DISCLAIMER
Apart from the plot and unknown characters, nothing is mine. Cardcaptor Sakura is officially owned by CLAMP.
SAPPHIRA-HIME
Wow! I just got back into writing and realized the first chapter for this fanfic was published last 2013! I got busier than expected with this adult life, but no excuse, right? We all have our own busy lives to deal with. What surprised me was that I still received PMs from my readers now and then; asking me if I have plans to continue my stories lol. I love you guys! You keep making me come back!
The good news? Since I'm on an extended leave until the end of the year, I plan to finish my two CCS fanfics before I work again in my field.
I'm in the middle of beta'ing my own Topsy Turvy CCS fic because I cringed in the way I wrote a decade ago. I was reviewing my work from chapter one, and I could hear myself groan over and over. Worse, I need to practice again how to write properly. I hope to redeem myself and give you an awesome time, my wonderful readers.
I'm also planning to look for a beta-reader, since I don't have one for this story. If you're interested, please let me know. I will be pleased to work with you. Thank you!
Sapphira-hime signing out! Hihihi. Enjoy reading!
SUMMARY
"…make this girl's life miserable, and I will grant you a second chance to live."
MY ANGEL'S WINGS
… "A soulmate's unconditional love"… a CARDCAPTOR SAKURA fanfiction
M.A.W © SAPHIRA-HIME
C.C.S © CLAMP
CHAPTER TWO: His Salvation from Eternal Damnation
"Can love conquer death?"
I doubt second chances are given to make things right or to have a do-over.
I believe second chances are given to prove we could do better after we fall.
LI SYAORAN
"It's not my goddamn problem if you can't finish the Tokyo World Olympics Stadium within the deadline I gave you, you useless piece of trash," I muttered under my breath, unprovoked by the stuttering and begging voice of my project manager. Why were all the people working for me this pathetic? What did I do to deserve these brainless employees? "Finish it in a month or get fired. You know what happens when I kick out someone, right? It's the same as ending your half-baked career. Feel free to quit stupid fool, I will make your life a living hell if you do."
I groaned again in my luxurious huge office for the fifth time since this morning. This was my first day at work after being hospitalized last week. I made the correct decision to forcefully discharge myself. As expected, everyone was practically garbage to me. Not a single worthwhile scrap.
I was hospitalized for days. I left the hospital because I didn't want to be diagnosed as insane.
I checked my phone and frowned at the screen. With a swift movement, I turned to my desk's monitor and frowned even more. I convinced myself it was only a hallucination. A side effect from the drug overdose caused by another attempted murder.
I thought it was just a dream. That it was unreal. That it would stop.
A damn nightmare.
"The hell is with this stupid girl's photo?" It kept appearing on my electronic devices, no matter how many times I tried to delete it. This had been going on for five days since I woke up from the hospital. Yeah. The same freaking health institution from the dream. "Should I have myself checked by a shrink?"
I pressed the intercom button on my office phone and waited less than a few seconds to hear my secretary on the other line.
"Yes, Li-sama?"
"Yue, where's the new smartphone I asked for an hour ago?" I coldly asked the long silver-haired man. He was currently the only person who managed to last for more than six months as my secretary. Worse, he was only a college intern. My previous secretary hired him for his university internship, but she quit in less than thirty days. I didn't want to waste time and signed him up before his predecessor could even reach my office door and leave. "I ordered you to give it to me as soon as it arrives."
"I apologize, Li-sama, I sent a text message to the courier a few minutes ago for an update, but there was no response-" I sighed and leaned back on my swivel chair when Yue paused for a moment and excused himself. A newcomer just came in. I didn't bother hanging up and decided to listen to the nervous courier who was making excuses about the flood outside. Rain had been flooding Tokyo since I woke up. "The phone I ordered for you only arrived, Li-sama. I will hand it to you now."
I ended the call and focused my attention on my monitor screen. Darn. The photo was back on my wallpaper. I just deleted it a few minutes ago before I called Yue. How could this happen? I must be going crazy from all the enemies trying to kill me.
"What am I supposed to do with this stupid girl?" I mumbled begrudgingly after hearing Yue knocked a few times and then entered my office. He gave a polite bow in front of my desk, before handing me the new smartphone. "Stay here and wait."
