Short Stories with Tragic Endings

Chapter 6

-Sakura Kinomoto-

I sat biting my nail as I waited rather impatiently for my turn. Oh why did I let him talk me into this? I mean, it's not like it couldn't have waited. And I was so stupid as to agree to this. Maybe it is perhaps he is freaked about that killer that is walking about and he just wants to make sure, just for in case.

Oh no, but then if something does happen it turns out that he is right and everything will change and he will be so excited and I will be excited and I will start planning stuff and organising new things and he will too and then dad will be all happy and then poof! I'm gone.

I don't want to be gone.

Why did he have to tell me that the killer might be after me too? I mean, I could have lived with the bliss of not knowing that and not wanting to have to look over my shoulder every time I go into a semi deserted area.

I'm going insane I swear! How can he do that job of his that he does? It is so damn depressing. It will explain why he is so gloomy some times. Like this morning. A pure ray of sunshine if you ask me. I huffed slightly under my breath as I crossed my arms. Talk about getting up on the wrong side of the bed and then he rushed off with only half a good morning.

I mean, sure there is a killer roaming the streets of Tokyo killing journalists. It's not like it happened before. And it is absolutely no excuse to ignore your girlfriend in her time of insecurity. Why isn't he here holding my hand? I want my hand to be held!

"You're boyfriend ditched you?" I looked at a woman around my age. She was smiling that all-knowing smile. The kind of smiles I hate.

"Yes and no."

"Work?"

"Yes."

"What does he do?"

"He's a cop. I suppose then I can expect this kind of thing to happen." I didn't ask him to come, but my constant questioning should have been more than enough of a clue for him. Hello? Girlfriend needs some attention here. "Yours?"

"Mine – oh no dear. Mine is a sleaze ball who ran off with the high school girl next door. I don't need him here." I nodded in understanding. At least Syaoran doesn't cheat on me. "Hey, isn't that your hubby?" I looked up at the door and beamed when I saw him looking for me. I lifted my hand in the air so he could see me before he came over.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart." He kissed my cheek affectionately before he sat down next to me. "I completely forgot. After the lead you gave us everything has been going on like a madhouse at the station."

"So my book is more important than me?"

"You know that's not true."

"You could have been at least a little nicer this morning. I'm stressing like hell here."

"Miss Kinomoto?" I looked up at the nurse and nodded before following her in. I pulled Syaoran along with me, refusing to let go of his hand. "Please stay here, the doctor will be with you in a moment."

"Stop biting your nails." I glared at him when he pulled my hand from my mouth. "Everything will be fine. It's just going to be a new adventure for us." Yeah, but will it be one that I will be able to handle?

Did you ever look, did you ever see that one person,

And the subtle way that they do these things and it hurts so much?

-Syaoran Li-

I watched the girl sit nervously biting her nails. I pulled her hand from her mouth yet again and took it upon myself to hold both her hands in mine and away from her teeth. It is a nasty little habit she hasn't learned to get rid of. Sakura took it upon herself to bob her leg up and down, nervous as a rattle snake. I sighed.

Can't they hurry this up?

"Miss Kinomoto, Mr Li." I looked up at the nurse as she smiled down at us. "I am happy to inform you that the test was positive. You're going to have a baby."

I could feel my heart soar. I'm going to be a father. I turned to look at Sakura. She was staring at the nurse, not talking or moving. Soft tears slowly dripped down from her eyes onto her rosy cheeks as she turned to look at me. I smiled at her. "We're… We're going to have a baby." Her voice was soft as she let the words slip from her lips.

"Yes sweetheart, you're going to be mom."

"I have to call daddy!" I laughed at the girl as she dug through her bag for her cell phone. All good news always gets reported to her father first. "Hello daddy? Are you sitting down?"

I dug for my own phone in my pocket before dialling my mother's number. She would never forgive me if I didn't tell her. "Mother."

"Xiao-lang? Did something happen? Is Sakura alright?"

"Sakura is fine mother. I just called to tell you that your wish will come true in eight month's time."

"My wish?" I laughed at my mother's confused voice as I stood up and moved a bit away form the girl talking enthusiastically over the phone with her father.

"Your son is going to be a father."

"Oh Xiao-lang! That is wonderful news! Wei! Wei! Xiao-lang is going to be a father! Oh I can't wait to tell the girls about this. When did you find out? When is the baby due?"

"We just found out mother, and it is only due in eight months. I was hoping that you would be able to arrange a small wedding ceremony for us before then. I don't want my wife-to-be rushed to the hospital in labour on our wedding day."

"It would be my pleasure. When you say small, you do mean just family and friends right?"

"Right."

"Very well then. I am sure we can organise a little something here at the house. The little gazebo with the roses has always been Sakura's favourite. I'll need to discuss it with her though, so if you would join me for dinner on Friday? And I suppose Fujitika will be coming over this weekend to share in the joyous news. Oh he simply must stay here."

"Doesn't he always? Listen mother, I need to go. We'll see you on Friday then."

"Yes dear."

"Goodbye." I watched the girl finish her conversation with her brother, huffing at him not to call her a monster and other such names. "So what are you doing for the rest of the day?"

"Nothing, it's too late to go back to the office. I suppose you have to go back."

