Chapter Forty-Three

The Ones Who Love Us

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.

Yelan's heels clicked in quick succession on the pristine white floors of the hospital. Unlike the bleached scents that were synonymous with such a place, the private ward was perfumed with a light floral aroma. The chairs were jewel-toned and plush, and the landscape paintings were acrylic and colourful. It was all immaculately clean, with a welcoming, unhurried medical staff. However, the deliberate glamour did not stop Yelan's heart from palpitating in her chest.

She glanced into a mounted mirror as she moved along the wide hallways with their high ceilings. Her face was the pale, stern visage of the Chairman of Li Corp, but her pupils were dilated. That afternoon, she was simply a mother; one whose gut was curling around itself and poisoning her insides with dread. She could already hear the news anchor's voice that evening: "Li Xiao Lang, CEO of Li Corp has died today. He was only 24, a week shy of his 25th birthday."

Then her brain was firing a billion and one thoughts through her head – who she needed to contact, why it had to be her son, how would she tell his sisters, who would comfort Meilin, would the companies he had worked so industriously on perish without him? Why was her strong, healthy son in this awful place? She took a deep breath as her nephew Doctor Kwan Ju-Long approached in a green face mask. He bowed to her. The corners of his eyes crinkled, suggesting that he was smiling.

"Aunt Yelan."

"Ju-Long."

Every fibre of her being became rigid as she waited to be told everything she did not care to know, before he stated everything that she needed to hear. Ju-Long's eyes went wide but then they softened, and he pulled down his face mask. Taking hold of her hands, he said, "Don't worry. He's alive."

Yelan closed her eyes, releasing the breath that had caught in her chest, and she squeezed Ju-Long's hands.

"Thank you, nephew."

Ju-Long was eight years older than Xiao Lang – old enough to remember how difficult it had been when Zihao passed away. She was grateful for his memory and his tact.

"I take it that you're his attending physician," she said.

"Of course," he assured her. "You must want to see him."

"Yes."

More than anything.

"Follow me."

As he escorted her down the corridor, she asked, "What happened? Wei said that he collapsed?"

"That's correct. He also informed us that Xiao Lang has been taking prescription painkillers – something we will need to have a serious discussion about because they were not his own. We did a CT scan and MRI, ran some other tests. To keep things parsimonious, he has significant swelling in the brain. He might have suffered a trauma to his head. Yet, Wei said he never mentioned an accident of any kind. We induced a coma which will give his brain time to heal. We also applied a nasogastric tube for nutrition so please don't be alarmed when you see him."

Ju-Long stopped outside a brown door and opened it for her. Yelan stepped inside, her legs heavy like concrete, but her self-assured movements concealing her apprehension. In the middle of the over-sized, beige room, Xiao Lang lay on a hospital bed, pallid and unmoving. Transparent plastic tubes snaked from his arms and nostril into the white machines on either side of the bed. Wei was sitting across from him in an armchair, staring in deep contemplation at Xiao Lang's form. He stood when he saw her, and the guilt inscribed on the wrinkles of his face quieted the fury she had held for him mere hours ago. Not completely, but enough to overlook him for the time being.

Yelan placed her palm on Xiao Lang's forehead, stroking his brows gently with her thumb. She glanced at the beeping heartbeat monitor, the line on the glass screen pulsating slow and steady, confirming that indeed, he was alive.

"He's warm."

"He has a fever," said Ju-Long.

"Is he going to survive this? Intact? There can be complications. People have been known to die... to be permanently disabled."

"We have him on round-the-clock monitoring," said Ju-Long. "But yes, complications might arise. The fever will be problematic and as such, is most concerning. It can increase intracranial pressure, prolong his recovery... honestly, I can give you a list of all the things that could potentially go wrong, but for now, let's wait and see."

Yelan leaned her head to the side, trying to understand her child.

"If he had been injured… why didn't he visit you?" she asked, to no one in particular.

"If someone feels fine, they assume they are," said Ju-Long. "If their head aches, they assume it's nothing bad – just a momentary inconvenience. You can walk away from a blow to the head… but days later, you start to feel symptoms… nausea, insomnia, forgetfulness… you don't think that it's because of the blow you suffered days earlier. We know how busy this one can be. I bet whatever happened, he brushed it off."

"Xiao Lang knows better."

She slipped her fingers beneath his and held them with a tenderness that one reserved for new-borns.

"How long does he have to remain in this state?"

"It could be a couple weeks. Give or take... I don't want to deal in specifics right now, only to have to change my words later."

Yes, Yelan did not want that either. She longed for facts, not speculations.

"Madam-"

"I want to be alone with him," she said, pre-empting any explanations or regrets Wei wanted to voice.

Wei and Ju-Long left the room together, the door snapping shut behind them. The atmosphere descended into an eerie ambiance though bright afternoon sunlight filtered through the window blinds. Yelan smoothed her fingers along her son's face and neck, bringing her hand to rest on top of his chest. There was something extremely unsettling about the muscles she felt there. She had long seen her son grow into a man, but to feel it… how long had it been since they touched? She tried to remember. The only thing her mind could summon was her attempt to hug him when she had informed him that he would be giving up sword lessons with the monks, so that he could have time to shadow her at Li Corp. He had stepped back at the last moment and made up some excuse to leave her office. How old had he been? Thirteen? Fourteen?

