First off thank you Armageddon Angel who once again has betaed my story. YAY!
Then I want to thank all reviewers: you make me so happy when you review.
So here goes:
Mystic Moon Empress- the beginning part of this chapter should answer your question. Read and see ^_^
poems2songs- just like Mystic Moon Empress the answer will present itself in the first part of this chapter. Read and take a looksie. ^_^
michiko14anime- couldn't agree more with you there ^_^
shi eri- lol, I kind of have someone like that in my best friend. I've known him since eighth grade and he's my complain buddy. I call him that all the time and he's really a great listener. I guess you now know who Toya was based off of.
lhanie07- eeps, you might not like this chapter as much, just a warning.
bosk- thanks, I'll be sure to keep that in mind when I write.
puasluoma- well here goes the chapter you were waiting for. I hope you like it and thanks for the review
FCgrl- thank you very much for the review. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you have the others.
psycho-pyro-shrink- thanks a lot for your review. I hope this chapter proves to be just as interesting for you as the others were.
So here goes Chapter 4: Loop
Chapter 4: Loop
My grandfather examined my face with a pensive expression. We'd just finished discussing the move that Tomoyo and I had to make to Hong Kong.
"Are you sure you're okay with this, Sakura?"
"Yes." I may have been staring straight at my grandfather but my thoughts were with another man: Syaoran Li. I hadn't talked to anyone about Saturday morning, anyone other than Li himself and I wanted to talk to my brother. The light coming from the two huge windows behind my grandfather's desk was almost blinding and I hoped that my grandfather didn't think I was squinting at him out of anger.
"Sakura?"
"Yes?" I diverted my attention back to the man who had spoiled me rotten when I was a kid. He eluded a sense of warmth and comfort from behind his mahogany desk. Walking into the office, anyone felt at ease with the man, but could easily find distractions in anything: from the big windows behind the desk, to the various photos adorning the walls. I attempted to listen carefully to what my grandfather had to say, hoping to not miss anything important.
"Go. We'll discuss this again later. You seem like you need some time to think." I grimaced. Was I that easy to read nowadays? Everyone seemed to have commented on my demeanor this morning. Tomoyo stated that I had been "out of it" and my colleagues had asked me if anything was wrong. I still found it amazing that a certain Chinese CEO had managed to work his way underneath any emotional barriers I'd constructed. Not only that, he'd left a permanent hole in them as well.
Frustrated I stood up and quickly bid a goodbye to my grandfather before leaving his office. When I arrived back at mine, I sank into the chair behind my desk and glanced at my computer's screen saver thinking about the conversation that I'd had Saturday morning with Syaoran.
We sat next to each other on my bed, this time wearing our clothes. Everything was rumpled and the door was closed. It wasn't entirely dark however, some of the sun's rays peeked through the blinds. I knew I looked like a mess but didn't heed to it. Syaoran however looked just as alluring as ever.
"Sakura," Syaoran began, "We need to talk." I gripped the sheets underneath my hands. Why was it always do, then talk with him? It confused me to no end. Did he want to start a relationship with me or not?
"Talk." I commanded wanting to hear what he had to say.
"We can't continue with this."
"With this relationship?" I clipped out not even trying to hide my anger and my intense frustration. I wanted to hit something, or rather someone, but fought to keep myself in check. However, his next statement penetrated my thoughts and my anger showed itself.
"Yes. I'm going back to Hong Kong tomorrow, and we won't see each other for a month after that so…" I regarded the man in front of me. He was a calculating sort of man who never stepped in unless he had an idea of what to do in the varying situations.
A thought struck me just then as I realized what last night really was to Syaoran. He wanted to close before he left and he saw last night as the perfect opportunity before we did it again. My nose began to sting and my eyes started wetting signaling my onslaught of tears. I should have known it would come down to this. Taking a deep breath and summoning up anger at him for using me as a "prop" allowed me to continue talking with him.
"Tell me the truth Li," I noticed his wince at my use of his last name, but continued, "Did you have this idea in mind when you walked in last night?" I saw him hesitate and barely missed the answer he breathed out.
