A/N: Aaaw...I'm not sure which part in this chapter the drag started. I guess my mind is really too messed up now that school just took it's toll on me. Midterms is so depressing. I shouldn't even be writing the last half of the chapter while I'm doing a case study. huhu
Thank you very much to cheng and my good friend, lu for always encouraging me. Any mistakes you find, please PM me. :)
Act 23, Winter
She looked like a blossom nymph with her fragile grace and interesting garb that it was particularly difficult to tear his azure eyes away from that ethereally exquisite face of hers, and he fought valiantly to finally rest his greedy gaze at anything but her soft, appealing features. Her delicate movement and the feeble shuffle of her dress every time she made a step forward with him complemented the rhythmic waltz in his head.
This young woman couldn't have implied that it was just the unusual way she dressed up for the event that was flattering her quiet beauty. Though he had been fascinated by the way she prepared herself for the party, no silk kimono or make-up could ever give justice to her august charm. He could attest to that because he had seen her in his practice room in Terada's music school months ago, when she had decided to play Liszt on his piano and he had blurted out, quite impolitely, that she was beautiful. He was somehow obsessed since then but would never admit it even to himself.
Seeing that slight pout on her lips when she self-consciously accepted his observation tonight, she probably thought otherwise.
Eriol clenched his fists.
He couldn't believe he was having these unbecoming thoughts about their guest. If anyone found out that he was suddenly attracted to Tomoyo this way he was going to be perpetually mortified. The usually stoic pianist had never once regarded anyone this openly or had brazenly said his thoughts out loud, and this impulsive change of behavior should never really start now. Hearing her sing his hastily composed song this morning was addicting enough, and he had already fallen into the bad habit of making excuses to keep her in the piano room while he practiced in the last two days.
It just took him a moment to realize that he was in heap of trouble.
"Hiiragizawa-san?" Tomoyo's musical voice breached his thoughts before he remembered where he was exactly and who he was with.
His gaze decidedly glided to her rosy mouth instead of her attractive amethyst eyes, a matter that was actually accidental. He asked her what was wrong and immediately those plump lips mouthed the response a little too languorously before his eyes.
Is she bent on teasing me?
"Forgive me. I didn't get that."
This was the same hypnotism he was trapped in a few minutes ago, when he first had the chance to really study her in the golden glow while she was fixing his haori with compulsive subtlety, but this time it seemed like he was falling terribly deeper in the trance.
"Your hand. You are hurting me." The embarrassed tone matched her blush and only when Tomoyo tried to pry her entwined fingers did he only completely snap out of the daze.
"Aa...forgive me," the pianist managed to croak as he looked away again. However, Eriol only loosened his grip to a more comfortable hold because he didn't have much desire to let go.
He mentally kicked himself. This was probably the most embarrassing thing that had happened to him. How could he have forgotten that he was holding her hand all this time? Why was he still holding her hand? And most importantly, why wasn't she letting go?
Stupid, stupid hormones, messing up in the most awkward time.
In his peripheral vision, Eriol could see the woman smile, and only then could he feel his own traitorous blush mounting to his pale face. Tomoyo must have known how much torture this was for him and was probably enjoying it, of course, because she was sensitive in that sense. That fact was even more humiliating than anyone else knowing about what he was flustered about.
It was supposed to take them just a few minutes to reach their destination, but to Eriol it was a longer march. Somehow he wanted to blame Sakura for this confusion and her older brother and his assistant for arresting Tomoyo's attention in the hallway.
Or this performance together, he ruefully added to himself. He would not have come up to her that way and flirt with the oblivious victim.
I am a hopeless idiot on raging hormones.
He really shouldn't be acting like a frustrated teenager on high, and he didn't even have any idea how one behaved.
Eriol was fortunately saved from his condescending thoughts when the receiving room came into view.
His cousin had already entertained a guest upon their arrival to the entryway, one who Tomoyo Daidōji should effortlessly recognize. Sakura had cleverly sent invitations to people who were close to the Kinomoto family and who already knew Tomoyo, and the former wouldn't disclose the names to surprise her curious friend. But this had been actually the pianist's idea.
"Is that who I think he is?"
His Chinese best friend had his back on them, nonetheless it was impossible not to associate that unruly cinnamon mane to anyone but him.
"Oniichan," Sakura said, delighted to see the approaching couple, and her guest turned to face them.
"You still look blue, Li. Was the trip enjoyable?"
It had recently become their game to taunt each other before the formal pleasantries were to take place. Eriol couldn't help but smirk at the look on his friend's face upon the mention of his flight. He knew Syaoran hated traveling by plane, and that heights always made him queasy. The Chinese would've gladly taken the train if he wasn't caught up with some imperative engagement in the last twenty-four hours.
"Baka. I heard that you got sick again. I'm rather disappointed that you're still alive." He easily fell to his bait and failed to acknowledge the ebony-haired woman at his side.
His cousin merely giggled despite the crude statement but Tomoyo had looked scandalized, her fingers flexing significantly in his hand. The former heiress was not at all amused by his friend's twisted sarcasm, and there was something in the way she tensed that told him that she was suddenly distressed.
He consoled her by giving her hand a gentle squeeze but he wasn't sure if she understood his message.
"You remember Syaoran Li, Daidōji-san, don't you?"
"Konban wa Li-san," she greeted with a bow, and with this gesture she had to finally let go of his hold.
"Daidōji-san."
