Author's note:This story is a figment of my (er dark) imagination. Similarities to any situation is absolutely coincidental. Please Follow and Review! Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS, Clamp does. I do not own the song Ever After, Bonnie Bailey does.

Sorry for the late updates!

But don't worry, from this week on, I'll try to update both stories at least once a week. If I fail to do so, I'll upload 2 chapters the following week!

Aaaaa~~~~ ganbarimasu!

Thank you for the likes and follows. (_~)_v

To the new readers, thank you for following this story and even leaving wonderful reviews!

Honestly, whenever I get new likes and reviews, I feel more enthused to immediately get on writing the next part. So basically, your reactions really help a looooot! THANK YOU!

Chapter 43: The Morning After (Part 2)

"Blondie! Are you still at the hospital right now? Do you think you can come here at Jii-chan's manor for lunch later?"

A beautiful smile blossomed on Jiang Muye's face. He squatted down and sat on the back of his ankles as he stared at the cold half-finished sandwich on his hand.

"En. Sure Jie jie. I'll ask my chief right now if I can leave in an hour."

"Have you eaten your breakfast?"

Feeling warm all over, the young blonde man looked down shyly at his dirty shoes.

Only his older cousin Sakura checks on him.

She would never forget to message him or call him if he has eaten at least one warm meal for the day.

"En." Jiang Muye nodded his head obediently.

He then smacked his forehead.

Well, it's not like his cousin could see him.

"Are you sure? You shouldn't lie to me alright?" her sweet voice filled with genuine concern almost made him tear up a bit. "Anyway, I'll be waiting for you at lunch. I want to introduce you to everyone! My husband especially wants to meet you."

Feeling guilt rush over him, the young doctor pressed the middle of his brows and closed his eyes.

He almost let his inner demon win over him a while ago.

He almost sold his beloved Jie jie's husband to that evil woman who's been playing with his heart since they were still youngsters then.

Jiang Muye cleared his dry throat before replying.

"I would love to meet him too Jie jie. Don't worry, I will definitely come for lunch!"

"I'm glad! I miss you!"

"I miss you more, Jie Jie! Do you think you can make me your macaroni and cheese? Please?" He acted pitifully, pouting his pale pink lips even though they weren't talking through video call.

"Hai. You little brat. I'll make you some later."

"Make extras too!" Muye hurriedly said.

"Hai. See you okay? Love you my little Muye!"

Jiang Muye covered up his face again with his mask just in case someone sees his flushed cheeks. He could feel the heat reaching the tips of his ears too.

"You're the only sister in my heart, Jie jie. You know I love you most!"

A few minutes after the call ended, one can see a young man in his hospital scrubs staring in a daze at a mobile phone.

His Jie jie.

The world knew her as the drop dead gorgeous heiress of two big families in Japan.

This week, the nation was shocked to learn of her engagement and then sudden wedding to the world's most eligible bachelor, the god of wealth, Li Syaoran.

His jie jie.

Amamiya-Kinomoto Sakura, now the Young Madame Li Sakura.

Jiang Muye stared at the screensaver of his phone. It was a photo of him carrying the laughing Sakura at his back, piggyback style, while he made a face pretending she's too heavy for him and she was laughing so hard, he remembered how he teased her when tears fell from the corner of her eyes.

To the world, she has many different identities.

To him, she is her only family.

It was spring last year when he met her.

That same morning was his mother's interment and he decided to drive around outside the city right after the funeral service.

His father left him and his mother when he was three.

He did not even know those twenty two so-called relatives and family friends who offered their condolences during his mother's 3-day memorial service. All his life, he only knew of his mother as his only family. And just like that, she left him after a decade of battle with breast cancer.

As soon as his car entered the freeway, he loosened his tie and tried to stabilize his breathing. He's been feeling quite stuffy even though the cemetery was located in a hilltop just an hour drive from the city.

He put down the top of his black convertible and stepped on the gas to get some release.

Too bad, he only got five minutes of peace before the nightmare came.

He was admiring the beautiful sunset then, filling red and yellow hues around him, creating a melancholy atmosphere around when some four cars appeared to be racing started to pick on him.

They were laughing boisterously while they mocked and jeered at him as they try to pressure him in every turn, making him almost lose his control of the car and hit the low railings on the edge of the road. A simple mistake can make his car fall off the edge of the cliff and die an untimely death.

Driving a car at 160 mph on a freeway overlooking the deep rocky edges of the cliff isn't really something he is used to.

This is the first time he has gotten into such a frightening situation his whole 23 years of being alive.

He has never felt near death's door until this moment.

