Chapter One
The Club- Tigre Peril
By: Devils Sanctuary
I stand on a cliff edge. I am ready for something but what? Why is everything blurry? It's raining, dark and gloomy. The windy torrent wrenches my hair, plays with my clothes. I look around, nothing. I am alone. Whoosh. A transparent white thing flashes by me. My heart races in fear. I sense it. It's behind me. Heart thumping loudly, I slowly turn around. My eyes widen. I am face to face with a ghost. I scream, recognizing the face of the apparition.
It's Tomoyo. My heart aches. She's a ghost. . .and I am afraid of her. Tears well up in my eyes.
'Tomoyo-chan. . .Why? Why did you have to fucking die?!?' Tears stream down my face, blurring the image of my former best friend. Tomoyo smiles sadly. She holds her arms out for me. Waiting for me to embrace her for one last time. She floats in the air, just beyond the cliffside. I stay where I'm at, unable to move.
She looks at me, hurt and confused. She is waiting for me to join her.
'I can't, Tomoyo. Can't you see? I'll fall down! I can't go with you! You're dead! I'm not' I suddenly realize what I said and I scream as my head fills with pain. Tomoyo drops her arms, sad and mournful, realizing that I can't and won't go with her. I cry out, sobs racking my body. Through the endless tears, I watch as Tomoyo floats skyward, gradually fading into the horizon, forlornly waving to me. A single tear finds its way down her face.
I reach my arms out, heart filled with pain, wishing, hoping, that I can keep Tomoyo by my side for a little longer. To give me a little strength, some advice for the grief that was to come. 'Tomoyo!' Pitifully, I cry as unseen hands lift her up into the dreary night sky.
Suddenly, another unseen hand blocks Tomoyo and she is sent plunging into the raging sea, as I watch in shock and horror. "NOOOOOOOO!"
Sakura sat up with a gasp, sweat drenching her face. She breathes heavily as she recalls her nightmare. 'Tomoyo. . .my best friend is gone.' Tears fill her eyes again as she tried to deal with the reality of the situation. Sobbing into her pillow, Sakura cried and cried until it passed into small hiccups. She glanced at the clock. It was 5:30 in the morning. Sakura sighed and dejectedly got up from her bed. "Meow." She looked down. It was Kero-chan. Sakura picked him up, hugging him to her. She rubbed her face against the warm, soft fur. It purred and gave her a sorrowful meow as if it knew what she was going through.
"Oh, Kero. I wish you could talk to me." She gently set him down and decided to go for a run. She hastily tore off her pajamas and pulled on a pair of loose, grey shorts and a tight, black tank. 'Perfect. Absolutely no color.' she thought to herself. She opened the door and went down the hall to the kitchen. 'It's quiet. It was never like this when Tomoyo was around.'
Before Tomoyo died, they had shared this apartment together. They were inseparable. Sakura relied on Tomoyo and Tomoyo relied on her. Like sisters, practically. The place itself was full of life, happiness. Bright, cheery wallpapers covered the walls while colorful curtains were draped around huge bay windows. Now this apartment was just a pretty picture painted for others to see. It wasn't alive anymore. Even with the outward appearance of a happy home, it was filled with the grief of a single woman, only twenty-two years old and already mourning the passing of her dearest friend.
Sakura quietly made her breakfast and quickly ate it. She dropped the bowl in the growing pile of dirty dishes. She went into the bathroom and pulled her hair into a messy bun. She put her shoes on and went out the door, making sure it was locked and that she had the keys. She breathed in deeply, her emerald green eyes closed lightly. For a second she stood there, unwilling to move, satisfied to just stand there in silence. Then, she opened her eyes and jogged down the sidewalk and across the street toward the beckoning weeping willows. It had been Tomoyo's idea to find an apartment near a park. 'It was a good idea.' she thought absentmindedly. She steadily quickened her pace as she raced through the park.
Thoughts rushed through her head as she ran onward, without a destination in mind. 'Why did Tomoyo have to die? What will I do now? Everything reminds me of her. I can't stand this.' She passed by the cherry blossom trees, in full bloom. Past the bubbling brook and the swings. 'We used to feed the fish at that pond and talk about our problems and men while we swing on those swings.' Tears coursed down her face, distorting her vision as she ran on.
Suddenly a solid body blocked her and she flew back. She stumbled back, managing to catch herself before she fell onto the dirt path.
"Gomen," she muttered, glancing up at the man she crashed into. She immediately stepped to the side and continued running. Where she was running toward was a mystery to herself.
------*------
He ran a hand through his already tousled, brown hair as he sighed, frustrated with himself. No matter what he did, he couldn't seem to find a person willing or crazy enough to fill in a role as secretary for his company in Hong Kong. Providing that that person would have to pack up everything, leave Japan, and move to Hong Kong to work. No one was keen on leaving everything behind to start over even if it was a great job that came with high wages.
Syaoran Li, businessman and heir to the Li Foundations, was taking a walk to relieve himself of some stress that he couldn't seem to get rid of. He strolled through the path, distracted by his thoughts, not looking where he was going, and so was not aware of a petite woman running straight toward him.
'What else can I-' He looked up in time to see a small woman collide into him with the force of a car. Knocked out of breath, he staggered backwards a few steps.
"Gomen." He looked up to see the woman glance up at him and he was struck by her grief-stricken face. He watched as she stepped to his side and ran on. It was like he wasn't even there.
Thinking that strange, Syaoran tried to shrug it off but he couldn't shake her desolate expression from his mind. He shook his head and resumed his walking. He mumbled to himself. "What am I going to do now?"
He sighed and growled. Syaoran tore off his tie. "God, I hate those things." He flung the tie into the bushes and glared in that general direction. "Why was it that I wanted to go into business? Dammit." Syaoran cursed under his breath as he stalked past a pair of swings and stopped at a brook, where the water spilled over the glistening rocks. He stared at the glittering water, wondering how a simple pond could create such pleasing sounds. For a moment Syaoran stood there letting the calming sounds sooth his frayed nerves.
