Something Pink
Part 6: Finding Peony
Sakura, seen wringing her hands nervously, sitting on the couch with Seiji rubbing her arm gently. She could barely hear him whispering in her ear. For days she had kept away from Syaoran. In those days she was considering telling him the truth, but she was holding back for reasons that she, alone, knew. Seiji was one of those few people who understood and tried his best to console her.
Eriol approached them slowly, his strides long and strong. Sakura looked up at him, her eyes somewhat unfocused.
"Where's your make up, Sakura?"
"I washed it off. It bothered me," was her meek reply.
"Sakura you're on in five," Eriol sighed, rubbing his temple. "Would you like to tell me what's wrong?"
"I really don't want to see him. I don't. Not ever. Forever. He's ruining my life. I need to go!" She stood up suddenly, forcing Seiji's arms to drop. He quickly pulled her down beside him again. "You can't keep running." He touched the top of her head, affectionately.
Eriol took her free hand and squeezed it. "It is your choice. You can decide for yourself now."
"Decide on what? Are you forcing her to do something she does not want to do? Because if you are I'll…"
Eriol slowly turned to face his new boss and business partner. "I am doing nothing of the sort. I wouldn't want to upset someone that was once very dear to my Sakura."
"If I had known you were engaged to Tomoyo I would never have hired you," Syaoran sneered.
"Well," Eriol glanced at Sakura wearily knowing that she was the one who told Syaoran, and then looked at Syaoran again with a wide grin on his face while whispering, "Then why don't you fire me now?"
When Syaoran cast a worried glance at Sakura that answered Eriol's question. "She feels nothing for you, Syaoran. Why don't you give it up? You're actually worsening her already horrible condition. I just don't believe you will find a place in her heart, not even if you financially help her," Eriol rolled his eyes as he whispered this into Syaoran's ear a foot away.
Syaoran pushed him aside, "You Bastard, don't talk to me like that," he mumbled fiercely.
"What are you going to do about it?"
"I'll…I'll," Syaoran felt tongue-tied.
"You can do anything to me, Syaoran Li, but the real question is; what can you do for her? It takes two to tango. Do YOU understand?"
Syaoran scowled at him. He couldn't see Eriol's eyes hidden behind his glasses, but the way that man's mouth's corners twitched, he knew there was some hidden meaning behind his innuendoes. Eriol slowly straightened, to stand equally as tall as the other man. His eyes, soft, feeling the other angrily brush pass him to stand in front of the couple on the couch.
Syaoran felt something evil dance in his mind when he noticed how Sakura comfortably sat in the embrace of Seiji.
His venom filled voice lashed out at them, "I need to talk to you."
Sakura stopped, and cautiously looked up at Syaoran's face, but was surprised to see that he was not addressing her. Just as startled as she was, Seiji stared at the stern-faced man. There was something akin to a soulless being in the man. How could such a bright, bubbly Sakura Kinomoto ever fall for a man so dark and emotionless?
"Yes, Sir," he stood up and Sakura was standing with him. "I think he means only me, Sakura. Am I right, Sir?"
Syaoran nodded grimly.
Syaoran took the handsome man aside, so that he could speak quietly to him, where Sakura wouldn't hear them.
"I want you to take care of her… Don't hurt her or I swear I'll rip your throat out."
Seiji gulped. "I am always there for Sakura."
Suddenly hurt and ambiguity dawned upon Syaoran's face as he spoke, "I wish I could…"
"Hold her? Comfort her? Something I can't do," Seiji quickly said, reading his expression clearly.
"Hey, that's your job now, Buddy."
Seiji laughed, "Sakura and I are only friends. Besides, I'm already taken and Sakura knows that."
Syaoran flushed. "Oh." Now, this stunned Seiji. "Sir, you're turning pink."
"Shut up, Man." Syaoran looked away to hide his face.
"It's alright to be embarrassed, Sir. It's quite humane."
"I am not embarrassed!"
Seiji nodded. "I truly wish you luck with your future." The man bowed at Syaoran. If possible Syaoran turned redder.
Before Seiji could make another comment, Syaoran said, "I am not accustomed to Japanese modesty. It will take time to adjust to this unique culture as I stay here."
"How long will you stay?"
"That is none of your concern."
"Give me your hand."
"Are you insane?! Why the hell would I give you my hand," Syaoran stepped back when he said this.
