DISCLAIMER
Apart from the plot and unknown characters, nothing is mine. CLAMP officially owns Cardcaptor Sakura.
SAPPHIRA-HIME
Another chapter uploaded! I hope I can keep this up and finish as early as September 2021. I have many stories I want to write after my two CCS fics while I'm on extended leave. Yes, I would finally complete my works! Hahahaha! 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 THREE: His So-called Married Life
"Can love conquer death?"
I believe caring less is the easiest way to be happy.
LI SYAORAN
I was in the midst of convincing myself that nothing could be worse than eternal damnation. That burning in a lake of fire for eternity was intolerable, tormenting, and excruciating. That this humiliation over the next fifteen years was incomparable to eons of suffering.
"Sakura's husband!"
"Yes?" I begrudgingly smiled at the stupid girl standing next to me in my bedroom, or rather much to my discontent, in our bedroom. I bought a drawer for her clothes and was currently folding each of them. "Do you want to rest?"
"Sakura hungry!" She stared intently at me as I sat on the floor with the many shopping bags we bought in the mall. It was almost seven in the evening, and I was only just starting to tidy her things. "Sakura's husband cook!"
"We can eat later after I'm done. I have to finish arranging the items we've bought today." My secretary Yue told me that he would change my schedule for the next two weeks. I would work from home and let him bring me the files that I had to sign daily. The renovation of my office will also be planned shortly. A new bedroom, a new bathroom, a new kitchen, and a new dining room. Yue also suggested a personal space for the stupid girl, her workplace. Should I also get a living room in which she could watch as I worked? I had to give her all the distractions she could take while I was busy. "Can you wait a little longer?"
"Sakura help husband!"
"Thanks, but I got this."
I had Wei clean my penthouse every day and take care of my laundry, so why did I have to fold her damn clothes? Unfortunately, I was not allowed to get a nanny for her. I didn't even do laundry, but I was doing this menial task for a stranger. I tried to concentrate on another small shirt while watching the YT tutorial video.
"Lay the shirt out."
Which I did.
"Fold the shirt in half vertically from left to right."
I folded the small pink shirt in half, vertically from left to right.
"Line up the sleeves."
Pull one sleeve a bit higher to line it up with the other sleeve.
"Take one sleeve and bring it across to the other sleeve to fold the shirt in half lengthwise."
One sleeve across the other sleeve to make the shirt half lengthwise.
"Use your hands to flatten out wrinkles or creases."
I would be humiliated if I were seen with a stupid girl in a wrinkled shirt.
"Line up all the edges of the shirt, so they're even."
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, unsatisfied with my work. The shirt I folded was far from the shirt in the YT tutorial. How could folding a freaking shirt be so complicated? "Damn it all."
"Damn it!"
I turned to the stupid girl standing next to me and grinning innocently. Did she just repeat what I said? I almost flinched when lightning reflected in my huge bedroom windows, immediately followed by thunder. It was still a rainy day in Tokyo, but I didn't remember a thunderstorm from the weather forecast.
"Did you curse?"
"Damn it!" She repeated it to me, still with an innocent smile on her face. The stupid girl even had a proud look. Did she intend to copy what I said? "Damn it!"
Suddenly lightning struck through my bedroom window, shattering the glass and sending pieces flying in all directions. Without thinking, I grabbed the stupid girl and shielded her from glass debris. As if it weren't enough, I heard a thunderous, strong boom that shook my entire penthouse.
"Damn it!" The stupid girl shouted, shaken and terrified. She began to cry, her arms wrapping around my neck. "Damn it!"
Another lightning hit our penthouse, causing an explosive charge on the plugged-in television, which led to a fire. It would only take a few moments before the water sprays activate. Only a dumb person would think that this was a natural event. I had the best lightning protection for my penthouse. My place should be one of the last on earth to be struck by it.
"Don't say that! It's a bad word!" The lightning struck us the moment she said the words "damn it," and it continued every time she mentioned it. "C-Calm down!"
"Sakura scared! Sakura scared! Sakura scared!" The stupid girl now cried hysterically in my arms, and I had no idea how to stop her. "Damn it! Sakura scared!"
"D-Don't say it!"
Without warning, lightning struck another window in our bedroom, and the debris of glasses flew haphazardly, which frightened her only more. I shielded her small body with my own again and felt the small, shattered specs that pierced my skin.
"Sakura scared! Sakura scared!"
Damn it. What do I do to make her stop?
"Sshhh." I gently patted her head and hugged her back. I sighed in relief as soon as the water sprinkler activated. At least I didn't have to worry about a burning penthouse or burning a whole building. "It's okay, it's okay, your husband is here. Sshhh."
"Sakura scared! Sakura scared!"
The stupid girl buried her small trembling body in my arms and still sobbing non-stop. This would probably be traumatizing for her. I had the feeling that I had to add another note to my already long list of what and what not to do when caring for her. I would comfort her every time there was lightning or thunderstorm. Hell, perhaps even if it was just raining.
"Sshhh, it's okay to be scared. Your husband is here to protect you, "I whispered to her, racking my brain what else to say to assure her. "I will not let you get hurt. It's okay, shhh."
"Sakura not get hurt?" Her muffled voice asked, her face snuggling in my chest. "Sakura's husband protect?"
"Yes, I will protect you from everything that will hurt you." I rhythmically patted her head and waited for her to calm down. I had to do this for fifteen damn years. I couldn't even curse without being struck down by lightning. You can cry until you're no longer scared. I'll be here with you."
Fine, I know what You want, Almighty. You didn't have to go this far and wreck my place.
He didn't want anyone to negatively affect the stupid girl, like me. He wanted the stupid girl to grow up to be a kind, angelic, heaven-sent adult. A person who was exactly the opposite of me. How should I be an example for her? When I was far from a saint?
Are You planning to make her the next Mother Theresa?
"S-Sakura no longer scared," she reluctantly pulled away from me and looked up to meet my brown amber orbs. Her green emerald eyes were now puffy, red, and tear-stained due to all her crying. "Sakura's husband here."
"That's right, I'm here." I gently wiped away the tears on her chubby cheeks, which was useless due to the sprinkler. "We'll always be together."
"Sakura always with husband!"
