Val85: Well, hello everyone! I know you're extremely excited about this update, but before you go on reading the chapter, please give me one minute to properly apologize to you. Although I did not say for sure that I was going to update this story 3 weeks after the last chapter, I would still like to apologize for this delay. The reason is because, quite simply, I no longer have that much time to write this story due to school work and other activities (recently, I've been staying after school everyday until 6 or 7 to practice for my upcoming audition, with my group members). Please don't worry about me not finishing this story! No matter how long each update will take, I plan on finishing it. Before I wrap this note up, I would like to thank each and every one of you who either reviewed or added me to their alert list! Your continuous support is and will always be my number 1 motivation ; )

Chapter 10

When Sakura arrived at the Tokyo Arts Center with her luggage on Tuesday morning, the T-shaped runway was already set up in the large gallery room.

Tomoyo's staff was moving about. Some were removing paintings from the wall and others covering the walls with pink, cherry blossom wall paper.

In a corner, Tomoyo was discussing with Kase about the details of the show.

The models, scattered around the room, were chatting with each other. When they saw Sakura, they smiled and greeted her.

"Now, you come!" Akira, looking impatient, walked over to Sakura, her short bob bouncing slightly, and said.

Sakura looked at her confusedly. "Am I late?"

"If you mean for work, no. But it's definitely a yes that your boyfriend has being stolen away by that Rena girl."

Sakura exhaled loudly and shook her head, realizing that they were going over the same topic again. "Akira, Akira. Rena just looks up to Syaoran for advice and guidance. The others here do too, so why don't you suspect them?"

"So in your opinion, by isolating herself from the others and staying in his dressing room with him is part of receiving guidance?" Akira asked.

Akira's question threw Sakura off a little. They're in the dressing room…alone…

Sakura picked up her luggage from the floor and was about to leave.

"So now you understand the situation," Akira said, hopefully.

"I'm just going to drop this off in Syaoran's dressing room. Even if it's for that reason, I'm doing it to calm more of your insecurities than mine," Sakura told her.

Akira sighed loudly. "Sakura, I've had enough experience to know that Rena's trouble. I was just like you, didn't care at all when I saw my ex-best friend hanging out with my ex-boyfriend. I thought that she was helping me by making him feel closer to my circle of friends. But the next thing I found out was that she was pregnant with his child."

Sakura looked at her brave friend, who was 2 years older, sadly, "I'm—"

"Don't say 'you're sorry to hear that.' If you feel for me, do me a favour and save your relationship before it's too late because I don't want to see something like that happen again."

"Do something before it's too late!" Akira called out as Sakura was leaving the room.

The reason why Sakura even bothered checking up on Syaoran, like what Akira told her to do, was so that Akira didn't regard her as an ignorant person. She also didn't want anyone to suspect the relationship.

At least, that was what she thought.

However, after Sakura entered the dressing room, she felt some sort of relief when she saw Syaoran was the only one in the room, concentrated in a thick novel on the couch by himself, with his IPod on.

"Hello, my love," Syaoran greeted, taking his headphones off when he saw her.

Sakura approached him. "Where's Rena?"

Syaoran studied her for a few seconds before smirking. "Did you come here to check up on me?"

"Of course not. I wanted to leave this here before we leave and along the way, to tell you two that the rehearsal is about to start. But, she's not here…" she replied squarely, showing him her handbag.

Syaoran put down his book. "She left a few minutes ago for the washroom. Give me your bag. I'll go put it in my car."

"Why?"

"Because I have the keys. Or, do you want to take it out yourself?" He asked, taking his car keys out of his pocket.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "I mean why are you bringing it to your car when I'm going on the bus with the rest of the group?"

Syaoran grinned. "Because we're going to your grandparents' house for dinner and it's a different route from the hotel we're staying at."

Sakura showed a confused look. "When was that planned?"

"Your grandma called me last night and asked if we could stay there for dinner and for the night. She was a bit disappointed when I said we could only eat dinner because of the photo shoot tomorrow."

Sakura's eyebrow rose. "Why couldn't she have called me, instead? She's my grandma, you know."

"Would you have agreed to go?"

"…No."

"So, that's why," Syaoran proved. He got up from his seat, leaving his book on the couch, and walked towards her.

Then, he wrapped his hand around her hand that held the bag.

Slowly, he leaned closer to her. And within a quick movement, he tucked some hair behind her ear.

Sakura's breathing stopped at that moment.

"Your perfume smells good," he whispered into her ears before taking the bag out of her hand and left for his car.

It was after he had left that she felt the increase in her body temperature and the fast pounding of her heart.

"What is wrong with me?" she asked herself weakly. She brought a hand up to her forehead and checked the temperature.

The practice started. Everyone was assigned to a partner of the opposite sex, based on a list created by Tomoyo and her employees.

