A/N: Thanks for you're reviews and contribution to this story! I really appreciate it!
I hope this chapter will satisfy you enough!
Summary: Meet Sakura Kinomoto; idealistic office worker in the Tokyo Journal Company, who's life starts getting complicated just for the simple trouble of delivering a termination notice to the company's loved sweet-maker. And who's needed when there's an unfair situation to handle? The one and only; Syaoran Li, lawyer. And what will develop between those two who are obviously made for each other? SxS
Genres: Humor, Romance, little Drama.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Card Captor Sakura characters at all, and the plot of the story isn't exactly mine either, except some parts I'll go changing or some ideas I'll drop here and there.
b o y – m e e t s – g i r l
c h a p t e r – t h r e e
Dear Sakura,
Sorry to leave a note taped up to the door like this (hi Tomoyo, hi Eriol), but it's not like you've really given me much of an alternative. I mean, if you'd stop screening your calls at work and on your cell and pick up once in a while, I wouldn't have to pull this stalkery crap.
I've seriously got to talk to you, I'm going crazy here. You won't return my messages, and every time I try to reach you at Tomoyo's, she says you're out. I know you're not out, I know you're probably just sitting right there on the couch right now watching freaking Full House, or whatever.
Anyway, about that whole One Day at a Time thing. Look, maybe we WILL be together forever. Maybe we won't. I mean, I'm not omission (A.N. He means omniscient). I can't see into the future. I don't know what's going to happen.
Why can't things go back to being the way they were, you know? How come all of a sudden we have to put, like, these labels on things? I mean, like why is it so important to you that I say I'll love you forever? Why can't I just say I love you, like, for now? Why isn't that enough, all of a sudden? It was enough for the past four years.
Saki, COME HOME. I miss you. The guys miss you, too.
Love,
Koji.
P.S. I could really use your advice. The studio's being really assholish; they're trying to make us change our name from I'm Not Making Any More Sandwiches to just Sandwich. What kind of name is that for a band? Who's gonna buy a record from a band called Sandwich?
Sakura Kinomoto's To-Do List:
1. Quit job (unless fired).
2. Start packing up belongings.
3. ASPIRIN?? Maybe in bottom drawer.
4. Find new job.
5. Find new apartment.
6. Find new boyfriend.
7. Oh, God, I don't know… My head is throbbing… Did I call Koji last night? God, I hope not.
8. Pick up dry cleaning!!
AmethystPrincess: Does your head hurt as much as mine does?
This time though as she IM-ed me, I didn't even have the strength to protest as my head kept throbbing like crazy.
GemBlossom: More. You only had one drink, remember? I had seven. Do you think I'm fired?
AmethystPrincess: For coming in with a hangover? Whatever. They'd have to fire the whole department. Especially the day after the Christmas party.
GemBlossom: No, for crying while I fired Ms. Mizuki.
AmethystPrincess: Oh, please. This is Human Resources. They never fire anybody in this department. Maybe if you stripped off your blouse and started singing "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight" in the mailroom.
GemBlossom: The A.D. wants me in her office at ten. I will bet you anything it's to give me a verbal warning.
I can't think positive anymore!!
AmethystPrincess: Would you stop? There are not going to fire you. If anybody's getting fired, it's the A.D. Did you see all the senior staff members standing outside the dinning room this morning, looking (ineffectually) for Ms. M's dessert cart? There are going to be some phone calls today, believe me, when word gets up to the VPs that there aren't going to be any more chocolate cheesecake muffins.
GemBlossom: They'll just find some other outside vendor.
AmethystPrincess: Yeah, but no one's muffin can match Ms. M's
GemBlossom: True. Tomoyo, I think I have to quit.
AmethystPrincess: WHAAATTtt?!
I expected no less reaction from The Tomoyo. I'm already staring looking for jobs in the newspaper section, anyway…
GemBlossom: Seriously. I mean, how can I stand by and let them do that to poor Ms. Mizuki? I mean, it isn't right. She's a forty-nine-year-old woman.
