Disclaimer: I don't own CCS
Notes : I may suggest you to re-read chapter 4 first before you read this 12th chapter. It may help you comprehend this chapter better. But on the other hand, if you're the type that anticipates little surprises, then you may go read this chapter without re-reading the 4th chapter. Don't worry, this chapter is still understandable even without re-reading the 4th chapter. Your choice…
Oh, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Chapter 12: A Lady and a Gentleman
A year and a couple months later
A loud ring woke her up in a jolt of movement. Bewilderedly, Tomoyo opened her eyes and grabbed her cell phone –the source of the sudden morning noise – while reminding herself silently to stop setting the volume of her cell phone too loud. She had experienced many morning breakdowns –thanks to the loud sound her cell phone provided.
Sleepily, she answered the call, "Hello?"
"TOMOYO-CHAN…!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!"
"Sakura-chan?"
"Yup, yup, it's me! How you're doing? Oh, I really wish that I could spend your birthday with you, but Mother had forbidden me to,"
So her best friend slash cousin, Kinomoto (Li) Sakura was currently residing in Hong Kong with her husband and his whole clan. The emerald-eyed was busily preparing the birth of her first child. And knowing Mrs. Li the senior, Tomoyo could comprehend why the mother-in-law forbid the girl to fly back to Tomoeda in the condition of 8 month pregnant.
"Of course. If I ever hear the news you order plane tickets to Tomoeda with your 8-month pregnancy, I swear I'm going to call the flight company and made them delayed all their flights," she replied.
The laughter Sakura provided on the other line brought mentally happy bubbles inside Tomoyo's heart. "So am I the first?" the Cherry Blossom eagerly inquired.
Tomoyo chuckled. This was the kind of game they used to play every year on her birthday. Sakura just loved to be the very first to congratulate her birthday.
"Yes, you're the first to ruin my morning sleep," she stated. "And it's only 6 in the morning. You're torturing me, Sakura-chan. How are things going on there?" Tomoyo walked to the bathroom, set her cell phone on the speaker mode, and put it on the near, safe place while she started with her morning activities (washed her face and brushed her teeth) as well as listening to Sakura's prattle about Syaoran and his hectic schedule as a top lawyer, about Mei Lin (who was moving to her new apartment with her husband), about Sakura's mother-in-law and her endless strictness, and many other things.
"Things are happening so fast here," Sakura sighed.
"Yes. And in a month, you're gonna be a mother,"
"Tomoyo-chan…!" Sakura squealed happily. "Anyway how are things going on in Tomoeda? How's my father and my brother? And the other?"
"Your father is just fine. But he wished you to call him more often. Touya-kun is also doing fine. I heard he got promoted recently,"
"How's brother's love life? Any suitor?"
"Nope. He chases all the girls away,"
Sakura laughed. "Ah… he's still too attached with Mizuki-san, eh?"
"… He doesn't really talk much about it actually. But yes, I think he's still waiting for her,"
The chestnut-haired girl heaved a sad sigh. "I hope he will find his happiness soon,"
"Yeah, me too,"
They chitchatted for a couple more minutes before decided to end the call –since Sakura's mother-in-law already called for her presence.
"Have a merry day, Tomoyo-chan! Bye-bye,"
"Bye, Sakura. Thanks a lot,"
Tomoyo was about to put her cell phone back on the table, when it rang again. That time, she checked the caller id. Her mother.
"Yes, Mother?"
"Happy birthday, Darling! What time is it there?"
She smiled. "6.34 am. Where are you now?" Sonomi was on another of her business trip to Europe. The schedule was so unpredictable that she could be in Paris today and in Germany the next day.
"Prague. I already sent you your birthday present. Have you received the package? My bodyguard should have put it in front of your apartment door,"
So there was this queer habit that Daidouji Sonomi had developed since some years back. And that was leaving her a birthday present in front of her apartment door instead of personally giving it or sending it in formal way. Tomoyo couldn't quite comprehend why her mother did that, but then again, how could she ever understand fully one Sonomi Daidouji?
"Perhaps it's there. Don't know. Haven't checked it,"
"Yamanaka-san sent me an email about your relationship with his son, Ryuu. Not going so well, eh?"
Ryuu Yamanaka was one of the guys Tomoyo had dated. Her mother's colleague's son. They had been dating for a couple of weeks, but like all of her other dates, they didn't last long. It was either the guy being too arrogant, or the guy being too melancholic, or the guy being too aggressive. But mostly, it was always her, being too…irresponsive?
"I just don't feel like I'm dating you. You're just not… there,"
That was pretty much the feedback she got from dating those guys.
