Disclaimer:
I do not own any material from Card Captor Sakura and make no financial profits from this fanfiction.
The song 'People Help the People' is owned by Simon Aldred as the writer. I use Birdy version for this chapter though. Try to listen to it while reading ;)
The song 'Yoru no Uta' belongs to Junko Iwao as the singer.
Summary:
Sakura was separated for years from her family, that it nearly makes her lose hope to reunite with her loved ones. But like everyone believes: miracle happens. Even though there will always be something obstructs on the way or at the end.
EDGE OF DESIRE
Chapter 11 - Song of Night
In the gentle night, I sing this song alone. Let me sing with you tomorrow, riding the wings of dreams. - Junko Iwao
Nadeshiko had been locking herself in her suite for a few days since Yoshiyuki had disappeared. Her husband and children had knocked her suite and tried to talk to her, but she did not mind them. They did not understand, so did her husband. For her, it was like she had lost Sakura for the second time. She could not bear the pain.
She blamed herself for the times she had lost in these fifteen years; when she could have done more than only relying on her husband. How could she have been so foolish? And there was nothing left now.
She gazed at a frame she held on her hands; a picture of her and four-year-old Sakura. She stroked her daughter's innocent face in the photograph. Should she give up now? Her tears endlessly fell, dampened the glass surface of the frame.
Sakura spared her lunch break to pay a visit to Kinomoto Group Business District. No, she would not go there and meet those slimy nobs. She had had enough of them already.
She stared outside the road as she sat in a bus. The children and the Sisters had decided to do choir instead of drama, considering how short the time they got. They had been practicing a lot in spite of their busy school schedule and much to her dismay. Chiharu, Takashi, Naoko and Rika helped too. Sakura had told Rika that she needed to focus on her baby and Terada-sama, but she insisted; saying that it would keep her distracted from all of the troubles.
She got off of the bus at Machida District stop and crossed to enter the business district gate. She easily spotted the old Mister Masaki riding in his usual mini golf cart. She smiled and waved to the man.
Masaki smiled back to her, driving the cart near her, "Ah, there you are. It's been long time since you were here."
"How are you, Sir?" Sakura greeted warmly.
"Fine whenever i see you." Masaki chuckled. "What are you doing here, kid? Are you going to make a stir here again?"
Sakura grimaced at the old man's words, "Was i that harsh?"
"Not really."
"I'm actually here to see you only, Sir." She said, taking a small card from her bag and handed it to him.
"What is this?" He squinted his eyes to look better at the card.
"Our orphanage decided to hold a charity night to collect the needed fund." She explained. "I hope you can come, Sir."
Masaki chuckled again at the young girl and nodded, "Of course, i'll come. Don't worry, my child. Finally you come up into a good idea."
"We'll be waiting then, Sir." Sakura smiled. "I'm invited to Touya Kinomoto's birthday party by the way." She blurted out to the old man, not really knowing why she had done so.
Masaki looked surprised at this. "You are? Well, it's curious, not to mention intriguing."
"Do you think so?" Sakura chuckled. "I still don't know what to give to him though."
"To Touya Kinomoto?" Masaki managed to look more aghast when Sakura nodded. "I thought you hated him."
"No, i don't like to hold grudge. Life is worth more than to be spent hating people. I just don't like how they see money is everything." Sakura said timidly.
Masaki laughed loudly at this. "Well, then i'm going to give you some advice. Giving small, but valuable things are more important than costly one. Sometimes they are more memorable."
She grinned and nodded at him, "Yeah, you're right, Sir."
After visiting Masaki, Sakura went into a shopping centre to find a decent gift for Touya Kinomoto. She strolled around the shelves of the store, taking a look of each goods. She found two unique porcelain mugs; one was human face formed: the first surface of the glass only reached the mouth part where there was a hole under it, which was said to store cookies or small snacks, - the other one was a usual mug but with two human feet formed propped the load. She grinned at it. They were perfect. Simple, but she hoped it was memorable, just like the old man had said.
