Chapter 17
Cherry walked into the room early that morning. She was wearing a navy blue pleated skirt and a white singlet top that exposed a little of her stomach. It was mufty day and they could wear whatever they wanted though it did have it's limitations.
She spotted Syaoran and smiled at him. He smiled back.
" Morning Cherry. "
" Morning Syaoran. "
" You're early this morning. "
" Yeah. So are you. "
Cherry made her way to the back of the room to get the empty vase.
" I'll fill this shall I? " she asked as she walked past him.
Syaoran saw the scar on her arm and blinked. Was it his imagination or did that look like a bullet wound?
She came back with some water in the vase and some flowers.
" There. That should brighten the place up a little. "
Syaoran dusted the board.
" So. " he asked casually. " Where'd you get the scar? "
Cherry looked down at her arm and blinked.
" Oh, that. " she said casually in return. " Being stupid when I was little. Accidents always occur. " she lied.
Syaoran nodded, but he knew his insticts were right.
Just then the teacher came in.
" Ah good. Thank you you two. We have a guest coming in this morning. Just looking over things, so could you please go get a pitcher of water Cherry? "
Cherry sharred looks with Syaoran and then nodded and walked out of the room.
She was walking back down the corridor with the pitcher when she walked into Tristan.
" Good morning. " he said silkily.
" Good morning. " Cherry replied politely and started to walk off again, but Tristan fell into step beside her.
" Can I help. "
" It's water. I'm sure I can manage thank you. " Ying Fa replied coolly.
" You look very nice today. "
" So do you. " Cherry replied. " Thank you for the comment. "
Tristan frowned. Why was he baiting her? And why was he waiting for her to react like Rogue would?
' Please don't recognise me! Please don't recognise me! ' Ying Fa prayed. ' Act natural, don't be rude, act like Cherry, not Rogue. '
Tristan stepped back so she could enter the classroom. Syaoran had gone.
" So you've been here what 2 and half months now haven't you? " Tristan asked as he sat down on top of a desk watching her.
" Hai. " Cherry replied as she sat the pitcher down on the side table near the desk.
" Interesting. " he mumbled.
Cherry smiled at him.
" What? " she asked still smiling.
" I just find it interesting that you've been here all this time and we haven't gone out on a date. "
Cherry blinked and then she laughed.
" Does your ego have no boundries? " she walked over and jumped up on the desk beside him.
" Nope. " he clarified making her laugh.
Ying Fa couldn't help but laugh. He always made her feel warm and happy. She felt like being friendly around him.
" Well I don't know Mr. Hiiragizawa. " she said seriously. " You do have a repuatation. "
" What?! " he looked shocked.
She smirked and flicked him on the forehead.
" Ouch! "
She giggled.
" Just joking. " she said sweetly and walked out the door.
* * *
Cherry walked back into the classroom when everyone was seated. A man was in the classroom with the teacher and she didn't see his face because he was turned away from her. She sat down and was busily reading through her planner to see if she had any other homework due.
" Cherry. " she looked up.
The teacher was looking at her.
" Could you be a dear and get that pitcher please. Our guest is thirsty. "
Ying Fa looked at the teacher. It was practically beside him, why couldn't he get it. She sighed and walked over to the desk and grabbed it and walked over towards them. She caught Tristan's eyes and he rose his eye brows at her invitingly and she blushed and looked down. She looked up when she reached the desk and stopped dead gasping, not hearing the pitcher slip from her fingers and smash into a thousand tiny shards on the ground.
Everyone stopped and watched her as he eyes went wider as she starred at the man in front of her. Two ice blue eyes starred back at her. But what had her rooted with fear was the scar that ran down his left cheek. Oh God! she thought. Komoji Roboto knew she was here! It was him. She felt the old pain on the back of her head. He had changed. He was in disguise. His hair was a different colour, but she knew it was him. She knew now face to face that it had been this man that had done something to her when she was a little girl. She remembered looking at that same face, though a little younger, before her world had gone blank.
Very slowly she knelt down to pick up the larger pieces of glass still looking up at the man she hated so much. She looked down at her hand holding the large piece of glass. How easy it would be to jam it into his leg and then whip her gun out that she had secured under her skirt? But then she knew she couldn't. This wasn't the time or the place. Too many innocents were here for a bloodbath to begin.
