Hiya, darlings :D
Sorry, it took so long… :( My computer completely died on me… x.x But it is alive and well now, because I got a professional in! Lol! XD
And chappie 11 is finally here! ;)
And this one focuses on Kiyoshi Arai a lot! So… we will see what he is really about… 'evil mysterious look'
"..." Speaking
'…' Thoughts and emphasised words (Italic and sometimes bold)
BOLD is notes, letters, movies, TV, radio, transcript, plays, etc… and my A/Ns!
&----------------------------------------------------------& Flashbacks (Watch out for these from now on! They are in all Italics! And they are in first person "speech" depending whose 'flashback' it is!)
Special Thanks to:
Sakuralover, xfantasyangelx, its me, MewMewPower, Hikari Blaze, XoXoMoon TribalXoXo, The Ravaja of De jeneration, VcChick, Starlight Ellie, AnnitaChibaKou, Sparkly Faerie, Jenice, actionbastard, kianvelez, ken, Noir Rose, Smiley, Cherry Blossom Dreamer, balck'shadows05, white wolfox, Black Star Dragon Girl, goldenskylue22, bAbYgUrL08, meow-mix23, KariCakes, insanity-ward, Emerald Purity, kuraluver, ... (Sorry! What do you want me to call you?), shortyredlove, Boheme, yellow, xKawaiixIndox, DaOnleeSam (x6, lol!), Emerald-silver Serpent, pratyhi5, Mystical Moonstar and magicianprincess!
Thanks to all of you! I'm truly grateful:D I wouldn't be anywhere without your brilliant support! 'Hug and kisses!'
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura. 'Cries!' I don't own this story's basic plot – Emma Darcy with her story called 'The Italian's Stolen Bride'. I own my 'made up' characters! 'Dries tears and winks' ;D
Now, this is all for you, my gorgeous readers! Hope you like this one! xx
The Other Man
Chapter 11
The Niiro Kusabana Restaurant was full up as usual this Wednesday night….
Many people were busy eating, laughing, talking, arguing, whispering, holding hands and occasionally kissing over their meals. The atmosphere was light yet for some strange reasons that she could not identify, Sakura felt uneasy.
"Mummy, look ugly man – I mean, Mr Arai man is over there." Ryu spoke with distaste while Ryo pointed him out. 'I hate this ugly man. He stinks of poop.' Ryu's childish thoughts growled in his mind, as he held tight onto Sakura's hand.
The trio made their way towards Kiyoshi, weaving in and out of tables to avoid bumping into people and their meals. Ryu was unwillingly following, feeling himself being dragged by his Mother.
People turned to see where this sudden emerald-eyed beauty was going to, and maybe even to whom. Sakura felt glares from all four corners of the restaurant beating on her. Yet, she took no notice. Lustful glares came from different men around the place, and malicious glares came from different women who knew Sakura looked so much better than them!
And so when the trio were close enough –
Kiyoshi looked up and spoke to her only. "Ah, Sakura… you came… sit and let's chat, shall we?"
Silence….
"Ummm… yes." Sakura pulled out two more chairs from the other table and placed them on either side of her chair. Then she picked up her twins and placed them in their chairs, smiling warmly at them. Finally, Sakura seated herself gracefully and looked up at Kiyoshi. "You were saying, Kiyoshi?"
Kiyoshi was wearing a light grey suit with a blue shirt roughly, very roughly, tucked into his trousers. His watery dull blue eyes looked drained and old, and for some reason his silver white blond hair looked really oily. 'Ew!' His smooth face looked wore out and dirty; a smudge of red was at his lips. He even looked like he put on some weight…. Sakura thought with growing dislike. 'Is he alright?'
"Well, nothing much I'm afraid." Kiyoshi was looking at the twins now under his dull blue gaze, but he was talking to Sakura. "Did you have any trouble making it here? I'm sure you – "
"No. We were fine." Ryu quickly cut in. "We don't need you."
"Ryu!" Sakura gasped, opening her eyes wide. 'What's wrong with him?'
"I'm sure you don't, but I'm here anyway." Kiyoshi smiled an ugly smile at Ryu. "For your Mother."
