Planning the Wedding (Eriol/Tomoyo) *repost*

[storypaint]

Comm: 100_leitmotifs
Words: 593
Title: Planning the Wedding
Fandom: Cardcaptor Sakura
Characters: Hiiragizawa Eriol/Daidouji Tomoyo
Theme: 15. baby's breath
Leitmotif: feather
Warnings/Ratings: G
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP. All fanfiction archived here is a derivative of canon material that is not my property. I do not profit from these writings. The opinions and actions expressed in these stories are not necessarily the views and beliefs of the original author or me.

Excerpt: He returned to friends bustling with wedding preparations, and when he offered to help in any way he could, Tomoyo deputized him immediately and filled his arms with four different shades of taffeta.

Eriol came back from England at the age of eighteen, and it seemed that nothing had changed. Sakura and Syaoran were still very much in love, and Tomoyo was still beautiful and friendly, the girl she had been when he left at twelve. She was strong, as well. She let Sakura go into Syaoran's arms, and when she smiled now, she was genuinely content. Tomoyo had learned to move on.

Eriol was having a little trouble with that. When Kaho left him, it had felt very sudden and unexpected. She had decided it was time, like she had with Touya, and she wouldn't be convinced otherwise, though he tried. She left anyway.

Eriol missed her when he was in their home. No matter how often he washed the sheets, they still smelled of her. The house was steeped in memories, and he was tired of memories.

England wasn't home anymore, since she was gone, so Eriol returned to the place Clow loved.

*

He returned to friends bustling with wedding preparations, and when he offered to help in any way he could, Tomoyo deputized him immediately and filled his arms with four different shades of taffeta. She was making all of the dresses, as well as doing the wedding photographs, and being the maid of honor too. She could use the help.

For months, Eriol was at Tomoyo's elbow with a smile matching hers, lifting, carrying, suggesting, and sewing. He was buried in wedding preparations as deeply as she was, but it was still a surprise to receive Yamazaki's phone call. Eriol pulled the phone from his pocket, balancing the box of baby's breath and dove feathers (for the corsages) against his chest.

"Hiiragizawa-kun, I heard you were back in town," the boy said warmly. "And what an occasion!"

"The wedding will be beautiful," Eriol agreed, striding out to the car and opening the back door to put the boxes inside.

"I can't believe you're marrying Tomoyo. But you always were a charmer, weren't you?"

Shocked, Eriol accidentally hit his head on the top of the door.

"Huh?" he said, his head throbbing.

"Chiharu and I have seen you running all over with Tomoyo, buying decorations and arranging catering. She keeps hinting that I should propose..." Yamazaki said.

"We're not getting married," Eriol said, dazed.

"But you looked so happy together!"

It was then that Tomoyo appeared, carrying the other box. She'd stopped to look at some of the other choices in the store, and he'd offered to go on ahead to the car. The wind was blowing her hair out of her face and playing with the hem of her dress. She was beautiful, but never before had he looked at her like he was looking now, and Yamazaki's words actually summoned a small blush to his face.

"Not yet," Eriol said quietly, cheerfully. He hung up the phone and took the box from Tomoyo to put it in the car.

They were halfway to Tomoyo's house when Tomoyo sighed and said, "I'm glad to be able to help Sakura, but this sure is tiring, isn't it, Eriol-kun? I'll be glad when it's over."

"Then you can start planning our wedding," Eriol said amicably. "Since you'll have more time."

"What?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Yamazaki called. He said we were getting married. He never lies, you know."

Tomoyo laughed and said nothing more, but as he studied her face from the corner of his eye, his heart soared. He might have to make an honest man out of Yamazaki, after all.