This is another story that I have adopted. The original was by KaNa16, but after a while she decided she no longer wanted to continue it and put it up for taking. So i took it!
She wrote chapters 1-10, but i have updated the grammar and made some minor alterations to make it my own. I hope you will all like it and support me as i try to continue a fantastic idea. Thanks.
Rated M for language and adult themes.
Disclaimer: I dont own CCS or its characters. Nor do i own the ideas behind the storys begining.
Chapter 1:There He Is...
There were worse things in the world than being stared at by Li Syaoran, Sakura was sure of it...pity she couldn't think of any one of them. All the world's plagues were no match at all for the burning amber gaze of the man that lounged at the far end of Fujitaka-san's ballroom. A champagne glass in one well-shaped hand, Syaoran kept up an easy conversation with two girls who had clearly fallen under his spell.
But he never took his eyes off Sakura. Damn him!
She returned Syaoran look for look, her own emerald gaze colliding with his chocolate brown. Let him stare. And remember. Let him take a good, close look and see that the girl he'd last laid eyes on four years ago had grown into a woman. One who, if Sakura did say so herself, was poised, polished, and wise enough to refuse to let such a simple thing as a man's blatant scrutiny bring a blush to her cheeks or a flutter to her stomach.
Nonchalantly, she touched one hand across the flounce of the silk of her ivory gown and decided to fight fire with fire. Sakura raised her chin a fraction of an inch and assessed Syaoran as openly as he was examining her.
He had changed very little in the year's he's been away, though he did look taller than she remembered. There was a glint of gold in his honey-coloured hair and a bronze cast to his skin that might have been appealing had he been any other man. But other than that, he was the same Li Syaoran, with the same devilishly handsome face and, if the smitten expressions of the young ladies he was talking to meant anything, the same devastating charm.
It was a dangerous combination—Sakura knew that all too well—that could mysteriously transform even the most level-headed woman into a week-kneed school girl.
She watched Syaoran sip his champagne. His eyes left hers only long enough to make his new admirers think he was actually listening to their conversation. Just as quickly, he slid his gaze back to Sakura. And though no smile came to his lips, she swore that his eyes were glittering with amusement. Or it might have been all that alcohol he was consuming or something else. The look he gave her, it was a look that communicated even across a crowded room, and suggested an invitation so bold, it could make a woman's stomach flutter and her cheeks grow hot.
Not, Sakura told herself, that she cared.
She snapped open her silver and ivory fan and waved it in front of her burning face, feeling the press of the crowd and wondering how a room that had been so comfortable only a minute ago could suddenly feel so stuffy and hot.
"What the hell is he doing here?" she snarled from between clenched teeth.
"What did you say?" At Sakura's side, Hiragizawa Tomoyo raised an eyebrow and gave her a quizzical look. "You're mumbling to yourself, Sakura, what's wrong with yo-".
Her eyes caught the scene going on across the room. Tomoyo pulled in a breath and leaned nearer. Her voice dropped to a secretive whisper.
"Li Syaoran! I heard he was back. And thought I know there is no love lost between you, I have to say, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, he is more handsome that ever."
"Really?" Sakura flicked an imaginary speck of lint from her dress. "I hadn't noticed."
"Well, you should pay more attention." When Tomoyo realized that Syaoran was looking their way, she smiled back. "Oh my goodness, those shoulders! And those eyes! If I wasn't a married woman..."
Sakura snorted. It was very unladylike of her but at that moment, she hardly cared. "Go right ahead," she said and try as she might, she couldn't keep the acid taste from her words. "I hardly think as matter as insignificant as your marital status will make one bit of difference to Li Syaoran. He's a player you know." As if Sakura had just insulted one of her beloved children, Tomoyo's amethyst eyes widened. "No way, that's not what I've heard at all."
