Author's Notes: You guys thought my first chapter was FUNNY? No one ever says that about me! Thanx. Now I've got some reviewer stuff.
1) Thanx, Saki, who told me that they have Christmas in China. And thanx to another reviewer, Ed (I think), who gave me some other info which was pretty interesting.
2) My other story is called Against All Odds. Some reviewers wanted to know.
Now read.
*~*
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.
*~*
*~* Chapter Two *~*
Departure and Arrival
After a huge breakfast in the cabin, they left the secret spot, got into their cars and returned to the Li Clan mansion.
Sakura got into Syaoran's car. She noticed the look on his face. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes! My family was supposed to STAY HERE!! Can't a guy get a break!" he moaned.
Sakura laughed. "Do you want me to drive? Are you too distressed?"
"Hahaha. Very funny." He started the car and drove off. "It's just that I wanted to spend some time alone with you. Now with the whole family going to Japan, we won't have a minute together. Every second, it'll be 'Syaoran, take me shopping' or 'Syaoran, show me around town'. You don't know how annoying my sisters can get."
She just smiled. "We'll figure something out. I promise."
"Humph."
"Yeah, humph!" cried Kero from the back seat. He popped up from underneath a pile of packages. "Why do I have to sit back here with all of Sakura's stuff?"
"Shut up," muttered Syaoran.
"Hey! Don't give me that! Why don't you just stay here while your sisters go to Japan? I'd be fine with that."
"Kero . . ."
"Look, Sakura, I'm just looking out for you. How do you think Touya's gonna act once he learns of your engagement, especially to him?" When there was no reply, Kero smiled smugly. "Thought so. We can prevent the gaki here from getting beat up if he stays here. In Hong Kong."
"I can handle Touya," muttered Syaoran. "And I don't want to leave Sakura, alright. So drop it."
"It was worth a try . . ."
*~*
Upon entering the house, Feimei shouted, "When are we leaving for JAPAN?!!"
The Elders, who'd been waiting in the foyer for Syaoran and the others to arrive, stared curiously at them. Murmurs of surprise arose.
"Who's going to Japan?" Dio asked, stepping in front of the group of Elders.
Syaoran decided to speak up. "Everyone you see before you is going."
Dio glared at him, then at Sakura. "I don't why you all have gotten the sudden urge to go to Japan, but I bet it has something to do with her."
Syaoran glared at Dio. She'd always had an attitude toward Sakura, even when Sakura was trying to be nice. "You will not refer to my fiancée like that. Do you understand?"
Dio lowered her eyes. "Yes. But you can't leave. There's a lot of business we have to take care of here and I thought-"
"Syaoran can participate in whatever conferences or whatever," replied Klein. "You know, they have these TV things that-"
Dio let out a huge sigh. It was obvious that she wasn't going to win this battle. "Fine! Go. We'll find a way to contact you."
"Now that THAT is settled," cried Fuutie, "when are we leaving? I can't wait!"
Sanori smiled. "I'm sure Sakura is anxious to see her family and friends, so we can leave tonight, if that's okay with everyone."
They all looked at Sakura.
"Uh, tonight? Well, that's so soon. I don't want to inconvenience anyone . . ."
"It's no problem at all. We'll call our private jet and schedule a flight," Sunni suggested.
"If you guys are sure . . . then that's fine."
The Li sisters let out a cry of excitement.
"Let's start packing!" exclaimed Fanren. They all took off. And to Sakura's surprise, Xiefa went with them.
"They've got the right idea." The adults followed the girls upstairs.
Sakura watched them go in confusion. "Well, that was interesting. What's wrong with them?"
Syaoran laughed. "They don't get out of the house very often."
Sakura giggled. "I suggest we follow suit."
Syaoran took her hand and led her upstairs.
*~*
Dio frowned as she watched all of them go upstairs. They had changed so much over the past few days. That Kinomoto girl was corrupting them. Syaoran was no longer the little, docile boy that most of the Elders had been hoping they could control. He was headstrong. And it was all her fault.
"Sickening, isn't it?"
Dio turned to look at Mei-lin. She'd also changed. She wasn't her normal vivacious self. Mei-lin's eyes were redder than usual. Probably because of anger. "I agree."
"She needs to go," growled Mei-lin. "I want him back."
Dio thought for a while, then smiled. "Are you going with them."
"Naturally."
"Then you can get me on the plane to Japan. Just tell them that you need me to go and they won't have a problem."
