Author's Note: Voila! I updated. And I think I have a teensy crush on an awesome guy at work. Cheers!

IMPORTANT: This story is now coming to an end. (Gasp, I know!) I will be winding it up in another couple of chapters (I am thinking of ending it at 17) So please check out this space regularly, I will be putting up a poll with the next chapter and some other details are on the way. Arigatou.

Disclaimer: *Boring monotone* I do not own Clamp. *End of boring monotone*

"Have you ever looked at a braised potato close enough, my boy? Seen its deep brown coloring, crisp and colorful? And then, when you break it open, have you seen how the insides are cooked all tender and soft. A bite of smooth goodness and you feel like closing your eyes in the sweet delight that only a potato can give. It stands out amongst all its companions, the caramelized onions, bits of thyme and essence of garlic. The raw, unbridled wholeness of a potato is something you savor with each bite. I would say that potato is perhaps the most under appreciated thing in the history of mankind. It is attached with a mere commoner's tag when the succulent goodness goes beyond that. What do you think, Son?"

I stared at the man, utterly bewildered. What did I think? Why would I have to think anything about potatoes? I think of Sakura, soft and pliant in my arms who, for a change is not a figment of my imaginations anymore. I think of what all I can do to those gorgeous lips of hers when she is in my arms, I think, a lot, of those legs that go on forever and which she hides beneath those ghastly skirts of hers (not that I would, ever, tell her that!). And finally, I think she had conveniently forgotten to mention her uncle's obsession with potatoes when she invited me over for dinner tonight. I understand the man has an IQ beyond a lot of people's imaginations in this part of the world, but that surely wouldn't validate his obsession over potatoes, for Christ's sake. I stared at him cautiously and paused amidst serving myself salad.

"Err, I think it goes well with bacon?"

Kick.

I groaned inaudibly as I nursed my shins. Sakura always had a good aim when it came to me. My eyes watered mildly with the pain and gulped water as I caught her glare. This whole dinner thing was overwhelming me slowly. I wonder why I agreed to this in the first place. And I saw the reason sitting right across me, munching the Caesar salad cheerfully while she went around kicking people under the table like a bloody ninja.

Earlier in the day…

I leaned into her, nuzzling her neck slowly. She was raking patterns in my hair and sighing. Her mere presence was sensuous. I brushed her hair apart for deeper access when suddenly a loud sound rattled my brains. I jerked away and looked around frantically. Whatever was that clanging sound-

Her silent giggles distracted me. I looked at her suspiciously. It wasn't beyond her evil brains to purposefully lull me into her and then jerk me off abruptly. It was her trademark actually. So when I continued the stern look, she stopped her laughter and held up her hands in mock surrender.

"Alright, it was me. It was a new alarm clock I purchased and I wanted to try it out."

I stared at her. She either thought it was funny or hadn't completely relinquished that sadistic streak of hers. Why else would anyone schedule their snogging sessions with their boyfriend? Stress can unhinge people, I know but she was too young to go insane. After a long hard look, I sighed. She was so cute when she was oblivious to reality. I pulled her close once again, where it felt right and explained patiently, like you would explain a three year old why dunking orange juice in the toilet is a bad thing.

"that was not funny, Sakura. You have to stop doing that-"

She pulled away and looked at me quizzically.

"Who categorized it as funny?" She asked, ducking to retrieve her bag. "I really meant for the alarm to go. I have a meeting at 6." She stated, slinging her bag and standing in front of me with hands on her hips. I looked at her incredulously.

"You just timed our make out session!" I all but screamed. She was toying with me! But all I saw was a valiant effort to contain her mouth from quirking upwards. The nerve off this woman! I felt cheated. She pulled me into her and closed my frown with a kiss.

"The pout it is then, eh?" she asked, nibbling my ear softly. I groaned loudly but didn't say anything. She pressed a long kiss again.

" Syaoran, you know I really need to be in this meeting. It is crucial for my research."

"And here I am, after cancelling all my schedules for a complete week just so I can be with you." I grumbled, while she played with my hair.