She forced her arm to drop the piece of glass and she stood up again trying to act the innocent.
" I'm sorry. " she said whimsically. " I don't know what got into me. I'll -I'll go get another pitcher and something to- to clean this up. "
" It's alright. " Komoji said his voice soft as silk.
' You snake. ' Ying Fa thought with all the hatred of 17 years of being alone.
" Perhaps you were startled by my scar. It does seeem to have that affect sometimes. "
Cherry smiled faintly wringing her hands.
" Um perhaps that was it sir. Forgive me. " and with that she bolted out of the classroom.
Tristan's eyes were wide as he watched her run out of the room. Meika sharred looks with Amy and Rene. Something was up.
" Umm sir. " Meika asked standing up. " Maybe I should go see if she is alright? "
" Yes of course. " the teacher replied and then continued talking with Komoji.
* * *
Ying Fa grasped the sink basin tightly fighting her anger and pain.
" That bastard! " she spat. " That son of a bastard! I could have had him! "
She fought back angry tears as she banged her fists against the mirror. She couldn't fight back her tears anymore and slid to the ground sobbing as Meika opened the door and looked in.
" Cherry! " she gasped. " Hey! What's wrong? Surely you're not worried about
breaking - "
" I had him! " she wailed sobbing in Meika's arms. " I could have had him but
everyone - "
" What? You're making any sense. "
" That man! That horrible sick man with the scar was Komoji Roboto! "
Meika stiffened.
" Are you sure? He didn't look like him."
" It was him damn it! " Ying Fa yelled. " I had that bastard and I could have taken him out like I've wanted ever since I can remember and I couldn't because there were too many people around! "
" What do you mean you could have had him? Surely you don't mean - ? "
" I mean to kill him! " Ying Fa almost screamed.
" He took me away from my family, stripped me of my ties and dignity and left me to be killed at the hands of some mercenary! That's what my big project is! I am going after Komoji Roboto and I am going to be his messenger of death! And I'm going to make sure he wriggles like a worm on a very painful hook! "
Meika was horrorfied.
" You'll be killed! "
" No I won't. " Ying Fa snapped. " I'm going home. I can't let Komoji recognise me. He knows that I'm alive. He still remembers me. I can't get recognised, not here. "
" Well you have to tell sensei. "
" If you and the others want to pull out Meika. " Ying Fa began." I will understand. "
* * *
Syaoran and the others looked up as Cherry reappeared in the doorway. She sniffled and the Teacher turned to look at her.
" Cher- "
" I don't feel well sir. I just thought I'd come and tell you that I'm going home. "
The class took in her red cheeks, her drying tears and the anger that flashed behind her painful and sad eyes.
" Yes of course Cherry. I'll let the office know right away. "
" Thank you. " she said and stepped aside as Meika, pale and haunted walked into the room. She shot Cherry a look and everyone wondered what was going on?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tristan looked up from his text book. Cherry hadn't come back to school again today. It had been a week since what had happened. Why wasn't she coming back? Thinking of people not coming back, where was Rogue? he wondered. He hadn't seen her about either. People were just dropping off the face of the earth like flies.
He sighed and groaned when he was picked to complete the question that he was supposed to have done ages ago.
He tracked down Meika and asked her for Cherry's address. But she blantantly refused to give it, saying like him, she didn't know it.
* * *
He walked by himself after school. Syaoran had driven Alley home and he walked deep in thought. He found himself at Peguin park and near his grandfather's. He went to go past the park, but he stopped when he caught sight of flame red hair and stopped when he realised it was Cherry. She was sitting on the top of the Peguin slide obviously thinking. The sunset behind her lightened her hair and he was struck by her beauty, but something kept telling him that it was fake.
He climbed up the steps and jumped up beside her. She didn't even stir.
" A penny for your thoughts? "
She jumped startled.
" Tristan! " she exclaimed and went wide eyed.
" Hey easy. I'm just saw you and thought I'd come over and say hi. No need to freak out on me. " he said smiling softly.
" Sorry. You just startled me. "
" I can see why. Why haven't you come to school? "
She shrugged.
