Author's Note: My exam days has started. 3 down, 3 more to go. Just had calc today… functions, physics, and chemistry left. Don't worry, no rambling today. :) The, I guess "CLIMAX" is next chapter.
)NileyLover( - Haha I'm glad my explanation wasn't confusing… n.n; and glad you liked the last chapter! :3
)-ur-hearts-desire-( - Aww, thank you! I'm very flattered you do! n.n
)Cheeseycraziness( - Meh, don't worry about it. :) a lot of times I ramble just for myself ne ways XD
)Irui( - ahh I agree, except I don't have finals… (not in university yet) just exams… which is actually kinda fun :P only the math exams, that is… n.n;
)Berry Happy( - O.o wow, I didn't even know anybody still read my stories from KSS! I've tried to email Ruka actually to update there (I think I'm 8 chapters or something behind O.o) but it seems she's changed her email… =/ so currently have no way to update / contact her… T.T
)BiskElle( - Wow, amazing how differently everybody's exam schedule is. Speaking of which I really should go study now… it's 9:49 pm… haven't studied a single bit for tomorrow morning's function… but mehh… it's math… it's all good… XD I actually find it quite hilarious, now that you mentioned it, how the all-powerful King of the country is so oblivious to everything… I could just feel his anger when he finds out what a fool he's been made… =/ Thank you so much for checking out my roller coaster project! It really meant a lot to me to know someone did! n.n
)Yukino-chan( - O.o This is the first story you read? Wow… don't worry, definitely not abandoning it! Just took a bit long updating it before… n.n;
Thank you everyone for the R n' R! :)
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Chapter Twenty-Two
An Uninvited Reunion
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"Touya…" For all those years Sakura's known him since childhood, she has never seen such anger and betrayal in his eyes. And it scared her so, so much.
"Touya…" she repeated, her eyes wide with fear, as she stared into his dark eyes.
"Yes." He said, barely above a whisper. "It's me, Touya. Your husband whom you've damned to 20 lashings and a year in jail, while you stood next to that damned King, him proclaiming you to be his new Queen." He gave a mirthless smile. "Did you hope they'd stick me in jail forever? Did you think you could enjoy your 'happily ever after' with a King if you got me out of your life? Or maybe, maybe if you're that desperate, maybe you should've just sentenced me to a goddamn beheading! THAT WOULD JUST MAKE THINGS EASIER, WOULDN'T IT?"
Sakura swallowed fearfully, but managed to harden her gaze and hide her fear. "Touya how dare you speak to me like this? We haven't seen each other in what—nearly a year now? And that's the first, damned, thing you can say to me?"
Touya chuckled bitterly. "Yeah. A damned year and then some has gone by. How time flies when you're screwing another man."
Sakura's face contorted into anger. "How dare you, I say, how dare you accuse me of such a crime? You and I are both aware that we are married, and you should know better than anyone that I have never and will never sleep with another man! How dare you put such a filthy title upon me? What right do you have to even say such words?"
"Women leave this competition pregnant for a reason."
Sakura stomped her foot angrily. "And here I thought you were capable of comprehension. I clearly told you on the day I left what my true goal is here! I am here because you and I both clearly saw the number of women who comes home pregnant, and everybody knows that they will never be wedded again! After all, no man would—"
"No, Sakura, that's why you were here. It's not why you still are here."
Sakura swallowed, quivering slightly. The truth behind his words touched her very soul. "T-Then why do you think I still am here?"
Touya closed his eyes. "I waited for you day at night back at home… everyday when women came back from the competition, I would ask them if they've seen you… I kept a close watch on the competition… and quite frankly, the King hasn't taken in new women for quite a few months now. Now I would call that mission accomplished, wouldn't you?"
Sakura shook her head rapidly. "No, no at all! Including myself, there are six women left over—I won't rest in peace till I know everyone is safe!"
"Oh for crying out loud, SAKURA! STOP PLAYING THESE GAMES! UNTIL EVERY-DAMNED-ONE IS SAFE? OH GIVE, ME, A BREAK! EVERYONE SAFE, MEANS YOU HAVE TO LEAVE LAST, DAMMIT! AND YOU LEAVING LAST MEANS HE PLANS ON MARRYING YOU!"
"Why are you screaming at me? I'm trying to explain to you!"
"YOU'RE ASKING WHY I'M SCREAMING? SINCE WHEN DID YOU BECOME SO SLY, HUH? THE WOMAN I MARRIED WASN'T LIKE THIS!"
"Sly? You call me sly? How dare you use such a word on me! I have not done anything I haven't told you I would—it is you who is beginning to think so twisted! What's the matter? Are you trying to hide your own guilt?"
"OH SO NOW YOU'RE ACCUSING ME? ALL RIGHT THEN DAMMIT, TELL ME, WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING WRONG?"
"I-I, obviously I don't know! I don't know what you do back at home, I don't know what you don't do back at home! I haven't seen you in over a year for crying out loud!"
"And haven't you missed me one, tiny bit? Because if you did, YOU SHOULD BE HOME BY NOW! INSTEAD OF WITH THAT KING!"
"STOP, BRINGING, THE KING INTO THIS! HE'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!"