"You and your arrogant heart," Seiji frowned and grabbed his hand.
Syaoran would have flipped him if the man hadn't placed a yellow sticky in his hand faster than his kung-fu reflexes.
"I think you will find this helpful. Remember, I didn't give this to you." With that said, he walked away.
Syaoran watched as Seiji reached Sakura, noticing how she mouthed the words, 'What's wrong?' to her friend. Seiji responded with a shake of his head.
On the weekend, Sakura sat munching on cookies as she stared at the blank television set in her living room.
'Should I tell him or should I not? Should I tell him or should I not?' Sakura recited this mantra repeatedly in the back of her mind as if it was the only thing left in the world worth any attention.
She jumped at the sound of the doorbell ringing in her house.
"Dad? Can you get the door?" 'Oh, wait, her father was at his own house today. He left last night after they had supper together.'
She reached her door and opened it.
"Mommy!" The three-year-old-girl shouted gleefully, while her little arms clung around the neck of Seiji. She shifted and reached for her mother.
Sakura took her in her arms graciously; her smile suggesting that she sincerely missed the girl. "Peony! Did you have a nice day at school today?" (In Japan, kids start nursery school when they are 3 yrs old. Just thought you would like to know…)
Peony wrinkled her nose, "Hana was mean to me today. She said I was different because I didn't have a dad, while every other normal family does have dads. Can you get me one?"
Sakura blushed. Sometimes, Peony could say the wrong things that could drive her mad.
"But if it isn't possible because they are too much trouble, I understand, Mommy. You can get me one when I'm older."
And sometimes, she could be so considerate.
Sakura ruffled her familiar chocolate brown hair, gazing into the little girl's golden brown eyes with flecks of green in them. She wondered if the child would ever ask about her father. And it was fortunate enough that even for such a curious girl, the girl never asked about it.
Sakura remembered the early months, when the girl was still a baby. She swore to love it forever no matter what. The baby would have its mother's love, but now she realized something amiss. Did Peony feel pain that she didn't have her father's love? And if the girl could actually meet and spend time with her father wouldn't that make her happier? To see joy on that face was all that was left for Sakura to live for, so why was she keeping the father away? Because, because, because…
"Mommy?" Sakura was dazed.
The girl reminded her so much of Syaoran. She wanted to keep her all to herself once she realized that Syaoran did not quite want her anymore. He shunned her… Could he shun their only daughter?
"Sakura, you okay?" Seiji interjected.
"Yeah…" Sakura jerked back into reality. "Peony, Love, why don't you go up to your room and go take a nap?"
"Okay, Mommy," Peony jumped out of her arms and bounded for the stairs.
Once Peony was gone, Sakura sank onto the couch again. Seiji followed her, but remained standing in front of her, his hand snatching the bag of cookies on the coffee table. "This is fattening. Yikes! Look at the calories! What are you doing to yourself, Sakura?"
Sakura covered her face and choked on a sob. Seiji's eyes softened and he was about to move to her, but then she sat abruptly up.
"I have decided," She hiccupped before she continued, "I will tell him."
"Well. I don't know what to say. I know that—"
"Seiji, come up and read me a story before I nap!" Peony shouted down the stairs. She was stamping around irritably.
"I'm sorry, but I think the Princess is waiting… But before I go up, I just want to tell you that what ever your heart tells you to do, it is always right because… You are always right."
"Thanks, Seiji."
The doorbell rang. 'I wonder who that could be.'
Seiji rolled his eyes and went up the stairs to Peony's room to read the girl a story before she took her afternoon nap.
Sakura reached the door and pulled it open. Familiar brown hair, golden brown eyes met her. She gasped and murmured 'Megamisama,' and fainted at the sight of Syaoran Li…
'If you would just take my advice, and have Sakura wear this, I'm sure that—'
'I told you, I will not have Sakura wearing a harlot's garment to model for my product, you Bastard!' Syaoran glared at a grinning Eriol.
'Oh, but I'm sure Sakura wouldn't mind…'
'If you even think of mentioning this to her, I swear I'll destroy you.'
Eriol rolled his eyes, 'If you care so much for her, then why don't you just pack her up and ship her back to America with you far away from me. I do not think you are in any position to tell me what or what not to tell Sakura.'
'I will destroy you,' Syaoran repeated.
'You're bottomless threats are so entertaining, Sir. I think I will very much enjoy working with you.'
