by: Mattel
ai_no_hime@mail.com
~~Standard Disclaimers Apply~~
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Hongkong shi ni
by: Mattel
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CHAPTER II - LOST AND FOUND
"Yatta!," Sakura said as soon as she was standing inside their living room. She plopped herself on the sofa and rewound everything that had happened a while ago. She slowly close her eyes.
--memory sequece--
"Okay" Syaoran said, "When will we be going?,"
"I don't know, but I'm certain it's withing this week, I'll just give you a call, okay?.. just start packing your things," Sakura told him while looking at him direct in the eyes,
A long silence filled them, it was so uncomfortable, both of them wanted to say something but can't say it, Sakura mused inwardly.
"I should be going now," Sakura told him.
Syaoran gave her a confused look, but then he slightly smiled at her!
Sakura bid him good bye and left.
--end of memory sequence--
Fujitaka-san appeared on the living room suddenly out of nowhere, that by the time she opened her eyes he was practically looming over her, "Sakura-san?," he asked.
After fully opening her eyes, "Hoe?.. what is it otousan?," she stretched a little, and gave a little *unladylike* yawn.
Fujitaka-san sat beside her, "Have you found a friend who might go with us?,"
At that Sakura turned slightly pink, she fought over the creeping blush, she nodded, "Hai," she shifted uncomfortably on her seat, praying that her father won't notice the uneasiness.
Fujitaka-san began fiddling with his apron, hoping to find something there that he can't find, but then he stopped and looked at Sakura, "Would you mind telling me who is it?," he waited for an answer.
Sakura looked on the ground, "It's..uh--," she started but was cut off by her father.
"Aha! I bet it's Daidouji-san," he replied supplying his own question with his answer.
Sakura shook her head, This is going to be hard, I just hope that oniichan won't hear>, "No.. ," she trailed off unsure on how to continue.
"Then who is it?," Fujitaka-san once again asked his daughter, weird.. it isn't Daidouji?> he thought.
Sakura looked up to him and whispered, "It's Li-kun,"
Unfortunately Fujitaka-san hadn't heard, "Who?," he leaned closer to Sakura, "And why are you whispering?," he whispered back.
"Eh?..," she began, but ignored the question, "It's Li-kun," she whispered much loudly than before, but poor old Fujitaka-san still hadn't heard, "Who?," he leaned much more closer. Sakura sweat dropped.
"It's Li-kun!," she said much loudly than the second time, at last Fujitaka-san heard.
"Ah...him..," he said, "Okay, he's fine, he's a good kid though...,"
"WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT BOY'S NAME MENTIONED THERE?!," a new voice shouted.
It was Touya. Unfortunately, Touya heard, obviously. He came rushing down, and stood in front of Sakura and his father.
"Dad, who's going to be your third companion?," he asked his father but kept his eyes fixed on Sakura.
"Eh?!," Fujitaka-san looked at his son and daughter, both having a glaring contest. He scratched his head, This is confusing..>, but he answered Touya's question anyway, "It's Li-san, you know him?,"
Sakura was still glaring at his brother, when Touya answered, "Know him?! I don't like him! and if that brat's coming I won't let him step on the plane!," he growled.
Fujitaka's forehead creased, Why do Touya-san dislike this boy so much.. he seems nice though..>, he resolved.
"I think you've forgotten that I will going to be with Sakura-san there, so I can have a look out about that boy for you, if you dislike him that much..though, I don't see why.. he seems nice when he last came here,"
Touya sighed, his father was right, ofcourse. "Okay, Sorry if I had exploded like that,"
Fujitaka-san smiled at his only son, "It's okay, I know there's a big reason for you to act like that,"
"So Li-kun's allowed to join us?!," Sakura put in, she smiled her most irressistible smile.
