Sakura joined her first undercover operation in a karaoke bar that hired minors for prostitution. To make sure of her safety, Mills, Yue, and Mark volunteered to back her up. The operation was successful. A fierce firefight ensued, but the three uncles prevailed.
During the operation, Sakura ran after an old man who was molesting a young girl who worked there. She was trapped and brutally attacked by a policeman, the briefing officer for their operation and apparently the real owner of the karaoke bar.
She woke up a few days after the attack, thinking Mills saved her from being raped, only to find out that it was Syaoran who came to rescue her. She went to the hospital rooftop to thank him, to which Syaoran said it was but an expression of how much he loved her.
Meanwhile, Li Yelan learned from Eriol of Syaoran's relationship with another girl other than his fiancée, Ceekae, and expressed her usual displeasure towards her son's affair. But she went in for the shock of her life when she found out that Syaoran's other woman was named Sakura Kinomoto…
Inspector Mills
A fanfic by Tenkouken
Chapter 10
"Back to Work"
Sakura, Tomoyo, and the three uncles were about to go home that night when a soft knock rapped at Sakura's door that night, a few minutes before visiting hours ended.
"It's already late… If that's Syaoran or Eriol, I'll tell them to come back tomorrow," Mark said, and proceeded to open the door.
The figure of a young girl appeared in front of the room. She wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, and had red ribbons on her short, brown hair.
"You're… you're that girl from the karaoke bar," Sakura gasped.
The girl nodded, and fidgeted a bit as she stood by the doorstep. Not knowing what to do, Mark took her by the hand and led her near Sakura, who sat up to meet her visitor.
"Uh… Miss? M-My name is Alice," the girl said shyly. "How are you? Miss, I... I've come to apologize to you for…"
Sakura smiled, sat before Alice and placed her hands on her visitor's shoulders. "Are you apologizing for what happened at the warehouse? Don't worry about it, Alice… It's the least I could do to save you from those lecherous men," she said.
"But… But that man hurt you badly," Alice replied. "You wouldn't get hurt if you ran after me to rescue me. Now you're beaten up here in the hospital… It's my fault that..."
"No don't say that. If I couldn't save you back there, someone else will… Right, Kero-chan?" Sakura said and turned to Mills. Mills only smiled back, and signaled everyone to leave the room as quietly as they can. As he was about to close the door, he glimpsed at Sakura while Alice sat beside her savior.
"Let me tell you a story, Alice," he heard Sakura say. "I was orphaned at an early age, when I was about five years old…"
"Sakura is becoming mature," Yue told Mills, who stood by the doorway and listening to the conversation inside the room. "I don't know if she's gotten over her trauma, but it seems like she's created her own ways to divert her attention from her past hurts."
"I noticed so," Mills replied. "When she said she wanted to run after that girl and the geezer molesting her, I knew she remembered her days in that karaoke bar. She was fourteen when I saved her. Now she wants to do the same to someone like her."
"That's a good sign. I hope what she is doing will help her in her career…"
"Something's bugging me, though," Mills asked Yue. "Limon said the real objective of that operation was to eliminate Sakura. I don't understand… How did she get in trouble with someone? Who's planning to get rid of her? Why do they want to hurt her?"
"It's because of Syaoran. They know of her relationship with Syaoran, and they want her out of the way," Mark blurted as he chugged on his soda can, to which Mills and Yue met with a questioning gaze.
"Well, that's what I believe is happening," he replied with a sweat drop at his forehead.
"I told you she shouldn't be with that guy. He'll cause her nothing but trouble," Mills muttered, and walked away, leaving his two puzzled companions.
Yue was the last to leave the hospital after Sakura fell asleep. He accompanied Alice to the social welfare office where she stayed before going home to his pad. The past days have been strangely taxing for everyone, even though they've been used to more strenuous operations than the last one. Or is it because of Sakura's incident?
He went to his desk and read through the debriefing on the karaoke bar raid. As expected, NBI mentioned Limon's involvement, the cocaine found in the club, the employees, even Mark's and Syaoran's interference. The most important piece of evidence was the videos and voice recordings, which included Limon's own confession as he beat up Sakura.
It's impossible for a policeman to handle an operation such as that in Night Rose Karaoke Bar. A likely conclusion is that he was supported by someone of higher rank… but who? Connections to underworld syndicates are difficult to establish, even with DPAs (deep penetration agents) infiltrating their circles and snuffing out scalawags among political and police ranks.
How about businesses? There are cases where multinational companies fund illegal activities, but such is hard to prove. Either way, one thing was clear: they have found their way to a trickle of the big sea where bigger fish than Limon are in.
