MS

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the CCS characters.

Sugar Daddy

Chapter 21: Impromptu Date Plans

Karen hummed a song she'd recently heard on the radio as she turned off the spray of water. She reached for the towel usually draped by the side, finding it empty. She cursed and groaned. This definitely had to be one of those times she completely forgot to hang it there before she slipped into the shower. She was going to have to brave the curtain and the air circulating on the other side to get to it. She hated it when she forgot it.

She grimaced as she reached for a hand towel she saw draped on the curtain, using it to dry her hair. It was soon damp and useless. She steeled herself, opening the screen and jumping out. She shrieked as the door opened while she stood frozen in place and completely naked.

"Lei!" her shout did nothing more than alert him of her presence. His eyes were wide as a bug as he stared dumbly at her naked body as she stood there. She was like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. She really couldn't move, but the thoughts in her mind were echoing one sentiment. She wanted to die. She was mortified.

"What are you doing in my bathroom!" her shout slammed through him, having him turn, smacking his head against the doorway as she took it from his hands and control and smacked him back with it.

It had taken just a split second for her to register the look of horror in his face. She leaned against the door, a hand coming to cover her mouth as she couldn't stop the crying that would soon come.

"Karen, I'm sorry!" he shouted through the door as it was soon clear that she wasn't going to leave the bathroom to confront him. "Open the door, please."

She bolted it as she felt him try for the handle, beyond complete humiliation He'd seen her naked! Although, maybe it had been too fast for him to really get a clear look. She looked down, seeing herself through tears. No matter how much she said to herself that she was beautiful and comfortable with herself, it was all a lie when confronted with this.

She was never going to be able to see him again. Karen was a very shy person by nature. After this episode, she wasn't going to be able to look him in the eye for as long as she lived!

"You're not going to keep yourself locked in there you know!" he demanded, as if knowing precisely what she was thinking. "I'm sorry Karen. I don't think I can say anything beyond that I'm sorry."

Lei cursed quietly. He wasn't going to let her overhear him since it would just make the situation worse. Why the hell had he just done that? He was a bastard. He'd seen her mortification as she slammed the door back against him, almost breaking his nose in the process, he noted.

He couldn't hear anything from behind the door. He strained his ears, to try to at least catch a sound of movement that indicated she was still breathing. He wouldn't put it past her to suffocate in embarrassment while he shouted himself hoarse on the other side.

He rapped his knuckles over the door, leaning his head against it as he tried to think. He'd just seen one of his oldest childhood friends naked. That was never a good thing. He could picture it clearly, shutting his eyes in an effort to not let the image emerge so clear.

God but she was beautiful, he at least could admit that much to himself as he tried to get her attention once again. "I'm a stupid moron Karen, I'm sorry I did that." He wasn't sure, but he was sure he heard her snort from the other side.

Karen was mad now. She was mad at herself for not locking her bathroom door. She'd never had reason to do so before, but really, what had he been thinking? "What the hell did you want Lei?" Her words were biting, but she thought she could get away with the attitude under the current circumstances.

"I," why was it so hard to speak now? He was going to be stubborn about this. "I'm not going to tell you through this door."

"You don't have any rights to make any demands here," she was exasperated, defeated as she hid her face in her towel. She turned to the mirror, washing away her face and hoping that the reddish color would eventually go away.

"Karen, I really am sorry," this time, she could tell he was more in control of his voice and therefore his reaction. "Open the door so that I can grovel and that will make me feel better."

She snickered at the picture those words conjured. It would be just like him to throw himself at her feet as soon as she opened the door and do something just as idiotic so that she would forget that he'd seen her naked. She noticed that he'd used the word me for just himself in that sentence.

What must he think? She shook her head, desperate to not think of it any further. She didn't want to think of it. She had to get a hold of herself. She needed to be strong. She just didn't have to think about it. And also of the fact that she hadn't brought any clothes in with her which meant she was going to have to open the door with only her towel on.

He stumbled forward as she opened the door, coming to a stop as he grinned at her finally accepting his apology. Although, she was sure his eye lingered a bit south of her face as she tried to slip past him. She had plans for the night that did not include him.

