Disclaimer: I don't own CCS

Oh, Ladies and Gentlemen!

Recap: Tomoyo, who had a big crush on Touya, was heartbroken upon knowing that Touya was already engaged with Kaho. In her depressed state, Eriol asked her to pretend to be his girlfriend to separate the Touya-Kaho coupling so that they could have their 'lovers' back.

Chapter 3:: Devilish Entertainment

When Tomoyo found out that the Li Family had a tradition to hold a pre-wedding event 2 weeks before the wedding party, her perfectionist side rose up and she promised herself to make the most memorable pre-wedding bash for the two couple. In all honesty, she loved to prepare such things: deciding the theme, contacting the catering, arranging the setting, taking care of all the small details. But there was only this one wish that Mei Lin had told her about this sooner, not one day before the event should be celebrated.

"Mei Lin-san, remind me to charge you for any mental breakdown I might experience afterwards," Tomoyo spoke, even though that for a preparation so rushed; this party was going rather smoothly... at least, so far. She had been afraid of the guest list, but apparently the Li Clan had taken care of it.

The Chinese girl laughed. "I'm sorry that I told you all so sudden. But most importantly, this party is great! Great food, nice atmosphere, everybody is blending here. You should be proud of yourself! I'm gonna hire you as my personal wedding-planner. Oh that reminds me! Have I introduced you to my fiancée?" Mei Lin spoke as grabbing the other woman's hand and dragged her to a tall, stiff-looking yet handsome guy. Kiyoshiro (Mei Lin's fiancée) made a good balance to Mei Lin's rather bouncy personality, in Tomoyo's view.

"I met him on my business trip to Seoul a month ago," The red-eyed woman explained once they were out of Kiyoshiro's sight. "Disliked him at first, but things turned out better in the end,"

"You mean, you're engaged to someone you met just a month ago?" Tomoyo inquired.

"Yeah, people said we're rushing this over. But what can I say? We feel the chemistry and I can't imagine marrying any other guy beside Kiyoshiro," she grinned. "You must think I'm stupid, eh?"

Tomoyo smiled. "Not at all. I even am a bit envious with you,"

"And that's why I keep reminding you to get a mate soon, darling. You're almost 25, Sakura is getting married in 2 weeks, I'll follow her path 2 months later, and our other girl friends are already married, if not, at least they're seeing someone…"

Laughing courteously she replied, "You know, you really sound like my mother,"

"And you need more of our kinds to remind you, dear. Don't you at least like someone?"

She smiled. "I do,"

"Really?! Who?! Oh great, this also reminds me! Another tradition in the Li Clan wedding ceremony, you as the bridesmaid must bring a guy as your wedding date. Good chance, bring that guy to the wedding!"

"But the situation between us in not romantic in any way. He loves another woman already and –"

"You'll surprise everyone there! Just between us, but me, Naoko, and Chiharu have bet about what kind of guy that could steal your heart," Mei Lin blabbered –seemingly not very comprehending Tomoyo's latest explanation. "I bet that this guy of yours must be the humorous type, is rather silly, but warm and…"

Mei Lin continued the chats and Tomoyo gave up convincing her friend that her romance story didn't really include 'love' in it. The Li girl seemed to believe that Tomoyo was only trying to be modest and secretive by keep denying 'the guy'. The countering finally stopped when Kiyoshiro called for his woman.

Good Lord, Mei Lin seemed to be eager giving her hard tasks these weeks. After the hurried party preparation now she urged her to get a wedding date? Sometimes Tomoyo thought that Mei Lin was just making up those traditions in order to tease her.

"Will your special someone be angered if I decide to accompany you here, Daidouji-san?"

Tomoyo looked at her left where no other than the Hiiragizawa bastard had occupied the vacant seat. "Good evening, Hiiragizawa-san. I hope this party can meet your standard,"

Eriol flashed a smirk. "You haven't answered my question,"

"With all respect, Hiiragizawa-san, why should I answer a question that you ask for your pure sick entertainment only? And during your pleasant dinner date, I thought I have stated it very clear that I –"

" –have never and will never have that special someone," he continued. "Don't be so sinister, Daidouji-san. I'm always on the first line to become your suitor,"

"What a kind offer, Hiiragizawa-san. But I don't think I'm suited enough for such honor,"

"You've been specially offered such honor since 2 weeks ago. I'm getting a little impatient having to wait for your answer, my dear,"

Tomoyo shrugged. "I don't know, Hiiragizawa-san…"

"Such formalities. We will have to start to call each other's first names when we're lovers,"

She gave him a challenging smile. "And what makes you think that I'm going to accept your offer?"

