The thirteenth chapter is finally here! enjoy while ignoring the grammatical and spelling errors of which i apologize for not having the time to edit!
Chapter 13- locked up in a game
"It was very hard to identify who Jake was," Tomoyo said matter-of-factly during our three way phone conversation.
"Why's that?"
"For two reasons: one is that we had to hack—I'm sorry to say—into very confidential files, all of which are freaking hard to break into, and for another reason which is too long to explain soI will summarize it by saying thathe goes by the false but legal name of Jake Tomas. It was a relief that he used his father's first name for a last name because it made things easier, although it was pretty stupid on his part. His family did it".
"Care to explain why they'd go to all that trouble to change the git's name?"
"Well, it's because—why are you calling him git?" Eriol asked, grabbing the dialogu from Tomoyo.
"Because I want to…"
"You didn't even know what he did".
"Look at it this way, my dear ancestor, Jake is the son of another older git that used to always put useless pressure on the shoulders of a young 14 year old brilliant girl that happens to be my guest at the present. Naturally, I hate him".
"Whatever you say, my dear descendant" Eriol said, amused.
"Stop calling me that".
"Whatever. Anyway, you wouldn't believe what we found out about the guy. After opening about 50 secret files, we found out that Jake Tomas has an extremely filthy record. Think 'Ms. Congeniality'. Seeing all this, I'm not at all surprised by his family's decision to make the world think they are not related to him".
"Filthy in what way?"
"Filthy as in crime-filthy. This guy has been charged with attempted murder, frustrated discharge of firearm, attempted rape, hazing, administering injurious substances on beverages, less serious physical injuries and maltreatment from ages 16 and up," Tomoyo explained, a hint of worry creeping in her voice.
"WHAT?" I nearly yelled on the phone. "Why the heck would Nadeshiko marry a father with a son like that?"
"First love, I guess. Did I mention that when Nadeshiko married Tomas, he was a lot older than her with a 7 year old Jake alreadyin tow?"
"First love, definitely. So you mean to tell me, that he changed his name from a Chien to a Tomas because he had a dirty record on the former? How old is he now?"
"Twenty five, the same age as Sakura's new brother" Tomoyo informed him.
"I know who the brother is. It's Touya Kinomoto, isn't it?"
"Yep. But before we go to that, we haven't dug up anything about Sakura's relationship with him when their parents weren't divorced yet. It's strange. It's like after the break-up, all data and info about the siblings disappeared".
"Are they still in contact with each other?"
"Well, Jake contacted her through e-mail and letters after the break up, but I'm certain there was no reply ever received".
"…"
"Hey, Li?" Tomoyo piped up.
"Yeah?"
"You don't think he and his father did anything… well… disturbing to Sakura, do you?"
"You have an overactive imagination, Tomoyo".
"I'm serious. It happens all the time. Directors use it for good movies, authors use it for a good plot, there are thousands of documentaries about it, most criminals are responsible for it and it has a high rate on crimes committed for the past 5 years. The media thrives on it, Li. Don't avoid the possibility that it actually happened to our friend. Hasn't it even occurred to you that she may have been a—".
"Don't say it" I commanded. I couldn't take the word. The word was one of the reasons why I wanted to be a lawyer. The word was something I witnessed a long time ago.
"Well?" she asked with more conviction.
"I didn't think so. But now,… maybe I'm not so sure".
OoOoOoo
After a few more minutes of exchanging information, I hanged up and got out of bed. Even though it was only 3 in the morning, I frankly admit that I no longer have any desire to sleep. It seems that the Sandman—if there's even one—dumped hot water on me instead of a truckload of sand. I went downstairs to the fireplace. When I faced the intricately designed room, pretty much like a relaxation room, I was surprised to find that I'm not going to waste the night away alone.
Sakura was there with her back at me, probably staring at the fire as it crackled and danced. Quietly, I slipped beside her before she could even blink, causing her to jump and throw a pillow at me.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.
"Couldn't sleep".
"Me too".
Silence
"You know, athletes who have a game tomorrow should never stay up late the night before" she told me.
"Uh… why?"
"Duh. If you sleep late, you wake up with a migraine. If you play with a migraine, you play like a wimp. If you play like a wimp, you'll end up losing like a wimp, albeit wimpier than a wimp".
I raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe that. It may happen to chipmunks but for me, I don't thi- OW!"
"I am NOT a chipmunk!".
"So you're an oversized mutated chipmunk?"
"Why do you always call me chipmunk, and then little girl, and then maniac, and then parrot?" she questioned irritably.
"Technically, YOU called me a parrot".
"And you are still a parrot" she said. "You're just like Touya" she added, grumbling and throwing another pillow at me.
"Touya? You're stepbrother?" I asked, interested.
"Yes!" she said empathetically. "If you call me a parrot, then he calls me a monster. A very violent one, might I add".
"If you ask me, I think he describes you perfectly".
"Parrot".
"Thank you"
She then pulled up her knees and rested her chin on it. "You never change".
"Can't help it. I like the way I am" I said easily. After a few moments of silence, I can't help but ask, (so sue me. Curiousity might've killed the cat, but I like to think I'm one mighty parrot… not a cat) "Is he nice? Your brother, I mean?"
"Oh, he is overly demented. He calls me monster, he irritates me a lot, he teases me, he smirks at me and he's overly protective. A self-proclaimed overprotective, schizophrenic, girl magnet nut. If you ask me, he's not nice. He's evil. Waaaayyyy evil".
I laughed. Although the speech may be misleading to the not so quick, I immediately felt that, although no matter how many times she may whine and yell about Touya Kinomoto, she approves of him. Because I know that if she doesn't like him, she'd show it. Little by little, I'm starting to think that maybe I still have the chance to see the Sakura I saw on video a couple of days ago. That would be nice.
"There is one thing that both of you nutballs have in common, though" she said suddenly.
"What's that?"
Then, she suddenly pointed a commanding finger at me and stated, "both of you are very good athletes. You're both competitive. You're both one of the best in your field, even though I hate to say it. You better play like it's your last tomorrow, Li Xiao-Lang".
"Why?"
"I don't know…… I never really liked losing…" she whispered, her eyes clouding. "My father taught me the importance of winning… winners should win, losers should be p- never mind" she hastily said. I was taken aback. Then, I saw how much influence her father had in her.
"And what if i don't want to win?" I bluffed, eyebrows raised.
"Impossible"
"Ouch," I replied dramatically. "You know me too well!"
Putting my arms behind my head and relaxing, I suddenly challenged, "okay, to prove to you that I am serious about this whole winning thing, let's make a bet".
She quirked one eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
"First, the two of us have to agree..."
I drifted off after that, savoring the moment when we actually have a decent conversation. But in spite of the fact that we're talking, I can't help but recall what she said. More specifically, what she was about to say before she stopped.
Winners live, losers should be punished.
What a load of bull. I knew that if I want her to get better, I have to find out what happened to her. Her mind's already conditioned to think in a negative and unhealthy way, no doubt the result of her being the daughter of a satanic father and a potential murderer/rapist as a brother.
"... so you have to promise me that, as a sort of seal of this outrageous bet, you will win. Got it?" she was asking.
I looked at her for a second and then smiled. Suddenly, I did the unexpected: I clasped a hand around that pointing, threatening finger and pulled the owner (ignoring the shout of protest, the bang of my heart as it's rate escalated, the potential of being murdered by a deranged chipmunk and the unmistakable yet unexplainable warm feeling that I knew the fire had nothing to do with) closer until we were practically nose to nose. Looking at her in the eye, I whispered,
"Promise".
OoOoOoo THE DAY OF THE GAME oOoOOoO
"Come on, you worms!" coach yelled. "The game is in 20 minutes! I want you goons to get you lazy butts outta here and win this! NOW!". he strode off and slammed the door behind him, all red in the face.
"you know, if I hear another 'worm' come out of his mouth," Brian threatened, irritated, "I will not hesitate to get one from a bucket of them from our gardener's storage and shove it up hi—".
"Relax. He's just trying to motivate us with his insults" Yamazaki explained. "By the way, did you know that buckets were once used to cover the heads of bald people? It was because they were so blinded by the shiny spot that this pries—".
"Hey, Li" Eriol whispered as he put on his uniform, "where's Sakura?"
The heir smirked and shrugged innocently, "how should I know?"
"Well, for one thing, she's late for the game and—as we all know—she arrives at LEAST 2 hours before. Secondly, you have that oh-yeah-i-did-something-to-piss-my-guest-and-love-interest-and-I'm-so-happy smirk on your face".
