LOVE, TRUST AND NEVER ENDING HAPPINESS
Author– Janna18
Anime/ Manga –Card Captor Sakura
Genre – Romance/ Family / Drama
Pairing - Syaoran Li X Sakura Kinomoto
Rating - T
Disclaimer:
I do not under any circumstance own the cast of Card Captor Sakura. Sole property rights go to Clamp. Go talk to my lawyers if there is a problem ;P
I own only the plot and the new characters introduced during the course of the story.
I'm just a poor person trying to create my story with the existing characters from Clamp's show, Card Captor Sakura. (wipes tears) Sole property rights go to Clamp. The standard disclaimers apply.
Summary:
Sakura married Syaoran by her father's wishes to merge their companies together. Sakura has to produce an heir to seal the deal. Meanwhile, her stepsister, Kaya wants her out of the picture to become the next . How far will Kaya go?
The notices are at the bottom. I know your not gonna read anything up here. =P
LOVE, TRUST AND NEVER ENDING HAPPINESS
An Insight Into Minds And KISS
CHAPTER FOUR
Previously
And there wasn't a single word that she wanted to add.
For a contradiction— there were several, yes...not one of which was in the least ladylike, and therefore unspeakable in a relatively public arena.
It was easier to leave in dignified silence, with your head held high.
This was just a battle in the on going war and she had better unsheathe and clean her claws for she was definitely going to need it in the future.
They say that all happens for good, but right now Sakura was convinced that the damage control was going to be a bloody mess.
No pun intended.
Present
Sakura was blinded by fury as she furiously blinked back the tears threatening to break through her stony façade. She reached her car door and yanked it open. She still didn't show any sign of outward anger. She stuck the keys on ignition and pressed on the pedal.
Some where along the way, she realized that she wasn't crying because she was threatened or worried. She was crying because she was frustrated.
Frustrated with everybody in her wretched excuse of a life.
Her father for remarrying and turning a deaf ear and blind eye to her predicament, her brother for dying and escaping, while she dealt with every thing he had to do, her mother for ignoring Sakura's warning when she begged her not to go in the car that fateful day, her step- mother who showed contempt and hatred while all she wanted was love or at least a smile every day, her husband because he made her fall in love with him head over heels without even realizing it and lastly herself because she had allowed herself to be vulnerable to Syaoran's every decision and had fallen unwittingly in love with that stoic faced doofus.
The thought made her smile.
And Kaya… well she didn't count. The bitch could do whatever she wanted but Sakura was not going to budge. Syaoran was her husband and God damn her if she was going to let him go without a fight, come hell or high water.
How she reached the office without crashing into another vehicle or at the least making a dent on the car was beyond her comprehension.
She parked the car in her allotted slot and sat still for a minute. She furiously wiped away her tears and touched up her make- up and removed any external signs of her distress. She took a deep breath and firmed her resolve. She was going to make it to her house in the evening and nothing was going to disrupt her mind.
She nodded up at the door man and rushed to the elevator remembering her afternoon meeting with Yukimura, the sheduled talk with the lawyers on the Wantanabe Deal and do the paper work and submit it for the auditors. That was just the first three in a never ending list of 'Jobs To Be Done'. Sigh.
Her secretary smiled at her and informed her that the she was needed at the board meeting scheduled that evening and that the Yuan Enterprises was again delayed to two o' clock.
Four messages were waiting for her on her return to office.
Three were business-oriented and she dealt with each in quick succession, then logged the required changes into the laptop before crossing to the private phone lines.
There was a strange curling sensation in the pit of her stomach and she could practically feel the butterflies making their way to her throat, as she waited for Syaoran to answer the call.
'Li.'
His voice was deep and retained a slight Chinese inflection that seemed more conspicuous over the phone. The sound of it caused her pulse to accelerate to a faster beat after skipping one. Shaking her head at her hopeless actions, she cleared her voice and answered.
'Hey. You rang while I was out.'
