My Husband’s Wedding
Witch-Mistress-Animaru
A/N: Okay, I will be honest. I am only writing this since I began to feel guilty that I have kept you hanging last chapter. Also, I hope you will be bothering to read my rather long author’s note this chapter since I’m going to have major announcements along the way. First: There is a major change in the plot. I realized as I re-read my plans that they were rather anti-climactic. I’m quickening the pace of the story. It shouldn’t happen that way; it would have been disappointing in my part if I would be unable to turn emotions to words. I guess we’re cutting down the plot to lesser chapters (aw…) but don’t worry! I’m going to be back soon after. Second: I have started a C2 community just for the heck of it. Yah, yah, sounds depressive, but I have. Those who I can count on as staffers who are really interested, can you please help me out? E-mail me if you can be a staff member in my C2 community, please. Third: I want to thank the people who, even if they haven’t reviewed this fiction, have added this to their favorites list or their author alert list. Also to the C2 communities that have added me to their archive, thanks. I have been overwhelmed when I read the stats. THANKS! Fourth: I want your honest, honest opinion on what I should do after this. Should it be the Meiling-Touya sequel, Beloved Enemy, Fated, When Summer Ends, Finding Love or whatever? I also have a new story in mind, my first try at a fantasy. But never mind that. It will have to come later. Now we’re back to my usual gratitude roll call. Ha-ha. Here goes!
Thanks to:
RP asher, Leifang, strawberryz, Animefreakkagome, rika411, cherriblossomxz, bellcicle, Lil-BabYAnG3L, Lil LoveStar, meow-mix23, liloazngurl03, SakuraLover, xxlilaznchckxx, miz-annonymouz04, Sakura1007, Mystical Beckie, lollipopper, eesul, TRC3T, Crystal Butterfly, nightmiko, ori-chan, Lauren, Elisandra1, x0xEmeraldx0x, Lyphta, kaipanther, firegoddess372, anime-lover-forever2007, Filipina-baller09, Lady Lotus, J.F. Mitchell, eternalsolaris, Neogalaxy, miyu, Ashley-chan, pollyhi5, MistressMizu, cherryblossom10, Hikari Fate, teenureen, ffgirl-07, Musette Fujiwara.
Whew, finally I’m done! On to the next chapter, supposedly titled “Fujitaka,” but I merged it with “Touya’s Decision” so…
21: Father and Son
(Yeah, a bit mushy and clichéd, but who can blame me? Now enough chatter! Action’s waiting to happen. First part’s mostly narration.)
Part 1: Fujitaka
He was lost in thought, staring out the bleak darkness of his window. His brows were creased, his palms clenched tightly on his side. His auburn hair, so much like his daughter’s, already had streaks of white and gray and his unsmiling brown eyes were hidden behind square-shaped spectacles. Already in his mid-fifty’s, Fujitaka had not found the solace he thought he would have when he reached this age. The darkness, the sadness in his eyes said it all.
Fujitaka was a lonely man. He was a widower twice in his life and a father of two grown children, and yet, he dwelled alone in this dark, gloomy exterior that was his house, found in a dark corner of Tomoeda, Japan. No laughter of grandkids. There was only silence. No light, comforting feeling in his chest. There was only emptiness as, not for the first time in his life, he took time to revel on the past.
Not really seeing the soft rustle of the leaves of his beloved cherry tree, his eyes only gazed at the endless darkness. Was it only yesterday that his children were playing tag around that tree? Ah, that sickening pain in his chest just won’t go away. It got heavier and heavier by the second, to the point that he could not breathe.
He took a deep breath, a tear trickling down his cheek as he revisited his life. Was it just worth it to keep on hurting his self each night? Maybe it was. His life wasn’t so dear at all.
His first wife, Nadeshiko, had died when his daughter was only three years old. She had been bedridden ever since she gave birth to Sakura. After three painstakingly long years, she succumbed to death. Yet, he never blamed his daughter for that. It was Nadeshiko’s decision to have another child after ten long years. He loved Sakura so much, as she was her mother’s very image. And yet, he did not know where she is right now. His only daughter was estranged to him.