AmethystPrincess: A forty-nine-year-old woman who wouldn't give pie to the head of personnel's boyfriend, who also happens to be one of the most powerful lawyers in the city, and this company's chief legal counsel. Sakura, you had no choice. Ms. Mizuki brought it on herself. You'd warned her before. It isn't like she wasn't aware of the consequences.
GemBlossom: Yeah, but maybe I wasn't stern enough with her. Maybe she didn't take me seriously. Nobody does, you know. Nobody does… Why did I even major in Psych in college? I mean, seriously. I am the worst judge of character of ALL TIME.
AmethystPrincess: Because you suck at everything else, remember? Besides, weren't we going to help people?
She is right, but…
GemBlossom: WHO ARE WE HELPING??
AmethystPrincess: Come on. You know you've helped a lot of people. What about that girl you hired for the Art Department last month? The one who was so happy when she found out she got the job, cried and set you flowers?
GemBlossom: So I had one good day. But come on, Tomoyo. We're not exactly Making a Difference. Like we planned. I mean, remember when we were going to open Jen and Kate's free Therapy Clinic?
That was a rainy time when we didn't have much… No more comment.
AmethystPrincess: Yes, but that was before we moved to Tokyo and had to dedicate half of our salaries to rent.
GemBlossom: Maybe we should have stayed in Tomoeda.
AmethystPrincess: So we could spend our weekends sucking on licorice all day 'till our teeth rot? No. Thank you.
GemBlossom: I happen to like licorice. Anyway, do you remember if I called Koji last night? I have this dim memory that I did…
And probably Tomoyo did too, but a bit more violently than me…
AmethystPrincess: So what if you did? I mean, the goober asked you to, remember? In that stupid note. Seriously, there is something wrong with him. Who leaves NOTES on people's DOORS in Tokyo? And what was that slur against Full House? Full House happens to be a very good show.
GemBlossom: I know! But I wasn't mean to him, was I? When I called him back?
I know Tomoyo was…
AmethystPrincess: Oh, would you get over it? Who takes relationships one day at a time? I mean, after FIVE YEARS, two of which you lived together, for crying out loud.
Exactly. That is why I can't get over it that easily!! Dammit!!
GemBlossom: WHY DID I STAY WITH HIM FOR SO LONG?! I am such a loser…
AmethystPrincess: You are not a loser. You know who's a loser? The A.D. Did you see what she has on?
GemBlossom: Oh my God, I know. The same thing she was wearing yesterday.
AmethystPrincess: The A.D. got some! Did you see that hickey on her neck? She tried to hide it with concealer, but it is SO OBVIOUS. Why didn't she go home to change before coming this morning? That is so… gross. It's like she WANTS us to know. Like she's rubbing it in.
GemBlossom: It's working. I can't believe the A.D. is having sex and I'm not.
AmethystPrincess: And you so know who she's going it WITH. Mr. No Pie For You himself. Oh my God, wait… did you see that?
I looked over to the A.D. in curiosity, and saw her near the reception desk.
GemBlossom: See what?
AmethystPrincess: When she waved her hand just now, talking to Hisoka at the reception desk. Is that a DIAMOND ON HER LEFT RING FINGER??
My eyes widened at the sight of that huge rock, gracefully sitting on her finger, looking as if it was there to shine in other's faces.
GemBlossom: ohmygod
AmethystPrincess: That is the hugest rock I have ever seen! It's the size of my belly button!!
GemBlossom: She's engaged. I can't believe it. The A.D. is engaged.
AmethystPrincess: MRS. XING HUANG LI!!
Somehow, that makes a lot of sense. Lucky her, she's getting married, even when she's quite older…
GemBlossom: I can't believe someone asked the A.D. to marry him. I can't even get a guy to agree to admit he might still be going out with me this summer, let alone FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
AmethystPrincess: I can't believe she hasn't come over here to throw it up in our faces. I mean, that has to be three carats, at least. Although compared to my paltry .5, anything would look big.