A blur caught his attention, breaking his concentration. He whipped his head around, trying to catch a glimpse of what he saw. Syaoran frowned. It was the same woman who knocked into him a while earlier. 'Strange, didn't she just come from the other direction?' he thought to himself. It looked as if she was now running away from something.
"Hey, lady! What's your rush? Why don't you come back here and gimme a little fun?"
Syaoran saw that there was a man behind her, a thug it seemed. He was bald and looked to be in desperate need of a bath and new clothes. The man looked to be about half-starved and lust was in the perverted man's eyes. Syaoran glanced at the woman, with tears streaking down her face and she looked scared and sad yet furious in an odd way. Suddenly, she tripped and fell with a cry. She grabbed her right ankle and glared at the man who chased her, who wanted more than just her money. "Get away from me!" With a shriek of desperation, she jammed her foot into the man's groin and swiftly punched the man straight on the nose. Syaoran could even hear the poor man's nose break. Her punch was that strong, born out of fear and anger.
The man groaned as he put his hands in between his legs and tried to hold his bleeding, broken nose as well. "You fookin' bith," he said with a broken nose. He raised his arm and smacked her forcefully on the cheek. She cried out in pain. He prepared to hit her again. The woman shut her eyes, waiting for the strike. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes to see a tall man in a business suit gripping the arm of the harmful man firmly, glaring at him.
"It's impolite to hit a woman." Coldly, he clamped his hand tightly over the man's wrist and continued to tighten his hold until the now cowering man whimpered. Syaoran flung the man backwards, sending him flying into a tree. "I never want to see you again, you hear me? Scram, asshole." Holding his broken wrist, the man staggered onto his feet and scrambled away.
Syaoran glared at the man until he was at least to the edge of the park. Then he walked quietly over to the woman and frowned down at her. "Don't you know that it's unsafe for a woman to go off on her own without a friend?" Syaoran kept frowning until he saw her hang her head and saw tears drop off her cheek. Syaoran's eyes opened wide in alarm. "Hey, now. Don't start crying on me. It's okay, everything's fine." He kneeled down beside her and lifted her chin. "See? It's okay." Sakura tentatively smiled weakly at him.
"Thank you." Syaoran barely caught what she said but he still heard her.
"You're welcome. Now let's see that ankle of yours." He gently put his hand on her ankle. "Tell me when it hurts." He slowly put pressure on her ankle until she whimpered.
"Onegai, please don't do that." Sakura's face paled as pain erupted in her head. It felt like lightning shot up her legs and crawled everywhere over her. Promptly, Sakura blacked out from the pain.
Syaoran blinked at her, unsure of what just happened. Just as he realized that she was unconscious, he groaned. "Dammit, why me?" He heaved a great sigh and got up feeling as if the whole world weighed down on him. He looked at Sakura critically. 'Now what do I do? I don't know who she is, where she lives, or anyone who knows her! Let's see does she have i.d. with her?' Carefully, he rifled around her, attempting to find a wallet or anything. "Aha!" Syaoran jumped up and found an i.d. card.
Kinomoto, Sakura- 10 Blossom Avenue, Tokyo, Japan, 18290. 'So if I remember correctly that's at the edge of this park. Should I take her there or should I take her to my place until she wakes up?' Syaoran contemplated his situation deeply for a few minutes. He nodded his head decisively and picked up the comatose woman gently. "So Sakura's your name, is it? Everyone's got a story. You looked so sad. I wonder what your story is." Syaoran mumbled to himself as he shifted Sakura as he walked in the direction of her home.
------*------
She tossed and turned as she dreamed that same reoccurring dream every night. "TOMOYO!" Sakura sat up sharply, breathing heavily. Tears stung her eyes. 'If she were here, I wouldn't be having nightmares' she thought miserably. She looked around her and realized that she wasn't in her usual room. It was wallpapered in green with bare wood floors. She was in a giant 4-poster bed, surrounded by light green gauze. Sakura stared at everything, startled at the sight. 'Where am I? Last thing I remember was." she trailed off as the memory of what happened hit her. 'That awful, vulgar delinquent and that man.who saved me. Who was he?' She was completely lost in thought. It was a shock to her when she found a chestnut-haired man in front of her, staring at her intently. She gulped. "W-where am I?"
"You are at my place. I brought you here after I got no answer at your home. I took it that no one was home at the time and left a message there for anyone to pick up." Sakura watched as the man carried a chair and set it next to the bed. She smiled sadly when she heard him. He believed that she lives with someone, not alone by herself. "You gave me quite a scare when you fainted like that."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a burden." Sakura rubbed her eyes tiredly. She blearily looked at herself and saw that she was wearing an oversized green men's shirt. Sakura lifted the blankets slightly and flushed. That was all she wore.
Syaoran gazed at her curiously and chuckled when she blushed. "Don't worry I didn't see anything. I got one of my close friends to help me change you. She helped me bandage your ankle too. That was a nasty bruise you got. You twisted your ankle and I don't think you will be able to walk on that leg just yet."
She couldn't help it but she sighed when he told her that. Syaoran hid his smile with a cough. "Now, how about some food? Are you hungry?"
Sakura started to shake her head and refuse but her stomach growled. She glared at her stomach. "Stubborn thing." She glanced up and saw Syaoran give her a strange look. "Oh, um, gomen." Sakura scratched her head and giggled. "I talk to myself sometimes. I never did it until recently. Ever since To-" Sakura stopped abruptly and shut her mouth, unable to say those words.
An uncomfortable silence settled among them as Sakura fiddled with her hands and Syaoran pretended not to notice her stop just before saying something. It lasted a couple of minutes and Syaoran got up. "Well what would you like to eat?"
"Anything will be okay," Sakura softly said. Not once did she look up.
Syaoran glanced at her with concerned eyes and looked away. "Okay, then! Sausages, egg, and toast, it is." He walked to the door and paused. He turned his head back to her. "It's okay to look around. There's a pair of crutches next to your bed somewhere. You should try to adjust to them. You'll be using them for a while." With that, Syaoran went out the door, leaving it ajar slightly.
