Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, Clamp does. But I do own this story.
Pairings: Syaoran x Sakura, Eriol x Tomoyo
Chapter Ten
"Mild Suspicions"
Nao laughed a long, hearty laugh.
Sakura and Tomoyo threw Naoki yet another apologetic look at this in which he simply shook his head and smiled.
"An understandable mistake my dears, no need to worry," Nao reassured amidst his still ongoing hilarity.
"We really are sorry though," Sakura added once more with another bow of her head at both men. She turned to Tomoyo whose face was still pink from embarrassment at what took place earlier.
Apparently, the man they had met was Naoki Morita, the son and the assistant manager of the bank. Nao Morita, the bank's manager was- as Sakura expected him to be –a dear 65 year old man, who was plump around the middle and had a face that had obviously gone through the years of aging.
It didn't take them long to realize the truth of it all and it was mostly thanks to Tomoyo. Ever since their introductions, she had flirted so openly and shamelessly with Naoki in the main lobby while Sakura kept throwing random compliments at him about how youthfully handsome she thought he was to cover up her earlier blunder.
Their little scene then had earned the pair a lot of scandalized looks from the employees that ended up with them reporting to his father.
"But yes, this is my Naoki, he's going to replace my position soon as manager," she said with a wink at Tomoyo who blushed even more furiously.
It was apparent then that the older man took her flirtations with his son to heart.
She smiled awkwardly and looked away.
To save her best friend from further embarrassment, Sakura immediately brought to light the main purpose of her visit.
"Morita-san," she started, looking at him with a pleading yet innocent enough look on her face. "I've come here to discuss the will."
When the words left her lips, Nao instantly sobered and nodded his head in understanding before turning to his son.
"Naoki, I need to have a private word with Sakura-san."
Naoki nodded, looked over at Sakura for a fleeting moment then left the room without another word.
"Uhmm…" Nao added with a meaningful look at Tomoyo.
Sakura shook her head. "She can stay. She's aware of the will's contents."
Nao nodded, trying to keep the disappointment he felt from showing. He had hoped she would step out and wait outside also to give her and Naoki some time together.
Putting his matchmaking thoughts aside, he looked over at Sakura more seriously now.
"What would you like to discuss?"
She breathed in. There was nothing else for it. Her original plan on feigning total innocence and her back-up plan of Tomoyo's seduction had failed before it had even started. All she can do now is simply hope for the best.
Naoki leaned against the wall outside the conference room his father and the two women were in.
He was dead curious as to what they were discussing for he knew nothing of a will that Sakura just mentioned. Regardless of family relations, when it was about work or other private matters concerning other people, his father always held firm. He had already expected to be sent out. That was also exactly why he was standing there, almost glued to the wall and trying to strain his ears to try and catch a hint of what exactly they were talking about inside.
"You should have seen it! That dark haired one was almost close to pouncing on him if the manager hadn't interrupted."
He turned at the whispered yet still clear words and saw the group of women huddled across the hall. They were obviously gossiping about what had happened earlier.
They looked up when they saw him turn to them and simply smiled back in return, unconcerned of his notice.
"But you know," another one of the women continued in a lower voice though he could still catch it. "I thought that girl in the white dress was awfully familiar."
"Yes, what did you say the girl's name was?"
"When she came in and asked for Morita-san, she said her name was Sakura Kinomoto."
"Kinomoto? You mean Fujitaka Kinomoto's daughter?"
"Who?"
"Fujitaka Kinomoto. He was an archeology professor at the university. Really, he's the only one who actually made a name for himself in this town. How can you not know of him?"
The rest of the group shrugged.
"It's not like I took up archeology class in college. I think all of us here graduated from the finance and the accounting departments. How come you know him?"
"My little brother had him as a professor before. Always raved about how good he was. Besides that, the man's quite famous years back. He's always on the news over a decade ago, before he became a full-time professor."
Naoki continued to listen to them all the while still trying to strain his ears onto the closed room behind him.
Not that he doubted his own assumptions, this only proved him even more correct. Sakura Kinomoto was indeed the archeology professor's daughter and the same Sakura Kinomoto who was in the year below him in university. He hadn't seen her in years ever since he graduated but it wasn't hard to notice how beautiful she still looked. If anything, she was even more gorgeous than she was back then.
Sakura sighed and nodded dejectedly.
Nao gave her a pitying smile and patted her hands which were clasped together on top of the table between them.
"If I know Fujitaka," he said with a more impressive voice, "which I do, then I know he wouldn't have put that in his will if he wasn't sure that it is in your best interests."
She didn't bother saying anything else to that. Neither he nor Mr. Hashimoto knew of the actual circumstances that led to the writing of that part of the will in the first place.
"So there's nothing I can do then?" she asked, her hopelessness now apparent.
