'Incorporated'

By Majah

Disclaimer:

I don't own CCS and xXxHolic, but I do own the story in this fic and things that are non-CCS and non-xXxHolic related. All the name of places, historical events and other things mentioned, which you don't seem to know IRL, are products of my imagination. Any similarities with the actual thing are purely coincidental.

From Previous Chapter:

She felt tears threatening to escape her eyes. She wanted to say 'Yes' but she couldn't make herself to do so. How many times had she dreamt of this moment? How many times did she and Tomoyo make up possible replies if the right time comes? Wasn't this what she had wished for so long? At long last…with Yukito?

Then, why the heck couldn't she say it!

Silence devoured them once more as a gust of wind blew against the gazebo. It was cool and fragrant, carrying the scent of the flowers nearby. They stayed like this for a while.

Then eventually…

Finally…

Like getting poured with boiling water…

Yukito spoke perspicuously, which greatly left her wide-eyed and stunned.
"Sakura…" His tone wavered. "You love Li Syaoran this much?"


Chapter Twenty-Eight: "I Thee Wed"

Yukito spoke perspicuously, which greatly left her wide-eyed and stunned.

"Sakura…" His tone wavered. "You love Li Syaoran this much?"

Sakura gasped and felt her hands turn colder than ever. "Wha…what?" She stammered.

Yukito gazed at her silently with no hint of repeating what he just said. He only gazed within her eyes like he was waiting for her to tell him that he was wrong. Wrong in everything he had deduced but instead of directly answering him, Sakura inched away yet she could not bring herself to pull her hands free from his tight grasp. Her emerald eyes wavered and her lips went dry as she spoke once again.

"What are you…talking about?" She murmured; frightened more than ever.

Surprisingly, though, it wasn't Yukito that she had become terrified of. It was the impact of the unnoticed notion of his last question that had made fearsome emotions stir within her. His silence created violent screams around her which seemed to taunt her in every aspect of reality.

Yukito closed his eyes and laid his forehead on top of their clasped hands. "It's alright." He whispered.

"Yukito…"

"It's alright." He said, this time in a more audible voice.

"I'm not so sure—"

But he cut her. "Please don't pretend any longer."

Sakura felt her heart break into many pieces.

Yukito continued. "It only hurts more if you continue to deny everything."

Sakura bit her lower lip. "But…I don't love Li Syaoran." She tried her best to sound convincing but seemed to be failing as she heard herself with her own ears.

"Don't you, now?" The man before her gave a small bitter laugh. "Then, why would you go out of your way to play InterVEST with him?" Yukito's tone started to quiver as his composure threatened to fail. "Why would you hide your online identity from your own family?" One by one, questions came to meet her. "Why would you pursue to create a joint vision with him? Why?...Why? …Why of all people?...With Li Syaoran?...A Li…" Then, he shot his head up and finally met her gaze with such intensity which matched his voice. "Why marry a sworn enemy?"

For the first time since Sakura had met Tsukishiro Yukito, she had finally saw him in a state other than being gentle and calm. She couldn't exactly count that time when she had seen him inside InterVEST as he played Tavenzouh, for even until that moment, she couldn't quite accept the huge difference she saw in the personalities. But now, Sakura felt as if the man holding her hands was starting to become a stranger. Like the nice image she had of him was slowly slipping away. But who could blame him? She was the one at fault. There was no such thing as a perfectly kind person. It would be unfair to think that Yukito would stay warm and nice as he had always been no matter how grave the circumstances were. There were limit to things and perhaps that thread had begun to snap given their predicament.

How could she be so insensitive and cruel?

"I didn't marry him because of love." Sakura answered weakly. It was true. It was only business.

Right?

Something inside her started to speak.

R…ight?

It was trying to point something out.

right?

Complained and demanded to be heard by her.

RIGHT…?!

Panic invaded her once again as her confusion earlier came swirling back.

"Then, why did you marry him?" Yukito strongly queried. "Why, Sakura, why?"

"It's all because of business, Yukito!" Her voice raised a little as she tried to make her point. For whom, that was the question. She was finally able to pull her hands back from the man's grip and stood up. She bent her head and balled her fists. "It's all for business." She repeated in a milder tone. "It is not a real marriage. You, of all people, should know that."

Yukito remained seated as he gazed at the young Kinomoto's back. "Then, why did you have difficulty in answering me earlier?" He murmured but enough to be heard by Sakura.

This hit her like a piercing lightning bolt. "I…uh…" Her hands went up as she started to hug herself with her shoulders slightly shaking. "I…" But she couldn't bring herself to continue.

Silence crawled upon them as another tensed passing danced by the minute. Neither of them spoke; both afraid of where it might lead.

Until finally, Yukito briskly stood up. He grabbed Sakura by the shoulders and turned her to face him. He clutched her hard as he sought her troubled eyes.

"Let's start again." He said. "Forget about everything that happened." He sounded so desperate. "I won't tell anyone. Please…just say yes and have a new life with me."

"Yukito…"

"I'll do anything to make you happy. Anything in this entire world, I'll do my best to give you…just forget about InterVEST." He supplemented.

Sakura was speechless.

"Please remember who you are and go back into being our sweet innocent Cherry-Blossoms." He went on. "Don't concern yourself with a Li any more. Leave him be with his SkyLark. Leave him with all his greedy ambitions. Don't let him use you."

Reality and reason started to influence Sakura's senses in parallel to her dilemma and argument with Li Syaoran that day.

"You are a Kinomoto!" Yukito stressed. "One of the heirs of a prominent family against his. Don't do this. Don't ruin your life. It is not too late. You can still break your contract with him."

Guilt was taking over her and was on the verge of considering, if not for his succeeding words which greatly affected her.

"You are not like him. Let him do all his evil work. You are not someone suited and capable to do that kind of bidding. He is someone cold-blooded and impersonal that could just take over ten companies in a snap of a finger like they didn't matter…"

Sakura stiffened

Yukito continued with a smile. "Those harsh things people like Li Syaoran can do inside InterVEST. Or whatever he might have lead you to do."

"Lead me to do? Not someone suited nor capable?" From thereon, Sakura's wavering eyes became indifferent as her gaze turned into a glare. She freed herself from his grasps and stepped backwards.

"Cherry-Blossoms?" Yukito blinked at her sudden reaction. "Isn't that what he had been doing all this time? Even when you were a rogue, he might have pushed you to fight him—a veteran player, just for entertainment. It must have been tough for you to try to climb up to his character's level."

Sakura's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?" Whatever remorse, sadness, or regret she had earlier were starting to get replaced by growing anger. "Climb up to his level?" She looked at him unbelievingly. "Is this how you see me?"

Yukito frowned; not knowing what was really happening. "Sakura?"

"And here I was thinking that you've known everything." Tears threatened to escape her eyes. "Am I only sweet little Sakura, the Kinomoto Princess to you?" It was her turn to bombard questions. "Are you not the alleged Cedric Tavenzouh, the Viscount of Maran?" Her voice was strained. "Shouldn't you be one of those people who are supposed to be aware of Agatha's history in InterVEST? What Agatha is capable of doing—what I am capable of doing?"

Yukito looked dumbfounded at her outburst.

"What makes you think that Agatha's prowess was lead on by Damaski-is?" She asked as she held her head high. "Agatha already had quite a 'reputation' even before introduction to Helroi Damaski-is was made." She faced him squarely while she sharply replied. "Li Syaoran has nothing to do with it. It was how I've always played InterVEST. I am sick and tired of people telling me of what I am and what I am not." Finally, tears rolled down her cheeks as another set of bottled up emotions were set free. "And what's wrong with taking over those companies? Everything was fairly done and it is all part of InterVEST's game-play. Does it automatically make someone cold-hearted? It is one the risks they placed themselves upon connecting their assets to the virtual city. Everyone is exposed to these risks. Even SkyLark. " She exclaimed.