After Syaoran left, Sakura swung her legs to the side of the bed. "Ow." She rubbed her ankle, feeling that it was bound in cloth. She looked around, searching for the crutches the man pointed out to her. She reached for the crutches and cautiously got up on her good foot. She settled each crutch under her arms and tried to walk with them. Slowly, Sakura got the rhythm of the crutches correctly and was soon moving around the room like a pro.
"Phew, that takes a lot of effort." She fell backwards on the bed and caught her reflection in the mirror. She yelped and snatched up the brush laying on the night table. She quickly pulled the askew hair band out of her head and brushed her honey locks. She glanced back at the mirror, her eyes lingering there, wishing that she could do something to her limp hair. Sakura sighed, knowing that if Tomoyo were here, she would've had Sakura's hair up already. 'Oh, well. At least, I still have hair.' she thought dryly to herself.
Through the open door, the smell of savory food wafted to Sakura's nose. She inhaled and quite all of a sudden, felt famished. Swiftly, she got up and swung herself out of the bedroom. She looked around, a little lost. She sniffed at the air and turned down the left corridor, feeling that the aroma came from that direction.
She soon found herself in a sparkling, squeaky-clean kitchen. It had everything a kitchen needed packed into that small room. There was an island in the middle of the room, where a stove and oven were. Stools with black vinyl covers were placed in front of the island. The man was standing in front of the stove, frying sausages and eggs. She watched as he peeked in the oven. Suddenly, as if he sensed her, he whirled around and noticed Sakura leaning against the doorframe. He smiled a half smile and with a spatula in his hand, gestured at a stool.
"I see you've mastered using crutches quite easily." Syaoran watched as she maneuvered her way to the stool. She sat down with a huff, glad to sit. He pointed at the plates full of sausages and eggs. "Here, there's sausages, egg, and the bread- shit, the bread!" He practically crashed into the oven in his haste to take out the bread. "Ow, ow, ow!" He juggled the steaming bread slices in his hands and brought them to the two plates he set out. He blew on his hands, trying to relieve the burning sensation from handling hot food. "Ah, well there you are, food."
Sakura giggled and started making an egg sandwich. "Do you have any soy sauce?" (A/N: egg sandwich w/ soy sauce is absolutely delicious!!)
"I think I do." He rummaged around the shelves and found a bottle of Lee Kum Kee soy sauce. "Here."
"Arigato."
Syaoran made some coffee, took a stool, set it opposite of Sakura at the island and sat. A comfortable silence stole over them, each one enjoying the company of a stranger. No questions asked, just peaceful quietness.
Sakura finished her sandwich and sighed in content. She eyed the man across her and looked away. "I suppose you want to know who I am."
"Yes I suppose I would, Kinomoto."
Her eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"
Syaoran stirred his coffee and took a sip. "Well, after you fainted, I searched for an i.d. to find out where you lived."
"Oh."
"The only thing I'm wondering now is why you were out by yourself this early."
"I was only out for a run. I-I couldn't sleep." She looked him straight in the eye yet Syaoran had a slight impression that she wasn't being fully truthful. He let it go.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to be a bit more cautious if you're going to go out by yourself. And running isn't a bad thing as long as you don't go too fast." Sakura looked at him, curious to why he said that. "While you were. . .running, you, ah, bumped into me." Her eyes widened as she dimly remembered knocking into someone while she ran. "Don't worry, you didn't hurt me much. At least not as much as you hurt that man. I didn't envy him. You sure pack a punch, you even broke his nose, too." Syaoran grinned at her. "I hope I never get you mad at me."
Sakura blushed as he said that. It then dawned on her that she didn't know this strange, kind man's name. "Hey, I think it's hardly fair for you to know my name while you remain nameless."
"Oh, where has my manners gone to? I'm Li Syaoran. Pleasure to meet you." He brought his hand up to her. She gingerly shook his hand, noting that her knuckles were slightly bruised from hitting that disgusting man. "Now, would you like to call your apartment to notify anyone to let them know you're okay?"
Syaoran noticed that her eyes saddened immensely and her smile dimmed. "No, there isn't anyone to call." Syaoran heard the yearning and sorrow in her voice. "My roommate-" He heard a slight catch as she said "roommate". "She's gone."
"Relatives?"
"No," she said in a small voice. Sakura was staring at the counter by then.
Syaoran frowned, not knowing what to do. "Well, I suppose you can stay here. . .for a bit." Her head jerked up. "That is, if you want," he hastily added.
'There's not much else I can do is there? I can't bear to go back to that apartment yet. There's no harm staying here, either I guess' she thought to herself. She shuddered, willing herself not to break down here, in a stranger's house. "Y-yes, if it's okay with you, I-I would like to stay here for a while."
"That's settled then. You'll stay here for some time." He pushed himself from the counter and gathered the dishes. He placed them in the sink and was about to turn on the water when Sakura spoke up.
"Domo arigato, Li-san."
"It's okay, no need to thank me." He waved her thanks away with a hand. He turned on the water and washed the dishes. Sakura gazed at him, wondering how a stranger could be so kind and understanding. She dazed off, thinking about his generosity. Moments later, she realized that the water was turned off. She saw that Syaoran was sitting back down, observing her with thoughtful eyes.
"Can I ask you something?" Sakura said softly.
"Go ahead."
"Why are you being so kind towards me? You haven't even know me for a day, let alone letting me stay here. Why me?"
Syaoran looked intently at her. "Why? That's a good question. Many things answer why. What I've done in the past, the people I've hurt countless times. I've changed and I guess so has my ways and impulses." He smiled wryly. "That's just about it."
"Oh, I see." Thankfully, Syaoran was glad she didn't ask what he did. He wasn't ready to tell his story yet.
"What about you? Anything you want to say about yourself? Like why you live alone? Honestly? I don't think you're the kind of person to live solitary. You must've lived with some-"
At that, Sakura burst into tears. "I-I'm sorry. I can't help it." She sobbed into her hands as Syaoran looked at her in concern.
"Great. This is the second time you've cried thanks to me. I'm such a baka." He berated himself making Sakura more miserable than she already was.
"Onegai, don't say that. It's not your fault." She sniffed as she tried to control her tears.