Of course, he knew that Touya knows her whereabouts, but he had not gotten around asking him. They weren’t exactly on speaking terms, either. Touya lived in Tokyo with his wife.
God, did he deserve all this?
Then, of course, was his stepdaughter Keira. She was ever-sweet and caring, but she has not been in touch lately. Not that he really cared, but she was the closest he had for a daughter. He could only settle for second-best. She was recently engaged to a famous Chinese national, but last he heard the man had cancelled the engagement.
He was the same man who used to date his daughter. He wondered what happened to them, but it was six years ago. It was impossible that they still had a connection.
As for his second wife, Theresa, it was not really of much importance. His marriage with her may be the biggest mistake he had made his whole life. He only married her for one reason: She reminded him of Nadeshiko…his beloved wife, his only love. Was it his fault that she looked so much like her, that they could have been twins? He suffered so much, and he knows she did, too, so he just made the best of it, until Theresa’s death about two years after the marriage.
God forbid, but he was silently glad of her death. At the same time, he can’t help but feel guilty. He somehow felt responsible for her death, just like the way people did when they wish for something ill and it happens. So, he did the right thing: he adopted Keira, legally this time, and gave her the attention he knew she needed. But he lost his real children in the process.
Sakura began to pull away and rebel when she was 16. Above average in terms of brains, she entered college the year before, and she spent most of the year at a boardinghouse with her cousin Tomoyo. Since he could not keep an eye on her, he asked Touya to do the job. But Touya had a job to handle, and with him going back and forth from China and Japan, Fujitaka knew he could not risk losing his baby girl. So he asked Keira to do it.
Her reports have gone from bad to awful, and it just seemed to worsen each time. Night parties, orgies, or whatever they call it, was what Keira had reported. So he decided, once and for all, to go and see for himself if it was true.
That was the time he found her in bed, in a disgraceful state, with the boy he recognized as Keira’s boyfriend. Then he realized it was true after all. He didn’t know what to think. But he knew he must safeguard her even more.
A few years later, he learned about the new boy. Li Syaoran. He was filthy rich and well-known all over Asia. Also, he was a certified playboy, definitely older than Sakura. He was certainly out of her league. He didn’t want her to suffer a broken heart, and so, he came to Tomoyo’s house and fetched her. But she did not go. She seriously believed she was in love with that godlike kid. And he couldn’t really blame her. But he had to do something.
Then Keira came home one day, on the verge of tears. She told him how Sakura had insulted and belittled her. He didn’t know if he would believe it, but then, did he really know Sakura still, and what she is capable of? So he waited for her.
She came home that day so happy, his anger was about to melt away. Her eyes were shining like they never did before. But remembering Keira’s words, he did as his thoughts dictated him, never once pausing to ask her anything, anything at all.
And that was the last he heard of his only daughter, Nadeshiko’s only living reminder.
He sighed as he whisked another tear away, and as a painful lump formed in his throat.
“Sakura…”
Tonight was another sleepless night full of nightmares and what ifs.
Another ordinary night for a lonely man. Or was it?
Footsteps. He heard them resolutely, echoing from a distance. It was an occurrence that never happened before. His heart began to beat wildly as he stared at the wall clock. It was already 10 in the evening. Could it be a burglar, an intruder perhaps? Just a week ago, a nearby house has been robbed in the middle of the night.
The sound was drawing nearer. He held his breath. Then, someone knocked at the door.
“Who’s there?” He asked hoarsely, but there was no reply. The knocks came again, more urgent this time. “Who’s there?” He repeated, much louder this time.
“Open up, father, it’s me.” A muffled voice he knew so well called from outside. Was he dreaming or something?
He opened the door and there stood his only son. Apparently, it was not a dream…
Part 2: Confrontations and Disillusions
For a moment, there was stunned silence as father and son sized up each other. Then without another word, Fujitaka abandoned all pretenses and hugged his estranged son.
“Touya…”
“Yes, Father.” Touya cleared his throat. “It is I.” (A/N: Hey, I’m sorry if this dialogue will lack emotions. They’re males, not at all showy, you understand? Sorry, again, okay?)
“C-come inside. I thought it was a burglar or something.” He held the door ajar and allowed his son to get in. “What brings you here in the dead of the night?” His voice was back to normal, concealing all his excitement at the sight of Touya.
