[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-
Chapter IV
+0+0+
Wherever we would go, it would be together
It was so natural for you to be with me
We became adults together
But you chose a different road
+0+0+
"This is it," Tomoyo said as the limousine parked in front of a little house that was painted in green. It was a modest residence, in their opinion, that could house a small family comfortably. Even though they were standing outside, they could feel the cozy aura that was emanating through the yellow curtains. Kyouya noticed that she was smiling even more brightly. "This is where they live."
He watched her skip towards the doorbell to press it eagerly. They waited for a moment before the door was thrown open by an excited young woman with shining emerald green eyes. She opened the gate as well and literally jumped into Tomoyo's arms. "Tomoyo-chan!" she exclaimed like a little girl.
"Good evening, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo answered, burying her face into her best friend's hair. She was so happy! There was no one who would understand more than Sakura. "I hope you don't mind if we join you for dinner."
"I don't mind, of course!" squealed the Card Mistress.
"She's been waiting for you," a brown-haired young man around their age piped up. He was grinning as he leaned against the doorway of his house. "She kept refusing to set the table because she said that she wanted to be sure that you were coming."
"Some sixth sense you've got," the dark-haired girl laughed. "It's always right on target."
Kyouya stared at the affecting scene, not moving. He knew that Tomoyo had a few childhood friends that she cherished so he was overwhelmed. They were the same. There was no doubt that they possessed the same spirit of protectiveness and loyalty towards those that they deemed worthy of their affection.
He jumped when he felt a hand on his arm. Tomoyo rewarded him with a smile that could bring out the sun in the evening. "Ohtori-san, this is my cousin and best friend, Sakura Li. That's her husband, Syaoran Li. Guys this is Kyouya Ohtori, the guy I was talking about…"
The auburn-haired woman fixed a perceptive gaze on him. He waited with baited breath and actually exhaled when she smiled. She came forward to get a closer look at him before giving him a bow. She grabbed his hands and pulled him up the steps. "You're very welcome! Come, let's go inside!"
Kyouya looked at the woman's husband imploringly. He merely shook his head, grinning, as his wife dragged the newcomer inside. The shadow king shook off his shoes and stepped into the cheerful chaos of a well-lived in house.
Tomoyo nodded to Syaoran. Blue-violet eyes were laughing. He knew that look very well. The little wolf hadn't seen that look for a very long time. "I'm sorry for intruding," she said softly. "I thought that we should come since we're here anyway. It's rare for me to come home to Tomoeda on a weekday."
"It does all right;" he answered jovially "intrude all you like. Sakura could barely sit still. I knew she sensed something."
His best friend grinned back. The Card Mistress's powers were legendary. "Sakura-chan's magic is never wrong."
"Yes, that's true." Syaoran closed the door behind them. He picked up one of his daughter's toys and carried it with him to the living room. He didn't comment on the cupcake that Tomoyo was carrying.
The dark-haired woman smiled as she watched the father open a door with a serious look on his face as though he sensed trouble from one of his children. He was right. Sayuri was in the living room, crying hysterically, while a hovering Keroberos the Seal Beast tried to soothe her. The little girl was sobbing on a corner, long hair covering her face.
"Hi Kero-chan," Tomoyo greeted him as they cheerfully as they exchanged amused glances. Kero-chan immediately noticed the sweet on her hand. "I have a present for you!"
Syaoran on the other hand picked up his little girl and rocked her around. She was holding on to a white stuffed bunny now, slowly calming down. "Lost the bunny on the moon?"
"Yep," the plush toy nodded sagely. "She followed her parents to the front door and promptly dropped that stupid toy that the Snow Bunny gave her for Christmas. Then she cries all over the place. Very attached to it, you see."
The dark-haired woman giggled as the Seal Beast landed on her shoulder, shaking his head. She knew that Kero-chan loved Sayuri so much that he hated seeing her cry. In spite of his gruffness and tough love mannerisms he actually cared about her more than he let on.
Ever since his beloved Cardcaptor Sakura grew up into womanhood, he was content to love and care for his new charges simply because he loved children. His mistress was a woman now who'd given him two children to care for as well as her magical Cards so Kero-chan was very up to the task.
Syaoran turned to them, grinning proudly. He was a good father: affectionate and understanding. The little children meant the world to him as well. He rocked his daughter gently until he was very, very sure that she had calmed down. "You okay, honey?" he asked quietly.
Sayuri nodded, clutching her stuffed toy. She looked up at her father with big chocolate-brown eyes and a quivering lower lip. "Papa's not leaving?"
He grinned and kissed her temple. "No, we're not. Kero-chan is here for you too."
"You got that right," the Seal Beast agreed. Pride tinged his voice. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"Love Kero!" Sayuri squealed.
Tomoyo exchanged amused glances with him as the little girl extended her chubby arms towards them. Keroberos shrugged as he flew to his charge. He was promptly received with a large hug close to the snow bunny. It was an affecting sight.
"Play nice," Syaoran said mock-seriously as he set them both down. He smoothed his daughter's dark hair and smiled widely. "We have a guest so be a good girl. Play with your big brother then we'll have dinner."