Syaoran stood up and walked to her. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. His eyes softened and he gently picked her up. He carried her to his den and laid her down on a loveseat. Syaoran brought a chair and set it in front of her. "Would you like to talk about it?"
He said it so sincerely that Sakura finally let her guard down and revealed her secret. "I-I'll tell you." She exhaled shakily. Syaoran took her hands in his and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Okay." Her eyes took on a faraway look as she started talking softly.
"You know when you know that your life finally seems settled and happy? I was in a state like that before." She smiled bitterly. "Such a fool I was then. I was naïve. I believed that everything was pure, good." She gave a small sad laugh. "How wrong I was then. Believing that everything eventually would turn out for the best."
------*------
"Tomoyo-chan!! Are you ready to go?" Sakura got her high-heels from the closet and expertly slid her feet into them. "Whoa!" She caught hold of the doorknob, stopping her from falling on her face. "Close call."
A musical laughter floated into the room. Sakura looked at Tomoyo in annoyance. "Oh, Sakura-chan, you do that every time."
"Well, at least I never take so long to get ready to go out."
"Do you think it's worth it to do so?" Tomoyo lifted her hands and struck a pose. Looking stunning in an embroidered, tight-fitting, rich maroon halter- top and a long, flowing violet skirt with light purple gauze cut at different angles over the skirt. Dark eyeliner rimmed her eyes and her lips were filled with a deep red shade. Bold streaks of red highlighted her dark purple wavy hair giving the full effect of a dangerously beautiful woman.
"You've done a pretty good job on yourself Tomo-chan," Sakura admitted, admiring her friend's beauty.
Tomoyo laughed. She looked Sakura over. "You didn't do too bad on yourself either, Saku-chan."
Sakura also wore a halter-top, deep red with a sloping neckline and a cherry blossom necklace hung down a few inches above the neckline. The halter ended just before her belly button, letting her sparkling belly button ring peek out. She had on a midnight black skirt with a golden hem and slits up to her thighs. Barely any makeup was on her face yet the few bits that she had on accentuated her angelic face even further. Black mascara coated her lashes and a bright pink gloss was applied to her lips, making her look innocent yet her eyes were enough to make you think twice before thinking her easy to get.
"I would've done better with your help though."
"Nonsense, you're beautiful!" declared Tomoyo with a twinkle in her eyes.
"You and me both, Tomoyo! Let's hope the nightlife is prepared for us!"
They linked hands and went out the door willing the night to be fun and adventurous.
------*------
"I have a picture that we took that night just before we left. It was the happiest I've ever seen Tomoyo since I've known her." Sakura stared at her hands and looked up. "That was the night that Tomoyo was killed at a club called Tigre Peril."
Syaoran glanced sharply at Sakura at the mention of that club but Sakura didn't notice, too caught up with her story.
------*------
Sakura and Tomoyo laughed, dancing closely with each other, catching the eyes of many men as they did.
"Look, it's Misa and Touru!" Sakura pointed at a booth where Kamiyo Touru and Hikari Misa were busy kissing. "C'mon, let's say hi." She grabbed Tomoyo's hand and dragged her out of the dance floor to the booth.
"Misa! Touru!" Tomoyo yelled at them, getting their attention. "Mind if we join you?" With that, Tomoyo and Sakura sat down on the booth with a thump.
"Phew, it's really crowded tonight. More so than usual." Sakura patted her brow with a kerchief. She snatched Misa's drink and took a big gulp. "Mmm, strawberry daiquiri! My favorite."
"How've you two been? Haven't talked to you guys in a while."
The two laughed. "Well, I wonder why. You haven't exactly had time for us, being so busy with Yahiko and all" Touru winked at Tomoyo after Misa smacked him on the head.
"Touru!"
"You see what happens when you leave me with Misa?" Touru grinned at his laughing friends while Misa protested.
"Hey!" Misa pouted. "Why are you being so bullheaded to me!? Is it bash Misa day?" She crossed her arms and refused to look at them.
"Hehe, I'm sorry Misa-chan, we're not laughing at you. It's just that Touru looked so startled when you hit him." Sakura imitated Touru's comical expression and burst into another round of laughter, with Tomoyo not far behind.
Now Misa and Touru looked at the two laughing girls in alarm. They glanced at each other and both asked, "Where did the Tomoyo and Sakura we know go?"
"Think they're drunk?"
"No, they can't be, it's too early."
"Maybe they took some kinda crack or something?"
"Nah, I think they just lost their minds."
"HEY! We're still here you know!" Sakura stuck her tongue out at them.
"And just to let you know, we're not drunk, drugged, or insane!" Tomoyo looked at the couple. They just cracked up. She threw her arms up in the air in frustration. "C'mon, Saku, let's leave the lovebirds alone. Back to the dance floor!"
------*------
A man watched the two dancing girls. He stayed close to the two yet not so they would notice him. He didn't want their attention. It wasn't time. He was waiting for a signal. He gazed at them.no it was more like staring at the woman with the sexy, curvy body and flowing purple hair. Yes, he wanted her. The other would just be a bonus for his boss but she, she would be his. There, a signal. A barely-clad woman taking off her thin shirt to gain entrance into the club. He smirked, watching the bouncer gaze at the woman's voluptuous, naked chest, grab her, and pushed her towards him, making her breasts press against him as he touched them. He let her enter and said something to the woman, making her smile sensuously at the muscular man and gave him a passionate, lustful kiss. The bouncer picked her up by grabbing her butt and carried her off to a secluded room, still kissing.
His ever-amusing signals given to him by the boss. The man chuckled. He got up from his booth and walked calmly towards the two women. It was time for action.
------*------
Sakura smiled brightly at the cute man she was dancing with. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a handsome man walk up to Tomoyo, look her up and down, and smile. 'Mmm, good catch, Tomoyo.' She smirked when she saw Tomoyo's eyes light up at the sight of the man. Tomoyo started dancing with him and Sakura grinned at the two, seeing them dance closer and closer. She turned her attention back to the man she was dancing with and said a word to him. Then, she signaled Tomoyo that she was getting a drink and left the dance floor again. That was a bad choice, leaving Tomoyo by herself, with a stranger. It was a choice that would get her killed.
