COLD FIRE
Witch-Mistress-Animaru
One-time disclaimer: CCS isn't mine; don't go rubbing it in my face! The story is mine, though.
Dedication: To all Filipinos out there, this one's for us. Mabuhay ang Pinoy!
Notes: My first try at a bilingual (Or should I say, multilingual) fic. Translations will be provided for. This means (Yahoo!) Free Filipino Lessons! This is my desperate attempt to localize an otherwise very foreign story. Plus, this adds plots and twists to the story itself.
Message: Sorry if I can't update all my fics at once. I promise I'll do it immediately after my PolSci14 report and exam and Math 2 Exam. For the meantime, please bear with my compensation: Something new.
Sa mga Pinoy at Pinay dyan, para sa atin 'to. Our culture is something to be proud of, not something we should be ashamed of. I still believe in the Filipino, and all his ideologies. Not Juan Tamad, of course, but someone else. Mas masarap pala makatanggap ng praise mula sa mga kapwa mo Filipino. Mas…fulfilling. So here are my thanks to you all.
Not because you aren't a Filipino, you won't enjoy this fic. I'll provide translations for Tagalog, Japanese or other Filipino dialects that may be used.
Full Summary (Or Casting?)
Sakura – Three months away from eighteen, our heroine has lived in the Philippines with her half-Tita Jas1 for almost six years now. She attended high school there, and is currently a second year at the top university of the country. Recently, she's taken to an obsession to be a Filipina; she hates being a foreigner in a country she has grown to love more than her own. She got naturalized a when she turned seventeen, thus she followed the adulthood age of the Philippines. That's why when she is whisked off by her alienated father to yet another strange country she's never been to: Hong Kong, she was unable to say no. And the catch: Fujitaka is going to marry the matriarch of a prominent Chinese family who reside in Hong Kong and he wants her to meet her stepmother-to-be. Reluctant to go but unable to dissuade her father, she agrees. And she meets the most despicable creature in the world: Her soon-to-be-stepbrother arrogant, darkly handsome Li Syaoran, who seems to hate her with all his blackened, cruel heart. There's no problem with that, she feels relatively the same, only…her feelings for him were obscured by some perverse affection which she insists she must not feel for him, especially since the old-fashioned Li Clan has singled out his wife for him: His cousin Li Meilin.
Syaoran – The handsome heir of the Li Clan, 21-year old Syaoran got the shock of his life when he learned of his estranged mother's marriage to a nobody from Japan. His shock turned to disgust when he got background information on the man and learned that he and his daughter are now guests on the Li household. He returns to the Li Mansion intent on stopping the impending marriage and making the intruders' lives hell. Only there's a bit of a nuisance when he finds himself drawn to the eccentric, estranged daughter of Kinomoto, with her brilliant green eyes spitting fire and sweet lips he can't help but taste again…again…and again… Yet he mustn't, as he's already engaged to Meilin. This proud man-boy will have to learn about love the hard way.
The Plot:
Amid a battle of wits and verbal duels, something else transpires between our two characters. Whether Sakura's been using 'some strange language' to taunt Syaoran or if he's eyeing her with disgust, there's a hidden fire…like a wicker set aflame by gigantic sparks. It goes on, unnoticed, until it reached the very end of its tether. The proud, arrogant guy and the spitfire hellion succumb to a dark passion that consumes them both, taking them to unknown heights…
…But everything has an end. When Sakura gets pregnant, the truth is suddenly out in the open. Syaoran is forced to break his engagement to Meilin and marry Sakura. At first he is rather reluctant, thus hurting Sakura's fragile heart. Before the marriage can take place, Sakura flees straight to the woman she considers her mother: her Tita Jas.
Syaoran realizes Sakura's importance after she has gone. Now after her trail, he leads a chase all over the foreign streets of places all over the Philippines, trying to find the love he had lost. But will he gain it, even if he does find Sakura? Or was her affection for him nothing but lust?
Thus I begin my new, dark woven tale full of angst, humor sometimes, drama and romance.
The whole nine yards, people.
And something else: Here's Chapter 1. Yup, just scroll down for the first chap.
Plugging: Watch out for my first historical fic, with the tentative working title "Sweet Deception." Inspired by Aisaki Sumi's Through a Looking Glass. (But somehow not, since her story took a bit of unexpected turn. It had too much twists, if you ask me. Just an opinion. Anyway, my story will be very different.)
