My Husband's Wedding- Chapter Twenty Four

My Husband’s Wedding

Witch-Mistress-Animaru

A/N: To start off with, I want to make myself clear. Someone mentioned that I shouldn’t be begging for reviews. Well, when I typed away the last chapter, I was depressed. I got 2.75 in my CW10 class, and I made all those stories to somewhat reassure myself that I’m a good writer. It didn’t help that the said stories were yielding poor results. Yeah, I know I shouldn’t set too much store on reviews, but at the time, I told you, I needed a reassurance. Usually I take strength from viewing the story stats, you know…the ‘hits’ portion, because I know that most readers don’t really leave reviews. Well, you can say that I wanted to hear something — anything. So I thank the people who PM-ed me and who told me I’m a great writer. You’ve all been a help. And to the people who were unsatisfied with the sudden turn of events, I’m sorry, but it has really been my plan to end this soon. I don’t want it to be so lengthy that it becomes dragging…that would be torture for me too. I’d hate to elongate it just for the sake of more reviews or something. That’d be like what Filipino soap operas do, and I hate that. Extending the soap until it doesn’t make sense anymore, I mean. I don’t want that to happen here, so I decided to prod the plot to go a little faster. After MHW ends, I’ll be able to focus on my other novels. Now, thanks to:

Kiseki (Sorry, I have to decline, I really want to do a Meiling-Touya sequel…an experiment worth trying, I think), Musette Fujiwara, Lyr (A good chapter isn’t necessarily long), syaoran101 (Kaho won’t die…yet, and yes, I may let the baby live), SPAngelz (No one would die in this chapter…), Black Star Dragon Girl, teenureen (I’ll explain why she’s like that…this is the chapter for Keira.), ffgirl-07, Lil LoveStar, J. F. Mitchell, Seijun-sama (Well, I started it out that way, must end it that way. There’s the occasional Dad anyway…), Leifang (Yeah it’s rushed), cherriblossomxz (Take your time, I’m in no rush), SakuraLover, Enchanted-Princess, Magic is upon13, Rita Skeeter (I already explained my side, and I’m not mad or anything. I thank you, even), ALLFICLOVER, VcChick, ori-chan, NightMiko, meow-mix23, Crystal Butterfly, .Laydii, kaipanther, x0xEmeraldx0x, JennyKim319, Filipina-baller09, anime-lover-forever2007, jessirawr, Lady Lotus!, MistressMizu, coriel, SacredBlade, joll-maganda, syaoran143sakura, secret24, MizUnapprochable, miyu (It’s ok, I understand), PinkCherryBlossomCutie, kianvelez, Boheme, strawberryz.

Now, enough whining on my part, on to the story!

Last Chapter…

"I...never stopped loving you, too...How you broke my heart back then, Syaoran-kun..." She blushed scarlet as she hugged him.

"Do you...can you forgive me of all the terrible things I've said and done? I'd go down on my knees if you want me to..."

Sakura shook her head. "There's no need...I believe you. Where's Xiao Chen, by the way?"

"He's already asleep, I couldn't bring him."

"Oh...but, you know?"

"What is it, darling?" He held her close to his heart, stroking her auburn hair absently.

"I'm not yet through with my stepsister. She's...done too many things that hurt me, and I could forgive that, but not when she hurt Xiao Chen."

"I...I think so too, Sakura, but please...allow me to handle it?"

"Iie, it's my battle, Syaoran-kun, and not yours. I have to do it; I won't be able to forgive myself otherwise."

After a few minutes they called the three upstairs. Fujitaka is very excited for morning to come; he was going to come and see Xiao Chen. Touya's animosity for Syaoran had not lessened one bit, and everything was back to normal. Or so it seemed.

They were all preparing to go to bed when a car screeched to a halt in front of the place. Nobody paid much attention to it.

Keira alighted and the terrified driver drove away. Unbeknownst to her, the cab went directly to a the nearest police headquarters. But then, nothing much mattered to Keira anymore. She saw shadows move inside the house. She aimed her pistol at the window.

And fired.

24: Insanity

There was an echoing sound of a bullet piercing through glass — whistling, crashing. The glass pane window broke to a thousand pieces flying everywhere. Shards fell to the floor with a resolute ‘CRASH!’ The bullet buried itself on the wall, sending a picture frame crashing to the floor.

Sakura shrieked. She was standing a few inches from the window. She was near enough to hear the whistle of the bullet past her ear. She stared, wide-eyed, at the window…

…but it was too dark to see anything.

A few seconds later, Syaoran rushed downstairs to see what had happened. Fujitaka followed suit, emerging from the kitchen. A minute later, Touya descended the stairs with Kaho as fast as her delicate condition would let them.

“What the —?” Syaoran barely uttered the words when yet another bullet was fired from outside. Syaoran dived in front of Sakura, sending her sprawling to the ground. Touya pulled Kaho to the ground.