"Ah, well. I'll have to make it up to you then. How does dinner tonight at my place sound?" She asked, smiling mischievously. I arched an eyebrow and looked at her questioningly. Sakura wasn't those female vixens I have seen all my life. She rarely bothered with sly undertones. So when she called the shots for dinner at her place, I was left to wonder what had gotten into her. Yes, her curses were no longer directed at me anymore, except in moments of exasperation and I could trust her with a cricket bat around me but this was not her. Surely she understood the meaning of inviting your boyfriend for an intimate dinner? Besides she wasn't just the type to plan an elaborate wine and dine to jump into the bed later, it was too twisted for her liking. She just asked for sex if she wanted it. That was the simplest thing for her usually. Not that I would mind being pampered once in a while.

"Are you sure?" I asked, doubt gnawing at me. Or maybe it was my empty stomach. I wouldn't know.

"Absolutely." She said and slipped from my grasp and turned down the corridor. I leaned to the wall and grinned. Like a complete idiot.

Later...

So imagine my surprise when I turn up for dinner that evening with a bottle of Dom Pérignon and I see Professor Fujitaka instead, his bald head shining and his portly figure wrapped up in a pink 'Best mom ever' apron. I struggled to form a coherent thought and gaped at him. What was he doing-

"Ah, Syaoran! Do come in. Sakura mentioned that she had invited you for dinner. I am so glad you could make it."

I gave mute nod and looked down to see that I was clutching the bottle of wine like a lifesaver. Loosening my grip, I held the bottle up for him to see like a nervous 5th grader on Valentines day.

"For us? Oh, how generous of you. Aren't you going to come in?" He asked, stepping aside uncertainly. Obviously he was as perplexed at my behavior as I was with his presence. He hustled over to the kitchen boisterously, humming to himself. I walked in slowly and saw Sakura grinning like Satan incarnate as she stood over the table and expertly tossed the croutons across the salad bowl. Finding my feet, I walked over to her and whispered furiously.

"What sort of a joke is this?"

She looked at me innocently and continued to toss the contents of the bowl. "Why, I don't see the humor in having dinner-"

"Why?" I hissed. Her insouciance was getting to me.

"Well, I thought I would tell uncle about us and what better occasion than dinner-"

"WHAT?"

"I would have told him myself but that would be inconsiderate for you-"

"that would be inconsiderate, really?" I shot back, implying as much sarcasm I could muster. "How about telling me your plans instead of big fat surprise falling on my head from the sky!"

She set down the bowl and went around the table to grab the salad dressing.

"Don't be daft, Syaoran. Obviously you would back out if I warned you before, wouldn't you?"

"I- maybe. But that's not-"

"I thought so too. Now quit being a wimp and help me set the table."

"I can't-"

"Sure you can. The knives go to the right and the forks to the left-"

"I meant the conversation. I don't know-"

"Nonsense. All you have to do is make some polite conversation and smile normally, unlike someone is torturing you. And then when that lull comes in between the meal, you can pitch in and say that we are together. Simple, yes?"

I stared at her and nodded wordlessly. Where she got the inspiration from to hit people straight on the face and smile as they sag and fall down, I wondered as I observed her stealthily through forks and spoons. A tsunami wave? A Walmart salesman? A Rottweiler? How about all the three rolled into one? Somehow, even that dreadful combination paled in front of her.

Now...

So I winced as I crossed my legs away from her reach and took a sip of water again, conscious of the old man's gaze on me. My brain was in a frenzy. What was politically correct with potato connoisseurs?

"Excuse us for a minute uncle, Syaoran promised he'd help me bring in the desert." Sakura said tartly as she scraped her chair and stood expectantly. I stood up and followed her against my intuition, excusing myself from the table. The minute we were in the kitchen she whirled and inched towards me.

"What do you think you are doing?" she said in a menacingly low tone as she clanked pots and pans to give us some time. I shrugged.

"I am trying my best to maintain my remaining sanity around your potato obsessed uncle." Surely she couldn't expect that it was normal, did she? Which sane man tenderly stroked potatoes while he ate them?

