FAIRYTALE

Genre: Romance/Drama/Humor

Rating: T

Summary: A girl. A guy. Twenty-first century. An arranged marriage. [based on Goong.

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS or Goong or Kodocha.

i. Problems Ensue

"Please, Sakura!"

"No!"

"I don't see why you can't take it!" Tomoyo pleaded with Sakura, practically on all fours. "We're family, after all!"

Sakura, although grateful for her best friend's generosity, declined the check once more. "How many times do I have to tell you, Tomoyo? I appreciate it, I really do, but –"

"– but you prefer to work your ass off nine hours a day at school, and another five hours after that?" Tomoyo sighed, putting the check back in her bag. "Alright, alright, I get it. But you do know that if you have any problems, just ask. That's what I'm here for."

"What, a piggy bank?"

Tomoyo glared at her, and Sakura grinned. "'Cause I think you resemble one a lot, you know."

Ignoring the comment, Tomoyo stared impassively ahead, trying to keep up with Sakura's pace. She knew her rich friend could have a limo pick her up every day after school, but Tomoyo had thought it was unfair that she could have almost anything at a snap of her fingers while Sakura and her family had financial problems. After Sakura refused to take on Tomoyo's offer for limo rides every day ("It's only a twenty minute walk! Besides," Sakura said, "less cars, less pollution, more polar bears. Right?"), Tomoyo decided to walk with her every day with her, to and after school, everyday.

School days, anyway.

Everyday, the same problems.

Everyday, the same story.

Everyday, the same stupid Li mansion they have to walk across, which takes up seven of those twenty minutes just to walk pass.

As they passed the huge gates, Sakura couldn't help but stop and peer inside suspiciously. "It's like ten times bigger than your place, Moyo," she judged. "What's in there? A jungle? A zoo? An amusement park with a Ferris wheel and a train that goes choo-choo?"

Tomoyo looked inside as well, trying to see pass the thick wall trees covering the building from sight. "All of them above. It looks like the same size of Canada. Think there are any moose there?"

"And a maple syrup factory, I bet," Sakura sighed, and started to walk again. "Must be nice, to have money."

Tomoyo said nothing, embarrassed. Instead, she decided to change the subject, "Have you heard about the Li kid though? No one knows much about him."

"Please," Sakura laughed, "all of those rich pretty boys are the same. He's probably watching a movie in his mini-cinema right now, soaking in a Jacuzzi with a girl or two by his side."

"…"

"No worries, no problems, and definitely no money trouble."

"…"

"He probably doesn't just have a pool in there, I bet he's got a huge pool of gold coins he can jump in every day," Sakura continued, looking over her shoulder at the never-ending wall that surrounded the mansion. "Must be uncomfortable, with all the coins sticking in his ear, in his rolls of fat he gets by lazying around everyday, in his pants, and up his –"

"RIGHT. I get the point," Tomoyo rolled her pretty amethyst eyes, and gave Sakura a playful shove. "I heard he's a bit of a bad boy, actually."

"Excuse me? And you said no one knows much about him?"

"Yeah, and who's No One? I'm Tomoyo, I know everything," she retorted, beaming a smile at her.

Sakura couldn't help but snort. "That's right, you're Tomoyo. The Tomoyo who knows about practically everything – what people do on dates, what people do on Saturday nights, what kind of popcorn people order when they go to the movies, and the Tomoyo who still refuses to admit she's got a huuuuge crush on Eriol Hiira – "

"How many times do I have to tell you, it's not that!" Tomooyo scowled, blushing hard. "They … they turn up the heaters too high at school!"

"And when it'soutside of the school, in the middle of a snowy day with temperatures so cold it freezes your nose hair, you somehow turn crimson red even at the sight of him?"

"I – I wore too much that day! The coat was really –"

"Whatever," Sakura laughed, clearly enjoying herself. "I know the truth."

"Anyway," Tomoyo continued as if they never had the conversation, "as I was saying, the Li guy is … well, not exactly your typical-rich boy."

"What, not a potato couch? No belly fat? No coins up his –"

"No!" Tomoyo scowled, glaring at her. "Apparently he's a pain in the ass. Especially during elementary school and junior high."

Sakura kicked an empty bottle aside, and laughed. "Ooh, a juvenile delinquent at age six? Him I'd love to meet."

"I wouldn't exactly call him a delinquent, but I heard he used to blackmail the teachers." Tomoyo paused and frowned. "I think it was something like a photo or whatever – one of the teachers that taught his class got so pissed he quit."

"I like him already," Sakura commented, smiling. "When can I meet him?"