GemBlossom: Hey! Eriol spent what he could afford. It wasn't easy picking out a ring on a computer programmer's salary back then.
AmethystPrincess: Cool it! I wouldn't trade my .5 for that barnacle creeping all the way up her knuckle for all the money in the world. I'm just saying—hey, who's that guy in the suit heading for the A.D.'s office?
I looked over to her office and saw that there was a guy with brown hair (A/N: Not Syaoran) going into Midori's office.
GemBlossom: Her wedding planner? Jeez, she works fast.
AmethystPrincess: Is that SUMMONS he's holding??
GemBlossom: Oh, God, I hope so. I hope it turns out that the A.D. is being sued for incompetence.
AmethystPrincess: Um, you don't think it's the pre-nup, do you?
GemBlossom: Oh my God, Xing Li would SO make his potential bride sign a pre-nup! What is she doing now? Can you see? Is she crying? If she's crying, it's definitely the pre-nup.
AmethystPrincess: I can't tell if she's crying or not. She's still reading it. Okay, he's leaving the A.D.'s office. Maybe I can… Hey, why is he walking over towards YOU?
GemBlossom: Oh n—
"Excuse me?" the guy said, "Sakura Kinomoto?"
Ohmegod. What did I do, what did I do??
Li Company
Attorneys at Law
Sakura Kinomoto
Personnel Representative, Human Resources
The Tokyo Journal
482 W. 36th Street, Tokyo
Dear Ms. Kinomoto,
Pursuant to Article 29, page 31 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Tokyo Journal and the United Staff Association of TTJ, Local 6884, former employee Kaho Mizuki has chosen to file a grievance concerning the termination of her employment at the Tokyo Journal.
You are hereby notified of pending arbitration—in which your employer, as well as you personally, are named as defendants for breach of contract—and during which my firm will be representing you. Please notify my assistant as soon as possible of your availability for a pretrial discovery conference.
Sincerely,
Syaoran Li
AK/Xiao Lang Li
(A/N: In other words; "she's" being "sued" by Kaho Mizuki.)
Sakura Kinomoto's Outbox:
To: Tomoyo Daidouji-Hiiragizawa
From: Sakura Kinomoto
Subject: OH MY GOD
Ms. Mizuki is suing me! ME!! After everything I tried to do for her!!
Which, considering she did lose her job, isn't all that much, I guess. But still. I mean, I TRIED. I warned her plenty of times of what might happen if she didn't stop refusing to let people have pie.
And now she's suing me! Can she even have a legal leg to stand on? Did I do something wrong? Oh my God, what if I did do something wrong? Then I'll be fired too!!
Oh my God… I'm seriously having bad luck now…
As if I didn't already have the worst luck of any girl on the western seaboard.
And who the hell is Syaoran Li? I thought the A.D.'s boyfriend's name was XING HUANG!!
Sakura
--
Inbox:
To: Sakura Kinomoto
From: Midori Hasaya
Subject: (none)
See me at once.
Midori Hasaya
Director
Human Resources
The Tokyo Journal
216 W. 57th Street, Tokyo
090-168-900
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the individual to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmission in error; any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this communication by error, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message and all of it attachments.
--
Outbox:
To: Tomoyo Daidouji-Hiiragizawa
From: Sakura Kinomoto
Subject: OH MY GOD
The A.D. wants to see me at once!! Which means I HAVE done something wrong!!
HELP!!
Normal Point of View:
Other E-Mails Meanwhile
--
To: Xing Huang Li
From: Midori Hasaya
Subject: Syaoran Li
Xing, I just received a letter from someone whom I can only presume is a family member of yours.
If this is a joke, I have to say it is in highly questionable taste.
If this is not a joke, might I ask why, considering the fact that I had Kaho Mizuki's employment terminated at your request, someone else from your law office will be representing me and my employer when we go to court against this woman for a breach of contract?