The Club- Tigre Peril
By: Devils Sanctuary
I stand on a cliff edge. I am ready for something but what? Why is everything blurry? It's raining, dark and gloomy. The windy torrent wrenches my hair, plays with my clothes. I look around, nothing. I am alone. Whoosh. A transparent white thing flashes by me. My heart races in fear. I sense it. It's behind me. Heart thumping loudly, I slowly turn around. My eyes widen. I am face to face with a ghost. I scream, recognizing the face of the apparition.
It's Tomoyo. My heart aches. She's a ghost. . .and I am afraid of her. Tears well up in my eyes.
'Tomoyo-chan. . .Why? Why did you have to fucking die?!?' Tears stream down my face, blurring the image of my former best friend. Tomoyo smiles sadly. She holds her arms out for me. Waiting for me to embrace her for one last time. She floats in the air, just beyond the cliffside. I stay where I'm at, unable to move.
She looks at me, hurt and confused. She is waiting for me to join her.
'I can't, Tomoyo. Can't you see? I'll fall down! I can't go with you! You're dead! I'm not' I suddenly realize what I said and I scream as my head fills with pain. Tomoyo drops her arms, sad and mournful, realizing that I can't and won't go with her. I cry out, sobs racking my body. Through the endless tears, I watch as Tomoyo floats skyward, gradually fading into the horizon, forlornly waving to me. A single tear finds its way down her face.
I reach my arms out, heart filled with pain, wishing, hoping, that I can keep Tomoyo by my side for a little longer. To give me a little strength, some advice for the grief that was to come. 'Tomoyo!' Pitifully, I cry as unseen hands lift her up into the dreary night sky.
Suddenly, another unseen hand blocks Tomoyo and she is sent plunging into the raging sea, as I watch in shock and horror. "NOOOOOOOO!"
Sakura sat up with a gasp, sweat drenching her face. She breathes heavily as she recalls her nightmare. 'Tomoyo. . .my best friend is gone.' Tears fill her eyes again as she tried to deal with the reality of the situation. Sobbing into her pillow, Sakura cried and cried until it passed into small hiccups. She glanced at the clock. It was 5:30 in the morning. Sakura sighed and dejectedly got up from her bed. "Meow." She looked down. It was Kero-chan. Sakura picked him up, hugging him to her. She rubbed her face against the warm, soft fur. It purred and gave her a sorrowful meow as if it knew what she was going through.
"Oh, Kero. I wish you could talk to me." She gently set him down and decided to go for a run. She hastily tore off her pajamas and pulled on a pair of loose, grey shorts and a tight, black tank. 'Perfect. Absolutely no color.' she thought to herself. She opened the door and went down the hall to the kitchen. 'It's quiet. It was never like this when Tomoyo was around.'
Before Tomoyo died, they had shared this apartment together. They were inseparable. Sakura relied on Tomoyo and Tomoyo relied on her. Like sisters, practically. The place itself was full of life, happiness. Bright, cheery wallpapers covered the walls while colorful curtains were draped around huge bay windows. Now this apartment was just a pretty picture painted for others to see. It wasn't alive anymore. Even with the outward appearance of a happy home, it was filled with the grief of a single woman, only twenty-two years old and already mourning the passing of her dearest friend.
Sakura quietly made her breakfast and quickly ate it. She dropped the bowl in the growing pile of dirty dishes. She went into the bathroom and pulled her hair into a messy bun. She put her shoes on and went out the door, making sure it was locked and that she had the keys. She breathed in deeply, her emerald green eyes closed lightly. For a second she stood there, unwilling to move, satisfied to just stand there in silence. Then, she opened her eyes and jogged down the sidewalk and across the street toward the beckoning weeping willows. It had been Tomoyo's idea to find an apartment near a park. 'It was a good idea.' she thought absentmindedly. She steadily quickened her pace as she raced through the park.
Thoughts rushed through her head as she ran onward, without a destination in mind. 'Why did Tomoyo have to die? What will I do now? Everything reminds me of her. I can't stand this.' She passed by the cherry blossom trees, in full bloom. Past the bubbling brook and the swings. 'We used to feed the fish at that pond and talk about our problems and men while we swing on those swings.' Tears coursed down her face, distorting her vision as she ran on.
Suddenly a solid body blocked her and she flew back. She stumbled back, managing to catch herself before she fell onto the dirt path.
"Gomen," she muttered, glancing up at the man she crashed into. She immediately stepped to the side and continued running. Where she was running toward was a mystery to herself.
------*------
He ran a hand through his already tousled, brown hair as he sighed, frustrated with himself. No matter what he did, he couldn't seem to find a person willing or crazy enough to fill in a role as secretary for his company in Hong Kong. Providing that that person would have to pack up everything, leave Japan, and move to Hong Kong to work. No one was keen on leaving everything behind to start over even if it was a great job that came with high wages.
Syaoran Li, businessman and heir to the Li Foundations, was taking a walk to relieve himself of some stress that he couldn't seem to get rid of. He strolled through the path, distracted by his thoughts, not looking where he was going, and so was not aware of a petite woman running straight toward him.
'What else can I-' He looked up in time to see a small woman collide into him with the force of a car. Knocked out of breath, he staggered backwards a few steps.
"Gomen." He looked up to see the woman glance up at him and he was struck by her grief-stricken face. He watched as she stepped to his side and ran on. It was like he wasn't even there.
Thinking that strange, Syaoran tried to shrug it off but he couldn't shake her desolate expression from his mind. He shook his head and resumed his walking. He mumbled to himself. "What am I going to do now?"
He sighed and growled. Syaoran tore off his tie. "God, I hate those things." He flung the tie into the bushes and glared in that general direction. "Why was it that I wanted to go into business? Dammit." Syaoran cursed under his breath as he stalked past a pair of swings and stopped at a brook, where the water spilled over the glistening rocks. He stared at the glittering water, wondering how a simple pond could create such pleasing sounds. For a moment Syaoran stood there letting the calming sounds sooth his frayed nerves.
