Show me
by konnie
CHAPTER 4
*"I watched you grow. I held you when you were sad, tugged you in before you fell asleep. You were the vivid image of your mother. If only darker. You were always so sensitive to the cruelty of the world, and you thought you could hide your pain from me. But a father knows when his son is in pain. You always seemed able to cope with it, so I left you alone, gave you space and time. Maybe I was wrong."*
"What time is it?" Fujitaka Kinomoto asked with a weary voice.
He was tired, scared, worried sick about his oldest son, who hadn't come home since breakfast, hadn't gone to school and didn't go to work. It was official. By 10:00 pm it was obvious Touya was missing and not just running away from an argument.
It's funny when this things happen, everyone seems to remember things they hadn't noticed before. Someone heard him talking to himself, someone saw him staring blankly into space, someone saw him outburst for no reason. Things that on their own may mean nothing; but given the circumstances and put all together were something serious.
Fujitaka rubbed his temples.
Was Touya in trouble? Was he taking drugs maybe?
Something inside of him told him the answer, but he wouldn't acknowledge it.
His oldest son was NOT loosing his mind.
"10:05, sir" Yukito answered in an equal worried fashion. "Maybe we should go look for him. I don't have any idea where he could be at this hour."
With each word, Yukito's voice would come closer to a whimper than a statement.
It was his fault, Yukito knew it. It was all his fault; and now Touya could be lying dead somewhere.
The thought made him shiver. Touya was alright. He had to be! He'd never gotten the chance to show Touya how much he loved him, and he couldn't disappear without knowing it.
Yukito walked over the sleeping form of Sakura on the couch and covered her with a blanket. Poor child, she'd wept herself to sleep when she realised her brother wasn't coming back on his own. She, as himself, also felt guilty, but he had to let her know it wasn't her responsibility. It was his job to protect her, and he would. He'd let her know it wasn't her fault, and then he'd go find her brother, wherever he might be.
Silently, both men left the house, hoping they'd return with good news by the time the child was awake.
********
It was a nightmare she couldn't remember what had made her wake up on an empty apartment. But sadly, she found herself waking into another nightmare.
It had been a long time since the last time she'd cried like this. Not since telling Yukito of her feelings. But this time there was no one here to comfort her.
She could go wake Kero, but her friend wasn't exactly the best listener in the world. Tomoyo, she was staying the night over Tanaka's place. "All innocent
fun", Tomoyo had assured her with a wink. None of her other friends at school were close enough with her to drop them with this problem. There was someone. . .The only person she could think off. The person who'd been there for her that other time.
She picked up the note on the coffee table and stared at it dumbly. All kinds of stupid ideas went through her head and she almost starts crying again for thinking about food at a time like this. She ran to the phone and dialed as if her life depended on it. A few rings that seemed to last forever- she was about to hang up- and she heard the familiar voice of her boyfriend.
"Li residence?" came the voice sounding rather sleepy. She hadn't thought of the time before calling and was thankful that Li , and not his mother or the butler, had picked up.
"Are they making you answer the phone now?" she tried to sound amused, but couldn't quite get it. Li didn't seem to notice though.
"Sakura! Hi! How are you? Are you ok? Why are you calling so late? It's almost midnight."
"I. . .I just wanted to talk to you. I'm sorry. I'll call you in the morning."
"No! No, I'm glad you've called. It's just strange."
"Well, something happened, I just. . ."
"What's wrong?" Li sounded truly concern; but then again, he was always concerned about her.
"My brother. . .I think he's in trouble. He left this morning after fighting with me and now no one knows where he is." She could already feel the tears
forming.
"Oh, dear. He ran away?"
"I don't know. Li. . .for some time now . . .well. . ."
"What? Tell me."
"Touya is not ok, something's wrong with him. He hasn't been the same since. . .since. . ."
"Yeah, I know."
"Yeah."
"You think having no powers is affecting him more than what we expected? I really don't understand how would that be."
"I just know that's when it started. It wasn't much at first. He was just tired, or have headaches. But for a few weeks now, he's been moody, quiet. . .I don't know. . .different."
And she'd been too busy with her friends and her stuff to notice her brother was falling apart.
"I'm sure he's ok. If he had a fight with you, I'm sure he just needed time to cool off."
"I don't think that's it, he missed work! He never misses work!" she started crying again.
"Sakura. . .please calm down. Crying won't solve anything."
"I know but. . .I'm so worried!"
"Ok, listen to me." Shaoran said sternly. Sakura sniffed.
"What?"
"Have you thought about using the cards to find him and what's wrong with him?"
Sakura gasped.
Of course!
"Li, I'll call you later ok?!" she could almost hear him smile.
"Bye Sakura."
"Yeah, bye! I love you!"
In his house in Honk Kong, Li Shaoran stared down at the phone, blushing to the roots of his hair, stunned.
*************
Beep beep beep beep
Yukito reached for his cell phone. Fujitaka stopped walking and turned around to look at the younger man with hopeful eyes.