"No. I was going to leave and that was that. I didn't mean for things to get out of hand."
"Get out of here!" His reaction was exactly what I expected yet the nonchalant way he said it made me want to hurl things at him. To say I was furious was an understatement. Did he think playing with me in this aspect and treating me as an old piece of clothing was ever going to get him anywhere? And to think I was actually starting to trust him and like him. I furiously ripped those thoughts from my head, standing up and pointing towards my bedroom door.
"Sakura, I'm sorry. I realize-"
"I said get out Li!" My voice was sure to have gotten attention but I didn't care. I wanted this man out of my apartment now. I'd already messed up; I just didn't want him to see me cry at my stupidity. Over the years Sakura Kinomoto had become a strong, independent woman. It had also been a while since I'd ever let my emotions take over me. I wanted to make sure that Syaoran Li did not see this side of me. He stood up and moved to leave the room.
"Sak-"
"Leave!" I interrupted. I saw his face take on an expression of remorse but refused to sympathize. How could he treat this relationship as a game? All the questions running through my head fueled the growing anger.
When he left my room and the door to the apartment closed moments later I allowed myself to sink back on my bed and do something I hadn't done in years. I cried about a man and a failed relationship. "It isn't fair." I kept saying that thought over and over in my mind wanting nothing more than to go back and erase the events of the previous night.
Tomoyo came in soon after he left but I didn't want to talk to her. I didn't do anything until lunch; I just laid in my bed cursing my stupidity.
From what I'd learned of Li, with the short time I'd spent in his presence, he never stepped into a situation until he knew all the possible outcomes. Well, this outcome he knew well. What irritated me the most was his use of me. I grunted into my pillow when I thought of my role in his plan. I may have been taking things too far, a part of me acknowledged, but I pushed them away growing angry at my rejection. I do not take being dumped easily.
When Tomoyo knocked on my door and beckoned me to lunch with her cheerful attitude I knew I couldn't just mope around. I had more important things to worry about: like where to go clubbing with my best friend. Plus, Sakura Kinomoto was a strong girl who refused to let tiny things, like a certain Chinese CEO, cause problems in her life. It was a fleeting memory I assured myself. Syaoran Li would be just like Ayame, I'd cry about him for a while but I'd eventually move on and find someone better.
I was grateful to have a friend like Tomoyo. She seemed to know how to cheer me up. Tomoyo gave me my space but she knew what I needed right now was exhilaration, in one way or another. As I walked into my bathroom, I realized I wasn't the only one going through a strained relationship. Tomoyo herself was losing Eriol when Syaoran had to go back.
After taking a shower and dressing in comfortable clothes, I joined Tomoyo in the kitchen.
"Ramen?" I asked noticing the simmering pot of noodles on the stove. I saw her nod and diverted my attention to the stir fry on the other stove burner. Tomoyo's comfort food was stir fry, mine was noodles. I saw Tomoyo pull out one of my favorite spices, cloves, from the cupboard.
"What are you doing?" I asked wondering why she needed the spice.
"Your throat probably hurts from yelling. Drink a glass of water and then eat a few." I nodded my head moving behind her to reach the glasses in the cupboard by the stove. After drinking some much needed liquid to quench my thirst, I ate three cloves feeling them instantly work in clearing my throat.
"Sakura, did you eat the heads?
"Heads?" I asked wondering where Tomoyo's bizarre statement came from. She didn't turn away from her position back at the stove as she replied.
"The heads of the cloves, you know what Aunt Nadeshiko and Mom used to say about them." I laughed at Tomoyo's words. When we were little Tomoyo and I were told by our mothers to never eat the heads of a clove. When we had innocently asked why the mothers looked at each other before replying that it just wasn't good for you. Years later Tomoyo stuck to the principle, but me, I gobbled cloves whole.
"Tomoyo, that's just a myth."
"Whatever." She turned from the stove this time, turning off the burners in the process. "Shall we eat?" I grabbed plates and cutlery from a cupboard asking her where she wanted to eat.
"Dining room." I set up the plates and cutlery as my roommate followed with food. Going back into the kitchen I filled up two glasses and saw Tomoyo pull out some cheese and yogurt from the fridge. The phone rang and I set down my glasses to go the living room where it was at.