"OH, SO NOW YOU'RE WILLING TO CARRY THE BURDEN, AND WILLING TO DEFEND THE KING OVER YOURSELF? NOW THAT'S SOME LOYALTY!"
"DON'T YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT! I ONLY DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND SINCE HE IS NOT TO BE BLAMED THEN YES, I WILL DEFEND HIM, AND IF YOU CAN'T GET YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT THEN YOU ARE THE FOOLISH ONE!"
"RIGHTEOUS? THE RIGHTEOUS SAKURA I'VE KNOWN IS LONG GONE! THE KINGDOM HAS CORRUPTED YOU! YOU'VE BEEN GREEDY HAVEN'T YOU? YOU'VE FALLEN FOR ALL THIS ENDLESS VANITY HAVEN'T YOU? AFTER ALL THE GOLD THAT KING COULD PROVIDE FOR YOU!"
"HOW DARE YOU! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU TAKE ME FOR, HUH? AFTER HIS GOLD? I THOUGHT YOU KNEW ME BETTER THAN THAT!"
"YEAH, DAMNED RIGHT, I THOUGHT I DID TOO! CLEARLY I WAS WRONG!"
Sakura stomped her foot in frustration. "WHY ARE YOU SO STUBBORN ALL THE TIME? WHY DON'T YOU LISTEN TO ME?"
"LISTEN TO YOU? LISTEN TO YOU? I, HAD TO KNEEL BEFORE YOU AND THAT STUPID KING WHILE BOUND IN CHAINS, WHILE LISTENING TO THE KING ANNOUNCING THAT MY WIFE IS GIVING OUT MY FINAL JUDGEMENT, BECAUSE SHE IS SUITABLE TO BE HIS QUEEN! AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S WORSE? WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT EVEN AFTER MY WIFE LOOKED AT ME RIGHT IN THE EYES, EVEN AFTER THE KING GAVE HER THE CHANCE TO GO BACK ON HER WORDS, SHE DIDN'T! SHE STILL SENTENCED ME TO LASHINGS AND JAIL! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE? DO YOU? TO KNOW THAT YOUR OWN WIFE, WHOM YOU SWORE TO BE WITH FOR ETERNITY, WANTS YOU BLEEDING AND LOCKED AWAY!"
Sakura's anger died out slowly. She opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out. At last, she hung her head, and whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Touya… I, I really wanted so badly to let you go… but I didn't… n-not because I wanted you hurt… no, I couldn't bear that… but because, because it would've been too embarrassing for me… I mean, p-people w-would, would talk, and, and they would say bad things about me, and say how I am unfair, and biased, and—"
"And basically your reputation is more important than my life." Touya finished.
"T-That's not true…" Sakura defended feebly.
"Oh? Then what is true?"
I want to be a good Queen to the Kingdom… someone people could look up to and admire… Sakura's eyes widened slightly at such thoughts and quickly shook her head clear of them. "The truth, is that I am your wife, and I will spend the rest of my life with you." She said at last, in a barely audible voice.
—
Ilonka stretched as she got up from the floor. "It's getting late. We've been talking for much too long. Gotta get back to my room before the guards check."
Jelensta rolled her eyes as she got up after the girl. "I really don't believe the King give any more of a damn about what happens to any of his other competition girls…"
"Good. Because he's harmed enough women in his short 2 years already." Ilonka said, as she began walking towards her room.
Jelensta followed her closely. "You sound very angry about that…"
"Of course I am. Man is man. It is unfair that just because a single man is born under a luckier star than others that he should be granted all these privileges, and misuse them to hurt others."
Jelensta smirked as she reached out and grabbed Ilonka's shoulder. "Just say the word, and I'll show him pain."
Ilonka's eyes widened slightly as she stared into Jelensta's green eyes. Is she serious…? Does she… hate the King… too…?
But before she could reply, Jelensta burst out laughing. "I'm just kiddin', darling. I know you're too sweet to really hurt anybody, no matter how tough you wanna seem. You just ain't me."
"Hm. And what's that suppose to mean?"
"It just means I'm more spoiled, and I'm one of those lucky individual born with endless privileges…"
Ilonka paused and played with that thought as she turned around briefly to glance at Jelensta. "You know, throughout our whole conversation… you never mentioned anything about your background."
Jelensta's smile widened. "I know."
"You are doing that purposely."
"Maybe."
"Who are you?"
"Kalira. Kalira Jelensta."
"What's your position, and relationship to the King?"
"We are… friends."
Ilonka sighed as she paused in front of a door. "This is where I live." She said, her hand on her doorknob. "But before I—"
To her surprise, before she had a chance to finish her sentence, Jelensta pushed past her and shoved the door open and walked in boldly, shaking her head distastefully at the sight before her. "Wow… such conditions…"
"HEY! Are you listening to me?"
Jelensta just whipped around and walked right past Ilonka yet again, this time straight out the door. "This place is ugly. Come live with me."
Ilonka blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." she said, her pace not slowing down the slightest. "I got a much bigger, not to mention nicer room. Well, rooms. You can take one."
Ilonka stared after her, contemplating. She was tempted to go, but then thought of something, and held her ground. "No." she said.
Jelensta paused in mid stride and spun around on the heel of one foot. All of her life people were trying to keep up with her. No one ever dared to say 'no' to her. Especially not when such a generous offer is being made. "Excuse me?"
