Disclaimer: you know it, I know it, the owners of ccs know, it. That all rights belong to them, not me. Just borrowing the character, nothing else.
Wow, sorry. I've been swamped with work and didn't realize I had not posted in so long. Hmmmm. Oh well, I'll try to be better about it, but now that the holidays are over, I just don't have the time on my hands much. But I will make a genuine effort.
What She Needs- The Non-date
The door opened and Tomoyo was greeted by an enthusiastic hug by a tall brown haired girl with ruby colored eyes. "Tomoyo-chan! Its so exciting to see you! You look absolutely adorable!!" The older woman childishly snatched up Tomoy's hand bag. "Is that Versace?!? Where did you get the hair ribbon to match!? I'm so jealous."
Tomoyo laughed, Nakaru-san very much reminded her of Sakura sometimes, except perhaps on a more intense level. "It's nice to see you again Nakaru."
"Eriol-sama told us you were coming tonight for dinner. But he won't let Suppi-chan and I go." Nakaru's animated pout expressed her disdain for the decision, but only for a moment.
"Its not that I won't let you Nakaru, its that you shouldn't." Eriol came out of one of the bedrooms of the suite they stayed in. For the second time, Eriol once again managed to make Tomoyo catch her breath just slightly. Even dressed casually in dockers and a navy sweater, he still seemed to have an untouchable mist about him. He flashed her a quick smile and turned back to Nakaru.
"For one thing, we are going out to eat and that means we cannot take Spinel-Sun. Two, you both already ate dinner. Three, you stuffed Spinel-Sun with so many sweets that he is feeling ill and needs to be taken care of."
Tomoyo smiled, mentally picturing the wild Azuki-san chasing her loving toy Suppi around the suite with candies and cookies.
By this point Nakaru's head hung low as if she had been scolded by her angry parent rather than Eriol who had just been pointing out the facts. Tomoyo now felt like their dinner was becoming an inconvenience. "If Suppi-chan is sick, we don't have to go to dinner. I can just get something on my way back. You should stay and care for him."
Eriol drew his attention to Tomoyo. "No, it's fine. This happens quite a lot. More often then you would think. Spinel will be fine in an hour or so. Would you like to go see him? Maybe seeing a raven beauty will lift his spirits, it always did when we were in Tomoeda the first time."
Tomoyo had to control the flush that she felt rising from her neck. "Anything to help." She responded calmly with a nod. As she followed Eriol into one of the rooms, she took a moments to notice that Eriol had grown physically into the man that his personality always dictated him to be. Though it was hardly a muscle shirt, the way his sweater pulled in certain places implied a lean muscular physique beneath.
"Good evening Daidouji-san." A low tone voice caught her attention and she looked up quickly and met eyes with the little black creature sitting on an enormous bed for his size, legs stretched out in front of him and cheeks rosy from what looked like exhaustion.
"Good evening Spinel-sun. I have heard you had quite a delectable meal tonight, but it doesn't sit well with you. I hope that you feel well soon."
The seemingly stuff creature gave a swift nod. "Arigato Daidouji-san. Your concern makes me feel well already." It gave her and whole-hearted smile before looking over to his master. "I do not want to hold the two of you up any longer. Eriol-sama had a long day, and I'm am sure you have as well Daidouji-san. Do not let your stomachs growl a moment longer on account of me."
Eriol and Tomoyo both nodded and left the room.
As they left the suite, they past a still pouting Nakaru and bid her farewell. Once they were outside, Eriol turned to Tomoyo, "Well, any particular preference for dinner?"
She shook her head. She felt rather foolish making Eriol choose where they would dine tonight. She was the native to this town and he had not been in Tomoeda for years.
"Well, one of my producers recommended a restaurant just down the street called the Waterfall. Would you mind dining there?" He asked as they rode the elevator down to the lobby.
"Waterfall would be just fine, I have eaten there on occasion or two."
When they exited the hotel they were overrun by valets and hotel attendants asking if they needed a cab. Eriol politely shook his head, and replied, "It's quite alright, we are walking tonight." After making the statement he turned to Tomoyo and gave her questioning look. "It is fine that we walk isn't it. The restaurant is not far down the street."
Tomoyo nodded and smiled. "What do you take me for Hirizagawa-san? A prissy little girl that can't walk two feet in a pair of shoes she chose to wear for fashion sense?" She grinned at her own retort. Somehow it had been hard for her this whole time to be the witty and sharp tongued Daidouji around Eriol. But she would never admit that it might be because of intimidation; because of the fact that he was the only one in years to come along and match wits with her.
Eriol let out an amused laugh but did not reply her in the short time it took to walk to the restaurant.
They seated in the front corner next to a curtained window. Although Tomoyo had dined at the restaurant before, tonight if felt more intimate than she had remembered. Perhaps because her other experiences had been in the day with the bright light shining through the windows. Then the place seemed more suited for groups of women to gather for lunch. Yet now with a soft moon running about in the dark sky and the gentle lighting of crystal chandeliers above them, it seemed more like a place for lovers to hide away from the eyes of others.
The atmosphere unnerved Tomoyo. She hadn't expected to dine at a lover's spot. But if she was not aware that the restaurant had this sort of potential, surely a semi-stranger to Tomoeda such as Eriol was absent minded to it as well.
She looked up at him, and he seemed unaffected by the place. He was gazing thoughtfully at his menu, unaware of the restaurant and seemingly unaware of her presence across the table. Tomoyo was not sure if this bothered her or not, after all, that was not the intention for the night.
"I think I will have the salmon." He raised his eyes from the menu and they immediately met hers. "You?"
Tomoyo quickly looked down at her menu and picked the first entrée she saw. "Linguini and clams." She took a sip of the water that had been poured for them, wishing that it was something stronger that could numb her a bit. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she was tired of having to feel it.
To be continued