She leaned over and spread her arms around him. Placing an ear to his chest, she closed her eyes, and listened to his dull heartbeats. There was a time all of him could fit on her naked bosom... and how peacefully he would sleep.

"You were the easiest birth I had," she told him. "The easiest nine months. You hardly cried as a baby, did you know? The only time you bawled your lungs out was when I gave you to someone else. Even Zihao's smiles could not pacify you. You only wanted your mother. But then you became his. And now, you're all grown up."

She raised her head and stared at him; her heart was the heaviest it had been in years. In moments such as these, one questioned every decision one made in life. No matter how insignificant. How have I arrived at this point, one wondered? What could I have done differently? What could I do now to make things better?

"Ju-Long seems optimistic. He is brilliant. A true professional. His words should bring me comfort." The first of her tears trickled down her cheeks, long before she realized she was crying. She gripped the rails of his bed, propping up herself as her knees weakened and everything around her blurred. "But all I can think is that… all these years have passed... and I should have hugged you more in each one of them. And I should have told you a million times, how much, how very much I love you-"

She buried her head in his chest, her silent, heaving sobs, rattling her body.

"My beautiful boy," she whispered. "Don't leave this world before I do…"

Xiao Lang was still breathing but already her world was disintegrating. At any moment, he could slip out of it. She knew what it felt like to lose one that had never drawn breath but she had suckled this one, taught him to read, write, fed him, cared for him when he was sick... her body was already numbing – and attempt to protect itself from what it thought was fast approaching.

The hospital door burst open and she rose up and turned her head away. Wiping her tears with the long sleeves of her hanfu dress, she sniffed delicately.

"What happened?" asked Chao, steel in his voice.

"His brain is swollen, and he has a fever. Ju-Long said he suffered a trauma to the head."

"I thought it might have been party drugs. I see it was too much to hope that the kid was living a little."

Yelan pursed her lips.

"He's not dying...?" said Chao.

"No," she answered. "He's strong. He will be fine."

Chao walked around the bed like it was cursed and sat in the chair Wei had vacated. He set his elbow on the arm and propped his chin up with his fingers. He glared at Xiao Lang.

"As soon as he wakes up, he needs to fix this mess with the laptop. The mother can't seem to shut her damn mouth. And the stocks are still dropping."

Impolite words made it to the tip of Yelan's lips, but the slight wrinkle of Chao's brows betrayed the concern that he was trying desperately to mask. She breathed out tiredly. She would not leave the ward until her son opened his eyes. Only then would she feel safe to think that he was out of danger. Only then could she care about another woman and her wounded child.


Sakura sat back against the dining chair and rubbed at her face. For the third time, she caught her father's entranced gaze, and smiled. And for the third time, his cheeks reddened in embarrassment, and he looked away, pretending to ignore her as he made a cup of tea. She looked down at the papers on the dining table before glancing back up at him for the fourth time. He turned to the stove too quickly, and the kettle sprinkled the floor with steaming water.

She laughed.

"Stop staring!"

"I'm sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all as he set the kettle on the burner. "I haven't seen you in months. Then one afternoon last week, I came home to find you cooking. You can't imagine how much I've missed you."

"I wanted to surprise you," she said. Truth be told, she was not certain she was going to leave Syaoran until her feet touched Japanese soil. "I've missed you too."

He brought the tea on a tray and set a cup down, in-between the papers laid out on the dining room table. She shifted her laptop around and re-positioned her cup, so that she was less at risk for spilling the tea on her documents.

"It's been years since I've seen you hard at work like this," he said, settling down in a chair opposite her. "That's not to say you don't work hard. But I do feel nostalgic. It is as though you're in elementary school again, preparing for a mathematics exam."

She groaned.

"Don't remind me…"

It was his turn to laugh.

"Are you getting through with your research?"

"I'm finished looking up the competition. I'm actually trying to write a business plan now."

He nodded.

"I was surprised when you said you wanted to start a business. You being an entrepreneur has never crossed my mind, but running a patisserie… I can see it. You've always made wonderful cakes. I knew at some point they would be world-famous."

"I wished I'd believed you sooner."

"What did make you believe?"

"A butler," she said. "He's been around fine things for a long time. He basically said my cupcakes tasted like they were from a high-end patisserie. He encouraged me and he helped me. He's very nice. You would like him."

"I already do." Fujitaka took a sip of tea and asked, "Is there anything I can help you with? I know a lot of people in several industries. And I have savings you can use. I will gladly invest and support you in any way that I can."

"I think I have the finances under control for now," she said. "I made a fair amount of money in Hong Kong."

What she really meant to say was that Syaoran had paid her well to be his mistress. And in the latter half of her time with him, Jia had encouraged her to withdraw cash from the credit card and save it. She would need more money in time, but she did not want her father to risk his. Not quite yet. Maybe when she figured things out more, she would ask him for his assistance.

"I have a friend who said he would help me if I needed guidance," she said. "I met him in Tokyo last year. He owns several businesses, so he knows what he's talking about."

"What's his name?"

"Ebisawa Kenichi. We ran into each other in Hong Kong. He even introduced me to his friend who is a successful pâtissier."

Fujitaka gasped the way one would want a listener to, when telling a thrilling tale. He had a way of making people feel like every word they spoke was important.

"That must have been exciting."

"It was!"

"Did he also tell you to make a business plan?"

"Yes. He said that it will help me focus on what I have to do. And the challenges I might face."

"He sounds passionate about your success," said Fujitaka, snidely. "Will I get to meet him sometime?"