One other thing bugged Yue: What if Mark was right? What if someone was really after Sakura? And if this is so, how is Syaoran involved?
A knock rapped at the office door. Yue winced as he looked at the time; it was ten in the evening. He cursed a bit as he stood up, flipped open a panel near his door, and activated the intercom. Instantly, the LCD screen next to it lit up and showed who the visitor was.
"Eriol Hiiragizawa?" Yue murmured. "What brings you here this late an hour?"
"May I come in? I have something important to ask you," Eriol replied through the intercom, and held up an envelope and several pictures. It was dark outside, and even with the night vision camera, Yue couldn't recognize what the pictures were.
"What is this? If it's someone you're looking for, go ask Mills," Yue asked.
"Open the door and I'll tell you everything," Eriol answered.
Reluctantly, he opened the door. As the door creaked, Eriol stood at the doorway and approached him, holding up several of the pictures that he had. Cold sweat trickled at Yue's forehead upon instantly recognizing one of the photos.
"Hmph. Come in."
Sakura had to stay in the hospital for several more days to make sure she has rested well. After she awoke, she would join Syaoran in the rooftop and chat until six in the evening, or play board games and read books with Tomoyo. Even Eriol or Wei would drop by and stay for several minutes. At times, Yue or Mark would bring her books and case studies for her to read, to which Mills would scold them for putting too much stress on her.
She would sometimes protest that she's already well and could move around, so she should leave the hospital soon (she was actually bored). Syaoran doesn't believe that, though; at times, she would limp on one leg or rub a hand up her waist. He recognized the aching part: that was where Sakura was repeatedly stabbed with the stun gun.
"If Mills was here, he'd tie you up on your bed until the doctors say you're well enough to get up," Syaoran told Sakura one afternoon as they stood at the rooftop railings.
"But I am already well!" Sakura pouted. "I want to get out of here! Even with you guys visiting me, it's so boring! I didn't get shot or anything, you know! Why, if you challenge me to a sparring match right now, I can even beat you!"
Syaoran suddenly grabbed Sakura by the wrist and locked her left arm behind her. She responded by turning around, untwisting his grip, after which she locked her leg behind his left knee. Syaoran gripped Sakura's other arm and knocked her leg so that she would fall. In return, Sakura shifted her weight and turned, loosening the grip on her arms. She then held Syaoran's collar on one hand, grabbed his nape with the other… and slipped.
Instantly, the two crashed into the floor. As Sakura opened her eyes, she felt her head rest upon Syaoran's one hand, while his other arm snuggled her back. She suddenly blushed profusely upon realizing that Syaoran fell on top of her.
"Rest a bit more until you're really well enough, okay?" Syaoran whispered as his face inched closer towards Sakura's.
"Shhh," she replied as she placed a finger on his lips. "I'll do as you say… but let's stay for a while like this… right, my little puppy?"
Syaoran did not reply, but instead drew his hand towards her chin. Sakura could do nothing else but close her eyes and purse her lips…
"(Ahem.) If you two are going to make out, wait until Sakura's out of the hospital, then get a hotel room and do an all-nighter. I hear the Hyatt Regency(1) is nice," Mills grunted with his arms akimbo as he, Yue, and Mark stood at the rooftop door. Syaoran and Sakura quickly sat up, turned away from each other, and tried to hide their blushing.
"You're such a killjoy, Mills," Mark said from behind. "Let the kids have their fun!"
"I hate to admit it, but he's right," Yue replied. "They'll end up doing it one way or another anyway, so just let them be."
Mills grabbed the two other uncles by the neck and dragged them away. "What kind of uncles are you, letting Sakura get into something like that! I don't want my sister to become a teenage mom! And I haven't fully allowed those two to be a legal couple!"
"Well, you suggested them to get a hotel room!" Mark shouted from afar.
"You didn't fully allow them NOT to be a legal couple, either!" Yue segued.
The sound of two people being beaten up was heard a few minutes later.
Meilin smirked and gulped her coffee as Ceekae passed by an outdoor coffee shop at Baywalk that night. She was basically alone, and so was Ceekae, yet the latter still showed an air of superiority and arrogance, a far cry from how feminine and coy she acted towards Yelan and Syaoran many days ago.
She pouted as Syaoran's intended fiancée passed by her line of sight, but instead of saying anything, she did not look at her and let her leave. She didn't want to have anything to do with Ceekae, even if she was against Syaoran's engagement with her.
