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.
Ok, well long leave of absence, sorry. But I came back, and here is what I think is a long chapter, kind of. Hopefully people haven't given up on me. And if it feels like I am getting no where, I am, just VERY SLOWLY. But the time will come, soon.
What She Needs- Charms and Spells
'Why not? Why not get involved with him? It could turn out well. It could also turn out to be hell. But you are a risk taker. And really, what are you risking really? Your heart?' Tomoyo listened to the mental battles taking place in her mind, all of which were induced by the man across the table. 'What is so valuable to you that you wouldn't get on with it?...His friendship…….But you have plenty of friends, Sakura, Syaoran, Nadeshinko. This was enough for you before. But none of them are him.'
"So I guess I've been roped into the ball." Eriol finished his story, most of which Tomoyo was only half listening to.
"That's a pity." She spoke in a low voice, taking a sip from her wine glass.
"Oh come now Daidouji-san. I know you are one for going against the grain sometimes, but think of it this way: if the Madam doesn't expect you to show, will it not be a splendid surprise when you do?"
Tomoyo let out a sarcastic chuckle and promptly replied, "No." Eriol gave her a set of azure puppy dog eyes that almost changed her answer, but she stood strong. "I wouldn't bother Eriol. When it comes to matters of pride, I can be a stubborn woman. And I have no plans to put on a façade for some five hours plus of the night."
Eriol smirked. "Oh really? It seems to me there is some dissonance between attitude and action with you."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Tomoyo cocked an eyebrow. She knew very well what he meant by that, but she wanted to hear him say it. To tell her that she never fooled him and he knew that she had been playing a game this whole time with him. To tell her that everything she had showed him for the two weeks he had been here been fake.
Eriol only smiled and looked away.
Tomoyo had prepared herself for the deepest conversation of her life, but he hadn't delivered. In response she rebuilt the wall between them. "I have one played out phrase for you Eriol." She swirled her wine glass, watching the red liquid wash against the walls of the fine glassware. A sad smile played on her lips. "No, means no."
Eriol pouted, but did not pursue the desired answer any further. "So…" He took the napkin from his lap and placed it on the table. "Are we done here?"
Tomoyo felt a quick stab of pain at those words. As if they had been taken out of context and he meant something other than if they were ready to leave.
'You should just go for it. He's an attractive man, you are an attractive woman. If this was a club and he was a stranger, he would be in the sack with you by tonight. But this isn't a club and we aren't strangers. He's Eriol. He knows me. How can I do that to him? Take him to bed and toss him like old meat… it would inevitably change things between us. Not that it would usually matter in most cases, but it does here. I feel honest around him, so honest that I almost feel ashamed for not being honest. In a sick way, I don't want that to change for a one night stand…Why does it have to be one night?'
"Would you like to come in?" Tomoyo unlocked her front door and opened it, stepping in. "I can make us some tea."
If he accepted, this could very much be it. This could be the night when she risks what could be a real friendship for one night of what she hoped would be pure orgasmic bliss. Anything less would make it a horrible trade. She wasn't even sure it was such a fair trade anyhow.
"That sounds quite enticing," he responded, following her into her abode.
Tomoyo's eyes widened, but for only a moment before she closed the door behind her. 'He agreed. And he used the word enticing. Just what is so enticing about tea? Nothing, that's right, nothing. What must be enticing is the prospect of what tea leads to. He is already a few steps ahead?'
She hurried herself to the kitchen to make some tea and declined any assistance that Eriol had offered. So instead he made himself comfortable on the living room couch.
Tomoyo found herself breathing heavily and there was a slight quiver in her hands as she poured the scalding hot water into the teapot. She had no reason to be shaking. She was a pro, one who could out match the famed seductresses of the world, all while still keeping her reputation somewhat sound.
She took a deep breath, before walking out of the kitchen completely composed. She found Eriol admiring her grand piano. 'God, that thing hasn't been used in years.' She set down the tea tray on the coffee table and went to him. "You are welcome to play it instead of undressing its notes with your eyes."
He looked up at her with his azure eyes. 'Hmmm, did the undress comment get to him?'
"No thank you, I don't play for people remember?" He spoke quietly and added a charmed smile.
Tomoyo nodded with raised eyebrows, her eyes wandering in thought as she replied, "Yeah." She looked around some more and spotted the tea tray. "Tea?"
With a polite nod he went to the couch and took a tea cup for himself. Tomoyo slowly poured the tea into his cup, careful not to spill with her shakes. When she finished, she took her own cup and sat down next to him, trying to relax against the back of the sofa, appearing casual. She was trying to think of a plan. Somehow she didn't think her club techniques would do it, after all this was not a club and he wasn't going to be as easy as some club trash.