Mei-lin eyed Dio. "Do you have a plan?"
"Oh, yes. Do I EVER!"
*~*
Sakura raced around her room, collecting her things. She threw them all onto her bed, then groaned. She'd bought so many things in Hong-Kong that all of it wouldn't fit in the amount of bags she had. If she went to the store, she probably wouldn't have enough time to pack for their eight o'clock departure.
I've got it!
She called out her staff and pulled out the Create Card. "Create Card- make me three suit cases exactly like the ones on the bed. Release and Dispel!"
The three suitcases appeared on her bed. She smiled and put away the Card and her staff.
"Do you need any help?"
Sakura turned around to see Syaoran standing in her doorway. "I know you meant well, Syaoran, but you shouldn't have bought me so much stuff! I can't find anywhere to put it!"
Syaoran stared at her as if she was stupid. "Can't you just use the Little Card to shrink the stuff and then return it to normal size when you get back to Japan?"
A sweat drop appeared on the back of Sakura's head. "Oh . . . yeah. Good idea!" She did what he suggested and in thirty minutes everything was packed up.
"See what a little brain power can do?" joked Syaoran.
Sakura pretended to pout. "Excuse me! What are you trying to say?"
Syaoran put on his innocent face. "Nothing. Since we have time to kill, how about we start our sword lessons?"
"Alright!" cried Sakura. She hadn't packed her sword, hoping that he would give her some quick lessons. "Where do we start?"
"With the proper way to hold a sword."
Sakura sighed anime style. "Hoeeee . . ."
She'd been hoping for some fighting.
*~*
An hour and a half later, Syaoran told Sakura that they'd better stop. She'd just gotten the hang of the proper stance for fighting.
"Oh, come on! We didn't do anything!" protested Sakura.
Syaoran smiled at her. "I'm hungry. It's lunch time."
"Really?" Sakura looked at the clock next to her bed. "Oh, it is! Well, we should eat then. How about I bring us some food up here?"
Syaoran nodded. "That sounds good."
"Great. I'll be back soon." Sakura left the room and headed for the kitchen. She was familiar with the house. After all, she would soon be the mistress of the Li Clan mistress.
She hesitated when she saw Mei-lin and Dio in the kitchen, talking in hushed tones. Sakura was curious as to what they were saying, but didn't want to eavesdrop. She cleared her throat and stepped further into the kitchen.
They looked up and shot her death glares.
"Um, I'm just getting some food. Don't mind me." Sakura smiled at them and pulled the ingredients for sandwiches out of the refrigerator and pantry.
Mei-lin watched as Sakura prepared the food. "That's a lot of food for you, Kinomoto. What are you doing, feeding the stuffed animal?"
"N-no. Syaoran and I are eating upstairs," she said. Baka! Why'd you tell her that?
"Isn't that romantic," sneered Mei-lin. "What else have you two been up to in your room?"
Sakura ignored her and placed all of the food on a tray. "It was nice talking to you too, Mei-lin."
As Sakura left the kitchen, Mei-lin called, "Watch out, Kinomoto! Syaoran will always be mine!"
*~*
Syaoran looked up from the television when Sakura entered her ram. He noticed the look on her face and instantly became concerned. "What's wrong?"
Sakura forced a smile onto her face. "Nothing. Mei-lin was just being her usual self."
Syaoran frowned. "What do you mean?"
She sat on the floor next to him. "She said something that freaked me out."
"What?"
" 'Watch your back, Kinomoto. Syaoran will always be mine.' "
He said nothing. "Do you want me to talk to her for you? I mean-"
Sakura shook her head. "That'll just give her another reason to hate me even more. I really want to be her friend."
Syaoran picked up a sandwich. "I think that I should still talk to her. She must feel bad about my decision."
Sakura sighed. "Okay. Just don't mention anything about what she said to me."
*~*
Hours later, everyone who was going on the trip piled into the foyer. A giant mound of suitcases was crammed in a corner. Servants were going back and forth between the car and the house, putting away all of the luggage. Sakura insisted on helping them by getting her own stuff. This gave Syaoran the chance to speak with Mei-lin.
He pulled her away from the group. "Are you alright, Mei-lin?"
She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Of course! Why would something be wrong?"
"We haven't really spoken since the last ball. I was just wondering how you were taking . . . uh," Syaoran began to stammer. "Y-you know. The w-whole engagement t-thing."
