Chapter 11
Kaho was busy attending to Eriol's bruised
face."Goodness,Eriol!I've always known you as the cool,calm
and collected guy.Why did you attack him?"
"Hah!I could have beaten the living daylights out of that
Robinson if not for Tsukishiro's interference.Robinson was one
lucky bastard-"
"My,my,Eriol Hiragizawa!You're swearing."laughed the
woman.
"Oh please!"He rolled his eyes as if saying 'Get off my
case,will you?'.
"My dear ambassador,I now truly admire your geisha.She was
able to bring bot the best and worst in you without really
trying."she drawled."I myself wouldn't have know that
you were capable of sensitivity to human emotions if not for
her."
"What do you mean?"
"Well for one thing,because of her,you lost your temper.The
Eriol I know would use his few biting lines to send the poor
fellow away,but you didn't do that this time."she replied.
He exhaled sharply."That son of a gun just insulted Bijin
terribly and you expect me to act diplomatically?"
"Diplomacy is your job."she teased.
He glared at her warningly."Are you implying something,Lady
Mizuki?"
She sighed,exasperated."No!"She sat down his lap and
tipped his chin up.She stared at the confused eyes of her
ex-lover before she kissed him hard on the mouth.
Automatically,Eriol responded fiercely.He was just about to pull
her down closer to him when he suddenly saw in his mind the face
of Tomoyo Daidouji.He felt like a bucket of ice-cold water fell
on him.He pulled away from her."Please..leave."
She stood up."See?This geisha is very special to you.Heavens
forbid but I think you're attracted to her."
"What?"He forced a sarcastic laugh."That's the
most insanely absurd thing I ever heard in my entire life!What,in
Jove's name,made you utter such foolishness?"
"You can't stop thinking of her."she replied softly.
He froze.
"Even when you're with another woman,you can't get her off
your mind."she continued,a small triumphant smile on her
face.For the first time,she was able to read his emotions like an
open book.
"Fine,I'm attracted to her."he admited."but who
wouldn't be?"
"First you said it was INSANELY ABSURD,and now you admit
it?Now that's what I call a sudden change of heart."she
teased some more.
He wanted to scream."Let us just stop this worthless
chitchat,please?"
"As you wish.But before I go,I want to impart to you the
best she brought out in you."
"Which is?"
Her eyes smiled."She taught you how to care."
Kaho was long gone but Eriol was still staring at where the woman
stood.
Care?
A smile crept on his face.The Bijin's razor-sharp tounge softened
and mellowed him?
Maybe he better try talking to her later.
"Master Eriol!"Nakuru burst into his room
panickedly."Master,Mistress Tomoyo is leaving the
house!"
"What did you say?"Eriol stormed out of his room and
found her in the hallway,struggling with her things.He rushed
towards her."Just where do you think are you going?"
She looked at him with unconcealed hatred."Don't you dare go
near me!"
He ignored her and swapped her bag away."You're going
nowhere Bijin!You're breaking our contract!"
"To hell with the contract!And to hell with you too,Eriol
Hiragizawa!!You think it's funny setting me up last night in the
dinner table?He practically called me a..a.."her voice
broke.
His mouth was set on a hard grim line."I know.Nakuru told
me.I nearly killed Robinson for that."
"I don't believe you!"she hissed.
"I'm not forcing you to do so."He ran his hand across
his hair frantically.No,Tomoyo couldn't leave him!She couldn't!He
needed her presence.He needed her insults.He needed her
smiles.Damn,he needed her more than anyone else in the world
right now!"Look,I'll pay you quadriple your current
salary..just please,stay."
Her eyes hardened."I will not be bought
twice,Obake."She pivoted and walked away.