Zephyr 5: Ataxia

Tomoyo was getting really irritated by Eriol's inhuman treatment of her, and she had ENOUGH! She quickly went to Nakuru to ask for her advise.

"Oh really?" said Eriol's servant, amused. "All you have to do is to fight fire with fire."

"Huh?"

"That's right! If he acts like a jerk then act like a total bi-"

"Don't say that word, Nakuru!" she warned.

"I was just about to say bigger jerk!" the woman said teasingly.





Eriol bit the forkful tender roast chicken meat, but as he chewed the food, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable of the steady gaze of the lady sitting directly across him on the dining table.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes and he saw how she delicately moisted her lips before biting on her food. He felt his face heat.

And it wasn't the worst part.

The REAL bad news is she knew he was watching her.

"Witch," he thought. Tomoyo Daidouji was certainly annoying him in every way possible. She might think it was cute, but he certainly doesn't. He tightened his grip on his fork. He wanted to think about the food and how perfectly it was cooked, and not on those sexy, soft-looking lips that reminded him of flower petals and luscious berries he suddenly had an urge to put into his mouth..

He wiped his mouth with a napikin and glared at her. "Do you always eat like that?" he snapped, his eyes piercing her.

She smiled innocently. "Yes, of course. Do you expect me to use a trident and a samurai instead of a fork and knife?"

"I was referring to your peculiar eating mannerism," he said wryly.

She gave him an impeccable smile. "Eating mannerisms? Wakarimasen. Please expound."

He felt his blush intensify. "Y-Your mouth.. everytime you bite on your food, your mouth..your tounge.." He glanced at the sweet young naive innocent Rose who was sitting beside him then back at Tomoyo's devilish smiling face. "Damn you, woman. I hate you!" he muttered under his breath.

"Oh. So you think it's rather odd that everytime I bite on my food.." She took a forkful of meat and made a demonstration of eating. "..I open my mouth?" She smiled more. "Why, isn't that weird? Not all people in earth do that!"

Nakuru stiffled a giggle.

Eriol looked down angrily, face still flushed. "Silence. Do not open your big mouth if all you will utter is foolishness."

Tomoyo rolled her eyes. "Look who's talking."

"Silere!"

"Geez, touchy," She smiled with nauseating sweetness. "So Grumpy, you are fond of reading. A real bibliophile."

Eriol knew exactly what she was talking about. "I told you already that it was Nakuru who read that pocketbook."

"What pocketbook?" asked Nakuru, eyes wide in confusion.

Another devious smile. "Zephyr Romances," replied Tomoyo. "The Midnight Lady."

"Hey, isn't that your favorite book, Master? The one you won't put down for days?" said the servant excitedly.

His eyes bulged. "Nakuru!!" He couldn't believe his own servant he trusted all his life would betray him like this.

Tomoyo giggled while Rose looked up. "Isn't that the book Daddy loves so much? He told me that if only women were like the heroine in the story, he wouldn't have to hate owmen so much!"

Eriol looked at the little girl in horror. Not Rose too! He stood up from the table. "I lost my apetite."

"Can't really wait to go read another novel again,huh?" teased Tomoyo.

"Daidouji-san, maybe if you consider even once in your life doing what others tell you to do, like in this case sticking your nose out of other people's business, you may start seeing your life in a better way," he said through gritted teeth.

She batted her eyelashes at him. "Why, Hiragizawa-kun! You're hurting my feelings! Considering you love my work so much!"

He froze and faced her in slow motion. "What did you say?"

"Your idol, Moonlight Blossom.." she said breezily."..is me."

Silence.

"That was not a funny joke!" he scoffed.

"Of course it's not! I said that in all seriousness," she replied.

"I do not believe you."

She examined her fingernails. "Do you want proof?"

"I would love to see your proof!" he said sarcatically.

She took her cel and dialed Sakura's number.

"Moshi moshi!" a cheerful voice greeted.

"Hello Sakura? Hiragizawa-kun wants to ask you something." She then passed the phone to Eriol.

"Sakura-san?"

"Eriol-kun! How are you?"

"I'm anything but fine," he muttered. "Sakura,do you know all the writers of Zephyr Romances?"

"Attari!"

"Then you know who Moonlight Blossom is?"

"Silly! She's living with you! Didn't Tomoyo tell you that?"

He looked wearily at the I-told-you-so smirk on Tomoyo's face before he sighed. "I wish she didn't."

After the call ended, Eriol faced her. "I guess I owe you an apology," he said grusgingly.

"Accepted!"She took her empty plate as she stood up. "Oh by the way, Hiragizawa-kun.."

"What is it?"

She gave him a sickeningly sweet smile. "Do you want my autograph?"



Eriol's long graceful hands moved swiftly across the piano keys,creating a music so quick and volante, reflecting the unsettled emotions of the musician. He shut his eyes, savoring the notes' dance to the rhythm of hia hands.

Ah, he still couldn't believe that the writer he adored so much for her poignant writing and sparkling wit- the Moonlight Blossom - was none other than Tomoyo Daidouji, the unwanted housemate and the all-around busybody.Who would have expected such thing?

All of a sudden, he stopped playing. The sudden silence was defeaning him, but not enough to block the loud voice of his heart, and the voice of the maiden who caught his eye before and caught it again despite the walls he built around himself years later.

Eriol stood up, shaking his head vigorously. "Hiragizawa, you're totaly losing it. Daidouj is just a childhood infatuation. A crush. You're too old for this stuff."

He sighed. "Besides, I vowed to myself that never again shall a woman be part of my life again. Rose is enough for me. I intend to keep that vow for my own sake."

He resumed playing the piano.

continue