Sakura, the daughter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Japan, is sent on a diplomatic mission in Hong Kong where she meets the cold, reserved Syaoran Li. Things go wrong right away, but will Sakura be able to endure the hardships? (AU)

Helloooo. This is Cirra checking in – and it's my first fic! After reading one fic after another on this site I've finally decided to write one of my own! Enjoy )

Disclaimer: If I were as talented as CLAMP, Card Captors would be mine. But alas, I am not. So don't sue me; I'm a poor broke high school student.

Early in the morning, two loud, distinct voices reverberated within the Kinomoto house:

"Really!"

"What!"

Touya and Sakura Kinomoto were sitting at the kitchen table when their father, Fujitaka, announced the news.

"Wow daddy! Thank you so much!" Sakura hopped up, nearly knocking over her chair, and enveloped her father in a bear hug while her older brother emitted a slight growl.

"This has got to be a joke," Touya glared, "Tell me you're not really letting her go alone to Hong Kong."

With twinkling eyes, Sakura quipped, "Well, you'd be the one going if you didn't decide to go invest in some stupid business thing."

"You brat, you're 18 years old but you still act like you're 10!"

"Well, at least I don't act like I'm 50!" Sakura stuck her tongue out and grinned in triumph.

"Now, now, children," their father interrupted one of their frequent petty arguments, but humour was evident in his face. "The decision's already been made. Since I have to attend a meeting next week in New York, Sakura will just have to fill my place in Japan. Besides, Touya, it's not the first time that your little sister's been to occasions like these."

It was true. Acting as the daughter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sakura often accompanied her father and brother vaulted from country to country to attend this and that political event – whether it be the birthday of the Moroccan King, or the instalment of a new Japanese embassy in the United States. Fujitaka Kinomoto didn't like leaving his family behind when he travelled abroad, so he decided to take them to these events. Since three years ago, though, the trio suddenly became a mere pair when Touya founded his own investment company, which attained rapid success. Soon it was only Sakura and Fujitaka in the photographs that were published in newspapers, though it never diminished Sakura's love to visit exotic new environments.

Usually these stays weren't very long, but sometimes Sakura had to miss two or three weeks of school at a time. That's why her father insisted that she had to have a private tutor with her when she travelled. Only a day ago had she finally finished enduring the tortures of high school mathematics and was ready to enter university. But she was really excited for this trip – though she had travelled with her father and brother countless times, this would be the first time that she was embarking on a journey alone. The thought thrilled her – to finally be able to wander the streets with the feeling of independence, and to be accepted by the community as an official adult.

"No way!" Touya stubbornly persisted, "She's never been on her own before. Even the last several trips you were with her, dad. How can the kaijuu take care of herself? What if she forgets that she has to eat or something." He rolled his eyes and his scowl deepened as his mind continued to probe all the possibilities of anything that could go wrong while his sister was alone.

"And," he continued, just in time to see his father open his mouth, "There are rapists and murderers in the streets! What about street gangs? And robbers, pickpockets, and…"

Before he could ramble on, Sakura cut him off with a teasing voice. "Brother, it's not like there aren't murderers and rapists here in Japan – or far away from Tomoeda." She giggled and sat back down on her chair to finish her pancakes, tucking one leg under herself and swinging the other back and forth.

Fujitaka smiled at Touya's display of brotherly concern. "Touya, Sakura won't be alone."

"I won't?" She looked confused and slightly disappointed. Just when she thought she could be on her own!

"Tomoyo's going to be travelling with her."

After hearing this Sakura screeched with joy as Touya just shook his head. "Yeah, that's some great company. Watch her come back with suitcases upon suitcases of clothes and whatnot," he added dryly.

"Oh shush! You're just jealous because I get to have fun but you have to take care of your stupid business thingie." She put deliberate emphasis on sounding childish just to annoy her brother. After all, that's what brothers were for!

"Then it's all settled. I've got your plane tickets booked for the day after tomorrow, so you'd better start packing! You should arrive a couple of days before their celebration of independence on the first of July, just to get some time to adjust to your surroundings. Tomoyo will be with you, and on your second day you'll meet the members of the Li Clan, who host this event every year. Stay safe; if there's any trouble you can contact Mrs. Yelan Li; she'll be able to help you."

The reason that Tomoyo Daidouji was also coming along was that her mother, Sonomi, had just launched a new clothing line in Hong Kong. Tomoyo, being one of the novice designers of the company, would be travelling to promote her new products.

"Okay! I love you daddy!" Sakura kissed her father on the cheek again, waggled her finger in front of her brother's face. "I'm going to Hong Kong and there's nothing you can do about it!"

"Wanna bet, kaijuu?"

"I've told you a million times; I'm NOT a kaijuu! You are!"

"Ouch! That was my foot, kaijuu!"