'Incorporated'

by Majah

Disclaimer:

I don't own CCS, but I do own the story in this fic and things that are non-CCS related. All the name of places, historical events and other things mentioned, which you don't seem to know IRL, are products of my imagination. Any similarities with the actual thing were purely coincidental.

Proofreading Update:

This chapter was successfully edited/proofread (03/16/2006).


From Previous Chapter:

"I see." Eriol said as he looked at his friend intently. "Very well then. As long as you know what you're doing. I will support you. Both me as your friend and as your lawyer."

Syaoran gazed back at Eriol. His eyes were unreadable. "If Agatha accepts..."

Eriol glanced at him inquiringly.

"Eriol, do what you do best." Syaoran continued.

"And that is?"

"Make it legal."

And with that Eriol placed his glasses back on his eyes and stood up. "My pleasure." A mysterious smile crept on his face before he finally left.


Chapter Three: Agatha

Sakura's phone hummed as it received a message. Unfortunately, the handbag which contained it, was alone at the seat by the VIP table. Its sound was drowned by the festivities around.

"Sakura-chan! Over here! Over here!" Tomoyo's excited voice filled Sakura's ears as she stepped down the grey brick steps of the veranda.

Morning in the Marianas Isle was truly breathtaking. The beach shone with light blue waves sweeping sea shells ashore. Dandelions adorn the side shrubs; out of season yet it bloomed attractively. Lobelias hang above the paved walks from high wooden stands. Its purple blossoms blooms in contrast to the green Bermuda together with red Hibiscus flowers in the surrounding area. They seemed like little fiery stars if viewed from above as every streak of the paved walk lead to the center of the resort. The main hotel sat like a magnificent sculpture of a lost city in the middle of towering trees. Although the establishment was quite new, the ambiance it projected can take you into a wilderness; long forgotten yet found.

Despite its secluded image, excitement could not be hidden. For today, the Marianas Beach Resort was having one of its grandest events; the Fashion Escape. This was a fashion show held annually as designers from all over the world gather in a chosen location to display their works parallel with the theme of the year. In this case, that theme was "Exotic Paradise".

"This is truly an honor, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo exclaimed as Sakura joined her in the steps going to the beach where the main event was being held. "One of your family's most recent 'hopeless'project being chosen for this year's Fashion Escape!"

The word 'hopeless' rang inside Sakura's head. It reminded her of the day she saw her father in a debate with her brother Touya.

- Flashback-

"You want what?!" Touya can't help to ask in a high voice as he heard what his father wanted to do.

"You heard me right." Fujitaka's calm smile spread across his face. "I think that island has a great potential."

"That island is a junk reservoir!"

"Oh come on, Touya. A little cleaning up and it will be restored to its original look." Fujitaka said hopefully.

"A little cleaning up?! Look," Touya picked a large picture of the island. "Can't you see, father? Has old age finally caught up with you?" Indeed, the place in the picture was full of turmoil of garbage, unused steel and dump.

Fujitaka took the picture, examined it and flipped it back to his son. "We pick this up." He pointed to a massive structure in the picture. "Clean this thoroughly." He pointed again to another area. "And recycle this." He tapped one finger at the thing he pertained to. "The beauty hidden beneath it shall be unearthed." He finally concluded, his smile never left his face.

Touya's jaw dropped open. In everyone's eyes, that island was entirely hopeless. But to his father's, it was shimmering with elegance screaming out to be unfolded. Nevertheless, it was also pointless to argue. Touya relaxed a little but his face was still grim. He tried to clear his mind. "Okay. Very well. As always I will be supporting you and think of something to rehabilitate this 'exotic' island of yours."

"I know you will." Fujitaka said cheerfully.

-End of flashback-

"You know, Tomoyo-chan... I think father has an eye to see beyond things and brings out their potential." Sakura told her friend as they reached the white sandy beach.

"I think so, too." Tomoyo replied. "Kinomoto-tosan is the only person I know that can get away with such a farfetched idea." She hopped a little farther towards the crowded area and twirled. Her long dark hair caught in the wind as she did so. "Look at how everything turned out!" She said excitedly; her hands waved and pointed to everything around her.

Sakura smiled. Indeed, her father was right once again. The island was a success. She tried to look at everything with a critic's eye but couldn't find fault.

Both she and Tomoyo had reached the main event area. The surroundings were totally another world as cameras, sounds and lighting systems blended with the exotic set of the catwalk. The whole stage where the fashion show was to be held, was placed at the middle of the shallow waters of the beach. The clear water allows corals to reflect as lights adorned the pillars above. Everything was made to look like a sunken city brought up to face the sun once more. It was skillfully placed as to not ruin the natural habitat of the sea floor. Probably another work of her dear Yukito.