"And what would I do to her, pray tell?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe you tied her up in bed or locked her up in the shower or gave her pills that caused her to be the toilet's worst enemy or-".
"Now, now, lover boy" Li drawled. "I didn't to anything like that to the little chipmunk. Well… not THAT drastic, anyway"
"So you DID do something!"
"Maybe yes, maybe no".
"Well, I do hope you didn't set her alarm clock late because, if I remember correctly, you made a bet with her which states that on any occa—". Eriol discontinued what hewas aboutto say as he amusedly watched the heir literally flew towards the doors and disappeared. "Thought so" he snickered.
OoOOOOOoOooooO 5 minutes before inside the girl's locker room oOooOooooooOOo
WHERE'S MY SOCKS? MY SHOES? Wait… AHA! MY BRAAA! HIYAH! I lunged towards the lingerie and, putting it on, grabbed my shirt from my locker and slipped it one as well. One day, I solemnly swore to myself as I tried with difficulty to put on my shorts and tie my hair at the same time, I will KILL THAT MANIAC! HOW DARE HE SET MY ALARM CLOCK AT 8:30! REVENGE WILL BE MINE!
If my never-ending growls cannot enlighten you to who the maniac is, well, said maniac is none other than Li, official heir to the Li clan and soon-to-be fried hotdogs.
To make a long story short, I'm going to briefly tell you what happened to me right after that. Maybe I was too busy plotting how to poison the heir and trying to pull on my socks at the same time that I did not notice the doors of the room opening and the clink of high heels and Adidas shoes, because the next thing I knew, pain shot from the back of my body and then….
Everything went black.
OoOO Li's POV oOoOO
Okay, so where would I go if I was a very violent, very aggressive, tomboyish, potty-mouthed chipmunk that was irritated by her very cute host?
Oh, seriously. When I suspected that Sakura may be hiding from me to make me feel stupid or guilty, it didn't hit me that she wasn't the type of person to make me feel guilty by hiding. Instead, she was the type of person to get revenge by doing something worse… only not when I'm about to have a game with the school's archnemesis.
But then, it hit me now. So basically, after searching for about 10 million years, I finally had itsy bitsy—okay, fine—BIG drops of worry trickling down my back. It grew even bigger after I checked the physics lab, the chemistry lab, the open court, the softball court… even the faculty… and found not hair nor hide of the girl.
There was only one place left (no, not the stadium where we'll play): the girls' locker room.
And I really didn't want to go there. Because you see, when I was about 5 or 8 years old, I was very addicted to the show 'Dexter's lab'. To all the ex-addicts like me, you remember the episode where in Dexter and his friend infiltrated the girls' bathroom and they went inside this stall and found this place full of flowery meadows and shrieking little Ivannas and Miyus…
Well, let's just say that I reeeeaaaallly don't want to find 5000 of those little monsters. One for each is enough, thank you. (childlish, I know).
I arrived at the ground floor of the building and headed towards the back. This floor, which houses the locker rooms, ball storage and the like, was connected to the gym. I hurriedly turned to my left and was about to make a right (the direction of the Danger Room), when I saw Miyu and her friends emerge from that way. I didn't like the pleased smirks and triumphant gaits they were showing, as if they imprisoned Orlando Bum-sits. I like it even less when, seeing my figure, the rushed towards me, there cocky expression turning into panic and then angelic smiles. Fake ones, might I add.
Miyu walked up to me and clung to my arm. "Hey, sweetie" she simpered. "Where are you going?"
"None of your damned business" I snapped and tried to push her away.
"But you must tell us!" she persisted, tightening her hold. "Maybe we can help!".
"If you should know (which I think you don't), I'm looking for a certain classmate of ours" I shot back. "Now, get you sagging butts outta my way and manicure your hair or something…". I swore I felt she'd slap me but when they saw that I was heading towards the girls' locker room, they panicked. This redhead held me back.
"No! Seriously, Xiao-Lang, you wouldn't want to go there! You won't find Kinomoto anywhere near that room or the storage!"
Silence.
A clapping sound was heard as she clamped a hand over her mouth. Miyu swore and fired a dozen insults. On my side, I was too busy keeping my hands on my sides. It's really hard, you know, especially when you have an urge to kill.
