from skybluescramble:
it's been quite awhile, right…?
okay, so firstly i want to say that all the reviews from: tina, redeyes143, Mei Vir D. Ripper, cainat06, Sailordeedlit, Shanaa12, Paulita (you gave me two :D), chiharu-tanaka, cupid17, James Birdsong, Genius-sama, yoorim-ah, snapurjawshut, rockinggently, mai, SnowCharms, tomoyo-amethyst, Ms. IV, hikarihayashi-chan, MimoRei13, and cheng really boost up my spirit!
and also… thanks to my proofreader, amethyst-ice22.
you have my best regards (:
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DISCLAIMER
If I had owned Card Captor Sakura,
I wouldn't have been here writing a fanfic. Fix.
:: The Proposal::
::::::::::::::
SUMMARY:
"According to my mature opinion, no matter how fun it would be, punching someone's face for marrying the woman he loves is unbelievably stupid."
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CHAPTER #19: A Bouquet of Orchids and Lilies
SHE WAS shocked—
—afraid—
—and hesitant. Her body tensed automatically and Tomoyo swore she could hyperventilate at any moment. Her inner thoughts were split in two, and she wasn't sure which one was from her logical mind and which one was from her heart. She was afraid they would only repeat things all over again. She definitely didn't want another round of last year's chaos, didn't she?
Yet…
Yet, somehow she knew this one would be completely different. They both had learned something from the past and moved on. She vaguely felt it. Maybe it would be a turning point, where they could rebuild whatever they had between them—this time they could set things right.
And maybe it would help her find her honesty.
No, they wouldn't make the same mistake.
She wanted to believe that.
This time both of them were perfectly sober; none was affected with alcohol. They understood the consequences. Whether it would be a yes or a no, they chose it themselves. No one to blame.
After a minute or so, she gave him a light squeeze on his shoulders. It was her unspoken answer.
Her surrender.
DÉJÀ VU came over him, but Eriol just stared at the unfamiliar ceiling. The pale blue satin sheet moved across his skin as he shifted a bit, reminding him that he was not wearing a stitch of clothing underneath. He breathed in and out in silence, taking in the morning air mixed with a familiar scent of honey and lavender. The scent of a certain woman who was lying next to him. He had his hard, firm arm over her bare stomach and his palm curled around her waist. Eriol nuzzled her raven locks, filling his nostrils with her scent as he watched Daidouji Tomoyo's sleeping visage. Tousled hair, eyelashes fanning her cheeks, small lips pursed in a half-smile… he let her gaze travel across her face. The sheet, even though it only managed to settle around his waist was covering her from the shoulders, and slid downwards a little when Tomoyo turned around under his large arm. It gave Eriol easier access to examine her features, as her body was facing him. Eriol let out a contented sigh as he smiled.
"I…"
Pause.
He gulped; the words refused to come out. A verbal expression wasn't enough to express his feelings. Kissing her forehead covered with her bangs lightly, he gathered his magical power. Eriol whispered telepathically, hoping it would reach Tomoyo in her dreams.
I love you.
His touch crept along her side, as though trying to memorize her curves. That was when he heard a voice echoed inside his head.
…I know.
He froze.
Her eyes fluttered open and Eriol found himself lost in the depths of those clear amethyst orbs. He simply couldn't stop staring. She was too… irresistible. For several, whole minutes none of them spoke. Instead, they enjoyed the quietness around them while looking at each other's eyes, having unspoken conversations.
Tomoyo was the one who broke the silence.
"What time is it…?"
Eriol glanced over her shoulders. The clock was hung on the wall behind her back. "Almost seven."
He could see her eyes widened as the information clicked. Tomoyo was immobile for a while, and then she gasped, struggling hard under his large arm to break free from his embrace. Not caring about her nakedness, Tomoyo ran across the room in a hurry, grabbed her bathrobe to cover her body and turned to Eriol, who seemed to find the way she acts amusing.
"What are you doing?"
"What are you doing?"
Tomoyo smacked her forehead in disbelief. "God, don't tell me you forgot Sakura's wedding! We're supposed to be there at half past eight; Sakura wants me to help her prepare."
It was Eriol's turn to jolt from the four-poster bed.
"I'll pick you up in about an hour." He told her as he dressed up. Grabbing his key, Eriol proceeded to leave the chamber at the same time Tomoyo rushed inside her bathroom for a shower.
"WE DON'T NEED Einstein to connect the dots, Master." Akizuki Nakuru stood in Hiiragizawa Manor's front yard, her left hand on her hip, grinning widely. She was busy watering the flowers when her master's car showed up, entered the big garden. And when she saw his incredibly messy hair, even though she was given no further explanation, Nakuru could tell what had happened. Even Spinel, which scarcely smiles, let out a strange noise that could be considered as a suppressed chuckle.