"Always with me." Which was a lie, of course. I wanted to push her away and leave her behind. If I had a choice, I would rather die than always be with her. Unfortunately, I could not leave this world without burning in hell. As soon as I got my ticket to heaven, I would throw her out of my life. For the time being, I had to be the perfect husband material for her to save my soul from eternal torture. I would tell her the sweetest words she could ever hear and make her believe I was the only one for her. "We'll be husband and wife."
"Sakura husband's wife!"
Did she even know what it means to be husband and wife? I sighed inwardly and cringed at her absurd words. I was the husband of an autistic, stupid, five-year-old girl. What did her Shiro-san say about me as her husband? I couldn't help speculating.
She showed me her annoying goofy grin and wrapped her arms around my neck again as I carried her in my arms before I stood up and walked to the wall near my entrance door to shut off the water sprinkler control system. I had to call Wei later to inform him of the stupid girl I adopted and our now destroyed bedroom. I made the right decision to pay extra for plastic bags for the things we bought in the mall. I didn't want to go back to the mall tomorrow and go on another shameful shopping spree.
FLASHBACK
The head of the Li Clan was on the verge of gagging his adopted little girl, who would not stop crying in the middle of a luxurious children's department store. Only two hours had passed since they left the Tomoeda Orphanage, but he was already dreading the fifteen long and gruesome fifteen years with his stupid autistic girl... and wife.
"Husband not onii-chan!" Sakura desperately exclaimed and cried loudly. "Husband not papa!"
"Look what you've done, you stupid woman," I glared at the petrified saleslady. I took the initiative to reserve the entire mall for us because I didn't want the news of me adopting a child to be leaked, at least not until I had adjusted to my new horrible life with her. "I clearly instructed your manager to tell his staff to agree with whatever crap she spouts, didn't I? Do you want to lose your job?"
The saleslady kept bowing to the richest and influential man in the world.
Li Syaoran.
The current leader of the oldest governing and authoritative family in existence. A family that neither the British monarch nor any other royal on this planet could ever compare in terms of power, wealth, and influence. The indomitable, invincible, and respected family, the Li Clan.
I apologize, Li-sama! I was unaware that the child was Li-sama's fiancée." The shaky voice of the saleslady sincerely expressed her regret. She tried to lean her body forward even more in the hope of appeasing the obviously irritated Li Clan head in front of her. "Please forgive me!"
"F-Fiancée?"
Syaoran's thick and perfectly arched eyebrows furrowed at the new despicable term he just heard. He wanted so bad to lash out at the scared-stiff saleslady about her ridiculous assumption, but he couldn't deny it. Technically, if the Almighty wanted him to pretend as the stupid girl's husband, he would have to be a fiancé for her in the eyes of the public. He couldn't risk telling other people that she was neither her fiancé nor her husband. It could ruin his chance to make her fall in love with him. The stupid girl would be far from miserable if she could accept that he would be her father once he was legally allowed to be one.
"I apologize, I have to be mistaken again." The saleslady, Sasaki Rika covered her quivering mouth when she realized she had made another blunder. "I didn't want to offend you, Li-sama
"If someone asks you who the girl is, tell them that she is my fiancée, that I will marry her as soon as she is an adult, that she is now living with me because she does not want to be separated," Syaoran took a deep breath for a few seconds and released his maddening frustration. From now on, he had to be more careful in the environment of the stupid girl, because one wrong word and his soul would be done for. "I believe you introduced yourself as Sasaki Rika, am I right? Starting today, you will help my fiancée to meet her needs. If you agree, I will not fire you. If you decline, I doubt that you can find another job for the rest of your life."
"H-Hai, Li-sama. I will do my best to accommodate you and your fiancée." Rika bowed down and resisted the urge to hug and comfort herself. The commanding fifteen-year-old boy clearly threatened her. She had no choice but to say yes if she didn't want to end her career right then and there. "Thank you for your understanding."
"Send your personal information to my secretary, Yue. He will contact you when I have to bring my fiancée to shop. You will be the only one to assist us, I don't want anyone else. Make sure you're always available. My fiancée will need your service for a long time. You cannot quit until I say so. I will not accept any excuses." Syaoran handed her his business care before he continued to give his instructions to the still trembling part-timer. "I will tell your manager about our agreement. I expect full confidentiality regarding me and my fiancée. If you piss me off, I'll ruin your entire family."
"I understand, Li-sama." Rika tried not to let her tears fall, she had to hold it and calm herself if she didn't want to lose her job. "I'll do as you say."
Syaoran removed his attention from the frightened saleslady and unwillingly went over to his bawling stupid girl. He kneeled on the floor next to her and leveled himself to her height. He would only allow one person in this damn department store to witness him in this humiliating state. No, Sasaki Rika, for that matter, would be the only in the damn whole world. She would attend to his so-called fiancée until she turned into an adult.
"Don't cry, Sasaki-san didn't mean it when she referred to me as your big brother." He tried to comfort her in the most soothing voice he could have. It disgusted him to hear himself, but he had no choice but to act as a virtuous soul for the stupid girl. "She only asked if I was your papa."
"Husband not onii-chan! Husband not papa!" Sakura only cried more, her nose now dripped with clear mucus due to her incessant sobbing. "Husband Sakura's husband!"
"You're right, I'm your husband. Li Syaoran is your husband." He forced himself a small smile before wiping her gross face with his handkerchief, which would end later in the trash can. He couldn't allow anyone else to see him in this pitiful state. One person was more than enough to help him and the stupid girl with her shopping needs for the next fifteen years. "Can my beautiful wife stop crying now? I feel hurt when I see my wife sad."
Seriously, he wanted to rant and curse the Almighty for His boredom. He wanted to make the irritating stupid girl perished before his eyes. He wanted the two to disappear from his life. If only he had the power to do so, he would do it right from the start.
"Sakura's husband sad when cry?" She asked, trying to stop herself from crying further. "Sakura want husband happy."
If only he could tell her he would be happy if she disappeared out of his sight.
"Try not to cry anymore, okay? I want you to enjoy shopping today. Tell me if you want something, I will buy it for you." Syaoran gently grabbed Sakura's hand and motioned her to follow him in the clothes section. Rika walked quietly, now understanding that the little girl only wanted to regard the Li Clan Head as her husband and nothing else, and that she would not find the term fiancé satisfactory. "We have to buy you clothes first. What's your favorite color?
