[Fanfiction] [Crossover] Why Did I Fall in Love with you?
Title: Why did I fall in love with you?
Author: Dark Hooded Eriol the Magician
Series: Ouran High School Host Club / Cardcaptor Sakura
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/ Angst
Status: In-progress
Disclaimer: The song is by DBSK and the characters are made by CLAMP and Hatori Bisco. Support them, please!
Summary: Some of us seek second chances. Will we be brave or will we be cowards again? There is only a choice to do what is right and what is true. Why did I fall in love with you? -KyouyaxTomoyo-
+0+0+Why did I end up falling for you?
+0+0+
They met each other in a benefit dinner party. It was a boring affair with old people on the crowd and classical music on the background. They were dragged along because their parents were powerful and influential people.
She stood near the balcony doors as a vision of white. Her short sack dress was her original creation and it accentuated her best features like her long legs and creamy skin. Long dark hair fell down to her back in carefree waves and framed her perfect oval face. She was alone but it suited her just fine.
Nobody could ignore her even if they tried. She had a beauty that separated her from the rest of the other heiresses. It was a romantic and melancholic loveliness that made men sigh and women wonder. Even he wasn't immune.
He stood in the middle of the room, talking with rich investment bankers. All of the people who approached him commented about his charming manners and handsome looks. His tall and imposing figure cut him out of the crowd. All of the girls sighed after him; all of the men talked about him.
Everyone knew about him. He was a ruthless and savvy businessman who made a fortune since he was in high school. They envied and admired his unconventional decisions. They discussed his bright future. Although he was only a third son of an affluent medical family, great things were expected from him.
As the night aged, he suddenly found himself standing next to her. The balcony door was open. A faint summer breeze blew inside. Her hair rippled in the shaft of moonlight. He cast a sidelong glance when she tipped her head back to down a flute of champagne.
"Thirsty?" he found himself saying with a small grin.
Charming girls was one of his many skills. He used to work on a Host Club after hours in high school so it was on his job description to please women. It was a skill that he often used in real situations. He was not above using a bit of charm and flattery to get what he wanted. For once, he was glad that he did.
"It's my fourth and I have an empty stomach," she answered. Her smile was brittle. "But please don't tell my mother."
"Why are you drinking so much?" He was curious.
"Because I have to do this," she said with a flirtatious wink. The mysterious girl took his hand and gave him the empty champagne flute. He watched, fascinated, as she straightened her dress and shook out her hair. She straightened her posture and took a deep breath. It came to him as a surprise when she walked towards the small podium at the front of the ballroom.
"The committee would like to thank all of you for coming and for supporting our cause. Without you, the party will not be a success. We're all pleased to announce the presence of the Crystal Voice of Tokyo who will be singing a special number for us…"
He stared as she got up on the stage with a shy smile. His grip on the champagne glass tightened when her melodious voice filled the air. In the soft light, she looked like an angel. There were no traces of the girl who drank on an empty stomach; there were no sadness in her aura. She sang straight into his heart. After the performance, she was gone.
Kyouya Ohtori looked for her in the crowd but she simply disappeared. All he had left of her was the empty champagne flute with the faintest imprint of her lips.
+0+0+
"Ojou-sama*, your mother is here to see you," the maid announced. The Daidouji heiress immediately got up from the couch to give her mother a tight hug. She inhaled her mother's fragrance deeply and reveled in her happiness.
Sonomi Daidouji smiled down at her only daughter. Sometimes she wondered if Tomoyo was really hers because they looked so different from each other. She was a handsome woman with short dark hair and bright brown eyes. Though petite, she carried her authority as the CEO and founder of a multimillion toy company with ease. Her daughter was a spitting image of an Amamiya woman just as her beloved Nadeshiko-san was.
"How are you, my dear?" Sonomi asked anxiously. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to go with you. My meeting was last minute. And then they made you sing…"
Tomoyo shook her head, smiling. "It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed performing for them."
"Well, they were there to hear you sing. If it wasn't for your efforts, the benefit wouldn't have been possible!" her mother said in a relieved voice. Her brown eyes sparkled as she led her daughter to sit with her on the couch. "Now tell me the latest gossip…"
Soon enough they were both crying with mirth at Tomoyo's anecdotes. The times that they spent together were often short because Sonomi's business took her out on long absences and late hours. But they remained sweet and cherished memories.
Tomoyo often told herself that she was not mad at her mother's absences ever since she was a child. She knew that her mother worked very hard to be the CEO of a multimillionaire company that made everything from toys to cars. Her mother wanted her to have a comfortable life so she did not grudge her for it. As an heiress, she had everything she ever wanted. Clothes, makeup, shoes, overseas trips and unlimited resources for her best friends… She had it all. Well, she had everything except one.
She pushed the thought away from her mind. She forced herself to smile as her mother asked about the eligible young bachelors who attended the benefit party. In a laughing tone she told him about the tall young man she talked to before she sang.
"How old is he? I won't let you marry anyone who's thirty!" Sonomi teased.
"Mother, please!" Tomoyo answered in a mock-scandalized tone. "I'm not looking to get married!"
Her mother smiled gently and reached forward to tuck her hair behind her ear. "You're right. But as much as I want you to stay with me as my little girl, I'll have to look for someone to take care of you. Maybe it's time for me to help you find someone to marry…"
Tomoyo knew that twenty-five was a marriageable age. There was no escaping it. "I'm fine by myself. I'll just hope that you'll live for a long time so I don't need to leave you," she joked.
"Very funny," her mother said. "I'm right. You'll see."
