Asking For Syaoran

Chapter 2 – Nadeshiko's

By silverymare

Disclaimer: CCS is one of CLAMP's best works. I own nothing except plot and new characters.


"Hooooooooeeeeee! I'm late! I'm late!"

Shoes slapping along the grey pavement, Sakura ran along the busy street, ignoring the cars whizzing by. Even though her hair fluttered out from under her brown cap she didn't have time to care. She was running late. Again. Dismayed, because Yukito had only reminded her yesterday, she frowned at her record-breaking tardiness. A week of getting behind the schedule.

As her thoughts wandered, no attention was paid to where she was going.

Sakura yelped, barely missing the hot-dog stand.

And she couldn't stop almost colliding head-on with a primary school boy who had been buying a hotdog.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" he yelled, glaring at her as she skillfully twisted around, avoiding the accident. She continued jogging, this time, backwards. Fumbling a bit, the boy held onto his prize, saving it from the pigeons on the ground. The boy sighed. The hotdog was unharmed. He was fine. But getting jostled like that… He scowled at Sakura's apologetic face.

"Sorry!!! I'll try and be more careful next time!" she called back, her arm going up to wave sorry and goodbye. She wiped at her forehead; the sun was getting hotter and hotter. She could feel time, pressing down on her.

Unfortunately, jogging backwards also made Sakura blind to her surroundings.

A bicycle came hurtling around the grey corner and along the sidewalk, straight towards her. Sakura, meanwhile, was still smiling sheepishly at the boy at the hotdog stand, oblivious.

She only registered the biker's frantic warning -the urgent ringing of the bike's bell- and spun around quickly, narrowly missing a collision with the wheels. The angry rider shook her head at Sakura's apologetic expression and swerved to miss the lamppost before building up their speed again. Puffing out a quick breath of relief - it was always hectic along the side-walks because of the crowds- Sakura pushed on through the growing masses of bodies.

Mmmmmmm. Sakura's nose twitched, and her eyes sparkled. That was the smell of coffee, dark and beckoning. That and muffins and pancakes and some indescribable heavenly smell of Italian food. Sakura couldn't help appreciatively sniffing the air. She knew exactly where she was, closely approaching the café district, one of the most heavily packed zones on the way to the family flower shop.

She spotted the familiar outside seats, the penguin waiters and the round tables with overhead shade-cloths. She didn't see the shadowed, squatted figure.

"Excuse me, but could you spare a coin?" a little voice asked, determined and persistent. It wasn't directed at Sakura but it still managed to stop the shop assistant's jogging.

Sakura blinked. Had someone said something? Slowing down in her striding, she spotted a little girl of around thirteen, stubbornly camped outside Formosa café. The girl was running after a couple who looked like they'd just finished a meal, while other women and men lazed around on café couches. Their gleaming eyes watched her with distaste as none of them bothered to help the child. Almost begging for money, Sakura could tell the child was wearing herself down, while the child's watchers did nothing.

How can they just sit there and do nothing? Sakura felt incensed. The little girl obviously was doing charity work, seen by the child's garb, one that imitated a Scout's uniform. A tin can was cradled in her hands.

Stopping in her run -Sakura felt pairs of eyes shifting onto her- she shivered, before she began to pat her apron pockets in search of coins. She ignored the light leers some men were giving her, men that were amused by her sweat-streaked appearance and unfashionable green apron. Looking from under her auburn bangs, Sakura watched as the little girl was hustled out of the café area by an unsympathetic waiter.

She knew she didn't have time to give a lecture to the people in the café. Their insensitive behaviour angered Sakura's inner idealist. Time seemed a luxury to them. They didn't seem to appreciate those people around, who were doing the best they tried. She sighed heavily, a bit disheartened.

She could only do what she could.

Walking up to the little girl, fingering the coins that she had in her right pocket, Sakura's course was watched by most of the café's patrons, even the waiters. As she came under the blue shade-cloth of a table, Sakura blew away an annoying bang of hair. She stopped in front of the Girl Scout, allowing the little girl to acknowledge and relax in her presence, before slowly stooping down to drop all her gold and silver coins into the little tin can. Meeting the mis-matched green and brown eyes of the child, Sakura gently smiled.