"Well, well! If it isn't Syaoran's ex-fiancée, Li Meilin!" A mocking voice rang from behind her. Meilin sighed in resignation; it seems someone wants to get hurt.
"Well, well indeed! What do we have here… It's Xiao Lang's future ex-fiancée!" Meilin bit back as she turned towards Ceekae. "So, have you come here to tell me not to interfere with Xiao Lang, or would you like to have some sense knocked into you?"
"Syaoran is mine, Meilin," Ceekae bitterly intoned. "He became my boyfriend for many months, and he has even possessed me. Now that our relationship has Madame Yelan's blessing, I will marry him, and nobody can take him away, not even that bitch Sakura!"
"Oh, look who's talking! I know all about your former relationship with Xiao Lang! You were playing with other men and bed-hopping even if you were his girlfriend. But I know how he pushed you away after he accidentally hurt Sakura's feelings. Your virgin act won't work any longer, creep! We know who Xiao Lang really loves, and it's not you!"
Ceekae let out an ear-piercing shriek, and tried to grab Meilin's neck, but Meilin sprang out of her seat and fended off the attack. She rushed at Ceekae with an elbow, but Ceekae quickly sidestepped and aimed her fists towards Meilin to pound her from behind. Meilin countered with a flying kick and twisting on mid-air to her side, making her slide back.
"Catfight! Catfight!" somebody shouted from afar. Instantly, a large group gathered around the girls who went at each other amidst broken tables and chairs. People cheered and threw money as Meilin and Ceekae kicked and clawed at each other.
"Not good enough," Meilin leered as she wiped the blood off her cheek. "Only Syaoran can beat me, and you're not even worth one-fourth of Syaoran!"
"You bitch! I'm going to make you bleed!" Ceekae replied as she spat blood. She shrieked as she picked up a metal pipe and swung it at Meilin. Meilin quickly rushed at her opponent and knocked the pipe off her hand with one swift kick.
"Tut, tut," Meilin clucked her tongue as she winked and waved a finger. The very enraged Ceekae sprung at Meilin, making Meilin throw the metal pipe at her.
A siren suddenly sounded. Everyone turned to see three patrolmen approach the commotion as a police car halted at the sidewalk.
"All right, move away! What's going on here?" a patrolman bellowed at the crowd.
Onlookers turned to point at the two fighting girls. As police approached the fighters, everyone gasped upon seeing a trembling Ceekae holding a metal pipe, and a prone Meilin crying and shaking as blood spurted from her forehead.
"Oh, my God! Are you alright, miss?" one of the policemen knelt before Meilin as pressed a towel onto her forehead.
"S-Sir, help me! I just helped my cousin and his girlfriend to be together, but that girl told me to stay away from him! She threatened to hit me… And then she attacked me just now!" Meilin cried as she hid her face from Ceekae's view.
"No! She's lying! She's the one who was armed with the pipe!" Ceekae shouted and waved her arms, not realizing that she still gripped at the weapon that "hurt" Meilin.
"Did any of you see what happened?" the patrolman asked the crowd.
"Well, I heard the short-haired chick say she will make Chun Li bleed," an onlooker said. Other voices began to murmur, echoing the same thing.
"All right then, get this girl out of here, and confiscate that pipe!" the patrolman shouted, and pointed to his other companions. "You! Take this girl to the clinic and have her stitched! And drive all of these people away!"
Meilin smirked as she lied down at the backseat of the police car. She never thought the old juicing trick(2) still worked, even at catfights. She's very sure by now that somebody from Reed will pick them up, and even if they get cleared from whatever charges are made, one of them will get a good tongue-lashing – and it's not going to be her.
"Ceekae, you bitch," she murmured to herself. "You're not taking Syaoran away from his girlfriend. I'll make sure of that myself."
"I can't believe you will get yourself into trouble like this, Meilin! Same goes to you, Carolyn, and to think this is the second time! This is conduct unbecoming of Xiao Lang's fiancée!" Yelan yelled angrily at the two girls the next morning. Meilin, whose forehead was bandaged, stuck her tongue at Ceekae, who gritted her teeth and leered in reply.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Yelan," Meilin said. "I just wanted Xiao Lang to help him with the girl that he likes. He doesn't want Carolyn to be his fiancée, I'm sure of that!"
"How dare you!" Ceekae cried. "I love Syaoran, and I'm going to be a good fiancée to him! Why are you treating me like this?"
"Silence, both of you!" Yelan shouted back. "Carolyn, into your room! I'll discuss your misdemeanor with your father immediately. Meilin, you're staying! I believe we have something to discuss about Xiao Lang."