Sakura blushed.

"It's nothing like that!"

Fujitaka chuckled as he read through some of the papers on the dining table. As was habit, he occasionally looked at the photo of his late wife, like he was having a silent conversation with her.

"Will the patisserie be situated in Tomoeda?" he asked.

"Hai."

"Wonderful," he said. "I did worry about you in Hong Kong. I'm happy you'll be home for some time. Do you think you might go back someday?"

"I made friends there," said Sakura. "But I would prefer not to. It didn't agree with me. The weather, I mean."

Fujitaka was about to drink from his teacup but he set it back down on its saucer. He made to speak but he seemed to reconsider it. Finally, he said, "You're more mature. You came back... more solemn.

"I had a lot of experiences," she said. "They shaped me. And I really think I grew from them."

"Were they good experiences?"

"Not always," she said, reading something on her laptop screen. "But that's life, right?"

"It is..." Then, quite unexpectedly, when she was in deep concentration as she peered at her laptop screen, he said, "I love you."

Sakura's gaze soared upwards to meet his.

"Hoe...?"

"When you have bad experiences, remember that I love you. Nadeshiko-san too." He looked once more at the picture of her mother. "You can tell us anything. We will do whatever we can to make it all better."

Sakura wanted to test him. Admit to him that she had been sleeping with a married man. But she needed his love and approval. She could not risk it. She could not be honest with him. Or could she?

"Otou-san," she said. "There's something I do have to tell you."

Cradling his teacup between his palms, he waited. But why was she fooling herself? She would never give her father the slightest reason to look at her in disappointment and shame. He was the best parent a girl could hope to have. She would be successful and make him proud. He never needed to know about Syaoran and her. Even if someone showed him video evidence, she would deny it. All his late nights at work, his patient guidance, his neglecting buying new work wear so that she could have new cheer leading uniforms... he did not deserve the daughter she had become. He never will.

"Before I left for Hong Kong, I met my cousin. Daidouji Tomoyo."

He perked up.

"Sonomi-san's daughter?"

"Hai," she said. "It was all by chance and it's a long story how we found out we're related, but we've maintained contact. She said she spoke to great-grandfather. He wants all of us to have a family lunch. Me, you, Touya. Tomoyo and her mom. It will be a reunion."

"That is… great news Sakura-san. Nadeshiko-san would be overjoyed. It was a wish of hers to reunite with her family. Have you all decided on a date?"

"We will by the end of the week."

"Please let me know as soon as you do."

"I will!"

The house phone rang, and he went into the living room to answer it. When he returned, he said, "Touya-san and Yukito-san are coming over for the weekend.

Sakura grimaced on the inside.

"Oh… I can't wait!"

The last time she had seen them was two days after she had come home. Her father had taken them all to a restaurant in an upscale neighbourhood. She remembered it all clearly. The waiter had offered them a choice of wines. She had not thought anything of it as she went back and forth with the man over the best ones to pair with their meals. She recalled Yukito and her father's admiring looks, but most of all, she recalled the reserved look on her brother's face.

"When did you become a wine connoisseur, Sakura-san?" Yukito had asked.

"The people I worked with taught me a lot," she had replied. "Honestly, I think all the wines taste the same. Champagne is better."

"I don't disagree," her father had said, as he and Yukito chuckled.

The only one who had not seemed amused was Touya.

"Your employers did not mind you drinking? You were looking after their children, right?"

"I only tasted stuff here and there," she said, hearing the suspicion and accusation in his tone, and the uncertainty in hers. "And I only drank when I went out with the other staff."

"I'm sure Sakura-san was responsible," her father had said, but Touya was not deterred.

Sure enough, when he arrived the following evening, he was still looking at her like a detective going after a hunch. She half expected him to point his finger at her and yell "whore!" It was what he was thinking. She could see it in his face. Or was she being paranoid? Later that night, after movies and popcorn, she excused herself and went to her room. She was lying on her bed, reading a business article on start-ups when there came a knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in!"

Touya strode into the room, a basket of laundry in his hands. He set it down and surveyed her surroundings, his gaze landing on her perfume collection. He picked up her Dior eau de parfum and looked across the vanity at the elegant, designer fragrance bottles, contrasting painfully against her modest furniture.

"This is expensive stuff," he remarked.

"The lady I worked for gave them to me," she said, thinking fast. "They're all used."

Touya next scrutinized a corner of her room where her shoes stood in neat lines. Some sported designer names on the inner soles. Others defined their luxury by the detailing and materials. Touya knew footwear. Surely, he was deducing how much each pair cost. Or was she again being paranoid?

"She gave you those too?" he asked.

"H-hai…"

His chest rose high and fell, in a quiet sigh. Without blinking, he looked her dead in the eyes and said, "Lucky for you, this woman is your exact size, in shoes… and in dress."

She giggled nervously.

"Y-yeah…"

His gaze considered the modern, sophisticated handbags near her wardrobe.

"Hong Kong seems to have been working out well for you," he said. "What made you come home?"

"I missed my family," said Sakura. "And they don't need me anymore over there. Not like at first. I guess I could have stayed in Hong Kong, do other things... but I prefer being back home."

Touya picked up a scarf she had casually draped across the corner of the mattress. He ran his thumb across the Prada tag.

"Babysitting is very stressful. I don't know how-"

"Why are you lying?"

Sakura stared unseeingly into her laptop screen.

