Light of My Life

by Andréa Meiouh

Translator: JaneTristanDoe

Chapter 8

Darkness.

She felt like she was wrapped in a dark mantle, warm and cozy, as if being immerged in hot water. She didn't want to get out. There, her problems couldn't reach her. She didn't have to worry in doing everything she could in order to please her father.

Her father…

The rich noble who hadn't loved her. He had wanted a male son. Having a female daughter wasn't in his plans. He thought she was inferior and useless. And he accused her of her mother's unhappiness. She did everything she could to please him, but nothing seemed to satisfy him. And her frustrating attempts only ended up in one thing: physical assault. Her father didn't hesitate in hitting her whenever he felt like it.

"Women are nothing!" Kenji Daidouji's voice resounded through the darkness. "You're nothing, Tomoyo! Nothing!"

No! He was wrong! She was somebody. She had value!

Her father was an egoistic and prejudiced man. He didn't value the good things he had, like her mother. Sonomi died trying to protect her from her father's violence. But before leaving, she managed to rid her daughter of so many tribulations: Sonomi killed Kenji.

"You're a disgrace to the family!" Again, Kenji's voice resounded, causing shivers through her.

"Scoundrel!"

'No…'

"Useless!"

'No…'

"Miserable!"

'NO!'

Eriol observed his patient with redoubled attention. The girl appeared in a lamentable state. Innumerable bruises, some cuts and even burns. The person who had done that to her was a ruthless barbarian.

Xiaolang was sure Ken was behind this atrocity. Nobody could have been as inhuman and Eriol had to agree. Both of them knew Ken for many years now and knew the bandit was able to do everything he could to obtain what he wanted. And his men followed that same line. And whatever they had done to that girl who lay in the bed, on Eriol's 'lab', scared and traumatized her in a way that the poor girl cried and trembled even while being unconscious.

"Eriol?" he heard Sakura's sweet voice calling him. "I brought some food…"

The young woman approached, carrying a tray in her hands. The tasty smell of the food reminded Eriol of how hungry he was. He missed dinner the night before and the lunch of that day. He was so worried with the hurt girl that he hadn't cared to eat.

"Thank you, Sakura," he thanked her, while he vacated a place on his desk for his friend to put the tray. "I'm starving."

Sakura flashed him one of her sweet smiles before asking how the patient was doing.

"I'm worried, Sakura…" the doctor said. "The fever hasn't gave in and she's delirious…"

"Lau Ma went to the city to buy the herbs that ceased. She and Pei Pei won't be long," Li's bride said. Sakura approached the bed and sat beside the patient. "You know, I imagine what she went through… It must have been horrible."

Eriol knew what had happened to Sakura and how Mu Bai found her. If there was anyone who could understand the young lady well was Sakura. A silence followed Sakura's words, broken only by the noise the chopsticks made when hitting the bottom of the bowl, whilst Eriol savored the meal.

"You'll be fine," Sakura murmured, holding the young woman's hand, in an attempt to comfort the stranger and herself. "You'll be fine."

--

The cussing went on, one after the other. The darkness was fading as other voices mixed with Daidouji's. Tomoyo tried to hug herself, tried to protect herself against the verbal insults that attacked her since she was considered a somebody.

"I have a service for you, Tomoyo Daidouji…"

Ken.

A flash of light surrounded her and Tomoyo saw herself at Ken's men's camp again. She could still feel their hands on her body, the obscene words they directed her, the strength of Ken's punches and kicks.

"I want you to enter Li's mansion," she heard Ken speak again. "Gain his trust, seduce him, weaken him…"

Despite being an outlaw, Tomoyo wasn't promiscuous. She had never had any sort of intimacy with a man. When she was living in Tokyo's streets, she had learned to defend herself in order to avoid being molested or abused by strangers. And even if she was a thief, Tomoyo had the same dream as every girl of her age: to find someone who truly loved her and start a loving and happy family. However, fate didn't seem to agree with her longings. Ken wanted her to win Li Xiaolang over, taking him to her bed.

"You won't have any difficulties with Xiaolang, even if you were ugly… Xiaolang is blind. I blinded him."