"Yes, Madame," Ceekae said, and quietly left the room. Meilin, on the other hand, smirked at the sight of her fleeing opponent.
Yelan signaled to the bodyguards and attendants in the room to leave. In a few moments, only she and Meilin were left.
"Now then, Meilin," Yelan began as she approached her, "I believe you are privy to the affairs of my son, aren't you?"
Meilin felt a chill brush behind her back.
"I… I know of his past relationships, Aunt Yelan," Meilin replied, "but if there's somebody you want to ask me about, I'm not really sure…"
"Does the name 'Sakura Kinomoto' ring a bell?" Yelan asked again, this time throwing a folder in front of Meilin. Meilin opened the folder, and began to look at the contents and photographs in it. She then read through a short bio-data, and several other attachments.
"I have been informed that my son is having an affair with this Kinomoto girl. What do you know about her? What do you know about their relationship? Don't worry about my son knowing… I'll make sure you won't get into trouble," Yelan asked as she leaned slightly towards Meilin and looked at her with piercing eyes.
Meilin felt as if she was about to crumble under her gaze. The Li matriarch exhibits a gentle, refined demeanor when she relates to people, but her gaze had the ability to scare people into submission or avoidance. She was the type of woman that knew psychological warfare. The mere sight of her, some say, is enough to make even the bravest of the clan shrink in fear. Only three persons so far proved to be strong enough to resist her - Syaoran, Eriol, and Meilin, but they have all grown wary of the matriarch's cunning and hardheartedness.
"Answer me, Meilin!" Yelan asked again, this time raising her voice.
This time, though, Meilin couldn't take staying silent anymore.
"Sakura Kinomoto is a student cop!" she replied forcedly. "Xiao Lang said she was orphaned when she was five, and she was adopted by a detective. She's sweet, kind, strong, and she's been good friends with Xiao Lang since he came here!"
"You seem to have good words for her… How did they meet?"
"Xiao Lang was looking for a mystery girl that he saved a long time ago from a group of thugs. Sakura's guardian is a private detective that specializes in missing persons, and when he asked his help to find her, Sakura helped out in his case…"
"What about this mystery girl?'
"Xiao Lang said she's someone with lonely eyes… He bumped into her a few times, and then he found her being attacked by some thugs, so he saved her. But what's so doubtful about that? He always impresses the girls by playing the knight in shining armor."
"And what does this Kinomoto girl have to do with this case?'
"Xiao Lang was attracted to that mystery girl, even if all he saw were her eyes. He even encountered her several times already. But Sakura is helping him find that girl with lonely eyes. Xiao Lang is slowly falling for Sakura, and she likes him too. They have been going out together and have been through a lot. He's actually in the hospital right now, tending to Sakura after she was attacked. I believe they really are meant for each other… I can feel that they love each other very much."
"You're very quick to squeal on my son's affairs, Meilin… Are you expecting something in return for your cooperation?" Yelan asked as she faced the window, contemplating on Meilin's answers.
"Yes, Aunt Yelan," Meilin replied. "Just let Xiao Lang live happily with Sakura."
"Here's some research I have on the groups that operate here in Manila," Yukito said as he gave Mills a sheet of paper. "There are assorted large gangs that roam around Taft Avenue and neighboring districts of the city, and there are those that have ties with groups from other places in Manila, which basically makes their territory larger."
"So this means the people that attacked that mystery girl could be one of those that branch out here in the Ermita area?" Mills asked.
"Possibly, though I believe smaller groups or people working spontaneously by themselves can be responsible. The high crime rate in this country is caused by sporadic incidents with equally random suspects, so singling out a person or group is difficult, even with evidence. I'm not sure how you'll find the people you're looking for."
"I already have an idea where to go."
"Really, Mr. Mills?"
"But first I'd like to check something… It's been a while since I went there, and I'd like to look for someone too. It's not as dangerous as it was before if I'll go there."
"Just be careful now, Mr. Mills. I hear the old downtown gangs are still operating around there. I hear you've busted many of them a long time ago; who knows if they still want you done for. Maybe you should arm yourself when you go there?"
"Bah."
"Is it true you can go home by tomorrow, Sakura?" Yukito asked that night. He decided to drop by Sakura's room after meeting Mills just to see how she was doing. Earlier, he also volunteered to help Sakura move out once she's free to leave the hospital.
"Yes, the doctor said I can just rest at home for the rest of the week, and I can leave as early as tomorrow. They said Kero-chan has a few papers to sign before I'm released though," Sakura replied as she bit through a piece of sponge cake.