"Sakura…"

"And for your information, Li Syaoran wasn't the one who made that move. I don't know what you've heard or came to believe but it wasn't Helroi Damaski-is who took over those companies…it was Agatha!"

Yukito stared at her with a stunned expression.

Sakura squeezed her eyes shut. "When the great Damaski-is was in shambles, it was Agatha who took over." Then, she shouted on top of her lungs. "STOP TAKING ME LIGHTLY!" She cried; cried horribly.

"I…uh…" Yukito tried to reach out towards her but the lady evaded his touch.

"Is it such a farfetched idea?" Sakura continued to shake. "What about you, Yukito? Aren't you someone who is also different online? Even now, I am having a hard time convincing myself that you and Tavenzouh is only one person." She admitted.

Yukito became silent.

She chuckled weakly. "Come to think of it, aren't we both lying?" She gazed up at him. "They say that it's either you create a make belief personality to shield your true self in the Internet world or you rip that mask off for a chance to display who you really are online." She started to calm down. "So which one are we?"

The other man's eyes became unreadable.

Sakura looked away. "If both of us have this kind of problem then that probably means that Li Syaoran is a better person than we are." A small smile crept on her lips. "Because in his case, he never did hide anything. He was the same, offline and online; uncaring even if people consider him as…" She chose to use the words Yukito utilized. "…cold-blooded and impersonal."

"You are a much better person than him." Yukito finally spoke. "I might not…but you're certainly are."

"Again…how can you be so sure?" Sakura remarked. "Assuming things?" She added feebly. "Open your eyes, Yukito. Agatha is here and you are staring right at her. Kinomoto Sakura and Agatha are both real. You shouldn't be basing your conclusions solely only on one identity, it has to be both."

Yukito looked away. His face was lost beneath his spectacles as he replied. "Perhaps the reason is the same with the difficulty you have in seeing me as both Yukito and Tavenzouh. Then again," He gazed towards the Kinomoto mansion. "We are not the only ones that are going to face that dilemma when the time comes that everything will come out in the open."

Sakura gasped. "You are not planning on telling them, are you?" She ran towards him and grabbed his sleeves. Horror was depicted in every corner of her face. "But you said you won't…"

"I won't if you will go back, if not to me then to your family." Yukito interjected. "Forget about InterVEST." He said once again.

"Are you blackmailing me?" She asked disbelievingly.

Yukito only returned her gaze with a very serious expression as his only answer.

No… Sakura thought inwardly. But what should she expect? The blame was all hers, yet still…

"You want me to choose between my family and InterVEST." Her grasped tightened with her face hidden underneath the shadows of her own façade.

Yukito remained silent.

"Why do I have to choose?" She remarked. "Why are you making me choose between two of the most important things in my life?" She fought back the tears that were once again threatening to escape her eyes. "And you're not specifically asking for me to let go of SkyLark. You want me to let go of InterVEST as a whole."

"Can you solely disengage from SkyLark while still inside InterVEST?" Yukito's expression was blank and distant. "I hardly doubt that." Then, he added. "And with Li Syaoran around, I don't think he will let you off that easily after ruining his plans. It would be safer to retire from the game altogether."

"No!" Sakura snapped. "He won't do that!"

This earned a cocked brow from the other man.

The Kinomoto looked up straight at him with determined and convinced eyes. "He will keep his word and wouldn't tell anyone." She threw back at him. "There were many times that everything would have ended and with it, both us agreed that we will act like nothing happened. Everything would only be between the two of us. We will just continue as we were and neither of us would pursue. So, no." She shook her head. "He will not get back at me when that happens. It is part of our agreement."

A bemused expression took over Yukito's face. "And you believed him?" For a moment, he thought that she must be joking. After all, this was Li Syaoran and he doesn't exactly have a very 'nice' and 'clean' reputation. But as he studied Sakura's emerald eyes turn fierce, and how her lips were set on a grim line, it only hurt him more as he understood where all of this was coming from.

"You trust him this much, too." It was never meant to be a question since it was all too obvious. Yukito took a deep breath and tried to soothe out the ache that seemed to be worsening inside his chest. "What on earth did he ever do to make you so gullible? Or rather…have you forgotten who was behind all the attacks on you since you've made yourself known to society? How could you trust this someone who almost took your life? Not once, but awfully too many countable times!" He exclaimed.

"I don't know!" Sakura bit her lip. "I really don't know. I just…" She lowered her head. "…do."

He closed his eyes. "And you still deny that you love him."

Once again, Sakura was back to where she started. Same confused emotions filled her as they went back to the topic. It would be a cinch for her logical side to take over and make up plausible excuses, but her subjective side was gaining more control than the former that she ended up being thrown once more into the whirlpool of mixed feelings.

Her earlier contemplations sneaked their way inside her mind uninvitingly as repeated deductions returned to her.

in InterVEST,

in SkyLark,

in Li Syaoran's company…she felt at home.

Secured.

Warm.

Taken care of.

And perhaps…

And perhaps…

And perhaps...

…perhaps,

Her grip on Yukito's sleeves increased ten folds. "I am choosing InterVEST." She finally said; strong, confident and full of determination. "Even in the advent that you are to reveal everything, I would STILLchoose InterVEST." Her resolve was unwavering, her voice firm. "But keep in mind..." She let go of his shirt and faced him squarely. "…I would fight for what I have now. I wouldn't let threats pass by me and have their way. Even if it is from you, Yukito."

That very moment, Yukito found himself not solely looking at Kinomoto Sakura, but someone utterly fearless. A renewed strength illuminated from this woman. Like a tower which proudly stood steadfast before him; like a wall that simply refused to be penetrated.

Agatha confronted him directly.

There was no trace of his innocent girl. Not a strand of the sweet Cherry-Blossoms he had grown to known for all that time. Her aura simply implied…

'I am the powerful half behind SkyLark and I WILL...bring you down.'

Yukito inhaled and exhaled. He watched this transformation before him intently. He had grown quiet within the span of his observation, until long last…he smiled. His usual gentleness glided back towards his features, and in an unnervingly soft and calm tone, he spoke.

"So, you are choosing Li Syaoran." He remarked with a cheerful smile, which was greatly disturbing in their scenario.

Sakura started to protest about the 'Li Syaoran' part, but she wasn't given the chance as Yukito started to walk away from her.

"Yukito!" She called out after him but was only dismissed by a wave. Thoughts of him going directly to the manor, worried her, but alas, she saw him turn towards his car. She clasped her pounding chest as the automobile went on its way with a silent Yukito inside.

Farther and farther away from the Kinomoto estate.


Sakura threw herself towards her bed and buried her face unto her pillows. She was crying before she went out to get some fresh air, yet now as she came back to her solitude, her body was shaking, not from sorrow, but due to the adrenalin which still lingered in her veins as a result of her standing her own ground against Yukito. She groaned when she realized that she had greatly severed her relationship with her boyfriend.

With my ex-boyfriend, that is.

It wouldn't take a genius to place two and two together. He made her choose, therefore she had chosen. And with it, she had lost Yukito.

One after another the consequences of her actions started to dawned at her. Would Yukito really tell everyone? If so, then why didn't he go to the mansion straight away? Was he only looking for the best time to reveal everything? Was he really that type of a person?