"Sakura like pink! Sakura like white!" She answered, raising her free hand in the air to express her excitement. "Sakura's husband color?"
"My favorite color? I suppose green catches my attention." As if his situation was not vexing enough, he also had to answer all her questions, because he had to give her everything she asked for. The Almighty specifically told him that he had to fulfill every task given to him, literally and figuratively. "I don't have anything related to green though."
"Sakura's husband has green!"
"I do?" Syaoran almost rolled his eyes. He just mentioned that he didn't have any. "What is it?"
"Sakura's eyes!" Sakura pointed to herself and smiled brightly at the dumbfounded boy walking beside her. He was not expecting a ridiculous but sensible answer. "Sakura's eye green! Husband has it!"
"Are you saying your eyes are mine?" Syaoran almost sneered in contempt. He would gouge out her eyes if that were true. "Why?"
"Sakura husband's wife!" She replied, her green emerald eyes adoringly glistened from the bright lights of the department store. "Shiro-san said Sakura give husband everything!"
"What?" He had no idea what the bored Almighty meant. "You'll give me everything?"
"Shiro-san said husband give Sakura happiness!" He knew the Almighty reminded him of his tasks. He gave the stupid girl expectations he had to fulfill without fail. Syaoran wanted to make sure that he would achieve it with flying colors, that he would be rewarded after fifteen years of mortification. "Shiro-san said husband not leave Sakura!
The way the stupid girl replied to him was full of unceremonial feelings. She spoke to him without failing to emphasize her words. She always exclaimed, not just talked.
It must be her special feature as an autistic child, Syaoran quietly brooded. He had to read books about how to care for a child with autism. He had to observe and study the stupid girl for the next two weeks before introducing her to the masses. He had to prepare well to save himself from further humiliation. He also had to think about a way to deal with the Li Clan as soon as they learned that he had adopted a child who was also his supposed future wife. What an annoying trait I have to bear with.
"I'm not going to leave you," Syaoran mumbled, enough to hear her. He would show the Almighty how capable he was. He would exceed His expectations so that he could brag in heaven. "I'll make you the happiest."
"Sakura make husband happy!" She raised her head and looked at him with a determined expression. "Sakura always with husband!"
"I will rely on you, my wife." He did not play a prince charming for the stupid girl. Instead, his comical role was a perfect husband for an autistic child. The Almighty was certainly bored to set this up. It made sense why it must be him. It would be the most satisfying if a person as distinguished as Li Syaoran entertained Him. "Make me happy every day."
Syaoran stopped at the girl's clothing section and glanced at the silent Sasaki Rika, who followed her behind. The said saleswoman immediately bowed her head and expertly searched for clothes her new master would like.
"M-May I know how to address her?" Rika asked nervously, hoping she wouldn't mess up as before. She had to do a good job if she wanted a source of income for her studies and her family. "It would help me to get along with your fiancée, Li-sama."
"Her name is Li Sakura," Syaoran replied, hoping they would be done shopping as early as possible. After they arrived at his penthouse, he had many agendas. Apart from caring for the stupid girl, he still had to read the adoption papers, the monthly evaluation directive, and the Child 101 books he wanted to buy later. "She's an orphan. I adopted her today under my care, which is why she has my family name."
Now that I think about it, why did the Almighty not use the true surname of the stupid girl? Syaoran wondered, frowning at the difficulties it would cause him as soon as he faced the prideful Li Clan. I doubt that I would give her back to her parents, even if I found them. I had to keep the stupid girl for myself until she became an adult. She wouldn't be downcast if she had her parents with her. So, why use my family name?
Rika only nodded her head and didn't dare comment on the situation of the little girl. It explained why her clothes were too old and ragged to wear. Her appearance was far cry from the sophisticated Li Clan head.
"Sakura-sama, can you come with me to the dressing room? I want to help you fit your new clothes." She bowed her head to the curious little girl and introduced herself. "My name is Sasaki Rika. Please call me Rika. I will cater to your shopping needs from now on."
"Sakura fit clothes?" She glanced at her serious-looking husband. "Sakura does not want!"
"You have to fit your clothes first, my wife. You will not look beautiful if your clothes are too small or too big for you, right?" Syaoran groaned at how he spoke to the stupid girl. He didn't want her to have an episode of tearful outburst if he called her by her name. Even after he introduced himself to her, she called him her husband. It only made sense that she expected him to call her in the same way. "Just try one of each type of clothing. We only need to know your size. Sasaki-san will handle the rest."
"Husband not leave Sakura!" She hugged his legs and refused to come closer to Rika. "Husband stay with Sakura!"
"You don't want to be alone without me. Okay, I will come with you to the dressing room." Syaoran wanted to grit his teeth at the annoying eccentricity of the stupid girl. He was informed by the head of the Tomoeda Orphanage that she didn't want to be separated from the people she knew, but he didn't know that it would be that annoying. He did not know that he had to be in the same place where she could always see him. Being in the same place was not enough for her. "Inform Sasaki-san if you find the clothes uncomfortable."
Sakura held his hand and pulled him with her as Rika rushed to the dressing room.
"Husband not leave Sakura!" She exclaimed again with a fixed gaze on him. "Husband stay with Sakura!"
"I will be here, my wife. I will not leave you." He wanted to bury himself in the deepest core of the earth. He called a five-year-old stupid autistic girl his wife. How would he survive when he brought her to his office? How would he defend his dignity when he faced the members of the Li Clan who wanted him dead or ostracized from their family? "Take your time. I will stay where you can see me."
Rika took note of the clue and made sure she did not close the door of the fitting room. She could assume that her new master was in the growth phase, when she was wary of strangers and had the tendency to have separation anxiety when her husband was out of sight.
"Sakura-sama, I found a combination of pink and white dresses for you. See? It's pretty, right?" Rika showed the quiet girl a dress. She stared outside the dressing room where her husband was patiently standing or at least trying to. "Can we try it on you now?"
"P-Pretty?" Sakura didn't pay attention to the dress and focused only on her husband. "Sakura does not want."
