Valkyrie85: Hello everyone ; ) Nice to see you guys again. Thank you so, so, so much for your reviews! I got so much ideas from them. Well, here's the next chapter. I hope you'll like it just as much, and hopefully will review!

Chapter 12

Syaoran played it cool with a smile. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"If you don't want me to go out there and announce it to the press, I suggest you walk out on the runway tonight with me as your partner instead of Kinomoto," Rena replied with a triumphant smile.

She wasn't fooled by his indifference.

"Like I said," he repeated calmly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

The way he looked into her eyes made everything too convincing at the moment. She was beginning to have her doubts, but then she pulled out a small recorder from her pocket and every trace of her doubt was gone.

Her boney finger pressed the play button and a familiar conversation began.

"Your friend has the potential. I want to help her out. You look like you don't believe me." Syaoran said.

"I don't." This time, a female voice replied. It was Sakura's.

"In order for this to work, I need your help. I need you to be my fake girlfriend."

"Are you out of your mind, Li?"

"No, I'm dead serious."

Something felt wrong. The recorder continued to play, but Syaoran didn't need to listen to the rest of it to check if it was fake.

He was caught, and there was proof.

There were many times when paparazzi got pictures of him and his rumoured girlfriends, but this time it was a totally different situation. If the public were to find out about this, his career could possibly end right there.

He had a feeling that something like this would happen sooner or later because he had been pretty loose on his part on trying to hide the secret.

He told himself that he shouldn't have gone to a café. But, then again, where else could he have gone to other than that place? It was one of the highly-secured cafes where public figures like him could go to, without having the fear of being eavesdropped.

The cafe had secret detectors installed in every part of it, in case if people like Rena recorded conversations.

…Finally, something clicked. He remembered that the tables around his table were all empty on that day. There was no way for Rena to record if she wasn't present herself. Even if she had hired someone else to do so, they wouldn't get very far with the installed detectors.

The only exception was if…the person who came up with all of this had invincible power, possibly someone of high social status as well…someone who wanted to see Syaoran's reputation get hurt.

When he came to this conclusion, he didn't feel scared. No, not the least bit. Instead, he felt a spasm of excitement.

He always liked challenges, and he was granted one.

"Who gave you this?" Syaoran asked Rena casually. His unaffected response took Rena aback because the victorious smile on her face faded instantly and the colour from her face was washed away.

"It doesn't matter who. This is the thing you should worry about the least at the moment, shouldn't it?"

The fact that she didn't even deny his accusation confirmed his suspicion. He grinned at his analyzing skills.

Syaoran took a step towards her, and she took 2 steps back. He kept on walking until he pinned her to the wall. His hands were supported by the wall, one on each side of her head.

Rena blushed furiously at their position. Any other time would have been great, especially if they were doing this in front of the press. But now, the atmosphere didn't hold any romance and intimacy.

"How are things between you and the Jacelyn & Tracy. manager? Has he any luck in getting you the job for the ad. Campaign?" he asked curiously. Chills ran down her spine.

"How do you know this?" Rena asked, frightened. She felt unsafe standing so close to Syaoran. She tried to move away from him, but there was no more space.

Syaoran smiled dangerously. "Just the way you found out mine. Now, we could make this easy if you co-operate. Tell me who gave you the recorder, stay quiet for the show and I'll get you the contract that you've always wanted. Or, we could do it the hard way. I announce your rendezvous with that married man to the press and make sure that your future career in this industry like hell. Which one do you choose?"

Rena made no hesitations when she blurted out her decision. "I-I don't know who the person is. I received a package last night with initials A.K. on it. I opened it and there was a cheque, a note, and the recorder. It told me that I could use this against you."

Rena was so scared, she couldn't bring herself to look into Syaoran's burning amber orbs. She was shaking when he tilted her chin up with his finger. Unwillingly, she made eye contact with him.

"Thank you for co-operating with me. You can relax now. I won't hurt you. But there's one thing that I must warn you about," Syaoran said in a voice that wasn't kind but wasn't as cold as before.

Rena's silent stare told him that she agreed. She was still scared to talk.

"I want you to stay away from Sakura from now on."