"That's nice! Would you like me to send some of your things to your place now? Mr. Mills said he'll be busy so I volunteered to help out."
"Thanks, Yukito! Tomoyo and Eriol are dropping by to help too, and Syaoran will fetch us all tomorrow. I miss my old home, and my old room!"
"At least you have your Kero-chan to keep you company until you leave for home, right? I'm sure you've been bored, so if you want to, we can go out for some fresh air and walk around," Yukito said as he toyed with Kero-chan the stuffed flying animal.
"Sure! I heard Miss Mitch is going to work overseas soon, so I'd like to see which ship she'll be working in. I'm sure she'll be able to travel to a lot of places and meet a lot of new friends… But Uncle Mark is going to be lonely for sure."
"So you want to visit the pier district? It's been a while since I went there myself. We can go there if that's what you like, though we'll have to ask Mr. Javier about it."
"Sakura Kinomoto, eh?" Li Kuan grunted from the other line. Ceekae was able to eavesdrop on Meilin's conversation with Li Yelan and learned of how much she endorsed Syaoran's affair with Sakura to the Li matriarch.
"Yes, father," Ceekae replied. "Meilin said she is a student cop being trained by a private investigator, and that she was helping Syaoran find someone. But it seems…"
"She is not a threat to us, I assure you that," Kuan retorted. "But how come you are not progressing with your plans to claim Xiao Lang? By now you should have convinced him into taking you as his wife."
"I'm doing my best to reach him, father, but recently he spends more time in his club or outside with that girl. I don't get to catch him present anywhere, but I'll exert all possible efforts. I hope I can do something to make him leave that girl."
"You better do so immediately. Being integrated into Li Xiao Lang's family will be beneficial to us all. Besides, I know how much you wanted to be with Xiao Lang as well. We know your past relationship with him; do what you can to patch up things with him."
"I know, father. But what will I do if he possesses that girl? She might…"
"Carolyn," a harsh voice rang at the other line, "are you really worried with the presence of that girl, Sakura Kinomoto?"
"Uncle? I – I'm a bit nervous… She's strong and able-bodied… She could protect herself and she has people to back her up. Syaoran's affections are with her as well."
"Kuan, our plans have changed. You are going to Manila in two weeks' time. Our business with our client will be dealt with as soon as possible. I will order our allies there to accommodate you and help finish the deal quickly."
"Father is coming to Manila? That's great! I'm so glad I'll see you again!"
"One more thing, Carolyn. Do not do anything else with Sakura Kinomoto until your father's arrival in Manila."
"I don't understand, uncle…"
"We will keep in touch." The phone line went dead.
Ceekae curled up on her bed and hugged her pillow tightly. She hasn't seen her father for several years ever since she came to the Philippines, and being with him after all these years is the best thing she heard so far. Much has happened to her since then, and now she hopes to catch up with lost time with her father.
"I wish you can help me, father," she whispered, smiling. "I love Syaoran… Even if we can't enter the Reed circle, I just wanted to be with Syaoran."
Sakura looked puzzled as she leafed through a large notebook and several papers. She then read through an envelope of old, yellowish papers and photographs, and browsed at the accompanying notepad.
"These are… my records," she said.
"Yes, those are all of your records from the social welfare office since the time you were found after that accident at sea. Only a few of your things were found, though much of your identity was established through what you had back then," Mills said as he looked out the window with a bar of chocolate on his mouth.
"Even my adoption papers are here too."
"Right. I read through those a long time ago and found where you were taken since you were five years old until now. One thing's definite: you got your name and age right."
"But why are you showing me this, Kero-chan?"
Mills thought for a while, chomped at the rest of the chocolate, and sat beside Sakura. "Sakura, have you ever wondered about who your family is?" he asked.
Sakura lied down on her bed and hugged her stuffed flying animal and the stack of papers as she stared at the ceiling dreamily.
"You know, Kero-chan, sometimes I do wonder who my family is," she said. "When I was staying in the orphanage, I remember seeing my other friends playing with their foster parents and siblings. I remember being envious of the other kids for having parents that would protect and take care of them. That was why I felt very happy when I learned that I was going to be taken for adoption, but then…"
"Hush, it's all in the past now. There's no use wallowing in the memory of the people that harmed you," Mills replied as he wiped the tears that trailed off Sakura's cheek.
