Author's Notes: My first romantic-comedy series… This is just a little chapter so I can see if people like the story line. I can truthfully say you won't be on the floor laughing your head off; I'm not at all amusing. But hopefully, you may just smile a little sometimes.
Dedication: Hey Creati! I know you like drama and stuff, but I said I'd dedicate a story to you, and even if this isn't really drama-laced…still hope you like it.
Disclaimer: If CLAMP is a painfully thin college student with bags under his eyes, living on microwave delicacies, then I own CCS.
Going NativeChapter 1: Getting a Grant
Sakura blew a stray strand of hair from her face, lifting her attention from the mimeographed charts and reports to face a sea of expectant gazes. Sighing, she plowed on, taking extraordinary pains to stop herself from babbling. There was a long silence after she stopped, uncertainty surrounding her, the people waiting for something she had no idea of. "The end?" As these magical words passed her lips, the sea started to churn, halfway between arguments and polite conversation.
The chairman looked up at her, his hard gaze unreadable. "You can wait outside Ms. Kinomoto; we'll discuss among ourselves for a while. And tell my secretary to send the next applicant in."
Sakura looked vaguely uneasy knowing there was competition for the grant. 'Of course there's competition; the money they're offering is enormous. But I don't care about that…' She passed the front desk, outlining her plans with the money she was so sure she'd get. She stopped abruptly at the shut wooden door, retracing her steps back to the desk, embarrassment in her face. "Um, Director Terada asked me to tell that you should send in the next applicant."
The secretary nodded briskly, cutting off her flurry of typing to open the connecting door at Sakura's side. "Mr. Li, you can see Mr. Terada now."
Sakura froze. Li? Syaoran Li? Her face twisted into a grimace, the grant slightly slipping from her mental grasp. Everyone knew about Syaoran Li, the globetrotting anthropologist, adventurer extraordinaire. Arrogant, self-centered, without ethics. She could only pray that it was a different Li, but her hopes burned to cinders as a brown-haired man stepped through the doors, fidgeting with a tie. She caught his eye for a moment, quick recognitions flitting between them, faces set immobile in plastic smiles. "Oh, I didn't know you had come back from your latest adventure yet."
He smirked in response, looking at her informal appearance. Khaki shorts, vest, hair wild. And she was the daughter of the great Fujitaka Kinomoto? 'What a joke.' "I came back yesterday. I didn't know you took an interest in my trip."
Sakura inwardly gritted her teeth. "One can't miss it, if you flaunt it everyday in the papers. I just feel sorry for that village you went to, having you appear without warning and all."
Syaoran's smile pulled harder, the flash of lips baring teeth. "Oh? Are we talking about the same person? I got along with them wonderfully. At least I don't steal artifacts like some people."
Clenched fists by her side, Sakura tried desperately to maintain her composure, hiding the anger behind a well-practiced smile. "I can assure you I have the people's permission when I remove something for study. And I actually do research, not just fly to some exotic location, take a few pictures and bask in world fame."
Disdain met her smile. "I guess we have different views on what research is."
"I suppose, but when was the last time you stepped off your high horse and decided to publish a paper?"
The smug grin placed itself on Syaoran's face again. "In fact, I'm planning a book this year."
Sakura muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. "Lots of self-praising stories no doubt."
Fury broke through Syaoran's assured face, glaring down at Sakura. "What did you say?"
She opened her mouth to respond but was halted as the secretary coughed out a preemptory 'ahem.' "I'm sorry if I have to break up this conversation, but Mr. Terada is expecting you Mr. Li and he doesn't like being kept waiting." Sakura turned swiftly around storming out the door, take a last look around, just in time to catch Syaoran's venomous glare, seemingly saying 'It's your fault I'm late.' Flinging herself onto the couch in the waiting room, Sakura sighed in defeat. How would Terada ever give her the grant, a lowly university professor, when Mr. I'm-so-important Li starts regaling the board with action packed anecdotes? She pulled out a tattered notebook, turning aimlessly the weathered pages, reading off the headings. Fujitaka Kinomoto, Janaury 8, 1920… Head laid back against the wall, she settled herself into the bouncing cushions. 'Gomen Otou-san, I guess it'll be a while longer.'
