Hey guys!! Sorry I lied, it took a little longer than expected to get this
finished, but only by a few hours. I got hung up on this stupid report
thingy I was writing for World Studies. And grrr… ff.net is down for the
second time this weekend!!! Oh well, this won't be posted tonight then!
Anyway, here's my next chapter. Thank-you soooo much for the reviews!! Oh
yea, if anyone can help me I think I need a new title and/or summary for
this story, so please, please help me!!!
I apologize for the mistakes, but I like posting quickly so I don't usually check over what I write. My bff is usually about ready to strangle me every time she reads my stuff cause it has so many errors (huh Samie?)!! That and I don't have a beta reader (that what those peoples are called, right?), unless someone out there would like to volunteer…
*****DISCLAIMER***** I don't own it, no duh.
"Night Syaoran." She replied as he disappeared out the window. The second he was gone, she rushed to the phone and dialed a familiar number. "Tomoyo- chan? Could you come over to my house? I really need to talk to you…"
***********
"Hi Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo greeted brightly as her friend opened the door. "How are you feeling?"
"Better, I think." She admitted, pulling her friend inside, "But I… have something I want to tell you, about…"
Her friend understood immediately, "Of course, Sakura. Here, why don't you sit down?" She lead the way to the couch and made her sit down, taking the other side of the couch for herself.
"Before I tell you… Tomoyo, you have to promise you won't tell Syaoran- kun."
"Why?"
Sakura shook her head, "You'll understand after I tell you, just promise you won't."
"Okay, I promise." Tomoyo was looking at her expectantly.
She took a deep breath, "The person who… who…"
Her friend gave her a sympathetic look and replied softly, "I know what you mean, you don't have to say it."
Sakura nodded thankfully, "It was Syaoran's c…cousin…" The last part was said in a low whisper, but Tomoyo heard every word of it.
"Ping?!" She demanded, "The one we meet last night?!"
She nodded shakily.
Tomoyo's eyes filled with concern, "Oh Sakura-chan, that was why you acted that way last night!!" She exclaimed, hugging her friend. "Why didn't you say something?"
"I couldn't, I was so scared."
"I'm so sorry Sakura, I should have realized… But why don't you want to tell Li-kun?"
Sakura smiled a little sadly, "When he introduced us to him, he told us he was had always been like a brother to him. I'd hate to take that away from him…"
Her friend shook her head, "Sometimes I think you're too good hearted for your own good. Li-kun's going to want to know, and he's not going to take no answer forever…"
"Tomoyo, you promised!"
"I know, but what are you going to tell him?"
"I… I'll think about that when the time comes…"
"Sakura, I don't think you're doing the right thing but not telling anybody and… " Her cell phone rang and she answered it, "Mom? At Sakura's. No, wait, but, mom! All right." She closed the phone with a sharp click. "I'm sorry Sakura, I need to go home."
"It's all right Tomoyo."
"Think about telling Li-kun." She instructed, getting up, "And call me if you need anything."
"Okay, bye Tomoyo."
Her friend waved and headed out the door to where her limousine was waiting. Once inside the car, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number…
*************
-Bring Bring- "Li Syaoran." He answered.
"Li-kun, this is Tomoyo. Sakura told me something I think you should know about."
This conversation was starting to sound very familiar (AN: *cough cough* Chpt. one *cough*). "What?"
"She told me who… you know…"
Syaoran felt rage boiling up inside him. When he found out… "Who?!"
"She didn't want me to tell you."
"Why the hell not?!" He exploded.
"Calm down Li-kun. At least let me finish before you cuss me out." She scolded impatiently. "Even though she made me promise not to tell you, I think this is a promise I have to break because you need to know this and if something isn't done she could be hurt again. Just please don't break any laws, we don't need you in jail for murder."
They can't put me in jail if they can't track it back to me. He thought, already making plans. "Daidouji, Tell. Me."
He heard Tomoyo gulp. "Your cousin."
"Ping?!?!"
"Hai, that was why she was acting the way she acted last night…
Baka, baka, baka!!! Why didn't I see it? I should have noticed. She had been fine the entire night and went into hysterics when she was him. Why didn't I see it?!
"Li-kun, are you still there?" She asked nervously.
"Hai, but I have to go."
As he was putting the phone back onto the rack, he heard Tomoyo begging him not to get into trouble, because that was the last thing Sakura needed… that was good advice; he wasn't going to get in trouble because he wasn't going to get caught.
