Disclaimer: I don't own CCS
Oh, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Recap: Tomoyo was shocked upon hearing that Touya –the guy whom she secretly loved all along – was now engaged with an unknown woman. In her sadness state, she decided to go to the bar and she met the familiar stranger and almost got herself in misunderstanding sexual encounter. Having the situation handled, she thought that her life could flow back to normal. But then, the stranger guy appeared again and invited her for a dinner date. Worse, the guy turned out to be THE Hiiragizawa Eriol.
Chapter 2 :: It's business, nothing's personal
If Tomoyo was asked to describe THE Hiiragizawa Eriol (based on what was left in her memory during childhood before he moved back to England with Mizuki-san), she would say that he was a calm, polite, and charming gentleman.
Surely, after meeting him again the night before, the description she had about him didn't alter too much. He was still the calm, polite, charming gentleman she had known back then in the 5th grade.
But a Daidouji had keen perspective. Thus she could feel when danger was lurking near her.
And all about the 24-year-old Hiiragizawa Eriol just plainly screamed 'danger'.
Yes, on the surface, Eriol seemed nice and polite, but Tomoyo was sure there was something fishy about that guy. In her right state of mind, her tendency to be cautious would make her react like politely refusing the dinner invitation. But she only stood still, not agreeing nor refusing. He seemed to take that as a 'yes' and left her apartment soon afterwards.
Whatever the reason, she had made him into thinking that she would agree. So, the least she could do to be responsible was to dress herself for the date.
Her door bells rang at 7 pm sharp and she had no other option but to open the door.
"Evening, Daidouji-san. You look stunning as always. Hope these flowers won't wilt for they can't even match an inch of your beauty," Eriol grinned as he handed her a bouquet of roses.
"Good evening too, Hiiragizawa-san. Lovely flowers for such a flatterer as you are," Tomoyo matched his saccharine smile.
"I hope I can take that as a compliment,"
"Since I don't want to wound a man's ego, then you may take that as a compliment or whatever you wish it to be,"
There were slight glistens in his blue eyes before he chuckled, "You wounded me already, Daidouji-san,"
"I really didn't mean to," she politely said with a smile that was not exactly apologetic at all.
"Well," Eriol looked at his wristwatch before speaking again, "I think we'd better go now. Shall we?"
"Yes, I'll take my purse first," Tomoyo replied as quickly walking to her room and took her purse.
Along with a bottle of salt-pepper spray she made just that afternoon. Just in case.
And judging from that last night's incident, she decided that it would always be a case if she was involved with one Hiiragizawa Eriol.
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When Eriol's black sedan stopped in front of the Kinomoto's residence, Tomoyo couldn't help but to ask.
"Sakura's house? What are we doing here?"
He leaned back to his seat. "We will wait. It shouldn't be long,"
"We will wait for what?"
Eriol didn't answer and just casually tapping his fingers to the steering wheel humming a song. Not so long after, a blue car rode out of the Kinomoto residence and Eriol started to drive his car again.
Tomoyo didn't have to be told who the owner of the blue car was. She had observed him for a long time and she would immediately know who the driver of the blue car was. "That's Touya-kun. Why are we following his car?" And when she didn't get the reply, Tomoyo could only sigh and follow the bespectacled man's whatever-secret intention.
Touya's car finally stopped in front of a restaurant. He parked the car and walked into the restaurant. Eriol waited for a couple of moment before parking his car. "Time to work," he said when he opened her door side and helped her out. They entered the restaurant and Eriol chose a vacant table in a good distance where they could watch Touya without the fear of being easily caught. "What do you want to order, Daidouji-san? I heard that the scallops here are very good, is that true?"
"Well, Sakura likes them very much. But Hiiragizawa-san? What are we –"
The waiter came and interrupted her words. After they ordered, the waiter left, and Eriol continued to hum the song nonchalantly.
Clearing her throat, Tomoyo asked again, "Hiiragizawa-san, if you want my cooperation, won't it be nice to tell me the situation we're facing currently?"
He smirked. "I'm actually glad that I can do something that ignites your curiosity. I heard that it's really hard to get you truly interested in something, my fair lady. I'm actually honored,"
"If that pleases you, then it's fine. But do you mind to answer my question now, Hiiragizawa-san?"
"I don't want to ruin your surprise, so we may just sit and relax until the real show begins, ne?"
And so, Tomoyo decided to wait and go with his flow first. The food came later and they began their dinner. Eriol also talked about his work as a divorce attorney (and she silently believed that his customary actions of flirting was one of the reason his clients could have quick progress of divorce), about Nakuru and Spinel and their life in London for the past 13 years and so and so. Tomoyo also contributed to the conversation (cautiously at first, but smoother later) and shared the story about Sakura and Syaoran's engagement last month and her work as a theater's costume designer along with her current 'occupation' as Sakura's wedding planner and gown's designer et cetera.
