Disclaimer: I do not own CCS.
I am sorry. I am honestly sorry for not updating for...half a year.
I humbly apologise, and to the readers who, if they should continue to find this interesting, I must say;
I love you all!
And thank you so much, Bia, who left this kind, kind message (WHY U NO UPDATE? [hahaha!]), and reminded me that this story must go on!
Here is the glossary:
Takoyaki: a ball-shaped dumpling filled with diced octopus, tempura scraps, green onion etc.
Okonomiyaki: a savoury pancake containing meat, octopus, squid, eggs, shredded cabbage etc.
Taiyaki: a fish-shaped pancake filled with azuki bean paste, chocolate or custard
Gomenasai: I'm sorry
Once again, I am sorry (Gomenasai!) and please enjoy this chapter!
Chapter Thirteen
"Sakura! I can't breathe in here!" Cerberus had begged to come along with Sakura to the festival in hopes of scabbing off her when she bought something to eat.
She opened the zipper for him. "Kero-chan, keep it down! People might hear you!" Ignoring her, he poked his head out of her bag and looked up at her.
"Are we meeting up with the brat?"
"No." Her pace slowed. "Syaoran said he was busy." Cerberus knew what she was thinking. That he was avoiding her; that he still hated her. She had cried in her room when they moved to Tokyo every night for months, but it was clear from the first time he saw that brat: he was the one meant for her. There had been so much love in his eyes there was no way he could hate her.
"So…who're we meeting up with? Tomoyo?"
"Nope. Somebody else. You've never met him before." She hurried towards a distant figure. "Takeda-kun! I'm sorry I'm late. Did you have to wait long?" He smiled at her and tucked back a stray strand of hair.
"Don't worry about it, Sakura-chan." He offered her his arm. "Shall we go?"
It was already dusk, and coloured paper lanterns were stung up above stalls.
A silver figure leapt from tree to tree in the forest that laced the festival, its body shimmering like moonlight. It leaned on a tree trunk and observed the people walking around. This was so fun. A festival was like a feast, and it sighed with drunken pleasure. All those lives it could take tonight, all the screams and panic; he thirsted for it.
It fingered the pair of golden scissors that was tucked into its belt. It sang softly, a quiet song, as it crept closer to the festival.
"Hush, do you hear that?
The ringing of the bell?
Yes, I hear that.
It's the song of your knell."
Yukito followed Touya warily.
"Hey…should we really be doing this?" Touya ignored him and continued following his sister, never taking his sharp eyes off Katsu.
"Who's that kid with kaijuu?"
"That's Takeda-kun." They watched as the couple stopped by the ring toss stall, and after expertise throws, Katsu presented Sakura with a stuffed bunny, similar to the one Touya got Sakura years ago. She pressed her face into the toy, happiness scribbled all over her face.
"I don't like him," was Touya's immediate response. Where was Syaoran, who was supposed to be keeping Sakura company?
Where was Syaoran, who should be the only one allowed to make her smile like that?
He followed the honey blonde through the labyrinth of stalls, jostled by the crowd around him.
The aroma of takoyaki, okonomiyaki, roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes wafted around the air, and the idle chattering of people filled his ears. He glared at Fumiko's back. Only she was capable of ruining such a festive mood. She stopped by a stall selling taiyaki and gestured for Syaoran to hurry up.
"Look!" She pointed excitedly to the fish shaped pancakes that were turning golden brown. "They look delicious!" He studied her, surprise crossing his features. This was the first time he had seen her genuinely happy. Her smile was so natural, her laugh wasn't forced. A plump middle-aged woman waddled back to the stall, fastening her apron.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" She looked at the couple and gave them a warm smile. "Which filling will you have?" Fumiko turned to Syaoran, her eyes bright.
"Should I have the bean paste fill or the chocolate fill?"
"Chocolate."
"But don't you think the bean paste fill is more traditional?"
"If you want that filling, why'd you ask me?" A soft cough interrupted their conversation. It was the woman tending to the stall, and her eyes were wide with disbelief.