I swore I wasn't going to bring my personal feelings into this, but I can't help it. After what happened between us last night, Xing—how could you let something so important be handled by some underling… even if he IS a relative of yours?
Midori
Midori Hasaya
Director
Human Resources
The Tokyo Journal
216 W. 57th Street, Tokyo
090-168-900
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the individual to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmission in error; any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this communication by error, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message and all of it attachments.
--
RE: Syaoran Li
From: Xing Huang Li
Midori, darling, I am so sorry. Xiao Lang (Syaoran) was supposed to wait until I'd had a chance to call you this morning before sending that letter.
The fact of the matter is, sweetheart, I can't represent you or the paper, due to the fact that I am so personally involved in the case. However, Xiao Lang—my younger brother—is an excellent lawyer, one of the best we've got, and will do just as good a job as I would myself, I swear.
On a personal note, how could you entertain the idea, even for a moment, that after what happened between us last night, I would ever do anything that might hurt you and your career? When I woke up this morning and gazed down upon your sleeping face, it was as if I was gazing at the face of an angel, and all I could wonder was, what did I ever do to deserve such good fortune? Midori, you are my everything.
I promise you, you're in the best of hands.
Yours, now more than ever,
Xing
Xing Huang Li, Senior Partner
Li Lawyers Company, Attorneys at Law
--
To: Xiao Lang Li
From: Xing Huang Li
Subject: Kaho Mizuki
Xiao Lang, you asshole. What do you think you're doing? I told you not to messenger those letters to the Journal until I'd had a chance to call Midori. Have you been drinking, or are you just criminally stupid? Or do you just not care?
I'm warning you right now. Fuck up this case and you're a dead man.
Xing Huang Li, Senior Partner
Li Lawyers Company, Attorneys at Law
--
RE: Kaho Mizuki
From: Xiao Lang Li
Xingy! Nice to hear from you. Isn't it funny how two people can work down the hall from each other—can come, in fact, from the same gene pool—and yet, manage to go weeks without exchanging a single pleasantry?
In reply to your e-mail, I am neither drunk nor, to the best of my knowledge, criminally stupid. It's true I don't care, though. Does that bother you? Sorry. But when a little old lady takes on a titan of publishing like Takuya Tachibana, AKA the owner of Tokyo's leading photo-newspaper, in a breach of contract suit; it's kind of hard for me to root for the home team, if you know what I mean.
Syaoran
P.S. Where were you last night? I called but got now answer. I know you never go anywhere except out for drinks with some pals, but they didn't know where you were. Could you, perhaps, have Hooked Up? With MIDORI?? Ha ha.
--
RE: RE: Kaho Mizuki
From: Xing Huang Li
I don't know what Dad was thinking, asking you to join the firm. You're as big as a slacker now as you were when we were kids.
And as for my hooking up, that is none of your business.
Xing Huang Li, Senior Partner
Li Lawyers Company, Attorneys at Law
--
RE: RE: RE: Kaho Mizuki
From: Xiao Lang Li
As for Dad hiring me, you'll remember that it was right after his heart attack. Clearly he wasn't in his right mind. I warned him then, but he wouldn't listen.
So. The hookup. It is that chick from the Journal, isn't it?
Xingy, Xingy, Xingy. Have you learned nothing under my tutelage? I thought I told you to stay away from personnel rep types. They're all psychiatrist wannabes. You really want to get your head shrunk at the same time you're getting your, um, ego stroked? Not a good idea.
Hey. Balucchi's for lunch?
Syaoran
--
RE: RE: RE: RE: Kaho Mizuki
From: Xing Huang Li
You leave my ego out of this, you son of a bitch. Mom's right; you have no sense of family loyalty. Oh, sure, you took the job when Dad had his triple bypass. But the old guy's doing fine now. So what are you still doing here?
