The Crimson Canvas

By JoocieFruit

Chapter 2- Late Night Coffee

7-10-07

Update! Finally. Hope you guys like it. I have to be in the right mood to write this since most of it is really dark. At least compared to my other stories. Don't forget to check them out as well. I'm updating everything!

It was dangerous for a woman to wander the streets of Tokyo this late at night. Yet Sakura couldn't care less. She wasn't alone for misery accompanied her with every step. Walking down the street, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a window pane. A pale woman stared back, her gray coat hanging off her shoulders and messy auburn hair shoved carelessly under a cream colored cap. It took her a few minutes to realize that the wretch was her. Sakura forced herself away from that image and continued her stroll until she stepped into the cafe a few blocks away.

It was a cozy café and Sakura had often sought comfort here on nights such as these. The walls were a pumpkin orange and little tables were planted throughout the room with violet cushioned seats. Being a late hour on a weeknight, it was a quieter than usual as most were already in their beds.

Sakura waited in line to order her coffee, deciding upon a vanilla latte.

"May I take your order?" asked the girl behind the counter. She was slightly older than Sakura and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Uhm…just gimme the vanilla latte." Sakura told her.

"Okay that'll be $3.25" said the girl as she pressed a few buttons on the cash register. Sakura dug into her pockets for her money. It was then that she realized she had left her wallet at home.

"Shit…" she muttered under her breath. The girl gazed at her expectantly. Sakura was about to say "I'll be right back" when she was interrupted.

"She's with me," came a voice from behind. Sakura turned around to see the man from the cemetery earlier today. He donned a thick green jacket over paint splattered jeans. A scarf hung loosely from his neck. He stepped forward.

"Make that two vanilla lattes," he told the girl. She obeyed and he handed her the money.

"Thanks," Sakura said to him as they picked up their drinks from the "pick-up" area. She determinedly avoided his gaze. He shrugged.

"No problem. Coffee is better than cigarettes any day," he said smiling. Sakura laughed and pushed the pack deeper into her pockets.

"Shall we?" he asked, gesturing to a table. Sakura debated for a moment and then nodded.

"Sure, why not?" she answered and flashed him a smile.

He pulled out her chair as she sat down and joined her across the table.

"So," began Sakura sipping her coffee, "What's the chance of meeting a person twice in one day at the right time and place?"

"Just think of me as a heroic civilian." said Syaoran, smiling. He took a sip and extended a hand. "Syaoran Li."

Sakura balanced her coffee in her left hand and her right hand went out to meet his.

"Sakura Kinomoto."

"So what's a fine lady like you doing out here so late at night? I thought someone of your nature to be working them pick up bars," said Syaoran sarcastically. Sakura laughed nervously and felt the heat rise to her cheeks. Suddenly, she felt awkward, almost ashamed.

"Nah. That phase of my life basically screwed me over." she replied slowly, taking a sip of her coffee, which was almost drained. She hastened to push the conversation along another path.

"So what do you work as?" Her eyes traveled to his hands which were smeared with paint. Syaoran slowly curled his fingers so she wouldn't contemplate it too much.

"I'm an artist." He replied simply. He continued to gaze at her and saw that although her eyes were partly hidden by the cap, they were a dazzling emerald hue. Her face was oval and a little pale, her features delicate, and her mouth a pale pink as some of the lipstick had rubbed off onto the cup. Their eyes met for a split second before Sakura quickly glanced away.

"Wow, uhm… what do you enjoy painting most?" she asked, trying to be interested in his career of work. Syaoran shrugged, a little flustered himself but vowed not to reveal his secret.

"Just stuff. Anything I guess." He told her. She smiled.

"Maybe you'll paint my portrait one day." She suggested.

"I doubt that. I don't think I'd have the skills to capture your beauty on canvas," he said jokingly.

Sakura just laughed, obviously no novice to flattery. Draining her cup, she realized that her spirits had risen significantly for the past hour. She hardly recalled a time when she had smiled so much. It was odd. Sakura stood up to toss her cup.

"Well I guess I should be leaving. It's getting late," she said to him.

"Well then I guess you should leave," he replied grinning. He stood up as well and they exited the café together. Once outside Sakura turned to him.

"Thanks again. I'll definitely pay you back," she said and was about to walk off when he called her back.

"No problem…hey…you're not thinking of walking home alone are you?"

Sakura stared at him.

"Last time I checked it wasn't illegal…" she said playfully.

"But it's dangerous," he warned.

"I got here alright," Sakura said pointedly.

"Yeah but its nearly midnight now," countered Syaoran.

Sakura frowned slightly. He was beginning to sound like her father.

"Well then, what do you suggest oh wise one?"

"Cab?"

"Oh perfect. Eight bucks fee to drive me three blocks," Sakura said, "I assure you, I can handle the walk."

"I assure you, eight bucks is not a problem."

She walked away hoping he would get the clue. He didn't.