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Syaoran looked triumphant as he outlined his last adventure through the Himalayas, seeing most of the board hanging on his every word. This grant would be his, the perfect award to go with his sure to be successful book. "And after we trekked lost for a few days living on tree bark and local plants, we finally stumbled into the village; I'm sure you saw all the photos in the newspapers."
Director Terada nodded with a small smile, some thought passing across his face. "Thank you Mr. Li; I think I represent the whole board when I say, you've certainly impressed us. Will you give us time to consider our options? I'll have my secretary call you when we've reached a decision."
Li closed the conference room doors behind him, a certain victorious step in his walk. He passed through the secretary's office into the waiting room, looking at his rival immersed in a leather bound notebook. His smirk widened as Sakura looked up from her book, glaring at him. "There's other grants."
Sakura gingerly tucked the journal back into her vest, sighing disappointedly. "At least I tried; I just hope you'll use the money well."
For a moment, Syaoran's victorious smirk disappeared, receding into a blank face, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Being rivals for so long, he'd never seen her defeated. "Uh…I'm sure you'll get another grant or something."
Sakura smiled weakly, threatening to burst into laughs at his pathetic attempt at being civil. "Yeah, sure." She pulled her stray hair into a ponytail, getting up to leave.
"Are you going somewhere Ms. Kinomoto?" The secretary pushed her horn rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose, standing efficiently in the doorway like a robot. "Director Terada has asked for both you and Mr. Li; the board has made their decision."
Sakura merely shrugged and followed the secretary into the meeting room. Syaoran stood uncertainly for a minute, some form of guilt attacking him. Getting angry at himself, he shook his head dismissively, walking proudly after the two women. 'If she wants to sulk, that's her own decision.'
Director Terada sat unflinching at the head of the table, swirling a glass of water. His mouth curved slightly into a small smile before assuming a blank look as the three people arrived. "Well, I must say that you two have been the most qualified applicants to receive this grant. It's been a very tiring discussion but I think the board has reached the best solution." He looked to meet Sakura's doleful gaze. "Is there something wrong Ms. Kinomoto?"
Sakura twisted her face into something resembling a smile, voice speaking affectedly if not a trifle rigidly. "Nothing at all sir."
"Good. As I've said, both you and Mr. Li have been the best candidates out of the many applicants. You have proposed a very interesting theory and show extensive knowledge on the Kuri people. I can find no fault with your credentials; you are truly one of the best anthropologists in the field." Tereda paused, turning to face Syaoran, whose face had taken a suspicious quality. "Mr. Li. I must tell you that all your stories and experiences have certainly made quite an impression on the board, myself included. The papers do not do your skills and personality justice. Some of your ideas have intrigued us too, in fact, many having a few similarities with Ms. Kinomoto's proposal." He looked at the two nervous figures standing before him, losing a battle with a smile. "And since the grant is so large, we think we can afford to send both you and Ms. Kinomoto."
Sakura's head shot up, heart quickening with the prospect of success. She cast a sideways glance at Syaoran, his mouth agape, trying to form some kind of reply. With quick decision, she jammed her foot down on his, causing him to shout in pain. She turned sheepishly towards the surprised board. "Oh, there was a bug on his shoe. I'm sure Mr. Li would say that he thinks your decision is a perfect solution if he could talk right now." She threw up her hands dramatically, nearly flapping like a bird. "Well, look at the time. We should go plan out our trip, shouldn't we Mr. Li?" Sakura grabbed Syaoran's arm, dragging him quickly from the room, his movements confined to hopping as his left foot still throbbed in pain. With a quick turn, which inadvertently sent Syaoran into the side of the door jamb, Sakura faced and bowed to the board. "Thank you very much for the grant." In a flurry of wild hair and fluttering cloth, she disappeared around the corner.
A woman turned a head to Terada. "Are you sure that was wise decision? I don't think they like each other much."
Director Terada smiled, eyes twinkling in mischief. "It would seem so, wouldn't it?"
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Author's Note: Let's see; firstly, I mean no xenophobic and/or racist insult of people from other societies. I'm writing this fic from the perspective of the 1920s. Just know that if I happen to use any derogative terms from the 1920s to describe native societies, there's no true feeling behind it. Neither is the title any form of derision.