"Onii-chan," Sayuri nodded obediently. "Play with Kero-chan first."
"Play dead," he also added to Kero-chan who bared his teeth at him. "He doesn't know yet."
"Here you go," she whispered as she handed him a pink cupcake that she got from Honey. The Seal Beast smiled gratefully.
Tomoyo winked as they exited the living room to go to the kitchen where Sakura was happily entertaining their new guest. She was cooking dinner at the same time. It was a nice sight to see their beloved woman puttering around her kitchen, laughing and having fun. Pride swelled in their hearts because their little Cardcaptor had grown up.
Their eyes wandered over to a surprising but pleasing sight. Their guest was entertaining a brown-haired boy on his lap with his mobile phone.
Kyouya, on the other hand, tried to listen to his hostess and focus on her son at the same time. Kimihiro was easily excitable and pleased with the installed games on his phone. The four-year-old smelled like milk and cookies and baby sweat. It was very pleasant. He didn't realize how much fun it was to dandle a tiny bundle of energy on your knee.
"So you see, Ohtori-san," Sakura was saying "we really appreciate the effort of coming here. We barely see Tomoyo-chan so we're happy whenever she comes around. Do you see her often?"
"As often as my busy schedule would let me," Kyouya answered off-handedly.
"How often is that?" she asked, with an eyebrow raised.
"That's every weekend. And that's already a lot of time," he added. "I manage at least five hospitals, two medium enterprises and an overseas business processing outsourcing program. I'm a very busy man."
"A very wealthy man, yes," she conceded as she turned her back to him to sprinkle more seasoning on her soup. "You're twenty-eight but you're unmarried. Why is that?"
"It's because I'm busy," Kyouya mumbled as Kimihiro bounced up and down. He felt his bones crack alarmingly. But the delighted laughter of the little boy was infectious. He couldn't help but smile himself.
Sakura nodded, understanding. She sensed that Kyouya was not revealing something to her but she let it pass. Everything will be all right. He wasn't a bad person, she knew that, but he wasn't good either. It was more like he was trying very hard to stand in neutral ground. Still, it was unnatural for a man to be so devoted to work.
She smiled at her husband and best friend who was standing in the doorway, listening in. Tomoyo's face was soft and admiring. Her heart told her that Tomoyo was going to be just fine. There was no doubt that she cared more than a little towards the handsome young man who was playing with her little son.
"How's it going?" Tomoyo spoke up first. She approached the kitchen counter and looked down at Kyouya, grinning. He grinned back, unable to help himself. Her eyes were shining, laughing. It was the first time that he saw her let go of the finely-tuned control over her emotions. The sight was breathtaking.
"Great," he said as he shifted the boy's weight. He was getting rather heavy. The brown-haired man he identified as Syaoran Li came forward and relieved him of his temporary charge. "Thanks."
"Papa!" Kimihiro squealed as his father pried the game out of his hands. "No! Papa!"
"You can play with that after dinner," Syaoran said firmly. He adjusted the little boy on his arms and stared at him seriously. "Sayuri-chan needs someone to play with. Would you like to go to her? She's lonely and looking for her Onii-chan…"
"Okay!" The little boy said, agreeing immediately to his responsibility. He was very much like his father, fiercely protective of his treasures. Father and son left the room, talking. The others watched them before returning to their conversation.
"Kimihiro-chan is bigger," Tomoyo remarked as she leaned over the counter. Kyouya noticed that she was having difficulty reaching for the apron so he got up and helped her. Their fingers brushed against each other for a moment. He pulled back, electrified. "Is he eating too many sweets again?"
"If he is, Kero-chan won't tell me. They're partners in crime," Sakura said absently. She didn't mind that her best friend started to help her prepare their dinner as well. They knew each other better than anyone else in the world. When they used to go to university, they even shared a room so they were quite comfortable sharing the kitchen. "Oh, pass me the pepper."
The dark-haired heiress did then resume chopping vegetables. Kyouya realized that Tomoyo was more down-to-earth than he gave her credit for.
Most of the heiresses that he'd entertained in the Host Club were spoiled and self-effacing. They rarely ventured out beyond the world that they knew. They didn't know how to cook, manage a house or even sew a button. They often had expensive educations that were simply for show because they were either married off to business partners or they refused to work. None of them showed any inclination in stepping out beyond their limits.
From his research, he found out that Tomoyo was a multi-faceted person because of her various interests in the arts. She was gifted and talented enough in some areas like art and music hence her moonlight careers. But she fascinated him because she also possessed a golden touch in managing their multimillion businesses which was a first for a woman. Perhaps she inherited it from her mother who was also a formidable figure.
He imagined that she was very serious, meticulous and a bit of a perfectionist after he saw her business portfolio. Her business decisions were well-thought of and none of them were haphazard. All of them showed her amazing aptitude for moneymaking as well as her impressive intellect.