"You will," he said in such confidence. "It's just a matter of time. But a man has a limit of patience, Daidouji-san. And besides, if you deliberate too much, your Touya-kun will be lost forever," Eriol chuckled evilly as leaning back to the sofa and taking some more sips from the glass of alcoholic beverages. "This tastes really fine, Daidouji-san. I trust this is the choice of an expert silent alcoholic as you are,"

"I am not an alcoholic, Hiiragizawa-san," Tomoyo replied. "I scarcely drink –it was just plain coincidence that you happened to witness me while I was in the rare mood to drink. And let me advice you to stop drinking that stuff. It's rather too strong and I don't want you to get drunk and mess up with Sakura's party," she commented as standing up and left the Clow's incarnation. "Enjoy the party, Hiiragizawa-san,"

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Perhaps, instead of just mildly advising him to stop drinking, Tomoyo should have grabbed that bottle of alcoholic beverages away from his grip. Hiiragizawa Eriol had not the good drinker's criteria. And if only she had decided to take the bottle away from him, perhaps none of this mess would have happened.

She was in the foyer, accompanying Sakura to bid farewell to guests, when Mei Lin came in haste and told her about the commotion that had happened on the balcony.

"Hiiragizawa. Drunk. Out of control. Balcony…" was what Tomoyo could comprehend from Mei Lin's panting-filled explanations.

Thank goodness most guests had taken their leave so that they didn't need to witness the act of immaturity. There were only Yukito, Touya, Kaho Mizuki, and of course, the menace himself, who was currently yelling in an obvious state of drunkenness.

" –scum, manipulative bith… you dare to waste all those 12 years… for a kid who –"

Kaho spoke up. "Eriol, it's over between us and –"

"Shut up! Just SHUT UP and don't say it's over between us!!"

"It's over!" The usually composed priestess shrieked. "I can't stand you anymore! We're just lying to ourselves for 12 damn years! You know that there's never love between us –"

"I love you! Damn it, Kaho! I love you! I can give you anything! What else do I need to do to make you mine?!"

"I can't love you the way you want it, why can't you understand that?!"
"You're mine! The destiny bounds us together –"

"My life will not be dictated by some stupid premonitions! I have rights to decide my own life, Eriol! And I have rights to choose Touya instead of you!"

Eriol snorted as pointing an accusing finger on Touya. "Of course, you! You are the source of this! You could only steal what's not yours, you cowardice bastard –" and he walked forward in an apparent motive to do harmful things to the brown-haired guy.

"Hiiragizawa, control yourself!" Yukito instinctively grabbed the sorcerer's body –tried to keep him from creating bruises on his friend's face. But the gray-haired young man wasn't quick enough. Eriol had laid a powerful hit to his half's son's jaw.

Kaho and Sakura screamed as they quickly rushed to the punched guy. Syaoran pushed Eriol aback and casted some ancient Chinese spell to invisibly bind him. The out-of-his-mind magician could only struggle in his fruitless attempt to be free. Alcohol had infused his mind so greatly that he wasn't even able to undo the simple binding spell Syaoran had casted on him. After making sure his former master was safely tied, Yukito joined the others to check on Touya's condition.

This gave Tomoyo very small chance to get close to Touya. She was worried but what could she do? Touya had Kaho now, and her presence would only be disturbance.

Disturbance…

She realized how pathetic her current condition was.

((At least not as pathetic as him))

The spontaneous thought reminded her of the cause of trouble. Eriol was still trying his might to break the binding spell. For what reasons, she wasn't completely sure, but her feet had dragged her closer to the hazardous guy.

"You disappoint me, Hiiragizawa-san. I thought you were smarter than this,"

He stopped his struggles and gazed at her. Then with a low chuckle, he murmured, "What do you know about me, you slt?"

"Don't use that term on me, Hiiragizawa-san," she smiled warningly. "And utilize your brain better. Do you think you'll reach your goal if you're acting this impulse towards Mizuki-san and Touya-kun?"

"At least I'm speaking up my mind and not hiding it like a cowardice bith you are,"

She raised an eyebrow. "Where have all the gentleman personality gone? Finally showing your true color, eh, Hiiragizawa?"

