A: I'm back with yet another chapter! Thanks for all the reviews, guys! You guys are so cool! And thanks to um, evan and friends, for those reviews.
Kero: Thanks?
Kiyone: Uh..
A: Shut up, I'm only doing what's right.
Kero, Kiyone: Whatever.
A: *sigh*, Okay the last question was What does Chiharu love to collect, and it's stuffed animals/plush toys. I gave credit for those who said teddy bears. And yes, that is when Sakura and friends caught the Jump Card, the one causing mischief at Maki-san's new shop, Twin Bells.
Kero: Here's da list!
kawaii blossem
Sillysac
Final Fantasy Princess
Nate0130
rini124
Silver Star
Strawberry Dream
FaNTaSy
Sweet Anime Fan
Little Blossom
SakuraCelestialFabienne
Chiharu Li
Anna
SakuraStarlight
Neika
Ongaku
Cutie Blossom
Andrea ^-^
cherry li
Kalli
Lady Sutaa
hiymako
Diane
Sakura
SweetAznPnai4eva
Sakura chan
Rachie-chan
K7o7 of BaCa Prodcutionz
Mandie
Monica Yi
Kamika Farinas
Sailor Star Sakura
~*~Melanie~*~
Mei-Fong
~*Cherry*~
A: Wow! This is a long list! So many people know about Chiharu! I gave credit though for those who said teddy bears. She likes to collect those kind of Morning Glory dolls if you know what I mean, heh-heh! Oh, and I just wanna say sorry to odango for not including her in one of my questionnaire lists. You see, sometimes I update without checking later reviews I get, and usually don't even check until after! So I'm really sorry, and I'll make sure to put you up next time, okay?
Kero: Guys, guys! An unexpected ending is at hand here for this chapter, get your mallets and baseball bats ready to kill A-chan!
A: WHAAT?
Kiyone: Hahahahahaha!
A: Kero-chan, what an unkind thing to do!
Kero: Me? Doing an unkind thing? You're the one who's going to—
A: Ehehe. Shut up, Kero-chan, no one has to know. Please don't hit me with mallets! *runs off and hides*
Kiyone: Ookay! Guys, read the warning ahead, just for your convenience. This is why A-chan rated this story PG13, okay?
Warning!: Coarse language up ahead! Please excuse me for language, but it's only to make it more realistic! I warned you! This is why this story is rated PG-13!
Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura or any of its characters, CLAMP and whomever does. The only ones I own are Ai-Yung, Kori, Tian, Zi Wang, and Yen. A Winged Angel is my story, and shouldn't be taken or copied without my permission.
A Winged Angel
A Card Captor Sakura Fanfic (© CLAMP)
Chapter Fifteen ~ Ai-Yung
by, azngurL
Seven and a Half Months Later . . . (April, almost May)
Seven months passed. Syaoran and Sakura both attended the same college which was close to home, so they didn't live in a dormitory. Syaoran majored in medical, whereas Sakura majored in the fashion industry—hoping to be like a model like Nadeshiko.
"Ow, ow, ow, itai (ow)," Sakura mumbled as she walked uphill to Kirei Park. "God, this never used to hurt as much . . .," She thought as she placed her hand on her stomach and began running. As she found a bench, she sighed heavily. "Thank you." She said as she stretched her arms.
She looked up at the sky. A clear blue sky with sun and clouds full of fluffiness. She smiled as she turned her gaze back to her lap. "It's been seven months . . . I wonder how everyone is doing. Tomoyo-chan . . .Eriol, and Meiling, I wonder how they are. I wonder how Yukito-san is doing . . .I wonder how Ai-Yung is doing too," She thought. "So many people that I need to talk to, but they're all away. I really wonder what happened to Ai-Yung."
She winced for a brief moment because of a sudden pain in her abdomen, then leaned on the bench. "Good thing it's Friday . . . I won't have to worry about college for two days," She said while placing her hands on her stomach. "My body is starting to hurt a lot for some reason . . .," She winced again because of sharp pain. "Itai!" She yelled.
"Sakura, daijoubu desu ka (Are you okay)?" Ai-Yung asked in Japanese as she came walking by. Ai-Yung had really looked like a beautiful woman. Her misty-blue eyes and her dark hair created such an image. She walked over to her, walking in a black skirt and a light pink blouse.