My secretary only nodded and quietly waited as ordered while I turned on the power of the small device in my hand. I could feel myself holding my breath in suspense as I waited for the default wallpaper screen to appear.
"Damn it," I grumbled frustratedly as the stupid girl's face appeared again. From a new goddamn phone, nonetheless. "What do you see, Yue?"
I threw the useless phone on my table and asked my curious secretary to look at it. I smiled in satisfaction after I saw the usually calm college student grimaced and gave me an apologetic expression. I just confirmed it. I was not the only one who could see her photo. It seemed I was not mad enough yet to schedule a session with a shrink.
"I don't know how this happened, Li-sama. There must be a mistake from the store…" Yue trailed off while observing the stupid girl's photo on my newly unboxed phone. Since he was the only one who managed to stay this long, I was debating whether to involve him with my problem. "I apologize. I will call the store and have it immediately replaced."
"Don't bother and take a look on my monitor instead." Yue did as I instructed him to, and I couldn't help but smirk again. His forehead wrinkled further when I lifted my old phone in front of him and showed him the same picture. He was baffled now. "This photo kept appearing on all my gadgets since the day I woke up from the hospital. The recently bought smartphone was no exemption. Even if I delete it, the picture comes back within a few minutes."
"Are you suspecting our internet security is compromised, Li-sama?" Yue attempted to confirm the only logical reason for this occurrence. "I can arrange an emergency meeting for you right now."
"It's fine. I'll handle it myself. This is between us for now." Yue didn't need to know the details. I had no desire to let my secretary happily dwell on the possibility that I might have a loose screw on my head. Hopefully, we wouldn't reach that point. "I want you to search for this girl as soon as possible. Use any means necessary."
He was silent for a few moments. I could easily guess my secretary was debating whether to ask me a question. I couldn't blame him. It was an unusual order. If I were him, I'd be suspicious too.
My boss, who is infamous for his many assassination attempts, is searching for a child. I almost rolled my eyes at this fact. What does this mean? Did he finally decide to take revenge against his enemies? Has he lost it?
That would be my exact thoughts.
"I don't plan to harm the girl if that's what you're thinking, Yue."
"I-I was not thinking about such, Li-sama." Yue hurriedly replied and bowed his head to me. "It's just that…"
I raised one of my perfectly arched eyebrows as my secretary continued to show me a troubled look.
"You know the girl, is that it?" I finished for him. He gave me a startled expression and turned his head sideways. It seemed he was still trying to figure out how the stupid girl's photo appeared on my devices. "You don't have to tell me if you're uncomfortable. This is not within your job description. I'll find her myself."
"S-she's from an orphanage, Li-sama." Yue decided to answer my question. "I met her before."
"An orphanage?"
Classic, Almighty.
I'll take that as a compliment, my child."
I almost fell on my chair when a familiar voice spoke in my mind. There was no way in hell I was talking to the Almighty like an alter ego. He should just get lost and find another person to annoy.
"It's fascinating how you take this so calmly."
"You told me I was dead, and You showed me hell truly existed. What else could compare?"
"Fair point."
"My twin brother, Tsukishiro Yukito, volunteers for the Tomoeda Orphanage, only half an hour away. I met this girl when I visited the orphanage with Yukito a few times." Yue explained what he knew. He made things convenient for me. I could finish this mission quickly and save my soul from that hellish place. "I do not understand why her photo would appear on your electronic devices, Li-sama."
It was the Almighty's fault. I figured.
"Because you refused to respect our agreement, my child."
"Call Eriol and tell him to arrange a meeting with the Tomoeda Orphanage. I'll go there after an hour." Hiiragizawa Eriol was my executive lawyer and legal guardian. He was responsible for handling my assets and everything else I found bothersome. "You can leave now."
"Hai, Li-sama." Yue gave me another worried expression before bowing again, and then took his leave. I knew he wanted to ask more about the stupid girl, but he hesitated. "Please call me if you need my attention."
"Not even a thank you?"
"He's doing his job," I replied out loud. I bet the Stalker, I meant, the Almighty could hear me regardless of how I talked to Him. "I pay him for his work."
"Is that so?"
"What are your terms? You were not exactly clear about it." After giving me that absurd command, I woke up in the hospital. The real one. The medical building with nurses and doctors in white coats. "I can kill the stupid girl if it means she'll be miserable, right? Or beat her up until she's on the verge of death. You can't punish me for it."