Rena's eyes widened at his warning. From his words, she realized that he had known about her real intentions, all along. All those times when she tried to make up excuses just to get near him…he had known all along.

But why didn't he do anything to stop her?

"I-I did something to her heels…" she said to him quietly, before she could shut her mouth. She felt so pathetic for confessing to him her sins.

Without listening to the rest of her words, Syaoran dashed out the door, almost knocking over his stylists on the way.

A man in his late twenties stared with concentration into his big computer screen, chin resting on his hands.

The light in his office was dimmed due to the blinds.

He was so concentrated on what was on the screen that he nearly jumped up when someone spoke from behind. "Is Sakura's show starting, yet?"

It was the man's wife of 2 years but girlfriend of many more, Kinomoto Kaho, or as the public knew, Annie Kinomoto.

"Mizuki, how many times do I have to tell you to knock before you enter?" the man looked up and growled at his secretary/wife, trying to hide his previous startle. "Mizuki" was his wife's old last name. He used it whenever he felt the need to have authority.

His wife ignored his outburst and leaned over him to look at the screen again, as if nothing had happened. "Yes sir ," she replied casually, not full-heartedly in any way.

Kinomoto Touya sighed defeatedly. In front of his workers, he was the responsible, solemn CEO that everyone respected and knew, but hardly appeared in public. However whenever he was at home, his wife's behaviour around him made him feel small…and even normal. Perhaps that was the reason why he married this woman.

He stood up from his seat and went to close his office door. By the time he returned to his desk, Kaho was already seated in his chair. Her chin rested on her palm.

"Did you send the flowers to Sakura and Tomoyo?"

"I did," Touya replied.

"You didn't use Aaron, did you?" Kaho made sure, although she knew that Touya wouldn't have done something so carelessly.

Aaron Kinomoto was his English name. It was what the public knew him by. It was also the name that all of his business partners knew him by.

"Of course." Touya said, his mind else-where.

"Good, hopefully they'll like the flowers that I personally picked out."

Don't be so happy yet. The contract I signed with Daidouji lasts for 6 months, which means that you will have to be my fake girlfriend for just as long…

The words played inside Sakura's head again and again. Even as she was getting ready for the show, getting dressed and getting her makeup done, she never managed to let those words slip out of her mind.

The day before, she spazzed at Syaoran over the news. Originally, she was told by Syaoran that their deal would last until the end of his contrac. She automatically assumed that it would only take about a month or two. How stupid of her to have assumed that so quickly.

She later apologized, however unwillingly, to him because of her unreasonable outburst.

Even though she overreacted, it wasn't entirely unreasonable of her. After all, she didn't come to Japan so that she could fake-date some superstar. She was afraid that once her internship started, which was in two days, she wouldn't be able to handle both things at once and would be distracted from her priority.

She sat on a chair and slid on her stiletto heels slowly, while everyone else in the backstage moved busily. The show was going to start in less than 5 mintues.

"Sakura! Standby. You are making the entrance with Syaoran!" Kase called from the curtains. She quickly stood up and started pacing towards Kase.

Suddenly, the heel of her shoes broke off. She stumbled and fell to the floor. Everyone around her had quick reflexes and moved away before they got pushed down by her.

The pain from her sprained ankle was torturous, but she didn't make any sounds. She bit her lips tightly so that no sound escaped her mouth. Tomoyo's dream was going to come true minutes away and she wasn't going to ruin it.

People around her tried to help her get up but she shook their hands off. Slowly and painfully, she attempted to sit up.

A hand extended out to her. For some reason, she didn't reject it and used it as a supporting stand.

"Hikari, can you get some ice for her ankle and throw these heels away so no one else will get hurt," Syaoran ordered. He led Sakura to a nearby chair, carrying most of her weight. He carefully placed her on the chair and the injured leg on another.

"What's going on!" Kase shouted angrily from the curtains again, oblivious to what was happening. "Syaoran and Sakura, get here now!"

Syaoran examined Sakura's swollen ankle quickly and said," You won't be able to walk, tonight."

Sakura bit back her pain and hissed dangerously. "Yes, I can. Let me go now."

