storypaint | Romeo (Eriol/Kaho)

Comm: 30_romances
Fandom: Cardcaptor Sakura
Title: Romeo
Author: rhap_chan
Theme(s): 28. Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou?
Pairing/Characters: Hiiragizawa Eriol/Mizuki Kaho
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP.
Summary: Kaho wanted to be part of Eriol's family, but Spinel wasn't easy to get to know.

Spinel was impossible to get to know. Kaho had been living with Eriol for almost two weeks before the guardian spoke to her, though he had nodded good morning previously. He was terribly cat-like, and when he felt no need for words, he said none.

Kaho herself wasn't particularly talkative, but she found Spinel's steady stare to be a little frightening. She asked Eriol if Spinel didn't like her, and Eriol laughed.

"I'm sure he likes you," he said. "Spinelsun keeps to himself. He is the part of me that could spend hours in the library maintaining my pale skin. He's not very friendly."

But Kaho had seen Spinel get on Eriol's lap after dinner and let Eriol stroke him as they watched the fireplace burn, some evenings. And she knew that he wasn't her guardian, or her child, as he was Eriol's, but it felt strange not to know someone she lived with. Nakuru had welcomed her with open arms and promises of makeovers and hair-do days. Spinel had nodded. A little bit.

One night when Eriol was on the computer, typing up notes from something he was working on, Kaho wandered into the library looking for something to read, and found a cat-creature being theatrical.

"'O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name--'"

When Kaho entered, Spinel's eyes grew wide. She just paused a moment and smiled. "'Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
And I'll no longer be a Capulet,'" she said, finishing the thought.

"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy,'" Spinel said.

"'Thou art thyself, though not a Montague,'" Kaho said, sighing. "It's quite a play. I didn't know you liked theater, Spinel."

"I needed something lighthearted to balance out Hiroshima and Moby Dick," he said, gesturing a paw at the two books he was perched upon.

"But you've read Moby Dick before," she said.

"And Hiroshima. It is no less sad the second time."

Spinel grew silent and Kaho began to feel awkward, but she'd made a connection with the guardian. She felt encouraged by this. She left the room so Spinel could read, but she was already thinking of other things to talk to him about.

"What does Spinel like besides reading?" Kaho asked Eriol that night. Eriol had been on the edge of sleep and barely heard her speak.

"Bittersweet chocolate," he said groggily, and then pressed his head into her shoulder and went to sleep. Kaho soon followed.

The next evening Kaho appeared in the library with her own copy of "Romeo and Juliet" and two small dark chocolate desserts (sugarless, of course). Spinel thanked her quietly, but his voice strengthened when they read the play.

Eriol stepped into the room in the middle of one of the scenes. Kaho was reclining on one of the reading couches with Spinel by her side, speaking in Shakespearian English with great fervor. He said nothing, simply retrieved the book he wanted, but when he left he smiled.

"Told you he liked you," he said to the empty hallway, and walked back to his office.