Disclaimer: I don't own CCS so don't sue me.
Warning: This chapter has attempted rape but in no way it is in Graphic detail.
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Love Is A Distant DreamChapter: 5
Trust
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*~*Sakura's P.O.V.*~*
'Hello Sakura.' A warm, friendly voice greeted me as I was sitting in the schoolyard. I tilted my head and looked up and saw an extremely beautiful black girl with long, silky, blue hair, which reached down her waist and her eyes were light blue in color glistening for the golden beams of the sun pouring into them. Her figure was slim and fit and it proved she was extremely athletic.
'Oh, hello Khushi.' I greeted her, I loved her exotic, Indian name, which meant happiness. Khushi's father was part Japanese, Mr. Fujita and his wife was Indian so that's how she inherited the name Khushi.
'May I sit down?' She was so polite and understanding.
'Khushi, you don't need to ask.' I said with a smile and she replied by smiling at me too.
'Have you seen Madison? She's awfully late.' Khushi said, giving me a strange look.
I understood the look clearly. Madison was always early when coming to school and she always reached before us and that's why it was so strange that she was late.
'Hey, isn't that Madison.' Khushi pointed at a running girl who almost tripped as she hastily entered the school. She was running as though they were people behind her trying to mug her.
She panted as she came near us and she bent down putting her hand on her knees as she was trying to catch her breath. I looked at her surprised and so did Khushi. Why was Madison running like that?
'Hello guys.' She said between the few breaths she had managed to catch, 'What's up?'
'What's up?' I said looking at her, 'Why were you running like that?'
'Oh that.' She laughed, putting a hand over her head, 'I just realized I was late for school.'
I exchanged a glance with Khushi and Madison became slightly red, 'Hey, why the look guys!?'
'Well,' Khushi began, 'You are not dumb as a rock you know. You are one of the most intelligent girls in our class and you are usually early and suddenly you remembered we have school. There is something you are not telling us.'
'Well, someone called me this morning.' She blushed.
The blush made an immediate response, 'IT WAS A BOY!!' the way Khushi and I screamed together it looked as though we were in this bizarre quiz game and the competition was hotter than the burning fire.
'Well, ye-yes.' Madison face flushed crimson giving us an exposed idea that the boy was special.
'So who is he?' I asked and my mind raced for possible people that Madison had interacted with so I could spring up with the answer 'I knew it!' but Madison's reply was a huge disappointment in that area.
'Well you see he is not from our school.' She said.
'Oh so who is the lucky boy.' There was no disappointment in my voice but a puzzled look from both Khushi and me.
'Yeah, is he gonna transfer here or something?' Khushi asked and she really looked interested to know everything as much as I did.
'Well you are right Khushi, he is gonna transfer here.' She said dreamily.
'Hey how come you never mentioned him to us?' I asked a little upset. Madison was one of our best friends she could have at least told us she hooked up with another boy who wasn't from another school.
'Actually guys I wasn't even sure he'd remember me I mean remember Sakura that holiday I had to China when I was ten well he was living in the same neighborhood so we went to play video games together. I guess he remembered by chance you know because so many years ago.' Madison looked disappointed as she said those words it was clear that she had no contact with him all these years and I did remember now that she spoke about a boy long ago after she returned from her vacation from China. The way Madison was describing him he really did fit the prince charming slot.
'Well tell his name already.' Khushi asked impatiently.
'Well his name is-' but Madison answer was rudely interrupted by a hard, coarse voice that was unmistakably his. Oh no, I thought, Not him.
'Hello Khushi.' An extremely attractive blonde boy greeted her. His eyes were the color of Li Shyaron's hair except it was a rustier sort of the chestnut color. He had an extremely athletic body and even had some muscles, which proved he was a martial artist. He had a warm smile on his face greeted with a very nasty look from Khushi.
'Go away Amok!' Khushi said with a voice of great loathing.
'Oh c'mon babe I do like you know. Why can't you give me a chance.' Amok still had a nice smile on his face.
'And how many boys did you tell that too.' Khushi answered with an evil grin making the smile on his face disappear and he felt embarrassed to stand there with us so he left me and Madison laughing hysterically.
'Do you think you went a little overboard I mean c'mon Amok is a part of Eli's gang.' She abruptly ended mentioning the "Eli's gang" part.
After Eli's attitude changed Madison and my friends were surprised why I still hanged around with a person who beat up one of our friends Makoto Shizu (who I still secretly had contact with though the incident was a severe case), I told them to mind their own businesses. At one point I could have even broke up with my friends because of this mess but I managed to hold on. Yes, it is f**king stupid isn't it that I didn't tell anyone including my best friends. Khushi, she was the only one who knew, yes, I didn't tell her but she found out. Everyone has their own uniqueness, intelligence and talents but the truth is we are human beings, we are mortals so what I am trying to say is- we are not perfect. We all make our mistakes (I'm trying to avoid mine at this precise moment) so even a guy like Amok, who was supposed to be Eli's best friend, can do the mistake of accidentally blurting out one of Eli's secret habits of "punishing" his little girlfriend when she "Displeases" him.