Sakura pressed her face more tightly as if trying to erase the whole world from her sight, but the questions continued to gnaw at her.

How would everyone react once they found out about her allegiance with a Li? And not just any Li…but the heir himself. She was even married to him, for that matter.

Well, online…for the sake of the game. She supplemented to herself. It's not like I'm really married to him. She seemed to be repeating this so many times ever since she agreed on the merge.

She could just imagine her brother's reaction. Touya would surely be furious and probably would launch a nuclear weapon towards the Li Mansion. It made her chuckle at the idea of him literally going out of bounds, but then again, who knew what the over-protective Kinomoto would really do. His actions could make him end up in jail.

"I'm so bad." She mumbled. "And selfish. I went on ahead with what I want without even considering the people around me." She rolled over and sighed as she stared at the ceiling.

Her brother was one thing, but what about her father? There were many instances that Yukito reminded her of Fujitaka; the gentlest amongst the gentle and yet look at what happened to Yukito. Would Fujitaka regret having her as his daughter? Would he also cease to be caring and kind? Would he throw an angry gaze at her?

Or would he understand being the loving father that he was?

The only time that she ever saw her father angry was back in that time that a vulgar attempt on her life was made and the evidences greatly pointed towards the Li's. It was only then that her father had actually confronted Li Yelan. Though the prominent woman had dismissed the accusations, the existence of the knife had proved it all. It was taken care of back then; smoothly underhand. But eventually, she found out from Li Syaoran himself that it was actually a Li heirloom passed down for generations; and ironically enough, he was the one that was supposed to carry out the plan in using that very same object in taking her life.

She grinned gingerly.

How would Fujitaka react to everything once he found out that she was virtually conjugally bounded to the very man who was supposed to kill her? The past few months had been almost perfect for her with everything settled in SkyLark that she had simply refused to even place herself in the most regretted scenario in her life; more specifically, the one she would be into if Yukito would reveal everything to her family.

She drew a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

Oddly enough, she felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. It actually felt nice letting out a steam and telling Yukito off. She knew she sounded cruel but it had infuriated her thinking that this person who had been so close to her all her life and loved her, would make her choose.

"Well normally, boyfriends would make their girlfriends choose between him and her family, not making her choose between her enemy and her family with him." She gave a light chuckle. Everything sounded odd and funny. "And I can't believe that I can actually pull a smile now even though I was crying so hard earlier." She rubbed her tired eyes. "Hoe! This is all Li Syaoran's fault!" She pouted.

Yes. All his bloody fault.

'You love Li Syaoran this much?' Yukito's word echoed within her once again.

On an instant, her smile was wiped out from her face. She fell silent as her heart began to thump faster inside her chest. She reached out for her cellphone and absent-mindedly played on the keys. Long ago, her laptop was on top of the list of most prized possession for material things, but now, the little phone on her hand had replaced it. She hated to admit it but she saved almost all of his messages; all of Li Syaoran'smessages. Most of the minutes logged in its call meter belonged to his calls as well.

"Come to think of it…" Sakura sat up on her bed as another set of reality came knocking at her door.

If she was lonely, who does she call?

She used to contact Tomoyo or Yukito, but lately, that wasn't the case. She would automatically call, or rather…bother Li Syaoran. This thought made her contemplate some more. So frowning, her list suddenly grew.

When she was bored, who became the recipient of her text messages which carried no sense at all?

When she was furious, whose office would she barge into to displace her anger?

When she was tired, who would she turn to get things done? Even with things outside of SkyLark.

When she was sick, who does she call just to ask for special requests on whim?

When she was unsure of herself, whose message would bring her right back on track?

The answer to all those questions made her cheeks warm. "Darn you, little thing." Sakura scolded her mobile phone. "You've made it possible for me to rely on him for all this time." Sakura murmured and hugged her knees. "I've been relying on him more than I ever relied on Yukito, Tomoyo or even George."

True, even with George. Even with her beloved butler slash companion slash assistant. Since SkyLark's establishment, she had started to venture on her own. She had required less of George's help yet she merely took it as her path into becoming independent. But now she knew she was wrong.

Dead wrong.

She didn't become independent. Those set of people who had attended her all her life was only replaced by one person.

Packed her needs onto one particular person.

This was the reason why she felt the idea of forgetting InterVEST was completely absurd. This was the reason why she had become so infuriated at the thought of someone actually suggesting it to her; ordering her to do so even. Letting go InterVEST meant letting go of SkyLark; and hence, her connection to a certain someone.

That someone whom she doesn't want to lose.

"Maybe…" She started to whimper. "…I did choose Li Syaoran, after all."

She fell back towards her bed and snuggled close to the covers. She had skipped dinner much to her father's and brother's surprise. She had escaped their questions as she almost ran towards her bedroom, but not without hearing George making a 'maybe' excuse for her. Good old, George. It wouldn't surprise her if he had seen Yukito coming then going silently. She had no idea if her brother was aware that his bestfriend paid a visit that night, but she greatly hope that he was clueless. She wouldn't like to face his queries for tonight. As for George, he wasn't exactly someone dense and since he was very much involved with InterVEST as she was, he might have seen this coming. The butler's intuition never failed him.

She grudgingly tried to hide her face with a pillow. Maybe George could help her. He, after all, had been in the frontline with her. She could almost see his zombie-like face glowering in front of her saying: 'I zold yah zo.'

"A date with Yukito or a stock's bet with Damaski-is." She gave another bitter laugh. "George, I don't know whether to love you or to hate you." Sakura groaned once more. "Hooooooooooe!" She exclaimed. "It's more like, settling down with Yukito or a life with Damaski-is." She hugged her pillow tighter. "You're just like Yukito, George! You are making me choose! Why do people always make me choose? Why can't we all live peacefully?" She set her lips on a grim line. "Stupid feud." She muttered out of nowhere and then, "If that feud didn't exist then Syaoran and I can have a happy life together!"

Sakura gasped the moment it came out of her mouth.

"Oh my God!" She found herself covering her face with her hands. "I didn't just say that, did I?!" She shamefully hid underneath her blanket as if avoiding people's eyes even though she was alone in her room. "This can't be happening!" Her tone was muffled by all that material she had managed to bury herself into. "Oh my God!" She was panicking. "I even called him by his name."

"Nooo..." Sakura fought desperately with her own reason.


The night was deep with longing silence as a person stood by the balcony. No light graced him yet his presence seemed to illuminate a certain glow, but whether it was his usual calm air or something else, could make one ponder. For it was certain that there was something not right tonight which made him slightly sinister against the dark backdrop.

"It is unlike you to visit me." A man stepped out from the shadows. "Normally you would either shove me away or meet me with great indifference."

But the other man continued to stand in silence. This earned a snort from the one speaking. "You can no longer ignore him and you know it." He remarked in a taunting tone. "His power grows by the minute. It is simply not right to just let him have his way. We must move before it is too late. Find Agatha and make her join our side! Section-"

"She will never join our side." The man cut him sharply much to his surprise. He arched a brow to show his query.

"Li Syaoran had brainwashed her that much." The man continued monotonously.

"You met Agatha already?" But he didn't wait for an answer as he blabbered on huffily. "And here I was thinking that Tsukishiro Yukito wouldn't soil his hands."

"Don't push your luck, Grevor." Yukito's voice was calm but with an unmistaken air of authority which suggested their difference in level.

Grevor caught this and decided not to be too lax with the younger man. It wasn't new that his own image in InterVEST wasn't exactly loved by all, so he wouldn't expect the Viscount of Maran to regard him highly. Still he knew that his skills could be very useful at times, and that he knew it would give him a sufficient reason to par with Tavenzouh in equal footing; especially at these particular moments.