"Everything will surely be all right," she said gently, as she watched the hope and happiness bloom in the child's countenance.

"Thank you! Oh, thank you very much!!"

Sakura grinned in reply. She slowly backed away, standing upright again. She took a long glance all around her with daring emerald-green eyes. The men and women who had previously been watching her averted their gaze, choosing to look back at their meals or at their lunch partners. Sakura could almost feel their tangible shame. She scanned all their heads and was surprised to only meet one pair of piercing brown eyes. She subconsciously looked away, not able to stand the other's look before looking back at the Scout girl again with a smile.

"I'm late for work, but if you ever have cookies to sell for something, come to Nadeshiko's. It's just around this corner. Tell whoever serves you that Sakura sent you." She slowly back away and almost stumbled on an uneven step in the tiling. Ignoring the lounging customers and the smells of food that were now calling out to her hungry stomach, she picked up her pace again.

It's lunchtime! Oh no! The time!! I'm still late! As the café scene disappeared behind her jogging feet and figure, Sakura quickly glanced at her pink watch, noting that her earlier running had cut back only a few minutes of her estimated time. If she ran, she wouldn't be as late as if she just walked. She sighed, before pulling off her green cap to wave it in front of her. She panted under the relentless heat of the mid-day sun. Sweat was running down the back of her uniform, though no one could see it. Running around at mid-day was stupid and made you hungry, but it was necessary.

She placed her cap back on, shoving fly-away hairs underneath it. The last obstacle that was in her way was the big intersection that was close by. She could already hear the truck horns and the rumble of impatient sports car engines. She could smell the rubbish bins that were to be collected the next day. Apartment buildings and oddity stores were all around this section of the city. Struggling past the squished bags of two older women who had obviously been haunting the local boutiques, Sakura wistfully glanced back at them when she strided past. It had been a long time since she'd had time to go clothes shopping…

A dog suddenly barked at her before the dog-sitter pulled it away before its leash got tangled up with a car's side-mirror. Sakura smiled. This was the city life. Busy all the time but teeming with all kinds of life. There was always something happening around the corner or in a store. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to live in a quiet suburb, or even in the country. It would be so quiet. So strange.

At the squashed corner of the hectic traffic light cross-section, Sakura nearly ran past her father's flower store while trying to dart through the crowd of afternoon shoppers. She slowed down enough and caught a glimpse of the shop in her peripheral vision. Recognizing it, she back-tracked to get to the front doorstep. Sakura waded through both youth and business men walking around for lunch, brushing suits and backpacks abreast. Before she could be carried away by the multitude's movement, she placed her foot solidly on the first step of the flower shop.

She'd made it. While she was late, she wasn't late-late. She sighed in relief. Unintentionally, she caught the eyes of a dainty, sharply-dressed woman in a business suit, who bizarrely managed to keep still even in the afternoon rush hour. Taking the steps one by one, Sakura noted that the raven-haired woman was also looking decidedly at the flower shop. However, she missed the change in perception when the woman directed her attention to Sakura. Sakura paused for a second, wanting to catch her breath. She also felt like hiding the fact that she'd had to run to get here on time from Yukito. Turning back around, Sakura smiled and properly met the lavender eyes of the woman before turning back to look at the shop.

In front of both Sakura and the woman was a white building. Though squat when compared to its neighboring buildings, it was one that had cherry-red glass panes on the shop's front. Via high steps, it beckoned Sakura to its front door. From outside, Sakura could see her morning arrangements of summer yellows, red and oranges, the best flower cuttings this month had to offer, full of cheer. With a warm rose-red roof that capped it off, Sakura smiled widely, eyeing the heavy gold letters on the glass front door.

230 Seek Avenue. Nadeshiko's.

Seeing her second home always gave her a happy feeling. The construction gave off some of her best memories with her father. Because she was too busy admiring the shop, Sakura disregarded the woman's curious interest and attentive glance.

