A/N: Hey guys! sorry for the long wait but my writing time has been cut down by half :( I'll be updating again soon though to make up for the long wait :) Thank you so much for your reviews! I love them all and all of you guys :3 Anyways Enjoy!
-R&R-
-DarkAngel :3
-Sakura's POV-
"Xiao-Lang, are you not going to introduce me to your friend?" An elegant voice said from behind us and I saw Syaoran jump a little.
We both turned and I almost gasped at the beautiful woman standing in front of me. She had pale white skin and a cascade of beautiful ebony hair. I remembered the photo Syaoran had shown me once and figured he was his mother. I glanced nervously at Syaoran who seemed to pale by the second so I stepped in bowing slightly.
"My name is Sakura Kinomoto, I'm a friend of Syaoran's, pardon my intrusion this late." I said politely and Syaoran looked at me awe. Oh, I was going to hear about this later.
"Well what a polite young lady you are. I'm Yelan Li, Syaoran's mother, but you may call me Yelan." She said walking around the kitchen island and giving a slight bow of her head.
"Mother, I thought you were attending the ball today." Syaoran said in respectful tone and I could see his whole demeanor had changed. He was standing straighter (If that was even possible, the man stood as if he had a rod on his back at all times), his face went back to the stony look he held at the beginning when we weren't friends and I could tell his mother made him a little nervous.
"I already attended, without you, your sisters or your cousins, they are simply a bore." She said with a small smile. "What are you all dressed up for?"
"Tonight was the fall festival and there was a Halloween ball afterwards." Syaoran said and I realized I still had his jacket on.
"I've never seen that suit before." She said in a questioning tone and I saw Syaoran's hand twitch a little.
"My best friend made it for him as well as my costume and all of our friends's. She's pursuing Fashion after she graduates." I cut in. She looked at us for a while, studying our attire.
"Well she's very talented, tell her that if she'd like I can give a recommendation for an internship with one of our fashion houses." She smiled gently at me and I smiled back.
"Thank you she will be delighted to hear such news."
"Do you mind if I take a picture? This is the first time Xiao-Lang has actually attended a school dance or actually have a date. He always takes Meiling or Eriol with him whenever he goes to an event." She said and pulled out her phone and Syaoran blushed at the last part.
"Mother please-" Syaoran started to protest but I cut him off.
"We all went together as a group not as a couple but I don't mind." I said knowing I could torture Syaoran about it later.
"Perfect! I'm sorry I just assumed since your costumes match. Now, get closer." She said and we did. We smiled for her phone and she snapped the picture.
"Would you mind taking off the jacket so the costume shows?" Yelan asked and I shrugged off Syaoran's jacket draping it on the kitchen island. We started to pose once again before I noticed his tie was crooked.
"Hold on." I said and turned, fixing it.
"Thanks." Syaoran mumbled as he looked down to watch me fix it.
"Alright, good." I said and we turned to Yelan. She had a smile on her face that reminded me of Eriol, as if she knew something you didn't and held up her phone again to take our picture.
"Perfect, now get closer." She signaled with her hand and we did. Syaoran put his arm around my waist pulling me closer and I leaned towards him a little.
"Thank you Sakura, now I'll leave you guys to your night." She smiled brightly and I smiled back. "Goodnight son, Sakura." She kissed his cheek and then mine.
"Goodnight Yelan." I smiled.
"Goodnight mother." Syaoran said and Yelan turned and left the kitchen.
"Your mother is very nice." I smirked turning to grab the chips from a cabinet.
"And you are politeness impersonated so it seems." He said sarcastically and I turned to catch him smirking at me. I struggled to grab a bag of chips from a higher shelf before I heard him chuckle from behind me and reach for them easily.
"When Tomoyo was young she had to attend etiquette and manner classes but the only way she'd go was if I went. So since I was 7 I used to sneak out to go to her house, she had her private tutor teach me everything as well." I explained and snatched the chips out of his hands. He grabbed two sodas and a bag of popcorn and we headed to his room. We sometimes played in the game room but for the most part we played in Syaoran's room.
"I'm impressed, you seemed like a completely different Cherry." He smirked and I glared at him.
"Whatever Wolfie, just be glad I saved your ass with your mom." I said and now it was his turn to glare. "What's this about Mr. Casanova not taking any dates to any events though?"