"No. I'm not going with you."
Grumbling slightly, Jelensta walked back—something she couldn't ever remember doing. She was the tiger that led and never looked, nor turned back. "All right, what is the problem?"
"I refuse to be going somewhere with a person I know absolutely nothing about. Tell me of your relationship with the King and I will go with you."
Jelensta couldn't believe her ears. "You speak as if it's a luxury for me! Truly, I am offering you a beautiful room! You should be begging for it!"
Ilonka shook her head slowly. "No. You tell me, and I'll go with you."
Jelensta was very tempted to just walk away right then and there, as usually, people would follow her soon afterwards. But one look into this girl's eyes told her otherwise. After a long time, she let out a deep sigh. "What do you want to know…?"
"Your relationship with the King. The truth, please, and do not be vague."
"Well, I don't understand what you want me to say…"
"Well, clearly you are not related to him, yet it's obvious you seem to be able to roam freely, and he takes your opinion in high regards. Why?"
Jelensta seemed reluctant. "I've never spoke of this to anyone… no one knows of this except the King and myself… you understand that for me, it's a thrill when people stare at me questionably, wondering of my mysteries and secrets…"
"I won't say a word to a single soul."
Jelensta sighed once again. "I first met the King when I was 12, him 17."
"Wow, that long?"
"Yes… so you could almost say we were kind of like… what's that phrase—childhood friends?"
"Incredible. You've known him for—how old are you now?"
"It is impolite to ask a lady of her age…" Jelensta mocked before rolling her eyes at herself. "Ah, heck. I'm 18 now."
"—right. 18. You've known him for 6 years and he provides you with constant life of the royalties and you're not even sure if you two are friends. You do realize if that's the situation you're in, I can only assume that…" A slow smile began to play upon her lips.
Jelensta raised an eyebrow. "I don't sleep with him, if that's what you're referring to."
Ilonka squirmed slightly uncomfortably. "You say such things so casually…"
"Why shouldn't I? Besides…" her eyes narrowed slightly as her lips twisted into a mocking smirk. "I'm not the one trying to."
Ilonka frowned deeply. "I thought we were already over that. I'd rather die than to… you know, with the King."
Jelensta burst out laughing. "Oh, the King sure knows how to pick his women, don't he?"
Ilonka joined her laughter and shrugged, smiling.
"Well then, shall we go?" Jelensta gestured at the path down the hall.
Ilonka nodded. "You've told me what I wanted to know—or well, you told me the best you could, I guess, so I will keep up my end of the bargain."
Jelensta rolled her eyes as she began walking away. She whipped her fan open and fanned herself lightly in disbelief. "You have such an attitude…"
Ilonka grinned. "And you love me for it."
—
"W-What?" Touya stuttered.
"I said," Sakura repeated, louder than last time. "I will always remain your wife."
Touya sucked in a breath of air as he held it for a very long time. Perhaps a minute went by before he finally let it out. "All right." he said at last. "Then we will continue our family for our daughter."
"W-What? Then… what about me?"
Sakura turned around at the voice. Through all their frustration and accusations she forgot about the other member inside this small jail cell. "Kaho? What do you mean by that…?" Sakura questioned with a small frown. "You will be let out of this place obviously, and you will—"
But Kaho wasn't listening to her, or even looking at her. Those determined hazel eyes were fixed only on Touya. "I th-thought you said we would never… never par—"
"Excuse me, but I would like to remind you that I am married and I have a wife." Touya said coldly.
"H-How dare you!" Kaho felt a sting in her eyes. She tried so hard to leave him in the beginning, but it was he who asked for her to come back, and told her all the things she wanted to hear… she had thought he was special, he was the right man to fall in love with—but turns out, she was so wrong. He lied to her and gave her false hope and now he's denying it all without batting an eye. How unfamiliar he looked standing there against the cold, stone wall. Kaho took a step back unintentionally as she shook her head in disbelief. "How could you, Touya…? How could you…?"
But Touya could not make himself look into those teary eyes he once loved to gaze into.
Sakura looked back and forth quizzily between the two. "W-What's going on…? Touya… do you owe her something…? Kaho, honey, if my husband hurt you, I'm sure it was unintenti—"
"SHUT UP!"
Sakura was stunned from the sudden outburst as Kaho fell slowly towards the ground, covering her face with her hands, her body shaking from sobs.
"K-Kaho…? What's going o—" Sakura suddenly stopped. Everything was coming back to her.
It so happens that K met T during the escape, and T, despite knowing the situation, sheltered K from harm for a very, very long time…
Somebody was sheltering Kaho… and for a while Sakura had briefly wondered how lucky she was to have found a man who cared so much for her…
But when T's safety was threatened, the 'servant' admitted to be K. Of course when that was revealed, both T and K were arrested for various crimes.
To willingly sacrifice yourself for the well being of another… how much must you care for that person?
Sakura looked back and forth between Kaho and Touya. And her eyes rested on Touya. "Unbelievable…" she whispered. "And there you were accusing me…" a cruel smile came upon her lips. "You had the face to accuse me…"
"YOU KNOW NOTHING!" Touya cried banging his fist against the wall. "DON'T YOU DARE JUDGE ME! HOW DARE YOU MAKE SUCH ACCUSATIONS OF ME!"