A mobile rang somewhere in the crowd, catching Sakura's attention. Reminded of what she should be doing and the potential customer behind her, Sakura cast a quick glance over her shoulder. The slim businesswoman had disappeared into the hurrying crowd.

There goes another customer. Sighing, Sakura took a moment to run her hands through her hair. Satisfied that it was as tidy as it was going to get, she checked her apron strings were tight (no good being inappropriately dressed) before bounding back up the white steps, her heels clacking. Bit by bit, she pushed the door aside and entered.

The first thing that assailed her senses was the smell of heady sweet air. Walking in, she embraced the familiar feeling of Nadeshiko's, her shoulders instinctively relaxing. Above her head, Sakura's cute wind chime fluttered around and around from the breeze she'd invited in. Below it and all around her, bright buckets held splashes of colour; deep reds, bright yellows, glossy white and rich purple heads fluttering in the wind that wafted in. Peering around, Sakura searched the room looked for the familiar face adorned with glasses. There was only stillness.

Bright sunshine streamed in from the panel of opened windows. Sakura heard only a solitary masculine voice. As she moved closer towards the counter she spotted Yukito talking calmly on the shop phone, discussing an order. He was nestled behind the worktable, his sharp gaze staring into the nearby balloon stand. Despite the fact that he was taking an order, his gaze was one that was unseeing. He fiddled with something in his hands.

"Yes. We do stock hydrangea. In bouquet form. Yes. Yes… We can certainly make up a few for the wedding." His light, cordial voice was polite, as he nimbly grabbed a pen and began scribbling down details. Sakura inwardly sighed. Though this was a routine, Yukito looked more tired than usual. He was cradling the cordless phone with his shoulder; shoulders that were sagged. He switched his pen for a flower box design which he smartly did with both hands, distractedly nodding to empty space.

"We're still open at four in the afternoon, if you'd like to pick the order up then. Yes, that's fine. One of the serving girls will certainly be in… I just need your name and your contact number. Yes. Thank-you and have a nice day."

Sakura, hidden behind a tall rose arrangement, noted how slowly Yukito placed the phone back into the receiver. How he swayed in the slightest way before balancing himself on his stool. Just like her, he stopped to check his apron was still decent, before gradually wrapping his arms around himself and placing his head on the counter for a respite. Sakura furrowed her brow, concerned.

As the store owner's daughter and the head of their business while her father was away, Sakura frowned slightly. This wasn't a good sign. As she pulled herself away from her hiding spot and walked closer, she froze in place when his hand moved. The right hand came up to his face, leisurely pulled off his glasses and placed them safely out of harm's way. She let out a suppressed breath. Still frozen, she took a second to scrutinize Yukito. Without his spectacles, Yukito's face looked younger than ever.

She hardly ever saw his face without his glasses. Inspecting his face, she thought concernedly, He looks so tired. And he's paler than usual. When did those black rings appear around his eyes? Surely he had sleep in the past few days?! He must been over-working himself again.

Startled out of her reverie when Yukito mumbled something, Sakura stumbled in surprise. When she threw out a hand to recover herself, the first thing in her reach was the balloon stand. Unfortunately, being a balloon stand, the racket of Sakura grabbing it made enough noise to wake Yukito.

"Sakura!" Yukito's eyes widened and he quickly pushed his tall figure from its draped position. His arm reached out to grab his spectacles, placed them on his nose before he gave her a lop-sided smile, eyes closing.

"You caught me. Sorry for sleeping on duty." He said, rubbing his head in embarrassment. Sakura smiled warmly back at him. She placed the balloon stand back properly and moved towards the counter.

"Well I was late, so we'll call it even, okay?" she replied.

Yukito nodded before trying to suppress a yawn.

Yukito poked at her, a teasing smile on his lips. "What's the reason this time? You were later then Rika said you'd be." Both of them took a look at the silver hands that were on the shop's clock. It was already forty minutes after twelve, more than half an hour later than she was supposed to be clocked in.