'I. Will. Destroy. You.'
'Now, don't you think Sakura should have a final say in this. After all it is her body… And I just think she would look so good in this…'
'For someone who is engaged, I didn't believe that you would stoop so low as to even think of anyone else,' Syaoran lifted his head.
'For someone so in love, I wouldn't think he would court another girl.' Eriol crossed his arms in front of him.
'I'm warning you, Hiiragizawa. You are digging your own grave. And it gets deeper with every word you say…'
Eriol shook his head and tried a different approach. Why does this man have to be so stubborn, anyway?
'Night has a thousand eyes,
and the day but one;
yet the light of the bright world dies,
with the dying sun.
The
mind has a thousand eyes,
and the heart but one;
yet the light of a whole life dies,
when love is done.
-Francis W. Bourdillon
Does that make any sense to you?'
Syaoran stared at him with an expressionless face. 'Your words might mean something to a lovesick fool. But, I, will never understand you.'
'Fine, then,' Eriol glowered at him with his hands on his hips. 'Then, maybe you should tell me why you are working on a weekend.'
'Why are you working on a weekend?' Syaoran retorted.
'Because I found out you were!'
Syaoran rolled his eyes. 'I didn't force you to come.'
'Yeah, well, normal people have things to do and places to go on their weekends.'
'Procrastinators, maybe, but people like me, don't.'
'You take so much pride in yourself it's bombastic!'
'You make work seem like a joke.'
'And your ignorance and denial will take you no where,' Eriol said quietly. 'Don't you have some place to go?'
As a matter of fact he did, for the first time in three years.
On the way there, he gripped the yellow sticky in his palm as his chauffeur drove him to his destination. He kept glancing back and forth at the address written on it.
Once at the doorstep of the house, he pressed the doorbell and waited. He could hear someone coming to him and was not surprised to see Sakura staring back at him as the door swung open. Her eyes closed slowly and she gasped something inaudibly, while falling to the floor. Before she hit the carpet, his arm snaked around her back and caught her. He shouted her name, but she was unconscious. Right then, he realized that he should have warned her before coming. But then again, she wouldn't have allowed him over if he did.
A flurry of steps hit the stairs as Syaoran carried Sakura to the couch.
"What happened?!" Seiji shouted.
"Mommy?!" Peony screamed, rushing over.
"She fainted, but she'll be alright I think…" Syaoran looked at the girl standing in front of him. "Little girl, is this your mother?"
"What's wrong with her?" The girl demanded of Syaoran.
"Peony, leave Li-san alone. Go on. Go watch T.V."
"But Mommy…" Tears welled up in her little eyes.
Seiji pushed her bangs back and whispered something in her ear. She nodded stiffly and turned out of the room and into the living room just adjacent to the guestroom they occupied.
"Well," Seiji ran a hand through his hair as he spoke, "It took you long enough. What made you decide to come?"
Syaoran's pale face looked at Seiji. "Sakura."
Seiji smiled gently. "When she comes about, I think she has something to tell you."
Seiji stood up to go. "Hey, wait, you can't just leave," Syaoran said.
"Oh, but I must before the princess notices. I'll see you later."
Syaoran gulped, and his gaze fell on the girl absorbed in a children's television program. She really didn't notice Seiji leaving. And… She was Sakura's daughter. By whom? Was it possible that she turned to a secret lover when he had shunned her? Syaoran's hands balled up into fists when he contemplated this possibility. She had every right to if that was the case. He didn't deserve her love, then.
Sakura's eyes fluttered open.
"No, this must be a nightmare!" She whispered fiercely to herself.
"Sakura," he said.
"I want to wake up!" Now, she sat up really quickly with a welcoming headache.
"You are awake."
She stared at him, kneeling in front of her. His bangs, somehow fell close to his eyes and she could tell there was pain in his eyes.
"Sakura…" Syaoran tested his voice. "You don't have to explain to me why you have been avoiding me all these years…"
"Huh?"
Syaoran gestured to the girl by the television set in the other room. Sakura looked through the entrance way.
"You know," she whispered.
"I know…"
She got up and walked towards the girl watching T.V. She spoke to her in a hushed voice, so that Syaoran could not overhear. Syaoran watched the young girl's bright, brilliant eyes grow as wide as saucers. He stood up prepared to go when the girl suddenly charged towards him, her height barely reaching his knees.