And don't try to give me that shit about Dad wanting you around. I bet you haven't talked to Dad in weeks, just like the rest of us.
Why don't you go back to defending crackheads and the other lowlifes you seem to enjoy having around with so much?
And Midori Hasaya happens to be my fiancée—a word I'm aware you wouldn't understand, because you've never gone out with a woman longer than a single basketball season. I would thank you not to screw up this ridiculous lawsuit against her and her employer—who also happens to be one of our biggest clients, if you'll trouble yourself to recall.
And I wouldn't go to the corner with you, let alone to some chintzy chain ethnic eatery. What the hell is wrong with you? You're a partner now; you can afford to eat lunch in places that don't offer a 6.95 all-you-can-eat special, you know. Oh, but wait, I'm sorry, you're probably saving you're money to give away to some bleeding heart Save-the-Crackhead Fund.
Xing Huang Li, Senior Partner
Li Lawyers Company, Attorneys at Law
--
RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Ida Lopez
From: Xiao Lang Li
Touchy, touchy, touchy! Fiancée, huh? So you're finally taking the plunge, huh? That's quite an accomplishment, Xingy. You're aware that if you go through with it, you might actually have to start sharing your stuff with her? You now, like the remote control, and the SUV, and your wine-of-the-month-club membership, and all of that.
Admit it, you're just mad because I made Law Review and you didn't. Come on, Xingy. You're the one who got into Yale, while I had to make do with a state education (and still, I'm more astute than you).
Congrats on the whole wedding thing. I'm sure you two will be happy. And I didn't mean it about the bulimia thing. Much.
Syaoran.
P.S. Have you told Mom yet? And, how about Fanren, Fuutie and Shiefa? I know you wouldn't want to talk to Feimei anymore, but you should certainly try to tell Fanren and Fuutie, even though they're in California.
--
RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Kaho Mizuki
From: Xing Huang Li
Your congratulations are accepted.
P.S. Stop calling me Xingy!
Xing Huang Li, Senior Partner
Li Lawyers Company, Attorneys at Law
--
To: Shiefa Li-Matsumoto
From: Syaoran Li
Subject: You'll never believe this one:
Xingy's getting married.
Syaoran
P.S. No, this is not a joke.
--
To: Midori Hasaya
From: Xing Huang Li
Subject: Xiao Lang Li
Don't worry, Midori. It's all taken care of. I spoke to my brother, and he's offered us his congratulations. Everything is going to be fine. Syaoran just has some issues, because I'm the oldest and—frankly—the best liked by our parents of the six of us kids. That kind of thing can eat away a person—well, you know that, being in the field you're in. My sisters—well, Fanren and Fuutie, anyway—have handled it better than Xiao Lang.
He has never really lived up to his potential—he has a 165 IQ, but he got lousy grades in school, and didn't even bother to apply to any good colleges. In fact, he took a year off between high school and college and just roamed aimlessly around the globe, managing to spend his entire two-hundred-thousand-dollar share of the inheritance from our grandfather. I have a feeling he gave most of it away to the Dalai Lama, or some other loser.
He finally ended up at Kyoto and fell in with a bad crowd—you know the sorts I mean: writers… artists… democrats. He didn't even join a fraternity. I was as surprised as anybody when he decided to go to law school instead of joining Peace Corps or becoming a mime or something.
Of course, when he graduated, Dad offered him a job with the firm—familial loyalty, and all of that. But would you believe Xiao Lang had the nerve to turn it down?
The guy spent four years working as a public defender (!) before finally agreeing to come work for Dad—but not until the old guy was on his deathbed… or thought he was, anyway, since he's apparently doing fine now, given that he never seems to come in off the links.
Anyway, I can't say spending all that time with murderers and drug addicts did Xiao Lang's disposition any good.
