Hi, again I'm very sorry for the late update~~ I have chapter 4 written, I only need to edit and post so I hope it will be soon. XD Enjoy~
He followed me the whole way to the bus stop and even sat beside me for the whole journey. Seriously this man has issues!
"Are you stalking me?" I asked with annoyance.
"What do you think?"he smirked.
My face twisted into a scowl.
Finally, I slammed the door of my apartment in his face as goodbye and thank you. Though I don't think he could have sense the thank you, not that I wanted really to thank him. It's just basic manners.
The house was quiet and I was relieved that I could have a bit of peace. It was great contrast with the chaos of the pub.
School was hectic the next day with the finals coming at the end of the month and it was getting colder as autumn prepared to freeze itself. I was beat when I reached Peach & Punks.
Luckily the place seemed less crowded than the previous night. I started off with a few mix of tequila shots and whiskey then sat myself down with a cold can of beer. That is, until someone decided to interrupt with their arrogant , nerve wrecking, totally bad ass sounding voice.
"Yo." I grind my teeth as his casual greeting sent negative energy through my body. With the can of beer in my hand I turned and faced the stage staring at nothing in particular.
" Sakura-chan!" Yu-san called out to me while she made her way through the throng. I nodded in greeting as she stopped in front of me. She was about 5 foot 1 and supported a head of exploded hair that was always held up by colourful bands.
" Hey, can you do me a favor?" she asked.
"Sure, I'm bored as hell anyway" I replied.
"Play the piano for me!" she begged with her hands clasped together and her eyes shining.
"What? No!" I exclaimed.
" You owe me that day for skipping your midnight shift and I had to get Reika- chan to fill in and you know how she's with her beauty sleep!" she pouted.
I frowned.
" Why don't u ask somebody else if they want to demonstrate? I'm sure there are a lot of people who can play piano." I asked pleadingly.
" But I want to hear you play. Especially that piece. You know I love
how you play." her eyes just got bigger n it was starting to water.
Great! Now she's going to cry! I can't handle people crying! Suddenly I heard a chuckle. Oh. That annoying guy. He's still here.
"Why not Sakura-san? I would like to listen too. I'm sure you are
great." Again with that smirk! Ugh!
" It's Kinomoto to you jerk." I scowled and make the mistake of looking at the manager. Oh my god! She's crying! Shit!
I panicked and quickly said yes, shoving her a hankerchief. Her face brighten with a sunflower smile.
"But I didn't bring my music notes."
She replied, " just play like you normally do. I'm sure many more customers will come."
" So this was all a plan to make money?" I asked sceptically.
"No how could you think that of me?" she feign a shocked expression.
I looked at the amused guy and decided to ignore him for now. It's for the I made my way through the crowd choosing the piece I was going to play from my memories. I had talent for memorizing music notes. The microphone squeaked a bit as I made my announcement.
" Ladies and gentlement, I will be playing for you today. It's called river flows in you." the crowd clapped and I sat down in front of the grand piano.
I played a few scales as a warm up before taking a few deep breaths, I was never good with presenting in front of crowds.
Then, I started to play.
Slowly I could feel the emotions flowing out of me and through the song.
I could feel it reverbrating in the room as it grew more and more. The atmosphere thickening until it was almost suffocating.
I played it for my mother.
Allowing the sadness to mingle at the edge of the longing, I put my whole heart in it.
For my dear mother.
The song fit her gentle soul perfectly as I picture her in my head. The waves of starlight hair and graceful ways. Her smile. Her laugh.
Before it was all gone.
Replaced by the shrieks and looks of horror. The unpleasant memories suddenly had me in an iron grip. Pulling me down deeper and deeper.
I clenched my teeth and continued forcing my emotions back, struggling to summon happy thoughts. Memories of when they were alive and well. When we were safe and happy. When I was just a normal kid with normal problems.
I missed her cookies. I missed dad's spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce. Extra cheese and fresh tomatoes just the way I like it. I missed the look of pain as I stomped on Touya's foot. I miss her bundling me up to catch the first snow flakes and the hot cocoa that always awaited me when I came back in. I missed Touya ruffling my hair every time he got home. I missed the quiet movie nights. I missed the Sunday outings. I missed the warmth of a family.
I missed them.
At last I ended the song softly and quickly dashed to the alley behind the pub with my heart in turmoil, the audience's applause dully sounding at the back of my head.
Fresh air greeted me as I took a deep breath.
In and out. In and out.
The song took a huge toll out of me emotionally.
Huh.
I guess it was still not behind me even after all the years. They say wounds dull in time. That the hurt will wash away eventually and that we will remember the past with fondness. So tell me how much time do we actually need? A month? A year? Ten years? Twenty? Or a century. Tell me please.
Cause I really don't know how much more I can bear. Hasn't it been long
enough? Please, can anyone hear me? I guess not. Not unless they're psychic.
Ha! I felt as if someone was choking me and I could only get that small amount of air but was still living. Living on the edge. A strangled yell left me and echoed into the night. My chest was heaving up and down as I groaned. Oh god. Oh no. Oh!
I have done nothing. Nothing! Why me?
Endless black started clouding my vision and a low buzzing sounded in my ears turning louder and louder and louder. I felt like I was drowning treading around in the water. Then I fell back into reality.
" Hey." he whispered as he sat down beside me.
I still had my head in my hands trying to get in control. It should not be this way. I should have been able to manage my own emotions! Damn it! Ugh...
But there he sat silently. His presence comforting me more than I would have ever admitted. He gave me a sense of safety. Like nothing could ever harm me now and was that suppose to be good or bad?