She smiled and nestled deeper into her mother's embrace. When Sonomi went silent, she quieted too. It was inevitable. When her mother wanted something, she would not stop at anything to get it. If she wanted to see her daughter as a happily married woman then she would definitely make it happen. Tomoyo knew better than to stop her.
When she lost him, she lost all desire to get married. If her mother wanted to provide an arranged marriage for her then she would not stop it. Who knew better than her mother? "I'll find the perfect match for my Tomoyo-chan," Sonomi promised.
+0+0+Kyouya had a business lunch on another beautiful summer day. He was planning to meet his business partner at a small trendy café at the heart of the shopping district. In spite of the heat, he was dressed in a smart-casual outfit of black slacks, white shirt and a green sweater.
The dark-haired young man took out his laptop to finish up some of his work. He refused to order when a waiter approached him and asked for water instead. It was quite early so he was not worried but that changed when his associate didn't show up. When he realized that he had been waiting for almost an hour, he became irritated. His irritation increased when he also realized that he didn't bring his mobile phone. It was possible that he left it at his office. Kyouya regarded it as unusual but not impossible. There was no way for him to contact his associate, his secretary or his driver.
Silently berating himself, he shut off the laptop. And found him staring at the beautiful girl that he met four nights ago.
She was sitting across him in another table. Her hair was braided but soft tendrils reached down to frame her face. In the warm sunshine, she glowed with rosy cheeks. When his gaze met her violet-blue eyes she smiled.
"I hope you're here to fill an empty stomach," he said by way of greeting. As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished that he thought of something wittier. She smiled with amusement at his attempt to remind her.
"It's a restaurant. What do you think I'm here for?" The dark-haired girl replied. She smoothed out her skirt and crossed her legs. He couldn't take his eyes off her delicate feet in wedge sandals. "I see you're here for other reasons."
Kyouya blushed slightly when her eyes fell on his laptop computer. He hastily shoved it inside his briefcase. He realized that his stomach was gurgling. "My lunch meeting got canceled."
Wait where did that come from?
She looked at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"May I join you?" he found himself asking.
Her smile took his breath away. "I'd love to but I'm late. I hope you'll have a good lunch."
Kyouya watched her walk away again to board a limousine. He realized that he was letting her get away without asking for her name. But before he could do anything else, the luxury car glided away. "That's another disappointment," he muttered to himself as he watched it go.
+0+0+
Tomoyo met up with her childhood best friend at Tomoeda Penguin Park. She immediately got off the limousine and thanked the family driver for his kindness. The old man merely smiled at the young lady's request before he left. She would rather walk home on such a beautiful day. Her violet-blue eyes glittered as soon as she saw Sakura Li's brown head on the distance. The twenty-five-year old wife of Syaoran Li took some time before she noticed the presence of her best friend. Her attention was focused on the rowdy children.
"Sakura-chan!" the dark-haired woman called cheerfully. "You're awfully busy today."
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura said brightly. She ran forward and embraced her best friend. Then her head whipped to her left and she shouted, "Kimihiro-chan, if you do that again to your sister, I'll take away your snack."
"Parental warnings… That's very good," Tomoyo commented. The young women went to sit on the bench in front of the huge Penguin slide in order to keep an eye on them. "I'm glad you have the knack for it."
"We're not very good with rules," her friend answered with a mischievous smile. Short brown hair, green eyes and a charming smile were her most distinguishing features. She looked even more beautiful in young motherhood. "And I regret to say that my kids take after it. How was the benefit? I read about you in the society pages this morning…"
"It was okay," Tomoyo answered simply.
Sakura gazed at her with those wise emerald eyes. She hated the fact that Sakura became more intuitive and perceptive as they grew up. Her friend had the uncanny knack of guessing her feelings. "Did you have fun?"
She nodded. "Singing is always fun."
"It must be lonely," Sakura said meaningfully.
"If you didn't get married early then you should have been with me at least. Then we'll get chased by rich old bachelors." Tomoyo teased. She touched Sakura's arm gently. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. By the way, where's Kero-chan?"
The Card Mistress sighed. "He stayed home to watch the World Cup with Syaoran-kun. I guess he didn't want to play with the kids."
"Give him a break," said her friend. "He's the one who rocks them to sleep and watches them when you're away."
Sakura was about to say something when her eldest son approached them. He was a little boy of four-years-old who inherited his father's face and his mother's eyes. "Mama, Sayuri-chan wants to go home."
She gave her friend a smile before she got up to pick up her smallest daughter. Tomoyo smiled down at the little boy who looked up to her like a second mother. She'd bathed him, fed him and carried him around when he was born. During those times she'd dreamed that she might also have her own children and instead satisfied herself with pretending. It used to be her dream: getting married, settling down and living life with love. She used to believe that she will definitely get married to her first love. Then she could exchange stories with Sakura about married life, go through pregnancies together and raise their children side by side...
Tomoyo smiled in spite of the small pain in her chest. "How are you, Kimihiro-kun? Did you have fun with the slide?"
He nodded and held out his arms. She picked him up and hugged him close. The little boy rested his head on her shoulder. She breathed in his sweet baby-smell and chocolate milk. "Aunt Tomoyo missed you…"
Sakura approached them with her daughter on her arms. She grinned when she saw how happy and contented Tomoyo was. For a long time, she'd worried over her friend's state of mind. After what happened, it seemed impossible for her to smile again. "Sayuri-chan, say hello."
"Hello," the younger girl said obediently. Sayuri was small and delicate like a doll with longish black hair and brown eyes. She was used to being petted by everyone. "You pretty, Aunt Tomoyo."
