Chapter 2 Zankoku na hito-tachi

Tomoyo checked the address on the piece of paper she was holding and back at the huge gate in front of her.

"Yup, this is the house alright." She tried the doorbell.

Minutes later, a little girl with red hair and soft black eyes peered curiously at her through the gate's iron grills.

Tomoyo knelt down and smiled at her. "Hi!"

"Who are you?" the lass asked, eyes wide.

"I'm a friend of someone named Eriol Hiragizawa," she replied.

Instantly, the girl scowled. "You're one of them, huh?"

Before Tomoyo could ask further, Nakuru ran towards them. "Ms.Tomoyo!"

She broke into a grin. "Nakuru!!"

The woman looked at the red-haired child awkwardly before facing the visitor. "Master Eriol is waiting for you in the house."

"Hai!" She carried her suitcases then smiled at the girl. "Come and walk with me."

The lass stuck her tounge out and ran away.

Eriol's servant instantly looked apologetic. "Gomen-"

Tomoyo shook her head with a smile. "No, it's ok." But deep inside, she was curious to know what the girl meant when she referred to her as 'one of them'.



Eriol stopped playing the piano when he heard footsteps heading his way.

"Daddy!!" someone screeched.

He chuckled and got up, ready to face the princess of mischief. "Over here, Rose!"

A red-haired girl barged into the music room furiously. "You have another girl in the house!"

He thought for a moment. It then hit him. "Oh yeah, sweetie. I almost forgot-"

"Master, Tomoyo's here!" announced Nakuru, pulling Tomoyo into the room.

"H-Hi," the newcomer shyly greeted.

One full minute of silence. Eriol was just staring at her as if checking if she was just a mirage or something. The matured version of the raven beauty was looking back at him.

"She's the girl I'm telling you about," Rose whispered fiercely to her father. "Is she here to try to date you too?"

Nakuru, who heard it, sighed. "Of course not, young mistress. Miss Tomoyo will stay here for a little while to take a vacation."

"Like Mom?" the girl asked curiously.

Eriol cleared his throat. "Nakuru, take Rose to her room to nap."

"Yes, Master."



Tomoyo didn't know how much longer would they be staring at each other wordlessly. She was starting to feel very uncomfortable with his piercing gaze. She decided to be the one to start the conversation.

"So you already have a daughter," she began cheerfully. "Why didn't you tell us that you married already?"

"Why shouldb I? I don't see why you should know because you are not concerned in that business," he replied stiffly.

She was surprised by the coldness of his voice but he decided to ignore it. "Who's the lucky lady?"

"Kaho Mizuki."

"So you guys did end up with each other!" she said happily. "Where is she? Is she really vacationing right now?"

"She's gone. I merely told my daughter she left on a trip to make it easier for my daughter to accept her death," he explained emotionlessly.

Tomoyo was just the opposite. Her face saddened. "I-I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. You didn't kill her," he said with heavy sarcasm.

Again Tomoyo ignored it. "Is Rose your only child?"

He nodded. "Yeah. She's just five, but she's already a very smart girl..like her mother," he said, his voice wistful.

Tomoyo merely nodded and said nothing. She could sense how much he missed Kaho.

Eriol snapped out of his trance. He looked at the grandfather clock and then back at his guest, "You really should go up to your room and bundle up. It's going to get really cold here and I don't think that miniscule fabric you call a dress can protect you."

She looked down at her tight-fitting purple blouse and black mini-skirt embarrassedly. "I always dress like this in Japan and I don't get cold," she said somewhat defensively.

He sighed. "May I remind you that you're in England and not in your country, my lady." With that, he turned back to his piano.

"Uh.. Hiragizawa-kun, where's my room?" she asked minutes later.

"Nakuru!!" called Eriol loudly.

Immediately his servant came rushing. "Yes, master?"

"Show her to her room," he ordered, not looking up from the ivory and black keys.

"Right away!" Nakuru took Tomoyo's suitcases and ushered the guest upstairs.

"See you later, Hiragizawa-kun," the visitor whispered before leaving the room.

Eriol clenched his fist and banged it at the keys. "Damn you, woman! Why do you have to come and mess my quiet orderly life again?" his mind said furiously.



"Nakuru?" began Tomoyo quietly as she and Eriol's servant were unpacking her things.

"Yes?"

"Tell me the truth and nothing but the truth. Does Eriol really approve of this whole thing? He wasn't exactly hospitable awhile ago," she said testily.

The lady servant smiled sheepishly. "No. He was just forced to accept you in the house because I already offered his house to you and you're on yor way already."

Tomoyo stopped unapcking and began keeping her thing again. "Then I'm leaving."

Nakuru shook her head and knelt in front of her beggingly. "No, please don't!"

"Huh? Why?"

"Don't leave me here with them! You're the only person who can help me keep my sanity! Those two are driving me nuts already!" said Nakuru.

"Hiragizawa-kun and Rose?"

"Un. Their attitudes are enough to drive me over the edge!" Nakuru held out a finger. " Master Eriol is like a zombie- no, scratch that- he's a rude cruel zombie who's life revolves around Rose and the deceased Mistress Kaho. The young mistress on the other hand is very pitiful. She's longing for a mother figure in the house even if she doesn't say it out loud," informed the servant.

"But your master doesn't want me around."

"Then make him want to!"

She blinked. "Pardon me?"

"If you befriend his daughter then he can't possibly make you leave!"

"I don't know.." But Tomoyo's heart was immediately tugged by the thought of Rose' lonely face awhile ago when she had not told her that she was looking for the latter's dad. "Alright, I'll stay."

"Yay!" cheered Nakuru.

Suddenly Tomoyo remembered something. "Uh, Nakuru, is my outfit indecent?"

Her forehead creased. "Of course not! It's perfect for you! Why do you ask?"

She sighed when she remembered the disgust in Eriol's face as he commented on her clothes. "No special reason," she said instead.

continue