"Sakura-sama's husband said he wanted his wife to be beautiful," Rika encouraged her reluctant master. She could understand where her fears came from. Every orphan would be afraid to be left alone again. "It will make Sakura-sama's husband happy."
"Sakura's husband happy?" This caught her attention. "Sakura beautiful?"
"That's right. Li-sama wants to buy the prettiest clothes for his beautiful wife." Rika started to carefully undress her. "A beautiful wife means a happy husband."
"Sakura want husband happy." She nodded her head, raising her arms when Rika pulled her shirt off. "Sakura fit clothes."
"Do you want me to pick green clothes for you too?" Rika offered, recalling the conversation she heard a while ago. "We have many cute ones."
"Sakura's green eyes only!" Sakura repeatedly shook her head. "Husband has Sakura!"
"What a sweet idea." Rika smiled at her master's thoughtful and sincere determination. "Sakura-sama wants to be her husband's only source of green color."
"Sakura only!" She nodded her head again before glancing back in her husband's direction. He was busy reviewing the list Mizuki Kaho gave him. "Sakura only for husband!"
"A dedicated and loving wife will make a husband happy," Rika agreed, blushing lightly. She was a little envious because it appeared that the head of the Li Clan was not concerned about the ten-year age gap between him and her master. Unlike her, who had an unrequited love for her elementary school teacher. She was still hoping to confess her feelings for Terada Yoshiyuki before he settled down with the person he loved. "Sakura-sama will make her husband happy by wearing pretty clothes and shoes."
"Sakura wear pretty clothes for husband!" Rika wrote the sizes on blank paper and made a mental note to prepare a separate notepad exclusively for her master when she came home. "S-Sakura's husband! Sakura's husband!"
Rika followed the direction her master pointed at and saw a photo lying on the floor. She picked it up and examined the unusually cheerful and carefree expression of the head of the Li Clan. It was a huge contrast to his magazine covers and billboards.
"I think it fell from one of your pockets, Sakura-sama." Rika gave the picture back to her worried master, who immediately held the picture close to her. "Do you want me to get you a bag?"
"Sakura's bag?"
"I can prepare a backpack and a sling bag you can interchangeably use," Rika explained. "Sakura-sama can keep the picture safe inside."
"Sakura want bag!" She nodded her head again. "Sakura want bag!"
"As you wish, Sakura-sama." Rika gave her a smile before leading her out of the dressing room. "We are done checking your sizes."
Sakura ran toward her husband after she had the go signal from her new assistant, raising her two arms in the air in front of him.
"Y-You want me to carry you, my wife?" Syaoran tried not to grumble. Again, he had no choice but to meet her childish demands. He leaned over and gently lifted her in his arms. "Clothes and shoes, checked. We need to buy your toiletries, a comb, and a blow-dryer for your hair. We also have to buy drawers for your personal use. After that, we only have to go to the bookstore and buy books. We will also buy you coloring materials that you can work with."
"Sakura color!" She beamed at him at the idea of coloring books. "Sakura good at color!"
"I'm sure you're adept at coloring." He wondered how many fake smiles he would show to the stupid girl after he'd finished this fiasco, but he had no plan to count. His only goal was to get over it. He would enjoy his days when he turned thirty. He still had plenty of time to find satisfaction in life. He would enjoy it to his heart's content once he got rid of the stupid girl. "Once you have perfected the art of coloring, I will teach you how to read and write."
He wanted to invest time in teaching her how to be a valuable citizen in this world. He did not want to live with an illiterate. He wouldn't give a damn if the stupid girl had autism. He would drill all the knowledge he had in his brain into hers. He didn't want his clan and enemies to use her condition against him. He would ensure that she did not shame himself as her father, even if they parted. Getting rid of her as an adult didn't mean they were no longer connected. He easily predicted that the Almighty had another plan for him as soon as the stupid girl turned into an adult. He would not prevent him from being attached to her until he died if that were not the case.
I will make the stupid girl famous and influential like me, Syaoran began planning her future. It's only fitting for her as my daughter. She's a Li now. She cannot disgrace my family's name.
"Li-sama, what do you want me to do with Sakura-sama's clothes?" Rika politely asked with a pen and paper in her hands. "I can prepare it for you as you do the rest of your shopping."
"I want a complete set of clothes for this summer. Her innerwear, sleepwear, beachwear, and accessories are included. The same applies to the following seasons. Provide the best brands for her," Syaoran outlined his plans for the stupid girl while patting her head. He wanted to show her all the affection she could get from him. "I also want you to prepare your documents for international travel after you contact my secretary today. I plan to send you to Europe and attend haute couture and other fashion shows whenever a new trend begins. You will buy the best clothing and accessories for my wife as she grows."
"I understand, Li-sama." Rika was too overwhelmed with the new life installed for her. She didn't know her job description would leap like this. 'I'll prepare Sakura-sama's summer wardrobe as you shop. How do you want me to pack them in? We have luxurious paper bags, gift boxes, and high-quality plastic bags."
"Pack everything in plastic bags. It's more useful to me." Syaoran turned away from her and began to walk into another store for the stupid girl's drawers and toiletries. "Inform your manager that we're about to leave this department store. I don't want a single commoner in my sight. You're coming with us. You have to familiarize yourself with my wife's belongings and, above all, her preferences."
"Yes, Li-sama," Rika bowed her head before sending a text to her worried manager. It was not every day when the owner of one of the world's most lavish malls, The Olympia, graced you with his presence out of the blue to shop. He only gave the entire crew half an hour to inform their patrons, who themselves were prominent figures, to leave the vicinity. It went without saying that they still had to offer these people the best service, particularly in the event of inconvenience. "The Olympia is now reserved for you and your wife, Li-sama."
"Sakura husband's wife!" He scowled inwardly when the stupid girl repeated his detestable endearment to her. She undoubtedly liked the way he referred to her. "Sakura husband's wife!"
"Do you want me to call you instead by your name?" He hoped he could at least save himself a little from shame by not relating to her as his wife. "What do you think?"
"Sakura wife!" She shook her head at the idea of being called by her name. "Sakura wife!"
After fifteen excruciating years, he would be calling her his daughter instead. He would delight in it as he contentedly watched her heart get broken by him, her father.