Embarrassed and cheeks stained with a dash of red, Sakura moseyed around the front of the store counter and into the hidden back of the shop. She smiled a little to herself when she heard Yukito laugh. It was definitely a Sakura record of tardiness. Her last one had been half an hour, due to her alarm clock dying on her last month.

"I got caught up in a delivery, because there was this drunken guy and he wouldn't accept the delivery, and you know how I hate not being proper about service – anyway, I was late after getting him to accept it. Oh, and there was that boy with the hotdog – I really didn't see him- and then there was this brownie girl who was trying get donations from people." Sakura frowned, remembering the café people's reactions.

Yukito smiled. Sakura was often mis-laid from her direct route. He turned to watch her disappear behind the back room's door.

"Hey, I said it was fine. Sakura wouldn't be Sakura without her lateness." Yukito said, before stretching his long arms. He settled back down to an earlier task, which was of folding boxes destined for flower decoration. He eyed the clock time, before plucking a pen from the table and writing down a note to Rika. You owe me a strawberry bun. She was later than ten minutes. He chuckled softly.

Inside the back room, Sakura just flopped onto a stool beside the timber table, eyeing the state of her surroundings. This was the main room where all the arrangements were made, maintained and watered. It was their storage room and also served as a small kitchen of sorts, as seen by the fridge in the corner. Sakura's green eyes caught the white pile of letters that were on the table, to the side of her.

As she moved over to grab them, she winced when she realized what the majority of them were. Bills. Yukito must have grabbed them before she'd come in late. They hadn't been there this morning. Sakura groaned. The letters weren't a good sign. She'd forgotten it was the beginning of the month. Picking the first on the heap, Sakura saw it was a bill for the lighting of Nadeshiko's. Dropping the letter back on the table, she got off the stool to grab a knife. Coming back from the drawer armed, she sat back down and carefully slit the bill open.

"Thirty dollars for the month? … I think we can handle that." She mused out-loud. Yes, they had some profit to pay for the bill. But there's still Father's monthly payment… Dropping the concerning letter onto the rest of the pile, she got off her stool to check in her bag for her familiar red-bound book. Darn, I left the log-book at home. She would have to review the shop's expenses at home; all the entry books were on her desk where she'd left them last night. Mentally berating herself, she was distracted by a ringing tone from the front of the shop. When it stopped, she assumed Yukito had picked it up as another order. I can't think about that right now… I've got duties to deal with now. But when I get home, it's on the top of the list.

Yukito popped his head in. "Rika called. She said she forgot to buy the groceries. And –oh!- I forgot I bought you your honey tea, its in the fridge. Anyway, she said that it wouldn't be possible for her to make the strawberry tarts. She's run out of the jam. She said she's sorry and she'll buy it tomorrow." He headed back out, smiling at Sakura's delighted face. She loved honey tea.

Sakura sat there with a half-smile, her green eyes sparking. If there wasn't much to be done now, then maybe she could take a small lunch break, and have that honey tea. Taking a note of her workload, Sakura's eyes roved over the clean benches, the wooden worktable and the flowers needed to be sorted. She mentally calculated what had to be ready before the afternoon was over. There wasn't much to be done. She'd prepared the bulk of it in the morning and Yukito had caught what the remainder she'd missed. In a better mood from the lessened workload, Sakura cheerfully bounced over to the corner fridge, eagerly pulling it open. Her stomach had begun to annoy her again. It was definitely past time for her lunch.

Scanning the contents, she saw a white bag- which she assumed were buns that Yukito had bought- two green apples that Rika had left from last week, a white drink holder (honey tea!), and water jugs, chilled for a hot afternoon. I wonder if I should go out and get something from the deli. There doesn't seem to be much I can work on.

Yukito walked back in, "Sakura, could you bring out the buns I left in there? I bought for a lunchtime snack. Now that you're here, we can have some." Sakura nodded, her head still stuck in the fridge. She had assumed right in that they were Yukito's buns. Well at least now I'm having lunch.

