Chappie 5 up for reading...read on!
Chapter 5: MIYAGIS AND MUFFINS
It was almost two am when the group settled down in Sakura's flat.
"It's pretty," Ayume remarked as she sat down on dark cherry coloured rug with her back against the sofa. Syaoran was lying on his back next to her while Meiling sat on the armchair, rifling through the magazine she found on the table. Eriol had popped into his flat to bring pj's for Syaoran and himself.
"Thanks Ayume…but the credit goes to my friend Tomoyo Daidouji. She is studying fashion designing in Milan—almost all my clothes are designed by her. Including that green outfit I wore today." said Sakura, coming from the kitchen. She had already set the meat buns for baking along with some potatoes.
The girls had already changed into more relaxing shorts and t-shirts. When Eriol arrived, Syaoran excused himself to go and get changed in the bathroom.
Almost forty-five minutes later, the five of them were hungrily munching away through meat buns and boiled potatoes tossed in spicy soy sauce. Eriol sure wasn't kidding when he lauded Sakura's culinary skills.
Syaoran was quiet throughout, which bugged Sakura endlessly. She knew that the chocolate-haired boy was still mulling over that incident. As he helped her clear the table, she asked him in a low voice.
"Are you still pondering on that?"
Syaoran jerked his head up, amber meeting emerald.
"I feel ashamed of myself—you were this close from being assaulted. And that Miyagi crapball is the quintessential bad…no, slash that. He is the worst kind of person to walk this planet of ours. He was involved in some case two years ago but all was hushed up—money pays sometimes, I guess. But whatever it was, I don't think he was innocent."
She gave him a gentle smile.
"You are a nice person, Li-kun."
One week later~
Syaoran and Eriol made their way into the lecture room for the first lesson of the day. Clad in stuffy shirts, ties and dress pants along with loafers, they couldn't help but feel jealous of the CL girls. Sakura had worn a spaghetti -strapped green summer dress with bright yellow flip-flops and carried a yellow tote, looking like a green fairy. And from the looks she received from the males, she was walking on the path of becoming hot property though the girl was blissfully unaware. The amber-eyed boy couldn't understand what was up with him—he thought of her, looked forward to see her, loved to talk to her…though Mei teased him about this every time they were on their own, he just couldn't help but get drawn into that cheerful bubble she created around her. His status didn't make her tremble in awe…she treated him in an amazingly normal, friendly way; the way no one had treated him before. He was sure that such people were difficult to come by.
"SYAO-KUN!"
He snapped rather regretfully from his thoughts to focus on the blonde before him. She was wearing a dark blue suit with the skirt way too short and two inch stilettos. Her watery blue eyes, carefully made up face and the hair set in perfect waves often gave him the impression that she was a walking mannequin rather than a living, breathing human.
"Hello Miyagi-san," he said formally.
"Don't be so formal, Syao-kun," she said, laughing lightly, oblivious to Syaoran's cringing. Only Mei used that nickname. And this girl never got his formality through her head; everyone except her knew that she was being ignored; talk about not getting the point.
"Hey, um…Syaoran?" Eriol piped up, barely managing to keep a straight face.
"I will save a couple of seats…see ya soon!" with a huge wink, the bespectacled boy scrambled away, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. Eriol knew Syaoran would get back at him…but the expression on his face was worth it. It was truly out of the world!
Syaoran glared at his retreating back, completely oblivious to the blonde's simpering. He hated when people did that. All the more reason he liked Sakura Kinomoto…
Did he just think that he liked her?
He felt a slow blush creep into his cheeks as he remembered the night before…
It was Sunday and the last day before classes began in the University. To celebrate, the group had congregated again in Sakura's flat complete with food from Meiling and Syaoran's favourite Chinese take-away while Ayume had baked a sumptuous-looking cherry pie and showed off with poorly veiled pride. As Sakura was tossing the noodles in the kitchen, she jumped slightly as Syaoran cleared his throat to announce his presence.
