Chapter 11 Guardians

The phone started to ring at the other end. Sakura was feeling all nervous. How in the world would she explain what had just happened to her? Words started racing through her head. It was definitely going to be another long discussion. A part of her also wondered what it was that he wanted to go over with her. He had left a lot of messages and it only meant two things, they were of utmost urgency and they were very important. Sakura feared the worst things had been happening simultaneously at home while she was trying to get better but then forced herself to push out those thoughts.

"Hello?" A man answered at the other end of the line. Sakura felt her words sealed shut in her throat, like it suddenly went dry in her mouth.

"Hello? Tenaka-san? It's me Sakura." She forced herself to finally say something. It was no time to shy away now.

"Sakura! Oh my God! How are you, child?" Tenaka shouted over the phone, surprised, relieved all at the same time. Sakura had to move the receiver away from her ear or she swore she could have gone deaf. She couldn't help but smile. It seems that he would never change. He would always be like that, caring and protective. It was no wonder why her parents trusted him so much, especially with her and Touya's lives.

She allowed her mirth to be heard as she brought back the receiver to her ear. "I'm doing better now, Tenaka-san. Thank you. I'm sorry to worry you or should I say almost given you a heart attack. I'm really sorry. How is 'nii-chan doing?" She said.

Sakura heard the man exasperate from the other end. She closed her eyes as her smile slowly faded. "There's still no change in his condition, Sakura. But I suppose no progress or regression is somewhat a good thing. He is still hanging in there."

"Yes. I suppose. So what was it that you wanted to talk to me about a few days ago? It sounded very important and urgent."

"Ah yes. Sakura, your father's company is in trouble financially. The cover up a few months back has been really expensive and it had taken its toll on the company. I thought that we would eventually pass that. But with your brother in the hospital, we need a lot of money to keep the company going. We need at least half a billion yen so that the company can stand again. I received a call today from Shinohara Yuiji expressing his desire to buy off the company since he had been hearing rumors of our troubles. I told him that as of now, we are not considering offers because we are still doing ok. But it's only a matter of time before we have exhausted that option." Tenaka explained.

Sakura reflected on this latest predicament. It seemed like one trouble led to another if it hadn't come all at the same time. Yes. Reality was really a bitter-sweet thing. There were no manuals or classes you could take to really prepare you for the full force of the real world.

"Tenaka-san, all assets our parents left us if liquefied, estimates over 2 billion yen. Sell the house, the cars, the furniture. I will come this weekend to pick out family treasures that my brother and I will keep. Aside from that, sell everything. Take the half billion yen to save the company. Save the other billion for future emergencies. As for the remaining half, I know according to our parents will that it must be split between my brother and me but I want you, Tenaka-san, to take all that money and spend it on 'nii-chan. Pay for everything he will need. Medicines. Hospital stay. Everything. I have work here and I can manage to support myself without financial support from home. Also, as much as possible, we will leave personal expenses, especially my brother's, separate from company finances." Sakura said with much conviction and without even thinking twice.

"Alright. But I am not comfortable with you not having your money, Sakura. I understand your concern but your parents specified that both of you are taken cared of and not just Touya." Tenaka answered on the other end.

Sakura couldn't help but smile. Tenaka, the fifty year old man, who had come to be her father's right hand man, best friend, confidant and vice-president, always had a very gentle and fatherly heart. He reminded Sakura about her own father. They were very much alike. Aside from Tomoyo, he was the only one who knew everything that was going on, her secrets. He was after all her legal guardian at that.

"It's not my money, Tenaka-san. It is our parents. I am earning my money so I am fine. I can understand why you worry about me so much. It is your job as my legal guardian but please trust me. I am not only speaking as plain Sakura but also as the acting-CEO and president of the company. Think of it as a way to help protect my father's name…my father's legacy. They understand why I proposed this. They know that you are trying your best to protect 'nii-chan, me and the company as best as you can. As of now, that is the only way so please do this. I have faith that it will help things settle down until we can find the truth." Sakura replied, almost pleading.