"I don't recall telling you anything about the identity of our friend" I said quietly.
"I-I didn't mean that! What I meant wa-!"
"Get the hell outta my way"
"Bu-!"
I pushed her off my arm and ran towards the girls' locker room. Forgetting about 500 Miyus and Ivannas, I kicked open the door and ran towards the her locker. I stopped short when I saw a lone, auburn haired figure sprawled on the floor beside the bench, lying face down and apparently unconscious.
"Oh shit".
OoOoooOoOooO
"Where's Li?" Brian asked. It was time. RSU vs. JCU. Both teams are excellent. Both teams have thousands of fans screaming in the gigantic 5,000 or so seater stadium. Both teams are present.
Except RSU has one player… one very important player… missing: the captain, to be exact.
"I don't know! I've been looking all over for him!" Eriol responded, frustrated.
"There's no sign of him in the locker room, either!" Yamazaki yelled, as the announcer shouted the name of the JSU soccer team, making the crowd roar and cheer.
"Dammit!"
"And in the right side of the stadium, we have the RSU Wolves!"
As the thunder of screams, cheers and applause sounded around the spacious waiting area, shaking the ground and boosting the players morale as they stampeded out into the open, Eriol looked back and frowned.
Where are you, Li?
OoOooOoOo
After spraying her face with cold water, I finally got a reaction. Trying to refrain from yelling with joy, I shook her awake as she groaned, her eyes fluttering open and finally focusing on me.
"What—are you—doing—here?" she managed to groan, rubbing the back of her head and wincing in pain.
"Are you alright? What happened?" I asked urgently.
"Oh—er—gah… wait…" she cursed and closed her eyes tightly, trying to remember amidst the insistent throbbing of her head. Then, before I can react, her eyes flew wide open and stared at me, filled with rage.
"THAT BITCH!" she yelled, trying to get up. "She hit me on the head!"
"Who? Miyu?"
"Yes!" I nearly screeched. "YES! She… she… wait.." I halted, as images flashed on my head. Smells… voices…
"Come on, Miyu! The game's starting in a few minutes! I don't want to be late!" a voice complained.
"Wait just a minute, hon" Miyu replied. "We just have to make sure she's really knocked out".
"Look, I hit her hard, I hit her good. I'm a soccer player, Miyu, no one can possibly not be knocked out after that blow" her companion replied.
Yes… that voice… wait… that was no girl's voice…
That was a deep, man's voice! I scrunched up my forehead and thought back.
"Okay, fine, I trust you. Now, the girls are waiting outside. I'll go with them, you go to the stadium. Kick the team's ass, Lei darling. Do to them what you did to her. I know you can do it."
"I know, babe. See you".
"Miyu didn't hit me…." I said slowly. Then, as I sniffed the air (making Li do the same), this odor hit me like a rock. The heir probably smelled it too, because when I was about to speak, he said, "her boyfriend did, right?"
"How did you know?" I asked, astounded, quite forgetting the fact that my head was throbbing.
"Oh, it's the smell. Like B.O. and sweat and AXE deodorant mixed together…" he replied. After making sure I was okay, he stood up and went towards the door, disappearing from my sight.
Trying to keep my temper in check, I hurriedly completed my outfit, imagining all typed of horrific plots to twist that little cheerleaders neck. No doubt about it. The birdbrains are definitely after the ta—.
"Damn!"
"What? What's wrong?" I yelled, running towards the door. Li was hunched over the knob, his hands in curled fists.
Then, before he could answer, the roar of a thousand screams and cheers and trumpets and drums boomed. It was far away, but not that much that we couldn't hear it all the way here. With dawning realization and horror, I grabbed Li and in a panicked voice exclaimed, "THE GAME! THE GAME'S STARTING!"
But he didn't stir. Not one bit. For a minute there, I thought he was well… I don't know. He punched the door, making a clanging sound reverberated around us, making me think he was having PMS or something. But when he stood up and faced me, I knew.
With burning eyes and barely controlled anger, he whispered,
"We're locked in, Sakura. The doors' are locked."
a/n: sorry for the long wait! anyway, how did you like it? sorry if it was pretty boring... :). In any case, READ AND REVIEW!
later and lotsa love,
CalCarrie.
P.S. thank you for all who reviewed!