My Happiness, My Heartbreak

Author's Notes: What could happen next?

Chapter Eight: The Moment of Death

Deep blue eyes stared out from the darkness, a bird of prey.

And this predator just found his target behind those thick steel bars.

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The gun was unsteady in his small, pale hand.

There were people. A man, a young boy and a little girl. He knew them as the neighbors from the next block. He knew the man as-

His finger jumped backwards.

The recoil shook his whole tiny frame.

The air around him shattered, leaving him breathless.

Then there was this strange, unfamiliar smell in the air.

The cell was so unwelcoming. There was no light except for the dim shine of the cheap and aging fluorescent bulbs. The facility was a dirty and corrupted place, and was filled with some of the strangest, notorious and outrageous criminals in the history of the region.

His area was so small, about the size of the bathroom at the hospital. The bed was nothing more than a hay-filled pillowcase, and everything was so unsanitary. The food disgusted him to the very core.

He knew most of the people here were uncivilized people who turned the wrong way. And it did sound like it - obscene curses and comments, ear-shattering yells, creative insults and the occasional glob of flying spit.

It was unbearable for Li - his conditions on the street were even better than this. At least he got to eat decent food when he could - their twice-a-day meal was close to trash.

His thoughts zoomed to that day of his trial.

"Sakura…" He said, and the other jumped in surprise. Sakura's face was once of shock, betrayal and anger - as well as confusion and sadness.

"Yes, what is it?" She said indifferently, refusing to look him in the eye.

"Thank you for everything." He turned his back on her and followed the guards into the facility.

"Wait, Li-" she had called out, but he didn't turn back.

"Just call me Syaoran." He said, the last words he would say to her.

Now that he thought of it, it was really a stupid thing. She wouldn't need to know him anyway, it's not as if they would ever meet again. His situation was hopeless.

As he looked out from the gray bars of his modern-day dungeon, he knew that there was no hope at all for him. He had escaped being caught dozens of times before - maybe it was about time that he fell to his destiny.

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Touya knocked gently on his sister's door.

It was a strange thing to call that woman 'sister, who had been nothing but a tenant - close as a friend, but still just a paying tenant.

She had been drifting in and out of consciousness for the past two days since the trial, and whenever she had been awake she had been mumbling about nonsense. It was as if she didn't even know she was eating anything. She just stared off into space.

He knocked again. No response.

Sighing, he laid down the tray beside the door. Hopefully, by the time he returned, there would be nothing left on it.

He descended the stairs with a feeling of emptiness. The past week had been the most challenging and peculiar one in his life - and he had gone through much.

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It just wasn't possible.

Li - no, Syaoran - killed my father, and nearly killed me and my brother twice? And killed his own parents?

Mitokono Touya is my brother - no, not Mitokono Touya, but Kinomoto Touya. Suits him better, in a way. It would be strange to call him 'brother'.

Syaoran had been a stranger that needed help - he seemed pitiful and scrawny. She never expected that indifferent façade could hide such a terrible soul. The one she had begun to trust - turned out to be the one who destroyed her life so many years ago.

It was his fault they were in this condition right now. If it wasn't for him, they would be happily living as a stereotypical merry household, not having much trouble at all.

Still, something troubled Sakura.

Li Syaoran. He killed his own parents, then killed my only remaining one. How could anyone be so heartless? Is there such a person?

She could only wonder.

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He had been wishing for a miracle for days. There was no one who he could speak to, save for the amazing amount of scratched counter-sticks carved into the wall.

Everyday, the food became more and more terrible.

He would never see the light of the sun again. He, the could-have-been of his family, was going to leave this world as a cold-blooded murderer that nobody loved.

"Someday, my dear Xiao Lang. Someday, everything will be beautiful."

He was sure that his mother wouldn't call this unclean, accursed place 'beautiful'.

He sat upon his thin, hard mattress in thought. There was no hope, was there?

Suddenly, a whisper came from the wall.

Great, he thought, now I'm turning insane…

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"Come on, Sakura. Calm down. It's all finished now, you can't do anything about it." He said, trying to soothe her at any cost.

She was throwing a fit, much like she must have so many years back into the past when she was younger. Touya was having a problem keeping her under control, but he hoped that this would subside soon.