Sakura paid for both stuffs and travelled back to the hotel. She had been offered an additional evening shift today and she had accepted it. She prepared and refreshened herself then downed to the ground floor. She was stationed to help at the hotel bar, where it was located near swimming pool. She helped cleaning the counters and restored some wine bottles in a storage room. Sometimes she wondered how a mere bottle could have such high price.
Her thoughts wandered back to Nadeshiko who was never seen again at Autumn Blossom. Sakura had never thought that she could feel really lost about this. She was already used to her regular presence at the coffee shop. She missed their quality times; talking about various topics that constantly inspired her and playing piano. Sometimes people really changed, she thought.
She also had not recovered from the shock when she had learned that Nadeshiko was Touya and Tomoyo Kinomoto's mother. She was wondering why they were so different with their mother. Nadeshiko was really kind, caring and loving... Sakura frowned to herself. Now if she remembered it again, she had badly judged all those Kinomotos, except Nadeshiko. Who was she to judge the book by its cover? She cursed herself as she thought how petty she had been. She always emphasized to her brother and sisters that what you could see might be deceiving, and you never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them. She smiled as she remembered some quote from her favorite novel. But apparently it was easier said than done.
"Hey, give me a bottle of that."
Sakura looked up as a beardy man, seemingly drunk, growled at her. She frowned a bit, but took the requested beer and gave it to the man. As she continued doing her task, the man kept looking at her while gulping his beer. He gave her uncomfortable feeling.
"You know, you don't look to bad." The man snickered madly at her.
Sakura was shocked when the drunk man suddenly snatched her arm and pulled her roughly to his side that she could smell stinging alcohol from him. She wrestled to release herself from the man, "Get off me!"
But before he could act further, someone had come to them and removed the man from her. She quickly brushed her arm, where the drunk man had grasped, and rubbed it. The man was being hit on the face by her rescuer and she stared at them in horror. It was Syaoran.
"Get this despicable bastard out of my sight and put him on the blacklist. Never let him come to this hotel again!" Syaoran snarled at the security staffs who immediately arrested the man. He turned to Sakura who had already managed her shock, "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
She nodded and retreated from him slowly.
But he held her hand and said, "Sakura, why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" She lifted her eyebrow.
"That your family is having difficulties."
"It's not your business." She mumbled.
Syaoran sighed desperately and forced her to look at him, "What is it that so troubling you? There's nobody who could get into us now. So why are you ignoring me like this?"
"Just stop, Li. I'm already getting tired of everything. And me being with you is just going to burden me more." Sakura said weakly, ignoring the look on his face.
She strode past him and whispered, "I'm sorry."
"What the hell have all of you done?" Nadeshiko asked wrathfully once she arrived at her residence. Her family was having dinner and she just got back from her monthly inspection at The Amamiya Educational Foundation and had heard some uncomfortable rumours floating everywhere.
Her husband and children were startled to see her.
Touya sighed wearily and Fujitaka put his cutleries down, looked up at his wife patiently. "Calm down, Nadeshiko."
"Calm down? How am i supposed to calm down when i heard that our company has made some children losing their house and my daughter deliberately got an innocent girl fired?" She screamed, her finger pointing angrily at them.
"Okaa-san, you have to listen..." Tomoyo stood up.
"No, i don't want to hear anything from you. I am humiliated. I thought i raised you better than this." Nadeshiko glared at her children. "All of you are disgusting in front of me now." She stomped her feet and stormed into her suite.
She paced back and forth in her room, trying to calm herself down. She still could not believe how her family was such a disappointment. She could not help but feeling guilty at Saki Maeda. She saw the girl regularly in these two months, but she never tried to understand how the girl's life was. All she did was just being overwhelmed at the fact that the girl resembled her long lost daughter and her cousin. How could she be this ignorant?
