Hello, it's me again! Thank you for your reviews in the last chapter :3 I hope you'll grow curious over this story, also, if you have any weird bones just ask me ;)
Thank you to animechick132 for beta-reading this story, I'll never thank you enough :3
Let's go now :D
Chapter 2;
"Who is in Control?"
Sakura walked through the door of her apartment, slamming the door shut behind her furiously. She sucked in an anxious breath and tossed her keys on a table. She took off her heels and slipped her jacket off, hanging it on the coat rack.
She walked to the kitchen, enjoying the cool floor against her bare feet and opened the fridge to look for something to drink. Once she spotted the famous drink, she grabbed the bottle of cold beer.
Sighing, she opened the bottle with her teeth and then drank it, hoping to get rid of the nervous feeling.
She was deep in thought, remembering her conversation with the detective. He had offered her a redemption from her sins, only if she would help him, though he didn't seem to know this. The only thing she had to do was find, or remember more witnesses who had also seen the killings by the Monstrum.
Sakura was a witness herself, but she dared not to speak much to Detective Li Syaoran yet. She had to trust him fully before she decided to tell him everything he wanted to know.
She wondered how she could trust a cop from the city, though. People in the Red Light District were considered outcast, and hated by all, including the cops from his town. So, how could she trust anyone from that town?
There was still that small, nagging voice in the back of her head reminding her what would surely happen. She was a prostitute who spread her legs for any and every one, so she knew that she would end up doing the same for him. Her body was only a tool for men who just wanted to have fun by having sex with women. This only showed how cruel men could be in this world.
Most of Sakura's clients were married men, which further proved her point about the cruelty of them all.
Though it was her fault that she allowed these men to do this, she always felt that sense of shame and guilt wash over her body every time she spread her legs open for a man.
What would Touya think of her for sleeping with the married men? Or her father? And her mother?
Sakura shook her head and tossed the empty bottle towards the trash can, but she missed, causing the bottle to shatter into bits of pieces. She stared at the dangerous crystal shards on the floor and felt the tears burning the back of her eyes. Everything was so clear and vivid right now.
She placed her hand in front of her eyes to block the view of the glass, while her mind brought back the memories of that fateful night before her best friend was killed.
16th October 2016, 11:25 PM:
They were in the back of The Red Lotus, talking in hushed tones.
Tomoyo had her arms wrapped together over her chest, a smile on her face proudly as she seemed to be preparing herself to say something big. "You want to know a secret? You have to promise that you won't tell anyone though, okay?"
Sakura made a gesture with her fingers in front of her lips like she was locking a door or a chest.
Tomoyo laughed at her friend's gesture and gave a light push to her shoulder. "You're so silly," she teased her friend.
Sakura joined along with the laughter until they had enough.
Tomoyo returned serious after a while, but still the smile didn't leave her face.
"Well…while I was in England for work, someone wanted to finance my designs…"
Sakura nodded, staring at her friend without blinking even once.
"And…he said that I need a model and… I thought of you!" Tomoyo exclaimed excitedly.
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, her body taut at the news. She couldn't find the right words to say to her friend.
A better job, a better pay, and most importantly; no more working in The Red Lotus. The contract with Yue and Yukito, stopped those thoughts, though…
She had to work for them until they found a more experienced stripper than her. Within the last few years she had been there, a stripper who they believed were better than her had never crossed their paths.
Maybe it was the innocent air she had that attracted men of all ages as most people told her, but she could never understand why a man would want to take a woman who appeared innocent and naïve.
However, she could understand why Yukito and Yue wanted her there. She was a waterfall of money and gold for them, so they couldn't let her go.
Sakura was a habitual costumer for the twins in the past when they had only run their own business selling drugs. They gave her whatever drug she needed in the moment; cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine—whatever drug in the world, they had it. She had given them a large sum of money so they could open the Red Lotus.
Back then, she was their hen of the golden eggs. And now, it seemed like a repeat of the past. Sakura gave them clients who paraded money to them for her performances, enough to keep the strip club running.