"Seriously Tomoyo!" With a shake of her shoulders, Sakura cast away the unnerving spell of Syaoran's gaze. Enough of this weird, slightly drunken sensation that filled her head for some reason she couldn't explain. She turned and set her untouched champagne on the nearest table. There was no way she could ever put enough distance between Syaoran and herself, but at least she could try. She headed towards the French doors that led into the gardens, and when Tomoyo fell into step beside her, she glanced at her friend out of the corner of her eye. "You know, I don't think Eriol will like hearing his own wife talking about another man when they've been only married for a month. I thought you loved Eriol."
Tomoyo laughed and wound one arm through Sakura's. "Of course I love him. You know that I'm head over heels in love with Eriol. As madly in love you are with Eriol's cousin, Rui. You don't think I'd really-"
At the sound of Syaoran's familiar laughter rumbling through the room, she looked over her shoulder. "Well," she admitted with a sigh, "I might be tempted. What woman in her right mind wouldn't be?"
"What woman in her right mind would be?" Sakura untangled her arm from Tomoyo and stepped over the threshold and out into the terrace. It was nearly dark and far cooler than it had been under the heat of Syaoran's gaze. Sakura pulled in a breath of air and leaned against the marble railings, her back to the gardens. A lot of people were coming into the gardens and the ballroom doors were left open. From where Sakura stood, she had a perfect view of the room.
She saw two older women cross the room towards Syaoran to retrieve their daughters. To his credit, Syaoran exchanged appropriate pleasantries, and to Sakura's unending wonder, by the time the mothers left with their daughters in tow, all four females were giggling like schoolgirls. Even before they withdrew, Syaoran was joined by two men, and Sakura couldn't have said which of the two surprised her more.
"Touya?" Amazed, she watched the scene unfold before her. "Touya, my own brother. Talking to that...that..." Tomoyo laid a restraining hand on her arm. "Now, now, it's nothing to get upset about. They're probably just old friends and—"
"Friends? Syaoran?" Sakura pulled at her beautiful curled hair that hung over her shoulder while she watched her brother act the traitor. "The two words can hardly be spoken in the same breath. Syaoran doesn't have any friends. Only worshipers"
"Fujitaka-san seems friendly enough" Sakura tossed her hair over her shoulder.
Tomoyo was right, as usual. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought that Syaoran and Fujitaka-san were old friends. The put their heads together and when Syaoran spoke, Fujitaka-san nodded knowingly.
Fujitaka-san was one of the few people in this aristocratically selfish society that actually liked giving back to others more than taking. He had even served the Queen of Japan, Yelen-sama long before Sakura was born. With his brown hair that was sprinkled with a bit of gray and his gentle and kind face, he reminded Sakura of a beloved uncle and that's exactly what she thought of him. Fujitaka-san had been a close friend of the family for as long as she could remember and ever time he'd visit, he'd always bring presents for her and Touya, even now.
She watched as Touya walked off and left Syaoran with Fujitaka-san. Sakura shook her head. "I really don't get why Syaoran is here. This is supposed to be a reception for people involved in the planning of the Queen's anniversary party."
Suddenly, there seemed nothing in the world as important to Tomoyo as the roses growing near where they were standing. She gazed at them intently, her hands clutched at her waist. "You mean, you don't know?"
There was something in Tomoyo's voice she didn't like. She swung her gaze from Syaoran to her best friend. "Know what? It can't possibly have anything to do with the party, or the meeting that I have tomorrow with Fujitaka-san and the committee planning the ceremony. I know that for a fact. I mean, can you even imagine Li Industry doing the fireworks?" she gave a cynical laugh and rolled her eyes. "Syaoran can't possibly think that he has a chance to—"As if it had been shoved of its course, the train of Sakura's thoughts broke into two.
Tomoyo was quite. Too quite.
"He's hoping to get the contract for the anniversary fireworks?" Sakura listened to her own question echo back at her, her voice sharp with astonishment, her words honed with the edge of impossibility. Syaoran and Fujitaka-san shared a laugh, and Sakura twirled away from the scene. "No way!" she slapped her hands against the cool marble railing. "No fucking way! He doesn't have a chance in hell!"
