Tokyo Bay Hospital
January 2025
11:43 a.m.
Chapter Twelve : So she thought
Sakura's eyes snapped open, a throbbing pain igniting a sudden burst of blurriness for a moment or two. BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…she turned her head to the noise. Confusion was becoming worse as she stared at the lines run up and down on the small green screen. Turning her head to the other side she was met with more devices and a tall pole holding up bags of liquids. One of them being blood. Wiggling her numb fingers awake she slowly brought her arm up to her face. A plastic mask was over it, a long tube leaving outwards. What's going on? She wondered absently, trailing her hand down the tube until she couldn't reach any further. A pinch in her elbow made her mouth open, fogging up the mask around her face. It hurt. With her other hand still numb from lack of use, she slowly yanked free of the suffocating mask. Letting it fall onto her chest and roll off to her side as she began undoing the pinches. Needles after needles were under her flesh, making it rather difficult to move properly.
The next turn was coming up, the buildings closing in and people fewer for their safety. Sakura was in the lead but Milay was so close she wasn't sure who was going to make it. It was a one-way street because of the close buildings. All four players were becoming weary before Sakura did what no one expected. She sped up, cutting off Milay in a bypass and speeding up more. The car swerved a bit at the unstable speed, almost smashing into the wall. The sudden fear of crashing enveloped her mind and she began to slow down. Her mind clouding in a weird haze. A sick feeling started in the pit of her stomach, matching the thudding of her heart.
Sakura started shaking, making it hard for her to finish yanking out the things inside her. When they were done, the beeping of the device beside her went silent, turning off. There was no more pulse to calculate. Her breathing was coming in short intakes and she froze in place, gathering up strength and will to move again. She felt tired now, the act of wanting to leave the foreign place overwhelming her. Before she could pass out, she swung her legs over the bed and stood, a wave of nausea raking through her body full force. Gripping the medal edge of the bed, she stood still, letting it pass. Her ribs hurt, her head slammed at a pulse that quickened with every heartbeat, and she was weak. Fingers shaking, she released the bar and started walking towards the first cabinet she came to. With a hard, painful tug she opened it. Medicines and bandages. She opened the next with the same shaky painful tug, revealing gowns and a small wrapped up bag.
In the corner of her eye she saw Milay passing up and she sped up just a little. In the rear view mirror, Aiko was behind her, going off to the side while the other player went to the opposite. Sakura's hearing drowned out, becoming her heartbeat, giving her a headache beyond belief. A sharp pain shot up from her ribcage and she gasped out, removing one hand to try and numb that pain. But it wouldn't go away. The car swerved…
It felt like her head was going to explode as the sound of screeching tires echoed off the street. Or was it her fragmented imagination. She didn't know and didn't care, as she grabbed the bag and opened it. Her clothing was crumbled up into wades to fit inside and she pulled the articles out one by one. Gulping down a lump of pain, she slowly stripped from opened back hospital gown and sliped into her button up tee. Her fingers were shaking to bad to do all the buttons on them so she left it, staying still as another wave of nausea rushed through. She didn't know if it was the pain that kept pulsing her to stop or the fact that she just woke up from an unknown sleep and was no moving around quickly that was making her want to vomit. Gulping in air that hurt her chest, she stuck one foot then the other foot into her skater shorts and slipped them up to button at her waist.
Everyone had seemed to lie to her. Not telling her anything and keeping her in the dark. She apparently had a brother. A brother that was protective over her, too protective over her. Why no one told her this, she didn't know. Why she didn't know it herself was even sickening to think about. Sakura walked at an old lady pace for the door, leaving the room like it was. She didn't care that someone found out she left. She didn't care that they found out anything, she was leaving and that was that. Opening the door she was hit with the wave of a sterile room, freshly scented with lavender. An odd mix for a hospital. Leaving the room she looked around, spotting a couple laying sleeping on the waiting chairs just against the wall by her room. She even had a best friend that no one, not even the said best friend had the decency to tell her about. The mystery to how she ended up in Hong Kong with no memory of this just made her head spin.
Not bothering to wake Rika and Haku from the afternoon slumber, she went passed them towards the doors. Cars and people walking by giving her knowledge that it was the door to the outside. To her freedom. She was going to find her brother, dead or alive. There had to be some clue that he was real and not just her imagination playing a game on her. Weakly she stepped and breathed, feeling her chest tighten as her right leg went forward then the left. Whatever happened must have been bad. She couldn't walk perfectly without having the wave of nausea and a pinch in her chest stop her. A nurse looked up from her desk and said nothing since Sakura adjusted her way of walking. She managed to walk straight and slow right out the doors. But the second she made it down the flight of stairs to the sidewalk, she felt weak. Weaker then when she was dressing herself.