Nauseated, Tomoyo listened while Ken gloated about Li's misery. The robber was laughing and saying how he found out about the somerium, a rare plant of which its oil caused dormancy and paralysis when applied on the body. Ken had launched a considerable amount in Xiaolang's eyes in a battle, which had caused the blindness. All because of envy. Envy of the richness, the influence and the power of the Li family. Envy of Xiaolang. He was the perfect man. His followers admired him and were faithful, his superiors regarded him with high esteem. Women fell at his feet. He was smart, honest... And the best warrior in his squadron.

"You know what's ironic about all of this?" Ken asked her one day. "The person who blinded Xiaolang is the only one who knows how to cure him. I made sure of that."

Ken had killed the pharmacist that gave him the somerium oil so the man wouldn't tell anyone on how to produce the antidote. The somerium's counterpoison was a serum made from the flowers of an Egyptian plant. It should be applied daily until the paralyzed member responded. In Xiaolang's case, until his eyes had sensibility again.

"Only I have this serum and no one else knows how to produce it... Xiaolang will be blind forever and when I finally get my hands on him, I'll make him crawl, begging for the cure... And then I will kill him! And you are going to help me, dear Tomoyo..."

No... She didn't want to participate in Ken's horrible plan. She wasn't a killer. And by not agreeing with Ken, Tomoyo was beaten pitilessly.

--

Lau Ma and Pei Pei were walking through Hong Kong's fair, between other men and women. They were looking for some herbs in order to prepare the necessary ointments for the woman that had appeared in the mansion.

"Look, miss Lau Ma!" Pei Pei exclaimed, running towards one of the stands, that sold fabrics and some feminine props. "Look how beautiful!" The girl referred to a piece of intense-red silk, with a pattern of golden cherry tree flowers. It was a beautiful fabric. "We could make a wonderful kimono for miss's Sakura's wedding with Master Li."

Lau Ma had to agree with the girl. The fabric was amazing. It had a special scintillation and it would make very pretty clothes. She asked the vendor how much a piece cost and ordered some meters of it. She would surprise Sakura.

After they were done shopping, the two of them left the fair, returning to the mansion. They were so enraptured in their talk about Sakura's possible wedding clothes that they didn't notice the man who was walking towards them, in the opposite direction. The collision was inevitable.

"Ai!" Lau Ma yelled when she hit the floor, knocking the bags down. Raising her head, she came across the cause of her fall. A very tall man, with dark eyes, was looking at her. His hair was tied in a braid, but some of it had loosened and fell on his masculine face. There was also a little scar on his right cheek.

"Miss Lau Ma!" she heard Pei Pei call. "Are you okay?"

With the girl's help, Lau Ma stood up. "I'm fine, Pei Pei, don't worry," and turning around to face the man, she tried to apologize. "I'm very so-"

"You better watch where you're going, woman," he coldly said, before walking away. Lau Ma stood frozen, surprised with the stranger's coldness.

"Miss Lau Ma?" she felt Pei Pei pull her tunic's sleeve. "Is everything really okay?"

Shaking her head to get that man's image out of her mind, Lau Ma smiled to the girl. "Yes, Pei Pei. I'm fine. Let's pick up our things and return fast. They must be worried about us."

They gathered the bags that were scattered on the ground and walked towards the mansion. The would have to walk a long way till they got home.

--

Sato saw the woman and the teenager go. He was observing the residents of the Li mansion for so long that he knew who those two were exactly. The youngest was the cook's daughter and the oldest one was one of the trusted employees of Xiaolang and sister of his right hand.

'Lau Ma...' he repeated the name of the woman he observed with extra attention since a few days back.

--

"Wretched tramp!"

Ken's words caused shivers on Tomoyo, making her remember of her own father, who cursed her and beat her since she was a little girl.

"Kill the doctor and the girl."

While he explained his vile plan, Ken told her that the obstacles she would have in the way of the plan's success were most likely the doctor and the woman who lived with Xiaolang. She would have to kill them.

"Do what I say or the old geezer dies."

'Old geezer'. Masaki Amamiya. Her grandfather.

Tomoyo didn't know how Ken found out about her grandpa, but she couldn't allow him to hurt Masaki nor allow him to suffer because of her. He was her family. The only person who had truly loved her, besides her mom.

