*Hi guys, sorry for being a little late, but I had some stuff to do and you
know how it is. Anyway, at least I updated so that's good at least. Here's
the next chapter of the story, and you're going to find out how Eriol and
Syao are brothers. I can just see everyone reviewing and being all "that's
SO FREAKING LAME, AVA!". Whatever, it's my fic, punks!*
Reviewers: sweet-captor, myREEN n' RAAYneer, Keyo-Red Angel of Hope, Cherry Jade, Shero, *~*NeCi*~*, jbg, EcuaGirl, angel-wings-131, & Kikakai
Rogue
Sakura's eyes widened as Syaoran spoke the words. His brother?! Syaoran had a brother, and didn't tell her about him? What else didn't she know about him? Syaoran watched as Sakura looked down at her sleeping friend; the new information was almost too much for her to compute, and he knew it. Of course, he wasn't exactly expecting to see his brother lying in a hospital bed nearly dead either.
For a moment they didn't speak; they stared into each other's hurt eyes, trying to search for words to explain or question the other. Syaoran's mind was like a rubber ball; it was so strange to know that the girl he had saved twice now was so close to his own flesh and blood. The connection was almost imaginary. . . it just didn't seem feasible.
"You didn't tell me you had a brother." Sakura whispered, obviously feeling betrayed. When she said she wanted to know everything, she wanted to know EVERY THING. Syaoran sighed heavily and walked over to the wall closest to Eriol and slumped against it, the world seeming to fall onto his shoulders.
"He's my half brother." Syaoran muttered, and Sakura's green eyes widened even more. Half brother. . . but he had never mentioned his parents divorcing. It could very well be the case, I mean, he didn't tell her he had a brother, why tell about a divorce?
Syaoran's serious amber eyes watched Sakura as she attempted to put the puzzle pieces together herself. He knew she wouldn't be able to; it was far too complicated for even himself to understand sometimes.
"He is older than me by four months. My father had an affair with a woman, my mother's sister, and she got pregnant. It was a one night affair between them; I never knew what drove them to it. By the time he found out, my mother came to him with the news of my coming as well. So there's my father, having a child with his wife and sister in law at the same time. Eriol was born on the 23rd of March, and my aunt wanted to give him the Li name, but my father adamantly refused." Syaoran explained. Sakura felt her heart being ripped in two; it was such a sad story.
Syaoran's chestnut hair fell in his eyes as he took off his cap and continued. "He looked nothing like my father, like a Li. When he refused Eriol, my aunt came to my mother and told her about what had happened. Of course my mother felt betrayed, but stayed loyal to my father despite his infidelity. I was born in July, and my aunt and half brother left the clan." Syaoran whispered.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sakura asked. They were connected through more than a couple of near death experiences now; they were connected through a relationship with one person, and he was lying there injured.
"I don't know. It hurt to think that my father never told me about Eriol until before he died. I had a brother all this time, and only found out about him five years ago. It was painful to think the devoted father I knew was also a deceitful man who couldn't control his lust. . . and I could be just the same." Syaoran muttered. Sakura shook her head, unbelieving. Such sorrow in one family; it was almost too much for her to handle.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran." Sakura whispered. Syaoran nodded, his eyes seeming to cloud over with a mix of grief and frustration. Sakura approached the young man, the man who seemed to be tough as nails, and took him into her arms. He shuddered slightly, attempting to hold everything inside.
'I will not cry. Not in front of someone I hardly know.'
Sakura could feel him tense, fight the emotions as they rose up inside him. She ran her hand along his back, and his heart began to pound inside his chest. Suddenly, as if a dam had broken, Syaoran let go. Sakura could feel him convulse, and a quiet sob escape his mouth.
"It's ok. Everything's going to be alright." Sakura said, her eyes tearing up as well. God, had it been an emotional day for her; imagine being Syaoran and finding your own brother close to death. They held each other for awhile, reveling in each other's company. Finally Syaoran let Sakura go, and backed away. He approached Eriol's bed, kneeling down beside the sleeping young man.