"Eh? Ai-Yung, you speak Japanese?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, I was taught to since I was young. But anyway, how are you doing? I haven't seen you for seven months. How's college?" Ai-Yung asked.
"It's alright . . . I get to come home instead on living in the dorm," Sakura replied. A long silence occurred between them, but Sakura said, "Ai-Yung, why do you know Japanese?" She asked.
" . . . I'm half Japanese, half Chinese. I used to live in Odessa, Japan, but when I heard that my cousin died, my family actually moved here. We've been living in Hong Kong for about three years now . . . I moved here when I was sixteen." Ai-Yung said.
"Your cousin died. . . ?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah . . . He committed a homicidal murder and at the same time committed suicide . . . because he raped a girl who didn't love him anymore."
Sakura became speechless and her covered her gasp with her hand. "Was his name . . Tachibana Masami?" Sakura asked slowly.
"Huh? Yeah, that was him. How do you know him and why?" Ai-Yung asked.
"I . . . I was the girl he raped." Sakura answered.
Ai-Yung gasped like a bullet suddenly killed her. She covered her mouth and said, "You . . . ? You were the girl? Then why did he kill himself? Why did he commit that murder as well? Answer me, Sakura!"
Sakura's eyes narrowed. "He felt bad afterward, so . . . He took his anger out on my family and me. You heard the story, right? Of how he crashed into our car with his. So much fire . . . And I don't really know how I got out . . . It happened so fast. All I remember is . . . my older brother jumping to the back seat to where I was . . . and he opened the door and pushed me out quickly. I don't know what happened after that." Sweat rolled down her face.
Ai-Yung became silent, but she soon spoke, "I should've known . . . Oh well. It's been almost four years anyway," She said while sitting down next to her.
"So, you moved here when I just started high school here too. Only, you came earlier . . .," Sakura said.
"Yeah.. My parents enrolled me in the high school during the middle of my junior year. That's how I met Xiaolang," Ai-Yung said. "Speaking of which . . . How is Xiaolang?" She asked, curiously.
Sakura was stunned that she would ask such a question. "He's alright. He majored in the medical industry really in college," She answered.
"Is that so? That's so good! I knew he would become a doctor," Ai-Yung said while leaning back on the bench.
"Nani . . .? (What?) You're not angry, Ai-Yung?"
"Why would I be angry?"
"Because of that incident that happened last summer . . .,"
Ai-Yung sat up straight, her eyes focused on the fountain in front of them. "Oh. . . That incident . . . I was hoping that, I would never remember that,"
Sakura covered her mouth with a gasp. "Oh, gomen! (Sorry!)" She exclaimed.
Ai-Yung shook her head and her face flushed as she began swinging her legs back and forth on the bench. She looked down at the floor with a faint smile. "Daijoubuyo (It's alright) . . . I kinda got over it," She sighed.
Sakura remained silent.
"You know, when I first moved here to Hong Kong, and met Xiaolang, I felt like my heart did flips inside of me. He was so nice, considerate, caring. . .All that you can ask for. Every touch, every memory, everything was like a dream," Ai-Yung paused for a moment and her cheeks flushed. "They say that people have a special dream, your goal you want for yourself. And there's also a fantasy' which you think about yourself and your future in someone, but you know . . . In the end, you realize it's the same,"
Ai-Yung's voice started to shake and Sakura kept her eyes on her. Ai-Yung sighed heavily, still looking at the ground. "I never wish harm upon you, Sakura, I never did, honest. I was just so jealous . . . Jealous that . . . The love of my life has gone away with someone else . . . And when I figured out . . . That he didn't love me, I . . . I fell apart. I didn't know what to do, I was so confused," She took her gaze away from the ground and started looking straightforward again. "I also had this dream or fantasy, to share this special life with Xiaolang. He and I seemed like the most perfect couple, but we weren't, it just couldn't be,"
"Ai-Yung . . ." Sakura whispered.
"I don't know why he didn't choose me, and instead, he chose you. I could see why though . . . You're so much prettier, cheery, energetic . . . You're everything, Sakura. And you're lucky, really lucky," She sighed again and shook her head, tears formed in her eyes, but she didn't allow them to fall. "You became my best friend . . . That was true, it'll always be true, but, I don't think you thought that I even considered you one, but I did, Sakura, I really did!" Ai-Yung exclaimed.