"Shut up you –" but his mutters were cut when she poured a glass of water to his face. Her act earned a low growl and more profanities from him. "Woman! What the hell are you doing?!"

"Waking you up," she calmly responded. "Set aside all your childishness. News flash, you are NOT the only one who suffers from Mizuki-san and Touya's pairing, so stop dramatizing your own life and listen to me,"

Eriol snarled.

Tomoyo sighed. "Come on, you're the reincarnation of one of the world's strongest sorcerer. How could mere alcohol distract your professionalism? Concentrate to get rid the alcohol from your brain system. That should be a piece of cake for someone your level, right?"

He continued his growl but obeyed her advice too in the end.

"Is he alright?" Yukito asked from her behind.

Tomoyo nodded and assured him. "He'll be fine,"

"That's a relief. Truthfully, I was so shocked that Hiiragizawa-san could be that… out of control," he whispered.

"Don't worry. He's just a bit tired," she reasoned.

Yukito chuckled. "You talk as if you were his mother. Or his girlfriend," he then naively quirked an eyebrow. "Or are you really his –"

"I'm sorry for all the troubles I've caused," Eriol's sudden words alerted the two other peoples' attention.

"You're alright?" Tomoyo asked in disbelief. That was the first time she saw a person could get rid off his drunkenness in such a short amount of time. But her later conscience reminded her of her former motivation towards him. Perhaps, as one of the best sorcerer alive, Hiiragizawa Eriol could do and manipulate almost anything.

That thought scared her a bit. She made a mental note not to make her name appeared on Eriol's blacklist.

He managed his usual reassuring smile, though from routine observation, Tomoyo could notice that this one was rather forged. "I'm alright now," Eriol said as closing his eyes and a moment later, he was freed from Syaoran's spell.

"Good to hear that," revealed Yukito. "I'm gonna check on Touya's condition. Is it alright that I leave you here, Hiiragizawa-san?"

"Don't worry. I have… Tomoyo here to accompany me," he smiled and cast a hidden intimidating glint to the said girl.

"Ah, of course, of course," Yukito grinned. "I'll leave now," he bowed and walked away to the room where Touya and the other were.

…

"You get Yukito-san to think the wrong way, you know?" she started once she made sure there were only her and Eriol on that balcony area.

"Well that's my objective,"

Tomoyo sighed. "But with what happened with Touya-kun and Mizuki-san just then… don't you think you were just screwing up your plan?"

"Just a bit. It won't be a big problem,"

"You're being too sure sometimes, Hiiragizawa-san,"

"If you have time to criticize, you'd better join my partnership quickly, Daidouji-san. Besides it's –"

"Fine,"

Eriol paused and stared at her –not quite believing what he just heard. "Fine, you mean –"

"You seem rather hopeless. I guess I can aid you some helps," she shrugged. "I honestly don't expect much from this project of yours, but it may worth the try,"

Second later, Tomoyo had her eyes fixated on his blue ones. Eriol had held her chin and forced her to look at him.

"You won't regret having business with me," he murmured…

…inches away from her lips.

She knew perfectly he was only teasing her again, but she couldn't deny that her heart did skip a beat.

"You're whimpering. Is this, by any chance, your most intimate experience with a guy?" he mocked her.

"I thought you're not going to mix personal with business?" she said aloofly, her best defense she could manage to control her spreading blush.

"Whoever said that this is personal?" he smirked.

She could feel his warm breath on her lips.

Good Lord…

"Daidouji-san… I just love to have a little fun in my business. And besides, breaking your poise and grace is one of the best thrills here," Eriol whispered as caressing her lips.

She jolted and tried to push him away.

But he was stronger, he quickly pinned both her hands together and her attempts died mercilessly.

"Hiiragizawa-san, don't you dare –"

He inched closer and she shut her eyes tight…

…And she could feel him lick her lips.

Tomoyo blushed hard and with all her might shove him away for the second time. That time, he let her go.

"That was a priceless reaction," Eriol amusedly grinned.

Still managing to calm herself, Tomoyo retorted, "Don't make me cancel our partner –"

"See you tomorrow… Tomoyo-chan," he cut her words, turned around, and walked away.

The Daidouji heiress could only stand rooted to her spot, blaming herself for being stupid enough to accept the deal from the devil himself.

To Be Continued