Chapter 10
After crying in his arms, Tomoyo walked with Eriol to her house. She felt happier now that she had released all her pent-up frustrations. She realized how foolish it was to try to keep everything to herself. It only made things worse. Luckily, Eriol was there to show her this. He's a true heaven sent gift for her.
"You're really an angel, Eriol-kun"
Hearing this, he somehow knew that she would call him with his first name even when they're with their other friends. And the thought made him feel extremely pleasant.
"I'm no angel. Though I know you are definitely one." He smiled boyishly at her and added, "I'm more of a wizard" He didn't exactly know why he said that but he felt right saying it.
She laughed softly at his comment. "I'm no angel either. I like thinking of myself as a mere human who would experience surprises under fate's will. But… why choose to be a wizard?"
"I don't know. Perhaps I see their personalities as something parallel to mine."
"Yes, you do have a point, Mr. Enigmatic. So what would you bewitch next, Wizard Eriol?"
Perhaps your heart if I can, he thought mischievously. Instead, he simply answered "I would conjure a broom and fly around the town on a moonlit sky. A very pleasing ride"
"When you do, would you let me accompany you? A travel around Tomoeda would be nice" She closed her eyes and tried to imagine flying around Tomoeda. He stared at her beautiful yet innocent face. She looks so mature whenever she chooses to but she can also look like a cute little child dreaming of snow.
"That would be my pleasure, dear angel"
They stopped talking when they saw that they were finally in front of Tomoyo's house.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-Days after the incident…-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Excuse me, Li-san. Have you seen Hiiragizawa-san and Daidouji-chan?" a girl asked Syaoran who was silently eating his snack.
"No" He answered stoically, not bothering to look up. The girl almost shivered at his 'glacially cold' voice. Why is he like this? Wasn't he warm and slightly smiling a moment ago, when he was eating and chatting with Sakura-chan?
Sakura looked at the scared girl and smiled at her. "They're at the music room." She answered then added, "Please forgive Syaoran-kun's attitude"
"Thank you" the girl said and hurried away.
"Mou Syaoran-kun! The girl was just asking you something, no need to be so cold." She scolded him.
"I wasn't being cold. She was being annoying. Didn't you see how she looked at me?"
Sakura almost laughed at him "How did she look at you?" she asked, trying to look innocently at him as she stopped herself from laughing.
Syaoran blushed. "Ah… nothing. Forget what I said"
Sakura smiled. "So you actually saw how she winked at you and how she pretended as if I wasn't here? You weren't even looking at her!" she said with a light, teasing voice.
She wasn't angry for what the girl did. It had happened so many times that she was being used to it. Actually, at first, she didn't understand why they acted like that but since she has two perceptive friends (namely Tomoyo and Eriol), she was able to ask about it. And later on, she understood.
Syaoran's whole face turned red as he stared at his sandwich. Seeing this, Sakura's tinkling laugh echoed through the cafeteria.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-Hiiragizawa Tomoyo-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
You may have wondered (or not) why Eriol and Tomoyo were in the music room. Well, it's because they were practicing for a contest. As you may have remembered (or not, again), it was said that there will be a singing contest wherein Tomoyo would join.
Turns out, the simple singing contest evolved into a beauty contest. (Digimon?) Yes, I know it is shocking and all but what's more surprising is, Tomoyo actually joined!! (gasp, gasp!!)
"Anou… Daidouji-san, there had been some… problems with the student council. They're asking us to make a beauty contest, and you have told us that you will join the singing contest. Etto… can you join the beauty contest instead?" The poor student was obviously nervous. He was fidgeting so much that he didn't have a chance to look at the Daidouji heiress' interested smile.
"That's quite… interesting, isn't it Daidouji-san?" Eriol, who was looking straightly at the student, commented slyly. "It would be really interesting to see you in a… gown"
The nervous student seemed to be lost in his own world as he imagined Tomoyo in a gown. And, of course, in a swim suit. He blushed crimson as he heard Tomoyo and Eriol's soft laughter.
"Will… will you join?" he asked to get out of the embarrassing situation.
"It would be a pleasure… I think"
And so, that was the situation. Tomoyo then asked Eriol to help her in the talent portion. Which is the main reason why they are here in the music room.
"What would you like to sing?" Eriol, who was sitting on the piano chair, asked Tomoyo.
(A/N: Yes, I know they are Japanese and so they need to sing a Japanese song. But then, this is a fanfic and I am definitely not Japanese so I'll go for an English song)
"There's this song I really like… ummm… way back into love. Yeah, that's it!" she answered as she tried to remember the lyrics of the song. Eriol placed his hands on the keys and humed to himself.