"Are you serious?"

"I like the bad boy type," Sakura answered, winking. "Much more adventurous."

They finally reached the end of the block and past the manor. As they crossed the street, Tomoyo shook her head. "Right. Like Takeo?"

Almost tripping at the very name, Sakura groaned. "Please don't remind me."

"I thought it was pretty hilarious."

"Of course you would," Sakura glared at her. "Your only joy in life is to torture and taunt me with every mistake I made." And staring at Eriol dreamily while thinking none of us are watching, she thought to herself.

"Oh, so that little 'infatuation' with Takeo was a mistake, then?"

"If you don't call dating Mr. I'm-Gonna-Wrap-The-Entire-School-Building-With-Toilet-Paper a mistake, I don't know what you can call it," Sakura grimaced at the memory. "And he wasn't a bad boy, he was just plain childish."

"He was cute."

"He wanted to wrap our school in toilet paper."

"He gave you a rose every day, how romantic is that?"

"He dyed our principal's dog pink."

"He … he …"

"Running out of good things to say about him already?" Sakura smirked.

"He had a nice ass!" Tomoyo blurted out. "And you can't deny it."

"Didn't say I did," was her cool reply.

Her best friend could only shake her head. "You have the worst luck in men," she commented dryly.

"As if I haven't noticed that already?" They neared her house, coming to a halt. Sakura glanced miserably at it, thinking about what lay ahead. "I have the worst luck in everything."

Patting her back, Tomoyo gave her a small smile. "It'll all work out in the end. I promise."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Let's make a bet."

Tomoyo blinked. "Uh, in case you've forgotten – you don't exactly have much money."

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Sakura shook her head. "No, let's make a non-money bet."

"What's the deal, then?"

"If it really does work out," she said slowly, trying hard not to smile any more than she could, "you need to go up to Eriol and tell him."

"Tell him what?"

Sakura scowled. "Stop acting stupid! Tell him he'd look good in pink and green, why don't you!"

"Hey, not a bad idea –"

"TELL HIM YOU LIKE HIM!"

"What?!" Tomoyo gawked at her. "When I said things would work out, I –"

"It won't," Sakura stated simply. "Trust me, by the time we graduate, we'll still be living like this," she waved a hand carelessly at the house. Even though it looked warm and comforting outside, only she knew the truth within the walls. "So you won't have to worry about a thing."

"… but since you think it won't work out, why did you make this bet any way?"

Sakura paused. Damn, she thought, and her smile disappeared almost as quick as a light bulb going out. And I thought I had her there! Stupid, stupid brain of mine!

"Okay, change of plans," she quickly said. "If this really does work out within two months, you get to tell Eriol you like him. If it doesn't, you get to tell Eriol you love him and he's your knight in shining armor and he'd look good in a clown costume."

"WHAT?"

"Okay, deal!"

"Sakura! What kind of bet is that?" Tomoyo demanded, staring at her in disbelief. "What benefit will I get from it?"

"Come on, it's a win-win situation!"

"No, it's a lose-lose situation!" she retorted. "Either way, I have to actually go up to Eriol and admit –"

"AHA! You like him! That's the first time you actually admit that you really –"

"I NEVER SAID THAT!"

"Ah, but your eyes speak volumes," Sakura smiled at her and patted her shoulder. "You know that people say eyes are windows to the soul? Well, yours just screams out –"

"Yeah, it's definitely true," Tomoyo glared once again at her, hands on her hips. "I'm looking into your eyes right now, and the bright green I see reminds me of the Grinch and his evil ways."

"… whatever.," Sakura chirped, turning her back and walking to her front porch, leaving her friend in disbelief. "Bye, Tomoyo!"

"Wait –"

Sakura shut the door, blocking out what Tomoyo had to say. She sighed, leaning against the door before shouting out, "I'm home!"

"Who's there?" her brother looked over the couch where he was reading. "Oh, Sakura. Of course it's you. I thought I saw something resembling a Yeti walk by the window – OW!"

Tossing aside the pillow she whacked Touya with, she skipped into the kitchen and kissed her dad on the cheek.

"What're you doing back home so early?" her dad asked, astonished to see his daughter back so soon.

"Little pig came home to hit me," Touya mumbled, rubbing his temples. "Some sister I have."

"Sister? Me?" Sakura raised an eyebrow at him, pulling out a stool and sitting on it. "I'm too cute to be related to you," she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Please don't make me laugh, Yeti."

"I love you too, brother dear." Sakura turned to her father, who was still waiting for a reply, "Came back for a ten minute rest, then I'll head off to the restaurant."