He gave her a reassuring and fatherly smile before shaking his head.
"Morita-san," Tomoyo said, cutting in after taking a good long look at Sakura. "What if Sakura and Li simply got engaged? I know it's not marriage but it would still lead up to it if you think about it."
Nao looked thoughtful for a long while before sighing.
"It's still entirely different from Fujitaka's wishes though. He's told me enough through the years how much he simply wanted you," he looked over at Sakura, "to be married so you can have a more happy and secured life."
Tomoyo's shoulders slumped, as did Sakura's which was quite impressive to accomplish seeing as she had already been slumped so low on her chair after the entire course of the discussion.
He looked at both women worriedly now.
"Is it really that complicated a matter to get married to this man?"
"You have no idea," Sakura said with a long, drawn-out sigh.
Tomoyo gave a small smile and nodded. "That tends to be the case when the other party is a renowned businessman."
"Renowned businessman you say?" Nao asked, his interest piqued.
Sakura didn't bother accommodating to his question out of sheer gloominess in which case Tomoyo stepped in instead.
"Yes. Syaoran is quite known especially in Tokyo. He must-"
"Syaoran? You mean Xiao Lang? Li Xiao Lang? The Li Xiao Lang?"
Tomoyo nodded.
Nao looked over at Sakura, amazed.
"Your father expects you to get married to the Li Xiao Lang?" he asked in a slightly incredulous voice obviously in disbelief.
He kept emphasizing "the" whenever he mentioned Syaoran that Sakura almost had to suppress a smile. Indeed that was how she used to address Syaoran when she mentioned him. The apparent difference in their status demanded it. But after spending months with him and actually being his girlfriend, made it all seem so odd now. She had already considered Syaoran as his equal since then. Well, not an equal in terms of status or anything like that, but equally human at least and not at all like the God versus unworthy creature she thought they both were back then.
Sakura looked over at Mr. Morita and could see the rushing of conflicting thoughts going through his head by the shrouded look in his eyes.
"I never knew," he finally said. "I mean, Kentaro-san knew the precise details of the will, yes, but I doubt he knows it's the Li Xiao Lang either. Though uncommon his name might be, the chances of your father having a man of Li's status involved in his will is absolutely surreal. I've been personally told by Fujitaka that you were to be Mrs. Sakura Li to be able to withdraw from his account but I certainly never even considered that the Li he had mentioned to be your husband meant the Li Xiao Lang. Your father only mentioned that last little detail to me mere weeks before his passing."
Was his resolve slipping? Sakura couldn't even dare to hope that as she continued to watch him.
"I admit. When Fujitaka gave me the last minute instructions I was quite puzzled. In truth I had worried that his illness might have addled his judgment on the matter but he seemed clear, concise, and sure enough of what he had told me that I didn't even question it. He never gave me reason to doubt him either. Even if he was ill, he didn't act like it at all."
Sakura nodded mutely, unable to say anything to his words.
"But this…" he said in a low voice. It seemed like the man was talking mostly to himself now. "The Li Xiao Lang," he muttered, still in that disbelieving voice. "How Fujitaka would think and expect his daughter would even be in speaking terms with the man… Bet he didn't even know who the man was… Should have questioned him about it… Misjudgment on my part…"
Nao was shaking his head as he continued to talk to himself.
It was obvious at this point that the man was suffering from some form of internal struggle.
Sakura glanced at Tomoyo who had also glanced at her at the same moment.
"Okay," Nao suddenly said in a much clearer voice.
Both women snapped their heads to look at him.
He looked at Sakura with a rather stern look on his face.
"Fujitaka gave me instructions, I can't ignore that. He was a dear friend of mine and God help me if he comes after my soul for denying his dying wish," he said with a rueful smile. "But, considering the special situation you are in and since you are Fujitaka's only child whom I personally know he adored wholeheartedly…"
Sakura held her breath, waiting for him to continue.
"I'll think about an alternative," he continued with a firm nod. "I know what your father wanted for you. He spoke of you often enough to me through the years it's easy enough to know what the man was aiming for with this will. Give me a bit of time to think this entire thing over."
'I suppose it's better than nothing,' Sakura thought to herself.
Tomoyo reached under the table and gave Sakura's leg a reassuring pat.
"Thank you Morita-san."
"Yes, thank you."
Nao smiled at them both and shook his head. "Just as long as my old friend's wishes are met in the end, then I don't mind cooperating."
Eriol raised his brows and continued to watch the scene, completely bemused.
"What?" Syaoran snapped. The scowl he had been wearing for the past hour was still plastered on his face.
The two people in front of him jumped in response to his abruptness while Eriol started howling with laughter even though he was the recipient of the man's towering temper.
