Author's Note: I know doesn't want ppl posting replies to reviews here ne more... but hell, I'm too lazy to send emails to everyone. I prefer replying all at once. Gomenesai for the late update. Been lazy. Been uninspirational. Been inspired to write another story that isn't for anyone but myself... yeah depressing I know...
)RyansGirl09( - hehe thank you :) just keep in mind I'm no 'happily-ever-after' girl... :P
)Hitaru( - well I dunno... do you want there to be a daydream in every chapter? It's not hard for me, since I dream a lot myself... :P
)Darkest Illusions( - eh, umm I didn't get your email address... :sweatdrop: I think censored it out or something… grr.. so I think you have to type in like 'name "at" domain "dot" com'... yes yes, so annoying...
)Frosted BlossomZ( - hmmm...? Well how would I know what syao was thinking, I'm not him after all, ne? ;) :blinks innocently:
...-...-''''''-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-''''''-...-...
Chapter Three
My Brother
...-...-''''''-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-''''''-...-...
So the day arrives.
Just today. Get through today, and everything will be all right again.
I hugged Tomoyo tightly. Her face was buried against my chest, as I sat in front of my locker, waiting for the bell to ring, and for hell to arrive. "Ssh. Don't look. It'll be fine... just don't look... wait till today's over, and everything will be all right, hon... be brave..."
"I-I wa-wanna g-go home..." she hiccupped.
I petted her gently. "I know." But deep inside, I prayed Mihara-sama has forgotten about the whole thing, that what happened yesterday was all just a nightmare. But caressing what was left of Tomoyo's hair, I knew that it was all very real. And that fact pained me.
Ten more minutes to go…
But maybe I asked for too much. Maybe I should've just asked for myself to be shot instead.
Faint laughter rang down the hall. I cringed. Tomoyo whimpered.
The sound became louder, and louder, and louder till they were in front of us.
Mihara-sama stood among the guys. The guys dressed in nothing but underwear. Underwear made from Tomoy's cloth.
"Look up, bitches!" Mihara taunted cheerfully.
I looked up slowly, my eyes half hidden by my bangs.
But she wasn't looking at me. She stared only at Tomoyo. "I SAID LOOK UP!"
"Tomoyo... baby..." I whispered softly. "Just do it... please... I don't want anything worse to happen..."
And Tomoyo listened. Anyone who's seen half of the full extend of Chiharu's nastiness obeyed everything. She looked up with bloodshot eyes, tears still pouring down her face. Shame splattered on her as she stared at the guys. More tears poured out.
"That's a good girl! Lookie this, your cloth has gone to good use after all!"
Tomoyo bit her lips in hatred, but said nothing. She just stared, with glazed eyes. She could've saw nothing for all I knew. But it's easier to block out an image than to block out the sound of Mihara-sama's voice.
When Tomoyo said nothing, and showed nothing, Mihara-sama seemed bored. She raised an eyebrow and signalled with her hand for the guys to follow as they paraded around the school.
Just when I thought it was all over.
A body suddenly flew through the air right past Tomoyo and I as he tackled one of the guys in panties down. "SONOFABITCH!"
"TOUYA!" I cried. "NO!"
But it was too late. Much too late. Just what is wrong with my friends? My family? What is wrong with me! Why am I surrounding myself with people like this! "TOUYA! STOP IT!"
"SONOFABITCH! SHIT FACE! YOU KILLED DAD DIDN'T YOU! I SAW YOU! YOU KILLED HIM! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
"No... Touya..." I may be afraid of Mihara-sama but I don't give a damn about the rest. I went right between him and some other guy.
A punch landed on me. I felt the air being knocked out of my but I stood my ground. My head rings.
"SAKURA!" Touya's fury grew. "FIRST YOU KILL DAD NOW YOU TRY TO KILL MY SISTER! PRICK!"
"TOUYA! CALM DOWN! HE. DIDN'T. KILL. DAD!"
"YES HE DID! I SAW HIM! HE WAS JUST WALKING OUTSIDE SCHOOL, AND HE WAS WITH DAD AND HE STABBED HIM AND KILLED HIM AND NO ONE EVEN CARED THERE WAS A DEAD MAN ON THE GROUND!"
I wrapped my arms around my brother's waist and buried my face in his shoulder. I expected to be nearly murdered by five muscular guys. I was prepared. So Touya was older. But I am to protect him now. And when Touya's angry, he'd get revenge even if it'd cost his life.
To my surprised, after one solid minute, I felt nothing.
Slowly, I turned around and looked up.
The guys were meters behind.