"HOW DARE I MAKE SUCH ACCUSATIONS OF YOU? HADN'T YOU THOUGHT OF THAT WHEN YOU ACCUSED ME OF DOING THINGS WITH THE KING?"
"THAT'S BECAUSE I HAD PROOF! HE WAS ABOUT TO MAKE YOU HIS BLOODY QUEEN! AND DON'T YOU DARE SCREAM BACK AT ME! I WAS BEING KIND BY LETTING YOU CONTINUE BEING MY WIFE WITHOUT QUESTIONS! TOO DAMN KIND!"
"YOU WERE KIND? OH YOU DARE SAY! HOW DO YOU HAVE THE FACE TO SAY SUCH THINGS? YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND NOW I DO TOO!"
"WHAT? WHAT HAVE I DONE HUH? TELL ME WHAT I DID!"
"I knew it was strange… you were never a temperate man! But yet the first thing you do, you scream at me! AND NOW I FINALLY KNOW WHY! IT WAS GUILT WASN'T IT, IT WAS GUILT! YOU THOUGHT BY BLAMING EVERYTHING ON ME IT WOULD LET YOU OFF THE HOOK, IS THAT IT?" Sakura shook her head in disbelief. "God… I can't believe you… did you do all that in front of our daughter…?"
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! YOU SHOULD BE SO DAMNED GRATEFUL I'M EVEN TAKING YOU BACK TO ME! INSTEAD YOU DARE ACCUSE ME BACK? YOU KNOW NOTHING, ALRIGHT? NOTHING! But you know what, maybe if only you'd been damned around more often you'd know more!"
Sakura scoffed. "Oh I know plenty! In case you've forgotten, I WAS THE ONE PUT IN CHARGE OF YOUR TRIAL! AND YOU KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT, TOUYA? YOU KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE STORY OF YOU TWO? I THOUGHT, 'WOW, THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER MUST BE DIVINE FOR THEM TO SO WILLINGLY SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR ONE ANOTHER!' THAT'S WHAT I DAMNED THOUGHT!
"WELL OBVIOUSLY YOU THOUGHT WRONG! BEING SO DELIRIOUSLY IN LOVE WITH THAT DAMNED KING, IT MUST'VE DONE A TON OF CRAP TO THAT HEAD OF YOURS!"
"YOU WANT TO KEEP DENYING? HUH? YOU WANT TO KEEP DENYING? ARE YOU GONNA DENY NEXT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW KAHO?"
"OF COURSE I KNOW HER! WHEN THE HELL DID I SAY I DIDN'T?"
"YEAH, WELL, IT'S BEEN HOW LONG SINCE SHE ESCAPED CASTLE? I KNOW FOR A FACT IT'S BEEN NEARLY A WHOLE YEAR! HAS SHE BEEN WITH YOU THIS WHOLE, LONG, YEAR TOUYA? HAS SHE?"
"Yeah, you know everything don't you… you-you know our situation, you know how long Kaho and I were together, you know when she left, you know all the affairs of this land… it seems the only thing you don't know, IS WHO YOUR HUSBAND IS!" He shook his head in disbelief. "God my parents must've been damned blind when they took you in! They should've left you to rot!"
Sakura trembled with hurt and rage. "Don't you bring auntie and uncle into this. Don't you bring my childhood into this. How could you say such a thing Touya, how could you say such a thing? Because we have a misunderstanding, because you're too damned scared to admit your own mistake, you have to damn my entire life now? Starting from when I was a child? Do you think that's fair, huh? Is it?"
"Hah. Fair. You're talking to me about fair? While you're wiping your ass with silk sleeping with the King and I'm slaving away at home trying to maintain a meager living while praying for my wife's safety and return you're tellin' me about fairness?"
Sakura took a deep breath. It was impossible. She was so sick of telling him that there was absolutely nothing going on between her and King. But he just didn't seem to get it. "You know," she said calmly. "You never answered my question."
"Oh, and what question was that, your majesty?"
Sakura tightened her jaw at the way he was mocking her. "How long were you with Kaho?"
It was Touya's turn to tighten his jaws. "She needed a place to stay."
"How long, Touya?"
"She was helpless!"
"You're avoiding my question."
Touya let out a low growl. "You know what dammit, alright, yes, I took her in very soon after she left the castle, as our house just happened by chance to be the first house she found, and obviously in desperate times she asked for hospitality, and dammit you expect me to turn away an injured woman! She passed out for crying out loud, I couldn't just leave her there!"
"Oh, and you're basically saying that for the next two seasons that you allowed her to stay you just couldn't let her go anywhere because clearly she was still injured and unable to leave!"
"Do you hear yourself talking, Sakura? Do you? This is your friend you're talking about! And yet all you can say is why I didn't kick her out? Why I didn't just shove her to the soldiers? You're absolutely unbelievable. And disgusting."
"Don't talk to me that way, Touya, don't you dare. She is my friend, yes, but just because of that I should be willing to share my husband with her?"
Touya rolled his eyes. "Oh give me a break, what on earth are you babbling about? How many times do I have to tell you? There-is-nothing-going-on-between-her-and-I! You think I wanted to stay with her? You think I wanted having an extra baggage around the house? YOU THINK I ENJOY HAVING A BURDEN!"