As he try his best to concentrate with his driving and steer away from the group, he heard a car tire screeching loudly as it careened off the main road and eventually hit the steel railing.

He glanced at the rearview mirror and saw 2 more cars lose control and hit the other side of the cliff.

The last car right beside him also slowed down a little when the driver noticed the commotion. Suddenly, the two rear tires of the car burst and it slammed on a road signage after going a few circles.

Scared that he'll be targeted next, Jiang Muye stepped on his accelerator harder and started to dial 119 from his car phone.

Suddenly, a matte black Mustang Roush Eleanor appeared on his left side and a woman with long auburn hair flying all around her was peeking at him through her car's window.

She pushed back a pair of huge black sunglasses on top of her head before speaking to him.

Well, yelled at him to be precise.

"Hey, kid! Are you okay?"

The moment Jiang Muye heard her voice, he knew he's finally safe so he dropped the emergency call.

Well, he thought as he looked over the lady again and saw her enchantingly beautiful face, if he's wrong, then it'll be better to die in this person's hands than under the gang chasing him before.

So he slowed down and parked his car on the dirt path on the side of the road.

The Mustang did the same and a woman not even reaching 5'3", wearing a white linen one piece dress pants and white leather flats stepped out of the car.

Jiang Muye also stepped out of the car and met the lady midway between the two cars.

"Kid, are you alright?"

Muye couldn't help but chuckle at how she called him. Since he was 6'0", he towered over her yet the lady still insisted on calling him a kid.

"Yes ma'am, I am well. Was it you who put down those men? I didn't see how you could have done it though. Did they drive through some spikes or something on the road?"

The lady laughed loudly, as if she was very much entertained by something.

It actually may seem a bit creepy to others, what, with her just suddenly laughing aloud like that when four accidents happened mere minutes ago? He wasn't even sure if those men are still alive!

But for Jiang Muye, he liked the sound of her laughter. It was like the sound of crystal bells gracefully being blown by a gentle wind.

Jiang Muye stared curiously at the woman in front of him as she pulled something out of her pocket.

"Spikes? Nope.This is what happened." Sakura popped the 'p' cutely.

She pulled out an all matte black handgun from her right pocket and proudly showed it to the stranger that's currently gawking at her with his mouth hanging open.

"You might not know it, but it's a SIG P226! Meet my baby Pig. Get it?" She giggled again as she kissed the body of her pistol. "The P is from the model and the I G is from the maker. Now you know how smart your Jie jie is!"

"Jie jie?" Jiang Muye shook his head as he tried to clear his head.

What's actually happening, he just don't know.

Sakura tilted her head to the side and stared at him with a sad expression on her tiny face.

"How pitiful you are, my little Muye. I am your cousin, Kinomoto Sakura. We just saw each other at your mother's burial a while ago. It just so happened that we were at the same freeway when I saw those men mess with you so I shot their tires. Don't worry though, as you've noticed, my gun's shots have been silenced and my bullets are untraceable. I got it all in the bag."

Still not able to comprehend what she's saying, Muye frowned as he pressed the bridge of his nose.

"Cousin?"

Nodding excitedly, Sakura went over to his side and leaned back on the hood of his car.

"Oh, you poor thing. Your IQ must have dropped down a bit due to the stress and pain your mother's death has brought you."

Sakura took a step nearer to him and reached out and clapped his left shoulder.

"Don't worry though, I assure you this is only temporary. You'll get smart again after a few hours of sleep."

Jiang Muye's lips twitch as he listened to the weird lady's words.

Is this really how you comfort a 'cousin'?

Sakura retracted her hand and held it out towards the confused man in front of her.

"Again, my complete name is Amamiya-Kinomoto Sakura. My father, Kinomoto Fujitaka, is the second cousin of your late mother, Auntie Ling. You can even check it out yourself later. And as I've told you this morning, my father sends his deepest apologies because he is in Germany right now and couldn't get an early flight back."

"We talked a while ago?" Subconsciously, he also stretched out hand to shake hands with his so-called cousin.

She smiled at him warmly. "Well, seeing how you are now, I can understand why you couldn't remember. So, don't worry about it."

She then raised her right palm at him and said "Anyway, I am serious though! Do you even know that your mother's maiden name was Kinomoto? Here's my driver's license so that you'll be assured that we truly are relatives."

Jiang Muye was caught off guard by her warm smile that he felt the tips of his ears getting hot.

"I believe you."

"Hontou?! That quick?"

Jiang Muye nodded. "You wouldn't get anything from me by lying. I'm not rich or anything. I didn't inherit anything from my mother except an apartment and this car, and I just graduated from the university. So really, you won't get anything from me by lying that we're blood relatives."