"Why, thank you!" the dark-haired woman smiled lovingly. "Aren't you sweet?"
The two women walked towards the Li residence with the children on their arms. They talked easily about their home life, their mutual friends and the latest gossip. Their conversation remained as bright and sparkling as when they were young girls. It was so easy to talk to someone they knew all their lives.
Sakura and Syaoran Li maintained a modest residence in Tomoeda. It was a small and cheerful house that was very close to the primary school, Penguin Park and the architectural firm where Syaoran worked.
They deposited the children in the living room where they were received by their indulgent father who was home. Syaoran was every girl's dream. He was tall, handsome and loving to his wife and kids. Tomoyo trusted him to love and keep her beloved Sakura-chan happy. Afterwards, they went to the kitchen to have iced tea.
"So," Sakura said as they settled down in the kitchen. "Who's this?"
Tomoyo frowned as she stared at a part of the newspaper page her friend laid out in front of her. She scanned the collage of pictures until she found out what Sakura was pointing at. There was a small photograph of her talking to a guy. "I don't know him."
"Are you sure?" the Card Mistress prodded. Her senses went overdrive. "I haven't seen this smile since…"
They went silent. Even if Sakura didn't have magic, she possessed enough empathy to sense her friend's pain. Nobody talked about him or even mentioned his name. It would only cause her best friend more anguish.
There was a time when Tomoyo graced all of the newspaper and magazine society pages with another public figure. She was always beautiful and radiant. Everyone smiled at the union of two beautiful and talented people who orbited high society circles. They were perfectly well-matched. Now, Tomoyo was all alone in those parties…
Tomoyo smiled bravely. "It's okay."
Her emerald eyes went sad. "You're drinking again."
"They're parties and social drinking is accepted," she said in defense.
"It's not healthy, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura reached for her friend's delicate manicured hand and squeezed it. Her expression was sad but hopeful. "I'm sorry I can't be there. But I think you won't be alone anymore. Something tells me that there's something a bit special with this guy in the picture. He's going to be very important to your future…"
The dark-haired heiress grinned. Sakura's powers were very Sakura said something, it usually happened so she trusted it. The brown-haired girl blinked. "What was I saying?"
"I'm going to be a millionaire," she said with a perfectly straight face.
They laughed. "You're going to be one anyway," Sakura said playfully "so where's the surprise in that?
"I'm curious," the dark-haired woman said softly. "I met him again at the café before I went here. He was waiting for someone, I can tell. But we didn't get a chance to ask for each other's names. It's just a coincidence, of course."
"There's no coincidence in this world," Sakura murmured with a mysterious smile. "But there's only the inevitable. Speaking of which, he called the other day…"
Tomoyo's breath caught. "Why?" she managed to say.
Her best friend got up and hugged her tightly. Sakura's voice was soft and compassionate.
"He told me he was getting married."
+0+0+Kyouya took a deep breath as he stood in front of the modest mansion. If he couldn't find him through his secretary then he would most certainly find him with his wife.
He rang the buzzer and was let in by a uniformed maid. With a nod, he entered the fantastically decorated home of the Host Club King. The dark-haired man walked through the sprawling halls briskly until he arrived at the den where he was received by another old friend.
Haruhi Suoh was waiting for him. She stood up as he entered the room with a small smile. Her attire was meant for comfort rather than for formality but it was obvious that her slacks and blouse were of good quality. She looked more like a secretary than the mistress of this home. "Kyouya-senpai! This is a surprise."
He nodded stiffly. "Where's your husband? We were supposed to meet for lunch but he stood me up."
"Didn't you get the message?" Haruhi frowned thoughtfully. "I believe that his secretary gave you a call to tell you that he wanted to reschedule."
Kyouya's eyebrow twitched. He was used to Tamaki's flighty attitude ever since they were in high school but he demanded to be treated as a professional when it came to work. It was only for his best friend that he rescheduled his other meetings for the afternoon.
What a waste, he thought. "Did he say why?"
"He wanted to pick out a fountain for the backyard," answered his wife with a tiny twitch on her lips. "And I'm here because he wanted to surprise me with the design that he picked out. Would you like to sit down so that we can wait for that idiot to come home? You can berate him for me, if you like."
Kyouya took her invitation and sat on an easy chair. Haruhi returned to her place on the couch and picked up her laptop. Concerned brown eyes turned to him. "Do you mind if I work for a while?"
He shook his head. The younger woman smiled at him and buried herself in her work. He restrained himself from staring. How many times had he imagined a scene like this? How many nights had he spent dreaming about days when he could simply sit down in the comfort of home with his beloved beside him, quiet and diligent? It didn't matter if she was busy or they were both busy. He would be happy if they were just beside each other.
It was painful and it made him uneasy. He was alone with Haruhi Fujioka for the first time in years and it still made him feel lightheaded. It was hard to forget a first love, people said. That was true. He never forgot the first time that she looked him with her large, luminous brown eyes and told him that he was good person. It was the only time that his heartbeats accelerated and his palms went sweaty. It was the only moment in time that he desperately wished that Tamaki didn't want her and that he was the one she wanted too. If only she did then he could have leaned down and kissed her and made her his…
He looked away when she glanced at him.
Kyouya never allowed his emotions to take control of him. It was messy, uncontrollable and hard to understand. So he merely gathered all of them and stuffed them inside a box where he could never see them. He would rather die than let anyone know that he coveted his best friend's wife.
+0+0+
Tomoyo didn't know how she got home.