"Your wish is my command, my wife."
END OF FLASHBACK
My first trip with the stupid girl in the mall was humiliating, to the point that only Sasaki Rika was the only person I allowed to help us during our shopping spree.
"Sakura wet! Sakura's husband wet!"
"We need to take a bath huh." I groaned again and imagined in my head how horrifying hell was, that this was nothing compared to the pain hell could bring me. "We bought tearless shampoo, as Sasaki-san suggested. I will bathe you first."
"Sakura and husband bath!" I almost dropped the girl on the cold floor after my mind quickly processed what she wanted from me. "Sakura and husband bath!"
"You want us to bathe together?"
"Sakura and husband bath!" She nodded her head and pointed at her drenched clothes. "Sakura and husband bath!"
Not only did I have to give her a damn bath, but the stupid girl wanted me to take a bath with her. However, it was not as if I had a choice. It was only the two of us in my penthouse, and the stupid girl cannot be left alone without bursting into tears and trembling in fear. It seemed that my only option was to take a bath with her.
"We have to take a bath in order not to get sick," I tried to smile sweetly and wondered how horrendous I appeared in her eyes. "I only have a bathtub and a shower. I think the bathtub is our option?"
"Bathtub!" I grabbed the plastic bag, which contained all her toiletries and our respective clothes, in preparation for our dreadful bath time. "Sakura no bathtub!"
"You mean, you don't have a bathtub in the orphanage? This is the first time you will use a bathtub?" To impress the Almighty, I planned to renovate the Tomoeda Orphanage and be its sponsor under the Li Clan's life fortune. This would mean that even after years of my death, as long as the Li Clan existed, the Tomoeda Orphanage would receive donations under my name. This would be achievable because my personal bank account would receive huge amounts of money continuously. The amount would depend on how well I worked during my tenure. It was one of the advantages of a Li Clan head after his death. Of course, I was the most gifted leader my family had ever witnessed. I would make sure it stays that way until our family ends. "I'm sure you'll like it, my wife."
"Sakura like bathtub?" She asked curiously after we entered our bathroom. I would renovate this tomorrow, especially the toilet area. How should I fulfill my body function if she refused to leave me alone for five minutes? I would install a new glass wall for the toilet and shower room. The lower half of the glass wall would be opaque and the upper half clear. This would be enough for the stupid girl to view my head and shoulder whenever I wanted to shower alone or do my thing in the toilet. "Husband like bathtub?"
"I like to use the bathtub to wash and relax." I put her down next to the bathtub and showed her how to fill it up. I hope she wouldn't make the mistake of drowning herself alone in it. I didn't believe the Almighty would let me off easily if she died under my care. "What do you think of the temperature of the water? Is it too hot for you?"
Hesitantly, the stupid girl slowly copied my gesture by dipping her hand on the bathtub, her face lighting up after the water touched her skin.
"Water warm!"
"You like that water temperature?" I didn't think it was too hot for her. "Or should I adjust it to less warm?"
"Sakura like warm water!" She raised her arms in the air as I resisted the urge to drown her. This was what my life would be, bathing with a stupid autistic girl for the next fifteen years. I pulled off her wet clothes and revealed her childish body, which was unimportant to note. It was simply the body of a stupid little girl. "Sakura want bathtub!"
I carried her into the bathtub when the water was at the level of her stomach. I then reluctantly took off my shirt and pants and covered my hips with a towel.
"How is the water?" I asked, sinking my slightly shivering body in the warm water. I sat in front of the stupid girl who was currently amazed at the bathtub. "Do you like it?"
"Sakura like bathtub!" She exclaimed excitedly, raising her arms in the air with a smile on her face. "Sakura like bathtub!"
She closed her eyes when I turned on the handheld spray and carefully soaked her hair with warm water before shampooing her long auburn hair. I still couldn't believe I was taking a bath with a stupid girl. Hell, we had to do it twice a day due to her peculiarity. I had to ask Wei to order new clothes for me and send them to my newly renovated office as soon as I began staying there with the stupid girl overnight. I gave Sasaki Rika the same instruction.
I remembered that I had to wash her clothes too. I resisted growling at the mundane tasks that the Almighty entrusted me. I had to tell Yue to add a laundry room to my office, which was literally a second penthouse now.
"Sakura wash husband!" Great, offered to wash me. How funnier could my situation get? I handed her my shampoo and poured an adequate amount on the two small palms she reached out to me. She imitated my previous gesture and focused her attention on lathering the shampoo on my hair. Unlike her tearless shampoo, my was not. The stupid girl should not put some on my eyes. "Sakura wash husband!"
"You're doing a fine job, my wife." If I was a little older, I would be suspected of being a pedophile. Only scums who were either single or separated would adopt girls like the stupid girl. I could understand why the Social Service and the Court had strict guidelines in adoption. I was still in danger of suspicion, as Mizuki Kaho reminded me that I would be evaluated monthly by her and the Social Service. "Please make sure not to miss out on a single strand of my hair."
"Sakura wash husband!" She gave me a serious nod and continued to shampoo my hair, which was actually pleasant. "Sakura take care of husband!"
"Did Shiro-san tell you to take care of me, my wife?" The Almighty made sure that the stupid girl would only consider me her husband and nothing else. He was not leaving any room for assumptions. "Can you tell me what you've talked about?"
Sasaki Rika suggested a new unfamiliar scent for the tearless shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. It was the first time I smelled white plums. If that saleswoman could recommend delightful scents like this, I didn't have to worry about her taste for the stupid girl's shopping needs. I knew I couldn't place all the responsibility on her though. I would fail my task if I allowed her to do everything. I briefed her to send me the latest catalogs monthly so I could personally choose her wardrobe. Sasaki Rika would personally deliver it to my preferred address and have her assist the stupid girl in trying the clothes and shoes I chose for her.
"Sakura take care of husband! Sakura make husband happy!" She replied after I gently stopped her hands from shampooing my hair. I lathered her newly bought loofah with the refreshing aroma of the white plum body wash and began scrubbing her body. She didn't mind me scrubbing her lower area, and I couldn't care less about it. I had nothing to gain from washing a stupid five-year-old girl. "Sakura don't leave husband!"
