Chapter 2

"Tomoyo,what's this I heard from Nakuru that a certain Mitokou Miruyuki is asking you out for a date?"asked Eriol,breaking the silence in his car.

"Mitokou?"Tomoyo closed her eye for a second."Hmm..my teammate?Nah."She smiled at him."He's just asking me to practice some lay-ups with him in the gym downtown."

He frowned."That is still a date,young lady."

"Is not!"

"Is too."

"Is not!"She pouted."You are soooo malicious!"

His eyes didn't leave the road,but she noticed his grip on the steering wheel tighten."I don't want you to go out with anyone yet until you finish high school."

She sighed."I told you once and I'll tell you again:Nothing romantic is happening between me and Miruyuki.But if it will make you happy,I'll cancel that,ok?"

His grip relaxed."That's good."He parked the car in front ofthe open court of the school.

Tomoyo leaned over and gave him casual peck on the cheek."See ya!"

He broke into a grin."Have a good game,Daidouji.Be careful."

"Yes,Your Highness."She got out of the car and ran off.

Eriol watched her quietly before he got into his car and drove towards the university.



Tomoyo ducked to the left,avoiding her guard.She stepped back and delivered a perfect three-point shot as the final buzzer sounded.

"Tomoeda High School wins,35 to 32!"announced the referee.

She wiped her sweat with her towel and joined her teammates in the bleachers,exhausted.

"Great shot,Daidouji!"remarked the team coach.

She exchanged high fives with him."Thanks,Coach!"

"Everyone,to the showers!"the man barked.

Tomoyo chose to stay behind and rest before she follows her teammates.She laid her exhausted body on the bleachers.She didn't notice the team captain,Miruyuki,waiting for her until he finally cleared his throat.

She blinked."H-Hey."

He smiled."Great game!"

She laughed."Thanks.You guys fooled me!I thought that this was just an ordinary practice!"

He held up his hands."Believe me,the game was totally unplanned.The neighboring school just suddenly came to challenge us!"He turned serious."So wht time will I fetch you tonight?"

She looked down."Er,I think I'll take a rain check on that one."

He frowned,obviously disappointed."What?But why?"He groaned."Don't tell me.It's Eriol Hiragizawa AGAIN?Who the hell is he in your life anyway,your shadow?He's just your guardian!He doesn't have the right to meddle with your affairs!"

Tomoyo narrowed her eyes at him."Now there's a thought.And who are you in my life too,mister?You're just my teammate.You don't have the right to meddle with my affairs,let alone insult my Big Bro!"

He looked humiliated."G-Gee,I'm sorry."

"Go away!"she snapped.

He quickly headed for the dug-out.

She sighed and closed her eyes.Everyone in school knew how much she idolizes her guardian,andin not so many times,they were the target of many teasings,but she simply shrugged them off.

She couldn't POSSIBLY like someone as close and familiar to her already as ERiol.She just thinks of him as an elder brother,just like Touya Kinomoto.

Right?

She quickly shook her head.Shame on her,thinking such thoughts about someone who treated her as a younger sister.

"Really now,Daidouji Tomoyo,don't you think this is a bit too naughty?"she rebuked herself.

She sighed.It felt like only yesterday when her mother bade goodbye to her and entrusted her to the then fresh high schol graduate 14-year-old Eriol Hiragizawa.

"After I make sure that our branches abroad is stable,I'll come back."Sonomi Daidouji promised her daughter before she turned to him."I trust that you will take good care of her."

He nodded solemnly.

The private jet took off,leaving Tomoyo staring at the skies.

She then felt a hand squeeze hers comfortingly.She turned and saw Eriol standing next to her,his deep blue eyes gazing at her with warm assurance that penetrated his thick glasses and into the very depths of her heart.

"Don't worry,I will take care of you,Kiddo."he said tenderly.

And she was never the same again.


Tomoyo felt like she was slowly being rocked into sleep.She forced herself to open her eyes and saw Eriol looking straight ahead.

"Big Bro?"she mumbled.

He looked down at her."You're awake."

She realized that he was carrying her in his arms.Her cheeks reddened."Er,I-"

"You were sound asleep in the bleachers when I found you."he said."You foolish girl!You don't know what kind oftrouble you could have invited for yourself!"

"I-I didn't know that I was sleeping already.I-I was just tired and..I'm sorry,Big bro."she said meekly.

He reached his car at last.He managed to open the car door and lay her down gently on the front passenger seat.He quickly reclined the seat and put the car pillow beneath her head.He tucked a stray strand of her ebony hair behind her ear."Go to sleep,Kiddo."

"I know that.You don't have to..order me to do so."she countered sleepily."You are so..bos..sy.."She yawned.

He chuckled."Because I am 6 months and 20 days older than you."He slid off his coat and placed it as a blanket over Tomoyo.He then closed the door and headed to the driver seat.

continue