First weekend in a while where I had nothing to do, it was great.
Got a burst of writing energy wohoo!
Here you are, enjoy!
x x x
"Are you listening?"
Sakura blinked and forced herself out of her daze. "Yes," She lied.
Yue crossed his arms tossed her a worried look, something he's be doing a lot of lately. "I need your focus. We can't go ahead with this unless you're fully in."
"I am focused." She said sterner.
Yue looked at her sceptically for a while. Even in the dark room under the deep red fluorescent lights he could see the distant worry on her face. He knew exactly what was distracting her but didn't bring it up. He focused back onto the pictures laid out in front of him.
They were still deciding which photos would be useful. They had to be sure to get every single thing right. The magnitude of their plan held too many consequences to be executed wrongly.
"The Mirth fields," He murmured. "If we place them parallel to these two," He said pointing to pictures of worker with gaunt faces and children with no shoes. "It'll have more impact."
Sakura nodded and picked up another. "This one too."
Yue shook his head. "It's a waste of column space. We need to show pictures inside the houses, not of the porch-"
"Easterners take pride in presentation. The front door should be the first thing you see. Seeing the shabby work and poor material on Western homes will pull at their emotions more."
Yue didn't argue. Sakura knew Eastern culture better than him, and what they needed was the East to be on their side. In fact, that part was vital. Yue reached for a picture that had just developed. When he turned it upright Sakura's eyes winced and shut briefly.
"Too much?" He asked.
Sakura made herself look at the picture which contained the bloodied corpse of Rei Tachibana. The picture showed her body minutes after Chiharu was forced to shoot her. Half her face was blown off. A murder that seemed so long ago yet that image was so fresh in her mind.
"It is…but it's needed. You need to mention how it happened and about Chiharu's murder-"
"No," He cut her off.
"Yue," She said in annoyance that they were going to disagree over this again. "We can't be biased. We have to tell the truth. All sides of the wall are affected by this. Chiharu was also murdered, as were so many cadets. I know if people read about it they'll empathize more. No one wants to know the government is militarizing kids-"
"Or," he interjected. "You might make all the west look like killers, gaining sympathy for the South thus empowering the military's support which," He looked down at her. "is how we got into this mess."
"I get it, you don't want to print anything that directly affects Toya-"
"Don't." He said and clutched the photo I his hand. "Don't go there."
Sakura didn't push it. There were still so many things they had to do. They didn't have time to fight about this now. The plan was simple, but very time limited. It was a complete expose on everything. All the finding they found, all Sakura's hidden diary entries were going to finally be published. They had the photos and statements but they needed more. They would call for three things.
Demilitarization
Destruction of the walls
Opening up to the rest of the world.
Simple, but even they had doubts to its achievability. Yue was head of media. He would have it printed the night before Utopia day. The East was already rumbled from the deaths at the Palace and the lack of military response. The East and West outnumbered the South, if people were willing to fight, there was a chance they could win. But they needed their eyes opened. Sakura needed to do that.
The backlash would be immediate. The military would scramble to cover it up. But once there was doubt in the people's mind, it would be hard to contain the unrest.
"You need to get back to the West. Take statement, as many as you can. And photos."
"You think they're going to let me back into the West after the attack on the palace?"
"They will under the guise that the Western Wonders is doing a pro-military article."
"Aren't they going to get suspicious?"
"Base is a mess right now. They're scrambling to get order back. You're not their priority."
She nodded. Although she didn't know how much longer she could mentally keep up with pro-military charade.
"There's too many holes in this plan." Yue muttered. "Too many obstacles."
Sakura blew hot air from her cheeks and scratched her head. "Getting Eastern support won't be hard, everyone is already riled up. Small riots have broken out already on our side of the wall." It came as a great surprise to Sakura the fighting spirit that lay dormant in the East. She was sure they had submitted to the regime, she was gladly mistaken.
"I'm more worried about the backlash the West will get. They've nowhere to go if we bring this on them."
Sakura gulped. If only there was a way they could escape when this happened. They were both stumped on this. But one thing was for certain, when it came to violence, Toya was ready. That's what frightened her the most. She'd have to talk to him, get him on her side fighting with her. She dreaded that talk, but it had to happen.
"What of the North? We shouldn't discount them."
"Northerners listen only to their King. They're obsessed with the monarch. The only side of the wall that are under the illusion the military work for them. And it's not like any member of the monarch is going to suddenly be in favour of the breakdown of society as they know it."
Sakura sighed. "Not while the King lives in the pocket of the General."
Sakura had some influence over the Northerners, her column did better there than anywhere else in Tomoeda, but this was out of her league. If only the monarch was on their side or could be convinced.
"There's no going back from this." Yue murmured.
Sakura nodded. She knew it had to be now. They had to take advantage of the happenings of the palace.
Sakura held a small fear that their plan was eerily similar to her mother's all those years ago. Would people die again for the sake of Sakura's words? Was she going to be as guilty as her mother?
Sakura shook her head. No. She was not her mother. She had proof, her mother didn't.
"Yue…" Sakura said in a sudden weak voice that called Yue's attention. "Have you heard anything from…"
She crossed her arms tightly and looked down already regretting bringing it up. But it's been five days. Five days of absolute agony, of waiting to hear something, anything from him. Her mind wouldn't be fully focused unless she knew. But then again…she didn't want to know in case…in case…
"Security is tight at the moment at Base, Sakura…If I called around asking for him…it'd be too suspicious."
Sakura nodded and gulped back a lump forming in her throat.
"Sakura." Yue said and lifted her head with his fingers in a gesture that was comforting. "If the General's son died…we'd know about it by now. Don't assume the worst."
He didn't know why he was comforting her. Since when did he become so empathic? But Sakura was one of only two people he had come to care for.
She smiled weakly. "I thought your motto was to always assume the worst."
"I suppose you've influenced me a little."
She wanted to laugh but she couldn't find the strength. "Then why hasn't he let me know? Why haven't I heard from him?"
"I can't answer that. And you can't let this fog you mind. I need you to focus."
She nodded. Although pushing Syaoran from her thoughts was impossible.
"Go home. You look like you haven't slept in days."
"No, I'll stay."
"It wasn't a request. I can handle everything from here. I need you rested for when you go back into the West."
She decided not to fight him on this. He was right. She couldn't sleep or close her eyes without seeing Syaoran's face or tormenting herself for leaving him like she did.
As she left she looked back at Yue who had already busied himself in other work. She saw through it though. He was too proud to admit that Toya was never far from his mind, and that what they were doing was against everything Toya would approve.
X x x
Mizuki suppressed a groan as she sat back and listened.
"You don't believe me, do you? You think I'm crazy."
Mizuki bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from agreeing. "Meiling, why are you in uniform? You haven't been discharged from the hospital yet."
"Are you even listening to me?" Meiling said with wide, blood shot eyes. She had stopped pacing back and forth for a second in Mizuki's office. "Don't you hear what I'm saying?"
Mizuki pinched the bridge of her nose. With so much happening at Base since the attack, Meiling's mental breakdown and wild statements were the last thing she needed. Not to even mention the small bouts of violence reported coming from the East, of all places. These small riots seemed harmless, but Mizuki knew all too well not to overlook the rebellious fire of the East.
