Author's Notes: Gomen for the late update. Though it's summer, I am quiet busy. My social life suddenly got active-er . But that doesn't mean I forgot about everyone - thank you so much for the comments, nyo! Sooo happy. My harddrive crashed, and initially, this chapter was going to be out faster, but noooo. I even wrote separate comments for everyone!! Gahhhh I don't feel like putting down the winner's list today the chapters what matters right now @_@ -- gomen!!
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or any of the characters, yeah you know. I am in possession of Yumi, Reiko, Shiro, Hiroyuki, and all my own original characters - Songs, "Deep River" by Utada Hikaru doesn't belong to me either.
Chapter 9 - I Love You
By, azngurL
"Tadaima [I'm home]," Reiko said as she entered the Kinomoto house. Dripping wet, she removed her shoes and walked in to see her mother sitting in the living room. It seemed like she was sitting there for a while, contemplating on something. "Plotting something, are you?"
Without turning her head, Yumi said in return, "Okairi-nasai [welcome back]"
Reiko too a good look at her mother and noticed something was wrong. "Okasan?" She walked to the living room and placed her hands at her shoulders. Yumi looked up at her daughter.
As much as Reiko hates how Yumi treats Sakura, she still loves her - as a mother. It's only natural. "What's up?" Reiko asked, looking down.
Yumi looked away. " Nan demo nai no [nothing],"
"Come on, tell me!" Reiko said with a persistent smile.
Hiroyuki ran in and looked somewhat happy, yet upset. "One-chan, guess what??"
Reiko looked over to her younger brother. Yumi looked at Hiroyuki. "Hiro-chan, please keep it quiet," she said to her son.
"Demo ~!" Hiroyuki complained.
"Daijoubu, Okasan. Naniyo, Hiro-chan [What is it]?" Reiko said bending down to look at her brother.
With a loud voice, he exclaimed, "Sakura-one-chan's going away!"
"E?" Sakura murmured as she stirred awake. She looked around, her eyes focusing. "Koko wa [this place],"
"My apartment," A deep voice said as he walked over and sat on the bed.
"Shiro-kun!!" Sakura said with a smile. "Eh? Your apartment-"She suddenly gasped, "I have to go home. RIGHT NOW,"
"So much for a "thank-you-for-bringing-me-up-to-your-apartment-let-me-give-you-a-kiss" huh," Shiro mumbled.
"Did you say something?"
"Nope,"
" I will definitely get beat for this. It's 9 already ," Sakura whispered, gripping onto the sheet.
"My mom's not here, so you're not in that much trouble, Sakura-san,"
"I can't stand it though," She shut her eyes. "Everything's gone so wrong and I don't know why. Everyday, everyday, I dread going home - I want to go somewhere else. Everyday, I get beat by her for no reason. I can't stand it!!"
Shiro held her.
"S,"
"It's okay Don't be so scared. Don't worry about it so much, everything'll be fine,"
She leaned on his chest and started to cry. "It's too hard to accept,"
"It's always hard. And then you find a way. It's always like that you know?"
""
"What do you mean, Hiro-chan?" I asked politely.
"Okasan said that Sakura-onechan is going away," Hiroyuki pointed his finger up with pride, "That she's moving or something - and then I get to use her room when she's out!"
Reiko's eyes widened and she stood up abruptly and looked at Yumi. "What ? What?! WHAT IS THIS!? OKASAN!! WHAT IS THIS!?" She shouted.
Yumj stood up and walked over to Reiko. With a blank stare she said, "It's as he said. Sakura will be leaving this household."
"Demo doushite (but why)?! Do you hate her THAT much to be KICKING her out of the HOUSEHOLD?!" Reiko argued loudly.
Yumi's blank face gradually changed into anger. "Enough, Reiko!"
Reiko shook her head furiously and couldn't accept her own mother's doing. "You're so cold-hearted," tears fell from her eyes because of the sudden trauma and shock - from the very thought of losing Sakura. "SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO DESERVE THIS, YOU MAKE HER LIFE A LIVING HELL, FORCE HER TO MARRY AGAINST HER WILL, AND NOW YOU'RE KICKING HER OUT?! TO WHERE?! HOW CAN YOU BE SO COLD-HEARTE-"
And a big swing of Yumi's hand came crashing into Reiko's right cheek, sending her to the ground. Not looking at her mother, her eyes widened, tears falling, she didn't know what to do, what to think. She was now in Sakura's very same position, very same hell, very same life in that one single moment.