"It's too much of a pain, these girls I was forced to date were all the same: brainless, boring, spoiled suck ups." He said as we settled in front of his giant TV.
"Like Kari?" I joked and he chuckled.
"Yes! They're all Kari clones, some of them are even worse." He laughed and so did I.
We played for a while before we got tired and Syaoran put on a movie on. We sat against his headboard and passed a bowl of popcorn between us. About half way through the movie I began to nod off.
"Here." Syaoran said giving me a black pair of sweats and a white shirt. I took the clothes and changed in the bathroom, glad to be out of the costume. When I came back I saw Syaoran had changed into a black tank top and green plaid pajama bottoms. Now comfortable we settled to keep watching the movie and before I knew it I was asleep.
"SAKURA!" I heard someone squeal and I woke up disoriented.
"What? What? What's going on?" I asked trying to gather my surroundings. I sat up just in time to get tackled by Tomoyo.
"Oh Sakura! I'm so sorry for not being there last night, Syaoran called me this morning and told me everything about Shoda-kun." She said while she hugged me to death, and I was relieved he didn't tell her about my mother.
"Can't breathe 'Moyo." I squeaked and she let me go.
"Are ok though? I'll have my secret service beat him up if you want." She said and I laughed.
"I'm fine Moyo is not like I liked him, we just danced together. Plus Syaoran already beat you to wanting to beat him up, had I not stopped him last night he would have killed him." I smiled.
"Very chivalrous of him." She smiled.
"I suppose, but it was only because we're friends." I shrugged and threw the green silk sheets back and started for the bathroom, Tomoyo following.
"You sure that's the only reason why?" She asked and I looked at her through the mirror lifting an eyebrow.
"Why else would he?" I said going back to washing my face. I saw her reflection shake its head with a bemused smile.
"Never mind, either way how come you slept here last night? Syaoran asked me to bring you a change of clothes." She asked and I was glad the towel was hiding my face right then, or she would have noticed me freeze up.
"He got the new call of duty game so we stayed up playing." I thought quickly and opened the door just to bump into Syaoran. "Wear a bell Wolfie, dang." I said rubbing my forehead, his chest was so damn hard.
He smirked and looked down at me. "Awww did wittle Chewy get hwut?" He mocked at me and I punched his arm. "Ow!" He mock cried and I rolled my eyes, walking past him with Tomoyo in tow.
"Hurry up and shower, you're all sweaty and nasty." I said making a face even though it was far from the truth, the sweat just made him look better, if that was even possible.
He grabbed a towel and a pair of black jeans and a white v-neck. "We're having breakfast in the second dining room and you can use the other room to change." He said and I nodded heading towards the door to the right of the TV.
"Let's go Moyo." I said and we left through the door. The room to Syaoran's right was supposed to be reserved for the future lady of the house or so Wei said when he gave me the official tour of the house. Everything was in tones of light pink, rose gold and white. There was a huge Canopy bed, a dresser, a desk and a small lounge area near the door. Syaoran said there was more to the room but since it wasn't being used it was left to the bare minimum.
Tomoyo pulled a large shopping bag from behind her and I wondered how had I missed that the entire time.
"Here, get changed." She said passing me the bag and sitting on the bed. "This room seems like it was decorated for you." Tomoyo remarked and I laughed.
"Far from it." I joked "It's meant for the future Lady of the house, a.k.a Syaoran's future wife. For the most part we stay up late and knock out on the floor or his bed, but I rarely ever leave his room."
"Don't want anyone to see you in the middle of the night?" Tomoyo said wiggling her eyes suggestively and I rolled my eyes as I changed into a loose baby pink knit sweater, blue jeans and tan knee high boots.
"No, more like I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea." I shrugged. "Wei is the only one that knows I sleep over sometimes and he usually brings us breakfast and lunch to Syaoran's room."
We walked down the stairs to the dining room, having been here so many times I already knew most of the house, the second dining room was small and more fit for every-day use than the elegant and enormous dining room that was used for feasts and family gatherings.
"Good morning Sakura-sama." Wei greeted with a smile.
"Good morning Wei, this is my best friend Tomoyo Daidoji." I greeted.