"Ten minute rest? Your shift starts in five minutes," Touya scowled. "No wonder you're always late at everything."

"No I'm not! Look at my watch – see, still got fifteen minutes left."

"Actually," he gestured at a nearby clock, "your watch's slow. You only have five minutes left."

Sakura gawked at the clock and bolted from the stool before running towards her room, screaming. "INSTEAD OF TORMENTING ME, YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME, YOU STUPID OAF!"

"Oaf? That's a new one," Fujitaka chuckled to himself.

"She's running out of names to call me."

"Ah." A pause, as they listened to Sakura scrambling around her room, trying to find her things. "Is she really late?"

"BYE DAD!" Sakura shouted, flinging a bag across her shoulders and rushing down the hall, nearly tripping. "BYE CRAP-FOR-BRAINS!"

After they heard the door slam, Touya grinned smugly at his dad. "Nope. I just set this thing ten minutes later," he explained, re-setting the clock. "She falls for it every time."

Damn Touya, Sakura thought, frowning. Stupid brother, lying Yeti. Caring is one thing, but lying? Helpful my ass.

Customers were pouring in as usual, and Sakura was finding it hard to concentrate on the orders. She'd be able to do this with a lcear head, of course, but after sitting on her ass in the same room for hours on end … that's a different story. It was nice to see a few of her friends popping in, chatting with her while she was busy filling the orders, that kept her mind off of some things – like the fact she had a whole pile of homework and studying she had to do when she got back. Some life I have.

"Miss!" a woman barked from a nearby table. "Where's my order? I've been waiting for hours!"

More like two minutes max, Sakura thought angrily. Bitch. "In a moment!" she smiled sweetly at the customer while thinking what the woman would look like with chopsticks sticking up her nose.

"There're these Prada shoes I'm dying to get, if I don't get there within five minutes, it'll be gone! " the woman continued. "What'll I do then?"

"Stuff your feet in two tissue boxes then!" Sakura couldn't help but retort, glaring at the irritating woman dressed from head to toe in designer clothes. "Be glad you can even afford new shoes every two weeks, some of us have to make do with shoes we've worn for years!"

The customer looked shocked for a minute before narrowing her eyes once more and getting up. "If this is the kind of service I'm going to get here, I won't be coming here again!"

"Thank God," Sakura had to mutter under her breath as the woman flounced from the table and out the door. "I could do with one less bitch."

"You need to watch your temper there, Saku," her boss said, shaking his head. "The customer is –"

"– always right, I know," Sakura snorted. "Sorry, J."

One more strike, and I'm out, she thought miserably. Why can't things just go right for once?

The front door opened again with a soft ding, and a man came in, shaking off the snow from his hair. Sakura sighed again, and straightened her pose.Right. Well. Customer. Always. Right.

"Two bubble teas to go," the man curtly said. "Semi-sweet, no ice, large for one, and no sugar or ice, large for the other."

This guy makes Grumpy look like a chipmunk on crack, Sakura thought as she busied herself with the orders.

"What are you doing?" the man demanded, narrowing his eyes. "I said large."

"This is large!"

The guy cursed under his breath and straightened, glaring at her. "Large cup. Not big 'bubbles'!"

"Maybe you need to make yourself clearer next time!"

"I'm not the one who's incompetent in taking a clear order."

However much the man intimidated her, Sakura stared angrily back at him, tilting her chin up slightly to meet dark amber eyes. "Incompetent? That's a big word for someone like you. Four syllables!"

Glowering at her, he leaned over the counter slightly until they were almost nose-to-nose. "As much as I love this childish quarrel, I have more important things to do. I suggest you give me my damned bubble tea. Now," he emphasized on the last word, clutching his fists.

"Or else?"

He merely gave her a questioning glance.

"There was an 'or else' threat hanging at the end of that sentence," Sakura said calmly, even though she was seething inside. "Care to elaborate?"

"I could get you fired."

Sakura laughed and turned away, grabbing two large cups once again and filling them. "Of course you can. How could I not notice!"

"…"

"You're the emperor of Japan!"

This kid clearly has no idea, the guy sneered to himself.

"I don't know who you think you are," Sakura continued heatedly, slamming down the two cups, "but one thing I can tell: your ego's as big as California. No wait, make that the Li manor, seeing how it's even bigger than California, since it's probably the same size as Africa!"

"The Li manor, huh?" he repeated, curious. "Got anything against the place?"

Why won't he just go and leave me in peace? "What's it to you?"