"Hello, Sakura Kinomoto speaking." I answered on the third ring.
"Hello, my lovely cherry blossom. Your favorite blond gay designer friend at your service."
"Fai!" The man currently on the phone with me was one of my brother's best friends and his arrival meant that my brother's other best friend was with him.
"What are you doing here?" I continued as I took a seat on the living room couch, dully noting that Tomoyo had cleaned up after Syaoran and I.
"Well we had a holiday, so we decided to visit. Yukito's sleeping. I think I tired him out last night in the bedroom."
"Fai!" I chastised. Fai was quite open about sexuality and the concept of it in general. Knowing him, he'd spout mature ideas and things in front of little children. I made a mental note to never have him babysit any kids of mine. I didn't even want to fathom what he would tell them. He never had a problem telling Tomoyo and I about his escapades with Yukito, something that Tomoyo and I had learned to just cope with over the years.
"No really. So, what's up? Want to go hit clubs tonight?" Fai was a party maniac. He knew how to have fun and forced me have a night life whenever he was over.
"Sure, but let me see what Tomoyo's doing."
"Wait-" Fai stated before I could turn around to my roommate, "look outside your living room window." I gave Tomoyo a petulant face before doing as instructed. There underneath the apartment building was Fai's signature white Mercedes Benz.
"Fai, how many times have I told you to not attract attention! Do you want everyone to know where Tomoyo and I live?" Granted the landlady did shoot us looks when we wanted to rent the penthouse, but either way it was a relatively normal section of Tokyo that Tomoyo and I lived in. Grandfather's mansion was huge and en route to Yokohama, my place was in the city, but at the edges because Tomoyo and I liked to be close to suburbia.
"Aw, but it makes it fun, cherry blossom!"
"Fai, stop speaking in English." The habit of Fai to change languages quickly got on anyone's nerves. One minute he'd be speaking French, the next Japanese, Mandarin, and so on. But at the same time all these annoying quirks made up the man who could pull anyone out of the doldrums. I turned back to Tomoyo and pointed down. She got the message and joined me in the living room.
"So can we come up?"
"By we, I suppose you mean Yukito as well?"
"Mais oui, mon chere!" I rolled my eyes at his antics as Tomoyo let out a giggle. We'd known Fai since almost forever. Come to think of it, I'd known him for ten years now. And Yukito for nearly twenty. I passed the phone to Tomoyo and left for the kitchen. I knew that both men would appreciate tea so I began making some.
I remember that when I was little Yukito would always come over to play with Toya. After a while Yukito himself became like a brother to me and the idea stuck. He used to give me treats in elementary school, became my first date in middle school, something that Toya very much relented, and a good friend in high school. For university, Yukito had gone to the Kyoto Institute of Technology. Today he was a successful and budding architect in Hong Kong, and lived with his boyfriend Fai.
I rummaged around in the cabinets until I found a set of cups. Setting them down I wondered what Fai would think if I used English style tea cups instead of Japanese style ones.
Fai, as I remember, met Toya and Yukito on their first day of high school: all three of them were in the same class. When Toya and Yukito came to pick me up they brought him with seeing as how he lived nearby. At first I didn't like him: who was he to barge into the special circle we'd created, we meaning Tomoyo, Yukito, Toya, and I.
Fai confronted me about the issue and when I told him my reasons for being cross he apologized and began avoiding me. By that time, six months had passed and the blond English boy had begun to grow on me. A few weeks later another apology happened. This time it was I who apologized to him.
By the end of the year, Fai became for me a cross between Tomoyo and Yukito. Like Tomoyo, Fai had a knack for designing clothes: he was an up and coming designer right now, and like Yukito, Fai could eat anything at anytime. Fai had become a brother to me and by the end of high school Tomoyo and I wept bitterly at his departure for London. But he'd returned to Asia, he lived and designed in Hong Kong, willing to stay close to his boyfriend, Yukito.