She exercised the same control over her training in her other hobbies such as her singing. From what he'd seen in the videos that circulated over the internet from her elementary to high school days, she was always singing in events one way or another. Her operatic technique was admirable; her voice was sensual and insinuating. He'd never recovered from the first time.
He'd also confirmed that she had a famous fashion line that she designed but it wasn't very serious yet. The other designers like the Hitachiin brothers respected her work. Whenever she held a show, all of the tickets immediately sold out. Yet the fashion world never tarnished the heiress or swayed her from her responsibilities from her company.
Yet here was another Tomoyo that he was slowly discovering.
"What kinds of food do you like, Ohtori-san?" Tomoyo asked as she started setting the table on the other side of the counter. She was wearing a cute apron with pink rabbit designs. Her hair was tied up in a braid again. She looked like a very cute housewife.
"Ah… Anything spicy," he answered quickly.
She made a little moue before grinning at him. "I'll learn more so that next time I can cook for you."
"Tomoyo-chan is the best cook in our class," Sakura piped in. She smiled mischievously. "And she really makes the best sweets."
"Thank you," the dark-haired girl said brightly "but Sakura-chan makes the best dinner."
Kyouya nodded, smiling a little. It was the first time that he heard that a woman would cook for him. He could imagine just how pleased his elder sister would be to know that he finally found someone who suited his tastes.
Dinner started as soon as Syaoran and his children entered the kitchen. Everyone settled into a hearty meal. It was delicious as expected. It was fun and light-hearted as expected. What everyone didn't expect was that Sayuri also took to Kyouya just like her elder brother. "You nice," Sayuri declared as soon as she saw him. She surprised everyone by talking animatedly as much as she could to the newcomer. She conspired to sit on his lap, played with his glasses and she kissed his cheek. Her parents laughed heartily at their daughter's precociousness.
Kyouya who was not fond of children felt himself softening up. Perhaps it was because of the food, the familiar atmosphere or the fact that he was slowly releasing control but whatever it was he was glad for it. Inside their house, he was simply Kyouya. There was no need to pretend. He got the feeling that they wouldn't like him if he did.
"Well, it's time for bed angels," Sakura sang as she picked up Sayuri. She kissed her baby's head and smiled at her husband. "I'll take care of it."
"Let me help you," Tomoyo said immediately. Kimihiro grabbed his aunt's hand and waved goodbye to Kyouya as he was led away. She chattered on about how nice and well-behaved he was much to his delight.
"We'll just go at the back and have a beer, okay?" Syaoran said to their retreating backs. He turned to the other man, grinning. "You don't mind, do you?"
Kyouya shook his head. The little wolf got two cans of beer from the refrigerator before he led their guest to the backdoor.
Since the Lis owned a moderately large house as compared to the normal average couple, they had a backyard that was a good size to play a game of catch. There was a table set in the small porch that was lined with flower pots. Syaoran invited him to sit there.
The men sat, opened their beer cans and drank in silence. They could hear the women laughing, shrieking and scolding inside the house amidst the laughter of children. Kyouya swore that he heard another male voice but then dismissed it.
"I've never seen Daidouji-chan smile like that," Syaoran said suddenly. He stared up at the starry sky. "She's been so bright and entertaining all night."
Kyouya nodded in agreement. Although he'd gone out with her for a few times these past few months, he'd never seen anything but polite interest. She was very good at hiding her feelings too. He was glad to see a side that she didn't show to many people.
"I should thank you," the little wolf added. "I've known Sakura and Daidouji-chan since we were kids. We go way back. They were such an inseparable pair."
The dark-haired man nodded. He was willing to spend some time listening to the other man to gain new insight instead of leaving early to work on more reports. It wasn't everyday that somebody gave him free information. So he was quite contented to sit still and listen well.
"I wanted Sakura, you know," the other man said solemnly. "We got together because Daidouji-chan helped us along. She's my best friend too so I worry about her. After what happened, I thought she'd never smile again."
"What happened?" Kyouya prodded.
The little wolf smiled sadly. He drank more beer before he continued in the same soft and solemn voice. "We thought it was perfect. She and that four-eyed freak… No offense, of course. They were perfect. Sakura was very happy for them. So was I."
Kyouya waited a little, drinking more beer. He had a feeling that things weren't what they really seemed. He was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"He left her," Syaoran said sourly. "He left her because he found another girl that he preferred more than her. It nearly destroyed Daidouji-chan. I swear I'm going to kill that bastard when I see his face again."
The dark-haired man felt his chest constrict. There were so many things that he didn't know. He couldn't help but feel the same way. How dare could anyone hurt such a sweet and innocent young woman? Nobody messes with mine, he thought involuntarily. "What's his name?" he asked, holding himself back. Calm, he reminded himself. Be calm.
"Eriol Hiiragizawa," Syaoran answered, still staring at space. "He ran away to London after the whole fiasco. Never saw him again. Now he calls and tells Sakura that he's getting married and we're invited.
"So, you," the little wolf turned to him, serious and intent, "should not do the same thing. My family is very powerful in Hong Kong and Japan. My wife is capable of more terrifying things than you can think of. Don't you dare hurt Daidouji-chan."