Well it started out with Amok drooling around Khushi telling her to be his girlfriend (he is still doing that in the present). Khushi declined his generous request telling she wouldn't be the girlfriend of a person who gets his kicks from hurting helpless people so not in a million years or if her life depended on it will she accept that generous proposal. Amok was really pissed off and said that he would do the thing Eli does to me if he finds her going out with another boy. Khushi was suspicious about this and asked Amok what did Eli do to me. Amok realized that he was an ass giving out that information and so making lame excuses he left. Khushi decided to stay alert and so she came actually witness Eli abusing me. When she came to help me, I became really afraid and before I knew myself I had just explained the situation to her and Khushi soaked it all up immediately and understood. I made her promise not to tell anyone but she swore if the situation got out of hand she will seek help but now she agreed to help me do something my life more pleasant though Eli was the incurable plague spreading himself upon me making me more diseased.
My thoughts were broken and I faced reality when an image or perhaps a silhouette of a person I knew presented upon my thought occupied mind. It was Li Shyaron!
He was standing in the shade of a tree as he blocked the illuminant, golden rays of the sun, which were pouring directly, down his face. I was pleased to see him, we had a good time yesterday studying together. Infact, I could confide a lot of things to him I still couldn't confide in Khushi. But Li looked a little pale, though the day seemed extremely well for the luxuriant weather sweeping on us it sure didn't match his mood. It looked like he had faced a severe illness and they were still traces of it circulating around his body. He looked like a complete wreck, it didn't match his cheerful mood that he provided my aching soul yesterday. I really smiled after a long time for him but he now looked more-more like me who truly needed a major boost. I really needed to know what was wrong.
'Li!' I called him. He seemed concentrated and occupied with his own thoughts, 'Li!" I called him a couple of more times and soon he turned and gave a very unsatisfactory, fake, smile. I gave him a signal to come towards us and he moved at an incredible slow pace. Poor Li he looked so sullen I wondered what happened. Just yesterday he was so happy now he looked so preoccupied like an earthquake and some other natural disaster had waged war and his soul, the root of all his emotions and feelings, was the battlefield and now that the battle was over the battlefield was a hazard zone all torn and ripped up.
I truly did wanna know what was wrong with him.
*~*Shyaron's P.O.V.*~*
The sweet aroma of Cherry Blossom intoxicated my senses and her nightingale sweet voice calling my name was like medicine pouring into me and was helping my mind come out from the further regions of hell where I felt my soul being quartered around the other carrion spirits. How could anyone know how I was feeling?
I truly feel now the way Sakura feels when she gets abused by that filthy, bastard Eli and now I know they are things which you couldn't confide to people like it was a secret between you and God. I walked towards Sakura but my body and soul was still not at ease, how would anyone be comfortable with a situation like this.
LET ME SPELL IT OUT TO EVERYBODY IN A NICE, CALM MANNER- A WOMAN
Ya, it seems difficult to understand or explain. I went home and I saw this woman and my dad shows up telling me to greet my mom. I was so surprised and I knew what was happening. He wanted this woman to replace my mom and so he had married her discreetly as though he was going to give a splendid surprise but I felt fury at its limit I left the house ignoring the cries from my sober dad and the woman.
I knew that I felt shame for what was I going to explain to my mom-my real mom, Ian and everybody. They will think of horrid explanations for this so called marriage and my family's reputation will sink even loser.
I thought I was going have a calm night after spending time with my Cherry Blossom but it was a disaster. I can't believe he got married without telling me.
~*Flashback*~
The voices were vague.
They had to be my mind was only concentrating on only one thing.
Sakura.
Had she really asked me out? Yes, it came to me finally and suddenly a rapture embraced me and I ignored all the shoves and pushes I was getting from the rest of the student body who were eager to get home, me, on the other hand was ready to get to Sakura's house.
Darkness.
Darkness stretched over. The rain had stopped but a grayish-black blanket had covered itself over the sky above and so that was the reason for the darkness of this afternoon. I made my way home, I thought I should grab a bite before going to Sakura's and I thought I'd take a nap too for a sudden fatigueness sweeping over me. Trigonometry was such a bitch I mean first of all it sucked and it was the only thing I got mediocre grades in and I thought I'll soon do good in it but it was kinda boring so I kept on getting mediocre marks. A slight drizzle fell on my head and I knew that it was just a minor shower so walking in it was no problem infact I liked getting wet in the rain rather than taking cover it was like the rain could wash all your sins, your tension, your fatigue and your problems all away. I walked down the streets when the police card stopped in front of me and I was quickly trying my best to avoid it.
NO.
I didn't want to hear it no more. Why does he have to bother me like this I mean c'mon was it too much to do his job rather than to ask me what to do it was so annoying and yet I knew he was gonna ask me that same F**king question so I walked faster than average but I didn't make it look suspicious, just your average person trying to get away from the rain thing but I should have known better that he wouldn't give up because he I guess he cared about me.
He lifted down his car window and saw me, 'Stop walking Li Shyaron.'
I gulped and I stopped, 'Officer Barbet.'
'Hey Li, What's up?' He smiled as he got out of his car.
'Nothing.' He was going to ask me that question now, God, I hated it.
