Short Stories with Tragic Endings
Chapter 4
-Sakura Kinomoto-
I moved closer to the warm body next to me. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get enough heat. I pressed my face into the warm shirt. It smelt nice, pleasant… Safe. I wonder why he always smells like this. I moaned when he wrapped his arms around me. I shifted into a slightly more comfortable position, ready to let sleep over take me again.
I haven't felt this much peace since that night I spent with him. I have never felt the way I have felt that night. His sent and touch was the same, but his voice was less tired. His voice had no worries in it. He was content then.
I wish he could be content now. I don't want him to worry about me. I don't want him to feel that he should take care of me. But it is my fault for making him worry, it is my fault for making him feel that he should take care of me. It's my fault, because I can't take care of myself. It is my fault, because I was the one who walked away from him all those years ago.
Why did I walk away then? Now the reason seems so silly. Now the reason seems so changeable. I should have stayed with him. We could have worked things out. I know we would have been able to. But I was too stubborn then. I didn't want to listen and I ruined everything.
My hand searched for his and I found it close to me on the bed. I let my fingers lace with his, the way I used to let it lace so many years ago. I pulled his hand up to my body and held it in mine close to my chest.
I don't know why, but I was hoping that perhaps it could help me mend my broken heart. It's been bleeding for so long now. I broke my heart with my stupidity and I haven't been able to put it back together again. Maybe he can. Maybe Li can restore my heart, even if it is only partially.
I let my tears slowly glide down my cheeks to soak the warm pillow. I haven't cried in such a long time, not about him at least. I always tried to push the tears away. I called myself weak for crying about him, but now I see that I was stupid. I wasn't weak, I was being honest. I lost him.
I curled myself into a ball as I tried to hold in my sniffs. I lost him. It's all my fault. It's all my fault. My stupid pride. My body shook and I fought with myself to get it under control. I don't want to wake him. He doesn't deserve to see me this way – so weak and pathetic. But I don't want to let go of his hand either. It is my lifeline, my only link to sanity.
He is all that kept me going in this city. He is the only reason I stuck around. The great detective Li and his stalker ex-girlfriend. What a great heading that would make. They can write a story about how I was stubborn and filled with idiocy. They can write about how I pushed him away, but never really managed to walk away. It can be a heartfelt confession story – something Marissa would have loved.
This is your freedom in a life of fallacy,
With no last kiss and no regrets;
You don't deserve goodbye.
This is your freedom in a life of fallacy,
With no last kiss and no goodbye.
-Syaoran Li-
I let the hot water run down my body. The droplets complained loudly as they hit the tiles and glass door. I could even smell the girl here in the shower. Her sent is everywhere. It's clinging to my skin… to my very soul. I let my head drop and stared at the body wash. It's her favourite brand and I just kept buying it after she left. For so many years I kept buying it… I kept smelling her.
I closed the tap and the defining sound of the water was replaced by silence. Silently I made my way to the girl where she was sleeping in my bed. Her hair stuck out on all angles, but her face was calm and peaceful. I sat down next to her. I could still feel the water drip down from my hair to my shoulders and back as I gently stroked her hair.
I watched as a small smile crept onto her lips. I haven't seen that smile in such a long time. "You smell nice." I grinned at her comment. She always said that to me. I smell nice. That is her greatest compliment. The only compliment she has. She opened her eyes and I stared down at her intense green. Her smile curled into a naughty grin as her fingers started to trace a line the water created as it rolled down my body.
I followed her finger intently as it slowly moved down my chest to my stomach and finally to the edge of my towel. She suddenly pushed herself up. Her face was inches away from mine and I could feel her warm breath on my lips. "Syaoran…"
"Hmm…?" She didn't answer me. I closed my eyes when I felt her soft lips press against mine. My body rushed with the need and desire I felt for the girl and kept at bay for so long. I kissed her harder, fiercer… She responded. I knew that if the girl was to kiss me I would loose all control. I have kept my desire, my dirty lust for her at bay for so lonng.
My lips trailed down her soft jaw line to her neck as my body slowly pushed hers onto the bed. The aching desire pulsed through my blood as I indulged in the essence that is the girl. Her small hands desperately clung to my body. Her lips burned me when they touched mine.