"Can you?"
"Why ask when you know the answer?" I retorted sarcastically, not bothering to hide my annoyance. He'd know anyway. I was not even sure why we were going through this cumbersome process. He already knew the result. He was simply entertaining Himself through me. "What are the terms?"
"I may know how it will turn out, but by the end of the day, it all depends on you, my child. It's the gift of free will."
"Terms. I want to be done with it." I didn't want to waste time arguing with the Almighty about His gift of free will and what it caused humanity. I only cared about my survival and safety. The rest could just die and burn in hell. "And don't disturb me like this anymore."
"I want you to treat the girl well. You will give her everything she wants. You will be her most important person until she becomes an adult. Above all, you are prohibited to get attached to her."
"You're not making any sense," I growled in a low voice. The Almighty was making fun of me. Someone prayed for my soul, my ass. He was doing this for the sake of His entertainment. He was bored and decided to mess up with my life.
Me, Li Syaoran.
The most powerful and influential man on this planet.
"Where is the part 'make the stupid girl's life miserable?' From your last command? I recall that was what I agreed to."
"What do you think an orphan needs the most, my child?"
What a stupid question.
"Food and shelter."
"Which the orphanage is already providing her with."
So, it was going to be like this? I groaned in a devastated manner. Now, I feel stupid. Again, why ask me a question He already knew the answer? Is He bored?
"A family she lost."
"Yes, this child desires a family. When it is time to let her go, you will take away this family."
"Provide for the stupid girl's needs, treat her well, give her everything, and don't get attached." I enumerated the simple terms the Almighty gave me. A doable but exasperating task. "Until she turns twenty. An adult."
"The girl will be under your care until she turns into an adult. You can leave her afterward. However, our agreement will remain until you die."
"What do You mean our deal will remain until I die?" The Almighty couldn't possibly have implied I had to keep in touch with the stupid girl until I take my last breath, right? That would be pure torture. Almost like hell itself. "You said this will be easy for me."
"Do not worry, my child. I only meant you cannot get attached to the girl until it is time for you to leave the mortal world. If you can accomplish all these tasks, I will welcome you in my Kingdom."
"Fine. Fair enough."
"You forgot to enumerate another task."
Did I miss one? I tried to recall what the Almighty instructed and realized what He meant. I surmised it was the same thing, and did not mind mentioning it before.
"You cannot miss a single task, my child. Our agreement will be nullified if you cannot fulfill every demand I give you."
Who did the Almighty think I was? I'm Li Syaoran. There was nothing in this world that I couldn't do. It was not only money and power I could be proud of. I had all the talent and skills in every field one could think of. I was gifted from the day I was born.
You have everything except a one-way ticket to Heaven. My sarcastic ego reminded me of my disdain. The most important one, unfortunately.
"I have a question." This particular condition of His bugged me. I didn't understand why the Almighty had to remind me of it, as I would still cover the needs of the stupid girl. I was the type of man who always gave his three hundred percent. Which meant I'd spoil her incessantly. I was prepared to treat the stupid girl well, no matter how annoying she would be to me. I wanted to make sure the Almighty could not complain about my impeccable performance after His assessment. "It sounds redundant."
"What is?"
"What do you mean to become the most important person of the stupid girl?" Wouldn't I qualify the description automatically, as I will be her only source of refuge? It didn't make sense to me why the Almighty had to note that I missed this particular task. She wouldn't have the choice but to rely on me. Heck, I would make sure I would be the only one. I could not risk letting anyone get close to the stupid girl and lose my only express lane to salvation. "Elaborate."
"I meant literally, my child. The girl will live with you alone from today onward. You have to be the only person she will look up to. You have to be the only person she will need until she reaches adulthood."
That didn't sound right. There had to be a mistake. Even the perfect Almighty could make a booboo every once in a million years.
"What do You mean by 'live alone with me'? I was planning to hire a nanny for her!" I immediately disagreed with the idea. How could I possibly take care of a child on my own? I was a hardworking man. I had a business empire to take care of. Simply imagining she'd stick with me twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week was horror. "This can't be done!"
"Should I send you to hell now, my child?"
