SeiSei: So here I am, updating now that I have a total of 100 reviews! Thanks to my five reviewers! Also, to IAmTheBattleMaiden, you will see some action this chapter! To those of you who have been asking about Eriol, he makes his first appearance in this chapter! BTW, please bear in mind that this story takes place a long time ago!
Disclaimer: Don't own CCS.
Chapter 6
Over the next week Sakura spent more and more time with Syaoran in his office, doing silly secretary work, but mostly asking him about his adventures. She learned that they were headed for the French colony of Vietnam. He had yet to explain why, and only blushed crimson when she asked.
Tomoyo had begun to behave strangely as well. She would zone out, and stare out to the west, towards their next destination. One afternoon Sakura found her like this, and put her hand on her shoulder.
"What is the matter, Tomoyo? You seem so out of it lately…"
Tomoyo didn't meet her eye and only muttered that Vietnam brought back memories. Sensing that she did not want to be disturbed, Sakura left her to her thoughts.
"Oi! Sakura!"
It was Thom. He seemed very happy about something and motioned for her to come over.
"Cap'n's jes told me the great news!"
Sakura was confused. As though he realized something quite important, Thom said something too quickly for her to hear and ran away. Even more confusing, as she passed Gatz in the hall he refused to meet her eye. What had gotten into everyone?
She found Syaoran pacing his office, lost in deep thought.
"Syaoran, what's going on?"
The softness of her voice seemed to break his concentration. He looked up at her, eyes blazing.
"Nothing important. Now I feel you should know what will happen when we arrive at Vietnam. You are to accompany the men and negotiate a price with the women they encounter ashore. You are not to follow any man that is accompanied by a woman. Understand?"
"A price for what?"
Poor innocent Sakura did not understand what this was about, and Syaoran, for his own reasons, was too embarrassed to explain it properly.
"Never mind that. One more thing, if you see a man pretending to be a woman, which you will, you are to tell the men that it's a trap and move on. Tomoyo will accompany you to assist in this."
"But why would a man dress up as a woman?"
"So he can make money."
"How will he make money if he's a woman?"
"Because there are certain kinds of women who can make money in Vietnam."
Sakura was more confused than ever, but seeing as it made Syaoran very uncomfortable to discuss this with her, she let the subject drop.
"Now go help Tomoyo in the kitchen. She's been rather out of it lately and the entire crew is paying for it."
Sakura left, puzzling over everyone's strange behavior. When she arrived in the kitchen she smelled smoke. Tomoyo had left a cloth on the stove. Sakura screamed and grabbed the emergency bucket of water to put it out.
"Tomoyo what are you doing?"
Tomoyo turned sleepily from the porthole, an expression of bliss on her face.
"Look! I can see Vietnam if I angle my head the right way!"
Sakura sighed and began cooking. Tomorrow they would reach the shore and she would help the men negotiate. Maybe she would understand better when she met the women…
The Next Day…
"Mais je ne sers pas les femmes." (But I don't serve women)
"Ce n'est pas pour moi, c'est pour eux." (It's not for me, it's for them)
Sakura gestured to the crew. They had come to an old looking house in the village with half naked women leaning out the windows. A very old woman with no teeth had greeted them at the door. She smiled at the sight of so many customers.
"Tres bien. Combien de femmes est-ce que vous voulez?" (Very well. How many women do you want?)
Sakura took a head count. The men were shuffling about anxiously, making it rather difficult.
"Vingt-quatre." (24)
Sakura turned to Tomoyo and whispered,
"Where is Syaoran?"
Tomoyo, who had been glancing around distractedly, simply shrugged.
"Je vous amenerai les femmes." (I'll bring you the women)
She disappeared and Sakura heard her shriek in Vietnamese at the women upstairs. About thirty came down and lined up outside. The Madame led them out and smiled proudly.
"Voila."
Sakura and Tomoyo looked up and down the line. Tomoyo found several traps along the way, some obvious. Once she lifted up a skirt to make sure. It was indeed a woman. Sakura got to the end of the line first, and looked at the last woman. There was something distinctly masculine about her.
"Tomoyo, I think this one is a trap."
"Which one?"
"The one with the blue eyes and glasses. The black hair is a wig for sure."
Tomoyo came over to investigate. She and the woman exchanged looks and Sakura could have sworn she saw familiarity in their eyes. Tomoyo lifted up the woman's skirt so fast Sakura didn't have time to see.
"Nope, it's a woman. Now,"
She turned to the men, who were eyeing the women hungrily,
"Pick the one you like best, and if there is a contest, seniority will decide!"
The men scrambled. Eventually they sorted themselves out. A few women stood by, rejected. Trei approached the masculine one at the end.
"I love a girl in glasses."
Tomoyo stepped between them.
"No, she has herpes, I can't let you."
"Oh thanks Tomoyo!"
He turned around and found someone else.
"Tomoyo, what's herpes?"
Tomoyo looked at Sakura and laughed.
"Nothing you need to worry about!"
The Madame came up to Sakura once more.
"Chaque femme a une prix different. Dans une heure nous nous parlerons encore une fois pour decider le paiement." (Each woman has a different price. In an hour we will talk once more to decide the payment)
She gave a toothless grin and walked back into the house, followed by the newly formed couples and the rejected women. However, the blue-eyed one stayed outside. She looked at Tomoyo. Tomoyo turned to Sakura, all smiles and said,
"Let's go back to the ship!"
However she couldn't take another step as the woman held a knife to her throat.
"Tomoyo!"
"Sakura, run!"
"Ay, run lass and tell Syaoran I have his precious Tomoyo!"
Sakura, dumbstruck, ran back to the ship, shouting Syaoran's name as loudly as she could.
He came out to meet her, looking stern.
"Syaoran he's taken Tomoyo!"
"Who? What?"
Sakura, breathless, only pointed at them down below. She fell to her knees, panting.
"Eriol! How dare you!"
"How dare I take what's rightfully mine?"
"Oh come off it!"
"She doesn't love you and she never will! Now back away or I'll kill her where she stands!"
"Syaoran help me!"
"Tomoyo don't go with him!"
"She has no choice! Ta-ta!"
With that he ran off to the west, probably to the next harbor. Syaoran pounded his fist on the ship. He looked down at Sakura.
"Syaoran I'm sorry, I--"
"You were supposed to make sure no men were there."
"I tried--"
"It wasn't good enough. Now go and try to be useful when my men get back."
He turned away angrily. Sakura felt her eyes overflow with tears. How could she tell him how Tomoyo had let this man take her? How she lied for him? He would never believe her. Sakura tried not to sob, but she did it anyway.
"Syaoran…"
SeiSei: Oh boy… things are getting complicated! Today I'm leaving for a trip to Spain, which means I won't be able to update for at least 10 days. Please review while I'm gone! I need your opinion: I'm considering putting a light, non-graphic sex scene in the next chapter. What do you guys think? Should I do it, or should I just leave it completely implied? Thanks so much!