He saw her walk to her bed, grabbing items she'd scattered there. Lei's eyes narrowed as he identified a few items. He gulped, really couldn't do anything but, as he saw a flash of a black lacy bra and panties that disappeared under her arm as she took some low rider capri pants and a black silk blouse with colorful designs of flowers stitched in. She had to walk around him to get into the bathroom, which she locked as soon as she entered.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you think? I'm getting dressed," she was not going to let herself back down from this.

"I see that," Lei rolled his eyes at the obvious. It wasn't like she was going to remain only in a towel. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes," her reply was kept minuscule and general. She opened the door finally, just before he was about to barge on it again. His eyes were narrowed as he saw her take off her glasses, her eyes squinting as she made her way to the mirror. There were items before it that he recognized but had never seen or associated with her.

It was almost painful seeing her prep herself up. Seeing the process himself, he couldn't help but appreciate it. He resisted the urge to whistle when she straightened her clothing and faced him.

"How do I look?" he really didn't know what she was expecting him to say, but Karen just presented herself to see if she could get just one compliment.

"You look great," the words were almost strangled out of him. Karen tried her best to smile as she saw his facial expression change into various hues. She didn't want him to try so much effort when it wouldn't make any sense.

"Don't strain yourself," she couldn't help but say the biting comment. What had she expected? "I don't know why I asked."

Karen passed by him, not delegating a word or looking his way as she slipped her shoes on and made a mental checklist of the items she needed to collect.

"Where are you going?" he didn't care much for her attitude to make as if he wasn't in the room. He felt vindictive, almost bringing up the incident they had just passed through to have her react to him.

"I'm going out on a date," she muttered something at the end that he couldn't quite catch. By her expression, he knew that it wasn't anything flattering.

"Since when?" he hadn't been able to control the outburst as he heard her words.

"Since I can," she replied, placing the things in her purse before slinging it over her shoulder and moving right past him. "Close the door when you leave," Karen was ready to cry for no other reason than the fact that she'd actually expected something. Just anything.

She hurried, clearing her mind of him as she rushed to the garage. She didn't care who saw her now. "Sorry," she muttered as she collided with Syaoran.

"Hold it there little girl," she rolled her eyes as he used the same tone his father did when he wanted to get her attention. She saw him take a good look at her, and waited as he winked in response. She felt the blush appearing lightly over her cheeks as he moved from the hallway so that she could pass by him.

Karen hung back as she saw him place the keys to his precious car inside his jacket before hanging it up. "Sakura will be ready soon, I'm sure." She reassured him, giggling as she saw a nervous smile flitter over his mouth. "I'm sure you guys are going to have a great time."

"I hope so," it was very different to see a wavering Syaoran in front of her. He really wanted for this to go well. "I see you're also going somewhere," he was going to change the subject to something that didn't have anything to do with him.

"I'm going to use my night off to blow some steam," Syaoran was perceptive when it came to other people. He'd definitely seen her expression.

"Just remember to be careful," he offered, hearing her scoff as she waved backwards to continue on her way.

"Yes, big brother," there was no malice in her words. She was going to make sure to stay out later than planned. Just what the heck was Lei doing in the house when he was supposed to be in school? She wasn't going to think of him, she said to herself as she hurried, she knew that he was sure to have followed her down.

"Syaoran," she called back, waiting for him to turn around. "Would you detain Lei here for me?" she was sure to make a supplication with her voice and her hands. She saw his brow rise in question, and seeing her face agreed.

She thanked him and broke into a run.

Syaoran just shook his head as he continued on his way. He wasn't surprised to see Lei coming right at him. "Have you seen Karen?" his question was asked without waiting for an answer since he bypassed his brother and continued down the hall.

"You're going the wrong way," he was clearly lying, but his brother didn't know that.

Lei turned around, waiting. Syaoran just sighed as he randomly pointed to another side of the house. Karen had been making her way to the exit through the garage in which she had her personal car parked, so he tried his best to make his brother go in the opposite direction. Something had happened.

He wasn't sure he wanted to know, but he'd said he'd do it. He sat down, crossing his arms over his abdomen as he closed his eyes. He was not going to get involved in this. It seemed like he didn't have a choice.

