I bet y'all enjoyed that HUH? ) I got cool reviews. Made me very proud of myself! So… Let's get this story go on. For those who've been asking where Eriol and the others are, they're coming right up so please be patient. I got a cool plot for them. :P
Disclaimer: CLAMP owns Cardcaptor Sakura.
Chapter 6:
They finished the commercial in two days and were now dreading the time that it'll be released to the networks. Syaoran was glad and relieved to be back at the office, able to focus his attention to other things other than Sakura.
"I'm going to lunch now, Sir." He heard Naoko on the intercom.
"Okay." He answered back. He kept his eyes on the file in front of him.
He had endured his first week back listening to the rumors circulating in the company; either he was leaving the company for good for acting and modeling career or he would be the company's CEO and main endorser at the same time. Now life was back to normal except for the fact that Sakura still manages to knock him off course every time he goes home.
He massaged his temples and leant back on his chair. It was these times that make him remember Sakura again and the times they spent together at the rest house. He could still feel her lips against his when he performed CPR on her. Of course, he couldn't focus on kissing her since he was trying to save her life. There was also that night she spent in his arms. But he was comforting her back then. He bit his bottom lip. He'd been able to forget her for long stretches of time but here she is, back in his thoughts again.
He sighed. It would be gross and tragic if she knew what he felt about her.
But I'm not your cousin!
Her words rang in his head again and again. How he wished they could be true. But the longer they stayed together, the closer they got. And the more comfortable Sakura became when she was with him, to the extent of linking her arm with his when they were at the mall or such.
He loosened his tie and undid the first two buttons of his shirt. He stared at the ceiling.
Why can't Sakura be someone else so I can be free to flirt with her?
He groaned aloud as flashbacks of her in that perfect white bikini came creeping into his mind. Her flushed face when she whispered sexily up at him, Kiss me…
"Get out…" He drawled softly, referring to the Sakura in his head.
"Are you talking to me?"
He sat bolt upright and found himself staring at the real Sakura in a yellow-printed dress just above her knees. Her hair was in loose curls all around her face. She had a big smile on her face.
"Nope." He smiled too.
"Were you… uhmmm… busy?" She stopped in front of his desk and pointed at his open shirt.
He buttoned it back hastily. "Just taking a break." He ran his hand through his hair.
"Does your head hurt?" Her face was concerned. "You were talking to yourself."
He nodded. "Just a bit." He said pathetically, fishing for more concern. The look on her face was reserved for overprotective girlfriends.
What he didn't expect was her walking around his desk and sitting on it in front of him. She took his temples in her hands and massaged them. "You overwork yourself." She scolded him softly. "You should rest. It's lunchtime…"
He closed his eyes, relishing the feel of her hands on his face. If she could do wonders on his headache, what more could she do—
STOP ALL THOUGHTS.
She continued on for a few minutes. "Better?"
He opened his eyes and nodded. "Thank you."
"Anytime." She smiled and got off his desk. She sat down on one of his couches.
He straightened his tie and pretended to look through the papers on his desk when in fact, he was highly aware of her presence in the room. She was a huge distraction. The image of her on his desk isn't going away as soon as possible.
"Do you need anything?" He asked her. "How did you get here?"
He knew she avoided driving as much as she can.
"Drove myself." She said shortly. "I was wondering if you'd go to the movies with me."
His heart leaped. "Sure." He smiled.
"Only if you're not busy." She said hurriedly.
He gathered his papers and stacked them to one side. He took his Blackberry and put it in his pocket. He grabbed his jacket which was over the back of his chair.
"I'd always make time for my cousin." He teased her.
They went out of his office and Syaoran closed the door behind him. They proceeded to the elevator where they met Naoko, on her way back from lunch.
"Ms. Sakura, Sir." She bowed to greet them.
"Hi, Naoko!" Sakura answered back cheerfully.
"I'll be back later." Syaoran told his secretary as they got in the elevator.
Classical music was playing in the elevator as it went down and brought them to the basement parking lot. Sakura handed him her keys and they got in.
"You do realize that Naoko is in love with you?" Sakura said seriously as they sped off to the mall.
He looked at her incredulously. "WHAT?"
"GOD! Guys are so thick! She is in love with you."
"Then how did you know that?" He asked as they stopped at an intersection.
"It's the way she looks at you. Trust me." She said. "Honestly, Syaoran. Are you that blind? Do you not see yourself in the mirror? Haven't you even heard the women at your company?"
He chuckled and shook his head.