Fai was a London bred guy through and through. His mother had come from Limoges, a tiny city in the heart of France known for Porcelain and enamel. I'd never been there but I imagined it to be pretty. His father was a native London man who had met his wife while on a trip to Paris. The two fell in love and had a son, him.
Tomoyo motioned to me that she was going downstairs. I nodded my head and began pouring the tea into the cups I had pulled out. The steaming aroma of green tea did wonders to the way the body functioned at times. I pulled out some sugar cubes, knowing that both Fai and Yukito preferred to drink the tea this way. Fai had always stated that green tea needed some sugar, but Yukito, who was born and raised up in Tomoeda, had acquired the trait mostly due to his boyfriend's tastes.
The front door opened after my contemplation and I greeted the two men with joy. Fai pulled me into a hug, and greeted me quickly in the French way, giving me kisses on both cheeks.
"Salut, Sakura. Ca va?"
"Ouais, Fai."
" Bon!" He responded letting go of me and following Tomoyo to the kitchen. I then shot my attention to Yukito and he smiled opening his arms for me. I embraced him and breathed. I'd never get tired of being around these two men, Fai and Yukito. When Toya couldn't be there, Yukito was a perfect interim brother.
"I missed you, Yuki-nii."
"Really?"
"Of course!" I moved back to deliver a light punch to Yukito's shoulder. He laughed and pulled me into another hug.
"So how's life been? We talked with Toya yesterday and he was telling us about someone?"
"Syaoran Li." I murmured. Yukito understood that I didn't want to talk. He backed up and he pushed his glasses up.
All three, Toya, Yukito, and Fai, were quite tall and made me fell insignificantly short whenever I was in their presence. The three men all topped out at over six feet each. I looked up at him and noticed that he still had his coat on.
"You still have your coat on." I voiced out my thoughts. Yukito shrugged out of his jacket and laid it down on the sofa.
"Not anymore. So, are we going clubbing later?" I contemplated the idea as we walked to join Tomoyo and Fai near the kitchen.
Going clubbing would wind down my stressors for the week, and it was a Saturday which meant I could stay out late and not worry about work the following morning. Plus, it had been a while since I'd danced my heart out.
Fai was telling Tomoyo about a recipe as we arrived. I stood with Yukito as Fai took over my kitchen. When he was done with his quick recipe, which according to Yukito was better left untested, he finally turned to look at us. Tomoyo had joined us a while back after she was ignored in the kitchen and I had told her about the plan for tonight. She agreed and I was silently worried: she and Eriol were close so I was surprised to hear that they weren't spending their last night together.
"Oops!" Fai apologized with his smile when he finished. I was sure that he could get away with anything as long as he had that smile, it was so innocent. "Sakura, Tomoyo. I'm sorry I took over your kitchen."
"It's okay." I answered making my way inside and helping him clean up. "Are your original plans for tonight still open?"
"Yes! Oh Yuki-kun did you hear that? Sakura-chan wants to go clubbing with us! What about you Tomoyo-chan?" Fai had made his way out to where Tomoyo and Yukito were standing and eagerly prodded them for the answer he hoped to receive. When he heard two "yes" he waltzed Tomoyo into the living room and moved her around with him keeping in check with the furniture. From where we were standing, Yukito and I laughed. With Fai there was never a dull moment.
"So where to?" Fai asked as we made our way to his car. No matter how much Tomoyo and I had argued, Fai refused to listen and thus we were making our way down to his white Mercedes. The only reason Tomoyo and I objected to this was the attention we would undoubtedly receive. Tomoyo's line had spiked for a month around six months ago when her store was featured in a leading Tokyo fashion magazine. Back then we'd constantly been the source of attention when we went out.
The white Mercedes soon loomed in front of us and I got into the back with Yukito and Tomoyo as Fai took his seat up front.
"Fai," Tomoyo asked as soon as we were all comfortable, "are you planning on photo-opping?" "Photo-opping" was a new verb Tomoyo and I had made but the idea still remained the same. I grunted and mumbled next to the window which Yukito apparently heard since he nudged me.
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just hoping to get on your good side for when you're in Hong Kong." Tomoyo and I shared a knowing look.