Kyouya nodded, serious. He believed him. It was not weird to know that Tomoyo's friends were very protective of her. He believed that these were not idle threats. So he had to tread carefully.
"I won't." His voice was more honest than he suspected. Adjusting his glasses he repeated, "I won't do that."
"You better not," Syaoran said gruffly. He turned towards his companion and stared carefully. "I don't know you yet but I know Sakura trusts you. And I trust my wife's judgment."
Kyouya smiled ruefully.
"What do you want to do with Daidouji-chan?" he asked simply.
"I don't know yet," the dark-haired host replied. "But I'll let you know when I do."
Syaoran was about to reply when he heard his wife's voice. Throwing one last filthy look at Kyouya, he finished his beer and got up. He shook hands with his new friend. "You better go. It's late."
Kyouya nodded and got up. He followed his host inside the house but lingered in the front hall. Then he noticed that the door to the living room was open. He edged sideways to see an upset Tomoyo hugging Sakura. The compassion in the auburn-haired girl's face was unmistakable.
The shadow king realized that Syaoran had given him an advantage. The little wolf trusted him to take care of their precious friend. He shouldn't let him down. He said his goodbyes as Tomoyo gave out last hugs. They boarded the limousine again to leave for Tokyo.
They were silent on the way back. In the moonlight, Kyouya noticed that her head was drooping slowly to the side and her eyelashes were fluttering. She looked adorable. He moved closer towards her, praying that she won't reject him.
"Sleepy?" he asked quietly.
"Yes." Tomoyo yawned and did not protest as he guided her head to his shoulder. Her eyelids closed and her breathing slowed. Her hair still smelled like fresh flowers. He reached up and dared to run his fingers on her soft curls.
They drove through the night in sleepy silence.
-0-0-0-
She should have expected the invitation to come sooner.
It was only a few days after her impromptu date with Kyouya where she learned something she didn't want to know.
With trembling hands, she unfolded the card with its neat nuptial script and looked at the beautiful faces smiling at each other. Taking a deep breath, she started to read the introduction on the first part of the page.
"You are cordially invited to the Hiiragizawa-Mizuki wedding…"
Sonomi who was home from her business trip in Amsterdam looked at her only daughter from her seat on the easy chair. They were in the living room of their Tokyo penthouse on that Saturday morning. She was tired from her trip but she didn't want to miss having breakfast with her daughter. "What is that, Tomoyo-chan?"
"It's his invitation," answered her heiress dully.
The brown-haired woman immediately jumped up and grabbed it. She read it quickly and silently without any comment. Afterwards, she returned it to its envelope on top of the table. Summoning a small smile, she said quietly, "It's out of courtesy, of course."
"Out of courtesy," she repeated.
"It says here that you can bring a date," her mother said in an effort to be more cheerful. "You don't have to go through it alone…"
"I can't do it, Mother." Tomoyo interrupted gently. Her blue-violet eyes were shaking; her hands were clenched on her lap. She didn't dare try to take her teacup because they might shake violently. "I can't watch him pledge his love to another woman. It will kill me…"
"Oh my darling," Sonomi said as she hugged her daughter tightly. "I know. But you have to show him! He's making a mistake, I'm telling you. What you have to do now is to bring Ohtori-kun to the wedding and then it's over."
"I hope so," Tomoyo murmured. "I certainly hope so."
-0-0-0-
"How is she?"
"I'm busy, Tamaki," Kyouya snapped. He didn't bother to look up from the computer. The business partners were in their spacious office on the top floor of a high-rise building. It was a bright Monday morning. Sunshine made the King's hair glow. "I'm far too busy to run after her."
"But you shouldn't let your attention waver," Tamaki said airily. He plopped down on his leather chair and pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket. "She looked at you a lot."
The blond king noticed Kyouya's lips twitch slightly. He leaned forward, intrigued. Was it true? Was it calculation? Was he correct in assuming that the shadow king was more invested in the little heiress than he truly let on?
"I'm busy. If I don't finish these soon then I don't have time to do them later." Kyouya said as he scanned through his documents, mentally noting what was important. A headache was coming on but he refused to be deterred. "Don't you have anything better to do? If you're going to be idle then go home. You're annoying."
Tamaki put on a sad face. "You're being mean, Mom. Besides Haruhi is being moody at home so she sent me here to work. But I don't have any meetings! I'm bored."
"Help me with the paper work then if you're so bored," the dark-haired king deadpanned. "Or I'll throw you out the window to entertain you."
"Oh look at the time!" Tamaki said, jumping up and running towards the door. He looked back and waved at Kyouya merrily. "Weekly meeting, don't forget! And I'm asking about Daidouji-san because tonight is our dinner with her."
Kyouya's fingers stopped typing. Shit. He totally forgot! Before he could cancel, Tamaki was gone.
He was jolted back into reality when he heard his mobile phone ringing. Noticing the name with some surprise, he answered it immediately.
"Hello, Ohtori-kun? Can we meet up tonight? I have something to tell you."
-0-0-0-
To be continued!