"The worst part of it, Kero-chan," Sakura continued, "is that I knew that somewhere in my past, I had a family… Maybe I had a father who worked in an office, a mom who could cook and bake delicious meals, and maybe brothers or sisters that play with me or tease me. I know that I have a family, and even if they're dead, I wish to…"
"That's why I'm giving you these materials, Sakura," Mills said. "After I adopted you, I decided to look further into your background, hoping I could find your family and bring you back to them. I wanted to help you find the people where you truly belong to. But now that you've grown up, you're in a better position to look for your family. Your understanding and ability is better now, and that's why I believed you should be the one to find your family."
A tear fell from Sakura's eye again. "K-Kero-chan… Thank you… You've gone through so much trouble taking care of me, and now you even helped me find my family. I feel like I've caused you nothing but trouble… And to think you're looking for your own family as well, but still…"
"Shhh…" Mills said, as he held Sakura close. "You deserve your happiness too, you know. I'm doing my best to pursue my own… That's why I'm looking for that mystery girl as hard as I can."
He took out his billfold and pulled out the picture of his family.
"See that little girl over there?" he asked. "That's my sister. Someone told me the girl with lonely eyes looked like her. If I find her, I'll be able to start over with my life. I have so much to make up to her."
He then looked at the window, trying to hide the tears forming on his eyes.
"I've toiled for fifteen long years just to find her. I've searched everywhere, asked everyone, but to no avail. I only have this photograph and the knowledge that she was brought here to the Philippines to help me find her. I don't know what could have happened to her… I don't know if she's already married, or if she's rich or poor, if she was brought to a perverted life, if she's… dead…"
"That's okay, Kero-chan," Sakura replied, and patted his head. "You've always treated me as your sister, so you don't have to feel lonely… You'll find her soon, I'm sure of that… I'd like to meet your sister someday, too!"
"S-Sakura…"
"Let's look for our lost families. I know we'll find them somehow. You deserve to be happy as much as I do. But you know what, I'm thankful that you've taken care of me all these years. I'm glad to have a happy life with Uncle Yue, Uncle Mark, Yukito, Tomoyo and Eriol, Syaoran, and most especially you!"
"I'm thankful that I've met you too, Sakura," Mills replied, and hugged Sakura tightly. "I'm happy that you are my family."
Syaoran, who was listening the whole time near the door, smiled to himself and placed the bouquet of flowers that he brought for Sakura near the doorstep. He leaned near the door and sighed as he listened to Mills' and Sakura's conversation.
He remembered how Sakura would tell him about her past, from the time she lived in the orphanage until Mills adopted her. He knew she has gone through a lot of pain and loneliness before she could experience the life she has today, and that she was able to survive through so much, mostly thanks to her guardian.
"It's nice to be with a family that really loves you, isn't it," Syaoran whispered to himself, and leaned closer…
"But there's something I'm still wondering about," Mills blurted out after a few minutes. "I don't think Syaoran's still interested in that mystery girl, do you think so?"
Sakura suddenly fell silent, and looked away sadly.
"S-Sorry…" Mills looked at her apologetically.
After a few moments, Sakura looked up at him. "Do you really have to pursue that case, Kero-chan? Do you really have to look for her?" she asked.
"I just wanted to know something," he replied. "I just wanted to know if she's really…"
"It's okay, Kero-chan," she said. "You have your reasons. If the girl with lonely eyes is the sister you've been looking for, then it's all right to look for her."
Sakura then glanced at the door and smiled.
"I love Syaoran, and I know he loves me as much. That's all I need to hear."
Syaoran felt bad when he heard Mills' comment on the girl with lonely eyes. He couldn't help but think that for a long time, he wanted that girl, but only because something about her attracted him. His feelings for Sakura, meanwhile, were deeply rooted in spite of the opposition he initially got because of that very attraction he had for the mystery girl.
Yet, the last several days have been strange as far as the mystery girl is concerned. She had manifested herself many times, and in some moments she was almost within reach but disappeared as quickly as she arrived. The obvious signs of her presence – the scent of candy and the glint of big, sad, tear-marked eyes – made her known over and over again, the most recent being during that raid, making her more real and alive than what he thought she is.
"I love Syaoran, and I know he loves me as much. That's all I need to hear." Sakura's words repeated in his ear. That was all he needed to hear as well, and he may live on even with the specter of the mystery girl living unresolved around him.
"It's not like before… I wanted her, but I love Sakura more, that much I'm sure of. Nothing will change, even if we meet again," Syaoran said to himself loudly.
"I hope you're right about that, Li Syaoran," a voice rang from behind.
Syaoran turned around to see a young, violet-haired man approach him. "Who are you? What do you want?" Syaoran asked.