'Have you seen Saitou Fujioka lately?' he grinned.
'No.' I answered. I was of course lying because Saitou was one of my friends. My only friend but the term friend couldn't be applied because he hardly saw me and he hated people nosing around where they weren't suppose too and I, to his account, was one of them. Nether the less he liked me because I was someone he could confide most of his secrets to. A friend.
A Real Friend.
My only kind of pal, Saitou Fujioka, the gangster was full of tension and if he didn't manage everything the way he did he would have surely have a nervous breakdown. Saitou was an extremely cool guy and there was another reason why I liked him- He was Eli's Rival.
Yeah, the rival gang of Eli's was Saitou's gang and I liked it when Saitou kicked Eli's ass during their fight outs causing the police to go around trying to catch Saitou with some sort of dirt but Eli was set free.
Eli, always the loose cannon, always the one to be set free. If anyone found out what he did to Sakura they would form a strike and burn him at the stakes. All the great living standards of being rich and when your dad owns half the country its better!
F**K! You asshole! I cursed myself deeply, If you love her so much then why the F**k are you not trying to help her!? F**k you!
Really, why didn't I tell anyone about Eli hurting Sakura?
Surely her friends must know.
I remembered how Sakura was lying on her knees looking at the peaceful storm wiping away her bruises and the passing in rivulets down her mangled hair and those glistening were like a tornado of melancholy washing over those once, innocent, bright and happy orbs.
I know why I didn't say anything, I thought, Its because Sakura wouldn't have liked if someone buds into her personal matters without her consent and I know Eli must have blackmailed Sakura about hurting her friends or family nor else she would have done something about the matter in the first place.
'Hello, Shyaron, are ya still in this planet or what?' Officer Barbet's deep, cool voice just sliced through my thoughts and ended my thinking session bringing me back to reality.
'Yeah-Yeah I'm fine.' I said nervously, what a dumb ass I am, now he is positive that I might be trying to hide something from him.
'You have met him haven't you?' Barbet looked at me with his cold, red eyes and I kinda gulped. Bill Barbet was your average tall, dark and handsome. He had dark blue hair, which could have been accurately mistaken by most people as black. He had lean and hungry eyes which had a lint of the malevolent nature in them which were instantly recognized as deadly but they softened up to receive the woman's charms. He did have a soft side too which he showed to me-in some occasions- but he was a bachelor and that was a mystery. All the women thought he was a fantastic person but he left them and their only complaint was that he was distant though isolated his real being in a shell of some insecurity and that was something that people were curious about. He always showered them with emotions of great strength and the girls fell in love with him after a very short period but it seemed clearly vivid some periods later that maybe he is sheltering his real self from the outside world and that he has found someone new and will hurt them later. So, many relationships broken and new bloom but was there any real relationship in the beginning but was it merely a faded vision?
I had to admit, Officer Bill Barbet was a good-looking guy ready to strike the women as the mysterious stranger. I know most girls likes mysterious men just like guys like mysterious girls. It is all part of human nature- Curiosity doesn't only kill the cat.
'No I am not really. I haven't seen Saitou in one month, honestly.' I gave a very sincere look.
He suspiciously looked at me as though he was digging into my very soul, 'Ok Kid, I believe you.' He said after some moments.
I really breathed a sign of relief that Barbet believed me nor else he was going to throw me in the slammer, 'Sir, are you here to ask me about Saitou or is there another reason?' there had to be another reason, he would have merely called if he wanted to know about Saitou and besides I can read his mind there is something else.
'You're smart do you know that Mr. Shyaron well lets have a little chat about your father.' He narrowed his eyes.
OH NO, DAD, why do you do this to me? You are so f**king impossible I had this premonition after you left that something bad will happen and it has.
'Hey Kid are you still with me or have you gone to a land filled with pretty girls.' Barbet called me.
'No,' I said quietly.
'No, no what?' he asked me.
'NO, I don't wanna talk about it. Please leave me alone in peace.' I begged him, I prayed to God that he would leave me alone but I also prayed that I would not have to ask my mom to pay an immense amount for that bastard.
'Listen kid, I know how you feel-'
'NO OFFICER BARBET! You don't know how I feel! My dad is a criminal and me, my mom and that poor guy Ian has to pay for it.' I hold myself together, I was in a verge of releasing bottled-up violence and rage that could easily overpower me but I thanked God for giving me this much inner strength nor else I would have lost my mind years ago.
'Listen kid, calm down. You're dad may go to the slammer again but-but this time he might stay for years except weeks or months.' Barbet told me quietly.
'OH MY GOD, don't tell me he has finally-finally murdered someone.' My eyes grew wide and I swear I was going to lose consciousness, my hands became sweaty and there were great chills flowing like immense currents down my spine.
'No kid, he didn't kill but he almost raped someone, it is serious you know.' Barbet told me.
My eyes grew like two planets and inside the two planets have just collided with one another leaving my senses numb as though they have been paralyzed. My father, an attempted rapist, what would happen if this got to the papers my mom would never be able to show her face again and with Ian they will lose their jobs for good.