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-
Chapter IV
+0+0+
Wherever we would go, it would be together
It was so natural for you to be with me
We became adults together
But you chose a different road
+0+0+
"This is it," Tomoyo said as the limousine parked in front of a little house that was painted in green. It was a modest residence, in their opinion, that could house a small family comfortably. Even though they were standing outside, they could feel the cozy aura that was emanating through the yellow curtains. Kyouya noticed that she was smiling even more brightly. "This is where they live."
He watched her skip towards the doorbell to press it eagerly. They waited for a moment before the door was thrown open by an excited young woman with shining emerald green eyes. She opened the gate as well and literally jumped into Tomoyo's arms. "Tomoyo-chan!" she exclaimed like a little girl.
"Good evening, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo answered, burying her face into her best friend's hair. She was so happy! There was no one who would understand more than Sakura. "I hope you don't mind if we join you for dinner."
"I don't mind, of course!" squealed the Card Mistress.
"She's been waiting for you," a brown-haired young man around their age piped up. He was grinning as he leaned against the doorway of his house. "She kept refusing to set the table because she said that she wanted to be sure that you were coming."
"Some sixth sense you've got," the dark-haired girl laughed. "It's always right on target."
Kyouya stared at the affecting scene, not moving. He knew that Tomoyo had a few childhood friends that she cherished so he was overwhelmed. They were the same. There was no doubt that they possessed the same spirit of protectiveness and loyalty towards those that they deemed worthy of their affection.
He jumped when he felt a hand on his arm. Tomoyo rewarded him with a smile that could bring out the sun in the evening. "Ohtori-san, this is my cousin and best friend, Sakura Li. That's her husband, Syaoran Li. Guys this is Kyouya Ohtori, the guy I was talking about…"
The auburn-haired woman fixed a perceptive gaze on him. He waited with baited breath and actually exhaled when she smiled. She came forward to get a closer look at him before giving him a bow. She grabbed his hands and pulled him up the steps. "You're very welcome! Come, let's go inside!"
Kyouya looked at the woman's husband imploringly. He merely shook his head, grinning, as his wife dragged the newcomer inside. The shadow king shook off his shoes and stepped into the cheerful chaos of a well-lived in house.
Tomoyo nodded to Syaoran. Blue-violet eyes were laughing. He knew that look very well. The little wolf hadn't seen that look for a very long time. "I'm sorry for intruding," she said softly. "I thought that we should come since we're here anyway. It's rare for me to come home to Tomoeda on a weekday."
"It does all right;" he answered jovially "intrude all you like. Sakura could barely sit still. I knew she sensed something."
His best friend grinned back. The Card Mistress's powers were legendary. "Sakura-chan's magic is never wrong."
"Yes, that's true." Syaoran closed the door behind them. He picked up one of his daughter's toys and carried it with him to the living room. He didn't comment on the cupcake that Tomoyo was carrying.
The dark-haired woman smiled as she watched the father open a door with a serious look on his face as though he sensed trouble from one of his children. He was right. Sayuri was in the living room, crying hysterically, while a hovering Keroberos the Seal Beast tried to soothe her. The little girl was sobbing on a corner, long hair covering her face.
"Hi Kero-chan," Tomoyo greeted him as they cheerfully as they exchanged amused glances. Kero-chan immediately noticed the sweet on her hand. "I have a present for you!"
Syaoran on the other hand picked up his little girl and rocked her around. She was holding on to a white stuffed bunny now, slowly calming down. "Lost the bunny on the moon?"
"Yep," the plush toy nodded sagely. "She followed her parents to the front door and promptly dropped that stupid toy that the Snow Bunny gave her for Christmas. Then she cries all over the place. Very attached to it, you see."
The dark-haired woman giggled as the Seal Beast landed on her shoulder, shaking his head. She knew that Kero-chan loved Sayuri so much that he hated seeing her cry. In spite of his gruffness and tough love mannerisms he actually cared about her more than he let on.
Ever since his beloved Cardcaptor Sakura grew up into womanhood, he was content to love and care for his new charges simply because he loved children. His mistress was a woman now who'd given him two children to care for as well as her magical Cards so Kero-chan was very up to the task.
Syaoran turned to them, grinning proudly. He was a good father: affectionate and understanding. The little children meant the world to him as well. He rocked his daughter gently until he was very, very sure that she had calmed down. "You okay, honey?" he asked quietly.
Sayuri nodded, clutching her stuffed toy. She looked up at her father with big chocolate-brown eyes and a quivering lower lip. "Papa's not leaving?"
He grinned and kissed her temple. "No, we're not. Kero-chan is here for you too."
"You got that right," the Seal Beast agreed. Pride tinged his voice. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"Love Kero!" Sayuri squealed.
Tomoyo exchanged amused glances with him as the little girl extended her chubby arms towards them. Keroberos shrugged as he flew to his charge. He was promptly received with a large hug close to the snow bunny. It was an affecting sight.
"Play nice," Syaoran said mock-seriously as he set them both down. He smoothed his daughter's dark hair and smiled widely. "We have a guest so be a good girl. Play with your big brother then we'll have dinner."
