Deathly Games
Author's Note:
Title: Deathly Games
Author: Kanata Saionji.
Genre: Mystery/Romance/Family/Thriller
Story Line: Shaoran Li, the most famous as well as the youngest Private Eye is assigned the job of protecting the would-be heiress to a vast fortune—Sakura Kinomoto. A sense of foredoom befalls our young detective as he undertakes a deathly vacation to the Hill house of maiden home of Sakura's mother, which is surrounded by something more than the beautiful climate and nature.
Disclaimer: The Author does not own the characters. Everything is the sole property of whomsoever it was created by. However the story, in the general version, belongs to the Author.
Author's words: Enjoy the story to its extreme and please, the readers can make any sort of comment. Anonymous reviews are welcomed.
Story…
Chapter 4
It was hard. I had to accept that. If not reveal the fact that I was scared, I still have to accept the fact that what I was going through was hard. To take over an entire automobiles company at the tender age of sixteen even before graduation, even before becoming a major, was difficult. Difficulty would be an understatement. I had to endure constant tension and pressure and not to mention the continuous stress that I forced on myself. It was just too much. I had sometimes wished that this world would end. But I was never brave enough to do it myself and never was such a coward to run away. I was just a human. Yes, that's how I could define myself. Even though I might look all calm and serene, I was still just another human being trying to live my life.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
It was a snowy day in the middle of December and every student was counting the minutes for Christmas vacation to begin. I had been at my boarding school enduring another boring period of Science, which inspite of the fact that I was really good still didn't stop me from falling asleep during those boring sessions during which the professor would explain the various parts of the brain—cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla, et cetera. Well it was during one of those sessions when one of the clerks stopped at my class and whispered something into the teacher's ears. The teacher's sudden break woke the students up. I woke up as well and looked up curiously at the two.
'Oh my god… really?' the teacher had asked the clerk. I could vividly remember the entire day as though it had happened only yesterday. All the students had looked at the two when the teacher turned to face me and asked me to go to the principal's office. I was beyond myself with shock. So were all the other students in my class. It's not as though I've never been to the Principal's office but usually it would be because I won something in one competition or the other. However, the look that Mr. Brooke gave me at the moment didn't look as though I won anything.
A few minutes later, whilst I was walking along the usual path to the Principal's office it thought back to what might have gone wrong. Possibly me sleeping in class had nothing to do with it. I had always made sure that neither Mr. Brooke nor any of the other teachers saw me sleeping. I sighed and thought maybe I got another scholarship from one of the other schools in London. But I had always loved St. Xavier's Boarding School for Boys. It had been my home ever since elementary school. My mother always thought I was distracting father during his work so she had thought it wise to send me here.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Japanese are always known for their expertise in automobiles—Mitsubishi, Honda, Hyundai, et cetera, et cetera. But Syusuke Hiragiizawa was one of those who tried to start an automobiles company in Europe. He had moved here to Europe at the age of twenty two and had tried from scratch to begin an auto-company; but only in vain. He was double-crossed, betrayed, let down; whatever you say, he had to go through that as well. He was at a complete loss. That's when he had met the beautiful and charming grand daughters of the most famous Japanese icon—Syusuke's hero—Mr. Masaki Amamiya. He had five granddaughters in all and those who he met in London were Ms. Rei and Ms. Ryu Amamiya. Rei, was twenty-one and was an affectionate person who was Mr. Amamiya's eldest granddaughters and Ryu was a year younger and was obnoxious and stubborn and his second granddaughter. Both of their parents had passed away and Mr. Amamiya was more than a grandfather to both of them.
Syusuke used to say that at the moment he had looked into Rei's eyes, he had lost himself in them. Ryu was beautiful as well but Syusuke was more attracted to Rei than he was to Ryu. Apparently, Mr. Amamiya and his granddaughters were on a vacation to London and had met up with him through one of Mr. Amamiya's old friends, who just happened to be Syusuke's lawyer. The four had had a long talk at one of the respectable hotels and the conversation had lasted for hours and hours at the end of which Mr. Amamiya proposed he finance Syusuke's ideas and be the principle investors of his company.
'You have great potential young man,' the old man had said gruffly, 'I'd like to see you succeed'.
'So do I,' Rei has muttered throwing Syusuke a warm smile.
'Automobiles?' Ryu had ridiculed, 'you could do better at cosmetics or fashion… you might just have too much competition Hiragiizawa'.
Syusuke could do nothing but smile at the three. But the conversation that the four had had that night led Syusuke to the steps of success. He had never expected a chance meeting with Mr. Amamiya could change his very life—career as well as social. He had fallen, as a poet would describe, in the pits of the bottomless trench known as love. Syusuke had been too much occupied with his education during his teens to pay any attention to girls. None would believe if he told them that during his prom he had been to the library for a reference on a project he was working on.