She mentally imagined him easing his lengthy lean frame in the high-backed leather chair at the prestigious CEO desk.
'Hmmm… So how was lunch?'
Her fingers gripped the receiver more tightly, her knuckles white with the effort.
'Is there anything about me that you have no idea about?'
'Kaya called and requested me for your extension number.'
He relayed the information with unflappable and composed intonation which didn't betray any emotion.
Any excuse to make contact with with Syaoran; Sakura silently derided her stepsister, her fury returning with full force.
'You didn't answer my question.'
His voice held a hint of cynicism and provoked a curt response.
'Lunch was fine.'
She drew in a deep breath.
'Is that why you rang Syaoran?'
'No. To let you know I won't be home for dinner. A Korean associate wants to invest in property aid has requested that I recommend a highly regarded and trustworthy agent. It would be most impolite not to effect the introduction over dinner this evening.'
'Very impolite,' she agreed solemnly.
'I won't wait up' she warned. He could think up of any meaning he wanted to make out of that statement.
'I'll take pleasure in waking you,' he mocked gently, ending the call.
A noticeable quiver of expectation slithered the length of her spine and hair arose in goose- bumps as she recalled plentiful occasions when the touch of his lips and insistent hands had awoken her from the depths of slumber, and how she'd unconsciously welcomed him, luxuriating in the dexterity of his magical hands as they traced a tangible path over the slender soft curves of her body.
With intense endeavor she replaced the handset back down onto the cradle, then focused her attention to the work meeting for the two o'clock meeting of the afternoon.
As she walked over to the room, after gathering the necessary documents, she was hit by the memories of the afternoon and Kaya's unthinkable threat to her sanity.
She felt the anger burning through her as she faced the members across the room and smiled an icy smile which spelled danger for the man opposing her.
She couldn't take out her frustration on Kaya and so she may as well take it out on poor Mr. Yukimura. This is what she loved about her work.
The meeting got over in an hour with Sakura making her way to her office room with a triumphant gleam in her eyes. She started on the paper work and was soon lost to the world as she keyed in the data and verified the stock and triple checked the procedure issues.
It was about four thirty when she leaned back into her plush chair and sighed, pushing away the black rimmed spectacles she waited for a phone call to finalize the process settings. Just then the phone rang shrilly and she picked it up, spoke a flurry of words quietly and placed the receiver back and submitted it for final verification.
'Someone sure is busy.' Came a husky voice from the door way.
Sakura's eyes snapped to the person leaning casually against the door way.
Syaoran lazily dragged his eyes over her hair which was coming out of the French plait, the pencil which she was twirling around with her slender fingers, the half drunk mug of coffee on the table, the papers scattered about with Sakura's legible and precise letters covering the margin, the sexy spectacles perched on the edge of her nose, the legs crossed over one another and her skirt hitching up at the movement of it and her heeled ankle boots giving the overall image of sexiness that left him breathless. It took all he had and more to prevent himself from striding over to her chair and yank her up, press her against the wall and have his wicked which way with her. Oh God. This woman was dangerous.
Clearing his thoughts, he drawled, 'I hear you closed the Yuan deal.'
Sakura shrugged at him, 'Yeah I did. So?'
'You took over the company, leaving them with three percent of the profits they would receive from the merger.'
Sakura just continued to look at him with raised eye- brows. 'Yeah…'
'You got us Ninety seven percent of the profits.'
Sakura smiled grudgingly.
'Well, I was pissed. I took it out on him' she replied noncommittally.
Shaking his head he said, 'Remind me never to cross you.'
'I don't think that that will be necessary' she said cheekily, a smirk dominating her beautiful face.
Giving in to temptation, he walked over to her chair going around her desk and threaded the fingers of his left hand through her hair. Sakura stood up shakily on her feet obeying a silent command as the current between them increased by the second. Tugging her head with his fingers still clutched around her thick hair he brought her close to his body leaving a mere centimeter in distance between them.