She forced herself to look at Meiling, a soldier she had so much hope for at the beginning, someone who's potential Mizuki had nurtured for years. Now…he she was babbling about a conspiracy with the huge bandage tightened around her badly bruised head.
"Meiling, you can understand why I'm conflicted. You claim that Syaoran, the Lieutenant Colonel, is conspiring against the military."
"It's true!" She said in a small outburst. "He's plotting something, I just know. You need to discharge me and put me back out there. I'll stop whatever he's planning. We need him interrogated-"
"Lieutenant Li!" Mizuki said in a sharp tone that silenced Meiling. "I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear you throw serious accusation at the General's son. There are serious implications to that."
Meiling clenched her jaw. "And what if I'm right? What if he succeeds, you'll be sorry then."
Mizuki should reprimand her for such ludicrous statements. But Mizuki knew that in her heart, no one cared about Utopia more than Meiling Li. That stupid girl cared for it with every fibre of her being.
Meiling approached her desk slowly. "Just discharge me and let me back to the cadets. We'll oversee the eastern wall and then-"
"As if I'd hand them over to you after that disaster at the Palace. Do you know how many calls I had to make to parents? Sorry, you kid was shot dead before they even made graduation. No, Meiling. I'm sorry, but you're not fit to be in charge of them. Not in your current state anyway."
Meiling's chest tightened in anger and a hopeless sense of loss squeezed her. They were her cadets, her pride.
"They wouldn't be as capable as they are now without me." She said in a low, angered voice.
"You're right. But they may also be alive if it weren't for you."
Meiling felt her words burn hard. As Mizuki trusted her more and more over the years Meiling forgot how cold and harsh she could be.
"Meiling, you need rest. You've sustained severe head injuries. We've yet to know if there is any permanent brain damage. If you truly want to be of use to me you'll stay in hospital and recover where you won't be in my way." Mizuki said this in such a light tone that Meiling almost missed the nastiness in it.
"But…my cadets…"
"Have already been handed over to new supervision."
Meiling narrow her eyes. "To who?"
Mizuki actually hesitated and pressed her lips into a hard line. "Well we needed to hand them over quickly. The most suited seemed to be-"
"Syaoran." She finished for her in a flat, depressed tone.
"Well…he did outrank you in combat and strategy back in your training. It seemed like it suited. He's been discharged yesterday."
Meiling's hands began to tremble in fury. She brought them to her head, feeling her bandage where underneath her skull was trying to recover quickly. She wondered if she had lost it. Because what Mizuki was saying was making her sick.
"That's not fair…I give everything to Utopia. I-I've done everything right. I have no marks against me, I've never missed a training, meeting...nothing. And now I'm being punished for it!? Meanwhile he has lived perfectly comfortable behind a desk being a paper pushed for years distancing himself from any conflict and yet he got promoted, he gets whatever he wants because he's the General's fucking son!? Are you fucking kidding me!"
Meiling's hands slammed her palms down on Mizuki's oak desk and the impact rang out. Meiling's heart was thumping in her head and her whole body shook with both fury and fear that she spoke to the Lieutenant General in such a way. The only sound under Mizuki's now raging but silence stare was Meiling's heavy breathing.
"I'll remind you to whom you are speaking too, Lieutenant Li."
Meiling removed her hands and took a step back feeling dizzy as everything she worked for was slipping through her fingers like sand.
"Honestly, Lieutenant. Get your shit together. It's pathetic looking at you. I know in the past the Lieutenant Colonel hasn't been so…forthcoming with being involved with conflict. But he has changed since the events at the palace. He wants to restore order now more than ever. I don't know why you are so angry. Lieutenant Colonel Li tried to save you at the palace."
"He tried to kill me!" She fired back. "If there were bullets in that gun I'd be gone! He didn't try to save anyone."
"Now why would he want to kill you, Meiling? Answer me that, please."
Meiling's mouth opened but no words formed. She knew Syaoran had ulterior motives. There was something that did indeed change in him since the palace, but Meiling couldn't see that he was on their side.
"Was he the one that struck you on the head?"
"N-no…"
"So, after he got shot in the back, twice, he decided to randomly attempt to kill you?"
"No that's not what I'm saying-"
"Then please, explain."
"I…I don't know…I just know it in my gut. He's not one of us."
Mizuki sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Go back to the infirmary Meiling. Get your head together and come back when you can provide some use to me." With that Miuki went back to her reports, signalling Meiling to leave.
Meiling hovered a second longer, hoping Mizuki would see she was only looking out for Base, for Tomoeda. But after a second, she knew she was on her own with exposing Syaoran.
She left and restrained herself from slamming the door.
She was about to storm away but when she looked up every nerve inside of her froze. Opposite the doors to Mizuki's office, Syaoran was leaning against the wall, arms crossed with a chilly stare. Meiling couldn't move under the sudden shock. He was wearing his full uniform now, hiding a man who was shot and survived two bullets to the back. She'd seem him in it hundreds of times before but this time, he looked so menacing, intimidating.
Her mind flashed back to when he was over her with a gun. Her memory was so foggy and faded from the night of the palace. But that image of him was a clear as day. He was going to take her with him.
Meiling forced herself to blink. She couldn't show weakness. Despite her trembling knees she spoke, "I know you're up to something. They might not believe me, but you haven't fooled me."
Syaoran's face didn't budge or reveal any hint she unnerved him in the slightest. He uncrossed his arms and walked to her in small, deliberate steps. Meiling was aware that there was no one else in the giant hallway.
She thought he was going to walk past her and say nothing, but he stopped inched from her. She felt trapped under his cold glare. He brought his face suddenly an inch from hers. She flinched away from him, a small cry coming from her throat.
"Good." He said in a dark tone that chilled her bones long after he walked past her and into Mizuki's office.
Meiling's legs wouldn't move and she feared her body would betray her and collapse. But she walked on, using her shaking hand against the wall to guide her.
'He's coming for me…" She thought. 'But I'll get to him first…'
X x x
Doubt hovered over the East like a thick fog.
Fujitaka could smell it.
He kept his head low as he passed through the streets, noting the small clumps of people whispering. For once, it was not about him.
He passed a woman and her son. She was raising a sign opposite a local police station holding up a sign that read, 'What happened to my son?'
Fujitaka gulped. He had been lucky that his daughter had made it back. But a troubling number of Easterners hadn't. The military had not released a statement yet. It worried Fujitaka to see the growing resentment that had been dormant in the East begin to stir and bubble over.
Those who were comfortable to stay on the good side of the South were finally choosing to see through the lies.
"And now they're telling us it was an evacuation drill? Have we become so gullible in their eyes? How have we let ourselves get like this?" Shouted a man standing on a box with a gathering crowd.
Fujitaka heard murmurs and whispers.
'My cousin was there, she said military opened fire without even trying to distinguish the enemy from westerners.'
'Westerners were made sit in the back like servants. How is that fair?'
"But my father said the Westerners started it. But why? Why are they so angry?"
Fujitaka froze. It was all eerily familiar.
