from skybluescramble:
Sorry for long update :(
You can skip this part if you don`t like reading my babbling :3
Japanese high school`s daily life schedule is SOOO TIGHT that I scarcely had some time to continue my writing for ff dot net. And I assume that times like this will happen more, more, MORE often. So pleeeease forgive me if I don`t update as fast as you want me to. But I promise that this fic won`t go on hiatus. Guaranteed.
And for my great reviewers! Thank you guys: freyasakura, Paulita, Seirin, James Birdsong, KiNoMoTo18, FantasyFan123, krazypig91, cheng, aNimeLover-chAn05, Darkest-Wings, winterkaguya, even Pinboo! And those who add my fic to their favorite, alert, or anything, thank you!
Really, really love you guys :D
DISCLAIMER:
Card Captor Sakura is not mine.
Gah, I turn green with envy towards CLAMP :(
::The Proposal::
::::::::::::::
SUMMARY:
"Two months ago a man named Eriol Hiiragizawa told me that he will be responsible about what we did." She talked as if her hearer was someone else. Eriol cringed by hearing this, but as always, he was able to manage a plain face. "I am not going to marry you."
.
.
.
CHAPTER #4: Compensations
NAKURU Akizuki hummed happily with the sound off-key while brushing her feather duster on the furniture`s surface. Hiiragizawa manor was never totally quiet, since the Moon Guardian kept making noises. Everytime. Everywhere.
"How many time should I tell you to shut up?" The voice interrupted her.
Nakuru turned around, hands on her hips, and scowled at the feline which sat on the huge pillow. A leather-bound book was open near its tiny front legs. "Suppi! You`re still meanie!"
"You are supposed to be meanie if you live under the same roof with an idiot." It said calmly, flapping wings as it flew towards the shelf to return the book.
"Why are you always calling me idiot?" Nakuru suspired.
"Well... I think it`s fine to call an idiot `idiot`, right?"
Intrigued, Nakuru stopped puffing out her cheeks and started pinching her chin. Her expression turned serious. "I guess so. But—hey! You trick me! That`s unfair!"
"Why unfair?" Spinel suppressed a smile. Sometimes mocking its partner felt better than hiding behind those books, scrutinizing sentences printed there.
"Because—"
Riiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiiing!
The phone rang.
"It`s Eriol`s cell-phone." Nakuru murmured. "He forgot to bring it today, huh?"
"Go get it," said Spinel.
"Why don`t you?"
Riiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiing!
"I only have to answer any calls whenever no one else in this house." It replied, then added. "Remember the job description we made?"
Nakuru groaned. "Okay! Fine! I`ll get that!"
Riiiiiiiiiiing! Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!
"Wait a sec, pleeease! Geez~ whoever is calling, I hope you have some patience! This manor feels like a soccer field!"
Finally, she grasped the phone at the last ring.
"Hello, this is Hiiragizawa."
"Akizuki-san?"
Nakuru`s eyes grew wider. "Tomoyo-chan!"
"I DON`T know you now live in Tomoeda." Tomoyo commented, taking a cup of hot espresso from Nakuru. She took one sip. "Delicious."
"Seriously?" Nakuru clasped her hands together, eyes twinkled.
"Yeah."
"THANKS, TOMOYO-CHAAAAN!" She jumped and hugged her so tightly until it was so difficult to breathe. "I never got any compliment before! I`m very glad!"
"Not a problem," Tomoyo replied, panting. "And... Akizuki-san? About my question?"
"Ah—we just arrived here last night. Master Eriol, all of a sudden, said he wants to visit Tomoeda."
Tomoyo instantly choked in her espresso.
"Tomoyo-chan! You okay?" Nakuru bent down, grabbing a lump of tissue and helped her wiping off the brown liquid from the table. Thank God nothing was spilled on her dress. It was flawless white today. Brownish stain would absolutely break the enchantment.
"Yeah, I`m fine. I`m just... a bit surprised."
"There is something wrong with the espresso, ne?"
"No!" She quickly rebut. "It`s perfect, Akizuki-san. Don`t worry."
"Then I`ll make another cup for you!"
Nakuru ran happily to the kitchen. After her back was no longer visible, Tomoyo drown into her thought. They (she was referring to the `Hiiragizawa Manor` trio) went back to Tomoeda because Eriol suddenly persuaded it? And at the same time she just found out about her pregnancy. Well, not too sure about it, but at least until she is officially checked, Tomoyo would say that she was with a baby.
Two months of delayed periodicity was a big deal, really.
Ting! Tong!
The doorbell rang.
"Ruby Moon, go get them!" said Spinel Sun, as it flew in fascinating way from behind a big wooden door. It stopped flying when it saw Tomoyo. Smiling with its tiny mouth, Spinel greeted the young woman kindly. "Ah, Miss Tomoyo. Long time no see."