But, she decided that if everything worked out with this new job Tomoyo had told her about, tomorrow she would talk with them and tear the contract in front of their eyes.
"Oh, Kami-sama! Tomoyo! That's the best news I've ever heard in my entire life!" she said and hugged her best friend tightly.
Tomoyo returned the hug, laughing and holding her tight.
Sakura's eyes widened when she sensed something off with Tomoyo. She broke the hug and looked at Tomoyo with wide-eyes.
Tomoyo's lips curved in a smile. "I guess I couldn't keep it a secret from you. You have always had a sharp mind," she said as she touched her flat stomach. "I'm pregnant and…"
Sakura placed a hand on her shoulder and caressed it gently. "I guess it happened two months ago before you left for London, right?"
Tomoyo nodded. "Yes, I wanted to tell Eriol before our wedding day, so he would know that he doesn't need to work his ass off to help me produce a child," she joked.
Sakura chuckled a little and gave her another hug. "I'm so happy for you. Congratulations! Also, I accept your offer, Tomoyo. Tomorrow I'll tear the contract right down the middle in front of Yue and Yukito."
Tomoyo broke the hug and put both of her hands on Sakura's shoulders, her smile faltering. She became serious of all sudden.
"Look at you, Sakura. You look so innocent and inexperienced with life, yet you've been to hell and back." Sakura blinked once, not daring to interrupt her. "No one knew about your problems with drugs, besides Touya and I. I'll always be by your side no matter what, so if you ever need anything, just ask me."
Her hands moved to Sakura's cheeks, and caressed them gently. "Even if you're a prostitute, a junkie, or even a stiff secretary, you'll always be my best friend." Tomoyo removed her hands from her cheeks and caressed the top of Sakura's head endearingly.
"That's why I want you to be the godmother of my child…"
Sakura was breathless for a moment. Yes, Tomoyo was like a sister to her. Even though she wasn't as overprotective as Touya was, she still cared for her, and wanted the best for her best friend.
"I would be honored, Tomoyo," she finally said in a shaky breath after a moment of silence.
They talked a bit longer before they bid each other goodbye after a final hug between the two friends.
Tomoyo began to walk towards the sidewalk, and called a taxi so she could go back home. Tomorrow she would be going back to London for her fashion show.
Sakura dug into her pocket and grabbed a package of cigarettes, deciding to release some of this tension in her body before going back inside.
As soon as she got in, she was demanded to go on stage and perform for the unknown people that wanted to let the beast in their pants come alive at the erotic moves that she did on that pole.
Once she finished, she headed back outside to have another cigarette. As she was about to light her cigarette, she heard a loud, piercing scream.
She lifted her head, in the direction of the sound.
"Leave me alone! Please, leave me alone!" the voice continued to scream.
It took a while for Sakura to realize whose voice it was until her blood went cold.
"TOMOYO!"
She started running, following her cries and pleas of her life. She found Tomoyo in an alley with a man, or a woman who had on a black cloak, but it's eyes were still visible.
She or he was tearing Tomoyo's clothes off as she cried for mercy.
Sakura ran towards the mysterious figure and jumped on it, entwining her arms on their neck and tried to immobilize their arms. "Leave her alone!" she screamed.
The person moved and tried to flip Sakura's body over so she could release it.
But she continued to fight and hold onto their arms.
This had to be the same murderer who took the life of several of her friends… Megumi, Ayami, Yuriko… One an escort, while the others her colleagues.
The murderer slammed his head against Sakura's face from behind hard. She stumbled back, groaning loudly.
Tomoyo gasped as she tried to get up from the floor while covering her breasts with her arms.
Sakura was stunned, clutching her face in pain. That was when something cold and sharp pressed against her throat.
This was the way whores died, she remembered as she trembled in fear for her life. That was all she could think about as she stared in the black eyes. When she looked closer, she could see a scar on the top of their nose too.
Her breaths came out faster as she stared into his eyes, hoping that she would find something before this all ended.