'Well there is a good news that is the press don't know about this and the girl has a long line rumors of working with people who break the law so she'll have no chance in court the real reason no one has thrown her and her friend in the slammer yet because no one's any hard evidence on them. She is eighteen years old.'
'Oh.' I only muttered I was so ashamed.
'Li, I know this is difficult but I have feeling that your dad will be in serious trouble- court or no court.' Bill informed me.
'I wanna talk to her. What's her name and where does she live?' I asked him.
'What?' he looked at me as though I was nuts or something.
'I know you think I wanna go and talk her out of it but I won't do it's up to her what to do all I wanna know if she is alright.' I explained my actions.
He looked at me for a moment, 'Ok. Her name is Rebecca Starling lives with her friend Amy Deluca at-'
*
This was great.
I know Bill would think I've gone to this girl Carol's place-well…uh I was goin to her place but… I really had to speak with Fujioka and tell him to keep his cool for a while no matter what Eli does for an imprint of his shoe on his ass. I walked to his apartment building and pressed the 4th floor inside the elevator. After some minutes I got out of the elevator only to be harshly greeted by a pink hair girl who was keeping her head down as she pushed roughly against me, 'Hey,' I yelled, 'Watch out were you-' but I stopped.
Tears.
Have I just seen tears?
Yes, they were.
The poor girl was crying.
But before I could tell her anything about what was troubling her but before I could ask her. She got into the elevator and pressed the gates shut.
I stared after she was gone. I really did wanna know who she was and why was she so much melancholy. Concluding she would present herself as an mysterious figure in my life. I reached the door to his apartment and pressed the bell. After ringing the doorbell for about six times the door was opened and I found myself facing a miniature clone of Bill Barbet.
Yeah, they had the same blue hair, which could have been mistaken as black. Same hungry, lean, malevolent eyes except Saitou's were pure yellow and Bill's eyes were pure crimson. They looked alike and sometimes they thought alike and their personalities were somewhat alike too. It was hard to believe they were not related. Even though they were like twins venom sprung out between them and enmity was vivid and they considered the other to be a poison to him.
'Hey Shyaron.' Saitou greeted me friendlily, too friendlily.
'Hi Saitou.' I looked at him awkwardly.
I entered his apartment as if I was entering the den of a wolf. Saitou was ok at my company but you never know I could piss him off by asking the wrong question at the wrong time.
He signaled me to take a seat and I did on a large, black, leather sofa and he sat on the opposite sofa, which was identical to the one I was sitting in. Saitou had good taste all his furniture and decorations were mostly black or deep, dark colors but it was well suited to, mostly everybody's likings. Saitou's parents were not in Japan they lived in America and they were tired of their son's scandals involving the police but Saitou seemed so expressionless about that that nobody truly knew how he felt. I really sometimes wish I knew how he truly felt for even when he was freely discussing his problems he never shows his true feelings of the situation so I never knew.
'So Li,' he began with a smirk on his face, 'What brings you here?'
'I have to warn you about Bill Barbet.' I explained abruptly for his extreme friendliness was making me uncomfortable for he was acting too nice.
'What about that moron?' he asked un-amused as always.
'Well, he is planning on throwing you in the slammer if you cause more trouble. So please lay low for a while.' I requested him too.
He looked at me and narrowed his eyes, 'You know Li, I have no problem laying low but how am I supposed to keep my cool when a bastard like Eli sends his own sister to seduce me to surrender to him.'
I looked at him shocked what the hell was he talking about, 'Hey, what-what do you mean?'
'Well, he started did you meat a pretty, crying, pink hair girl outside?' he asked.
'Well, yes, she pushed me and quickly got into the elevator.' I answered.
'Well that was Eli's sister Ruby Moon.' He slammed the cup of coffee he had drinking for some time and it shattered into tiny glass pieces and brown coffee was spilled on his table.
I looked at the raged Saitou. It was clear he had bottled his anger all this time but the bottle gets shattered too in the end for I guess it was not designed to hold such anger, which was so hazardous, so volatile. It was like a flammable object inside all of us that even sometimes gets the better of us.
~* Flashback Interrupted *~
'MR SHYARON!!' A voice boomed in my ear and I was forced back into reality by Miss Katy Wallace. An extremely attractive woman but had the reputation of being a major s**t. She was married four times and none of her marriages went well. She had altogether seven children but her kids gave no respect to her and her ex-husbands got along well with each other then they got along with her. Her favorite past time. Ridicule and annoy Miss Soi Okida.
Right now she was looking like she was gonna kill me and that did make me nervous.
'Mr. Shyaron I have no problem failing you in my class!' she screamed.
But it wasn't my fault, I thought, I was working like a Zombie right now. I wasn't even aware of my surroundings or how the hell I got into class.
'Mr. Shyaron are you still with me?!' She screamed again.
'Yes, Yes ma'am.' I replied nervously.
'Well come on in.' she commanded somebody outside the classroom and she came in.
OH NO, I was infuriated, What the hell is she doin here?
'Li,' Miss Wallace came near me, ' This girl claims she is your sister.'
I heard a few mutters from my classroom and a puzzled look from Sakura. I looked at the girl with crimson eyes and raven black hair smiling so sweetly at me that it made me sick.