"Someone your dear fiancée just hired to look after you, boy," Spinel said. "Look at that, you're torn between three beautiful women, and you can't choose from among them. Or maybe you intend to add a few more to your collection?"
"Why, you.." Syaoran went up to the older man, but, Spinel raised his palm.
"Hold it, Syaoran… I know what you're going to say. You don't love Carolyn Li, and that I'm sure of. You are attracted to that girl you ordered that Mister Kero-chan to look for, and yet here comes his sister, Sakura Kinomoto… and you actually went after her."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm helping you make a choice… Do you intend to go after the girl arranged for you to be with? Do you want to seek the one that captured your heart? Or do you intent to be with the girl that you yourself want to love and be with?"
Syaoran did not reply.
"I thought so," Spinel smirked and walked away. "You're missing out on so much… But one thing's for sure: The one you're in love with now is the one meant for you. Really."
"You mean Sakura and I…"
"You're a cute couple, let's leave it at that for now," Spinel said, and then left.
"So you're thinking that girl with lonely eyes is your sister?" Garuda the bartender asked as he served Mills another glass of White Russian. That night, he left Sakura at the hospital with Tomoyo and Syaoran, and decided to prepare for his trip around Avenida.
"Yup," Mills replied, and swigged at the newly served drink. "First I have that girl with lonely eyes to take care of. And then I just found out from an informant that she looks like someone I'm looking for as well."
"Who?" Garuda asked with a puzzled look.
"I have a sister, you see," Mills replied groggily as he reached out for the glass of hot milk in front of him, only to be tapped hard on his hand.
"That's mine," Garuda snorted, and proceeded to make another glass of White Russian.
"Sorry," Mills grunted as he took the glass. "Anyway, I have a sister whom I lost at sea a long time ago. But there were some that told me she was still alive, and she was brought to the Philippines during the rescue attempt… They weren't able to get any further info on her whereabouts, so I began to look for her here. She was only five then…"
"I see. Sorry to hear that."
"And to think I lost my family on my birthday," Mills sniffed and leaned on the counter.
"Here, here," Garuda said as he placed a hot towel on Mills' head. "Cool down for a while and stop mourning… You'll find your lonely-eyed girl and your sister someday. By the way, want me to ask around? My men may have spotted somebody like her."
"No need, pops, thanks. I want to look around Avenida and perhaps I'll visit the pier area in case the people around have seen her. If my guess is correct, the ones that attacked her could come from around here. It's a wild guess, but I'll have to bank on that."
At that moment, Garuda the bodyguard entered the club. After signaling to Garuda the bartender, he went to Mills' side and opened a big box. He then distributed the contents of the box among some of the people around him, including the bartender. Mills' eyes flew wide awake upon seeing – and smelling - the contents of the box: brandy chocolate.
"Want some, Mr. Mills?" Garuda the bodyguard asked. "I got a lot of complimentary boxes from the Manila Hotel. The kids don't like brandy chocolate, though."
Mills looked at the bottles wrapped in colorful foil inside the box and helped himself to one, when the bodyguard tapped his hand hard.
"Not that one, Mr. Mills. Here's something that can cheer you up," he said. Mills suddenly grinned happily as he was offered a big, colorful box of brandy chocolate.
Hong Kong, that same night…
"You lied about that girl not being a threat, did you, Kuan?" A gaunt, middle-aged man asked as he snuffed his pipe and leaned on his chair.
A tall, lean man, slightly older than his companion, trudged towards the table and poured a glass of cognac. "I'm sure my daughter will wed Xiao Lang sooner than we expect it," he replied. "The matriarch has our support, and she knows her son must be wed soon, or else he will lose his place as heir to Reed when he turns twenty-six. That girl is surely…"
"Sakura Kinomoto is a threat, brother. She must not have Xiao Lang."
"Don't be silly, brother!" Kuan said as he sipped from his cognac. "Just because Xiao Lang's paramour is named Kinomoto doesn't mean she will be the one whom he will marry! A namesake is highly not impossible…"
The middle-aged man stood up, dropped his cane, grabbed his companion's collar and pushed him into the wall.
"Do you realize the gravity of the situation at hand, Kuan? Making Xiao Lang marry your daughter is difficult in itself. Having someone rising from the grave to become his lover is the last thing I should be worrying about! I don't want some ghost destroying everything I've rebuilt until today!"
"B-but brother…"
"I don't want to wait for them to rise in power again. We let our rivals thrive on since they cannot threaten us anymore, but in this case, Xiao Lang and that girl must not meet, or else it will be our ruin!"