Of course, the Almighty would use the Netherworld joke against me. How could I complain now? Send His child to that damn place.
Just terrific.
He was leaving me no choice but to agree with all His bothersome conditions. I would be trapped in an intangible web for years with the stupid girl. The Almighty was not kidding when He said He 'meant it literally'.
I would be someone's most important person.
"Forget it. I'll do well in whatever ploy You have for me. You'll even reward me for my excellent work. I'll make sure of it." I muttered under my breath. I had to fulfill all His conditions. The Almighty made it clear that I had to live with the girl from today onward. I couldn't fail to take her to my house today, unless I wanted to be sent to hell before midnight strikes. "I still believe your punishment of eternal damnation is too harsh for my case. Not a single trace of corruption in my company. Not one heinous crime. Not one attempt to hurt a person. Not one plan to take revenge for my life. Nada. So, be generous when I do an admirable job after this fiasco."
"Well, I am a magnanimous Creator. I will consider it."
Now that the Almighty gave His word, the deal didn't sound so bad. I just had to live with this misery for the next –.
"How old is she?"
"She turned five on the first day of April."
"The stupid girl is only five years old?" Great. Just freaking great. I thought things couldn't get any worse than the previous conditions. I would be stuck with her for fifteen long years. Alone. With me. Just the two of us. Until she turned into an adult. "T-This is preposterous…"
"You turned fifteen when we first met in person, my child."
"A fifteen-year-old me taking care of a five-year-old stupid girl," I mumbled resentfully. I felt like I was tricked into this. "Wow."
How was I supposed to make this work?
"You are Li Syaoran, my child."
"You find this hilarious, don't You?" The Almighty just mocked me by using my self-proclaimed confidence. Whatever. He considered my case before sending me to hell. I would give Him credit and be patient until the safety of my soul was assured. "I will be the stupid girl's entire world. That's what You want, right?"
"Yes, exactly my child."
I had no expertise in how to be a good guardian to a five-year-old stupid girl, but I'd make it happen. If she asked me for my entire fortune, I'd give it to her. If she asked me to be her servant, then…damn it, fine. If she asked me to give her the world, I'd make sure I'll be hers.
As long as Heaven was assured upon my death, that was all that mattered to me. Everything I had worked hard for would be useless if I only suffered after my death. I needed the best of both worlds.
"I'm glad you understand how fragile your current situation is, my child."
"Wait, what if the stupid girl falls in love with me?" That despicable and repulsive cliché plot should not be part of this deal. I had no desire to play prince charming for a brat. Merely the idea of a child romantically loving me was revolting. However, I already figured the Almighty's true objective. "How cruel. You want me to hurt her."
"It will make the girl's life miserable. She will learn from it and move on after you reject her. Your soul will be saved as long as you don't accept her feelings for you, my child."
"You're using me so the stupid girl can learn from her blunder?" How cute. Falling in love with me was the Almighty's definition of a mistake. It seemed the religious people from those social media were correct after all. The Almighty truly moved in mysterious…and annoying ways. "What if I fall in love with her?"
I couldn't help but snort at the disgusting horrid thought. Impossible.
"…"
"No answer?"
"…"
"So, You'll just leave me hanging?"
"…"
"Don't tell me You're expecting I'd fall in love with a little girl?" I rolled my eyes in disgust. I didn't need love. It had no use for me, I found no benefit from it. I was contented living alone all by myself. Well, not anymore. I'd be staying with a stupid girl from this day onward. "You said I'm prohibited to get attached to her. I'll go to hell if that happens."
"…"
I could feel my blood boil when another long moment of silence engulfed my mind. There was no response even when I waited for a few more minutes.
"…did the Almighty just ditch me?"
TOMOEDA ORPHANAGE
I forgot to blink for a while. My genius mind was unable to process immediately the information given to me by the head Nun of the Tomoeda Orphanage. I casually glanced around the small office to hide my confusion and give myself more time to ponder
If I had to say, there was nothing worth noting in the room. It consisted only of a table and chair made of ordinary wood. The blinds were dusty and the wooden floor had many cracks. There were probably termites in every corner. It was the same for the rest of the building. I could barely tell that the walls were originally painted white because the place was old.
Too old.