Touya glared at his sister but said nothing. Fujitaka smiled, "Of course,"
"Yatta!," she cheered, "Anyway..," she said trying to change the subject and ease the tension, from her and her brother, he turned towards her father, "Otousan, when will we leave?,"
"Uh..let me see," Fujitaka said as he put a hand on his head, "on Saturday, since today's just Thursday you have one day and a half to prepare your things... so is that enough time for you and Li-san to pack your things?,"
At the mention of Li-kun's name again, Touya's head shot up, much more alarmed than before, smokes are practically seen releasing itself from Touya's nose and ear. Sakura turned to her brother and seeing her brother ike this she sweat-dropped nervously, "ehehehhehehe..," she chuckled nervously and turned to her father, "Hai.. it'll be enough.. anyway, can I go to my room now?,"
Fujitaka-san smiled at her, "Of course you may, just don't hack the phone all day from upstairs okay?.." he warned, he knew Sakura so much that he knew that by the time she reached her room she'll be talking to her bestfriend on the phone all day discussing their own future vacations.
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"So.. is that okay with you?," Sakura's voice rang through the receiver of the phone.
Enough time for me?.. i'll be a nervous wreck by that time> he thought, ready to say it out loud, but he held his tongue.
"Yeah, it's okay.. anyway, what did your brother say?," he asked without even thinking about what he'd just said. And when he fully realized the impact of his question, he quickly regretted asking.
But as usual, Sakura was as clueless as ever, "Say about what?," she asked, her voice genuinely confused.
Syaoran sighed a sigh of relief, it's a good thing she's clueless..>,
"Oh!," Sakura exclaimed on the other line, maybe she's not as clueless as usual, "Oh, you mean about you?," she inquired.
Syaoran bit his lip, so much for his big mouth. but he answered anyway, "Yeah.. what's his reaction when he learned that I'll be coming with.. uh.. you?," he stammered at the word 'you'.
Sakura chuckled on the other line.
Syaoran was confused, What's so funny about that?,> he thought silently.
"Sorry..," he heard her say, "It's just that oniichan's reaction was hilarious!, but he was scary in a way..," she said, as she continues laughing softly on the other line.
Syaoran couldn't get what she's laughing about, I don't wanna know what he's reaction had been..> he thought warily.
"Anyway," Sakura said after a couple of more chuckles, "I need to go now, I don't want to risk being caught by oniichan on the extension," at that she bid him goodbye and he said his goodbye too.
After placing down the receiver, he plopped himself to the sofa and thought about the previous happenings.
This is going too fast... me coming back to Hongkong?..I just pray to Kami-sama that I don't get caught...Oh! I still need to pack some things...> he remembered, as he quickly jumped off the sofa.
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[FRIDAY..]
RING!...RING!...RING!
Syaoran quickly answered the phone after three rings, and he's in a bad bad mood because of the packing rush,
"Who the heck will this be?!," he said as he handed the phone to his ear, unaware that the caller heard what he just said, "Moshi moshi," he said through gritted teeth, as he waited for an answer.
"Gomen Syaoran-kun.. I didn't mean to call when you're busy..," Sakura apologized through the phone, Syaoran mentally kicked himself for talking out loud like that, "Uh.. eh.. it's not you.. I mean, it's okay, I'm not that busy,' he lied, "Anyway, why'd you call?," he asked willing himself to keep his cool.
There was a pause on the other line, as if unsure on what to say, "Uh.. have you packed your things for tomorrow?," Sakura slowly asked.
Syaoran laughed nervously, "eheheheh.. yeah.. I've just finished..," he lied.. again.
"Well, if that's the case, it's good!, anyway, I have to go now!," at that she quickly hung up the phone.
Syaoran stared at the phone with disbelief then muttered, "Weird.. ,"
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[SATURDAY morning almost 6:00 AM]
RING! RING! RING!
"Coming!," Syaoran muttered, he was still in his pajamas because he has just woken up, because he stayed up late last night because of packing and sorting his things, "Why me?!," he asked himself, "Just because I'm having a good sleep..," he muttered some more before picking up the phone.
"Moshi moshi.," he lamely greeted.
"Ohayou Syaoran-kun!," Someone greeted him on the other line. Who the heck is this?!> he asked himself, the voice seems familiar but because of the dizzyness from lack of sleep he was unable to relate the voice from it's owner.