She went into her walk-in closet, rummaged through it and found a small box. She opened it and took out a set of emerald kimono. She softly touched the plastic material wrapping the garment. She put it on top of the round table of her living room - for her to bring it tomorrow. She smiled in satisfaction, turned off the room lights before falling into deep slumber on her bed, could not wait for tomorrow.
She ran her way to the small coffee shop the next day, in early afternoon. The girl had not come yet from her afternoon work shift. Nadeshiko noted to herself that she needed to ask where the girl worked now. She spent her waiting time comforting the soon-to-be young mother, Rika, as there was still no news about Yoshiyuki. This worried Nadeshiko even more. It was not all about her daughter investigation would go in vain, but she purely cared about her junior.
When the clock stroke six at the evening, the girl finally showed up, looking worn out and listless. Nadeshiko went to her side and touched her arm. "Maeda-san. Do you have time for a while?" She smiled.
Sakura, though in confusion, nodded and followed the older lady. "Have you been waiting for me, Ma'am? I'm sorry, my shift ran longer than usual today." She said politely once they were seated.
"Don't worry about that." Nadeshiko waved out her apology. "I want to give you something." She grabbed the box from the seat next to her and handed it to the young girl.
Sakura eyed her in surprise as she took the sizeable box, "May i ask what is this?"
"Open it."
Sakura complied and lifted up the cover. She gasped softly once she found out what was inside. She touched the soft fabric of an emerald kimono with her fingertips.
"It's for you."
Sakura looked up, almost disbelievingly, and saw Nadeshiko smiled widely at her. "For me?" She whispered.
Nadeshiko gave her a nod, "The kimono was a gift from my mother and i really want to give it to you."
Sakura opened her mouth, but quickly shut it back. "Are you sure? This looks too precious to give it to me." She stammered.
"No, i want you to have it." Nadeshiko held the young girl's left hand. "In fact, i want you to wear it when you come to Touya's party."
"But..."
"I don't want to hear a 'no', Maeda-san. You are our honorary guest. I will make sure in every of my way that you will come." Nadeshiko insisted until she saw the young girl could not throw any objection anymore.
Sakura weakly nodded and wiped away the welled up tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ma'am."
Nadeshiko chuckled lightly, but then her smile faltered. "Maeda-san. I'd like to apologize to you for what my family has done to yours." She stared at the girl sadly. "Really, if i had known it from the start, i would have prevented such things to happen."
"It's not your fault, Ma'am." Sakura said softly. "It's bound to happen, it seems."
"You know, you are a very sensible girl, Maeda-san. You parents would be really proud if they knew you." Nadeshiko smiled sadly.
Sakura shyly blushed at her words.
After a moment of silence, she said, "Do you remember the waffles you made for me for my birthday? It tasted really the same like the one i made together with my daughter." Nadeshiko's voice sounded choked as she silently shed tears.
Sakura held and patted the woman's hand, giving her comfort. She must love Tomoyo Kinomoto so much that she is crying like this, Sakura thought. "She must be really proud and glad to have you as a mother, Ma'am."
Nadeshiko silently nodded. At that time, she toughened her heart that she needed to move on with her life, trying to let her daughter go and thought that it was time to notice what she could have done to help the people surround her. She noted to herself that she had to contact her lawyers to try to end the orphanage foreclosure.
Tomoyo could not believe her eyes once she arrived at The K&L Hotel that afternoon. - She had come here to represent her brother, since he was the main representative of Kinomoto Group for this business and he happened to have more important agendas at the hospital. - Saki Maeda apparently had found another way to save herself by getting a job here, after Tomoyo had fired her from the university. She snorted sarcastically. This girl was really like a flea, piercing skin and sucking blood out of their minds. She remembered her mother out-burst the other day once she had known about Saki Maeda. She did not even know how to end this anymore.
She strode fiercely towards the girl and grabbed her arms. Surely Maeda was shocked at her and quickly pulled away from her. "You really know the best how to torture people, huh? Haven't you been satisfied in ruining my life?" She barked at the girl.