The streets were bright, the sun higher then it should be in the end of winter. Fingers brushing the wall to keep balance, Sakura stiffly shuffled forward. Her gaze was down, not meeting any of the passer bys looks. They gave them, unsure of themselves as she passed by in a half opened tee, her ribs bruised and bleeding on the inside. Unless it was internal. No one said anything either, not sure that they should. Sakura stumbled over a small bump in the cemented sidewalk, falling forward onto her hands. Someone bent down to help her up and she flinched away from their touch, mumbling something about finding her brother. Getting back to her feet in a slow old lady motion, she used the wall once again as balance and walked. Her knees cracking from lack of use in over a week or more, pain in her ankles causing her to stumble some more. She made it as far as the corner of a building before stopping, not able to go any further.
The entrance of an apartment complex opened, a little boy jumping around and saying something came running out. He was excited about a video game he just finished playing. Sakura lifted her head up, hearing his tiny voice. He wore shorts to big for him and a medium size Dragon ball Z shirt perfect for a kid his age. Passers smiled at the hyperness of the little boy before smiling up at the male that came out after him. Obviously thinking it was his father. Sakura looked from boy to man, suddenly feeling her chest pinch at lack of breathing. He was tall, a good six foot give or take a few inches. His raven black hair spiked up in every direction possible. Her heart stopped, taking his appearance in. he was practically identical to her brother and sadly her hopes flared. Gathering the rest of her strength she went forward at a stumble at first then at a weak walk, trying to stand tall. Her ribs hurt to stand so straight after being hunched over for a bit but she did it, pain or no.
"…It was awesome, Cloud beat Sypharis butt with one swoop of his sword and I got all the coins to save Marlene and Tiffa." The little boy exclaimed, showing his excitement as he jumped up to demonstrate a jump kick. He laughed when he slipped and fell onto his behind then stopped, seeing Sakura. She reached out with a shaking hand and grabbed for the guys shirt before collapsing against him, surprising everyone. The little boy got back on his feet and stared confused. "Brother, what's wrong with her?" he asked, seeing her bruises and pale complexion. She reminded him of a ghost.
"Mark go back inside, we'll go to the video store another time." He commanded and the little boy nodded, taking slow steps back for the apartment complex. Sakura opened her mouth to say Touya's name but no sound came out as she passed out, going lax against him. A small crowd seemed to gather and the guy swore, gathering her up into his arms. She was too light for comfort and he began back tracking his younger brother. Whispers and comments began as he disappeared into the lobby of the apartment.
Easily he placed her on the couch inside, making sure to be careful. Her head lolled to the side and he moved it, making the unknown girl more comfortable. The red mark on her neck didn't look comfortable though. Sakura continued to sleep on, her chest rising and falling roughly. A darker color then her revealed bra caught his attention and he moved her opened shirt aside, peering at it. Bruises of all sizes and darkness covered her ribs and he curiously examined it. Letting his fingers brush across them lightly. Her skin was hot, almost to the point of burning. Wondering what happened, he got to his feet and went out of the room. When he returned, she was stirring slightly. Her body stiffening and moving like she could feel her hotness of her skin and bruises like they were internally painful. Placing the first aide kit on the coffee table before her, he grabbed the cold wet cloth and placed it to her head. Consciously Sakura felt the trickle of water and her eyes snapped opened, surprising him. Her eyes were dead and very green.
"Wow," he managed to get out, stunned by her beauty. Sakura recognized nothing or him. Heart pounding in her ears deafly she sat up and fell off the couch. He moved backwards, getting out of her way as she got to one foot. Pain shot throughout her body, weakening her senses. He was going to her side but she quickly grabbed for the first thing her body could move to. Standing in a striking position she stared at him. Her vision blurring every second that passed.
"Who are you?" Sakura asked in a raspy dry voice that surprised her. Her throat was completely dry, lips parched. What's wrong with me? She wondered, the pulse in her temples becoming so deafly that she was unable to concentrate precisely on the male in front of her.
"Who're you?" he countered. He couldn't take his eyes away from hers. They were just so green that it amazed him. She swayed slightly, trying to present herself taller then she really was. Her propped up leg was shaking from the weight of just having it up.
"I asked you first," she spat out, licking her lips to make them less parched. He was so tempted to force her to sit down when she swayed violently. When her eyes traveled to the top of her head in a suggestion of fatigue and dizziness. It was making him feel bad that he wasn't even remotely close to her health. "So…answer me," she hissed out, letting her knee drop so she could sit on both.
"I'm not about to tell a girl that wants to kill me with a plastic spork my name." Sakura looked at the object in her hand, taken aback by her choice of weapon. A sharp intact of her breath sent vibes of pain shooting through her entire body and she bit the inner part of her lip, not wanting to show him this. When it passed she weakly looked at him. He was a good head taller then she was, even with him sitting sprawled on the floor. His black hair spiked smoothly around his entire head. His even darker eyes were mesmerizing that she tore away from them.
"Well…" cautiously Sakura looked around the room she was in. It was tidy, a few empty soda and beer cans or bottles laying at high levels of the room. An empty tray of food was on the table beside her, the source of where the spork came from. She even found children's toys set up in a corner where a laptop was opened and on. "Are you planning on raping me or something? What am I doing here?" she asked instead of interrogating him for a name.