Fai and Yukito had spent quite a while the night before at my grandfather's and he was the king of photo-ops. Not that I minded them, seeing as how I 'd been a model but I relented being labeled as the party girl in the papers tomorrow. Tomoyo and I had been forced to be part of some photo-op's before Toya's succession party to avoid negative publicity. Now I wondered if grandpa knew about the plans for the evening and was planning to spin them for his own industrial gain. For a man who owned a large corporation he was getting the short end of the stick with the joint venture with Li Corporations and he knew it.
"Okay, yes your Grandpa knows about this and he asked us," Fai motioned to himself and Yukito, "to keep an eye on you."
"Fai!" Tomoyo and I yelled. We both disliked the fact that our grandpa wouldn't trust us. Tomoyo and I were, after all, responsible adults.
"Girls, we trust you." Yukito's voice picked up. "But you can't blame your grandfather for-" As Yukito struggled to voice his thoughts, his boyfriend picked up where he left off.
"He wants to be careful with you two and the corporation. You have to understand where he comes from."
Tomoyo and I resigned as we realized that Fai was right. Still we couldn't help but feel mistrusted by the fact that grandfather didn't trust us as full adults yet. I realized that we had not decided on a destination to go to and asked.
"So where to?"
"To Loop!" Fai announced excited. I smiled letting myself get excited as well. One of my friends, Naoko, worked there along with the bartender who kept trying to hit on me. I saw the perfect opportunity to get over being dumped and decided to take it. While I felt bad at using Watanuki, I decided to let myself out this night. Life came with risks and some of those were meant to be taken.
We arrived soon after and I left the car with the other three. When we walked inside I felt the adrenaline pumping in my veins and couldn't wait to start dancing.
"You look ready, Sakura." Tomoyo commented as I shrugged off my jacket. I was wearing a black halter that I wouldn't have dared to wear outside of the club. It was designed by Tomoyo herself and I loved it. It was easy to move around in for dancing and allowed me to be daring but not skimpy.
"I am. I think I want to say hi to Watanuki and Naoko first. Coming?" Tomoyo shook her head and I questioned her answers. Fai and Yukito had taken to the dance floor the minute we'd arrived.
"Fai's having fun dancing and I see a really cute brunette over there." I sat down across from where Tomoyo had taken a seat and spoke up hoping that my voice wouldn't be drowned out by the fast beat song that was playing.
"What's going on between you and Eriol?"
"We called it quits." I probed my best friend. I wasn't stupid and knew that she was into Eriol so I knew that she had more to tell me.
"We decided to break for now." She announced when she realized I wasn't moving till I had answers, "When we go to Hong Kong, we're going to try again." I smiled at her and secretly envied Tomoyo. How I wished I had a guy that was like that. I stood up and motioned to the bar.
"I'm going to go talk to them now." She nodded her head yet again standing up as well. The tables around the room were full and there was a large dance crowd in the middle of the floor. I walked away as I saw Tomoyo walk into the crowd to search for the brunette she had seen earlier.
"Hey Naoko." I announced when I got to the bar.
"Hey Saks!" A girl with short light brown hair greeted me. "You should have told me you were coming today."
"Well, it was sort of sudden." I answered back. "Is it just you tonight?"
"Nah. Kimihiro's at the back getting something. What can I get you?" I briefly thought about what I wanted to order. I knew that I didn't want to get wasted and drink a lot of alcohol but still wanted to feel a buzz. My order decided, I asked for a clover club.
"Sure. You want gin tonight?"
"Yes. And stop me from drinking more tonight. I don't want to get wasted."
"Now why would we do that?" A rough voice cut in. "Are you trying to rob us of our money, Saks?" I let out a laugh at Watanuki.
"No." I regarded the man who I planned to spend the night with. "What time does your shift end Watanuki?"
"In a few minutes." He looked at Naoko and winked. "Hiro gets to work with you today." I watched as Naoko blushed and shot Watanuki a glare.
"Mind telling me about this guy?" I asked as Naoko prepared my drink. Watanuki left to help his last customer of the day.