"Do you know what a husband and wife mean?" On our way home, I read that a relationship had to go both ways in the book I bought. The author explained that I should not be the only one there for the stupid girl, but the stupid girl should also be there for me. It was like, if you punch someone, you would normally expect to be punched back. It went both ways. I understood right then why the Almighty told her that I was her husband. So that she would take care of me the same way I took care of her. "Did Shiro-san tell you?"
A real relationship.
"Sakura love husband! Husband love Sakura!" She expectantly looked at me after I scrubbed her body, and I couldn't help but hold off a sigh. I doubted the stupid girl could clean me well enough with this small frame of hers. I handed her the sponge that I lathered and let her wash me. I guided her hands to start on my neck and cued her to know she had to scrub my skin meticulously. If we were to do this routine, she should do an acceptable job for me. "Sakura make babies with husband!"
The hell did I just hear?
"B-Babies? You were told we would make babies?" The Almighty went overboard with His task. Wasn't sexual liberation on his amoral list? "Did Shiro-san tell you when?"
I already knew she had to love me, and she didn't have to know that I would never love her back. But babies, for real?
"Sakura date husband first!" I was completely lost now. I had to date her, make babies, and then break her heart by registering as her father. How could that be possible? He may be the Almighty, but I was not. Human law would not allow it. I had to be a corrupt and manipulative person if I wanted to get away with it. "Sakura make babies with husband!"
Was the Almighty senile now? How could he skip the part of marriage? Date and make babies?
He wanted me to have babies with her and then break her heart. Wouldn't my children be my grandchildren as soon as I registered as her father? The Almighty was mad if this was His plan. First and foremost, I had no ambition to have a family of my own. My God Sent genes would end with my legacy.
"We must marry each other first before we can make babies, my wife." I decided to inform the clueless stupid girl. I would interpret the words of the Almighty as I see fit. I will let him redirect me if I misinterpret His tasks. "You must be an adult before we can marry."
"Sakura adult?" I turned my back on her after she was done scrubbing my arms and the front trunk. She refused to give back my sponge when I tried to take it from her. It seemed she wanted to wash me just as I washed her. "Sakura marry husband?"
"You will be an adult when you are twenty years old. You are only five years old today." I explained how I would break her heart in the future. I was looking forward to that day. "When you are twenty, we can marry and make babies."
"Sakura grow quickly!" Heck, I certainly hope so. Fast-forwarding time was the best gift I could ask for right now. I finally grabbed my sponge from her after she finished washing my back, which took longer than if I did it myself. I didn't want her to wash my hips and lower trunk. I had my own privacy the stupid girl had to respect. "Sakura marry husband! Sakura make babies with husband!"
Great plan you had there. I snickered quietly at her fantasy. In your dreams, stupid girl.
"I can't wait for you to grow quickly, my wife." Yes, I couldn't wait to throw her out of my life. "Turn to an adult soon, okay?"
"Sakura grow quickly!" She showed me her pinky, and I could only guess she wanted to swear with me. Just wow. I had to make a childish promise to a stupid autistic girl. "Sakura marry husband!"
"Once you turn into an adult, we will be family." That was the only thing I could promise her. I didn't want the Almighty to blackmail me with this crappy pink swearing of her. I was too smart to be fooled by these antics. "I can't wait."
She smiled broadly at me after clasping my fifth digit with her own.
"Sakura and husband family!" She closed her eyes again when I washed her face with a gentle milk cleanser, exclusively made for children. In addition to the facial wash, I told Sasaki Rika to give the stupid girl a moisturizer and sunblock she could use daily. I also told her to find a suitable oil cleanser to effectively remove the sunblock. I had to make her as presentable to the public as possible if she would grow under my care. My enemies could use her physical appearance alone against me. I didn't want to be labeled as having an ugly child. Growing with an average face was the least she could do for me. "Sakura always with husband!" "Sakura always with husband!"
"I'll always be with you, my wife," I mumbled in the hope that I sounded believable to her because I was hardly convincing myself. After thoroughly rinsing the stupid girl, I washed my face with my own facial oil cleanser and facial wash. From now on, we will have the same step-by-step routine. This would help me reduce my burden by having a synchronized schedule with her as she grew in the next few years. "We'll do everything together from now on."
"Sakura and husband together!" The stupid girl had enough common sense not to splash water on me playfully. Instead, she closed her eyes and appeared to enjoy the warm, soothing water of the bathtub. "Sakura and husband together…"
"Are you exhausted? Mizuki-san said you should sleep before nine in the evening." I noticed how her body almost lost balance while waiting for me to rinse. She at least slept early. As long as I did not leave her side, I could still work. I dressed hurriedly first, because it would be harder to care for the stupid girl if I only had a piece of towel covering my hips. "You must eat dinner first, okay? I can cook an omelet for now, so you can rest earlier. Tomorrow will have a decent meal."
"Sakura like omelet!" The stupid girl shook her head as if to wake herself up. I lifted her from the bathtub and began drying her off. The white plum had a pleasant smell. I had to tell Sasaki Rika not to buy another brand for the toiletries. I was satisfied with the sweet, lovely, subtle scent of the white plum she recommended. The stupid girl would at least smell decent. "Sakura like cheese omelet!"
"You like cheese omelet? I remember that we still have cheese in our refrigerator." I wanted to use the words "we," "we," "our" and the likes to let her believe she was part of my daily life. It was a clever tactic to gain the trust of the stupid girl. I had to make her as comfortable and satisfied as possible before our first monthly evaluation from the Tomoeda Orphanage and Social Service Department. "Do you want to drink hot chocolate while drying your hair? Or do you prefer milk?"
She should make sure she tells her evaluators that I feed her generously.
"Sakura like hot chocolate! Sakura like milk!" She didn't give me a hard time bathing her. I hoped the same was true when I fed her. I softly patted the lavender and chamomile facial toner as another step for the stupid girl's skin routine, followed by a ceramide-infused moisturizer. I was selective with the ingredients of her skincare products because I didn't want to mess with her sensitive baby skin. I made sure to check it one by one before Sasaki Rika added it to our cart. I wanted to make her the perfect candidate wife. I would set everything for her future as a member of the Li Clan. This was the only way to make my stubborn conservative elders accept her as a suitable woman for me. "Husband make drink!"