"What…?"

He folded the scarf and set it down beside her as he sat on the bed.

"I'm not blind. When you came back from Tokyo, I saw dresses that were not your usual style hanging on the clothing line upstairs. I saw you with new jewellery. I saw that you were sad. When I asked Yukito if he thought you had a boyfriend, he stammered enough for me to know that might be the case. But then you remained here in Tomoeda. When you left for Hong Kong, Yukito convinced me that it was for the best. You were spreading your wings. But now, you return home with enough clothing," and he looked at the earrings studs in her ears, "and diamonds, that if resold, may be able to buy a house."

Sakura's lips parted but no sound came out. She did not think he would be this direct. He rarely was with her, when it came to serious matters.

"Otou-san mentioned that you have a guy friend who's a businessman. Is he funding this new lifestyle of yours?"

Sakura shook her head.

"Is someone else funding you?"

The way he said the word "funding," made her feel dirtier than a sewer line.

Her eyes watery, she said, "…no."

He nudged her chin up with his finger so that she would face him.

"Sakura, you are my sister. I've loved you since Otou-san brought me into the hospital room to see you in Okaa-san's arms. All the other boys at school complained about their sisters. I never once complained about you. I've always been proud and perhaps a bit overprotective. I apologize for that. I should have given you space to date. To understand men. But I was frightened. When you would come visit me at university, I would hear how the guys talked about you. The things they wanted from you…" They both flushed in embarrassment, but he held her gaze. "You see, you're the most beautiful woman I know… and I never wanted some jackass to hurt you. You should be with someone who respects you. Who spoils you. But this," and he gestured throughout the room, "this is something else entirely."

Sakura sank into her sheets, wishing she could bury herself behind her laptop.

"Otou-san will not ask you questions. He rather pretend you're still his innocent little schoolgirl. But we both know he's far more observant than he lets on." His gaze sweeping across her vanity again, he said, "The secrets you're keeping... you can barely stand looking into my eyes. But you don't have to hide things from me. I will always be your brother. Whether you're in the right or in the wrong. But honestly, I prefer you do what's right."

He got up and headed for the door.

"I didn't sleep with anyone for things," she said, making him pause. "I wouldn't do that."

He turned to face her.

"Yet you have a lot of things," said Touya. "Things few can afford."

She knew what having such luxurious items looked like, but she needed him to know there was more to it than that.

"I loved a man," she said. "I didn't ask for anything you see here. I didn't… perform acts for them. They were gifts."

"If you loved him, and he cared enough to spend this kind of money on you, why aren't you together?"

"…we just couldn't be."

"What aren't you saying?" asked Touya.

"Nothing... please don't tell Otou-san that I was seeing someone. That it didn't work out. I don't want him to be upset."

Touya stared out at the hallway, his demeanour haggard and torn.

"Meet me in Otou-san's study at midnight," he said, stepping onto the landing and closing the bedroom door behind him.

It was an odd request. But later that night, Sakura walked down the stairs to the basement office when Fujitaka and Yukito had retired to bed. Touya was standing in an aisle perusing the chapters of a book on Mongolian history. He closed it as she approached and went to their father's office table. Opening the last box drawer, he drew out a small envelope and he set it on the desk top. Inside lay several Polaroids. Sakura recognized them at once. They were from their trip to the Forbidden City. Touya shuffled through the pictures, picking out a few and setting them on the desk. They were copies of the ones she had taken with Syaoran. The ones that showed too much.

"Li Xiao Lang," he said. "I searched him on the internet. Multi-billionaire. Next Head of the Li family. Fifth child and only son of the renowned Li Zihao. Husband... to Li Meilin."

Sakura's eyes begged Touya for lenience with his next words. She had almost died twice as she waited anxiously in her room to meet with him.

"I wanted to come get you many times. Kicking and screaming, you would have been dragged out from whatever fancy house he had put you in, to make you believe he had feelings for you."

"Why didn't you?" asked Sakura, clutching her arms tight.

"As I've shown you, Otou-san knows too," said Touya. "He always has. A team of archaeologists from the Todai University has gone to Egypt on the coattails of a very generous donation. But at the last minute, he chose to remain here in Japan. I think the price to pay was too much for him. When you keep secrets, you're not the only who hurts, kaiju. Otou-san being Otou-san, he did not use force. He understands that the best teacher is experience. He trusted that you could protect yourself and if you needed his help, you would say. I did too. In any case, before you left, he had good things to say about this man. He might think there is some good to him… even if he is an unfaithful bastard."

He straightened his back.

"You're home now. I will forget this Chinese gaki exists. I will forget that he lured you to Hong Kong. But if he sets foot in Tomoeda and tries to bring you back into his duplicitous world, he won't leave the way he came. Yukito can't stop that. Otou-san can't stop that. You can't stop that."

Sakura's lips twitched into a tiny smile.

"I left him. He won't come. I told him not to."

"When was the last time you heard of a rich man taking no for an answer?"

"He won't come, onii-chan."

Touya inclined his head towards her, but she could see he doubted her words.

"Tell Otou-san the truth. Don't let him find out from someone else."

"Do I have to?" she asked.

Yesterday, she had told herself she never would.

"No, you don't have to." Touya stowed the pictures away. "But this... gaki... sent him money because he is sleeping with his daughter. And his daughter has lied to him for months. Telling him the truth is the respectful thing to do. Even if he already knows it."

