CHAPTER SIX

Sakura heaved a sigh and uttered a faint prayer of thanks.  Her first day at her job turned out fairly well.  Syaoran didn't consider making her life miserable…at least for today.  He must've been probably busy with too much work that she could only count with her fingers the number of times he went out of his room. 

            = Sugoi! I can't believe Tomoyo is going to be here soon! =

            She couldn't help smiling when she remembered that news she heard from Tomoyo herself.  So it seems like her gorgeous friend is coming over for business.  Tomoyo told her over the phone that she'd probably stay in Hongkong for a whole month if the need arises.  She was hoping to close the deal with the Li Corporations because she said that it's going to earn them a lot of money.  Tomoyo figured out that it would take a lot of time to convince Li so she decided to go to Hongkong herself to talk with him about the transaction.

            Despite living with such a stubborn guy, Sakura couldn't help thinking that things are finally looking up for her.  She got a house, she had a newfound friend named Meiling, she found a job and soon, her bestfriend is coming over to be with her.  Things are certainly running smoothly and she's hoping that it would stay that way.  Reconciling with Syaoran still seems like an impossible task for now, but she was hopeful that all of that would change eventually.

            She grabbed her purse then walked towards the door of his office, prepared to go home.  She paused hesitantly at the threshold, wondering if she should say her goodbye to Syaoran.  After debating with herself for a few seconds, she decided not to bid her goodbye to him anymore.  Isn't it that he already told her earlier that she could go home by now because the workday has already ended?  For sure, she doesn't want to interrupt him anymore in whatever stuff he's engaging right now.

             Sakura went out of the corporation's building bent on going home as soon as possible.  She wants to rest and she already feels sleepy.  She wasn't able to get enough sleep last night because of too much worrying that's why she already feels drowsy right now.  She waited patiently for a taxi but it seems like it's hard to find any means of transport at this time.  It's rush hour and there must be a lot of people coming out from their respective offices.  After waiting for almost thirty minutes, she was glad when an old cab stopped infront of her.

            "Number 40, Coral Gardens Village please." She immediately told the driver her destination as soon as she settled herself comfortably in the backseat.  The taxi driver nodded in response. 

            = It certainly looks like it's going to rain. =  Sakura mused silently.

            The sky looks dark and threatening that she was really thankful that she already found a cab to take her home.  She doesn't have any umbrella with her and she's sure that by the time the rain pour down, she's going to be drench as a rat.  In less than ten minutes, just as what she's expecting, the rain pour down heavily, causing traffic in the main streets of Hongkong. 

            "This doesn't look good, ma'm." The driver told her suddenly.

            "What do you mean?"

            "It's raining cats and dogs now and I don't think my taxi could hold any longer. It doesn't hold really well against heavy rains, I'm afraid."  The old man glanced her way sympathetically.  "Besides, that village is located in a high place.  I'm sure by now, we're going to pass by some streets which are already flooded at this rate the rain is going."

            "But I just can't go out cause I'm going to be soak in the rain!" Sakura reasoned out.

            "I'll try my best, ma'm to take you to your place but I really can't assure you." 

            True enough, after driving for a few meters, the taxi's engine died. Sakura looked out the window frustratingly and found out that there's no shelter where she could temporarily shield herself from the rain.  The last building they passed by is already a few blocks away.  It seems like she has no choice but to go out and walk back in that place.  It's the nearest shelter she could find and the mansion is still so far away. 

            "I'm very sorry ma'm but it seems like I really can't take you to your place now."

            "No, it's okay. I understand." She handed him a couple of bills to pay for her fare. "What are you going to do with the taxi now?"

            "I will call up the company to tow my cab back in the station."  The taxi driver replied.  "But I'm pretty sure that they'd be here after several hours.  The rain is pouring down hard and they couldn't go out at such state."

            "I see. Anyway, I have to go out now.  Goodluck with your cab." 

            "But ma'm, it's raining hard!"

            Sakura smiled slightly. "Don't worry, I saw a building earlier.  I could just go there and call our house."