"Oh it's you, Li-kun," she said smiling.
Clad in a white t-shirt and baby pink shorts and a pink apron with her hair bundled up messily with clips, he thought she looked absolutely adorable.
"Thanks for inviting us, I mean it has just been a week and it's like…" he stuttered, unable to form words. Sakura lowered the gas flame and turned to face him, her emerald eyes acquiring that shine which blotted out everything else.
"When it clicks, it doesn't take a lifetime for a friendship to blossom. And we have hit it off well—maybe we were meant to meet. I am not a hard-core believer of karma but I know this, everything happens when it is supposed to happen. I know why you feel like this—Meiling had told us. I guess being famous and all must have its own baggage. But for friends, trivial things like this never matter—everyone wants to be rich and successful but one must move forward on their own two legs to achieve that. You cannot leach off success; you can only create them on your own."
Syaoran couldn't help but smile; she was wise beyond her years.
"I don't know why but I get a sense of calm and positive outlook after talking to you," he said, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"I know, back in Tomoeda people used to call me the Agony Aunt," she giggled as she resumed cooking.
"I believe that life is too short to be wasted on useless things like those."
"I am glad to have you has a friend, Kinomoto."
"Same here, Li-kun."
"Oh! So you love my muffins, right?" Amaryl squealed.
Syaoran landed to the present with a nasty bump, only to realize that the blonde was holding a lunch box in front of face.
"I baked them yesterday…only for you!"
"Yeah…er…I am kind of on a diet right now…so sorry Miyagi-san, I won't be able to…" then his amber eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Eriol absolutely loves muffins, why don't you give them to him?" he said slyly, pointing to the now-horrified bespectacled boy.
You are freaking dead Syaoran, he mouthed.
Syaoran suppressed a bout of maniacal laughter as she raced towards him with her muffin box.
Yelan Li stepped out of the hotel, yawning. She had a late night and an early morning and four cups of espresso did nothing to ward off the intense drowsiness she felt. As she seated herself in the car, she felt her cell phone ring.
"Yelan Li speaking," she said curtly.
"Do not get ahead of yourself. It would do no good to bring out buried secrets." A voice rasped from the other end.
"May I have the pleasure of knowing whom I am conversing with?" she replied in a carefully controlled voice.
"There is no need. Treat this as a warning; do not make us repeat what we said. Stick to your work and we will do no harm. Stick your neck out and your son pays the price."
"Is that so? And may I know what it is that I shouldn't do?" she asked unfazedly.
"Stop the act. You know as well as we do. We hope that our paths do not cross."
And the line went dead.
Yelan Li was used to calls like these—after all, you don't get to be the head of one of the biggest business empires and not get a few threat calls. But this caller knew that she was working on that case. Hmm…interesting. Threatening Syaoran was…she smiled tightly.
They apparently had no idea how dangerous she could get if she felt like that.
Her cell phone vibrated. It was a text message.
In Tokyo. Heading towards a hotel in Shibuya. Will text the address later.—Sonomi
Good news at last.
Thank goodness Amaryl had to sit on the front seats as an acquaintance of hers dragged her off, Syaoran thought as he doodled away in his notebook. Next to him, Eriol listened to the professor with rapt attention.
He never liked economics or business as such but as his four older sisters scampered away from responsibility (lucky cats!) he was honour bound to study the subject and take over the company after his mother. Fuutie, Sheifa, Fanran, and Feimei were married to men who resided in the four corners of the planet, leaving him in the clutches of the elders who, though old enough to be great-great grandfathers, had surprisingly high energy to chalk out new plans to rein him to their whims. He wanted to take up taijutsu and kendo professionally but was regretfully not allowed.
"As a hobby you may practise, as a profession you may not."
His mind involuntarily flew to Sakura—he didn't know why but there was something entrancing about her eyes. The way they light up when she's excited, sparkle when she discovers something weird…he couldn't help but just…just think about her. He had met many girls in the past but none like her. Sakura Kinomoto belonged to a world of her own.
