Title: Somewhere, Somehow
Author: EviL PunK
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Sorry for the incredibly late update and thank you all for your reviews! Sorry for the length of the previous chapter. I thought it was long but I was wrong. Okay, has anybody noticed that I just rhymed twice? But anyway, I'm an evil authoress aren't I? Leaving you all like that. Hehe. But anyway, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty One
With A Bond So Strong
-
The Li cousins were peacefully and silently eating their dinner when Syaoran's fork fell on the floor with a clatter. Meiling, who was about to eat a piece of meat, looked at Syaoran with confusion.
"Syaoran?"
Syaoran's face was pale, as if he saw a ghost.
"Syaoran? Here, drink this" Meiling said, handing Syaoran his cup of tea.
Syaoran grabbed teacup from Meiling. His knuckles turned white as he griped the piece of porcelain tight. Suddenly, the cup shattered into pieces in his hands, creating cuts on the palm of his hand.
Meiling gasped, "Syaoran! What's wrong?"
She quickly rose on her feet and stood beside him. Syaoran closed his eyes. His head started throbbing in pain. His mind wandered around visions, images and scenery. The throbbing stopped when a picture of a dark alleyway flashed in his mind. A man was walking towards something…a female lying on one side.
Syaoran…
The scenery vanished and Syaoran's eyes were wide open. He stood up causing the chair to top over. He suddenly grabbed Meiling's shoulders.
"Meiling! Listen to me! Take the car and drive downtown and find a dark alley! I'll meet you there!"
Syaoran ran towards the door and exited the house, running outside the slippery pavement and in the rain.
"Syaoran! Wait!" Meiling yelled, running to catch up with him but he was gone.
-
Aki knelt down beside Sakura, pulled her up and pinned her against the cold wall. She was helpless. He made a trail of kisses from her lips down to her body. Sakura's face was stained with tears, tasting the salty flavor of her tears. The blood continued to trickle down her forehead.
"No…please, stop this…I'll do anything…" she pleaded in a hoarse voice
"Shut up!" Aki yelled.
He glared at her and slapped her with all his might. Sakura's vision blurred but could still see and feel the hazy figure of Aki's hand riding up her thigh. His whole body was pressed against her and he slowly removed the straps of Sakura's dress off her. She turned her head away and shut her eyes tight.
This is where it all ends…
"Oof!"
Sakura opened her eyes and saw Aki up against a wall, away from her; a man grabbing his collar and holding him high. Sakura slumped to the ground and began to cry, thanking the heavenly bodies for answering her prayers. She suddenly got startled when a trash can almost hit her. Sakura looked at the side and saw the man thrown to one side.
"Thought you can save her that easily huh, Li?" Aki laughed maliciously
Sakura gasped at the mention of the name and suddenly fainted.
Syaoran got up and began to run towards Aki with a clenched fist, ready to punch him. Unfortunately, Aki was too fast for him. Aki took out the knife and slashed Syaoran on the arm, creating a deep cut. Blood oozed out from the open wound. Syaoran spotted Sakura with her stained dress, nearly ripped. His eyes widened and quickly stood up, holding on to his arm.
"You bastard!" he yelled at Aki, "What the hell did you do to Sakura?"
Syaoran jumped off his feet, giving Aki a kick straight to the chest. He punched and kicked him several times. Thankfully, those martial arts lessons with Wei really paid off and were put to good use. Aki finally landed on the ground, unable to get up. He tried to but Syaoran grabbed his collar and pulled Aki close to him.
"Touch Sakura again and I swear to myself that you will rot in hell!"
Syaoran dropped him to the ground. He turned around and was about to walk away when he suddenly felt Aki standing behind him. He turned back around and planted one last solid punch on Aki's face, finally knocking him out. Syaoran watched him a few seconds just to see if he's still conscious and capable to standing up.
Good, he's not getting up.
Syaoran quickly rushed to Sakura's side. He carried her in his arms bridal style, careful not to drop her. The rain still continued to pour down on them. He looked down at Sakura's pale face. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Syaoran walked out of the alley and into the streets, walking back home. It wasn't long before Syaoran heard loud beeping noise behind him. He turned around; saw bright lights and the loud voice of Meiling.
"Syaoran! Syaoran!"
A black car came to a halt in front of Syaoran and Meiling came rushing out of the car, not bothering to take an umbrella with her or a raincoat.
"Oh my god, what happened to Sakura?" she demanded and suddenly noticed the gash of blood on Syaoran's arm, "What happened to your arm?"
Syaoran shook his head, "I'll tell you later"
Meiling nodded and opened the door for Syaoran. He got inside with Sakura still in his arms. Once he sat down, Syaoran let Sakura's head rest on his lap. He pushed away wet strands of Sakura's auburn hair away from her face. Syaoran held onto Sakura's hand tight, refusing to let go. With his free hand, he caressed Sakura's cheek.