Grevor gave a light chuckle as he raised both hands before him implying defeat. "No need for hostility." He remarked. "We are on the same side after all." He wriggled as he anticipated a contradiction but nothing came. Surprised yet relieved, he spoke once more with a triumphant smile. "Glad to know that you've finally acknowledged this fact."

Yukito briefly looked at him before turning away.

Grinning, Grevor walked towards him and placed an arm around the younger man's shoulders. "I'm not sure what happened but as long as you are here and willing to connive, then I won't be nosy."

For a while, Yukito looked like he dreaded to speak, but nevertheless he opted to inform the older man. "Forget about Agatha." He said in a far away yet firm tone. "She had been influenced by Li Syaoran that much."

"Hnnnn...?" Grevor scratched his chin with his free hand. It was obvious that many questions lingered inside his head, but since the topic had proved to be sensitive, he fought the urge to advance his queries.

At this time, Yukito freed himself from the older man's grasp and proceeded to lean against the balcony's railing. He closed his eyes as he let the wind blew impersonally towards him. His grip tightened when he finally spoke. "Let us not waste time with petty things." He opened his eyes and with it, a newly conjured determination and seriousness could be found. It was somewhat foreboding, considering that this man was supposed to be a gentle and caring person. It was shocking to see how his whole-being had been changing the entire night.

Grevor furrowed his brows. "Petty? There is nothing petty with Section 41."

"Section 41 is grand." The younger man pointed out. "But your way is petty."

"Oh?" Grevor looked at him challengingly. "I apologize, then, for being incompetent. As you can see, I am all alone in thinking of ways to bring down the most powerful man in InterVEST." Sarcasm was all over his voice.

"He is notthe most powerful man in InterVEST." Yukito replied silently.

"He will soon be if we don't do anything about it." The other pointed out.

"I'm not here just to mingle, Grevor." Yukito suddenly straightened his stance. He paused for moment before turning to face the older man. A smile graced his lips as the usual gentle face crept back into his facade. It somehow didn't fit the aura of dimness which surrounded them. "We do this my way." He cheerfully said. "All you have to do is to contact certain people in convenient places."

Grevor arched a brow. "Which type of people?"

"People who knew me as Tavenzouh." Yukito swiftly replied.

"Ah..." It was Grevor's turn to look away as he pondered his thoughts. He clasped his hands behind his back and scanned the dark vicinity. "Of course, I almost forgot about your connections as another elite player of InterVEST." Then, he shot a smirk towards the other. "My apologies. Your look can be deceiving." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if savoring the night air. "The online world is truly a scary place."

One would anticipate Yukito to be affected by this statement, but in contrary, he kept on smiling with gentleness in his features. "Indeed." He casually agreed. Grevor seemed taken aback with this, but eventually he nodded and spoke in a business-like tone.

"Any specific names you can give me?" He asked the younger man. "You want me to do the leg work, obviously."

"I will set up arrangements for you to be able to deal with them." Yukito said in the same tone as the other.

"Any clues on what exactly are we going to do? Plant a Trojan? Bribe administrators or such?"

Yukito gave another smile. "Grevor...you should stop thinking inside the box."

The older man looked at him questioningly.

"InterVEST..." Yukito's face was still calm but there was a tinge of disdain in his words. "…is no longer a mere game." He said. "The reality we once had the luxury to live into had been invaded and taken from us."

Another brow shot up from the older man. He wanted to place a comment but chose to be silent instead.

Yukito continued. "It had come to the extent wherein the online world had confused people enough to be treated as another set of reality." His eyes became distant despite having a tranquil form. "Therefore," He gazed back at the other man. "We should fight with the same leverage."

"And this will be...?" Grevor curiously asked.

"We shouldn't limit ourselves with online matters."

"You don't prolly mean..." The older man's eyes widened. "But..."

"Didn't you somehow cross the line when you planned to look for Agatha?" Yukito pointed out. "In principle, it was something you opted to do in real life."

"So you are suggesting that we strike in the real world and not just online?" Grevor searched for confirmation.

Yukito only smiled.

"I see." Grevor rubbed his chins with a frown forming between his brows. "That would be difficult considering that he is a Li. But then again..." He studied the man before him. "If you are this serious, guess there's a chance. You are close to the Kinomoto's, after all. Practically, family even." A grin started to creep on his lips. "The feud will make things natural for you. Let's term it...'enough practice'." A devious smile flashed on his rowdy face. "I like it."

Yukito returned the smile. "I'll let you know of the arrangements. We strike when least expected."

Grevor nodded. "Our goal is to bring him down."

"No." Yukito corrected which earned another look from his accomplice. "Our goal..." He paused. "...is to get rid of Li Syaoran, permanently."

The older man was startled for a moment, but eventually shrugged. "You're the boss." Then, he added. "Oh, great Viscount."

Yukito gestured reservedly as he made his way towards the equally dark room connected to the balcony. But before leaving altogether, he threw a question to the older man. "Which one are you, Grevor?" He asked mildly.

"Pardon?" Grevor blinked.

"Are you someone who shows your true self online, or someone who hides behind a mask?" He uttered in a low voice but sufficient for the other to hear.

"You see what you get." Grevor answered and not for long, realization surfaced as he understood the root of the query. "And you?" He threw back at the proud Viscount.

But Yukito didn't answer this and proceeded to walk away. He remained silent all throughout with his face hidden in the darkness.


Sakura yawned lazily as she stretched her arms on her soft bed. Morning came in a brisk but surprisingly she felt well-rested despite the stressful night. Again, the only reason she could find was the fact that she was one less lie down. Perhaps, there had really been guilt all this time. She convinced herself that she wasn't being unfaithful to Yukito since everything was just a game, but after all that had happened, it seemed that she was only lying to herself and deep inside, she knew but refused to admit it.

She momentarily gazed at her pink-colored ceiling and wondered if Yukito already told everyone. Then again, if he did, wouldn't her brother barge in her room by now in frantic mode? Perhaps Fujitaka had been caring enough to let her sleep before facing everyone.

"Or maybe," She said softly. "Just maybe...Yukito kept it a secret." But she could only wish that it would be the case. She reached out for her pillow and placed it on her forehead. A feeling of dread started to surface from within her. "Am I going to be banished from home?" She whimpered. Where would she go if this happens? Automatically, she grabbed her cell phone and began constructing a message. It was still very early in the morning and she wasn't sure if Tomoyo was already awake, but she could try. At least her bestfriend would see it the moment she wakes up. She would call but she was not yet prepared to neither face nor hear the raven-haired's qualms and possible distraught reactions.

''Tomoyo...we broke up.'

She started.

' Yukito knew about me being Agatha. He proposed and he wanted me to stop playing InterVEST. He made me choose! I couldn't let go of SkyLark, so I...'

Sakura closed her eyes as she typed the next set words.

'...I didn't choose him.'

She paused to inhale as if mentally preparing herself.

'I chose SkyLark. I chose Li Syaoran...''

There. She had admitted it straight out. She had finally understood what Yukito was saying. It was inevitable to come to this conclusion. The implications of her actions would really come down to this. It maybe indirectly, but all in all, the root of everything was this one person; the very person whom she had came to depend on for the past few months.

Once again, the controversial question last night taunted her. It was the question thrown by Yukito which she continued to shield herself from.

'Do you...' Yukito's voice echoed inside her mind.

She shook her head to get rid of the thought.

"I will face this one at a time." She firmly said to herself. "There are so many things happening. I'm not ready to face all of them." And then, she added inwardly. ...yet.