Sakura tilted her head and her eyes slanted close half way down with a provocative challenge, her breathing becoming erratic. Syaoran moved forward and for each step he took in the front, she moved one back. Her back finally touched the cold glass and she looked up at him her eyes glazed over into a dark green and head tilted back.
Syaoran moved closer, his whole body enveloping hers, with out any space between their body. Finally Syaoran dipped his head and brushed his lips against the corner of hers and trailed a path along her jaw. He moved along the base of her throat and stopped momentarily against the pulsing pulse point on her neck. He stirred back towards her lips and caught them with his, quelling their trembling. Sakura groaned and her eyes fluttered close as they kissed, his tongue tracing the outline of her lips, before plunging in, and there was nothing hesitant about the way he plundered her.
He seemed to draw out her soul with a power so great that all she could do was stand and feel it happen. This man with his magical lips controlled her mind, body, heart and soul.
She first brought up her hands to push him away, but that was wasted effort and her trembling hands soon found their way around his neck tightening and bringing him closer to her. His other hand wound around her waist and clamped firmly, almost painfully. She whispered his name breathlessly as they came up for air and his amber eyes darkened into sheer black. Just as he was about to kiss her again, a shrill sound of the telephone cut across the room.
Both of them groaned out as Syaoran impatiently reached for his mobile. Flicking it open, he snapped at the other person. The frown etched onto his face never creased and Sakura used that few precious seconds to put some distance between them.
As Syaoran cut the call and turned to her saying, 'That was my secretary. The meeting with the Koreans is in half an hour.'
She nodded mutely and looked at him.
She was adorably flushed and her lips were swollen by the kiss. The primitive male satisfaction that he felt as he took in her still dazed expression shook his core. She was his. And God forbid anyone who tries to interfere in their lives.
'So what was that for… not that I'm complaining…' Sakura asked though it sounded like a statement.
'Do I need a reason to kiss my wife senseless?'
Before she could reply, she was interrupted by -
Knock knock knock.
Her secretary popped in and started saying, 'The paper work is done for the day, I've printed out the copies for the board tomo-'
She stopped the torrent of words as she realized that Syaoran was in the room and coloured pink with embarrassment. She strutted out a sorry and went back to her desk.
Syaoran and Sakura looked at each other and smiled wryly.
'Surely I don't look that formidable…'
His cell rang again.
'I have to go now. As I said earlier, I wont be coming early tonight and you'll have to fend for your self.' He continued.
'You sometimes awe me, and I'm your wife. You'll have to forgive her if she is terrified of you.' Sakura said, a smile playing across her still red lips.
'Minx' was his reply, as his eyes promised retribution.
It was almost five-thirty when she left the building, and although traffic was heavy through the inner city it had begun to ease when she reached The Bay.
The sun's rays were hot, the humidity level high and intolerable. Too high, Sakura reflected as she garaged the car and entered the house through the door leading from the garage.
A long, cool drink, followed by a twenty lengths across the pool, would ease the strain of the day, she decided thoughtfully as she slipped off the jacket of her business suit and made her way towards the kitchen.
Miyu was putting the finishing touches to a cold platter, and her smile was warm and motherly as she watched Sakura remove a glass from the cupboard and cross to the large refrigerator adjacent to the deck.
'Are you sure all you want is garden salad?'
Sakura pushed the ice-maker lever, let five cubes fall into the glass and filled it with freshly squeezed orange juice, then crossed to perch on one of four stools lining the wide servery, looking at Miyu as she decorated the pie expertly.
'Positive,' Sakura confirmed with a smile as she leaned forward and filched a slice of fresh pine apple from the tastefully dec orated bed of lettuce, avocado, nuts, tomato, capsi cum and Cucumber.
'Ahh…Lovely,' she sighed blissfully.
Miyu cast an affectionate glance at her.
'There's fresh fruit and gelato to follow, sweetie.'
'Miyu, your spoiling me rotten!' Sakura protested.
'As you deserve to be. What are you going to do afterwards?'