"Hello?"
"Yukito-kun?"
"Who is it? Is it Touya? Is he ok?" The older man practically yelled. Yukito mouthed "Sakura" and hear the resigned sigh of his boyfriend's father.
"What is it Sakura?" he said kindly.
"Have you found him yet?" she asked, sounding rather hesitant.
"No, we are still at it. We'll be going home soon though. There's no use in
looking for him like this."
"Wait, yukito, I. . .I used the cards to. . .to read my luck, you know? And
Touya's."
Yukito's face lit up, but he didn't want to get his hopes up.
"Oh?"
"Yes. Remember that part of the park where you and I fell of that cliff?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well, I think he's there. I think he's ok but he needs help Yukito." Sakura was crying now. "Please help him."
"We'll bring him home safe, don't worry. Thank you so much Sakura."
"What? What did she say?" Fujitaka wasn't oblivious to the ray of hope in Yukito's eyes, which was soon reflected on his own.
"A...A friend of hers thinks she saw Touya at the park. C'mon. We have to hurry."
***********
Touya was lost. He knew he should know where he was, but the problem was, if that was the place he thought it was, then where had all the spirits gone? Why was his mother the only one near him?
*"I'm always going to be by your side." The voice cooed.
"I know mom. I missed you so much."
His legs hung loosely from the edge, but he felt safe. He'd finally stopped
fighting his mother. Everything she'd said was true. Who should he trust? A
boyfriend who wasn't even human, who didn't love him and had tried to take his mother away from him? Or his mother, who'd been there beside him to help him even when no one else knew he needed help?
She had every right to be angry at him. And she was right, he had made a terrible mistake and he was going to fix it or pay for it.
But he wasn't ready. He didn't want to die. He told her that and in turn, she offered another solution. He could be happy and warm by her side if he wanted it. And he didn't have to die. All he had to do was let her take him in her
arms. She'd take care of the rest. Of him.
He'd done it, and now he was loosing himself into darkness, but his mother was there. It was a good feeling.
Everything around him seemed fussy. Every second that passed, darkness would take a step forward and he would be one step away from the world he knew. But he was still alive and he could feel it again; life.
At some point he heard voices, but by then it was too late to go back. There was bliss in that darkness, and he liked it that way. At least the darkness felt real.
The last thing he saw was a flash of white and two faces he could have sworn, he knew from somewhere. Well, it was over now. It didn't matter.
TBC
by konnie
CHAPTER 4
*"I watched you grow. I held you when you were sad, tugged you in before you fell asleep. You were the vivid image of your mother. If only darker. You were always so sensitive to the cruelty of the world, and you thought you could hide your pain from me. But a father knows when his son is in pain. You always seemed able to cope with it, so I left you alone, gave you space and time. Maybe I was wrong."*
"What time is it?" Fujitaka Kinomoto asked with a weary voice.
He was tired, scared, worried sick about his oldest son, who hadn't come home since breakfast, hadn't gone to school and didn't go to work. It was official. By 10:00 pm it was obvious Touya was missing and not just running away from an argument.
It's funny when this things happen, everyone seems to remember things they hadn't noticed before. Someone heard him talking to himself, someone saw him staring blankly into space, someone saw him outburst for no reason. Things that on their own may mean nothing; but given the circumstances and put all together were something serious.
Fujitaka rubbed his temples.
Was Touya in trouble? Was he taking drugs maybe?
Something inside of him told him the answer, but he wouldn't acknowledge it.
His oldest son was NOT loosing his mind.
"10:05, sir" Yukito answered in an equal worried fashion. "Maybe we should go look for him. I don't have any idea where he could be at this hour."
With each word, Yukito's voice would come closer to a whimper than a statement.
It was his fault, Yukito knew it. It was all his fault; and now Touya could be lying dead somewhere.
The thought made him shiver. Touya was alright. He had to be! He'd never gotten the chance to show Touya how much he loved him, and he couldn't disappear without knowing it.
Yukito walked over the sleeping form of Sakura on the couch and covered her with a blanket. Poor child, she'd wept herself to sleep when she realised her brother wasn't coming back on his own. She, as himself, also felt guilty, but he had to let her know it wasn't her responsibility. It was his job to protect her, and he would. He'd let her know it wasn't her fault, and then he'd go find her brother, wherever he might be.
Silently, both men left the house, hoping they'd return with good news by the time the child was awake.
********
It was a nightmare she couldn't remember what had made her wake up on an empty apartment. But sadly, she found herself waking into another nightmare.
It had been a long time since the last time she'd cried like this. Not since telling Yukito of her feelings. But this time there was no one here to comfort her.
She could go wake Kero, but her friend wasn't exactly the best listener in the world. Tomoyo, she was staying the night over Tanaka's place. "All innocent
fun", Tomoyo had assured her with a wink. None of her other friends at school were close enough with her to drop them with this problem. There was someone. . .The only person she could think off. The person who'd been there for her that other time.