"Finally made a move?" the feline teased. It sat calmly on a low branch of the tree nearby, accompanying its partner.
"Shut up." Eriol grunted, but a smirk was plastered on his handsome face. "When did you two arrive?"
"Last night." Spinel answered for him. "Around… midnight, I think? Nakuru tried to call you, but it was always the mailbox service no matter how many times she dialed your number… so we took a cab here."
Eriol shifted his gaze to Nakuru. "You called me?"
"Plenty. But… I guess whatever you did; it was worth the amount of money I gave to the cab's driver." The Moon Guardian turned off the faucet and rolled the hose she used to water the plants, still smiling.
"I turned it into silent mode yesterday." He confessed. "But really, I kept the phone with me. It was always in my pocket."
"You definitely didn't, Master."
Eriol gave Nakuru a puzzled look.
"I bet your pants were out of your reach until this morning. Tell me if I'm mistaken."
Shoot.
Eriol felt his face grow hot. Both of his Guardian were absolutely enjoying this moment. It wasn't everyday that they could tease the certain powerful Sorcerer, as a matter of fact.
"Don't you need to hurry up?" Spinel asked, flying off of the tree to land on Nakuru's right shoulder. "You have to pick Miss Tomoyo up, right? We'll go by ourselves. Besides, the ceremony will start at ten. We still have enough time. Unlike Miss Tomoyo, we're just normal guests."
Crap.
Spinel was right.
EXAMINING her reflection in the mirror, Tomoyo's orbs twinkled with satisfaction. Her soft, purple silk dress, which flared elegantly just an inch above her knees, was a perfect match to the shade of her irises. Then she touched her long hair, styled in a neat, thick French braid on her left shoulder. Fetching a silver, butterfly-shaped hairpin from her closet, she put it on carefully. For the finishing touch, Tomoyo stepped on her three-inch heels. She liked how some of her toes peeked shyly from the silver shoes. A smile curved her pink gloss-covered lips afterwards; her look was complete. Simple, yet classy and feminine.
She looked as graceful as a swan.
Nobody would doubt that if they saw her.
Tomoyo packed her necessities into a matching clutch bag before going downstairs. Eriol would come to pick her up in five minutes—if he wasn't going to be late. No, he'd better not. That man must have known how important this day was.
Good thing he came in time.
"Where do we go?" Eriol asked as he buckled his seatbelt. He didn't forget to take mental note about how her appearance today succeeded in stealing his breath away. She was gorgeous and it was an understatement.
"Church."
"Church?"
Tomoyo nodded. "The ceremony, remember? Party starts around 4:00 p.m."
Then he drove his car without further words.
When they arrived, none of the guests but Sakura's close friends had come. From a distance, Tomoyo noticed Chiharu and Naoko's figure as they walked down the pavement, chatting gleefully, perhaps talking about old stories. Tomoyo opened her mouth to call out, but unexpectedly Eriol did the work for her.
"Mihara-san! Yanagisawa-san!"
She saw their eyes widening, surprised, as they turned around towards the source of the noise.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Chiharu exclaimed, unconsciously clapping her hands together. "And… oh my God, Hiiragizawa-kun? You came, too!"
They shared hugs; it was like a good, reunion party. Fancy clothes, nice weather, and happy faces. Tomoyo felt this day was going to be great.
"So," Chiharu said, glancing over Eriol's handsome countenance, a huge grin decorated her face. "You two are together now?"
Tomoyo choked. She wasn't prepared for this kind of question. To her relief—and surprise—she felt Eriol placing his large, strong arm around her shoulders and drew her closer; Naoko squealed in delight watching their antics.
"Well—" he flashed them a killer smile that could make every girl melt on her feet. "—sort of."
A blush crept over Tomoyo's cheeks even before she realized it.
"Where's Sakura?" She tried to change the topic as quick as possible, hoping inwardly that they won't be aware of her reddened features.
"Still doing her make-up."
"And Syaoran?" This time, it was Eriol who asked Naoko.
"He's in the changing room with Yamazaki-kun and Touya-san, I guess. Whether Sakura's father is there or not, we don't know."
"I'll go see her." Tomoyo told Eriol, who nodded in understanding. "See you later, Naoko-chan, Chiharu-chan!"
THE CARD MISTRESS almost screamed hysterically as she saw her best friend from the reflection of her mirror, causing Sasaki Rika, who was busy applying make-up onto her face, to jump slightly. "TOMOYO-CHAN!"
Giggling, Tomoyo waved her hand calmly. "Hi, Sakura-chan. Long time no see, Rika-chan."
"How are you doing?" Rika put down her brush to pull Tomoyo in a friendly hug. "No, don't move, Sakura-chan. Or you'll mess up your look on your most important day. I'm not done with it." She warned the brunette, who seemed ready to launch herself over to the young Daidouji.