"Go find something else to do," Syaoran said with a glare when he handed over an order sheet he had just signed.
The pair didn't waste time at all to follow his orders. They scurried away while throwing furtive glances over their shoulders at the two men.
"It's obvious to me," Eriol said, trying to wipe the tears that had formed in the corner of his eyes, "that you're not taking the absence of your girlfriend all too well."
Syaoran didn't bother replying as Eriol continued snickering. People passing by them carrying various decorations and items to be used for the ball for the next day were glancing their way time and again.
Shaking his head at the still apparent stoic demeanor his friend was showing, Eriol slapped his hand hard onto Syaoran's shoulder.
He still didn't respond.
"Syaoran, it's only been twenty-four hours since you've been with Sakura. Surely you can't be suffering from her absence as much as you think you are?" he asked with a grin.
True enough, he too missed Tomoyo. Even if they don't spend every single day together, he was still in contact with her for most of the time that it felt like that anyway. Now, with her being so preoccupied with Sakura, the girl barely spoke to him except for a simple good night the previous evening.
This was precisely why he had come to the venue of the anniversary ball, to take his mind off things. And seeing Syaoran being in a worse mood than he was made him think it was the best idea he'd had in a while. It made him feel better about his own situation at least.
"This has nothing to do with her not being with me," he said rather defensively. "Although to be honest I don't like that fact either."
"Then what is it?"
"We talked for a while last night…"
"Good for you," Eriol interjected in a jealous mutter.
"…and everything was fine until she sent me a text earlier about being with one of her seniors in college today."
"What's so bad about that?"
"She's with a guy."
"So?"
"I can't recall Sakura ever being with any guy. Not even in the office. She's acquainted to a number of them, yes, but that's only because of her job and she's never been with them in any way, not even in a casual or friendly manner."
Eriol raised a brow at him. Surely he wasn't jealous of something like this?
"I know what you're thinking," he said with a glare at the incredulous expression on his face. "But this is different. From what I gathered after being with Sakura, she's as much of a cynic as I am. That's why she's been-"
"A virgin," Eriol finished with an understanding nod which earned him another glare from Syaoran.
"-an innocent," Syaoran corrected in a forced voice at which Eriol rolled his eyes, "until she met me. That and she had always been so secretive about her past."
That last part jabbed at Eriol's curiosity.
"Secretive about her past? Why?"
Syaoran shrugged. "I assume something bad happened to her back then in her hometown. That's how it feels like anyway. Whenever I ask her something about her childhood or anything about her when she used to live in Tomoeda, she always became evasive."
"That's… Interesting."
"If something traumatizing happened to her then, I understand. That's why I never pushed the matter. But this time it got me a bit riled. She's actually spending time with a friend- if he really is a friend –which goes against what I thought I knew about her. For God's sake, the only actual friend I know she has is Tomoyo. So really, she's not only bad at getting close to men but also to women."
"Isn't that assuming a bit too far?" Eriol asked, shaking his head. "Although Tomoyo speaks highly and mostly of only Sakura, even she has other friends too. She's not as close with them but they're friends nonetheless."
Syaoran shook his head in return.
"Not Sakura. I've never even met any of her other friends besides Tomoyo. I haven't even seen her text or talk to anyone else on the phone besides her. She never mentions any other person in our conversations besides her either."
Eriol's brows shot up again, this time surprised yet obviously impressed. Here he thought Syaoran's social standing was poor. Turns out there was someone else much worse. And she didn't have a good reason either. He understood why Syaoran was the way he was with his relationships, it was to be expected from a man of his position, but Sakura was an ordinary office worker, a beautiful ordinary office worker sure, but ordinary all the same. If she was a billionaire business tycoon like Syaoran then, he supposed, it wouldn't have been too surprising.
"Is something the matter?"
Sakura took her eyes off her cell phone and looked back at Naoki. "Nothing! Just checking for mail."
She had sent Syaoran a text about where she was going and who she was with almost three hours ago now and all he had said was that he was busy. Was he upset? She had been racking her brain all this time trying to think of what she could have said or done.
"Is it a guy?"
Sakura blushed. Was she that obvious?
Naoki frowned, watching her pink-tinged cheeks at his question. So it was a guy then. Well of course, the woman was gorgeous, how can she not have a boyfriend by now?
When their meeting ended yesterday with his father, both women had left the bank but not before Nao invited them to join him and Naoki for the grand re-opening of one of Tomoeda's largest museums where Nao was one of the board of directors.
So here they were now, after the ribbon cutting, following along with the special tour where a number of people were also participating.
"I… I still can't believe we've actually met before," Sakura suddenly said. She wanted to steer the conversation away from her love life. If Naoki's father got wind that she actually was in a relationship and with "the Li Xiao Lang", as he so put it, he might reconsider thinking about the will again.