"For one thing you're injured so rapping you would hurt more then needed and another…you're way too skinny for me love." She frowned at his choice of words but found herself staring down at her body. Sure enough, her black-buttoned shirt was opened, revealing a black lacy bra and rather unique bruises all along and around the ribs that stuck out. Her hips jutted out as she breathed, leaning back slightly to examine herself even more. When was the last time she ate? Finger bitten nails touched the bruises lightly.
"What happened to me?" she asked more to herself then to him but he seemed to hear her, moving closer. She looked up, emerald orbs glossy at the sickening sight of her own body. "Tell me what happened? Why am I like this?" temples throbbed with a worsening headache and she could feel a throb begin to form in her legs from sitting in such an odd position.
"Apparently neither of us know…so…" he cautiously scooted towards her, arms stretched out like a toddler wanting something. "Can you put the spork down?" He asked. Sakura went more defensive after that small gesture, freaking out even. Before he could retaliate back she stabbed him, one of the four teethes snapping off the spoon/fork. "Fuck girl, I'm trying to help you." He snapped rubbing his hand, which now had three indent marks.
"Who are you?" she asked once more, taking in the fact that he didn't know what happened to her. She could deal with that but she still couldn't deal with the idea that he was just trying to help her. She didn't know who the hell he was. When he moved a slightest movement she poised the utensil up making him narrow his eyes in amused disgust.
"I told you, I'm not about to give my name to a girl whose trying to kill me with a spork." He was still absently rubbing his hand, his dark eyes watching her closely. "Can I at least help you?"
"Just tell me your name if you're not rapping me. It's not like I'm going to go to the police." Sakura was becoming more and more weaker as she remained knelt in a crouched position. Her limbs heavier as she tried to keep strong. Her vision was glossy, throbbing, and making it hard for her to really concentrate on him. Already she swayed with dizziness.
"Fine," he studied her, noticing the roll of her emerald eyes yet again. "Nathan. I'm Nathan," that got her to start laughing suddenly, collapsing completely on the ground. He moved forward on reflex but did nothing. She only collapsed because she was laughing, hard. Her chest tightening up and making it hard for her to breathe properly. "You're dying, why are you laughing?" he asked her, noticing the pale complexion of her features worsen.
"Gad," she breathed, weakly sitting up to lean against the couch. "If you are…who I think you are then you so deserved to be sporked." She told him straight out with difficulty, calming herself. Nathan frowned, crossing his legs beneath him. He didn't think he'd be going anywhere any time soon. Not with the crazy nut with a plastic utensil missing a tooth.
"What?" he eyed the spork in her grasp before looking at her again. She had the oddest of looks on her face, it creeped him out. "Who are you? I told you mine name," he reminded her. This time, as he waited for the response, he was really desperate to know. She knew him somehow but she didn't look familiar one bit. No one in Japan had as green of eyes as she. She laughed slightly, sounding like a child.
"Spork girl," and she poked him rather hard in the ankle. He cursed, moving away from her.
"Gad damn, would you fucking stop with that stupid spork?" She grinned, surprising him. What happened to her illness or what was wrong with her? "Hey, I told you who I was. Who're you?" he asked again. Her eyes rolled as she leaned forward. Pupils dilated, giving him the proof that she wasn't well.
"Sakura," her voice was low, words slurred like she was drunk. Nathan seemed to change completely. Realizing a lot more then what was needed. She crawled over to him, long hair sliding along the carpet, bra moving with her lithe frame revealing slightly more then comfort, and once again she poked him with her spork. "This is Billy,"
"Fuck Billy, Billy hurts." She sat crossed legged in front of him, a large unhappy look on her face. Nathan couldn't help but feel sad for her. Especially the way her eyes dropped and her body swayed just trying to keep up with being active. He wondered what happened to her at the same time wondering if she was who she was. "So…you really Sakura?" he asked, keeping up conversation.
"Are you really Nathan?" he nodded, keeping himself still as she suddenly moved to lie down, resting her hot feverish head on his knee. She was tired. Looking up at him with her dilated pools of green, she told him what he wasn't expecting. Not from her. "She…she really misses you, you know. Naoko I mean." Looking away she started twirling her hands and the plastic utensil. "Crying, talking…she wasn't as freaked out about my return as Rika was…you were on her mind for hours." Sakura frowned slightly. Why can she remember all this and not what happened to her? She even remembered her brother. She had a brother. Nathan was still silent, caressing the girl's hair as she slowly slurred out her words. "My brother…do you…know him?" that was the last thing she spoke before falling unconscious.