"Everyone has their quirks and so does my uncle. I don't see why you need to be so difficult when all you have to-"

"Difficult!" I yelped. "I am flabbergasted. How on Earth do you expect me to behave when I have no fricking idea on forming a coherent response involving potatoes?" I whispered back as I nicked three spoons for the fudge and turned towards her. She settled the dish aside and turned her gaze towards me.

"It isn't any easy for me either when you rant about your unholy love for chocolates?" she asked sharply.

I frowned. That was low, snake belly low. How could anyone compare sinfully rich chocolates with a sack of muddy potatoes? How would the decadence infused in chocolates be in the same league as the bland existence of a potato? And I said so.

She raised an eyebrow and glared at me. "They are either sweet enough to kill people or just the right amount of bitter to make people crazy. They kill your teeth and make you an addict. It stains your clothes and then your mind. You lust for those stolen bits of indulgence and then add another half an hour to your morning workout to reduce the fat they sneak into you. Frankly, it tastes and looks like mud or dirt across a racing track."

"That was love which you described then" I retorted while my mind tried to wrap around the idea she had of my dearly beloved chocolates.

Stains clothes and mind?

Tastes like mud?

She sounded insane to me. I could take on anything and almost everything but nobody insulted chocolates in front of me. I sulked and sulked when she finally nudged me.

"See, it's the same for him" she said, pointing across the hall. "Humor him. A few sentences won't kill you. Besides, he really adores you." I raised an eyebrow at her revelation. She huffed and continued. "Fine, he likes you. I told a lot about you already. Now will you man up already?" she fumed.

"Only if you accept that chocolates are the best things that could ever happen."

"Nonsense. Physics is the reason humans were created."

I rolled my eyes. Of course. And I was a three headed monster, I thought inwardly. But well, who would want to convince her otherwise? The last time Eriol hazarded a confession of his apparent ignorance of the subject, she had treated him to a 2 hour discourse on how his life would lose its meaning if he did not remedy it soon. Now a wiser person like me would merely nod, and head back to the dining room to opinionate on how a potato revolution was in order if we wanted it to be taken seriously. Honestly, the crazy things we end up doing in the name of love. And speaking of crazy, I wonder how Mei was doing. Last I knew, she was fuming over some silver haired jerk she had met.

I took another shot of vodka as I waited for Eriol to arrive. Bloody arse, He never made it on time. How would he, with his ancient driving and his rulebook of speed limits in a city like London. And I get to be the sitting duck for all the greedy beavers in the pub. Joy and Cheer, I mused dryly as I gestured the bartender to refill it. If he thought I was drinking too fast, he didn't say so. I gulped it down and pinched my eyes. The alcohol swept through my body in a binding rush and I felt the familiar sensation of soaring in the clouds. What was the occasion, you ask? None at all. Here I was, getting irresponsibly drunk while my enemy was orchestrating a massive damage control. His repeated digs at me and the sneakiness with which he had attempted to undermine my client was something I couldn't forget. So I did the reasonable thing, under the circumstances. I retaliated. And the petty war of words had developed into a fully fledged war now. He stole away the schedules I had booked so I made his magazine spreads look clumsy in front of mine. He took a dig at Syaoran's career graph and I 'accidentally' leaked to the press that Touya Kinomoto had sprained his ankle badly and was condemned to bed rest for 6 months. Obviously the media and producers had gone berserk and I sat back, celebrating my latest win.

Take that, you silver mane weirdo, I smirked triumphantly to myself while I downed another shot. People around me began to look at me wearily. I nodded clumsily and reassured them that it was natural for me to talk to myself all the time. That scared them even more, I think. I fiddled with the strap of my watch as I swiveled on my chair. Loud music was pulsating down the dance floor. I nodded my head to the heady rush of adrenaline, the rush of giving Yue dearest a bloody mean bitch called payback. That would teach him the consequences of messing with a pro, with a person like Meiling Rae.

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, Miss. Rae." Said a deep voice beside me. There was no mistaking that voice or the name I was referred as. Even through the haze of the alcohol, I could feel the prick of my senses on a high alert and red lights spinning around my head. I narrowed my eyes and turned to face the devil. He sat there, nursing a glass of champagne with his regular mask of infuriating coolness in place although I could see it slipping every now and then lately. It felt vindictive that I could unruffled him like he had tried to, the first day we met. I flipped my hair back in an aggravated gesture of indifference as I surveyed him.