Syaoran amazed himself with his clear thinking. He was furious and he would have thought that his entire mind would have been overcome with that emotion, and he would have been happy to let it take over, but it wasn't. Instead, he was able to plan out every little detail of his attack. A quick death was to good for the slim even if he was his cousin. After what he did to Sakura… he would die very painfully…
Ping was in the bathroom. Syaoran walked to the door and drew his sword from his pendant, waiting silently for his cousin to leave the room. The door opened and the sword blade flew, sparkling in the light. He was aiming for the thigh; a wound that would hurt terrible but wouldn't be fatal. However, his cousin was faster than he had anticipated and jumped away, free of injuries.
"What the hell?!"
"You pig." Syaoran growled (AN: I've heard this from so many of my readers I just had to use it. And guess what? Ping rhymes with Pig!!) "For what you did, I will kill you."
Ping dodged yet another blow aimed at him, "Have you gone crazy, what the hell are you talking about?!" He demanded, backing do the hall as Syaoran advanced.
"You know." His voice was stone cold and seething. The air around Ping was filled with flashing silver, but to Syaoran's complete frustration, none of the blows connected. "And I trusted you. I can't believe I ever trusted you. You thought I wouldn't find out, but I did."
"Damn it, what did I do?!"
"To Sakura."
His face filled with realization and horror. "You think I did that to her? What makes you think that?!"
"She told me?"
"She herself?"
"She told her best friend and then her best friend told me." He growled, growing impatient. "It makes me sick to even know that I'm related to scum like…" Syaoran swung again, but the blade was knocked away and out of his hands. Ping kicked it across the floor, out of reach, and pinned the younger boy to the wall with amazing strength. (AN: I mean this guy is STRONG. He was able to pin SYAORAN to a wall for gosh sakes!!) "Xiao Lang, listen to me!" He demanded, looking him straight in the eye, "I did not do that to her; I did not rape Sakura. You have to believe me."
Syaoran was fighting to get free, "Then why would she say you did?" He challenged angrily, "Why the hell did she go into hysterics when she saw you in the room?!"
"It wasn't me."
"Damn it, Sakura wouldn't lie about something like this?!!!"
"I didn't say she was lying." Ping replied, "I think she just mistook me for the actual person. This didn't happen that long ago Xiao Lang, see someone that looked even remotely like that person could set her off like that, make her panic, which is what happened. If you still don't believe me, answer me this; if I was the person, why would I do it? I have no reason to, I'm engaged for god's sake and the only reason I'm here in on a mission for the clan!!" Releasing Syaoran, he held up a finger which held a thick gold band.
Syaoran stepped away from the wall and out of his cousin's reach but made no move to go after him.
Ping caught his gaze again, "If you still think I'm guilty, then kill me." He said, "Go pick up your sword and stab me right now."
When, after a minute, Syaoran made no move to retrieve his weapon, his cousin wondered cautiously, "Do you believe me."
He nodded, "Hai." Shaking his head, Syaoran sighed and went after his sword, turning it back into his pendant and slipping it around his neck. Glancing to his cousin, he said, "I'm sorry Ping, Tomoyo sounded so certain it was true. And whoever did this to Sakura… I want to make them pay for hurting her. I didn't even stop to think…"
Ping patted him on the back, "I forgive you."
*****************
"Good morning Li-kun!" Tomoyo greeted, seeing him approaching her. "Sakura-chan isn't here yet; running late as always." She noticed that someone was walking with him, his cousin. Grabbing Syaoran by his sleeve, she spun him around and hissed, "What is he doing here?! I'm surprised you didn't kill him after…"
"Daidouji, it wasn't him." He cut in, "Sakura must have mistaken him for the actual…"
"That's crap Li, and you…"
"Hello Tomoyo-chan, Syaoran-kun. Sorry I'm so late!!" Sakura exclaimed, running up to them. "My alarm clock didn't go off this mor…" Her voice quivered and fell when she noticed Ping standing there.
Tomoyo noticed, How could you do this to her, Li-kun?!!
"Good-morning Sakura-san, I hope your feeling better." Ping said with a smile.
"H…hai…" She replied shakily, holding tightly to Tomoyo's hand, "Thank-you Li-san."
"You can call me Ping." He said, still smiling.
Sakura was shaking. "I'm sorry you guys, but I actually came to tell you that I… I couldn't come today because… because my dad got off work so we could… could go see onii-chan at school…" She lied quickly.
Syaoran looked at her suspiciously, "Last night you told me your brother was home."
At the same time, Tomoyo said, "I thought your dad was in Europe Sakura-chan." Her best friend realized her mistake too late.
She tried to cover up, "Well, onii-chan had to go back and father got home early, so I really should be going…" She turned to run home, but Syaoran caught her arm.
