Ch. 7
Waiting
Syaoran's P.O.V.
Fifteen minutes. She's fifteen minutes late and still counting.
I just don't get it. Someone who can be so late clearly has no sense of etiquette or respect for anyone but themselves. Why would Mother choose her to be my match? Though I'm undeniably her one and only son, I really don't understand what goes through her mind sometimes. That, and why she must torture her son with these ideas of marriage she has for me.
I hate to admit it, but Eriol's much more suitable to succeed the Li Clan, minus the last name issue; he's smarter, more experienced, and way more responsible than I am. Heck, he's a natural womanizer—well, he was before he met Sakura—and can bring as much descendents to this planet as the Li Clan—the elders, specifically—wants.
Me? All I want to do is travel and study about the ancient cultures of the world. I've never been interested in the field of business, and I never will; I wanted to be an archaeologist. Marriage is the last thing I want to wreck my carefree life for.
Twenty-five minutes late. What is up with that person?
Forty minutes.
Forty-five.
Fifty.
Okay, she's an hour late.
If Mother wasn't going to murder me for ditching, I'd have long gone home. Maybe I should just try. Then again, that'll means that I'd have to flee the country—or the continent—to some faraway land, where she'll still find me and skin me from head to toe.
Women. Tsk. Never mess with them. I've learned that the hard way, what with having my life ruled by five of them: my four older sisters and my mother.
Ah, someone's approaching. Maybe our haughty candidate for marriage is here. I snorted.
"Hello, my name's Tomoyo Daidouji. Is this perhaps Syaoran Li?" the raven-haired guest spoke, seeming anxious and breathless. She had a pair of unusual amethyst-colored eyes and a soft voice and appeared delicate and refined. I scoffed at the idea of her being "refined;" if she was refined, she wouldn't disregard time so uncaringly.
I smiled and nodded courteously at her. "Yes, I'm Syaoran Li. Please to meet you, Ms. Tomoyo Daidouji." I stood up and pulled out a chair for her like the gentleman I am.
Fine, I'll confess that I'm only doing all of this because I'm afraid of my mother. If word got to her that I wasn't polite to this person, I'd die a painful death. On the other hand, if I died, I wouldn't have to bother with the word "marriage" anymore. That would seem like a good idea if I didn't know any better; Mother would probably just torment me for the rest of my life and have me at the altar with the girl before me in a wedding gown all that sooner.
"Excuse me," she panted, "but I'm here to notify you that Sakura cannot make it to this meeting today." As she spoke, she was still gasping for air.
"Uh, what?" I was befuddled. "Sakura?" I knew the name was common in Japan, but this is Hong Kong, for Christ's sake! How many Sakuras could I encounter in a month?
"Yes," she continued, her breathing more even now, "She asked that I tell you that something unexpected came up this morning and apologizes for the inconvenience."
"Oh," I mouthed. "What's her surname?" I couldn't help but ask, though I didn't know why I had such a strong urge to clarify the matter.
Something about her gaze told me she already knew about the reason for our date. "Kinomoto. Her name is Sakura Kinomoto."
Was I imagining things, or was there really so many Sakura Kinomotos out there?
"Does she have auburn hair and emerald eyes and just so happens to be the CEO of Kero Co.?" I couldn't believe what I was saying. Or hearing.
"Yes," she said. I can tell that this girl really does know that her friend and I have already met, but if that was the case, then Sakura already knew that I was the person she would meet today. But, wasn't she with Eriol? Why would she agree to attend a matchmaking session? This is just too coincidental, too confusing!
"You're late," I muttered, trying to distract myself.
"Yes," she replied. "My apologies. I rushed here immediately from Tsim Tsui Wan as soon as I received Sakura's call."
"Oh." I instantly felt sympathy for her. Tsim Tsui Wan was a long way from here. They must be very close friends.
A/N: Sorries for the short chapter. =/
But hey, Tomoyo has joined the party. Woot!
R&R, peoples, R&R. ^_____________^
