A sleek red convertible arrived at the front of Destiny Building. A tall, long legged, sexy woman stepped out of from the driver's seat and handed her keys to the concierge. Entering the building confidently, she took off her designer sunglasses and placed them atop her long black hair.

Upon entering her office, the two secretaries stood up and bowed respectfully. "Li-san, ohayo gozaimasu." She nodded in return, as the door behind her closed, saying Meiling Li, Head Manager.

Meiling Li had first arrived at Destiny three years ago as one of its first student matchmakers. She rose from being top of her class to one of the highest positions in the company. As Head Manager, Meiling was in charge of Destiny whenever the Chairwoman and Chairman weren't in office. Most often than not, Tomoyo and Eriol were usually managing their real positions.

Daidouji Incorporations was a division of Amamiya Incorporations. Amamiya Inc. was the leading electronics company and provided the world with televisions, computers, and the like. Daidouji Inc. was in charge of electronic toys for children and therefore responsible for creating innovations that would later take hold in the adult world. Tomoyo was Head Manager, as Sonomi Daidouji never quite gave up her Chairwoman position. Eriol was the Head Director of Reed Industries, and was promoted to President after Clow's recent death. Reed Industries was in charge of connecting the world through phones and the Internet.

Eriol and Tomoyo contributed greatly to Destiny despite their dedication to their regular jobs. However, with Sonomi's impending retirement and Eriol's move overseas, Meiling had become an important figure in the company. Now, Meiling had to report to the Chairwoman every morning and to the Chairman every night. Meiling had taken the position of teaching the student matchmakers, but the higher-ups managed to come by every month. Tomoyo and Eriol trusted her judgment as Meiling signed the paychecks, okayed every couple, and dealt with the difficulties.

On the other hand, the decision of naming Destiny's Couple of the Year, as well as the added Newlywed Couple of the Year, solely belonged to the executives. So it wasn't out of the ordinary when Eriol had notified Meiling who was to be the male half of Destiny's Couple.

"It'll be Syaoran Li. "

And Meiling froze.


Destiny at Work

Hitsuzen Two

The Unwilling Client

"Hitsuzen." A naturally foreordained event. A state in which other outcomes are impossible. A result which can only be obtained by a single causality, and other causalities would necessarily create different results.—Yuuko, from xxxHolic


Author's Note: Card Captor Sakura and its characters rightfully belong to CLAMP.

Eriol called Syaoran, despite the fact Syaoran still didn't want to hear from Eriol again.

Syaoran was immediately irritated when he recognized the voice. "What, Hiiragizawa," he snapped.

If it weren't for the circumstances, Eriol would have replied with a snappy comeback. Instead, he replied, "Are you aware that you're on the waiting list of Destiny's clients?"

In Hong Kong, Syaoran was prepared to hang up on Eriol. "What!" he accused. "If you think I'm going to be one of your projects-"

"You'd better call your mother," Eriol said as an explanation.

Syaoran did, but found himself in the same lecture he had with Yelan Li for the past two years. "…It's been five years since you've inherited the company… you must get married soon… You had plenty of time to find a woman yourself…" Finally, Syaoran's mother finished off with an ultimatum: "If you don't find yourself a prospective fiancée, then I will disinherit you and give your position to your sister."

Meanwhile, Eriol was trying his best to keep Tomoyo away from the prospective idea of Syaoran as a client. Unfortunately, Tomoyo had already made her mind. "No, Eriol, I've spoken to Mrs. Li already and sealed the deal. She's already agreed to let her son be Destiny's Couple. She has transferred the money to our account so we can find a girl for her son. We've accepted payment, and we have to do our part."

By then Eriol knew it was too late. After all, getting Syaoran Li as a client would promote business. Syaoran Li was the famous, untouchable, handsome man in business. It started five years ago, when Syaoran became the youngest man to become a company president. In his opening year, he overturned the family business and put the Li name on the map. Before, the Li business was a small trading company. Now it had expanded into all types of transportation: ships by sea, trains by land, and planes by air. Li Corporations was responsible for moving people, food, and other items across the world.

Not only that, Syaoran was voted top 10 of the most handsome bachelors in the world. Teenage girls still tried to climb the fence of Li Estate, and there were hoards of fan girls. Still, Syaoran was never seen with a woman who wasn't family or an employee. If Destiny managed to pair the most elusive bachelor with a girlfriend, publicity would boost.

Tomoyo raised an eyebrow in the video camera attached to the phone. "I understand if you don't want to tell me what is between you and Li-san, but I really do want him to be the Couple of the Year."

Eriol paused for a beat, and then said, "There's a reason he likes to be single, Tomoyo."

Tomoyo grinned. "And we exist to change that. I like challenges, Eriol."

Eriol shook his head, resigned. "Fine, he can be Destiny's Couple, but only if he consents."

Eriol dialed Syaoran's number again, and was instead greeted with silence. "Syaoran," he said, "you have to move on someday."

There was more silence at the other end, until Eriol heard the surrendering sigh. "Fine. I'll do it."

Eriol stared at the phone in shock long after the dial tone came on. He had expected Syaoran to start an argument and flat out refuse to be matched. Eriol replaced the phone on its charger, only to pick it up again.

Someone had to tell Meiling Li.


Kaho peered into the dark-lit room. Leaning on the doorframe, she watched Eriol speak to his distant cousin on the phone. She thought he looked weary as picked up the phone and dialed numbers once more.

Kaho noticed her right hand had been clasping her left-- unconsciously she rubbed her engagement ring. Kaho looked at Eriol again and said softly, "Eriol, I'm going to bed."

There was a moment before Eriol replied. He looked up and smiled. "Good night then, Kaho."