Sakura stared at Tomoyo in disbelief, "I really don't know what you're talking about. If i had a privilege to choose whom would i meet in this life, it was certainly not you and your family!" She retorted sardonically. "Now if you don't mind, i have to work. You don't want your family to experience any loss just because i need to have a happy chit chat with you, do you?" She turned to the stairs and quickly climbed down.
"I'm not done with you, you insufferable bitch!" Following the girl to the stairs, Tomoyo shrieked furiously and grabbed the other girl's arm again.
Sakura tried to squirm from Tomoyo's grip. "Let me go!" She yelled. She repelled her arm strongly, but suddenly Tomoyo tripped and fell backwards and down the stairs. She crashed and tumbled down the staircase until she came to a rest at the far end, lying still.
Sakura let out a shocked gasp and watched at the scene in horror. She quickly strode down to the fainted girl, got to her side and examined her. She looked up and shouted fearfully, "Help! Please help here!"
Sakura was allowed to ride the ambulance and sat beside Tomoyo, who had been laid on a stretcher. She was panic and afraid. How could she have done such thing? What if something happened to the girl?
She bit her lips, seeing at the pale face of Tomoyo's. She held the girl's hand and shut her eyes tightly, praying that Tomoyo would be fine. She knew it was her fault. If only she had had a better self control.
Once they arrived at the hospital, Touya Kinomoto and a bespectacled, stocky young man, were already waiting for them at the emergency room. Touya shot a venomous look at her and yelled, "What have you done this time?" He immediately ran to his sister's side to run a check. The other man eyed Sakura for a while, deadpanned, before went quickly to help the Kinomoto heir.
Sakura stared at the chaotic scene helplessly. What should she do? Her body trembled slightly and she grabbed a chair for her to sit and calm herself.
"Easy, Sakura. Tomoyo is alright."
Sakura shot her head up to see the mysterious lady appeared after her. She smiled reassuringly and much to Sakura's surprise, the lady went into Tomoyo and stayed there, staring at the young girl. Sakura shook her head. She really did not understand this. Why did the lady seem to have interest in Tomoyo?
Suddenly a scream was heard, Tomoyo woke up and squirmed, struggling out of her brother's grip, "Let me go! I don't want to be here!"
"Tomoyo, calm down! We need to check you up." Touya tried to soothe her, while the younger man grabbed an injection and shot it to Tomoyo's arm as she slowly succumbed.
Touya gave another menacing look at Sakura and shouted, "Get out of here! I don't want to see you!"
The other man quickly went into her and led her outside the room. "She will be fine." He said to Sakura, forcing a small smile.
"I'm, i'm really sorry. I don't know how it happened." Sakura stammered as she started to cry silently.
"It's not your fault. Sometimes Tomoyo's temper got too hot and uncontrolled." He patted her shoulder. "It's just that Tomoyo had a traumatic incident at hospital. She is never easy whenever she is at this kind of place." He had a pensive look on his face. "I'm Eriol Hiiragizawa, by the way." He held out his hand to her.
Sakura tried to smile and shook his hand, "My name is Saki Maeda."
"I know you." He smiled. "I'm Syaoran's cousin."
She formed an 'o' with her mouth and nodded, quickly looked away.
"You should go. She's going to be fine, i assure you." He said kindly. "I'll tell you once she's awake, if you give me your number." He thrusted his cell phone to her and she quickly pressed her number for him to save.
"Thank you." She smiled weakly to him.
The Autumn Blossom Coffee Shop was crowded and hectic. Not from the visitors who wanted to enjoy their relaxing day there, but from the workers and the people from The Kibou Yoi Orphanage. They were making sure for the last preparation before the charity night event started in a quarter hour.
A lot of people supported this charity night: the whole crew of Autumn Blossom and even Nana's headmistress, Kaho Mizuki. Sakura was immensely thankful to them for their help. Sister Maeda and Nagano were right; she would never make it alone.
