Disclaimer : I don't own CCS. CCS is owned by CLAMP.
Chapter Dedication : My chapters will always be dedicated to my beta, Aoi Itsuki, who's been so smart to fix on my stupid errors of the fic. ^-^ . Oh and to Hidden Tala who created an inspiring fic "You'll Do". It's such a cute, refreshing read!
Thank You for reviewing the 6th chapter: Midnight Ghost, James Birdsong, Death101 – Fox Version, chainedheart999, Vinnie Warlock, animefan88tv, Oncinlity, skybluescramble, Shenhui, Malu Daidoji, tomoyo-amethyst, mysticalphoenix-avalon, cheng, why, Krissy, and bshinigami!
Summary : Once upon a time, with a Cursed Man and the soon-to-be Cursed Woman. Set 9 years post CCS series.
The Misfortunate Tale: Beauty and the Beast (Not)
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:: Chapter 7 : :
Merry-Go-Round
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Hiiragizawa Eriol had been much more acceptable the next entire month.
After the dinner with Kaho and Eriol that certain day a month ago, the Londoner came and stayed at the Daidouji Manor again. Tomoyo had been worried at first (to accept him again after almost 3 whole week of his 'disappearance' to Kaho's place), but Eriol had been considerably nice and decent towards her, so her worries slowly melted away. The Reincarnation, of course, had never truly stopped his whole flirting (and successfully caused her several 'injuries' –although he claimed that she could have been in worse condition if he wasn't there to protect her). Nevertheless, he generally was a pleasant housemate.
So to count, it had been approximately 2,5 months since Eriol and his Curse entered Tomoyo's life, and she was very glad to find that her condition was still in one piece.
But if there were things she would like to complain about Eriol (besides, of course, his curse and the series of misfortunate events aimed at her), was his persistence in breaking her planner.He loved to suddenly sneak himself inside her room and persuade her not to work on her assignments (which were pretty much a failure, to Eriol's side). He also loved to suddenly 'steal' her for a walk –resulting in another loss ofTomoyo's "Sakura's Time". And he certainly was eager to show up at the wrong place at the wrong time –mostly causing her to delay her usual well-planned schedule.
Talk about the devil.
"The weather is so good today, don't you think we should go somewhere rather than stay in any room in your house?"
She was inside her own room, doing her work. Without looking at him, Tomoyo replied, "Can't do. I have plans for today."
"What?" Eriol snorted as looking at her daily planner and reading one of the plans the girl had for the day. "Cleaning your room?"
She nodded carelessly, knowing that the bespectacled guy would have series of comments coming later.
She guessed right.
"You are the Daidouji Heiress, you have your maids to clean your room for you –thrice a day. And your overly-organized behavior really prevents your room to ever get dirty, Daidouji-san. So the answer as for why you need to clean your room is beyond common sense."
"People have different standards of cleanness, Hiiragizawa-san," she debated.
"Well, yours is questionable."
"No, it's not." Tomoyo defended herself. "I just like to have things around me in order, is that wrong?"
"It is not, originally. But you're overdoing it. It's an obsessive compulsive tendency. And you're a freak."
At the last comment, Tomoyo turned around to face him. "Excuse me? I am a freak?"
He nodded – silently glad to finally have her attention.
"I am not a freak." She claimed. "I especially won't accept the insult from you." And with that, she turned back to face her table and focused more on her work again.
…
It wasn't that she didn't know what he was going to do.
"Come on, Daidouji-san." Eriol sighed tiredly. "Go on a date with me. Forget your damned assignments for a second, will you?"
He was ignored.
Huffing in annoyance, he finally muttered, "You're impossible," and left the room.
Good, her conscience told her as she tightened her grip on her pen –whether it was for the determination to finish the paper or just simply because her own agitation towards him. If that guy thought that he could act childishly like that to get what he wanted, then he was wrong. Oh so wrong. Because Daidouji Tomoyo was a girl with strong willpower. One who would not be easily disturbed by a mere spoiled attention-seeker.
…
Right.
Then why –in less than 5 minutes after he left the room – did she find herself not being able to write her usual brilliant ideas for the essays? Why did she lose her remarkable concentration?
Why… did her feet itch, wanting to go after him and demand him what was wrong?
Ignore it. Ignore it.
