Chapter 13

Italic font means they're thinking it.

The next morning I woke up, still so sick worried about Ryu. I went to the room next door and checked up on my daughter Machiko, she was sleeping so peacefully and I kissed her in the forehead and I slowly walked downstairs. Lately, Ryu's parents have been around to support me through this tough time, they were here for me anytime and I loved that about his family, they were all so close. Taro (Ryu's dad) was a morning person and by the time I got there, he was already drinking coffee by the benchtop and he said to me 'Good morning'.

'Hey', I smiled at him and I asked 'I never knew you were a morning person?'

'Not much people don't usually know … are you doing anything today?', I took a cup of coffee and sat next to him.

'No … not today, I was just thinking of spending time with my daughter, take her out to a park?'

'That sounds great', I smiled, I really missed Ryu so much and I just wanted to kiss him and hug him right now 'You haven't heard anything from Ryu have you?'

'No … but I've been meaning to ask you, how was the party?'

'What party?', I asked, I didn't know that Ryu told his parents about the party.

'The party in Japan, my son told me and I just want to know whether or not you had fun?'

'It was great', I missed out the part when I slept with Syaoran, it would just be too much. I was cheating on Ryu, but I didn't mean for it to happen, I just want to tell Ryu the whole truth, and so that we could put this all behind us. Right now I was so angry by the fact that Syaoran left me the next morning without even leaving me any sort of note. Though Syaoran desperately tried to call me late last night, but I wasn't answering my mobile, I was so angry.

By the time it was around 9.30 am, people around the house started waking up and luckily it was Sunday, and it wasn't a busy day. I just took Machiko to the park and I had fun with her, and she was so cute. I didn't realize that my little baby was growing up so quickly. When I got back to the house, I realized that there was someone else in the house, because their car was parked by the garage and I wondered who it was. I entered the room and I saw Dennis, and he was still in his uniform. I smiled at Dennis but I was wondering where Ryu was. 'Hi Dennis', I said smiling brightly at him.

Dennis kissed me by the cheeks and said 'I need to talk to you Sakura'.

'What is it?', I started to get worried, I just wanted to know what was wrong.

'Its about Ryu', my eyes started to water up and I could feel tears building up in my eyes and a part of me wanted to hear it, but a part of me didn't 'We were by the North Shores and something terrible happened to him, he was trying to help a family, and the parents left their baby in the house, he went in to save a baby and the house fell on him'.

'Did you find him?'

'No, I'm sorry Sakura', I felt Dennis hug me tightly and my knees started weakening, and I fell to the ground with him. I couldn't believe this, he was gone forever and there was nothing I could do.

'Oh god! Why did this happen to him, why him?', I started crying hard in Dennis' arms and Mai, Taro and Machiko just looked at me, sympathetically. Then I felt Machiko tugging on my dress.

'Mummy what's wrong?', I pulled away from Dennis' hug and I hugged my daughter, she would have to live without a father now. Ryu was now gone and we were engaged. Now I regretted not marrying him, after he said to me so many times that he wanted the two of us to elope. I now wanted to do that but now he was gone.

Dennis stood up and said 'I'm sorry about this Sakura, but I've got to go back to work … the fire is still spreading quickly and once again, I'm sorry. Someone might come over later on the day about the paper work', he gave me one hug before he left and Mai hugged me tightly and I started crying in her arms.

Syaoran's grandmother just got back from America and he wanted a word with him. Sachi heard that Syaoran & Sakura slept together when Sakura was in Japan and she couldn't believe this happened. Syaoran just got back from a party that he went to with his parents and Sachi called Syaoran's mobile phone, demanding him to come to her office to talk about what happened. Now Syaoran was walking towards the office knowing he would be getting a big lecture, and he knocked softly and he said 'Its me grandma', he opened the door slightly.

'Come in Syaoran, I need to talk to you about this', throwing several pictures of Sakura and him talking in his bedroom.

'How did you get this?'

'I've got my sources … I told her to stay away from you', Sachi was getting angry about this whole love triangle, she wanted to do something that would settle all these problems 'I'm finding you a wife to marry'.

'What?'

'From now on you have an arranged marriage and your getting married as soon as you turn 20'.

'What? Me getting married with who?', he was now getting angry with the whole situation.

'A nice young girl, her name is Kohana Williams, she's half American and half Japanese. I met her during my stay in America, she's a nice girl'.

'I will not marry some girl you just met'.

'I'm not giving you a choice'.

'Then I don't want to be Prince', he stood up aggressively 'Ever since you came into my life, all you've done is made decisions for me. I never got a choice, and if I ever did, I would have never agreed to come to Japan with you', he walked out of that office so angry, and he called Sakura's mobile phone but she wasn't picking up. He figured that she was angry at him, but it wasn't his fault, he had to rush back to the palace because he didn't want her to get busted since Kado & Sachi came back early from their trip.