My fingers found the buttons of her pyjama top. One by one I counted them in my mind as I peeled them open to reveal the girl's body hidden beneath the material. Her naked skin touched mine and all hell broke loose with in me. The girl moaned when my lips trailed down to her neck again.
Slowly I moved down to her collar bone…
"Syaoran…"
"Leave it." I ignored the telephone as it rang next to us. I have been waiting too long for this moment to stop now.
"Syaoran… you should answer it."
"Why?" I kissed her lips again.
"It… it might be important." The message machine beeped and I heard my own voice telling who ever to leave a message.
"Xiao-lang!" I jumped at the voice. My mother's voice. No one wants to hear their mother while they are busy with… "I know you are home. I called the office and…"
"What are you doing?" I hissed at the girl when she answered the phone.
"Hello Mrs Li." I pressed the loud speaker button quickly, making sure that the girl will not be able to say anything she shouldn't to my mother.
"Sakura? Is that you dear?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Oh my dear! I haven't heard your voice in such a long time." I sighed and let my head fall into the crook of the girl's neck beneath me. This is going to take some time. "Are you well?"
"I'm getting better." You'd better be. I mumbled in my mind. I'm not taking care of you for no reason at all. I have ulterior motives Kinomoto, and the demonstration before my mother's rude interruption should give you a huge hint! "Yes, ma'am. I'm sure Syaoran won't mind dinner tomorrow evening." She glanced down at me and I only rolled my eyes at her.
"Is he there?"
"Yes ma'am. Right here on top of me."
"Sakura!" Both my mom and I bellowed at the girl earning us a rich giggle.
"Hello mother."
"On top of her? Xiao-lang dear, you move fast." I glared at the girl as she wriggled her way out from under me and buttoned up her shirt. Moment ruined by my mother. Thank you world! I was about to have the best time of my life…
"If he moved a bit faster you would have had grandchildren on the way now." I looked at the girl as she bit her lip mischievously. She's full of it.
"She has enough grandchildren."
"A grandmother can never have enough grandchildren. Especially from her only son. I shall let you two get back to business."
"Mother!"
"Oh Xiao-lang. Don't be such a stiff, it's only sex. I want that girl pregnant by tonight. You got that? Ta-ta dear."
"Bye ma'am!" I glared at the girl when I hung up. She stood in the corner moving back and forth on her heels as she stared innocently at me. "Are you going to make me pregnant?"
"Stop the games Sakura. You're in no condition to have baby at the moment." Her face fell and I watched her shoulders visibly slump. She really wants to have children, I know that. But not now, not while she is recovering. "Just wait, until you are better."
"I'm sorry I pushed you away Li. We could have had children by now if it wasn't for me." She sank down to the carpet and I stayed on the edge of the bed watching her. "I was so caught up in that stupid life of mine… I forgot what really mattered. I know it's too late now and I have no right to ask anything of you."
"Sakura…"
"I should go."
"Sakura!" I knelt down in front of her. "I'm not giving you up again. You can forget it." I grinned at her. "I'll hunt you down."
"Urban wolf…"
He was becoming tired; his breathing was ragged as he pushed into her one more time. She moaned in an awful delight he found he could not stomach. This hate he carried in side him, this hate that he needed to get rid of poured into his flesh and rushed to his fingers. Slowly his hands moved up her hips, brushing against her sweat laced skin, teasing her naked breasts before closing around her pale neck.
I could feel the skin on my nose wrinkle in disgust at the overwhelming stench of blood. Eriol called half an hour ago and basically ordered me to come out. Now I really wished I had another job. I could feel my stomach double.
Oh my…
I stood horrified at the sight. Next to me Eriol was mumbling to himself, saying something about what we are seeing right now could not possibly be real. Slowly I glanced at the people around me. No one, none of them here, most hardened by what they have seen in the past, could comprehend the horrific nightmare before us.
These people were not killed – they were butchered.
"I'm going to be sick." I let Eriol run out of the room. Outside I could hear him empty his stomach, too sickened by the sight to keep anything in his body.
Involuntarily my eyes shifted down to the two bodies, a man and woman. Lovers… His hand was holding hers, giving her comfort before her last breath left her. Giving her comfort in the after life.