He took a moment to gather his breath. It was happening again. It was the same, but it was different. Because Fujitaka knew how these things ended.
"We are owed answers! We are citizens of Tomoeda. They can't hide behind the South walls!" The man's statement got an applause.
As if on cue, soldiers came to break up the crowds. Fujitaka expected the crowds to filter away but was amazed when they stayed put. A can from nowhere was thrown at a soldier and the small crowd turned on them, forcing them to retreat.
He had not seen such an open display of dissidence in years. It shook him.
This is how it starts…Fujitaka knew if it did not get under control, he knew where it would lead. He walked away from the increasingly maddening crowd with his heart thumping.
He knew this would not end well…but rage and sense of injustice in him were suddenly alight, as if he were a young journalist again. It worried him.
But not as much as Sakura did.
X x x
They both stood there, craning their neck up to catch sign of movement.
Nothing.
Tomoyo felt a chill up her spine and looked to Eriol who had a hard expression on his face. Tomoyo looked back up at the South-Western wall and bit the inside of her cheek. It's been days since the attack on the palace. They waited for the retaliation to come. Villagers had already packed their bags and relocated further into the Western mountains to avoid the possible repercussions. But nothing.
"It's s eerie." Tomoyo whispered, afraid to disturb the strange peacefulness. There were no soldiers swarming the area, no tanks, the door were sealed shut with no movement behind them. Almost all soldiers left the West. Nothing had come in or out of the walls. No food, no exports, not even a newspaper to let them know what was happening out there.
And of course, Ruby's medication was running out.
"They're shutting us out." Eriol said. "For now. They know we're short on food. They're trying to starve us."
Tomoyo swallowed. "If they keep this up, it'll work."
"They'll come back, with retaliation. It's only a matter of time."
Tomoyo nodded in agreement. The waiting was agony. Any loud noises put them both on edge. They didn't know if they were even going to wake up the next morning.
"When they come back, they'll go for the main villages. They'll come after me too." He said and took her hand into his. He pulled her into him. She loved the affection, the gentleness, but with every panicked rushed gesture she feared he saw it as their last. "When they do, you can't be here."
Tomoyo's lips parted as she took a step back from him. "What does that mean? I'm not going anywhere."
"You have to retreat of they'll think you were one of the rebels."
"Who cares about that? They're coming for us all anyway regardless."
Eriol touched her cheek and felt torn. He promised himself after the palace attack he'd separate her from his life. But with every attempt to deter her, she won, and he crumbled under the momentous desire to selfishly keep her with him. Because without her…He wasn't sure how much more he could take.
But something as bothering him.
"You say you love me." He said.
"I do." She smiled.
"But you won't tell me about your past. About the real you."
"This is the real me. I didn't even realize it until I came here. Why does this bother you so much?"
He looked away from her briefly which worried her.
"How did you know the Colonel Lieutenant?" He asked, afraid of her response. But it was bothering him. How was she so familiar with such a high-ranking soldier who had the power to destroy their lives if he so chose to.
Tomoyo went very quiet. Her mind racing to pick out a reasonable and believable excuse. It couldn't come up with one. She knew he was tip-toeing around her past. Trying to find out more. But he was never this direct.
"He…we've met briefly. In my past, that's all."
"He called you by your name. Your real name. That's how you let me find out?" He sounded hurt. Almost jealous. He was content for the longest time that her secrets were hers, but now he found himself thinking about it more and more.
"Eriol," She whispered and placed her hands on his chest. She saw in his eyes he was trying to understand her. "It's not important. None of it is. I love you, and I'm not leaving you. Even if you want me to. We both know I don't listen to you anyway."
His mouth twitched and he broke. He kissed her softly and for a long time, memorizing her smell, the taste on her lips…
"The west is my home and I will die for it. For you." She whispered.
He broke from her embrace. A sudden look of anger on his face.
"I don't want you to die for me, I want you to live! Even if it means..." He broke off. She was driving his crazy. This whole situation was. Eriol had never felt such emotions before he met her. He wished he hadn't met her at a time when it felt like Tomoeda was crumbling and the west was demanding so much from him.
Tomoyo balled her fists to keep from crying. "Even if it means never seeing me again?"
"Yes!" He replied. "Because it will mean you'll live."
"And what about you? Do you think I'm so selfish that I care about my own life more than yours? You keep saying you have this duty to these people when I think you want to die here. Why can't you care about yourself enough to survive?"
"Unlike you, I'm not going to run away from my home!" He shouted at her. "If I die, it'll be where I belong!"
Tomoyo's chest tightened. "Fuck you, Eriol." She refused to cry in front of him, even though his words hurt so much.
"Wait," He said and grabbed her wrist. She shot him a cold look. "I didn't mean that. Whatever your reason was I…I'm sorry. You know I'm glad you came here, glad you stayed. But now," He ran his hand through her rain and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "It's too dangerous here."
"I'm staying." She said sternly. She wanted to storm off in anger like she had done in their past fights. Where he would catch up to her and tell her she was being ridiculous. Then he'd say something to place distance between them yet not let her go until they were ok again. Then passion and love would take over and the argument forgotten only for circumstances to haunt them all too quickly. It was a savage circle.
"Tomoyo-"
"I told you to stop calling me that!" She said annoyed and broke from him.
"Wait." He said and caught her by the arm. She tried to resist but he clamped her arms to her side and forced her to look at him. "My point is, you're not Madison. And for some reason you don't want to tell me about your past."
"It's not important, Eriol. Why can't you just drop it?"
"Because you have a way out. Don't you understand you're not from here? If it guarantees you safety you need to go back to where you belong." Eriol tried to keep his voice level, but his words contradicted his feelings. He didn't want her to leave. With everything happening, he needed her. He loved her. But he had to protect her.
"Stop it!" She yelled, frustrated that they always went back to this argument. "Stop trying to push me away, Eriol. This is my home now." Her voice cracked which made Eriol silent. From the spoilt, manipulative girl who arrived here months ago, Eriol never thought she'd become so immersed into Western life, and into his. But he didn't want her to die for it.
"There is nowhere else I can be." She said and looked down. "I love this side of the wall, I love you…and Ruby and to a weird extent, your mother. And I love the fucked up little life we all have…had."
He ran his hands through his hair and moaned. "It was always going to come to an end. Why can't you just do this one thing for me? Why can't you just go back to where you came from!? Why can't you LIVE?" He shouted at her which flared her anger.
"Why can't you just admit you don't really want me to go? That your forcing yourself to say these things? Why can't you just admit you love me instead of trying being an emotionless asshole and pushing me away!?"
Eriol was about to yell back but her words caught him. Tomoyo's echo rang out. She waited for him to respond, her heart was thumping. This was the first time she demanded a response from him.
She broke the silence first. "You do love me…don't you?" She asked sceptically.
Eriol opened his mouth to speak but had trouble finding the right words. Of course, he loved her. But he had never told her. Because with the West gradually falling into despair, was it really a good time to let emotions get the better of him, when he could lose her any day now?
"You know…" He began. "With Ruby-"
"No!" She barked. "No, Eriol you do not get to use Ruby as excuse anymore. I never once asked you to leave her and I never, ever will. I don't want to hurt her either. It's not about her, it's about us. I'm asking if you love me. If I mean anything to you."