"I have no intentions of killing you, stupid whore, but I don't need you to be in my way." The murderer's voice was deep and manly.
A sigh of relief washed over her, knowing that he had no intentions of killing her, but still felt a sense of danger after the murderer put the knife away from her throat and approached Tomoyo.
Tomoyo's eyes widened and she gulped as the figure walked towards her with long strides.
Sakura jumped and ran towards him, but it felt like it was all in slow motion. The murderer's knife sliced Tomoyo's throat, causing Sakura's running to stop.
Her eyes widened, mouth agape before a loud piercing scream left her mouth at the view of her friend being killed right before her eyes…
"Get out of my head!" she yelled, kicking the chair in pure rage and sadness. That was when images appeared in front of her of the Monstrum slicing Tomoyo's stomach, causing the ground to be in a puddle of blood.
Guilt ate at Sakura's heart, thinking about the dreadful memory. Why couldn't she do anything to save her best friend?
Sakura shook her head, trying to rid of the thoughts as she walked towards her living room.
She stopped, seeing a man sitting in a chair. He had long, silver hair in a neat ponytail and pale white skin with stunning grey eyes. He was dressed in a black shirt and light blue jeans as he had a cigarette between his fingers.
From the intoxicating smell, Sakura knew that he was smoking marijuana.
"How did you get in, Yue?" she asked rudely as she crossed her arms against her chest. Her face showed no pleasure of seeing him in her apartment.
Yue chuckled at the question and gave another whiff to the rolled paper. "The window, before you actually came back from The Red Lotus. I was hoping on having a bit of…" He put his fingers under his chin, pretending to think of an answer.
Sakura rolled her eyes and pointed to the door for Yue. "You're acting like a stalker, asshole. Get out before I– "
"Before you what?" He rose from the chair and approached Sakura.
Her eyes widened as he approached her like a predator. "Before you call the police? Or maybe your beloved onii-chan?".
Yue placed the end of the rolled paper with the ash on Sakura's arm, burning her skin.
The smell was intoxicating, but she still groaned in pain and pushed away from Yue. "Fuck you, Yue!"
He threw his head back, laughing as he put a lock of his hair behind his ear.
"I know that you enjoy the pain, Sakura."
Her fists clenched until they become white, heart drumming against her chest. She was unable to control her emotions of rage and disgust with the man in front of her.
"You're disgusting," she spat in a venom-filled tone. "You've had these fantasies of me for years now, aren't they getting old to you?"
Yue had always had sexual fantasies of her when she was just in high school during his earlier years of drug dealing. She never understood his infatuations with her, and why he would often try to bring her down with him.
Countless of times, he would try to take her into his bed, but she never obliged. Now that Sakura was his employee, Yue had begun to become obsessed with her, trying to court her. Quite often, he would try to use drugs to woo her in, but it never worked. So, he would normally resort back to secretly sneaking into her apartment to watch her sleep at night.
It was only for a short while until he began to take her against her will.
She was used to it, though. No one noticed that since Sakura's clients were rough with her, took what they could, and then threw her away as if she were trash. She even had the marks to prove it, but she normally hid it.
Yue laughed, shaking his head. "Yes, but admit it. You enjoy when I sneak into your room at night to eat you out."
Sakura recoiled, feeling nausea at the words. Her stomach even churned at the thoughts of the times he did that.
"Just because I am a whore doesn't mean that you have a right to take advantage of me. Just because the police wouldn't believe a whore claiming to have been raped, doesn't make what you do right!"
Yue remained silent, but he continued to look at her.
"I wonder how Yukito will react knowing that you take advantage of me at every given opportunity."
At the mention of Yukito's name, Yue saw red. He approached Sakura and landed a hard slap to her face, causing her to fall on the floor. He kneeled to her limp body on the floor and forcefully grabbed her hair, forcing her to look him in the eyes.
"Don't you dare speak of my brother. He has nothing to do with this, so how dare you bring him into this?!" Yue didn't want Yukito to know about this. It would probably break his brother.