Sakura was naturally assigned to Syaoran, and that was well received by the other models. Sakura noticed that even Rena didn't complain or showed any sign of disapproval. This was enough proof to tell herself that Rena wasn't the type of person to steal other people's boyfriends.

Anyways, even if she did Sakura wouldn't have minded. However, it was part of the deal that she had to act like she did.

In haute couture fashion shows, the best of the models always made their entrance last, in order to add more appeal and build anticipation. As a result, Syaoran and Sakura were assigned to the last entrance. When it was finally their turn to practice on the runway, Syaoran brought out his hand and Sakura hesitantly held onto it. The two of them walked down the runway professionally, holding hands.

"Excellent, Syaoran and Sakura. You two need to show dominance of the show, and at the same time, you have to show that you're in love."

As a part of the fashion show 'story plot,' the partners had to interact with each other through their bodies while walking on the runway, as if they are going on a date. It was based on Tomoyo's themed collection, Premier Amor.

Her new collection was especially designed for those who were in their twenties and were out in search for the love of their life. The clothes emitted a sense of high-fashion but at the same time, simplicity.

On their way back, Syaoran released her hand and wrapped it around Sakura's waist.

Kase, standing on the bottom of the runway, smiled approvingly. "You've created the next runway golden couple, Tomoyo."

Tomoyo nodded as she watched the backs of Syaoran and Sakura. "They've got this aura around them that compliment each other."

Kase agreed. "And the powerful energy they emit is so strong. Kinomoto Sakura has the potential to be a great model, perhaps even a super model…"

Tomoyo's eyes widened. Kase was famously-known for his talent-seeking abilities in Asia. If he said that Sakura had the potential, it was absolutely big news. "She inherited the talent."

Kase turned to look at her. Tomoyo looked on, even though she knew Kase was waiting for an explanation. She inherited them from her mother.

When Sakura and Syaoran made their way into the backstage, Sakura quickly pulled herself out of Syaoran's embrace.

However, Syaoran returned the arm onto her shoulders when Rena appeared. "You two looked so good together on the runway!"

Sakura shot him a look before replying to Rena. "It wasn't as frightening as I thought it would have been."

"Why would it be frightening when you have me beside you?" Syaoran cut in.

Sakura rolled her eyes at his comment. "Shall we go for lunch now?" she asked Rena with a smile.

Rena excitedly nodded, her sleek long hair brushing over her shoulders. "Let's go!" she said as she linked through Sakura's arm.

At that moment, Syaoran's arm dropped and reached into his pocket for took out his phone. "You two go without me," he said, looking at his phone.

"Why, Syaoran?" Rena asked, disappointedly. Sakura also looked at Syaoran.

"My boss just emailed me to go back and take care of something," Syaoran explained.

"Don't miss me too much, Sakura," he said and winked at Sakura.

With that, he left for the parking lot.

"How sweet." Akira came up from behind. She looked at Rena with a smirk and then turned to Sakura. "I'll keep you occupied during lunch, so you don't miss him too much."

Sakura gave her a sidelong look. "I—"

She stopped when she saw Rena checking her watch, anxiously. "Is something wrong, Rena?"

Rena looked up, nervously. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I forgot that I have a lunch meeting today with my manager, so I can't eat lunch with you!" Her pretty face was apologetic.

Sakura smiled. "It's alright, just go. We have plenty of other opportunities."

"I'm so sorry," Rena apologized again. Sakura smiled and waved her off. "Don't worry about it! Go before you're late!"

Rena turned around and ran towards the door.

"I always wonder why she didn't compete in an acting competition instead," Akira commented beside Sakura, watching the door close.

Sakura sighed and turned to her. "Why do you always think the worst of her?"

"Wasn't that obvious? The minute Syaoran left, she left too. Obviously, she only wanted to eat lunch with us because Syaoran was going, as well."

Sakura thought about her words. No matter what Akira said, she couldn't imagine Rena being the type of person Akira described her to be.

"…she's only 20 with little experience in this industry, yet she has already mastered acting techniques that are better than the legendary actors."

"Let's go," Sakura interrupted. "The others are already waiting for us outside."

Finally, Akira dropped the subject as the two of them headed out the door.

"No, I can't. I have to get the models settled in their hotel rooms and prepare for tomorrow's photo shoot," Tomoyo replied apologetically to Sakura.

Sakura and Tomoyo were on their way walking back to Daidouji Inc., after they spent half of their lunch time at a noodle place near Daidouji Inc.

"I guess I'll just go with Syaoran, then," Sakura said unwillingly.

The two of them had to return to the company earlier to set up the stage with Tomoyo's staff.

"Don't be so unhappy. It proves that your grandparents approve of Syaoran to an extent that they make plans with him that don't even have to be passed by you," Tomoyo said. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"I hope you're wrong. If my grandma and him work together, you don't know how crazy the plans can get."

Tomoyo giggled. "Syaoran's cute. His personality and yours are so similar that it's quite amazing."

Sakura's eyebrow rose. "Similar? In what way? He says and does the most ridiculous things you can ever imagine!"