'Well,' Miss Wallace broke my thoughts once more, 'Is she your sister?'
'Yes, probably is my stepsister.' I said and I heard some gasps and mutters but I got a shocked look from Sakura. She was probably thinking why I didn't tell her I had a stepsister.
'Well what's your name girl?' Miss Wallace asked.
'Its Meiling Ray.' She replied happily and took a seat behind me but I simply ignored though how much she tried to catch my attention.
I just got into more important things.
I drifted back into my thoughts.
~* Flashback Continued *~
I was looking At Saitou I thought I heard wrong but I know I heard right. Ruby Moon was here. It was hard to believe she was coming to the place where the leader of her brother's rival gang lived.
'I don't know what happened but you see I found her outside a bar with a pretty big hangover so I brought her home. Though I hate that bastard Eli I couldn't hate his family for they never gave me trouble. Next thing I know she wanted to sleep with me and I told her leave for she was drunk and she didn't know what she was saying. She cried and ran out before I could call her back.' Saitou explained and I simply stared.
'Well Saitou I've got to leave. Just listen to my advice.' I told before taking off.
'Yeah, sure,' he said in a bored voice.
*
I walked to the place Rebecca Starling lived.
It was a very dark and dirty building and it looked like a cemetery. I walked and passed a kissing couple near the stairs and started to walk to reach the fifth floor I pressed the bell to the door situated on the right of that floor.
After pressing the bell after what seemed like ages I heard a groggy, sleepy voice of a girl, 'C'mon I'm coming!'
She flung open the door and looked kinda angry at me, 'What ya want?' she said in a rather rude voice.
'I'm looking for miss Rebecca Starling.' I replied her.
'Oh, you mean Kit. Well, you must be ha boyfriend or something though you look kinda young for her well anyways come inside.'
I did as she told me and inside their apartment wasn't pretty glamorous or anything. They were dirty furniture and they looked old and seemed to need replacing and some of the designs seemed to be stained or fading out. I sat in one of they couches and as I did a cloud of spoke came out and a I coughed for a while.
This place needs a serious makeover, I thought as I coughed hoarsely, I wonder if they even clean it up.
'So, I guess you have to wait a little bit. Kit's gone out.' She said, leaving the room.
Why the Hell is that girl is calling her Kit? I thought her name was Rebecca, I thought confused.
-30 minutes later-
'Yo Kit, there is this cute boy in the living room waiting for you!' a voice yelled and it made me turn my head the opposite direction for I knew at last Rebecca Starling had come home.
'Well if its Shaun I'll-' she practically barged into the room and looked as though she had caught fire but her expression changed when she saw me and it went to startled to apologetic, 'I'm-I'm so sorry. I thought you were someone else.'
'Who's Shaun?' I was surprised, the question came on an impulse.
'Oh this moron I'm dating and I'm – hey, I don't even know you and you are asking questions about my private life!' She said.
'Oh, I'm sorry the question just came up. Uh, I'm Li Shyaron and you must be Miss Rebecca Starling.' I said.
'Yeah, stop it with the miss shit call me Kit cause that's what everyone calls me and in this part of town everyone's got some nicknames. Amy's one is Tie but you see most people don't know our real names so we don't really use em. You dig?' She asked.
'Yeah, I guess.' I scanned Kit and for the first time I saw the large swollen mark on her cheek, which was blackish-purple but it, sill had some red outlines to it. It seemed Kit was trying to hide it with her hair a little bit. She was a red head and her hair reached down her waist while she had crystal blue eyes.
She noticed me Staring at her wound and quickly covered it up by fixing her hair in front of it but I shot at it, 'How'd you get that wound on your cheek?'
'Its nothing, ' she looked at me with my face full of concern and she realized that I worried about her and she looked happy that I did, 'I fell face down on the ground. I wonder sometimes what the F**k happens to me sometimes.' She smiled but the smile seemed genuine.
'No, you are lying some-someone did that to you.' She gasped, I knew, she knew that that was the truth and she was trying to hide it.
'What are you talking about?' She laughed some fake laughs though I sensed her nervousness and I realized I had cornered the truth.
My father.
He must have done this to her it was all so obvious but something told me that she hadn't really told anyone about the incident that happened to her and I decreased the volume of my voice for I didn't wanna be the person to reveal what happened to her.
'Someone did that to you. I know what happened to you.' I said very slowly.
She looked at me for some minutes. We said nothing as though we were trying to hide from some dangerous foe and weren't going to give up our cover.
'How-how do you know?' she spoke after what seems liked many years. I guess she was trying to figure out how I knew she seemed to be eying me like I was a puzzle and she was trying to put the proper pieces into place. In one word, I truly was a mystery to her. First of all, she didn't know me, Second, she didn't know why I was here and Third I knew something personal about her which she hadn't entrusted to anyone yet.
'Because,' How was I going to break it to her that- well it was now or never. I braced myself for the physical and mental blow that was going to be inflicted, 'You see, it was my father who tried to ra-rape you.'
