Chapter 9 Tug of war II

It had been a week since he decided to avoid Tomoyo.The girl,in many ocassions,tried to apologize to him,but he had no ears for her.He couldn't find it in his heart to forgive her for making her a fool.

"That just goes to say that looks can be deceiving and no one is a perfect little angel."he muttered to himself as he stared at the chemical formulae on the blackboard that he already knew by heart since third grade.

Behind him,he heard someone sigh.He didn't have to turn around to know who it was.Tomoyo Daidouji hated chemistry,and back then he was her tutor,motivator and homework slave (he ended up making her assignments)all rolled into one.They would spend many afternoons laughing at her wrong chemical equations and his rare incorrect solutions-

"Class dismissed."the teacher announced.

He stood up wearily and gathered his things.At last another boring and fruitless day was through.He walked out of the room.

"Eriol,wait up!I'll walk home with you!"Tomoyo hastily gathered her books.

He continued walking as if he didn't hear her.

Tomoyo,on the other hand,ignored the curious and pitying looks of her classmates.She hurried beside Eriol."Chemistry was a killer awhile ago."she began cheerfully.

If he heard her,he didn't even glance at her to acknowledge her presence.Tomoyo tried again."I can't believe I'm going to solve all ten problems in less than 24 hours!I can't do this alone."she continued,dropping a hint.

He ignored her as he picked up speed in walking.Tomoyo was literally running just to catch up with him."E-Eriol!Slow down,please!"

She heard no reply,but she did hear a few snickers and loud buzzes from the students in the hallway watching them.Her face burned with shame,but she reminded herself that what mattered now was eriol's forgiveness."Eriol!"As she gained speed,she tripped and fell down the floor.The whole hall erupted with cruel laughter.

Tomoyo,near to tears,looked down at her things spilled on the floor.She promised herself that she would not cry and she intended to keep that promise.As her trembling hands reached for her test papers,a hand reached for them,arranged them and handed them to her.She looked up and saw Eriol's face looking at her blankly.

She took them and gave him a small smile-a smile that would blossom into a full sunny one if he encouraged her.

He didn't.He merely helped her up before he said quietly,"Stop following me.Leave me alone."

Her purple eyes grew big,and for the first time,he saw vulnerability in her eyes.

"I..understand."she spun around and walked away sadly.



Eriol pushed his barely-touched food away.He wiped his mouth with his napkin.

"Finished already,Master?"Spinel asked,puzzled."This is your favorite dish,right?"

Nakuru smiled diabolically."This is Tomoyo's favorite food too.In fact,it was Ms.Tomoyo who taught me and Eriol how to cook this."

Eriol glared at her."Cease your nonsense or I shall be forced to hang you in the chandeleir."

The feline smirked."Nifty home decor."

Nakuru stuck a tounge out at her master and the cat."Temper,temper,Master."She told him.

He stood up and walked towards the grand piano in the corner of the living room.He was in the mood to play a tune.He sat down the bench and began to play a tune.

The woman grinned to herself."Fur Elise.Nice song."

He stopped.Fur Elise was Tomoyo's favorite piano piece because it was the only tune that he taught her that she could play.

Spinel's eyes darted back and forth Nakuru and their master.They seemed to share a private joke or something.It will just have to ask Nakuru later about this.Anything that could make their master this irritated was surely fun.



At 6 am sharp the next day,Eriol was awaken by his alarmclock.He barely slept last night because he kept of thinking of a violet-eyed lass.

Nakuru singing loudly downstairs didn't help either.He could recall most vividly her warbly notes that almost rendered his auditory senses invalid,but it was the lyrics that stuck to his mind.Something about vulnerability and china..

"Rise and shine!"A girl opened the door cheerfully.

Eriol gulped."T-Tomoyo?"

The girl burst into laughter."Are you still sleeping,Master Eriol?"

Eriol rubbed his eyes and looked at her closer.His heart sank.It was Nakuru."I guess my eyes are failing me today."he mumbled.

"No kidding."she commented dryly.



As he cheerlessly ate his breakfast,Nakuru continued her concert in the kitchen.

"She's so vulnerable,a china in my hands.She's so vulnerable,and I don't understand.I could never hurt the one I love,she's all I got.Oh she's so vulnerable.."

Eriol looked at his faithful cat who never dared to show irreverence to him the way his other servant does."Will you get me some cottonballs to stick into my ears so I won't have to listen to her?"

Spinel ignored him.

"Spinel?"Didn't it hear him?

The cat looked up."Stop following me!Leave me alone!"It mimicked his words he told Tomoyo yesterday.

He fought the urge to use his powers to mutilate his servants."What is this,a mutiny?"He stormed out of the room,fuming.

Nakuru sighed."If he only knew that we're only doing this for his own good."

Spinel nodded solemnly."We're just showing him his happiness."



"Good morning,hiragizawa."someone greeted him from behind.

He automatically turned around."Tomoyo?"

Chiharu looked at him,an eyebrow arched."Sorry to disappoint you."

He looked back at his desk."I'm sorry."

She sat down in front of him."You look terrible.Did you even sleep last night?"

He nodded.

"Hiragizawa,I heard about what happened yesterday.Maybe you ought to apologize to Tomoyo for being too harsh on her-"

"Good morning class."the Math teacher greeted.

"Think about what I said."said Chiharu before going back to her seat.



That afternoon,Eriol looked at the empty seat behind him.Tomoyo was absent the whole day.Inspite of himself,he felt a growing worry inside of him as he wondered why she was absent.He picked his things up and left the room.



He looked at the enormous gates of the Daidouji mansion in front of him.Should he go in now?His heart's wish to see Tomoyo defeated his pride so he walked towards the gate.He was about to ring the doorbell when Sonomi Daidouji opened the gates.

"Mr. Hiragizawa."She looked surprised.

"G-Good afternoon,Madam Daidouji.I-I'm here to see if your daughter is feeling any better now.."

Sonomi smiled apologetically."She's asleep right now,but if you want,I would wake her up-"

"No need,Madam."He rummaged through his bag and handed her a small wrapped box and a bouquet of white roses."Can you please give it to her ,along my wishes for her to get well?"

"Of course.Won't you even visit her for a few minutes?"she asked."Tomoyo will be delighted to see you."

His face turned warm."I-I.."He bowed down."No,thank you.Just tell her to get well soon."He ran away.



Upon reaching his house,he went straight to the kitchen to get a drink of water to calm himself.He didn't know what caused him to react like that..he really didn't know!

He was dismayed to see Nakuru in the kitchen,reading something."Hi Master!Guess what the mailman sent you today!"She showed him a cream envelope.

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