"At least, I try, Mother… And really, I like those guys. They're… gorgeous, nice, smart –"
"Then why don't you tie the knot? Darling, battle with the clock, remember? I want to have –"
" –your grandchildren soon. I know, I know,"
On the other line, Sonomi smiled. "I know you'd understand. Alright then, I got to go. Have a merry birthday, Dear,"
"Thanks. Take care,"
"You too. Bye,"
Tomoyo put down her cell phone and then went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for herself. Birthday hadn't been anything too special for her these recent years. She had many friends and families that would turn that very day to be merrier, but that was it. Birthday was another ordinary day but with reminder 'Hey, I'm now 17' or 'God, I'm finally 25' or so.
So, she didn't really mind having to spend her birthday alone in her apartment. Her routine every year was just waking up, earning an eager visit from Sakura (but since that year the Cherry Blossom weren't in Japan, so a phone call would have to suffice), eat cereal for breakfast, read the newspaper, check out for her mother's present, go to meet Sakura and the others (again, this particular routine would have to change), and spend the rest of her day by watching her DVD collection.
Boring, yes. But Tomoyo Daidouji was never one to complain.
She finished her meal and decided to check out for her Mother's present in front of the door.
"Happy birthday, Miss Tomoyo," the voice greeted her instantly once she opened the door.
Tomoyo blinked at the tall woman whom she recognized to be one of her mother's bodyguards. "Oh… er… Yuka-san, isn't it? Yes, thank you,"
"Your mother's gift," Yuka said monotonously as handing her a small elegantly-carved chest.
Taking the gift with her, Tomoyo replied, "Thank you,"
"There are other gifts, Miss Tomoyo,"
The raven-haired gazed at the side. There, she realized that there were other boxes.
"Already there before I got here," explained Yuka.
After biding farewell and expressed her gratitude to Yuka, Tomoyo brought the presents in. She put them in her living room and sat on the floor, taking one present and started opening the wrapping.
The first box she opened revealed a beautiful handmade sweater. The slightly not-so-tidy knitting already gave her information as whoever sent her that. But she checked the card just to make justification.
Sorry, sorry, sorry for not being able to be there on your birthday, Tomoyo-chan!! This sweater is nothing much, but Mother urged me to learn all technique of sewing this summer, so I thought I'd present you one of my Masterpiece!! … well, sort of.
Tomoyo smiled. She knew that sewing hadn't been Sakura's strongest point, thus imagining her sitting all day concentrating with knitting the sweater really warmed her heart.
P.S: Another present for you: I'm gonna let you be the one to decide the baby's name! Lots of people are willing for that, but I'm giving YOU the authority. :)
Boy, now this was the kind of present she loved! Only by imagining those beautiful names she had prepared for Sakura's baby was enough to send her biggest thrill.
The next thing she reached was the small chest with a card on it. Her mother's gift.
Happy birthday, Dear!
…
…
Get a mate soon!
Opening the chest, Tomoyo found out that her mother had given her a beautiful diamond bracelet. After admiring the gorgeous thing, she put the bracelet back to its chest and placed the chest on the table. The bracelet would suit the dress she had just made herself for special occasion.
And as for…
The queerest box of all…
Tomoyo glanced at the biggest box. Although almost reaching her waist line if measured from the floor, but the box was strangely light. Sitting on the couch, Tomoyo dragged the box closer to her and opened it. She was greeted with colorful, shredded papers that filled the box. Curiously, she began to pull out all those papers. Her eyes widened when she saw the real things that were inside of the box.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Her memories travelled one year back, to another ordinary day with a certain simple yet unforgettable dialogues:
"What? Poetry, roses, on one-knee exclamation of undying love? Guys who court me need more efforts to melt my heart,"
"Then it means you're just impossible," he murmured.
And paused.
Before asking again, "So… what kind of attitude you want from a guy? What a guy needs to do that is 'gentlemen' in your eyes?"
Tomoyo's hand shook slightly on its own when grabbing the first thing.
She contemplated for some moments. "Instead of writing poetry, I want that guy to write a novel for me,"
He widened his eyes. "You're crazy,"
Oh, I'm not. A gentleman must show how deep his love runs for the girl, and instead of short poem, shouldn't he just express his feelings into long narrative text?" she spoke without any deter.
"What the –"
In her hand now, was a thick, purple book with no title. She scanned through the pages and see the typed words filling the book from the very first to the very last page. Her mouth gaped opened and she gazed at the book as if it was the craziest thing she had ever seen (Well, it was!). Her hands travelled back to the first page, where she noticed, the writing was printed out in a beautiful indigo color, unlike on the rest other pages. She read it.
This book is dedicated to Daidouji-san.
Not exactly a novel, Dear. But I hope this long narrative text will suffice.
"Oh God…" she murmured over and over again. She still wanted to admire the book, but her mind told her to move on. And so, Tomoyo put the book carefully on the table before taking out the biggest thing in that box.