Sakura took a long gulp of the iced juice, and felt the strain of the day start to ebb away.
'I think I'll change my costume and have a leisure swim.'
The notion of a few laps in the pool followed by an hour basking in the warm sunshine held clear-cut appeal.
'Why don't you finish up here? There's no need for you to stay on just to rinse a few plates and stack them in the dishwasher.'
'Thanks.'
The housekeeper's delight was apparent, and Sakura reciprocated with a mischievous grin.
It wasn't the first evening she'd spent in solitude, and nor was unlikely to be the last, seeing the way her life was turning out..
'Go,' she instructed mock sternly.
'I'll see you at breakfast in the morning.' Miyu promised solemnly.
Miyu removed her apron and folded it neatly with great care.
'Wei and I'll be in the flat, if you need us.'
'I know,' Sakura said softly, grateful for the older woman's considerate care.
Ten minutes later she emptied the contents of her glass, then went upstairs to change, dumping her chic clothes in favour of a deep midnight blue monokini.
Out of habit she removed her light make-up, applied a tonne of sunscreen cream, then she caught up a multi-patterned Indian style silk sarong and a towel and made her way up to the terraced pool.
Its free-form design was entirely enclosed by non-reflective smoke-tinted summer glass, ensuring total seclusion and privacy, and there were a number of loungers and cushioned chairs situated on the tiled perimeters.
Sakura dropped the sarong and towel onto a nearby chair, then sprinted a racing dive into the sparkling chlorinated water with spellbinding grace.
Seconds later she emerged to the surface, cleared surplus moisture from her face, then began the first of numerous leisurely laps before slipping deftly her back to idle aimlessly around for a while, enjoying the solitude and the quietness.
It was a superb way to unwind, she mused thoughtfully, both mentally and physically.
The cares of the day seemed to lessen to their exact point of perception.
Even the disastrous lunch with Kaya seemed to fade like the sinking sun.
Not exactly, she amended with a quiet frown.
That was taking things a bit too far.
Calculating her shrewd stepsister's next move didn't necessitate much endeavor, given the societal scenes of the city's sophisticated privileged.
Kinomoto-Li supported a number of worthy char ities, and Syaoran generously continued in Yelan and Xenon Li's tradition— intelligently conscious that as much business was done out of the offices as in it, Sakura finished ironically.
The deliberation of facing Kaya at one function or another over the next few weeks didn't induce much joy, unsurprisingly.
Nor did the panorama of parrying Monica's not so sub tle hints.
Damn.
The relaxation cycle was well and truly bro ken.
With a deft movement, Sakura rolled onto her stomach and swam towards the pool's edge, hauled her slim frame onto the tiled ledge with expert precision and ease, then reached out for the towel and began drying her body.
Faced with a choice of eating indoors in the dining room or out by the pool, she chose the latter without much thought and carried the garden salad and a bottle of chilled water to a nearby lounge.
The view out over the harbour was impressive, and she absentmindedly watched the seascape as several small crafts cruised the waters in a bid to make the most of the daylight- saving time.
On finishing her meal, scorning television, Sakura made herself some instant coffee, selected a few glossy mag azines from the hall and returned to gaze at the sunset, the magnificent smudge of orange, yellow and red that changed and melded into a deep pink as the sun's circle sank slowly beneath the horizon providing a soft pale reflected glow before dusk turned into darkness and the moon made its appearance.
A touch on the electronic switch board activated the underwater lighting system, turning the pool a brilliant aqua-blue with multi coloured lights floating about.
Another touch lit several electric flares on the walls, and she expanded out contentedly and flipped open a magazine scanning the smooth pages for something that might capture her attention.
An article based on the behind-the-scenes life of a prominent fashion guru provided a riveting insight, and endorsed her own view on the artificiality of a society where one was never sure whether an acquaintance was friend or foe beneath the token facade.