Thus, she continued her message.

'What am I going to do, Tomoyo?' She asked as if whimpering in front of the raven-haired girl. She exhaled loudly before fumbling with the keys while sending her message out. She shut her eyes as her thumb routinely executed her command.

Perhaps, she could try sleeping again. Maybe it was all just a dream and once she woke up, everything would be back to normal. She would be the sweet Kinomoto princess together with her precious bestfriend, making a statement in their fashion boutique. She would still be with Yukito; happily setting their wedding date. Touya would be nodding in approval and her father shall be giving them his blessing.

Everything would be perfect, simple...

...and fake. Her inner self supplemented. She would be nothing but a doll in front of everyone's eyes.

It was not like this kind of world was forced unto her. Heavens, no. Her family was a loving one. Fujitaka would never strictly hold them in a leash. It was just that the environment they were brought up into would normally produce what people had seen her as Kinomoto Sakura. She, herself, had thought that this was her and this was all she could do. Until, she discovered InterVEST.

InterVEST, had swept her off her feet. With the anonymity of the online word, she had became braver and bolder. She tried things she wouldn't dare to do in real life; given her roots and lineage. Her world grew and her sight opened to endless possibilities that before she knew it, she had unearthed a new side of her. Someone that could be strong and powerful. But it wasn't something she had intended to do, it just happened. It was neither planned nor expected.

She opened her eyes and decided to get up.

"Might as well face everyone." She murmured as she scanned her room. For a moment, she entertained the thought of packing, but eventually shrugged. Her nerves were eating her that it would be torture to prolong things.

"It is now or never." Sakura inhaled and started changing into her day clothes.


In the grace of the morning, Syaoran turned here and there on his bed. It was such a waste of a beautiful sunny day as he woke up with a pounding hangover. He groaned as his head throbbed.

"That's what you get for drinking too much whisky." He laughed bitterly at himself.

He dared to open his eyes with slight disorientation.

What am I doing? I can't be serious, can I? He grumbled inside. He laid unmoving as he resisted the urge to thrash about.

"Calm down." He muttered under his breath. The alcohol he drowned himself into didn't help at all in washing away his anxieties and troubles.

Even for a tiny amount, it didn't. Even when drunk, thoughts of Kinomoto Sakura haunted him. The facts kept crashing unto him like huge boulders to the point that he would no longer know what to do. He didn't want to lose her. He would just like them to remain as they were and continue SkyLark like nothing else mattered. Unfortunately, that was not how things would be going.

Syaoran sighed as he remembered giving up a few times and succumbed into day dreaming a little scene of him and Agatha living happily ever after.

No interference.

No disturbance.

No family.

No feud

Afterwards, he would bring himself back to reality; ashamed of everything he had thought of. He rubbed his face roughly with two hands and sighed, only to be met by another painful throb on the head.

Then again, was it really his head aching? There seemed to be something else giving him anguish. On an instant, memories of Tavenzouh swarmed his mind. He groaned and rolled over.

I have no right. He thought. She was his in the first place.

What's this? Li Syaoran was in the same frequency as to giving up? How was this possible that he was actually backing down on something he wanted to have?

"Gentleman's honor." He uttered. Tavenzouh was, after all, a friend before they found out of each other's true identity. It was regretful but it was reality. Why do things have to be so ironic and twisted? There seemed to be complications no matter where he placed himself. Everything changed the moment his roots were traced. It was inevitable. He was a Li after all.

A Li...

He had been proud of his heritage. He would walk with his head held arrogantly high; his mentality set that their family was superior to anyone else. No regret. No remorse. But now, for the first time on his life, he wished he wasn't a Li. His wings were never clipped but in this situation, he felt being flattened to the ground.

"This is not good." Syaoran said out loud. He wasn't used in not getting what he wanted. He was simply not brought up that way. He couldn't just give up and let everything go like that. He had poured every inch of himself into InterVEST; his dream, his beliefs, his mind...

...his heart.

With a more determined face, he sat up on his bed and clutched his knees. He furrowed his brows as he tried to regain control of himself. Gentleman's honor or not, he couldn't back down. There were too much at stake.

"And it's not like he was Eriol, anyway." He remarked defensively. "He had been a friend but it was brief." He haughtily said. "Our current situation defines us as enemies. It shouldn't affect me any longer." He firmly told himself.

Currently defines us as enemies, huh? He repeated inwardly. The same could be contested regarding someone.

'What are we, Li?' Kinomoto Sakura's question resurfaced.

I don't know. This time he answered truthfully instead of saying 'business partners'.

It scared the hell out of him when he started weighing things. And with this, he had reacted poorly. Top it off with Tavenzouh's presence and knowing that man's relationship with the person where his life currently revolved into, 'poorly' would be an understatement. Syaoran sighed and felt his shoulders droop down in recollection.

"That will take a lot of 'making up'." He rubbed his face briskly once again. If I could still make up to her, that is.

"If Tsukishiro proposed to her..." His statement dangled. "...I would still interfere." He said in a somewhat threatening tone. How? He had no idea but he would definitely will. "Even if she..." He swallowed hard. "...said 'yes' to him."

The sunken feeling proved to be more painful than his throbbing head as that familiar ache in his chest became more dominant than his hangover. Longing and loneliness overcame him at the thought of Agatha smiling happily beside Tavenzouh's. And it was not a mere image of the two characters in InterVEST but a troublesome snapshot of Kinomoto Sakura together with Tsukishiro Yukito in real life. He gritted his teeth as he fought scene after scene which flew before him as his imagination tortured him of possible outcomes that might result from the two getting officially bonded matrimonially in real life.

Syaoran's emotions staggered that he found himself burying his face in his hands. He was about to throw his body on the bed once again when his cell phone hummed. It took a while for him to administer an action, but was eventually able to reach out for the electronic device. His thumb searched for the usual keys as he heavily tried to open the newly received message. The sender's familiar name became evident on his screen which made him blink a few times. Gradually, all the pain that had been bothering him began to subside as he slowly scrolled down the body of the message. Surely, he wasn't hallucinating, was he? Did he read that just now? It was obvious that there had been a mistake in sending the SMS to him, but the contents were crystal clear along with its implications.

For the first time that morning, a genuine smile crept on Li Syaoran's face alongside the fleeting feeling of happiness and warmth while savoring every word of the message.


Sakura roamed her eyes across the table as she bit cautiously on her toast She practically dragged her feet to breakfast which made her late, but it wasn't something new since she has a habit of being late anyway. Both her father and brother had finished eating but were still having coffee when she arrived. For a moment she thought that maybe they were waiting for her, but as she took her seat, she only received their usual greetings; a smile from Fujitaka and a grunt from Touya. All throughout her meal, both didn't show any peculiar actions. It all seemed to be another morning in the Kinomoto household; she swallowed and chewed another spoonful of poached egg; her father continued to drink coffee while reading the newspaper, and Touya was busy looking at his schedule in his PocketPC. Everyone was silent as they sat comfortably at the terrace while doing their morning routine, but to Sakura, it was like torture since she wasn't sure on whether or not these two people were aware of what happened the night before.

Did Yukito tell? She pondered inwardly. Her emerald eyes wavered as shame swam inside her. But neither kin showed any signs of knowledge or a tinge of it.

Touya started to speak which quickly stiffened Sakura, but she relaxed when she realized that it was nothing more than the daily news. Casual conversation erupted at the table as she continued to eat. Again, there was nothing extravagant or extraordinary that Sakura was almost certain that both were absolutely clueless.

"You seem to be awfully quiet today, dear." Fujitaka's gentle voice reached her.