Tomoyo giggled some more. "You might not see it, but I do. They say opposites attract. But, in reality, the two people are so different that they're almost the same. That's why they attract."

Sakura stopped walking and turned to look at her friend with a funny look. "Tomoyo, are you alright?"

"Of course, Sakura. But, what I'm really trying to say is that you and Syaoran are meant to be and should be together for the rest of your lives. He's a really good man," Tomoyo told her wisely.

Sakura couldn't look at Tomoyo any longer. She quickly turned away as a rush of guilt washed over her. Even though the whole fake-relationship deal was done to Tomoyo's advantage, Sakura still felt very guilty for lying to her.

Her and Syaoran's acting even misled Tomoyo to believe that they were suitable for each other.

"Why is Rena with Syaoran…?" Tomoyo asked while Sakura was still thinking about her guiltiness.

"Wh—"

When Sakura followed Tomoyo's gaze, she spotted Rena coming out of Syaoran's black Porsche, which was parked in Daidouji Inc.'s parking lot.

Soon after, Syaoran also came out from the driver's side.

Sakura felt Tomoyo's stare, but she ignored it and continued walking back to the company.

"I'm sorry that you had to wait for so long," Sakura heard Syaoran say to Rena as she approached them.

"No problem. I had nothing to do anyways," Rena beamed.

"You didn't eat at all. Are you going to be okay—"

Syaoran stopped walking when she saw Sakura and Tomoyo walking towards him. Rena, who was following behind, bumped lightly into him.

"Hey," he said to Sakura with a grin. "You missed me so much that you even came out to welcome me back?"

Sakura looked at him coldly and replied, "I just came back from lunch."

Sensing something wrong from Sakura, he quickly looked at Tomoyo. In return, she shook her head and hinted him with her eyes.

She moved her eyes back and forth between Rena and him. Before long, Syaoran figured it out.

"Where did you guys come from?" Tomoyo asked Rena and Syaoran, curiously. Rena beat Syaoran at it and replied with a smile, "We just came back from Syaoran's company."

Sakura looked at Rena. "I thought you were going to eat lunch with your manager?"

The tone of voice Sakura used sounded colder to Syaoran than what he was already used to.

"I was," Rena replied sweetly. "The address of the restaurant he told me was coincidentally right next to Syaoran's company so he offered to give me a ride. When we were almost there, he emailed and said that he couldn't come. I didn't know what to do so I waited for Syaoran to finish his business before coming back with him."

Tomoyo's eyes narrowed, while Sakura remained emotionless. "I see. Why don't the two of you go get something to eat before the afternoon practice starts?" she suggested.

Rena nodded in agreement. "Yes we should, shouldn't we, Syaoran? Sakura's so caring!"

Syaoran moved away from Rena when she was about to grab his lower arm. "I'm fine. If you're hungry, then go buy some food Rena. I need to get ready for the afternoon practice."

With that, he began walking into the company, followed by Sakura and Tomoyo. Tomoyo, lagging behind, turned and looked at a glaring Rena before heading into the company with the couple.

In the afternoon practice, Sakura continued to treat Syaoran coldly, despite his attempts to piss her off.

This method no longer worked on Sakura like it used to when they first met.

At one point, she escaped to the washroom. When the inside of the washroom was completely isolated from the other side after the door closed, she heard a familiar voice speaking harshly in one of the stalls.

"He doesn't fuckin' give a damn about me. The Sakura girl keeps on getting in my way!"

…

"I tried to act nice but it has lost its advantages!"

…

"Yeah, sure I got close to him. Sure. But I can't do anything more if that girl's here!"

…

"Why the fuck would I still believe you?"

…

"Yes, I want Syaoran and I want fame."

…

The phone call ended and the speaker flushed the toilet before opening the door of the washroom stall.

Surprise appeared on Rena's flushed face, her usual sleek and glossy hair messy, when she saw Sakura looking back at her through the mirror, though not so much Sakura's.

Sakura calmly asked, without turning around, "Who are you?"

Rena smiled slyly. Her heels clicked loudly as she walked towards the mirror and began fixing her hair with her hands.

"You heard the conversation, didn't you?" Her usually sweet and innocent voice was filled with arrogance and annoyance. "There's no point in acting, anymore. I want your boyfriend, Li Syaoran. And if you get in my way, I will stop at nothing to destroy you."

Valkyrie85:PHEW! Guess what time is it now? 4:06 AM! Why did I stay up so late (or early, I should say), you ask? Well, I didn't want you guys to be left hanging on the last chapter for so long, so I decided to pull an all-nighter and get this chapter finished. After editing this chapter three times, I'm starting to get worried because the story's becoming crappier and crappier (excuse my language)... ; (

Anyways, despite my pessimism, what did you think about this chapter, Dowlin Rena, or anything else that interested you? I hope to see lots of reviews ; ) Thanks for reading!

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