“I won’t beat around the bush, Father. I came here because of Sakura.”
Fujitaka went dead still. “Sakura?”
“Yes, father. And Keira.” He stared grimly at his father before continuing.
“I think you ought to know. Sakura has been living in Okinawa for six years, and she has a shop in Tokyo right now.”
He stared blankly at his son.
“And she has a five-year old son.” Crash. The mug he has been holding fell to the floor at this news. “And she is actually six years married to Li Syaoran, Keira’s supposed fiancé.”
“Quit toying around, Touya. What the hell are you talking about?”
“You have a grandson and she is married to the father.”
“She — she married that rich kid?”
“Yes, she did. Then they separated. Afterward, they made up again a few months ago. But earlier this day, she arrived at my doorstep, with her luggage, without Xiao Chen, and looking like she’s been through hell. She didn’t talk all day, neither does she say or do anything.”
“Well, it’s her fault, going through a marriage with someone she doesn’t really —”
“Will you listen to yourself? You are already thinking the worst of her even though you didn’t hear the rest of the story yet! What kind of father are you?”
Silence. Fujitaka’s eyes widened at Touya’s words.
“How you dare…how you could…”
“Spare me, father. You need to know this.” He stopped muttering and told his son to continue.
“I don’t really know much about her relationship with her husband, but I know how much they loved each other. Actually, I was surprised since last I’ve heard, they were doing very well indeed.”
“And all that brings you here?”
“I think I know the reason behind Sakura’s current state. And I believe I should tell you about it, since I don’t think you deserve to be in the dark still, Father.”
“And all this concerns me?” He asked, incredulous.
“No, Father, not you, actually. It’s our dear stepsister Keira.”
Profound silence as they stared at each other for a long time.
“Okay, let me get this straight, son,” he said, “Sakura’s marriage just failed and you blame it on that poor girl?”
“Oh, it turns out that the ‘poor’ girl isn’t so poor at all.” Touya’s tone was sarcastic, and his eyes looked angry.
“That girl always had it for Sakura. Call it jealousy or whatsoever, but since they were teenagers, I am aware of how she had fed you lies about Sakura.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You asked her to keep an eye on Sakura, but she was the one who needed discipline. All the things she told you about Sakura weren’t true, Father. In fact it was otherwise: Keira was the one who partied all night long and attended less-than-decent gatherings all over Tokyo.”
“And what proof do you have of this?” He demanded hotly. “And I happened to witness Sakura in a compromising situation with Keira’s boyfriend years ago!”
“I saw her at it, and I wanted to tell you at the time but I knew you won’t believe me. As for that particular episode, didn’t you even think if Sakura was forced in to that situation? What if she was nearly raped? And it was a near miss, I tell you, father.”
All strength seemed to have left him.
“Why are you telling me this only now?” He said, all attempts at courage having failed.
“Because this is my last chance, Father, to let you see how evil Keira is. She was also the root of Sakura and that Li kid’s separation six years ago, I learned from someone I know. And now she has succeeded in tearing them apart again. And I’m not the one bestowed with the power to take it back.” He stared meaningfully at his father. “But you are, father. You can make her suffer too. Since apparently, she also cares about you, but only you.”
“I also consider her my child, Touya, I can’t possibly do what you want.”
“Believe me, you can, father. Do it for us — me, Sakura, and your grandson.”
Still, Fujitaka remained motionless.
“If you don’t believe me, father, why don’t we pay a visit to her husband tomorrow? You can meet your grandson then.”
“God — I don’t believe this. Why only now? Why not then, Touya?”
“I didn’t have the chance, and Sakura didn’t want another problem. But this time, I decided that she has gone way too far in trying to destroy Sakura. I had to do something.”
Silence enveloped them again, until Touya stood up abruptly.
“Are you going?”
“I guess so. Kaho might miss me. She’s overly sensitive, you know? Being pregnant and all.”
Suddenly, Fujitaka’s eyes watered. He missed so much of his children’s lives, and now was the chance to catch up.
“Is it okay if…if I go with you?” He said, sounding hopeful.
“Of course, Father. I was hoping you’d say that.”
End of Chapter.
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