Chapter 18
Tomoyo woke up and found Eriol gazing at her lovingly.She smiled
weakly.She was ashamed to even make eye contact with him after
her stunt last night.Kami-sama,what had gotten into her last
nigh,stripteasing and seducing him to bed?
He kissed her hair,taking in its fragrance."Good
morning,Bijin."
She gently pushed him away."Get dressed.You're going to be
late."
He sighed deeply."Don't remind me."
"Why not?"she asked.
He glanced at her."It doesn't matter.You wouldn't understand
anyway."
"Here we go again.Look here,even if we did not have formal
schooling,it doesn't necessarily mean that we don't have good old
common sense-"Her mouth was silenced by his kiss.
Eriol pulled away and chuckled."Wow,what an effective
technique to silence your busy mouth.I should have tried that
ages ago."
Tomoyo's face flamed,but she couldn't think of a snappy comeback.
He stared at her."God,I'm going to miss you like hell,Tomoyo
Daidouji."He suddenly pulled her close to him."Oh
damn,I don't want to leave!"
"E-Eriol.."
"I don't want to leave this bed forever.Ijust want to wake
up and see you next to me in my arms for the rest of my
life."he whispered.
What he said sounded like a dream come true to Tomoyo's foolish
heart,but she knew reality and dream could never dwell in the
same domain,just as oil and water couldn't mix.He must go
back.She pressed her face more on his bare chest,memorizing the
warmth and strength of his body and intoxicating herself with his
manly scent."You must go home for your own safety."
His heart sank.Why didn't she urge him to stay?Had she only
uttered one simple word about him not leaving and he would have
decided with absolute finality that he would stay,come hell or
high waters or the wrath of the natives.
Maybe..
Maybe she was just glad to finally get rid of him.
"Eriol,I'm sorry.It was my fault that's why your life was
endangered."she murmured.
"Like I said,I never regretted that."
"And I never regretted that I became your geisha."
He smiled wistfully."How I wish that we had met
differently,then we could have been at least good friends."
Tomoyo bit back her tears painfully."Kimi wo
aishiteiru,Eriol."
His forehead creased.Those were the same words she uttered before
they made love."W-What does that mean?"
She cupped his face and shook her head."It doesn't
matter.You wouldn't understand anyway."she said,echoing his
words."Thank you for coming into my life.I'm so happy I was
able to meet someone like you."
His eyes turned misty."Maybe we'll meet again in another
lifetime someday.I will not rest until the day that I can see you
again."He cupped her face too."You're the best thing
that ever happened to me,Bijin."He kissed her bittesweetly.A
farewell kiss to the woman who taught him so much about life.
Their mouths parted.Their eyes were wet with tears.
"Get dressed."she begged before she breaks down.Before
her tattletale tears give away her feelings for him.
A moment of gaze.He then nodded."But I want you to see me
off.Your beautiful face is the last thing that I want to see
before I leave."
She nodded with dificulty.
An agony prolonged.