"I'm going to get them for you and for your girl. Your child will not die in vain, and you will not suffer in vain. I'll be back soon. . . don't go yet. We haven't had a chance to really talk." Syaoran whispered. Sakura could feel a lump forming in her throat as she watched the sad reunion, so she turned to where Tomoyo was barely moving, her chest rising and falling as if it were the machine itself.
'My poor, poor friend. . . this is all my fault. I swear to you, Tomoyo, I'll kill the people who did this to you. Every single one of them will pay for your pain with their lives. I promise you.' Sakura thought, her emerald eyes clouding over with tears of anguish. She felt a presence behind her, then a warm hand on her shoulder. Sakura turned to see Syaoran looking down solemnly behind her, his eyes filled with condolence.
"We have to go. We've been here too long." Syaoran whispered. Sakura nodded and wrapped her arms around herself as Syaoran led her out of the room and down the hall.
"I'm getting you out of Tomoeda." Syaoran stated simply as they waited for a cab. An old yellow taxi pulled up, and Syaoran opened the door for Sakura, who looked at him quizzically.
"Where do you intend on taking me? Takeshi knows my father is in Cairo and will follow me there." Sakura asked quietly, glancing at the cabbie as he drove them to the address Syaoran handed him. Syaoran shook his head, his ocher eyes serious.
"Not Cairo. Hong Kong. I'm going to take you to my home for a few weeks until things die down a little. Then when everything's over, I'll come back for you." Syaoran instructed. Sakura shook her head violently, her hat falling off. Syaoran watched her golden hair cascade down around her shoulders and felt his heart skip a beat. She was doing it again, and she didn't even know it.
"I want to learn how to fight. I'm helping you get Ishida."
"I won't let you. It's too dangerous, and I'm not willing to let anyone else close to me get hurt." Syaoran argued. Sakura's heart skipped as he considered her someone close to him. Sakura shook her head and walked past him.
"You don't have a choice. Either you help me, or I find someone else to." Sakura said, her voice having a tinge of finality. Syaoran smirked; she was one feisty woman sometimes, and he liked it.
"Alright. I'll train you. But I'm calling the shots." Syaoran surrendered, making Sakura smile and walk with him out the door.
Not even an hour later, the two of them were on a plane for Hong Kong. Neither packed anything; everything they could need would be waiting for them when they got to the manor. Sakura nervously looked out the window as the plane started to accelerate down the runway. Syaoran noticed how tense the young woman beside him was and reassuringly squeezed her hand.
"Never been on a plane before, I take it?" Syaoran asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Sakura nodded and looked out the window. Suddenly the plane lurched up into the sky, and Sakura gripped Syaoran's hand and looked directly into his eyes with her emerald eyes filled with terror.
"It's ok. When we level out, look out the window." Syaoran soothed. Sakura felt them level somewhat, then looked out her window to see Tomoeda looking like a glittering dot, the lights shining on it like a hidden treasure. Syaoran watched Sakura as she put her hands against the window, craning her neck to get a better look.
'So beautiful . . . ' Syaoran thought as he watched Sakura look out with amazement in her eyes.
Later on in the flight, Syaoran was becoming drowsy. He looked over at Sakura, who was resting her head against his shoulder and sleeping soundly. He was one step closer to heaven when she was around him, and he loved it. It had been so long since he had any human contact . . . and he welcomed hers with open arms.
Two amber eyes grew heavier as exhaustion overwhelmed them. They fought sleep, but found it to be a losing battle. How ironic it was that whenever he wanted sleep it never came, but when he wanted consciousness sleep would all too willingly oblige to overtake him. Syaoran shifted slightly, and Sakura shifted along with him. He rested his head against Sakura's lightly as his eyes closed and he fell asleep. It was a cute sight, the two of them; Sakura with one hand resting against Syaoran's chest, Syaoran with one arm wrapped protectively around the small woman's waist.
Sakura's world was jostled awake as people around her started to grab their luggage and move around. She sat up, bringing Syaoran out of his slumber as well. The plane had landed, and people were getting off the plane. With nothing to take off the aircraft, the two young people got off the plane rather easily, and began searching for Syaoran's family friend Wei, who happened to be caring for the manor while he was away.