"Nothing much." Naoko stirred the contents of the drink before handing it to me. "He's just the new guy working here. Quite a looker. You should see him." I amended her suggestion with a nod as I drank the clover club. The alcohol burned my throat but felt nice and buzzing at the same time. Watanuki came back up.
"I'm going to change. Dance with me?"
"Sure." I eyed my cocktail and downed it a few seconds later. Naoko shot up her eyebrow at what I'd done.
"I want to enjoy myself and have fun tonight."
"Go have fun, Saks."
"Will do." I got off the bar stool as Watanuki emerged from the back wearing a black dress shirt over jeans.
"Ready?" he asked taking my arm and leading me to the dance floor.
I didn't realize then that no matter what I did the Chinese CEO always happened to weasel his way into my thoughts. I was in too far too soon and I hadn't even realized it yet
I looked up when I heard the knock on my door. Toya was there and looked at me curiously. His presence effectively removed me from my weekend memories.
"Grandpa told me you're out of it. What's up?" I lightened up a bit, reminding myself to thank my grandfather later. My complain buddy had come to help me.
"I'm sorry. I've just been thinking."
"About a certain Li?" I grimaced knowing all along that Toya would immediately know what was on my mind.
"He's an asshole and I can't believe I fell for him."
"Why?" Toya growled out. He stepped into my office and took a seat in the chair across from me. "You know I can always have my bodyguards hurt him and just brush it off as something else."
"Toya!"
"Then tell me what he did." My brother's voice was expectant and I sighed revealing what had happened Saturday morning.
"And I, I just can't believe what he did. I mean, he used me. It feels like I was being controlled you know? It's irritating." I finished. Toya's hands were gripping the handles of the chair and he was biting his lip to keep his temper in check.
"Then why didn't you change it, Sakura? Why didn't you show him how strong you are?" His words hit me and I winced feeling them unintentionally stab me. What could I say right now: Yes, I know what I could have done, or I don't know, I think I like him too much. Either way I just wanted to put the entire fiasco behind me. That was proving to be impossible, however, especially since Li had already slithered his way into my life.
"I don't know." I finally murmured. I could say one reason but then the other would come back and I'd feel guilty for lying. Either way for some reason I didn't feel like telling Toya this right now. Funny, wasn't I the one who had just longed for his presence a little while ago? I heard my brother heave a sigh before he stated his next few words, looking me straight in the eye.
"I can't say I like him for using you," Toya's hands curled into fists, "But if you like him that much why didn't you tell him?" I looked down at my desk. I had and I was happy with the answer I got. Unfortuantley, the answer backfired the following morning. I dropped my arms down on the desk and laid my head down.
"Plus Sakura," Toya begrudgingly began to admit, "What he was saying; isn't it for the best?" I felt a feeling of longing and desperation consume me and refused to meet my brother's eyes. "I mean you two wouldn't have seen each other for a month anyway so it was for the best."
"I'm such an ass, Toya." I remarked after a bout of silence. I really was in more ways than one. One, for falling for someone like Syaoran Li and two for wanting something that I knew was unreachable. That was a Kinomoto trait though: all members of my family had a stubborn streak in them and they wished to reach for something that was out of their grasp. While many had succeeded or were getting there, like Toya, there were some like me who didn't know when to give up.
"You're just a kaijuu." My brother amended.
"I'd like to say some nonwork-related words to you right now." I silently appreciated the turn of humor that my brother had incorporated: it felt nice to suddenly lighten up.
"Love you too. You know," I heard Toya stand up, "I'll be in my office when you need me. Kaho will let you in unless I'm in a meeting."
"Hm." I grunted back. Kinomoto's sure knew how to help each other out in tough situations, especially Kinomoto siblings.
I closed my eyes thinking about the people I'd met Saturday. If I personified life, I'd make it a girl like the one from Yukito's favorite song, "Antonia" by Motion City Soundtrack. Someone so full of life and spontaneous: perhaps that's why I hated and loved it at the same time.
I picked up my cell phone and called Watanuki. It was high time I told him that I couldn't be with him. It wouldn't be fair to him if we were in a relationship and I had someone else on my mind constantly.