"No, you're going to come with us today and have fun for once. It'll help take your mind off things. Now come on."
Sakura had no choice but to follow, desperately thinking, How can I have fun or take my mind off things when *he's* here?
**************
Sakura had a horrible time that day, even though they did all her favorite things. She just couldn't enjoy herself with Ping standing next to her the entire time, starring at her. And he was starring at her; it made her feel so horrible, so terrible exposed. Every time she looked up at him, horrible images flashed before her eyes and she had to fight back the urge to sink to the ground in a heap and cry.
Why is Syaoran doing this to me? She wondered. He doesn't know, he's not doing it on purpose. She reminded herself.
But as the day wore on and on, Sakura felt worse and worse. And the worst part was Syaoran wouldn't let her leave. He kept insisting that she should stay with them and try her best to have a good time. Finally, Sakura cracked.
"Syaoran-kun, I need to talk to you." She told him suddenly as they were walking through penguin park on their way back from the ice cream shop.
"Sure Sakura-chan, what is it?" He wondered.
Sakura replied that is was private and pulled him behind a grove of trees a few feet off. "What is it? Are you okay Sakura?" Syaoran wondered with concern.
"I have something to tell you about Li-san." She started slowly, "He was the one who…"
"I know what you're saying Sakura, but it isn't true."
She was shocked by that statement. Syaoran didn't believe her? Had he been expecting her to accuse him of that? And why did he think she was lying?!
"Daidouji called me this morning and told me. I nearly killed Ping before he told me the truth. Sakura-chan, it wasn't him, it was someone who looked like him. You have to accept that."
Sakura felt like she could cry. Here was the person she trusted most telling her that the person who did those horrible things to her didn't really do them. It was actually someone else and she was too stupid to realize it. "Syaoran, I want to go home."
"Oh no Sakura, you're not running away." He replied firmly, "You have to face this before it can get better."
"But you…"
"No buts, come on, the others are waiting." And with that, he took her hand and pulled her back onto the path.
*******************
Not that much of a cliff hanger, is it? Oh boy, some people aren't going to be happy with poor Syao-kun… Why is he acting that way, you may ask? Well, you'll find out in the next chapter! Also in the next chapter… well, all I can say is poor, poor Sakura. Coming very, very soon. P.S. peoples, I really need a new summary, would someone be kind enough to write one for me? Please, please, please PLEASE??? I'd love you forever if you would!! If you're interested, include it in your review of e-mail me at pikogio@yahoo.com!!! Read and Review!!!
I apologize for the mistakes, but I like posting quickly so I don't usually check over what I write. My bff is usually about ready to strangle me every time she reads my stuff cause it has so many errors (huh Samie?)!! That and I don't have a beta reader (that what those peoples are called, right?), unless someone out there would like to volunteer…
*****DISCLAIMER***** I don't own it, no duh.
"Night Syaoran." She replied as he disappeared out the window. The second he was gone, she rushed to the phone and dialed a familiar number. "Tomoyo- chan? Could you come over to my house? I really need to talk to you…"
***********
"Hi Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo greeted brightly as her friend opened the door. "How are you feeling?"
"Better, I think." She admitted, pulling her friend inside, "But I… have something I want to tell you, about…"
Her friend understood immediately, "Of course, Sakura. Here, why don't you sit down?" She lead the way to the couch and made her sit down, taking the other side of the couch for herself.
"Before I tell you… Tomoyo, you have to promise you won't tell Syaoran- kun."
"Why?"
Sakura shook her head, "You'll understand after I tell you, just promise you won't."
"Okay, I promise." Tomoyo was looking at her expectantly.
She took a deep breath, "The person who… who…"
Her friend gave her a sympathetic look and replied softly, "I know what you mean, you don't have to say it."
Sakura nodded thankfully, "It was Syaoran's c…cousin…" The last part was said in a low whisper, but Tomoyo heard every word of it.
"Ping?!" She demanded, "The one we meet last night?!"
She nodded shakily.
Tomoyo's eyes filled with concern, "Oh Sakura-chan, that was why you acted that way last night!!" She exclaimed, hugging her friend. "Why didn't you say something?"
"I couldn't, I was so scared."
"I'm so sorry Sakura, I should have realized… But why don't you want to tell Li-kun?"
Sakura smiled a little sadly, "When he introduced us to him, he told us he was had always been like a brother to him. I'd hate to take that away from him…"
Her friend shook her head, "Sometimes I think you're too good hearted for your own good. Li-kun's going to want to know, and he's not going to take no answer forever…"
"Tomoyo, you promised!"