She just wanted a yes. Nothing more. Just a conformation that their love was mutual.
Eriol gulped and fought the urge to throw himself at her. To kiss her everywhere and tell her she as the only thing keeping them sane. That wherever she came from, he wished it was before he met Ruby, because he knew without a doubt he'd have loved her then too.
But perhaps this way was better. If she believed he didn't want her. Maybe she'd leave, maybe she'd return to that life and live.
"Why can't you just say it?" She said with a tear in her eye.
Eriol clenched his jaw from admitting the truth. He crossed his arms and hardened his face. Tomoyo knew that stance. It was his way of shutting off, of putting that cold distance from himself. He did it to so many people, but she never thought he'd do it to her.
"There's a cart that goes to the Eastern wall ever Friday. There's a soldier or two still on duty there. If you tell them you're from the East they'll relocate you back to your family."
Tomoyo stood there stunned. She was numbed at the detached tone in his voice. For a moment it was like one of their first meetings, when he told her to leave. She knew it was a front, it just had to be.
Tomoyo turned to leave. She was too upset to face him.
"If I am ever gone from your life, it won't be because of the walls, of the soldiers or Ruby or anything else." She looked him dead in the eye with her icy blue eyes, "It'll be your fault."
With that she walked away from him. With every step she took she prayed to hear the sound of him catching up to her, to apologize, to argue more with her, anything but the painful distance he'd just placed on her. But he didn't follow her.
Eriol swallowed a lump down his throat as her silhouette disappeared.
"Harsh." He heard a voice from behind him. He groaned inwardly. She was the last thing he needed.
Mrs Hiirigazawa appeared onto the path. She had an eyebrow raised at him with her arms crossed, mimicking her sons posture.
"If you're going to lecture me on infidelity mother. Now's not the time."
"Oh, my son." She said and sighed. She looked up at the wall in awe of its silence. "Your private life is not of much concern to me. We've bigger things to worry about."
"You…you know about Madison and I?" He tried to hide his shock.
"I was thinking you were too happy prior to the palace attack. The way you are around her…I thought I taught you to hide your emotions better." She scoffed, never taking her eyes off the wall. "Anyway, it's for the best you distance yourself from her. You don't need any distractions right now."
"You should take to the mountains, mother."
"As if anywhere in the West will be safe with the military coming. Those who flee are just deluding themselves."
"Maybe the military would show mercy if they had Toya."
A dark look descended over her face. She narrowed her eyes. "You don't know that."
Eriol clenched his fists and turned to leave. He looked down at his mother, whose motives and mindset had always been an enigma to him. He could just never do right in her eyes, not completely. He always seemed to be lacking slightly in her eyes. It was only when Toya came here, with his brazen attitude and thirst for violence did he realize that his mother was not entirely who he thought she was.
She would never admit it, but she admired Toya.
It pained Eriol to know, she wished that he was more like Toya.
"Maybe if you stopped hiding him, we'd find out." He said bitterly and walked away.
Behind him, the wall stayed silent, watching over West Tomoeda, revealing nothing of the brooding battle beginning behind it.
X x x
X x x
Sakura glanced through the kitchen curtains.
The sun was going down, yet it had not deterred people to go into their homes. She saw other people through the windows of their own homes waiting anxiously and hopelessly for loved ones who still had not returned from the West.
She retreated back and looked at her notebook which lay on the table full of scribbles and drafts that had not satisfied her.
Get yourself together. She told herself. Every minute was precious. She had to make moves on this paper. That one that would expose everything she knew. But her brain could not sync with her heart, which was torn.
Her eyes floated to her mother's picture. Nadeshiko was smiling with an innocence that Sakura doubted as each day passes. No matter what her father said, Sakura couldn't see past her motive. A sudden anger stirred in her and she picked up Nadeshiko's photo with a shaking hand.
"Why did you do this?" She whispered bitterly and wanted to slam it face down onto the table.
But no. Because in her mind, Sakura wondered if she were any different. Wasn't what she was planning going to cost lives? Was she any better than her mother? Were their motived not the same? Both of them driven to desperation to take action at the cost of how many lives? She placed Nadeshiko's picture down. In her other hand she held Nathala's diary.
Sakura felt a sickly pain in her stomach. Was she so naïve to follow Nathala's words and not question them? Sakura felt she had been misled, or was she? Was Nathala lying? Or was her father biased by hate for her? She didn't know anymore.
She heard her father come down the stairs and she put her notebook and Nathala's diary into the drawer. Although her father knew so much now, she decided to be discreet for his benefit.
"I've to step out for a few hours." He said. "Do you need anything?"
She shook her head and attempted a smile that failed. Fujitaka wished he had the words to comfort her. Dissidence, riots and past revelation he could probably deal with. But a broken heart was difficult for him to comfort.
"Sakura," He said and placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. "He's strong. He will survive."
Sakura felt a lump in her throat, surprised at her father's acknowledgment of the situation troubling her. She just nodded, afraid if she said anything she break down again. And she wasn't sure if she had the energy to.
When he left she returned to her notes? She needed to separate Syaoran from her thoughts, from her task. Something that seemed impossible.
The doorbell rang and Sakura groaned and threw her hands into her head. For the past few days neighbours and Easterners from afar have been coming to the house, asking what she's seen or heard. Did she see someone child there? Did she know who survived, was she going to write about it?
It was mentally draining.
She was angry now as she stormed towards the door with balled fists ready to request to be left alone. She ripped the door open, mouth ready to bark when she froze.
She blinked twice, not allowing herself to breath in case it was a hallucination.
He felt the same as he looked down at her trying not to collapse in relief.
She made three attempts to say something before words finally came out.
"Syaoran…"
X x x
He came inside and let the door close softly behind them.
Sakura finally breathed and with shaky knees closed the gap between them and threw her arm around his neck. The impact caused small ripples of pain through his chest but it was nothing compared to holding her again. His arms circled around his waist and lifted her easily.
They stayed liked that in the quiet moment for relief. Neither one wanting to let go.
"I thought you…Syaoran I thought…" She was dizzy as she took in his scent, his touch, everything she never thought she'd have again.
She loosened her grip and placed her hands on his cheeks. It was him, he survived. She felt ashamed for ever doubting her would. He pushed her fringe back from her face and thanked every force imaginable that he could see those green eyes again.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." He said and finally kissed her passionately.
Tears ran down her face as she pressed her body firmly against his. Her knees gave way as the stress finally melted from her. Nothing else mattered. He was safe.
"Why didn't you come sooner? Why didn't you let me know? I've been going crazy." She whispered.
"I tried. But they wouldn't release me from the hospital until today." He stroked her cheek. "I'm so glad you're safe."
She bit her lip and felt drained as she pressed her forehead against his chest, perfectly content with staying there.
His hand rested on her head protectively. He remembered the promise he made to himself to protect her and do right by her. As much as he wanted to stay in this moment. Time was precious.
"Sakura, I think there's things we need to discuss."
She didn't move for a while before her felt her nod into his chest.
"You're right. But first I need to show you something."