Ignore it…
Igno –
Before Tomoyo could control herself, she had already stood up and ran out of her room. "Hiiragi –"
A cold hand gripped her slim wrist. Turning to her holder's direction, she could see that Eriol was standing outside her room, just next to her door.
And he was grinning in the winning fashion.
"I got you." He spoke easily. And before she could even comprehend the situation (where he had certainly succeeded in tricking her to chase him up), the Sorcerer had already dragged the defeated lady downstairs.
"Don't touch me, you –"
Her feet stumbled and she almost fell down the stairs again. But Hiiragizawa had his practices, and he easily caught her before she could break a limb.
But still… such an annoying Curse…
Tomoyo started her series of reasoning for him not to drag her out of her house. "Hiiragizawa Eriol, stop! I must do my assignment!"
"It isn't until due next week, I know."
Her brain was quick to find another reason. "I still have to finish the dress for Chiharu… You know, the one that she requested? She would be sad if the dress is –"
"Bullshit. I saw the dress. You've made it."
"W-what I meant was…I am planning to make a bonus dress for her…"
"That can wait, can't it, Daidouji-san?"
She tried to pry the hand off her wrist. "I don't want to go out! You can't force me! Hiiragizawa-san! Hiiragizawa-san, let go of me you –" she ranted, hoping that Eriol would have mercy on her. Tomoyo glanced around and saw some of her maids just giggle dreamily as they watched the forced-asking-out attraction.
At times like this, she really wondered on whose side her maids were on.
"Put on your shoes." He ordered.
Tomoyo smiled her venom smile. "I'm not going anywhere, period," she warned.
"Well, if you want to be seen walking around Tomoeda barefoot, then it's your choice." He shrugged.
She glared through her smile.
He smiled back.
Somehow, they both knew he won this time.
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"Amusement Park," Tomoyo stated dryly as he killed the car's engine on the Amusement Park's Parking Lot. He got out of the car quick to open the door for her. While he was out, he still could hear her unpleased rants ("You brought me with force, making me abandon my work, to go to an amusement park?" she had screeched inside the car).
"It's nice, isn't it?"Eriol grinned proudly as opening the door for her and took her hand in a graceful manner. By habit, she took the offering. The corner of her amethyst eyes caught the swift movement of a ball coming to her head's direction, but Eriol –as usual – was ready to dodge it.
It scared her sometimes, to know that both she and Eriol were getting used to dealing with all these romantic touches plus all the bad luck trailing after them.
The violet eyed girl felt something land softly on the top of her head and she saw that Eriol had just fitted a cap on her head.He then bent down to her eye level and grinned. "Please. Just enjoy this day, okay?"
Something about the way he spoke, about his gesture, about his aura, about him created a sudden feeling that Tomoyo somehow feared.
"Is there anything wrong?" she asked.
Eriol was quick in giving a reassuring smile.
Too quick, even.
"Come on. We don't have much time. Too many rides to try!" he said cheerily as he pushed her towards the entrance of the Amusement Park.
It wasn't unnoticed by her, that he hadn't replied her previous question.
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What Daidouji Tomoyo thought about:
Amusement Park: a very fun, memorable, exciting place to visit.
Hiiragizawa Eriol: a generally nice gentleman who unfortunately possessed such an annoying curse and slightly jerk-ish persona (at times).
Amusement Park plus Hiiragizawa Eriol: a disaster.
She would like to take back her words about how she and Eriol were already used to the Curse and the effects caused by it.
Tomoyo fell and almost drowned in the water ride just because he tucked her hair behind her ear. She had an even more humiliating moment on the carousel: after Eriol helped her to get off the carousel's horse, her skirt got somehow stuck on the ride. Fortunately, he had magic, and thus freeing her was an easy task. The bumper ride turned out to be just as terrifying: there was a crazy guy who seemed to target her bumper ride and maniacally bumped his bumper ride with force towards hers (and while perhaps it was the exact purpose of bumper rides, it was still unpleasing!).
In the Ghost House, she tripped seven times, once every time the fake ghost appeared and she unconsciously embraced Eriol (which, led to another curse, and another, and another …). But the worst was when they were in the roller coaster ride. Eriol had held her hand during half the ride and the roller coaster stopped midway on the vertical loop. She was forced to experience 5 seconds of being hung upside-down in the air –definitely something she didn't want to experience ever again.