"I know, but what are you going to tell him?"
"I… I'll think about that when the time comes…"
"Sakura, I don't think you're doing the right thing but not telling anybody and… " Her cell phone rang and she answered it, "Mom? At Sakura's. No, wait, but, mom! All right." She closed the phone with a sharp click. "I'm sorry Sakura, I need to go home."
"It's all right Tomoyo."
"Think about telling Li-kun." She instructed, getting up, "And call me if you need anything."
"Okay, bye Tomoyo."
Her friend waved and headed out the door to where her limousine was waiting. Once inside the car, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number…
*************
-Bring Bring- "Li Syaoran." He answered.
"Li-kun, this is Tomoyo. Sakura told me something I think you should know about."
This conversation was starting to sound very familiar (AN: *cough cough* Chpt. one *cough*). "What?"
"She told me who… you know…"
Syaoran felt rage boiling up inside him. When he found out… "Who?!"
"She didn't want me to tell you."
"Why the hell not?!" He exploded.
"Calm down Li-kun. At least let me finish before you cuss me out." She scolded impatiently. "Even though she made me promise not to tell you, I think this is a promise I have to break because you need to know this and if something isn't done she could be hurt again. Just please don't break any laws, we don't need you in jail for murder."
They can't put me in jail if they can't track it back to me. He thought, already making plans. "Daidouji, Tell. Me."
He heard Tomoyo gulp. "Your cousin."
"Ping?!?!"
"Hai, that was why she was acting the way she acted last night…
Baka, baka, baka!!! Why didn't I see it? I should have noticed. She had been fine the entire night and went into hysterics when she was him. Why didn't I see it?!
"Li-kun, are you still there?" She asked nervously.
"Hai, but I have to go."
As he was putting the phone back onto the rack, he heard Tomoyo begging him not to get into trouble, because that was the last thing Sakura needed… that was good advice; he wasn't going to get in trouble because he wasn't going to get caught.
Syaoran amazed himself with his clear thinking. He was furious and he would have thought that his entire mind would have been overcome with that emotion, and he would have been happy to let it take over, but it wasn't. Instead, he was able to plan out every little detail of his attack. A quick death was to good for the slim even if he was his cousin. After what he did to Sakura… he would die very painfully…
Ping was in the bathroom. Syaoran walked to the door and drew his sword from his pendant, waiting silently for his cousin to leave the room. The door opened and the sword blade flew, sparkling in the light. He was aiming for the thigh; a wound that would hurt terrible but wouldn't be fatal. However, his cousin was faster than he had anticipated and jumped away, free of injuries.
"What the hell?!"
"You pig." Syaoran growled (AN: I've heard this from so many of my readers I just had to use it. And guess what? Ping rhymes with Pig!!) "For what you did, I will kill you."
Ping dodged yet another blow aimed at him, "Have you gone crazy, what the hell are you talking about?!" He demanded, backing do the hall as Syaoran advanced.
"You know." His voice was stone cold and seething. The air around Ping was filled with flashing silver, but to Syaoran's complete frustration, none of the blows connected. "And I trusted you. I can't believe I ever trusted you. You thought I wouldn't find out, but I did."
"Damn it, what did I do?!"
"To Sakura."
His face filled with realization and horror. "You think I did that to her? What makes you think that?!"
"She told me?"
"She herself?"
"She told her best friend and then her best friend told me." He growled, growing impatient. "It makes me sick to even know that I'm related to scum like…" Syaoran swung again, but the blade was knocked away and out of his hands. Ping kicked it across the floor, out of reach, and pinned the younger boy to the wall with amazing strength. (AN: I mean this guy is STRONG. He was able to pin SYAORAN to a wall for gosh sakes!!) "Xiao Lang, listen to me!" He demanded, looking him straight in the eye, "I did not do that to her; I did not rape Sakura. You have to believe me."
Syaoran was fighting to get free, "Then why would she say you did?" He challenged angrily, "Why the hell did she go into hysterics when she saw you in the room?!"
"It wasn't me."
"Damn it, Sakura wouldn't lie about something like this?!!!"
"I didn't say she was lying." Ping replied, "I think she just mistook me for the actual person. This didn't happen that long ago Xiao Lang, see someone that looked even remotely like that person could set her off like that, make her panic, which is what happened. If you still don't believe me, answer me this; if I was the person, why would I do it? I have no reason to, I'm engaged for god's sake and the only reason I'm here in on a mission for the clan!!" Releasing Syaoran, he held up a finger which held a thick gold band.
Syaoran stepped away from the wall and out of his cousin's reach but made no move to go after him.
