Alrighty then! Now it's on with the show. Once again, thank you all for your wonderful reviews.

Don't own Cardcaptor Sakura.

7. . . . But if you don't . . .

"Yelan-sama apologizes for not being able to greet you, Sakura-san," an elderly man, Wei, said to Sakura kindly as he led her further into the mansion Syaoran was living in. It wasn't the main house of the Li clan, as that was understandably located in China, so it wasn't as grand of a size . . . Though that still didn't faze to amaze her at the glorious chandeliers and the elegant decorations on the walls. It was simply magnificent; she could hardly imagine anyone to live here.

Wei, she found out, had been servicing Syaoran ever since he was a child and his father passed away. He was a gentle and kind man, and immediately filled her with warmth and calmness at every single smile. Sakura settled herself in a fancy but comfortable couch in the guest room, and watched as the old man poured her tea.

"She has been experiencing much trouble, lately, with the company," he continued, and handed her the drink when he finished. "Though you are great help in managing everything while Syaoran-san is absent, she still worries about other market relationships because those were handled by her son."

"I hope she knows how regrettable I am," Sakura murmured quietly, a blush on her face. She peeked at him doubtfully. "Does she hate me?"

Wei shook his head, "No, no, Sakura-san, she does not hate you. She understands that she really has no reason to; you are not fully responsible for Syaoran-san's condition. It is not completely your fault, so she doesn't hate you."

"I still feel awful," Sakura admitted, gulping down her drink and ignoring the heat of it down her throat. "He was already having a bad day, and I just made it worst."

"Syaoran-san is a really kind man," Wei smiled supportively, and the comfort in his eyes were enough to bring Sakura to slight tears – he reminded her so much of her father. "He wouldn't hate you either. In fact, I would say that he quite likes you."

At that, Sakura immediately leaned back and blinked thrice in sudden shock, almost dropping her cup of tea. "I-I'm–I'm sorry?"

"Because of his family and who he is, he hasn't had a very bright childhood in Hong Kong." Wei frowned a bit sadly. "Other kids were told to not become too close to him, for he was from a powerful clan . . . Despite the fact that he was only a boy, others were still too scared to befriend him, because of their fears of angering him on accident. Li-san had made sure to have people fear him when he was alive, and that just troubled Syaoran's life."

Sakura frowned, too. "That's horrible."

"Yes," he nodded. "So, as he grew up, he only had two close friends who sticked to his side: Eriol-san, as you know, and Li Meiling-san, another cousin of his."

"Meiling-san doesn't live in Japan?"

"She hasn't learned enough Japanese to come, and she is also engaged with other business issues in Hong Kong."

Sakura sighed, "At least there's still Eriol-san with him."

Wei smiled, "And you."

"What makes you think he likes me?"

He shrugged a bit, still grinning, and clasped his hands in front of him in a formal way. "He still has not fired you, despite your . . . interesting meeting."

Sakura ducked her head. "He told you about that?"

Wei laughed. "Oh, he went a whole day hung over by that."

The front door of the mansion suddenly opened, and a few seconds later Yelan walked in clad with a velvet suit and a fur purse. Sakura hastily stood up from her seat, setting her cup down loudly on the table in front of her, and she and Wei both bowed.

"Yelan-sama."

"Li-sama."

Yelan nodded at them both. "I apologize for not being able to welcome you today," she said, and walked into the room, sitting down on the couch in front of Sakura. "There was an emergency meeting at the office, though I do not see the need of having had it." She sighed, and accepted a cup of tea from Wei. She then glanced at Sakura with serious eyes, and nodded politely again. "Please, sit down."

Awkwardly, Sakura complied and cleared her throat as she watched the older woman take another sip of her drink, before she set it down soundlessly with gentle grace. Sakura fought the urge to bite her lip at the simple, yet absolutely elegant gesture, and tried to calm herself when Yelan cast her a wary glance. "I hope you know why I invited you here today."

Sakura shook slightly with nervousness, frightened. "I-I think so," she said softly, then cleared her throat when she realized that was too quiet. "I mean, is it something to do with . . . my position in the company"

Yelan regarded her calmly, "I am not going to fire you, Kinomoto-san."