Sakura saw the tears in her eyes. "I had . . no idea,"
Ai-Yung sniffled, then her tears finally fell. "For these past seven months, I have done nothing but wallow in my own self-pity. It caused me to fall apart and be the kind of person that I wasn't. Everyone was annoyed at me, my grades began to fall, all because I wouldn't let go. My love for him was too strong . . . I tried to move on, I kept telling myself that there are many other people in the world for me, but I can't seem to let go, Sakura,"
"I'm . . . I'm so sorry, Ai-Yung. I never realized it, why didn't you tell me?" Sakura asked, as if guilt had gotten her.
"I didn't have. . . the courage to," Ai-Yung replied. She sniffled and turned to Sakura with a weak smile. "You know . . . Xiaolang called me a long time ago . . . At the end of August or something. He said that he was sorry for everything, and he told me that, he wanted you and I to be best friends' again. I laughed and told him that he must be kidding, but . . . he was dead serious," Ai-Yung said.
"He told you that?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah . . . I didn't know what to do, I couldn't do anything. He told me to talk to you and resolve our problems, but I couldn't, I didn't have the courage to. He didn't understand, he could never understand the pain I went because of him. And in the end, I figured that he isn't even worth it. He isn't worth my time. . . I could always find someone better, ne?" Ai-Yung asked, smiling through her tears.
"It's my fault . . . I should've known the ordeal you went through, and . . . I didn't act much as a best friend because I thought you didn't accept me. I should've known," Sakura said while watching the water shoot up in the fountain. "I was at the same point at where you were with Masami. I loved him . . . a lot, but then one day I saw him with another girl because he stood me up. I was so confused, and I was sad.
"And you know what I did? I didn't brake up with him, I pretended that nothing was wrong, and he kept going for this other girl and thinking that I didn't even know. He was such a pimp, a player . . .," Sakura laughed faintly. "I should've done something about it, but . . . the consequences of that were he raping me, and killing my family. I felt like I took his life away,"
"Why?"
"Because if I only let him finish . . . He probably would've been satisfied, but . . . I couldn't take it anymore,"
"It isn't your fault,"
"That's what Syaoran told me,"
Ai-Yung paused for a moment, then spoke, "You should listen to him . . . He knows what is best for others, especially you, Sakura-chan,"
Sakura-chan . . . It was the first time, she had ever expressed her feelings to someone before. But she expressed them as a best friend.
"Ai-Yung . . ., do you mean that? Aren't you still angry at me . . .?" Sakura asked.
Ai-Yung shook her head. "I'm not angry, not anymore, and I won't ever be. I'll just move on and find someone better. Someone like Xiaolang. Someone who I can be happy with. You found yours . . . I'll find mine," She looked at her again, but with a smile full of confidence. "Lead the life that I wanted with him. Be happy with him, Sakura-chan. Be happy that you have such a great guy. Fufill my broken dream . . .,"
Sakura smiled, and tears formed in her eyes slowly. "H-Hai (Okay)! I will, Ai-Yung, I will, I promise!" She exclaimed.
Ai-Yung smiled. "Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you so much). I will be . . . forever grateful. . . . Call me Aiko' for now on. It's my Japanese name,"
"Aiko-chan . . . I will," Sakura said it with a smile full of self-dignity. "I will... I promise,"
Ai-Yung slowly nodded her head. "It is good . . . that I have a friend—A best friend—Like you. It always seemed like I had many friends, but I never had one who knew me personally . . . as a person. You are the first person to ever understand me . . . Remember that,"
Sakura slowly nodded her head. "Aiko-chan . . . arigatou,"
A brief silence occurred between them, and all they could hear was the chirping of birds and the water gushing out of the fountain. Some people passed by them, and the sun still shined brightly. Then Ai-Yung shot Sakura a sly look.
"What?" Sakura asked.
"Sakura-chan, can I ask you something?" Ai-Yung asked, clasping her arms, as if she was anxious.
"Y...Yeah, sure," Sakura replied, in a nervous way.
"What have you been eating for these past seven months?" Ai-Yung asked, her voice sounding as whimsical as a child, so curious, and yet . . so devious.
Sakura turned bright red. "Eh? You want to ask me that? You're so rude, Aiko-chan!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms up at the air.
Ai-Yung laughed, "Heh-heh, I'm just kidding. I'm just remarking actually,"
Sakura looked down at her body. "Do you think. . . it's that noticeable?" She asked.