As if on cue, Yukito spotted them and waved. "My cherry blossom, over here!" Sakura felt warm as she saw Yukito. She went to his side and raised her head as she received a kiss from him on the forehead.

"Your work, I assume?" Sakura said proudly at him and smiled as she saw her brother nearby.

"Is there any other one?" Yukito laughed and placed one arm around her waist.

"I see you've brought chipmunk with you." Touya commented as Tomoyo came bouncing towards them.

"I heard that, Kinomoto Touya!" Tomoyo said angrily and placed her hands on her hips. "Who are you calling chipmunk?!"

Sakura and Yukito both laughed. Tomoyo always got a large amount of teasing from Touya due to her sweet little voice. She doesn't really sound like a chipmunk. Touya just like to exaggerate things.

"You." Touya answered calmly as he sips the champagne he is holding.

"Why you...you...," Tomoyo tried to search for the right words to throw back at him, "...you cold piece of wood!"

"Well, I bet you love me then." Touya still calm and unraveled despite the angry Tomoyo as he glanced far at the stage. "Chipmunks love trees and trees are wood."

Tomoyo's mouth dropped open. Sakura was trying desperately not to laugh that much, same with Yukito. Touya was still sipping his glass quietly, eyes diverted from Tomoyo.

Tomoyo looked at him angrily but she was lost for words. She was not really that good on this sort of thing. So instead, she walked beside Touya, stopped and glared at him. When he still did not look at her, she raised her heels and stomped on his foot.

"Eeow!" Touya exclaimed.

"Even though, you are my best friend's brother, it doesn't mean that I can't hurt you!" With one fatal look, Tomoyo scurried off.

Sakura and Yukito finally could not restrain their laughter as Tomoyo left to join the other guests.

"Damn brat." Touya said giving the waiter his champagne glass. He stood silently for a moment; unmoving, then finally he spoke. "I must think of my revenge." And we that, he went after the raven-haired girl.

Yukito shook his head. "Touya truly amazes me sometimes."

"You amaze me, too." Sakura said looking up at him.

How long has it been? She thought. She had been merely sixteen when she first met Yukito. He was her brother's schoolmate and best friend. Although both men took up different courses, they've been acquainted with each other through special classes they both enrolled. At first, Sakura was mesmerized on how gentle and kind Yukito can be. He was immediately welcomed to the Kinomoto's household and in time became a very close friend of the family. As she grew up, Sakura had secretly admired the young engineer. She never thought things could ever develop from there.

Until...

- Flashback -

It was another one of the Kinomoto Developers Corp's project's opening day. A fancy hotel in the middle of the city. Sakura was walking towards the buffet table and was busy with her thoughts when suddenly...

"Die! You Kinomoto heiress!" A man armed with a knife shouted out of nowhere as he hurled towards Sakura.

Sakura was shocked by his sudden appearance that she couldn't move in time as the knife was trusted towards her. Sakura screamed and shut her eyes. When she opened them, she found out that the knife did hit something. But it wasn't her. She looked up and saw herself in Yukito's arms. Yukito apparently grabbed her just in time; thus, saving her from having a fatal wound. But in return, the knife dug at the side of Yukito's left arm.

"Sakura! Are you alright?!" Her father rushed towards their side. Touya was already apprehending the culprit as it attempted to escape but to no avail.

Amidst of all the confusion, Sakura was only aware of one thing. Yukito was hugging her tightly.

"Sakura-chan, did he get you in anyway?" Yukito said alarmingly.

- Blood from his arm dripped to the floor -

"Are you alright?! Speak to me?" He continued, completely oblivious that he was badly bleeding.

- drip -

"Sakura!"

- drip -

"Yukito-kun...," Sakura stared up at him.

- drip -

"My cherry-blossom..."

- drip -

"You are already kissing me." She finally said. Yukito was unconsciously showering her hair with little kisses.

- drip-

Yukito fell silent. He seemed surprised at his own reaction. Then, finally he spoke. "Indeed, I am." He hugged her more tightly. "Indeed, I am."

-End of flashback -

After that, the rest was history. She was eighteen back then and they've been together for four years now. The attacker that night never did tell whom he was affiliated with. He had kept his mouth shut despite of whatever 'means' the police used. He was very loyal to his master; whoever it was. The knife he used back then mysteriously disappeared. Although, Touya claimed of seeing a crest in the knife before it evaporated from everyone's sight. A crest of a sun with stars around it was etched on the handle.

It was the crest of the Li Family.

Her father was furious; very furious. The Li Family and the Kinomoto family had been hostile with each other for generations now. It was not that uncommon for the other to pull a stunt like that. The only problem was both families had been clever enough not to get caught.

- Flashback -

"You ordered one of your men to kill my daughter!" The usually calm Fujitaka confronted Li Yelan. Yelan was in a summit when her father barged in together with Touya. Yukito was still recovering in the hospital.