"My Mummy doesn't need you." Ryu instantly boiled up. "She has Otou-san now!"
"Ryu!" Sakura turned his chair to her, bent her face down to look into his and suddenly frowned in worry.
Inside Ryu's eyes were newborn emotions shining so powerfully that it would be bloody hard to miss…. 'Anger… and hatred….' Pure, red hot, deadly anger mixed with a chilling hatred…. But Sakura saw underneath… underneath it all were faint un-shedding tears lurking…. Sakura kissed his forehead softly. "Mou… enough, Ryu…."
Kiyoshi sneered sweetly. "I just wanted to ask you why you let that fuc – I mean, icky Li in your house and – "
"Our Otou-san is not icky, ugly man!" Ryu growled angrily, his fists clutched. Ryo looked upset.
"Ryu!" Sakura gasped again. 'Oh dear….' "Kiyoshi, please…." Sakura shook her head slowly, indicating to Kiyoshi to stop. "Your Father is not icky." She said looking at Ryu and Ryo tenderly, then back at Ryu. "Please apologise."
"Hai, Okaa-san." Ryu sent his Father's famous 'death glare' head on at Kiyoshi, who actually flinched! "I apologise." But Ryu didn't look sorry at all. He just turned his dark head moodily away.
Ryo was pulling on his Mother's arm after that uncomfortable conflict, which made the table quiet. "Mummy, me sleepy…."
"Come here." Sakura sighed, lifted Ryo into her embrace, and let him fall asleep. His head rested on her shoulder as his small arms swung round her neck.
"I invited the twin's Father to my house because it's his right." Sakura said quietly. "And my twins, Kiyoshi."
"Sakura, you didn't tell me you were going to do this!" Kiyoshi was flaring up.
"No, I didn't tell you." Sakura looked at him patiently. "You saw me instead."
"What?" Kiyoshi looked blank. "When? Where?"
"What – you saw me Kiyoshi." Sakura listed what she was saying by her fingers, while holding onto Ryo securely. 'Multi-tasking, I guess.' She thought rolling her eyes. "When – I met the twin's Father, where – at the Cherry Blossom restaurant."
"…." Kiyoshi didn't say a word. 'Damn you fucking Li!'
"Remember? I told him to come and meet them on Sunday." Sakura closed her eyes briefly and felt Ryu's hand slip into her one, but her Little Eagle was still looking away. "The day you called."
'Fuck….' Kiyoshi was speechless, but he was going to fight back. "I thought you were joking!" Kiyoshi leaned on the table. "After whatever he did to you, which you still won't tell me about… after all that whatever – you still give him a chance?"
Sakura sucked in her breath sharply and sent Kiyoshi a warning look. 'Did Ryu hear that?' "Kiyoshi, not now." Sakura said firmly. "I've explained to you what happened on Sunday…." 'Ok, maybe not all of it… certainly not that kiss….' She thought guiltily, getting hot under the collar. "But I have a deputy to do, and that's how it is going to be."
Kiyoshi stared at Sakura for a long while, taking all in that had just trespassed between them. 'I don't want to lose Sakura yet… not when I haven't even touch her!' He did a quick once over Sakura, while she was looking at Ryo and smiled in satisfaction. 'She has a very nice – '
"Kiyoshi?" Sakura said loudly, bringing the dazed man out of his line of thoughts.
He blinked and looked at Sakura with lust appearing to show in his eyes. He couldn't hide it. It was too overwhelming. Too powerful. 'Too Kiyoshi.' He smirked a little. "I hear you loud and clear, babe." He smiled a bit forcefully. "And I respect you for it."
Ryu sliced a look at Kiyoshi and somehow knew he was lying. 'He doesn't care about Okaa-san at all and he doesn't like Otou-san. So I don't care and don't like him either.' He growled audibly. "Ugly man…." Ryu muttered under his breath just how Syaoran does.
"I heard that." Kiyoshi said quietly. "Shall we have dinner now? And talk afterwards?" He looked at Sakura mainly. "You must be starving…." 'Because I sure am!' He thought smugly as Sakura eyed him with a hint of uneasiness, which the bonehead didn't pick up on.