"Do you drink milk and hot chocolate every day?" I appreciated the unscented body lotion that I was currently spreading in her extremities. Sasaki made a wise decision not to let the smell of white plum be overpowered by another scent. I decided to buy a white plum perfume for the stupid girl. From now on, this will be the scent of my so-called wife. "I make tasty hot chocolate."
"Sakura not drink every day." She shook her head. It was probably because the Tomoeda Orphanage did not have enough funds to provide it for the orphaned children. "Shiro-san made drink for Sakura."
How could my hot chocolate rival a perfect being?
"You can have milk and hot chocolate every day from now on, but we have to limit your intake of sweets. It's not good for your teeth." She was calmer now when she answered me. Was it because she was tired and sleepy? "Tomorrow, we'll go to the grocery store to buy you snacks. You can choose everything you want."
"Sakura like cookies!" I wouldn't be surprised if the Almighty gave her cookies. I carried her back to our bedroom and noted how the Almighty wrecked our place. We would sleep in the living room tonight because our bedroom was a mess. I didn't bother with the ongoing rain, broken windows, and burnt television. Wei would make arrangements for it tomorrow. "Sakura like chocolate cookies!
Before I prepared our dinner, I grabbed a new set of pillows and blankets in our bedroom closet. I didn't want to go back and get her wet again from our drenched bedroom. My penthouse was a one-storey building in one of the condominiums I owned. It had a minimalist interior design with only black and white as the theme. I had a one-way window for all my windows installed. It was a type of mirrored privacy window that offered a high level of daylight privacy. This meant that people outside the window could not see through the glass during the day, while you could still see clearly from the inside. At night, I had a smart home system that automatically covered the windows with curtains. Apart from my bedroom, the rest of the penthouse was set up as a studio. I wanted to perceive everything in my house with only a glance in case I was attacked again by one of my enemies.
"Okay, we will buy cookies."
After placing everything on our sofa, we went into our kitchen to cook. I dragged a chair to the kitchen counter to let the annoying stupid girl stand on it. Mizuki Kaho informed me that she would not eat a meal that she did not watch being cooked.
"Stay there and don't move, okay? You might fall on the chair."
"Sakura not move!" She now looked presentable with her new white long-sleeved nightdress. She was like a beggar when she left the Tomoeda orphanage this afternoon. "Sakura stay!"
"Good job, my wife. If you get hurt, I'm going to hate myself." Of course, I would hate myself. I would burn in hell if I compromised her safety. Keeping her safe was one of my most important unspoken tasks of the Almighty. After I took the ingredients in our refrigerator, I started cooking. I whipped the egg whites and then carefully mixed them with the yolks, followed by two tablespoons of water. I also added bits of frozen butter to make the eggs soft and creamy. "Watch me carefully how I make our delicious omelet."
Omelette was the usual dish that I cooked for breakfast at my penthouse. I stayed here at least three times a week if I was not too busy. There would be many times when it seemed that I lived in my office rather than in my penthouse. That was the reason I had to renovate my office first, before going back to work with the stupid girl. I had to offer her a comfortable place that would be suitable for her normal growth.
"Sakura help omelet!" She watched me with an amused expression on her face, trying to poke the chopsticks I was holding with her forefinger. "Sakura help omelet!"
"Alright, you can add this grated cheddar cheese later." I took a non-stick pan and turned on my electric stove in medium heat, and then added olive oil when the pan was hot enough. "We cooked rice when we arrived in our penthouse, right? It should still be warm."
"Sakura smell omelet!" She continued to focus on watching me cook, and I couldn't help but wonder what she found entertaining when she watched her meals be prepared before eating them. "Omelet smell good!"
"You can add the cheese now, my wife," I handed her the grated cheese. The stupid girl slowly grabbed a part and sprinkled it on the now low-hit omelet. "Be careful not to touch the edge of the pan. You'll burn yourself."
"Sakura careful!" She nodded her head as a reaction and spread the cheese evenly. "Sakura put cheese!"
"Nicely done, my wife." I showed her a fist bump she only stared at. I had to guide her hand to form into a small fist before she bumped it with mine. I would rather do a fist bump with her than act as a loving father or husband. Hopefully, we wouldn't reach that part. "This is our victory move from now on."
"Sakura husband victory!" She offered me a new fist bump. She seemed to like the idea I gave her. "Sakura husband suitable together!"
"That's right, we're perfect partners." I lifted her in my arms and had her seat in front of our dining table. I prepared rice in two deep bowls and fed her with a spoon. I literally had a child to feed every meal now. "Can my wife eat everything I cook? It's going to please me."
She promised to make me happy. I wanted to check how true the stupid girl's words could be, not that I expected much from her.
"Sakura eat husband food!" She assured me with a more determined face. She should eat all the food I feed her, since I was a superb cook. I learned how to prepare my meals because I didn't trust anyone to cook a meal for me that was not poisoned, not even Wei, who had taken care of me since I was born. I sat next to her in another dining chair and scooped a portion of rice and omelet after it was cool enough to eat. "Omelette delicious husband!
"You like it?" Of course, she would. "Is the omelet soft and fluffy?"
"Sakura like omelet!" She happily chomped the food I gave her. I honestly thought feeding her would be a headache. I would verify this once I began feeding her vegetables. "Omelette soft and fluffy!"
"What do you like to eat?" I had a spoon of omelet myself and realized I was starving. "Tell me and I will cook it for you."
"Sakura no prefer food." The stupid girl had no manners in eating, I observed. She simply chomped her food with her mouth open. I had to teach her proper etiquette before she attended a meeting with the Li Clan. How should I teach an autistic child about it? Worse, how should I explain to the council of our family why I fed her myself instead of her nanny? "Sakura eat food."
"You don't have a favorite yet, then." That was an advantage for me. I could introduce her food according to my own taste. I had to figure out how to make her eat her vegetables in the future. "From now on, we will eat many delicious foods."
"Sakura and husband eat food!" I almost grimaced at how her food slipped her mouth as she chewed. I pulled a napkin from the table and wiped her face. This was the last time we bathed before eating. "Sakura and husband eat together!"