Tokyo Bay Hospital
Noon
"How could she have just left like that?" Tomoyo was saying, staring blankly at the empty hospital room. Meilin was at her side, looped arm as she rested her head against the frame of the door. Kyle and Eriol were at the receptionist desk, paying the bill plus more for the silence of Sakura's sudden disappearance. They were trying to erase her records from the hospital completely. The two girls were watching the ghostly-paled Rika as she sat in a chair besides the unoccupied bed. Her lithe frame slouched in it uncomfortably as her arms rested crossed on top of her stomach. "Did we know she could do that?"
"No," Meilin told her bluntly, walking into the room to Rika. Placing a hand on her shoulder she leaned forward so her long black hair was hiding the beds view away from her. "Hey love, we have to go. Don't worry, we'll find her." She soothed, straightening back up. Rika didn't move. She didn't even flinch. Frowning, Meilin looked at Tomoyo, wanting some help. The young black haired girl stepped forward into the room as well, arms uselessly at her side.
"Rika, I'm sure Sakura's alright but the nurses want us out of the room so they can use this room for another patient." Tomoyo tried, hoping it was enough. There was a soft tap at the door and the two girls looked up, smiling weakly at Haku as he entered fully. Seeing his wife still in the chair he had left her in he frowned. "She's not budging, its like her world is revolved around this one fucking bed." Tomoyo exclaimed softly to him. Nodding understanding, he went over to her and knelt.
"Hey sweets, I got some good news but you have to get up so we can leave." There was silence, Haku's hand resting on Rika's crossed arms. "Sweetie," he spoke when she didn't budge. Finally she turned to look at him, her red eyes glossy with tears. For a brief second he was taken aback by it.
"What can be better news than Sakura waiting at the house?" she asked, exaggerating a bit. Tomoyo and Meilin felt small pangs in her chests, knowing how much Rika wanted Sakura to be safe and returned to them…to her. Without warning she got to her feet and left, brushing passed Kyle and Eriol when they joined them. Getting to his feet Haku sighed, turning to the expectant faces.
"Well that went well," he breathed out, walking forward.
"What's the good news?" Meilin asked, resting her body against Kyle when he came up behind her. His hands were cold against her arms and she shivered slightly until he began warming them by running them up and down.
"The marine biologists got Bella, she's safe and will be returned to us in about a week or two." He shrugged his shoulders, rolling out the tension in them. "And we found out Sakura walked right out of the hospital. She wasn't taken or with anyone, she just walked right out onto the streets and disappeared from there. Possibly made her way somewhere," the others were silent. When there was nothing else to say, Haku walked out being followed by them one by one. The hospital staffs were breathing easily now that they left.
Nathan's complex
Next day (3:40 p.m.)
Nathan moved around the room, gathering up loose items and putting them back in place. Now that Sakura was there, he had to clean up otherwise he would have left them. Even Mark had begun to pick up his toys in the corner of the small living room, stacking leggos and blocks neatly. Hoping over to Nathan's side, Mark jumped up onto his brother's back. Laughing lightly, Nathan carried him towards the kitchen and dropped him so suddenly that it shook the table. Placing empty cans on the counter, he went back into the room and stopped. Sakura was awake, her eyes staring up at the ceiling like she was counting the tiny dots in them. Smiling at his memory of Billy he walked towards her, holding his hand up to stop Mark from following. "Hey you're finally awake." Nathan spoke, going over to her and kneeling. Sakura looked side ways at him, the pain in her temple forming
"What time is it?" she asked softly, registering who he was. Mark came up to the end of the couch, watching silently.
"Almost four," Nathan answered, glancing at the clock to his left. Sakura nodded solemnly, turning her head to look at Mark. She gave him a weak smile and he took off, running into a room she assumed was his. Nathan shook his head, witnessing his brother's behavior. "You passed out and slept for half the day…I'd say about twenty eight hours exactly." He told her, wondering if she wanted to know that but he told her anyway. Sakura started to struggle to her elbows, then into a sitting position and it hurt. "Whoa, hey what are you doing? You're not in any shape to move yet." He took hold of her shoulders but she shrugged away.
"I am if I have to pee," her comment hit him like a ton of bricks and a blush rose on his cheeks.
"Oh, well do you want me to help you get to the bathroom?" he asked, feeling stupid.
"I managed to walk out of a hospital…I think I can manage a bathroom." She told him firmly but it came out so harsh that she ended up coughing. Clearing her throat, she got to her feet and walked forward. Her legs were stiff, hurting as she took step after step towards an opened door that was the bathroom. Then at once she stopped, feeling a pinch in her chest. Not moving any further she turned her head to the male that was watching with amusement. "Nathan," she said his name in a high-pitched voice and he laughed.
"You can manage huh?" he mocked, going over to her and placing one of her arms around his shoulder.
"Shut up and get me to that stupid toilet." He laughed, walking at a slow pace with her. She hopped then stopped making him gathering up into his arms like a child. He didn't mind doing that, it was that she was so light it made him sick. He absently wondered how she could stand being so tiny and thin that anyone could take advantage of her and crush her. His thoughts flitted to her bruises and possibly broken ribs and he wondered if it already happened. If someone had already taken advantage of her and broke her. When they reached the bathroom he placed her down, laughing when she scowled at having to be carried. Walking out, he shut the door behind him and she locked it.