The coffee shop was getting swarmed by audiences shortly thereafter. They had posted a notification at Tomoeda Central website and newspaper, and also spread the invitation by mouth. A lot of public figures of Tomoeda came, such as politicians, philanthropists, socialists, businessmen and many others. Sakura could spot Nadeshiko sit in the forefront seat and Masaki in the back, near the entrance door. Nadeshiko waved at her, giving her an encouraging smile.
The charity night was started with Sister Maeda giving speech and then the children choir. They had managed to present the children first and then the Autumn Blossom crew would make some appearance too and then at the end they would be singing together. Chiharu, Naoko, Rika and Takashi had asked their musician friends to voluntarily help with the instruments and audio visual system. Sakura noted to herself that she needed to thank them after this event.
Sakura was personally asked by Sister Maeda to sing a song and she half-heartedly said yes. She really did not want to give herself a spotlight as she did not feel she deserved this. She was failed to help her family in the first place.
Her sisters, brother and coworkers gave a huge applause when Takashi, as the host tonight, called out her name and invited her to the stage. She said thanks to him, timidly went into the stage and bowed respectfully to the audience before sat herself at the piano. She gently flicked her fingertips at the keys and began the song she had chosen for this charity night.
God knows what is hiding in those weak and drunken heart
I guess you kissed the girls and made them cry
those Hardfaced Queens of misadventure
God knows what is hiding in those weak and sunken eyes
a Fiery throng of muted angels
Giving love and getting nothing back
People help the people
And if you're homesick, give me your hand and i'll hold it
People help the people
Nothing will drag you down
Oh and if I had a brain, Oh and if I had a brain
i'd be cold as a stone and rich as the fool
That turned, all those good hearts away
God knows what is hiding, in this world of little consequence
Behind the tears, inside the lies
A thousand slowly dying sunsets
God knows what is hiding in those weak and drunken hearts
I guess the loneliness came knocking
No one needs to be alone, oh save me
People help the people
And if you're homesick, give me your hand and i'll hold it
People help the people
Nothing will drag you down
Oh and if I had a brain, Oh and if I had a brain
I'd be cold as a stone and rich as the fool
That turned, all those good hearts away
People help the people
And if you're homesick, give me your hand and I'll hold it
People help the people
Nothing will drag you down
Oh and if I had a brain, Oh and if I had a brain
I'd be cold as a stone and rich as the fool
That turned, all those good hearts away
As she ended the song, her eyes caught a tall and lean figure, standing at the entrance door, smiling warmly yet sadly at her. Syaoran mouthed some words which Sakura read as 'I am proud of you'. She looked away and felt her heart wrenched at the sight, tears streaming down her face.
"There are two anonymous donors here. Both of them respectively sent twenty million and thirty million yen." Miho told Sakura, perusing the orphanage bank account via internet.
They just nodded silently, engulfing in worry and anxiety. The children could not help but think what they would do if they did not acquire such amount needed? Would they live separately?
Sister Nagano, noticing the children's mood, said, "No matter what will happen; whether we have to leave this place or stay, we will always be together, kids. We already did what we could. Just leave it to God."
They nodded listlessly and went back to waiting. Nana and Aiko were counting the cash they had received last night from the visitors. "It's twenty million yen here." Nana revealed once they finished, placing stacks of yens on the table.
"We just need thirty million more." Kei held his breath.
Sakura fidgeted on the sofa. Even though Sister Maeda had told her many times that she was not to blame here, but she still could help it. If they could not stay at this place, it would be her fault.
"There were another transfers under the names 'Li Corporation, ten million yen. And... Oh my God, it's Mizuki sensei! She gave us ten million yen!" Miho exclaimed happily. "We have to be good at school starting from now." She warned her sisters and brother.
They laughed good-naturedly at her. They just needed another ten million left.
"Nadeshiko Kinomoto donated forty million yen! That's it! We did it!" Miho screamed enthusiastically. Aiko and Nana shouted gratefully too, they hugged each other. They even had thirty million left.