"Here," Meiling handed Syaoran a blanket, "put this on her. I had a feeling you might be needing it"
"Thanks" Syaoran said, taking the blanket from Meiling, unfolded it placed the fabric on top of Sakura.
They finally got home and Syaoran hurriedly took Sakura upstairs and into his room. He kicked the door open and laid Sakura on top of his bed.
"She needs to be out of those clothes…" he told himself, "Meiling!"
"Here I am!" Meiling came inside the room holding a stack of dry clothes with maids following behind her, "Turn around!" she snapped at him
Syaoran turned around and waited for Meiling and the maids to finish undressing Sakura.
"There. Now," Meiling turned to Syaoran, "let's go to my room and tend that cut on your arm!"
Meiling pulled Syaoran out of the room and went to her own. She closed the door behind her and let Syaoran sit on her bed. Meiling went inside the bathroom, came out with a first aid kit in her hands and sat beside him.
"Take off your shirt" Meiling told him
Syaoran raised an eyebrow at his cousin.
"Are you sure you're capable in treating this cut?"
"Yes. Now, shut up and take your goddamn shirt off!"
Syaoran gave up, took his shirt off and let Meiling treat his wound. No one said a word until Meiling spoke.
"Syaoran?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you…" she paused before continuing on with her sentence, "You really do love Sakura, don't you?"
Syaoran sighed, "Of course I do, Meiling. What kind of question is that?"
Meiling smiled, "No reason. Just imagining how a great husband and wife you two would be"
"Yeah, too bad it'll never happen" Syaoran rolled his eyes as Meiling tended his other bruises here and there, "Are you finished?"
"Almost" Meiling said, almost finished with the bandage, "There"
Syaoran stood up from his place and went back inside his room. He opened the door and saw Sakura lying down still unconscious, but to Syaoran, she looked like as if she was peacefully sleeping. He changed out of his wet clothes and into dry ones. He pulled a chair and sat on it beside Sakura. He took hold of Sakura's hand, caressed it and brought it to his face, feeling the smooth skin against his own. Syaoran stared down at her face hoping the beautiful green-eyed angelic-like-woman would soon awaken.
-
Morning soon came and the whole house was quiet. Meiling got up early to check on Syaoran. She silently opened the door, careful not to make a creaking sound. She peeked and saw Syaoran still sitting beside Sakura, staring at her. Meiling figured her stubborn cousin didn't sleep a wink last night, nor did he move away from his sitting position. She sighed and decided to step inside.
"Syaoran?"
It took a few seconds for Syaoran to look up.
"Huh?"
"It's time for breakfast" Meiling said, with eyes full of pity and sorrow
"Later. I'm not hungry" Syaoran replied, his attention going back to Sakura
Meiling sighed, "You didn't finish your food last night and I'm sure you need your energy right now"
"Well, what do you expect me to do? Wait for me to finish my dinner, go rescue Sakura and find her body all spoiled and severely injured?"
"Just eat, please Syaoran. I'll make you a sandwich and coffee"
Syaoran sighed, "Whatever you say, Meiling"
While Meiling was preparing a ham and cheese sandwich for Syaoran, a loud knock came upon the front door. It was hardly a knock; more like pounding on the door. Meiling wondered who could be visiting them at the wee hours of the morning. She opened the door and was surprised to see an angry Touya.
"Where's Sakura?" he demanded, entering the house not bothering to wait to be acknowledged, "Where the goddamn hell is Sakura?"
Touya turned to Meiling with his hands raised in the air.
"Kinomoto-san! Please! Calm down!"
"I need to find Sakura!"
"What's going on here?"
Both person looked up and saw Syaoran walking down the stairs and finally reaching the ground.
"You!" Touya glared while pointing a finger at him.
Touya strode towards Syaoran, grabbed him by the collar and slammed him to the wall. Touya placed a hand around Syaoran's neck and was ready to strangle him.
"Syaoran!" Meiling shrieked
"Where the fuck is Sakura? You tell me now, you little bastard, before I beat the crap out of you! I know you did something to her and I'll kill you before you can even deny it!"
"She's upstairs, goddamnnit!" Syaoran managed to yell before Touya can cut off his air supply, "She's unconscious!"
Touya's eyes widened and suddenly dropped him to the ground. Syaoran breathed for air and coughed. Meiling rushed to his side and helped him up.
"She's…unconscious?"
"Yes! How much time do you need for it to register in your pea-sized brain?" Syaoran spat. Meiling frowned at him and lightly hit him on the head.
Touya glared at him.