She smiled up at him. "That? I'm totally over that, Syaoran. Of course we can still be friends?"
Syaoran stared at her. She was acting extremely mature for the first time in her life. "Naturally. We're still friends."
"Good. I hope you're happy with her, Syaoran."
"I am."
"Come on, you two," ordered Xiefa. "We have to leave."
Syaoran smiled one more time at Mei-lin and then went off to find Sakura.
She was waiting outside by the limo that they would be going to the airport in. "Did you talk to Mei-lin?"
Syaoran nodded. "She said that she wasn't mad about anything that happened. I was really surprised."
So then why did she say what she said to me? What's going on? Is Mei-lin up to something?
Her thoughts were forced in the back of her head as someone came running out of the house. "Wait for me!"
Sakura frowned when she spotted Dio approaching the limo with suitcases under her arms. She handed a butler her things and swept past Sakura and into the limo.
"What? She's coming?"
Syaoran saw the look of hesitation on Sakura's face.
"Why? Is there something wrong?" asked Mei-lin from behind them.
"Uh, no," replied Sakura. "I was just surprised, that's all."
Mei-lin stared at her for a long time, then got inside the limo.
Seeing his fiancé's obvious discomfort, Syaoran suggested that she go ride in the limo with the adults and Xiefa. "After all, it's getting a little cramped in there."
She shook her head and got in. Syaoran followed her with a sigh.
*~*
Sakura was relieved when she saw the spacious interior of the jet. She wouldn't have to sit anywhere near Mei-lin or Dio. She remembered the limo ride to the airport.
The tension inside the limo had been almost unbearable to Sakura. No one said anything to anyone else. To make things worse, she was sitting next to Mei-lin.
When they finally made it to the airport, Sakura almost climbed over Syaoran to get out of the limo.
She followed Syaoran to o pair of seats where she took the inside one. He sat next to her and placed his arm around of her shoulders.
She sighed and placed her head on his shoulder. Sakura closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.
Syaoran fastened her seatbelt for her and then did his own. Syaoran smiled down at his sleeping soon to be wife. He loved her so much.
*~*
Sakura immediately woke up when the plane touched down in Japan. Syaoran was smiling down at her.
"You're finally awake," he whispered.
She smiled back at him and stretched. "So I'm home?"
He nodded. Once it was safe to get up, he did so and pulled Sakura to her feet. They left the plane and filed into the airport. There the question of housing arose.
Syaoran frowned. "I'm not being stuck with the girls. No way!"
Sanori smiled. "The Li Clan has a house here. We can stay there. We've rented and apartment for you, Syaoran."
"Thank you. And on such short notice," he replied.
"Sakura, would you like to go home tonight?" asked Sunni.
She thought about tat. Touya would have a cow when he found out that she was engaged to Syaoran. And she didn't want to hear his fussing at that moment.
"No. I think it would be best if I stayed somewhere else tonight," she said.
"Well, stay with Syaoran. He has an extra bedroom in his apartment," suggested Sanori.
"Now, wait a minute-" began Dio.
"I trust my son and Sakura. And there isn't any extra space at our house."
Dio said nothing and just scowled at Syaoran.
"There should be a car waiting outside for you, Syaoran," added Klein. "It's not a rental- it's yours. The valet there should have the address to the apartment. We'll catch a cab."
Syaoran stared at the adults. What the heck happened to them? Oh, well! At least I won't have to see them as much . . .
Syaoran smiled at them and grabbed Sakura's hand. They picked up their luggage and went outside. A shivering valet was holding a sign that read Li Syaoran.
They approached the man with the sign. "I'm Li Syaoran. That's me."
The man eyed him. "ID, please?"
Syaoran pulled out his wallet.
The man smiled upon seeing his ID and handed him the keys. "Here you go."
Syaoran slipped the guy a large tip- after all, he'd been standing in the cold for a long time- and put their luggage in the car.
Sakura slid into the passenger seat and gasped. "Ohhh, what a nice car! Leather interior, spacious, a CD player . . . and it has that nice new car smell. You're one lucky, spoiled guy, Syaoran."
He chuckled. "I know." He started the car. "Hold on tight!"
Sakura squealed as he tore out of the airport parking lot.
Author's Note: I couldn't think of anything else to write. Sorry. Please R+R anyway. This would've been up sooner, but I couldn't get onto the FF.N for a while for some reason.