There. I positioned myself for the worse. I was waiting for a load of a bad language, throwing of decoration pieces, Screaming for me to get the hell out of her house her life or merely she would pounce on me to hurt me as much as my dad had hurt her but instead she quietly sat down near the seat beside me.
'I-I thought it was funny that you knew, a stranger knew about what happened to me when I Neva told any of my friends what happened. I explained this – She pointed out her wound – as a mere clumsiness of mine of falling face down on a strong concrete ground.' She sniffed a little and I realized she had tears in her eyes.
'He was drunk wasn't he?' I asked, I just couldn't meet her eyes.
'Yes, so I can't really blame you know he looked like he was going to collapse right on the street. The real reason Officer Barbet found out was because he gave me a lift home.' She answered.
She started coughing all of a sudden and she looked as though she was going to vomit, 'Are you alright Kit?' I asked in a serious tone she looked ill.
'Excuse me.' She ran out of the room.
'Sorry.' She came back after some minutes and I heard Tie/Amy screaming.
'Kit, Are you ok? You need ta go to a doctor you are vomiting regularly nowadays!.'
'I'm fine ok!' she said irritated.
'She's right,' I said, 'It could be something serious.'
'No, its just that-I'm-I'm pregnant.' She slowly replied.
'What?' I said.
'I trust you won't say this to anyone. The reason I told you its because you look someone who understands though you are still a stranger to me.'
'I don't mean to intrude but is this guy Shaun the father?' I asked.
'No, its ok, you can ask, yes it is.' She answered.
'Why isn't he helping you? I mean he's the father.' But I had a feeling I knew a part of the reply already.
'Shaun left.'
'Why?' I said.
'Because that bastard couldn't take the fact he was gonna be a father.' She was extremely angry.
'What happened?'
'Well, the classic love story of boy meets girl, girl likes boy, boy also likes girl but a fruit blossoms from their love which may cause a little drama in their love story. Shaun and I loved each other but when I told him I was pregnant and that he was the father then he ran he emptied his apartment and fled.'
'But he can't run away like that it's his responsibility.' I was shocked.
'Go tell him that. I couldn't tell anyone about this either not even Tie cause she'll tell me to let go of the baby.'
'You don't want to do you?' I was feeling bad for her.
'No, I am a stupid bitch. I hate for the gutless job Shaun did but I just can't let go of his baby. Its not his/her fault that Shaun ran away its because he can't face reality, he is a f**king coward.'
'I know I am a stranger, I am younger than you but I'll my hardest to help you.' I promised her and silently cursed the guy Shaun, He is such a moron, I wish he wouldn't secretly run away like that. Everybody has a responsibility and they have to face them no matter how hard they are.
'Thanks really, I'm beginning to feel like we are old pals or something.' She smiled.
'Oh it's ok-Shit!' I looked at the time I was to be supposed to be at Sakura's, 'Sorry Kit but I gotta run! Hope to see you soon!'
*
'Yes, can I help you?' a boy asked. He had brown hair and matching brown eyes and they were scanning me from head to toe.
'Yes I am looking for Sakura Avalon.' I answered.
'LI!' I heard her voice as she came near the door, 'Hi Li, this is Torii my bro come on in, he came to study with me.' The last answer was directed at Torii who was giving an eye signal to tell the hell I was.
We went up to her room and it was very nice looking with the bright colors and decorations, stuffed animals, the room was neat and tidy and there was a cat lying on the bed.
'This is Kero, his full name is Keroberos but I like to call him Kero. It's a name from the Greek mythology. It was a present from my late mother.' She looked a little sad as she picked up her cat.
'Shall we start the problems.' I wanted to change the subject.
'Yes.' She said as she laid down her cat back on the bed.
We took out our books and started working with the problems. For many minutes we didn't say anything as if we have locked ourselves into separate rooms and we were trying to do this special job that was somehow importance to us it was like you were blocking out all the sights and sounds to find yourself alone in the back of your mind to find some solitary peace.
'Damn!' I screamed and Sakura looked at me.
'What's wrong?'
"I'm sorry but Trigonometry sucks I mean you can't solve these sums properly when they flip around the figures and you have to find out the different sides or angles.'
'Don't worry,' Sakura was doing the problem, 'See the side opposite to the hypotenuse is the right angle and so if you see that clearly you'll be able to do the sum for you will be able to figure out which side is the perpendicular and the base.'
After showing out the process to me I really was getting the hang of it and soon I was excelling in the sums and I really was beginning to feel happy that my talented cherry blossom had helped.
Ring.
The phone had just rung and Sakura excused herself to go and get it. Something felt strange, my instincts told me something was wrong and so I crept and saw Sakura clinging the phone.
Her hands were shaky and her voice was nervous it took less than a second to know it was Eli. Sakura seemed to be trying to explain something to Eli:
'Eli, please I can't go out with you tomorrow…'
'because Madison is going to try to enter the music school I was talking about…'
'Eli please…'
'Alright Eli I'll-I'll tell her that I can stay only for a short time.'
She put down the phone and was heading upstairs and I dashed back inside the room while she came in looking extremely upset while I pretended to be doing my sums.
