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 the Amamiyas—Nadeshiko Kinomoto's maiden home, which is surrounded by something more than the beautiful climate and nature. How can a young detective stand against the greatest Automobile Empire of the Amamiya family…?

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…

'It would be fine, now… Eriol…' muttered a tall and elegant woman with short purple hair and azure blue eyes which were teary. She had her hand on the shoulder of a raven haired sixteen year old teenager who appeared to be far from this world. His azure orbs were unfocused and he was staring at the place where the coffin of his parents and also his aunts and uncles', all of whom had been unfortunate enough to die in the air when the engine of the flight on which they were flying had suddenly burst into flames, was buried.

He looked at his aunt and was not at all surprised to see that tears started pouring down her eyes as just like him, she had lost someone special—her husband. He moved away from her grip and from the crowd. He had had enough of despair to last him a lifetime. He walked a few paces and found himself in a deserted part of the graveyard, a little away from where his parents were buried.

Then, he heard his father's voice inside his head. He heard what his father almost everyday told him. He heard what his father had told him the last time they had met. He could still remember the last day the two had been together, the night before his departure to his boarding school.

'So, son…' he had started, 'I heard that you never attended your prom at Middle school… what was all that about? Didn't get a date?'

Eriol had flushed at his father's words but had his answer ready before his father had had even finished his question. He had looked into his father's eyes and repeated what his father almost always told him, 'I didn't find the girl for me, dad… like you always say, "if she's not the one, don't take the risk… the girl of your dreams will come for sure"…'

His father had chuckled lightly at his reply and then on a serious tone said, 'there's one more thing I have to say to you son… Never, be in debt to anyone… that will lead you to owe them what you really don't want to give or take…'

Eriol never understood what his father was trying to say but had nodded curtly. However, the least he had understood from it was not to be in debt. So, he had never borrowed anything or asked for help from anyone, from the day his father had told him this.

Thinking about all this today, Eriol's heart contracted. He had missed all those occasions to ask about his father. He mustered his brain and tried to remember all the conversations he had had with his father and all they had discussed was him—nothing except Eriol. He had never even thought about asking about his father—about his childhood, about his life… all he could remember is his mother telling him about hers.

'Why did I never ask about him?' muttered Eriol and his eyes closed tightly at the thought. He just didn't have the chance.

Then, he felt a warm hand rest on his shoulder. He turned to see a beautiful young girl standing facing him with a warm smile but her eyes deceived that smile—obviously she had been crying her eyes out too. One look at her and Eriol's control gave way. Despite his constant check to control himself, he found tears forming at the corner of his eyes and they made their way slowly down his cheek.

The girl, about the same age as him and his cousin, looked at his tears with tears in her own eyes, gently rubbed them away with her hand. Eriol had no control over himself now. The tears, as though amplified by her gentle touch, started coming down fiercer and Eriol tried to shove them off with all the willpower he had, but of no avail.

She slowly and gracefully put her arms around his neck and hugged him and merely out of shock, Eriol's tears stopped.

'Everything's going to be fine…' she muttered.

Eriol sniffed and hugging her back replied in almost a whisper into her ear, 'I hope they will…'

Episode 6

Deceit and Candor

'You are living at the Amamiya's and you ask me about automobiles?'

Shaoran was sitting on the bed in the hospital and he was staring at his heavily bandaged hands and not really looking at them should also be mentioned here. Kyle's words were still hot on his mind and he couldn't think straight.

'Automobiles… that's like the Amamiyas' Family business…' thought Shaoran.

He scratched his forehead and knew it was mistake the next second when he screeched, 'Ouch!' After all, his hands were still under recovery and it hadn't been more than a day since he was pulled out of that mess.

'Pulled out…' muttered Shaoran under his breath, 'where's the car then…?'

Next second he was asking the same question to the blonde doctor who was incharge of him.

'The car…?' asked the blonde puzzled, and then said, 'I don't know about that Mr. Chan… you should ask the police officer responsible for the case… but shouldn't you be in your roo—Mr. Chan, wait stop!'

For Shaoran had started sprinting towards the exit to the hospital, his arms painfully clinging on to his side. He stopped at the reception and asked where the police station was. The receptionist looked at him for a moment and then replied in her cool voice, 'it's just a kilometer from here, sir…'

'Alright…' he muttered and then adding a hurried, 'thanks…' he rushed out of the hospital, much to the amazement of the receptionist.

He got out and was about to call a cab when he realized he hadn't any money on him. He looked around frantically and realized that the hospital was located at the bottom of the hill. He looked around searching when he caught sight of the Amamiya hill house on top of the hill. It looked like a tiny play house and looked calm and serene.

He then, started asking around for the police-station and then, after what felt like seconds, he was panting with his bandaged hands on his knees bending down to catch his breath, standing right outside the police-station. After gaining control of his breath, he walked inside, the pain in his body amplified by the sprint.