Fujitaka drew his breath sharply.

Syaoran made a “Shh”-ing gesture. The whole house was silent.

Then…

Laughter. Wild. Insane. Unceasing.

“Scared, are you now, Sakura? Come out! I still have three bullets here, one each for you, Touya-oniichan, and the bitch he married.” Laughter, again. Loud and raucous…deafening…

“Keira!” Syaoran breathed, looking wildly at the darkness outside.

Fujitaka stared ahead, disbelief written all over his face.

“You should have kept shut up, you know? You shouldn’t have gone back to our lives…everything was okay when you were gone…” Keira cackled again. “But now, I’m going to put it right.”

Sakura was still in shock. She didn’t notice how the men planned in hush whispers.

“Do you keep a gun with you, Touya?”

“No, Dad, but…”

“I have a gun,” Syaoran said. He was clenching his fists in severe pressure.

“She doesn’t know you’re here, Dad, Syaoran.” Touya said. “It’s best if we give her false sense of security.” Touya paused as the doorknob rattled forcefully. “Hurry and hide where you can have a clear field to shoot. Dad, just hide.” The door rattled again. “Hurry!” Touya hissed. “Take Kaho upstairs, I won’t have her risked…Call the police, Dad, we’ll try and hold her off…”

Syaoran hid behind the staircase, a pistol in his shaking hands. He hoped to God he won’t need it. Touya took a small piece of wood, his only chance of defending himself and Sakura. Fujitaka went upstairs with Kaho just in time. The door burst open, and there stood Keira.

But she didn’t look like pretty, stunning Keira at all. Her hair, which used to be pale and shimmering, was disheveled and totally lackluster. Her eyes were wild and red lines can be seen from their bulging forms. She was clutching a handgun on one hand and her empty purse on the other. The dress she was wearing was crumpled, like she had lain on it.

She appears to be shaking…but no; Sakura realized dimly that she was laughing soundlessly, shaking from unsuppressed mirth.

“Pitiful…” She said, eyeing Sakura who stood up shakily, aware of the gun Keira was clutching. “That it has to end this way. If you only chose to stay away…” Touya moved quickly beside his sister protectively.

“What do you want from us, Keira? I could easily call the police, you know…” He said, eyeing her with distaste.

Wrong answer.

Keira’s hand moved so fast; she aimed the gun at Sakura and fired straight to her heart. Sakura drew in breath as she swerved sideways to avoid the bullet; but she wasn’t quick enough. Pain tore through her as the bullet sliced through her left arm. Touya stared blankly; it happened too fast for him to shield his sister.

“Mad…you’re mad, Keira…” She gasped out, weakening. She dared not look at the blood pouring out of her side.

“Mad, oh, am I mad?” Keira laughed harshly. “No, I’ve never been saner, sweet Kura…”

“Please stop this, Keira…Please leave us alone…”

“No, I won’t! You took him away from me! Once you’re gone…for good, this time, he’ll come back to me!” She exclaimed.

“I…didn’t do that, Keira…” The pain was so severe Sakura could feel her consciousness drifting. “Please…”

“You’re both dead, you and you’re brother. Only I’d—” Touya took the chance and sidestepped toward Keira and hit her in the hand with the wood. Only, he didn’t hit hard enough.

“Fuck you, Touya!” Keira screamed; her face contorted in pain as she felt her bleeding handd. It wasn’t a big wound but Keira went hysterical at the sight of blood. But not hysterical enough to drop the gun.

She pointed the gun at Touya with relish.

Upstairs, Fujitaka rushed to the phone, his shaking hands dialing the police district number he found in a directory.

“Oh, God, oh, dear God, hurry…Someone…anyone…” He muttered as the line began to ring.

Why didn’t I see it before?

“Hello, Tokyo Police District, Emergency Department…”

“Oh, please…hurry…We need help…”

Downstairs, Sakura and Touya were buying for time while Syaoran clutched his pistol, trying to stop shaking. He nearly went out when Sakura got shot, but that wouldn’t have been wise.

“…It doesn’t matter…I’m going to kill you anyway…You’re another thorn I so hoped would disappear. Always rushing to dear Sakura’s aid.” Keira grinned maliciously. “And to think I used to have a crush on you, big bro.” She laughed again. “Is that your best shot? Well, here’s for you!” Sakura saw Keira’s hand move, aiming to squeeze the trigger, when a resounding sound of a gun filled the room.

The gun flew out of Keira’s hand, now bleeding resolutely. Syaoran had come out of his hiding place, rage all over his handsome face. He pointed his pistol at Keira. He wasn’t shaking anymore.

Touya moved quickly and took the bloody pistol lying on the floor.

“Hello, Keira.” Syaoran’s voice was calm, disguising all that he was feeling then and there.