X x x
Syaoran closed Nathala's diary. But he wasn't surprised. Nothing surprised him anymore. He was ashamed to even admit that to some extent, he knew of the outside world.
"Do you think your plan will work?" He asked and turned to her.
She was sitting on her bed. Gauging his reaction.
Sakura sighed. She had asked herself that question over and over again. Will it work?
"It has to. Either way, it needs to go ahead." She said.
Syaoran nodded and glanced out her window. He knew she wouldn't have let the palace events deter her. He had braced himself for her response.
"What do you need?" He said.
Sakura looked at him with confusion. Since he came back, there was something different in his eyes. Something meaner, more determined than before.
"Syaoran…you don't have to…"
"No," He said and looked away. An image of Chiharu flashed across his mind. "I do. This whole being passive thing doesn't seem to be working for me. So, whatever you need. Just tell me."
She nodded bit her lip, feeling such reassurance from knowing he was on her side.
"Well…do you know what the military is planning next? They haven't made any response yet."
"No. Base is a mess at the moment. They're scrambling to get things back in order. But that doesn't mean Mizuki doesn't have a plan. There's something she hasn't told me yet. But I'll get to it."
"How?"
"They think I'm one of them. She's trusting me more. And I've pushed Meiling out to some extent and gained control over the cadets. If you give me some time, I can find out what's going on."
Sakura nodded, overwhelmed that he was rigidly by her side now. No secrets. "Well, we need to protect the Westerners. They'll face the brunt of this no matter what. If there was a way to get them out of there…"
"The walls." He said to himself.
"What?
"For cases of emergency evacuations, the walls are opened for a certain amount of time. If all of them were opened at the same time…" He trailed off, his mind going through all the possible scenarios.
"It'd cost chaos and buy time. And allow westerners to escape. But, can you really do that?"
Syaoran thought to himself. He remembered briefly through his training that this was an option. But the code lay with one person only. The General himself. If anyone could get it, it was Syaoran.
"I'll just have to."
Sakura smiled with elated optimism but it was short lived. "What's wrong?" When he noticed her suddenly deflate.
"Do you think…do you think this is crazy? What we're trying to do?"
He swallowed and took her hand into his. She stood up and thought about how this would affect them, affect everyone and everything. If she thought she lost him after what happened at the palace…this was suicide.
"Absolutely."
"Then we'll aim for Utopia day."
"Sakura," He said suddenly in a serious tone. "Will you be safe until then?"
"Of course. What do you mean?"
He looked at her hard. "I mean Toya. I haven't forgotten, what he almost did to you-"
"I'll take care of Toya." She said defensively. She couldn't understand why even when it was obvious Toya had other intentions, she was the first to criticize, and the first to defend her brother.
"I know he's your brother but-"
"I said, I'll take care of it. He won't hurt me. Trust me." She said firmly.
Despite coming to a consensus on almost everything, Toya would be a wedge that Sakura would not remove, despite her own doubts. Her chilly stare warmed and her body relaxed.
"Let's not talk about it anymore." Her hands placed themselves on his chest. "H-how did you survive? There was so much blood-" Her voice cracked, unable to stand the memories of almost losing him. "You shouldn't have pushed me away…." Even now she couldn't believe he was here with her. "You're…and idiot." She said through a broken smile. "Don't you know by now to listen to me?"
He took a hand and kissed it softly. "I am an idiot. I'll not make that mistake again. Ever."
"And you dumped me…again." She said with a smile. "That's twice now."
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckled. "I'm a stupid, foolish idiot. But I'm yours."
They were both silent as they look at each other taking in the details of each other's faces. Her hands, which were feeling through the soft hairs on the nape of his neck descended to carefully unbutton his jacket.
Something fell from his pocket.
She bent down to pick it up. "Is this…?"
He nodded. "They extracted it from my lung. I don't know why I kept it. I should have thrown it out."
Sakura looked at the bullet. The silver winked at her. "I'll keep it." She whispered. She wanted it as a reminder. A reminder he survived.
He watched her fingers delicately undo each one then peel his jacket back in small deliberate movements. Layer by layer she removed his shirt and vest. She took a small breath to steady herself, unsure of what she'd see. The last time her hands were pressed against him, she was covering his bloody wounds. She remembered it's hot, wet texture and thought no man could survive that. Yet here he was.
Her eyes fell to his bare chest. She gasped as her chest tightened at the deep purple and sickly yellow bruises spread out like some modern painting. Her shaking hand hovered over the epicentre of the marks and she bit her lip from crying.
"Syaoran…how are you standing?"
He caught her hand. "The pain is getting less and less and the days pass. Don't' worry about me."
She shook her head, refusing to believe he hadn't been in pain this whole time.
"You should still be in hospital."
"It's better for me to be here." He whispered. "With you."
She brought herself to walk around him to examine his back. To her horror, it was much worse. Tears rolled down her cheek and she was glad he couldn't see her. She saw the thick marks of where the two bullets pierced. Her shoulders trembled and she ever so softly pressed her forehead between his shoulder blades and circled her arms around him. Her palms covered the exit wounds of his chest.
He's safe...he's safe… She thought.
He turned to face her and cupped her face. "Why are you crying?" He whispered. "I'm safe. You saved me. Like you always do."
She smiled but it didn't stop her tears.
He kissed her. Softly at first, but quickly, rougher, more passionate. He took steps forward, towards the bed. He wanted to forget about what happened. Just for now. Syaoran wanted her clothes off, her skin on his and for them both to escape into their own world they almost lost.
"Syaoran," She said breathless as he began to tug her belt open. "Wait, you're in pain. Are you sure-"
"All I need is you, now." He said roughly and threw her shirt over her head. An animalistic urge was re-wakened in him and his hands ran passionately over her naked skin to which she responded to instantly. She melted in his arms and willingly fell onto the bed. When he was over her she felt a wild jolt between her legs wanting him to take her.
The mood had changed so quickly. She wanted to feel every part of him, to have that physical confirmation he had not left her.
His mouth crushed hers and she moaned when she felt him harden between her. His finger hooked around her trouser waistline and pulled them down. His lips moved to kiss her neck and breasts as he brought pants down. His hot breath moving down to her belly made her tremble with excitement. She was so prepared for him.
Then it stopped.
She looked down, breathing heavy. Syaoran had sat up, a look of pain on his face as his hand clutched his chest.
"Syaoran?" She said and sat up in panic.
"It's fine." He said but his breathing was strained with the fiery pain across his chest. "It happens sometimes." He said and breathed shallow breaths to get through it. "It'll pass."
Sakura sat there helpless. The pain passed but movement was difficult for him. Sakura calmly pressed her fingers against his shoulder and pushed him back so he was now lying on the bed.
"Relax," She whispered. "Let me take care of you."
"But-"
"What did I tell you about listening to me?" She breathed and he was silenced.
She kissed him lightly and fluttered kisses to the purple raw bruises on his chest. Each kiss acting as a drop of medicine and Syaoran felt the pain reside with each one. His hand stroked the back of her head as it dropped lower and lower to take him into her mouth.
Syaoran breathed in sharply at the warm feeling taking him now, muting the pain of everything else.