A vibration in his pocket alerted him to a next message.
It was from his mother.
He frowned—Yelan Li never texted him.
Where are you?
In college.
Text me when you leave campus. Call if you see or feel something suspicious.
Wazzup? Trouble?
Tell you later. Relay it to Mei too…apparently her cell phone is switched off.
Syaoran recalled Meiling telling him how she forgot to charge her cell phone last night.
Her cell phone discharged.
OK. Come home soon. Situation not good enough.
Will do.
Strange. What was up exactly?
A collection of photographs was strewn over Taiichi Miyagi's coffee table in his study. All were of one particular green-eyed auburn haired girl in various places.
"This is the woman Master Ryuuga was talking about, sir. Our sources have confirmed; she has no ties whatsoever with Syaoran Li." said the informant to the grey haired businessman seated in his armchair.
"Good work. Keep the surveillance up though—I should be informed on who she meets, where she goes, to whom she talks to etc. Her phone records, internet records, surfing history…I want everything."
"That would be done sir. I will present the report to you by today evening."
With a bow, the informant left.
"Sakura Kinomoto…" he said softly as he lifted one of the photographs. She was laughing out loud along with Meiling and Ayume as they shopped around in Shibuya.
"That beauty still lives on…"
Sonomi Daidouji went over to the hotel in Shibuya. After checking in, she settled into her room with a sigh—it was almost seven years since she last stepped into Tokyo. After Nadeshiko's accident, she mostly remained in Tomoeda, helping Fujitaka take care of the kids. Even when Tomoyo went off to Milan from the Tokyo Airport, she didn't come, allowing Eriol to go see her off.
In the same city as him…she wasn't ready then.
But she was ready now. He had made it personal. And he would pay the price.
Taiichi Miyagi would pay for the murders of Reiishi Daidouji and Nadeshiko Kinomoto. And Ryuuga Miyagi for molesting Karin Kishitani to the point that she became insane.
The police had no conclusive proofs…yet. But they will have now.
Touya Kinomoto and Yukito Tsukishira were best buddies…since the day the former took Sakura to the latter's house to play with Spinny. Now aged twenty-three and placed in comfortable jobs in Osaka, the duo were pretty pleased with themselves. They were employed in Kishitani Securities and in one year had been promoted twice—being the joint managers of the Osaka Branch was indeed a matter of honour. Their boss, Suzaku Kishitani, was a benevolent man of twenty-seven who, though worked them hard, knew how to let his employees loose.
Presently, Yukito and Touya were discussing about the latest project with Nakuru Akizuki, a dark-brown haired woman of twenty-two who had transferred from Tokyo. It was quite apparent that Yukito had a crush on her, though the light-haired man denied it vehemently.
Suddenly, the intercom rang. Sitting close to the telephone, Touya picked it up.
"Touya Kinomoto here."
"It's Kishitani. I am off to Tokyo for a week or so. Can you, Tsukishira and Akizuki handle the work till the time? I am sorry I am bombarding you with this but it's really urgent."
Touya shrugged.
"No problem, boss. We will stay sharp on the job."
Slightly puzzled, he replaced the phone.
"Wazzup?" quizzed Yukito.
"Kishitani's off to Tokyo…wants us," Touya motioned to the three of themselves, "to take care of things."
Nakuru clapped her hands in delight, her onyx eyes gleaming with excitement. She threw an arm around Yukito, making the light-haired man blush deep crimson.
"It will be fun, what say Tsuki-chan?" she said happily, completely oblivious to the said person's increasingly reddening cheeks.
Touya coughed to bring Nakuru back to earth.
"So shall we continue? Akizuki, concentrate."
"Aww Kino-chan…I told you to call me Aki-chan, right? Akizuki sounds soo boring…"
Touya rolled his eyes in exasperation as Yukito stared at her with absolute delight. He couldn't fathom as to how his best friend fell for an absolute crack-pot.