"Hoe!" She jolted upright when she realized the attention shifted to her.

"And slightly jumpy." Her father gave a small chuckle. Touya, on the other hand, merely looked at her as he took another sip from his cup.

For a moment, Sakura wondered if this was the start of their interrogation, but no matter which angle she looked at them, no trace of worry, panic or anger could be found from their faces. Should she attempt to test it and drop a hint or should she leave things be? She opted to choose the latter and decided to answer safely.

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm only anxious to see Tomoyo. I haven't seen her in a while." It was half true. She was planning on visiting Tomoyo that day. To tell her the news... She added to herself.

Fujitaka smiled. "Of course. How is she? I miss her joining us for dinner."

"She was probably busy with the boutique. It is peak season after all." Guilt washed over her once again as she made the comment. It wasn't because Tomoyo was busy. Her beloved best friend could make time for her no matter what. But the fact was, she was the one that had become extremely unreachable.

"She should take it easy. Tell her to visit us more often." Her father said. She nodded and was almost relieved that nothing else was brought up, until Touya suddenly spoke.

"Weren't you supposed to spend time with Yukito today?" Her brother asked. He spoke casually but his eyes studied her with great intensity which made her squirm a little.

"Oh!" She swallowed her food slowly as she tried thinking of an excuse. "Tomoyo needed some help so I opt going to her instead." She shrugged. Inwardly, she couldn't help but think if her brother was informed by Yukito of what really happened.

"Yukito is also a busy person." Touya pointed out. "It is rare for him to have free time."

Sakura glanced at her brother and found him staring at her unblinkingly. At this moment, she became nervous. Does he know? It was starting to gnaw her inside, but nevertheless, she became determined. As much as she hated to admit, she had been lying and acting for so long. She should be a pro now. Another lie wouldn't matter. So she decided to be firm and stood by her act.

"He is free to join Tomoyo and me." She replied sweetly. "He knows where to find us." Not entirely a lie. Despite what had happened, she was ready to confront Yukito any time. Her determination to defend and protect SkyLark, had been etched in her heart in parallel to her decision last night. She was partly grateful to Yukito for dropping the bombshell. It made her realized and to finally face things she had been running away from since the beginning of her involvement in InterVEST.

What was another threat, after all? She had been spending with one every day for the past few months. If a Li wasn't the threat of all threats, then she didn't know what would be.

"I see." Was the only reply she received from Touya. To her relief, her brother focused his attention back to his scheduler. If she noticed the deeper frown that had crept between his brows, she didn't show any sign of it.

Breakfast ended with both Fujitaka and Touya excusing themselves in order to leave for work. Sakura remained as the maids cleared the table under George's watchful eye. When all had finished their tasks, both she and the butler were left alone, in which George took the opportunity to talk to his mistress.

"Sir Tsu-kazi-row waz hir laz nayt." He remarked stiffly at Sakura. With this, she closed her eyes and sighed. Trust her dear butler to be vigilant.

"Yes." There was no point in denying. This was George, after all. Her partner in crime.

"Mazter Tou-yah, didn't naw?" He continued.

"Apparently." She replied.

"He levft in a har-ry."

Again, she said yes.

"I zee." George didn't pursue any further but Sakura decided to inform him.

"We broke up." She spoke softly.

At this time, George was silent. He merely stood like the lifeless zombie that he was.

Sakura groaned. "Say something, George. Don't be like that."

"Vut, I hav nawthing to zay." The butler remarked. "Zer iz nawthing zurprazing avout zit."

"You're not going to say, 'I zold yah zo' ?" There was tinge of jest as she mimicked the butler's accent. Her mood lightened up by doing the action despite the grave implication of what she just relayed.

George slowly smiled, revealing his crooked teeth. "Doez dee par lei-dy countin' on George zo vee rayt?"

Sakura crossed her arms and gave the old man a smarty gesture. "You've always rooted for Damaski-is." Then, when she saw the butler about to retort, she cut him. "Now don't lie to me, George. Actions speak louder than words."

The butler's smile widened. It was somewhat eerie if it was someone outside the family was to see it, but to Sakura, it was an everyday thing. "Zame could vee zaid zoo yah." He countered.

Sakura was dumbfounded for a moment. Once again, George had made an annoying yet truthful point now that she had surpassed her denial stage.

Somewhat surpassed, that is. She corrected herself. There were still things she refused to face; or rather, analyze, more of which had something to do with what she currently has with a certain Li.

"George, you're supposed to be my guardian angel." She pouted her lips adorably.

"Oh vut, I am guardin' yah." The side of his eyes wrinkled some more in such a way that it looked like a fragile sheet about to be torn. "Veen guardin' yah 'ol mah layf. Not zure if am an anzel, doh."

More like someone from the netherworld. Sakura sweat-dropped at her own thoughts of her faithful butler, before an idea struck her like a lightning bolt. "Back then, before the Ultimate patch was launched..." She started. "...or even way before that, were you aware who Helroi Damaski-is was in real life?" She asked.

Surprisingly, the butler gave her a direct answer.

"Yez." George replied flatly.

Sakura's mouth dropped open. "How could you not tell me?!" She exclaimed.

"Waz it zat impar-zant?" He gave her a quizzical look.

"Important?" She couldn't believe it. "Of course, it was important!" She shifted on her seat to get a full view of the eerie man. "He is Li!" She made desperate gestures with her hands, but the butler seemed unaffected.

"Zo?" He merely said.

"George!"

The butler shrugged. "Zer iz nawthing wrong in attainin' happinez." He somewhat said, philosophically.

"You think I can be happy with a Li? With someone who would attempt to kill me at any given chance?"

"Yah are, 'ery much alive now az yah can ever vee in zee past." George pointed out. "Har yah not?"

Once again, Sakura was silenced by the butler's remark which made the zombie-like man throw a triumphant, yet another, eerie grin. This made Sakura complain some more. "That's not fair, George. Totally, unfair."

"Ol iz fair in luv en war." He stressed the word 'love' which made Sakura cringe a little. She would like to retort back but was afraid of what will come out of her mouth.

George seemed satisfied with this and started to make his way towards the house. He barely glanced back when he dropped a statement.

"Yez, I've ol-wayz veen rootin' for zeh mastre'." And in a mutter which could only be heard by himself, he added. "Evan az a kid, he waz some-van who cud vee exzeptionally carin'. Some-van who cud take care ov yah pritty nize-ly." With this, he made his made his leave; away from the confused girl's eyes.

But as their conversation came and went, unknown to both parties, they weren't entirely alone. For leaning against one massive pillar in a room near the terrace, was a certain extremely worried and furious brother who had heard everything. Touya watched as his beloved sister was left alone to ponder more with her thoughts. He gritted his teeth as he shot death glares at the retreating butler. He had felt something was not right with kaiju when she sat at the breakfast table. He was also suspicious last night when he saw the tail lights of Yukito's car's from a window in the second floor as it went farther and farther away from sight. He found it odd that his best friend didn't even say hello to him. He thought perhaps he had taken his sister out on date, but he had thought wrong. The thing he had feared the most had just happened. He cursed as he harshly dialed a number on his mobile phone, and the moment the line was picked up on the other end, he angrily muttered. "I am going to kill your brother."


"What do you mean you didn't receive it?" Sakura was starting to panic as she faced Tomoyo later that morning.

The raven-haired girl shook her head. "I'm sure, Sakura. I didn't get any SMS from you." She continued to browse her inbox for something close to what the frantic girl had claimed to have sent to her.

