Hopeluv-chan: wow… I haven't written a fic in a while. Sweet Tooth, and TT3W (The Tangled Web We Weave) are both dead to me… I can't figure out where I want to go with them. But, I can assure you that this fic has got potential.

So this is hopeluv-chan saying that she is BACK with a VENGENCE! And expect many updates this summer! Don't worry, I've got time! ;)

Stay fresh, readers!
okay, let me get this over with...

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Card Captor Sakura, or any of the characters used in this story (appart from Arisa and Kana...they're mine!)

Well, now that that's over...
Bon Apetite!


Prologue:

Chance Encounters

A young woman sat alone, in a cramped corner of the local Laundromat, enveloped in the deep recesses of her reverie, tapping her ball point pen against her temple. A frown graced her glossed lips. She was divorcing her husband of thirteen years, caught up in a nasty custody battle, she hadn't written a decent romance novel in two years, and she was slowly but surely losing faith in humanity…it was just one of those days. Needless to say, Matsumoto Arisa was feeling a bit lethargic.

The crossword puzzle of today's news paper, the classifieds and the Sports section all lay strewn across the seat next to her. Only one section had caught her attention today… the review of her last novel.

"A complete and utter disappointment, huh...?" Arisa read aloud.

It was true that her latest book had been a bit formulaic, and that it had been a bit rushed for the sake of meeting deadlines, but the editors had assured her that it would be another best seller nonetheless. Those backstabbing – she sighed. It looked like her career had just hit rock bottom. Luckily her publishers were the forgiving type and had allowed her one more chance. Sighing, Arisa went back to racking her brain for plot ideas.

Arisa's eye brows furrowed, as she glared at her notepad, willing some sort of brilliant idea to just appear on the notepad. Hundreds of possible ideas had already been etched onto the yellow notepad, yet none of them were worth giving a damn about. She tossed her notepad and pen aside and began massaging her temples. How was she going to pull this one off? How exactly is one to write a romance novel when there was no romance in her own life to inspire her? The author dropped her head to her knees and groaned.

Suddenly, two small hands gently tugged at the loose strands of her graying hair. Arisa looked up to find a pair of emerald eyes staring back at her. The toddler giggled and swayed a little, before falling on her bottom and giggling again. Suddenly becoming lost in the mass of jet black hair that covered her face, the little girl entertained herself with tugging on her own hair. Arisa leaned forward, and watched, bemused. The little tyke couldn't have been more than about eighteen months…where were her parents?

The little girl looked up and smiled at the author, gurgling something incomprehensible with her arms outstretched. Gingerly, Arisa picked the child up from off the ground and set her in her lap.

"What are you doing here all alone, little one? Where's your mama and your papa?" she asked softly.

"M-m-mama?" the toddler repeated, her eyes widening, as she looked around. Her eyes started tearing up, she started squirming to get loose…she took a deep breath…

.
.

Uh-oh…

.
.

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" Arisa held the child at arm's length.

"Shit…" she muttered. Still holding the screaming infant at arm's length, she ran to the front of the Laundromat.

"Oh, thank goodness!" said someone from behind her. Arisa turned to see the same pair of emerald eyes staring back at her. Immediately, the little girl stopped crying and smiled, reaching for her mama.

"Thank you so much! I set her down for one minute, and she goes missing! Honestly, I need to invest in a leash, or a baby sitter… or maybe both…" The poor mother blushed, laughing nervously. Arisa smiled, handing the child over. "I'm so sorry Matsumoto-san… I can't tell you how embarrassed I am to meet you under these circumstances." The lady adjusted her daughter on her hip and bowed. "I'm Kinomoto Sakura. I'm a huge fan of your novels… And this little trouble maker," Sakura said, tickling her little girl, "is Kana. I own the bakery next door."

Arisa smiled, returning the gesture. "It's always a pleasure to meet a fan…seeing as how I only have about twenty."