"Not my grandpa..." she cried. "Please..."

--

Sakura was was delighted with the piece of fabric Lau Ma and Pei Pei gifted her. It was a very pretty shiny red silk. It would make a great kimono. However, the young bride didn't feel comfortable with that present and the wedding's arrangements. Not that she was discouraged. The problem was she didn't feel well arranging a party with a sick person in the house. Maybe it would be better to postpone the date... She just didn't know how to talk to Xiaolang about it.

"You didn't like the gift, miss Sakura?"

Raising her eyes from the fabric, Sakura saw a woman in her forties walk into the room. She was Min Soo, the serving-maid, mother of Pei Pei and Yuelin. Like Lau Ma and Mu Bai, the matriarch of the Zhang family worked for Li for a long time now and was extremely faithful to him. Min Soo had been the companion of Xiaolang's mom before she married Huike, the cook.

"I loved it, Min Soo. It's really pretty."

"Yes, it is, and you will look beautiful with it, miss..." the woman brushed her hand on the fabric. "I'm going to call the other women to start the measuring and cutting of your kimono. The wedding is getting nearer..."

"Wait, Min Soo," Sakura asked. "I don't know if it's alright for us to do this now..."

"Alright what? What are you talking about, miss?" the serving-maid was surprised.

"To arrange the clothes... The party... I don't think it's adequate..."

"Why?" Min Soo asked, confused. "It's your wedding with Master Li. We have to prepare everything."

"I know, but I feel bad for being so happy and for preparing a party while there's a sick person in the mansion," answered Sakura, with her eyes lowered.

"Ah, I get it..." the women smiled, understanding. "And what do you plan to do?"

"I don't know," the young woman spoke with sincerity. "What do you think?"

The cook's wife approached Sakura and put her hand on her shoulder, in a comfort gesture. "I think you should continue with the arrangements, dear. I'm sure Master Eriol will heal that young woman soon and I'm afraid Master Li wouldn't be too happy upon hearing a delay."

"You're right, Min Soo," Sakura smiled. "Thank you for the advice."

"Of course," the serving-maid said. "We'll take your measurements now. The kimono has to be ready quickly."

--

In the 'lab', Eriol e Lau Ma tried to slow the young patient fever's down. The girl trembled and murmured incoherent things.

"She's very agitated, Master Eriol," Mu Bai's sister said.

"I know, Lau Ma, and that's why it's important to slow her fever," the doctor answered. They continued their task in silence, moistening Tomoyo's warm body with a wet cloth soaked in cold water. Moments later, Lau Ma spoke again.

"Master Eriol, I heard some comments on the fair..."

"What kind of comments, Lau Ma?"

"A few days back, a young Japanese woman disappeared in the city. The police and her grandfather are looking for her. They will probably search around here. Do you think it's her?" the young woman asked, indicating the young woman on the bed.

'Only one way to find out,' thought Eriol while he got up. "Take care of her for me, Lau Ma, please."

"Where are you going, Master Eriol?"

"To the city."

--

!-- page margin: 2cm P margin-bottom: 0.21cm --

At the hotel, Masaki listened intently to another search report from Inspector Kim. The police had searched the outskirts and the farms on the south and west of the city. The north and east side were the ones left. Masaki knew that it was going very slow, but he couldn't blame the poor cop. Kim was short on men to help him, besides having another case: the robbery of the Mayor's house. A very smart thief had entered the home of the highest local authority and took all valuables, not leaving anything behind. And Inspector Kim was also looking for this crook.

The two men talked for a few more instants before the police officer left. Masaki was preparing himself for dinner when the inn's owner told him he had another visitor. Finding this strange, since he didn't know anybody in the city, mister Amamiya went down to the lobby and found a young man waiting for him.

Eriol observed attentively the man who was approaching him. Maybe he wasn't related to the young girl in the Li mansion. He would have to broach the subject very carefully. Introducing himself, the doctor told his motive for being there, telling him about the the girl that had appeared hurt inside his best friend's house. Masaki agreed in visiting the patient in order to check if she really was his granddaughter. The two left to the Li mansion immediately.

When they arrived, Eriol took Amamiya to the room the girl was in. And, with tears in his eyes, Masaki recognized Tomoyo.