In front instead stood Mihara-sama. There was a strange expression on her face. "Move."
I was so shocked I couldn't comprehend. "What…?"
"MOVE IT BITCH!" And she gave me a kick to my side. I went flying to the ground while clutching at my ribs.
Tomoyo scrambled towards me, but Mihara-sama didn't seem to notice. She was simply starring at Touya. There was something about the way she looked at him. And there was something wrong with the way he interpreted it, but he suddenly said, "Okaa-san?"
It's been so long since I felt such a feeling. It was anger. Fury. But it built up in me. It can't be… how could he…? How could he…? HOW COULD HE MISTAKE THAT WITCH TO BE MOM! INEXCUSIBLE CRIME! "NO!" I cried, running towards Touya, but the five muscular guys held me down. Mihara-sama didn't seem to care about me at the moment. She didn't seem too particularly interested in punishing me for having spoken out against her either. She stared at Touya, and only Touya, with an unreadable expression.
Touya fell on his knees, as he hugged Mihara-sama around the waist. "Kaa-san…" he whispered over and over again. "Kaa-san… kaa-san… it's terrible… he killed tou-san… he killed him… it's not fair… and I want to kill him for killing tou-san… but no one would let me… help me kaa-san… do something about it… only you can…"
Mihara-sama simply stared down at him. And slowly, she raised a hand, and touched his hair gently.
He seemed to swoon under the touch.
"NO! TOUYA! THAT'S NOT MOM! GET AWAY FROM HER!"
But he didn't hear me… he couldn't hear me… "Okaa-san… kaa-san…" he kept whispering.
Mihara-sama stroked his head, but still said nothing.
"What am I going to do, kaa-san...? Can't I just go where you are? I want to be with you… tou-san's with you too isn't he…? He must be... he loved you so much… he must've followed you… can't I follow you as well? I want to be with you again, kaa-san… and see tou-san again..."
Insane rambles.
That's what they are.
And to be telling his deepest secrets to a witch like her… why? And why is Mihara-sama… stroking him? There was undistinguishable expression in her face. Her eyes were glazed betraying no expression. But they did not contain anger, nor hatred.
Finally, she bent down lower to look him in the eyes. "I have to go now." She finally said.
"Kaa-san…?" He sounded like such a lost child. I wish I could do something… anything… but instead it was my most hated enemy that's comforting my brother, whom I was suppose to take care of.
"I have to go…" she kissed his forehead as she stood up, and walked away.
The five guys stared at her retrieving figure with a bewildered expression, as if saying: "Okay, what, the, HELL, just happened?" Yeah, good question. What the HELL did just happen?
They let go of me and walked after her uncertainly.
"KAA-SAN!" Touya cried, scrambling after her.
"NO!" I pushed him down forcefully onto the ground. "THAT'S NOT MOM!"
"KAA-SAN!" He cried again, his hand out, reaching for that witch.
"NO!"
We crashed down to the ground and within that time Mihara-sama disappeared around a corner. "Kaa-san..." Touya muttered, helpless tears falling out of his eyes. "Don't abandon me again… not again… KAAAAAAAA-SAAAAAAAN!"
We never saw Mihara-sama again for the rest of the morning. We did however see those five guys again, yet they were dressed in normal cloth. I tried to approach them but they simply walked right by like I didn't exist. Expected. They had no authority to acknowledge us.
Touya was more a mess now than he was the morning. Instead of hallucinating over dad, he was hallucinating over mom. A fake mom. A bitch of a mom. But there was nothing I could do. Only... only... hope for...
Dare I say such disgraceful words?
I must. For it is the truth.
I only hope for Mihara-sama to return. To comfort him.
But why did she comfort him? That was one question that still bugged me. Have they met when they were little or something? Did they used to know each other? Did Mihara-sama know mother? Was Mrs. Mihara a friend of mother's? If so why was she so kind towards Touya only and not me? Those are questions I could not ask her.
Or can I? I stared at Touya. I took a deep breath. Wouldn't it be just better if I went up to ask her…? Just abandon my pride... oh wait, I never had any in this school. I sighed. Exactly. I have no status, no life, no pride, no wealth. There's nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
But I'm scared.
I'm so scared.
And I can't possibly ask Touya or Tomoyo to come along with me.
I looked at Touya again, his expression, his red eyes, his broken form. There was such pain inside of me for him. I do it all for you, Touya, because you are my brother...
I bent down and hugged him, then Tomoyo. "Take care of him." I whispered to her. "If I don't come back, Mihara-sama murdered me."