"Hello?" Watanuki picked up on the third ring. I always disliked talking on phones, the conversations went misheard and it felt weird to talk to someone who wasn't there in person. It was as if I was intruding on someone's personal life. While I knew in most cases I wasn't, but I couldn't shrug off the feeling.
"Hi Watanuki, it's Sakura."
"Hey Saks, what's up?"
"Nothing much listen I just wanted to talk to you about Saturday."
"Sure." I noticed apprehension lace his voice and felt guilty at my actions. Truthfully, nothing big had happened Saturday night. I had danced with him and agreed to have dinner with him Monday. It was this dinner that I knew we needed to discuss.
"I apologize first," I mumbled out hoping he heard me, "and I'd like to say that I'm sorry Watanuki but I see nothing in you but a friend." There was a silence on the other end. I knew I had royally screwed up by using one of my good friends but I held my breath and waited.
"It's okay." The two words put me at ease almost instantly. I was surprised mostly at the fact that he forgave me.
"It's okay?" I repeated unsure about what he had said.
"Yes. Saks, I'm not stupid. While I was hoping that you wouldn't reject me I guess it was kind of expected you know? It's one of those things you have to live with. And don't you pine over me. I'll move on."
"But Watanuki about dinner tonight-" I interrupted trailing off and letting him finish.
"I think it's best if you spend some time with your girlfriends. You know Tomoyo really cares about you so why don't you talk to her instead of me?"
"I-" I didn't know how to continue and gulped realizing what I had intended to do. What a caring friend I was.
"I'm sorry." I whispered realizing indeed that I needed to seriously have some girl time. It was wonderful talking to men and brothers and people who were there as my protectors but girls needed each other. I heard Watanuki again and listened.
"It's okay. So what else is going on?" Watanuki's carefree reminded me of Fai's but at the same time I knew that one was more reserved than the other. Making up my mind with what Watanuki had said I answered him.
"I think I'm going to take a rain check on the dinner. Tomoyo and I need to chill."
"Good, I was hoping you would say that. Anyway we both need to get to work. Talk to you later?"
"Yeah, bye Watanuki."
"Bye Saks." There was a click on the other line and I hung up soon after. I seriously needed some girl bonding time. Perhaps I'd call Kaho to come spend the night over.
Remembering Toya's earlier words I made my way up to his office. His office was six floors above mine and the elevator ride upstairs was excruciatingly slow. When it finally arrived I stepped out and turned to the right where there was a desk that Kaho currently occupied and my brother's silhouette that I discerned from inside his office. I approached the desk and Kaho looked up hearing my arrival.
"Hello Sakura." Her tone was crisp yet warm. It was this tone that allowed Kaho to be taken seriously but also understandably.
"Hi Kaho." She looked behind her and then back at me.
"I don't know if you want to talk to him. He's on the phone with someone and he doesn't sound too happy." I cringed. From what I heard Toya was shouting obscenities at someone over the phone.
"That wasn't why I came here." I responded clarifying my earlier thoughts. "I was going to invite you to spend the night at our apartment, you know something like a girls night." I watched as Kaho pondered the idea.
"I'm interested so you can count me in. It'll just take me a while to convince Mr. overprotective dad that I won't injure myself at your place." I laughed at Kaho's statement.
"Just give me a call later."
"Sure." I turned around, bidding bye to her and walked back to the elevator. Before getting in, I turned around and waved again. Kaho returned it.
This time around, the elevator ride seemed faster and the rest of the workday passed by in a blur.
Around seven-thirty that evening the doorbell to the apartment rang and Kaho stood outside. That night before falling asleep, I hazily regarded the ice cream boxes in front of me and the junk food on the coffee table. Making a mental note to clean it up in the morning I fell asleep on the couch, knowing full well that two girls who understood me were in the rooms adjacent. Girlfriends- they were important and my life happened to revolve around them too. I could effectively say that I could have cared less about Syaoran Li at that moment. I stifled a yawn before I settled into my makeshift bed and drifted off to sleep.
So, I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Please leave a review as that is the only way I can make this story better ^_^
Did anyone understand the double-meaning of the Chapter's title?
And for those who have been keeping up with the Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles Manga what do you think of Watanuki's appearance?