I'll meet you again for the second first time
Chapter 2
Caffeine shot
Just some quick notes for this chapter:
Dono is suffix used to address a person that you respect or acknowledge that their ranking is above yours
Hai means 'yes' in Japanese
Chan as you may have encountered in the first chapter is a suffix used between close friends (usually girls), it is a way of addressing people that has cute connotations
Kyaa~! Is simply an exclamation made by girls in the place of an ear-blasting squeal
Okay! On with the story!
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It was spring, the time of blossoming young love blooming alongside the Sakura flowers, or, in the English language, Cherry blossoms. The Sakura's fleeting but legendary beauty attracts thousands of tourists every year, and invites them to experience a relaxing meal away from the stressful life at home, under the gentle rain of pink petals.
However there was an individual who wasn't enjoying the sweet scent of pollen in the air, but instead, was trapped in an overcrowded airport, cursing the tourist season for bringing such a large hoard of foreigners to that particular airport on that particular day. The flood of people meant her entrapment in that mass, making it exceedingly difficult to locate her two friends who were due almost 20 minutes ago.
Meilin bit her bottom lip in vexation, Where were they? Her lashes brushed against her fringe as she scanned the crowd for the familiar honey-brown, tousled hair or a crown of silky black hair pulled up in a sleek hair-do…but no such luck. Her foot began tapping out of habit and her gaze fell on the digital numbers on the flight board, displaying the current time.
8:19 she chewed on her lip and began playing with her hair, her eyes flickering to the clock every few seconds as her nerve began to get the best of her.
The digits changed.
There was only10 minutes till Syaoran's flight was due, and she hoped they would arrive before her cousin did. Her hand flew to her pocket and drew out a vermillion cell phone. Flipping it open, she dialed Tomoyo Daidouji's number…
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'Tomoyo-chan, I told you there was no need for make-up! Now we're running late and poor Meilin is probably pulling her hair out!'
'No Sakura-chan! You mustn't touch the make up or you'll smudge it!'
*pop*
''But I look like I'm going to a red carpet event or something! Surely make -up isn't necessary for a simple meeting like this.'
'But Sakura-chan, you look so sweet!'
'HOEEEE!'
*pop* There was a crash and the clatter of items toppling.
'Sakura-chan! Are you alright? Good thing I made the dress stain resistant.'
'Oof! Tomoyo, I think this jacket is a bit too fancy, and these platforms are hard to kyaa~! ... walk in.'
*pop pop*
'But they match the outfit, and Sakura-chan looks so cute! Just as I had imagined, but now that I see you wearing it, it's even better than I anticipated!'
*pop* another vein popped on Kero's head, bowed down towards his crossed arms and legs. He had his tail curled around his body and kept a somber face as he stared at the close door of the van. A breeze picked up a few tuffs of hair and caused the hair on his tail to sway.
Tomoyo had asked him to wait outside with an apologetic smile and a phrase that shouted 'girls only', leaving him outside to freeze his butt off while the girls had their fun. 40 minutes of fun and he was still out there, listening in solitude to their laughter and exclamations.
He had just about had enough of it; clearing his throat he flapped his wings and flew up close to the truck. He shivered as the breeze grew into a cold wind that bit him through his furry coat, causing him to whimper.
'Ladies?' There was an undertone of mumbling then a giggle.
'Tomoyo, Sakura… Helloooooo I think you might be running a bit-', the ringtone of Tomoyo's cell suddenly rang, cutting Kero off mid-sentence, 'Late.' Kero finished with a sigh then muttered 'girls' under his breath.
'Hello, Melin-chan? Oh, is that the time! ... Ok, we'll be right there.' The backdoor slid open and out came Tomoyo, skipping a step and landing elegantly on the ground, shortly followed by Sakura, who stepped down cautiously as she was dressed in a simple pink and white dress cut shorter at the front with a long trail at the back.
On top of that she wore a sweet little rose and pearl denim jacket, with couched on silk cords forming the shape of Sakura flowers. Her 2 inch high platform shoes were a matching shade of pink, , woven with a series of leather straps open at the toes, reaching just below the ankles and around the heels. A series of Sakura motifs were scattered, intermeshing with the fine web of leather, making the shoe appear more delicate than it actually was.
Kero did a somersault in the air, 'Whoa! I guess it's true when they say fine feathers make a fine bird! Tomoyo you have really outdone yourself this time.' He nodded in approval.
She swept a curtsey and smiled at Sakura who looked dazed, still shocked from the treatment she received. 'Glad you approve Kero-chan!'
'I don't know whether I should agree on that one or get mad for being insulted like that.' Sakura shook her head and caused the loose strands, that weren't caught up in the elegant twist, to follow her head's movement.
Tomoyo giggled and began recording Sakura with a content sigh.
'Uh uh, Tomoyo-chan.' Sakura looked pointedly at the clock in the van, 'we're kind of running late.'
Tomoyo made a sad face, then pulled herself together, 'Well, can't be helped then, I'll just have to wait, Ne.' She gave her camera a fond pat then returned it back into the bag.
'Then, let's go.'
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Even as they were approaching the airport, they could see that the airport was jam packed inside and out. Clumps of people swarmed around tourist buses that lined the driveways along the airport, and there was a steady flow of people maneuvering through the rotating doors.
Tomoyo and her body guards moved their way smoothly through the crowds, or rather, the sea of people automatically parted whenever the group of women in black suits approached.