Hardly an hour ago, I called Eriol and told him to prepare the necessary procedures to adopt the girl today. The useless idiot had an earful from me after telling me that adopting a child couldn't be processed within a day. The Social Service from the government wouldn't allow it. Every prospective parent had to undergo a strict background check and psychological evaluation first, and then wait for approval, which could take months. Worse, Eriol pointed out the most obvious problem to me.
I was only fifteen years old.
How the hell could I adopt another child? The Almighty was playing with me. He wanted me to burn for eternity after entertaining Himself. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs and curse Him out of anger. How dare He forsake me when I was willing to compromise this much?
…or so I thought.
"The adoption paper was processed five days ago?" I heard myself asking, confused. How did that happen? I didn't apply for an adoption request yet. "And it's under my name?"
"Is there a problem, Li-sama? You seem surprised?" Mizuki Kaho asked me in a concerned tone. She was not the only one who should be anxious here. I recently adopted a stupid girl without my knowledge. Without my order. Without my consent. "We've been waiting for your arrival since the day the papers were approved. We were worried you changed your mind about the adoption. We were about to call your office today."
"How did this happen? I reckon it will take months to get approval." I inquired, not caring if I sounded rude and suspicious to the Head Nun. I was a favorite target of my enemies. It wouldn't be surprising if they found out about the girl from my gadgets, which led them here to the Tomoeda Orphanage. I needed to know who was aiming for my life this time. "Explain."
Ah. I had to protect a stupid girl from now on too.
"Shiro-san, a representative from the Social Service, informed us that you were interested in adopting one of our children here in Tomoeda Orphanage. It was an unusual request, to be honest. Because you're only fifteen years old, Li-sama. Your age does not qualify you to be a child's legal guardian." I wanted to tell Mizuki Kaho I found the setup absurd myself. That I didn't want to be here. That I was the worst person for this job. That I wanted to tear the adoption paper right then and there. "However, Shiro-san volunteered himself as co-guardian. The next day, he came back with the necessary approvals from the Judicial Court and the Social Service Headquarters. Despite the rushed adoption process, I had no choice but to respect the procedure."
I was certain I looked like a corrupt teenage boy in front of the Head Nun now. She knew who I was and what I could do despite only being a fifteen-year-old. Not that I cared what her opinion was about me.
"Shiro-san?" I didn't know a person by that name. "Did he say anything else?"
"Strangely, yes." Mizuki nodded her head before pausing for a few seconds. She was like Yue a while ago, debating whether to answer my question or not. "Shiro-san assured me that I shouldn't worry because you will take good care of one of our children. That if you dare lay a finger on a strand from Sakura's hair without her permission, he'll send you to hell."
The 'hell' word was the dead giveaway. It was the only clue I needed to eliminate the doubts I had for my enemies. This only proved to me how serious the Almighty was in making this agreement of ours happen.
"Sakura?" I finally found out the name of the stupid girl I was ordered to spoil to my heart's content, and then break her heart once she became an adult. It seemed love must hurt to the point where it'd make one's life miserable. Which only further justified my point. I would never want this so-called love until the day I die. "What's her surname?"
I was somehow relieved she existed. It was better to care for a child than to be diagnosed as a schizophrenic due to my visual and auditory hallucinations.
I'm not crazy…yet.
"Oh? Were you not informed, Li-sama?" Mizuki frowned a little. I didn't help myself to appear like an ideal parent to the Head Nun. "Sakura was left in the main door of the orphanage when she was only a baby. Only the word 'Sakura' was written on the letter that came with her. We don't even know her birthday. To solve this problem, Shiro-san suggested Sakura could use your last name. I had the impression you knew because the process needed your consent. Shiro-san also informed me that you chose a birthday for Sakura based on the limited background we had on her.
Did the Almighty know I'd looked foolish in front of the Head Nun? I had no idea what she was telling me. Was that why He mentioned the stupid girl's birthday? How thoughtful of Him.
"That is correct. I chose April first for her birthday, she is currently five years old." Her parents abandoned the stupid girl in front of an old orphanage. Same old classic story. Maybe this was the Almighty's favorite theme. It seemed I needed to assure the hesitant Head Nun about my credibility as a guardian. It would be bad for me if Mizuki Kaho decided to appeal for the girl's adoption. "Spring matches her name."