"Didn't you say you were meeting someone for lunch? Haven't you already eaten?" she asked, a bit curious. Every time Yukito ate, he'd eat enough as to not feel hungry. He seldom missed meals, though he'd often work unusual shifts.

Moving away from the fridge to grab some plates, she placed them on a clean bench before she whipped out some cutlery. When that was done, Sakura went back to the fridge to get her honey tea, licking her lips in anticipation. Quickly, she sneaked a sip of the sweet, cool liquid. Mmm, she closed her eyes in pleasure, a smile curling on her lips. It's sweet. She put the drink back in the fridge. Balancing all the utensils for lunch, Sakura walked out.

Yukito laughed lightly. "Yes, but my friend had to leave a bit early. 'I'll take a rain-check,' he said. It was a shame we finished early. I haven't seen him since we graduated." Sakura nodded, she could hear the wistfulness in his voice. Yukito had mentioned meeting an old school friend. Placing her burden on the counter, she walked to the front of the shop. Having to weave around the flower-filled buckets before reaching the front door, she flipped the card at the front, changing it to a 'Having Lunch' sign. It didn't seem to matter, there weren't any potential customers lingering at the front of the shop.

"You didn't tell me why you were so tired today." Sakura said, walking back to Yukito. She noted he'd already fetched the buns out, laid out on a plate. She padded into the back room to fetch herself a stool to sit on. When she came out, she smiled to see Yukito on his stool, waiting patiently for her.

"It's nothing to worry about, Sakura. I've just been working over-time lately. I also got another job on the harbour. Early shift at four in the morning." He said cheerfully, gripping a fork and skewering a bun to place on his own plate.

Sakura nodded. So all work and no play, makes Yukito tired and sleepy. Yukito just needs a rest.

"If you want, I can reduce your shift." She offered, slowly choosing her own bun. A myriad of thoughts ran through her head. I think Rika and I can handle the shop by ourselves, but the time-table will have to be shifted around, and that probably means I'll have to take more hours myself. We're already a bit short-handed by father's hospitalisation – I'll have to probably drop out of night school and we'll have to –

Yukito had placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. He twisted in his seat to look at her properly, his eyes warm.

"Sakura, I'm fine. I don't need to drop shifts. I'll adjust to it." Behind his glasses, Sakura could see his grey eyes regard her with kindness. He gently smiled at her. And then ruffled her hair, messing up the short strands.

"Besides, it's like a family here. Why would I abandon my family?" he said, making sure she got the point. "So stop worrying Sakura. Sakura isn't Sakura when she's not smiling."

Sakura looked back at him and gave a bashful smile. I was thinking too much again. We'll get through this.


The sleeping body of Syaoran Li twitched, stiff fingers that stirring to life. Slowly, ever so slowly, the figure drifted from dreamland to an awareness of the living room, of the still quietness within the apartment. Sunlight was gleaming horribly on his eyes from the skylight pothole above. The body shifted within its blanket nest, trying to burrow away from the sunbeams. Unfortunately, trying to breathe through thick cloth proved too difficult, and the head popped back up.

Ohh, it still hurts. What am I doing here? Syaoran wheezed into his pillow, body and nose buried. The cocoa mop that was his hair turned an uncomfortable angle into the warmed couch. The blanket that had been placed on him was covering half of his head and bleary amber eyes opened to stare up at the ceiling. Why am I here? And my blanket? I don't remember falling asleep on the couch. Dazed with sleep, Syaoran took a deep breath and tried to remember.

He had been dreaming about being back at home in China, lying on his luxurious jade-green bed and reading one of the many manuscripts assigned by an Elder. But much like in reality, his boisterous older sisters had invaded his personal space, pouncing on his unsuspecting body. In his dream, he'd been unable to fend them off (their cheek pinches were the worst) and the Feimei in his dreams had been so eager about seizing him from the other three that she'd somehow gotten a pillow and managed to give him numerous thumps to the head. He'd woken up on the couch with a throbbing feeling in his left temple, mentally cursing his over-enthusiastic sister half-heartedly.