"Sakura..." He said between his moans.
She said up and straddled him, taking care not to hurt him. "I love you." He said breathlessly before he was inside her. She began to rock back on forth slowly while watching his reaction for any signs of pain but found only a complete surrender of his love. His hands gripped her roughly by the hips and rocked his own into her faster and harder.
The sensation overtook the pain and they both groaned. She gripped the shelf above her to steady herself as she was coming. Syaoran tossed his head back into her pillow as he climaxed, followed silently later by Sakura.
Her whole body, now sensitive, flopped to his side. Her limbs wrapped around him and she kissed him softly. "If you ever die on me, I'll kill you."
X x x
Syaoran didn't mean to fall asleep.
He must have drifted off at some point. Sakura was asleep silently beside him. He needed to get back to Base before questions were raised. But he took a moment to watch her sleep. He stroked her hair, thankful the second bullet didn't kill him.
He was so tired…drifting to sleep.
Suddenly a flashback jolted him from his tranquil state. For a second, he saw Chiharu in his mind. He shook his head. Why was he remembering that now?
Ignore it. He told himself. But it came back. Chiharu's head in his arms. Her light, weightless body, responding to nothing, Toya, the gun, the clean shot, all the red.
"Uh..." Syaoran jumped at the sudden vivid and violent images assaulting his mind.
Sakura didn't stir. He swallowed, trying to get a hold of himself. He broke into a cold sweat. He stroked her hair again, it was soothing him.
Stop thinking about that night. You're here now. You're with her, and she's safe. You got her out. She's safe…
He felt something strange on his fingers. He frowned. When he pulled them from her, he said blood. Syaoran blinked and his hand began to tremble. He looked at Sakura, searching her scalp for an injury. She was not bleeding. He shook his head and the blood was not on his fingers anymore.
Am I imagining things…?
He told himself to relax and lay back. Chiharu's face flashed in front of his eyes again. He remembered the texture of her blood as it seeped through the bullet wound on in her head.
He checked Sakura again. No, she's safe…she's safe…
The images returned. Not just her, but the other cadets, and the Westeners…blood. So much blood. Syaoran's heart thumped. He placed a hand over his chest. He felt something wet. He pulled back the blanket and his face turned white. He bolted to his feet and into her bathroom. His hands gripped the sides of the sink.
No, no, no he thought as blood pumped out from his chest wounds. His breathing shallowed as his hands desperately tried to plug the wounds but the blood kept spilling out. He was panicking, he couldn't stop it.
"Syaoran-"
Syaoran jumped as his arm swung back and knocked Sakura against the bathroom wall and onto the floor.
"Sakura…" He said and pushed himself back, not believing he just hurt her. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…the bleeding…It won't stop."
"Syaoran." She said stumbling to her feet and over to him with wide panicked eyes. "Syaoran, look at me." She said and grabbed his face in her hands. His amber eyes looked at her but his mind was somewhere else she couldn't reach. "Syaoran listen to me. You're not bleeding. You're fine…you're fine…" She soothed.
He looked at her eyes, finding comfort and calmness in them. He brought himself to look down and saw she was right. There was no blood. But…but he was sure there was.
"I…I…" He couldn't form words. He slid down the bathroom wall, suddenly feeling weak. He was sweating, breathing heavy.
Sakura's chest swelled as she realized that Syaoran had witnessed a lot more than she had that night. Perhaps he wasn't not ready for this…
Syaoran looked at her with a broken expression. "Sakura…I let her down. Chiharu…all those kids…"
"It's not your fault Syaoran." She said softly and stroked his face.
"No, it is. If I had done something, stopped Meiling. Chiharu, and the rest…"
"You don't know that." She said and took his hands into hers. "We don't know what could have happened. All we can do is stop it from happening again."
Syaoran hung his head low, he couldn't accept he had no blame in this. If he had acted sooner, if he were not such a coward to stand up to Meiling, to Mizuki, his father…
Sakura wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
"They won't have died in vain. We'll make sure of that." She whispered.
X x x
Sakura buttoned up his jacket with a worried look on her face.
"I told you." Syaoran said. "I'll be fine."
"I know you will be. Do you have to go back now?" She asked.
He nodded. "I'm afraid so. But I'll come back as soon as I can."
He took his cap the kitchen table and placed it on his head. He needed this night with her. Another day and he would have gone crazy. He took her hand and pulled to towards her. "Don't do anything rash without telling me." He said and brushed her hair from her eyes. "We're in this together now."
"I'll do my best. Though I don't have a great track record."
He kissed her again, lingering a moment longer than he needed to before turning to leave.
"Syaoran," She said and pinched the cuff of his sleeve. He halted and looked back at her. She swallowed and parted her lips wit hesitance but she had to say it. "You know…I love you…don't you?" She said suddenly nervous.
Syaoran smirked with a warm feeling in his chest. Of course, he knew, but never heard her say it.
"In the moment when I thought that you…that you wouldn't make it. My only regret was never saying it to you before.
Sakura had spent so much of the time after the palace attack agonizing over that. If he had died…and she never told him…It would have haunted her for life.
"So, this is me telling you now, so there's no doubt. I love you." She felt her cheeks flush a soft pink.
He grazed her cheek with the back of his fingers. "I know you do. There was never any doubt."
She kissed him lightly and he left. She stood in her kitchen doorframe in a slight trance. An overwhelming feeling of happiness and fire coursing through her veins. She knew her mind was set now. She was ready to take on anything. It was all possible now.
A slight creak snapped her out of her daydream.
She furrowed her brow and craned her neck around and listened.
"Dad?" She called out. She never heard him return. But the noise came from the back door. She would have ignored it, but she had a sense someone was there. She crept around the kitchen island. Her bare feet suddenly sensitive to the cold. The kitchen window veil fluttered above a light breeze coming from the back.
Th door was open.
"Dad, are you back?" She called out again with a chill going up her spine. She told herself not to be so paranoid. Perhaps Syaoran had opened it at some point. Maybe even she did without realizing it. The whole night had been a whirlwind of emotions. She needed rest.
She walked over in three strides and closed the door, shaking her had at her own silly imaginings.
When she turned around she halted at the unmistakable silhouette that emerged from the corner of the living room. She jumped back, heart racing. A hand fluttered to her chest.
Did Syaoran come back? Her dad…?
"Dad." She breathed recognizing the same height and build as her father. She walked towards him "Why are hiding there in the shadows-"
He feet froze mid-step. It was not Fujitaka. She knew that ominous presence before it even stepped out of the darkness.
"T-Toya…" She said with a meek voice.
Toya emerged very slowly with a chillingly blank expression on his face. His eyes bore into hers. He held that intimidating presence that shook her to the core in a way only he could do.
Sakura swallowed and forced herself to take another few steps towards him. "Toya, what are you doing here? H-how did you get across the wall again? I haven't seen you since the palace…" Sakura trailed off when a numbing thought crossed her mind.
How long had Toya been standing there…waiting…listening to her and Syaoran…?
Her fell turned white. Her palms began to sweat and a sickening feeling began to swirl in the pit of her stomach. She could tell in this silence and the cold expression in his eyes, he had heard enough. Sakura subtly retreated a step. Her eyes fell to the front door in panic, wondering if Syaoran would come back for something. But no, she was on her own with Toya.