He's getting married.
She almost didn't hear her mother call out her name from the living room. Her body was slightly shaking; her fingers were trembling. It was shock, she supposed. She was lucky that she didn't die because of shock.
"Are you all right?" Sonomi asked, instantly worried. Her instincts kicked in as she drew her daughter into her arms. The maids fluttered around like birds before she sent them to make tea in the kitchen. In the silence and solitude of the living room, she sat down with her daughter's head on her lap. "What's wrong?"
He's getting married.
Tomoyo's eyes were huge with unshed tears. Her lower lip trembled. And her body shook harder under her mother's concerned hands.
"What happened?" The older woman was calm and soothing. In situations when her daughter needed her, she preferred to be like a solid rock in the face of a storm. If she was calm, she could think. And she needed to think properly for her daughter's welfare.
Tomoyo looked so much like a little girl who'd gotten trapped inside the attic for hours.
Her voice was small and lost when she whispered, "he's getting married."
Sonomi's tears fell as her precious little daughter, her darling Tomoyo-chan, began to weep for her broken heart.
+0+0+
Why did I end up falling for you?
No matter how much time has passed,
I thought that you would always be here
But you have chosen a different road
+0+0+
Haruhi watched Kyouya give her husband a thorough scolding about professionalism and business manners with a barely concealed smile. She always thought that her husband was too relaxed so it was wonderful to have someone give him the talking-to. Kyouya and Tamaki were partners and best friends after all.
Kyouya was different from her husband. He was dark, brooding and cool. Even in high school, he showed so much talent in moneymaking and exercised his skills in managing the club. He was an easy man to respect because of his good judgment. And he wore his power well.
Tamaki- bright and sparkling and charming- often left the technicalities to Kyouya. He was content to charm and flirt his way to their customers, business partners and future associates. His hard work was in his efforts to maintain good relationships between companies and close down deals. He had an unusual instinct for investment that he soon handed over to Kyouya who multiplied it so much that they couldn't ruin themselves if they tried. They were two of a kind.
Haruhi had known that she would have to choose between all of them someday but she had also known that there was only Tamaki. So she broke all of the boys' hearts when she said "I do" to her blond idiot.
But she was quite aware that Kyouya still held feelings for her. She never acknowledged them and he never said anything about them. They maintained a cool and almost professional relationship just as they had in high school. Tamaki never suspected a thing.
"I'll leave now," Kyouya announced late in the afternoon. He'd taken his tea, shared old stories and discussed their newest investment with Tamaki. It was almost five o'clock in the afternoon and he was looking forward to going home. "Thank you for the afternoon."
"It was nothing!" Tamaki Suoh said magnanimously. His violet eyes sparkled. "I'm so glad you visited us! You got to see the fountain! It's a marvel, an art form!"
"I wouldn't have come here if you didn't stand me up," Kyouya said sharply. He smiled with teeth bared. "Don't do it again. I'm leaving."He refused to look back as he boarded the limousine to see Tamaki wrap an arm around his wife lovingly. It was a long day and he wanted to go home.
+0+0+
"Tomoyo-chan, are you listening?"
The Daidouji heiress snapped back to reality. She had been so absent-minded and listless during the last week that her mother had excused her from her work in their company as well as from her various engagements. "Yes, Mother."
"I think it would be wonderful if you meet up with this young man. He's a handsome and successful businessman. And although he's the Ohtori family's third son, he has more potential than his elder brothers." Sonomi said cheerfully. She brandished the file that the professional matchmaker had sent. It was common practice between the upper classes to ask the assistance of matchmakers in securing marriages for their sons and daughters.
Her daughter nodded sullenly.
The Amamiya matriarch sighed and got up from behind her desk. She enveloped her only child in a warm embrace. "If he's getting married soon then you should be too. There's no sense in moping around. You're a beautiful, talented and desirable woman. In fact you're the Little Queen of our town!"
Tomoyo smiled at the nickname. It was a title that she'd won on an amateur beauty contest on a school festival. The name stuck. "I just hope he's cute."
Her mother giggled. The older woman grabbed the brown envelope and rummaged for a picture. A frustrated sigh escaped her. "There's no picture included. But I'm sure that he'll be young and handsome."
The dark-haired young lady stretched her arms and smiled. "Then I'll go on a date with him. There's nothing wrong with having more options."
Sonomi smiled happily. "That's the spirit, my dear."
+0+0+Kyouya was finished with breakfast when he received a short letter from his father. It informed him that the prestigious Daidouji family had requested his presence for a "marriage interview". He was the candidate that the young lady of the house had chosen, and was he interested?
He looked at the old man who sat at the head of the table. "What's this?"
"You're going to a marriage interview." With his father's tone, there was no room for argument.
"But I'm not planning to settle down yet." He smiled with bared teeth.
"I've always wanted to make a business deal with Daidouji-san but she was never interested in our holdings. It will be a wonderful opportunity to include her into our family gatherings…" Yoshio Ohtori said quietly from behind his newspaper. "She would see that we also strive for our customer's happiness."
Kyouya vaguely remembered that the Daidouji Empire was single-handedly managed by a woman who firmly believed in spreading joy and happiness through toys. He didn't know that they had an heiress. This might be interesting. "What does she look like?"
His father raised an eyebrow. There was time when his son never questioned his decisions. "I met her once. Pretty little thing."
"I'll think about it, Father." Kyouya bowed and left the kitchen.
+0+0+To be continued!
This is for savantnicholas , my dear friend, who supports this odd but perfect couple!