"Hai… we are hungry, ne?" Sakura smiled softly at Ryu, who nodded. Then she shifted Ryo a bit. "Ryo… Ryo… are you hungry?"
"No, Mummy… me ate big chicken then chocolate pudding… I'm sleepy." Ryo tightened his hold on Sakura's neck and then whispered quietly for only her to hear, but Ryu caught it. "And I don't like ugly man anymore." Ryu smiled proudly at his little brother.
Sakura had to swallowed down a soft curse. She was not a fouled mouth person by nature, but with both of her twins against Kiyoshi already… this was rather rapidly breaking her hope on true love. 'Maybe I'm not supposed to be loved at all….'
" – and the hot meat and vegetable curry with white rice for the main course. Ah, a ice cold beer for drinks." Kiyoshi was saying to the waiter snobbishly. "Sakura, your order?" He then barked.
"Eh?" Sakura looked at the waiter, who was a young male and he was patiently waited for her order. 'Poor guy.' She thought sympathetically, and formed a soft smile on her face which made the waiter blushed lightly. "Ummm… may I please have the kiddies order for my son? I'm sorry… I'm not hungry at the moment. Thank you."
"Certainly Madam." The waiter said charmingly and smiled kindly. "I'll bring your order immediately." He winked at Ryu, flashed a smirk at Kiyoshi in triumph and walked off. Ryu burst out laughing and Ryo woke up. "Why are you laughing, Onii-chan?" He said sleepily. Sakura wanted to ask the same question.
"Nothing… nothing." And he smiled sweetly at Kiyoshi. 'Shame to ugly man.'
Kiyoshi knew why Ryu laughed and sent him an ugly glare, but Ryu looked at him indifferently, smirking… making Kiyoshi's anger levels go up a notch higher. 'Damn Li brats.'
"Kiyoshi, look… are you free this week? Maybe lunchtimes?" Sakura said calmly. She wanted to talk to him privately, wanted to know things that needed to be known. 'Like where this relationship is going? Or are we wasting our time?'
"Lunch? Yes, I'm free… are you asking me out on a lunch date?" Kiyoshi grinned cheekily. "Why Sakura, I'm flattered."
"Hoe?" Sakura arched a brow. "Eh, no Kiyoshi. I'm only asking to speak with you. I need to speak with you." Sakura took a breath. "About us."
Kiyoshi frowned and said abruptly. "Are you breaking up with me, Sakura?"
'At the moment yes.' Sakura thought, then gasped. "I mean – no, no I'm not. I just need to talk to you."
"Madam, here is your order for your son." The waiter bent down to Ryu's level and placed the kiddies meal in front of him. Then he stood up smiling. "Oh, gosh! There are two of you!" He said in pretend surprise.
The twins and Sakura laughed pleasantly at the waiter's remark, ignoring Kiyoshi's frown. "Yes, there are." Sakura confirmed with a bright smile.
"Ummm… Sir, thank you for my meal. My name is Ryu." Ryu poured out his cute charm at the waiter, who smiled happily back at him.
"Hey, great name there. I bet your brother has a great name too." The waiter smiled at Ryo in Sakura's embrace. "What's your name?"
"My name is Ryo." Ryo said shyly.
"Ah… Ryuichi and Ryoichi, ne?" He smiled knowingly at the twins, and then at Sakura. "You have such wonderful children." Sakura looked at him blushing a little. "Like their father, ne? He is a wonderful man. I'm going to be working for him soon."
Sakura instantly stiffened and looked at him in shock. The twins looked at him curiously and then cracked joyful expression on their cute faces at hearing about their Father. Kiyoshi looked like he had very bad constipation!
"I'm sorry… how… what… who?" Sakura said breathlessly.
"Oh, Mr Syaoran Li? He is purchasing this whole restaurant. He came yesterday for the final details, and said we can all keep our jobs and things. Also have a higher pay." The waiter added with a wink. "I recognised all three of you because he accidentally dropped his mobile when he was leaving, it fell open and – "
"Let me guess – you saw a picture of these three on the screen, right?" Kiyoshi cut in venomously. His face was twisted with anger.