Sakura spit in his face, showing him the disgust that she felt towards him. "You will not continue this forever, bastard".
Yue shook his head and released her hair.
Sakura looked at the floor, feeling ashamed of what Yue had done to her body forcefully. She heard footsteps walking towards the door and heard the door opening.
"You're just a whore, Sakura. You show off and sell your body to please man. I bet that even the Monstrum of Tokyo wants to get pleased by you…" he looked at her as she raised her head towards him, a look of rage in her eyes, "before he kills you." And then he slammed the door shut behind him.
Sakura moved into a sitting position as the tears rolled down her cheek uncontrollably. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly and clenched her fists in desperation and rage.
Yue had just told her to give pleasure to the Monstrum and then get killed by him. She remembered how Tomoyo was killed in that alley that fateful night by the cruel being, so how could she even think to do that?
Tomoyo was pregnant with Sakura's soon-to-be godchild, but she was gone now. And the awful thing is that Sakura would never see her again, nor the child who didn't even could live. Two people were killed that night; her best friend and an unborn child.
Sakura finally released a loud cry in anger and frustration with tears in her eyes. Eventually, she fell asleep on the floor.
It was 8:00 AM and Eriol was in his office, waiting for Mei-Ling to work on the paper works for the news on the case, as usual. In his hands, he had a picture of him and Tomoyo in Paris under the Eifel Tower, where he proposed to her. She had told him yes without any hesitations.
Yesterday's news was like a knife to his heart. He had expected another person to be the victim of the Monstrum, but not her.
He had deeply loved Tomoyo from the bottom of his heart. He had a crush on her in junior high, believing her to be an angel that walked the halls. It was the locker scene that had sparked his interest in her as she grabbed the books from her locker the most, though. They became friends and stayed that way until their first year of high school, when he confessed. She had returned the feelings without any hesitations and they became a couple immediately after.
Eriol felt the tears burning the back of his eyes as he put down the photo down. He placed both of his hands in front of his eyes, and bit his lower lip hard, trying not to let out a sob until he heard a knock on the door.
He shook his head and placed both hands on the desk, the photo of him and Tomoyo still facing him. "Come in," he said after getting himself together.
Mei-Ling entered Eriol's office, dressed in a white shirt and black pants with heels. Her hair was in the usual neat bun, professional as always in her role as district attorney. She had two cups of macchiato from the nearby Starbucks. She sat a cup on Eriol's desk.
"Good Morning, Eriol," she said sympathetically. Mei-Ling noticed the gloomy look on his face as she drank her coffee slowly.
Eriol cracked a smile at her, failing to show fake happiness. "Good Morning, Mei," he said in a gloomy tone, standing from his chair and walking towards the window, sighing.
Mei-Ling looked at the floor and put her cup on the desk and approached him with her fingers intertwined. "I can see that you didn't sleep last night."
Eriol turned around and faced Mei-Ling when she placed her hand on his shoulders in a sympathetic gesture.
"I won't tell Kinomoto anything. I promise."
Eriol seemed quite hesitant, but he wanted to get this burden off his chest and tell her how he was feeling after the loss of his future wife. But deep inside, he wanted to live with the pain forever and maybe, in a few months or weeks, his life could end so he could be with her again.
Mei-Ling remained motionless for a while, feeling her heart tighten with empathy for him. She knew how it felt to lose a loved one.
Back in Hong Kong, during a murder case, she lost her boyfriend, Jinbao, before the murderer was captured. He had been killed before her very own eyes. She never forgot his last breath when he caressed her cheek with his bloody hand. Mei-Ling could still feel the fresh blood on her skin, and the bullet hole right between his head.
"I know how it feels to lose someone to a murderer," she finally spoke, keeping her hand on his shoulder.
Eriol's eyes widened, surprised by her statement. She never mentioned it before…
Mei-Ling closed her eyes and took in a deep breathe, while facing the ground. She tried to find the right words to comfort him, but her heart was beating fast from that awful memory of her dying boyfriend in her arms.