The publishers had seen fit to include an in-depth and explicitly detailed account by a high-class actress, who, the article exposed, had procured escorts for some of the country's most rich and famous, notably politicians and visiting rock stars, for a fee that was ridiculously astronomical.
Somehow the commentary focusing on cellulite and excess fats that followed it seemed tremendously mundane, and Sakura flipped to the travel section impatiently.
Paris.
What a city for ambience, romance and joie de vivre.
The language, the scents, the fashion, the scenery, the people and the life.
French women possessed a definite flamboyance and style that was unrivaled anyplace else in the world.
And the food!
Magnificent, she accorded wistfully, remembering fond memories of the time she'd spent there after her university graduation.
For a while she'd imagined herself in love with a dashing and handsome young student whose sensual expertise had almost swayed her into his bed.
Sakura's mouth curved into a soft smile, and her eyes danced with hidden laughter in remembering the old days.
'A fascinating article?'
Sakura looked up at the sound of that deep, drawling voice and saw Syaoran's tall frame outlined against the screened opening leading into the large amusement room.
His jacket was casually slung over one shoulder, and he'd already loosened his tie and a few buttons on his blue cotton shirt were removed.
Her eyes still held a hint of mischief and laughter as they met his.
'I didn't realise it was that late,' she managed to reply lightly, watching as he closed the distance between them in four quick steps.
Images from her office played across her mind.
'It's just a little after ten.'
He paused at her side, and scanned the page of the open magazine.
'Pleasant memories, Sakura?'
Sakura met his gaze unwaveringly, and sensed the studied alertness beneath the surface.
'Yes,' she said with instinctive openness, and saw his eyes narrow fractionally.
'It was a long time ago, and I was very young.'
'But old enough to be charmed by a young man's attentions,' Syaoran deduced with a degree of cynical amusement.
'What was his name?'
'Syusuke,' she revealed without uncertainty.
'He was a hopeless romantic, and he kissed divinely like no other. We explored the art galleries of Louverne together and drank coffee at numerous sidewalk cafes commenting on passes- rby. On weekends I visited the family vineyard. Wild. It was fun,' she informed him simply, re flecting on the garrulous and often sociable meals that she'd shared, the liveliness and pure companionship of a large extended family.
'Define "fun".'
The temptation to tease, taunt and evade was very strong, but there seemed but little point.
'He had a very severe mother' she revealed solemnly. 'Who was busy on matching him with the daughter of a neigh boring vintner. An Anglaise miss, although a very rich one might convince him to live on the other side of the world.'
Amusement lurked in the depths of his eyes.
'So, he married the vintner's daughter?'
'His devoted mother dispatches a letter twice a year with family news.'
'Did you love him?'
The query was soft, his voice smooth and didn't reveal any of his thoughts.
Not the way I love you, Sakura thought sadly.
'We were very good friends,' she said with the utmost care.
His deep gaze sent a flame flaring through her veins to every single nerve ending, warming her skin and heating the central core of her femininity.
'Yet he loved you didn't he?'
'Hmmm… Very perceptive. He claimed that he did.'
'Yet your virginity was mine.'
Sakura rolled her eyes at him, 'Chauvinistic too. The word list describing you is getting longer… I refused to let him touch me except kiss me. He made quite an effort but he didn't get it though, not for the lack of trying albeit… '
'Why?'
'I'm a one man woman. I was old enough to distinguish between infatuation and love. My virginity is for my husband, not a guy I barely knew in another country which I was just visiting.'
'Who parted without regret or sorrow when it was time for you to leave?' Syaoran prompted gently, steering away from the topic.
A charming smile curved the edges of her mouth.
'We promised never to forget each other. For a while we exchanged poetic letters.'
'And predictably the letters became shorter and few and far between?'
'You're a terrible skeptic'
'A realist,' he corrected her with delicate remonstrance.
Sakura closed the magazine and placed it down on the nearby table.
With an elegant sweep of move ment she arose to her feet, caught up the sarong and secured it tightly around her waist.
'Now, would you like some coffee?'
To be continued...