"But but..." Teary-eyed Sakura hovered around Tomoyo in circles. "It's a very private message. If it was sent to someone else then..." Sakura shut her eyes and threw her arms about. "Hoeeeeee! They're going to know about my secret. Are you sure you didn't delete it?"

"I'm sure." Tomoyo said definitely. "Something like that would wake me up in jolt. I would have called you instantly. I can't believe you've actually picked Li Syaoran! A Li, for crying out loud!"

"Weh, it's not like that." Sakura replied defensively. "I just couldn't let go of InterVEST."

"Really now?" Tomoyo crossed her arms in front of her chests. "I believe that wasn't what your message supposed to have contained."

"Hoeee!" Sakura covered her face. "Fine. I admit it. But you can't blame be. Li Syaoran was almost synonymous with my life in InterVEST."

"Entirely synonymous, you mean." Her bestfriend corrected.

Sakura's shoulders drooped down in shame as she fell back on the couch.

"Oh, Sakura." Tomoyo padded towards the other girl and offered a consoling hug.

"Why is my life so complicated, Tomoyo?" She whimpered.

With this, the raven-haired girl smiled. "Because great people will never have simple lives." Then, she added. "Otherwise, they would be like everyone else with nothing to differentiate them from the rest."

Sakura snuggled closely unto her beloved friend. "Thank you, Tomoyo. I thought you were against my decision with SkyLark."

"I am." Tomoyo answered truthfully. "But you are still my dearest friend and I will be with you through thick and thin." She hugged the other girl tighter. Sakura sniffed as she returned the hug. A few minutes later, Tomoyo straightened herself and held her friend at arm's length. "But this brings us back to whom your message got sent to." She reminded.

On an instant, Sakura riveted in being panicky. "Hoeeeeeeee!!! Tomoyo, what am I going to do?"

"Calm down." Tomoyo said. She had her own issues about the involvement with the Li, considering that a particular lawyer had made troubling impressions on her, but this wasn't the time to think about that. Clearly, it would be scandalous and far problematic if other people would know about what has been going on behind the scenes.

"Are you sure you even sent it? It was very early in the morning and maybe you thought you were already awake but in reality you could only be dreaming." She tried to sound logical but the lady in front of her was not easily convinced.

"I'm sure I've sent it! I'm really sure of it!" She replied.

Then, an idea pop out of the raven-haired's mind. "Your outbox, Sakura! Your outbox! Check it!"

"Hoe!" With hopeful eyes, Sakura navigated into the outbox folder in her phone and almost fainted when she finally realized to whom she sent her SMS.

"Oh God." Her voice was almost a whisper as she slumped back on the sofa.

"What?" Tomoyo peered at her curiously, but her friend only buried her face against the pillows. "Sakura." She called out and the troubled lady handed over the phone. Tomoyo took it and gaped in disbelief when she saw the receiver of the message. "The situations you place yourself in, really amazes me."

"Hoe!" Sakura's muffled tone surfaced with embarrassment as she recalled her SMS. "What will he say, Tomoyo? Of all the people, why do I have to send it to him?"

"Ummmm..." Tomoyo murmured as she browsed Sakura's phone. "Must have been reflex." She deduced. "I mean, look at your inbox and outbox. His name almost filled up everything. Far more than me and Yukito's combine!"

"I know." The emerald-eyed girl remarked weakly which earned a helpless look from the other lady.

"Oh Sakura..." Tomoyo wrapped her arms around her friend once more.

"I'm so stupid." Sakura continued as she recalled her fight with the eccentric man. "I know I'm being used but I'm still here standing by his side." She gazed down with sad eyes with tears threatening to fall. "I don't know why I am being like this. I've even turned Yukito down. Why is SkyLark so important to me? Why is something conceptualized by a Li, so special to me enough to place my life in jeopardy?" Then, she looked up at the raven-haired girl; full of turmoil and desperation. "Why, Tomoyo, why?"

Her friend locked gaze with her. For a minute, she wasn't sure if she should say what she had been thinking full of dread all this time. Nevertheless, she took a deep breath and finally confronted her friend about it. "Perhaps..." Tomoyo started to say. "...you've fallen in love with Li Syaoran."

Sakura could only stare back. Silence took over as the weight of what Tomoyo had said sank in. Neither wished to supplement nor to speak; afraid of where it may lead to. But alas, when it seemed both were contented not to pursue the topic any longer, Sakura's phone hummed which startled them upright. For a second, neither of them bulged until it was Tomoyo who bravely initiated to look.

"You have new message." She said and bit her lip. "From him."

Sakura entertained the thought that it might be from Yukito or someone else, but fate was not that kind to her when she saw the familiar name on the screen. With shaking hands, she took the phone from Tomoyo and pressed 'read'.

'I'm not your bestfriend,'

It started.

'but I'll tell you what to do.'

Sakura held her breath.

'You'll forget about him and live happily with me.' Li Syaoran conveyed.

She felt her cheeks grow hot. The message was short and direct, but as usual it contained bold words that might have huge implications. Tomoyo was peering behind her shoulders as she also read the message. Her gaze shifted from the phone to Sakura and back again. Her vigilant amethyst eyes studied the lady's reaction and analyzed the content of Li Syaoran's words.

"What are you waiting for?" Tomoyo urged her. "This is your chance to ask again."

"Ask again?" Sakura looked somewhat scared.

"Ask that question you've asked before." Tomoyo tried reminding her. "About what you guys really are."

"Hoeeee!" Sakura hugged her knees and shut her eyes. "That didn't turn out good the last time." She shook her head.

"Sakura, wake up." Tomoyo knelt in front and grabbed her friend's shoulders. "You were so brave last night when you faced Yukito, now is not the time to run away."

"I'm not running away." Sakura replied but her voice came out weak.

"Then, ask him again."

"Why should I?"

"Because he is saying that you should live with him."

"That meant in-game, Tomoyo. Within InterVEST." Sakura managed to counter.

"Are you sure?" The raven-haired girl narrowed her eyes. "The man said…NOT asked…but said straight out that you live happily with him. He didn't say, play with him, act with him, work with him, BUT live with him. You don't just say that to anyone on whim. Especially not to your sworn enemy."

"He might be joking." Sakura still refused to accept. "He might be laughing this very moment at my naivety. He was probably gloating in his achievement of capturing another girl."

Tomoyo set her lips in a grim line. "I'm disappointed, Kinomoto Sakura. Is this how you saw your InterVEST partner? Is everything skin deep? That's how shallow the bond you've shared with the man you've practically decided to fight for? You're honestly going to tell me that everything was just a game and purely business?!" Then, she stood up and took Sakura's phone. "After all this?" She scrolled one message after another. "Every moment of both your lives were practically recorded in the messages you guys sent to each other. And heaven knows what the two of you talk about during calls or in IRL for that matter." Tomoyo tried her best to get her point across. "You don't spend this much time and effort on someone you would only want as a trophy. Plus..." She toned down slightly for she wanted her dearest friend to capture every word that she was about to say. "...you don't get angry like that if you're going to lose some tool. You'll behave like that if you're going to lose someone precious in your life to another man."

"Tomoyo..." Sakura whispered.

"Open your eyes to possibilities, Sakura." Her friend insisted.

"What if it's only me thinking of those kinds of possibilities?" She replied softly.

"Then, it is better to have known the answer than not at all." The other lady stated firmly.

Sakura became quiet. She looked down at her hands that had gone sweaty in the process of her conversation with Tomoyo. That one thing she had decided not to face that morning had knocked on her door once again; frantically.

Would she continue to deny the possibility and cloud her thoughts?

Or would she finally let it out her system, for better or for worse?