A blur caught his attention, breaking his concentration. He whipped his head around, trying to catch a glimpse of what he saw. Syaoran frowned. It was the same woman who knocked into him a while earlier. 'Strange, didn't she just come from the other direction?' he thought to himself. It looked as if she was now running away from something.
"Hey, lady! What's your rush? Why don't you come back here and gimme a little fun?"
Syaoran saw that there was a man behind her, a thug it seemed. He was bald and looked to be in desperate need of a bath and new clothes. The man looked to be about half-starved and lust was in the perverted man's eyes. Syaoran glanced at the woman, with tears streaking down her face and she looked scared and sad yet furious in an odd way. Suddenly, she tripped and fell with a cry. She grabbed her right ankle and glared at the man who chased her, who wanted more than just her money. "Get away from me!" With a shriek of desperation, she jammed her foot into the man's groin and swiftly punched the man straight on the nose. Syaoran could even hear the poor man's nose break. Her punch was that strong, born out of fear and anger.
The man groaned as he put his hands in between his legs and tried to hold his bleeding, broken nose as well. "You fookin' bith," he said with a broken nose. He raised his arm and smacked her forcefully on the cheek. She cried out in pain. He prepared to hit her again. The woman shut her eyes, waiting for the strike. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes to see a tall man in a business suit gripping the arm of the harmful man firmly, glaring at him.
"It's impolite to hit a woman." Coldly, he clamped his hand tightly over the man's wrist and continued to tighten his hold until the now cowering man whimpered. Syaoran flung the man backwards, sending him flying into a tree. "I never want to see you again, you hear me? Scram, asshole." Holding his broken wrist, the man staggered onto his feet and scrambled away.
Syaoran glared at the man until he was at least to the edge of the park. Then he walked quietly over to the woman and frowned down at her. "Don't you know that it's unsafe for a woman to go off on her own without a friend?" Syaoran kept frowning until he saw her hang her head and saw tears drop off her cheek. Syaoran's eyes opened wide in alarm. "Hey, now. Don't start crying on me. It's okay, everything's fine." He kneeled down beside her and lifted her chin. "See? It's okay." Sakura tentatively smiled weakly at him.
"Thank you." Syaoran barely caught what she said but he still heard her.
"You're welcome. Now let's see that ankle of yours." He gently put his hand on her ankle. "Tell me when it hurts." He slowly put pressure on her ankle until she whimpered.
"Onegai, please don't do that." Sakura's face paled as pain erupted in her head. It felt like lightning shot up her legs and crawled everywhere over her. Promptly, Sakura blacked out from the pain.
Syaoran blinked at her, unsure of what just happened. Just as he realized that she was unconscious, he groaned. "Dammit, why me?" He heaved a great sigh and got up feeling as if the whole world weighed down on him. He looked at Sakura critically. 'Now what do I do? I don't know who she is, where she lives, or anyone who knows her! Let's see does she have i.d. with her?' Carefully, he rifled around her, attempting to find a wallet or anything. "Aha!" Syaoran jumped up and found an i.d. card.
Kinomoto, Sakura- 10 Blossom Avenue, Tokyo, Japan, 18290. 'So if I remember correctly that's at the edge of this park. Should I take her there or should I take her to my place until she wakes up?' Syaoran contemplated his situation deeply for a few minutes. He nodded his head decisively and picked up the comatose woman gently. "So Sakura's your name, is it? Everyone's got a story. You looked so sad. I wonder what your story is." Syaoran mumbled to himself as he shifted Sakura as he walked in the direction of her home.
------*------
She tossed and turned as she dreamed that same reoccurring dream every night. "TOMOYO!" Sakura sat up sharply, breathing heavily. Tears stung her eyes. 'If she were here, I wouldn't be having nightmares' she thought miserably. She looked around her and realized that she wasn't in her usual room. It was wallpapered in green with bare wood floors. She was in a giant 4-poster bed, surrounded by light green gauze. Sakura stared at everything, startled at the sight. 'Where am I? Last thing I remember was." she trailed off as the memory of what happened hit her. 'That awful, vulgar delinquent and that man.who saved me. Who was he?' She was completely lost in thought. It was a shock to her when she found a chestnut-haired man in front of her, staring at her intently. She gulped. "W-where am I?"
"You are at my place. I brought you here after I got no answer at your home. I took it that no one was home at the time and left a message there for anyone to pick up." Sakura watched as the man carried a chair and set it next to the bed. She smiled sadly when she heard him. He believed that she lives with someone, not alone by herself. "You gave me quite a scare when you fainted like that."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a burden." Sakura rubbed her eyes tiredly. She blearily looked at herself and saw that she was wearing an oversized green men's shirt. Sakura lifted the blankets slightly and flushed. That was all she wore.
Syaoran gazed at her curiously and chuckled when she blushed. "Don't worry I didn't see anything. I got one of my close friends to help me change you. She helped me bandage your ankle too. That was a nasty bruise you got. You twisted your ankle and I don't think you will be able to walk on that leg just yet."
She couldn't help it but she sighed when he told her that. Syaoran hid his smile with a cough. "Now, how about some food? Are you hungry?"
Sakura started to shake her head and refuse but her stomach growled. She glared at her stomach. "Stubborn thing." She glanced up and saw Syaoran give her a strange look. "Oh, um, gomen." Sakura scratched her head and giggled. "I talk to myself sometimes. I never did it until recently. Ever since To-" Sakura stopped abruptly and shut her mouth, unable to say those words.
An uncomfortable silence settled among them as Sakura fiddled with her hands and Syaoran pretended not to notice her stop just before saying something. It lasted a couple of minutes and Syaoran got up. "Well what would you like to eat?"
"Anything will be okay," Sakura softly said. Not once did she look up.
Syaoran glanced at her with concerned eyes and looked away. "Okay, then! Sausages, egg, and toast, it is." He walked to the door and paused. He turned his head back to her. "It's okay to look around. There's a pair of crutches next to your bed somewhere. You should try to adjust to them. You'll be using them for a while." With that, Syaoran went out the door, leaving it ajar slightly.