"Sometimes I forget that I am talking to a child with how you think and reason out." Tenaka commented. Sakura, to him, was still a child. But over the past months, especially after the incident, she had grown up a lot. Her maturity was beyond her years. It was hard to believe that this was the same girl he had met while still in her mother's womb years back. He felt old and yet young at the same time. Aside from Sakura, he too had been doing a juggling act, making sure that Sakura and Touya's real identities were kept secret and their whereabouts remained unknown, and also taking care of the company with Sakura.

"Alright. It will be done accordingly. I will be expecting you this Saturday. Please be careful over there." He added.

"Yes, I will, Tenaka-san. Thank you." Sakura answered. Shaoran crossed her mind. She contemplated on whether she was going to tell him about Shaoran but then quickly dismissed the idea. It was better if she dealt with that herself. She didn't want to worry Tenaka more.

XxXxXx

After Sakura had the stitches removed, she returned to work at Water World aside from working at the flower shop since spring break was almost over and it would be school again. She needed the money. She needed it for emergency purposes for herself. She promised Tenaka that she would be alright. She wanted to keep her word.

When Shaoran found out about her working at Water World again, they had a little argument especially since they wouldn't be having the same shifts. But Shaoran couldn't really do anything about it. He liked to tease and annoy her, thus the argument. But more than that, he didn't want to leave her alone. He needed to be near her to prevent any bad things from happening.

When Sakura had finished her shift, she took a quick shower and gathered her stuff. She said goodbye to the others and headed out the women's locker room. She was surprised when she saw Shaoran waiting for her outside the door. "Hey. I thought that your shift finished hours ago?" Sakura said.

Shaoran grinned. "Yeah. It did. Obviously I am waiting for someone." He answered a little sarcastically.

"I wonder who that person could be…" She answered just as sarcastically. She shook her head.

"Geez. I wonder too. Uh maybe that could be you? What do you think?"

"I give up. This argument isn't going to get us anywhere." Sakura finally said.

Shaoran grinned. He was getting to her. He was finally getting through her. "So where were you last weekend? I didn't see you around. You weren't even answering your phone." He commented as they walked.

"I'm sorry but are you my boy friend or something that you need to know where I am all the time?"

"Uh yeah."

"Funny. Might I remind you that that is just an act for school? Besides, can you just step back a little because it's becoming a little too close for comfort."

"That's nothing new with regards to both of us. Me being close to you is always too close for comfort. And so that we are on the same picture, might I just remind you that someone tried to kill you. How in the world can I protect you if I don't know where you are?"

"Well that's your problem, isn't it? Look, I really appreciate it and everything but seriously, it's getting more complicated. Fine, if you must know…I went home last weekend. Happy?" Sakura answered. There was a much more depressed tone in her voice than usual that Shaoran failed to notice. Going home brought back the full force of reality to Sakura. It brought back a lot of memories, good and bad that it was overwhelming. Just the night before, she had been with Tomoyo and told her everything about it. She had been crying without even realizing it until Tomoyo handed her a handkerchief and laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Yes. When you weren't answering your phone, I was worried that you ended up in some ditch or worse."

"What's worse than ending up in a ditch? That usually happens when you're already dead."

Shaoran smirked and answered, "Sometimes death is sweeter. There are far worse scenarios than death."

"Yeah. Living through it when you shouldn't have…that's worse. I see what you mean." Sakura replied dryly. Shaoran looked at her and that was when he noticed that there was something different about her. Her actions were a little different.

Sakura noticed so she suddenly tried to cover it up. She rebounded from her glumness that it almost felt weird. "I'm sorry." She said. She then glanced at him a little and continued, "I'm just a little down at the moment. Sorry. I'm really not in the mood to get into debate with you. It's just…forget it."

"I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't really mean what it sounded like. I…well…I meant that…I'm really sorry. It sounds like you need a friend and I've been a total loser." Shaoran quickly said, realizing that he had unintentionally hurt her. He could have hit himself in the head for it. Why was he always tongue-tied when it came to her? He never seemed to know the right words to say at the right moment.

She smiled at him. But he noted that it was a sad smile. She really was down. She was showing him emotions that she wouldn't let him see. Or was it because he had learned to really listen to her? Or because that they had grown closer to each other? He told himself to put that on the back burner. He didn't need that answer now. He needed to be her friend at the moment. He could put off the thinking how he knew later on.