She was suddenly aware she was in her pyjamas, hair tossed from rolling around with her controversial lover not so long ago. This was bad. This was very bad.
Toya took a small step forward. His eyes rooting her to her place. "Yue called me." He said in a quiet voice. He was restraining the trembling anger she sensed building up in him. "He said you found out about what really happened to mom."
Sakura swallowed as he was closing the gap between them.
"I wanted to see you. To see if you were ok…I was worried about you. So, I risked being caught, everything, to come see you tonight." He stopped inches from her. His voice was so soft, quiet…mistaken for brotherly even. But it unnerved her.
Sakura was trembling under his stare. He couldn't bare to look at him. A voice in her head told her to stand up to him. She was doing nothing wrong. But that voice was drowned out, muted by Toya's presence. Only he unnerved her so.
He brought his face down close to her. She turned her head in sudden shame and fear and closed her eyes. His lips came to her ear. "But it seems…you're dealing with it…just fine."
She bit her lip, her heart thumped against her ribcage. "And there I was thinking that maybe I was too harsh on you last time…doubting myself for questioning your loyalty. But now I see…now it's clear…you have no loyalty."
Sakura began to shake her head. Fear was shunning her voice. He stood over her with his quiet but intense eyes full of accusation.
"It's not what you think…" She answered in a weak voice. "It's not…it's…"
"Oh?" He said and smirked sinisterly that made the hair on her neck stand. "I love you' were your words, right? You said them twice if I recall."
"Toya…please…"
"'My only regret was never saying it to you before.' Seems to me dear sister, it's exactly what I think. 'We're in this together.'"
Sakura felt the panic rise inside of her. He had heard everything. She couldn't backtrack. He knew…
She finally brought herself to look at him. His face was beginning a slow descent into violent rage. She knew that look. It was the same one he gave her at the palace before he was about to strike her.
"Syaoran-"
"Oh, Syaoran, is it? I see. Well I should congratulate you. I'm so happy you haven't let the circumstances of our mother's death prevent you from spreading your legs to the General's son." He His growled with a rising tone that made a small cry escape from Sakura's throat.
"I thought it was funny…back at the palace…My memory is still foggy but you cleared it up now." He smirked and brought his finger to her cheek. She shuddered under the slight touch. "You tried to stop me, didn't you? Didn't want me to hurt your precious Syaoran. You chose your side…him over you own brother. Your family."
"Toya it's not like!" She said finally finding her voice. "Syaoran isn't like them! He wants to help us! And if you would listen to me, to him I-"
Sakura didn't finish her sentence. She didn't register Toya's hand swipe furiously across her face until she was already on the ground.
"Listen to him!?" He roared and punched a hole through the kitchen wall. Sakura's flinched and crawled back. She touched her face where he struck her and felt it already flush a burning red with pain. "How dare you." He roared and took a threatening stride towards her.
She scrambled backwards waiting for the next blow. His eyes burned with anger. "Don't you have any shame?"
She closed her eyes and felt tears brimming.
Fight… she told herself but her body would not listen.
"After everything they've done to this family, to our people…you'd defend them, him." He was hovering over her now with balled fists. "You disgust me." He spat.
Sakura pressed herself against the wall as Toya descended into a rage.
Fight…She told herself again.
"You…can't talk about shame." She said in a trembling voice.
It was trembling, but at least she was finding her nerve again.
"Say that again." He dared and narrowed his eyes.
Sakura back into the fridge and pulled herself up. She was cornered now. "You, Toya broke this family up years ago, not me. You can't stand there and say that you care about the East or the West when murdered all those people at the palace." Every word she spoke she could tell she was aggravating him more, pushing him to the edge. "Everything your doing now, it's for your personal revenge because you're ashamed." She stopped two feet in front of him. "Because we both know mom would be still here if it weren't for you."
As soon as her words left her mouth Toya's rage evaporated for a moment. There was a moment of absolute silence. In that moment Sakura saw a very vulnerable look cross his face and even…pain. She thought she had gotten through to him. Maybe they could figure this out together…
But as soon as that look came…it disappeared in flash, and rage took over.
Toya's hand shot out and knocked her onto her back. Before she even recovered he was on top of her. His hand grabbed and crushed her neck. She chocked and clawed at his arms to no avail.
"Do you think because you're my sister that I won't kill you?" He laughed and cracked her head against the wooden floor. He released her momentarily but she knew that was not the end of it. "To think I trusted you…I thought we were alike." He spat.
She turned around and tried to crawl away. Her vision dizzied from the oncoming concussion. The back of her head throbbed. He grabbed her ankle and reeled her back with ease. She clawed at the floor but there was no getting away from him.
Her words had gotten to him, he was seeing red. His foot kicked her in the ribs, the stomach winding her instantly and she struggled to catch her breath. She clutched her body and cried in both pain and fear.
Syaoran…she thought and squeezed her eyes shut. Please come back…
She knew it was wishful thinking. Toya had waited for Syaoran to leave on purpose. He had the opportunity to take Syaoran out if he wanted, but it seemed Sakura had pissed him off more. And besides…he couldn't face Syaoran by himself, he didn't have the nerve.
"Toya, stop!" She screamed thinking naively that she might get through to him. "Stop it!"
"You're just like dad, you know that?" He said bitterly and grabbed her by the collar of her top. "Spineless, the both of you. Neither of you doing anything to preserve our mother's name. I'm the one fighting for her, I'm the one finishing her work, what she wanted." He barked and shook her. "What do you do? You and dad? You sit behind your little desks writing your little articles. Dad's a disgrace." He growled and brought his face close to hers. "But you, are nothing but a lying slut."
He raised his fist high, just like back at the palace. Only this time, it hit her. The corner of her upper lip split immediately and she almost chocked on the blood rushing into her mouth. For a second, she blacked out.
Syaoran…you were right. Oh God, please come back… you were right…
For the first time she acknowledged what she blocked out for so long.
Toya was going to kill her.
He grabbed her by the hair on the nape of her neck and brought her upper body to face him. The tears were spilling down her face, blood trickling onto the bare skin of her legs.
"I trusted you." Toya said in a low trembling voice. "We could have finished our mothers work…together."
Sakura's conscious was fighting to stay awake, his face was blurring. She had enough strength to shake her head.
"Mom…never would have wanted this…" She said in a slurred voice.
Toy twisted his mouth down with distain. He didn't recognize this girl. She was not who she hoped she would be. Or maybe…he had changed too much. Either way, he was done with her. She was not worthy to live in his new version of Tomoeda.
"I'm going to kill him, your little boyfriend." He whispered into her ear. "Know that when I do…It will be because of you."
"Toya…no…don't, please…" Tears mixed with blood. "Don't do this…please…"
He looked down at her. His fingers were knotted into her hair so tightly she felt he's rip her scalp off. But none of the pain she was feeling came close to the idea that Toya would hunt Syaoran. Toya took in her face, her bloodied face and felt no guilt. He had shed those useless emotions years ago.