"Better than roses or violets or any other flowers… I'd like the guy better if he can make a thousand paper cranes and write each individual cute love message on the folded papers,"
"That's insane! That completely wastes time. And papers. And ideas!"
"A gentleman must have patience and endless sacrifice for his girl,"
"Shit, you're sick, Daidouji. You are so sick –"
"1000 paper cranes…" she mouthed in pure awe as touching delicately the paper cranes. Carefully, she unfolded one paper crane and saw handwritten text on it.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
You're everyday in my head
Am I in yours too?
"Damn it, this can't be serious," she muttered as unfolding another paper crane. Then another. Then another. And another…
She stopped at the 12th paper cranes. All have different small love poetries written on it. And to think that there were other 988 love poetries…
"My goodness…"
Tomoyo shakily put aside the paper cranes next to her and then reached for the last thing in that box.
"And instead of one-knee exclamation of undying love… I'd love to see my boyfriend dressed up in cheerleaders outfit and do his love exclamations with pom-poms,"
…
…
"You're not expecting me to do those ridiculous things, right?" his face paled.
Her hand pulled out a piece of DVD. No title. Hastily, she moved to her DVD player, put the DVD inside, turned on her television, set it on the AV mode, before then clicked the 'play' button.
And on her TV, she saw his image.
Blue eyes, dark hair, pale complexion… He had taken off his glasses…and wore frilly blue cheerleaders outfit.
Her face featured one smile. He had proven to be very suited wearing girl clothes…
She could hear his voice from the television.
"Erm… Daidouji-san…. This is, by far, the most ridiculous thing that I have ever done… So…er… hope you enjoy… And don't you dare to laugh. You ask yourself for this," he muttered blushingly as putting on long, straight, dark wig on his head and pinned his wig with some hairpins. He moved to the center and the camera zoomed out until she could see his body from head to toe. An upbeat music started on the background and she eagerly waited.
Then the figure on her television started to do his dance.
She laughed out loud (He must be losing his mind when he told her not to laugh. How could she not laugh, then again?) when seeing the guy did some dance movements: swaying his hips, waving his pom-poms, did couple of splits (yes, the almighty guy could do that), did some back roll and other gymnastic stunts, screaming with made-up girlish voice, and spread his ala cheerleader smile…
And screamed on top of his lung: "I LOVE YOU! YOU HEAR THAT, DAIDOUJI TOMOYO-SAN?! I. LOVE. YOU!!"
Tomoyo put her hands on her mouth. Her eyes widened.
"What in the name of –"
Then suddenly the picture on her television went black. She snapped to reality and realized that she may have accidentally pressed the 'stop' button.
To her puzzlement, she was not holding her DVD remote and she was sure she didn't press the 'stop' button on the DVD player.
"You weren't expecting me to do those ridiculous things, right?" an icy but mischievous voice spoke behind her.
Tomoyo abruptly turned around. She almost screamed when she saw the sight that greeted her.
"YOU!"
A real grinning Hiiragizawa Eriol stood behind her in his normal clothes: dark jeans and black shirt. Her DVD remote on him. "Me," he shrugged.
"H-how can you get in?!"
"Never ask me 'how', Daidouji-san. I always have my own… ah, magical way," he shrugged.
"B-but… you're in England… You're supposed to be in England!"
"Well, I decided to pay a little visit to Tomoeda for your birthday,"
"… W-well, o-okay… Thanks…" she stuttered. Heck, how was she going to react? This guy… who disappeared from her life last year… suddenly barged back in and told her in his daring way how he felt about her –
Tomoyo could feel her cheeks turned into instant red.
But wait.
There was still a thing…
"What about Mizuki-san?" was all she could murmur after moments of deep silence.
"Kaho? Well…we've come to mutual understanding that…"
"…That?"
"That we were both blinded. We only saw what we thought we wanted to see, we searched for things we thought we wanted to have, " Eriol glanced slowly to the violet-eyed lady. His gesture was slow and calm, like comforting wind –Tomoyo couldn't prevent her suddenly rapidly-beating heart. "We searched and tested our ego, just to find out that we were looking for something so beautifully simple, something so funnily near…"
He gave her the meaningful look.
She really didn't know what to say.
So, yes, another silence.
Tic.
Toc.
Tic.
Toc.
Tic –
"You like my gifts?" he finally asked, breaking the silence. "Took me a lot of patience and… courage to present them,"
"…Why?"
"Why?!" he looked offended. "Well, because preparing them are surely hellishly difficult! You know how stuck I was, having to fold all those paper cranes and creating new ideas for the poetries and narrative text. And foremost, feeling embarrassed when recording myself with that silly cheerleader outfit?! Spinel caught me in the act and I couldn't speak with him for one whole week just because I'm deadly ashamed! You ask why?!"
