Title: Into the West
Author: Lexiconish
Fandom: Cardcaptor Sakura
Pairings: Syaoran/Sakura, Eriol/Tomoyo
Rating: T
Genre: Romance/Friendship/Fantasy/General
Warnings: Um… some boy-love when it comes to Yukito and Touya, but who wasn't expecting that? Short-lived random pairing of Syaoran/Chiharu. Lots of pairings. Stuff like that.
Summary: Modern AU. After a messy break-up Syaoran's cousin-but-more-like-an-evil-plotting-sister Meilin takes him out to revive him. She introduces him to her friends Tomoyo and Sakura and… stuff happens. (In other words, author was tired and couldn't be bothered writing a decent summary that didn't give everything away. Just remember it's fantasy for a reason!)
Author's Notes and Disclaimer: I don't own it. It's been ages since I wrote for CCS but… I felt like it again. And yes, 'Milly' and 'Shirley' are taken from Code Geass because I couldn't be bothered being original and I wanted to show rather than say that they aren't in Japan. They're in London baby!

Chapter One

"Syaoran!"

A young man with untidy brown hair and matching eyes glanced up from the television and frowned. His long-time girlfriend Chiharu Mihara was glaring at him from the kitchen. "What?"

"I told you to go and get the shopping done while I was at work today, didn't I? Now we've got nothing to have for dinner and we'll have to get take-away again."

Syaoran winced; she had told him to go shopping but he'd completely forgotten and this wasn't the first time. She had every right to be annoyed but damned if he was going to admit it. "Relax, it's no big deal. I'll get it done after work tomorrow." He shrugged and turned back to the TV.

She stormed into the living room, hands on hips and brown eyes blazing. Her hair which she usually kept in two tidy braids was frizzy and loose – she must have had a stressful day, and that was always bad news because she took it out on Syaoran. "No, Syaoran, it is a big deal. Why can you never do as I ask? I do all the housework on my days off – no, don't interrupt – I do all the cleaning and the cooking ever since we moved in together so I expect that when I ask you to do one tiny little thing that you'll be able to do it!"

"I can't help it if I don't get time to do the housework!" he snapped, "I have a full time job and I'm under a lot of pressure so if something slips my mind it's not exactly my fault!"

"What's that supposed to mean? I've got a job too!" He snorted – definitely the wrong thing to do. Her glare intensified. "Oh I forgot. You don't think that directing theatre productions is a real job. I also happen to be a movie director, remember?"

Syaoran shrank back a little. "No, that's not what I meant… look, let's just get some food and forget about this for now."

Chiharu didn't look pleased but she let it pass. "You can order, pick it up, pay for it," she told him, "I'm going to take a nap; I'm exhausted."

Relief swept through him and as he ordered their usual he wondered when they started fighting so much. It felt like they hadn't had a pleasant conversation in years.

The Daidouji household was a busy, creative environment on the outskirts of London. Head of the household, Tomoyo Daidouji, was the wealthy daughter of Sonomi Daidouji who was head of Daidouji Co. – a children's toy company. Tomoyo was a coveted photographer, film-maker and costume designer. She had originally been involved in the fashion industry but had felt that since she was a photographer and film-maker first and foremost she might as well devote herself to the film industry. Especially, she pointed out, because that was where her best friends worked.

Tomoyo owned an enormous mansion where she was renowned for holding parties and where her models lived with her – there weren't many of them, just fifteen and including Tomoyo and her best friend Sakura that all added up to seventeen occupants in the house… and six bodyguards.

Currently the household was preparing for the weekend's big party celebrating the latest movie Tomoyo had been involved with – her friends as well. The mansion was to be the location of the premieres' after party and everyone was stressing out save Tomoyo herself.

"Has anyone seen Tomoyo?" one model was calling as she ducked her head out of one of the bathrooms. Her name was Shirley and she had red hair and green eyes that Tomoyo was forever complimenting. "Tomoyo!"

Another woman with blonde hair and cunning blue eyes emerged from her room. "No, why? What's wrong Shirley?" This was Milly; one of the most regularly used models because she was confident enough to do what she was needed to whenever asked.

The red-head hesitated. "Oh it's just that my outfit was just finished and she wanted me to try it on, and one of the seams burst along the edge here – it's not too big but she'll want to fix it…"

"Don't stress," Milly said comfortingly, "I can help you. Here, let me see."

Conversations of this kind were being carried out all throughout the house. Downstairs Rika Sasaki was practicing piano to calm herself down and glanced up when Naoko entered the room cleaning her glasses. "Have you seen Sakura today?"

Rika shook her head. "She has a matinee performance today – tomorrow night will be her last one so she'll be really tired on Saturday morning. We'll have to be quiet so she can get some sleep before the premiere."

"Okay… Tomoyo just finished her dress."

"I don't know how she juggles so much work!" Rika praised, "I'd never be able to do it."

A knock on the door and Chiharu tumbled inside. "Oh gosh, sorry I'm so late!"

Naoko looked at her sympathetically. "Did you have another fight?"

Chiharu sagged. "I don't know why but it's like we're just arguing for the sake of it now… I've been thinking of ending it."

"No way!" Milly entered the room looking shocked. "Chiharu! You and Syaoran have been together so long!"

She nodded. "Yeah, I know, that's why I think it's falling apart. I care about him, and I know he cares about me but… but we've been together for years and I don't think we love each other anymore. It's like we're just… cruising."

Rika patted her arm consolingly and changed the subject. "If you're here then Sakura can't be far away, right?"

"Mm. She was just getting the make-up off."

Chiharu was the director of the film, Naoko was the head script-writer and Rika was in charge of the music. They were all close friends, but Chiharu also worked on theatre productions on occasion. Syaoran was Chiharu's boyfriend of six years, ever since university, and a member of the famous Li Clan but he was very rarely available to attend events with Chiharu, busy with events for his company or away on family business.

Sakura was Tomoyo's best friend since third class and had gone into acting during high school. Tomoyo had made costumes for Sakura when they were younger and filmed her and then they'd met Naoko in university and started working together. It wasn't until their careers had taken off that they met Naoko's friends Rika and Chiharu. Sakura had starred in three of Chiharu's theatre productions and was a rising star in the movie business.

The film was called 'The Chronicles of a Cardcaptor' and Sakura played the main character. It was based on a book series Naoko had written and was the first movie in a series of three. As it happened a member of the Li Clan had played a fairly major role in the film and would be coming back for the sequels; she was Syaoran's cousin but she might as well have been his sister, they were so close.

Meilin, as she was called, wasn't planning to be an actress though she made a fantastic one. She'd been head of a magazine company but was put out of business by a betrayal within her company and it took some time to earn her trust and friendship nowadays as a result. She would be arriving tomorrow.

"So, is Syaoran going to be able to come to this?" Naoko asked tentatively. Chiharu shook her head and sighed.

"Not even Meilin's presence could lure him here – actually, it seemed to make him all the more reluctant."

They were spared more awkward conversation by the arrival of their star, face still patchy with a little make-up but Tomoyo would take care of that. Tripping over her own feet Sakura Kinomoto entered Daidouji Mansion with a loud, "HOEEE~!"

Review because I said so. Establish-y chapter of doom was establish-y. Oh! Ha, you may know me as 'Black-Sakura27'… I changed my name because I finally decided I should. Normally I take a name and it stays for good, but you know… it got old. So, sayonara…
Lexiconish.