Castles in the Sky
By Amer
Here's the next chapter for all of you =) I'm glad everyone likes it and I hope after this chapter no one will hurt me too badly.
Please R&R, and remember this is not to be archived anywhere with out my permission.
Disclaimer: CCS belongs to CLAMP and Kodansha.
-Chapter 4: Encounter
"Soon the stormy clouds will pass over me. And the fear I hold inside will be no longer. Still it seems that love has taken so long. And the waiting is like a never ending heartache." – BT/Loving You More.
A week had passed since Sakura had read the article in the newspaper. School was getting better, and she had a small circle of friends she had made. One such friend, Ryen DeMarco, sat casually across from Sakura at the café along with J.P.
"So do you want the job?" Ryen asked eagerly. "It pays well, and money is always a good thing." A cousin of J.P's, Ryen was very pretty. Her dark hair was very short and wavy. But as Sakura looked at her new friend, her most startling feature was her pale blue eyes.
"I don't know Ryen-chan. A waitress for a caterer? With school I'm so busy. But you're right, I do need the money."
"Go for it Cherry. School's not everything, in order to survive here in New York you need a job." J.P looked up from where he was building a sugar packet fort.
"J.P if you went to school in Japan you would not say that. It's very strict there, and if you don't keep up you can easily fall behind." Sakura tossed her straw wrapper at him. "Well, if you both think it's a good thing tell your boss I will do the job Ryen."
"Awesome! And, well…I already told him you would want the job." Ryen smiled sheepishly.
"Hoe?! What if I had said no?"
"Well you're Sakura, so of course you'd say yes eventually. Your first job is this weekend, meet me at my apartment and we'll leave together. It's pretty tame, a company dinner. But for these type of things, wait till you see the tips!"
~*~*~
"Are you sure you're alright, Kaijuu?" Sakura sighed as Touya asked that question for the thousandth time.
"Hai, Onii-chan, daijobu. How's everything back home? I tried calling home before but no one picked up, if you speak to Otou-san, tell him I miss him."
"Sure. He's been spending some late nights at the University, something about saving up money to go on a nice vacation during golden week."
"Really? Otou-san never goes on vacation." Sakura frowned, as she moved the phone to her other ear, so she could paint her other hand's nails. "I'm glad you and Yukito-san are fine. I miss everyone a lot. Oh guess what! I got a job, I start tonight."
"That's great Kaijuu. Be careful! It's getting late, I have to go. Sayonara."
"Hai, sayonara."
After hanging up the phone Sakura walked over to her bed and flopped down. How could I let Ryen-chan talk me into this, she thought. She looked down the length of her body at her uniform and grimaced. Black never looked good on her.
"Sakura-chan, are you almost ready?" Kero flew over and sat on her chest.
"Un, Kero-chan. I left you some supper on the dresser. I also rented a new video game for you, try not to play the volume too loud, I don't want anyone to get suspicious. Oh! I'll try to bring you back some dessert." She stood up and checked her hair in the mirror. "Ittekimasu!"
"Ganbatte Sakura-chan!"
The walk to Ryen's apartment was only a few blocks but it took a while longer. Sakura, for some reason, was dreading this. Something was going to happen, she was sure of it.
"Hey, you ready?" Ryen greeted her at the door.
"As ready as I ever will be. I'm a little nervous."
"Don't be you'll do fine." She waved her arm at a passing cab. As it pulled over, she smiled. "The boss is keeping you in the kitchen tonight. It's at some mansion so if you get bored you can look around."
"Mansion? That's a big house right? Who's this for?"
"Yup! Um, I'm not sure exactly some company or other."
~*~*~
Syaoran was becoming an expert at groaning. He seemed to be doing it a lot. He pushed his hand through his thick hair and leaned against the wall. He wanted that night to be over with as soon as possible.
His family and he had just arrived in New York the day before and Syaoran had slept most of his time away. A few hours ago he had woken up only to be told to get dressed and get ready for that night's dinner. His C.E.O of Li Corporation-America had been ecstatic to meet with Syaoran and had a whole week worth of stuff planned, commencing with the dinner. But what was bothering Syaoran the most was how despite Syaoran's better judgement, he kept looking around him for one person's face, whom he wasn't even certain if he'd remember it or not when he did find them. Eight years was a very long time.
"Xiao Lang, are you ready?" Ie-Ren asked as she came into the room.
"Yes mother." He held out his arm, and his mother placed her arm in his. As he walked her to the old house's ballroom, where the dinner was being held, he found his thoughts wandering. I wonder what she looks like now, would I recognize her if I saw her? Oh God, I am an idiot. Your wife is barely dead and buried Xiao Lang, he scolded himself, and you are thinking of someone else. But just being in the same country as Her was having a heady effect on him.
"Xiao Lang are you listening to me?"
"What? I'm sorry mother, what did you say?"
