Castles in the Sky
By Amer
Thanks for all the positive comments =) There isn't too much action going on cause I'm still planning stuff in my head…
Please R&R
Disclaimer: CCS belongs to CLAMP and Kodansha.
"One of these days you're gonna reach out and find. The one that you count on has left you behind" – Pat Benatar/Treat Me Right
-Chapter 3: Ill-fate
Hong Kong was graced with a rare beam of sunlight that persevered through the gloomy clouds. The rainy season was finally over, signaling the beginning of the end of summer. Syaoran pushed open heavy drapes from his library's windows. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head against the cool glass.
"Brother," the chirpy voice of his sister Shiefa intruded into his failed attempt at sulking. "You have visitors. My, and both of them are simply adorable!"
"Visitors? Shiefa, please stop prattling, who is it?" He groaned as his sister pouted and tried again. "Older sister, please tell me who is here."
"Well…" Shiefa placed a finger on her chin and pretended to think. "You'll just have to see for yourself! Come in!" She called cheerfully to the people on the other side of the door. How like my sisters, Syaoran thought sourly, they had no respect for their brother and clan leader. He groaned even louder when he noticed who his 'adorable' visitors were.
Hiiragizawa Eriol and Daidouji Tomoyo were both smiling as they looked around the massive library. It had been eight years but despite how much older they looked, only two people in the world could ever have such an innocent look while promising to turn his life in many directions. Eriol's hair was longer, the deep ebony length pulled back into a small ponytail. He was much taller also, at least three inches taller than Syaoran himself. Tomoyo on the other hand could only be described as graceful. Her once long hair was now cut so it fell a little past her chin. She was also wearing leather pants with a white T-shirt and leather coat, very much unlike the dresses she used to wear. It made her look more mature. He noticed that as he studied them, they did the same.
"Hello Xiao Lang, how have you been?" Eriol smiled causing Syaoran's scowl to deepen. First Touya and now this. Things were not looking up for him.
"Hello Hiiragizawa, Daidouji-san. Fine, thank you." Syaoran noticed Tomoyo watching him carefully. As of yet she had not spoken, and Syaoran felt himself being more wary of her than the mage. An awkward silence filled the air and Syaoran waved his hand impatiently. "Have a seat."
"Yes, while you and I speak I believe Tomoyo-san will find your lovely mother and have a chat." As if on cue, Tomoyo walked toward the door and smiled.
"You look well, Li-kun. Ganbatte." And Tomoyo left. 'Ganbatte', Syaoran thought. What does she mean by that?
"My deepest sympathy's Xiao Lang. I heard about the unfortunate circumstance involving Meiling-san."
"How?"
"Ah, yes. Well Touya-kun must have told his father, ne, and I have ways of finding out these things from my other half." Eriol had such a look of innocence that Syaoran looked longingly at the window; just one step and he could escape.
"Really? Thank you. But that doesn't explain your presence here in my home."
Eriol pouted. "How cruel, relative, I only looked to come and offer condolences to my family. After all, it's not like you've kept in touch…"
"Bull shit. Let me cut your 'visit' to the quick. I can only imagine what Kinomoto told his father. So whatever he said and you found out, don't even think about it. I told Kinomoto that I wouldn't, so lets leave it at that."
"How cold you've become Xiao Lang, what happened to the young boy who used to be a little more civil?"
"He grew up." At that moment the phone sitting on the dark wood table wrung. "Sumimasen, Hiiragizawa." He turned to answer, "Yes, this is Xiao Lang Li. What can I do for you? The American branch of Li Corporation? What about it?" He looked suspiciously at Eriol, who sat looking meticulously at a nail. "A dinner? I have to come; a representative is not an option. How convenient. No, I understand, my family and I will make reservations and come as soon as we can. No, hotel arrangements are not necessary we have a town house. No, it's no problem. Thank you." Syaoran hung up the phone and turned his attention to Eriol.
"An important phone call?"
"You truly frighten me, I don't want to know how you did it. Let this be known though, I am going for this dinner and whatever else the C.E.O of Li Corporation-America has planned and then I am coming home. I will not meet Sakura-san, is that understood?"
"I'm hurt. You blame me for a misunderstanding, in truth you are unworthy of Sakura-san. Tomoyo-san and I merely came to offer our sympathies and to then travel on back to Japan. This is merely a coincidence." Why was it that Eriol had a way of making Syaoran's skin creep with just a smile?
Smiling grimly, Syaoran stood up. "Thank you. Do let me show you out."
~*~*~
School in America was more difficult then she had thought. Sakura was having a hard time listening and taking notes at the same time, but she was getting better. She tried to focus on what Dr. Martin, her Calculus professor was saying. Math was always hard for her, and being explained in another language was not easy. As she was working out the solution to a force problem, Dr. Martin clapped his hands signaling the end of the class.
Sakura sighed and scooped up her books. As she was headed toward the door, a hand landed on her elbow. She turned to look at her professor's concerned face.
"Sakura, I've noticed you were having some problems. Perhaps a tutor might help? I don't want you to fall behind, I realize how difficult this must be for you."
"Thank you, Dr. Martin. Math and I just don't go well together." She smiled. All of her teachers were nice to her.
"No problem, Sakura. I'll see what I can do, and I'll tell you in class tomorrow."