Tomoyo's eyes were wide as she stared after me. "Sakura…? What are you talking about?" It's been awhile since I heard alertness from her voice, and for that, I am slightly glad.
I smiled gently. "Don't you worry about me. I'll be right back."
I walked away, leaving Tomoyo to stare at my retreating figure.
--
Information tells me where Mihara-sama was. Without even noticing, I dragged my feet, as if I were going to hell. I glared tightly at the ground, biting my lips.
Someone hit my shoulder and I toppled to ground. Looking behind me I see two guys talking and laughing and walking by as if nothing had happened. I wiped at my eyes. It's okay… be strong… be strong… I told myself, as I dragged myself up. If I can't even take that, how can I face Mihara-sama…?
That's because I can't. But I must. A couple more difficult steps.
I stood at a corner of the hallway. The moment I turn here, I'll have to be readyto greet hell. I took a deep breath. Be brave… be brave… be brave… do this for Touya… for him… I walked forward. "MIHAR—"
"What the hell were you doing?"
I froze, and quickly retreated.
Li-sama was there, holding her wrists with both his hands.
She stared at him in the eyes stubbornly. "It's none of your business what I do."
His voice was low, but dangerous and angry. "None of my business? NONE OF MY BUSINESS! How dare you say that! I care about my friends, I care about you and I worry about you!"
I felt as if my heart had been stabbed. I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath and closed my eyes, willing the pain to go away. At the same time, I did not run; I listened. I wanted to know what they were talking about...
There was a pause, and finally, Mihara-sama spoke. "You care about me? You worry about me."
An even longer pause. "Well, yeah…"
Her voice came out fond. "You never told me that before..."
"Well, I thought you'd know…"
"I didn't."
"..." It was as if Li-sama was embarrassed… like a person would be… after a confession… "That's besides the point. What were you doing talking to that loser?" He accused again, this time, more gentle.
"He's not a loser…" she murmured.
"WHAT?"
"I mean, it's not like what you think!"
"And what do I think?"
"You think I like him, don't you?"
"Well… how else am I supposed to think? You have no reason to be hanging around an outcast, but you did today! And you… you… you kissed him!"
"It was only on the forehead…"
"Still! What other reason could you have of communicating with him?"
"I don't like him, I'll tell you that much…"
"Then tell me, why?"
She seemed so confused. She sounded tired. "It's difficult to explain… I mean, you know so little of my childhood…"
"Then tell me." He said, gently.
"Well…" She sighed. "To start off, I never had a mother, did you know that? I've always hated my dad as well… He was a bastard. He brought home a different woman every week, and it just happens that my mom was the one who got pregnant." She shook her head. "Well details doesn't matter, but anyways, my mom died from giving birth to me, and my dad got put in charge of me.
"And it… it was… I don't know… it was when I was around seven? Six? Can't remember well… but I do remember that I always longed for my mother… And that one time… I saw… I saw this boy… he was perhaps older than me, maybe younger, maybe same age, I couldn't tell… he was running furiously, not looking anywhere." She shook her head again. "Skip the details. Point is he was crying. He was crying because his mother was dead, and he couldn't cry at home because he wanted to be strong for his sister and his father…" A sigh. "I remember that day so clearly… Because it was that day it finally occurred to me that I wasn't the only one suffering in the world…"
A long stretched silence. When Mihara-sama said nothing more, Li-sama spoke.
"So… what happened to that little boy…?"
"I don't know. He went home and I never saw him again. And then a month later I moved here, and that was the end of any hope of seeing him again…"
"So… what does this have to do with the loser you were talking with?"
"He… he reminded me of the little kid… besides… when he saw me… do you know what he called me?"
"...What?"
"Kaa-san." She seemed to smile a little. "No one's called me that before. Ever. I'm the bitch of school, at home my dad doesn't give a damn about my well-being, but here that guy was, this 17 or 18 years old guy, he sounded so innocent… he called me mom. Me, a mom. I've always wanted one… and I've always wanted to be one… if I ever was a mom I'd make sure not to make my child end up like me…"
"You want a child…?"
She pushed away from him. "Get serious, Syaoran."
"Fine, fine…" He sighed. "How come you've never noticed him before? Why now of all days?"
She blinked. "I've never seen him around."
"Yes you have… yesterday, when you almost had the other loser raped at lunch, he was there."
She didn't seem shaken at all by that sentence. It was as if getting somebody almost raped was a normal thing for her. "Oh, didn't notice him."
"Or the time you abused that little feisty one. He was there too."
"Really? Too concentrated on ruining her. Couldn't bother to notic—"
"Shh—!"