Sakura felt her heart churned. She smiled to herself. Nadeshiko Kinomoto and Li Corporation. It must be Syaoran. she thought. She suddenly felt a pang of guilt of what she had done to him.
Sister Nagano shed tears, could not believe that they finally had made it.
"Wait, is Nadeshiko Kinomoto supposed to be one of the Kinomoto family then? Why did she help us?" Kei asked, gritting his teeth. "Does she have any hidden agenda behind this?"
"I know that lady well. She wouldn't do something like that." Sakura smiled. She took a deep breath in relief. She needed to say her gratitude to Nadeshiko later. She did not understand why, but she felt loved and cared by that woman. She knew that her family in orphanage was more than capable to do the same things to her too, but it just felt different with the one she received from Nadeshiko. It almost seemed like love from a mother.
"I will go to Kinomoto Group office tomorrow to handle the administration and everything down. And we can finally be free from them." Sister Nagano said triumphantly.
Sister Maeda neared Sakura and enveloped her in a hug. She gave the young lady loving pats on her head. "Now you don't need to worry anymore, Saki."
Without her realizing it, her emerald orbs started to drop tears. Tears of happiness. Her heart did not feel so burdened anymore at last.
Fujitaka stared at a cheque laid on his desk. A hundred million yen. He snorted sarcastically. How had they done that? He had been so sure that they would not have made it.
He was humiliated and knocked out by that young girl. He could not believe it. He let out a hollow laugh, letting his body to lean on his chair. He was not supposed to think about this stuff. He already had had too much on his plate with Nadeshiko was not on speaking terms with him. Why she had over reacted like that anyway? It was just a mere problem with some irritating kids.
He looked up when the door to his office was open and his grandfather-in-law, Masaki Amamiya, striding gracefully inside. He was about to stand up, but Masaki motioned him to stay in place. The old man than took a seat in front of his desk.
"So you were no match even for that young girl?" Masaki chuckled.
Fujitaka raised his eyebrows warily, "You were talking like you have known her long enough."
Masaki stared at him, his eyes twinkling madly, "I do, my boy."
Fujitaka suddenly notice what was that all about and touched his aching forehead with a tired gesture, "It was your doing. You helped them." He stated and looked at the old man, "Why?"
Masaki let out short, heavy laugh. "You'll find out sooner."
"You're a mad man." Fujitaka shook his head in disbelief, rose up from his chair. "I need to go to a meeting first. Can you wait later for that chess game?" It was like a perpetual habit of his grandfather-in-law to only visit him whenever he felt bored and demanded some time to have some chess match with him. It was least Fujitaka could do for him anyway.
"Of course, i can wait." Masaki smiled.
Sakura studied her appearance once again at the mirror. She wore the kimono Nadeshiko had given her, combined with a pair of cute geta which Sister Nagano had bought for her. The other three girls had helped her how to wear her face and hair again. Aiko, Miho, Nana had screamed when they had found out the bruise on her left leg, but she had firmly told them to not tell anybody else about it and had ensured them that she would be alright and go to a doctor to check it out again.
Sakura was shocked to find a black limousine in front of the orphanage; the chauffeur had said that Nadeshiko had sent him to escort Sakura to the party. She had to agree and slid inside the limousine with Touya's gift on her hands. She could not help but feeling nervous. This was the first time she ever went to rich people's parties. She was afraid that she would be awkward and feel lost. Perhaps she would ask Nadeshiko if she could go home earlier.
The party was held in one of the Kinomoto Group's skyscrapers. She was honest when she admitted that Kinomoto Group was indeed immensely awesome to be able to have such fortune. She could joke that they even could feed the whole third country citizens.
Sakura entered the ballroom after being checked for identity at the entrance. The Kinomotos had not yet to arrive, but the room was more than half filled. She could spot some prominent and important figures, celebrities whom she could only see on television. She started to feel discouraged by how splendid these people were. She was nothing compared to them.
"Sakura?"
