ZEPHYR 12:Something Changed,Something Constant

Tomoyo couldn't stop thinking of what Terada revealed about Eriol.

"Impotent..god, poor Eriol.." she whispered. She now understood why Rose didn't look like her father. "No wonder Eriol hated women."

Rose' words echoed in her mind. "..if only women are as faithful as the heroine in the story, he wouldn't have to hate women so much."

"He must have been hurt terribly..just like me," she said to herself.

But she was slowly forgetting the pain she felt when she lost Sakura. It was magically healed by Nakuru, Rose and even Spinel who rarely talks to her..and the Ice Blue Eyes of course.

She hardly had the time to think of her own emotional wounds for she was busy nursing another's. It felt therapeutic, knowing she was able to help others. It made up for her own troubles that she felt were beyond help.

She shook her head vehemently. "This is no time to be emotional. I still have to prepare for my dinner date with Eriol!"

She went towards her closet and looked at her wardrobe. Nothing was suitable enough for Eriol's discriminating taste. "Heavens, why did he have to be so conservative!" she groaned, pulling the rest of her clothes from her suitcase.



Eriol was just as problematic. Tonight, he wanted to look different in Tomoyo's eyes. He wanted to overhaul his appearance even for just one night.

He wanted to ask Nakuru's advice but his servant didn't look like she was in the mood so he had no choice but to turn to his other servant whom he thought was a bit less clueless in the latest fashion trends than him.

Spinel sighed, loking up from the book it was reading. "Why do you have to do such senseless thing, Master? That woman is not worth it! She always humiliates you and vexes you, and she is too nosy.."

He held up a silencing hand. "I came here for a fashion advice, not a sermon."

"Fine!" it sighed. "For starters, you should wear a pink shirt."

"Pink?!!" His mouth gaped open, horrified.

"Pink," it confirmed. "I read in a magazine once that the shirt will test your faith on your virile sex appeal. In short, you will only wear that color if you are confident of your maleness."

"Really?" Eriol was still skeptical. He could just picture himself as a walking life-sized cherryblossom. His cute little descendant would die laughing at this one.

"Next, you wear a simple but sexy aftershave cologne. Do away with your expensive and sophisticated perfumes."

Eriol nodded solemnly. He should have brought a notepad to jot things down.

"After that, you buy contact lenses. Put aside your glasses first."

"Uh-huh."

"Then you wear black leather jacket."

"Huh?"

"The last ting is related to that," explained Spinel. "Finally, you rent a motorbike."

"What??!!" Eriol was flabbergasted. "A MOTORCYCLE??!! Kami-sama!!"

Spinel relished its master's rare display of raw emotion before it frowned thoughtfully. "OK..so that's a bit too extreme.."

"I have a car, thank you very much," said Eriol.



Later that evening, Tomoyo, dressed in a long-sleeved white blouse and black ankle-length skirt complemented with pearl earrings and a strand of pearl necklace around her slender neck, went down the stairs nervously. "Uh, Ice Blue Eyes?"

Nakuru, Rose and Spinel came out from the kitchen. They were both surprised by the sight of her.

She twirled around. "Um..aren't you guys going to say anything about my outfit? Is it too formal?"

"Is that you, Ms.Tomoyo? Gosh, you look ..marvelous!" gushed Nakuru.

Rose nodded. "Very pretty!"

"You look decent," Spinel admitted grudgingly.

Tomoyo laughed shyly. "It's been quite a while since I last slipped on to something my Mom would approve."

"Daidouji-san?"

She looked up at the stairs and saw a different-looking Eriol standing at the top of the staircase. He was looking at her shyly.

Tomoyo took in his leather jacket and and clear blue eyes that for the first time were not shielded by his glasses. She whistled when she saw his shirt.

"Wow, Hiragizawa! Pink becomes you," she teased half-seriously.

He blushed. "Actually, I thought you were going to wear your usual attire so I decided to..to.." his words trailed off.

She laughed. "You want to dress in my fashion?"

He nodded awkwardly.

"And to think that I decided to dress into something you would like!"

He looked at her appreciatively. "Well..I do like your outfit..very much."

It was her turn to blush. "I..well,t-thanks."

He offered her his arm. "Let's go?"

She broke into a grin. "Ah your appearance must have changed, but not your gentlemanly ways."

His eyes twinkled. "Thanks, lady."

"Bye Daddy! Bye Mommy!" Rose waved goodbye to them.

The couple paused, faces crimson.

"Bye Rose," said Eriol softly. He liked it. He could definitely get used to it.

Tomoyo, on the other hand, didn't know what to say. "B-Bye, Rose."

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