As soon as he entered, a serene looking officer approached him.

'How can I help you?' he asked raising an eyebrow at Shaoran's mess.

'I… I… I'm Shaoran… I'm a guest at the Amamiya…'

'Shaoran?' someone called from the officer's behind.

Shaoran, by the familiarity of the voice looked over the shoulder of the officer and saw a tall ash haired officer with auburn eyes. Shaoran's own auburn orbs widened at the newcomer. He neared him with his mouth agape.

'Yukito?' he asked.

'Don't tell me…' started the new officer and then, Shaoran silenced him with a curt shake of his head.

'Um… Tokia, I'm taking five minutes off…' said Yukito to the serene looking officer.

'No… you're not…' retorted Tokia at once.

'Just five minutes…?' asked Yukito, pleading.

Tokia gave him a questioning look and then, his gaze shifted to Shaoran, whom he gave a calculating look. Then, he nodded his head lightly and said, 'just five minutes…'

'I'd be just at the coffee shop, right outside…' said Yukito and started walking out of the police station after a small pat on Tokia's shoulder and with Shaoran at his tail.

At the coffee shop, Shaoran and Yukito sat opposite each other, in an isolated part of the shop. Yukito was ordering two cups of coffee while Shaoran was deep in thought.

'So, Shaoran…?' started Yukito, after the waitress left, 'what brings you here?'

'Um… Yukito…' started Shaoran and in the process, he lifted his hands and placed them slowly on the table. Yukito gave a gasp at the sight of the heavily bandaged arms.

'What happened to you?' asked Yukito.

'Don't sweat it…' said Shaoran and added, 'it's normal to get hurt when on a case…'

'Case?' asked Yukito, 'I thought you were taking a break for a while…'

'And I thought that you were working at Osaka…' he retorted at once.

'I found this place very interesting…' said Yukito shrugging.

Shaoran raised his eyebrows.

'Alright… alright…' said Yukito, bowing his head, 'I was to transfer here anyway… I didn't want to tell you because I thought you'd be mad if I weren't there to help you out at your cases…'

'Yes, I would!' exclaimed Shaoran at once, resisting the temptation to slam the table with his fist.

'Sorry…' started Yukito.

'Don't be…' said Shaoran at once, 'anyway… I need your help here…'

'Here?' asked Yukito and then as though he remembered something asked, 'what is this case anyway?'

'Um… actually…' started Shaoran but were interrupted by the waitress who was back with their orders.

A few minutes later, sipping his coffee, Yukito asked after a deep thought, 'I may be mistaken, but don't tell me you are the one who was stuck in that accident with Mr. Amamiya's great granddaughter…'

'Actually…' shrugged Shaoran.

'Oh great…' sighed Yukito.

'How do you know?' asked Shaoran.

'I'm a police officer,' said Yukito matter-of-factly and added, 'well, actually, I'm one of the officers in charge of the accident… and…'

'You are in charge of the accident?' asked Shaoran.

'Yeah…' said Yukito.

'That's just great…' exclaimed Shaoran.

'Huh?' asked Yukito and his expression changed at once, 'oh man… don't tell me…'

'I want to see that car…' said Shaoran.

Yukito sighed and asked, 'before I do that… tell me about your new case…'

Shaoran took a deep breath and started reciting everything that had happened from when Mr. Fuijitaka Kinomoto had entered his house to the very end of the accident. A detective usually never trusts anyone with his cases, especially, his doubts and his hypotheses, but Shaoran trusts Yukito as much a he trusts Kyle, or maybe even more.

The reason why Shaoran was here, as a detective was actually due to this twenty year old police officer sitting in front of him. Yukito is Shaoran's step-sibling. Quite awkward, it might be but that's the truth. Shaoran's dad had died when he was little and the same had happened to Yukito's mum. Meeting through their friends, Yukito's dad and Shaoran's mum had met and one thing leading to another, the two had married and the Shaoran and Yukito being just twelve and fifteen respectively had become brothers in a span of ten days.

Shaoran and Yukito had had a lot of problems when they were to live together, especially Shaoran, who had transferred to Yukito's house with his mum after the marriage. Shaoran had two sisters both of whom had easily attached to Yukito, but Shaoran being the youngest in the family, refused to bond. But after a few years, the two changed, and it was Yukito who had first suggested Shaoran to work as a detective. And that's how the two are sitting here sipping coffee and exchanging their cases.

Yukito silently sipped his coffee while listening to Shaoran's case intently. He was silent till the moment Shaoran mentioned the girls' request to go down the hill to get rice. Yukito looked so thoughtful that Shaoran silenced himself.