Oh no.
I think I'm in trouble. Wait. I don't think so. Nah. It's probably nothing.
I lifted my head and narrowed my eyes at him.
" What are you doing here?" I asked with annoyance.
"Are you okay?" he said ignoring my question.
"Hmp." I turned my head aside. He was being a busy body again. So unappreciated.
" Go away, jerk."
" Seriously what have I done? You've been treating me like this since you first saw me. Did I dump your sister or best friend? I swear I've never cheated and I don't lie. I'm
a good fellow actually..."
I snorted and started laughing hard, clutching my stomach in pain. He looked at me bewildered and a bit amused
" Yeah right. You? A good fellow? That must be the biggest joke of the year! Hahaha! " gradually I calmed down, panting and my whole body buzzing merrily. I faced his smile and suddenly the good feeling was gone. Pursing my lips, I told him in monotone
" Go away. Don't ever come near me again."
His face of shock registered in my head and with that I got up and shoulder him away from the door, disappearing into the pub. It rained when I left the pub. With it being autumn it just got awfully colder until my hand and feet were numb to the core. I was soaked through when I reached the apartment.
Shivering terribly and with my teeth clanking together I quickly got into the shower to have a hot bath. Bearing yet again the pain of having my wounds scalded. I panted, using my hands against the wall to support me. Sluggishly, I got out of the shower and dressed. Before sleeping, I checked on my mother. A huge wave of nostalgia overcame me. I yearned for the warmth of somebody. The familiar warmth of a human at least. The comfortable embrace and the absolute sense of peace. I wanted it so much...
So I climbed into bed with mom. It felt nice. Very nice. I slept through the night like a baby in the cradle of her mother's arms. Knowing that she was safe that it was her mother
and she cared. That she would give up the whole world to protect you
from harm.
But the next morning I awoke again to the screams of mum. My head pounded unnaturally hard like a very bad hang over but it wasn't and it felt like falling off. My body felt sluggish and it was only after awhile that I could get up to stop her piercing screams.
The whole day in school felt like hell in the worst. The bad news was I couldn't find any aspirin and I couldn't concentrate on the lectures. I took the afternoon off again seriously making the manager in the Book House worried. The whole afternoon was spent sleeping the head ache off, but I only succeeded a bit.
Around 6, I forced myself up to go to peach and punks. The whole journey only made my condition worsen what with the weather and an empty stomach. I walked the few streets thinking that I would make it to the pub first before calling for help. But who could I call?
There's no one. I panted with the effort of simply lifting my leg one after the other like after a long marathon. Maybe... the manager could help. That was the last thought before it all went black.
The first thing that I noticed was the softness of the blanket which was so much better than my blanket at home. The second was the low noise around me. I couldn't locate the source and it seemed to come from everywhere.
Slowly I opened my eyes, blinking away the sudden light and met anxious amber eyes. My voice cracked and it felt like it was from a million miles away as I tried to speak.
" Where am I ? Who are you?"
"You're in my house. I'm Syaoran." I frowned as it gradually came back to me.
" I fainted didn't I?"
" Yeah gave me quite a fright there. The doctor says you have high fever which he gave an injection and some medicine. He also says that you have overworked yourself." I
saw his accusing eyes and said
" Don't look at me like that. I have to work you know. Money doesn't come fall from the sky you know not like some believe."
" Contrary to popular believes I do know and I do work so I do know how hard it is." he passed a cup if water to me and I gulped it down gratefully feeling it slide down my parched throat.
Suddenly I felt his fingers picking up my hand and playing with it, I tensed and waited for whatever he was going to say. He seemed to hesitate a bit before speaking and even then I caught some of his reserve in saying.
" I saw something when the doctor checked your body."
Then he slid my sleeves up to my elbow.
Realizing what he was speaking off, horror filled me and I quickly wrenched my hand back,
glaring at him in fear and anger. He looked at me with unfathomable
eyes.
" Would you rather no one knows?" frustration slowly slipping
into his voice bordering on anger.
" Those wounds are serious and there are even more on your back! I saw, Sakura! Who did this to you. Did you do it to yourself?" He gripped my upper arm and his eyes
bored right into mine.
I looked away and tried to loosen out of his grip.
" I didn't do that to myself. That's all you need to know." slowly I got up from the couch and stumbled right into his arms again.
" I'm fine. I'll be going home now."
" You can't seriously consider going back in that condition!" he practically
yelled in outrage."
" I'm fine" I repeated and walked like a drunken man to the door but was stopped again by his arms.
"Can you please let me through!" I glared up at him.
" You're not going anywhere." He growled.
" I need to go home." glancing at the clock I stifled a gasp and tried even harder to get pass him.
" Please I need to go home. Please!" I begged. It's been to long since I went back.
" Can't you call someone to take you home?" he asked.
"There's no one. Please let me through."
"I'll take you home but only if you allow me to come and visit you."
I stayed silent he could never come but Ill just lie for now.
" Ok."
He went and fetch my medicine and his car keys then made the way to my house. I bid him goodbye at the poor excuse for a lobby and went up quickly bit be had caught up. I rumaged through my bag and fished out the keys.
A horrible wail came through the door and He looked startled. I bit my lips, eyebrows knitting, this was not good. With lighting speed I inserted the keys and slammed the door in his face before he could push his way through. The pounding came next, him demanding me to open up.
Just as I was turning around to see what was the problem with my mother, I got into a deathly headlock that was cutting off my air supply and I began choking while there was again the ugly wail.
" Mum!" I gasped out trying repeatedly to pry her arms from me.