Her gaze went to the lit room, finding a black tiled floor and a rich green sink and tiled counter. The hanging shower curtain covering the dark green bathtub-shower was that of forest green with a large Chinese symbol on the middle of it. From being in Hong Kong for half her known and remembered life she easily recognized the symbol as Warrior. Sakura found herself smirking going over to the sink. Turning the facets she just stood there, watching as the clear water ran quickly from the silver spout. Her mind whirled with flashbacks from the hospital to times with Syaoran, a mixed membrance that confused her. The fighting, the racing, and then blackness that turned to Touya and Lefty. She couldn't remember anything else passed racing but it seemed so long ago that it didn't matter much to her.
Closing her eyes she splashed water onto her face and just stood frozen for awhile, letting the water slid down her face before turning it off and standing up. Taking one of the small towels hanging she dried off her face before turning around and facing the mirror. Staring back at her was a girl that looked sick. Visual proof she was in the hospital dying on death row. Her emerald orbs were dilated so bad that she looked like she was stoned. She wasn't wearing makeup and it looked strange making the stoned look dominating. She wasn't stoned but if Takashi or Chiharu saw her now, they would think she was. A natural high…she found herself laughing silently. She still wore the opened shirt and she looked at the bruises from a new perspective, tracing her fingers alone one of them. it was a perfect bulge identical to a rib. When she pressed at it, a sharp pain pulsed through her and she gasped for breath. She had cracked her ribs or sprained them.
"Look at you Sakura, you look like shit…what the hell did I do to deserve it?" She spoke in a whisper as she fingered combed her knotty brown hair. "If Touya could see me now he would frown and scold me…" She continued to mumble. Her fingers went to the small purple blotch on her eye and she tenderly touched it, wincing slightly at the feel of it. "What happened to me? How did I become so fucking weak?"
Unexpected tears slipped from the corners of her black eyes and she wiped them away, her hands shaking badly. Hugging herself she continued to just stare into the mirror, willing the reflection to change. Change into something that didn't look like a crack head. Didn't look like someone rapped her and left her for dead. Blood sprayed the ground as he repeatedly smacked Touya's head into the ground. Sakura's stomach pulsed inside of her and she dropped to her knees by the toilet, retching out water and air. Her throat burned from her own acidic fluid and she chocked, letting spit slid down her chin as she gagged. The scene played over and over in her head, reminding her of everything. Gagging out fluid once more she pulled back and leaned against the wall. She felt stiff and tired and weak. If it was possible, she wanted to just fall asleep and forget everything that happened. Pretend nothing was wrong.
"Hey are you alright in there?" she heard Nathan ask. Just the sound of his voice brought her back to reality. A reality that was far from the past so why was she dwelling on it like it was yesterday? Coughing so her voice wouldn't be scratchy she weakly got to her feet. "Sakura?" he called when she didn't answer right away. Head pounding she held the sink edges for support as she walked to the door, wiping whatever spit she might have on her face. The door shook and she felt her head spin.
"I'm fine," she spoke, unlocking and opening the door before he could pound on it. Wiping tears from her face she managed a weak, non-existent smile. "I'm fine." She repeated to his curious look. She still had to pee but she was going to do it another time when she wasn't dwelling. He blew out air from his nose as he stepped back, allowing her to leave the bathroom. Turning the light off he followed behind her, the same worried expression on his face. He'd heard her suddenly coughing and chocking through the door.
"Are you sure? Do you want to lie down again or something to eat?" he asked, lightly touching her shoulder. She stopped and turned to look at him. Her eyes were bloodshot, making her emerald orbs look dilated more then before. But for once she looked alive and not dead.
"I'll be fine…don't worry." She told him. He still didn't look convinced. Sighing she opened her mouth to ask him something when the door opened and Mark came running in. he stopped just a steps away from the two, his face expectant as he looked from Sakura to Nathan with his large round amber gaze. "Mark right?" she asked and he nodded, keeping his large eyes on her now. "I'm Sakura," she told him, wondering if he already knew that. The little boy merely smiled, showing missing teeth.
"You're Billy's mommy," he responded making Sakura laugh. So he witnessed the spork beating, she thought nodding her head to him. That tiny action sent a wave of pain through her temples. Biting her cheek she kept from showing her hurt. Nathan was already on edge that she was up and about. Mark turned back to his brother, tugging at his wrist. "Can we go now? I'm hungry,"
"Yeah, we can go now." Nathan looked at Sakura; brow rose at her condition but said nothing. He had been saying enough since she woke for the second time. "Are you going to join us?"