"Oh, Tomoyo!" The old man cried, sitting beside her and holding her hand. "Oh, my dear... Everything is going to be okay. Grandpa is here now." The young woman calmed down with the touch and the mister's words. Silently, Eriol and Lau Ma left the room.

--

"So she's the missing girl the town talks about so much?" asked Xiaolang.

He and Sakura were in the library and had finished hearing Eriol and Lau Ma tell about mister Amamiya and his granddaughter.

"Yes," the doctor confirmed. "Her name is Tomoyo Daidouji. She went missing a week ago."

"What motives would Ken have to kidnap that Daidouji girl?"

Li's question hovered. What was the connection between that girl and Ken? And why would he, of all places, send her to the mansion?

"How can you be so sure it was Ken who kidnapped her, Xiaolang?" Sakura asked, apprehensive. Just thinking about the man who ordered the attack to her family's van made her chills. Besides, something was bothering her, but she didn't know what it was. Since hearing her friend's report, she had a strange presentiment. Something was about to happen. Was that what Xiaolang as feeling too?

"Something inside here," he pointed to his head. "I feel we should be careful with this woman, no matter who she is..."

"What shall we do then, sir?" Lau Ma asked.

"Prepare a room for the man, Lau Ma," Li answered. "Let's shelter him and keep an eye on his granddaughter. As soon as she recovers, the leave."

"Yes, sir," Lau Ma agreed, bending over graciously and leaving to do her duties. Sakura accompanied her to talk to the new guest and to know if he needed anything else.

--

"Tomoyo... Tomoyo..."

A sweet voice took Tomoyo out of her inner torment. It was voice which belonged to an owner she would never forget.

"Don't worry, honey... Everything's going to be alright..."

'Mommy...'

"We'll never leave you, princess..." A masculine voice joined Sonomi's. "We love you."

'Grandpa...'

Feeling warmed by the presence, the trust and the love of the two most important people in her life, Tomoyo began to calm down. Everything was going to be okay. She would solve all of the mess she had gotten into.

"Mister Amamiya?"

Masaki was so focused he didn't realize that the doctor who brought him there had left, as well as his return. Hiiragisawa had come back this time with a very pretty young woman, with brown hair and big green eyes. Like his Nadeshiko.

"Yes?" he said, turning his attention to the new-comers.

"I talked with my friend and you can stay here in the mansion until your granddaughter is recovered," Eriol said.

"Thank you very much."

"This is Sakura Kinomoto," the doctor continued, indicating the young woman beside him. "She's the housekeeper of the house and Mister Li's future wife. If there is anything you need, just ask her."

Masaki, however, wasn't hearing Eriol's words anymore. He felt like he had been punched in the stomach. And he could only look intensely at Sakura. Sakura. Sakura Kinomoto. The daughter of his daughter Nadeshiko with Professor Fujitaka. His other granddaughter.

"Mister Amamiya? Are you alright?" Sakura asked, noticing the old man's condition.

"Excuse me... Can you repeat your name?" he asked.

"Sakura Kinomoto, sir..." What was so important about her name that made that poor man tremble? Sakura asked herself, slightly scared. "Something wrong?"

"I'm sorry to ask again..." the man seemed slightly ill, with shiny eyes and his face red. "Your mother was called Nadeshiko, Nadeshiko Amamiya?"

Finally, Sakura understood. Nadeshiko Amamiya was her mother's single name. Was the man seated before her a relative of her dead mother?

"Yes..." she answered with a weak voice.

In a surprising speed for a man his age, Masaki got up and strongly hugged Sakura. "Oh, God!" he cried. "I finally found you!"

Surprised, Eriol looked at the scene without knowing what to do. "Mister Amamiya? What's happening?"

Drying his eyes, Masaki tried to collect himself. "I came to Hong Kong with Tomoyo in search of my daughter's family who had been missing, Mister Hiiragisawa..."

"So that means..." Eriol opened his eyes wide, finally understanding.

"Yes... I'm Nadeshiko Amamiya's father. And you, my dear Sakura, are my granddaughter."

A/N: Well, there you have it. Chapter 8. Hope it's to your liking ;)