Sakura stared at her cousin for a full minute.

She found her cousin's trusting nature too adorable!

She can't wait to bring him back home and take good care of him.

Hmmm~~~ that sounded like making him a pet?

Oh well. Otou-san never allowed her to have a dog before anyway, since I was always too busy with school.

Seeing the short yet scary lady gazing at him up and down while tapping her finger on her chin, Juang Muye felt a chill on his back.

What the heck?!

"Where are you heading off to? How about we go and have early dinner once we reach Tokyo? My treat since your jiejie is filthy rich."

Like hell I would come with you!

You're looking at me as if I'm a prey and you're going to sell me off somewhere!

"Sure. You lead, I'll follow behind."

Jiang Muye face palmed in his mind.

Damn, why can't he say no to this weird cousin of his!

This cousin of his is really something

Her words may consist of jokes but her voice is so full of genuine sincerity that he couldn't help but agree to whatever she says.

His rationality tells him to stay away from this weird girl who apparently, also appear to be dangerous since she loves guns and can race nonchalantly on road cliffs,

But if he chooses to be true to himself…

Jiang Muye's cheeks flushed when Sakura looked up at him and smiled at him.

This time, when she reached out her hand to him, she gently ruffled his hair in a strange, comforting way.

Jiang Muye covered his face with his large hands and quickly rushed over to his car's driver side door and entered.

If he choose to be true to himself...

He wants to stay close to her, to bask in on her overflowing warmth.

As they get back on their own cars and drive off towards the restaurant Sakura wanted to bring him to in somewhere in Tokyo, Jiang Muye couldn't help but look back at the direction where his mother was laid to her final rest.

"Mother, thank you for sending me a family in your place. I like her."

—xoXoxoXo——

"Eh~~~~ I feel like something's off with my Muye." Frowning slightly, Sakura stared at the mobile phone on her hand, debating if she should call him back or not.

Syaoran leaned over and kissed her forehead, easing the light wrinkle that was just there a second ago.

"Don't worry about it, honey. Just make sure to leave some time later to talk to him privately. He may have some things in his mind that will be better to be discussed personally rather on phone."

Sakura leaned over and kissed Syaoran on the lips. "Mmm. My husband's so smart, he must always be right. I'll definitely do as you say."

Syaoran puffed his chest and nodded his head arrogantly in agreement.

She then glanced at the little bun in her arms.

"Where did you guys go off to so early in the morning? This guy's pretty exhausted. And look," she peered closely at Syaoran's face "You don't look well either. You have dark circles under your eyes. Have you not slept properly?"

Syaoran closed the gap between them and kissed her cherry pink lips. Biting softly on her lower lip before letting it go, he grumbled, "Have you even noticed that you didn't kiss me hello the moment I arrive?"

Syaoran's eyes narrowed at her as he pulled away from Sakura and sat back properly on his chair.

"All you see is that kid and not your husband. Should I make you pay for this?"

Sakura's lips twitched as she watch her petty husband acting like a kid.

"I'm sorry honey. I was just worried where you guys have gone off to without me! And when I saw you carrying Xiao Bao, I wanted to carry him too! I missed him!"

"You missed him?"

Sakura felt a chill down her spine. She took a sneak peek at the man beside her and saw that his eyes were so narrowed they were almost only slits.

'Ooopsie.'

"I meant," she moved nearer to Syaoran and placed her head on the base of his neck.

Syaoran felt his throat dry up when he felt her warm breath on his skin.

His nose filled up with her delicious natural scent mixed with the fruity flavor of her favorite shampoo for years.

"I missed you so much when I saw that it's almost an hour since I've woken up and you still haven't arrived! Then when I was thinking of how to reach you, you suddenly appeared with the kid and then," she shifted Xiao Bao in her arms and placed him strategically on her lap so that she can free one arm.

Then she hugged Syaoran's waist as she snuggled closer to him. "That's the time I remembered how I also missed Xiao Bao!"

"You missed me first?"

"Of course! Who would even dare replace you in my heart?" Sakura kissed his cheek and hugged him tighter.

"Good. That's better." he grunted.

His gruff voice may sound like he's still angry but Sakura knew he has calmed down already as she felt his nose and breath on top of her head.

'Oh this petty, petty man.' she laughed secretly in her heart.

She looked down at the still sleeping child in her arms and smiled.

'If we truly were a real family, how blissful this scene would be.'

"So where did you go? You didn't answer my question." she turned her face up to look inquiringly at her husband.

Syaoran smoothened the lock of hair that fell across her forehead before answering.