"So you finally admit that you are a loser. That's a big revelation, Shaoran. I should have had that on tape." Sakura teased although her voice didn't really show humor.

Shaoran grinned. He chose not to make a rebuttal. He brushed it aside and said, "You want to talk about it?"

"No. No offense but I really don't want to talk about it. I would want to forget it but like that's ever going to happen. I'm just passing the emotions right now since there really isn't something that I can do about it." Sakura replied as she took a deep breath to calm her emotions. She couldn't afford to falter even for a second. It was going to be suicide if she allowed that to happen.

Shaoran then had an idea. He smiled a little as he suddenly took Sakura's hand and started to drag her to another direction. "What are you doing?" Sakura quickly asked.

"Trust me."

"Where are we going then?"

"Somewhere to get away. We'll just go and get my motorcycle at home and I'll bring you there."

"Wait! Shaoran! I don't think this is such a good idea."

Shaoran smirked and replied, "Just trust me."

Sakura had no choice but to allow herself to be dragged along by Shaoran. She had no idea what he was up to. He didn't say anything as he led her to his house. She wasn't really that surprised when she saw it. It was to be expected from the Li clan. But somehow, when they entered the house so that Shaoran could drop his things off and get the keys in his room, it didn't feel like a home. Sakura felt it cold there for some reason. She didn't want to say anything to him. He hadn't volunteered any information or insight and so she took it as a cue that it wasn't something to be talked about. He had been respectful of her, not pushing her to reveal her secrets. She certainly wasn't going to pry with his secrets as well.

While in Shaoran's room, he offered her a seat while he fixed his stuff and got his keys. While they were there, a knock came from the door. "Yes?" Shaoran answered while continuing what he was doing. An old man peered in and said, "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know you have company, Master Shaoran."

Having located his keys, Shaoran headed for the door as he offered a hand to Sakura. She followed him. "Sakura, this is Wei-san. Wei-san, this is Sakura. She's a friend of mine." He introduced. The old man smiled. The warmness in the old man's smile sort of made Sakura think that this house wasn't that cold after all.

Sakura extended her hand and told him that it was so nice to meet him. The old man shook her and smiled. He then bowed. It was the first time Shaoran had brought a girl home. He figured that she was someone special to Shaoran even if Shaoran implicitly say that she was friend. She was very polite and pretty. Although, Wei somehow recognize this pain in the girl's eyes that he knew too well. Shaoran was like that as well. He reasoned that perhaps that was why Shaoran was close to her, they were the same. He kept his thoughts to himself.

"You wanted something, Wei-san?" Shaoran asked as they walked towards the front door.

"Ah yes. Forgive me. Your Father will not be home tonight. He has extended his stay at Tokyo for two more days. Your step mother will not be having dinner here this evening. She has said that she has a dinner appointment. Shall you be eating here tonight?" Wei asked.

Shaoran smiled. "Yes. Sakura and I will be having dinner here. Thank you, Wei-san." He said. The old man returned the smile and bowed. Before Sakura could react or say something, Shaoran had already taken her hand and escorted her outside. Wei smiled more as he watched them head to the garage to Shaoran's motorcycle. He waited for them to leave before he closed the door and headed back to his duties.

From the corridor by the stairs, they hadn't noticed that the Mistress of the house, Li Kaoru, had been watching. Even though she couldn't hear the conversation before they left because of the distance, she did get a good glimpse of the girl Shaoran was with and reportedly was close to. She smiled. But it was full of malice and hate. So, she's the little tramp he's in love with? She doesn't look special. Well, it would be nice to see how they will like my little surprise.

(to be continued…)

Hmmm…another chapter down. A lot of surprises will be around the corner and the next corner and the corner after that and the corner after that…well you get the picture right? Anyway, thanks to those who took the time to read and most especially review. I still need to ask you to review this chapter and the next ones as well. It gets my brain working you know. Summer classes are up…the other term for it is the third semester…it will be six weeks of pure, official school hell. So I will need a lot of reviews so that I will have a lot of ideas during my spare time (if I get one). Thanks.

Michiko