"Not really. It only looks like you gained about five to ten pounds though," Ai-Yung commented.
Sakura shot Ai-Yung a dirty look, but she sighed. "Well, I guess I should tell you,"
"Tell me what?"
"Why I gained so much! You wouldn't believe it, heh-heh!"
Ai-Yung leaned towards Sakura and Sakura whispered at her ear. Ai-Yung's eyes widened and Sakura sat properly again.
"I can't wait to see Sakura-chan again!" Tomoyo exclaimed while walking with Syaoran, Eriol, and Meiling.
"Yeah, I wonder how she is!" Meiling exclaimed.
"Let's ask Syaoran here," Eriol said while looking at Syaoran.
Syaoran had his arms behind his head lazily while walking. "She's doing fine," He replied.
"Still pretty?" Meiling asked.
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "Duh," He said.
Meiling went in akimbo. "I was just asking,"
"So Sakura-chan is majoring in the fashion industry?" Tomoyo asked.
"Yeah. She wants to be a model, actually. Like her mother," Syaoran answered.
"That's so cool!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "Sakura-chan as a model! I can just see it! I can design her clothes! . . . And, ah! I can even videotape her too!" She exclaimed, whipping out a up-to-date video camera.
Everyone sweatdropped. "Um, Tomoyo, are you okay?" Eriol asked.
"Yeah, it seems like you're on a sugar rush today," Meiling remarked. "What am I saying, she's always high,"
Eriol hit her arm and Meiling winced. "I was just kidding, Eriol! Geez!" Meiling sighed. "Well, I guess this happens when you protect those you love,"
"I swear, Meiling," Eriol muttered under his breath, but he soon sighed and put his arm around Tomoyo. "C'mon, Tomoyo,"
"KAY!" Tomoyo screamed while turning the video camera on.
Syaoran and Meiling both sweatdropped and they followed.
Ai-Yung backed away from the bench with her hand covering her mouth. "My God . . .," She whispered as she sat back down again. "It doesn't even look it. So unnoticeable, Sakura-chan, and yet—"
"sou. demo daremo shiranaiyo. kore wa hitmitsu desu!" Sakura said in her native tongue. (AN: Sorry, you can't know what this means. . . yet, hehe!)
"H...Hai. He~ namae wa? shitteiruno?" Ai-Yung asked.
"Xiao Chun-Meng . . .,"
"Kawaiiyone! onna no ko?"
"Hai," Sakura smiled. "Don't tell anyone. . .'kay?"
"Don't worry," Ai-Yung said while getting up at of her seat with a huge grin on her face. She leaped backwards, facing her. "It was so nice running into you like this. I'm so excited!" She said while clapping her hands.
Sakura smiled.
"Well, I gotta go. I have an appointment with someone and I can't be late. Ja, Sakura-chan!" Ai-Yung said while she started to walk.
"A...Ano (Um)! Arigatou, Aiko-chan!" Sakura yelled while standing up. "Ja ne (See ya)," She said while waving.
Ai-Yung turned around and smiled as she waved, but as she was about to walk any further, rustles and noises could be heard from bushes somewhat near Sakura. They both turned around and saw two guys watching. Both guys had dark raven hair, but one of them with blue streaks and the other with red.
Sakura squinted her eyes to see who was there and when she got a good look, her eyes widened and she gasped, covering her mouth. "It's . . . It's. . .," She stammered.
"Zi Wang . . .! Yen . . .!" Ai-Yung gasped as she ran over to where Sakura was. "What. . .," She shook her head, trying to cover up the fear. "What the hell are you doing here?" She asked, furiously.
"Hey, Zi Wang, it's that girl. That girl from two years ago. . .," Yen said cynically as he pointed to Ai-Yung. "Look's like she hasn't changed at all,"
"Hey, big mouth! You slut, I can't believe you're still alive!" Zi Wang yelled to Ai-Yung.
"Oh my Lord. . . Aiko-chan, they . . . they. . .?" Sakura stammered, still covering her mouth.
Ai-Yung was getting angrier and angrier by the minute and her rage was building. "Sakura-chan, I think it's best if you get away," She said, not even turning her head.
"B-but, what about you?" Sakura asked. "I'm staying here!"
"You can't! You can't! What about your—!"
"It's unethical and not moral for me to not help a friend who's in trouble! These guys got me too, so I have every reason to be here!" Sakura exclaimed.