'So… the girls'… Naoko, the servant there, was the one who asked Sakura to get the rice,' said Yukito ticking off a finger while Shaoran curtly nodded, 'then, its Ms. Rika who gladly offered her car…,' another finger and another nod, 'then, there's Ms. Daidouji and Ms. Chiharu, who is a friend of Mr. Yamazaki Takashi... they wanted you two to not go, right?'

'Exactly!' said Shaoran.

'Hm…' muttered Yukito and remained thoughtful for a moment.

'And it's well-known that the Amamiya family knows everything there is to know about automobiles…' muttered Shaoran.

'Yeah…'

'Speaking of automobiles,' started Shaoran and asked, 'what about this car I wanted to see…?'

'There is no use in that Shaoran…' said Yukito off-handedly.

'What do you mean?' asked Shaoran standing up, 'the brakes of that car were tampered and that's the reason Sakura and I had a close brush with death… there could be something…'

'There's nothing we could do…' said Yukito serenely.

'Yukito…'

'Shaoran,' said Yukito slowly, 'I'll take you to the car, no problem…'

'Then, why do you…?'

'But the truth Shaoran,' said Yukito interrupting Shaoran's accusations, 'the truth is that the car's brakes are in perfect condition…'

'What!'

Deathly Games

Eriol came bustling down the stairs with the twenty two year old brunette with sharp azure eyes. Eriol was busy in his cell whilst the brunette was making sure that Eriol does not trip down the stairs. As soon as they placed their feet on the landing a voice from behind asked them, 'where are you going Eriol?'

Eriol turned to see his great grandfather walking towards him aided by Rika and Naoko. Eriol felt uncomfortable at once. He always does whenever the old man gives Eriol his trademark calculating glare. Eriol cleared his throat and was about to say something when the brunette interrupted.

'Actually sir,' she said drawing the old man's as well as all the others' attention to her, 'Eriol's company is in the middle of a curfew and he need to be there… at least for a day in the least…'

Eriol closed his eyes but he could feel the old man's gaze on him. He turned to the brunette and said, 'Ms. Ruby, why don't you wait by the car, I'll be there in a minute…'

She rolled her eyes and walked with her bag to the house's entrance and walked out of sight. Eriol turned to the other two women in the room and they left with a smile and a small nod. Now, he was entirely alone with his great-grandfather in the hall of their massive holiday mansion.

'Eriol,' started the old man heaving a huge sigh, 'did you really think that I wouldn't know about this problem your company is facing if it weren't for that charming young woman?'

Eriol looked at his great-grandfather and replied with his voice steady as always, 'I think not grandpa… you are always well-informed, were you not?'

The old man chuckled and said, 'I am… and now, Eriol… I settled all the debts that your company owes… only yesterday did I notice that your company was in more trouble that you can help it, son…'

'Grandpa, there's no need for you…' started Eriol.

'I need not do it, yes…' said the old man serenely sitting down on a wooden armchair, 'but I wanted to Eriol…'

Eriol looked at the old man and said, 'but…'

'It's ok…' said the old man smiling, 'you can go to your company… but be back in two days, you read me?'

'Yes grandpa…' said Eriol.

'Sakura, she is doing fine, now, isn't she?' asked the old man, concern filling his eyes.

'Yes, grandpa… the doctor said she's fine already… her friend obviously took more damage trying to save her…' said Eriol.

The old man nodded and said, 'good… now, take care, Eriol… we need you in good condition for the engagement on her birthday…'

'Yes, grandpa…' said Eriol and stiffening gave his great-grandpa a bow and left the hall and outside he went his mind filled with thoughts that refused to get out.

'Why does it always happen to me? I don't need any help! I don't want to be in debt! Dad…'

'Eriol, ready to go…?' asked Ruby who was at his car.

Eriol gave her a sharp glare and while entering into the car muttered, 'don't call me Eriol… it's Hiragiizawa to you Pallazi's…'

He stopped in the middle and sat down in the driver's seat with an odd look in his face. Ruby who had taken a seat at the back, said in a lusty voice, 'Hm… and I thought that you were a little boy… you know your thing, don't you?'

Eriol didn't reply. He just gave her a glare and started the engine.

Ruby sighed and extending back on the chair, said 'so, Eriol… you like her don't you?'

Eriol drove out of the house and muttered something under his breath that Ruby couldn't catch. But that didn't stop her from smirking and glaring at him. Eriol silently drove down the hill, keeping constant check on the speed he was going.

'So, then… why do you hurt her so much, honey?'

Eriol abruptly stopped the car. He didn't look back but caught Ruby's snigger on the rear-view mirror. He glared at her from behind his wire-rimmed specs and then, breathing in deeply, took off again without a word.

End Episode 6

A/N: sorry about not updating for a while now. I assure you that I'll try my best to update as soon as I can. I finally figured out who does this all and the entire story is finally developed. So, you guys can expect good updates. Thanks for reading and please, review….