But he's a damned good lawyer. So you can still quit worrying and meet me for lunch at T.G.I. Friday's, as we planned. I can't wait to gaze into those sparkling eyes of yours over a glass of crystal… I hope they're still shinning as brightly as that diamond on your finger…
Yours, as ever,
Xing
Xing Huang Li, Senior Partner
Li Lawyers Company, Attorneys at Law
--
RE: Xiao Lang Li
From: Midori Hasaya
Oh, Xing, that's so sweet! I knew you'd take care of it. We all have family members we'd prefer to have little to do with. I myself have both a sister and a brother I'm not exactly looking forward to introducing to you. And my parents—well, I won't get into that.
But there are some family members of mine I'm dying for you to get to know—my Pi Delt sisters! I just know you're going to love them—they're really a swell group of gals. A bunch of us are meeting at the Monkey Bar after work… PLEASE say you'll stop by so I can show you off to them I can't wait for you to meet them!
Looking forward to our lunch… and to proving to you that my eyes are still shinning just as brightly as they were last night…
Midori
Midori Hasaya
Director
Human Resources
The Tokyo Journal
216 W. 57th Street, Tokyo
090-168-900
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the individual to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmission in error; any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this communication by error, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message and all of it attachments.
A/N: Wow; that was pretty long too, although it's practically just e-mails… but those e-mails give you a pretty clear idea, right? I don't want to bore you too much and make this even longer…
Oh, and if you're wondering what Sakura and Tomoyo said to Koji when they called him when they were quite drunk, it's here.
You don't have to read it, but it could be quite funny:
--
"Hi, you've reached Sakura and Koji. We can't come to the phone right now, so at the tone, please leave a message, and we'll get back to you. Thanks!
"(Beep)"
"Koji, you have got to change that message. I don't live there anymore, remember? Anyway, about your note… Oh my God, I don't even know why I called. Just forget it, okay? Nothing's changed, I just—Oh, never mind.
"(Click)"
--
"Hi, you've reached Sakura and Koji. We can't come to the phone right now, so at the tone, please leave a message, and we'll get back to you. Thanks!
"(Beep)"
"Oh my God, you have got to change that message. It's Tomoyo, by the way. You remember me, right? You're ex-girlfriend's best friend? The word is omniscient, not omission (A/N: In that letter he taped up). Got it? Good. Oh, also, don't come around here anymore. You just make Sakura sad. And no, I'm not drunk right now, but am totally hopped up on hormones, so you'd better be scared, because I swear to God, if I catch you around here again I'll—
"(Click)"
--
"Hi, you've reached Sakura and Koji. We can't come to the phone right now, so at the tone, please leave a message, and we'll get back to you. Thanks!
"(Beep)"
"Stupid machine cut me of… I really mean it. Remember that time in college when I threatened to kick the ass of that friend of yours who brought the smack to the house party Kate and I had? Remember? I didn't care that he had a gun, I wasn't scared of him. Well, that's what I'm going to do to you, too, bud, if you keep on… What do you mean hang up, Eriol?! No, I will not. I happen to be helping Sakura. She had a very bad day and I am just—no, I am not making things worse, I'm helping! I happen to be a trained human resources representative, and I'm—don't you—Gimme that!!
"(Click)"
--
"Hi, you've reached Sakura and Koji. We can't come to the phone right now, so at the tone, please leave a message, and we'll get back to you. Thanks!
"(Beep)"
"Dude, it's Eriol. Sorry about that. Tomoyo and Sakura went out for mojitos, and Tomoyo just had one, but she's wasted. You know, she's on all those fertility drugs, so she gets really drunk on just like one drink. So, sorry, man. I took the phone away from her and hid it in the closet. She should be alright in the morning, I hope…
"(Click)"
A/N: Well, that's all for the chapter.
In the next chapter, there's gonna be some more funny e-mails, though I hope it won't bore you, and Sakura and Syaoran will finally meet!
And I apologize if there are any errors of content or anything. If it's confusing, please ask me in a review and I'll happily reply to your questions!
PLEASE REVIEW AND MAKE MY DAY!!
