Chapter 12
Eriol ran after her,determined not to let her
leave."Tomoyo!"
She halted.That was the first time she ever heard him call her by
her first name."Look,I don't need your money,Ambassador
Hiragizawa.I just want my dignity back."
"Tomoyo-"
"Money and power can't buy everything."she replied
coldly.
He held on to his last card in despair."You haven't fully
paid the land yet."
"Don't fret.I'm not the kind of person who runs away from
obligations.I shall send you the rest of the payment in cold hard
cash as soon as possible."
He felt like he was slapped.There he was,practically BEGGING her
not to go yet she chose to insult him!"Hah,do what you
want!I don't care!I can get a hundred geishas to replace
you!"
She slammed the door.
Eriol leaned on the wooden door and hit it repeatedly."Damn
it,damn it,DAMN IT!"
Nakuru entered the receiving room quietly."Master?"
"Go away!"
"You can still run after her."
"No."
"She couldn't have gone very far."
"I SAID NO!"yelled Eriol."She could go to hell FOR
ALL I CARE!She's just a high and mighty woman who thinks too
highly of herself.She's not much of a loss to me.I CAN HAVE ALL
THE WOMEN I WANT BACK HOME!"
"But do you want those women?"she asked softly.
Eriol inhaled deeply.
"Or do you want her?"
Tomoyo marched out of the gates of the HIragizawa compound
furiously.She hated the Obake,but she hated him more now.
"A good for nothing Obake who thinks the whole world is
served to him in a silver spoon just because he was born a bit
luckier than the others.What a jerk!"She brushed her angry
tears away.
She could have stayed for him if he didn't mention the price of
her salary.She couldn't have leave if he reasoned that he needed
her companionship.
But it seems that all that was important to him was money and how
to spend it to his ultimate pleasure.He was incapable of valuing
things that do not have monetary value.
Suddenly someone came out from the bushes ahead and approached
her menacingly.She stepped back,but felt another body blocking
her escape.
"Sumimasen."She tried to bypass the man but his arms
wrapped around her quickly.
"Aaw,don't go yet!We saw you come out from that white's
house."He grinned wickedly."We just wanted to see for
ourselves how much you satisfied the foreigner."the man
said,speaking in Japanese while stroking her hair.
"I am not what you think I am,so now please let me go
home."She saw the diabolical glint in the men's eyes and
instantly she shivered in disgust.
"Naruhodo."One man took out the katana from its sheath
and set his eyes on her maliciously."Then allow us to escort
you home."
The other man grabbed her arm.She tried to free herself from his
grasp,but only managed to tear the sleeve of her kimono.
Merciless laugter echoed in the forest as Tomoyo let out a cry.
"Come on,Onna.Make it easy for us,will you?"the man
cackled.
As the shadows stepped nearer to her,Tomoyo tried to snap herself
out of the trance.She still couldn't believe that her own
countrymen could do this to her.
"Undress."the man barked.
"Hayaku!"added the other.
Trembling,Tomoyo slipped her hand inside her kimono and took out
something.
A small knife.
"One more step and I'l pierce this thing into my
heart!"she warned.
They ignored her warning and stepped closer to her.She lifted the
knife up and was just about to stab herself when she heard the
sounds of gunshots and saw the collapse of one of the men.
The other looked around with the eyes of a wild deer caught by
the preying lion.
A man stepped out from the darkness,his rifle aiming at
him."Leave and take your companion along with you,and never
come back here,unless you want me to make your head
explode."
"You'll pay for this!"He helped his fallen comrade up
and fled.
Tomoyo looked up at her hero in daze.He looked down at her and
smiled tenderly.
"You're late."she remarked,but she was still visibly
shaken.
"I'm sorry."he knelt down before her and cupped her
face."I'm truly very sorry."
She held the hand cupping her chin."Apology
accepted."She suddenly threw herself into his arms,relieved
to find someone she could trust again after her horrible ordeal.
"Thank you,Obake."she whispered.
"Welcome,Bijin."he murmured,embracing her tightly