"This is officially one of the most dangerous days of my life," Tomoyo muttered after they went out of the Roller Coaster ride.
Eriol laughed at her comment as he handed her a can of ice lemon tea. She gratefully accepted it and drank immediately to satisfy her thirst.
"But it is fun, isn't it?" he said while they resumed their walk.
Tomoyo could easily admit to herself that yes, she had never been this thrilled for a while. After trying the first ride, her will to escape and go home had diminished. Sure, Eriol's damned Curse and the bad luck series troubled her a lot, but perhaps eventually, she was the type who enjoyed disaster (hmm, such a sadist?) and thus the day was entertaining. However, the fun had to end sometime. Noticing the pinkish sky and the setting sun, she questioned him. "Going home?"
Eriol turned to his face to her and smiled softly. "How about one more ride?"
"But the amusement park will close soon."
"We still have time." He gently squeezed her hand. "Come."
Bowing her head down and trying to conceal the sudden blush, Tomoyo blamed herself for surrendering herself so easily to him. And when she tripped again, she had more reason to hate herself for still feeling that sort of tingling sensation near Eriol.
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The ride that Eriol was referring to was apparently the Ferris-wheel.
It was a good choice; she was also more in the mood for something relaxing. After all those thrilled screams, she would love to just sit comfortably and enjoy the sight town by floating in the air.
The passenger cab wasn't really that spacious and was only designed for 4 people at maximum. But since it was just the two of them inside the number 12 gondola, the journey on the Ferris-wheel was comfortable. The cheerful yet distant sound of the carnival music could be heard in background as the passenger cab began to move upward in a slow circular motion. Soon, the sight of Tomoeda from above had begun to appear. Rooftops of houses and buildings, trees, yards… To see such a big town like Tomoeda in such a simple insight was comfortable, and neither of the two dark haired wanted to break the silence and they stayed silent for a period of time, until Tomoyo finally did it.
"So… what is it?"
Eriol didn't avert his gaze from the sight outside the window and casually asked back. "What is what?"
Tomoyo smiled softly. "You want to tell me something, don't you?"
It never failed to amaze him (and to annoy him, sometimes) that Daidouji had the gift of to be too perceptive. "You always ruin the mood, you know that, Daidouji-san?" He chuckled. "Like whenever you complained and worried about your unfinished works and other things when we were having fun. You always ruin the mood."
She giggled back. "And you always avoid the question that I've been meaning to ask."
He smiled. "I would answer it. But save it for later, ne?"
Worry sneaked inside her heart. "Is it something bad?"
"There, you ruined the mood again. I told you 'later', didn't I?"
Tomoyo was about to protest but after she decided to introspect herself, she declined the urge. "Fine…" She leaned back comfortably. "Just enjoy this, right?"
Eriol nodded and let some moments pass in the now convenient atmosphere. A while later, he started again."This makes me remember about things we've done to match make Sakura and Syaoran years ago. Oh, the old days…"
"It was really fun." She agreed immediately. "It's rather cute to look back and find out how many things have happened and changed. Sakura and Syaoran's engagement, Rika and Terada-sensei's marriage, Yukito and Touya's breakup, Naoko's book release…" She paused before adding again later. "Your manipulative behavior…"
"That never changes, you know." Eriol chuckled. "What has changed from the old days is your overly-planned persona."
"I've had that quality inside of me since the older days, you know? It wasn't shown much back then, but I've always had planned everything. Although, I admit that the years have really honed that particular habit even more."
"Ah, yes. You are, too, manipulative and scheming ever since we were younger." He then slowly stared at her. "Tell me, did you really plan your life that much? I mean, how much portion of your life have you planned out, exactly?"
"Not much, actually."
"Liar."
"Well… besides all those daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly plans, my life's plan is actually very simple."
"Oh, really?" He snorted in disbelief.
"It's true." Tomoyo giggled. "I just… want a simple life. Like…" She paused to gaze at the sight outside the window. Their passenger gondola had passed the top peak of the wheel and was currently descending down in slow movement. "…Like finishing my studies in a year from now. A-and, I want to go to Paris."
"Paris?"
"I want to earn my degree in fashion design."
"You still have passion for those things? I thought it was just a hobby and what you really wanted was to be a successful businesswoman, like your mother. Isn't that why you are enrolled in the Faculty of Economy in Tomoeda University?"