"I-Indeed. I thought so too, Li-sama." Mizuki finally showed me a small smile. She handed me a folder and motioned me to browse the documents. The first thing I checked was the relationship written on the paper. "I agree with your choice after reading Sakura's new adoption certificate."
"Legal Guardian?"
"Ah yes. Shiro-san told me it would be better if I explained it to you, Li-sama." Mizuki adjusted herself on her chair before continuing. "Since our law dictates that only an adult is allowed to adopt a child and be an adoptive parent, you'll have to wait until you turned twenty to change your status as Sakura's legal father. For now, Li-sama will temporarily be Sakura's legal guardian on paper, while Shiro-san will serve as your mentor. He will answer for you if something unfortunate happens to Sakura."
"There will be none, Mizuki-san. She will live a pleasant life under my care." I smirked, feeling victorious already. The folder in my hand would serve as my voucher for my ticket to Heaven. "Is there something else I should know?"
Is this my trump card against the stupid girl? I'll break her heart by registering myself as her legal father. For good. I thought slyly to myself. It was a laudable plan. I don't have to worry about burning in hell anymore when I die.
"As Shiro-san already told you, Sakura is a special case among our children here." I simply nodded and kept my mouth shut. The Almighty failed to mention this part to me. What the heck did Mizuki Kaho mean by 'a special case'? I should have signed a written contract. His demands were increasing, and this was only the first day. "Sakura is suspected of having autism. However, this is not confirmed yet, since a proper psychiatric evaluation is required to make a clinical diagnosis."
If it were not for the eternal inferno I witnessed, I would have thrown the folder on the Head Nun's face and rant furiously at the Almighty. How was I supposed to care for a stupid girl with autism?
"Do I have to take notes?" I almost asked in a sneering tone, pretending to be calm for the sake of not ruining the adoption process. If I flipped now, the Head Nun would certainly not release the stupid girl to me. If that happened, I would go straight to hell because I did not bring her home today. "It will help me provide the best care for her if I understand her needs, Mizuki-san. I'd appreciate it."
Being polite was not one of my greatest virtues.
"Oh! I'm glad you initiated to ask this question, Li-sama." Mizuki's face glowed after hearing my sickening courteous words. She took a deep breath before answering me. "Sakura requires special attention. First, you need to personally feed her every meal. It will be the same for her snacks. Second, you need to bathe Sakura twice a day. She doesn't like to start her morning without a proper bath. She also can't sleep without washing up. Third, Sakura can't sleep on her own. She needs someone to be with her. If she wakes up alone in the middle of the night, she will not stop crying for hours. Fourth, Sakura can only speak a few words at a time, but she mostly understands what we tell her. Fifth, Sakura cannot be with angry, impatient people. She does not like hearing furious voices. It worsens her condition. Please note the last one, because it is most important for Sakura's well-being."
I had to silently count for one…two…three…four…five…six…seven…eight…nine…ten seconds before I managed to give the Head Nun a nod. I did not dare say a word. I was afraid, too afraid, to mess up my soul's only redemption. My patience was dangerously standing on the borderline, and it was only the first day.
My tolerance for the stupid girl had to last for fifteen more years.
"I understand, Mizuki-san." It was mandatory now that I write down those notes and post them everywhere in my house and office, especially the last one. "Is there anything else I should know?"
Was I a masochist for asking for more problems?
"Now that you asked, there are three more. I almost forgot." Mizuki smiled gratefully at me. She was testing me huh. Well, at least she was enthusiastic now compared to when I first arrived in her dusty old office. "Sixth, Sakura only eats homemade food. She rigorously watches how her meal is cooked."
"You mean she needs to watch me cook before I can feed her a meal?" What an eccentric autistic child. I had to play chef just to make her eat. "Is she picky with food?"
Where the hell do I find the time to cook for the stupid girl?
"Unfortunately, our menu is limited in the orphanage. I can't answer this question exactly, Li-sama." Mizuki apologized before sighing lightly, obviously not proud of their limited resources. "Seventh, Sakura cannot be left alone, not even once. It terrifies her when she is left in a place where she doesn't recognize anyone."
The stupid girl was going to be a leech in my life, a nuisance.
"Eight, you need to hold Sakura's hand whenever she walks with you, Li-sama. If not, then you must carry her instead. She won't move until you do either of the two. You can't force her. The Tomoeda Orphanage and the Social Service can easily take Sakura if you fail to provide for her special needs."