Of all people she knew who would be at the party; Li Syaoran was the first to arrive. Sakura sighed inwardly, not knowing other ways to avoid him. "Li-kun." She nodded, greeting him politely.
Syaoran smiled at her, "You look beautiful as always."
"Thank you." Sakura responded timidly.
"I'm glad that you have solved your family problem." Syaoran said sincerely.
Sakura was surprised that he did not snatch her like he always did whenever they met. Perhaps because they were now in such party like this. She also felt a little bit embarrassed to the fact that his family had helped to donate, yet she had not even thanked him properly. "Erm, i'm sorry that i haven't given you proper thanks. Thank you very much for helping my family." She declared.
Syaoran smiled sadly, "You're welcome, Sakura. I guess, i should leave you then. My mother and cousin are waiting for me there." He motioned towards two beautiful women, which one of them was already known by Sakura.
"Okay then." Sakura nodded to him. As he left her, she felt a little bit sad. She did not know anyone here, it made her feel lonely.
The Kinomotos arrived when she had already bit her second chocolate pastries which she had gotten from the food tables. Nadeshiko greeted her enthusiastically, enveloping her in warm hugs. She even ignored other more valuable guests whom her family tended to first.
"Oh, Maeda-san. It's really good to see you again." Nadeshiko smiled and embraced Sakura's arm, Tomoyo Kinomoto following behind her. "I see that you really fit in this kimono. You look splendid. Do you like it?" She said as she held out Sakura at arm's length, scrutinizing her appearance.
"Of course, Ma'am." She answered distractedly as she glanced at the sour faced girl next to them. She still felt guilty for what had happened the other day.
Tomoyo stood there, arms folded, watching the two of them distastefully. Half of herself tried hard not to believe that Nadeshiko had given her own first kimono from Tomoyo's grandmother to Maeda. Tomoyo, her own daughter, had not even had the privilege of being asked to wear it. But this girl now wore it and took possession of it? Tomoyo looked at her mother's eyes. She never saw her mother glowing like that to her, or her brother and father. Nadeshiko acted like there was no one else in this room, only them. What would be next? Adopting the girl as a daughter? Tomoyo thought disgustedly.
"Honey, have you met Yoshida-san..." Fujitaka went into his daughter, but quickly faltered when he noticed what was her staring at, or whom to be exact. He frowned at the sight of his wife having an over friendly conversation with the orphaned girl. "Nadeshiko, i see you're getting closer to Maeda-san." He interrupted them, forcing a smile.
Nadeshiko looked at her husband coldly, "You should have said sorry to this girl, Fujitaka."
"Whatever for? For doing what normally a businessman does?" Fujitaka asked sarcastically.
"Doing a business does not mean that you need to justify any means to gain advantage. Where honestly do you put your heart?" Nadeshiko hissed irritably.
Fujitaka took a deep breath, made sure that there was no one near the four of them and hissed back at his wife, "You are already too blinded by this girl that you forget about your own family; me and your children. Until when you plan to do this? Until this family's shattered?" He blustered heatedly, not caring whether Maeda was listening to them or not.
"What do you mean? This is not about our family. I'm talking from the side which criticizes your lack of humanity!" Nadeshiko raised her voice.
"Otou-san, okaa-san, what happened?" Touya approached the little group, noticing the tension between them.
Sakura stepped forward to both of them, quietly said, "I'm really sorry that i might have restrained your relationship. I never meant any of that to happen."
"Don't you dare thinking that you are worthy enough to talk to me again. You have done enough damage to my family." Fujitaka snapped at her. This girl had made his and Tomoyo's lives a living hell until this time. He would not tolerate it any longer.
"Leave us alone." Touya said to Sakura as calm as he could manage.
Sakura left them as Tomoyo kept looking at her indignantly. This made her feeling uneasy. She had put Nadeshiko in the middle like this. But what should she do? She was not sure she could do so much for an issue like this. She took a seat, hiding from now overly crowded guests who were socializing with each of their acquaintances. She was curious if any of their conversations were in political and financial benefit motives for their own interests. Rich people were too much complicated even for their own goods.