1: Surprise, Surprise
"We make our own truths"
-Jane Feather, Virtue
August 2001, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
"Tita Jas! Tita Jas! Over here!" Sakura flailed her arms wildly, trying to attract the attention of a raven-haired woman in her late twenties. The woman wore blue jeans and a black tee with "Esprit" printed on it. She wore loop earrings and a college ring was on her hand. Her makeup was rather gothic, and she wore a bandanna on top of her head. Stylish sunglasses veiled her eyes.
Jas was Jasmine Cruz's pet name. And Jasmine Cruz was her half-aunt, her grandfather's illegitimate daughter to a Filipina entertainer in Japan years ago.
Jas turned. She removed her eyewear, a smile on her lips.
"Sakura!" She sprinted towards her niece, eyeing her gently. She spread her arms and hugged Sakura, her well-manicured fingernails slightly digging onto Sakura's back. "My dear, how you've grown. Kamusta na, hija2 (How are you)? How's Kuya3?"
"I'm fine, Tita. Didn't Dad explain the circumstances to you?" Jas shook her head. "Well, he's found some work overseas — on Hong Kong, I think. I don't really know the details; he's been very vague on them. And…well, he said I'm staying here indefinitely."
"Indefinitely? But, dear me…I'm having a word with your father! He's being such an irresponsible parent! Aba, hindi pwede yan (Why, that can't be)!"
"No, tita, honestly, it's okay." Sakura shook her auburn head. Jas took her luggage and hailed a taxi.
"Sa Sta. Ana lang 'ma4 (We're heading to Sta. Ana)." Jas said nonchalantly to the driver before turning to her niece. "What do you mean, 'okay lang (Its okay)'? It isn't! He's neglecting you! Not that I mind having you around, dear. It'd be fun, as I live alone…But…won't you miss him?"
"He's never home." Sakura's words had a ring of truth on them, a trifle bitter. She refused to meet her aunt's gaze, looking out of the window as they raced past houses, establishments…
"Sakura, I'm sure your father is very busy, but he loves you so…But he's also unaware of how you feel. I'm sure, if you tell him—"
"I won't tell him anything, tita. Anyway, how's oniichan? Do you still see him after he got naturalized?"
"Oh, Touya's doing fine, fine indeed. He's got work recently at—" Jas gazed at Sakura for a full minute before laughing out loud. "You got me fooled there. Ha! All right, so you won't speak of your father. But how about your studies, Cherie?"
"Dad's arranged it all for me. I'm going to attend a school at Valenzuela."
"But that's too far away! I reside in Manila now, Sakura, not in Bulacan! You can't be serious! And you're only in your first year, am I right?"
"I'm a sophomore, Tita Jas…Besides; we can stay at your ancestral home in Bulacan, can't we? Please?"
"Oh very well. Idiretso ninyo na po sa Meycauayan, ma. Alam ninyo po ba yun? (Head straight for Meycauayan, sir. Do you know the way?)" The driver murmured his assent and changed course. "Naku, talaga kang bata ka… (Oh, you girl/child…)" Jas shook her dark head as she gazed lovingly at her niece.
Jas only knew about her father's family six years ago. That was also the time Sakura came and spent the vacation in the country. Her only brother, Fujitaka, stayed only for a couple of days before leaving. Being an archaeologist, he's always on the go, attending seminars and joining some expeditions. Needless to say he terribly neglected his children on his search for adventure.
Touya, who is only thirteen years younger than Jas, came to visit that same year. He was fourteen then (That makes Jas thirty-three in 2001.). Then, in 1998 he came back. Touya became naturalized just a few months ago. Touya now works and lives in an apartment in Caloocan and is using the name Anthony Cruz. He became his aunt's adoptive son somewhat. (I really don't know about naturalization much here, but I'll try to correct that if there's a big mistake.)
While Jas was reminiscing, Sakura's mind drifted elsewhere. Tears stung her eyes as she gazed at the unfamiliar surroundings. It's so different; yet she knew she'd learn to love the place. What she regrets is the fact that her relationship with her father won't be the same…
…ever again…
December 25, 2006, Tandang Sora, Quezon City
"Oniichan! Merry Christmas!" Sakura chattered endlessly over the phone. She lied idly by the couch, eating pansit molo and drinking hot chocolate. "You didn't come to visit this year. Nagtatampo si Tita Jas (Tita Jas is hurt)."