"Err… right, I gave the mobile back to him of 'course. And I could tell it was you because of your eyes, Madam." He smiled more. "And who could forget the faces of these two, mmm?" He laughed in a friendly way, and the twins could not help but warm to him. "Sorry, I do blabber on a lot. My name is Jiro Kondo by the way."
Sakura sat there, stunned. 'Syaoran's been here? He is buying this restaurant?' She blushed. 'He has a picture of us on his mobile's screen?' "Ummm… thank you, Mr Kondo." Sakura looked around the place, imagining what Syaoran could possibly want to do with it…. "I never knew that the twin's Father came – "
"Oi, Kondo boy! Where the hell is my order?" Kiyoshi rasped out fiercely. He tried to block out the thoughts of Syaoran Li from the conversation.
Jiro just blinked at him and frowned deeply. "Right in front of you." He said tightly. Then he tuned his back on him and looked at Sakura, bending down to Sakura's level and whispered in her ear. "I don't know why you waste your precious time on a man like him…."
"Hoe?" Sakura whispered back, she looked completely dense and confused. "Man like him…?"
"Yes…." He nodded and sighed gravely, then straight up seeing Kiyoshi gobble up his food like a fat pig. 'Well, he is a revolting womaniser.' Jiro looked at the direction of the toilets. 'He was just fucking a prostitute in there!' He threw a disgusted look at him, which he knew Syaoran would be proved of. 'I need to call Syaoran and tell him everything is going to plan….'
"Mr Kondo?" Ryu said kindly as Jiro bent down to his level again.
"Please call me Jiro, Mr Ryu Kinomoto." Jiro said a bit stupidly. 'Bugger! Why did I say their surname?'
"Did our Daddy say anything about us when he was here yesterday?" Ryu asked hopefully, not realising Jiro said his surname. "Did he say he wanted to see us?"
Jiro beamed at the little boy, knowing that Ryu already loved his Father with all his heart. And for a second he thought he saw Syaoran staring back at him. Jiro blinked. 'Yep, definitely Syaoran's son.'
"Mr Jiro man, did he?" Ryo piped up this time.
"Err… yes, he did. When I saw your picture on his mobile. He said he wanted you all to be with him forever! And that he loves you all very much. Also that he can't wait to see you all next." Jiro almost laughed at the excited looks the twins passed at each other, and couldn't help but notice Sakura was hiding her face away, blushing deeply and frowning. 'She still loves him… but….'
"Thank you, Jiro! I hope we can be friends and I promise to visit you here when Otou-san takes charge!" Ryu said cheerfully.
"Your welcome, and I'd like that." Jiro straightened up and said delightfully. "I'll cook you the best meal, just let me know when you come again, ne?"
"We promise!" The twins exclaimed.
"Great! See you then, yes?" Jiro needed to call Syaoran now.
"Hai!" They exclaimed again, making heads turn, Jiro nodded 'goodbye' to the twins, Sakura, ignored Kiyoshi and walked off.
"That rotten piece of – " Kiyoshi burst out with curry dripping down his weak chin, but got cut off by Sakura's stern voice.
"Kiyoshi." She continued. "Stop now."
Kiyoshi swallowed his words as he stared at Sakura. 'Shit, shit! I'm losing her!'
"I'm sorry, Sakura… its just the things he – well, he – I mean, the things he said – "
" – doesn't have anything to do with you." Sakura replied calmly, her eyes growing cold. 'I need to get out of here.' She took a quick breath. 'Now.'
"Sakura, honey… I understand, it's just – " Kiyoshi made a gesture of appeal with his chopsticks.
When the music tone from Sakura's pink mobile began to ring loudly. 'I wonder who that is…? Thank you God if they save me!' Sakura held up a hand to stop Kiyoshi from speaking any further, and retrieved her mobile. "Hello, Sakura here…."
"Sakura…." Came a deep hoarse voice.
"…." Sakura recognised that voice anywhere, but something was wrong… seriously wrong….
"Sakura… please answer me…." Came the deep masculine voice again, and a throaty cough.
"Hai… I'm here… what – nani?" Sakura mumbled nervously, before fear took her on for a ride.
"I need – " He coughed. " – your help."