" Haven't felt like it. "
Tristan blinked. That didn't seem like her.
" Can I help? "
She looked at him in the fading light.
" How could you help? " she sounded so helpless and lost and he knew something was wrong.
" I've been told I'm a great listener. Maybe it might help if you tell what's wrong? "
He sat down next to her and dumped his school bag.
Cherry seemed torn between wanting to say something and not.
' How could I tell him that it's me Rogue? ' she thought meeting hs gaze. ' He wouldn't understand and I don't want the Wolves involved. Joe told me that they're apart of everything that concerns me, that much is clear, but I know I will get the answers from Komoji better than trying to go straight to the Wolves. '
" I don't think you can help Tristan, but thank you for trying. "
" Well I'm here anytime that you want to talk. "
She smiled softly.
" If you that desperate for a date - "
" No. " he said shaking his head. " Just as your friend Cherry. That's all. "
Ying Fa's eyes shined as she looked at him.
" Thank you. " she said and hugged him startling them both.
Tristan liked the feel of her warmth beside his own. It felt right.
He pulled back and starred down at her. She lifted her head and met his gaze. Tristan smiled and she was lost in his violet eyes. The next thing she knew, his lips were on hers and she was panicking, but he was soothing her. His hands were running up and down her back and under her singlet top, burning her skin as he went.
She opened her mouth to him and pushed up to met him. Tristan smiled against her mouth and wrapped his hands tightly around her. He had kissed many girls but they had been nothing like this. Ying Fa groaned and wrapped her hands around his neck seeking his comfort.
" Oh god I want you. " Tristan said. He had never wanted a girl on first meeting, but this one drove him to distraction.
Ying Fa came to her senses.
" I have to go. " she said pulling away.
" What? " Tristan opened his eyes and starred at her.
" This isn't right. " she said softly looking at him, blushing.
" What do you mean not right? "
" I'm not who you think I am. " she said sadly. " If you knew then I think you might act differently. "
He just starred at her.
" Bye Tristan. " Ying Fa said softly and slide down the slide and ran off towards her home.
Cherry walked into the room early that morning. She was wearing a navy blue pleated skirt and a white singlet top that exposed a little of her stomach. It was mufty day and they could wear whatever they wanted though it did have it's limitations.
She spotted Syaoran and smiled at him. He smiled back.
" Morning Cherry. "
" Morning Syaoran. "
" You're early this morning. "
" Yeah. So are you. "
Cherry made her way to the back of the room to get the empty vase.
" I'll fill this shall I? " she asked as she walked past him.
Syaoran saw the scar on her arm and blinked. Was it his imagination or did that look like a bullet wound?
She came back with some water in the vase and some flowers.
" There. That should brighten the place up a little. "
Syaoran dusted the board.
" So. " he asked casually. " Where'd you get the scar? "
Cherry looked down at her arm and blinked.
" Oh, that. " she said casually in return. " Being stupid when I was little. Accidents always occur. " she lied.
Syaoran nodded, but he knew his insticts were right.
Just then the teacher came in.
" Ah good. Thank you you two. We have a guest coming in this morning. Just looking over things, so could you please go get a pitcher of water Cherry? "
Cherry sharred looks with Syaoran and then nodded and walked out of the room.
She was walking back down the corridor with the pitcher when she walked into Tristan.
" Good morning. " he said silkily.
" Good morning. " Cherry replied politely and started to walk off again, but Tristan fell into step beside her.
" Can I help. "
" It's water. I'm sure I can manage thank you. " Ying Fa replied coolly.
" You look very nice today. "
" So do you. " Cherry replied. " Thank you for the comment. "
Tristan frowned. Why was he baiting her? And why was he waiting for her to react like Rogue would?
' Please don't recognise me! Please don't recognise me! ' Ying Fa prayed. ' Act natural, don't be rude, act like Cherry, not Rogue. '
Tristan stepped back so she could enter the classroom. Syaoran had gone.
" So you've been here what 2 and half months now haven't you? " Tristan asked as he sat down on top of a desk watching her.
" Hai. " Cherry replied as she sat the pitcher down on the side table near the desk.
