Author's Notes: Welcome back! Hmmm, well I forgot to mention that Sakura has never been to Hong-Kong. (Or did you figure that out already?) Anyway, in this chapter, things heat up between Syaoran and his mother. Sakura befriends one of Syaoran's sisters and Mei-lin gets jealous. Also, everyone gets ready for a luncheon. Major S+S action here! R+R please!
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Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.
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*~* Chapter Three *~*
Li Sanori stared out of a second story window of the Li Clan mansion, eyeing the people standing at the gate. Reporters, she thought in disgust, what crazy vultures they are.
Alan stepped up behind her. "What's going on, Aunt Sanori? Did you invite a special guest to Cousin's party?"
"I didn't," she replied. They watched as a limo pulled up to the gate and slowly made it's way inside the premises. "But Syaoran . . . has anyone seen him?"
Li Xiefa appeared next to them. "I saw him leave really early today with a whole bunch of security hunks, I mean guys."
Li Sanori narrowed her eyes. "Why would my son invite someone to his party and not ask for my permission first? Especially with the media going wild over the party . . ."
Xiefa cleared her throat. "My brother IS becoming a man, mother. He can make his own decisions. It's his party, after all."
Sanori glared at hr daughter. "I'm going to the foyer to see what's going on."
Alan followed and so did Xiefa. They met up with Mei-lin who was fighting with a butler. "I want to open the door!" she shrieked, her hand on the doorknob. "I want to know what's going on."
Sanori spoke up. "Open the front door, please."
The butler did as he was told and the limo pulled up in the circular driveway. Everyone watched curiously as Syaoran stepped out and then turned back to reach inside the vehicle. Out stepped a beautiful young girl with a big smile on her face.
She looks familiar, thought Mei-lin as she glared at the girl.
The two quickly stepped inside the house and Syaoran paled. "Uh, hi . . ."
"Syaoran, what is going on?" his mother demanded.
"I can explain . . ." he began nervously.
"Who's this?" asked Xiefa.
"I'm Kinomoto Sakura," she said, noticing the tension in the air. "From Japan. Didn't Syaoran tell you I was coming?"
Everyone looked at him and a sweatdrop appeared on the back of his head. "Not . . . exactly . . ."
"WHAT is SHE doing HERE?" shrieked Mei-lin. "I thought we got rid of you in Japan!"
"Oh, hi Mei-lin . . ."
Sanori cleared her throat. "Why don't we have a little talk in the other room, my dear son?"
Syaoran hesitantly went with her, hearing the anger in her voice. "I'll be back, Sakura. Just . . . wait here."
When they'd left, the room was silent. They were all staring at Sakura.
"Well, nice to meet you all . . ." she muttered.
Xiefa stepped forward. "I'm Li Xiefa, one of Syaoran's four sisters. It's a pleasure meeting you, Miss Kinomoto."
"Oh, hello. You can just call me Sakura." She looked around, expecting to see more people. "Where's everyone? I thought there was a party coming up soon."
Xiefa smiled. "Most of the preparations are done and the guests are in their rooms, sleeping in. The Cl- I mean, our family is okay with that around parties."
Sakura smiled at her slip-up. "You can say Li Clan. I know all about everything. Would you mind taking me on a small tour before Syaoran gets back? This place is beautiful."
"Of course! Let me show you the garden, Sakura. Although it's snowing outside, it's still quite beautiful . . ."
The two walked off.
"WHAT IS GOING ON!?" moaned, Mei-lin.
Alan smiled. "Now things get really interesting." He turned to his cousin. "I've got to prepare for the party. And what a party this will be . . . Now don't get too jealous Mei-lin, or your face'll get stuck and you'll end up looking like a rabid dog." Alan eyed her. "Well, too late!"
"Shut up, Alan . . ."
*~*
"What are you doing, Syaoran? Who is that girl?" Sanori asked.
Syaoran sighed. He let his gaze roam around the dinning room, trying to look at anything but his mother's angry face.
"She's an outsider! How could you bring an OUTSIDER into this home without telling us first? What if the Elders had been doing one of their magic experiments? What if she'd seen them? Then what? I thought you had more sense than to-"
"Mother," he growled. "May I explain?"
Sanori closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "Go ahead. And this better be good."