Translations:
Oujou-sama- "Young Lady" is usually the title that's given to the heiress.
Author: Dark Hooded Eriol the Magician
Series: Ouran High School Host Club / Cardcaptor Sakura
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/ Angst
Status: In-progress
Disclaimer: The song is by DBSK and the characters are made by CLAMP and Hatori Bisco. Support them, please!
Summary: Some of us seek second chances. Will we be brave or will we be cowards again? There is only a choice to do what is right and what is true. Why did I fall in love with you? -KyouyaxTomoyo-
+0+0+Why did I end up falling for you?
+0+0+
They met each other in a benefit dinner party. It was a boring affair with old people on the crowd and classical music on the background. They were dragged along because their parents were powerful and influential people.
She stood near the balcony doors as a vision of white. Her short sack dress was her original creation and it accentuated her best features like her long legs and creamy skin. Long dark hair fell down to her back in carefree waves and framed her perfect oval face. She was alone but it suited her just fine.
Nobody could ignore her even if they tried. She had a beauty that separated her from the rest of the other heiresses. It was a romantic and melancholic loveliness that made men sigh and women wonder. Even he wasn't immune.
He stood in the middle of the room, talking with rich investment bankers. All of the people who approached him commented about his charming manners and handsome looks. His tall and imposing figure cut him out of the crowd. All of the girls sighed after him; all of the men talked about him.
Everyone knew about him. He was a ruthless and savvy businessman who made a fortune since he was in high school. They envied and admired his unconventional decisions. They discussed his bright future. Although he was only a third son of an affluent medical family, great things were expected from him.
As the night aged, he suddenly found himself standing next to her. The balcony door was open. A faint summer breeze blew inside. Her hair rippled in the shaft of moonlight. He cast a sidelong glance when she tipped her head back to down a flute of champagne.
"Thirsty?" he found himself saying with a small grin.
Charming girls was one of his many skills. He used to work on a Host Club after hours in high school so it was on his job description to please women. It was a skill that he often used in real situations. He was not above using a bit of charm and flattery to get what he wanted. For once, he was glad that he did.
"It's my fourth and I have an empty stomach," she answered. Her smile was brittle. "But please don't tell my mother."
"Why are you drinking so much?" He was curious.
"Because I have to do this," she said with a flirtatious wink. The mysterious girl took his hand and gave him the empty champagne flute. He watched, fascinated, as she straightened her dress and shook out her hair. She straightened her posture and took a deep breath. It came to him as a surprise when she walked towards the small podium at the front of the ballroom.
"The committee would like to thank all of you for coming and for supporting our cause. Without you, the party will not be a success. We're all pleased to announce the presence of the Crystal Voice of Tokyo who will be singing a special number for us…"
He stared as she got up on the stage with a shy smile. His grip on the champagne glass tightened when her melodious voice filled the air. In the soft light, she looked like an angel. There were no traces of the girl who drank on an empty stomach; there were no sadness in her aura. She sang straight into his heart. After the performance, she was gone.
Kyouya Ohtori looked for her in the crowd but she simply disappeared. All he had left of her was the empty champagne flute with the faintest imprint of her lips.
+0+0+
"Ojou-sama*, your mother is here to see you," the maid announced. The Daidouji heiress immediately got up from the couch to give her mother a tight hug. She inhaled her mother's fragrance deeply and reveled in her happiness.
Sonomi Daidouji smiled down at her only daughter. Sometimes she wondered if Tomoyo was really hers because they looked so different from each other. She was a handsome woman with short dark hair and bright brown eyes. Though petite, she carried her authority as the CEO and founder of a multimillion toy company with ease. Her daughter was a spitting image of an Amamiya woman just as her beloved Nadeshiko-san was.
"How are you, my dear?" Sonomi asked anxiously. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to go with you. My meeting was last minute. And then they made you sing…"
Tomoyo shook her head, smiling. "It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed performing for them."
"Well, they were there to hear you sing. If it wasn't for your efforts, the benefit wouldn't have been possible!" her mother said in a relieved voice. Her brown eyes sparkled as she led her daughter to sit with her on the couch. "Now tell me the latest gossip…"
Soon enough they were both crying with mirth at Tomoyo's anecdotes. The times that they spent together were often short because Sonomi's business took her out on long absences and late hours. But they remained sweet and cherished memories.
Tomoyo often told herself that she was not mad at her mother's absences ever since she was a child. She knew that her mother worked very hard to be the CEO of a multimillionaire company that made everything from toys to cars. Her mother wanted her to have a comfortable life so she did not grudge her for it. As an heiress, she had everything she ever wanted. Clothes, makeup, shoes, overseas trips and unlimited resources for her best friends… She had it all. Well, she had everything except one.
She pushed the thought away from her mind. She forced herself to smile as her mother asked about the eligible young bachelors who attended the benefit party. In a laughing tone she told him about the tall young man she talked to before she sang.
"How old is he? I won't let you marry anyone who's thirty!" Sonomi teased.
"Mother, please!" Tomoyo answered in a mock-scandalized tone. "I'm not looking to get married!"
Her mother smiled gently and reached forward to tuck her hair behind her ear. "You're right. But as much as I want you to stay with me as my little girl, I'll have to look for someone to take care of you. Maybe it's time for me to help you find someone to marry…"
Tomoyo knew that twenty-five was a marriageable age. There was no escaping it. "I'm fine by myself. I'll just hope that you'll live for a long time so I don't need to leave you," she joked.
"Very funny," her mother said. "I'm right. You'll see."