"I asked if someone seemed familiar to you, but they're gone now. I can tell by the amount of waitresses and waiters that went into the house that this dinner is going to be very large. So please do not embarrass the Clan, son."
"Mother, I would not dream of embarrassing the Clan in any way. Please talk to my sisters who seem to enjoy drooling on handsome, eligible American businessmen." He looked out the window to try to see whom his mother had mentioned. He sighed this was going to be a very long night indeed.
~*~*~
Ryen looked around as she served little pieces of cheese. This was certainly a very classy bunch of people. If she wasn't mistaken the dinner was in honor of the young man surrounded by people. She moved closer as she served trying to get a closer look.
"Miss, what type of cheese is this?"
"It's cheddar sir." Ryen answered. The man took a piece and she moved even closer. All of a sudden she smiled. My God, he is a hottie she thought. The crowd had parted leaving her a good look at the young president of the company. Auburn hair topped his head and she sighed at the thought of being able to push back that one lock that fell in his eyes. He was very young too, about her cousin's age. His deep chocolate eyes looked bored and jaded though. She giggled, she'd be more then happy if those eyes ever stared into her own. Wait until she told Sakura!
~*~*~
"Arigato Kami-sama." Sakura mumbled looking at her watch. It was time for her hour-long break. There was a library on the second floor that the person in charge of the dinner said it would be all right to go to. He had also said though that if there were guests in there they would have to go somewhere else.
"Lessee, I think he said it was the third door on the left." She tried the doorknob and grinned as it turned. Pulling open the door she stepped into the room. Books lined the wall and a warm fire was lit in the fireplace. Sakura turned around before walking over to the bookshelf.
As Sakura was looking at the titles the door opened again. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was in here."
Sakura turned around quickly. "No! It's ok, I'm just about to…" her voice trailed off. She raised a hand to her chest and took a step backward.
~*~*~
Syaoran stared. He felt all color drain from his face as his eyes locked with a pair of green. He thought back to his earlier thoughts of what would happen when he met Her, and he thought of his mother saying 'See what happens when you go looking for trouble?'. He couldn't move, couldn't seem to think of what to say. All he could do was stare. Her hair was longer, her face thinner. She had grown up he realized, and she had become up even more beautiful then what he remembered. She was taller and had filled out; her body made up of soft curves.
He watched as she wet her lips. He realized at that moment that he had always pictured her the same not thinking she would grow up.
"Sa…Sakura?" For the first time her eyes dropped and were staring at his hand. His left hand. He followed her gaze and looked at his own wedding band.
"Syao…Li-kun." Her voice was soft. "It's been a long time."
"Um, yea..." He took a step towards her.
"Not even a phone call, letter, or E-mail Li-kun." She whispered, and Syaoran felt as if he was slapped. He had never realized how much he had hurt her. He tried to remember before his wedding to the last letter he written to her and his eyes widened. Oh God, he thought, I told her to wait…and I've left her waiting for seven years.
"Sakura-san. Honto ni gomen nasai!" He took another small step. This was not how he'd picture their first meeting in so long. "I…"
Tears welled up in Sakura's eyes. "Iie, Li-kun. Seven years of my life are gone that I spent waiting for you." She sniffled, and felt part of her heart close up as her eyes still looked at the thin gold band on his ring finger. "You told me not to contact you, that you'd contact me. I'm not an idiot, I should have realized sooner. Out of sight out of mind, ne Li-kun? You look good Li-kun, you've matured well." She turned to leave the room, to save her self some dignity.
"Sakura!" He reached out and grabbed her arm. Her arm reached out and slapped him across the face. He put his hand up to his face and stared at her. "Gomen nasai."
"Me too. I didn't mean to…"the tears were flowing freely. She wiped them away quickly and continued to leave the library, over her shoulder she said in a dead voice, "Say hello to your wife, Meiling? and tell her she's a lucky girl." And hurried out of the room.
"Sakura…"Syaoran felt like he was moving in a daze. He frowned; he had lost her once before and now that he found her he didn't want to lose her again, propriety be damned.
~*~*~
"Ryen, I'm going home." Ryen looked with concern at Sakura. The auburn girl's eyes were red-rimmed; something had made her cry.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"She's not going anywhere." A new voice said from behind Sakura. Both girls looked up and Ryen gasped. It was the guy! Xiao Lang Li, the person this party was for. How lucky, Ryen thought, he was speaking to them. Only then did she realize that Sakura paled.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Li. We're both on break, if you want something ask one of the other waiters." Ryen answered and pulled Sakura closer to her.
"Ryan?" the man read her tag.
"No, its pronounced Ri-en." She corrected.
"Alright, Ryen, I need to speak with Sakura. Could you excuse us."
"Um…" She looked at Sakura who was looking anywhere but Xiao Lang. "Sakura if you need me I will be in the kitchen."