Kaho only nodded as she left the room, closing the door behind her. Later, in her room, Kaho sat on the edge of her bed and wondered why she wasn't smiling.


Reality hit Syaoran the next day when he walked into his mother's house and saw Tomoyo Daidouji. Of course, he knew the young woman. Daidouji Inc. had to deal with Li Corp. many, many times. Syaoran knew her to be the focused, dedicated businesswoman who always managed to get her way from their previous business junctures.

Three other people were in the house with her. Syaoran briefly recognized the longhaired woman wearing tacky sunglasses and the man with ridiculously long white hair as Daidouji's bodyguard and secretary. Syaoran only remembered the secretary's name because the meaning was moon.

Yelan rose when she noticed Syaoran's presence. "Syaoran, this is Tomoyo Daidouji and Naoko Yanagisawa." The latter was a young woman with chin length hair and glasses.

Out of polite interest (mainly because his mother gave him a pointed look), Syaoran joined the women. In a voice that conveyed no interest at all, he said to Daidouji, "What are you doing here?"

Daidouji smiled as she ignored his bluntness. "We're here to discuss the online application your mother turned in for you. At Destiny we make it a point for the matchmaker to know her client well so an efficient job could be done."

"Huh," Syaoran sounded, suddenly getting an idea how well Daidouji had turned matchmaking into a business. He nodded to Yanagisawa. "So that's why you're here."

Tomoyo laughed and Naoko ducked her head to hide her smile. "No, Syaoran," Yelan corrected. "Ms. Yanagisawa is Destiny's publicist. Ms. Daidouji is your matchmaker."

Syaoran frowned. "But you're the president," he said stupidly to Daidouji.

"I am," Tomoyo agreed. "Every year my partner and I choose one couple to personally work with. You can be assured Mr. Hiiragizawa and I will find the perfect person for you."

The name brought a spark of anger again. "Hiiragizawa?"

Tomoyo's smile wavered, but her mask came on so quickly no one noticed. "Mr. Hiiragizawa is currently busy with the opening of Destiny's London branch, but will join us in the latter stages. If you prefer, I could work on this project alone."

Yelan answered first. "I would like Eriol to be a part of this."

Tomoyo nodded slowly, clearly surprised. She quietly noted the familiarity Yelan used with Eriol's name. "That could be arranged." Tomoyo glanced at Syaoran and didn't miss the heated look that flashed through his eyes.

Syaoran glanced towards Yanagisawa, desperate to turn to a new topic. "So, the publicist…?"

Naoko explained how the media followed the progression of Destiny's Couple of the Year. The Couple of the Year was closely watched by males and females, young and old, which would either become new clients of Destiny or convince someone else to be one. Naoko was the one who had to control the information brought to the public, and she gave her word that the media would do its best to preserve Syaoran Li's image.

The media also promoted any included parties or businesses. When Chiharu Mihara, of the first Couple of the Year, mentioned her family's business called Twin Bells, the toyshop had nearly doubled its revenue. As Yoshiyuki Tereda, of the second Couple of the Year, entered his tenth year as principal of Tomoeda Elementary, more people clamored to vote him as the best principal in the district.

While Yanagisawa explained her role as publicist, Syaoran abruptly stood up, muttered an "Excuse me," and left the room.

Yelan gave a strained smile to Tomoyo and Naoko. "Please excuse my son. He has a long day tomorrow and must rest."

Tomoyo politely smiled as she stood. A little bewildered, Naoko followed Tomoyo's lead and rose in suit. "Then you must excuse us also," Tomoyo answered. "I'm afraid we've overstayed our visit here. I believe we have gathered what is needed for this project. We will keep in touch."

Yelan bowed deeply as her maids led the Daidouji party out the door. When she rose again, she frowned in the direction her son had last been seen.


"I just thought that had been extremely rude," Naoko said as the two Japanese women rode the private jet back home. "He isn't what I expected at all."

"Mm," Tomoyo said as she wrote out her personal thoughts on a notepad. "Just be sure not to publish that in the newspaper, Naoko-san."

Naoko nodded. "His fan clubs would be devastated. Still, Tomoyo-san, you have your work cut out for him. To me, he didn't seem very interested in finding a girlfriend, much less a fiancée."

Tomoyo softly smiled as she passed the sheets to her secretary to type. "That you can publish. The public would love to see a battle between a matchmaker and her client. It would be very satisfactory when I win in the end."

Naoko was skeptical. The phone rang and the secretary answered it as Naoko said, "Tomoyo-san, you have two weeks until you announce Destiny's new Couple. How will you find a woman for Li-san?"

Tomoyo merely smiled. Interrupting gently, Yue Tsukishiro said, "Daidouji-sama, Meiling Li is on the line."


Thank You to MelodicArt, BubblyEmerald, dbzgtfan2004, and anjuliet for the reviews! Keep them comming!

MelodicArt: You have such an interesting name! Thank you for very much for the tip. (I mistakenly forgot that maybe not everyone knows about xxxHolic... sweatdrop) But look! This time I included the meaning for "Hitsuzen". I hope you continue to read my story!

BubblyEmerald: Thank you for your review! However, I am trying something new and trying to keep the chapters under 5-7 pages. Eventually, though, the chapters will get longer as the story progresses... Oh, and my goal is to try update every month. (sweatdrop) Let's see how long I'll keep it up... (laughs nervously)

dbzgtfan2004: Thank you. When I thought of this story, I thought it was cute too. Keep reading to see what happens to Sakura and Syaoran!

anjuliet: Thank you very much! I hope I can keep it original and unique all the way. (bright smile) And don't forget to review! It's the only way to keep the updates coming!


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