She smiled and nestled deeper into her mother's embrace. When Sonomi went silent, she quieted too. It was inevitable. When her mother wanted something, she would not stop at anything to get it. If she wanted to see her daughter as a happily married woman then she would definitely make it happen. Tomoyo knew better than to stop her.
When she lost him, she lost all desire to get married. If her mother wanted to provide an arranged marriage for her then she would not stop it. Who knew better than her mother? "I'll find the perfect match for my Tomoyo-chan," Sonomi promised.
+0+0+Kyouya had a business lunch on another beautiful summer day. He was planning to meet his business partner at a small trendy café at the heart of the shopping district. In spite of the heat, he was dressed in a smart-casual outfit of black slacks, white shirt and a green sweater.
The dark-haired young man took out his laptop to finish up some of his work. He refused to order when a waiter approached him and asked for water instead. It was quite early so he was not worried but that changed when his associate didn't show up. When he realized that he had been waiting for almost an hour, he became irritated. His irritation increased when he also realized that he didn't bring his mobile phone. It was possible that he left it at his office. Kyouya regarded it as unusual but not impossible. There was no way for him to contact his associate, his secretary or his driver.
Silently berating himself, he shut off the laptop. And found him staring at the beautiful girl that he met four nights ago.
She was sitting across him in another table. Her hair was braided but soft tendrils reached down to frame her face. In the warm sunshine, she glowed with rosy cheeks. When his gaze met her violet-blue eyes she smiled.
"I hope you're here to fill an empty stomach," he said by way of greeting. As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished that he thought of something wittier. She smiled with amusement at his attempt to remind her.
"It's a restaurant. What do you think I'm here for?" The dark-haired girl replied. She smoothed out her skirt and crossed her legs. He couldn't take his eyes off her delicate feet in wedge sandals. "I see you're here for other reasons."
Kyouya blushed slightly when her eyes fell on his laptop computer. He hastily shoved it inside his briefcase. He realized that his stomach was gurgling. "My lunch meeting got canceled."
Wait where did that come from?
She looked at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"May I join you?" he found himself asking.
Her smile took his breath away. "I'd love to but I'm late. I hope you'll have a good lunch."
Kyouya watched her walk away again to board a limousine. He realized that he was letting her get away without asking for her name. But before he could do anything else, the luxury car glided away. "That's another disappointment," he muttered to himself as he watched it go.
+0+0+
Tomoyo met up with her childhood best friend at Tomoeda Penguin Park. She immediately got off the limousine and thanked the family driver for his kindness. The old man merely smiled at the young lady's request before he left. She would rather walk home on such a beautiful day. Her violet-blue eyes glittered as soon as she saw Sakura Li's brown head on the distance. The twenty-five-year old wife of Syaoran Li took some time before she noticed the presence of her best friend. Her attention was focused on the rowdy children.
"Sakura-chan!" the dark-haired woman called cheerfully. "You're awfully busy today."
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura said brightly. She ran forward and embraced her best friend. Then her head whipped to her left and she shouted, "Kimihiro-chan, if you do that again to your sister, I'll take away your snack."
"Parental warnings… That's very good," Tomoyo commented. The young women went to sit on the bench in front of the huge Penguin slide in order to keep an eye on them. "I'm glad you have the knack for it."
"We're not very good with rules," her friend answered with a mischievous smile. Short brown hair, green eyes and a charming smile were her most distinguishing features. She looked even more beautiful in young motherhood. "And I regret to say that my kids take after it. How was the benefit? I read about you in the society pages this morning…"
"It was okay," Tomoyo answered simply.
Sakura gazed at her with those wise emerald eyes. She hated the fact that Sakura became more intuitive and perceptive as they grew up. Her friend had the uncanny knack of guessing her feelings. "Did you have fun?"
She nodded. "Singing is always fun."
"It must be lonely," Sakura said meaningfully.
"If you didn't get married early then you should have been with me at least. Then we'll get chased by rich old bachelors." Tomoyo teased. She touched Sakura's arm gently. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. By the way, where's Kero-chan?"
The Card Mistress sighed. "He stayed home to watch the World Cup with Syaoran-kun. I guess he didn't want to play with the kids."
"Give him a break," said her friend. "He's the one who rocks them to sleep and watches them when you're away."
Sakura was about to say something when her eldest son approached them. He was a little boy of four-years-old who inherited his father's face and his mother's eyes. "Mama, Sayuri-chan wants to go home."
She gave her friend a smile before she got up to pick up her smallest daughter. Tomoyo smiled down at the little boy who looked up to her like a second mother. She'd bathed him, fed him and carried him around when he was born. During those times she'd dreamed that she might also have her own children and instead satisfied herself with pretending. It used to be her dream: getting married, settling down and living life with love. She used to believe that she will definitely get married to her first love. Then she could exchange stories with Sakura about married life, go through pregnancies together and raise their children side by side...
Tomoyo smiled in spite of the small pain in her chest. "How are you, Kimihiro-kun? Did you have fun with the slide?"
He nodded and held out his arms. She picked him up and hugged him close. The little boy rested his head on her shoulder. She breathed in his sweet baby-smell and chocolate milk. "Aunt Tomoyo missed you…"
Sakura approached them with her daughter on her arms. She grinned when she saw how happy and contented Tomoyo was. For a long time, she'd worried over her friend's state of mind. After what happened, it seemed impossible for her to smile again. "Sayuri-chan, say hello."
"Hello," the younger girl said obediently. Sayuri was small and delicate like a doll with longish black hair and brown eyes. She was used to being petted by everyone. "You pretty, Aunt Tomoyo."