"No, I took the afternoon off." I smiled at the woman of my dreams as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her out the clinic. "How about we go celebrate?"

So much like choking down the embers of a great blaze.

It's that moment when your eyes seem to spread aspersions

And you scream confessions at the insipid sky parting clouds.

You let this one person come down in the most perfect moment.

-Sakura Li-

I frowned as I sat up in the dark room. I looked at the place next to me on the bed and found it empty. Syaoran must have left for work again and didn't want to wake me up. I let my fingers trail over the spot he usually sleeps… it was still warm. He must have left only a while ago.

I looked at my hand and smiled. My ring finger was decorated with a simple gold band, the wedding ring he gave me four months ago as he said his vows to me. My gaze turned down to my belly – my now pregnant belly. I can't believe he got me pregnant. And on purpose as well. The jerk.

I frowned at a noise. Was Syaoran still here? Perhaps he just couldn't sleep. "Syaoran?" I switched on the bedside lamp. The room was empty. I carefully got up and made my way to the small hallway. "Syaoran? Are you here?" I flicked on the switch. The hallway was empty. "Syaoran, this isn't funny. You know the doctor said that I shouldn't be put under stress. Syaoran?"

I walked into the living room and found nothing. The television and radio was off, the DVD player still blinking the pause light. Sighing I switched off the player – perhaps it was only the machine and only my imagination. I walked to the balcony door. The city was calm, with most of the lights off and only advertising flashing here and there.

I sighed. Why does he always have to work at the most impossible times? Why – because he is a cop, a detective and it is his responsibility to care for the fellow citizens in this city. Yet, I can't help but feel cheated. I knew this would happen, especially now with that serial killer on the loose. He has killed five journalists now. A sports journalist and a general news journalist were added onto the list of murdered.

I frowned when something made a sound behind me and I turned around. In the shadow I could see someone moving. A dark figure hidden by the dark. "Who are you?"

"Don't you recognise me?" I shivered at the voice. That voice… I've heard it before.

"Get out of my home!"

"You don't fool me my dear. You're still weak. You're still the weak little girl I left behind." He stepped closer and I could feel my back press against the glass. "My sweet girl. My lovely girl." I held my breath as his fingers brushed against my cheek. "My sweet girl." I closed my eyes when his hands travelled down my arms, touching me. "My lovely girl. I told you I was coming for you."

His lips touched my neck, his tongue tasting my skin as I trembled in fear. His hands moved from my arms to my stomach and I could feel my heart suddenly pounding my chest. Not my baby, please not my baby. "Why didn't you wait for me?" I let a sob escape me as he continued to stroke my pregnant belly, my baby. "I told you I was coming for you, my sweet girl. Why didn't you wait?"

His lips left my neck and he pressed them against my ear. I could feel him grin in satisfaction as his one hand moved up from my belly to my face. "I told you I was coming for you." He snickered in satisfaction when he pressed his body against mine and I was unable to pull away. "Why didn't you wait?"

I sat up straight with a start. I could feel sweat dripping down from my face and clinging to my body. It was just a dream, only a dream. I turned to look at the space next to me. Syaoran was sleeping, he was still here. I am not alone, I am not alone. Syaoran is here, he is here and he can protect me and our baby.

I touched my cheek when I felt tears burning my skin as it rolled down. I climbed out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. I don't want Syaoran to see me like this. I don't want him to worry about me. It was only a dream. He's not coming for me. He can't. His profile says he can't – he's only been murdering people without children. Mine is on its way.

"It was only a dream." I mumbled to myself before I washed my face with cold water. Only a dream. I should stop reading the case files he brings home every now and again, it is making me paranoid. No one is after me. The business with the senator is so to speak over. He was convicted of all the fraud crimes brought upon him and I didn't even have to testify. I didn't even write the articles on his trial.

I couldn't. I couldn't even sit in the court, morning sickness made it impossible for me. I'm doing Marisa's job now, because it is something I can do from home. And Syaoran and his team know who the killer is. They found DNA and hair and other evidence. I'm sure they will be able to catch him any day now. I have nothing to worry about. No one is after me.

I changed jobs, I'm pregnant... That must be it. My hormones are bugging me again.

I'm hungry.

I frowned at myself for that sudden revelation.

Well, I am.

I glanced at the bathroom clock. It's five in the morning and I am hungry. This kid is making me fat, I swear. I sneaked out of the room and made my way down the hallway. I glanced at the old "store" room we are turning into a baby room and smiled to myself. Only a couple of more days to go and that room will be done.

I flicked on the switch in the kitchen and poured water into the kettle. Tea and some… What do I want to eat? I poked my head into the refrigerator. Ooh! Chicken and broccoli pizza. In the oven you go. I might as well make breakfast for Syaoran as well. Though I don't think he is going to agree to the pizza part. Bacon and eggs perhaps?

But he'll only eat after he went for his jog. I'll just have to ask him when he wakes up. I grinned as I poured myself some tea before sitting down to wait for my pizza. Perhaps it is just my hunger that made me dream such silly things. My imagination is working overtime again.

There is nothing to worry about.

He woke in a cold sweat. He had dreamed about her. He had held her tight in his arms. He had kissed her. He had tasted her. He had made love to her. He wanted her. She did not refuse. She is such a whore.