that damned table. Eriol sighed and headed out the door to his restaurant. Everyone saw the change in Eriol. He seemed sad, lost, distant. Some of the staff even got enough courage to ask him what was the matter. But he just said he was tired and that was almost true.

Tomoyo on the other hand was at home sending packages of the things she couldn't carry on the train home. Rika came over on her lunch break with chewy chocolate brownies hoping to comfort her. I mean it was chocolate for goodness sake!

"I hope these make you feel better." Rika said pouring Tomoyo some milk. "Thanks." Tomoyo smiled weakly. "Don't worry, were just going to do some girl stuff for now on." She said. "Maybe there's someone else out there?" Rika said sitting down. "No." Tomoyo said and Rika looked to her friend concerned. "I won't do this anymore. I'm sick of love. I don't ever want it, it's a foul trick that people play and I'm done. I just want to be alone." Tomoyo sighed. Rika nodded.

"That works too." She said not wanting to offend her. Rika thought back to the day he went to the party and She and Tomoyo were on their lunch break. The look in Eriol's eyes when he saw Tomoyo was so bright and loving. She didn't want to believe Eriol was cheating on her, but she wasn't just going to betray her friend and call her a liar and the picture was obvious. "What about all the stuff he gave you?" Rika went on. Tomoyo drank her milk and then answered, "I sent it back to him, I don't want to remember him." She said.

Rika looked down to Tomoyo finger. "What about the ring?"

Tomoyo looked to the ring on her hand. 'Well, your my girl.' Tomoyo suddenly remembered but then she took off the ring and slammed it on the counter. "I'll pawn it or something." She said not looking back at the ring but her hand felt cold and bare without it. Rika just nodded and looked to Tomoyo's kitchen clock. "Oh, Damn it." She said. "Lunch break over?" Tomoyo asked. Rika nodded draining her glass of milk. "Call me later if you wanna talk, I have to head back." Rika said rushing to the door. Tomoyo got up and walked over to Rika and gave her a hug. "Thanks for the brownies." She smiled. Rika smiled back. "No problem, I'll see ya." She said and rushed out the door and back to work.

Tomoyo locked her door and looked to the sliver ring shining on the counter top. Then she felt Eriol's warm hand touch her. Tomoyo shivered and held back tears. She walked over to the ring and slowly slipped it back on her finger and looked at it. Tomoyo sighed and looked to her clock and sat down not wanting to eat another brownie, watching the clock tick away. She didn't feel like going out she just wanted to stay in.

Later that night Eriol was getting started with dinner. He was steaming rice and getting the vegetables' ready for the stir-fry. The door opened and Syaoran and Sakura were laughing about something. "Hey, Eriol." Sakura called and Eriol waved a hand to them as he finished stripping the carrots and washing them. "Mmm, the rice smells great." Syaoran commented. "Thanks, I'll just be a little longer." Eriol said trying to put on a front of happiness but then he turned back around to the cut the chicken Sakura looked to Syaoran and they shared a puzzled glance.

"He doesn't sound okay?" Sakura whispered to Syaoran who nodded putting the box of his company's new product on the table. Eriol put the chicken in the wok and put in some spices along with some soy sauce. "Eriol why don't you teach Sakura to cook as good as you?" Syaoran said turning on the television as Sakura went over to help him. "I cook just fine, Syaoran." Sakura protested taking a cooked chicken piece Eriol handed to her. "Mmm, juicy." She said and Eriol smiled half-heartedly and finished cooking the chicken putting it on a black oval platter and then he put the red and yellow bell peppers in and fried them in the wok for a few minutes.

"Eriol, we brought some of that Pina Colada mix you like for later." Syaoran said lifting the bottle and walking over putting it on the counter next to the blender. Eriol sighed. "That sounds nice." He replied.

Syaoran shoot Sakura a looked and she nodded. "So Eriol how are things with Tomoyo?" She said as Eriol was expertly cutting the carrots with speed and he went even faster when Sakura asked the question. Syaoran opened the freezer and took out some ice and put a lot in the blender with some apple juice and a splash of white wine and then he put the colada mix in with some sugar and turned it on. It only took two minutes.

Eriol didn't answer the question, the pain in his chest sharpened but he ignored it and continued cutting the carrots. Syaoran finished with the Pina Colada's and opened the cabinet for some martini glasses. "Something wrong?" Syaoran said closing the cabinet slowly. Eriol sighed and went to the last carrots. "Nope." He said plainly.