Syusuke was not non-dateable material, as a girl would call. He was an odd and unusual combination—smart, handsome with black hair, witty and also athletic; those four characteristics that would have brought to him any kind of girl. It was not as though no girl approached him. As said before, he was just not interested. But his first love blossomed at the very sight of the brunette haired angel named, Rei Amamiya.
He had volunteered to take her for a tour around London. She gladly accepted but Ryu had to tag along as well as Mr. Amamiya had a sudden conference he had to deal with. Ryu was also a beautiful young woman with dark straight purple hair and enticing azure blue eyes. But she was someone you'd call, dominating. She was not Syusuke's type. Rei on the other hand was totally warm and sweet and every moment he spent with her, the greater his love for her grew. Even after the two girls left for Japan, while Mr. Amamiya stayed over for him, Rei usually called him and would speak long hours. But she mostly listened to his troubles. Ryu would also occasionally call, but she often dropped by London, as though it was her next-door and would talk non-stop about herself and Japan.
Syusuke never ceased thinking about Rei. But to take her hand in marriage he had to be in league with Amamiya Family. So he began to employ his efforts and concentration on the growth of his company. He ceased to trust anybody. This proved to be a good element in his self-confidence. Slowly, The Company grew wider and enhanced itself and Syusuke had a healthy relationship with the Amamiya Family. He would always be invited to the annual get-together of the family—Christmas, Summer Vacation, Birthdays, Easter, New Year and the list goes on. It was during one of those get-togethers during which they had decided to go to Mr. Amamiya's newly renovated resort, which was situated at a hillside, that Syusuke was asked whether he would like to be family.
It was beyond Syusuke's widest dreams to become a member of the Amamiya's family and he had nourished his feelings for Rei for such a long time that what he felt was beyond happiness. He had never expected such a privilege as to become a member of their family and more than that, to marry the girl he had truly loved. He accepted at once saying, 'I would love to Mr. Amamiya but considering I'm still in your debt already…'
'Bullshit… you are my son and I'd love to have you in my family…' he had said calmly and had asked, 'so, are you willing to marry my granddaughter?'
'Yes sir!' Syusuke had said.
'Ryu will be glad to hear that…' the old man had said breaking Syusuke's heart to pieces.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
'Well… Hiragiizawa… Eriol Hiragiizawa Automobiles is one of the famous ones in England but it's currently facing a problem…' started Kyle.
But even before Kyle said it Shaoran knew what was coming next and it was confirmed when Kyle said 'a financial problem…'
'Can you explain more clearly on this financial problem of his?' Shaoran asked sitting down on the bed slowly and his eyebrows frowned.
'Well… to put it most clearly,' started Kyle, 'Mr. Hiragiizawa is just seventeen and is still a minor'.
'Yes, I knew that much' said Shaoran, 'but I heard that his guardian was taking care of the business…'
'Si, but his guardian is just another ordinary man and he likes to live luxuriously with his wife in Charing Cross and his mistress in Autumn Street' said Kyle and Shaoran could almost see Kyle smirking.
'I'm listening…' said Shaoran slowly and Kyle continued.
'I still haven't more information on his guardian but I got a friend of mine in London to dig something up…' he said enthusiastically and continued, 'Eriol Hiragiizawa's father, Syusuke Hiragiizawa and his mother Ryu Hiragiizawa, died nearly two years ago in a mysterious car accident and Mr. Hiragiizawa's friend and legal representative, Mr. Ivo Pallazi, was found to be written down as Eriol's guardian by his parents and declared Mr. Masaki Amamiya as his second guardian'.
'That's obvious seeing that the old man might die before them… but unfortunately…' Shaoran left the sentence hanging.
'Hm, yes…' said Kyle and continued, 'As I was saying, Eriol dropped out of his boarding school, St. Xavier's School for Boys, in London and continued his studies in correspondence while taking up his father's business as well… but Pallazi was always the one to have the final word on every work of Hiragiizawa's. So, naturally he had power over every penny used in the company… he had recently purchased an expensive penthouse for his wife and another expensive and slightly bigger one for his mistress…'
'This guy's really making me sick,' said Shaoran with a frowned eyebrow.
'Me too…' agreed Kyle, 'but think about it… he's obviously getting all of his finance from the Hiragiizawa's account and…'
'Kyle,' called Shaoran suddenly.
'Yeah?' asked Kyle.
'But this will an added bonus, don't you think?' asked Shaoran.
'What are you talking about?' asked Kyle.
'Well… if Eriol marries Sakura Kinomoto and she's going to get the entire Amamiya fortune,' started Shaoran, 'then that would amek him filthy rich… rich enough to get all his problems solved as well as lead his life without working for another decade… and Ivo Pallazi would be more than happy to invite more money into his life… wouldn't you say yes?'