After Syaoran left, Sakura swung her legs to the side of the bed. "Ow." She rubbed her ankle, feeling that it was bound in cloth. She looked around, searching for the crutches the man pointed out to her. She reached for the crutches and cautiously got up on her good foot. She settled each crutch under her arms and tried to walk with them. Slowly, Sakura got the rhythm of the crutches correctly and was soon moving around the room like a pro.
"Phew, that takes a lot of effort." She fell backwards on the bed and caught her reflection in the mirror. She yelped and snatched up the brush laying on the night table. She quickly pulled the askew hair band out of her head and brushed her honey locks. She glanced back at the mirror, her eyes lingering there, wishing that she could do something to her limp hair. Sakura sighed, knowing that if Tomoyo were here, she would've had Sakura's hair up already. 'Oh, well. At least, I still have hair.' she thought dryly to herself.
Through the open door, the smell of savory food wafted to Sakura's nose. She inhaled and quite all of a sudden, felt famished. Swiftly, she got up and swung herself out of the bedroom. She looked around, a little lost. She sniffed at the air and turned down the left corridor, feeling that the aroma came from that direction.
She soon found herself in a sparkling, squeaky-clean kitchen. It had everything a kitchen needed packed into that small room. There was an island in the middle of the room, where a stove and oven were. Stools with black vinyl covers were placed in front of the island. The man was standing in front of the stove, frying sausages and eggs. She watched as he peeked in the oven. Suddenly, as if he sensed her, he whirled around and noticed Sakura leaning against the doorframe. He smiled a half smile and with a spatula in his hand, gestured at a stool.
"I see you've mastered using crutches quite easily." Syaoran watched as she maneuvered her way to the stool. She sat down with a huff, glad to sit. He pointed at the plates full of sausages and eggs. "Here, there's sausages, egg, and the bread- shit, the bread!" He practically crashed into the oven in his haste to take out the bread. "Ow, ow, ow!" He juggled the steaming bread slices in his hands and brought them to the two plates he set out. He blew on his hands, trying to relieve the burning sensation from handling hot food. "Ah, well there you are, food."
Sakura giggled and started making an egg sandwich. "Do you have any soy sauce?" (A/N: egg sandwich w/ soy sauce is absolutely delicious!!)
"I think I do." He rummaged around the shelves and found a bottle of Lee Kum Kee soy sauce. "Here."
"Arigato."
Syaoran made some coffee, took a stool, set it opposite of Sakura at the island and sat. A comfortable silence stole over them, each one enjoying the company of a stranger. No questions asked, just peaceful quietness.
Sakura finished her sandwich and sighed in content. She eyed the man across her and looked away. "I suppose you want to know who I am."
"Yes I suppose I would, Kinomoto."
Her eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"
Syaoran stirred his coffee and took a sip. "Well, after you fainted, I searched for an i.d. to find out where you lived."
"Oh."
"The only thing I'm wondering now is why you were out by yourself this early."
"I was only out for a run. I-I couldn't sleep." She looked him straight in the eye yet Syaoran had a slight impression that she wasn't being fully truthful. He let it go.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to be a bit more cautious if you're going to go out by yourself. And running isn't a bad thing as long as you don't go too fast." Sakura looked at him, curious to why he said that. "While you were. . .running, you, ah, bumped into me." Her eyes widened as she dimly remembered knocking into someone while she ran. "Don't worry, you didn't hurt me much. At least not as much as you hurt that man. I didn't envy him. You sure pack a punch, you even broke his nose, too." Syaoran grinned at her. "I hope I never get you mad at me."
Sakura blushed as he said that. It then dawned on her that she didn't know this strange, kind man's name. "Hey, I think it's hardly fair for you to know my name while you remain nameless."
"Oh, where has my manners gone to? I'm Li Syaoran. Pleasure to meet you." He brought his hand up to her. She gingerly shook his hand, noting that her knuckles were slightly bruised from hitting that disgusting man. "Now, would you like to call your apartment to notify anyone to let them know you're okay?"
Syaoran noticed that her eyes saddened immensely and her smile dimmed. "No, there isn't anyone to call." Syaoran heard the yearning and sorrow in her voice. "My roommate-" He heard a slight catch as she said "roommate". "She's gone."
"Relatives?"
"No," she said in a small voice. Sakura was staring at the counter by then.
Syaoran frowned, not knowing what to do. "Well, I suppose you can stay here. . .for a bit." Her head jerked up. "That is, if you want," he hastily added.
'There's not much else I can do is there? I can't bear to go back to that apartment yet. There's no harm staying here, either I guess' she thought to herself. She shuddered, willing herself not to break down here, in a stranger's house. "Y-yes, if it's okay with you, I-I would like to stay here for a while."
"That's settled then. You'll stay here for some time." He pushed himself from the counter and gathered the dishes. He placed them in the sink and was about to turn on the water when Sakura spoke up.
"Domo arigato, Li-san."
"It's okay, no need to thank me." He waved her thanks away with a hand. He turned on the water and washed the dishes. Sakura gazed at him, wondering how a stranger could be so kind and understanding. She dazed off, thinking about his generosity. Moments later, she realized that the water was turned off. She saw that Syaoran was sitting back down, observing her with thoughtful eyes.
"Can I ask you something?" Sakura said softly.
"Go ahead."
"Why are you being so kind towards me? You haven't even know me for a day, let alone letting me stay here. Why me?"
Syaoran looked intently at her. "Why? That's a good question. Many things answer why. What I've done in the past, the people I've hurt countless times. I've changed and I guess so has my ways and impulses." He smiled wryly. "That's just about it."
"Oh, I see." Thankfully, Syaoran was glad she didn't ask what he did. He wasn't ready to tell his story yet.
"What about you? Anything you want to say about yourself? Like why you live alone? Honestly? I don't think you're the kind of person to live solitary. You must've lived with some-"
At that, Sakura burst into tears. "I-I'm sorry. I can't help it." She sobbed into her hands as Syaoran looked at her in concern.
"Great. This is the second time you've cried thanks to me. I'm such a baka." He berated himself making Sakura more miserable than she already was.
"Onegai, don't say that. It's not your fault." She sniffed as she tried to control her tears.