"Onii-chan," Sayuri nodded obediently. "Play with Kero-chan first."
"Play dead," he also added to Kero-chan who bared his teeth at him. "He doesn't know yet."
"Here you go," she whispered as she handed him a pink cupcake that she got from Honey. The Seal Beast smiled gratefully.
Tomoyo winked as they exited the living room to go to the kitchen where Sakura was happily entertaining their new guest. She was cooking dinner at the same time. It was a nice sight to see their beloved woman puttering around her kitchen, laughing and having fun. Pride swelled in their hearts because their little Cardcaptor had grown up.
Their eyes wandered over to a surprising but pleasing sight. Their guest was entertaining a brown-haired boy on his lap with his mobile phone.
Kyouya, on the other hand, tried to listen to his hostess and focus on her son at the same time. Kimihiro was easily excitable and pleased with the installed games on his phone. The four-year-old smelled like milk and cookies and baby sweat. It was very pleasant. He didn't realize how much fun it was to dandle a tiny bundle of energy on your knee.
"So you see, Ohtori-san," Sakura was saying "we really appreciate the effort of coming here. We barely see Tomoyo-chan so we're happy whenever she comes around. Do you see her often?"
"As often as my busy schedule would let me," Kyouya answered off-handedly.
"How often is that?" she asked, with an eyebrow raised.
"That's every weekend. And that's already a lot of time," he added. "I manage at least five hospitals, two medium enterprises and an overseas business processing outsourcing program. I'm a very busy man."
"A very wealthy man, yes," she conceded as she turned her back to him to sprinkle more seasoning on her soup. "You're twenty-eight but you're unmarried. Why is that?"
"It's because I'm busy," Kyouya mumbled as Kimihiro bounced up and down. He felt his bones crack alarmingly. But the delighted laughter of the little boy was infectious. He couldn't help but smile himself.
Sakura nodded, understanding. She sensed that Kyouya was not revealing something to her but she let it pass. Everything will be all right. He wasn't a bad person, she knew that, but he wasn't good either. It was more like he was trying very hard to stand in neutral ground. Still, it was unnatural for a man to be so devoted to work.
She smiled at her husband and best friend who was standing in the doorway, listening in. Tomoyo's face was soft and admiring. Her heart told her that Tomoyo was going to be just fine. There was no doubt that she cared more than a little towards the handsome young man who was playing with her little son.
"How's it going?" Tomoyo spoke up first. She approached the kitchen counter and looked down at Kyouya, grinning. He grinned back, unable to help himself. Her eyes were shining, laughing. It was the first time that he saw her let go of the finely-tuned control over her emotions. The sight was breathtaking.
"Great," he said as he shifted the boy's weight. He was getting rather heavy. The brown-haired man he identified as Syaoran Li came forward and relieved him of his temporary charge. "Thanks."
"Papa!" Kimihiro squealed as his father pried the game out of his hands. "No! Papa!"
"You can play with that after dinner," Syaoran said firmly. He adjusted the little boy on his arms and stared at him seriously. "Sayuri-chan needs someone to play with. Would you like to go to her? She's lonely and looking for her Onii-chan…"
"Okay!" The little boy said, agreeing immediately to his responsibility. He was very much like his father, fiercely protective of his treasures. Father and son left the room, talking. The others watched them before returning to their conversation.
"Kimihiro-chan is bigger," Tomoyo remarked as she leaned over the counter. Kyouya noticed that she was having difficulty reaching for the apron so he got up and helped her. Their fingers brushed against each other for a moment. He pulled back, electrified. "Is he eating too many sweets again?"
"If he is, Kero-chan won't tell me. They're partners in crime," Sakura said absently. She didn't mind that her best friend started to help her prepare their dinner as well. They knew each other better than anyone else in the world. When they used to go to university, they even shared a room so they were quite comfortable sharing the kitchen. "Oh, pass me the pepper."
The dark-haired heiress did then resume chopping vegetables. Kyouya realized that Tomoyo was more down-to-earth than he gave her credit for.
Most of the heiresses that he'd entertained in the Host Club were spoiled and self-effacing. They rarely ventured out beyond the world that they knew. They didn't know how to cook, manage a house or even sew a button. They often had expensive educations that were simply for show because they were either married off to business partners or they refused to work. None of them showed any inclination in stepping out beyond their limits.
From his research, he found out that Tomoyo was a multi-faceted person because of her various interests in the arts. She was gifted and talented enough in some areas like art and music hence her moonlight careers. But she fascinated him because she also possessed a golden touch in managing their multimillion businesses which was a first for a woman. Perhaps she inherited it from her mother who was also a formidable figure.
He imagined that she was very serious, meticulous and a bit of a perfectionist after he saw her business portfolio. Her business decisions were well-thought of and none of them were haphazard. All of them showed her amazing aptitude for moneymaking as well as her impressive intellect.