"What the hell Syaoran?" it was an accusatory claim. Syaoran opened his eyes, waiting to see if it might turn a bit violent only to find his brother plummeting onto a chair and bury his face in his hands. Syaoran really wanted, but at the same time didn't, really need to know what was going on.

"Karen's going on a date," it was said in such a way that Syaoran couldn't help but just stare at his brother like he was a moron. It was for various reasons, but he wasn't going to elaborate on that point.

"Of course she's going out on a date. What did you think? That she didn't do the normal things that you do when she has a night off?"

"No," although there was a part of him that had never thought of it. Not really. He'd always ribbed her of the fact that she didn't date and her lack of interest in the opposite sex, which she brushed aside. But now, he was the one floored by her words. "I just didn't really think she went out on dates. Have you seen if it's anyone in particular?"

The tone of his voice, the expectation of an actual answer, made Syaoran wonder if he would have enough time to throttle his brother for being an idiot and hiding the body before Sakura made her way down and they could get on their way.

"Lei," Syaoran advanced, stopping a few feet from his brother while he crossed his arms. He had decided to stand for the simple fact that it would have him loom over his brother. "I'm probably not one to talk, but could you perhaps not like the idea because you're interested in her?"

"Me, her?" he sputtered at his brother's question, breaking into a laugh. He held his sides as it struck him extremely funny that someone would even suggest such a thing. It was absurd. "Please," he rolled his eyes, but he could see that Syaoran was not impressed.

"You know I've always cared for her like family," he shook his own head at his brother's hunch over the situation.

"You've never thought of her as a woman you might be interested in? One you can see yourself coming to care for as a lover and not just a friend?" Syaoran was quick to note that he hadn't said the words like a sister.

Lei felt speechless. "No," he was adamant in the response, as if the thought had never crossed his mind. Syaoran sighed at his younger brother. "Have you?" it was almost an accusation that Lei hadn't even realized he'd uttered.

Syaoran resigned himself for the stubbornness to shine through. "I really don't know. But then, I was never that close to her. Who knows how things would have developed if I had paid any attention to her."

"What do you mean who knows?" Syaoran took in the affront his brother took over his choice of words. He didn't like it one bit. Whether he knew it or not, Lei was not going to be able to slide this conversation as if it had not occurred. Syaoran looked at his watch, calculating that Sakura was already a few minutes late. She'd probably show up in the nick of time so that he'd be able to escape this uncomfortable atmosphere.

"Just that Lei, nothing more," he couldn't believe he was having this conversation. That was the only thought that kept replaying in his mind. He'd been right there the last few times that Lei had interacted with Karen. Whether he realized it or not, Lei had to at least realize what was going on around him.

"Karen is a pleasant woman that is probably starting to look for a meaningful relationship. That's something she's not going to get here. She was raised like that and there's no one in this house that will give her the attention she'll want," he raised a brow, daring his brother to try to butt in and say otherwise. Lei wisely kept his mouth shut as his own expression remained closed up. "I personally never was or am interested in her. She just doesn't appeal to me. That doesn't mean that I can't see that she's pretty and a good conversationalist. Face it, for her to be able to survive amongst all of us; she has to have some type of staying power."

Lei had to grin to that. Karen definitely had to hold her own when she was against all the Li siblings. She managed to do that well enough. "But truthfully Lei, you can tell me the truth. I won't divulge it. You've never even wondered?" He just let it trail off as he took a good hard look at his brother. They didn't all have to be nuclear physicist like one of his sisters for them to have picked up the signs that Karen had definitely been interested in Lei. He had always wondered if he'd been completely oblivious to it or just chosen to see it as something else.

"I," there were many things reflected in his eyes as Lei looked at his brother. Wondered? Of course he'd wondered. There had been many years for him to not have wondered. But then, there had always been that hesitation for him to actually explore the crazy idea.

He couldn't allow himself.

Syaoran was glad to hear the sounds of someone approaching. He turned himself to the door, seeing Sakura come down the stairs in a bit of a rush. She was in a pair of jeans and silk blouse. She was going to decide their itinerary for the night, as well as driving. He hoped he didn't make a cake of himself.