She thought he was going to punch her again when a click from behind them stopped him. Both Sakura and Toya looked up.
In the doorway, Fujitaka stood with a loaded rifle in him hand, pointed at Toya.
Nobody stirred for a second. Sakura shook her head. This was so wrong. This was all so…so wrong.
"Dad…" She breathed in fear but also relief.
"Get away from her, Toya." He said in a level and stern voice.
Toya cackled, almost amused. A sickening deranged look in his eye made her think he was enjoying this.
"You're going to kill your own son? I'm intrigued, dad."
Fujitaka cocked the gun. He was unmoved by Toya's irreverence. "If I have to. I won't hesitate. Get away from her." He repeated.
Sakura gulped and watched as Toya glared at him with a hate that had been brewing for years.
"You're OK with this then? Her," He said shooting a look at Sakura. "Fucking a soldier? Being on their side. Bringing shame on our mother's name? No, of course you are." He said and roughly released Sakura. She scrambled away from him and hugged her knees, trembling.
"Because cowards like you, dad, are happy to look in the other direction. Aren't I right?" Toya took a step towards Fujitaka, one eye on the rifle. "When you let mom into those riots. It should have been you. But you were always were a coward. Happy to be a champion of the revolution weren't you, dad? But too cowardly to do what mom could."
Fujitaka did not show any reaction. He kept his face hard and detached from the son he didn't recognize anymore.
"The only shame on this family, Toya, was you. Only you."
Toya smirked, followed by a dark laugh that made Sakura feel sick.
"Now get out of my house." Fujitaka warned taking another step towards him. "And never come back."
For a moment Sakura feared he wouldn't leave. She felt so helpless. Would Fujitaka really kill Toya?
"Don't think for a second I'm intimidated." Toya said darkly. "I could kill you both now, easily." Toya walked right up to the nose of the gun and tilted his head to the side in a cocky way. "But when destroy the foundation of Tomoeda, and re-build it how it should be, I want you to be there to realize how much of a coward you really are."
Fujitaka kept his stare. "It's times like this that I'm glad your mother isn't alive to see you. The shame alone would have killed her."
Toya's smirk fell from his face as his eyes narrowed.
Finally, he stepped back. The nose of the gun never left Toya. He opened the back door and stopped. Glancing over shoulder he caught Sakura's petrified eyes. She struggled to believe that that man once read her stories, tucked her in and was in her eyes, a protector.
"If I find you in the West again," He said. "I'll kill you."
Sakura felt her spine chill and she shuddered.
Toya left and the house as quiet.
Fujitaka put the rifle down. His ands began to shake from the encounter.
"Sakura…" He breathed, thankful that he'd come home just on time to hear her scream. He always kept the rifle in shed…just in case.
"Dad…" She said and combusted into tears.
He collapsed to the ground in front of her and hugged her tightly, tears forming in his old, tired eyes.
"Dad…I-I'm sorry…I'm so sorry. I brought this here…I brought this on us…."
The blood from her mouth was staining his shirt but he held her tight, afraid to let go of the one thing he's been trying to protect for so long.
"No, Sakura…this is not your fault. It's not your fault." He began to chant and cradled her in his arms as if she were a child again. When all those problems were so miniscule and he knew how to make it better.
But to Fujitaka's great distress, he didn't know how to help her. He didn't know how to stop this great thing that was beyond her control.
He could just, for now, hold her.
X x x
To all the latest reviews, thank you sincerely.
Writing is a secret passion of mine. I've told nobody in my life about it and I love sharing it with you. I'm trying to improve on my skills and both your feedback and criticism are wonderful.
Thank you.
P.S. I'm not much of a writer for lemon scenes so apologies if they are lame!
x x x
Yukito brought the car to a stop.
He blew hot air out of his cheeks and gambled with the idea going back home.
No. He thought. I have smooth this over.
He moisturized his hands and looked out at the Kinomoto house across the street. He wiped the remaining sweat of his palms onto his trousers and looked at himself in the car mirror. He was disgusted that a man of his status was reduced to this. But he had no choice. His transferral to the North was so close to being approved, he couldn't have Sakura blabbing her mouth around town about the encounter between them after the palace attack. She'd ruin everything.
And with the shit-show brewing in the East in the last few days, he needed to get the fuck out of there. He was better than this.
He had to smooth it out, keep her quiet.
He had many different ways to approach it. He considered threatening her. But he had nothing on her. Nothing juicy enough to buy her silence. And someone like Kinomoto Sakura didn't take well to threats. No. That was a bad idea.
He had considered grovelling to her.
I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I'm a weak, pathetic man. Show some compassion!
He twisted his nose in disgust. No, she'd hate that as much as he would.
He went through a flurry of excuses in his mind.
I was drunk.
I was in shock.
The medication the paramedics gave me was strong, I wasn't in my right mind.
I was just so in love with you…I thought I was being romantic!
YOU were flirting with ME…
I thought you wanted it…
I'm gay! I just needed you as a cover up, you understand that, right? I didn't mean to scare you, I don't understand it myself!
Yukito shook his head. In the end, all he could think of was sincerity, something he lacked severely. He grabbed the battered bouquet of flowers from the back seat, rubbed some lip balm on his lips and got out of the car. He ran his speech through his head.
'Sakura, I didn't mean to frighten you. Please can we look past this? I'll never bother you again. This is my sincere apology. Here's some flowers, forgive me.'
As he approached the house he heard the front door opening. He ducked down out of instinct. He only wanted to be seen by Sakura. She couldn't have people know anything about this. He ducked behind the bushes and heard footsteps leave the gate. Yukito peeked out through a gap.
He turned his mouth up in distain and surprise. The Lieutenant Colonel had just left her house, at this time.
Slut. He thought.
The General's son. That's whose she meant. She was in love with him. Yukito squirmed. No matter how highly he thought of himself, he couldn't out-do the General's son.
Wait… He thought. That would certainly be a scandal… He thought to himself. He stayed in the bushes for a while and began to mull over a new plan. Perhaps blackmail was the way to go. He'd expose them unless she kept her trap shut!
Yukito shook his head. No, it would not be a good idea to threated the General's son. Definitely not.
A scream from inside the Kinomoto house made him flinch. He didn't move. That sounded like Sakura. Footstep came towards to house. It was Fujitaka. Yukito stayed tucked away. If he were caught like this, waiting in the bushes it's be harder to clear his name as a pervert.
Another scream came from the house. Fujitaka froze and ran towards the house out of a Yukito's sight.
"What the fuck is happening in there?" He mumbled to himself but made no attempt to help.
Silence.
Nothing.
Yukito knitted his brows together and listened but no movement came from the house.
A door opened. Yukito peeked over the wall and saw a figure leave from the back door. The tall figure walked from the house. Yukito squinted. There as enough moonlight to make out it face.
Yukito's jaw dropped.
The figure escaped over the back wall but there was no mistaking what Yukito had seen.
Toya Kinomoto.
Yukito smirked and stood up a little taller now.
He dumped his flowers into a nearby trash can and laughed to himself as an idea formed in his mind.
I'll take that bitch off her high horse AND get my transferral.
He rubbed his hands together and drove off silently into the night.
X x x