She exercised the same control over her training in her other hobbies such as her singing. From what he'd seen in the videos that circulated over the internet from her elementary to high school days, she was always singing in events one way or another. Her operatic technique was admirable; her voice was sensual and insinuating. He'd never recovered from the first time.
He'd also confirmed that she had a famous fashion line that she designed but it wasn't very serious yet. The other designers like the Hitachiin brothers respected her work. Whenever she held a show, all of the tickets immediately sold out. Yet the fashion world never tarnished the heiress or swayed her from her responsibilities from her company.
Yet here was another Tomoyo that he was slowly discovering.
"What kinds of food do you like, Ohtori-san?" Tomoyo asked as she started setting the table on the other side of the counter. She was wearing a cute apron with pink rabbit designs. Her hair was tied up in a braid again. She looked like a very cute housewife.
"Ah… Anything spicy," he answered quickly.
She made a little moue before grinning at him. "I'll learn more so that next time I can cook for you."
"Tomoyo-chan is the best cook in our class," Sakura piped in. She smiled mischievously. "And she really makes the best sweets."
"Thank you," the dark-haired girl said brightly "but Sakura-chan makes the best dinner."
Kyouya nodded, smiling a little. It was the first time that he heard that a woman would cook for him. He could imagine just how pleased his elder sister would be to know that he finally found someone who suited his tastes.
Dinner started as soon as Syaoran and his children entered the kitchen. Everyone settled into a hearty meal. It was delicious as expected. It was fun and light-hearted as expected. What everyone didn't expect was that Sayuri also took to Kyouya just like her elder brother. "You nice," Sayuri declared as soon as she saw him. She surprised everyone by talking animatedly as much as she could to the newcomer. She conspired to sit on his lap, played with his glasses and she kissed his cheek. Her parents laughed heartily at their daughter's precociousness.
Kyouya who was not fond of children felt himself softening up. Perhaps it was because of the food, the familiar atmosphere or the fact that he was slowly releasing control but whatever it was he was glad for it. Inside their house, he was simply Kyouya. There was no need to pretend. He got the feeling that they wouldn't like him if he did.
"Well, it's time for bed angels," Sakura sang as she picked up Sayuri. She kissed her baby's head and smiled at her husband. "I'll take care of it."
"Let me help you," Tomoyo said immediately. Kimihiro grabbed his aunt's hand and waved goodbye to Kyouya as he was led away. She chattered on about how nice and well-behaved he was much to his delight.
"We'll just go at the back and have a beer, okay?" Syaoran said to their retreating backs. He turned to the other man, grinning. "You don't mind, do you?"
Kyouya shook his head. The little wolf got two cans of beer from the refrigerator before he led their guest to the backdoor.
Since the Lis owned a moderately large house as compared to the normal average couple, they had a backyard that was a good size to play a game of catch. There was a table set in the small porch that was lined with flower pots. Syaoran invited him to sit there.
The men sat, opened their beer cans and drank in silence. They could hear the women laughing, shrieking and scolding inside the house amidst the laughter of children. Kyouya swore that he heard another male voice but then dismissed it.
"I've never seen Daidouji-chan smile like that," Syaoran said suddenly. He stared up at the starry sky. "She's been so bright and entertaining all night."
Kyouya nodded in agreement. Although he'd gone out with her for a few times these past few months, he'd never seen anything but polite interest. She was very good at hiding her feelings too. He was glad to see a side that she didn't show to many people.
"I should thank you," the little wolf added. "I've known Sakura and Daidouji-chan since we were kids. We go way back. They were such an inseparable pair."
The dark-haired man nodded. He was willing to spend some time listening to the other man to gain new insight instead of leaving early to work on more reports. It wasn't everyday that somebody gave him free information. So he was quite contented to sit still and listen well.
"I wanted Sakura, you know," the other man said solemnly. "We got together because Daidouji-chan helped us along. She's my best friend too so I worry about her. After what happened, I thought she'd never smile again."
"What happened?" Kyouya prodded.
The little wolf smiled sadly. He drank more beer before he continued in the same soft and solemn voice. "We thought it was perfect. She and that four-eyed freak… No offense, of course. They were perfect. Sakura was very happy for them. So was I."
Kyouya waited a little, drinking more beer. He had a feeling that things weren't what they really seemed. He was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"He left her," Syaoran said sourly. "He left her because he found another girl that he preferred more than her. It nearly destroyed Daidouji-chan. I swear I'm going to kill that bastard when I see his face again."
The dark-haired man felt his chest constrict. There were so many things that he didn't know. He couldn't help but feel the same way. How dare could anyone hurt such a sweet and innocent young woman? Nobody messes with mine, he thought involuntarily. "What's his name?" he asked, holding himself back. Calm, he reminded himself. Be calm.
"Eriol Hiiragizawa," Syaoran answered, still staring at space. "He ran away to London after the whole fiasco. Never saw him again. Now he calls and tells Sakura that he's getting married and we're invited.
"So, you," the little wolf turned to him, serious and intent, "should not do the same thing. My family is very powerful in Hong Kong and Japan. My wife is capable of more terrifying things than you can think of. Don't you dare hurt Daidouji-chan."