Touya went to the basement staircase and waited for her.

"Syao – Li Xiao Lang… he wasn't all bad," she told him. "It hurts that we can't be together. Even though what we did was unacceptable."

"First loves can be hard to lose. But oftentimes, it's necessary to let go."

"Yukito was my first love," reminded Sakura.

"No. He was your first crush. It's completely different."

Sakura considered this idea. With Yukito everything had been very innocent. All she had wanted was for him to enjoy her food whenever she cooked, walk to school with her, and accompany her to school festivals.

"How long does it take before your heart moves on?" she asked.

A tiny smile made its way onto Touya's face.

"You're referring to Kaho?"

"Hai. How long did it take you to stop loving Mizuki-sensei?"

It was his only romance that she knew about. And it was one they had never spoken of, though she had cared about her elementary school teacher dearly.

"I still love her," said Touya. "The way one loves a long-lost friend. Kaho had been hurt in the past. She did not know how to receive love. When she broke up with me, I accepted it because staying in a relationship with her would have destroyed us both."

"What if she wants to be with you years from now?"

"People can change," said Touya. "But I don't think, for our relationship, that it's worth the risk of another try. She drained me, kaiju. I was always trying to prove that I loved her. She never believed me. She always believed I would find someone better... more worthy."

He climbed the steps and closed the door after she exited the room.

"Li Xiao Lang didn't lure me to Hong Kong, onii-chan," she admitted, since he had gotten most of the truth out of her. "I asked him to choose me over his wife. I was being selfish. I felt I had something special and I didn't want to lose it. I went to Hong Kong so that he would fall in love with me."

"I'm sure he bedazzled you with his wealth and told you lies."

She gave a short, wry laugh.

"Otou-san is not the only one who longs for his schoolgirl."

For a moment, he was speechless, staring at her like she was fading away. Then he shook his head.

"Go get some sleep," he said. "Tell me about this new business of yours in the morning."

She hugged him around the waist and closed her eyes as he returned the embrace.

"I will."


"This place is better than some four-star hotels," remarked Yamazaki, staring up at the flat-screen television opposite Xiao Lang. He was standing at the foot of the hospital bed, hands in his pockets. "Flowers, chandelier, bay windows, cable… open wifi. Even the sheets feel like 1000 thread count solid Egyptian cotton. Trust Syaoran to coma and chill in style."

Chiharu rolled her eyes.

"Men. You all would say anything to not cry your eyes out even when you want to."

"I'm not worried," said Yamazaki, even though each irregular beat of the hospital machines seemed to make him hold his breath. "Syaoran too stubborn to die. He'll outlive us all. He's always been the best at everything, remember? You know… there's a Greek myth that says people in comas-"

"This really isn't the time for one of your long-winded tales Takashi," said Chiharu. "No need to torture Li-kun in his vulnerable state either. Besides, you know Li-san gets annoyed by your lies."

"That's because Xiao Lang always believes them," said Meilin. "Despite how far-fetched they are."

"He doesn't believe them anymore," said Yamazaki. "He only pretends to. I once asked him why he did that. He knew I was lying. Twisting fact and fiction. He told me, 'Most days I'm buried in logic and analytics. It's nice to hear an unconventional view on life from time to time."

Chiharu placed a fingertip against her cheek and looked up.

"So basically Li-kun became an adult but you didn't."

Meilin took a seat on the sofa near the window, a growing disdain taking root in her heart. Unconventional. Was that what Xiao Lang wanted? Was that why he got caught up with that woman? Eyes red-rimmed, she ruminated over her last conversation with her husband. He had broken her heart, and from the look in his eyes, she knew she had broken his. It would have been better if she had slept with another man in revenge, instead of delivering that blow of a confession she had made.

"Meilin…" said Chiharu, walking over to her. "Mei… it's going to be okay. Please don't look so devastated. You must have faith that things will work out."

"Xiao Lang and I got into a fight last week," she said, abruptly. "We didn't reconcile before this happened. I don't want the last things we said to each other to have been horrible words no one should ever have to hear."

"Syaoran loves you," said Yamazaki. "Sure you two have one or two spats from time to time, but he reaches out first. And he is forgiving."

Chiharu sat beside her and rubbed her back with maternal tenderness.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but Takashi's right. Li-kun never stays mad at you for long. You'll be the perfect couple again in no time."

"I wish that were true," said Meilin, hiding her face behind her hand, as she started to cry. "But this is not like the other times. He's never walked off on me. Driven away and not called! The first time I spoke to him since the fight, he was lying here in this room. The things I told him... we won't be the same again!"

Meilin tipped sideways and fell into Chiharu's lap, her sobs wracking her body. All the emotion she had held in the night they had argued, came rushing out of her at last.

"Meilin-chan..."

"All I've ever wanted my entire life was to be his," she cried. "I loved him more than anyone! I wouldn't let anyone have him. But he couldn't just be mine. Even when he said he was! I was better than every other girl. For years I had to stay ahead of them all to keep his interest! But-" She whimpered like an injured feline. "How could he?!" she screamed into Chiharu's lap. "How could he prefer Kinomoto Sakura over me?!"

"Who?" asked Chiharu.

"Sakamoto Ayame!" Meilin squeezed her eyes shut tight, but that did not stop the tears from seeping out. "The courtesan! He's been having an affair with her since before we were married. He's kept her here in Hong Kong. And she's walks around Central like she belongs there! But she doesn't! She never will! I was so angry with him…!"