The truth was, she almost thought that this was a normal date or a normal dinner with an old friend, since Eriol didn't give any indication of dangerous or mysterious intentions. In fact, she rather enjoyed his company and almost didn't realize time had passed rather quickly. They had finished their dinner and there was still no abnormality in that night except the Touya-stalking at the beginning.
Tomoyo was beginning to think that Eriol was only teasing her about 'the real show' or whatever he called it, when suddenly a familiar feminine aura walked past her.
"I am so sorry I'm late. My boss wouldn't let me go even though I've finished all the tasks he'd given. You've ordered?" the woman spoke not so loud, but strangely Tomoyo could hear it. In her late realization, she found out that the woman had spoken and taken the seat in front of Touya.
She studied the woman. But since Tomoyo could only see the woman's back, the Daidouji heiress could only conclude that the woman had reddish hair and tall appearance with a graceful poise. Turning back to Eriol, she could see him with his debonair smile and knowing yet cruel eyes.
"Were you intending to show me this?" she asked.
"Do you enjoy it?"
"I didn't know that you were that sick that you asked me out just to watch this,"
"Hey, it's the guy you love. It's not a mere 'this', is it?"
It hit her. He knew it! He knew she was in love with Touya!
Oh.
Right, it was her spilling her own secret to him. But then again why did he do this? Okay, so Eriol was not a saint guy, but she honestly hadn't thought that he would be that mean. He knew already about her secret one-sided love with Touya and he took her to see him date another woman? Man, she thought that this English gentleman would have more heart and consideration!
So, with the sickest smile she could manage, she told him, "This is not funny," she took her purse and then got up. "I'm leaving,"
"Sit down, Daidouji-san. For your information, this is not funny for me either," he calmly spoke.
Her steps halted. And after quickly deliberating, she decided to sit back and listened to whatever explanations he might prepared.
"Don't you recognize the woman?" he asked.
Since he mentioned it, Tomoyo turned back to see the couple and gave extra attention to the red hair woman. Then it struck her. It was Mizuki-sensei! How could she have not realized that? But wasn't Mizuki-sensei….
Tomoyo turned again to face Eriol. The sorcerer guy only smiled. "I see that you're getting clues here, Daidouji-san." And before she could ask more, Eriol had called the waiter and paid for the bill. "Show's over. Let's get back to the car, shall we?" He said as standing up and signaled her to follow him. They got into the car and Eriol quickly started the engine and drove the car away.
No one talked.
15 minutes later, Eriol slowed down the car and finally stopped on a vacant street. "Here will do," he murmured and she silently dug her purse for the salt-pepper spray. Again, just in case he tried to do anything improper.
"Okay, Daidouji-san. I'm actually quite tired, so I hope you don't mind if we put down all our sugary-coated talks we've both shared? I mean, I know you must also be fed up with all this politeness," He was still smiling but she could notice the change of aura.
She took a breath and nodded. "I don't mind,"
"Good," he murmured as digging up his pocket and took a stick of cigar. He turned down the car's engine and opened the window. The night's breeze flowed inside and he began to light his cigar.
"I hate smokes," she told him and was quite amazed of herself. Usually, she would never talk her mind freely to other people. Not even to Sakura or her own mother.
Eriol chuckled darkly. "Pity, I'm not exactly concerned with your opinion. I'll smoke with or without your approval, Dai-dou-ji-san… But…" he hung his sentence and reached something from the car back seat. "Ta-daa. I've prepared this for you. So we could have this conversation in our each comfortable way," he spoke as handing her a bottle of expensive wine. With a flick of finger and with what she assumed as his magic, he opened the lid. "I hope you don't mind to have the primitive way because I forgot to bring the glass. And since last night I saw how expert you were drinking straight from the bottle, I thought this would not be a matter for you,"
She eyed him in disbelief. "I'm not a –"
"Ah don't deny it, Daidouji-san. I know you more than you think I do," he winked. "And believe me, you're gonna need this. Here," he trusted the bottle into her hands. "Now where shall we start? Ah! I know. Let's talk about 'love'. Do you believe in real love, Daidouji-san? What you're feeling with Touya… do you think it's real love?"
Tomoyo snorted. "I'm not going to discuss it with you,"
"Okay fine. Then we'll start with me. Well…I do believe in real love. And I also believe that what I feel for Kaho is pure and real," he stated.
There was a long pause in which Eriol used to smoke. Tomoyo only watched to the darkness afar and almost unaware, started to drink the wine.
"She's everything for me," he began again. "We've shared perfect 12 years together and –"
"You two were married?"
"No. She always refused my proposal," he murmured quickly. "But the point is, we've shared everything together. I thought I couldn't be any happier but then… a year ago she ended our relationship. No reason, no explanations. How do you expect me to react?"