Sakura blinked. "Oh."

"Syaoran's condition is now completely stable, and I've heard from his doctor that he had woken up already. Have you been visiting him often?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes. Every day."

"Well, that's quite interesting how I just met you yesterday," she sat back slightly, but still straight, and fixed a heavy stare on her, which caused Sakura to jump automatically. "I understand you are a great worker, Kinomoto-san, I've heard that you are hardworking and concentrating, and you do your job with precise, and on-time. I give you my gratitude for all the work that you've done for the company while Syaoran is gone. You have just recovered not too long ago, and yet you immediately went back to work. That's a very admirable spirit."

Sakura's eyes widened at each compliment the powerful woman had thrown to her, but before she could reply, Yelan continued.

"However, what I don't understand is why Syaoran kept you, and knew that you were capable of your job. I've heard that you were just an average employee before Syaoran started managing; maybe I've heard wrong. And it didn't appear to me that you made a great first impression on him with your call."

Sakura's face flushed redly again, and she restrained herself from yelling in horror as she knew that even Syaoran's mother knew what she'd done. Humiliation was written all over her face as she bowed her head in shame, and Wei smiled amusingly. "I–Yes, I, um, did not make a very . . . admirable first impression on him. But I hope you've heard that it was an accident! I did not mean to call him!"

Yelan nodded, still formal, but with a hint of a smile on her face. "Yes, I reckoned that much."

"And, actually, I-I was a coworker for the previous boss that ran the company," she stuttered hurriedly, her fingers creating wrinkles on her skirt. "Sort of, not really . . . Not, like, her actual assistant, but, um, I was somehow promoted–"

"Yes, alright, I understand," Yelan calmly interrupted, holding a hand out. Sakura had started breathing hard and was practically sweating beneath her clothes. "However, you two do not have a . . . personal relationship?"

Confused, Sakura quickly closed her mouth and eyed the elder woman quizzically. She shook her head, "Um, no, not really. He's, well, my boss, and I, um, suppose I'm sort of . . . scared to be friends with him–"

"But there is no essential relationships between you two?"

Sakura was utterly bewildered. "I . . . do not understand–"

"You two are not sleeping with each other?"

Immediately, Sakura bursted a deep, deep red and shot up from her seat, shaking frantically and with embarrassment. Yelan leaned back in shock and caution, and Wei took a step forward and reached a comforting hand. "Oh! Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no! I'm not-! We aren't-! We," she laughed nervously, "are most definitely not-! No. I-no. No, we are not-" she cleared her throat in panic, and started to hyperventilate. She shook her head. "Most definitely, not, Li-sama, we are not-"

"Yes, please, Kinomoto-san, calm down." the woman waved a hand, quite speechless at the younger girl's reaction. Clearly, this was a sensitive subject to touch upon. "Sit down, please, I apologize for your discomfort in this issue."

Wei pushed her down gently, but Sakura was still blushing profoundly. She stared at her hands once she settled.

"I see you are an intelligent and modest young lady," Yelan compliment slowly, somewhat hopefully, but Sakura didn't seem too delighted to hear anything. "You are very resigned of your being; I appreciate that."

"Thank you for understanding," Sakura muttered eventually, still looking at her hands. "Though I honestly have to say that I do not understand fully, myself, of why he wanted to keep me. I . . . I try to be the best I can in my job, because I need it. I suppose he understood that, so he kept me."

"Yes, that is an interesting subject," Yelan drawled, raking her eyes over Sakura once in an almost considerable fashion. Finally, she took a breath, and regarded her, once again, with utmost calmness. "Kinomoto-san, I hope you know why Syaoran is so important to this clan."

Sakura quickly cooled down at the change of subject, and nodded. "Yes, I do."

"He is not only important to me, but he is the only man in the clan who will be able to pass down the Li name and blood down the generations. He plays a very valuable and high role."

Sakura nodded again. "Yes, I understand that. He told me, actually."

Yelan raised an eyebrow in interest. "He did?"

"Well, the day that we . . . got into the accident, he told me that he had only one more male cousin in the family who is able to pass down the Li name, but he is infertile."

"Yes, many others had passed away."

"They did?"