After a moment, she finally looked at him, tears evident in her eyes. "I lost my boyfriend during an open case in Hong Kong. He was killed by a murderer."
Eriol remained silent at her confession, wondering if Syaoran knew about this. He had to know about this. He decided to ask Syaoran about it later.
"He died in my arms. I can't forget his last breath and his dying…body…"
Eriol couldn't speak to Mei-Ling's, feeling his heart ache at the thought of having Tomoyo's dying body in his arms.
For all he knew, it was better this way, not knowing that she died and continuing to think that she was busy with her work in England…
"How can I pretend to be strong at work when I know that my fiancée was killed by the hand of that bastard?"
Mei-Ling lowered her head once again at his hypothetical question. Unable to maintain her cool, Mei-Ling wrapped her arms around him.
Eriol felt a bit surprised by the act, seeing that she never did anything like this. He was tempted to push her away, but the way her warm body pressed against his made this feel alright.
When Mei-Ling felt his arms wrap around her, she tightened her grip around him, sensing his need for warmth. She wanted him to know that she would be there for him.
"It's ugly to lose somebody you love." Mei-Ling could feel the back of her eyes burn with tears.
A tear rolled down his cheek and he sighed, holding her close to him.
Touya walked towards his office, dressed in a black suit with his badge attached to his shirt. He had a cup of coffee in his hand.
His secretary's eyes locked on his approaching figure. She was slim and had long brunette hair that was tied back in a messy braid. She was dressed in a cream-colored suit with black heels.
"Good morning, Chief Kinomoto," she greeted as usual.
Touya looked at her and smirked a little, while sipping a bit of his coffee. "Good morning, Ms. Akizuki. It seems that you're in a good mood today."
She blushed and looked up at him shyly through her lashes.
Nakuru Akizuki was Touya's secretary for the last two years and she was the best by far.
Before he hired her, he had fired at least two secretaries a month because they all made him feel uncomfortable. They were annoying and all infatuated with him, which was not something he wanted to deal with. Nakuru, on the other hand didn't flirt with him and took her job seriously.
If Nakuru were being honest with herself, she could admit that she did have a crush on him, but she always remained professional, took his appointments with the District Attorney, or with the reporters if needed.
"Only because I adore my job, chief."
Touya chuckled a bit and scratched the back of his head nervously. "You're indeed a good secretary, Ms. Akizuki," he said absentminded and began to walk through his office doors, until Nakuru called him back.
Touya returned to her with interest in his eyes, waiting for what she had to say.
"Detective Li has requested to talk to you. I could call him in, or set up an appointment—"
Touya lifted a hand, stopping Nakuru's rambling. "Send him to my office, immediately."
Nakuru nodded as Touya entered his office. She pressed a button on the intercom, calling Syaoran's office.
"Detective Li, Chief Kinomoto has requested you come to the office."
"Roger that. Thank you Akizuki."
Syaoran walked into Touya's office nervously, wondering how he could tell the chief that he had aborted the mission. He was sure that his boss would flip out and possibly fire him if he found out that his sister was helping him on the case.
But he decided that it would better to tell him, even if it meant his sister's safety and the loss of his job.
Touya sat on the desk as he lit a cigarette "Have a seat, Li."
Syaoran did as ordered, looking at Touya as he exhaled the tobacco out of his nose and mouth. He looked at Syaoran, without showing any emotion.
"You did as I asked?"
Syaoran nodded. "Yes. I think she knows things about the murderer."
Touya's eyes widened at Syaoran's proclamation, and he put his cigarette on the ashtray, crossing his arms against his chest. "What do you mean?"
Syaoran rose from his chair and looked at the chief serious. He chewed the inner part of his cheek nervously, trying to find the right words to say to his boss. "I think that she's a witness of one of the murders. She also knows people."
Touya nodded, appearing deep in thought. He had noticed Syaoran's behavior was normal and unaffected by the mention of Sakura's background. It was a wonder why he didn't feel disgusted or annoyed with Sakura.