"First, I took him to play at the swings in the central park. Then I notice that the little guy seemed to have some colds so I brought him to the Tokyo Central Hospital for a quick check up."

Sakura suddenly sat up straight and then she leaned down and pressed her forehead against Xiao Bao's.

"Thank goodness he doesn't seem warm." She breathed a sigh of relief.

Snuggling back in Syaoran's arms, she didn't forget to praise him. "Good job on bringing him immediately to the doctors! You will be such an amazing dad someday, honey."

A flash of tenderness appeared in those enchanting pair of amber eyes as it gazed down on a pair of emerald ones.

"I hope so, sweetie. Hey, come on, let's resume breakfast. Look at how your Jii-chan's sending me death glares from across."

To annoy the old man further, Syaoran raised his hand and pointed a slender finger directly at him.

"You brat! You dare to point your dirty finger at me!" The Old General snarled at him.

"Li Xiao Lang! How impolite of you!" Li Yelan reprimanded him.

Laughing, Sakura bit Syaoran's finger and winked at her grandfather who has calmed down after his granddaughter avenged him.

"I got him, Jii-chan!" She cried gleefully with a thumbs up.

"Great, great! Now go and have your breakfast with the evil man. Since it'll be difficult for you to eat with the child in your arms, why don't you bring him over so Jii-chan can hold him while you eat? And I'm sure holding the child will calm my nerves down, as opposed to what your husband does to me. Hmp!"

Li Yelan and the others raised their eyebrows.

This crafty old man!

"Alright, Jii-chan, wait, I'll give him to you. Calm down, no need to get angry anymore."

Sakura quickly stood up and rushed over to her ageing grandfather and try to ease his temper.

She was fussing over him that she didn't notice the mischevious glint in the Old General's dark eyes.

She didn't notice, but the rest did.

Li Yelan clenched her handkerchief in irritation since she was outwitted by the old man.

Hey! That's my first grandchild!

She has all the rights to hold the cute little bundle of fat!

Feeling the temperature lowering beside him, Xiao Shi leaned over to his mother.

"Mother, we'll get him later, I promise."

"Make sure you do." she replied through gritted teeth.

Xiao Shi sent his twin brother a look and Syaoran lowered his lids and touched his forehead with his hands.

He seriously need to talk to these people on how to create a time schedule for his kid. If this goes on, his child will be constantly passed on to one person to another, fawned over and played with, until Xiao Bao gets exhausted again and again!

It has only been about three minutes that the Old General was holding the little bun when a soft cry was heard over the lively noise of conversation around as the joint family and guests enjoy their first breakfast together.

"Mama~~~~~"

"Baobei!"

A white figure flashed across the area and stopped abruptly near the Old General in mere three seconds.

Grabbing the crying kid from the old man's arms, Sakura cuddled Xiao Bao tightly in her arms, hastily covering his exposed legs with the fleece blanket.

Patting his small back ever so gently, Sakura cooed at him, trying to soothe his cries.

"Mama is here, my dearest Baobei…don't cry anymore…hush hush, my little angel…"

Syaoran, who was trying to feed his wife, stared unbelievingly at his wife who had just left him immediately at the first sound of their son's cry.

Natsume snorted at the vision of his friend, unbelief clearly showing in his eyes, jaw clenched as he hold a fork with a piece of lonely, forgotten meat, just like the one holding it.

"Whoa~~~~ how pitiful!" Xiao Shi whispered loudly to Koko who is seated across him, near Syaoran.

Syaoran sent him a piercing glare as he placed the fork back on his plate elegantly.

Stabilizing his breathing, Syaoran closed his eyes and meditated in his head on how deeply in love he is with his wife and how his wife deeply loves him too, despite of how she had just acted a moment ago.

Kitsuneme, Mochu, Koko, and Xiao Shi all burst out laughing as they watch Syaoran's face change from a shade of red back to normal then red again the moment he heard the mocking laughter from the guys.

"Kids."

A silent warning from Natsume quieted down the four and Syaoran's complexion returned to normal again.

He opened his eyes and shot Natsume a look.

Damn you. I don't want to talk about this later.

Natsume smirked at him.

Oh, that's just what you hope so.

Syaoran leaned back on his seat and lazily placed his arm on the back of Sakura's vacant seat beside him as he watch his wife hugging their son as she swayed gracefully from side to side.

When a cute childish giggle was heard, everyone's attention turned back to the mother and son at one corner.

Syaoran ran his left hand through his thick, messy hair as he smiled tenderly at the heartwarming scene in front of him.

Oh what the heck.

I'll just let her pay me back tonight for this.

"Sakura, come bring Baobei with you back here. He must be hungry by now. Let Papa feed him."