"Then do you really believe that Sakura Kinomoto is…"
"I don't know for sure. But I'm not going to stand around and let this affair flourish. Li Yelan will surely disapprove of her son's affairs, but if she finds out about this girl…"
Kuan replied as he held on his attacker's iron grip. "I understand. I will tell our men in Manila to look into the identity of this… girl you seem to be too afraid of."
"Why, don't YOU feel afraid, Kuan?" the other replied as he tightened his hold on Kuan. "Do you realize what will happen if Carolyn doesn't marry him? Have you forgotten how dirt-poor and hungry your family was after Capricious was ruined? Do you remember how I supported your family, even sending your daughter overseas just to keep her from knowing what you've been doing? Everything you have, every single luxury you are experiencing, even Capricious itself, came to life because of me! If I fail, you fail! You owe me your life, so do what I'm telling you if you want us all to survive!"
Kuan released himself from his brother's grip and fixed his collar. He gulped at the rest of his cognac and slowly left for the door.
"Don't worry so much," he finally said as he came to the door, "he's already dead. And she cannot be that girl. What happened in Japan can't be repeated anymore." After saying so, he left his pensive brother over his recollections.
Half an hour later, Mills danced and sang around the Sidewalk Pub in a light and happy mood. A very sweet drink and an equally sweet snack such as chocolate would have been just fine for Mills, except that they all had alcohol.
He left the club after a long time of singing and revelry with the rest of the patrons. Had he been a man of weak constitution, he would have been dead drunk; but since he loved sweets so much, he was still feeling hyper due to the sugar rush that he had.
"Hey, Mills," Garuda the bouncer suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.
Mills turned around to find that the bouncer was holding his billfold. He snatched the billfold from his hand, and stuffed it hurriedly into his jacket. "Thanks," he grunted.
"You seem to keep that thing close with you so often," the bouncer said. "Let me guess… Your girl's picture? Someone from your past, maybe?"
"Someone important that I hope to find," Mills replied as he dizzily walked away.
Mills leaned on a fastfood restaurant statue and hung on its arm. He leered sleepily as the giant humanoid bee statue smiled wildly at him, and knocked at its cheek.
"So, what's a big, jolly guy like you doing in this place at this late an hour?" he asked the statue. Of course, it's not going to answer him.
Mills leered again at the statue and sighed. "You know what," he said, "I remember going to places like these with my family when I was young, but I'll save that for a later time. Anyway, there's a girl that I'm looking for, and I actually don't know how she looks like. My no-good playboy client said he bumped into her a few times in his club, and then he saved her from being mugged. How heroic of him, isn't it, fellow?"
He then tapped the statue's cheek and leaned closer as he clutched at its lowered arm.
"You have nice eyes, my friend," he said. "That girl that I'm looking for… My client said she had beautiful eyes… Beautiful but lonely eyes. I want to see them for myself too. Syaoran said that's supposedly the only way she can be recognized. But I know how else I could spot her. You know what, she smells like candy, and she moves quickly and disappears easily. She also looks like my missing sister."
He pulled out his billfold and showed his family picture.
"Here's my sister, my friend. I lost her along with my whole family on my birthday. I've been looking for her for fifteen years, and now the one that brat's in love with just might happen to be my sister. Say, have you seen anyone who smelled like candy around here, and looks like this girl? I thought so."
He sighed a bit and wiped a tear from his cheek as he stuffed his billfold back to his pocket. He then stretched a bit, yawned, and scratched his chin.
"I'm already sleepy," he said as he hung on the statue's arm. "I drank so much today and I ate so much chocolate. I thought if I enjoyed myself tonight, I won't feel so lonesome when I remember what I'm working on. Say, do you know where I could find a place I can sleep on for a while? I hope I don't get mugged, though."
The statue shifted a bit due to Mills' weight and moved to its left. Mills' gaze fell on the statue's outstretched arm, which was pointing to the left. True enough, there was a small couch on the other side of the alley from where they were standing.
"Wow, thanks!" Mills beamed quite happily. "I owe you one, my friend! Don't worry, once I return here, I'll treat you somewhere nice!"
He then trudged through the alley, and approached the couch, which was surprisingly clean and covered by a big, rough blanket. He fell upon the couch, pulled the blanket over himself, and immediately fell asleep with a big smile on his face.
1 The Hyatt Regency Hotel, located in Pasay City, several kilometers off Manila Bay.
2 In professional wrestling juicing is a way of making a wrestler deliberately bleed during matches.