storypaint | England (Eriol and Tomoyo gen)

Comm: 52_flavours, 100_leitmotifs
Words: 401
Title: England
Series: Cardcaptor Sakura
Theme no.: 8. But could be we be together / outside of time as well as inside?; 11. this is your world
Character(s)/Pairing: Hiiragizawa Eriol and Daidouji Tomoyo gen
Rating: 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: It was like stepping into another world entirely, a new place sidled just a bit away from the rest of the universe. She stood and gaped; after a moment she heard footsteps and a soft chuckle.

Tomoyo stepped off of the plane, collected her bags, and headed for the door. She knew that he was probably waiting somewhere inside, but she had to see it.

It was like stepping into another world entirely, a new place sidled just a bit away from the rest of the universe. She stood and gaped; after a moment she heard footsteps and a soft chuckle.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Eriol said, She didn't ask how he'd found her so quickly. He just knew. It was a small country-- and how she could sense this in the suburbs of London, she didn't understand, but there was something oddly intimate about the narrow streets and chiseled buildings, like a grandmother whose eccentricities you indulge lovingly.

"Welcome to England," he said, his breath in her ear, tickling her hair. She turned and with an uncharacteristic display of affection, hugged him very hard.

"Thanks for inviting me, Hiiragizawa-kun," Tomoyo said warmly when she stepped back, color in her cheeks.

"You're welcome," he said, laughing easily. It would have been impossible to deny her such a simple desire, seeing her joy.

The two weeks she came to stay flew by in a blur. She had a list of things to do and she dragged him everywhere, holding tight to his hand like she used to do to Sakura. She was full of smiles and sparkles and hundreds of questions. Her English wasn't that bad, but she had trouble with some of the thicker accents.

They went to a costume shop and she laughed as she playfully tossed him a Sherlock-Holmes-type hat, a bright red feather stuck jauntily in the brim. She found a beribboned bucket hat that matched perfectly, and she took his arm and stood in front of the mirror, and smiled up at him.

They looked good together in the mirror, like siblings, like the best of friends. For the moment, there was no Sakura, there was no Kaho. They were just themselves, here, out of time.

"Thank you for sharing your world with me, Eriol-kun," she said after a moment, pulling the hat from her head and playing with the ribbon as if considering a deeper thought.

He took the hat from her and placed it back on her head. She was wearing it when she got onto the plane two weeks later, turning and waving as she entered the gate, smile bright.