"…." Fear made her silent. 'What – '
"Please…." It sounded like that was his last word, and Sakura bolted out of her chair. The twins looked at their Mother in shock.
"Don't say another word. I'm coming right now." Sakura said while grabbing everything she needed, like her twins. "Don't move or do anything until I get there, yes?"
"Yes." Came a rough reply.
"Just hang on." She said firmly. "Wait for me."
"I'll wait forever." Came back the husky voice. "Sakura…."
"I know…." And she cut the line, reluctantly.
Silence crushed around the table on which Sakura was about to leave, and then she remembered –
"What about me?" Kiyoshi said angrily. "You can't just leave!"
"I'm sorry Kiyoshi but I have to go." Sakura said quickly, pushing her mobile back into her pocket. "I will explain later and make it up to you, but this is an emergency." And literally ran like the wind!
"Hey, wait – " Kiyoshi shouted.
But Sakura raced through the restaurant and quickly raced on the street towards the green car. "Let's get in, boys." She quickly opened the side door. "Hurry now."
"Mummy, what is wrong?" Ryu said directly, his expression was craved with worry. "Okaa-san?"
"I can't explain now Ryu." She speedily fastened her twins in the back seats, and then closed the door. Next she opened the driver's door and seated herself, forgetting about her seat belt. 'Hold on….'
She turned the car keys, blasted the vehicle into life and zoomed down street that led to the main road. The car zoomed faster and faster as Sakura's anxiety levels rose up like a rocket!
Sakura knew that her caller lived about a half an hour away from the current area she was in. 'Thirty minutes is too long….' And so she somehow managed to head off the night's traffic and curved into the place where her heart told her to go. 'Please be alright….'
"Mummy, you driving too fast!" Ryo cried as he clutched his brother's arm. "Slow car!"
"I can't, Ryo." She began to go faster. "Your Father needs me."
'Otou-san?' Ryu thought, looking at the front of the car. 'He called Okaa-san? It was him?'
The car came to an absolute halt in front of a massive, and impressively tall building. The glass windows glittered like tiny bright stars as the Moon's reflected its white light on the smooth surfaces.
"Wow…." The twins gasped in unison, awed by the beauty of it all. "Otou-san lives in there?"
"Lets go!" Sakura ordered instead, and pulled the twins with her in desperation to get to the person who needed her. 'Hang on… I'm here.'
Sakura raced into the front of the building, easily opening the glass doors to the front – which she failed to notice that it should have been shut tight at this time of night. Running next to the elevator lifts that she instantly saw in front of her in the grand entrance of the building. She didn't take any of it in. 'Not now… not when he needs me.'
"Come on, boys!" The twins were steered into the elevator and Sakura pushed the bottom, which goes to the top. The glass downs lined with pure silver closed automatically and they all went up… and up and up….
"Mummy, look at this place!" Ryo cried in awe as he placed his hands flat against the glass, imitating Ryu as they both stared into admiration and excitement.
As the elevator lift went up, the whole of the building's content was displayed to the full. This building was one of the most beautiful buildings the twins had ever seen, and Sakura couldn't help but agree with them. 'He must work extremely hard….'
When finally, after what seemed like a million years! The elevator's glass doors opened wide to reveal double huge, designed cream doors.
They stared at the door quietly, before stepping out and walking steadily up to it. 'This is where he lives…?' Sakura thought breathlessly. She then raised a shaky hand and knocked loud on the door. 'Please be in…please be ok….'
Silence….
A few footsteps were heard on the other side, Sakura heartbeat sped up and when the doors opened –
"Daddy!" The twins cried together when they saw a tall, dark haired man grinned and stood straight in front of them. He looked… impressive. 'Hoe….'
"Good evening… well, night I should say." Syaoran chuckled with difficultly. He smiled warmly at them all, but it looked like an effort to do.
"Dear Heaven!" Sakura cried as she fixed her intense gaze on Syaoran properly and stared, her eyes opened wide like green saucers! "What happened to you?"
O.O …
Aw, crap… what happened now?
Love, MzEvilBlossoms xxx ;D
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YES! YAY! WHOO! XD
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P.S. I think that chapter sucked, don't you?
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