" Interesting. " he mumbled.
Cherry smiled at him.
" What? " she asked still smiling.
" I just find it interesting that you've been here all this time and we haven't gone out on a date. "
Cherry blinked and then she laughed.
" Does your ego have no boundries? " she walked over and jumped up on the desk beside him.
" Nope. " he clarified making her laugh.
Ying Fa couldn't help but laugh. He always made her feel warm and happy. She felt like being friendly around him.
" Well I don't know Mr. Hiiragizawa. " she said seriously. " You do have a repuatation. "
" What?! " he looked shocked.
She smirked and flicked him on the forehead.
" Ouch! "
She giggled.
" Just joking. " she said sweetly and walked out the door.
* * *
Cherry walked back into the classroom when everyone was seated. A man was in the classroom with the teacher and she didn't see his face because he was turned away from her. She sat down and was busily reading through her planner to see if she had any other homework due.
" Cherry. " she looked up.
The teacher was looking at her.
" Could you be a dear and get that pitcher please. Our guest is thirsty. "
Ying Fa looked at the teacher. It was practically beside him, why couldn't he get it. She sighed and walked over to the desk and grabbed it and walked over towards them. She caught Tristan's eyes and he rose his eye brows at her invitingly and she blushed and looked down. She looked up when she reached the desk and stopped dead gasping, not hearing the pitcher slip from her fingers and smash into a thousand tiny shards on the ground.
Everyone stopped and watched her as he eyes went wider as she starred at the man in front of her. Two ice blue eyes starred back at her. But what had her rooted with fear was the scar that ran down his left cheek. Oh God! she thought. Komoji Roboto knew she was here! It was him. She felt the old pain on the back of her head. He had changed. He was in disguise. His hair was a different colour, but she knew it was him. She knew now face to face that it had been this man that had done something to her when she was a little girl. She remembered looking at that same face, though a little younger, before her world had gone blank.
Very slowly she knelt down to pick up the larger pieces of glass still looking up at the man she hated so much. She looked down at her hand holding the large piece of glass. How easy it would be to jam it into his leg and then whip her gun out that she had secured under her skirt? But then she knew she couldn't. This wasn't the time or the place. Too many innocents were here for a bloodbath to begin.
She forced her arm to drop the piece of glass and she stood up again trying to act the innocent.
" I'm sorry. " she said whimsically. " I don't know what got into me. I'll -I'll go get another pitcher and something to- to clean this up. "
" It's alright. " Komoji said his voice soft as silk.
' You snake. ' Ying Fa thought with all the hatred of 17 years of being alone.
" Perhaps you were startled by my scar. It does seeem to have that affect sometimes. "
Cherry smiled faintly wringing her hands.
" Um perhaps that was it sir. Forgive me. " and with that she bolted out of the classroom.
Tristan's eyes were wide as he watched her run out of the room. Meika sharred looks with Amy and Rene. Something was up.
" Umm sir. " Meika asked standing up. " Maybe I should go see if she is alright? "
" Yes of course. " the teacher replied and then continued talking with Komoji.
* * *
Ying Fa grasped the sink basin tightly fighting her anger and pain.
" That bastard! " she spat. " That son of a bastard! I could have had him! "
She fought back angry tears as she banged her fists against the mirror. She couldn't fight back her tears anymore and slid to the ground sobbing as Meika opened the door and looked in.
" Cherry! " she gasped. " Hey! What's wrong? Surely you're not worried about
breaking - "
" I had him! " she wailed sobbing in Meika's arms. " I could have had him but
everyone - "
" What? You're making any sense. "
" That man! That horrible sick man with the scar was Komoji Roboto! "
Meika stiffened.
" Are you sure? He didn't look like him."
" It was him damn it! " Ying Fa yelled. " I had that bastard and I could have taken him out like I've wanted ever since I can remember and I couldn't because there were too many people around! "
" What do you mean you could have had him? Surely you don't mean - ? "
" I mean to kill him! " Ying Fa almost screamed.
" He took me away from my family, stripped me of my ties and dignity and left me to be killed at the hands of some mercenary! That's what my big project is! I am going after Komoji Roboto and I am going to be his messenger of death! And I'm going to make sure he wriggles like a worm on a very painful hook! "
Meika was horrorfied.