"What on earth are you talking about, Kinomoto." Yelan said unwavered. Flashes from the reporters' camera kept invading them. This was indeed a very good story for the media; the two most powerful families on a face-off.

"Last night, my daughter almost got killed. And the knife the attacker used had the crest of your family etched on it!" Fujitaka said accusingly at Yelan. This created whispers in the crowd around them.

"How dare you accuse my family with attempted murder!" Yelan snapped back. "I don't believe it. If what you said is true," She said cunningly at him. "...then where is this weapon you are talking about?" She looked challengingly at him.

"It disappeared in all the commotion last night." Fujitaka faintly started. "If I know any better, you made sure it won't be found."

Yelan gave a small laugh. "So, therefore your accusations are not supported with any hard evidence. Unless you can produce this said weapon and link it to my family, you cannot condemn me or throw any more disgrace towards us." And with that Yelan turned around and walked away. A smirk pasted on her face as she glanced back. "Send my regards to your loving daughter, Kinomoto. Do pray that she'd be careful always."

Touya was about to go after her when Fujitaka stopped him and shook his head. No matter which angle you look at it. Yelan was right. They don't have any solid proof to link her to the incident.

- End of flashback-

"I bet you do, my little cherry blossom." Yukito said as he leaned closer to Sakura. The crowd around them seemed to disappear as Sakura closed her eyes.

Inches before Yukito's lips touch Sakura's...

"Miss," An eerie voice filled the air.

The couple jumped apart; startled. Yukito was wide-eyed as he stared at the newcomer.

"Ge-" Sakura stammered. Her cheeks hot with embarrassment. "-George!" she finally blurted.

"Yez, miss. It is I," George said with his graveyard aura.

"What on earth are you wearing?!" Yukito exclaimed.

George appeared out of nowhere. He now stood between them. His face white and hallow as always. His graying hair stuck out in one side. His body was all skin and bones. It made you wonder how on earth Fujitaka ended up hiring such a butler for Sakura.

"Zon't yah lyk it?" George started in a lifeless tone. "I zink it bringz out 'z color of mah cheeks." He patted his face with two slow taps using one hand. Then, he continued. "...Kinomoto-sama inzisted zat I wear zis to get into ze mood of ze event."

- insert image of Fujitaka smiling cheerfully at a not so happy George extending the paraphernalia towards him. -

George was wearing his usual butler uniform; black nicely cut coat and pants plus white shirt inside with matching gloves. But in addition to that he was wearing a rather huge headset made from banana leaves and with real banana fruits dangling around his face. His hips had a straw skirt tied around it which reached two inches below his knees. It also had fruits dangling around it; oranges, apples, mangoes...

Yukito leaned towards Sakura and asked her silently, "What did he say?"

Sakura's reaction was indescribable as she answered, "He said that he thinks that it brings out the color of his cheeks and that father insisted that he wears it to get into the mood of the event."

"Oh," Was the only word Yukito can master.

Sakura recovered a little as she once again smiled at her beloved butler. "That was fast, George. You were able to fly over here from the mansion."

"Yez, miss. Ah second...halicoptre waz zer, ze moment u 'nd Miss Daizouji...departed."

"So, our luggage are in?"

"Yez, miss."

"I'm glad," Sakura said; smiling as always.

"'nd miss."

"Yes, George?" From afar the program was about to start. They were calling all the guests to seat.

"I wuz lookin' for you, to zee if zer iz anything else yah vant me to do, when I zaw ur bag up in ze VIP table. It wuz open...zo...I got worried 'nd went zu check. Everything seems to be zer, but I noticed ur zelfone." And with that George showed the cellphone that he was carrying in one hand to Sakura. It dangled a little as he was only holding it with his thumb and forefinger. "...u hav...one mezage, miss."

"Hoe!" Sakura said, her eyes fixed at the blinking green light of her phone as indicated a new message received.

Yukito looked at it curiously when George immediately said, "...it cud vee from ur father. He wuz lookin' for yah a while ago."

"Oh! I see. Okay then." She reached out and took the phone from the butler.

In the seats near the water shoreline, Tomoyo was waving for them.

"We should be taking our seats, cherry-blossom." Yukito said. He seemed to have recovered from George's scary entrance.

Sakura flipped her cellphone open before answering, "Ummm you go ahead, Yukito. I'll be right with you. There are some things I need to instruct George with." She said with another smile.

"Well, okay. I'll wait for you there." Yukito started to walk towards the seats. "See you, George." He remarked with waved.

"U, too." George answered back lifelessly.

Sakura waited until all of the people had settled down at the seats below before she spoke to her butler. She made sure no one can hear them.

"That was a nice save, George." She said silently as she looked down at the blinking message on her phone's screen.