She sat down and resumed doing her sums but I figured her mind was somewhere else. I really wanted to comfort her, hold her in my arms and tell her that everything was truly was going to be fine but I restrained myself. She needed someone better than me someone who could fight Eli away. A commoner was a nobody to a princess, he is just someone who can dream about being in her palace properly welcomed and treated as an equal while he got a place in her heart through so many better men such as other princes, barons, dukes can sweep her off her feet. A commoner is no match for a dark prince especially if power was on his side. The princess is born to deserve the best and the cherry blossom princess Sakura who is more like an angel reincarnated also deserves the same. She deserves better than me.
I looked at Sakura and it seemed her body and thoughts were all immobilized and it seemed she was making some silent decisions of some sort. I felt extremely bad. I may have wanted her to be mine but it was true I did not deserve her, I really loved Sakura and I wanted her to be happy and content even if it doesn't include me in the picture. I just as well try to be her friend so that I could help her all the time and that I could keep an eye out for her. I know I had to do something, 'Look there is a cherry blossom tree outside.'
'Huh, what?' Sakura seemed to realize that I was still here with her.
'Cherry blossoms. They are my favorite flower, you see cherry blossoms are so beautiful and they are so high up in the tree. You know I hate to see a fallen cherry blossom, you know a one on the ground, it seems that they have lost their place for some sadness in their hearts but they will be born again on the tree where it belongs.'
Sakura stared at me for a long time and she sank her head down, 'You are referring to me aren't you.'
'I-yes, yes, I am. Sakura tell me what's wrong. You can trust me I really want to help.' I begged her to tell.
She looked at me but her eyes seemed to be cold, 'You can't help me now leave please.'
'Sakura, I understand your feelings but-'
'NO YOU DON'T!!' they were hot tears in her eyes, 'Do you know how it feels to be trapped inside a cell and you are screaming for help but no one can hear you! I feel as though I am enslaved somewhere, I wear around people but no one can see my real face, my naked face or my naked spirit which has been stripped of all will, of all rights of all-'
She collapsed.
Tears.
It was a waterfall of hidden pain pouring down her cheeks. I couldn't control myself any longer I took her in my arms and she let down her pain on my chest as I held her close. I blushed slightly but I tried my best to soothe her pain.
It seemed like ages that I had her wrapped around in my arms. It felt like we were lovers but-hey! Get a grip Li you are helping her as a friend and there's nothing going on between you two so stop acting like a perv geez I wanna kill myself sometimes.
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scream at you but I just always bottle up my emotions like this.' She pressed her head against my chest as she broke those words through some sobs.
'There is nothing to apologize about,' I hugged her closer trying to comfort her (Yes, I am not trying to hit on her I mean I know I was thinking like jerk a few minutes ago but I'm serious now) 'You are upset. No human being can bottle his/her feelings forever, they will come out sooner or later no matter what.'
'You knew.' She whispered as she huddled closer.
'Huh.' I was confused.
'You know what Eli did to me didn't you?' she asked, she looked at me through her tear brimmed eyes waiting for an answer.
I took a deep breath, 'Yes, I knew and I hope you find it in your hurt to forgive me for being such a coward and running away when I could helped you. I was trying to make myself believe in a way that what I saw wasn't real just a figment of my imagination but I was trying to escape the truth in a way. I also thought you wouldn't like a stranger stepping into your life.'
'I understand, you were not a coward to walk away I was trying to blind myself to the truth too but how long can a person do that you are bound to face reality one time and I thought I could change him, help him from whatever he's facing. I looked into his eyes and I saw pain and loneliness but I was wrong he's become into a monster I can't escape from. He has trapped me, I am a bird in a gilded cage. I wanna fly again but I am locked in my shell which has no protection from him I feel so alone.'
Sakura spoke. It was clear that she hadn't talking to anyone freely in a LONG time and as she spoke she chuckled, smiled and wept .
I was like her holy spark in the darkness that had engulfed her. She was explaining how she unwillingly became bound to Eli and how no one knew except Khushi who got the information by accident.
She was telling me everything not missing a single detail and I was feeling her pain now before I never fully understood it. To be trapped with someone who has forced you to love him by taking advantage of you through your loved ones.
She told me that he was hiding a part of his nature and that it was her mistake that she didn't see it but she also told me that she had mixed feelings about Eli. Though she truly hated him a part of her felt that Eli did love her and it was because of this love that Eli was hurting her. Guess Eli was afraid to lose Sakura for a reason maybe it had to do something with his childhood.
Silence.
She had stopped.
It had been a few hours since I arrived at her home and the once dark, dreary sky became more darker and the clouds a mixture of black and grey. A wave of orange, yellow and red had somehow appeared on the sky through the mixture of black and grey and I knew that the hidden sun was saying goodbye so that the silver moon may appear on the dark night sky, greeted by the shining stars mimicking the same glow of the silver orb but I am afraid that the moon and stars will also have a veil covering them for the dark, grey clouds of rain have not decided to leave.
Sakura blushed and moved away 'I'm sorry, I-I didn't know.' She was so absorbed in her speeches that she was not away that her head had nestled upon my chest and now she shone crimson.
'Its alright.' I blushed as well.