"Did you know?" she heard Chiharu ask Yamazaki, her tone full of accusation.

"I didn't!" he answered.

"Are you sure Takashi?"

"Yes! You know I tell you everything! Syaoran never mentioned her to me. Any woman in fact. If anything, he always seemed exasperated by her - though one... time-"

Meilin looked up to find him frozen, some thought swirling about in his eyes. Just behind him, stood Li Yelan, a pillar of strength and classic Chinese beauty. Her gaze slid to rest on her unconscious son.

"Mother," said Meilin, rising to her feet and wiping her tear-stained cheeks.

Yelan crossed the room and cupped Meilin's face. Since she was a child, Yelan had been the kind, empathetic mother than she needed. There was a warmth in the woman, she could never find in her own parents.

"Please, Chiharu, Yamazaki, give us a moment."

The couple left the room. Yamazaki glanced back, a remorseful expression on his face just before he closed the door. Meilin nodded to him. She knew him well enough to know that he would never encourage Xiao Lang to cheat on her. And if he knew, he would have done all he could to stop it. Alone at last, Yelan drew her into the most nourishing hug she had received in a long time. Only Xiao Lang could hug like her. Their arms consumed you and let you know that you were safe, and that they were there for you no matter what.

"Why did you not tell me child?" Yelan asked, sitting with her. "It's unwise to let these… relations fester."

"He said it was only one time," said Meilin. "I thought it would end in Tokyo."

"Did you really?"

Meilin shook her head.

"I wanted it to be so. I appreciated that he did not lie or deny it."

"He's like his father," said Yelan. "Willing to admit to a wrong so that he can continue doing it with a free conscience. If you know the wrong, then it is your choice to live with it. This way, they do not feel responsible for your feelings. Men like them… you must be stronger in your heart and in your mind. You can never show weakness."

"Xiao Lang said he loves her," said Meilin, her voice thinning. "He wants to be with her. I was so infuriated, I told him everything I had been holding inside. Everything. He knows about Paris. I think... he wants a... he hasn't said it, but I know it must be what he wants-!"

Yelan took hold of her hand and smiled. She did not need to say that ugly word. Yelan understood exactly what she meant.

"Men always think they love their mistress more. Until they marry their mistress and find another mistress. This will not happen to you Meilin. You will remain married until the very end."

"Even Tomoyo likes her more. She is on her side."

Yelan's brows rose.

"I did wonder why she had not visited yet."

"I asked Chiharu and Yamazaki not to call her. They don't know why. But she would have brought Kinomoto here." Meilin looked over to Xiao Lang. "I can never hate my husband. But I hate that woman. I hate her for what she's done to us. And I hate Tomoyo for choosing her over me."

"I could never hate Zihao either," said Yelan. "Don't fear. Xiao Lang might be enamoured by this woman for now, but that is because there is an exciting thrill of having an affair. Sneaking around, stealing short periods of time to be carnal… the taboo…eventually, he will grow uninterested. In any event, I will speak to him when he wakes up. He will see sense and dispose of her."

"Even though I told him about Paris?"

"I will smooth things over with him."

"He's never been this upset with me. You didn't see him."

"Have I ever failed you before, daughter?"

Meilin smiled - her first one in days.

"No. Thank you, Mother."


Sakura re-read the article that had appeared in her phone's news feed days ago. She could not believe that Syaoran's people would blame the mother for not looking after the child better, when it was their laptop that was faulty and caused the accident in the first place! No wonder he did not have the favour of the public. He did not even personally apologize himself. The Li Corporation had simply issued a statement on their website apologizing for their representative's words. They did not even say he was wrong or that they disagreed with him. Did Syaoran really approve of this?

The hum of a sewing machine vanished, and scissors snipped at thread.

Tomoyo walked over to her, a dress in her hands.

"Try it now, Sakura-chan."

Sakura slipped out of her robe and stepped into a floor-length, silk-chiffon gown. Tomoyo had called her yesterday. Their great-grandfather was returning from a business trip at that time so the family reunion will be held in three days. Apparently, the woman had already sewn an outfit for her to wear and needed her to come in for a fitting. She fussed with the flower embellishments set against the floral print as Sakura walked over to the mirror. Hands clasped in front of her chest, Tomoyo smiled at her reflection, stars in her eyes.

"You are so beautiful, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura blushed.

"Your amazing dress can make any girl look beautiful."

Passing her fingers through Sakura's shoulder length locks, she said, "Your hair is very gorgeous. I hope it grows quickly so that you can try new styles. Perhaps for the reunion we can pull it into a messy, romantic chignon? See how it would look?"

"Hai. That sounds awesome!"

Tomoyo ushered Sakura to her vanity chair and grabbed a curling iron from the desk. She plugged it in and parted Sakura's hair, clipping the majority out of the way.

"When great-grandfather sees you, he will simply die."

"Don't say that," Sakura said. "We have a lot to catch up on… and he's really old."

Tomoyo giggled.

"Do not let him hear you say that. He thinks he is still the young tennis champion he once was."

They smiled at each other through the vanity mirror.

"How is your patisserie business coming along?" asked Tomoyo as she started a second layer of curls in Sakura's hair.

"Great! I finished my business plan. I'm meeting Kenichi-kun this week to discuss it. I even registered a name."

"Truly? What will the greatest creation the world has ever known be called?"

"I'm calling it... Sweet Crumbs Cupcake Bar."