"Syaoran, get up there with Rena NOW!" Kase, who finally realized Sakura's circumstance, barked.

Ignoring Kase, Syaoran replied to Sakura pressingly, almost as if he was holding down his temper. "Walking awkwardly up there with that ankle will only embarrass your friend. If you even want to make an appearance tonight, stay calm and wait for me to come back for you."

He approached Kase, who had a line of models forming behind him already. Unsurprisingly, they all stopped what they were doing and were looking at Sakura and Syaoran, the whole time.

"I will go up, but just not with Rena," he told to Kase in his usual voice again.

Sakura was shocked, but obviously Akira wasn't because she gave her a huge wink like she knew he would have said that, before she was ordered back into spot by Kase.

The minute Syaoran made his entrance, cameras began flashing desperately. Media from all over the world attended this show because it was the first time in history that a top model like Syaoran modelled for a small brand. They all gathered to witness the collection of clothes that captured Syaoran's interest.

Doing shows wasn't a big deal for Syaoran. He kept his hands in his pockets as he walked down the catwalk.

The faces of all the attendees were blinded by the dimmed lights. Yet, he was trying his best to make out the faces. He wanted to find the person who desired his career fallback. He decided that there were numerous amounts of suspects.

He gave a handsome smile once he reached the edge of the runway. It was a triumphant smile directed to the master mind who thought that he would easily give in and collaborate with Rena. Hopefully, the master mind was watching all of this.

Making a turn, he headed back into the backstage.

When he got back, he found Sakura's view blocked by Tomoyo's body.

"I'm so sorry, Sakura," Tomoyo apologized sadly. It definitely did not sound like the first 'sorry' from the expression on Sakura's face.

"Don't worry. Sakura will walk for you, tonight, no matter what," Syaoran convinced Tomoyo, placing a firm hand on her shoulder.

Sakura's eyebrows rose at him, even though she strongly wanted to believe his words.

"How can that happen with that swollen ankle of hers?" Tomoyo spoke what was on Sakura's mind. She took a look at her ankle that was being taken care of by Hikari.

Syaoran smiled half-crookedly. He bent down and picked Sakura in his arms, bridal style. "Like this."

Sakura didn't kick or struggle in his arms. Syaoran took that as a good sign and brought her left arm around his neck. "Just so we know you're safe in my arms," he looked down and winked.

Their colleagues gasped and awed at the sight. Sakura felt her face flush the tiniest bit.

When Rena, being the second last model of the show, returned, she made a moment of eye contact with them and then walked away, looking down at the floor.

"Are we ready?" Syaoran asked Sakura and Tomoyo, who was standing beside them.

With nods from both girls, he carried Sakura out onto the runway. Tomoyo tagged behind.

"And now, please give a round of applause to Daidouji—" the host looked at Syaoran and Sakura and cut off in surprise.

"Dai-douji Tomoyo and her group of models."

His final words were cut off when the audience rose to their feet for a standing ovation. In addition to the sound of their hands was the click of the cameras.

This was one of the most exclusive moments. By the end of tonight, the picture of Syaoran and Sakura would surface online. By tomorrow morning, they will be on the cover of all types of newspapers and magazines all over Asia, or possibly even other parts of the world.

There you have it, A.K. I hope you see how happy I am with her.

To Sakura's total astonishment, he descended his lips upon hers. This time, it wasn't a fake kiss.

Valkyrie85: Rena is quite an easy target, if you ask me. She gets persuaded easily and gets scared off even more easily! What did you think of this chapter? Who's the A.K. person who supposedly wants to see Syaoran's career fallback...or is it really the fallback that the person wants to see happen? I know that the pace of the story for the past few chapters have been slow. That's because all this modelling stuff is one of the most important turning points in the story. From the next chapter on, I promise that the pace will pick up. Anyways, remember to REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!

~~btwwww, SYAORAN KISSED SAKURA!~~~

I'm looking forward to your reviews ; ) (Sometimes I want to reply to all of yours, but I'm scared of spoiling the story. Please forgive me for not replying in the past. From now on, if you would like a reply, please tell me. Or, if there's something you're unsure about, I'll also reply. )