CCS (c) Clamp and all rightful owners, similarly to the quotations.

The (Im) Perfect Couple

"Perfection itself is imperfection." ~Vladimir Horowitz

"There is a kind of beauty in imperfection." ~Conrad Hall

Chapter 1: Envy

"Envy is an insult to oneself." ~Yevgeny Yevtushenko

"Envy is human nature." ~ Monica Bellucci

"Jealousy is the fear or apprehension of superiority: envy our uneasiness under it." ~William Shenstone

Tomoyo –

She envies him for finding amusement in every situation. Tomoyo knows that Eriol delight in tormenting her, and merriment in teasing her.

When she looks back at herself, she laughs [at herself] for being dragged down by every little thing.

Eriol –

He envies her for being so human, so innocent, even though she was touched by magic.

Neither he nor Sakura, nor Syaoran remain unscathed after touching and being touched by magic. So why was she u n a f f e c t e d?

Eriol envies her untainted innocence, and thus, seeks to blemish her by hurting, hurting, hurting her.

"Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own." ~Harold Coffin

If only they would look at their own [gifts]; how ironic! Yet, envy is often ironic.

Is it not?

Tomoyo –

She feels an upwards tilt of her lips when she spots Eriol struggling under the combined weight of the children.

In the nursery Tomoyo volunteers in, the children were especially fond of Eriol (much to her chagrin).

As he laughs and plays with the children, envy clouds her violet eyes. So, so badly does Tomoyo want the children to react that way to her, yet they were only their natural selves in the presence of him.

So she closes her eyes [ignore], and the next time she opens them, she is their 'perfect' teacher – the princess of theirs that 'requires' them to hide their 'ugly, ugly' selves.

Eriol –

Merriment everywhere! He thinks; skipping about in circles with the innocent children and eyeing the fragile expression Tomoyo wore.

Almost like a child,

Enraptured by the atmosphere,

'More, more!' he childishly demands.

[How much can you hide?]

Tomoyo –

Her chest hurts.

Her eyes hurt.

[From restraining salty, painful tears]

Yet she maintained the (brittle) sweet smile, maintained that (delicate) angelic expression.

[You aren't hiding anything] His grey eyes tell her when their eyes caught each other. Tomoyo simply smiled in response. Her eyes, on the other hand, were anything but smiles.

[Then stop hurting me!]

Eriol –

He knows when to stop.

[When innocent Tomoyo harbour painful thoughts she wishes to inflict onto another's person.]

Gently, he broke away from the delighted children of barely seven to approach her.

[How are you?] He whispered into her ears, hands seeking out uncovered skin to taint, taint, taint.

Tomoyo –

She plays along.

Light-heartedly, she replied him.

[I'm fine. And you?]

Light-heartedly, she sidestepped him.

[Don't touch me.]

To everyone else, they made a perfect couple with their 'ease' of intimacy.

Eriol –

[Shall we stop?] He pleasantly questions the woman (reluctantly) bound in his arms.

Tomoyo –

[Please do.] She simply answers and tries to unbind herself from his lithe limbs without being obvious.

Eriol –

[I will drag you through the mud.] Suddenly, he declares war.

Tomoyo –

Peals of laughter, as light and soft as the tinkle of chimes, resounded in the room.

[Haven't you already?] She bitterly responds.

Eriol –

As he spins her around to face him –

Her face was one of grim determination.

Her violet eyes stared resolutely into his own grey ones. Her lips were in a firm line, a small downwards tilt to those creamy lips.

It was his turn to laugh.

'Outsiders' –

[They make a lovely couple. How much we envy the pair!]

A/N:

(i) Confusing, even to me. LOLs! (I totally fail as a writer)

(ii) Explanantion: Tomoyo envies Eriol's 'ability' to have everyone act naturally (anger, disgust, like, shyness, excitement etc) while everyone else treats her carefully, like a fragile porcelain doll. Eriol envies Tomoyo's innocence, even though she has felt, seen and heard magic. I twisted it such that anyone who is a magic-user will be affected. For Eriol, he is negatively affected by being a powerful magician. Thus, he actively hurts Tomoyo. Tomoyo, in this chapter, is your classic damsel in distress. She won't retaliate to Eriol's 'attacks'.

(iii) So many hits yet so little comments. Please make me happy by reviewing! I'm distributing freshly baked chocolate chip cookies~