"Long time no see, Spinel." Tomoyo smiled back. "How are you doing?"
Ting! Tong!
"I`m great, Miss. As long as my stupid partner doesn`t envenom me with sweets."
Ting! Tong!
"Ruby Moon!"
"Okay, okay! I`m almost there!" said a screechy, yet panting voice from another place of the manor. Nakuru must be sprinting to reach the door on time. Tomoyo opened her mouth to speak, but a malicious voice which derived from main entrance made her mute like magic. In fact, she wasn`t ready for this. Yeah, she is the one who came here willingly—she even called first before coming—but still... her knees weakened like jelly.
"Took you long enough." That`s what the `prodigious voice` said.
"Eriol? Why did you knock?"
"Well... I know it`s my house, Nakuru." It sounded louder now. Guess the owner was walking inside just then. "But I forgot to bring the key... and my cell-phone. Couldn`t help it."
"It`s not like you to be forgetful, Eriol." Nakuru commented. "And you are wet."
"It`s raining outside." He replied curtly. "Towel, please."
Tomoyo narrowed her eyes. Raining?
"Here," said Nakuru as she—probably—handed over the cloth (Tomoyo was just imagining the situation and setting).
"Where is Spinel?"
"Living room. Suppi-chan had done with those pile of books."
Tomoyo`s heart thumped her chest violently. He definitely would come closer to her place. She listened carefully to the sound of paces which echoed inside the manor, hoping it could bring calmness to her mind. And of course it was a vain. Anyway, how could the source of nervous feeling turned out as the tranquilizer?
"Why living room? I don`t think Spinel likes that spot much."
"Suppi-chan is now accompanying—"
SILENCE.
Eriol stopped walking abruptly, cutting off Nakuru`s words because the Moon Guardian bumped at his back. He stared, no, glared at the sight before him. He barely caught Spinel`s movement—the feline floated smoothly as it approached its owner. His total focus was absorbed by the vision of a certain female.
"—Tomoyo-chan," Nakuru finished her sentence, but actually it wasn`t necessary.
AWKWARD stillness enveloped those two. Tomoyo played with the hem of her skirt, twirling her finger as the cloth wrapped around like small bandage. Ten minutes ago, Nakuru left alone in living room after serving two cups of Cafe Latte. But until now, no words exchanged between them. She didn`t find any courage to look straight in his face, because she knew that she couldn`t stare directly at the Incarnation without being overwhelmed by how she felt. Frustration. Confusion. Panic. Fear. Even madness. Everything. Anything. For worse, the way he looks right now didn`t help Tomoyo composing herself. A topless six-feet-three-inches young man with water dripping from his dark locks plus a white towel draped on broad shoulders equals gigantic distraction. Moreover, the band of his long training pants just hugged loosely around the hip—revealing the edge of his boxers. Tomoyo didn`t know at all where she should put her eyes on. Because, truthfully, it was hard not to stare.
Eriol, in the other hand, was busy debating with his own mind. To be honest, it was not that he didn`t expect her coming. No. He already prepared for the worst since the end of the cruise. And somehow he felt it. It was the most truthful reason why he dragged Spinel and Ruby back to Tomoeda. If all was predicted, why he couldn`t even utter a word?
And why the young Daidouji now looked plenty times more breathtaking than the last time he saw her? Was it only him or...
Oh my. This is beyond his thoughts and deliberation.
Swallowing his saliva with such difficulties, he tried to speak first. "What`s wrong?"
Her eyes snapped open as the icy silence broke. "I..."
She paused. He waited. She saw him waiting. The fact that Eriol did not tap his fingers on the chair arm relieved her. Tomoyo took a deep, long breath as she tried to affirm her voice.
"I am pregnant."
Well done.
"Are you sure?" Eriol asked, his expression remained still.
"More than everything," she confirmed full of certainty. "I wasted my money to buy more than half a dozen of pregnancy test."
Well, that was not entirely true. But who cares? Is it so crucial that she must explain every single detail? Tomoyo didn`t think so.
The response was nothing for the next minute. She waited, but Eriol only shifted nervously on his sofa. She might not a psychic, but by the sight of him Tomoyo could tell that the Londoner had expected this to be happen. Well... if the news didn`t surprise him, he should—at least—say something right away after she spoke up! It would make her less tense.
"What do you want?" He finally gave a feedback.
"Your responsibility." Tomoyo said, short and outright.
Again, there was a gap between their conversation.
"Two months ago a man named Eriol Hiiragizawa told me that he will be responsible about what we did." She talked as if her hearer was someone else. Eriol cringed by hearing this, but as always, he was able to manage a plain face.
He answered flatly, "I am not going to marry you."