Kami, what did I get into?
"I will be evaluated?" The Almighty wanted to make sure I wouldn't be complacent with our deal. As if I wouldn't take it seriously. My afterlife was at stake here. Not the stupid girl's. "How frequent?"
"Certainly so. This would be done monthly until Sakura becomes an adult. Our government has a special law that requires us to monitor the wellbeing of adopted children with special conditions, including autism." Mizuki pulled her drawer and handed me a copy of the said law. I had to read this later. I couldn't fail the monthly evaluation. "Shiro-san also notified me before you arrived, you will take Sakura shopping today. That I can use her old clothes for the other children here. Thank you for your consideration, Li-sama."
The Almighty was doing as He pleased. I had no intention to personally shop with the stupid girl. I was supposed to order Yue to purchase her needs online. However, that wouldn't be the case anymore. He was telling me I had to do it myself until she turned into an adult.
"Can I ask for a list? Please write down all her necessities." I tried to emphasize the need to know these things. Because I had no idea how to care for a five-year-old girl. "I will do my best to learn, but the fact that this is my first time to adopt someone remains. I want to give her everything. Money will not be a problem."
Yes, everything. So, she won't bother me.
"Very well, Li-sama. I would give it to you before you leave." Mizuki gave me another thankful smile. "I feel better now that I could understand your eagerness to take care of Sakura."
What did she mean by the word 'eagerness'? I was desperate, not eager. There was a huge difference between the two. I was desperately doing this because my soul's fate depended on the stupid girl. I must make her the happiest person for the next fifteen years, only to break her heart by registering myself as her legal father. Whatever happens to her afterward, I'd leave it to the Almighty.
I wouldn't give a damn anymore.
"If there is nothing else, can we wrap it up, Mizuki-san? I believe I need time to introduce myself properly to her before we can go shopping." I just wanted our first day to end. I'd sleep on it and then figure out what to do with the rest of my life tomorrow. "Is that alright?"
There was no point in delaying the inevitable. I had to meet her sooner or later. I might as well get over it.
"It's fine, Li-sama. I understand what you mean." Mizuki stood up from her seat and offered me a handshake. I had no choice but to return the gesture, even though I didn't like the reason for the gesture itself. "You don't have to worry about Sakura. She's been watching you since you arrived."
"Watching?" I followed Mizuki's gaze and turned my direction toward the door behind us. I didn't know the stupid girl was spying on me. "She was peeking all this time?"
"Sakura has been waiting for Li-sama to arrive after her adoption was approved." Mizuki smiled when she motioned the said girl to enter, but she only stared at us in return. "Shiro-san gave her your picture. She brings it everywhere she goes, even when she sleeps."
Again, without my knowledge. My photo was being used without my consent. I hoped the Almighty heard how I tried to emphasize my point here.
"H-Hey…" I heard myself lamely greet the seemingly shy and reluctant stupid girl hiding behind the door. She had long auburn hair and huge, green, emerald eyes, accompanied by two chubby cheeks. She was shorter than I expected, probably only a few inches taller than my knees. "We finally meet…"
I trailed off, unsure what else to say. She quickly blinked her eyes and quietly continued to stare at me, so I just stared back without saying another word.
Again, how was I supposed to make this work?
"Do you want us to talk first?" I had no clue how to converse with children, much less with an autistic one. I held off a sigh to avoid showing the stupid girl any unnecessary negative emotion. I took a mental note to take a leave for the next two weeks after learning about her special condition from Mizuki Kaho. I didn't want to look like an imbecile to my employees once I brought the girl with me to my office. "Let's talk?"
I need those 'Child Care for Dummies' and 'Child Care 101' books. We'd shop for that later. I also needed to set up an appointment with a pediatric psychiatrist. I quickly outlined my plans while continuing my staring contest against the stupid girl. I would tell Yue to have my office ready for renovation in two days. I needed to install a blasted kitchen and a bedroom for her as early as now. I would be busy afterward. I doubt we could go back to my house daily. Unfortunately, I was neither allowed to leave her alone nor hire a nanny for her.
I had no choice but to make this work.
"Do you know me?" I asked again. My tolerance level was already dwindling, and it only had been less than five minutes since we met. Was this how my life was going to start today? "My name is Li Syaoran, I will be your father in the future."