He rolled his eyes before grabbing two straws, then frowned as he saw his two cups. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?" Sakura demanded, frustrated at this customer's attitude. "Do you want me to bow you out of the store? Roll out the red carpet? Get on all fours and grovel at your feet, begging you to come back soon?"

"Not exactly necessary, but I could use a bag."

Flustered, Sakura bent down and went in search for the freaking plastic bags. Digging out all the crap from behind the counter, she finally found them behind a pile of wrapping paper – who knows what they were doing there.

"Here you go, your Majesty," she managed to bite out, stuffing his drinks and straws inside before shoving the bag at him. "Have a nice day and come back soon – but please make it anytime BUT five thirty to eight in the afternoons. Thank you!" she beamed a fake sugary smile at him for just three quarters of a second before turning to her colleague standing nearby, muttering a "Your turn at the cashier" before storming off, mumbling furiously.

Some day this was.

"The Li kid?"

"Really?"

"But why? I'd much rather stay at home counting my money."

"Oh. My. God. I get to actually see Syaoran Li! In person!"

"I wonder if he could give me an autograph?"

"I wonder if he could sign my underwear?"

"What's going on?" Sakura asked Tomoyo as they entered the school building. "What's up with everyone today?"

"You haven't heard?" her best friend giggled wildly, hugging her bag to her chest. "Syaoran Li's coming to our school!"

"Oh, he needs to buy another building to fit all this riches in?"

"Idiot," Tomoyo muttered, giving her a playful shove. "Syaoran Li! A student at our school!"

Sakura failed to see what was there to be ecstatic about. "He's just like any other guy. Richer, maybe, but I don't see what all the fuss is about."

As they walked down the hall, a group of students came storming towards them, all of them with a happy grin on their faces, like a herd of rhinos trying to escape from …

… what attacks rhinos, anyway?

Sakura could feel her hair flying as the group came whizzing by her and Tomoyo, and before she knew it, Tomoyo had grabbed her wrist and joined in the crowd.

"What's going on?" Sakura asked loudly over the buzzing excitement. "Where are we going?"

"Don't really know, but I think he's here!"

"Who?"

"Syaoran Li, you prat!"

"I – have – no desire – to watch – some – stupid – stuck-up – rich kid – counting –his money –in –public – thanks –" Sakura managed to gasp out, still running. This was ridiculous. It wasn't like this guy was some movie star or anything.

As they burst out the front doors, they saw a black, very expensive-looking car pull up the driveway.

And behind it, about a million more cars, trying to catch up. As soon as the first car stopped, the others did as well, and about another two million photographers jumped out, snapping pictures of everything they were seeing – the car, the students, the building, the guy who just got out of the black car's driver's seat, and the gutters.

Paparazzi really are a pain in the ass.

The chauffeur marched around the car and opened the door to the back seats. As soon as it opened, the students began to whisper, point, and jump in enthusiasm while the photographers began pushing every one away just to get a shot of the 'famous Li.'

"I don't see why we bothered to come," Sakura complained to Tomoyo, who was joining in the whispering and pointing and jumping. "I can't see a thing!"

"I can't either – no – wait, I see him!" Tomoyo grabbed her arm once more, gripping it in sheer thrill. "See? There!"

"Where? All I can see is the back of that freshman with the greasy flyaway hair that looks like it hasn't been trimmed in years –"

"Stand here – MOVE, YOU IDIOT!" Tomoyo barked at the poor student beside her, who stumbled away. "Just – stand here! There! Can you see him? That's him, that's Syaoran Li!"

Sakura winced as someone stepped on her toes and peered through the mob of people in front of her. For a second she couldn't see anything – until the greasy-haired-guy-who-hasn't-trimmed-his-hair-in-years decided to bend down, maybe to vomit in excitement or something, and there he was, standing in front of the car, looking up at his new school, totally oblivious to what was happening around him before a friend of his nudged his arm, and he began to take in his surroundings, the people around him.

Sakura craned her neck for a better view; when she finally caught a glimpse of his face, her heart jumped.

That's him, that's Syaoran Li.

A pair of dazzling amber eyes stared back.

A/N: I've been wanting to do this for AAAAGES. I absolutely love Goong, best Korean drama evvvver. :D

This story's somewhat based on Goong, with a few changes I've made, and I've added a few Kodocha/Kodomo no Omocha bits into it Couldn't resist.

The 'bubbles' referred means the balls in the drink, which comes in two sizes: small and big. If you've ever had bubble tea, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. :)

Never had bubble tea?

You've never lived.

Go get some. After you've sent a review. K? K.

… and that's an ORDER.