The person on the other end muttered some obscure excuse, causing her to exclaim. "What do you mean? Really? Well, why didn't you tell me sooner?" She paused, forking some ham from a plate. "Uuy5…Hey, don't go changing the subject! So tell me about her. She's pretty, no doubt…demo6…hey, I'm not yet through interrogating you! No fair! My studies? I'm doing fine, of course. How 'bout you? How's your work?"
"Sakura, dear, come over here a moment! Quit the chat for a bit!" Jas's voice carried from the doorstep.
"Oh, one moment, kuya. Tita's calling me. I'll call you back, and you're so gonna tell me about her."
"Yes, tita?"
Jas looked rather grim. On her hand was an envelope; clearly, she had received a letter.
"This just arrived. From Kuya Fuji."
"Nani?" She exclaimed, and then she shrugged. "What does it say? I bet he's saying 'Merry Christmas' or some general greeting." She doesn't particularly care. In the past few years, she could count in her one hand the times that her father has written to her. She got used to the idea of not having a father, physically.
"No." Jas said, and then she suddenly burst to tears. "How could he? After all these years? He can't do this to you! Kuya Fujitaka is being too mean!"
"What does he say, tita? He…he's not sending me home, is he? I mean, I'm a Filipina now…"
"Go on, read it." Jas shoved the letter towards her and she read it. She paled.
"He's got to be kidding me! I'm already of legal age; he can't force me to come!"
"But dear, you got naturalized a few months ago, didn't you? Philippine law applies to your coming-of-age; and women don't become legal of age until they're eighteen!"
"No! I'm not coming! He's got to be kidding me! My…my studies…"
"He says you just have to spend the rest of your vacation there, just the two weeks."
"No way!"
"Sakura, think! We can't do anything about it…"
"It's not about that…he can't do this to me…"
December 25 2006, Hong Kong
"The letter must have arrived by now." Fujitaka said blankly.
"Good. Then it begins, officially, Fujitaka."
"I suppose so. It begins."
He gazed outside thoughtfully, thinking of how Sakura must hate him when it's all over…
December 25, 2006, Tokyo, Japan
"What do you mean, Eriol? Mother's not serious, is she?" Syaoran stood up from his working desk abruptly, toppling several documents over with the sudden movement. He clutched his cellphone on one hand, looking agitated.
"I'm afraid she is serious, Xiao Lang."
"Bah! Can you get me information on the man she's marrying?"
"Sure, cous. Anything to stop Aunt Yelan. Well, I must be going. I'll hand it to you in three days' time."
"By God, is she intent on self-destructing?" But Eriol had already hung up.
He paced around the room, looking agitated.
Fuck it! Why is she doing this?
He stopped pacing. Then he dialed a number.
"Yes, Wei. I'm coming over for the holidays. I'll be getting a flight first thing tomorrow. Tell that to…to her, will you? Yes. That'd be all."
It looks like I need to go back.
December 25, 2006, Osaka, Japan
"Yes, it's all done, Aunt Yelan, all too easy. Of course, of course." Eriol smiled wisely. "Not a clue on what's going on. Yes. Just as instructed. So it begins."
He put the phone down to its receiver and walked straight to the window.
Sorry, cous, but I have to ensure our safety. You're too arrogant to be left on your own.
"Hello? Hai, Daidouji-san. You've got a message from your uncle. He says your favorite cousin is coming over here, would you like to come? Sonomi-san is also invited."
"It's settled, then? I'll pick you up. We board the flight tomorrow afternoon. No, not the morning one, but, still…afternoon. That'd be all. Goodbye, Daidouji-san."
All settled, then…
…so it begins.
Some terms:
1. Tita – "Aunt"
2. Hija – a term of endearment from Spanish, meaning 'girl' or something…
3. Kuya – big brother, oniichan
4. 'ma – contraction of mama, not to be confused with the one used for mothers. This is to refer to a man, could be a vendor, driver, etc…
5. Uuy… - A word used to tease someone
6. demo – but (Japanese)
TBC