Naoki grinned at this statement, obviously pleased she had mentioned it.
Right when they met up earlier that day, with Tomoyo flirting away with the older Mr. Morita to gain his sympathy and approval for Sakura's case, Naoki had told her all about his identity and that he had known Sakura since before then.
This greatly surprised Sakura and she wasn't entirely sure what to think of it. She thought it was a good thing that she had one more thing to add to her connection to Mr. Morita although it was his son and not him directly, but she wasn't pleased with the idea of being in the presence of a person who knew her from her school days.
"It was hard not to make the connection," he said, still smiling widely.
Sakura grimaced at his words.
"I mean, you're as beautiful as you were back then in college," he added, in which she sighed in relief.
If that was how he remembered her, then it wasn't all too bad.
"Of course, I've heard a lot about you even before I met you," he continued which made Sakura stiffen once more. "So I already knew who you were when I finally met you face to face. The ridiculous things people said about your-"
Naoki cut off as his father's familiar booming laughter echoed in the hall which earned him an immediate and disapproving shushing from the tour guide. Nao and Tomoyo were in the middle of the group while he and Sakura took the rear.
Sakura sighed in relief at the interruption. She did not like where he was going with this conversation. It was a sensitive topic.
"So are your nursing skills still of use until now?" she asked, yet again trying to steer the conversation away.
Naoki grinned again but shook his head.
"Sad to say they were only ever of use back then," he said with a laugh.
"Thank you, by the way. I don't believe I've ever gotten around to thank you that time. Mind you, I was in tremendous amounts of pain."
He waved his hand at her. "It wasn't much."
When Naoki mentioned to her that they had met before in college, it didn't take long for Sakura to make the connection. She barely spoke to anyone in college if she could help it so it was easy enough to remember where she had supposedly met him especially since he added they met in the university's infirmary.
It had happened when Sakura was experiencing an awful bout of dysmenorrhea. She was close to fainting from the pain and had all but staggered into the infirmary where he was just about to take his leave. No one else was there and although she wanted no contact with anyone at all, she had no choice but to get his assistance.
He led her to a bed and gave her pain medication from one of the clearly labeled shelves. And that's how they met.
Once Sakura drank the tablets, she rolled over in bed and immediately fell into sleep to further ease her discomfort. She can't even remember exchanging any words with him except for her repeated words of "It hurts" at the time.
The corner of Sakura's mouth twitched as the scene passed through her head again.
"So Kinomoto-san, I haven't heard anything about you since college. How have you been?"
"Yes, I moved out as soon as I graduated. Life is great in Tokyo. Although it isn't too far from Tomoeda, the way of life is quite different when you're in a big city."
"Oh, so you live in Tokyo now?"
'Damn,' Sakura thought. She hadn't exactly planned on announcing that fact to anyone from Tomoeda. Even she had repeatedly told her father to avoid telling anyone about it. "Yes."
"Well, I knew you had left town ages ago but from how you were in college, I never would have imagined you to move to a big city like Tokyo. You were so reserved back then. How'd you survive?" he asked jokingly.
Sakura had to force a laugh.
This was precisely why she didn't like staying in Tomoeda and precisely why she escaped the town the second she got the chance. The place was too small for its own good. When juicy pieces of news came up, it never took long for the word to get out to everyone.
"Sakura," Tomoyo suddenly interrupted. She was now standing right beside Sakura that it surprised her enough to make her jump a little. "Mr. Morita said he wants to show us a few of his personal collection at his home. He says your father gave it to him during his excavations trips years ago. Do you want to go see them after the tour?"
Sakura turned to Tomoyo then to Nao who was standing a little ways away. He was looking intently at his son. She turned to Naoki who was smiling and shaking his head at his father before he turned to look at her.
"You should have dinner with us as well," he added. The startled look on Sakura's face wasn't lost on him. "I've known for years that our fathers were close friends but I never bothered to make the connection between Fujitaka-san and yourself until yesterday. We should use the opportunity to be friends as well."
The sincere grin on his face made it difficult for Sakura to object. That and the expectant smile on Tomoyo's face as well. She figured Tomoyo was still in the middle of her bid to get Mr. Morita to serve in Sakura's favor so she can't blame the girl for her desperate attempts.
Plus, this would be a great opportunity for her to win Mr. Morita's favor.
And besides, it's only dinner. How bad can it be?
Author's Note:
So this is the last chapter I have that's ready. The next chapter is still under works. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it by Friday. If not, I might have to skip my next weekend's update 'cause I'm going to New York City to visit a couple of friends. From there, we're going on a road trip down to Virginia. So excited!
I'll try my hardest to write though! But no promises.
See you next time! Ja ne!
Raeny