'Li, thank you. I never felt this relieved and stress free in a long time.' I believed what she said for her face shone a certain radiance that was missing all this time though how many times she had produced a smile.
'You don't need to thank me Sakura,' I started, 'I just want to help you.'
'And you did.' Sakura smiled broadly.
'Huh'
'All this time I was alone. I couldn't do anything about Eli, I couldn't tell anyone I just thought telling someone would get them involved into something really dangerous for Eli never hesitates to beat up someone though if they are related to me. I never let anyone break me down, I was always strong but Eli gets me through my loved ones. I just couldn't endanger their lives so I was trapped with Eli. Khushi knew and she even offered a helping hand but I still couldn't tell her even if she was one of my best friend because Khushi already had problems with Amok and it would make her life worse but I felt something in you, something that I found comforting. I hesitated to tell you but my soul is desperate, aching for a way to get out and I knew that a part of me called you here to try to tell you about this. I really do appreciate your understanding. I guess I realized after all this time that I could find a friend in you.'
My mind seemed to clear itself and I felt a joy triggering inside me that had come so suddenly. I was like a boy on his birthday who was filled with extreme happiness to have got something he had yearned for a long time and I have got the thing from my Cherry Blossom that I have been longing for a long time.
Trust.
*
I opened the door only to be greeted by the same darkness each time.
The house felt old and abandoned.
Partly, that was the truth for it was never truly occupied for my dad was always out, wasting his life in bars, using women and doing vile acts when he is drunk.
I didn't expect my dad to be home for he usually was out especially at nights to party around in bars and when he was home he would either place himself in front of the T.V. or sleep. My dad had lost his job months ago, it happened when he didn't come to work for a month and later my dad was found as a drunken wreck so he has been jobless ever since. My dad usually got money from the women he dated or by gambling I however had to do a part time job and my mom also gave me money to use for she knew my dad's activities. She tried to talk to him about this but was answered by the door on her face so she gave up for I told her too and going to court will cause a scandal so I declined the judgment.
Woman.
No, it can't be or could it? I saw a woman in my kitchen and she looked like she was going to cook something. Her hair was the color of fire and I saw a glimpse of her eyes, Yellow, just like cat eyes. I didn't like this, who was this woman? What was she doing in my house?
'Oh, there you are Li. So you have come back. I was wondering where you were the whole day.' That voice, it was my dad! But his voice wasn't slurred due to liquor, it seemed normal like it was before when mom was around. Something wasn't right and I felt it sending chills up my spine.
'Oh Shido is that your son?' the woman asked.
'Yes Mai this is my son his name is Li. Li say hi to your mom.'
I thought I was shot in the head or was I hallucinating this whole scene right in front of me. Did my dad just tell me this woman was my new mother?
'Li, this is Meiling, she's my daughter.' Mai introduced me to a raven-haired girl with red eyes. She looked shyly at me and was somewhat blushing but I didn't care about those details at this exact minute.
'So dad what did she promise you money.' I looked angrily at him.
'Li,' my father was furious as Mai seemed insulted, 'What do you mean by this?'
'I mean who is this woman and why the hell are you telling me to call her mom?' I asked.
'Because I married her and she is your mom.' My dad looked cross by my behavior and the girl called Meiling looked nervous.
'YOU DID WHAT!? When? How?' I just couldn't speak properly.
'I married her yesterday, legally but I will held a party soon so don't worry son.' My dad looked so happy as he held Mai's hand I felt I was going to vomit.
'You cannot have really married a cheap woman like that when you were in your senses you must have been really drunk.' I scowled at him.
Mai looked humiliated and Meiling made a saddened face, my dad was serious, 'Li! How dare you!?'
'Well, I'm leaving,' I said heading near the door, I looked at the woman called Mai, 'Don't be surprised if he dumps you by tomorrow.'
'Li!' my dad called as I strode out of the house I really needed a quiet place to stay.
I crashed at Saitou's for the night. I was happy that he didn't ask too many questions for I wasn't feeling answering any at this specific moment, my dad remarried a woman he met probably yesterday and he expects me to play it cool. Wrong! I am not gonna take this shit that woman is not my mom and she is not taking my real mom's place for they are no substitutes for certain things in this world.
In the morning I went to my house, got in with the extra key I possessed , grabbed my books and headed for the school with my mind and emotions extremely clouded.
~*Flashback Ended*~
The bell rang and I dashed towards the exit of the class before anyone asked me how the mysterious Meiling girl was related to me especially Sakura. I shoved the student body and got out to be greeted by brilliant sunshine. It sure was a nice day too bad I was too depressed to enjoy it. As I walking to the school exit I noticed a grey cloud moving around in the sky along with the white ones. I felt this to be strange as if it were an omen. Was the black cloud representing a thorn in our lives? And whose lives, mine or Sakura's? And who was the thorn, Eli, Mai or that girl called Meiling?
~*~
I am extremely sorry that it took me such a long time to update, I was having Internet connection problems throughout my whole vacation. Well I hoped you liked chapter 5. I know it was lengthy but it was because I hadn't updated in a long time. I wanna thank all the people who have reviewed so far especially Daydreamlynnie and friends for all their support. I'll update as soon as I can!
~*~