I hope to God that they find peace in heaven.
Who ever did this… the person so sick in his mind that he is capable of such terror… The bastard must be caught, before he kills again.
"Come on people, the killer is not going to catch himself."
All around me people started moving, processing the scene. Each his job to his own. My job to my own. I stepped closer, the killer must be caught.
-Sakura Kinomoto-
I danced slightly with the music as I stirred the pot with boiling water and noodles. The music was pleasant, happy… Like I was feeling. I giggled. Like I am feeling.
I've been living with Syaoran for two months now. Two glorious months of him with me… of us together. He basically ordered me to move in with him, I didn't mind. I should have done it a long time ago.
Mrs Li and daddy are ecstatic, it's just Toya who doesn't agree. He hardly agrees with anything I do, nor is he in a position to talk. At least my boyfriend is of the opposite sex. But Yukito is extremely supportive, he even offered to help me arrange my wedding.
If we ever get married.
I turned to look at the place. I have definitely made my mark and he doesn't seem to mind, but will he mind if I ask him if I can remain here with him forever? Will he mind if I really do fall pregnant and it's not just stories Mrs Li make up to tease us? Will he put a ring on my finger and ask me to be his forever?
The water hissed when it touched the hot plate and jumped at the sound. I quickly turned the heat down and stared at the boiling water. I feel at home here, I feel safe… Will he take that away from me or will he let me stay? I want to stay, I really do.
I drained the water and put the noodles with the rest of the stir-fry. It doesn't help to linger on what-ifs. I just have to make the best of what I have now, I have to make sure that I don't loose him again like I did before. I just have to make sure that we make it work, no matter what.
The door opened and I looked up at him, Syaoran. His face was pale and he looked sick, depresses. His dark eyes turned to look at me. In the distance I could hear the spoon fall as he pulled me into a tight embrace. I held on to him as he pressed his face in the crook of my neck.
I don't know how long we stood like that. It felt like an eternity. His hands gripped my clothing tightly, his face hidden and pressed against my skin, his lips moving, but no words escaping them… "Don't leave me, please don't ever leave me." I glanced at him and tightened my own grip on him in response. I don't want to leave him.
"Sakura." I looked up at him when he suddenly pulled away and looked me straight in the eye. His dark eyes were serious and spoke of an urgent need I did not know of. "Promise me that you will call me when ever you see something is not right."
"Syaoran, what are you…"
"Promise me Sakura!"
"I promise. What happened?"
"I…" I watched him as he struggled to find the words, as he battled with himself whether or not he should tell me. "Rika and Tedra are dead."
"What?"
"The entertainment duo from the Daily Times… They were murdered Sakura."
"How? Who?"
"I don't know yet, but… But it looks like the same guy that killed Marissa did it."
"What? How? No, you have to tell me Syaoran." I held on to his sleeve as he turned away from me.
"Tell you! I must tell you that… that I've never seen so much blood in my entire life. I must tell you that three journalists were murdered for no reason what so ever… No sorry, they were butchered to death." He pulled his sleeve free from my grasp and tossed his jacket onto the table. Without thinking I picked it up and placed it over the chair instead.
"Sakura… He's killing journalists! And I'm sorry, but I cannot help but wonder if the bastard it coming after my girlfriend next!"
"Why should…"
"Because you are the top journalist of your field. Like they were!" I blinked as he pointed to the door and shouted. "Are you listening? He might kill someone else, but he might also come after you!"
"You can catch him before…"
"We can't catch him! We have no clues!" I shrunk away as he continued to shout about having no clues or any traces. I have never seen him upset about anything. I have never seen him like this. It was frightening.
"Syaoran…"
"I don't want to loose you." I took as sharp breath when he held me tightly by my arms. "I can't afford to loose you. I don't want that bastard coming after you Sakura." His voice suddenly calmed to a soft whisper. "We still have so much to do together." His fingers gently brushed some hair from my face as he stared into my eyes. "We still have to raise a family and I want to see you in a white dress. Promise me you'll stay safe."
"I promise."
Here you stand seething with guilt.
Silence only justifies this act of cowardice.