She spoke very politely, "I've seen you on T.V., Sir. Mommy said you are nice."
He looked at her, his face unreadable.
"She also told me that… You're my Daddy…"
"What?" He gasped. He looked at Sakura, who had her back turned to them.
"You don't want me do you?" Her eyes were bright with tears.
"No, I'm just surprised. I can't…" He bent down, and hugged her fiercely.
Her small little hands were trembling as she cried. "I didn't know I had a Daddy. Now I can tell everyone at school that I do."
Three years, going on four. He missed so much of her, his daughter's, life because of Sakura. He never knew and now that he did, joy and relief overflowed his heart. For minutes, they stayed that way until Sakura told Peony to go up to her room and prepare to sleep.
"I guess, you will want to spend more time with her now that you know…"
"My daughter… Peony… My daughter," he repeated.
"Yes."
He stopped and his head swiftly turned to look at a depressed Sakura. "You kept me from her for this long?" He accused.
"How dare you keep my daughter away from me?"
"I was afraid…"
"Of what?" He smirked. "That I would take her away and send you to jail?"
Sakura shook her head, in disbelief. No, she didn't think he was going to do something like that.
"Oh, that I would throw in the best lawyers in the United States to claim custody of my only child," Syaoran clamped his teeth down in anger.
"You wouldn't…"
"I would! And you, too, know that you can never win in that kind of a fight!" Syaoran growled.
"I did what was best—"
Syaoran grabbed her arms and held her in a constricted grip. Sakura winced at the pain he inflicted on her delicate skin. "Syaoran… You're hurting me…"
Then, suddenly, the front door slammed open, and a tall man with dark hair sped towards them. In one fatal swoop, he swung his fist into Syaoran's gut. Syaoran was so angry, he was not quick enough to block. He stumbled back, holding his stomach.
"No, Touya! Don't hurt him!" Sakura shouted.
Touya was prepared to swing again when suddenly Sakura jumped in front of him. "He's Syaoran Li!"
"I don't care if he's the emperor of Japan! No one hurts my sister!"
In a rage Syaoran fought his way forward, only to be ceased by a stern-faced Sakura. One of her arms came around his shoulders to support him. "You big goon! He's the father of your niece!" She shouted at Touya.
"Well, in that case, let me pound him some more for what he's done to the both of you."
"Touya, I swear if you lay one finger on him, I will never speak to you again!"
"What's going on?" Peony asked, at the bottom of the stairs.
"Nothing, Peony. Go back to your room," Sakura said.
"Uncle Touya!" Peony ran up to him, but Touya was not in the mood to pick her up at the moment.
"You, Son-of-a…"
"Touya!" Sakura reprimanded. "Not in front of Peony again!"
Syaoran stood up and dust off imaginary lint from his jacket.
Touya pointed an accusing finger at Syaoran, "I have a bone to pick with you. And I'm not leaving until it's done."
"You coward! How low can you go?" Syaoran shouted back.
"Not as low as you, you dirty, lying, useless bastard. I hope you go to…"
"Touya!"
Syaoran grimaced, "You're nothing but an idiot, who doesn't know a thing about me. And also a bad uncle in front of my daughter, which I have every right to keep away from you."
"Syaoran, stop," Sakura begged.
"No, someone has to tell your brother the truth about all this!"
"He knows the truth, Syaoran. He can even tell you why I ran…" Sakura looked away.
"But I won't…" Touya was still fuming. "I won't, because this gaki wouldn't understand."
Touya flung Peony on his shoulder and the girl giggled gleefully. "Come on, Peony, off we go," Touya grunted.
"Let her go!" Syaoran demanded.
"It's alright, Daddy. Uncle Touya is nice."
As Touya ascended the stairs Peony shouted, "Come back tomorrow, Daddy!"
Then the door slammed and the sound of it shook the house, causing Sakura to cringe. The sudden silence that descended upon the two made her nervous again. She wasn't sure what to say to Syaoran. Sorry, wouldn't do because she wasn't the one that Syaoran wanted an apology from.
"Syaoran…"
"I'm coming back tomorrow! I demand to have the rest of Sunday with my daughter! And if you don't allow it, I'll throw in millions to take her away from you! Understand?!" He slammed the front door shut with a bang.
At first she stood very still. Not sure of what to do, she moved to the couch again, where she had started and there she broke down and wept…
TBC