She stopped as she saw Lei murmuring some words at his brother who placed his hand on his shoulder and gripped it in commiseration. She wondered what that was about.

"She's out on a date to find what she can't find here you see," with those parting words, Syaoran made his way to her. Sakura preened as she saw him give her a very appreciative look. She gave him one too. This would be the first time she'd seen him out of a suit! He was wearing slacks and a short sleeve shirt. The first two buttons were undone. He walked her to the door, grabbing his leather jacket while she put on her own. The temperatures were definitely falling rapidly as it tried to catch up to the fact that October was halfway through.

"What's wrong with him?" Sakura asked him as she spared Lei one last glance.

"He's just found an aspect of life he doesn't quite agree with."

"What?"

"He just found Karen getting ready to go out on a date and he's wondering why he feels like a growling bear over it," it wasn't a stretch for Sakura to actually see that happening. She laughed at his mention of a date.

"Why are you giggling?" he asked her, putting his arm around her waist as they slipped out of the door to her car.

"I know all about Karen's date," Syaoran raised a brow at the manner she stated that comment. "She's going out with a couple of friends from high school she hasn't seen in a while."

"So it's not a date, date?" she snickered at him repeating the word. She took his hand and started leading him to her car, setting the alarm. Syaoran looked at the car.

"What?" Sakura opened the driver's door.

"You're working for my father and he's letting you drive this car?"

"Your father offered to trade it in for the latest model, but I like my car," she saw him shrug it off, sliding into his seat and buckling in.

"So, where are we going?" he asked her, watching as she put the car in gear and made her way out of long driveway.

"I thought the proven dinner and a movie would be nice," she offered, wanting to see if he would object.

"Drive on then," he smiled at her, watching her as she attended to the road. There were advantages to being driven.

::~::

One of the advantages was the fact that he could think of a couple of revelations he'd been offered.

"What do you have for me?" Syaoran cradled the phone to his ear as he leafed through various contracts.

"I stumbled onto a security net," Takashi grumbled, the click of his fingers against the keyboard as he spoke to his long time friend.

"What?" Syaoran's sputtering made him feel better about it. He was an investigator for a well known security firm and had been contracted by the Li Corporation various times. At the moment, he was conducting a private investigation for Syaoran himself, which is why he felt obligated to come through for him.

"What's more," he was ready to impart the bad news. "It was erected by our firm." There would be countless questions that he wouldn't answer. But then at the same time, he knew that he was to follow the script.

"When did you hit the roadblock?"

"When I went into the family," he outlined all of the technical aspects he'd unveiled. It wasn't anything remarkable from what Syaoran had been able to find out for himself. None of it was new or noteworthy.

"She's just a regular girl Syaoran," Takashi had sighed. "Even her love life is nothing out of the ordinary."

Takashi heard the intake of breath from the other side of the phone. "Or is that what my dear old friend has been looking for from the start?" No matter how many years had passed, Takashi was never going to outgrow any opportunity that he may encounter to act like himself.

"Just get to the point," the bite was definitely painful. Takashi could very well picture Syaoran's face at that moment.

"Nothing there buddy boy," Takashi refused to alter the tone of his voice. "I don't have a name for you. Like I said before, her private life is nonexistent."

Takashi looked into the folder he had pulled up in his computer. "And there in lies the good news," he smirked as he tried to think of how to string all of this together. "The security net was erected by one of our own clients. As soon as I tried to dig deeper, I was shot down."

"Is there any other reason you needed to tell me that?"

"I can give you the name of the client," Takashi waited a beat before continuing. "Masaki Amamiya." He didn't know what he'd been waiting for, but the silence on the other side of the receiver wasn't it. Not even an indrawn breath.

"Him again?" the question that wasn't really requiring an answer was heard by him. Takashi's eyes opened at the tone. There was more to this than he ever could imagine.

"I'm afraid you're going to be summoned," Takashi chuckled at his choice of words. He'd had his own dealings with the client and knew for a fact that he didn't take this lightly.

Syaoran wasn't surprised when the phone went dead. Takashi did always like to disconnect his calls rather rapidly and when you least expected it. But at least he'd gotten some answers to some things he'd been asking himself. Still, it all came back to the same man.