"Of course,"
They walked the pavilion, Sakura hanging on Nathan's arm for support while Mark walked at a quicker pace in front of them. To passers they looked like a couple taking their son out for a late afternoon meal. Of course they thought differently of her when Sakura suddenly burst out profanity. "Fuck, Fuck, you have to hide me." Sakura suddenly spoke, gripping Nathan's arm and stopping them in their tracks. Mark stopped, hearing her. Running back to them he looked at Nathan expectantly. The kid was hungry but he didn't say anything as Sakura continued to swear. "Shit,"
"Why? Hey what are you doing?" Nathan stumbled over his own feet as Sakura dragged him inside a café. At a quick grab he had hold of Mark and dragged him along as well. Making the younger boy protest in glee. Two of the girls at the register looked up, brows raised as they watched Sakura force Nathan into a booth by a large showcase window, plopping down next to him. Mark sidled into the empty side, arms crossed. "Sakura what are you doing?" he asked again, briefly looking up at the people staring at them. They had even gotten the attention of two university students studying in a quiet corner. Turning away he was brought back to the girl beside him as she moved him to sit sideways at an angle, her eyes on someone outside. Gad this is embarrassing, he breathed heavily.
"It's Aiko. I can't let her see me." She finally answered. At the name mentioned, Nathan turned his head to look outside but Sakura forced his head to remain facing her and the café. "Don't…I don't' want her recognizing you then seeing me. I'll be done for,"
"Right…" he frowned, watching as her expression remained passive. For a girl that was still sore and weak from…what ever happened to her, she had a lot of energy to hide and be 'inconspicuous' to others around her. "Is Aiko with someone? Milay…Koji…Lane…" he trailed off, naming the people he knew that Aiko would most likely be seen with. Sakura shook her head, tilting slightly to the side to see more clearly.
"No she's with…" she ended up with her head resting against the cold table, gazing at the two across the street at a mechanics. "What the fuck is your problem? She's here isn't she?" Lefty gasped out, yanking his arms free from his friend's hold. Without warning Lefty attacked, knocking him to the ground with Lucas still attached to the arm. Blood sprayed the ground as he repeatedly smacked Touya's head into the ground. Sakura screamed for them to stop but no one listened so she started screaming for the guy to release her but they didn't listen either. Touya kicked Lefty off him, sending him to crash into October's car. His body left an imprint making October swear out rashly.
"Bastard," Touya spit out blood and made to run at him but froze. Sakura's eyes went wide and she froze in place as well, her struggling coming to a complete stop. Everyone seemed to freeze in his or her place, shocked by the new turn of event. Lefty struggling to his feet, smearing the blood of his injured face. He arm began shaking, holding the weapon out and aimed right at the target. "What are you doing?" Touya asked rather dumbly, keeping his eyes trained on the gun. No words, no movement to try and stop any of it, not even a glance at the girl suddenly dropping to her knees in wide tearful eyes. The only sound being made was the high-pitched shot of the gun and Sakura's shrill scream.
"That fucking cock sucking bastard!" getting to her feet she went back out of the café and across the street to where Aiko was. Nathan ran after her, giving apologies to the cars that were slamming on their breaks because of him and Sakura. Horns blared, bringing the attention of the people that were curious. "I'm going to kill him for killing my brother!" Sakura was saying. Nathan latched onto her wrist and brought her back to him.
"Hey stop, Sakura stop." He bellowed into her ear, dragging her under a canvas of a restaurant. Her legs went up in struggle to get free, bones crackling in pain at her attempts. Gasping for breath she stopped and Nathan released her, remembering her incapability to withstand any kind of tight hold. "Sorry but I had to. What were you thinking just going across the street like that? I thought you wanted to stay unseen?" he asked her, trying to look her in the eye but she slowly steadied herself and looked over at Aiko just a store away.
"That fucking bastard with her…Lefty…h-he killed my brother," was all she managed to say through a tightening throat. It was like fresh news to her, like it happened yesterday and not a few years ago. Basically to her, it was fresh news. The two said people started walking towards them, talking in hushed words. Sakura thought a moment of confronting them but as they got closer, she took Nathan's hand and walked a little further under the restaurant's canvas until they went by completely. Nathan held her back, stopping her from going after them. "Nathan I have to know why she's with him."
"Sakura…" he paused, thinking for a way to say what he had to say. She searched his dark eyes waiting impatiently. "Lefty didn't…Touya never died because of Lefty, he died because he got in a car crash during a race." Her eyes went wide, arms falling limply at her side helplessly. Car crash? Touya died in a car crash…her mind swirled in colors of her brother's face followed by Lefty's laughing one. Both of them seemed to mix in together before becoming dark and forming into Nathan as she found reality. "I thought you knew that," Nathan was saying, not catching the distant look in the girl's eyes.
"I…" she looked over at Aiko and Lefty as they stopped before someone new. Someone Sakura knew. Her eyes went wide, recognizing the black hooded figure as Koji. The hood was practically hiding his face but she could make out the laughter and the voice as he spoke loudly to Lefty about missing a turn on the street. His excuse to being late, she figured. "I never knew…for awhile I didn't even know I had a brother…he crashed?" that took Nathan by surprise as he continued to study her. She was intently keeping her gaze wide as she watched the three just down the street.