She chuckled nervously. "No, I don't question that. I mean… why? Why do you have to do all of these?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"W-what is? You're just making me more… confused…"
"W-well, a year ago you said that a gentleman had to do those stupid things…"
"And I told you a year ago too that I was just kidding!"
"I know," he admitted quickly. "I just… Perhaps… I just want to torture myself a bit,"
"Torture yourself?"
He cleared his throat in discomfort. "I know that this won't make it up for all that I've done to you but… I just think that I need to sacrifice a little t-to make it all up for you,"
"I still don't –"
"Meaning…" he interrupted her words. "I'm sorry. I really do, Daidouji-san. I did terrible things to you and I want to sincerely apologize,"
"… Breaking my heart over a year ago cost more than these… bold gifts, you know?" she replied slowly, but her eyes showed soft playfulness –one that he gratefully spotted.
"I know. Because your heart worth the entire world for me,"
"Still a flatterer, Hiiragizawa-san? Haven't lost your polished charm, eh?" Tomoyo commented as raising an eyebrow in amusement.
He smirked.
But inside, for real, to him…
"It wasn't a mere flatter. I was stating the fact," he said.
"…Wha –"
"Because your heart really worth everything to me,"
"…"
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Until…
"Ne, Daidouji-san?"
"Yes?" Tomoyo mouthed with great attempt. Funny, her throat felt really dry, it almost hurt to speak.
"I know I may not have the rights to say this but… but can you…–perhaps and if possible –welcome me back? Can I… have the chance to make you happy?" he asked expectantly.
She gazed at him deeply.
Thinking.
Analyzing.
Deliberating.
Then…
Deciding.
…
"You've hurt my heart. You wounded it deeply,"
"I know. And I'm sorry,"
"And I can't say that I will forgive you… At least, not that easily. And you're still the jerk I know, the one who thinks that you can do all the bluffing and –"
"But I'm not bluf–"
She raised her hand and indicated him to let her continue the words. " –And the one with stupidest logic, and the stupid grin, the annoying personality, and the egoistical personas, the stupid pride. But even with all of those bugging personalities of yours…"
He gazed back.
"I can never close the door for you,"
"…"
"So I guess… welcome back, Hiiragizawa-san,"
…
Smiles.
Then…
"Still with the Hiiragizawa-san, eh?"
"I've told you. I like calling you Hiiragizawa-san,"
"I like calling you Daidouji-san too… for meanwhile,"
"What? You want to change into calling me 'Tomoyo' as for me calling you 'Eriol'?" Tomoyo inquired.
Eriol gave her his infamous smirk. "Actually," he bent down to whisper to her ear, "I will love it even more if someday I can also call you 'Hiiragizawa-san',"
The End
Special A/n (Phew…Super LONG ones, Sorry…)
If you've forgotten, the certain flashback dialogues typed in bold really happened in the 4th Chapter.
I really am in love with the concept of this last chapter. But I don't know how to pull it to the maximum potential. Hope you can get the atmosphere… I'm just imagining that if this really happened, then it would be… oh gosh…Yeah, I hope all those things Eriol has done to Tomoyo (the 3 gifts) could… make up for his berserk-ness throughout the story… er, not really… I know, I know… he's just a bastard that we all love. :)
Yes, I do manage to let both main characters keep calling each other by their family names until the very end (except for some parts). I don't know. I just love how the two of them shared a polite relationship with the knowledge that there's always something runs deeper behind it…
I usually end a story with a disappointment, but now, I'm quite satisfied (Although I know this story is still far from perfect). I don't know whether I'm going to start a new E/T project or not. There's actually a new idea of it in my head (a rather dark-themed ET) but I still have to prepare the whole concept and write ALL the chapters out. I won't post the 1st chapter unless I've written out all the chapters. I'm not sure about the chance, but I'll try my best.
To ALL LOVABLE reviewers of the stories… thank you SO MUCH for your suggestion, questions, comments, cynicism (to a certain someone, your reviews aren't exactly my favorite, but they happened to be the ones that had the most effect towards the development of the story. You may not believe it, but I originally planned Kaho to be MORE bitchy than what finally appeared in this story. Your reviews made me realize that I couldn't do that to her, ALTHOUGH, yes I still need the 'slightly antagonist' role), constructive criticism, and supports. Each of you really made my day!
The last chapter of the story, I really want to know your opinion about this story so that in the future I hopefully can do better fan fictions. If this story sucks, then say it. If you want to give the mark D- for this, then go ahead. I deeply appreciate constructive criticism and I just want to know your honest judgment about this story… Thank you very much.
To all, thank you, thank you SO MUCH for sticking with me and this story… Hope you enjoy this story just as much as I enjoy writing it…It's hard to leave this story. I really love this project; I almost can't believe it has ended… But, Hiiragizawa x Daidouji all the way!