Author Note: What's this? Three chapters in one week? :D Haha, enjoy~! Constructive Critisicim is always welcomed.

Behind Closed Doors

Chapter Nine: Rip off the Band-Aid

It had been a week since Sakura's…close encounter with Syaoran. The next morning when the two had been alone and working on a project he had profusely apologized for falling asleep on her. He stated that all he could remember was the two of them sitting down for a drink and talking, before the next thing he knew he was waking up to Kerri shaking his shoulder and informing him that they would be late for school if he didn't get up immediately.

Sakura had been quick to reassure him that he must have been exhausted and simply nodded off. She teased him that maybe she had been too boring a conversation-ist for him to fall asleep so quickly on her. His resulting stammer and slight blush had tickled her insides before a cold wave of guilt washed through her system. He would be furious with himself if he actually remembered the rest of that night and even more so at her if or when, she had reminded herself, he found out the truth.

As he had turned back to his computer screen, she had stolen another glance at him and let herself recall the kiss he had given her. She could feel her heart speed up in exhilaration as her face flushed. Then she had breathed in deeply, let it out slowly and focused back on the mission at hand. She would let herself enjoy the last few days she was sure she would ever have with him; days when he would smile, not knowing his entire world was about to crash down around his ears.

The days had flown by all too quickly…

Now Sakura stood in a secluded corner of the office floor disguised as Terese, and waited until the only sounds she could hear were her own before whispering into her headpiece, her lips barely moving. "Alright guys, this is it. Everyone ready?"

A chorus of affirmations reached her ears. Sakura drew in a deep breath, her heart pounding against her chest. I'm so sorry…

She steeled herself. "Dial him."

The line went silent for a moment as Sakura knew Naoko and Mika were busy hacking into the security tapes to erase any movement or sound from Sakura as she positioned herself in the room so that no one could observe her. She made sure she had a perfect angle-view between the hallway and Marlene's door.

As soon as she was ready, her headpiece began to ring down the line as the girls dialed the Li home. Sakura's heart nearly stopped as Syaoran's voice soared into her ear.

"Hello? Li residence."

She drew in a shaky breath. "Li-san? This is Warai Miko."

"Oh!" Syaoran's voice filled with obvious delight. "Warai-san! How are you?"

About to ruin your life, so I feel terrible, thank you for asking. Sakura paused too long.

"Is everything alright?" His tone became laced with concern.

"Li-san, I need you to come to Marlene-san's office. Immediately," she said, ignoring his question.

He heard the urgency in her tone, and attributed it to whatever emergency that popped into his head. "I'm on my way now. Wait for me there."

Sakura nodded as the line went dead. A sudden wave of guilt and horror rushed through her and she felt overwhelmed by the situation. She bit down on her fist until it subsided.

"Sakura-chan? Li-san has exited his home and is on his way," Rika's voice broke into her hearing.

"Mika-chan and I are waiting on standby to trace any calls into or out from the building," Naoko's voice came next.

"The briefest of checks into that woman's office shows that they are, ugh, otherwise engaged with the other." Chiharu's disgust was evident. "Does anyone have a bucket? I may need to use it as my dinner resurfaces."

Sakura felt her own stomach churn at the thought that Syaoran would soon be seeing it for himself.

"It's okay Sakura-chan" Tomoyo's gentle voice reassured her. "You can do this. We're right here with you."

"Thanks Tomoyo," Sakura breathed out slowly to calm her mind and body. She focused herself until her instincts as an agent took over. She pushed her feelings into a small box somewhere inside her. They would be changing erratically over the next few hours, and she couldn't let them hamper her decisions or actions. Now wasn't the time. She would examine them all later. "I'm in position. Awaiting approach. Target remains occupied…. Let's wrap this half up tonight."

"Everyone, prepare for fallout," Tomoyo's voice was strong and steady. "We don't know how either will react. Starting now until its conclusion, we are on high alert. Everything and everyone is monitored at all times."

"Got it!"

"Understood."

"Alright."

"I can't wait until this is over. I'm sick of seeing her face."

"Affirmative," Sakura agreed. She sunk into the shadows, blending in with the background. There was silence as everyone waited.

"Li-san's car has just turned into the parking lot," Mika's voice sent a thrill racing through Sakura's veins.

Sakura concentrated on her breathing. In…out…in…out.

"He has passed through security and is entering the elevators," came Naoko's voice.

Sakura became absolutely still, hardly daring to breathe. All too soon she heard the cheerful chime of the elevator announcing its arrival. She could feel adrenaline begin to flood her system. She watched intently as Syaoran walked quickly into the room.

"Warai-san?" He called in confusion. His head darted quickly from side to side as he scanned the room for the short-haired brunette. Not seeing her, he made a beeline for her office.

Sakura watched as he disappeared beyond the doorframe and into the dark office. He called for her again, quietly, as he retreated further into the room.

She winced as she knew what he would see. A dark, shadowy room with a trail of clothes leading toward his wife's door. She could see in her mind's eye the absolute confusion that would be evident all over his face. Then the muffled noises that would reach his ears as Naoko faintly turned on the near-invisible speaker Sakura had positioned above the doorframe earlier that day.

"He's opening the door," came one of the girl's voices. She couldn't concentrate enough to distinguish who.

Then came a moment that seemed to stretch on for hours as everyone tensed to await the fallout. The tension built until Sakura thought she would burst.

"He's backing away slowly, shaking his head."

"He hasn't made a single noise, Marlene and Carden remain undisturbed."

"Sakura-chan, he's heading back into the main room."

Sakura braced herself for his reaction, but felt her heart sink somewhere in her stomach at the look of absolute devastation on his face. He walked from the room as if he were in some sort of trance, disbelief dragging down his features.