Sakura touched Eriol's arm. "Eriol what's wrong? we can tell something's wrong." She said. Eriol stopped cutting the carrot and gripped the knife and held his breath and left it out. "Eriol?" Syaoran said. Eriol turned around and with a shout he threw his knife to the nearest wall. Sakura tensed and Syaoran back out of Eriol's way. Eriol breathing became heavy and he gripped his hair and sunk to the floor. Sakura went over to Eriol quickly and put her arms around him. Eriol cried gripping Sakura as she held him.

"What happened?" Syaoran said sitting next Eriol. "I was so stupid." He said in a muffled voice and he slowly pulled away from Sakura and she handed him her white handkerchief Eriol got her from Europe. "I shouldn't have never gone over to Indigo at that table, now Tomoyo think's I'm cheating on her." He said whipping his eyes. "What? didn't you try to explain?" Sakura said surprised. Eriol nodded and calmed himself and the pain in his chest lessened.

"She wouldn't listen to me and she said that she loved me but I took her for granted and she didn't want to see me. She sent everything I gave her back to me in that box in the hallway I suspect. I feel so terrible." He sighed as Sakura smoothed Eriol hair back. Syaoran stood back up and poured the Pina Colada's and handed each Sakura and Eriol a glass.

"Did you try to call her?" Sakura asked. "I can't, she won't listen to me. I'm such an ass." He sighed sipping the slushy drink. "I knew that Indigo bitch would try something." Syaoran sighed. "Don't worry about it Syao, it's over. I lost her." He sighed. Sakura put her cup down and took Eriol's hand. "You can't just give up Eriol. Love can hurt but it can also heal. You have to talk to her." She said.

"I think I'm going to die if I hear her name again." He sighed miserably. "I can't believe she would just diss you like that and not listen." Syaoran said noticeably pissed. "I said it was over. Tomoyo doesn't say anything she doesn't mean and she wanted me away from her and I have to respect." Eriol put his glass down and breathed deeply. "I really thought she was the one." He said looking to Syaoran and then Sakura.

"She might still be, but sitting on your ass isn't going to help." Syaoran said. Eriol sighed and picked up and drink and took a gulp. "Maybe." He muttered after he swallowed his Pina Colada.

The next morning was better for Tomoyo. She was actually smiling and she went to work that day. Although Nobu-san was kept asking her if this emotional blow would effect her work performance, she would just smiled and say 'no'. Tomoyo was at the bar handing an old women her drink and she turned seeing Rika talking with Dave and then he was called over by Nobu-san and he parted from Rika with a sweet kiss. Tomoyo could tell Rika was blushing. "Well, I see you guys are getting along." Tomoyo teased cleaning the counter. "Our last date was perfect this time. We went dancing and saw a movie, it was cute. He said he loved me can you believe it?" Rika said and then stopped smiling when she realized what she said.

"Oh, I'm sorry?" Rika said quickly. But Tomoyo just shook her head and smiled. " I'm happy for you, Rika." She said. Rika nodded not trusting herself to say anything else. "I heard you got great reviews on Blues Lagoon." Rika said opening a small paper clipping she saved. "Yeah, I heard and I got this guy from J-music's card." She said. Rika gaped. "J-music's! Are you serious? Tomoyo you can make a record and become a professional singer like you always wanted." She said shaking Tomoyo smiling. Tomoyo smiled back and nodded. "I haven't called him yet because I'm quitting my last job besides this one because I'm heading home soon and I have to be ready." Tomoyo sighed. Rika nodded.

"It's going to suck not having you here." She sighed. "That's a lie your going to have a good time with Dave." Tomoyo smiled. Rika laughed.

Eriol came back from a meeting loosening his tie as he walked past the box he stopped and turned and picked up the box and slowly walked to the couch putting the box on the coffee table. Eriol went to the kitchen and got a small knife and sat down and opened the box. He stopped for a moment feeling the pain in his chest again and then he continued opening the box seeing the sparkling red dress. Eriol lifted and held it to his nose smelling Tomoyo. Eriol sighed and held the dress to his chest hoping the feel would comfort him or at least make him feel closer to her.

He sighed and laid on the couch and he slowly closed his eyes. The pain in his chest subsided as he held the dress close. Eriol opened his eyes and sat up and looked to a photo of Tomoyo and himself. She was sitting on his lap and they were smiling their hands intertwined into each other. Eriol smiled and put the picture down and put the dress gently back in the box and closed it setting it aside.