" You'll be killed! "
" No I won't. " Ying Fa snapped. " I'm going home. I can't let Komoji recognise me. He knows that I'm alive. He still remembers me. I can't get recognised, not here. "
" Well you have to tell sensei. "
" If you and the others want to pull out Meika. " Ying Fa began." I will understand. "
* * *
Syaoran and the others looked up as Cherry reappeared in the doorway. She sniffled and the Teacher turned to look at her.
" Cher- "
" I don't feel well sir. I just thought I'd come and tell you that I'm going home. "
The class took in her red cheeks, her drying tears and the anger that flashed behind her painful and sad eyes.
" Yes of course Cherry. I'll let the office know right away. "
" Thank you. " she said and stepped aside as Meika, pale and haunted walked into the room. She shot Cherry a look and everyone wondered what was going on?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tristan looked up from his text book. Cherry hadn't come back to school again today. It had been a week since what had happened. Why wasn't she coming back? Thinking of people not coming back, where was Rogue? he wondered. He hadn't seen her about either. People were just dropping off the face of the earth like flies.
He sighed and groaned when he was picked to complete the question that he was supposed to have done ages ago.
He tracked down Meika and asked her for Cherry's address. But she blantantly refused to give it, saying like him, she didn't know it.
* * *
He walked by himself after school. Syaoran had driven Alley home and he walked deep in thought. He found himself at Peguin park and near his grandfather's. He went to go past the park, but he stopped when he caught sight of flame red hair and stopped when he realised it was Cherry. She was sitting on the top of the Peguin slide obviously thinking. The sunset behind her lightened her hair and he was struck by her beauty, but something kept telling him that it was fake.
He climbed up the steps and jumped up beside her. She didn't even stir.
" A penny for your thoughts? "
She jumped startled.
" Tristan! " she exclaimed and went wide eyed.
" Hey easy. I'm just saw you and thought I'd come over and say hi. No need to freak out on me. " he said smiling softly.
" Sorry. You just startled me. "
" I can see why. Why haven't you come to school? "
She shrugged.
" Haven't felt like it. "
Tristan blinked. That didn't seem like her.
" Can I help? "
She looked at him in the fading light.
" How could you help? " she sounded so helpless and lost and he knew something was wrong.
" I've been told I'm a great listener. Maybe it might help if you tell what's wrong? "
He sat down next to her and dumped his school bag.
Cherry seemed torn between wanting to say something and not.
' How could I tell him that it's me Rogue? ' she thought meeting hs gaze. ' He wouldn't understand and I don't want the Wolves involved. Joe told me that they're apart of everything that concerns me, that much is clear, but I know I will get the answers from Komoji better than trying to go straight to the Wolves. '
" I don't think you can help Tristan, but thank you for trying. "
" Well I'm here anytime that you want to talk. "
She smiled softly.
" If you that desperate for a date - "
" No. " he said shaking his head. " Just as your friend Cherry. That's all. "
Ying Fa's eyes shined as she looked at him.
" Thank you. " she said and hugged him startling them both.
Tristan liked the feel of her warmth beside his own. It felt right.
He pulled back and starred down at her. She lifted her head and met his gaze. Tristan smiled and she was lost in his violet eyes. The next thing she knew, his lips were on hers and she was panicking, but he was soothing her. His hands were running up and down her back and under her singlet top, burning her skin as he went.
She opened her mouth to him and pushed up to met him. Tristan smiled against her mouth and wrapped his hands tightly around her. He had kissed many girls but they had been nothing like this. Ying Fa groaned and wrapped her hands around his neck seeking his comfort.
" Oh god I want you. " Tristan said. He had never wanted a girl on first meeting, but this one drove him to distraction.
Ying Fa came to her senses.
" I have to go. " she said pulling away.
" What? " Tristan opened his eyes and starred at her.
" This isn't right. " she said softly looking at him, blushing.
" What do you mean not right? "
" I'm not who you think I am. " she said sadly. " If you knew then I think you might act differently. "
He just starred at her.
" Bye Tristan. " Ying Fa said softly and slide down the slide and ran off towards her home.