"Is that why you…hey you okay?" he held her chin to make her look at him. Tears were slipping from her eyes in tiny drops. "Come on, I'll take you home." He felt sorry for her and worse since he seemed to be the one to break the news about her brother even if it was five-year news. Sakura collapsed to her knees, holding the end of his shirt in her small grasp.
"I'm so confused now…why…why was I in Hong Kong?" she asked looking up at him. He held a blank face, his dark gaze shifting to the people looking at them as they walked back. "If my brother died, why the hell did I leave…why can't I remember?" her body rocked as she sobbed, drawing more and more attention to them. Nathan's gaze shifted to Aiko who seemingly heard the yell. Slowly her baby blue head turned but he knelt to the ground. "Take me home," she said before he could say anything. Nodding he gathered up light form into his arms and stood, walking out from under the canvas. Looking around, he searched the sidewalk, avoiding Aiko's gaze on them. He didn't care that she recognized him or Sakura.
"Mark," Nathan suddenly said in horror, realizing he wasn't with them. He wasn't on their side of the street. Searching around he found him at the window of the café across the street. Mark had waited patiently in the booth when Sakura and him had made a dash out. An ice cream sundae was in front of him, half eaten and half melting. Nathan sighed in relief, cocking his head for his brother to follow. With a tired sigh, the young boy smiled at the waitresses and ran out, following silently beside as Nathan carried the half conscious Sakura back to the apartment.
Tskuino Residence (Garage)
6:00 p.m.
"Hey Kyle, I got that fucking report you wanted. Did you know they have a new manager?" Meilin spoke, turning a radio down a bit so he could hear her. Sliding out from under his car, Kyle was shaking his head, sitting up to take the large envelope from her hands. She huffed, running her palms over her blue jeans. "Well there is and he didn't want to give me the report because of the rules and regs…he was intent on following them or else he'd get thrown in jail or some shit like that. He was a complete ass to me, even when I told him I was a Li, he still was all up in a bunch of not getting me that report unless I was the driver or the police." She looked down at her red headed boyfriend, noticing he wasn't paying much attention. Eyebrows rising, she leaned against a tool shed and continued on, pretending he was listening. "You know in order to get that I lost my dignity to him…going commando was the only way to get it, door locked, lights dimmed to make it romantic while that three hundred sixty pound lard was on top of my lithe frame…"
"Meilin hand me that flashlight." Kyle spoke, cutting her off. She growled in annoyance, knowing he had completely ignored her lie that she slept with the man. Passing the flashlight that was near her hand, she watched in utter silence as he went back underneath his still slightly wrecked car. There was a weird silence, the slight ticking of a clock and the hum of Seether killing it. Meilin found interest in this and knelt, just as he came back out holding a small black box. A green light was continuously blinking, giving her a headache as she watched almost mesmerized. "When I got my car back, they told me it was tampered with, like someone took the engine out and put it back in badly." He told her, meeting her violet gaze.
"So what the hell is that thing?" Meilin took it from him, examining it more closely. Her perfectly blood red painted nails tapped against the aluminum part of it as he flipped it this way and that, still practically mesmerized by the green blink. "It kind of looks like a bomb," just saying that made her eyes grow wide, letting the thing drop from her grasp and clatter onto the ground loudly. Kyle frowned at her and she pointed accusingly. "That thing vibrated, it's hella creepy."
"It's not a bomb Meilin, otherwise it would have taken my car out…as well as Sakura and Aiko. Probably half the crowd too," he snatched up the thing, enclosing his entire hand around it. Like she had said it was vibrating, becoming warmer each second. That never was a good sign. "I'm going to figure out what this thing is and how it got under my car." Getting to his feet, he placed the small device into his jeans pockets and started for the back.
"How?" Meilin asked, following after him quickly to keep up with his large strides. He grabbed his jacket and a set of keys, back tracking towards the front where the door was. Meilin continued to follow, professionally slipping the radio off and the lights at the same time without much trouble.
"Umm…" Kyle thought a moment, pulling his jacket on and turning to look at his girlfriend as she shut the garage door after him. "I think I'll head to Nathan, get him to look at it since he's so fucking smart. So tell Syaoran I had to get…uh more parts or something," Meilin stopped in her tracks, taking by surprise. Sensing and seeing her confusion, he stopped as well, barely hitting the motorcycle parked behind him. "Mei he's still pissed that Kinomoto left in the first place, plus iffy about the crash. If we told him that I found some vibrating device underneath my car…" he trailed, letting her imagination finish the rest. "I think I rather keep my head."
"Take me with you at least. You know he'll ask questions and I don't do well with questions by a Li." Meilin ran her hand across his cheek and down his chest, trying to entice him. Smiling, Kyle took her hands and brought them up to his lips, kissing her fingers lightly. She pouted, knowing the answer.