"Sure is the only thing I am these days, Mister. You, on the other hand seem to be woefully behind in client history." I replied, watching him sport an imperceptible frown as the statement hit the mark I had intended. He was struggling to maintain his calm and I loved snatching that infuriating control of his.

"Perhaps you have come here tonight to see if I know more. How about Touya dating Li's sister secretly from 7 months?" He merely frowned and emptied his glass. Feeling reckless than ever, I leaned forward. His ridiculously silver hair glowed in the dim setting of the pub. I muffled a giggle and continued.

"It should be so stressful for you, being on a need-to-know basis. You wish your client trusted you more, don't you?"

He growled as he snaked over my wrist and pulled me near. I met his gaze levelly and looked on. Nothing could stop me in my intoxicated state or was it his compelling gaze.

"Meiling Rae, you are the most aggravating female I have ever known, let alone crossing my path and challenging me. What transpires between me and my client is something that you don't want to bother about, believe me. Another transgression on Touya's personal life from you and I swear, I am going to go no holds barred in this ridiculous battle we are into. Don't underestimate a warning when you see one. I am tired of your-"

"You are tired of my what?" I yelled, pulling my hand from his grasp. Some nerve he had, telling he was tired of me as if I was just another annoying bint he roamed around with. "Excuse me for clarifying but you have no hold over me. So take back your feeble hints of chauvinism. I can spot an ego-king from miles and you are the biggest of them all. And if you want to give up, just say so, wimp! Growling and threatening like a Neanderthal man will get you nowhere. Go to-"

I never got to tell him where to go because he leaned over suddenly and kissed me hard. The taste of alcohol mingled freely between us as he pulled me in harshly and swirled my tongue with his. If I was shocked, I never got near that emotion because my senses were entirely distracted for the moment. I closed my eyes as kissed him back fiercely as he went deeper and deeper-

And I pulled back. It must have been voodoo. Or black magic. Whatever that had possessed me to allow this monster kiss me. I breathed rapidly as I blinked, trying hard to regain my bloody common sense. He stared absently as he mulled over it too, probably. Then in a fluid moment, he got up and looked at me. When I finally met his gaze, I could see the omnipresent smirk on his face. I groaned. He was going to goad me about it forever.

"I sure hope that kiss got me where you planned to send me, Miss. Rae." He said, his eyes challenging me. What do I say; he always had the meanest comebacks.

"You wish." I muttered, staring at the floor gloomily, hoping it would swallow him down. Or maybe I could dig a hole right here and shove him into it. That was appealing, I could scrape it with my bare hands if it was for him.

"As always, a pleasure meeting you." He said, chuckling and walking away. Two steps away were Tomoyo and Eriol, gaping like a set of blubbering goldfishes. Spectacular, I thought. They saw my act of self destruction too. Fricking idiots had to arrive at the ruined moment only, I noted sorely. They took a seat across me and I almost unwillingly dared to look up, only to see Tomoyo's eyes lighted with sparkling excitement and Eriol, clearly amused sat with a sardonic gesture of wickedness. After a minute of silence, he ventured cautiously.

"So-"

"Before you say anything Eriol, think hard. Think if you want to have your innards in place and your balls in one piece. If you do, we are never ever going to mention this- this madness again, understood? It was a one time exception, an aberration. So we behave it never happened. Makes sense, yes?" I finished, glaring at them. However, they seemed unaffected my by threats. Maybe being drunk took the sting out of my curses, I mused. Still, Eriol shrugged and let it be. I was about to let a sigh of relief when Tomoyo came forward and unglued her tongue, which was stuck all the while, apparently. I wanted to run away or burn my ears with an acetylene torch. Anything for not hearing what she was going to say next. Anything to put away-

"You enjoyed the kiss didn't you?" she asked in a mock whisper as Eriol stifled a laugh and looked interestingly at the fish and chips at the table. I knew she wouldn't heed to me. Since when did Tomoyo listen to mere mortals anyways? I groaned and slammed my head down the table. Why couldn't I just hate the guy and let it be. Why couldn't I just move to Greenland for eternity.