Tomoyo gripped her shoulders and pressed her cheek to hers.

"It sounds marvelous."

"You think so?"

"Yes."

"You know...one of the cupcakes is called Tomoyo's Chocolate Mint Tiramisu."

"Truly?" Tomoyo's smile was the widest Sakura had ever seen it. "I would like to taste this at your opening."

"You will!"

Tomoyo brushed through Sakura's hair and began pulling it up and back into a chignon.

"Are you naming all the cakes after people you know?"

"Yes."

An unspoken question lingered in the air, but Sakura did not answer it.

"My apologies," said Tomoyo. "It was not my intention to have you think of him."

Sakura shrugged.

"I didn't expect to immediately stop thinking of him," she said. "I'm not that naive anymore. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss him... just a little."

"Enough to go back to him?"

"No."

"You said he told you he would divorce Meilin. Would you go back to him, if he did?"

Sakura looked round at Tomoyo.

"I-"

"Tomoyo dear, have you seen my pearl earrings? The ones I got in Geneva?" A tall lady with red hair, dressed in an immaculate, equally red skirt suit came striding into the room. "The last time I saw them-"

She froze dead in her tracks as Sakura rose to her feet. The lady who Sakura had already surmised was Daidouji Sonomi from pictures and portraits around the mansion, walked over to her like one who had seen a ghost – a friendly one perhaps, because Sakura knew if she herself had seen a ghost, she would be running in the opposite direction at full speed. Sonomi reached out tentatively and fingered Sakura's chin.

"You must be Sakura." Before Sakura could answer, the lady scooped her into a bear hug and squealed. "The last time I hugged you, you were three months old! Now here you are, a splitting image of my Nadeshiko-chan!"

She pushed Sakura back and studied her face. Suddenly, her teary eyes turned hard.

"Except for the hair." She scoffed. "WHY OH WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GET HIS HAIR?"

She plopped down on the vanity chair and threw herself over the vanity in pure melodramatic fashion. Tomoyo giggled at the alarmed look in Sakura's eyes.

"This is my Mother," she said. "Okaa-san truly does not like Kinomoto-sensei."

"I don't dislike him," said Sonomi, looking up at Tomoyo in despair. "No one can dislike the honourable, kind-hearted, intelligent, gentlemanly, sweet as a berry Kinomoto-sensei!"

Sakura was not sure if Sonomi was in awe or disgust of her father. Her words were flattering but her tone was bitter and irritated.

"He stole Nadeshiko-chan away like a thief in the night! She only wanted to spend time with him. She forgot about everyone else! She turned her back on her family. She turned her back on-" She drew a deep breath, her hand on her chest. "The past is past. And you're here now Sakura-chan. Soon, we will all be a happy family again. And believe me, we were such a happy family."

"I'm looking forward to the reunion, Daidouji-san."

"Sonomi. Please."

"Sonomi-san."

Sonomi smiled, stood, and kissed Sakura on both cheeks.

"Is this what she is going to wear to the reunion?" she asked Tomoyo, admiring the dress Sakura wore.

"Yes."

"This dress looks familiar. It's your design?"

"I looked through your old albums," said Tomoyo. "Nadeshiko-san had one similar to this."

"Yes. That's it. She was a very feminine woman. She would take ages to get dressed - applying the most delicate makeup and layering her body in creams and perfumes. Especially when Kinomoto-sensei started teaching and working his magic tricks on young, unsuspecting girls in his classroom!" She took another big breath. "But, we're past that now. Yes, we're past it. Water under the bridge as they say."

She forced a laughed and Sakura's brows raised. Tomoyo clasped a hand over her mouth to hide her own laughter. Now it was clear where she got her crazy from. Sonomi spent some time with them telling stories from her childhood and telling Sakura about her mother. Sakura hanged onto every word she said. She had heard all the stories her father could give, but Sonomi had known her mother as an awkward but beautiful girl, who had the same uncertainties, hopes and dreams that she now possessed.

"I'm sorry I was not there for you growing up, Sakura-chan," said Sonomi. "I should have been. When great-grandfather enforces a rule, we all obey. I should have ignored him. But Nadeshiko-chan hurt my pride when she eloped with Kinomoto-sensei. I felt betrayed. Now I feel rotten and regretful. We all do. She had such a short time in this world, and we all tried to keep her happiness from her. And despite anything I've said, Kinomoto-sensei did make her very happy."

Sakura smiled.

"He makes me happy too."

Sonomi grinned from ear to ear.

"As Nade-chan would say, I'm so glad."


A/N

Hey Tomodachi! Thank you for your reviews. Here is my response to them and two reviews from last chapter:

Kurakura: Yes SxS 4EVA. I wanted to do a double update but I didn't want you all to wait another week so I posted :)

Bee Emey: lol. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Also, you mentioned Meilin drinking wine while trying to get pregnant is reckless. It is but she is more concerned with 'trapping' Syaoran than having a healthy child right then.

0000: I understand. And it's fine. This was a long story. You were sure to be disappointed at some time. I don't mind your honesty or bad reviews. I only dislike rude ones. lol. My writer's block is slowly going away though. Part of it is because I put a timeline on myself to finish this fic and the timeline is fast approaching.

HappyBlossom: My favourite line of any review for this chapter was: "poor wei-san! He is too old for this drama" You are so right. Yes, she was going to be pregnant and not tell him, but they had been through so much, its best not to force them to be together, you know. I want to the Li family get theirs too.