As early as today, I would make it clear to the stupid girl that it wasn't my fault if her life became miserable. I incontestably told a five-year-old version of her that I would be her father after some time.
"P-Papa?"
My body shuddered uncontrollably after hearing her small soft voice. Who the hell was this 'Papa'? Dear heavens. I was only fifteen, and yet I was called a despicable name by a stupid autistic girl.
"I-Is that how you want to call me?" I couldn't reject her as per the Almighty's instructions. Damn it. How would I face my employees? The public? How about my image? The stupid girl would be trailing behind me from now on, while ridiculously referring to me as her 'papa' of all things. "Do you want to?"
"No! This, not papa!"
"Uh?" I couldn't help but blush, embarrassed when the stupid girl lifted her hand in the air to show my picture, the one the Almighty gave her without my permission. "Who am I then?"
Why did He choose a degrading photo?! How did it even exist?! I never had a shot taken like that! I fumingly cried out in my mind. Hoping the Almighty would speak up and explain Himself. I never smiled that way before! Not once! That photo is fake!
"Sakura's husband!"
You're kidding me. Can I even say no to this? I mournfully pitied myself, already imagining the dreadful outcome. I would be a laughingstock if she announced this to everyone we meet. How much humiliation do I have to endure just to entertain the Almighty's boredom?
"I'm your husband?" It took me considerable patience not to throw the folder still in my hand at the insolent stupid girl. The word itself was enough to make me scream frustratedly. Was she seriously considering me as her husband? "Do you know what a husband is?"
"Shiro-san said this Sakura's husband!" She continued to raise her arm in the air to prove her idiotic fantasy…or not. The Almighty was the One who told her I'd be her husband? So, I had no choice but to let her believe this craziness? Wonderful. I had to bear with this new mortifying ordeal. "Sakura's husband!"
Ack! Stop repeating the degrading term to me! I wanted to yell at the stupid girl. I did not dare turn my head at the amused Head Nun. I get the feeling she enjoyed our first meeting, much to my displeasure. I was already the object of ridicule for the fools.
"F-Fine. We'll proceed with this introduction…for now." I hopelessly gave up. I'd be swallowed up straight to hell if I declined anyway. I had to follow every condition and task given to me for the next fifteen years of my life. I had to fulfill all her desires without a single complaint. I needed to be the stupid girl's world to make her life miserable after I let her go. "I'm Li Syaoran, your husband."
That would be my best revenge for the mortification she would cause me.
"Sakura's husband!" She happily exclaimed, grinning widely. She then excitedly ran to me and extended her arm, motioning me to take her hand. "Sakura's husband!"
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll be your excellent husband until you become an adult. I wanted to sarcastically reply to her. I'd persevere until the end. Mark my words. I will make you regret daring to fancy me as your husband, stupid girl.
I reached out to her in response to her gesture. It was the start of our 'married life' together.
"…it's nice to meet you, my wife."
My only redemption from my eternal damnation.
END OF CHAPTER TWO
SAPPHIRA-HIME
How were my writing skills, my awesome readers? I need practice, countless of it. I realized how long it took me to write this. Not because I didn't have the idea, but because I had to reread it over and over to check for typos, inconsistencies and wrong grammar. I did it by going back to the chapter twice a day for three days. It didn't help that thanks to its good live-action films, I hooked up in Rurouni Kenshin fandom. I decided to give half of my day to write my ideas for this new story of mine.
Maybe I should seriously consider a beta-reader? There's a good reason why every author needs this service. Because it's more difficult to identify one's mistake. It takes time to find a suitable beta reader though. I also want to completely rewrite my Topsy Turvy CCS. I already finished the ending, even though I haven't written the last seven chapters before it. How weird was that?
As for this fanfic, My Angel's Wings, how was chapter two? Hahaha. I enjoyed writing about Syaoran's view. In my opinion, he was both simple and complicated as a character in CCS, an impressive one. The Clear Card Arc proved it even more. This made it fun for me to write the story through Syaoran. I hope you liked it too!
I have three chapters prepared ahead. Hopefully, I can write half of the plot before June ends. By July, maybe I'd finish the entire story and focus on editing and updating. Thank you again for reading. 'Til the next update!