"I need to see Sakura"
"We'll take you to her" Syaoran said, climbing up the stairs with Meiling and Touya following behind him. The group stopped in front of a door and Touya entered. Meiling and Syaoran waited and stood by the door frame. Touya went closer to Sakura. He bent down and brushed away a few strands of hair away from her face. He sighed and kissed his little sister's forehead.
"That son of a bitch Aki molested her" Syaoran spoke, with arms crossed
Touya looked at him with big wide eyes.
"It was a good thing Syaoran came to save her before Aki could do anything else." Meiling continued
Touya looked down and sighed, "I guess I owe you an apology, huh?" he paused, "My deepest and sincere apologies to you" he turned to Meiling, "and to you also, for suddenly walking in your house without your acknowledgment"
"Oh, that's alright" Meiling responded in surprise
The day continued on with a morose atmosphere. Eriol and Tomoyo soon arrived when they found out that Sakura had not come home and that she was unconscious. The five of them sat in the living room watching TV when the news suddenly came on. It was featuring the alley.
"A man was seen lying on the ground, drenched in blood and from last night's rain."
Syaoran got up from his seat and started pointing to the screen.
"There! That's the alley we were in!"
"Ssh!" Touya scolded and turned the volume higher
"The man, who was identified as to be Aki Kimura, was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment." vain
"He doesn't deserve medical treatment, damnnit! I hope he dies on the way" Syaoran growled. Touya nodded in agreement which was a very rare sight to see. It was probably the first time he had agreed to something, especially from a guy who is close to Sakura.
Suddenly, Syaoran's cell phone rang. Everyone looked at him. Syaoran looked at the caller ID and groaned.
"Damn you, Amaya" he mumbled before answering it, "Hello?"
"Syaoran!" came Amaya's annoying perky voice
Syaoran cringe and held the phone a few meters away from his ear.
"Oh, Syaoran dear! I missed you! I haven't talked to you in forever! Ah, it's so great to hear your voice again!"
Tomoyo and Eriol had to keep Meiling from getting up her seat, ready to grab the cell phone away from Syaoran and yell at Amaya like there was no tomorrow.
"Anyway, I called to tell you that we should really start preparing for the wedding even if we still have a long way to go."
"Amaya, can we not talk about the wedding, please? I'm having serious problems right now and I'm not in the right mood to talk about weddings and such"
"But–"
"Goodbye, Amaya" Syaoran said, hanging up the phone.
"Who was that?" Touya asked, curious.
"She is unfortunately my fiancée" Syaoran said, frowning.
"Oh, right you're getting married"
"Unfortunately!" Syaoran growled, "I don't want to get married especially to her!"
"That's why we're here to help you, Syaoran" Meiling said. Tomoyo and Eriol nodded in agreement.
"Help him with what?" Touya asked, now fully curious on what's going on.
"No offence, but you're just as slow as Sakura is" Tomoyo giggled
Touya shook his head, "None taken. So can someone kindly fill me in on what everyone is talking about?"
Everyone looked at Syaoran for an answer. Syaoran sighed and opened his mouth to speak.
"I'm in love with Sakura."
Everyone was waiting for a reaction from Touya. Normally, he would jump up from his seat, tackle Syaoran to the ground and choke him with all his might, but he didn't. He just sat there and gave a lop-sided smile, something you don't see everyday.
Before Touya could open his mouth and speak, a crash was heard from behind them. Everyone turned around at the direction of the stairs and saw shattered vase pieces on the floor. Their eyes widened and mouths hung low when they saw Sakura standing at the bottom of the stairway.
Author's Notes: Well, that was a tough chapter to write! I tried making it long as possible! Hope this was long enough for your reading pleasure!
Armith-Greenleaf: An omen is a sign or a warning of impending happiness or disaster; courtesy of "Webster's Universal Dictionary and Thesaurus". Hehe. Thanks for the review!
CrystalDragonYoukai: I have nothing to say to you. Yes, it is childish. Seriously.
Amy: Yeah, I have friendster. :)
Tamer Shadow: BWAHAHAHA! Hey, update the story even if I read it in the notebook. Don't forget, PRACTICE ON SATURDAY (February 26). BE THERE!
MiniSparky: Yeah I know. Lol, but I promise you and the other readers as well, it'll be a happy ending. :)
Thanks to the following as well: a.d.a hikari, CrAzY-SiLLy-Me (get well soon!), LilacBlu, lizzy, dream-eater-is-hungry, Illusion Dragon, Ngoc1231, rushi girl, nipagirl, Tha chibi orange princess, Tinaptran, EKoolcat369, like whoa, Sakuralover, Lily20, gUrLa-aYa, Kimura, kmmgirly, lika-chi, DESTINY'Sheart, chikichiki, sakura maio, ChibiSakuraSyaoran, ori-chan, dragonspirit888, cute-mistress-page, zeddy222, kawaiiseeker987, cipher, VcChick, and blissful trinity! Thank you all!