She reached out for her phone, which Tomoyo gladly gave back to her. She fumbled with the keys for a while until eventually, with one look at Tomoyo; she started to compose a reply.


"Tell me again why I am holding a fish bowl?" Eriol's irritated tone reached Syaoran's ears as they stepped inside the elevator.

It was late in the morning and SkyLark's headquarters was buzzing with life. People hurry in and out of the adjoining buildings as they went about their daily duties. Every now and then, people would bow their heads in respect to Syaoran and Eriol who had entered the main office from the parking lot.

"You have a huge heart and therefore, helping me." Syaoran grinned goofily.

"I am forced to help you." The lawyer replied with much grumpiness. "So you can just drop the huge heart comment."

"I highly doubt that." Syaoran chuckled. "You like hiding in your carefree and cool attitude, but deep inside, you're actually quite a nice guy."

"Yeah, right." Eriol sarcastically remarked. "I'm crying all over." He balanced the fish bowl in one hand while he adjusted his glasses with the other. The water slightly swirled inside but the goldfish remained calm and fixed its huge eyes at the man carrying its home.

"See, even the fish loves you." Syaoran joked as he pressed the topmost floor's number on the elevator's panel. "They say animals know if a person is a good one or not."

The lawyer eyed the fish indifferently. "Trust a cold-blooded creature to know another cold-blooded one."

The younger man laughed. "Then, it knows you best."

"Knows me too much that it is watching me closely for any bad move that I might make."

"You're getting paranoid." Syaoran commented.

His friend arched a brow. "And you're getting too lax." The elevator chimed and both stepped out unto the hallway. Eriol continued to say his observation. "This is quite the opposite of yesterday. You woke up on the right side of the bed or did something phenomenal happen?"

Syaoran merely walked casually towards his office. "I don't know what you are talking about." He motioned for the other to place the fish bowl on top of the table identical to his own across the room.

"Really now." There was a hint of taunt in his tone.

"Yes, really." Syaoran replied.

"So that huge smile on your face doesn't mean anything?" The lawyer pointed.

"No, it doesn't mean anything." The businessman tried containing the overflowing happiness he felt inside but to no avail. Every inch of his well-being betrayed him.

Eriol rolled his eyes and held out the fish bowl. "It adds more meaning if you're the one that's going to place it on her desk."

Still grinning like a fool, Syaoran accepted the bowl and meticulously studied the table for the best place to settle the fish. Once satisfied, he strode towards his own desk and sat smugly on his seat. He played with his pen absent-mindedly and seemed to be contented to stay like that if Eriol didn't clear his throat.

"Is there anything else…remotely productive that you need from me?" The lawyer asked with an amused face.

"Hmmm...I wonder, too." Syaoran rested his chin on his hand and resumed playing with his pen.

Eriol shook his head and sighed. He took a seat and settled himself in front of Syaoran's desk and crossed his fingers on top of the sleek wood, directly facing the younger man. "Okay, what is it? Spill it out."

Syaoran's grin widened as he halted twirling the pen and finally blurted, "They broke up."

Eriol's navy eyes narrowed. "They as in who exactly?"

"Kinomoto and Tsukishiro." Syaoran answered happily—too happily.

"Aaah." Eriol remarked as it finally dawned at him. A smile started to creep on his face but still, he only nodded and didn't offer any supplementing words.

Both men remained quiet; the other unsure how to proceed while the other tauntingly waited.

"Eriol..."

"Yeah?"

"There is something productive that I do need from you."

"Oh, I wonder what it could be."

Unable to directly convey his request, Syaoran opted pulling out his mobile phone and showed a certain message he received earlier. He placed it on the table and turned it around for Eriol to read. The lawyer leaned forward and browsed the SMS.

'Who am I to you, Li?' Kinomoto Sakura wrote. 'What am I exactly?'

Eriol shot him an inquiring yet knowing look as he casually leaned back on his seat. Mischief was taking over his facade that Syaoran knew he wouldn't hear the last of it from his friend. He would probably be teased for the rest of his life, but what the heck? It was a small price to pay for being arrogantly stupid.

"I couldn't properly answer her, you see." Syaoran started to say with his smile never leaving his face.

"How unfortunate." Eriol replied reservedly, but his own naughty grin overshadowed his calm demeanor.

"But with your help, I can send a solid...and extremely truthful reply." Syaoran said with obvious emphasis.

Both men locked gaze like an unspoken understanding came in between them, yet both didn't utter a word and time seemed to pass, until finally, Eriol reached for the intercom and pressed the button under his office's name.

"Natalie," He buzzed his secretary. "Kindly go to my office and fetch a folder near the window."

This earned a frown from Syaoran, considering the fact that it was a very important and controversial document to be left out in the open. But having seen the younger man's reaction, Eriol mischievously added, "Yes, the one beside the shredding machine." Although, mentioning it wasn't needed, but nevertheless he loved seeing the Li cringed a little.

As he let go of the button, he smiled sweetly at the man in front of him. "Relax. There are tons of papers in my office. It would go unnoticed that way than keeping it in a locked drawer at the bottom of a certain person's desk."

Syaoran was about to protest on how on earth the lawyer knew where he had hidden the document all this time, when Eriol's secretary knocked and gave the precious folder to the lawyer.

"You do realize that my life rests entirely on that piece of document you have there." Syaoran said as the door closed behind Natalie; leaving him and Eriol alone once more.

"Then, aren't you lucky that I don't obey every word that you say." The lawyer pointed out with a wink. "Or else, your life would have been shredded to many tiny pieces and incinerated in the garbage bin."

Syaoran bent his head and nodded in acknowledgement. "What will I do without you, Eriol." He gave a small laugh.

"Probably live a more peaceful life." Eriol remarked as he placed the controversial paper in front of Syaoran.

The Li inhaled and savored the moment for a while. He skimmed every area of the document before looking back at the question sent to him in his phone. He darted one final gaze at his friend, who merely waited patiently with unnerving yet expecting eyes, before grabbing a pen and writing his signature on top of his printed name...

...opposite Kinomoto Sakura's neat penmanship, and thus, finally sealing everything.

"There's no backing out on this." Eriol reminded him. "There are too much at stake to merely play around on whim."

"I know." Syaoran said with a feeling of elation.

"Breaking this would put Skylark in jeopardy." The lawyer used a business-like tone. "Section 41 is a double-edged sword."

"I know." Syaoran replied once more.

Then as a friend, Eriol spoke. "The Li family will disown you."

"I don't care."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Fine." Eriol briskly stood up and took the signed document. "I'll be needing you to sign the edges of the rest of Section 41, considering that this is only the last page of the Article. Normally, she needs to sign on the sides as well, but having an abominable lawyer like me, the magic I can do will make this last page suffice."

"Aren't I glad to have you?" Syaoran grinned sheepishly.

Eriol smirked and waved his hand as he made his way to the door. "Now go reply properly." He said.

"Yeah..." Syaoran reached for his phone and typed his much delayed response.

Thus, to Kinomoto Sakura, he wrote...

'You are my wife…now, and for as long as both of us shall live.'
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(Up NEXT Chapter Twenty-Nine: "Against All Odds")


Author's Note:

Now this isn't a cliff hanger…I think…right? Hope you all feel better now. –winks- I bet it left butterflies and sunshine. But enjoy it while you all can…–insert evil laugh here-

Thank you for all your support! R and R Onegai Shimasu! Remember, reviews inspire me to write! I read all of them!

(P.S. How many Blah-Blahs after the chapters do I already have any way? I lost track Oo. Now I don't know where to start.)