"Who's this?," he asked, giving up thinking. all I need is a good sleep.. is that too much to ask?!> he silently cursed himself.
The voice on the other line sounded hurt, she was already talking but Syaoran was barely listening, "...our flight is on 7:30!,"
At the mention of the word 'flight' Syaoran became extremely awake, and now he knew who was speaking to him, it was Sakura, ofcourse.
"What?!," Syaoran almost shouted on the phone, "You're saying that we're leaving at 7:30.. in the morning?!"
"Yeah.. so get yourself ready and we'll pick you up at exactly 6:30,"
Syaoran looked at the clock.
It was 6:10.
"Okay.. bye!," at that he quickly hung up the phone, and dashed quickly as he can towards the bathroom. While muttering "I'm late"
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[7:15 AM on the plane]
Syaoran and Sakura were seated with one another while Sakura's father, Fujitaka was behind them with another passenger they don't know.
"I'm so excited..," Sakura whispered at Syaoran's ear, their shoulders merely brushing with each other.
As usual, Syaoran blushed, he wasn't accustomed being *this* near to Sakura, his mind couldn't take the presence of her beside him. He just rummaged a comb from his pocket to comb his *messy* and still wet-from-the-shower hair, "Uh.. yeah.. me too..," he whispered back, not showing his still red face.
Sakura sighed and leaned her back to her chair, closing her eyes. She sighed deeply.
Hearing a deep sigh, Syaoran stole a glance towards his seatmate, he silently admire her innocent, simple yet gravitating beauty, he then looked at her lips.
No.. not the lips...> he silently begged, not being able to tear his eyes away from her pink lips. After a moment he at last tore his eyes away from her lips and stared at the green eyes that were staring back at him, one of her eyebrows slightly raised, "Something wrong?," she asked.
Syaoran turned away, not just from mere embarrassment but by the fact that she *caught* him staring at her openly.
"Are you two all right there?," a new voice inquired.
They've almost forgotten that Sakura's dad was there, both Sakura and Syaoran turned their heads towards the direction of her father, then answered, "Yeah.."
"Good," Fujitaka smiled at them as he leaned back to his chair.
At that the two relaxed then both closed their eyes, until sleep claim their being.
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Syaoran was the first one to wake up, a welcome weight on his shoulder registered on his mind, he slowly bend his head towards the direction of where and who the owner of the *weight*was. It was Sakura, sleeping calmly on the crook of his shoulder, her hair tickling his neck. He started to blush again. He looked around him, noticing that it's already afternoon by one of the passenger's watch.
Suddenly a stewardess came and told all of them that they'll arrive at Hongkong within a few minutes. That's when Syaoran decided to wake Sakura.
"Sakura," he whispered, nudging her softly, careful not to nudge anywhere than her ribs, "Sakura," he whispered, much louder this time, but the sleeping Sakura paid no heed, "Sakura!," he hissed, and successfully he, at last, awaken her.
"Hoe?..Where are we?.. Syaoran-kun?," she asked while rubbing off sleep from her eyes.
"Hongkong.. we will arrive soon," he tensed, at his mention of Hongkong, I just hope no one would see me.. or else this'll be the last flight I'll have from Japan,>
A few more minutes Syaoran could *almost* feel the plane descending, and felt that it landed to a land.. at last.
The stewardess again came over and announced that they're already in Hongkong.
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"Hoe!!! everything here seems so beautiful..," Sakura gasped as she looked around the foreign place, they were first visiting the 'Victoria Peak', the highest moutain in Hongkong, "Indeed," Fujitaka-san agreed, while taking pictures of the place.
"Ne.. Syaoran-kun?," she called, staring on something faraway.
"Eh?,"
Sakura pointed at something, while leaning against the railing, "What was that?.. isn't that a harbor?," she asked tentatively, not taking her eyes off the harbor.
"Hai.. it's the Victoria Harbor," he said.
Sakura clasped her hands on front of her chest, a gesture showing that Sakura is definitely pleased, "Sugoi..," she breathed.
She roamed her eyes around her, everything down there seems so beautiful..> she thought. Then a certain peninsula caught her eyes.