"Not a chance," pulling away he climbed onto the motorcycle, starting it up easily. Meilin continued to pout, crossing her arms over her chest as she frowned. "Hey, I'm not the one who screwed a three hundred pout mechanic for a lousy report." That made her laugh, a touch of red appearing on her cheeks. So he had been listening to her. "Besides, Naoko wouldn't want one of her best buds seeing a guy that dumped her. At least, without her permission to pummel him."
"I wasn't going to pummel him, I was going to yell at him. Big difference." He gave her a knowing look, making her sigh. "Fine, leave. Just tell Nat we want him to come back. It's a little quiet without him and Haku at each other's throats." dropping her arms she wrapped them around Kyle's neck to give him a quick lingering kiss. "Don't worry, you're a much better screw," she whispered to him, stepping back and away from the motorbike.
"That makes me feel better," he laughed, blowing her another kiss before revving up and taking off. Meilin watched him disappear out the gates before turning on her heel and marching herself into the house, knowing questions were about to be asked.
A cold touch was what woke her up this time. But unlike last time when her eyes made contact with dark pupils, she knew who it was and didn't freak out. Though it would have been highly amusing to attack Nathan with Billy the spork again. Her body felt stiff, making it difficult to sit up. Her chest felt like it was caving in when she struggled to her elbows. The second she was at an angle, Sakura gasped out in pain. Nathan took hold of her hand and she clamped onto it, squeezing. It was like a ton of bricks were stocking one by one onto her chest suddenly. Nathan had to keep from gasping out in his own pain as her hand tightened more and more, cutting off any circulation going to his fingers. Sakura went back into a laying position, not able to support herself any longer. And that was it. The pain had subsided the second she was straight.
"What the hell was that about?" Nathan asked through clenched teeth, yanking his hand back. Flexing it, wanting the blood flow back to his fingers, Nathan gathered to his feet. Sakura remained where she was, struggling to breath right. Where would she have gone? She couldn't even sit up at an angle without freaking out from the agony it came with.
"Nat…" tears slipped from her eyes as the pain resided in the depths of her ribs. She had tried to tell him that it was hard for her but it cut her off. Breathing quickly from lack of the rise and fall of her chest, she gripped the bottom of the couch, trying to raise it up into her body without moving. It wasn't exactly working. It just made her arms sore at the pressure of holding on.
"Shit, don't do this to me right now." he begged, grabbing her free arm as it went up to grip the top of the couch. "I'm going to call an ambulance," he told her, feeling his own chest tighten at the sight of her. Her fingers tightened around his, keeping him from going anywhere.
"No," she snapped in a rather interesting tone of voice. "I'm…I'm fine,"
"Hey I'm not about to have you die with my younger brother playing in the next room." He told her, glancing behind him. As if he read Nathan's mind, Mark appeared out of nowhere, standing at the doorframe. His eyes were large as he stared at them. "Mark go," he ordered but the little boy didn't budge. He was too frightened to. Sakura tried to laugh, wanting him to be happy and not scared but when she laughed, she coughed. It was restricted to sharp intakes of breaths, painful intakes of breath. The doorbell rang at that second. Everyone seemed to go quiet, hearing it ring once more. Not even Mark moved. "Get the door,"
"But…" Mark didn't say anything else as Sakura screamed so loud it hurt his ears. Covering his own ears Mark walked towards the door but it crashed open. Eyes wide, he stood in the foyer as Kyle walked briskly in. he had heard the scream. "Uncle Kyle I wouldn't go in there," Mark spoke making Kyle stop as asked. He curled into himself as Sakura screamed again, the pain invading her entire body. Kyle looked at the room it was coming from then at Mark. Frowning, he gathered the young kid into his arms and went for his bedroom.
"What's going on?" he asked Mark as he placed him on his bed. Mark shook his head, not answering. Curling under his Yu-gi-oh covers, he hid as the screams continued. Kyle felt sorry for the kid as he left the room, flipping the light on and shutting the door. Walking back to the other room he stopped at the wide entrance frame. Nathan looked up, pain in his eyes as his wrist was being squeezed from life. Seeing Kyle start forward Nathan held up his good arm and pointed to the kitchen.
"Get a hot cloth and cold cloth," Kyle nodded going to the kitchen, he glanced at the female on the couch but couldn't see who she was. Her screaming had subsided but from the hissing of breaths, she was in immense pain. "You shouldn't have been so active today, I'm sorry." Nathan apologized but Sakura shook her head, trying to say it wasn't his fault. Teeth were clenched together as a wave of nausea passed over her. Kyle's footsteps were returning and Nathan looked up, seeing the red head walking towards them at a brisk easy pace. He had a bowl of steaming water as well. The second Kyle came around in view; Sakura felt her heart skip of beat in surprise and her world went black.
Her fingers went lax on Nathan's wrist and he looked at her in surprise, not knowing she had fallen back unconscious. Sighing glumly, he got to his feet. Kyle was frozen in place at the end of the couch, staring down at the girl on the couch. "Sakura," he breathed, eyes wide in surprise.
To be continued…