She picked up the note on the coffee table and stared at it dumbly. All kinds of stupid ideas went through her head and she almost starts crying again for thinking about food at a time like this. She ran to the phone and dialed as if her life depended on it. A few rings that seemed to last forever- she was about to hang up- and she heard the familiar voice of her boyfriend.
"Li residence?" came the voice sounding rather sleepy. She hadn't thought of the time before calling and was thankful that Li , and not his mother or the butler, had picked up.
"Are they making you answer the phone now?" she tried to sound amused, but couldn't quite get it. Li didn't seem to notice though.
"Sakura! Hi! How are you? Are you ok? Why are you calling so late? It's almost midnight."
"I. . .I just wanted to talk to you. I'm sorry. I'll call you in the morning."
"No! No, I'm glad you've called. It's just strange."
"Well, something happened, I just. . ."
"What's wrong?" Li sounded truly concern; but then again, he was always concerned about her.
"My brother. . .I think he's in trouble. He left this morning after fighting with me and now no one knows where he is." She could already feel the tears
forming.
"Oh, dear. He ran away?"
"I don't know. Li. . .for some time now . . .well. . ."
"What? Tell me."
"Touya is not ok, something's wrong with him. He hasn't been the same since. . .since. . ."
"Yeah, I know."
"Yeah."
"You think having no powers is affecting him more than what we expected? I really don't understand how would that be."
"I just know that's when it started. It wasn't much at first. He was just tired, or have headaches. But for a few weeks now, he's been moody, quiet. . .I don't know. . .different."
And she'd been too busy with her friends and her stuff to notice her brother was falling apart.
"I'm sure he's ok. If he had a fight with you, I'm sure he just needed time to cool off."
"I don't think that's it, he missed work! He never misses work!" she started crying again.
"Sakura. . .please calm down. Crying won't solve anything."
"I know but. . .I'm so worried!"
"Ok, listen to me." Shaoran said sternly. Sakura sniffed.
"What?"
"Have you thought about using the cards to find him and what's wrong with him?"
Sakura gasped.
Of course!
"Li, I'll call you later ok?!" she could almost hear him smile.
"Bye Sakura."
"Yeah, bye! I love you!"
In his house in Honk Kong, Li Shaoran stared down at the phone, blushing to the roots of his hair, stunned.
*************
Beep beep beep beep
Yukito reached for his cell phone. Fujitaka stopped walking and turned around to look at the younger man with hopeful eyes.
"Hello?"
"Yukito-kun?"
"Who is it? Is it Touya? Is he ok?" The older man practically yelled. Yukito mouthed "Sakura" and hear the resigned sigh of his boyfriend's father.
"What is it Sakura?" he said kindly.
"Have you found him yet?" she asked, sounding rather hesitant.
"No, we are still at it. We'll be going home soon though. There's no use in
looking for him like this."
"Wait, yukito, I. . .I used the cards to. . .to read my luck, you know? And
Touya's."
Yukito's face lit up, but he didn't want to get his hopes up.
"Oh?"
"Yes. Remember that part of the park where you and I fell of that cliff?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well, I think he's there. I think he's ok but he needs help Yukito." Sakura was crying now. "Please help him."
"We'll bring him home safe, don't worry. Thank you so much Sakura."
"What? What did she say?" Fujitaka wasn't oblivious to the ray of hope in Yukito's eyes, which was soon reflected on his own.
"A...A friend of hers thinks she saw Touya at the park. C'mon. We have to hurry."
***********
Touya was lost. He knew he should know where he was, but the problem was, if that was the place he thought it was, then where had all the spirits gone? Why was his mother the only one near him?
*"I'm always going to be by your side." The voice cooed.
"I know mom. I missed you so much."
His legs hung loosely from the edge, but he felt safe. He'd finally stopped
fighting his mother. Everything she'd said was true. Who should he trust? A
boyfriend who wasn't even human, who didn't love him and had tried to take his mother away from him? Or his mother, who'd been there beside him to help him even when no one else knew he needed help?
She had every right to be angry at him. And she was right, he had made a terrible mistake and he was going to fix it or pay for it.
But he wasn't ready. He didn't want to die. He told her that and in turn, she offered another solution. He could be happy and warm by her side if he wanted it. And he didn't have to die. All he had to do was let her take him in her
arms. She'd take care of the rest. Of him.
He'd done it, and now he was loosing himself into darkness, but his mother was there. It was a good feeling.
Everything around him seemed fussy. Every second that passed, darkness would take a step forward and he would be one step away from the world he knew. But he was still alive and he could feel it again; life.
At some point he heard voices, but by then it was too late to go back. There was bliss in that darkness, and he liked it that way. At least the darkness felt real.
The last thing he saw was a flash of white and two faces he could have sworn, he knew from somewhere. Well, it was over now. It didn't matter.
TBC