"Wei!" Syaoran shouted in the crowded airport. A tall older man with silver hair and kind gray eyes turned, catching sight of Syaoran and a shy looking young lady standing with him. The two of them looked like they had been to hell and back, and judging by the cut under the girl's eye, it could very well be true.
"Ah Syaoran, it has been much too long. I hardly recognized you." Wei said warmly as Syaoran and Sakura approached. Syaoran put an arm around Sakura, resting a hand against the small of her back. Sakura felt her cheeks heat up, but paid no attention.
"You must be the lovely Sakura. Come, let's get you home and settled down. It must have been a long flight." Wei stated, walking with Syaoran and Sakura toward the parking lot. They walked over to a silver Eclipse, and Wei opened the door for Sakura, who smiled pleasantly.
"Is everything alright at the estate? I haven't received word from you in some time, Wei." Syaoran asked as Wei drove down a freeway toward the house. Wei nodded, his eyes concentrated on the road.
"All is well, Syaoran. I didn't feel the need to write you every week about nothing. I didn't want to distract you from your mission." Wei replied. Sakura's mind raced; Wei knew about Syaoran's vigilante justice methods and didn't advise against it?
"Sakura, may I call you Sakura?" Wei said, looking into the backseat where Sakura was sitting, her hands in her lap nervously.
"Yes, Sakura's fine." Sakura answered.
"What brings you to Hong Kong? Syaoran hasn't been here in three years, and when he called today telling me he would be coming with you, I just wondered." Wei asked curiously. Sakura shifted in her seat uncomfortably, afraid to tell Wei about why she was there. Syaoran took notice and derailed the subject.
"It's just a short holiday. Sakura has never left her home town before, so I decided to take her here." Syaoran answered, his tone implying his intention of stopping the conversation at that. Wei nodded, knowing something else was going on. Something was serious between Syaoran and the girl, and he was going to find out what it was.
*Wow. . . I just re-read this, and I have decided that it is indeed flame worthy. So bring it on. . . it's cool. Next chapter I think might have something more SS in it, but I haven't checked, and I wrote it forever ago so we'll find out in another week. Thanks for reading!*
Reviewers: sweet-captor, myREEN n' RAAYneer, Keyo-Red Angel of Hope, Cherry Jade, Shero, *~*NeCi*~*, jbg, EcuaGirl, angel-wings-131, & Kikakai
Rogue
Sakura's eyes widened as Syaoran spoke the words. His brother?! Syaoran had a brother, and didn't tell her about him? What else didn't she know about him? Syaoran watched as Sakura looked down at her sleeping friend; the new information was almost too much for her to compute, and he knew it. Of course, he wasn't exactly expecting to see his brother lying in a hospital bed nearly dead either.
For a moment they didn't speak; they stared into each other's hurt eyes, trying to search for words to explain or question the other. Syaoran's mind was like a rubber ball; it was so strange to know that the girl he had saved twice now was so close to his own flesh and blood. The connection was almost imaginary. . . it just didn't seem feasible.
"You didn't tell me you had a brother." Sakura whispered, obviously feeling betrayed. When she said she wanted to know everything, she wanted to know EVERY THING. Syaoran sighed heavily and walked over to the wall closest to Eriol and slumped against it, the world seeming to fall onto his shoulders.
"He's my half brother." Syaoran muttered, and Sakura's green eyes widened even more. Half brother. . . but he had never mentioned his parents divorcing. It could very well be the case, I mean, he didn't tell her he had a brother, why tell about a divorce?
Syaoran's serious amber eyes watched Sakura as she attempted to put the puzzle pieces together herself. He knew she wouldn't be able to; it was far too complicated for even himself to understand sometimes.
"He is older than me by four months. My father had an affair with a woman, my mother's sister, and she got pregnant. It was a one night affair between them; I never knew what drove them to it. By the time he found out, my mother came to him with the news of my coming as well. So there's my father, having a child with his wife and sister in law at the same time. Eriol was born on the 23rd of March, and my aunt wanted to give him the Li name, but my father adamantly refused." Syaoran explained. Sakura felt her heart being ripped in two; it was such a sad story.