"Well I was in the bathroom earlier and you should hear the employees talk about you. They're all speculating if you've got a secret girlfriend that you're hiding from everyone. All that evil female plotting about slipping something in your drink and getting you in bed and all that."
He laughed out loud. "Apparently that's where you get the latest news!"
"Yes! And Naoko was there! Blushing furiously and talking about how gorgeous and manly you are!" She added for effect.
"Oh come on… I'm not that good." He said.
"Shut up and listen to me. YOU ARE A GOD. And I've seen for myself! You've got abs and that perfect messed-up hair and those lips—what I mean is, you're irresistible! No one can resist you!" She said, throwing her hands in the air.
He chuckled. No one except you…
XXX
"You wait here. I'll get the tickets." Syaoran told Sakura. She reluctantly let go of his arm and nodded. "You go get in line for the popcorn." He hurried off to the ticket counter.
She smiled at him. It's okay… It's okay… She whispered to herself. Having him by her side made her happy. Clearly, going into his office and asking him out was one of the best ideas she came up with. Getting stuck at home was unbearable. He wasn't even there due to his workload. She was clearly in love with the guy. But she'd settle for his company instead.
She turned around and got in line for the snack counter. She was bound to be seen with a gorgeous guy like Syaoran. Who wouldn't? She already got several envious looks from all the other girls ever since they went inside the mall. People here don't know that they're cousins so she can pretend all she wants.
It was her turn to place her order when a boy of about her age tapped her shoulder. Thinking it might be Syaoran, she smiled and faced him.
He was good-looking, no doubt, but with a rebellious glint in his eyes, a naughty grin on his lips and dark brown hair which was also messy, like the just-got-out-of-bed messy.
"Hey, miss. Alone?" He said confidently.
She got bad vibes from him and stepped back. "No…" She stammered. Usually she could kick another guy's ass. But that was back in the States. Japan had turned her soft. And he surprised her. He was too close she could smell his aftershave. She looked at Syaoran but he was still buying tickets.
"Oh come on… With your face, your boyfriend shouldn't leave you alone." He took another step closer, closing the gap between them. He planted his arms on the counter on either side of her, locking her in. "Or you might fall for me."
"Hardly. Leave me alone." She said and tried to push him away. He held her hands and kissed her palm. She cringed.
"Come with me. I'll make you moan in pleasure." He whispered in her ear. She pushed him away hard but he was strong and heavy.
"I'll take my hands off her if I were you, jerkoff." An angry voice said behind him.
The boy turned around which let Sakura free and she ran to Syaoran. He held her tight as she buried her face in his chest.
"Listen, asshole—" The boy started but she felt Syaoran tense up.
"No. You listen, dickhead, keep your hands off my girl, or I will personally make sure you ain't got teeth to smile with." He threatened.
She held him tighter. He held her close in return.
The boy huffed and left.
She felt his hand on her chin. "Did he hurt you?" He asked softly. She shook her head as he cupped her cheek. "You're shaking…"
"I was scared." She said softly. Her heart was beating fast. He called her his girl.
He kissed the top of her head and held her tight again.
"Don't be. I'm here now." She heard him say. "I won't leave you alone anymore. Nobody messed with my cousin."
Damn… she thought.
XXX
It was in the middle of the movie when Sakura felt something. She looked sideways and found Syaoran fast asleep on her shoulder. She smiled.
His mouth was slightly open as he took several deep breaths. She adjusted her position as he slipped and leaned on her fully.
She didn't care. The weight was comforting. He must be really tired. Grandpa shouldn't have let him go back to work so early.
She hoped he wouldn't wake up. These moments were rare. She only got to enjoy their closeness when he's out of it. Like when they spent the first night at the rest house on the couch, that was her fault. He had fallen asleep while watching TV and she wanted to know what it felt like to lie on his chest. It was only for a second! She didn't mean to fall asleep. And there was the time when she slept on his bed after she drowned. She didn't mean to place his arms around her while he was asleep. She just wanted to try it. Besides, it worked! Because when she woke up again, he was doing it himself.
But…
All of it…
He can't… He doesn't feel the same way. Because he knows that she's his cousin even if that wasn't true. Grandpa shouldn't keep this kind of information from Syaoran but he must have his reasons.
She wasn't paying attention to the movie anymore. It was dark and cold at the theater. Syaoran lent her his jacket. She pulled it tighter around her and kissed the top of his head. It wouldn't hurt. He's asleep anyway.
XXX
"Well… That was fun." Syaoran said sarcastically. He was referring to the fact that he fell asleep in the middle of the movie. They were on their way back to the office.