"Oh, right, of course, that COMPLETELY EXPLAINS WHY YOU LIVED WITH HER IN OUR HOUSE FOR A WHOLE DAMN YEAR! OF COURSE, YOU MUST'VE HATED IT! THAT'S WHY, YOU KEPT HER THERE, WITH YOU, EVERY, SINGLE DAY! SLEEPING TOGETHER IN THE SAME HOUSE! GOD KNOWS IF IT'S MORE!"
Touya took a deep breath. "You really wanna know why I took her in, Sakura? You really wanna know exactly why I let her stay at our house for so long…? She came to our house after her escape from her castle, and passed out… I wanted her to leave the following day when she first woke up… but I didn't… you know why? BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS YOUR FRIEND! SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE, WAS FRIENDS, WITH MY WIFE! MY WIFE, WHOM I LOVE, AND THUS I FELT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HER! I LET HER STAY BECAUSE OF YOU SAKURA, BECAUSE OF YOU! WHILE YOU WERE OFF WITH ANOTHER MAN AND NOW COMING BACK TO ACCUSE ME OF SUCH A SHAMEFUL CRIME!"
A deep silence rung through the air for a very long time.
"So… that's it?" A soft, cracking voice whispered.
Touya couldn't meet her eyes as he forced a scoff out of himself. "What do you mean that's it?" he replied coldly. "What did you honestly expect?"
Kaho couldn't believe her ears. How could he be so cruel all of a sudden? Did she mean so little to him…? Or did Sakura really mean that much to him? Kaho closed her eyes, unable to contain the tears that began to drip down, as Sakura looked back and forth between the two, unsure what conclusion to come to. "Very well." Kaho whispered, at last. There was an air of defeat around her usually confident and determined attitude. "You don't have to feel responsible for me anymore. You'll never see me again." With that, she walked out of the cell, turned at a corner and disappeared from view.
"Um, i-is that even a-allowed?" Sakura asked, slightly bewildered.
To her side, Touya slumped slowly to the ground, as his hair fell over his face, shielding his expression. "You unbelievable bitch."
"I beg your pardon!"
Deep inside, Touya was in turmoil from worrying about Kaho. How he felt afraid at what she might do impulsively under her current condition—what made it worse was that it was all caused by him. He never wanted to hurt her. He never meant to hurt her. But in that moment all he could think of was winning the argument against Sakura. In his mind she was the one who's done the unspeakable, and he would prove that at any expense. "Well what the hell are you standing here for? HUH? SHE'S YOUR FRIEND DAMMIT! GO AFTER HER!"
Sakura frowned. For as long as she's known him, she's never known that her husband had such a temper. "And here you are telling me there's nothing going on between you two. God, look at you! You're worried sick about her!"
"WELL, OBVIOUSLY I AM! ANYONE WITH HALF A HEART WOULD BE! EVEN IF SHE WERE A TOTAL STRANGER I'D WORRY ABOUT HER WALKING OFF IN THAT KIND OF CONDITION!"
"OH, AND I'M TO BE BLAMED FOR IT? CLEARLY YOU WERE THE ONE THAT CAUSED IT!"
"YOU PROVOKED IT! WELL ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? TO EASE YOUR OWN GUILT MUST YOU DRIVE EVERYONE ELSE OVER THE EDGE?"
"UGH!" Sakura stomped her foot angrily. "I'M NOT GUILTY, I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING I SHOULD FEEL GUILTY ABOUT, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST GET THAT FACT THROUGH THAT THICK HEAD OF YOURS?"
"WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE ARGUING WITH ME? GO AFTER KAHO DAMMIT! GO AFTER HER! SHE COULD HURT HERSELF!"
"IF YOU CARE ABOUT HER SO MUCH, YOU GO AFTER HER!"
Touya stopped screaming, as he paused in shame and frustration, beads of cold sweat rolling down his face. He really was so, so worried about her. He didn't want her to do anything foolish or impulsive… but for now, for his pride, he couldn't go after her personally. But that didn't ease his worry one tiny bit. If he couldn't do anything himself, he would get someone else to. "Sakura… she's your friend… go after her…"
But as Sakura stared at the way her husband looked, stared at the way her husband changed, and thinking that all these were to be blamed on Kaho, she couldn't help the anger that rose within. She stared into Touya's eyes for a longest time, before she responded. "No." It was simple, but firm word. She has done nothing wrong and she will not go after that wench. I thought you were my friend, Kaho… I respected you deeply… I looked up to you. I remember now… you mentioning you knew of Touya… could it be? All the time… your kindness and understanding and support for me… were they all lies so you could get to my… husband…? Sakura swallowed at the thought. Are you really so deceitful and cruel…? Have you been manipulating my husband as well…? You didn't… hurt Chiika, did you…? "Touya…? How… how's Chiika…?"
But Touya didn't say anything. He simply stared at her as if she were a stranger. "Don't ask me about Chiika. You have no right to know."
"Touya, I am her mother. I have every right to know."
He scoffed, not breaking that cruel, cruel eye contact. "The hell you are. Mothers care about their child, mothers love their child—you're not her mother."
"How dare you say that! Of course I love Chiika very, very much, and of course I care for her! How could you even say such a thing?"