While his mind twinged with pain, his eyes followed a small crack above him. It had actually been a long time since he'd been home. I haven't heard from anyone in a while. Slowly, he counted the weeks of his absence in the ancestral Li grounds. And not just in the house itself, but among the vast amount of aunties, cousins and little nieces and nephews. Meiling especially had always chattered on about whether this Auntie had gotten married, or whether the oldest Elder had caught a cold. He'd always tolerated it but now he felt the loss of companionship in his quiet apartment.

It had already been more then eight months. The last visit had been in December for the Christmas week. Syaoran remembered wincing over the bruises from his sister's frantic body tackles. And Mother, I wonder how she is. Has she finished the Kyoto deal? She hasn't called in two months. Eriol must be keeping her busy with their newest project. A frown appeared on his face. She'll probably send another package for me to look over.

He sighed, a hand rubbing his forehead in an effort to get rid of the pain. Business needed to be checked up on. And business always meant dealing with Eriol. A cold shiver ran down his spine and his hands unconsciously drew themselves into fists at the name. If business was keeping the matriarch of the Li clan from calling her only male heir, then things were bound to be stewing at home. Flipping onto a side, his amber eyes noted that it was already four o'clock in the afternoon. He glared at the green-leaf clock. I'll give them a call tonight.

At that moment, his stomach chose to rumble. He ignored it. His mind, now fully alert, was running through pressing matters, like what had happened last night. Vaguely, he remembered something about ringing someone when she'd started talking about his family knowing the Truth. What Truth?! At the back of his mind, he remembered throwing some family photos to the floor when he didn't get the right answers from the call. The glass had shattered and he remembered her recoiling with pain. Or was it horror? Syaoran's body felt clammy and dirty. His control, instilled from birth, had disappeared last night.

"What the fuck is happening? And what did she mean, when she said that there was a lie involved?" he spat out, hands tightening into fists again. It's so cryptic. It could mean a thousand and one things to me. He ripping off the grass-green blanket from his body, and threw it to the floor carelessly. With shaking hands and fingers that dug into the edge of the sofa, Syaoran attempted balance and control over his own movement. A lie? A small thing like that? You'd think after being with her for all my life, I'd know everything there was between us. I know I certainly haven't encouraged lying between us. I've never lied to her, even when I knew it'd hurt. His fingers were creating small half-crescents in the couch, but Syaoran was blind to the damage

Though his body was still carrying the after-effects of alcohol and his stomach was complaining, Syaoran wanted nothing better that to rip something apart. Preferably someone. I'm supposed to know everything. It was part of our promise. He closed his eyes, but his furrowed brows still showed the tension in his body.

His doorbell buzzed, cutting through his thoughts. Cursing, Syaoran glared in the direction of his front door. Can't I at least get some peace? Lurching forward, Syaoran heatedly glanced at his apartment. Catching sight of the blanket on the floor, he walked towards it, grabbed it off the floor and threw it back onto the couch. His eyes narrowed. Something was bugging him at the back of his mind, something he couldn't quite recall. Making an exasperated sound, he brushed it off.

Suddenly feeling a bit cold, Syaoran frowned. An amber gaze roved over his windows before his spotted the culprit. One of the small windows was open, and the afternoon sea breeze had come in. Before he had time to move towards it and cut the drafty breeze off, the doorbell buzzed again.

He took a deep breath and suddenly felt a wave of déjà vu washing over him. More than annoyed, he brushed the feeling off as well. He slowly stepped from the living room and made his way towards his front corridor. Sleep hadn't really helped in getting rid of the alcohol in his blood. He still had the headache, the moodiness and the slight dizziness. It didn't help that he thought he'd drunk a full bottle of champagne. He wasn't sure if he had; haziness was still lingering on that memory, but he knew only alcohol could do this. It had been a long time since he'd attended any of his Mother's charity balls or business meetings. My tolerance must have dropped.