Kyouya nodded, serious. He believed him. It was not weird to know that Tomoyo's friends were very protective of her. He believed that these were not idle threats. So he had to tread carefully.
"I won't." His voice was more honest than he suspected. Adjusting his glasses he repeated, "I won't do that."
"You better not," Syaoran said gruffly. He turned towards his companion and stared carefully. "I don't know you yet but I know Sakura trusts you. And I trust my wife's judgment."
Kyouya smiled ruefully.
"What do you want to do with Daidouji-chan?" he asked simply.
"I don't know yet," the dark-haired host replied. "But I'll let you know when I do."
Syaoran was about to reply when he heard his wife's voice. Throwing one last filthy look at Kyouya, he finished his beer and got up. He shook hands with his new friend. "You better go. It's late."
Kyouya nodded and got up. He followed his host inside the house but lingered in the front hall. Then he noticed that the door to the living room was open. He edged sideways to see an upset Tomoyo hugging Sakura. The compassion in the auburn-haired girl's face was unmistakable.
The shadow king realized that Syaoran had given him an advantage. The little wolf trusted him to take care of their precious friend. He shouldn't let him down. He said his goodbyes as Tomoyo gave out last hugs. They boarded the limousine again to leave for Tokyo.
They were silent on the way back. In the moonlight, Kyouya noticed that her head was drooping slowly to the side and her eyelashes were fluttering. She looked adorable. He moved closer towards her, praying that she won't reject him.
"Sleepy?" he asked quietly.
"Yes." Tomoyo yawned and did not protest as he guided her head to his shoulder. Her eyelids closed and her breathing slowed. Her hair still smelled like fresh flowers. He reached up and dared to run his fingers on her soft curls.
They drove through the night in sleepy silence.
-0-0-0-
She should have expected the invitation to come sooner.
It was only a few days after her impromptu date with Kyouya where she learned something she didn't want to know.
With trembling hands, she unfolded the card with its neat nuptial script and looked at the beautiful faces smiling at each other. Taking a deep breath, she started to read the introduction on the first part of the page.
"You are cordially invited to the Hiiragizawa-Mizuki wedding…"
Sonomi who was home from her business trip in Amsterdam looked at her only daughter from her seat on the easy chair. They were in the living room of their Tokyo penthouse on that Saturday morning. She was tired from her trip but she didn't want to miss having breakfast with her daughter. "What is that, Tomoyo-chan?"
"It's his invitation," answered her heiress dully.
The brown-haired woman immediately jumped up and grabbed it. She read it quickly and silently without any comment. Afterwards, she returned it to its envelope on top of the table. Summoning a small smile, she said quietly, "It's out of courtesy, of course."
"Out of courtesy," she repeated.
"It says here that you can bring a date," her mother said in an effort to be more cheerful. "You don't have to go through it alone…"
"I can't do it, Mother." Tomoyo interrupted gently. Her blue-violet eyes were shaking; her hands were clenched on her lap. She didn't dare try to take her teacup because they might shake violently. "I can't watch him pledge his love to another woman. It will kill me…"
"Oh my darling," Sonomi said as she hugged her daughter tightly. "I know. But you have to show him! He's making a mistake, I'm telling you. What you have to do now is to bring Ohtori-kun to the wedding and then it's over."
"I hope so," Tomoyo murmured. "I certainly hope so."
-0-0-0-
"How is she?"
"I'm busy, Tamaki," Kyouya snapped. He didn't bother to look up from the computer. The business partners were in their spacious office on the top floor of a high-rise building. It was a bright Monday morning. Sunshine made the King's hair glow. "I'm far too busy to run after her."
"But you shouldn't let your attention waver," Tamaki said airily. He plopped down on his leather chair and pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket. "She looked at you a lot."
The blond king noticed Kyouya's lips twitch slightly. He leaned forward, intrigued. Was it true? Was it calculation? Was he correct in assuming that the shadow king was more invested in the little heiress than he truly let on?
"I'm busy. If I don't finish these soon then I don't have time to do them later." Kyouya said as he scanned through his documents, mentally noting what was important. A headache was coming on but he refused to be deterred. "Don't you have anything better to do? If you're going to be idle then go home. You're annoying."
Tamaki put on a sad face. "You're being mean, Mom. Besides Haruhi is being moody at home so she sent me here to work. But I don't have any meetings! I'm bored."
"Help me with the paper work then if you're so bored," the dark-haired king deadpanned. "Or I'll throw you out the window to entertain you."
"Oh look at the time!" Tamaki said, jumping up and running towards the door. He looked back and waved at Kyouya merrily. "Weekly meeting, don't forget! And I'm asking about Daidouji-san because tonight is our dinner with her."
Kyouya's fingers stopped typing. Shit. He totally forgot! Before he could cancel, Tamaki was gone.
He was jolted back into reality when he heard his mobile phone ringing. Noticing the name with some surprise, he answered it immediately.
"Hello, Ohtori-kun? Can we meet up tonight? I have something to tell you."
-0-0-0-
To be continued!