Hmmm… hmmm…
He pressed some keys… then after some more keys, he played the first part.
"You know the notes?"
"Not really, I sometimes play by ear. It's quite easy since we have a piano at home"
"Really? Wow… that's amazing. I can't seem to understand how to play the piano like you. I still just know some basic pieces."
Eriol smiled fondly at her then moved to the left of the piano chair. He lightly tapped the chair with his right hand. "Here, seat. Let's play together"
"But… I don't know…"
"Sometimes, it's not the knowledge that is important. It's the fun you experience while playing"
Tomoyo smiled beautifully and gracefully sat on the chair. She felt as if the chair was unusually wider… How could that have happened? (wink )
Anyway, her slender fingers hesitantly landed on the ivory keys. It was funny how both their skin blends easily to the white keys, noted Eriol. Staring at her hands, especially her milky white skin, took all his willpower not to bend on one knee and kiss her hand like how Prince Charming do it… if only he can stop the time.
Poor Eriol, so lovesick, forgets everything when he is this close to her. He even forgot that he is the great Clow; someone who can stop time at his own leisure!
"Anou… Eriol, you can actually stop staring at me now and teach me the piece. If you may" There was definitely a tone of teasing in her voice and a certain twinkle in her eyes. Oh, beautiful Daidouji-san, how cute you are when you are being this mischievous.
She cleared her throat loudly, intent on taking his attention. She looked at him expectantly.
"Wha…?" Well, that was quite coherent of you Hiiragizawa-kun! Realizing this, a tiny speck of pink reached his cheeks. But luckily for him, it disappeared as quickly as it came when he regained composure.
"I did told you that you are very… hard not to look at. If you will stop being so beautiful, then I can stop my staring syndrome." He smiled attractively at her as she threw him a look.
"Please tone down your compliments, sugar coater boy. I'm too young to have diabetes" she placed her hands on her hips and looked at him as if she was a school master lecturing a little boy.
One glance at her 'nagging mother' mode sent him doubling over with laughter. "You're… so funny…" he whispered between his panting for air. He was too breathless because of his sudden laugh. He took his handkerchief and placed it on his lips to cease his insistent laughing.
She smiled fondly at him. Rarely does anyone see this enigmatic, loner boy laugh so hard. Another door of happiness opened inside her heart when she realized that she was the one who made him open up. He was such a mature intimidating figure back then…
"Okay… look at my hands." He said after he calmed himself fully. His nimble fingers moved with grace as he played the first stanza. He stopped then looked at her. "I'll play the first part slowly so remember the notes, okay?"
She nodded so he continued his playing. It was quite a cute sight to see; a handsome guy playing piano with a beautiful girl looking at him with interest. After all, Hiiragizawa Eriol and Daidouji Tomoyo are known for their looks, talent and wealth. Who wouldn't be interested to see them like this?
"Come on, try playing it" he encouraged her. She looked at the black and white keys as if it would turn into a monster any time soon. She hesitated for a bit.
Seeing this, he took her right hand and placed it on the right keys. He shivered inwardly as electricity ran up and down his spine. He didn't know if it affected Tomoyo too; he just wishes she did.
He didn't want to assume but he thought he saw a slight pink color her cheeks. Well, no one could blame him. As one clever person once said, 'Even the most intelligent or witty philosopher turns as dense as fog when it comes to love'.
After the initial awkwardness, Tomoyo gathered her courage to play the first stanza.
"You're quite a fast learner, my student"
"Oh, it's only because you're a good teacher, Eriol-sensei"
They laughed at each other for their new pet names for each other. It seems as if their pet names are accumulating more and more every time they talk!
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-Li Sakura-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The two lovebirds… I mean, the two teens were sitting below the shades of the cherry blossoms as they waited for they're friends. There was a comfortable silence between them while the girl looked at the flowers with her namesake and as the boy looked at the girl almost smilingly.
After some more moment of looking at the trees, the girl looked at the boy with her large green eyes. It was filled with happiness and it looked as if she had no troubles in her own ecstatic world.
… But it was soon filled with genuine worry. "Syaoran-kun!!"
Sakura went beside Syaoran who was pale and unconscious. He was sweating all over and it looked as if he was shivering.
"Syaoran-kun…"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-Tapos na muna-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Yatsi-chan: I am planning to finish this before my birthday so expect faster updates from a normally timid writer. Oh, and thank you AngelEmCuti-chan! You're the angel of this story! This chapter (and the previous one) is for you!