Ping caught his gaze again, "If you still think I'm guilty, then kill me." He said, "Go pick up your sword and stab me right now."
When, after a minute, Syaoran made no move to retrieve his weapon, his cousin wondered cautiously, "Do you believe me."
He nodded, "Hai." Shaking his head, Syaoran sighed and went after his sword, turning it back into his pendant and slipping it around his neck. Glancing to his cousin, he said, "I'm sorry Ping, Tomoyo sounded so certain it was true. And whoever did this to Sakura… I want to make them pay for hurting her. I didn't even stop to think…"
Ping patted him on the back, "I forgive you."
*****************
"Good morning Li-kun!" Tomoyo greeted, seeing him approaching her. "Sakura-chan isn't here yet; running late as always." She noticed that someone was walking with him, his cousin. Grabbing Syaoran by his sleeve, she spun him around and hissed, "What is he doing here?! I'm surprised you didn't kill him after…"
"Daidouji, it wasn't him." He cut in, "Sakura must have mistaken him for the actual…"
"That's crap Li, and you…"
"Hello Tomoyo-chan, Syaoran-kun. Sorry I'm so late!!" Sakura exclaimed, running up to them. "My alarm clock didn't go off this mor…" Her voice quivered and fell when she noticed Ping standing there.
Tomoyo noticed, How could you do this to her, Li-kun?!!
"Good-morning Sakura-san, I hope your feeling better." Ping said with a smile.
"H…hai…" She replied shakily, holding tightly to Tomoyo's hand, "Thank-you Li-san."
"You can call me Ping." He said, still smiling.
Sakura was shaking. "I'm sorry you guys, but I actually came to tell you that I… I couldn't come today because… because my dad got off work so we could… could go see onii-chan at school…" She lied quickly.
Syaoran looked at her suspiciously, "Last night you told me your brother was home."
At the same time, Tomoyo said, "I thought your dad was in Europe Sakura-chan." Her best friend realized her mistake too late.
She tried to cover up, "Well, onii-chan had to go back and father got home early, so I really should be going…" She turned to run home, but Syaoran caught her arm.
"No, you're going to come with us today and have fun for once. It'll help take your mind off things. Now come on."
Sakura had no choice but to follow, desperately thinking, How can I have fun or take my mind off things when *he's* here?
**************
Sakura had a horrible time that day, even though they did all her favorite things. She just couldn't enjoy herself with Ping standing next to her the entire time, starring at her. And he was starring at her; it made her feel so horrible, so terrible exposed. Every time she looked up at him, horrible images flashed before her eyes and she had to fight back the urge to sink to the ground in a heap and cry.
Why is Syaoran doing this to me? She wondered. He doesn't know, he's not doing it on purpose. She reminded herself.
But as the day wore on and on, Sakura felt worse and worse. And the worst part was Syaoran wouldn't let her leave. He kept insisting that she should stay with them and try her best to have a good time. Finally, Sakura cracked.
"Syaoran-kun, I need to talk to you." She told him suddenly as they were walking through penguin park on their way back from the ice cream shop.
"Sure Sakura-chan, what is it?" He wondered.
Sakura replied that is was private and pulled him behind a grove of trees a few feet off. "What is it? Are you okay Sakura?" Syaoran wondered with concern.
"I have something to tell you about Li-san." She started slowly, "He was the one who…"
"I know what you're saying Sakura, but it isn't true."
She was shocked by that statement. Syaoran didn't believe her? Had he been expecting her to accuse him of that? And why did he think she was lying?!
"Daidouji called me this morning and told me. I nearly killed Ping before he told me the truth. Sakura-chan, it wasn't him, it was someone who looked like him. You have to accept that."
Sakura felt like she could cry. Here was the person she trusted most telling her that the person who did those horrible things to her didn't really do them. It was actually someone else and she was too stupid to realize it. "Syaoran, I want to go home."
"Oh no Sakura, you're not running away." He replied firmly, "You have to face this before it can get better."
"But you…"
"No buts, come on, the others are waiting." And with that, he took her hand and pulled her back onto the path.
*******************
Not that much of a cliff hanger, is it? Oh boy, some people aren't going to be happy with poor Syao-kun… Why is he acting that way, you may ask? Well, you'll find out in the next chapter! Also in the next chapter… well, all I can say is poor, poor Sakura. Coming very, very soon. P.S. peoples, I really need a new summary, would someone be kind enough to write one for me? Please, please, please PLEASE??? I'd love you forever if you would!! If you're interested, include it in your review of e-mail me at pikogio@yahoo.com!!! Read and Review!!!