"Syaoran-kun," she called again, taking his sleeves and tug on it slightly, "Ne.. Syaoran-kun?,"
Syaoran looked at her, "Nani?,"
"She looked back at the peninsula, "What was that land over there?..," she said, pointing her finger on the place.
"Doko?,"
"There..," Sakura said. Leaning close to Syaoran so she could point at the place directly, "There,"
Standing still was the only thing Syaoran was capable as of the moment as Sakura moved closer to him, and everytime the wind blows, her hair get shuffled and tickles Syaoran on his cheek. He shuddered. Taking a deep breath, he said.
"Oh.. that over there?,"
"Yeah..what is it?,"
Syaoran turned his back on the railing and leaned against it, "That's Kowloon,"
Sakura's smile grew even more as her eyes sparkled with delight, "Subarashii desu ne?.. Syaoran-kun?," she turned to look at her now silent companion, she could see that something's troubling him, though she don't know what's the problem.
"Syaoran-kun, is there a problem? aren't you happy here?.. with us?," she asked, afraid that he would say yes.
"huh?!," was all Syaoran said, after Sakura surprised him by her abrupt question. He turned to look at her, his eyes questioning.
Sakura smiled warmly at him, a smile that made Syaoran's heart do a little flip, "I've asked you if you have a problem.. you seem distant..," she trailed off as she stared at the deep brown pools of Syaoran's eyes, neither of them wanting to break the moment.
"Ahem..," a new voice chimed in, "Sakura-san, Li-san.. I think it's time that we eat," he looked at his watch, he already adjusted his watch to match the time at Hongkong, "Yeah.. I think it's time," he said to both teens.
After a minute of walking, they found a nice restaurant with reasonable prices for the food, "Syaoran-kun, what would you take?," Sakura asked while looking on her menu. She and Syaoran were seated by each other and Sakura's father was on front of them, "Otousan?.. what would you take?," she asked, she was unfamiliar of some foods enlisted on the menu, except for the dim sum. She knew *too* well what a dim sum is, after all it was *his* favourite food. She blushed, she never meant to think about _him_ again.
"Sakura-san," Fujtaka's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Look here.. want to try this?," he said putting down hhis menu and pointing at something written there. Both Sakura and Syaoran leaned close so they would have a good look on what Fujitaka-san was offering them.
SPECIAL SNAKE SOUP.
Sakura wanted to hurl and throw up, even though, she still hadn't seen the food. She turned blue.
"Otousan?.. you eat snakes?," Sakura managed to say, her face bluish.
"Of course!, they're so delicious.. ne.. Li-san?," Her father turned to Syaoran who looked perfectly normal not like Sakura who's still looking blue.
To Sakura's shock and disgust, Syaoran agreed with her father saying that snakes are *indeed* delicious. That made her want to go to the bathroom and puke. But if she was disgusted she made herself look like she's under control, the only thing that's betraying her cool was the bluish tint on her face.
"Okay.. i guess you're both right..," Sakura said giving in.
After a while a waiter took their orders.
I just have to act normal..> Sakura thought, convincing herself, If they can eat it, so do i..>
At last the moment they have been waiting for came, a waiter balancing a tray with 3 bowls on it, he carefully handed each of them their bowls and poured the soup. the SNAKE SOUP. After the waiter left the two men began tasting the snake, correction.. the soup..> Sakura thought, as she stared at her untouched bowl.
"Oishii," Fujitaka-san complimented.
Syaoran nodded in agreement.
Sakura groaned silently. She slowly dipped her spoon on her soup and scooped some. She took a deep breath and she took her spoon to her mouth.
This was a torture after all...> Sakura thought as she swallowed the soup without really tasting it. She scooped some more and just swallowed each spoonfuls as fast as she could, not minding if her manners look so *unladylike*. And totally not caring if half of the people at the restaurant was staring at her, all that mattered in her mind presently was how to finish the dish presented in front of her. After a few minutes, Sakura looked at her bowl again, happy that she had already eaten most of it, that was when she realized that both Syaoran and her father was staring at her disbelievingly.