"If you truly cared for Chiika, or for me, you would've came home long, long ago, Sakura. If you were even capable of caring at all, you would go after Kaho right now."
"I told you, no. I will not. She used me, she betrayed me. I have no reason to care for someone like that."
Touya shook his head slowly. "You're wrong. She's nothing like that."
"Oh? What happened to you taking care of her for me?"
"I did. I did show hospitality towards her because of you. But inevitably as time progressed I came to know her and I know that she is a kind soul."
Sakura shook her head slowly. "Stop, Touya. Let's stop talking about her. Don't you think we have more important issues to work out?"
Touya couldn't take his eyes off her. To him, this was no longer the kind, and caring Sakura he once knew and loved. She was no longer the wife he married. She's become someone else… she's become… a cruel, cruel Queen. Even the way she spoke, it was like giving commands rather than conversation. The way she carried herself was no longer soft and gentle, but confident and proud. "You're no longer the Sakura I once loved… you've changed, changed so much, you know that? You've become cold heart, you've become cruel… you've become ugly."
Sakura felt as if she had been slapped in the face. "No, Touya." She managed to say. "It is not me, but you who's changed."
"No, Sakura, I couldn't have changed. I lived life as we've always lived for more than 10 years. It is you, who came into this castle, got a taste of being favoured and loved by that hideous King… and it's gotten to your head. Your heart has been tainted black from your greed and selfishness."
"Touya—"
But he wasn't done. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the woman he wish he could still recognize. He searched deep in her features for something—anything—that appeared familiar to him. "I swore an eternal vow to stay with Sakura forever… not you."
Sakura's eyes widened bit by bit, as her heart broke, little by little. She could not believe his words. How embarrassing and powerful they were. Was he… breaking the eternal vow they swore to one another? No… he couldn't… he just couldn't… he couldn't hate her this much! He couldn't be so desperate to get away from her that he'd rather condemn his soul in hell for his eternal afterlife! No! That's simply too much! She couldn't take that!
Slowly, she felt the tears of disbelief and absolute pain well up in her eyes, as one drop slid down her cheek, dripping down her neck. "You don't mean that, Touya…" she whispered hoarsely.
But he simply closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. "17 years we've known each other, Sakura… 17 years… but I don't see the point anymore. I will not be with the person you've become."
"B-But Touya…" her voice was so soft… so broken. "I-I thought we worked something out…? I-I thought we both agreed… and we were both okay w-with that, I-I will leave this competition as soon as I-I can, and, and we'll pretend this never happened, and we'll, we'll continue living our life, happily, just like before…"
"Yeah, you'll leave soon. How soon is soon, Sakura? You won't leave that King. I know it, you know it. And even if you return, I can't stand living with the person you are now. Once upon a time we had so much in common. We despised people who abused their privilege and saw themselves more superior and worthy simply because they were luckier at birth. Well, you've become one of those people now, Sakura. You've had a taste of the power the King has granted you and you've become greedy. I can't live with you any more."
"T-That's not true… Touya… Touya…" she walked towards him slowly, wobbling on her feet as she was finally within distance to carefully lay her hands on his shoulders. "I'm still the Sakura you knew since childhood… the Sakura you married… the Sakura you… you have a daughter with…"
Touya looked her over for a long time. At last, he said, "No. You're not. You do not have to return home if you do not wish to."
"B-But Touya… how could you say this? W-We're bound by an eternal vow! We swore before all beings in heaven we'll be together forever! We're bound by blood! We cannot separate! This is just a bump in our long road! This is God's way of challenging us, challenging our determination and loyalty! You can't give up now! You just can't! We are to remain together forever! It's the way things are!"
"And if we don't?"
"Then… then…" Sakura's voiced trembled slightly. "Then you'll be damned to hell."
Touya chuckled mirthlessly under his breath. "Two years ago you never would've even said such words." She was silent, for she knew it was true. "I have nothing more to say to you right now. I don't want to see you right now. We'll just fight more and make this worse…" he slumped down to the ground, his hands covering his face. "Please leave."
Sakura approached him slowly. "Touya… this, this is just a fight we're having… right? I'll still return home after this competition… and, and you'll still be waiting for me, right…? and everything will be back to the way they are…? This is just some stupid fight… right?"
"I don't know, Sakura. I don't know."
Sakura swallowed hard and bit her lips, tears stinging her eyes. A strange, choking cry left her lips as she ran out of the cell, tears flying past her face.
—
Tomoyo stood there guarding the entrance to the dungeon restlessly. "Oh, why did that vulgar man make me guard the place…? I need to see if Kaho is all right… oh, she looked terrible when she ran out… and I'm going to get into so much trouble for her running out like that!"
"HEY! What are you still doing here?"
Tomoyo turned and gasped as she stared into the eyes of the guard. "EEK! Ah, hello! Are you back to GUARD the cell again? You are THE GUARD that works HERE right?"
He raised an eyebrow at the way she was speaking. "I thought I told ya to scram! It's been what, how long now? Why's you still here?"
"Uh, umm, I, I wanted to visit my friend for longer time!"
"Then why ain't you wit' her?"
"I-uh-I was just… just admiring this place…"
The guard's eyebrow rose even higher at that. He was now positive this girl's lost it. "Yeah, well, you like it so much why don'ts you stay here then."