It was horrible. Eriol groaned and got up walked out the apartment seeing he needed some air, maybe it would make him feel better. He walked down the small street and to the park and sat at on the bench looking to the Mother's and Father's with their kids and the old men playing chess and cards in the distance and the teenage boys and girl flirting with each other and soccer that was being played in the a few yards with kids shouting for their turn at the ball. It was all so forlorn to him.

Tomoyo and Rika entered the park and decided to eat someplace shady since it was especially hot today. Tomoyo was laughing at something Rika told her about Dave and they sat down by a large tree. Eriol turned to his right and saw Tomoyo sitting with Rika and his breath caught in the wind. His heart was racing. He could go over there and explain everything to her. Eriol stood and watched Rika and Tomoyo laughing and then his thoughts faded, 'I can't.' He thought and backed away slowly. 'I can't see her, she doesn't want to see me.' He thought hopelessly and walked out of the park feeling down and even worst then he had. Eriol headed back to his apartment and took out his electric piano and sat on a stool looking to the ivory keys.

He positioned his fingers on the keys and pushed a key. It dinged and it wasn't as beautiful as the piano he had at the manor that his parents left from him. Eriol played Swan Lake and then stopped with a light smile. He remembered he loved music a lot but not more then cooking. Eriol played another tone it was soft it was Corinne Bailey Rae's Like a star. Eriol played for a moment then stopped turning off the piano. Eriol felt his phone vibrate in his pocket so he took it out and opened it seeing Tomoyo smiling picture. Eriol's heart stopped a moment then he answered the phone.

"Eriol." He said answering the cell. "Eriol I was waiting for you to call me back." Mr. Andre Black chuckled in French. Eriol spoke in French. "I'm sorry old friend, I was . . .um, busy." He sighed walking to his bed and sitting down. "Really? With that beautiful lady friend of yours?" He asked sheepishly. Eriol sighed again, "Not really." He said. "What happened? I was sure you to had a romantic connection." He said. "We . . . broke up." Eriol said feeling pain in the words. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Andre said quietly. "Don't be, it was mostly my fault." Eriol admitted.

"Oh, that Indigo bitch huh? I knew you never liked her. How long were you with her and what was her name?" He asked like a Father or a friend would. "Her name was Tomoyo Daidoji and we were together for two and a half months." He answered. "And she saw this and thought you were a liar?" He said. "Bingo." He said sarcastically. "Mmm, love such a evil thing." He sighed.

"Andre I feel terrible. I can't talk to her because I don't know what to say to make things right and she doesn't want to see me anyway. I don't know what to do. Everything I walked into the kitchen I feel like I should kill myself and maybe it's stop this . . . pain in my heart, my chest will stop. I loved her from the very beginning and I messed everything up." He sighed. "Eriol, don't blame yourself this is just a speed-bumpy." He said. "Speed-bumpy? This is a fucking cliff, Andre." Eriol said harshly.

"When I was a young lad about your age, I had a problem like that except the girl I was with was cheated on me. She tried to explain but I didn't want to hear it. I regret that now, she had wonderful breasts." He sighed. Eriol laughed for the first time in weeks. "I thought so." He sighed. "But Eriol you can't let this bring you down, if you love her then tell her." He said.

"What am I supposed to walk up to her and say it? What if she gets a restraining order?"

"No, I was thinking along the line of calling her and then seeing her."

"We would have changed her number by now. I don't want to make matters worst, Andre."

"Your not making them any better by just sitting around, my boy."

Eriol was silent. He might have been right but what was he supposed to do. "But anyway I just wanted to see what was going on with you. I'm heading to America for a teaching job in the fall, I won't be back for about six months." He said. "I hope you have a safe flight." Eriol said sincerely. "I'll call you when I came back." He said. "Alright Andre, I'll see you soon." Eriol sighed. "And remember just say it, it never hurts to try. You might just lose a great love." He said. Eriol and Andre said their good-byes and Eriol sighed putting his cell down slowly.

'Maybe his right.' He thought and flopped on his bed looking to the ceiling. Eriol went through the conversation again in his head and Andre was right. He was his bodily voice of reason. Eriol sighed and turned on and closed his eyes taking a nap.

What does every one think of this chapter. I hope my Grammar and Spelling is better in this on and it's longer then the last on. And thank you to everyone who reviewed and is reviewing. I love hearing for you. And I hope you like it. What will happen to Eriol and Tomoyo? gasp I hope it's good.

Peace.

Sakura123