Sakura couldn't blame them, even if they were the nicest people on earth (which Sakura believed they were), an assemblage of them in black, surrounding an elegantly dressed teenaged girl, screamed 'elite' and immediately gave everyone within 5 meters radius an inferior complex.
Tomoyo had offered to walk with her, but she firmly declined, not wanting to attract too much attention to herself anymore than was necessary. Instead, she compromised by letting one bodyguard accompany her at all times.
Inside, the level of the noise almost knocked her off her feet. She was momentarily rendered deaf by the layer upon layer of constant chattering, echoing off the painted walls of the building. All around her she could make out sounds of Japanese being spoken, but without being able to distinguish the exact words. She could hear other languages too, the rolling 'r's from what she assumed was English, the guttural syllables which she identified with German and the pronounced 'k's that sounded like French, they were mixed with the other rapidly spoken sounds that she couldn't quite identify.
Her head spun as the sounds circulated over and over inside her head, invading her thoughts and making her feel light-headed. She tried the best she could to follow the black crowd that glided ahead of her, but fell further and further back as the current flowed against her, and she was pushed and shoved about, recued by her escort more than once.
'Hoee!' An elbow shoved into her hip and she staggered forward, bumping into a lady holding a cup of coffee that was knocked out of her hand as a result of the impact. Sakura watched in horror as the foam cup landed on a man's chest, the contents emptying out onto the expensive looking white suit with a steamy slosh.
Sakura couldn't see the man's eyes from behind his sunglasses, but his head was turned her way. The woman had fled, leaving her in the path of his mercy. He looked like he was studying her, breaking her appearance into sections for analysis. She was making mental calculations of exactly how badly in debt she would find herself just paying for the dry cleaning of that suit, without taking all the other factors like interest and the man's status into consideration.
Hoee! Her head started to gyrate, but she took a good long look at his clothes, supported by his well structured frame, which was enough to tell her about his lifestyle. If he wasn't a movie star, she decided, he was definitely someone important.
And rich! Her eyes lingered at his shoes, afraid to meet his eyes. She was amazed how much light was reflected off those shoes. They were no doubt, brand new and had cost the buyer a small fortune for the quality of the leather. Though she knew nothing about shoes or brands, she had been around Tomoyo long enough to know that shoes like those couldn't be found in your everyday shoe shop.
'Sakura-dono, are you alright?'
Sakura heaved a sigh of relief, immediately feeling better in the company of a familiar face. 'Hai' she said meekly. In her peripheral vision, she saw the man grunt gruffly to another man in his late 70s, also dressed formally, but in a black suit. He had waved whatever the elder had said and turned his head once more in her direction.
'Don't you know how to apologize?' Sakura's head involuntarily snapped up at sound of coming from the white suit man. His voice was captivatingly smooth and deep, but there was a definite sharp edge of annoyance to his words, his Japanese was fluent, but had an accent to it. One that Sakura wasn't able to identify.
It had been a mistake to look up, as Sakura soon found out as the voice wasn't the only attractive quality of this man. It was pretty hard for Sakura to believe that he was human and not an enchanted being. His face was perfectly sculpted, a set jaw and a pronounced nose, his lips appeared to have been taken from a statue of a Greek god, and the parts of his skin that were exposed were flawless.
Her eyes had lingered a bit too long on his face and she immediately lowered her gaze once more to his feet. She tripped over her words in a clumsy apology, it had felt like her tongue were not her own, but under someone else's control.
'Tell whatever agency you're from to pick a model who knows at least the basic common courtesies to replace you.' His voice dripped heavily with sarcasm, 'I thought Japanese people had more manners than that, but I guess I was wrong.'
Sakura felt her cheeks heat up, but kept her head bowed down and didn't reply. The comment was rather harsh, but his words kept her at bay, and made her feel as if she had shamed her country in front of this foreigner.
'Young master, I do believe we had a schedule to keep.'
He gave her a long, hard stare then finally, after what felt like eternity, his dropped his intense gaze and gave a brief nod to his companion and left. He had left her standing there like a fool, humiliated and confused at what had just occurred.
'Sakura-dono, forgive me, I should have intervened. That man had no right to say that to you.'
'No', the word came out as a raspy croak, alarming the bodyguard, and even herself. 'He was right, I should have apologized immediately.'
The last part was whispered, more to sooth her own ruffled nerves than to the bodyguard. She lifted her head with effort, and finally looked up, but the bodyguard's dark sunglasses reminded her too much of the episode that had just taken place and she let her head drop back down.
'Would you like to be taken home? It can be arranged. I'll just have to tell Ojousama (A/N equivalent to 'her ladyship') that you were feeling unwell and couldn't make it to meet Melin-dono's cousin.'
'No, please take me to Tomoyo.'
The bodyguard bowed slightly, 'Forgive me, I have spoken out of line.'
Sakura panicked and let out a string of protests, 'Not at all! And please stop addressing me in such a formal way, I'm just a girl. You are an adult so there is no needs for such formalities, please, speak in whatever way is the most comfortable for you.'
'My life is dedicated to serving my mistress. It is an honor to do my mistress's bidding. Thank you for your concern Sakura-dono, but I am perfectly comfortable with using formal speech.'
The brunette tried again to persuade her to drop the honorifics, but failed miserably. She gave up trying, promising herself that she would continue another time.
'Please don't worry, it didn't impact on me too much, and I definitely won't let this spoil Meilin's plans.'
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I bet you all know who it was that Sakura ran into, right? ^^
Well for those who may still be confused as to who that was here's a hint: read the summary or wait for the next chapter.
Till then
Love RuBonn
P.S. Was this chapter too long?