Sakura waved as she left. Checking her watch she noticed she had fifteen minutes till she was supposed to meet up with J.P. for his tour of the city. He was still doing clerk duty, so she decided to meet him there instead of in front of the library. She smiled J.P. was nice also. He had quickly become a close friend, and if sometimes he hinted he'd like to be more she didn't let it get to her. She missed Tomoyo-chan a lot though; there was no one here who she could have a deep talk with about her problems like she could with Tomoyo-chan. She frowned slightly, over the phone last night, Tomoyo had seemed like there was something bothering her but she wouldn't say. She just spoke about all of their friends, life in Japan and how her mother, Sonomi, missed Sakura very much. And Eriol, Sakura smiled at that, she was happy that her best friend had found someone to care for her and whom she could care for in return.
Walking quickly to the dorms, Sakura rubbed her hand over the back of her neck. She had the reaction someone was watching her, yet when she turned around no one was there. Shrugging she walked a little faster, she didn't want to hesitate if someone was following her. J.P. had warned her of muggers and worse in the city. Slipping her hand into her leather coat, she clutched her key, she hadn't used any of the Clow Cards since coming to New York, but she wouldn't hesitate if the need arose. Finally after what seemed an eternity she arrived at the dorms. She looked once over her shoulder and walked inside, covering her concern with a smile.
"Hello J.P!" She smiled and walked over to where the dark haired boy sat behind the desk reading a newspaper. "I decided to come here and wait for you instead."
"Hey, Sakura. This must be New York's welcome to Asia month." At Sakura's frown he continued. "What I mean is, a large company here is holding a banquet dinner for the president of the company who is coming from China. In the paper they say that Xiao Lang Li will be coming in a few weeks along with his mother, Ye-lan, and older sisters, Fuutie, Shiefa, Fei-mei, and Fan-ren will be accompanying him. It says he's 19 years old, a year younger then me, I could never picture myself being president of a company at that age."
Sakura stared dumbly at J.P. It couldn't be, she thought with a panic. She noticed J.P looking at her curiously, and swallowed hard.
"Hey, Cherry, you alright?" Concern showed in his brown eyes and he used the nickname he concocted for her after he learned her name meant cherry blossom.
"I'm fine. Can I see the paper?" She took it from his outstretched hand and read silently. A few minutes later she spoke again, "Li…Xiao Lang Li. Syaoran…" her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Sakura, what's wrong?" J.P took the paper from her to try to remove what was bothering her.
She shook her head, unable to answer, but then on a second thought wiped her eyes and smiled brightly. "It's nothing. You're times done. Come, are you ready for the tour you promised?"
"Um, yea. I thought we'd start walking towards Bryant Park. I have a surprise for you that's near there." He looked at Sakura strangely, noting an odd look in her eyes. What had gotten into her, he thought, and looked down at the paper where a handsome man stood with someone, perhaps his mom. Something in this article had bothered Sakura, but what?
"I'm just going to run up to my room and put my books away. Be right down!" She smiled, and J.P noticed it was like nothing had happened.
~*~*~
"Do you understand? You were foolish today, she could sense you!" Conrad shrunk back from his leader's angry tone. "Behavior like that is not acceptable, you know better than that!"
"Master I'm sorry. It won't happen again! I did not think she was truly as strong as the rumors say." For the past three days Conrad had been following the Card Mistress. But that day as she had walked from her Calculus building he had gotten careless, he had let his glamour slip and she had been able to sense his aura. He was lucky he was not dead at this moment.
"Conrad, you are one of my best, do not fail me again. And let this be known, since the Card Mistress is even more powerful then Clow Reed, do not let your guard down. In order to get to her you need to work from the inside out. Do not let her know who you are."
"Yes, Master. I am deeply sorry." Conrad lowered his head and walked out of the room feeling deeply ashamed of him self. Such a small girl could pose such a large threat was surprising to him. He did not know his Master's plans yet, just that he was supposed to follow her.
~*~*~
J.P laughed as Sakura struggled with the bags. "See, I told you that you would enjoy my surprise. But did you have to buy out the whole store?" He laughed again as Sakura glared at him. They both stood outside of Kinokuniya Bookstore, a place that J.P had heard about from a friend, and he grabbed a few of her bags. "Come on let's get ice cream."
"Thanks J.P. I didn't expect to find a Japanese bookstore here in America. I enjoyed it very much." She flashed him one of her smiles that made him start grinning like an idiot.
He led her over to a street vendor and bought her an ice cream. As they walked around, J.P pointing out something every now and then, he brought up what had happened earlier. "Sakura, about before. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Hoe? That again, what made you think of it? I'm fine!" She brushed her bangs out of her eyes and looked impatiently at him. "Come on, I still want to see everything. On the way back can we take a horse-cart?"
Looking at her, he noticed she really did look alright. But something was bothering him, how she had looked at that paper with tears in her eyes and how she had whispered that name. "Horse and buggy, not horse-cart." He teased lightly. "Hey, tonight when we get back I want to introduce you to some of my friends. Especially my cousin Ryen, I think you might like her."
"Un! I'd like that." And she walked up, and motioned for him. "Hurry J.P! I want to see everything!"
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S&S fans you can stop your plan's for my demise. Next chapter I will have Syaoran and Sakura's meeting. I didn't make up the Kinokuniya, there's one on West 49th street near Rockefeller Plaza. Thanks for all the reviews =)
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Dictionary:
Ganbatte: Good luck.
Sumimasen: Excuse me.