"Whyyyy~?"
A pout.
Tomoyo laughed. "I'm doing great."
She grabbed the brush formerly used by Rika and walked closer to Sakura. "BY the way, let me do the rest," she said, dabbing the brush into a compact powder before brushing it lightly on Sakura's face. "Ah… Rika-chan, can you hand me a lipstick? About the color... hmm, let's see… I think peach will do."
"Tomoyo-chan—"
"Hmm?"
"Did you—"
"Let me finish this first, Sakura-chan. I can't put your lipstick on if you keep talking like this." Tomoyo interrupted as she concentrated on her handiwork. "Okay. Done. What did you want to ask?"
"With whom did you come?"
Silence.
Tomoyo looked at Sakura. Somehow she got a strange idea that Sakura changed her question at the very last minute, or perhaps just her way of asking. She had chosen the type of question which cornered her. She was perfectly sure that this was what Sakura wanted: for her to admit everything. Breathing in, Tomoyo shifted her head to the direction of Sasaki Rika, who was now staring at her with much interest. She couldn't retreat. It had been a public secret that Rika was dating their Elementary teacher, Terada-sensei but Daidouji Tomoyo's love life was never revealed for years. She did have a few crushes in her high school era, but was never literally dating a man.
Never, until…
Until the certain incarnation of Clow Reed stepped back into her life, carrying chaos with him.
No way back, Daidouji.
She always knew that someday she would reach this point.
"I came with Eriol."
Somehow, that sentence flew out of her mouth so easily. She didn't feel any burden for admitting the fact.
"So… are you together now?"
Tomoyo wanted to roll her eyes at Rika's question so badly. Did she not make everything clear enough? No? Does she have to explain the uncommon type of relationship she had with that mage? Must Rika know that although they had slept together twice, Daidouji Tomoyo is still unsure whether it makes her his girlfriend or not? She had voices echoing in her mind, forcing to be spilled out.
However, she just stood there. Blinking stupidly with her mouth closing and opening like a fish.
Darn. Get your voice, Daidouji!
"Well—" she nodded hesitantly, "—sort of."
Heck. Even Tomoyo couldn't understand why she ended up copying Eriol's line for an answer.
They were enveloped in an awkward, wordless situation until the baritone voice of Kinomoto Fujitaka broke the silence as he walked into the room. "Sakura. It's about time."
"I got it."
Getting up, Sakura tried to straighten her wedding dress; Tomoyo also helped by applying the last touch to her mien, while Rika handed the small bouquet of orchids and lilies before patting her back softly to calm the starting-to-get-nervous brunette down. As they turned Sakura around to face her father, they came to face a very, very beautiful lady standing near Fujitaka. Her straight, red hair loose and flowing down past her waist, a tender smile on her lips. Tomoyo gasped, but she wasn't the only one who did. Sakura froze on her feet while Rika had to bring her hands up, covering her gaping mouth.
Mizuki Kaho.
Hold on—scratch that.
Ishida Kaho.
Their ex-substitute teacher who taught them mathematics back in Tomoeda Elementary. The ruby-eyed Priestess. It had been so long since the last time Tomoyo saw her inside Eriol's office. Such bad timing it was. She 'accidentally' eavesdropped on their conversations and spotted them snogging—
Wait.
She didn't see them snog.
Substantively, Tomoyo dashed away before seeing anything too-personal. She ran like a coward sheep right after she heard Eriol requested the kiss. That matter was still a mystery to her (even now), but she decided not to bring it up. She had enough hectic things in her life, no need to add some more.
"Mizuki-sensei…"
She was the first who snapped back from the trance.
"Umm—no—I mean—" Tomoyo looked down, trying to clarify what she said (she always forgot that she was no longer a 'Mizuki') but a melodious giggle prevented her from doing so.
"It's okay," Kaho said lightly. "Old habits die hard, I assume."
"Sensei," Sakura spoke, "Did you come all the way here alone?"
"Of course not!" She stepped closer to reach Sakura's arms, who was making her way to Fujitaka in a careful pace. The Card Mistress wasn't used to heels, and her wedding gown was heavy—blames the skirts—but she absolutely didn't want to trip. "You wrote it on the invitation, right? Everyone who comes here must bring their partner."
Yeah.
That was exactly why Tomoyo ended up accepting Eriol's offer.
"Eh…?" Rika twitched her eyebrows. "So, are you…?"
Kaho nodded. "Yuuki is out there, waiting for me. Perhaps he's now talking with the other guests…"
"Let's go, Sakura." Fujitaka smiled, offering his arm which Sakura gladly accepted. They walked out of the room as the music started to play.