"Syao?"
He shifted, his expression became dark, slowly, he turned, and his eyes landed on me.
I clasped my hand over my mouth to stop myself from screaming. RUN! I told myself, but I couldn't budge.
"There you are…" He said, taking huge steps towards me with Mihara-sama following him. "Little sneak." He spat.
The anger on Mihara-sama's face was indescribable at the moment when her eyes landed on me. "YOU LITTLE—!"
I didn't let her finish. I dropped on my knees. Now or never. "PLEASE SAVE MY BROTHER!"
My eyes were squeezed shut, my forehead touching the floor. When all was silent for more than five whole seconds, I dared to slowly look up, only to find a knifewhere my face would've been had I not dropped to the ground. My eyesgrew intohuge loonies.
Mihara-sama's eyeswere closed. She took another couple of deep breathes in. "Why."
"He's... he's hallucinating... he calls for your name... well, actually he calls for kaa-san... and... and cries..."
Li-sama snorted. "A guy who cries... pathetic."
Mihara-sama shot him a death glare. Her voice was soft and velvety. So soft I could barely hear her. "You heard everything back there?"
My head once again dropped to the ground. "Yes, but please, please, PLEASE forgive me I really didn't mean to I just came to ask if you would see my brother but then you were talking and I didn't want to interrupt you so I waited I didn't mean to hear anything but I was being respectful and—"
"Enough."
I was silent instantly.
"What is his condition?"
"He… is slightly delusional…"
"What caused it…"
"The death of mother at the age of six... and then dad slipped into a coma from a car accident when he was ten. After dad didn't wake up for three years that's when this… condition started." I hated telling her this. I hated pouring outmy secrets to her. I hated letting her know a part of me, know my vulnerability. But I had to. There was no other option. Life never gave you too many options.
"His name?"
"Kinomoto. Kinomoto Touya."
She closed her eyes and crossed her arms. "Where is he?"
"Please, come with me…"
She nodded. "Syao, you stay here."
He frowned. My heart pained. He was jealous. He cared for her. "Why?"
"You'll be trouble." She responded, and quickly kissed him on the cheek.
"Don't do anything reckless."
She smiled a little, and winked. "Now why would I do that?"
Li-sama groaned. "I mean it…"
"So did I." She turned away from him. "Walk."
And I did. I couldn't slap her like I wanted. I couldn't choke her like I wanted. I couldn't throw her off a building like I wanted. I walked like she wanted.
Touya was still on the ground by the time we reached him. Calling out for mother. Mihara-sama looked at me. "I've got seven minutes. Then I have rehearsal."
She wasn't waiting for my approval; it was a fact she was telling me. "I understand." I reply.
"Mm." She walked towards him. The moment she did, her whole demeanour changed. She was gentle, light-footed, and angelic. "Touya…" she said tenderly, making her way towards him.
His head snapped up the moment he heard it.
As did Tomoyo's. Claws came out.
But I grabbed her hand, not giving in no matter how much she bit or struggled. Her fight with me was all but ignored by Mihara-sama and Touya.
"Tomoyo, I'm sorry, but for Touya, I have to tell you this. Shut the hell up, please. Just seven minutes, for him." I dragged her away to watch from afar.
People were starting to gather and I didn't want to be in the middle of it. And I wanted what was best for my brother.
"Why is she…"
I shook my head at Tomoyo as I caressed what was left of her hair gently. "It seems she has a gentle side after all…"
Tomoyo said nothing, but I knew she was shocked. Anyone who knew would.
"Having fun?" A cold voice spoke.
I spun around. "Xiao Lang…" I was pleased. This was turning out to be a… half decent day. Mihara-sama spared me, Touya could finally be happy… Tomoyo was listening, and my new friend was finding me. "Not really… it's for my brother."
"Hm. Heard he's crazy."
I frowned. "He's… delusional."
A curl of lips beneath that hood.
--
"Okaa-san…" Touya reached out.
Mihara-sama accepted his hug gladly. She was the perfect motherly figure. Passbyers were starting to think that pigs could fly. Yet they were intent, afraid, stunned. And they watched.
Granted to Mihara-sama, she didn't give half a pea about it. "It's okay now, Touya…"
"Kaa-san…" he buried his face in her stomach, still on his knees.
She hugged his head closer to her as she played with his hair. "Touya…"
"Why did you leave me today morning… why?"
"I had a meeting today, hun…"
"What about tou-san…? Did he have meetings too? Is he coming back…?"