"Sakura is a friend of mine form Japan. She already knows all about the Clan. And the magic. She knows magic herself."
"So? Is that supposed to mean something?"
For some reason, he was hesitant to tell his mother the truth. "Well . . . she's the Card Mistress."
His mother gasped. "She has the Clow Cards?"
"Sakura Cards, now Mother. They're hers."
Sanori shook her head. "They belong to us. Well, this is perfect! We can get them from her and send her packing and-"
"No you won't! You're forgetting, Mother, that I will be calling the shots around here." Syaoran glared at his mother. "I want her to be treated with respect and as an equal. Because that's what she is."
Sanori stared at her son. He'd never gotten so worked up about anything like this before. 'Does that girl mean something to him? Oh, no, that won't do! He's got to marry Mei-lin!'
"I hope you're not romantically interested in this girl, Syaoran."
He flushed.
"You have an obligation to marry Mei-lin and you will do so. I won't let you break hundreds of years of tradition by marring a Japanese girl who has no connections with any powerful families."
Syaoran shook his head. "If I would be truly happy with Sakura, would you still make me marry Mei-lin? To please the family?"
Sanori sighed. "It's what's best for the family."
"What if it isn't the best for me?"
Silence.
"But no one cares about that, right? As long as the bloodlines are pure, nothing else matters, huh?" sneered Syaoran. He opened the large door and stepped into the hallway. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a guest to entertain."
*~*
Xiefa eyed the girl walking next to her. She was very pretty with long brown hair and large green eyes. Once her sisters caught sight of her, they'd be all over the poor girl.
"So," asked Xiefa as they trudged along the snow covered path. "What did you mean when you said you knew about everything?"
"I know that your family is all into magic. I know about Clow Reed, the Elders, the Clow Cards, and all the other stuff."
"How?" She was curious.
Sakura smiled at her. "I'm the Clow Mistress."
Xiefa's eyes widened. "Oh, then you shouldn't be here at all!"
Sakura's smile slipped. "What do you mean?"
"Well, a lot of the Clan members don't like the fact that we never got the Cards back. And for a while, everyone was cold to my little brother for not completing his mission." Xiefa paused. "Did you know he was actually supposed to kill you? Then he was supposed to get the cards and return home. So when he didn't return with them, the Clan was furious. The Cards had been in the family for hundreds of years, they said. They punished him, too. He went through harsh 'training' sessions with stronger members of the Clan. He would always come home beat up and tired. I'm surprised he didn't run away or something. I would have."
Sakura paled. "Oh, my poor little wolf . . ."
Xiefa heard the nickname and smiled. "You are fond of my brother, right?"
Sakura kicked up some snow. "I . . . guess . . ."
Xiefa smiled knowingly. "I think you like him."
She flushed. "Why would you say that? We've only know each other for a few minutes, you know."
"I saw the look on your face when he helped you out of the car." Xiefa led her back inside. "It was so obvious."
"Hoeee! Please don't tell anyone," begged Sakura.
"I won't. But, you should tell him how you feel."
"I know. But . . . he's engaged, right? To Mei-lin?"
Xiefa nodded. "He won't be happy with her. I can see that he likes you. Syaoran would never go through all of that security and stuff for just anyone."
Sakura didn't say anything as they returned to the foyer. Syaoran was standing there with an angry Mei-lin.
"Hey, Sakura," Syaoran said, forcing a smile.
She returned his smile. "Hi. So, what now?"
"Would you like to go and see the city?" suggested Syaoran. "Maybe go shopping?"
"Hey," cried Mei-lin. "I'm your fiancée and you never volunteered to take me shopping!"
Sakura sweatdropped. "Well . . . uh, actually, I'm pretty tired and-"
"Really, little brother! You'll just have to wait until Sakura her gets some rest." Xiefa took her hand. "I think I know what room you're in Sakura. Let's go."
*~*
It turned out that she'd been placed in an empty room next to Syaoran's room. Xiefa left Sakura alone, allowing Sakura to rest. She noticed her luggage sitting in a corner of the room. She took out another outfit.
I can't wait to talk to Kero . . . Then her eyes widened, remembering that he was still in her book bag.
She spotted it on lying on the bed. Sakura yanked it open and gasped as he fell onto her bed, gasping for air.
"Gee, Sakura," Kero cried. "Were you trying to kill me?"