Syaoran stood up and walked to her. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. His eyes softened and he gently picked her up. He carried her to his den and laid her down on a loveseat. Syaoran brought a chair and set it in front of her. "Would you like to talk about it?"
He said it so sincerely that Sakura finally let her guard down and revealed her secret. "I-I'll tell you." She exhaled shakily. Syaoran took her hands in his and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Okay." Her eyes took on a faraway look as she started talking softly.
"You know when you know that your life finally seems settled and happy? I was in a state like that before." She smiled bitterly. "Such a fool I was then. I was naïve. I believed that everything was pure, good." She gave a small sad laugh. "How wrong I was then. Believing that everything eventually would turn out for the best."
------*------
"Tomoyo-chan!! Are you ready to go?" Sakura got her high-heels from the closet and expertly slid her feet into them. "Whoa!" She caught hold of the doorknob, stopping her from falling on her face. "Close call."
A musical laughter floated into the room. Sakura looked at Tomoyo in annoyance. "Oh, Sakura-chan, you do that every time."
"Well, at least I never take so long to get ready to go out."
"Do you think it's worth it to do so?" Tomoyo lifted her hands and struck a pose. Looking stunning in an embroidered, tight-fitting, rich maroon halter- top and a long, flowing violet skirt with light purple gauze cut at different angles over the skirt. Dark eyeliner rimmed her eyes and her lips were filled with a deep red shade. Bold streaks of red highlighted her dark purple wavy hair giving the full effect of a dangerously beautiful woman.
"You've done a pretty good job on yourself Tomo-chan," Sakura admitted, admiring her friend's beauty.
Tomoyo laughed. She looked Sakura over. "You didn't do too bad on yourself either, Saku-chan."
Sakura also wore a halter-top, deep red with a sloping neckline and a cherry blossom necklace hung down a few inches above the neckline. The halter ended just before her belly button, letting her sparkling belly button ring peek out. She had on a midnight black skirt with a golden hem and slits up to her thighs. Barely any makeup was on her face yet the few bits that she had on accentuated her angelic face even further. Black mascara coated her lashes and a bright pink gloss was applied to her lips, making her look innocent yet her eyes were enough to make you think twice before thinking her easy to get.
"I would've done better with your help though."
"Nonsense, you're beautiful!" declared Tomoyo with a twinkle in her eyes.
"You and me both, Tomoyo! Let's hope the nightlife is prepared for us!"
They linked hands and went out the door willing the night to be fun and adventurous.
------*------
"I have a picture that we took that night just before we left. It was the happiest I've ever seen Tomoyo since I've known her." Sakura stared at her hands and looked up. "That was the night that Tomoyo was killed at a club called Tigre Peril."
Syaoran glanced sharply at Sakura at the mention of that club but Sakura didn't notice, too caught up with her story.
------*------
Sakura and Tomoyo laughed, dancing closely with each other, catching the eyes of many men as they did.
"Look, it's Misa and Touru!" Sakura pointed at a booth where Kamiyo Touru and Hikari Misa were busy kissing. "C'mon, let's say hi." She grabbed Tomoyo's hand and dragged her out of the dance floor to the booth.
"Misa! Touru!" Tomoyo yelled at them, getting their attention. "Mind if we join you?" With that, Tomoyo and Sakura sat down on the booth with a thump.
"Phew, it's really crowded tonight. More so than usual." Sakura patted her brow with a kerchief. She snatched Misa's drink and took a big gulp. "Mmm, strawberry daiquiri! My favorite."
"How've you two been? Haven't talked to you guys in a while."
The two laughed. "Well, I wonder why. You haven't exactly had time for us, being so busy with Yahiko and all" Touru winked at Tomoyo after Misa smacked him on the head.
"Touru!"
"You see what happens when you leave me with Misa?" Touru grinned at his laughing friends while Misa protested.
"Hey!" Misa pouted. "Why are you being so bullheaded to me!? Is it bash Misa day?" She crossed her arms and refused to look at them.
"Hehe, I'm sorry Misa-chan, we're not laughing at you. It's just that Touru looked so startled when you hit him." Sakura imitated Touru's comical expression and burst into another round of laughter, with Tomoyo not far behind.
Now Misa and Touru looked at the two laughing girls in alarm. They glanced at each other and both asked, "Where did the Tomoyo and Sakura we know go?"
"Think they're drunk?"
"No, they can't be, it's too early."
"Maybe they took some kinda crack or something?"
"Nah, I think they just lost their minds."
"HEY! We're still here you know!" Sakura stuck her tongue out at them.
"And just to let you know, we're not drunk, drugged, or insane!" Tomoyo looked at the couple. They just cracked up. She threw her arms up in the air in frustration. "C'mon, Saku, let's leave the lovebirds alone. Back to the dance floor!"
------*------
A man watched the two dancing girls. He stayed close to the two yet not so they would notice him. He didn't want their attention. It wasn't time. He was waiting for a signal. He gazed at them.no it was more like staring at the woman with the sexy, curvy body and flowing purple hair. Yes, he wanted her. The other would just be a bonus for his boss but she, she would be his. There, a signal. A barely-clad woman taking off her thin shirt to gain entrance into the club. He smirked, watching the bouncer gaze at the woman's voluptuous, naked chest, grab her, and pushed her towards him, making her breasts press against him as he touched them. He let her enter and said something to the woman, making her smile sensuously at the muscular man and gave him a passionate, lustful kiss. The bouncer picked her up by grabbing her butt and carried her off to a secluded room, still kissing.
His ever-amusing signals given to him by the boss. The man chuckled. He got up from his booth and walked calmly towards the two women. It was time for action.
------*------
Sakura smiled brightly at the cute man she was dancing with. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a handsome man walk up to Tomoyo, look her up and down, and smile. 'Mmm, good catch, Tomoyo.' She smirked when she saw Tomoyo's eyes light up at the sight of the man. Tomoyo started dancing with him and Sakura grinned at the two, seeing them dance closer and closer. She turned her attention back to the man she was dancing with and said a word to him. Then, she signaled Tomoyo that she was getting a drink and left the dance floor again. That was a bad choice, leaving Tomoyo by herself, with a stranger. It was a choice that would get her killed.