“What are you doing here?” Keira’s tone was sharp, almost afraid. “You’re not supposed to be here! You!” She turned to Sakura angrily and lunged at her.

Now weaponless, Keira was easily subdued by Touya who held her arms securely and twisted them. Keira yowled in pain. She struggled but to no avail.

“It was always you; do you know that, Sakura?” She spat out, trying to release herself from Touya’s pincer-like grip. “From the start, you were perfect! Even my own mother said so…”

Sakura, who was still clutching her bleeding arm, nearly unconscious, stilled. What did Keira mean?

“I don’t think she ever meant anything to you…You always drew away from her…But she didn’t care, did she? She’d rather cuddle to you than her own daughter…”

“W-what do you mean, Keira?” She asked, swaying a little. Syaoran moved quickly besides her, still not removing the opening of the gun pointing at Keira.

“You don’t remember Mom? Hah! I thought so…She died nineteen months after she married Dad…”

“I…remember Aunt Tess, of course…How can’t I? She was the spitting image of my mother…”

“Don’t you dare compare my mother to yours!” Keira shrieked, trying once more to break away. “Your mother was the cause of Mom’s misery! How you dare…” Then, to their surprise, Keira began crying. “I wanted to be the perfect daughter…but you were in the way!”

“What are you saying?”

“She hated my father…my real one…only Dad treated me like his own…And Mom loved him to death, even if he didn’t love her in return. And it didn’t help that you existed!”

“Keira…” Sakura felt a surge of pity rush through her. She suddenly had a vivid image of a 12-year old Keira running down the stairs of their house back in Tomoeda.

“Mom!” Keira shouted as she rushed downstairs. “Mom, look what I’ve made for you!”

Sakura was sitting in front of the TV then, watching her favorite cartoon. Theresa was making her cookies despite the fact that she declined.

She looked at Theresa and Keira, standing in the kitchen. Keira clutched what appeared to be a sheet of drawing paper.

“Can’t you see I’m busy? Go back upstairs.”

“Mom…Don’t you want to…”

“Stop it, Keira.”

“But I made this for you!”

“Shut up and go upstairs! They would never be good enough…”

…Never be good enough…

…Good enough…

…Enough…

…Enough…

…Enough…

Sakura remembered how after that scene, Keira marched towards her and without a word took the remote from her and changed the channel. How she yelled at Keira to give her back the control. How her Aunt Tess told Keira off for bothering her. How Keira eyed her mother painfully before stomping off.

…And how she dismissed the event to the back of her mind, thinking that Keira deserved being told off.

Oh, God.

All those years…

“I had to get back at you…I wanted you to feel how I felt…” Keira was saying. “And I succeeded, didn’t I? You lost your father…and your husband, too! So how did it feel? I want to know. Give me the satisfaction of knowing how much damage I inflicted.”

“Keira…I…I didn’t know, by God I swear I didn’t!” She said, tears welling in her eyes. Forgotten was the fact that Keira tried to kill her, the fact that Keira nearly destroyed her family.

All she knew was that Keira was driven to insanity because of a mother who didn’t love her… and how painful that must have been.

She shook her head. “I forgive you Keira…And I want to say sorry, too…I wasn’t entirely blameless…” Then Sakura slumped to a faint.

“Sakura!” Touya shouted. Syaoran caught her before she hit the floor.

---

A few minutes later, Fujitaka went down to find Keira tied with a rope, while Syaoran was tending to an unconscious Sakura’s wound. Touya sat close to Keira, who was also unconscious.

“What happened? I heard gunshots…The police are on their way…”

“We had to make sure she’s asleep, Keira’s got superhuman strength. She’ll wake soon.”

“Dear God, what did she do to Sakura?”

“Shot her.” Touya’s voice was hollow. He, too, had witnessed Keira’s confession. He felt no anger anymore; all that was left was pity…pity for someone who never experienced being loved by her mother. “It might have gone straight to her heart if she didn’t move fast enough.”

“Oh…my God. What happened to Keira?”

“She’s crazy…” Syaoran said grimly. He wasn’t about to forgive and forget; no matter what the motivation or reason, Keira still attempted to harm them all.

“Yeah, it’s better if we call the funny farm, Dad. They’d help her…Where’s Kaho?”

“Upstairs. You might want to go to her. Pregnant women can’t deal well with stress…I should know.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that. And…I’ll call the hospital. Sakura’s wound might be infected. And Keira…she needs help.”

“Yeah, you do that.”

“But…she’s dangerous!” Syaoran sputtered out.

“Listen, brat,” Touya said warningly. “She would remain dangerous if we don’t seek out help from someone who knows.”

Syaoran nodded mutely, remembering Touya’s punches.

Touya went upstairs to phone Tokyo Mental Hospital and attend to his wife’s needs.

TBC