"Why, thank you!" the dark-haired woman smiled lovingly. "Aren't you sweet?"
The two women walked towards the Li residence with the children on their arms. They talked easily about their home life, their mutual friends and the latest gossip. Their conversation remained as bright and sparkling as when they were young girls. It was so easy to talk to someone they knew all their lives.
Sakura and Syaoran Li maintained a modest residence in Tomoeda. It was a small and cheerful house that was very close to the primary school, Penguin Park and the architectural firm where Syaoran worked.
They deposited the children in the living room where they were received by their indulgent father who was home. Syaoran was every girl's dream. He was tall, handsome and loving to his wife and kids. Tomoyo trusted him to love and keep her beloved Sakura-chan happy. Afterwards, they went to the kitchen to have iced tea.
"So," Sakura said as they settled down in the kitchen. "Who's this?"
Tomoyo frowned as she stared at a part of the newspaper page her friend laid out in front of her. She scanned the collage of pictures until she found out what Sakura was pointing at. There was a small photograph of her talking to a guy. "I don't know him."
"Are you sure?" the Card Mistress prodded. Her senses went overdrive. "I haven't seen this smile since…"
They went silent. Even if Sakura didn't have magic, she possessed enough empathy to sense her friend's pain. Nobody talked about him or even mentioned his name. It would only cause her best friend more anguish.
There was a time when Tomoyo graced all of the newspaper and magazine society pages with another public figure. She was always beautiful and radiant. Everyone smiled at the union of two beautiful and talented people who orbited high society circles. They were perfectly well-matched. Now, Tomoyo was all alone in those parties…
Tomoyo smiled bravely. "It's okay."
Her emerald eyes went sad. "You're drinking again."
"They're parties and social drinking is accepted," she said in defense.
"It's not healthy, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura reached for her friend's delicate manicured hand and squeezed it. Her expression was sad but hopeful. "I'm sorry I can't be there. But I think you won't be alone anymore. Something tells me that there's something a bit special with this guy in the picture. He's going to be very important to your future…"
The dark-haired heiress grinned. Sakura's powers were very Sakura said something, it usually happened so she trusted it. The brown-haired girl blinked. "What was I saying?"
"I'm going to be a millionaire," she said with a perfectly straight face.
They laughed. "You're going to be one anyway," Sakura said playfully "so where's the surprise in that?
"I'm curious," the dark-haired woman said softly. "I met him again at the café before I went here. He was waiting for someone, I can tell. But we didn't get a chance to ask for each other's names. It's just a coincidence, of course."
"There's no coincidence in this world," Sakura murmured with a mysterious smile. "But there's only the inevitable. Speaking of which, he called the other day…"
Tomoyo's breath caught. "Why?" she managed to say.
Her best friend got up and hugged her tightly. Sakura's voice was soft and compassionate.
"He told me he was getting married."
+0+0+Kyouya took a deep breath as he stood in front of the modest mansion. If he couldn't find him through his secretary then he would most certainly find him with his wife.
He rang the buzzer and was let in by a uniformed maid. With a nod, he entered the fantastically decorated home of the Host Club King. The dark-haired man walked through the sprawling halls briskly until he arrived at the den where he was received by another old friend.
Haruhi Suoh was waiting for him. She stood up as he entered the room with a small smile. Her attire was meant for comfort rather than for formality but it was obvious that her slacks and blouse were of good quality. She looked more like a secretary than the mistress of this home. "Kyouya-senpai! This is a surprise."
He nodded stiffly. "Where's your husband? We were supposed to meet for lunch but he stood me up."
"Didn't you get the message?" Haruhi frowned thoughtfully. "I believe that his secretary gave you a call to tell you that he wanted to reschedule."
Kyouya's eyebrow twitched. He was used to Tamaki's flighty attitude ever since they were in high school but he demanded to be treated as a professional when it came to work. It was only for his best friend that he rescheduled his other meetings for the afternoon.
What a waste, he thought. "Did he say why?"
"He wanted to pick out a fountain for the backyard," answered his wife with a tiny twitch on her lips. "And I'm here because he wanted to surprise me with the design that he picked out. Would you like to sit down so that we can wait for that idiot to come home? You can berate him for me, if you like."
Kyouya took her invitation and sat on an easy chair. Haruhi returned to her place on the couch and picked up her laptop. Concerned brown eyes turned to him. "Do you mind if I work for a while?"
He shook his head. The younger woman smiled at him and buried herself in her work. He restrained himself from staring. How many times had he imagined a scene like this? How many nights had he spent dreaming about days when he could simply sit down in the comfort of home with his beloved beside him, quiet and diligent? It didn't matter if she was busy or they were both busy. He would be happy if they were just beside each other.
It was painful and it made him uneasy. He was alone with Haruhi Fujioka for the first time in years and it still made him feel lightheaded. It was hard to forget a first love, people said. That was true. He never forgot the first time that she looked him with her large, luminous brown eyes and told him that he was good person. It was the only time that his heartbeats accelerated and his palms went sweaty. It was the only moment in time that he desperately wished that Tamaki didn't want her and that he was the one she wanted too. If only she did then he could have leaned down and kissed her and made her his…
He looked away when she glanced at him.
Kyouya never allowed his emotions to take control of him. It was messy, uncontrollable and hard to understand. So he merely gathered all of them and stuffed them inside a box where he could never see them. He would rather die than let anyone know that he coveted his best friend's wife.
+0+0+
Tomoyo didn't know how she got home.
He's getting married.