"Ah, well, I mean I don't like it that much you know… so speaking of which… you are back here to GUARD the place…? And NOT LEAVING soon…?"
"Look I don't know what you're up to but I'ma go check up on the prisoners and if anything happened…" he pointed a finger at her, barely inches away from her nose. "You will be held responsible. And you can admire these jail cells all, day, long. Gotcha?"
Tomoyo gulped. "Umm yes… I—um—I—of course—it's just that—" she took a deep breath. "THE GUARD IS HERE! THE GUARD IS HERE! THE GUARD IS BACK! HE'S BACK!"
"Hey whatcha screamin' about? Shut up!"
"THE GUARD IS HERE! HE'S HERE! THE GUARD IS BACK! HE'S—" Tomoyo sighed a breath of relief when she saw Sakura running up the stairs from the dungeon cell. "Oh, thanks goodness, Sakura, you're—"
But Sakura ran by her in a blur, as if she didn't even see her. Was it just her or did Sakura seem to be… crying…? Tomoyo wondered with worry, staring after the girl's retreating figure.
"Okay, WHO on God's beautiful green earth was SHE?" The guard demanded. "And WHY is she here WITHOUT PERMISSION?"
Tomoyo held her head high. "She happens to be Lady Kinomoto. Kinomoto Sakura, I'm sure you've heard…? Hmm…? The only woman the King has ever given permission to be in charge of an entire trial…?"
The guard thought for a bit before he went pale. "O-Oh yes, I have heard of her… G-Give her my best regards…" he mumbled as he headed downstairs to check on the prisoners.
A few minutes later, a scream was heard as the guard came bolting up the stairs in a fit of rage. "YOU STUPID GIRL! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHY IS THEIR CELL UNLOCKED? WHY IS ONE OF THE PRISONERS GONE, HUH? WHY IS SHE GONE? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
But Tomoyo had already left to chase after Sakura.
"YOU ARE DEAD UNDERSTAND? DEAD! SECURITY! SECURITY! A PRISONER HAS ESCAPED! SECURITY!"
—
"Oh, where could she be…?" Tomoyo asked with worry as she ran down the endless halls of this castle. Where, could, she, be…?"
Nearly 20 minutes go by and she could not find a trace of either Sakura or Kaho. "Oh…" She mumbled with worry. But as she turned at a corner of the corridor, she bumped into someone unexpectedly. "Oh!" She cried in surprise.
"Tomoyo?"
"Meiling! What are you doing here?"
Meiling looked away grudgingly. "Looking for the King… except he's no where to be found…"
"Meiling, I am so glad I bumped into you… Please, I need you to go find Sakura…"
Meiling's face darkened at the mention of that name. "Oh? And why should I do that? You saw what happened at the trial…" she swallowed with difficulty. "What King Syaoran said… said about her…"
"Oh, Meiling…" Tomoyo drew her friend into a hug. "I understand how you must feel right now… but just for a moment, can we forget all about this… just for a moment? I don't think Sakura's okay right now… really… th-that… that man with Kaho… the man that was at the trial and heard everything that you have… he's…" her voiced dropped down a notch. "He's her husband."
Meiling drew back abruptly, her eyes wide. "W-What?"
Tomoyo nodded. "Yeah… what were the chances… and he and Sakura just had a face-to-face conversation down in the cell… I'm not quite sure what happened down there, but I do think he is a very aggressive and tactful man… she just came running out of the cell crying… oh, she looked a mess…"
Meiling was submitting unwillingly toward the guilt and worry that began to arise within her heart. "T-Then… why don't you go after her?"
"I have to find Kaho…"
"Kaho? What happened to her?"
"She… um… I'm not really sure what happened but she kind of… ran out of the cell in tears too…"
"WHAT? But she's a—"
"I know! That's what makes it worse! She's a criminal and the guards would surely be after her! Attempted prison escape is a very serious crime! That's why I have to go find her before the guards do! So… will you help me? Please take care of Sakura?"
Meiling's frown deepened as she stared at the ground for a long time. At last, with a sigh, she replied. "All right…"
Tomoyo smiled gratefully, giving her friend a hug. "Thank you Meiling… I knew you still cared deep down."
Meiling just sighed in response.
—
The guards stared in bewilderment at the woman who was kneeling down before them.
"PLEASE! I need to see the King!"
She looked an absolute mess. Tear stains were everywhere on her face, her clothing were wrinkles, her eyes were red, and there was just something pathetic and defeated about her every gesture. Even the way she kneeled looked more as if she were going to collapse on the ground. But that wasn't why they were surprised. After all many people end up like that after staying inside the castle for too long. They were most surprised by her identity. "Aren't you Mizuki…?" one guard asked carefully.
"Yes, but—"
But the guards were already in frenzy. "SEIZE HER! SHE'S ATTEMPTING PRISON ESCAPE NOW! SEIZE HER!"
"No, sirs, please I simply—"
"WE NEED MORE GUARDS HERE! PRISONER ATTEMPTING ESCAPE! PRISONER ATTEMPTING ESCAPE!"
"Hey! Stop that!" Kaho protested weakly as two guards dragged her roughly to her feet, tying her arms behind her.
"THE KING MUST NOT BE DISTURBED OF THIS! I REPEAT! HIS MAJESTY MUST NOT!"