Tomoyo calmly drank the wine again. "Turning yourself into a sex-obsessed guy?"
"What other things can occupy my crazed mind beside good fuk? I could drive myself insane without it,"
"Men," she muttered. "Is that what's always on your mind?"
"Perfect distraction actually. I could hold on for months thanks to that,"
She gave him indications that this wasn't her most favorite subject.
He smirked and blew smokes to her face (Her annoyed coughs as results) before returned back to serious mode and continued, "But then… there was this news… Kaho told me that she was already engaged with another man. I went wild at first –ask Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun for eye witnesses. Even wilder once I found out that she was engaged with my own half's son,"
"You hate Touya-kun?"
"Do you hate Kaho?"
"No, I don't hate her,"
"But she took your love –the guy that you've loved for years. Kaho just walked in and took him away from you," he tried to rub her patience off.
"I don't know with your case, but with mine…" she sighed. "I have no reason to hate Mizuki-sensei. With or without her appearance, Touya has never been mine. And will never be,"
Besides the thrilling taste of wine, she could taste the salty droplet that already fell to her lips. She cleared her throat and wiped her tears. There was no way she would let Eriol found out she was crying. "So you do hate Touya?"
"No. Although I want to, the relationship between us has prevented me to. And besides, I don't hate my competitor since I'm going to win anyway," he then turned to the raven-haired woman. "And this is where I need your help. I want you to act like my girlfriend,"
Perhaps it was because the alcohol, but she was almost sure it was due to his words, Tomoyo laughed. "You're silly. Don't tell me this is the old 'love-strategy' where we would try to trigger jealousy to make our loved ones realize who their pairing really should be?"
"Kind of that,"
She chuckled. "Hiiragizawa, aren't we a little too old for such trick? It's not a mere highschool love we're dealing. Touya and Mizuki-sensei are about to be engaged. Such stupid jealousy trick wouldn't –"
"I know Kaho. She's the kind of woman who needed to lose something before she realized what was really important for her. And besides, I'm sure that our relationship for 12 years would win compare to a couple of months crush between him and Touya. You see, Kaho just needs some triggers. We play it right, and she'll be mine again,"
She pondered.
"Okay, so what's my side of the bargain? What am I getting from this?"
"Without Kaho, Touya's free for yours,"
"I don't think you get it. I told you, with or without Mizuki-sensei, Touya will never be mine. Okay? And besides, why me? Why not other girl that you use as a one night stander? I'm sure they're more than willing to help you out,"
"Daidouji-san, I am the kind of guy who always separate between business and personal. What I have with those girls is personal –"
" –and with me, it's business,"
He nodded. "You get my point. And besides, I'm truly interested in you. We have so much in common, Daidouji-san. Don't you think we'll get along well together?"
"Don't generalize me with you,"
"Another denial, eh? Don't you see? We're just the same. We both lost our loves, we both could play perfect polite facades, we hide our inner demons inside..."
"I don't –"
"How many times do you pretend to be the 'I'm fine, nothing's disturbing me' kind of girl? You always try to prevent other people from getting hurt, but on the other hand, you just keep hurting yourself. You remain polite and cheerful; you always mask your feelings. You don't let other know about your problem. You're just a sick pretending girl –"
"Don't talk as if you understand," she spat.
He smirked –thrilled to have her temperament leaked out even just for a little. "But I do. We have so much in common, remember?"
She was silenced. "I don't want to talk about this,"
"Fine. I don't expect you to immediately agree anyway. Okay, Daidouji-san, since it's getting late, I'm going to take you back to your apartment," he concluded as throwing the cigarette he had smoked to the car's ashtray, started the engine, and drove his car to her apartment's direction. 5 minutes later, they arrived at the apartment's parking building and he walked her to her room. "So… Daidouji-san. I hope you can consider my offer. It will give you chance. Not much, but once Kaho's out of Touya's life, you could get back to your daily 'watching-afar' method of love. Though I thought it's ineffective, but if you're comfortable with that, then this plan is worth the try,"
"Hn," she tried to shrug it off and unlocked her apartment's door. "Well, thank you for the dinner. It's…pleasant,"
"Oh and one more thing, Daidouji-san,"
Tomoyo turned around and noticed that suave smirk of him again.
"You don't need to bother putting on your mask in front of me,"
She eyed him warily before then breaking into a polite smile. "…Good night, Hiiragizawa-san,"
He bowed and returned the same polite smile. "Good night, Daidouji-san,"
To Be Continued
To how heteronormative: Yes, I know that that in the manga series Tomoyo was in love with Sakura, and Touya with Yukito. But my story took place years after that. I think it's normal for people to slowly change their feelings towards the others. So, in this story, Tomoyo started to have crush on Touya in Highschool, while Touya just started to rebuild his relationships with Kaho some times after that.