She drew her legs to the side of her onto the couch. The position flattered her shapely legs. It had pulled her knee length skirt up just slightly, revealing the soft pale skin of her thighs. In the same motion, she slightly leaned towards him, brushing against him gently before settling back into place, merely centimeters from him. "So, tell me why is it you are still in town?"
He took another cool sip of his tea. "You know why, my music."
Tomoyo let out an exhaled chuckle and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "I said why are you STILL in town. You told me you were done recording remember?"
"So I did." His voice was low and emotionless. For a moment Tomoyo was reminded of the child Eriol, who had always used that tone with her when they were young. "But I also said I was considering moving back, did I not?"
Tomoyo did remember. He had mentioned something about that when they had their first conversation at Syaoran's party. She smiled. "But why Eriol? What does Tomoeda have to offer someone who has traveled the world and back again among the backs of his mystical winged creatures? Has something in small quaint Tomoeda sparked the interest of the ever so powerful reincarnation of Clow Reed?" She leaned over to place her cup back onto the table, intentionally letting her hair fall from her shoulders in a vast curtain of silky raven hair. Her tendril brushed lightly against his arms, tickling his soft ivory skin.
His eyes followed the strand of hair grazing his arm until it left with the flick of Tomoyo's head. "There are things about this town."
Tomoyo watched his gaze follow her hair and grinned with a spark of confidence. He was already being drawn in by the bait and would be reeled in shortly. She let out a gentle murmur, so soft it could have been mistaken for a purr. "What things might those be?"
"Charms." His reply was simple at first. His eyes were blank for a moment as he stared at her fire place. "Fire" he whispered quietly. As soon as the sounds escaped his lips, the seal of clow appeared from the palm of his hand and floated toward the fireplace. Soon after, the embers of a golden fire blazed from the logs within.
"Hmmm, cozy." Tomoyo adjusted, positioning herself closer to the radiating heat of Eriol's body. Her lavender scent filled his nose, numbing his senses. A few tresses of midnight hair fell and grazed its owner's eyelashes, causing them to flutter to a closed position. When they opened, his azure eyes were met with passionate violet ones, lined with deceptive gray flecks, merely inches from his.
Tomoyo watched as Eriol's form began to close the gap between them. His eyes rested heavily on the sight of her lips. She leaned forward, enough that the curves of her breasts caressed his side, reminding him that this woman before him was a sexual goddess. She enjoyed every moment of the foreplay, so much that she wasn't sure she wanted it to end. She was ready to see what he would offer in the bedroom, but it seemed that he had many other things to offer that she had over looked.
A gentle smile played on both their lips as Tomoyo brushed those silk strands of hair from his face. Her lips grazed past his cheek as she traveled to his ear, only to whisper quietly, "Play something for me." As is momentarily drawn from his trance, Eriol turned to look at her gale face smiling wickedly at him.
She pulled away as he rose from the couch, striding over to the piano where he took a seat at the bench. Soon the rich melody of Pachabel's Canon began to fill the room. Tomoyo remembered the song from her younger years when she had taken piano lessons. Though he played it as she had never heard it. She rose to her feet and joined him on the piano bench. She could feel the notes vibrating from the floor and off his body.
Just as easily as he had fallen into her lavender spell, Tomoyo found herself as easily trapped in the spell of his notes. She hadn't even realized that her head had begun to droop and rest against his shoulder.
Eriol looked to his side when he felt her make contact with his shoulder. Her eyes had fallen into a closed position as her breathing steadied. He began to play softer, so he wouldn't disturb her. Her resting form did not seem to notice. He wondered if she had fallen asleep because if she had, he would regret having the task of waking her, for she looked so at peace and more angelic that he had seen in his days.
"Tomoyo?" He spoke quietly.
"Hmm?" Her respond was soft and heavy with sleep.
"Are you still awake?" He proded again, not knowing if the response had actually been an aware one.
"Just barely…"
"I see." He replied. Still his hands worked their magic on the piano, but gently worked their way to the close of the song. Eriol sat in thought, and wondered what to do, and if whatever he chose could be considered a noble gesture. Resolved with himself, he spoke again. "Tomoyo?"
She stirred gently. "Yes?"
Eriol sighed deeply. "Come with me to Madam Chatlier's." He looked to see if the question would draw her further from her pending sleep.
There was no movement from Tomoyo aside from the gentle movement of her lips forming the word, "yes."
To be continued