"Hoe?," she asked, not knowing what was going on around her for the past minutes.
"Sakura-san, if i hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it," Fujitaka said after a full minute of silence.
"Neither do I," Syaoran agreed, nodding his head, spoon still on hand.
Sakura turned deep crimson.
"Where are your manners?.. are you that hungry that you go off eating like a horse?," her father asked. She blushed uncontrollably, she began sliding down the table.
I wish the floor would open and just swallow me up.. this is totally, way, way embarrassing..,> she thought, she hated it when her father scolded her in front of *someone*, especially if that someone was Syaoran. It was just too embarrassing to think.
"Gomen..," was all she whispered head bent, after all she was still embarrassed to talk and not to mention raise her head and see those disbelieving faces. Their expression. *His* expression.
Geezz.. maybe now he think that I'm a horse with a serious case of gluttony..> she sighed at her thought.
Her father looked at her and then sighed, "Okay.. just eat now.. normally..,"
At that she shot her head up only seeing her father continuing with his snake, she turned to look at Syaoran, who eyed her with sympathy.
She smiled at him sheepishly, he smiled back at her before continuing with his snake too. After a while, she returned her gaze to her snake, imagining that her soup was still a snake with red eyes, hissing. Observing her, while it's tongue flick in and out of it's tiny mouth, the thought made her want to puke... again.
She turned blue... again. I couldn't take any of these anymore..> she thought as she pushed her bowl away from her, signalling that she was already finished. She reached for her glass of iced-tea and downed most of it. The taste of her tea made her feel normal, now, she didn't feel like throwing up.
She wouldn't say the traditional 'it was a fiest' since the food was not really likable... for her, but as for her companions, they both ate all of it and were presently murmuring the traditional 'it was a fiest'.
How can they say that it was a fiest?.. geezz.. i never would understand men..> she thought as she stared at their clean bowl, totally opposite of Sakura's bowl, which still have some remains of the soup.
After paying their bill, they walked outside the restaurant and turned to Syaoran.
"Well?.. where are we going now?.. tourist guide?..," Sakura asked him with a teasing tone on her voice, "I heard there's something sounded like the ocean here..," she trailed off, trying to remember what place that was.
Fujitaka-san just stood there waiting for the two to make their decisions, after all, he decided that this would be *Sakura's* vacation.
"The Ocean Park!," Syaoran suddenly said.
"Yeah!.. that was it!," Sakura chimed in enthused, "I heard from Tomoyo that there were some really good sections there..,"
"Yeah," Syaoran agreed as he put his hands over his chest.
"Otousan.. to the Ocean Park.. Onegai?..," Sakura pleaded.
Fujitaka-san smiled at her daughter, "Ofcourse, this is your vacation, after all..," then he turned to Syaoran, "Where's this Ocean Park located?,"
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"Hoe!!!," Sakura said, her eyes, sparkling with pleasure, she hadn't seen so many people like this in ages, it was *practically* crowded, she wondered what was the occassion why there are so many people. She felt... good. She ran towards some place then another, looking at the different fishes, they were currently at Shark Aquarium. She ran from places to places, enjoying each sight. Until..
"Otousan!.. look! what kind of shark was that?," she asked turning around, hoping to see her father and Syaoran, bt there was no one behind her. She was alone.
"Hoe?," she said, confused and most of all... nervous. Maybe Otousan and Syaoran-kun's playing a trick to me.. maybe they're purposely hiding from me,> she tried to think to keep some bad thoughts on her mind. I'll just walk around and find them...> she resolved.
After 15 minutes of nonstop walking she finally seated on a bench, she was almost out of breath until someone came up to her. He was quite handsome, cute even with his brown hair, like the shade of Syaoran-kun' but the only difference was his eyes, they weren't amber-brown like Syaoran's, they were deep bluish black.
I think he's about my age..,> Sakura guessed.
He greeted her in Cantonese, which she couldn't understand. She just shooked her head and said, "I couldn't understand you.." she said helplessly.
At that the boy smiled and quickly changed his language, "Sorry..," he apologized, his pronounciation was like Li-kun's when he first arrived Japan.