She shook her head. "Oh, no! I was just so overwhelmed by everything here that I just . . . forgot."
He pouted. "How could you forget your favorite Guardian?"
"My only guardian," she smiled. "Anyway, what do you think about this dress for lunch today?"
Kero eyed the red outfit. "I don't care what you wear, as long as you bring me some food."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "I shouldn't have asked YOU. I think it looks good!"
"Look, Sakura. You know I don't trust the Li Clan, so be careful. Please. I . . . have a bad feeling about all of this."
"I'll be fine, Kero. Now I want to find Syaoran so we can talk. It's been sooooooo long . . ."
*~*
Syaoran hesitantly lifted his hand to knock on Sakura's bedroom door, then stopped. He knew that the morning had been hectic and he didn't want to interrupt her resting time.
He slowly turned away but stopped when he heard a door open behind him.
"Syaoran?"
Syaoran smiled at Sakura. She looked adorable in her fuzzy green robe and matching slippers. "Did I bother you?"
She shook her head. "In fact, I wanted to talk to you. Please come in."
He cautiously walked into her room, jumping as she closed the door behind her.
Seeing his action, she raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay? You seem a little . . . jumpy."
Syaoran sat on the edge of her bed. "I'm fine." Actually, he was nearly about to hyperventilate.
He was actually sitting in the same room with the girl of his dreams who just happened to be barely dressed. Oh yeah, he was fine.
"Good," she replied, sitting next to him. "Did you get in trouble with your mother or something? She looked angry."
"She was mad, alright."
"Why?"
He looked her in the eye. "You don't want to know."
"Yes, I do."
He took in a deep breath. "She wants to get the Sakura Cards from you. I wouldn't have brought you here if I knew she was going to try something like that, but I had to see you again."
I have to protect you like before.
"Hmmm," muttered Sakura. "Well, I'll just have to work hard to show her that I deserve the Cards. And I must apologize."
"For what?"
"Xiefa told me about how you were treated when you returned home without the Cards. I would've given them to you if I'd known that that was going to happen."
Syaoran shook his head. "They're yours. I wouldn't have taken them anyway."
Suddenly, Sakura smiled. "All of this serious talk is driving me crazy! We're gonna party this week and celebrate, right?"
Syaoran smiled too. Her attitude was infectious; he couldn't help but feel happy. "Right."
Sakura pulled Syaoran into a big hug, catching him off guard. His weight caused Sakura to fall back onto the bed with him on top.
Just then, Kero flew in through the open window. He growled seeing the brat on top of his mistress who was barely clothed at the time.
"Yo, buddy, get off of her!" he demanded.
Syaoran immediately jumped up, his face a deep red. "Oh, you."
Sakura straightened up her robe. "It's not what you think, Kero."
"Oh, yeah," sneered Kero. "Then what's going on?"
Syaoran rolled his eyes and stood up. "You should have more faith in your mistress." He went over to the door, opening it.
Sakura fell back on her bed when he was gone. He was so cute and courteous. "Why'd you scare him away, Kero?"
Kero landed next to his tiny bed sitting on the dresser. "Because he needed to return to the hole he crawled out of." He climbed in, deciding to take a nap.
Sakura looked at the clock next to her bed. "Oh, no! The big lunch is in an hour! I've got to get ready!"
*~*
Fuutie giggled as she watched her brother step out of the mystery girl's room. Behind her, Fanren was videotaping and Feimei was eagerly watching.
Fuutie decided to make her move. Gesturing for her sisters to follow her, she caught up with Syaoran.
"Hello, dear brother," purred Fuutie. "And what were you doing in that room back there?"
Syaoran turned to his sisters. Why couldn't they be more like Xiefa? "None of your business, dear sisters."
Feimei giggled. "We'll find out sooner or later."
Fanren nodded. "At the luncheon today, perhaps?"
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say. And shouldn't you guys be getting ready? Mother will be furious . . ."
Fuutie sighed, realizing that she would get nothing from him. "Come on, sisters. We should get ready . . ."
Author's Note: Yikes . . . feel the hostility in the air! Please don't kill me because I made Syaoran's mom seem evil. I was tired of all the fics that made her nice. I hope no one gets offended or whatever because of a silly thing like that. R+R please!