Guest: I'm well. You and Happy Blossom have the general gist of how things will end. I hope he is not permanently damaged too. He will awake next chapter and Dr. Kwan will let you know.

Maria Espinoza: Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And cried lol. Hope you like this one too.

mszapata13: I kinda hope she will come see him to but the way Meilin set things up... I doubt...

Guest: He had way too many chances. I agree. But she could have left anytime she wanted to. Except she wanted her married man. lol

Hatsuki: Yes, she is getting stronger. More character development on its way for her I think.

AzianCutieMiyan: I hope you're not still holding your breath lol. Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter too.

Omgomgomgomg: Judging from the review, I think this is Hatsuki before Hatsuki signed in?

ilovesyaoranforever: I have to give a happy ending after making readers suffer so much. She does deserve a break.

Arise and Awaken: He is heartbroken. Especially since he is actively trying to articulate his feelings now and they are no longer reciprocated.

meridalass: I am trying. Believe me. And, no problem :)

Prom15eToLove: As you can see I used your words in this chapter, because they sounded like something Yelan would voice ^_^ I once met someone who got a similar injury from a car accident so I wrote it that way... their accident was more severe though.

xtna ag: I updated again! This chapter was for last week so I'm working hard to put out a chapter this week. He was cold because as Aunt Lin said, Li men don't do vulnerable. Even Chao this chapter was worried but he could not allow himself to show it. Yelan too in fact. They all take pride in being in control. But pride... and arrogance in the end, made him lose Sakura.

b2utifulshawol: lol. no he did not. It was his accident that injured him. Yup. Glad she's not pregnant too.

Farala: Yes, I'm BACK. I'm glad I'm back too. Was getting worried. Like... why was it so difficult to write. Thought I lost it. You don't annoy me when you message. You just make me feel ashamed for not updating lol!

I'm happy you enjoyed seeing Syaoran suffer. smh lol. Yes, I imagined he has always been civil and respectful towards Ming, so his snapping at her, truly showed that Sakura's rejection hurt him deep. To lose his cool with his innocent assistant. He would not do that otherwise. I figure Syaoran will deal with his family on his own in his own way, in time. Well Sakura already left for Tomoeda and as you can see, Meilin is hiding Syaoran from her. Will it make the news? Maybe, maybe not. The Li's are private after all. Yes, curious to see what kind of evil kenchi is too. Though, I don't think he is faking being a gentleman. Everyone has a good in them after all. Hope you enjoyed this one.

skurabun: My second favourite line from this chapter's review:"It's not fair for Sakura to have to be there to fix syaoran." FACTS. You were generally right about Sakura's feelings about the laptop headline. Yelan is a boss lady. For real. It's strange, she loves her son but condones bending him to her will. Thank you for the compliments. Maybe I'll let you reviewers decide what I should write for the next fic, though I have a story idea. That would be in seven chapters or so, and I'm trying to write one a wee...

LauraNathi: "it would have been soooo non-romantic" if Sakura got pregnant. Agreed. Syaoran will have to put himself together again if he wants to be with Sakura. Hurt people hurt people after all. He deserves happiness too after trying to please everyone else. I have a special scene with Wei coming and I think it will be super short but awesome.

witchlouise: I've actually written shorter chapters for this story. lol. I thought I might have longer chapters for the end, but I may not need it. I'm trying to update fast. Promise.

Please update soon ok! Miss it like crazy;)). I hope u have nice day!

BruisedTulips: Last chapter my favourite line of a review was: "What terrible lives they lived, even though sometimes they make it sound nice, like if they have everything even though they don't." Meilin has it hard as well. She dedicated her life to someone who does not feel the same. Brutal.

missyrod: My second favourite line of last chapter's review: "to deny the temptation of her was such a Sayoran thing to do." Absolutely. If I ever get the time/inspiration I may write Chapter One from his perspective to see the little things that went on that made him attracted to her and the lead up that made him open to that being attracted... if that makes sense. OMG when I saw you said, "maybe Sayoran was on his [Fujitaka's] mind when he asked Sakura why she was leaving" and "how is she going to answer the hard questions her dad and brother are going to ask about her expensive new wardrobe accessories", I wondered if you read my notes lol. You're right, she could have maybe given more reaction with regards to the Cherry Deal. Maybe when I edit, I'll put more into the scene with Matsushita.

She put up with Syaoran because it was her job and I suspect she would prefer a handsome guy to dating an old man. lol. Also, it may have been refreshing for Syaoran to have someone be innocent and easily readable, instead of having to be on guard all the time. I understand your thoughts on Wei. He did not set Syaoran straight because it is difficult for him being a butler/honorary family member. It's not always easy to know his place with Syaoran. And I don't think he would want to be fired and never see him again. And Syaoran alluded before he collapsed, that Wei is overstepping his boundaries.

Syaoran has never completely trusted Sakura, because he is used to people using him and asking for favours. Also, he fears she will hurt him if he trusts her completely. He wants to trust her though and he probably does now. Sakura is indeed frustration but that's people. You tell them they can't have something, and they want it more. They believe they are special. That they will be The One. But nope. She went crazy because she really wanted to believe she was the one, however, she had to accept she was not. And like people do she shifted blame to him. Still, she admitted before that she knew she is not innocent in all this. Hope you liked this chapter.

Until Next Time,

Ja ne! ^_^