A couple of days later

A funeral was going to be held in honor of Ryu Eba. My life was going to be so different now with him out of my life because, he was the ONE. As I sat in front I watched as time repeats again, how this is the second funeral I would be going to because of my father before. I didn't bother to see who was there that day, after the funeral was held, I went straight home and I took a boat to a lake and when I was in the middle, I just thought of what me and Ryu had. It was really and truly amazing, Ryu would do anything for me, and I wondered why I didn't. I took of my engagement ring and I looked at it and I said 'I wish you were here Ryu', then I slowly dropped it in the lake. I couldn't believe this happened, then I just watched as the rain started pouring down … mixed with my tears.

I looked back at the house and I saw a shadow or a person dressed in dark clothing, but when I blinked, that person was gone. I wondered if I was going crazy, I rowed back to the house and there was so many flowers around that people sent to show their sympathy, but I didn't need all of it, because it just makes it harder for me to get over him. Then I heard someone's voice behind me 'How are you doing Sakura?', I instantly recognized whose voice it was so I turned around and he hugged me tightly.

'What are you doing here Syaoran?'

'I heard about what happened and I came here for you … I'm so sorry Sakura'.

'We shouldn't do this Syaoran, Ryu just died … please don't', I cried as Syaoran got closer to me.

'I'm getting married to Kohana Williams, Sachi wants me to marry her', I turned my back on him hearing what he just said and it was unbelievable 'I don't want to do'.

'Syaoran I want to be out of your life now … we can't keep doing this, running to each other's arms every time we see each other … this is it', I said, then suddenly I saw the door open and it was Nolee with my daughter Machiko, so I said to Nolee 'Nolee please bring Machiko to her room'.

'Yes ma'am', Nolee said, taking young Machiko and leading her upstairs.

Then there was silence, Syaoran looked at them walk away and said 'She's my daughter isn't she?'

'Yeah, but Syaoran, its not like she's your actual daughter, you were never there, Ryu was … because he loved me that much to stick with me no matter what'.

'But Ryu's dead isn't he?', he snapped, and I couldn't believe this was happening. Now that Ryu was dead, Syaoran wanted a chance with me.

'How dare you Syaoran, you could never compare to what me and Ryu had'.

'If you loved him, why did we make love'.

'It was an accident … I was confused, I was depressed and you were at my door'.

'That's what you said before … you know Sakura, I don't get why you don't love me but, I love you so much it hurts deep inside, and don't you at least have any feelings for me … any at all ?', he paused, waiting for me to answer, but I wasn't going to be asked like this 'I guess this is it', I started crying more as he said that, then I heard the door close and he left. This was the end for us, but inside me this wasn't going to be the end. Syaoran loved me so much that he was willing to wait till I changed my mind, but will he really?

When I got back to work, Darien didn't give me such a hard time and there was news everywhere that Syaoran Li and Kohana Williams were currently engaged and I couldn't believe that. The Japanese Royal Committee were really happy about this news because finally the prince was settling down and started taking his role as a Prince, and worst of all Darien knew Kohana because she was a frequent dress buyer from this company and right now, I was listening to Darien explaining that to me, Darien started 'I know you've heard about the knew and its all true Sakura, Kohana will come and visit us later on in the day to pick designs for her engagement evening gown, but I'll think she'll be impressed with what you've have to offer because you have the same taste'.

'What … you mean she's on her way right now?', then there was a knock at the door.

Darien said 'Come in', then this gorgeous girl Kohana walked in and Darien said 'Sakura, Kohana I want you to meet each other', Kohana smiled nicely at me and I smiled back at her, then she sat at the other chair 'I'm glad we got us three in the same room, so Sakura, show her your designs'.

I stood up and said 'Well the colour of the season is purple and lately silk and lace has been popular. I was wondering this dress would be nice', showing this elegant dress for her'.

'This designs are amazing, but I don't fancy what everyone is wearing at the moment, I was something unique and elegant', she spoke to me and she continued 'I'd like to help design my evening gown and my wedding dress'.

I looked at Darien and he said 'Sure, whatever, as long as its what you want Ms. Williams', but I didn't know what to say, I just stood up, doing nothing. When Kohana left because he had to meet up with Syaoran's parents for lunch in the City, I just sat in my office, thinking, Kohana wasn't a bad person, but now I'm not so sure if I want him to get married. So I dialed his mobile phone and no-one was answering, then I text him and it said can we please meet tonight, I know your in town, Syaoran its urgent. As soon as I sent that text, he replied MEET ME IN TOWNHALL STATION AT 8.50, I'LL BE THERE.