"Fine, don't be surprised ir your body turns up tomorrow in some gutter" Syaoran called after her. He grinned as he saw her pause. Sakura groaned. He wasn't letting her get away. She turned back to him and sighed. Syaoran had already hailed a cab and it pulled up next to the curb. He pulled open the door.

Sakura lazily sauntered over and gave him a defeated look.

"Good night, Sakura," said Syaoran in a childish voice as he closed the door. He handed the cabdriver some money and watched the car drive off. After it rounded a corner, he turned and began his walk home.

Sakura sat there in the dark quietly pondering the event that just occurred. This Syaoran…he was so kind to her. His seemed genuine and his good intentions pushed her to a point where she almost felt ashamed of her past life. Her friends had always said people like Syaoran were social suicide. Yet something about him was alluring.

The cab came to a stop in front of the gates to her family's estate. Sakura pushed these thoughts out of her mind. She'd probably never see him again anyways.

Syaoran shut the door so loudly that a cry of shock rippled through the air followed by the immediate flicker of lights.

"Jesus Syaoran! It wouldn't kill you to be quieter!" Meilin shot at him. She appeared to have fallen asleep in the midst of sorting through some papers on the kitchen table.

"Sorry," apologized Syaoran, "I was under the impression that you'd be spending the night at Ray's."

"Yeah I was going to. People who have steady jobs to support themselves and their lazy cousin tend to lack an avid social life," Meilin said sarcastically. She was an entertainment writer for Japan Weekly who hoped to one day land a job at a prestigious women's magazine and judging by her disheveled look, grumpy attitude and empty coffee mug, Syaoran figured that tomorrow was a deadline.

"So uhm, how are you two?" Syaoran said as he began to straighten out some of the newspapers on the coffee table in their living room. Meilin's face had resumed its notorious writing expression which consisted of furrowed brows and excessive pen biting.

"Me and Ray?" she said between bites yet not lifting her head from the paper.

"Yeah."

"We're okay I guess. It helps that we both work for the same paper," she said looking up, "Oh and by the way, there's this thing happening on Friday. I'm due to cover a charity event hosted by the Kinomoto Electronics Company and so Ray and I are attending together."

"Cool. I bet Tom doesn't know."

Tom was Meilin's devil of a boss of whom she had grumbled about so many times that Syaoran felt as though they had met personally.

"No he doesn't. And he won't find out either." she said pointedly, "And because of this event, which I might add calls for formal attire, I ordered a dress from Valentino on 52nd avenue. Could you pick it up for me tomorrow?"

"Sure. What's it look like?"

"It's black."

"Wow. So specific."

"There's a confirmation paper under the phone over there," she motioned to the counter next to the stove, "Just give that to them and you should be fine."

"Valentino eh? Sounds expensive. Two months paychecks?"

"Try five plus some extra savings."

Syaoran let out a low whistle.

"No wonder we can't get out of this hellhole. With you spending hundreds on dresses you wear once…I bet Ray will be impressed," Syaoran added, grinning. Meilin rolled her eyes.

"He better be. In any case, I can't help I'm a woman with costly needs," justified Meilin, "And will you please shut up? In case you haven't noticed, I have a deadline tomorrow."

Sakura trudged up her front steps and nodded to the security guard, a beefy man of six feet, who let her in. Her heels clacked on the marble floor and broke the silence around her. It seemed that everyone had retired and her midnight escapade had gone unnoticed. When she approached her room however, her personal maid Britney was hastily exiting.

"Oh Miss Sakura!" the woman cried, suddenly aware of Sakura's presence, "I was about to warn Mr. Kinomoto that you were mis-"

"That won't be necessary. And I'd appreciate it if this had gone unnoticed," Sakura said stepping past her to the door.

"As you wish. And Mr. Kinomoto would like to remind you that a charity event will be taking place this Friday at the city hall and he wishes for you to attend"

"You mean more like order me to attend?"

The maid smiled nervously. Sakura dismissed her and she bowed and departed from the corridor.

Sakura flopped onto her bed and thought of attending yet another party hosted by her oh-so-generous father. For some reason, she knew that he was forcing her to go only because more rumors would circulate if she didn't. Her notorious reputation for partying was haunting her and she was sure that social events would be invitation for hoards of paparazzi.

Her thoughts then drifted to Syaoran. For some reason, she couldn't get him out of her head. It was the little things that touched her the most like him pulling out her chair or paying for her cab. He actually cared about her. He probably does that to every girl he meets. For all I know, he could be some playboy in disguise, she thought quickly though did not convince herself of this theory. Most of the guys she had met wanted one thing and which started with an 's'. That however, seemed to be the last thing on Syaoran's mind. Sakura rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. It wasn't too long before sleep tugged on her eyelids as her mind filled with images of the upcoming event, her mother's grave, Julian and oddly, Syaoran's smile.

You know what to do. Pleaseee review! It is seriously the one thing that really inpires authors to write more! even if it's criticism!Thanks for all of your support! Love always.

JoocieFruit