Syaoran's chestnut hair fell in his eyes as he took off his cap and continued. "He looked nothing like my father, like a Li. When he refused Eriol, my aunt came to my mother and told her about what had happened. Of course my mother felt betrayed, but stayed loyal to my father despite his infidelity. I was born in July, and my aunt and half brother left the clan." Syaoran whispered.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sakura asked. They were connected through more than a couple of near death experiences now; they were connected through a relationship with one person, and he was lying there injured.
"I don't know. It hurt to think that my father never told me about Eriol until before he died. I had a brother all this time, and only found out about him five years ago. It was painful to think the devoted father I knew was also a deceitful man who couldn't control his lust. . . and I could be just the same." Syaoran muttered. Sakura shook her head, unbelieving. Such sorrow in one family; it was almost too much for her to handle.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran." Sakura whispered. Syaoran nodded, his eyes seeming to cloud over with a mix of grief and frustration. Sakura approached the young man, the man who seemed to be tough as nails, and took him into her arms. He shuddered slightly, attempting to hold everything inside.
'I will not cry. Not in front of someone I hardly know.'
Sakura could feel him tense, fight the emotions as they rose up inside him. She ran her hand along his back, and his heart began to pound inside his chest. Suddenly, as if a dam had broken, Syaoran let go. Sakura could feel him convulse, and a quiet sob escape his mouth.
"It's ok. Everything's going to be alright." Sakura said, her eyes tearing up as well. God, had it been an emotional day for her; imagine being Syaoran and finding your own brother close to death. They held each other for awhile, reveling in each other's company. Finally Syaoran let Sakura go, and backed away. He approached Eriol's bed, kneeling down beside the sleeping young man.
"I'm going to get them for you and for your girl. Your child will not die in vain, and you will not suffer in vain. I'll be back soon. . . don't go yet. We haven't had a chance to really talk." Syaoran whispered. Sakura could feel a lump forming in her throat as she watched the sad reunion, so she turned to where Tomoyo was barely moving, her chest rising and falling as if it were the machine itself.
'My poor, poor friend. . . this is all my fault. I swear to you, Tomoyo, I'll kill the people who did this to you. Every single one of them will pay for your pain with their lives. I promise you.' Sakura thought, her emerald eyes clouding over with tears of anguish. She felt a presence behind her, then a warm hand on her shoulder. Sakura turned to see Syaoran looking down solemnly behind her, his eyes filled with condolence.
"We have to go. We've been here too long." Syaoran whispered. Sakura nodded and wrapped her arms around herself as Syaoran led her out of the room and down the hall.
"I'm getting you out of Tomoeda." Syaoran stated simply as they waited for a cab. An old yellow taxi pulled up, and Syaoran opened the door for Sakura, who looked at him quizzically.
"Where do you intend on taking me? Takeshi knows my father is in Cairo and will follow me there." Sakura asked quietly, glancing at the cabbie as he drove them to the address Syaoran handed him. Syaoran shook his head, his ocher eyes serious.
"Not Cairo. Hong Kong. I'm going to take you to my home for a few weeks until things die down a little. Then when everything's over, I'll come back for you." Syaoran instructed. Sakura shook her head violently, her hat falling off. Syaoran watched her golden hair cascade down around her shoulders and felt his heart skip a beat. She was doing it again, and she didn't even know it.
"I want to learn how to fight. I'm helping you get Ishida."
"I won't let you. It's too dangerous, and I'm not willing to let anyone else close to me get hurt." Syaoran argued. Sakura's heart skipped as he considered her someone close to him. Sakura shook her head and walked past him.
"You don't have a choice. Either you help me, or I find someone else to." Sakura said, her voice having a tinge of finality. Syaoran smirked; she was one feisty woman sometimes, and he liked it.
"Alright. I'll train you. But I'm calling the shots." Syaoran surrendered, making Sakura smile and walk with him out the door.