"A pleasure Daidouji-sama." Wei smiled at her and Tomoyo returned it.
"All mine." She smiled and we took a seat at the table. Syaoran walked in then and sat at the head of the table and the maids brought in the food.
"Hotcakes! Yay!" I cheered and dug into my plate.
"Syaoran-sama requested them for you." Wei explained and Syaoran scowled at him.
"They're my favorite, thank you Wolfie." I smiled at Syaoran and he grunted in reply, reverting back to his old self in front of the staff. We ate with Tomoyo and I leading the conversation but as I ate my last bite Meiling burst in with Ryuji and Eriol in tow.
"It's terrible!" She exclaimed out of breath and Syaoran stood in a flash.
"Meiling what's wrong?" He asked worriedly and looked to Ryuji and Eriol for an explanation.
"Turn on the news." Ryuji said solemnly and we all got up and went up stairs to the game room where Syaoran turned on the TV.
"Well, Yuko today's top headline is hot, hot, hot!" A male newsman smiled towards the camera.
"That's right Kenji, it seems that Asia's most wanted bachelor Li Syaoran is officially off the market." The woman smiled back. "According to some inside sources he has been seen in a pretty close relationship with a certain honey-haired beauty."
"What?" I heard Syaoran say in a deadly voice.
"That's right, the young lady seems to also be a student at Tomoeda High School and has been identified as Kinomoto Sakura." The man informed and my school picture showed in the corner. "Here are some pictures of the new happy couple."
They showed a couple pictures of me and Syaoran dancing at the club, of us hugging the day before in the soccer field, of me laughing as I chased Syaoran while he had a small smile as well and a few of us dancing at the dance the night before, me resting my head on his chest while he held me close.
"What the-" I started before I heard a boom. I turned to see Syaoran with a some blood on his knuckles and a hole on the wall.
"Syaoran!" Meiling said in surprise and his eyes looked like they were on fire.
"The news have been spreading quickly and are all over the internet as well as TV." Eriol said solemnly.
"Sakura your phone is going off." Tomoyo said worriedly and I took my phone from her hands. I unlocked it and it just kept going off with unknown numbers sending me text messages.
I could feel my face pale and my hands begin to shake as I read text after text calling me every name in the book as well as threatening me. Syaoran snatched the phone away and after reading a couple of texts he threw it across the room, breaking it in the process.
"I'm sorry, I'll get you a new one." He said lowly and I could hear the contained rage in his voice. "Eriol find out who this 'reliable' source is, stat. Meiling get the media controlled." He ordered in a deadly low voice and they looked at him uneasily.
"You guys go, Ryu, 'Moyo would you mind accompanying them? I need to talk to Syaoran for a second." I said and Tomoyo looked at me curiously before I nodded at them to go and they left quietly.
-Syaoran's POV-
Rage, that was the closest word I could use to describe what I was feeling at the moment. Not only was Sakura dragged in the middle of a scandal but she was also being harassed and threatened. I felt guilty for unintentionally putting her in this situation but I mostly felt anger towards whoever do this and they were going to pay.
"Syaoran." Sakura interrupted me out of my thoughts and I found her staring at me in concern. "It's ok." She said softly and I breathed deeply.
"What do you mean it's ok? You saw those texts and I know tomorrow in school will not be any better and you're already dealing with your mother and what happened yesterday with Akira and-" I ranted getting angrier by the second before she placed a hand on my cheek stopping me on my tracks.
"It's ok, Wolfie. Everything will be ok." She said softly and I closed my eyes breathing deeply. We stayed like that for a moment before I opened my eyes again. "Better?" She asked taking away her hand and I nodded.
"Thank you." I said softly and she looked up at me with those beautiful green emeralds she called eyes and I felt my heart chill.
"Anytime." She smiled softly and I smiled back. "So, what happens now?" She asked and I sank onto the green bean bag.
"Growing up in the Li clan has gotten me used to these kind of things. Eriol will track down whoever started this and Meiling will stop it from spreading any further. Your things are already here from your mom's." I explained as she sank in the pink bean bag next to me.
"Thanks for not telling Tomoyo by the way, she'd just worry too much."
"Well you're welcome to stay here as long as you need." I offered earnestly.
"Thank you but-" she started but my mother walked in then interrupting us.