He mused that maybe Syaoran had a bit of sympathy for people who had problems with drugs or sex in the past. Touya decided that he would check his dossier later in private.
"You're sure of what you're saying?" Touya asked carefully as he put his hands on the desk and continued to look at him.
Syaoran nodded once again, but dared not to speak another word. At least for now.
Touya grabbed his cigarette and put it between his fingers and sat in his chair, keeping his eyes on Syaoran.
"If I agree to this next mission that I have in mind, you do know that you're going to be her bodyguard, right? You'll stay with her at all times unti—"
"I asked her to collaborate with me."
Touya froze, stomach tying in knots.
"What did you do?!" His tone sounded deadly, but he tried to remain calm. His body language and expression said otherwise, though.
He had asked Syaoran to do one thing. One thing. So, how did Syaoran put Sakura's life in danger during the course of one night?
True, Sakura's life had been in danger even before the murders of the Mostrum of Tokyo, but now she could be an easy target. A whore that helped the policeman? It was a contract with death, for sure.
Syaoran had expected Touya to be upset about this, but he could reason with him.
Syaoran bit his lower lip nervously, and his fists clenched, nails penetrating his skin. It was a habit that he had picked up on when he was little.
"She's strong-willed and she wouldn't give up. I'm entirely sure about that as much as you are. I thought that she could be a spy in the Red Light District, and she confirmed that by telling me that the murders began years ago".
Touya's brows scrunched together in fury. "You could have picked up any whore that works in that fucking place, but…not my sister, Li! Not her!" Touya slammed his fist against the desk, some papers and objects moved, and a pen fell to the floor with a 'clank'.
Syaoran closed his eyes and released his fists, sighing.
"Sakura would be an easy target for the Monstrum if she works with you…"
At those words, Syaoran saw red. True that he cared for his sister, but what about the other prostitutes that worked there? The drug dealers? The escorts? The gangs?
In Syaoran's eyes, every person was a human, even if they were 'sinners' who corrupted their body with sex or drugs.
"Yes, Kinomoto. But if I asked another prostitute, she would be in danger as well. Every single person is in danger in that district." He pointed out the window of Touya's office. "And no one gave a single fuck of the murders there until Mizumi got killed by that asshole!"
Touya's jaw tightened, but his eyes softened at Syaoran's outburst. He was right.
"You saw the look on Eriol's face yesterday. Do you want to see that look on everyone else's faces? Just because your sister is more important than any other stripper in that city?"
Touya felt a little guilty, agreeing with him, though he didn't say it out loud. Eriol was devastated when he saw his fiancée's body in one of the photos. He didn't want to see that look on anybody else's face, especially parents who didn't know that their sons or daughters had problems regarding drugs or sex.
He thought of how his parents would react if they found out on television that Sakura had been killed by the Mostrum. He would never forgive himself for even thinking about letting Syaoran do this, or Syaoran himself. But, he had to do this, protect everyone.
"You're right, Li. If my sister can help you…please, protect her. Make sure she doesn't have a single scratch on her at the end of this case."
Syaoran nodded. "Roger that."
Suddenly, Touya's intercom beeped loudly and he pressed the button. "Chief, a lady by the name of Sakura wants to see you."
Nakuru's voice caused Touya's blood to go cold.
Syaoran raised a brow, turning away from Touya to hide the blush that he was sure he had on his face at the mention of the woman.
Sakura had awakened thoughts that he never knew his mind was capable of during their talk in the locker room.
He had been tempted to take her and make her his in the most possible way by joining their bodies together as one. He wanted to feel her bare skin against his, taste her with his tongue. Surprisingly, he even wondered what Sakura could do with her mouth.
Touya would never approve of the attraction that Syaoran felt to her.
Syaoran had to stifle an annoyed groan at his pulsing manhood against his pants, just knowing that she was here.
"Let her in Ms. Akizuki. I know her."
"Roger that."
Touya looked at Syaoran strangely before Syaoran composed himself, or as much as he could at the thoughts of his sister.
"I'll give you guys your privacy."
Touya nodded. "You may go now."