It was undeniable that Syaoran was suddenly uptight for a stunned reaction. He had not expected the other guest to be the same girl he had mistakenly chased off before. With the whole misunderstanding of what he really had to do then it hadn't been his fault but he had nonetheless considered it a personal offense.
Eriol didn't miss the guilt in the confused signals his best friend was letting off in his body language, but he still couldn't read what caused Tomoyo's sudden tension.
"Nee...isn't it good to celebrate Christmas with friends?"
Either Sakura was downright unaware or she was acutely attentive of the growing discomfort in everybody that made her say that. Her cousin guessed it was the latter because Kinomoto Sakura was always perceptive. She didn't even have to sound forced when she started a conversation that involved presents, cats and photography just to get everyone talking again.
Even so, Tomoyo had been a reluctant participant in the discussion, offering her opinion only when addressed. She was still mildly anxious and uncomfortable despite Sakura's effort to bring everyone at ease, and Syaoran couldn't look at her in the eye in his peculiar display of remorse.
"Would you like to practice in the piano room while we wait for the other guests?"
Maybe it would help her lighten up. Whatever she was thinking he wanted to know.
In the few times they practiced for the Christmas performance, he had noticed how singing seemed to lift her disposition.
His question surprised Tomoyo but she was able to follow him after they had excused themselves.
He hadn't held her hand again nor stood too close, afraid that he may do something silly again.
It was a wordless promenade to the piano room and the former heiress fell behind as if on purpose, contemplating on something since she had welcomed Syaoran.
"He shouldn't have said that," she suddenly said, effectively stopping him in his tracks.
Before Eriol could even open his mouth, Tomoyo started speaking again.
"I'm sorry. Li-san is your friend, but...I couldn't help myself."
That shocked and distressed look on her face shouldn't even be there to begin with, and he struggled to understand what she was trying to tell him. How could Syaoran's statement aggravate her this way?
"Daidōji-san..."
"I know. I shouldn't have overreacted."
The pianist watched her in the soft radiance for a long minute, his objective ministrations replaced his curious interest this time.
There were a few emotions he could read in her face that moment but only one was clear. She had looked away too late, not wanting him to see that distinctive pout on her lips and those eyes that lost the spark they usually hold. She was physically like that when she worried.
Aa...she is most definitely worried, his thoughts pressed on.
He unconsciously stashed that expression of hers in the back of his mind.
He covered the gap her hesitation had caused, standing before her and fighting against any excuse to hold her. His shadow easily draped her frame and she looked even smaller in his eyes.
"Daidōji-san, look at me." It wasn't a command but there was an edginess in his plea that couldn't be denied, and Tomoyo had flinched. But she hadn't stepped back, and he considered it an encouragement to continue speaking. "Are you still thinking about what Li said?"
She wouldn't answer his question. When she finally lifted her face to him, he hadn't expected to see tears that formed in the corners of her wide eyes. She probably had whimpered or choked at his intense gaze, Eriol couldn't really tell now. He was still debating if he should catch her tears before they rolled off her smooth cheeks.
She must have really been bothered.
He would probably never understand why she was surprisingly sympathetic.
"I am not going to die," he said these words in a firm and assuring tone at the same time as if he was trying to convince a child. He was now sure she had been truly shaken by a mere jest. The woman right in front of him appeared as if she would recoil any second and then curl up in a tight ball on the floor.
And he would never know why he needed to promise her again either, but Eriol knew he had to be always careful with Tomoyo. It was as if she would break if he wasn't gentle enough.
Her amethyst eyes painstakingly scanned his sapphire orbs for any indication of a lie. She seemed torn between wanting to believe him and rejecting his vow.
"It's Christmas, Daidōji-san. You shouldn't even have these ideas."
His deep baritone dropped to a quieter note. He tried one more time to pacify her agitation with humor and a reassuring grin.
She replied with a slow nod but was quick to return a smile albeit it was an embarrassed one. He was leaning too close and he could glimpse another charming color materializing on her alabaster skin.
"I always forget. I guess Christmas is different for me this year because...I have friends now."
Daidōji Tomoyo must have really been a lonely girl.
"Jaa, if you promise me to smile the whole night, you'll get a treat from me."
"Are you bribing me, Hiiragizawa-san?" Those heliotrope irises flickered in amusement when she spoke.
"Maybe," the pianist teased as he spun away, his self-satisfied expression only peaked the young woman's interest.
"I'll remember that so don't look so arrogant. I'll be claiming my prize after the party."
Her mischievous nature was stimulating and much more appropriate for someone like her, and he was relieved that she had already overlooked what his idiotic best friend had said.
"The great Tomoyo Daidōji can be bribed then."
She playfully swatted his arm in response, and he couldn't help but laugh.
This year's Christmas was different for him, too, and Eriol was rather relieved the former heiress didn't have to be alone or afraid anymore because she had his family with her now.
They had a few more hours before midnight, and the other guests, Terada and his fiancée, Rika, Yamazaki and his new girlfriend, Chiharu had arrived together in prescribed outfits like the ones they were wearing. It was no other than Sakura who would be solely responsible for this arrangement.
Tomoyo hadn't stopped smiling since their talk. It didn't matter that she may have forgotten about his unlikely proposition or may have thought the treat he was talking about was seeing her friends again.
Something told him that something interesting was going to happen tonight.
Quick notes:
baka - stupid
konban wa - "Good evening."