"Maeda-san." Nadeshiko strode towards her, seemingly had calmed herself down. "I'm really sorry to put you in such immature conversation." She looked at Sakura apologetically.
"I'm fine, Ma'am. Don't worry." Sakura smiled, reassuring her.
"We should have had fun, noticing what we have been through this far. Not involving in a fight like that." Nadeshiko smirked widely at her.
"I don't want to ruin your son's party." Sakura said softly.
Nadeshiko was silent before held her hands and said, "You are not going to ruin anything, Maeda-san. In fact, why don't you show us a little bit of your musical talent? Show them what you are worth. Kaho would be really happy too to have a distraction for a moment." She gestured towards the headmistress who was being crowded by some socialites and did not look too happy about it. Kaho turned to see them, waved and forced a smile at them, feigning a headache from hearing those women.
"I don't think i could do that, Ma'am." Sakura said, grimacing.
But Nadeshiko waved her reply off and grabbed her hand, pulling her to the front of the venue where they had rent a live music. Nadeshiko whispered some words to the host and pushed Sakura into the stage where the host had asked for the guests' attention and introduced Sakura to them.
Sakura stared at the audience and Nadeshiko back and forth, where the latter gave her a supportive gesture. She could not believe that she was forced into the spotlight. She sighed resignedly. She could spot the other Kinomoto looking daggers at her.
She looked down at the piano, thinking for a while of what should she play. Suddenly she remembered the lyrics Syaoran had made for her song. She held her breath and sat, placed her fingers on the keys and began to flow the song.
Yoru no sora ni matataku
Tooi kin no hoshi
Yuube yume de miageta
Kotori to onaji iro
Nemurenu yoru ni
Hitori utau uta
Wataru kaze to issho ni
Omoi wo nosete tobu yo
Yoru no sora ni kagayaku
Tooi gin no tsuki
Yuube yume de saite 'ta
Nobara to onaji iro
Yasashii yoru ni
Hitori utau uta
Asu wa kimi to utaou
Yume no tsubasa ni notte
Yasashii yoru ni
Hitori utau uta
Asu wa kimi to utaou
Yume no tsubasa ni notte
Touya stumbled back a few steps when he listened to the song the girl was playing. It was his song. He had written it when he had been still a child. Once he had taught Sakura to play the song and she had really liked it. They had always played it together in front of their parents after that. How could this girl know their song? He had never played it again since Sakura had been missing. He had been too hurt to even just think about that. Who was this girl actually?
He turned to see his parents. The wine glass his father had been holding, slipped from his hand, made everyone neared him flinched at the sound of the shattered material. His mother had sunk to the nearest chair, her face paled. Kaho had linked her arm into his, asking if he was okay. He wanted to answer her, but he could not move his body an inch.
The girl slowly ended the song and strode over towards him. She thrusted a white shopping bag to him and said softly, "I'm sorry, it's not much. Happy birthday and happy engagement for you and Mizuki-san." She bowed shortly to Mizuki. "I can't stay long, it's already late. Please send my gratitudes and apologies to your parents and sister." She said again.
Touya stood still, too shock to respond the girl. He never forgot the girl's emerald eyes.
My treat for this summer as number eleven is my favorite :P Could you guys guess who were the two anonymous donors to the orphanage?
There are two parts in this story, and the first part just ends here in this chapter. The next part will embark Sakura's life with her family. I plan to not make it too long, maybe five chapters more before it all ends. Anyway i think it will be more intriguing if you find out by yourselves the whole story rather than me giving more spoilers :P
Thank you so much for these alerters:
aritella: no! it's still not the end :)
chelsealovesya1995
ding: i think you should know that i always love to read reviews from you :)
mai-chan
James Birdsong
mY pHoEnIx tEaRs11
OhMyEmerald
hazy
edonis
anon