Chapter 4

Tomoyo hurried home from work that early evening so she wouldn't get drenched by the rain.It was just drizzling but the wind was telling her that a hard rain would follow.

She then heard the sound of the hoooves of horses.She turned around and saw an elegant horse-drawn coach passing on the road.She was about to step aside to give way when the it stopped right beside her.

"Going home?"A deep male voice asked."Can,I mean,may I give you a ride?"

Instantly Tomoyo scowled."No thanks."

"It's going to rain very hard,and you might catch a cold."he warned.

"I don't see why my health is your business."

"Everything about you I make my business,Bijin."He got out of his coach."If you won't ride in my carriage then I'll walk with you."He signaled his coachman to leave.

"How much will I pay for your escort service?"she asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Just a smile from you,Bijin."he replied as he took off his trenchcoat and used it to shield themselves from the falling rain.

"Bijin huh?"Tomoyo carefully stepped away from him.His nearness was making her uneasy.

"The name suits you.I'll call you that until you finally tell me your name."

She shrugged."Suit yourself,Obake."

"Obake?"

She gasped mockingly."You do not understand what I just said?Good heavens,what else should I expect from a person who thinks a geisha is a whore?"

Eriol's cheeks flushed.Ok,so he made a mistake there.He just learned from Nakuru what a geisha really was,and he had never felt this humiliated in his whole life before."I-I'm really sorry.I-I thought.."

"Forget it."She sighed exhaustively."Look,I'm in a hurry to get to a friend's house!"She had to shout so her voice could be heard over the loud roaring of the rain.

He looked at her intently."Now I know why you're not your usual bitingly grumpy self.You look so fatigued.Maybe you ought to postpone your social call and rest."

"No.My friend will update me about the job I was applying for."Funny,but her vision started to blur.

"You already have a job,don't you?"

"And you think that's enough to pay the initial installment for our land?Surely,you jest."

He looked away guiltily.It was his fault why she was working herself to the point of complete exhaustion.He then noticed the rain getting stronger."Bijin,let's go back."

"M-My job.."

"Don't be stubborn,Bijin.I'm taking you home."he said firmly.

"A-Alright."she conceded.She wasn't feeling too well anyway.She allowed him to hold her shivering body and lead him to wherever he was going.She felt tired physically and mentally,and for once,she let someone else make the decisions for her.



"Hey Bijin,are you ok?"asked Eriol.The woman was strangely quiet.

A groan,then her entire weight fell on his arms.

"B-Bijin!"His heart thumped when he saw her closed eyelids.He quickly checked her pulse and let out a sigh of relief when he realized that she just may have lost conciousness.

He lifted the woman in his arms and carried her under the shade of an enormous tree.He was going to wait for the rain to stop before he takes her home.

"C-Cold.."murmured the lady,trembling.Eriol quickly wrapped his coat on her and hugged her tighter.God,how soft she was!And her uniquely fragrant scent was intoxicating him."Well?"

She pressed herself on his chest and held on to his arms as if they were her source of strength.

He reached and pushed her wet bangs off her forehead.She was undoubtedly one of the loveliest faces he had ever seen,if not THE loveliest.He reckoned that if ever Sir Joseph Reynolds had seen this beauty,she would have been the queen of his portraits that dazzled people from all walks of life.

His gaze fell on her moist cherry pink lips.It was temptingly inviting,and Eriol was not the paragon of the virtue of self-control.

e brushed his lips lightly on hers and waited anxiously for her reaction.

A small smile formed on her lips,sending Eriol to nirvana.Oh good lord,she was beautiful beyond words!His lips caressed hers again,this time with more passion and fire.Her lips was addictingly sweet,and had not been for the limitations of human lungs,he never would have left her mouth.

Eriol stroke her silky smooth cheek,and his smile vanished.He felt the woman's forehead.She's warm.Wow,he literally set her on fire!Then it hit him.She was stricken with fever!He carried her again towards the direction of the Li residence.She must be seen by a physician immdeiately.

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