But this *isn't* Li-kun.. you're lost.. remember?,> she reminded herself.
"It's okay..," she answered the boy's apologies.
"anyway..," she started, "who are you?," she asked, "are you following me all this time?,"
"Yes, I have, my apologies, I didn't mean to follow you, I just thought that you look like kind of lost, anyway, my name's Lian Xian," he held out his hand.
"Sakura," she said as she took his hand and shook it briefly, "as a matter of fact, you're right, I'm really lost..," she admitted as she let her hands fall to her sides, gripping the bench slightly, "I got separated with my father and my friend," she explained, she looked at the sky, as always, and observed that it was already getting dark, worry washed over her, she don't know what would she do, this place was so foreign to her. She had never been on this place before.
They talk and laugh for a moment trying to ease the tension and worry that was clearly written on Sakura's face, Sakura in the meanwhile, being a japanese has translated Lian Xian's name to Rian Shan, she now call him Rian-san, she tried to ease off the worry in her as he talk to him, he made her feel a little better though, but not enough..
Seeing the girl in distress and worry, Lian Xian tried to think of a solution on how to help the beautiful girl sitting in front of him, he tried to thing of some other ways, but there's only one sure way to help her, but he was uncertain how he would ask her. After a few minutes her spoke to her.
"Sakura-san, would you like to spend this night with us?," he asked abruptly.
He startled the girl out of her wits, he observed as he saw her involuntarily jumped off to her feet, "Hoe?," she said. He figured it out after a moment of talking with her that 'hoe' is her favorite expression, it was cute, he thought.
"Yeah, and tomorrow morning, I'll help you find your companions..," he explained as he held up his hands, "Don't worry, I'm not a bad guy..,"
Sakura smiled at him warmly, she could always detect if a person is bad or not, it was a gift to her by her own powers, and now looking at Lian Xian, she's sure that she's safe with him, "I'm sure you are Rian-san.. but how would your family think.. about... I mean, you bringing a complete stranger on your home?," she asked uncertain, she has to be sure if she wouldn't cause his family some troubles.
"I'm sure they'll understand why I have to take you home, they'll understand that after a minute their eyes fall upon you.." he assured her as he offered her to take his hand.
"Okay..," she answered, unsure of the meaning of his last comment. The moment their eyes fall upon me?.. what was that all about?..> she thought as she took his hand and follow him.
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"Fujitaka-sensei, I don't see any trace of Sakura anywhere!," Syaoran told Sakura's father frantically.
Fujitaka-san fought to contain his calmness even though he already knew that his *only* daughter is missing.
"Good thing I gave her some money," he murmured, firguring out that if ever they won't find her today, she'll know that she can just stay on a hotel for a night. He tried to convince himself that Sakura's already resting at one of the hotels there. He looked at the sky, a gesture he know that her daughter loves to do, it was dark already, faint stars can already be seen in the horizon, he called Li-kun. After all they've been searching for hours.
"We will stop searching for today, but tomorrow, we'll definitely return," he told Syaoran, "I know Sakura's safe around her, maybe she already reserved a room for her for a night.. I gave her some money this morning, the money I gave her must be enough for a hotel room for a day or two..," he concluded, mostly to himself.
"But--," Syaoran protested.
"She's safe," Fujitaka-san assured him, "Because it's her it's going to be fine,".
I just hope I'm right..,> he thought as he and Syaoran stepped into a cab. Towards the hotel they have reserved for them.
As Syaoran stepped inside the cabby, he stared through the window and murmured, "You should be okay, Sakura..,"
--TO BE CONTINUED--
Next: Chapter Three: Coincidence?
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Author's PS: Wai! I finally finished this chapter! Many thanks to Yuuhi-san, Epin-san, Meena-san and a whole lot more, for the informations about Hongkong. I really don't know what I'm talking about back there.. I mean back there at the Ocean Park or Victoria Peak!.. but at least I got over with it already.. ^_^. Anyway, Rian's pronounced as 'reeh-yan'.
::5:21:00::11:35::P:M::