"My husband did not die of a disease or old age; he was killed in a plane crash."

Sakura's eyebrows shot up. "He did?"

"A private plane, yes. Syaoran had been too young then, so my husband had brought the older boys of the family, at that time, around the world to gain experience, only because it was an order from the Elders. Despite him being the most powerful Li, they still had the power to tell him to teach the second generation. On the plane's way to Germany, I remembered it was, it crashed." She paused to take a drink of water, and Sakura assumed she was also trying to regain her posture. "Many of us actually thought it was a murder."

"A murder?" Sakura asked in astonishment, surprised. "I didn't know that."

"I didn't think you would. I doubt Syaoran would really like to talk about it. It is a stressful subject."

"I'm sorry for all the loss," Sakura replied, frowning. "It must have been horrible for you."

Yelan almost sniffed, and looked at her. "Yes, it was horrible for all of us. It was horrible for him, too."

"I understand the feeling . . . Of losing someone you love," Sakura smiled gently. "But we all grow up and become strong enough to overcome it."

"Who did you lose, dear? A sibling?"

Sakura shook her head. "A parent. My mother. She died of an illness when I was very young."

Yelan finally broke a sad smile, and her eyes started to water before she took a breath and drank her tea again. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she replied, shaking her head. She smiled back. "You are a very strong woman, Li-sama. I've heard that you also have four other daughters. That is a remarkable amount of responsibility, not just as someone who is important to the clan, but also as a mother."

"I love my children, and I cannot afford to give up," she shrugged slightly, almost as if saying, 'What can you do?' Then she looked up, and smiled once again. "It's so wonderful that you understand."

"But, um, I've heard that Syaoran is also in an arranged marriage?"

Yelan's smile dropped, and she looked upset and troubled. She nodded. "Yes, he is. It's unavoidable, though; many of us feel that he has absolutely no intention of marrying or bearing children soon, so we are worried if it will be too late. And . . . we also can't afford letting him have an affair with a woman who is not capable of helping him carry on the responsibilities of the clan."

Sakura made a grim face. "Yes, I highly doubt he wants that, too."

"I do not agree with it. Many of us do not think it is fair for his life to be arranged. But unless there is a more suitable woman for him other than the woman we've chosen, we cannot let him decide on this."

"Can't you say something about it?"

Yelan shook her head. "No. As far as power, the Elders are not as powerful as my husband, but they are stronger than me."

Sakura made a face and said under her breath, "That is so sexist."

Yelan smiled, and raised her cup to her lips. "It is."

After a moment, Sakura lit up with a sudden thought and blinked in curiosity. "Li-sama? Have you heard from Eriol-san about the truck that hit us that day?"

Yelan set her cup down, and nodded. "Yes, I have. We are still searching for the driver. It is interesting how hard it is to find him; he must have strong coverage. The must be some power protecting him."

"Do you think we'll catch him soon?"

Yelan shook her head. "We cannot know for sure. Despite the accident being committed in broad daylight, and in the middle of the street, no one knew who he is. There is no trace of him."

"So, then, there must be some command involved."

"We've been considering that."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"The only thing you can do right now is to make sure no one dangerous or suspicious gets too close to Syaoran. He is in a weak condition now, and you are one of the closest people to him. You must keep him from anyone who might turn on him, or might have the motion to hurt him. Keep an eye around him. It might even be someone from the company."

Sakura nodded seriously. "I will make sure that I do that."

"I'm sure you will do your best then," she said, reassurance in her eyes. "I'm counting on you to take care of Syaoran for a little while in the next few days. I need to return to Hong Kong shortly for an Elders' meeting. Will you be able to handle it?"

"I will be able to handle anything," Sakura said with determination, wrinkling her skirt again. "I'll also visit him everyday."

"Why don't we go now, then?"

Sakura blinked. "Now?"

"Oh–God!" Sakura had exclaimed the minute she stepped into Syaoran's room. He was sitting up, a white bowl of something in his hand, and he was eating from it with a spoon. Realizing she might have said something inappropriate in front of Yelan, she ducked her head and blushed. "Sorry."

Syaoran blinked at the two at the door, and set his food down reluctantly. "Mother? And . . . You two came together?"