"Yes, tou-san had meetings too… but he's on a business trip…"
Touya frowned. "When is the trip over? I feel like I haven't seen him for ages…"
"Oh, but Touya, we mustn't rush him… this is a very important trip… especially for him! In fact, it means the world to him!"
"But… I miss him still…"
"I know hun…"
"C-Can you tell him to come back early?"
"He's far away though…"
"But he's with you…"
"No, hun, I'm with you…"
"No, but you were just at where he was… I know you were… so please find him again and tell him to come back..."
"Touya…" she pulled back, and starred into his eyes. "Tou-san can't come back…"
"But… why?"
"It's a very long trip… VERY long…" She checked her watch and kissed his forehead. "I have to meet your dad soon…"
"You're leaving me again?" Tear welled in his eyes.
She smiled kindly. "No silly, you wanted me to tell dad to come home sooner, right? I'm going to do just that…"
"You lie… you told me that last time… and tou-san went after you last time… neither of you came back…"
Mihara-sama frowned. "Okay, I'll stay with you… but let's play a game… let's play hide and seek!"
Touya was going back in time. To when he was still six, still eager to play hide and seek. He smiled brightly. "Okay! I'll count!"
"Good boy… count to… 10?"
"Okay!"
Immediately he spun around facing the walls. "ONE…. TWO… THREE…"
Mihara-sama disappeared down the stairs before he even reached four.
"...NINE... TEN! READY OR NOT! HERE I COME!"
And Touya came. He seeked, and he seeked.
He never found her.
I slid down toward the ground and sighed. "How long is this going to continue for…?" I whispered.
Somewhere along the way Xiao Lang vanished. There was no one to console me except for Tomoyo who was beside herself with grief.
Maybe twenty minutes passed, maybe half an hour passed. Touya was getting desperate. "Not again…" he whispered. "Not again… not again… NOT AGAIN!" And it was in that moment he found her. Found her by her locker conversing with Li-sama and Yamazaki-sama. "KAA-SAN!" He wiped the tears from his eyes and jumped for joy.
Mihara-sama saw him and frowned, then fled.
He chased after her.
I chased after him. "MIHARA-SAMA!" I cried. "PLEASE STAY WITH HIM!"
A voice rang down the hall. "I am temporary comfort for him! If I stay too long it'll worsen his state!"
We ran from one end of the school to another, till we eventually reached the roof.
In our school, at the top of the roof there was a rusted orange ladder hanging down to the floor.
Students never used it, because A, it was so rusted it could possibly break, and B, if you used it you'd land right next to a gigantic smelly garbage can.
Mihara-sama stood there and glanced back. She growled in frustration and muttered to herself as she began descending the stairs.
I tried to stop my brother. But he was much too strong for me. I did nothing more than to stop his movements by perhaps half. But he knew exactly the direction she went.
By the time he too reached the roof, she had already successfully climbed down and heading back towards the main entrance of the school.
If he had been functioning properly, he would've known that it'd be easier to just retreat and block her at the school entrance.
But he was a six-year-old child who saw nothing but his long gone okaa-san that he missed so much. He saw nothing but her.
He didn't see the roof, he didn't see the ladder. He didn't see the height. He saw only her.
And he chased after what he sought.
It happened like a sickening slow-motion horror film.
Step by step, he became closer to the edge of the roof.
I ran with all my might, determined, doing anything I could to grab any part of him I could.
Cold chill washed over my body.
No... I can't fail this! Not when it mattered!
He was at the edge, as he raised his foot and set it down on empty air three stories above ground level.
Mihara-sama looked back. Her eyes widened. She too began running back towards him.
I reached out to grab him.
"TOOOOOOOOOOUYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
-
If you want me to email you the next update, LEAVE YOUR EMAIL in your REVIEW!
-
Author's Note: For those of you who's been seeing my site... you'll prolly notice I haven't updated in a long time... since my last update says: "marry early Christmas..." Just to let you know it's 'cause I'm making a new layout for it! Plus I got a domain name now!
If you're interested, for a sneak preview, visit www(dot)kalikas-manga(dot)vita-anime(dot)comyes, I've gone from Mini Sweety to Kalika... xD
It's not done yet, so you might find like... a lot of broken links... plus 'page not found's...
As for the story... I know... no flashback, cliffhanger... it's 3 in the morning, I'm getting up tomorrow at 7 to meet my friends at wonderland... I just wanted to upate this since I haven't updated forever... and plus I was getting a bit into the story... so gotta finish it so I can start writing for IDY and Wanted... jeez... I'm so lagging behind... srry...
4467 words.