"Sakura…"

Suddenly, she stopped fidgeting, and said;

"I hate him."

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"If I am not mistaken, you are the inmate sentenced to death - Li Syaoran." Said a refined tone, not at all similar to the gruff voices of his prisonmates. This voice had a pleasant, light stroke on it, and the sound of a civilized word in this rotten hell-hole was enough to make Syaoran happier.

"Amazing." He said, sarcastic yet confused. "The wall is talking."

"Don't be ridiculous, my friend. It's me, Hiiragizawa Eriol."

His eyes widened. This was Hiiragizawa Eriol - a powerful politician's son who could sweet-talk his way through anything. No one could understand this peculiar young man, his motives, or his thoughts.

Syaoran knew it wasn't a normal thing for him to go around anywhere.

"I was sure you would recognize the name." The blue-haired man said, smiling gently.

"What do you want?" Syaoran answered, not putting any kind of feeling into his sentence. He tried to remain as neutral and calm as possible.

"But of course, I'd like to get you out of here." The other said pleasantly and politely. There was the rustle of cloth as he stood up. "Simply because I desire so. I believe you know a certain Kinomoto Sakura."

Syaoran's heartbeat quickened.

And suddenly, the prison door swung open.

"Shall we go?"

There was a sharp pain in his neck, and suddenly all went black.

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"I need to talk to him, Touya." She said suddenly, sweat trickling from her hair.

Touya was unsure. It didn't seem like such a good idea - but the look in Sakura's eyes told him to let her.

"Why? Is it that important?" he asked sternly, feeling dazed.

"Yes."

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The guard rounded the corner, dodging stray clumps of rotten food and hurling back insults to the cursing inmates.

But when he got to cell at the very end of the hall, it was empty.

The note was tell-tale.

'Signed, Hiiragizawa Eriol.'

He continued on his patrol.

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It was a luxurious and comfortable room, cool and fragrant.

Syaoran woke up quickly, noticing the sudden change in surroundings. Where was he?

He expected someone to pop out of the blue like they do on those mystery novels, but no one did. He was on an extremely soft bed, with curtain drapes and all that fancy lace. He jumped off.

The carpeted floor was smooth on his bare feet as he walked across the room. No one was in sight, and he had no idea where he was.

"I'm glad you've awakened." Said a voice that seemed to come from everywhere.

Apparently, the room had speakers installed. Talk about communication…

"Just make yourself comfortable and enjoy your meal." His eyes darted around, finally catching the delicious-looking dinner on the farthest table, "I know you want explanations, but I will have to give them later."

Click.

Syaoran sighed, knowing that there was nothing more to do. The doors weren't locked, but they didn't move when he tried to push them forward.

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"Why this one, Eriol?" Said the man on the seat, indifferently.

Inwardly smirking, Eriol replied, "Kinomoto used to be one of your good business partners, right? I decided that I wanted to play matchmaker once more."

Chuckling, the unknown person nodded in his chair. "You always did love playing Cupid, Eriol."

"Of course."

"Just make sure that those lovebirds don't get in the way."

Eriol laughed, with a hint of something else in it. "No, I won't be playing Cupid for two of them."

"Oh?" Asked the other, intrigued.

"Don't you think it's time I had my own match?"

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"He's…gone?" Sakura stammered, clearly confused.

"He's been chosen." The warden said, uninterested and obviously caffeinated.

"What do you mean…chosen?" Touya asked, leaning against the wall pretending not to care. The place looked suspicious.

"It's a complicated thing. You can probably get more leads from this number." And with that, the warden gave them a gold-paper business card.

Senator Hiiragizawa

The name was strangely familiar to Touya. He didn't know why - perhaps a few more months of regaining his memory would work, but he didn't mention this to Sakura.

"A senator?" Sakura asked, surprised. Could he have been pardoned?

"Not just any senator." Said the warden, and went to pour himself another cup of coffee.

"Hiiragizawa?" Sakura realized, shocked. "Hiiragizawa is the president of the floral shop's sector! That's where I work in!"

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"I hope you enjoyed your stay so far." Eriol said, prepared for anything.

"Why am I here?" Syaoran said, deciding to put a bit of politeness in his voice.

"I decided to help Sakura and you get back on terms. She is quite a friend to you, isn't she?"