Tomoyo opened her mouth—ready to cast a reply—but the sound of marching feet startled her. Nakuru Akizuki ran at her full speed from the kitchen. The coffee jug she was holding on a tray almost fell down. The Moon Guardian looked pissed. Her face burned with disenchantment and rage. She bent down, drawing face closer to her master before hissing clearly, "No!"
"`No` what?"
"I heard everything." Nakuru said with proud hinted in her voice.
"You were eavesdropping?"
"Yep!" She nodded, "And I am not letting you to put off the responsibility."
"What do you mean?" Eriol got confused. Sheesh ~ among all of the guardian created by him, he must admit that Ruby Moon is the most random one. What`s wrong with him on the day he composed her characteristics? Heck, he absolutely was out of mind.
"You. Must. Marry. Her. Eriol-kun!"
Oh no. Not that pet-name again.
"I`ve told you not to call me like that."
"Like I care. Marry her, Eriol-kun! Marry her!"
"You don`t know anything about it."
"Just marry, marry, marry..."
"Nakuru, can you please shut—"
"I`M OKAY!" Tomoyo interrupted, purposely making her voice louder. She stood up with self-esteem, staring straight at Nakuru and Eriol who was now in position to have physical fights.
"Pardon me?"
"I am okay." She repeated. "The `responsibility` I`ve mentioned before has nothing to do with marriage. Sorry for confusing you, Akizuki-san... but truth is, I myself do not want to get married. At least for the following five years. I still have tons of dreams to pursue. A baby would slowing down my pace. Akizuki-san. That`s why I come here. To ask your master what`s better to do."
Eriol sent Nakuru a death glare which said see-I-do-not-have-to-do-that. She pouted at his reaction, then slumped down on the sofa near Tomoyo. "Okay. So I guess I`d better stay here. Just in case you will do anything inappropriate to her, Master." She emphasized the last word and Eriol knew it.
That`s why he groaned. "What kind of `inappropriate things` you refer to?"
"Well... when it comes to you, I think it can be anything." Nakuru shot back with her sweetest expression. Tomoyo—anyhow—couldn`t help but agree at her opinion.
"You are not helping, Nakuru." Eriol sighed.
"But I`ll try not to disturb." She chirped. "It is good enough, ne?"
"Whatever."
Eriol stood up, his loose pants sagged dangerously as he approached the door. Tomoyo held her breath in anticipation and finally being able to breathe freely after his figure disappeared behind that mahogany board. Is he really leaving? Tomoyo wondered. Beside her, Nakuru hummed cheerfully with her legs swinging, as if she paid no care about the situation.
No way.
"Sorry for making you wait." His sudden reappearance startled her a bit. Tomoyo tilted up her head and saw the Incarnate—now dressed in white polo shirt, even still with buttons left undone—brought along a piece of paper and a pen. He sat down, clearing his throat before speaking again. "So, let`s talk about what we want in this state of affairs."
"What?"
"Tell me what you want me to do," he explained, "I will list them all and try my best to fullfill your wish. It would be troublesome, but since you are the one who bear consequences the most... it cannot be helped."
"Anything is okay, ne?" Nakuru joined.
"Must be okay," Tomoyo murmured in reply.
"I`m ready," said Eriol calmly. "What do you want, Daidouji-san?"
"I do not want marriage."
Eriol smiled at Nakuru. "Agreed." Listed.
"I do not want to abort it, either."
"I`ve thought so," said Eriol without complain. "That`s typical Daidouji-san."
Listed.
"I want you to pay all of our needs, by the means me and my baby, until I give birth. Not that I am greedy for your money. No, Hiiragizawa-san, that would never happen. But probably I cannot work hard like I had done before."
"Look, I`ll take care of you—in terms of overall—included taking care of your health, meals, daily needs, regular check-ups to the doctor, even transportation if you want to go somewhere. You already had my number, so..." Eriol turned to his side, opened a drawer nearby and pulled out a cellphone. He handed it over Tomoyo. "Here. Use this phone. Don`t change the number, ever! So I will know immediately when you call me. Is that okay?"
Tomoyo stared blankly at the device before her. She didn`t believe her hearing sense, not even her sight. Did he just give her a mobile phone?
"Tonight I`ll call my attorney. He surely can help us make a proper Letter of Agreement for this stuff. It seems that you have to come here one more time, Daidouji-san. I hope you don`t mind with it," he said, eyes still on the paper as he wrote down some notes. "Are you still having something to tell me? Or is that all?"
Tomoyo sighed softly. She straightened her back, preparing herself for the next `conversation`. Realizing that this meeting wouldn`t last any sooner, Nakuru happily stood up and headed to the kitchen. She was going to refill the coffee jug.
.
to be continued.