"Er… that's my mother's will, actually. Not that I despise Economy, I think that it is a very interesting subject, but I just hope that someday…someday I'll be able to do what I really want."
"Like what they all say, 'you can if you think you can'. So, don't worry."
Tomoyo chuckled. "I hope so."
"What's your other life's plan? After you get your degree in fashion design?"
"Not much, here comes the boring part of my dream." She paused before continuing. "I just want to open a small shop and take sewing order. I just want to live casually, but I hope that I'll be able to live on my own soon enough. And by 25, I want to be married."
Now, it was he who chuckled. "You even set an age for a marriage."
"Hey, I'm not the only girl who does that, trust me." She shrugged. "B-but, I don't want to force that. Marriage…is the only plan in my life that I don't really want to set a standard up. The 25-year old thing is just a mindless reminder. Because unlike career and other aspects in life, love is the only thing that we can not plan nor force. It's something that has to come naturally and … well…"
Eriol smiled. "It's nice seeing you still have that kind of view."
"What do you mean?"
He shrugged. "I thought these kind of romantic dreams don't have any place in you anymore. Seeing you like this, it reminds me of the 11-year-old you."
"Ah, you like the old me better?"
"I like…" He paused, debating whether it was wise to continue or not. "I like… you. The old you, and the Daidouji Tomoyo who's in front of my eyes right now."
The term 'like' was not something unfamiliar to him. As a previous Casanova himself, he had admitted that he liked many girls, but never, never had the sensation felt the same when it came to Tomoyo. He supposed that the absurdity of the idea itself was what turning his cheek redder than usual. Besides…
He looked up at her again.
With the golden rays of sunlight shone in behind her and those… God… those violet eyes gazed at him, Eriol couldn't think that he had ever seen something more beautiful than Daidouji Tomoyo was. He had seen many beauties and cherished them naturally. But there was something different with Tomoyo's beauty. It wasn't something that he normally encountered –to find a beauty that he wanted to hold and yet be afraid of it.
Thus, he was silenced.
And he felt that his heart beat faster.
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–He wasn't supposed to feel like this –
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He didn't know what power drove him to, but he stood up and approached her.
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–It happened quick –
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Due to his sudden move in standing and approaching, the passenger gondola had gone unbalanced and he stumbled upon her. He had heard her sudden shriek of panic, but he paid no attention to that and just focused his attention to what he seeked:
Her.
…
Tomoyo sensed trembles when his hand touched her cheek and caressed it, but when his lips touched hers, all she sensed was determination…
…and genuineness.
She realized that this wasn't the first time he kissed her, but it was definitely the first time she felt such a tender kiss coming from him. While he usually did a more urging and passionate kissing before, his kiss was now very heartbreakingly gentle, achingly true, and it sent her to Cloud Nine in seconds. He was not as calculated as he used to be, and the slight shivers on his hand sent jolt of sensation to her spine. She didn't know what justified it, but she felt like there was truly something different in this kiss. Like he wanted to tell something, –to express something.
"Hiiragizawa-san –"Tomoyo murmured breathlessly after he ended the kiss.
He slowly smiled. "I do hope that nothing too horrible happen to you after this," he said.
She blushingly averted her gaze from him. "T-that shall be your responsibility. You promise to protect me, right?"
Eriol suddenly grabbed her hand and moved it closer to his lips before gently laying a soft peck on it. "Of course, Princess."
"You…!" It was impossible for her to get even redder, but apparently she did.
It was fortunate enough for her that the gondola had stopped. The Ferris-Wheel staff opened the door for them and let the two dark-haired out. She chose to keep a slight distance away –just to save herself from his teasing of her reddening cheeks.
It was only when they reached the parking lot and he let out the key to open the car that her cell phone suddenly rang.Grateful that she had reason to escape such a thick and uncomfortable atmosphere, she immediately answered the phone even without seeing who the caller was. "Yes?"
Eriol hadn't noticed it at first, but moments later, he realized that there was a queer way in the way Tomoyo answered the phone. So after she ended the call, he questioned her. "What is it?"
Her eyes were wide in disbelief and her body trembled. In incoherent murmurs, she said, "S-Sakura. Sakura h-had an accident."
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: : To Be Continued : :