"Yes, we will enjoy eating together from now on, my wife." I gave her water to drink after we finished our meal. It took fifteen minutes to feed her. I had to take note of the time I needed to meet her needs as early as now. Yue would have to do a fine job of adapting my meetings to the stupid girl's meal idiocrasy. "I suppose your hot chocolate would have to wait tomorrow. You're sleepy already."
"S-Sakura sleepy…" She rubbed off her eyes, which I gently stopped her from doing. It was harmful to the eyes to be rubbed. "Sakura sleepy."
"Oh, give me five minutes to wash these dishes." I cleaned our dining table and tried to disinfect the kitchen as quickly as possible. I took care to look in her direction every few seconds while washing the dishes to ensure she was not idiotic enough to fall asleep in her chair and lose her balance. "You still have to brush your teeth. I placed our toothbrushes in the powder room since our bedroom is wet. Is it okay if we sleep on the couch?"
I tried to keep her attention to me when I saw her sleepy emerald eyes closing.
"S-Sakura sleep with husband." She yawned tiredly. "Sakura sleep with husband."
"We'll sleep together on the couch." I dried my hands with a towel after I washed the dishes and returned to her side. I held her hand and pulled her into the powder room to brush her teeth. I didn't want to sleep with someone with foul breath. Merely sleeping next to her was already torture. "I have to read books and check documents for my work first, but I will be with you as you sleep, okay?"
"No!" Husband sleep with Sakura!" She shook her head furiously and frowned. "Sakura sleep with husband!"
"I will sleep with you after reading, my wife," I argued back. I wasn't going to lose to a stupid five-year-old girl. I asked her to open her mouth so that I could brush her teeth. I hated my menial duty. I didn't remember being cared for by Wei like this. He said I was too independent, even as a child, and wanted to do everything myself. "If I want to spend time with you tomorrow, I have to finish work."
"H-Husband sl-eep with S-Sakura!" She tried to respond while I brushed her teeth. "S-Sleep t-together!"
"Don't swallow the toothpaste and rinse your mouth," I told her before brushing my teeth. A while ago, I debated with myself whether I would inform her that I would not sleep at the same time as her. I didn't want her to wake up in the middle of the night and burst into tears when she saw me working next to her. The same applies to her nap. I couldn't sleep with her when she took a nap. I would lose time for work and my responsibilities as Head of the Li Clan. "I will try to adjust my schedule for you so that we can sleep together, but I cannot promise that I can sleep at the same time as you, my wife. You don't have to worry, I will be beside you for the entire time."
"Sakura sleep with husband!" She repeated louder this time. I used my chance to growl in annoyance while I was gargling. The stupid girl was being stubborn. "Sakura sleep with husband!"
"I understand, my wife. Let's sleep together." As much as it irritated me, I would watch for now how our sleeping routine would go. I had to make her comply with me so that I could still work while she was sleeping. "Do you wake up early?"
"Sakura wake up early!" The stupid girl smiled like a spoiled brat after getting what she wanted. I pulled her to our living room after we brushed our teeth. I was secretly glad the book I was reading was on the center table. I could easily reach it from the couch the moment she fell asleep. "Sakura eat breakfast!"
"You wake up before breakfast." I could only pray she was not a lazy sleepyhead because I was a morning person. I had to wait for her to wake up before I could start my day. If she turned out to be one, we would end up living in my office because we would need more time to prepare. "We can eat pancakes."
"Sakura sleep with husband!" I tried not to sigh after I lifted her on the couch. I would sleep with someone for the first time. A person who was a stranger to me. The couch was more than large enough to fit the two of us, so I didn't understand why the stupid girl gently pushed me back and laid herself on top of me. "Sakura sleep with husband!"
This was absurd.
"You want to sleep like this?" I wanted to snarl at her. She was supposed to sleep beside me, not on top of me. Was she ensuring II would sleep with her? "Don't you find it uncomfortable, my wife?"
"Sakura sleep with husband!" She repeated, snuggling herself on my neck. "Husband hug Sakura!"
"You want me to hug you?" Tomoeda's Head Nun informed me I just needed to sleep with the stupid girl, so why the hell was she laying on top of me? How could I work in this position? And what did she mean by me hugging her? "I can buy you a huge stuff toy tomorrow."
A stuffed toy that would replace me with my torment.
"Sakura sleep with husband!" She sleepy looked up to me with another frown on her face. "Husband hug Sakura!"
My shoulder twitched when I heard a timely piercing thunderbolt just when I was about to help myself escape this uncomfortable situation.
Damn it.
"Alright, let's sleep now, my wife." I unenthusiastically wrapped my arm around her back and stared at the high ceiling. The Almighty just used the bad weather to inform me of His displeasing tasks. "You have to rest."
"Sakura's husband!" I stiffened when the stupid girl pushed herself up without warning to reach my cheek and kissed me. "Shiro-san said Sakura kiss husband!"
I wanted to go back to the bathroom to clean my face again. This kiss was too much for me to accept on the first day of meeting her. The Almighty was entertaining Himself without rest.
"When did Shiro-san tell you?" I dubiously asked. I had to list the instructions He gave her so that I could know what to expect next. "Can you tell me?"
"Shiro-san told Sakura now."
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
"Shiro-san talks to you in your head?" I had no chance of having my way if the Almighty communicated with her, as we did this morning. "How often?"
"Sakura sleep husband…"
Frustration was the only thing I could feel when the stupid girl fell asleep without answering my question. I contemplated for a long time in pure abhorrence of my situation. I still firmly believed that I didn't deserve to be punished by a lake of fire.
"I adopted, shopped, folded clothes, bathed, fed, brushed teeth, and hugged. Then I was kissed." I enumerated the list of regrettable events that happened to me in less than twenty-four hours. This would be my loathful daily routine for the next five thousand and four hundred ninety days, including the leap years. "Yay me."
You don't have to tell me. I grumbled to the perfect being who I knew was currently using me to alleviate His boredom. Slowly, I reached for my book at the center table, unyielding to the stupid girl's request. I would read, learn, and do an excellent goddamn job. I would save my soul and live my life to the fullest before using my ticket to heaven. I know what you will respond to my numerous complaints, Almighty.
I'm Li Syaoran.
END OF CHAPTER THREE