"I hope I'm not interrupting." She smiled and we stood.
"Absolutely not, Good morning Yelan." Sakura greeted politely and I almost smiled at the change.
"I need to speak to both of you, follow me to my office." She said and we followed her exchanging curious glances as we did.
*Kinomoto Residence*
-No ones POV-
Fujitaka, Nadeshiko and Touya were all in the living room watching TV after just having breakfast when Fujitaka changed the channel to the news.
"Well, Yuko today's top headline is hot, hot, hot!" A male newsman smiled towards the camera.
"That's right Kenji, it seems that Asia's most wanted bachelor Li Syaoran is officially off the market." The woman smiled back. "According to some inside sources he has been seen in a pretty close relationship with a certain honey-haired beauty."
"That's right, the young lady seems to also be a student at Tomoeda High School and has been identified as Kinomoto Sakura." The man informed and a picture of a young girl with honey hair and emerald green eyes ] showed in the corner. "Here are some pictures of the new couple."
A mug crashed on the floor as all three stared at the picture of the young lady in the corner.
"It's her." Nadeshiko whispered softly. "It's her!" She cried loudly and tears started to fall. Fujitaka, already sitting next to her, put an arm around her and pulled her close.
"That's the same girl I saw at the train station." Touya said in awe. "I didn't catch her name at that time but now I can see it definitely matches."
"You saw her before and didn't say anything?" Nadeshiko asked heartbroken.
"Oh Honey, Touya did tell me about a prospective girl that could be our Sakura but I didn't want to get your hopes up in case it wasn't the real deal." Fujitaka explained in a soft voice.
"I could never forget my baby girls eyes, it's definitely her." Nadeshiko said in a longing voice.
"I could try and talk to her after things calm down with this scandal, she goes to my old high school." Touya offered.
"That would be our best approach to her, for all we know she might not even know she has a family who's been looking for her." Fujitaka said and Nadeshiko nodded.
"All this time looking and she was right under our noses." Touya muttered and Fujitaka sighed deeply a little sad.
"She'll come home soon." Fujitaka reassured and both Nadeshiko and Touya hoped he was right.
*Li Mansion*
-Sakura's POV-
"Please sit." Yelan gestured at the chairs in front of her desk and we did. The maid that had been in the room bowed and left, closing the door behind her.
"I'm already aware of the news." Yelan said in a serious tone and I noticed Syaoran tense next to me. "I am not angry at either of you, this is obviously the work of someone trying to hurt the both of you. We'll find the culprit in less than an hour and they will pay the consequences but what I'm worried about is how this will affect both of you." She explained calmly and I felt myself relax a little once I heard she wasn't upset.
"What do you mean mother?" Syaoran asked.
"I mean school will be different since the news have already spread and more importantly the Elders back in Hong Kong already heard the scandal and are demanding that you make this right and make your relationship with Sakura public so this won't affect your image."
"What?" I asked in surprise.
"It basically means they want us to pretend to date for the sake of my image and public reputation." Syaoran said in an annoyed tone and I sat there baffled.
"I know it's a lot to ask for Sakura." Yelan started "But you'd really be helping Syaoran since he's expected to start taking some ownership of the Li Corp here in Japan soon."
"Really?" Syaoran asked in amazement.
"Yes son, I was hoping to tell you in better terms unfortunately." Yelan smiled and Syaoran looked happy, I guessed it really did mean a lot to him.
"I don't want to put you in that spot-" Syaoran started to protest but I interrupted him.
"I'll help you." I said after thinking about it for a second, Syaoran had not hesitated to help me out the night before, the least I could do was help him out after everything.
"What? Are you sure? Do you know what this implies Sakura?" Syaoran asked in bewilderment.
"Yes, but you didn't hesitate to help me out last night, let me return the favor." I said giving him a small smile and he nodded after a moment of hesitation.
"Oh yes, Sakura I did want to speak to you about that. I already know about your issue with your mother, before you say anything It wasn't Syaoran who told me, I have my ways; Anyways I have a proposition, what do you say to becoming Syaoran's assistant in exchange for your own room here and a decent paycheck?"
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed that short chapter, like I said I'l be updating again soon so be n the lookout! Remember to review/comment/ask questions. Love you guys :3 Till next time 3