'Well yeah… so you mean we're on the wrong target?' asked Kyle.
'I don't know…' said Shaoran thoughtfully scratching his chin, 'could you get me something on this accident that killed both the Hiragiizawas?'
'Hm… that would be in the police directory of the United Kingdom, man… almost another continent…' wailed Kyle.
'Hey… you can't back out on me now…' said Shaoran standing up.
'Yeah… I'll do something…' said Kyle, 'after all… I always like challenges…'
'Good… and something else as well…' said Shaoran.
'What now?' asked Kyle.
'I want you to dig me something on every one of the living descendent of the Amamiya family who might have a direct prerogative for a fortune…' said Shaoran seriously.
'You can't be serious…' ridiculed Kyle but with the silence that followed said, 'yeah... I'll do something about that too…'
The hung up and Shaoran felt the warmth of the cell in his palm. He realized he had been in the conversation for nearly fifteen minutes and the others hadn't arrived back yet. So he decided to leave back to the dining room and catch up with them before they leave to bed. He turned off the lights in the room and slipping his cell into his trouser pockets walked down to the dining room. To his surprise he found none but Sakura with the four other girls—Rika, Chiharu, Naoko and Tomoyo—in the room. Sakura was pulling over a warm woolen jacket over his dress and looked ready to go out.
'Where are you going?' asked Shaoran as he reached the five.
'To the super market down the hill…' replied Sakura smiling, 'the kitchen is completely out of rice and Naoko asked me if I'd just pick up some rice… we don't want to starve tomorrow morning, right…'
'I'm really sorry about this Ms. Sakura,' said Naoko bowing, 'I'm sure I had a whole bag of rice down at the basement… but I guess I already used it and continued to think one was still left…'
'Really…' said Chiharu shaking her head, 'this is completely ridiculous…'
'Yeah Sakura,' said Rika timidly, 'it is really late… you shouldn't go out at this time…'
'Can't you just shut up? She has to go… she has to…'
'Yes Sakura,' said Tomoyo concerned, 'driving down the hill isn't safe at this time of night…'
'C'mon guys…' said Sakura, 'I do this all the time whenever I come here for vacation…'
'Let's go then,' said Shaoran suddenly.
'What?'
'Let's go Sakura,' said Shaoran, 'we don't want to be late… else it'll get even darker…'
'You're going to go with her?' asked Rika.
'Yeah… I don't want to worry myself thinking what might happen to her…' he said composedly.
'That's so sweet…' said Chiharu smiling widely.
'Ok then let's go…' said Sakura smiling.
'Wait!' said Shaoran, 'my car keys are upstairs…'
'Ah… let's go in Rika's car…' said Sakura, 'she gave me the keys already'.
'I don't know… I'm kinda attached to my car…' said Shaoran with a small smile.
'Just go, ok? Attached to a car, my foot!'
'Shaoran, it's getting really late…' said Sakura.
Shaoran sighed and said, 'alright then, let's go…'
'Great…' said Sakura and the two got out of the house with a few good-byes and reached the garage. The two got into the Metallic Silver i10 and Shaoran started the engine. It gave a small roar and the car jumped to life. They started to drive down the hill. On the way down, Sakura started asking a lot of questions.
'What were you doing after you left the table?' asked Sakura.
'You saw me... I had a call to attend…' said Shaoran. The car picked up speed with the fall in altitude. The car was just a few meters away from the first hairpin bend.
'But you were gone for…'
Her sentence was cut through half with the sudden turn of the car at the hairpin bend. The turn had been taken at such a speed that the car was only inches away from falling down the steep cliff. Sakura's heart started beating really fast and she was angrier than ever in her life.
'What were you thinking?' she screeched, 'are you trying to kill us?'
Shaoran's eyes were fixed on the road and he said simply through clenched teeth, 'well Kinomoto, it's the car which is trying to kill us…'
'What?'
'The brakes aren't working…' he said which was followed by another hairpin bend and this one was overcome with a speed greater than the last one and Sakura saw the entire cliff from outside her window and the large rocks that decorated it was what you'd call welcoming. She closed her eyes at once.
'Just calm down…' she could hear Shaoran muttering, 'we're going to be fine…'
But that was followed by another sharp hairpin bend. Shaoran turned and Sakura dared to open her eyes and she came to see them driving fast towards the end of the cliff. Sakura's eyes opened wide at the sight and she cowered, with a huge ear-piercing scream.
'AH!' she shouted and her mind started to blank out. She hoped that she'd die without pain. But she regretted that Shaoran was also dragged into this mess by her and she wished that she had declined when her father said that he had found her a defender.
'He'll take care of you, Sakura'.
End Chapter 4