SACRED SILENCE spread its wings upon the people in that church as Sakura and Syaoran exchanged vows, which bonded them as husband and wife. Tomoyo watched with a big smile beside Eriol, who sat with his legs crossed and hands deposited on his thigh. He looked as though they were enjoying a movie in the cinema. She heard his low chuckle when Syaoran pulled up the veil that covered Sakura's face and gave her chaste kiss on the lips. The crowd applauded, throwing them congratulatory shouts.
"Finally." Tomoyo mumbled as she clapped, standing up while Sakura and Syaoran made their way out from the church, thanking all the audience.
Eriol turned at her direction, smirking. "Yeah, finally."
"So, her name will change to… what? Li Sakura?"
"Not a good combination, frankly speaking." He added, glancing towards her and they laughed together. Tomoyo hit his arm in a playful punch as she carefully dabbed the corner of her eyes with her fingertips. Her tears almost fell down from laughing so much, but she didn't want her non-waterproof mascara to be ruined.
"You're so mean, Hiiragizawa."
"I met him this morning," he announced, his tone went back into his normal one. "Before the ceremony."
Him? Who?
Tomoyo was too confused that she wasn't able to say her thoughts out loud. But it seemed she didn't have to do it to make Eriol knows what's inside her mind.
"Kaho's husband. That Ishida guy."
Her figure went stiff. "You didn't do anything to him, right? Mizuki-sensei was so happy when—"
Eriol cut her off with a smile. "You've met Kaho."
"Umm… that… That's because she went to see Sakura in the changing room when I finished her make-up." Tomoyo chose to be honest with him; she didn't see what's good in faking the truth this time.
"He's still in a one piece, if that's what you're worried about."
A pause.
"But I must admit that I do not have any reason to like the guy."
Another pause.
He sighed. "After all, I'm not a teenage-boy with raging hormones, Tomoyo. According to my mature opinion, no matter how fun it would be, punching someone's face for marrying the woman he loves is unbelievably stupid. Moreover, Kaho loves him. And recently, I realized that I'm content with my life."
Tomoyo couldn't decide which one she wanted to do the most: laugh at the tall man beside her for saying the 'according to my mature opinion' phrase that she found out deadly amusing or be taken aback by his clear statement that he was pleased with his life.
So she remained silent.
"Ah…! There you two are!"
Yamazaki Takashi popped out from the crowd, his expression looked relieved. He grabbed Tomoyo's arm, who instinctively reached out to hold Eriol's wrist, and dragged the couple outside.
"What is it, Yamazaki-kun?"
"The photo session, remember?"
Oh… right. How could she forget?
Everyone was already there. They were waiting for them. Sakura and Syaoran, Chiharu, Naoko (hand in hand with her boyfriend whom Tomoyo hadn't ever met before), Rika, Terada-sensei, Mizuki-sensei (oops… she did it again!) and her husband, Touya, Yukito, Nakuru (Kero and Spinel were on each of her shoulder), Li Meilin (along with Syaoran's parents and the rest of the Li Clan), Sakura's father and to her surprise, she also saw their grand-grandfather, Amamiya Masaki, on his wheelchair. He was very old now, but pure happiness gleamed across his face.
"Tomoyo-chan! Quick, quick!" Sakura called them.
Tomoyo stood between Eriol and Yukito. Her heart felt warm. This was such a perfect day. She could tell as the friendly breeze blew her bangs, making them dance on her forehead. She watched the photographer correcting their positions and postures attentively, her smile never faded.
And finally…
She heard the countdown.
"Three… two… one. Say 'cheese'!"
Click.
"I'll throw the bouquet!" Sakura beamed, hitching up her skirt a bit as she climbed back the church's stairs. Before turning around so that she couldn't see where the bouquet would go, she called once more. "Everyone, get ready!"
"You're not participating?" Eriol looked rather amused when he noticed Tomoyo slowly walking away from the other girls, who stood eagerly in front of the stairs, hoping for luck so they could get the bouquet and become the next one to have their marriage. "All of your friends seem pretty enthusiastic, though."
He was right. Chiharu, Naoko, and Rika could be found among the bunch of girls gathered.
Tomoyo let out her beautiful laugh. Her clear amethyst irises never left Sakura's back. "Well, it's not like I will be married by next year."
He just raised an eyebrow in response.
Then the Card Mistress threw her bouquet backwards (the crowds went crazy) and she hurriedly turned around to see in whose hands it would land, but in the next second Sakura was aware she used her power a bit too much than needed. No one would get that bouquet.
Or so she thought.
However, the bouquet floated in the air—
—high, so high it flew—
—out of everyone's reach—
—passing the girls, leaving them groaning in disappointment—
—and it landed perfectly on Tomoyo's folded arms, who caught it reflexively in order to prevent the beautiful bouquet from hitting the ground. She looked surprised. Eriol chuckled.
"What if you will?"
.
to be continued.