"Are you…are you Fumiko-chan?"
Sakura cheered for Katsu as he chased a nimble goldfish around the inflated children's pool.
Despite his excellent throwing skills, he was quite terrible when it came to scooping goldfish. He grumbled as the paper on his scooper tore, and he pressed another ¥100 into the shopkeeper's hand. He turned around and gave Sakura a worn smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting…but I'll get it for you. Definitely." The shopkeeper passed him brand new plastic-rimmed paper scoops and turned to Sakura.
"You're so lucky to have such a wonderful boyfriend!" She blushed and shook her head frantically.
"Eh? No…we…um we're not…" A triumphant roar from Katsu drowned her protests, and he carried the bowl with the goldfish over to her eagerly.
"Look! I got it! The red one you wanted!" She studied him, surprise crossing her features. Childlike, proud and thirsting for praise.
Was this how he had always been?
The moon's light seemed weak compared to the little silver figure.
It gave a delighted gasp as it spotted Yukito, and pulled out its golden scissors excitedly. "Hehehe…I didn't get to kill you last time…but I'll catch you tonight!" It melted into the shadows and followed him as he made his way to Touya, who had gotten hold of a table so that they could have their okonomiyaki.
"Sorry for the wait! The stall was so crowded, and the queue was so long, and-"His eyes glazed over and jerked sideways as if something was controlling his body, just in time to dodge a silver blur. Touya narrowed his eyes with suspicion and glanced around. He knew Yukito wasn't human, so this "Yukito" must be Yue controlling him.
"Yuki…no. Yue. What's happening?"
"It's here."
"It?"
"…the thing that tried to kill me last time."
They were still at the taiyaki stall.
Fumiko seemed to be immobilized with shock, and the plump woman prodded her for an answer. "You are Fumiko-chan, aren't you?" She nodded and turned to Syaoran desperately, a clear I-don't-know-who-that-woman-is look in her sapphire eyes.
"You used to come to the festival all the time when you were young, and you always stopped by my stall, but that was such a long time ago! You're so pretty now, Fumiko-chan! Is that your boyfriend?" Fumiko clung onto him and gushed happily.
"Yes! He is my boyfriend!" He shook her off and hissed angrily. The woman scanned the crowds, as if searching for someone.
"Is Kimiko-chan here as well?" Syaoran frowned. Kimiko…where did he hear that name before? Fumiko stumbled backwards and shook her head, a deranged look on her face. She grabbed his hand and pushed through the crowd, dragging him after her. The woman was still calling after them, but her calls were ignored, and a path continued to be carved out through the murmuring sea of people.
Kimiko...who was that?
"Woah. Sure is crowded here."
Sakura struggled to keep up with Katsu, with her hands full of the stuffed bunny, her bag and the goldfish. A man shoved past her roughly, and she crashed into a young couple, who pushed her back angrily. "Watch where you're going! Are you blind or something?" She bowed down hurriedly, stammering.
"Go-gomenasai…" She felt a protective arm wrap around her shoulders, and looked up to see stormy grey eyes filled with murderous hate. His earring sparkled in the weak light from the coloured paper lanterns, and his hold on her tightened.
"Watch your mouth, bastard. Don't push her around and act big, when you've got that pig of a woman as your girl." He turned Sakura away from the young couple who were screaming insults. "Ignore them," he whispered. "It's okay now." She nodded shakily and allowed herself to be lead away. They walked over to a quiet spot at the edge of the fair, and Katsu gave a low whistle when a couple making out came into view. The girl turned around and Sakura gave a tiny "Oh!" of surprise.
"Sato…san?" The boy who had his hands on Fumiko's waist moved out of the shadows. Tousled golden brown hair. Brown eyes flecked with amber. The face of somebody precious to Sakura, the boy whom she loved for years.
"Syaoran-kun?"
I sincerely hope this chapter was all right.
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Until next time then,
Ja ne!