"Li-san is calling up an elevator," came the next voice as Syaoran disappeared from her view.

The cheerful, unperturbed chime suddenly seemed displaced in the now tense atmosphere. Sakura moved back into the middle of the room, her eyes focused on the hallway where she had last seen him.

"Li-san is on the elevator and is heading back to ground floor."

"Sakura-chan!" The sudden urgency in tone brought Sakura back to herself. "Marlene noticed the door was left open!"

Sakura immediately snatched a dusting rag from her cart and focused on the desk closest to her.

"She's getting dressed in a hurry," Rika's voice came down the line.

Chiharu made a un-lady-like noise. "That has to be a first," she muttered darkly.

"Be careful Sakura-chan. I think she's heading your way," Tomoyo warned.

"Li-san is bypassing security on his way out of the building," Naoko informed them.

Sakura could now hear the sound of quick footsteps on carpet approaching her. She calmed her breathing down, relaxed her features and smoothly followed through with her work. At a tap on her shoulder she made sure to jump and whirl around as if she were startled, her tinsel blonde hair soaring through the air.

Marlene was not happy; a frown was etched into her face.

Sakura made a show of placing her hand over her supposedly rapidly beating heart, and smiled in what she hoped was relief. Marlene-san! You startled me.

Marlene studied Sakura intently.

Is there something I can help you with? Sakura tried to divert the woman's intense gaze.

"Was someone else just in this room?" Marlene asked, her signing abrupt in her agitation.

Yes. Sakura signed back.

"Was it a young woman about your height with short brown hair and glasses?"

No, it was Li-san. Sakura watched as Marlene paled before her eyes.

Marlene whirled toward the door and hissed, "Get dressed! He knows!"

"Shit," came Carden's voice from the darkness, a flurry of movements following. "How much?"

Her back was still to Sakura. "I don't know. Enough." She turned abruptly back to Sakura.

Sakura managed to school her face into a mask of bewilderment. What's going on?

"Nothing," Marlene answered curtly. "What did my brother see?"

I am not sure. I was cleaning the office when he came in. He approached your door, and then left in a hurry. He appeared to be upset.

"Damn," Marlene muttered to herself, biting her nail. Sakura watched as the gears in Marlene's head shifted into overdrive, ideas flashing behind her eyes. She turned her back to Sakura again. "Carden, we need to start this now. Get them on the line immediately."

Carden appeared from the dark office, clothes once again in place, if not a bit disheveled. He spotted the blonde foreigner next to his lover immediately. He motioned Marlene closer. "What about her?" His gaze flickered over to Sakura.

"I think the girl is aware something is not right," she tried to glance discreetly over her shoulder at 'Terese.' "We may have to arrange something for her too."

"Damn."

Without another glance back, the two secluded themselves into Marlene's office, shutting the door firmly behind them.

Sakura made a show of going back to her duties, trying to keep her hand steady as she walked back over to her cleaning supplies.

"Terese has been compromised," she murmured. "She suspects I know something."

"Sakura-chan get out of there! Now!" Tomoyo's tone was firm but laced with panic.

Sakura nodded, "I'm leaving now. Where's Li-san?"

"Li-san has pulled into traffic and appears to be heading home," Mika informed them all.

Sakura, with all the appearance of calm, collected her supplies, put them away and walked quietly towards the elevators.

"It's no use!" Chiharu's agitation suddenly rang out. "They're speaking too quietly to get a read on."

"Keep the film going," Tomoyo responded. "We'll adjust the recordings for our evidentiary report later."

Sakura stepped into the elevator as the chime signaled its arrival. She rocked back and forth from her toes to her heels as surplus energy continued to race inside her.

"Sakura-chan?" Rika's tone made Sakura pay strict attention. "We may have a problem."

"What happened?"

"The guard is missing," Tomoyo answered. "Be careful. They may already have someone there waiting for you."

Sakura loosened her muscles as adrenaline made her hyper-aware. The elevator slowed to a stop before opening its doors with its customary chime. She stepped out of the elevator cautiously, her gaze dancing in every direction. She noted the absence of security before heading straight for the exit, her shoes making no sound against the floor.

It wasn't until she hit the fresh night air outside that Sakura suddenly felt a presence behind her. She continued at her even pace until she was sure has was right behind her. At the last possible moment she spun on her heel, and grabbed the arm reaching for her.

She took the figure dressed from top to bottom in dark clothes, and yanked him over her shoulder, sending him hard into the ground. As he inhaled sharply, trying to bring air back into his lungs, Sakura swung out with her leg and kicked him unconscious. She stood over him for a moment longer; waiting to make sure he was out cold before releasing her breath.

"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo's voice came down the line.

"I'm alright. He didn't even touch me," Sakura assured her team.

"Dialing the police now," Naoko informed them.

"Leave him," Chiharu urged. "Run."

"Got it," Sakura answered. She glanced back up at the building to see a figure watching from the eighty-ninth floor before turning and ducking into the shadows, avoiding the streetlights. "Seawall Terese has been officially retired. Someone was watching me from the building."

"That was close," came Tomoyo in response.

"I had it handled," Sakura reassured her.

"Did we move too fast?" Mika inquired.

"No," Naoko answered. "But now we need to move faster."

"Contact Meiling-san," Sakura instructed. "She needs to be on alert. Have her and her family stay at your home Tomoyo."

"Understood."

"What about the Li children?"

Sakura grimaced. "We can't risk tipping our hand too soon. She suspects something is happening, but if she realizes the children are missing, she will know something is about to happen. They stay where they are. For now. "