"Which wan?"

Sakura blushed. "George!"

George raised one hand. "Mah apologies, miss."

"And that was not even a 'save'!"

"Anyzing you zay, miss."

Still blushing, Sakura pressed the 'view message' key on her phone.

'Sender: Damaski-is

Message:

Crash me to the wall? Yeah right...in your dreams. But seriously, there is

something I needed to talk to you about. This goes way beyond our rivalry,

and I think, shall define both OUR FUTURE in InterVEST. It is of grave importance

that you read my private message. A-S-A-P.'

"Our future in InterVEST?" Sakura said out loud with a frown.

"Hmmm?" George started. He was peeking behind Sakura's shoulder the whole time she was reading the message. "Z mastre iz not proposing marriage now, iz he?"

"Wai?!" Sakura said; surprised.

"Itz bloody time zat he do, me zinks." George nodded.

"What are you talking about!" Sakura exclaimed, whose face was even redder than the time George interrupted her and Yukito.

George raised one brow.

"I barely even know this guy! Okay...let me rephrase that. " Sakura cleared her throat. "I don't know the guy at all. He could be old. Older than father." She said in defense.

"Vut u are not hopin' iz as old as you zay he iz?"

"George! I cannot believe you are teasing me!" Sakura pouted. "I have a boyfriend. And that is Yukito. He is everything I ever dreamed of. And why is it that you always call him as "MAstre"? He is not your master. Plus, I can't believe you interrupted my moment with Yukito, just because I received a message from him." Sakura sniffed.

"In mah defenze, miss. I shall enumerate."

The show below was oblivious to the two people talking at the back.

"Virst," George continued. "Me callin' him az ze "mastre" iz something I'm fond of doin'. Coz ze name 'Damaski-is' iz ze name of one of ze most powerful vampire overlord in one of ze books I am readin'"

Sakura suddenly felt curious. "Really?" Could it be that Damaski-is is fond of reading like George? For all this time, never once did she venture in the possibility of what kind of person her InterVEST rival could be in real life.

"Zecond," George interrupted her thoughts. "Vat if...Yohkito-zan asked u to go out to dinner 'nd it olzo happens zat Damaski-is stirz up trouble 'nd challengez u on a stocks bet. Which appant-ment zhall u choose?"

"That is not fair!"

"Aah...not fair, vat zat iz a fact. Wat miss, zhall u do?" George asked her directly.

Sakura was shocked at how difficult it was to answer George's question. Dinner with Yukito or a stock bet with Damaski-is?

After some time, George spoke again. "Zee wat I mean, miss?"

Sakura snapped back from her thoughts. "This is insane, George. I am not having this conversation with you."

"Anything u zay, miss." George went back to his butler posture.

Sakura sighed. "At any case. I thank you for always being loyal to me."

"Anyzime, miss"

"I have to go now. I'll never hear the end of it from Tomoyo if I missed the whole event." Sakura started to move towards the shoreline.

"Very well, miss"

"And George..."

" 'es miss"

"Take that costume of. I think it really does affect your mood."

George went on tapping his face slowly. "Givz more color to mah cheeks."

Sakura once again gave out a sigh as she walked away from the butler. The music, the lights, and the people were once again back in her eyes. As she took her seat beside Tomoyo, her heart still felt heavy. In truth, she doesn't know the answer to George's question. But one thing was for sure.

She would dread the day that she must answer it.


Author's Note:

To be honest...I am not that fond of this chapter, but I need to throw in some key information. So it is there.

Horray! I'm getting more reviews. Thank you thank you thank you!

icicle7: I see your point about the Syaoran Li and Li Syaoran. In the future I will perhaps use Li Syaoran. :nods: I was also kinda worried about the 'too much BG info' at first. I am glad that it did not choked my readers. :phew:

warlock: I know someone will comment about that disclaimer...lolz. I also just realized that, the other day. I am trying to edit but I am still fumbling in using the edit panel of It also takes time to reflect..so I gave up and started focusing in future chapters instead. But about that line in the prologue. All I can say is that, I purposely made it that way. it is my intention right from the start.

midnight-fox: wee a new reviewer, thankies!

Mariko: yeah :smiles: allowed anonymous people to review. Another online friend told me she can't seem to submit a review coz you need to be registered in FF. Then I saw that it was set that way in my control panel. Silly me. So I unchecked it, and it now accepts any reviews.

purplemonkeys: :glomps u: yes get addicted...lolz

angelic-behavior: uuu puppy dog eyes...hypnotizing...

As for questions pertaining to the story...I'm gonna keep my mouth shut...for I am evil... har har har

Once Again.. Thanks to all of you! Happy reading!

Reviews encourages me to write instead of killing myself with loads of work. So tell me what you think. lolz