"LOOK COULD YOU GENTLEMEN PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO ME FOR ONE SECOND HERE? IF I REALLY WERE TRYING TO ESCAPE, WHY WOULD I ASK TO SEE THE KING?"
The guards paused briefly as they stared at her. She did have a point… "Then why do you wish to see him?"
Kaho's eyes were blank and gray. "I wish to tell him how deeply sorry I am for my having attempted to escape this castle. I wish to tell him I will endure any punishment he deems reasonable and that I shall never attempt to leave this place again."
The guards raised an eyebrow. "Then how, did you manage to escape your cell?"
"I didn't escape. The guard left the cell door open…"
"WHAT?"
"So please let me see the King…"
The guards stared at her for a very long time. "No, sorry, can't do. By the rules you are to be put instantly back into the cell and be tried once more on a different day…"
Kaho dropped to her knees like a ragged doll. "Please sir… have mercy…"
"Having mercy, is to not report this escape to the King…"
"I beg of you…" and with that, she touched her forehead to the ground, kowtowing.
The soldier felt very uncomfortable at the scene of a beautiful woman begging him like such. "I-uh-I… oh, all right. Please, just stand up…"
Kaho straightened herself, but remained kneeling. "No, I will not budge till the King personally gives me permission to…"
The guard sighed at her stubbornness, as he set off to find the King.
—
"Your majesty, someone is here to see you." The soldier reported, kneeling on one knee.
The King was delighted. "Oh, she's here." He paced happily around his room. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let her in!"
"Yes your majesty."
King Syaoran was grinning like a silly young boy as he heard footsteps behind him. When the footsteps became louder and louder then stopped, he spun around joyously. "Sakura—" But he was flabbergasted to find a man in armor kneeling in front of him. "Who the bloody hell are you?"
"Your majesty, someone wishes to see you."
"Yes I know that, that's why I said to let her in…" he growled, his entire demeanor changing.
"Your Majesty, she is waiting at the Grand Hall."
The King was slightly puzzled. "Well then, tell her to come here…"
"But she refused to budge from her kneeling position on the ground till you personally give her permission to."
The King raised an eyebrow. "Just for clarification, who is this woman?"
"Her name is Mizuki Kaho, your Majesty."
"MIZUKI KAHO? ISN'T SHE IN PRISON?"
"According to her, the guard left his post and her cell open, and so she left, in haste to see you. She proposed that she is here to apologize and to accept any punishment you want to set on her."
The King groaned. "Look as tempting as it might sound, could you convince her to stay somewhere else for the night and I'll deal with her tomorrow morning?"
"But your majesty, she refuses to leave nor to stop kneeling till you see her."
The King's right eye twitched just the slightest. "Oh all right… lead the way…" he growled, clearly annoyed.
As they headed out his heavily guarded bed chamber, King Syaoran said to one of the guards, "I'm sure you all know of Lady Kinomoto Sakura. If she were to show up, let her in, got it? And you will treat her as you would treat a Queen. You will make sure she is comfortable, and give her anything she asks."
"Yes your majesty." The guards and servants replied in sync.
"Good. And let her know I will be back shortly. Hopefully."
"Yes your majesty."
As the King disappeared from view, the servants giggled at one another. "He sure has changed…"
"Yeah, and I think it's 'cause of that Kinomoto girl…"
"How strange love works, don't you think?" one girl said dreamily. "They used to be at each other's throats… and look at them now… She might actually be the next Queen…"
—
Meiling sighed in frustration. "I've looked everywhere! Where could she be?" She leaned against the wall, pondering. "Maybe I am over-thinking things…? Maybe she is… just in her room? Well, worth a shot."
And with that, Meiling headed off towards what used to be the room they shared.
Standing before the door, she took a deep breath, and turned the door knob, as she opened the door slowly. "Sakura?" She called out softly, before entering the room, and closing the door behind her. "Sakura? Are you here?"
But the girl was nowhere to be found. Meiling felt a deep sadness within her as she sat down on Sakura's bed. "Where could you be…? Just don't do anything rash, all right…?"
That was when Meiling noticed a little booklet lying atop her drawer. "Hey…" she said curiously, picking the book up. "Isn't this the book that Sakura, Tomoyo, and Ilonka were all talking about the other day? I wonder what's so special about it…" And casually, she flipped the book to the page where Sakura had bookmarked, and settled down.
And she began to read.
—
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—
Author's Note: Okay I know that was SUCH an inappropriate place to end it… it's so… un-ending-ish… but I had to. I had originally planned to combine this chap and next chap together, but that probably would've been like over 16k words… which is WAY too long… so I'm dividing it. So excuse the horrible place to end it.
Also please excuse how horrible this chapter was… :( unfortunately I was on a writing marathon starting on chapter 15 or something… basically I never stopped writing… but I kinda lost inspiration somewhere in middle of this chapter, so I actually ended up writing like literally a paragraph a day for about two weeks straight or something… thus the crappiness, repetiveness, and again, more crappiness… :( but I promise, (I will try to make) the next chapter be better! The next chapter will be a huge event, probably one of the climax of the story… though probably not as dramatic as some of you might, expect, or at least not in the way you're expecting… anyhow, till next time! Ta-ta!
7968 words.