"Syaoran," Yelan smiled, and walked forward and embraced him before he slowly relaxed in her arms. Sakura stood at the side, watching the affection that Yelan was displaying generously. It was almost like she was a different person. "I am so glad you are finally awake."

"Sorry, Mother," Syaoran muttered into her neck, but his face was hidden with Yelan's hair so Sakura couldn't see either of them. "I could've woken up earlier, but I was too tired."

"I know," she replied soothingly, and ran her hand over his back. "I'm just glad you're finally all right."

"Mostly all right," the two finally drew apart, and Sakura saw a small smile on his face. "Still got a broken arm, but that can be quickly fixed."

"Yes, let's hope that it can," Yelan nodded, smiling back. Finally remembering that Sakura was still there, she turned. "And I was having tea with Sakura-san, actually, just before we came. She's been taking great care of you these days."

Sakura looked at her in surprise when Yelan called her by her first name, and Syaoran seemed surprised too. However, there was something else in his gaze that Sakura couldn't completely recognize, and he finally nodded at her. "Hey."

"I," she breathed, clutching her fingers together with anxiousness until it almost hurt, "I am so sorry. I'm–really glad you're all right. Really. I was scared that you were hurt even more than I imagined, and I would . . . I would feel absolutely terrible. I already feel like a horrible person. I'm sorry." Sakura bowed down at the waist, closing her eyes in hopes of preparing for whatever words and insults he might throw at her. However, he never did, and they were enveloped in stunned silence for a while before he finally broke it.

"I don't blame you," he said, watching as Sakura shot up. "Eriol, actually, already told me what happened that day. I don't blame you at all."

Sakura blinked almost incredulously at him. "You don't?"

"I mean, unless you want me to. I can totally fire you because of your horrible driving, and because you want be to blame you, and then I'll just watch and settle back in contentment as you roam about the streets in search of another job that suits you the best."

"Syaoran!" Yelan exclaimed appallingly, slapping him on the arm. She didn't even flinch when he jumped and protested with an, "Ow". "That was absolutely rude!"

"Well, I guess I deserved that terrifying image," Sakura said sarcastically, and he grinned at her. "Thank you. Thank you very much."

"But I will consider giving you credit since, apparently, you've been taking good care of me while I was out," he smiled. "I hope you haven't ran the company into bankruptcy, yet."

"Does he always talk to you like this?" Yelan asked, pointing a finger at him as she looked at Sakura. Sakura nodded.

"Oh, yes."

Yelan returned to her son with a scornful look. He only grinned back cheekily.

"Why, Mother, that is only our way of showing affection."

"Yes, well, affection has definitely changed its meaning these days," she ruffled his hair, disheveling it even more, and then drew back with another frown. "You really need to comb your hair."

Sakura almost laughed.

To her relief, they had spent almost two hours in the hospital with him that evening, and the conversations were mostly light and relaxed. By the time Syaoran finally got tired of catching up with everything, Yelan and Sakura had prepared to leave. With a heavy boulder finally taken off her shoulders, Sakura walked out with Yelan with an utmost feeling of joy and a strange warmth in her heart. The gladness was almost enough for her to jump up and shout in celebration.

Yelan told her she'd be leaving in two days, and, surprisingly, had told Sakura that she was good company, and that she'd like to meet up with her again. Honored, Sakura complied without any hesitation, smiling pleasantly as she watched the woman crossed the parking lot to her own private vehicle. Her driver and Wei, by the car, bowed at her.

However, her sense of hearing had heightened also, due to the light weight in her heart. Sakura looked to the side and saw a small motorcycle driving incredibly fast towards the older woman, and, automatically, Sakura ran across the area between her and Yelan, and pushed the woman down on the ground a few feet away from her spot, and they landed on their side with Sakura's arms around her. The motorcycle missed them by inches. By the time that any of them had reacted, the black bike had zoomed away and mixed itself into the busy street of the main road.

Sakura and Yelan finally realized that someone was really trying to kill her and her son.

Okay, does this really count as a cliff-hanger? I honestly tried to make sure that it somehow doesn't, and that it was a conclusion. I hope that truly worked. -sweatdrop-

Anyway, let's see how fast I can update this time, then!