She almost didn't hear her mother call out her name from the living room. Her body was slightly shaking; her fingers were trembling. It was shock, she supposed. She was lucky that she didn't die because of shock.
"Are you all right?" Sonomi asked, instantly worried. Her instincts kicked in as she drew her daughter into her arms. The maids fluttered around like birds before she sent them to make tea in the kitchen. In the silence and solitude of the living room, she sat down with her daughter's head on her lap. "What's wrong?"
He's getting married.
Tomoyo's eyes were huge with unshed tears. Her lower lip trembled. And her body shook harder under her mother's concerned hands.
"What happened?" The older woman was calm and soothing. In situations when her daughter needed her, she preferred to be like a solid rock in the face of a storm. If she was calm, she could think. And she needed to think properly for her daughter's welfare.
Tomoyo looked so much like a little girl who'd gotten trapped inside the attic for hours.
Her voice was small and lost when she whispered, "he's getting married."
Sonomi's tears fell as her precious little daughter, her darling Tomoyo-chan, began to weep for her broken heart.
+0+0+
Why did I end up falling for you?
No matter how much time has passed,
I thought that you would always be here
But you have chosen a different road
+0+0+
Haruhi watched Kyouya give her husband a thorough scolding about professionalism and business manners with a barely concealed smile. She always thought that her husband was too relaxed so it was wonderful to have someone give him the talking-to. Kyouya and Tamaki were partners and best friends after all.
Kyouya was different from her husband. He was dark, brooding and cool. Even in high school, he showed so much talent in moneymaking and exercised his skills in managing the club. He was an easy man to respect because of his good judgment. And he wore his power well.
Tamaki- bright and sparkling and charming- often left the technicalities to Kyouya. He was content to charm and flirt his way to their customers, business partners and future associates. His hard work was in his efforts to maintain good relationships between companies and close down deals. He had an unusual instinct for investment that he soon handed over to Kyouya who multiplied it so much that they couldn't ruin themselves if they tried. They were two of a kind.
Haruhi had known that she would have to choose between all of them someday but she had also known that there was only Tamaki. So she broke all of the boys' hearts when she said "I do" to her blond idiot.
But she was quite aware that Kyouya still held feelings for her. She never acknowledged them and he never said anything about them. They maintained a cool and almost professional relationship just as they had in high school. Tamaki never suspected a thing.
"I'll leave now," Kyouya announced late in the afternoon. He'd taken his tea, shared old stories and discussed their newest investment with Tamaki. It was almost five o'clock in the afternoon and he was looking forward to going home. "Thank you for the afternoon."
"It was nothing!" Tamaki Suoh said magnanimously. His violet eyes sparkled. "I'm so glad you visited us! You got to see the fountain! It's a marvel, an art form!"
"I wouldn't have come here if you didn't stand me up," Kyouya said sharply. He smiled with teeth bared. "Don't do it again. I'm leaving."He refused to look back as he boarded the limousine to see Tamaki wrap an arm around his wife lovingly. It was a long day and he wanted to go home.
+0+0+
"Tomoyo-chan, are you listening?"
The Daidouji heiress snapped back to reality. She had been so absent-minded and listless during the last week that her mother had excused her from her work in their company as well as from her various engagements. "Yes, Mother."
"I think it would be wonderful if you meet up with this young man. He's a handsome and successful businessman. And although he's the Ohtori family's third son, he has more potential than his elder brothers." Sonomi said cheerfully. She brandished the file that the professional matchmaker had sent. It was common practice between the upper classes to ask the assistance of matchmakers in securing marriages for their sons and daughters.
Her daughter nodded sullenly.
The Amamiya matriarch sighed and got up from behind her desk. She enveloped her only child in a warm embrace. "If he's getting married soon then you should be too. There's no sense in moping around. You're a beautiful, talented and desirable woman. In fact you're the Little Queen of our town!"
Tomoyo smiled at the nickname. It was a title that she'd won on an amateur beauty contest on a school festival. The name stuck. "I just hope he's cute."
Her mother giggled. The older woman grabbed the brown envelope and rummaged for a picture. A frustrated sigh escaped her. "There's no picture included. But I'm sure that he'll be young and handsome."
The dark-haired young lady stretched her arms and smiled. "Then I'll go on a date with him. There's nothing wrong with having more options."
Sonomi smiled happily. "That's the spirit, my dear."
+0+0+Kyouya was finished with breakfast when he received a short letter from his father. It informed him that the prestigious Daidouji family had requested his presence for a "marriage interview". He was the candidate that the young lady of the house had chosen, and was he interested?
He looked at the old man who sat at the head of the table. "What's this?"
"You're going to a marriage interview." With his father's tone, there was no room for argument.
"But I'm not planning to settle down yet." He smiled with bared teeth.
"I've always wanted to make a business deal with Daidouji-san but she was never interested in our holdings. It will be a wonderful opportunity to include her into our family gatherings…" Yoshio Ohtori said quietly from behind his newspaper. "She would see that we also strive for our customer's happiness."
Kyouya vaguely remembered that the Daidouji Empire was single-handedly managed by a woman who firmly believed in spreading joy and happiness through toys. He didn't know that they had an heiress. This might be interesting. "What does she look like?"
His father raised an eyebrow. There was time when his son never questioned his decisions. "I met her once. Pretty little thing."
"I'll think about it, Father." Kyouya bowed and left the kitchen.
+0+0+To be continued!
This is for savantnicholas , my dear friend, who supports this odd but perfect couple!
Translations:
Oujou-sama- "Young Lady" is usually the title that's given to the heiress.