"Don't curse out loud!" Tomoyo made appropriate tsk-tsk sound of disapproval and offered a glace of apology to the people around them who had overheard. Sakura didn't care. Let Tomoyo apologize for her. As far as she was concerned, the only thing she had to apologize for was forgetting to add that she was sure that the hottest fires in hell had been marked especially for that bastard. And that she would like nothing better that to see him roasting over them for all eternity. For now, there were more important things to worry about than apologies, and Sakura focused on them. She fastened her gaze on Tomoyo and refused to back down. Not until she got some answers. "Eriol is on the anniversary committee," Sakura said. "What do you know?"
Thought Tomoyo tried her best, she was a poor actress. And an even poorer liar. Her laughter rippled the night air. "I don't know anything, honestly! You know how men are. They never share any information with their wives that's really useful. They say it's none of our business and that we shouldn't fill our pretty heads with—" Tomoyo was less than convincing, and if she didn't know it, one look at the expression on Sakura's face must have told her as much.
Her laughter died. Her smile vanished. Her shoulders sagged.
"He's been invited to the meeting" Tomoyo said. "Syaoran?" Sakura could hardly believe her ears. "How? Why? He should know he'll never get the contract. Kinomoto Corporation is the oldest fireworks establishment in this country! And the most distinguished! He can't possibly think that he can compete against us with those pathetic light shows he tries to pass off as fireworks! That crazy bastard! Of all the arrogant, vain, disdainful-"
"Sakura!" she hadn't even realized she'd started back towards the ballroom until Tomoyo grabbed her arm to hold her in place. "You can't march in there and take the man's head off." "Watch me!" Sakura shook herself out of Tomoyo's grip. She might have continued on straight into the ballroom if common sense, pride and dignity were not as much a part of her personality as was her hatred of Li Syaoran. She reminded herself that those light shows of Li Industry were legendary. He was known for his fireworks display just as Kinomoto Corporation was.
Kinomoto Corporation shows were beautiful and elegant. Well considered and perfectly executed. Flawless. Artistic. Refined.
Li Industry shows were, according to Sakura, was just like Syaoran. They were garish, too loud and too flamboyant, and all together too melodramatic. But people like it and Sakura didn't know why.
"There's no way Fujitaka-san will let Li Industry near the celebration" Sakura said, but whether she was trying to convince Tomoyo or herself, she want sure. Holding on to that thought, she pulled herself to her full height, lifted her chin, and walked back into the ballroom. By the time she had drank another two glasses of champagne and danced around the ballroom, Sakura didn't feel better at all.
So Syaoran would be at the committee meeting in the morning. She let her gaze glide to here he stood and was relieved to see that he wasn't paying the least bit of attention to her. He was deep in conversation with the men that had gathered around him. But not too deep because when a beautiful dark-haired women sauntered past, Syaoran laid one hand on her arm and whispered in her ear. The woman blushed to the roots of her hair and didn't resist Syaoran's infamous allure. She smiled as if she knew a rather delicious secret, and before she walked away, Sakura swore she saw the woman wink at Syaoran.
Not that she cared. Obviously.
With one final glare at Syaoran, she left the ballroom. She could handle whatever feeble attempts Syaoran might make at winning the contract for the anniversary fireworks, she assured herself, just as she could handle Syaoran himself. Still, his presence at tomorrow's meeting was bound to be tense. After all, it was sure to be awkward coming face to face with a man she hadn't spoken to in four years.
Especially when four years ago, Syaoran had abandoned her on the altar on the day of their wedding.
Ok, so that was it. Chapter 1.
What did you think? This story got alot of reviews originally so id really appriciate your thoughts now.
Im going to release each chapter once a week, to see what you all think and give me time to make sure im 100% happy with it.
Thanks for all your support
Love ya xx