Ai-Yung remained silent. She thought about her—Sakura. So unselfish, so caring. She wouldn't leave Ai-Yung. . . she wouldn't. "Sakura-chan. . .," Ai-Yung whispered.
Yen pulled out his gun. "We're gonna get you this time. Both of you. Both of you for causing us endless pain," He said while aiming his gun at Sakura.
"Because of your lovey-dovey bastard, Yen's left hand was paralyzed, you fool!" Zi Wang exclaimed while pointing to Sakura. "Bitch, we're gonna make you pay,"
Sakura stood in shock. She looked at both of them with fear. Yen with the gun, aiming right at her, and Zi Wang constantly cursing at her. Sweat rolled down her face. "Syaoran. . .," She thought as she closed her eyes tight, waiting for what was going to happen. "I'm helpless here. . . No one can save me. . .," She gripped her sapphire necklace and felt its sharp tip.
"Sakura-chan, watch out!" Ai-Yung screamed as she pushed Sakura to the ground. She shielded her on the ground and they heard the gun go off; the bullet missing its target.
Sakura started shaking, and Ai-Yung turned back to Sakura and saw her fear. "Sakura-chan, daijoubuyo (it'll be alright). Don't be afraid. . I'll try to take care of these guys for you," She said with a wink.
Ai-Yung got off of her and took her sweater off. "Bastards.. . You no good son-of-a-bitches. I swear. . . I'm going to make you. . . PAY!" She screamed as she ran towards them.
Zi Wang took out his gun and pulled the trigger. But as soon as he pulled it, Ai-Yung leaped into the air and was coming down on Yen. She stomped on his face, and it made him lose balance. As she landed on the ground, her hands on it, she kicked him from behind, and he fell down.
Zi Wang hurried towards him and got his gun ready, but Ai-Yung noticed and leaped up again in the air. Still in air, she kicked it out of his hand, and tackled him down. "Sakura-chan, run! Run while you still can!" She screamed.
Sakura was frozen in place, but she slowly nodded her head. As she was about to take even one step, she saw Yen. He was starting to move. Slowly, but precautiously. Still on the ground, he reached for his gun which was on the ground in front of him and took it.
Sakura quickly noticed and her eyes widened slightly. "Aiko-chan!" Sakura screamed as she ran towards Ai-Yung.
". . What?" Ai-Yung whispered to herself as she saw Sakura run towards her.
"Aiko-chan, watch out!" Sakura screamed as she dove into Ai-Yung, knocking her to the ground so she wouldn't be hit by the bullet that had suddenly hit Sakura.
The bullet, which Yen shot, went directly to her chest, and it cut off the chain of her sapphire necklace, then penetrated through her skin. The sapphire fell to the ground. It kept falling . . . and when it hit the ground, smashed into many pieces.
Sakura, her eyes becoming filled with no life, looked at her sapphire. Her sapphire that Syaoran gave her. The sapphire that had broken in many, many pieces. "Syaoran.. . . ..." She whispered. She collapsed to the ground, looking lifeless.
Tears welled up in Ai-Yung's eyes and she cried out, "SAKURA-CHAN!"
A: Alright! Chapter 15's done! And it's a cliff-hanger too! Sorry for this unexpected cliff-hanger, but there's only about three chapters left to go! We're almost done! Here's the preview for the next chapter, Xiao Chun Meng
preview from the next chapter, Xiao Chun Meng
"Mr. Li ..," The doctor said while coming into the room, finding Syaoran next to Sakura who looked lifeless.
"Yes. .?" Syaoran asked, not turning around.
The doctor sighed and shook his head. "We. . . We can't save her. There's . . . There's no. . . hope for Miss Kinomoto. . . She only has . . a few more hours to live, and that's all," He said it full of sorrow, and his eyes were closed.
Syaoran gripped Sakura's hand hard, and tears fell upon it. "Sakura. . ." He whispered as his family, Tomoyo, Eriol, Ai-Yung, and Meiling all watched him.
"But. . . We were able to save your child." The doctor said.
Kiyone: This is getting sadder and sadder. . .
Kero: Tell me about it.. .
A: Don't get sad. How bout under question to keep everyone happy?
In the original anime series (Japanese version of course), what did Syaoran give Sakura before he left for Hong Kong?
A: Leave your answer in the review, please! And review also . . too, so the next chapter will be out sooner! Don't miss it!