"Yeah… We should do that again sometime…" She said. "It would take you away from work and let you have a break."
"Just drop by at the office anytime." He said. "And I'd better not leave you alone next time of I'll be getting into fights soon." He chuckled.
"You were scary back then." She teased.
"Of course I was mad! If you could have seen how he held you so close! It was enough to—" he stopped abruptly. His fingers curled into fists on the steering wheel.
"It's enough to?" She pressed on.
"You're my cousin. I should protect you. I did promise you that." He said looking at her.
She said nothing. He shouldn't have kissed her back then but the way she had her arms around him… It was enough to lose is mind and forget his place.
XXX
It was past midnight and he was still at the office. He yawned and turned off his desk lap, rubbing his tired eyes. He went to the adjacent room where his bed was waiting. He sat on the edge and took off his shoes.
It was back to work after the movie but he couldn't concentrate. Twice, Naoko had to prod him back to reality.
He seriously needed to date to get his mind off her.
He stripped his shirt and hung them at the back of his chair. He took off his pants and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth in his boxers. When he was finished, he went back to bed and pulled the covers around him.
He forced his mind go blank. It wasn't easy considering Sakura remained resolutely etched on his thoughts. But exhaustion took over. He finally fell asleep.
XXX
He opened his eyes blearily and yawned widely. He glanced at the clock and groaned. It was already past 8 and he overslept again. He stretched and went to the bathroom. He could already picture the blinking red lights on his deskphone for all the calls he had waiting.
After a hurried shower, he put on another suit and proceeded next door to his office where he found himself surprised.
"You slept here?" Sakura was sitting on his chair at his desk, twirling her hair in her fingers.
He closed his gaping mouth and gulped. "Yeah. I had lots of work to do." He smiled at her as he ran his fingers through his damp hair. He put on his shoes and started looking for his Blackberry.
"It's here. I peeked at your room while you were showering and someone was calling and I answered it. I hope you don't mind." She handed it to him.
"Thank you. It's okay." He said as he scrolled down the list of unopened messages. Many were from Naoko saying that Sakura was here and asking where he was. He deleted them and buttoned his shirt.
"Grandpa was asking for you last night." Sakura said as she got off his chair and sat at the couch instead.
"What about?" He settled himself behind his desk and gathered the papers Naoko left last night.
"Nothing really." She put her sandaled feet on the coffee table. "You know you shouldn't have gone with me yesterday if you had lots of work to do."
He chuckled and picked up a green folder. He rifled through its contents. "It's okay. I'd always make time for you."
There was a brief silence as he placed some calls and called Naoko to have the folders picked up.
"What made you come here so early?" He asked. He hasn't been awake for an hour and work was already piling up.
"Nothing really…" She repeated. "I was bored at home. Grandpa went to his golf thing with his friends and my friends from back home are coming here to visit." She said, leafing through a business magazine which had Syaoran posed on the cover. "Hey! You look really good here!"
He ignored her last comment. "Well, that's good. You'll be able to see your friends."
"Yeah…" She drawled. "They're planning to go on a vacation in the Philippines." She sighed.
"That'll be fun."
"It won't be." She whined. "It's like a matchmaking event! They all said that they'll be bringing one of their guy friend to introduce to me." She pouted.
Syaoran's grip on his pen tightened.
"I don't want that. I won't be able to have fun." She complained.
"Then you should bring one of your friends." He said as he managed to control himself.
"I don't have any friends here though." She looked up at him. "All they care about is getting me a lovelife and they won't stop bugging me about it."
"You should get a fake boyfriend." He said.
"Yeah… Maybe I should… Maybe I could hire an escort. You know? One of those in the yellow pages."Her voice trailed off as she read the article about him.
Syaoran was distraught. He was supposed to be taking notes on his legal pad but all he could come up with were dots and scribbles. What did those friends of hers think they are? There were in no position to force Sakura into a relationship! He won't have it!
"Maybe you could come with me?" Sakura's small voice broke the silence.
He stopped writing and looked at her steadily.
"You can pretend to be my suitor or something. Nothing serious. Just so they'll stop bugging me about it." She closed the magazine and set it down beside her. "Please, big brother?" She looked at him with puppy-dog eyes.
"Don't beg." He said. "You don't have to. I'll come with you."
XXXXX
OUR SYAORAN IS COMING TO THE PHILIPPINES! Joke. Anyway. There. Did you like that one? Got all yerr thoughts in a bunch, huh. Haha! Sorry about that. Please review and let me know what you think! Also… If you have any suggestions for the upcoming chapters, I would like to know. Thank you!
-Chachie