Author's Note: Hey there everyone. Thank you for all of the lovely reviews. Sorry it's taken me so long to update, I'm writing this chapter on the train ride home. So now that the majority of the introductions and formalities are out of the way. The story can finally really start. For those of you who have read my other stories, you know the first couple chapters are really explanatory chapters. Then the real stuff starts happening. So, here's the real stuff =) Don't forget to drop a review to let me know what you thought. Thanks a lot and happy reading!
Simple Exchange
Chapter 3
Sakura lay down on her back, staring at the ceiling. She recalled the ill tempered conversation she shared with Syaoran.
She was a fool. A bloody fool.
What the hell did she think she was saying? Telling him she would have a family and marry that disgusting pig. Was she insane?
With a grimace and a groan, she rolled over, attempting to suffocate herself slightly with the pillow. Maybe the lack of oxygen would make her stop herself for a fall. She squeezed her emerald eyes shut tightly before pinching herself hard on the harm. With a low hiss of pain, she recognized that this was not a dream indeed.
She had thought that only such dramatic and tumultuous things happened in story books, soap operas and movies. Apparently not, and she was living proof of that. How had everything seemed so normal only just the other day and now it seemed as if her whole world was falling apart? She would have to marry and consummate the relationship with that Li scum. She shuddered and nearly gagged at the mere thought.
But Syaoran... she had done her best to put him out of her mind the moment she discovered she meant absolutely nothing to him. She had done her best to forget him by going to the bars and clubs with her friends and going on several dates. But no matter who she was with, she couldn't help but stop to compare them with Syaoran. She loved him so dearly and it nearly broke her when she learned the truth.
She threw off the covers and shook her head as if to rid herself from the thoughts she always wandered back to.
It was the morning and she was done reflecting. She needed to get started and put her plan into action. Touya and her close family friend Hiiragizawa Eriol had been updated about the situation. All she needed to do was stay in the Li family's good graces until they got to the Li mansion as well. She snorted at that thought.
Well, at least Lian still thought highly of her. For now.
She stepped into the shower, the hot water relaxing her tense muscles and began to get ready for the first day of war.
"Kaho, I have to go," a man who appeared to be approaching his early thirties told his wife in a resigned manner, rumpling his dark locks, bright brown eyes no longer shining with the mirth it once did at the beginning of the marriage.
"You have a commitment to this family Kinomoto Touya," a tall, ashen faced woman told him determinedly, hair red as fire flipping over her creamy shoulder.
"I know I have a commitment to you and Haiko, Kaho. But whether you like it or not, Sakura is my baby sister. No matter how much you hate her that fact will always remain as well as the fact that I will always do my best to help her when she needs me," Touya tried explaining to her one more time.
"Your little sister isn't as innocent as you make her out to be. She has sex with someone and then later regrets it, so she tells everyone Kenji raped her? I think it's pathetic," Kaho scoffed, picking up their baby girl in her arms.
"I will not go over this with you again," Touya told her in a tone of authority, eyes suddenly hardening. "She is of my blood and that's all you need to concern yourself with."
"Your sister ruined my brother's life!" Kaho hissed at him, holding Haiko close to her chest.
"I won't hear anymore of this. Eriol and I will be going to the Li mansion in a few days. You may bring the baby and yourself if you wish. But if you have anything to say about the incident then I suggest you stay here and away from me for the time being," Touya told his wife, a cold air about him. With one last hard look in her direction, he took his daughter from her, put her to bed and left Kaho alone with her thoughts.
"Eriol-san are you sure that you should just rush in there without any plan whatsoever?" Amethyst eyes peered at the man with azure eyes with worry.
"I don't know what else to do Tomoyo-san. It sounds like Sakura's in a real serious bind. I'll have to go there and evaluate the situation before we can seriously do anything about it," he scratched the back of his electric black head.
"I know all about how much she needs you. But you know how crazy the Li's are. You're related to them! Who knows what they're capable of doing," Tomoyo told him worriedly, biting her lower lip, her already pastel face paling another shade at the types of torture they could put him through if they found out what he was planning on doing.
"You're such a good friend Tomoyo-san, but I'm sure I'll be alright," Eriol told her, flashing a grin in her direction. Tomoyo offered a strained one in return, heart breaking at the mere word friend.