Not even an hour later, the two of them were on a plane for Hong Kong. Neither packed anything; everything they could need would be waiting for them when they got to the manor. Sakura nervously looked out the window as the plane started to accelerate down the runway. Syaoran noticed how tense the young woman beside him was and reassuringly squeezed her hand.
"Never been on a plane before, I take it?" Syaoran asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. Sakura nodded and looked out the window. Suddenly the plane lurched up into the sky, and Sakura gripped Syaoran's hand and looked directly into his eyes with her emerald eyes filled with terror.
"It's ok. When we level out, look out the window." Syaoran soothed. Sakura felt them level somewhat, then looked out her window to see Tomoeda looking like a glittering dot, the lights shining on it like a hidden treasure. Syaoran watched Sakura as she put her hands against the window, craning her neck to get a better look.
'So beautiful . . . ' Syaoran thought as he watched Sakura look out with amazement in her eyes.
Later on in the flight, Syaoran was becoming drowsy. He looked over at Sakura, who was resting her head against his shoulder and sleeping soundly. He was one step closer to heaven when she was around him, and he loved it. It had been so long since he had any human contact . . . and he welcomed hers with open arms.
Two amber eyes grew heavier as exhaustion overwhelmed them. They fought sleep, but found it to be a losing battle. How ironic it was that whenever he wanted sleep it never came, but when he wanted consciousness sleep would all too willingly oblige to overtake him. Syaoran shifted slightly, and Sakura shifted along with him. He rested his head against Sakura's lightly as his eyes closed and he fell asleep. It was a cute sight, the two of them; Sakura with one hand resting against Syaoran's chest, Syaoran with one arm wrapped protectively around the small woman's waist.
Sakura's world was jostled awake as people around her started to grab their luggage and move around. She sat up, bringing Syaoran out of his slumber as well. The plane had landed, and people were getting off the plane. With nothing to take off the aircraft, the two young people got off the plane rather easily, and began searching for Syaoran's family friend Wei, who happened to be caring for the manor while he was away.
"Wei!" Syaoran shouted in the crowded airport. A tall older man with silver hair and kind gray eyes turned, catching sight of Syaoran and a shy looking young lady standing with him. The two of them looked like they had been to hell and back, and judging by the cut under the girl's eye, it could very well be true.
"Ah Syaoran, it has been much too long. I hardly recognized you." Wei said warmly as Syaoran and Sakura approached. Syaoran put an arm around Sakura, resting a hand against the small of her back. Sakura felt her cheeks heat up, but paid no attention.
"You must be the lovely Sakura. Come, let's get you home and settled down. It must have been a long flight." Wei stated, walking with Syaoran and Sakura toward the parking lot. They walked over to a silver Eclipse, and Wei opened the door for Sakura, who smiled pleasantly.
"Is everything alright at the estate? I haven't received word from you in some time, Wei." Syaoran asked as Wei drove down a freeway toward the house. Wei nodded, his eyes concentrated on the road.
"All is well, Syaoran. I didn't feel the need to write you every week about nothing. I didn't want to distract you from your mission." Wei replied. Sakura's mind raced; Wei knew about Syaoran's vigilante justice methods and didn't advise against it?
"Sakura, may I call you Sakura?" Wei said, looking into the backseat where Sakura was sitting, her hands in her lap nervously.
"Yes, Sakura's fine." Sakura answered.
"What brings you to Hong Kong? Syaoran hasn't been here in three years, and when he called today telling me he would be coming with you, I just wondered." Wei asked curiously. Sakura shifted in her seat uncomfortably, afraid to tell Wei about why she was there. Syaoran took notice and derailed the subject.
"It's just a short holiday. Sakura has never left her home town before, so I decided to take her here." Syaoran answered, his tone implying his intention of stopping the conversation at that. Wei nodded, knowing something else was going on. Something was serious between Syaoran and the girl, and he was going to find out what it was.
*Wow. . . I just re-read this, and I have decided that it is indeed flame worthy. So bring it on. . . it's cool. Next chapter I think might have something more SS in it, but I haven't checked, and I wrote it forever ago so we'll find out in another week. Thanks for reading!*