Sakura laughed good-naturedly. "Matsumoto-san, you must be exaggerating. Your writing is simply amazing. The love triangles, the plot twists, the diction, the very ideas you come up with are extraordinary!"

"Try telling that to my publicist…"Arisa muttered. "But I sincerely appreciate the compliments. I don't hear too many of those anymore." Sakura smiled sadly.

"Hmm…why don't you come over to the bakery tomorrow morning? I'll make you breakfast, my treat?"

Arisa pat Sakura's shoulder. "You're too kind, Kinomoto-san."

Sakura shrugged. "Oh, it's the least I could do! We open at seven, so come in any time you like!"

Arisa smiled. "Thank you. Now, you'd better fetch your laundry, dear. It was nice meeting you. And it was a pleasure meeting you too, little one!" said Arisa, ruffling Kana's hair.

"Goodbye, Matsumoto-san!"

"Bye-bye, Momo-san!!" The toddler yelled, earning a chuckle from both her mother and Arisa.

Arisa sighed, once again returning to her own private corner of the Laundromat. As soon as Arisa had sat down, she heard a screech and a chain of curse words soon after. Arisa stood and looked over the line of washing machines to see: different articles of clothing scattered all over the black and white checkered floor, Kana sitting in her stroller clapping and laughing, and Sakura on top of a man, practically pinning him to the ground.

After remaining in the same awkward position for some time, they sprang apart like the other was on fire and immediately began busying themselves with picking up their own clothes.

Arisa watched in pure amusement and barely managed to stifle her laughter when she finally realized who the man was, and watched the scene with a growing interest.

"I'm – I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going." Sakura apologized, blushing furiously.

"Oh no, it was my mistake. Are you alright, miss?" The man asked blushing with the same deep shade of red that held Sakura's pretty face.

"Oh I'm fine, think nothing - "

Their frantic search for their own clothing came to an abrupt halt when their hands met atop a pile of dirty laundry.

" – of it…" finished Sakura, breathlessly.

"I'm sorry; I didn't catch your name..."

"Kinomoto Sakura. Nice to meet you." said Sakura, extending a hand.

The amber eyed man smiled, taking her hand. "Li Syaoran...it's a pleasure, Kinomoto-san."

Arisa chuckled silently as she watched the smile slowly vanish off of Sakura's face with the sudden realization of who this man was. It wasn't like he was a big deal. He was only the most sought after bachelor in China and the biggest business tycoon of his generation, not to mention the youngest. So in short, he was a really big deal.

"Oh my God… you're- you're…you!!"

"Syaoran laughed. "Not quite the reaction I was expecting…and yes, I am me, last time I checked…"

"E-Ex-Excuse me…" Sakura squeaked as she scurried towards the washing machine, once again, separating the whites, colors and delicates with little, if not less, patience than she had started out with.

"What-well, wait! Kinomoto-san?"

"Ha-hai!" Sakura managed to choke out.

"May I ask you a favor?"

"Of course, Li-sa – Li-sama." Syaoran cringed at the honorific.

"Li-san is fine. I was actually wondering if you would help me with my laundry. I, quite honestly, have no idea what I'm doing."

Sakura beamed up at him, making Syaoran blush profusely.

"I'd be honored." Both of the adults shared a quiet laugh as they separated his laundry, chatting animatedly.

Arisa smiled. What a lovely couple they would make. She rolled her eyes, scoffing at her silly habit. Leave it to a romance novelist to go around pairing random people up that she'd never even met. But something about those two being together, just drew her in.

The author would look over every so often, catching either Sakura of Syaoran staring at the other; And Kana sleeping soundly in her stroller. Then something in her mind clicked, and the wheels in her head began to turn. She had a year and a half before she even had to pitch the plot idea, and another still before she had to actually write the damn thing. That was enough time for something to happen between them right? She might as well just keep an eye on them, but in a non-stalkerish sort of way. And with a start as awkward as theirs…Arisa looked up and saw all three of them walk out together…things were bound to get very interesting.

A/N: So how was that for a start? Hope you all liked it!

Don't forget to R&R!