He stumbled over to the door, while his calmer mind mentally noted that someone had also cleaned up the rest of the apartment. He could smell the kitchen's familiar aloe-vera scent that was his dish detergent. He paused for a short moment to stare at the family photographs. They'd been neatly placed back in order on the walnut table. The photos, exhibiting the quiet demeanor of his Mother and the smirking one of Eriol just made Syaoran snarl. Savagely, he turned and yanked the key from the wall hook, driving it into the green door to open the front. Glaring, (for the second time that day) Syaoran turned at the person who had invaded his personal thoughts and growled.

He was mildly startled when a girl of sixteen, dressed in a post-delivery outfit blinked back at him. That feeling, like he'd forgotten something, it was bothering him again. Agitated, he shoved it to the back of his mind. He wasn't quite in the right frame of mind to think too deeply at the moment.

Syaoran studied the girl in boredom. With black pigtails, a brown carry bag and a small package in her hands, she looked nothing like the energetic flower girl from before. Flower shop girl? His brow twitched slightly. Huh. Both of them stared at each other for a second before the girl recovered her ability to speak.

"I'm looking for a Syaoran Li?" she asked, a bit cautiously, looking behind Syaoran as if to peek into his apartment. When there was no one else to be seen, her eyes darted back to the young man in front of her, meeting his eyes. She carefully looked him up and down, a bit unsure. Sighing, Syaoran raked a hand through his hair which was falling in front of his eyes again. Not another one of them. He didn't have time for this.

"Yes? I'm Syaoran Li. What do you want?" he gruffly answered.

The delivery girl, having gotten a good look at him was now gaping and blushing. Looking down at the Laine Apartments' stone floor, she quickly glanced at him from under her eyelashes. Mentally, Syaoran sighed, and refrained from rubbing his temple. He'd seen this sign of flirting so many times, before from the eligible Hong Kong bachelorettes his Aunties had thrown at him. Now was not the time for another girl to get the vapours at the sight of him. Normally he'd patiently let the girl off gently, saying he had a girlfriend. This one was also very young. But in an unsettled mood with a headache and no girlfriend per say, he was done with shy girls and politeness. Wanting to cut her off, he pointedly looked at the package in her hands.

"Is that a package for me to sign for?" Not letting her say anything, he pulled the girl's clipboard and pen from under her arm and scanned through it quickly (he could feel her eyes on him). He quickly penned his signature on the dotted line before dropping it carelessly into the girl's hands. He sighed, before nabbing the package from her hands. Giving her a nod in thanks, he disappeared back into the darkness of his apartment, closing the door with a roll of his eyes.

He inhaled deeply, feeling suddenly weary. He locked the door again, dropping the key back onto the floor. He'd pick it up later, probably dust it and carefully hang it back where it belongs, the sensible side of him thought. But he enjoyed this careless feeling and allowed this momentary weakness to sink in. He slowly walked into the kitchen, one hand on the counter to steady him. He chucked the brown package next to the sink. He'd open it later. He already knew it was from Mother, most probably one of her business deals. Ignoring the peony box next to the cup rack, Syaoran walked out of the kitchen. He rubbed the ache in his neck from sleeping on the couch.

I think I'll take a shower. Maybe it would get rid of his headache and the stickiness in his hair. And that strange floral smell that lingered in the air. He shrugged and headed into his room.


"Yes, I checked the location. It is actually a charming site."

"…?"

"Yes. A bit different from the way you described, but still interesting."

"…?"

"No, there was no suspicion. And I don't believe that Mother really cares if you make enquiries into it. You know she's letting you go your own way, especially when she believes it is for business."

"… …?"

"No, I'm sorry. I'm off to fly to Paris this weekend, twelve midnight, Sunday. I'm sorry, make apologies to Mother when she returns from Prague, I'm sure she'll understand."

"…?"

"… It's just another shoot that needs my advice. You don't need to worry, big brother."

"… …!"

"Yes. The ladies are coming along as well. I'll be safe… I promise to take care of myself. No over-working and late nights… Not too many at least."

"…"

"Bully. I'll see you in two weeks… goodbye."