Clearing Meadows Institution for Mental Health was located on the peaceful outskirts of Tokyo. Set in the midst of gigantic garden laden with sakura trees, it looked heavenly in the April afternoon. The building itself was a two-storied white-washed stone building with cheerful red roofs set in a square shape enclosing a covered courtyard which housed a carefully tended garden and a café. The rooms were organized around the open space, each tastefully decorated with reference to the patient inhabiting it. It was spick and span and the staff helpful, friendly and if the situation demands it, discreet.
A tall, well-built, bespectacled brown-haired man with grey eyes clad in a white shirt and brown pants and loafers strode purposefully into the reception area. He coughed lightly to announce his presence to the receptionist.
The lady lifted her head, giving a smile upon recognition.
"Mr. Suzaku Kishitani…never late eh?"
Suzaku smiled in reply.
"Don't worry. I will buzz you in."
She handed him a visitor's ID and he strode off ahead. He didn't need a guide to locate his sister's room.
Karin Kishitani's room was on the first floor, the large windows commanding a view of the sakura trees which she had loved as a child. Some errant pink petals covered the floor near the windows as the gentle wind blew the curtains in a leisurely manner. The room was painted in pale pink and the wall dotted with many nature paintings—all painted by her. She was a promising student in the Art History department of Tokyo University and already going places for conducting her own exhibitions. She was happy with her life…until that fateful night two years ago.
Suzaku shook himself as the cobwebs of the past threatened to entangle around him again. No, he had to believe in his little Karin. She will fight through.
Karin Kishitani was seated on her bed, staring blankly at the wall opposite her. Her strawberry blonde hair, which used to be thick and wavy up to her shoulder blades, was now cut into a stringy bob. Her bright onyx eyes were reduced to shallow black orbs, the vivid liveliness of her face painfully absent. Her sharp face was now an emaciated mask, her limbs an assortment of knobbly bones. If anyone who had known her previously would see her now, that person would never recognize her. He clenched his fists as he thought of that ma—no beast—responsible.
Ryuuga Miyagi, you will pay. You will pay for what you have done to my sister, hundred times over.
"Worst muffins ever!" Eriol positively gagged as Syaoran forced yet another down his throat. It was lunch break for the ABC course and the duo was careful to sit in the farthest corner of the cafeteria in order to hide from Amaryl.
"Whatever…it's payback for deserting me!" said Syaoran with a devilish grin.
Eriol's eyes almost popped out before he swallowed the last one with a groan.
"Eating those are akin to suicide!" the boy exclaimed as he drowned the water from his bottle.
He turned to look at the chocolate-haired boy.
"But seriously, the expression on your face was worth it. I am thinking creating a photo album," he said in a slightly dreamy voice.
"The many faces of Syaoran Li…how does that sound?" he finished with a grin.
"ERIOL HIIRAGIZAWA!"
Whew!
The plot thickens fellas!
A common thread connects Yelan Li, Sonomi Daidouji, Taiichi Miyagi and Suzaku Kishitani...which apparently our protagonists don't know yet. As Syaoran blissfully daydreams away about Sakura, Eriol plans to get him ambushed by Amaryl yet again, the girl trio planning to go on another shopping trip...what will happen when they realize that the games are way beyond what meets the eye.
Coming up next: Chapter 6: KARIN KISHITANI
Who is Karin Kishitani exactly? And how did she bump into Ryuuga Miyagi. And did Taiichi Miyagi murder Sakura's mom and Tomoyo's dad?
Questions questions! All will be answered in due time!
i should sneak away before...
"naz-chan!"
*sigh "no matter...she found me..."
*angry pout "what is this naz-chan? where am i in this chappie? i don't even figure in it..."
*attempt to pacify "your mom features in, tomo-chan...you should be happy. after all, it was mother's day last sunday..."
*still the pout "but why am i missing?"
*sigh "okay okay tomo-chan...chapter seven's ok?"
*a bit mollified "okay...if you say so..."
*deep breath "i live to write another chappie...(phew!)"
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see ya soon!
:)