Why!

After the excruciating dinner talk which involved more potatoes, loads of physics (in which I sat gaping like a clown while I followed the argument on nanoscience back and forth) and some polite enquiries on my next film (a popular book's adaptation with a new actress, if I remember my schedules right), We retired to the living room with the desert (chocolate fudge with almonds). I realized then that I was a survivor and every crippling moment only strengthened me. I could stand the entire Kinomoto family and come out as one piece. Feeling extremely satisfied at my endurance levels, I dipped my spoon into the creamy fudge, already imagining the smooth taste of-

"Condoms."

I dropped the spoon and stared incredulously. I must have heard it all wrong-

"I am sure you young people use it all the time?" I heard Sakura's uncle utter nonchalantly as he took a spoon of his sundae and peering at us through his glasses. Sakura was slicing viciously through her fudge as if she was harvesting it and her ears went beet red. Hot flames of embarrassment flooded my cheeks and I looked back at him shamelessly as he continued to hold his gaze questioningly, as if he had asked if I preferred slacks or jeans over a round necked shirt. I gulped and replied meekly.

"We err- we- "

"Uncle, do we need to-"She interrupted and I wanted to hug her with tears of gratitude rolling down my eyes. Although she had inherited all of the outspoken bluntness from her uncle, Sakura, for the love of propriety had some tact left in her dear old brain. And I was thanking my lucky stars for that.

"Ridiculous. I was merely seeing if you youngsters were being cautious." He said waving his spoon genially and with a twinkle in his eyes."Clearly you both seem to enjoy it too much and must be at it all the time but the question is-"

I had enough of being the Alice in the wonderland. This was crazy and if the old man expected me to bare my sex life in front of him for display, he was totally barmy. Besides who knows where the conversation could venture into. For all I know, he would begin to recollect his own experiences and I would end up scarred for life. Retreat was the best possible action, I decided even as I felt a sharp pang of remorse for leaving the chocolate fudge untouched. Kissing an equally tomato red Sakura on her cheeks chastely, lest her uncle got any ideas and I walked out of the house. The chilly air felt refreshing for a moment. I took long steps towards the porch gate and made my way out as fast as I could.

"Well, that was fun." said my Uncle mildly as he continued to eat the fudge.

"Sure." I responded sarcastically. "But did you have to scare him like that and give me a lifetime membership for being the most embarrassed niece ever club? Syaoran will probably think you are the boogey man from his childhood memories. I know of your urge to throw people of the cliff over and over again but that was plain cruel, even by your standards." I declared, crossing my hands tightly.

He ended up shrugging and chewing contemplatively. That's all. Not a word or a sound or even a nod of acknowledging my question. Finally, he looked up.

"This needs some more sugar. Fudge cannot be mildly sweet, it'll ruin the taste."

Ever seen a bedlam family as ours in the whole of London?

Author says: Thanks for reviewing, all ! I hope I get better reviews this time.

-Love,

Emerald lady

Nims Dias-angelovdarkness: I am so glad you loved the chapter. I was pretty wary of it, you see! Let me know your thoughts on this chapter too? I love your insight. A lot!

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Ayla27: You think they went too fast? Err, my only explanation is that they were merely in denial for long, that's all. But then, if it did go too fast, would you want me to rewrite it? Do you want me to start something tentative and work through it? The point is that my characters are too loud, all of them. So subtleties are a moot point in my fic. You merely jump from one explosion to another. So I never tried to go deep into the emotion zone here. Does that make sense? Do let me know!

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Sayah Shadows: Oh honey, I am really sorry for ending up confusing you! However, I hope this chapter doesn't confuse you much, I have kept the POV's simple here. I know I drift from one person to another abruptly but that is how I have learnt to build up the pace. I try not be cliff drop abrupt though. The problem with naming the person before his POV is that I think it robs the spontaneity and natural flow of dialogue. I hope that doesn't disappoint you. Please read and review my story as always?

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More fanfictions? Well, I don't know. I sure have plans but let's see.(wink, wink)

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