"Tomoyo-san, are you alright?" Eriol asked worriedly. She didn't answer because she didn't know how and just continued to look down at her hands. "Don't worry," he told her softly, lifting her face to meet her eyes by the chin. "After all, as you said, I'm one of them. I know their limits."
"Li Lian. You have asked the council to meet you. As the leader of the Li Clan, we have granted your request. What is the issue you wish to address?" One of the elders of the Li council asked, referring to Ryu and Syaoran's father.
"I wish to set the Kinomoto girl free. Kinomoto Fujitaka has fulfilled your wishes time and time again, but nothing seems to satisfy you people. It is wrong to take a mere child from her family for monetary value," Lian spoke forcefully.
"Is she old enough to be wed?" One of the elders asked.
"Yes," Lian answered curtly.
"Is she well enough to conceive?" Another asked him.
"I believe so," Lian replied after a moment's hesitation.
Just as he saw the most malicious elder begin to speak, another raised his hand to stop him.
"We shall take into consideration your request. Leave," a voice full of authority sounded. Bowing with respect he no longer had for these people he had once admired, he left thinking of a way to get his best friend and his family of out this horrible situation.
A knock sounded at his door as the elder Li brother got up from his desk where he was viewing a folder to answer the door.
"Ah, little brother! I haven't gotten a chance to welcome you home as of yet," Ryu told his baby brother with a genuine grin. "How was the trip? Any new girls you need to know about? How's that old Dina slut doing?"
"Ryu, I have a question for you," Syaoran asked in a hard tone, ignoring all of the previous questions.
"Of course, come in. Have a seat and you may ask me whatever you like," he told Syaoran, offering him another smile. Nodding, Syaoran stepped into his brother's room and pulled a chair to the desk where Ryu was working before he had answered the door.
"Why do you want to marry Sakura specifically? I've seen many women chase after you. But, she's absolutely repelled by you. So, why her? Especially since you know of my past history with her," Syaoran asked, confused. This was his older brother. He did everything he could to help him, so why hurt him so much now? Ryu stopped and looked at him for a moment. Nodding to himself he leaned forward slightly.
"When we were young, the elders wanted one of us to marry into the Kinomoto family. The Kinomoto's mother and they had a complicated relationship and had wanted us to be family again. So, they tried to set you two up when you were children since you were closer to each other's age, but she beat you up quite frequently," he told Syaoran with a laugh.
"When mother passed, the idea of all of us becoming family became something they wanted even more. So the elders decided to wait. Syaoran, you know how low your average was in high school. Did you think you really could have gotten into Tokyo U on your own? We got you in and made it so you lived close to one another. Everything was set," Ryu explained.
"You paid to get me in? All this time I've been thinking I got in on my own merit! So what now? Are you paying the professors to give me good grades?" Syaoran asked angrily.
"No," Ryu told him without a moment's hesitation. "We knew you weren't stupid. Just lazy. So we sent you away from our home to learn to take care of yourself. In the end you two did date, but it didn't work out. So this is what it has come to."
"Alright, that's a lot to digest," Syaoran told his brother truthfully. "Now my next question; did you know that Sakura was raped?"
Ryu was quiet for a long time.
"Syaoran, you're my brother. When you told me she was making you doubt yourself and the family I knew she had hurt you. So, I made an executive decision and arranged something." Ryu answered calmly.
"What?" Syaoran asked in quiet anger and shock.
"The Kinomotos are a prestigious family thanks to Kinomoto Fujitaka-san. Many go out of their way to make them happy. Who else do you think could arrange it Xiao Lang?" Ryu looked up, eyes cold.
TBC
Notes: A lot of things happen in this chapter, so allow me to deal with a couple of questions that will mostly likely come up and reaffirm some ideas. So yes, in this one Kaho is present, but she's not the good natured mothering figure she is in most. In case you didn't catch it, she is also Kenji's sister. Some people might be wondering what color electric black is. It's basically black that shines blue in all types of light. Although it may seem as if Syaoran's father couldn't care less what happened to Sakura, he does. He watched her grow up, so it's hard for him not to want what's best for her.