Chapter 1
Lacrimae Rerum (Tears for Things)


Tomoyo stood up when she heard the announcement of the arrival of passengers from London.Clutching the letter she received from Kaho Mizuki,she scanned the sea of faces coming in and out of the place.

"Miss Daidouji!"a voice called.She turned around and saw Nakuru Akizuki waving at her while pushing a wheelchair.

"W-Welcome back."she stammered as she looked at the man sitting on the wheelchair."So it's true."she thought.Eriol Hiragizawa met a car accident with Kaho one fateful night last month.This rendered his lower half to be paralyzed.Kaho secretly sent Eriol to Japan to be treated and to rest as well.

Nakuru cleared her throat."Master,Tomoyo's here."

Silence.

The woman smiled apologetically at her. "I'm sorry.My master must be tired from the trip."

She forced a smile. "Yes,of course." She turned to Eriol. "You will stay in your old mansion again."

He didn't even stir.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Wow,I'm impressed!"gushed Nakuru.She looked around the spic-and-span house. "This looks practically brand-new!"

"Thank you!I made sure the place is ready for your stay days ago.I want only your satisfaction." said Tomoyo.

Spinel popped out from Nakuru's pocket. "Thank you for the bother."

"It's nothing." She turned to Eriol. "Would you like me to take you to your room already?"

"Good idea!" Nakuru winked at her. "I'm going to my room to rest." She went up.

"Let's go." Tomoyo pushed the wheelchair towards the adjacent room which would serve as his bedroom.

Inside,she opened the window to let some fresh air in. "It's a beautiful afternoon outside.Do you want to take a stroll outside after you rest?"

He gave no reply.He just stared off to space as if he was alone.

"Ok then.Rest or sleep,if you must.I'll call you at dinnertime,ok?" she asked.

Heavy silence.

She wasn't making much progress but she had to keep trying.She promised Kaho that she would help bring Eriol back to normal.She kneeled in front of him. "Eriol?"

"Mr.Hiragizawa to you,Ms.Daidouji." he snapped.

She was taken aback by his suddedn speech but she forced herself to remain unaffected. "Mr.Hiragizawa then.Do you want to stroll outside?"

"No."

"Then I'd see you at dinnertime."

"I'm not hungry."

"It's not even dinner time yet.Who knows if you'll get hungry later." she reasoned.

"I want to rest now." He said as he pushed the wheel chair towards the open window.

"Y-Yes.Good day,Mr.Hiragizawa." She slowly shut the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~

Tomoyo sat down on the recliner,mentally fatigued.She didn't know why she let herself get dragged into her friend's troubles.She just got a letter from her former teacher,Kaho Mzuki ,two weeks ago informing her of Eriol's arrival in Japan in fourteen days.She told her what happened and how she led him to believe that she died in the car accident.Kaho left her the job of helping him to return to normal without revealing to him that his fiancee's still alive.

"There's no turning back now." she whispered.

"May I know what's on your mind?" Nakuru's voice sang out.

The dark-haired 17-yeat-old teener shook her head. "What happened to Eriol?Why did he-"

The woman looked at her sympathetically. "I know,but it's been tough for my master.He loved Kaho Mizuki dearly,but her death he thought he caused traumatized him."

She looked at her,puzzled.Even Nakuru doesn't know?

"Anyway,just hang on.I was eavesdropping on your conversation awhile ago with my master and well..I was so surprised that you were able to make him utter something more than monosyllables." Nakuru told her.

"It's that bad?" said Tomoyo.

Eriol's servant held her hands. "But maybe,with your help,you can remedy the situation."
~*~*~*~*~*~

Tomoyo knocked on the door twice.

"Kaho?" Eriol said hopefully as he opened the door.

The lady bit her lip. "No,it's me.I-I brought you dinner."

He looked crestfallen for a second but his face became blank again. "I did not ask for it."

She smiled. "I know.It's more of an initiative thing." She kneeled in front of his wheelchair while balancing the tray of food." I cooked this soup especially for you."" he spooned some,blew it and spooned it into Eriol's mouth. "What do you think?"

"Kaho is a much better cook than you are."he replied coldly.

"W-Well that's nice.But for the meantime,I will be the one to cook for you and-"

"Nobody can take ever the place of Kaho,understand?" he shouted at her.

After a few minutes of shock,Tomoyo spoke up,her voice cracked. "I understand.P-Please finish your soup now so you could take your medicine."

Surprisingly,he obliged without saying anything more.After finishing his meal,Tomoyo gave him his medicine.She finally stood up with the empty bowl and the tray.She left the room while Eriol turned to the window,absorbed in thought.



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