"I swear You're turning into HER bit by bit everyday. It SCARES ME. STOP IT, NOW. Reiko you are not the daughter I once knew and loved," Yumi said, hovering over her, looking down upon her very own daughter.
Closing her eyes she whispered, "You're heartless What happened to you ?" and she ran upstairs, to her room, and locked the door.
Gasping to breath, tears still streaming from her eyes, she fell to her knees and cried furiously. "What's what's going on ?"
Still holding her, she broke their silence and said, " I have to go home,"
He held her tighter. "Are you sure?"
"What should I expect when I get home? A slap on the face maybe a beating in my stomach no dinner why didn't I appreciate it all earlier?" She said, trembling. "And then there's Syaorankun,"
Shiro's expression changed and he held her away from his embrace, looking directly into her face. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to express it. He held it inside and instead said, "I'll bring you home,"
They started their walk home in the pouring rain, in silence, under the same umbrella. Breaking another silence, Sakura said in a low voice, "What will happen when the both of us get married?"
"Yumi-san and Okasan will be undoubtly happy we'll get our own house, give them more money, and then who knows," Shiro said blankly.
"You make it sound so order-ly. How boring," Sakura said with a small smile. "It'll be kinda sad too. Living the rest of my life through such guilt,"
And in the meantime, Syaoran happened to be walking on the same sidewalk to spot both Shiro and Sakura under the same umbrella. Not making any noise, he moved to the corner to hide and to eavesdrop (A/N: I know, kinda cliché, but still!). .
"Guilt? Living with me and marrying me will make you feel guilty? Hah, that's a first," Shiro remarked.
Sakura couldn't help but crack a smile, "Shiro-kun, you player,"
He stuck out his tongue, "I know."
Another silence broke out and the rain continued to pour - they continued to stay in that very spot. " I'll never be able to forget, you know," Sakura whispered.
"Him?"
"Yeah,"
"I still love him,"
Shiro remained silent.
"One day, I'll explode because of all this guilt you know? To not be able to tell him the truth. To lie to him that I don't love him. To lie to him about everything," She started to cry again. "Oh no dammit stupid tears," She walked away from Shiro into the rain, and held her face. "Why am I crying so much? It annoys even me. I still love him, Shiro-kun; I don't know what to do!"
"Sakura, I-"
"For all my life, I have to live through this hell - forever, forever, forever. I love Syaoran-kun, Shiro! I can't forget him, I CAN'T. Hah what am I talking about This is all stupid, I'm so stupid, everyone's so MESSED UP, I-"
Shiro
I kissed her. Then she looked at me, and I looked at her. Our umbrella had been left on the ground, collecting water. I couldn't hold it in anymore - "WHY DON'T YOU FORGET HIM, SAKURA?! CAN'T YOU SEE?! I LOVE YOU!" I can't believe I said that.
"W What?"
She gave me such a look like she was lost; she didn't know what to do. What the hell did I just do? I only scared her. Man what the hell did I do?! "S-Sakura ," I managed to utter out.
I watched her as she held her lips. "S-Shiro-kung-gomen!" And she ran away.
Let's stream without asking reason
Only with the name given.
There's no need to accept everything
Our pains have now taken off
She ran away.
I watched her run away from me.
And here I am.
A pathetic excuse for a man.
Not running after her.
Not running after her.
In moments like these. I feel like a child.
That's why I chose you
--
A: Finished! Please leave a review ^^ -- the next chapter is,
Losing You
Preview
All present in the same room, Shiro, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Reiko,
Yumi, and then Sakura they had all heard the same news
that went through their ears. Sakura broke down to the floor crying.
"Sou (Yes). She will be leaving for America. Where she will attend a boarding school," Yumi stated.
No questions today! Achan is very busy, nyo!! Thanks for reading ^^.