"I told you everything I had to say." As soon as that dark haired girl left, Sakura spoke.
"Yea but you didn't let me say anything."
"Look Li-kun." He interrupted her.
"Syaoran. Call me Syaoran."
"Li-kun," she said stubbornly. "You left me behind, I've waited…now it's time for me to leave you behind. I have to, for you see…I could never…"She couldn't think of what to say, but her eyes strayed again to his wedding ring.
"Sakura, I'm sorry. I have to get back to the dinner…please, let me meet you tomorrow; I'll try to explain. Please." She shook her head and started to leave again. He followed. He truly was insane he realized. But seeing her again, smelling her again…it was driving him crazy with need. "Sakura please!"
"Gomen ne, Li-kun, but I can't!" She was crying again. She opened the door and started running down the stairs. Syaoran watched. With sudden inspiration he called out, "She's dead Sakura! My wife is dead!" The girl stopped but didn't look back. He felt bleak; he had found her again only to watch her go. A breeze blew across his neck, and he turned around. For a moment he thought he saw a girl with long black pigtails stare sadly at him, then nothing. "Meiling, I'm sorry, but…I love Sakura still." He whispered, feeling low.
"Well, little wolf, what are you going to do?" Syaoran looked with surprise at his sister, Feimei, had been in the shadows. He noticed too late that she had seen everything.
"Leave me alone, Feimei, just leave me alone." He didn't want to deal with this right now.
"Aww, come on, I'm sure THE Li, would have no problem at all finding out the Card Mistresses phone number and address. Fight for her little brother, don't let her go."
"Didn't I say to leave me alone?" He answered half-heartedly.
His sister went on, oblivious to him. "Xiao Lang, be careful, something is going to happen. Something is going to try to pull you two apart. Something did once before, and it won't be satisfied until both of you are dead. I heard mother speaking to an Elder before we left."
"Older sister, she won't let me near her. And she's right, even if I did explain it would mean nothing. I've left her behind, and now the rift is too big. And Meiling's memory is between us…All I can hope is eventually we might be friends."
"Don't roll over and accept it little wolf, fight for her!" His sister frowned. "If need be, your sister's and myself will help. But fight for her, it will do the clan well for you two to join. Don't mess up this time."
Syaoran watched his eldest sister leave. Fight for her, she said, but how can he fight for her when he was the one who had hurt her most?
~*~*~
"Sakura open up!" J.P shouted at the closed dorm room. He could hear her sobbing from the other side. He would kill his cousin, if something had happened to Sakura on the job. It was then J.P realize that even though Sakura had told him he was nothing more than a friend he had been unable to stay that way. He cared too deeply about the Japanese girl. "SAKURA!"
"Hey buddy shut up!" Someone called from down the hall.
"Sakura!" J.P tried again, and was relieved when the door finally opened. With a sob, Sakura threw her self into his arms, and cried against his shoulder. "Sakura, what happened?"
"He's here…" She sobbed. "Syaoran's here…" Who was this Syaoran, J.P thought as he gently kissed Sakura's forehead.
"Shh," he soothed. "Stop crying please Sakura."
"J.P, what am I going to do?" she whispered as she blew her nose on a tissue. "How could he…I waited for him, and he…He and Meiling…together…" she started crying again.
"Sakura, maybe you should tell me what this is about."
"Gomen J.P, I ruined your shirt. All right, but wait for Ryen-chan…" Sakura smiled sadly at him.
Twenty minutes later, Ryen ran up the stairs and met with them. J.P looked at a picture in her hand. It showed a girl, Sakura he presumed, in a school uniform, with a girl who had long dark hair, a boy who also had dark hair and glasses, and one other boy. A boy with brown hair and brown eyes. A boy who was looking at Sakura and blushing. They were young, perhaps still in elementary school.
"In that picture is myself, my best-friend Tomoyo, my friend Eriol…and Syaoran." She said, "We were in fourth grade. Ryen where did you find that photo?"
"That guy from the party. Xiao Lang Li? He said to me 'Tell your friend, that I never forgot her.'" Ryen frowned. "He went to school with you?"
"Yes. I love…loved him. And he left to go back home to China, for family obligations. That was eight years ago, and now…I saw him for the first time. And while I waited for him, he got married…"
"That asshole!" Ryen swore.
"No, surprisingly I don't blame him Ryen-chan. I-It's just I feel so hurt! So you see, J.P that's why I turned you down. Technically I have no boyfriend, but I couldn't give up the hope that one day I'd see him again…I just never thought he'd be married or a widower as the case may be." She sniffed and looked at the picture. "What am I going to do?"
---
Well S&S are together, but sorry no fireworks yet! *coff* I'm a glutton for punishment sometimes…but it will work out for the best you'll see. Thanks for the support!
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Dictionary:
Kaijuu: Monster
Ittekimasu : I'm leaving.
Kami-sama: God