            The driver looked at her worryingly as she opened the door and ventured outside.  She ran as fast as she can, hoping to reach the nearest shelter as soon as possible.  She is soaking wet but she doesn't care.  She knows she couldn't stay any longer inside the taxi; despite how nice-looking the driver may seem, she couldn't trust any strangers that easily.  They are out in god-knows-where and she knows it's not really a good idea to be stuck with the driver outside, in the heavy rain, in the middle of nowhere.

            Sakura tried to shield her eyes from the rain to get a better view.  There are only a few cars driving by and it seems like all the cabs she saw are already full. She could feel the muscles in her leg cramping up due to cold but she decided to ignore it.  She walked even faster, knowing that the building is already near her.

            Lack of sleep caused her to feel dizzy and she's almost afraid that she'd end up fainting.  But she couldn't give up now, not when there's only one corner to turn around…

            A car screeched into a halt beside her, and she heard a familiar voice spoke.

            "Kinomoto?!?"

            She glanced at the blue car that stopped beside her through blurred vision.  She could see his face frowning at her.

            "Are you out of your mind?" His angry voice echoed in her ears as she saw him opened the door of his car to let her in.

            "Li…?" 

            It was all that she remembered saying before her knees gave in.  Then everything turned black. 

She fainted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~*OoO*~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Syaoran glanced at the sleeping woman in the couch.  He couldn't help thinking how stupid she is.  What was she thinking anyway when she decided to walk in the middle of a downpour? 

            Because the mansion is still far, he decided to return back with Sakura to the office.  As much as he hates to admit it, he was really worried when she fainted. He could remember the distressed state she's in, very wet and cold out there in the rain.  What if he was not there in time? What could've happen to her? He certainly doesn't want to think of what could've been.

            He scowled frustratingly as he looked at her way.  That girl is so stubborn and he hated it.  Why couldn't she just quit the whole thing and go back home?  It would make both of their lives easier for sure.  He could stop thinking of plans to make her go away and finally give his self a peace of mind.  And today, he hated her even more for making him worry.  He's not supposed to feel any sympathy towards a person he doesn't even like to say the least!

            = But she's still living under the mansion and not to mention she's my employee, too.  It's my responsibility whatever happens to her. =  He reasoned out to himself logically.

            It's a good thing that some of the women working overtime in the maintenance department have some extra t-shirt to spare. Sakura is dripping wet that she even ended up soaking the expensive upholstery of his car.  A middle-aged woman working in the company offered to change Sakura into a dry tee and Syaoran was very thankful for that, or else, he would be in an awkward predicament.

            Syaoran looked out at the glass window of his office.  His forehead creased at the sight of the rain, probably storm by now, still pouring outside. It seems like they'd end up going to be stuck inside the office if the weather won't change soon. He couldn't help frowning at that thought.

            He took another look at Sakura and saw half of the blanket already sprawled on the floor, failing to cover her whole body.  Instinctively, he stood up from his seat to retrieve the blanket and cover her up.  As he tucked her in with the soft cloth, his eyes couldn't help staring at her peaceful face, oblivious to her surroundings.

            Syaoran hated to admit it but certainly this woman is beautiful. She's not as gorgeous or sophisticated like most of the women that he met but she really has this innocent, simple yet classic beauty within her.  Without him realizing it, he is already staring at the woman that he loathes so much and that fact caught him by surprise that he immediately stood up straight, his face flushing.

            He shook his head gently to clear his thoughts.  Nevertheless, his eyes failed to make amends with his mind that he still found himself looking once more at her, as if it's the first time he'd just notice her beauty.  He squinted his eyes curiously when he noticed an odd-looking pendant dangling in her necklace. For him, the pendant itself looks childish; it resembles a wand that little girls just wish to have one.  Syaoran couldn't help smiling slightly at the idea that a grown-up woman as she is would pick a pendant as such.  He supposed that it must've been of sentimental value that's why she chose to still wear it or she could just be plain babyish.

            But despite of that, Syaoran found himself fascinated with the pendant.  It seems like he saw it before, way back when he's just a kid.  However, he easily dismissed that idea as to maybe the pendant looks like one of Meiling's toys.  He did thought of it as childish anyway.

            When Sakura stirred slightly and she opened her eyes groggily, Syaoran almost jumped in surprise.

            "W-where am I?" Sakura asked at once, still feeling a bit dazed.

            Syaoran turned his back against her, muttering words softly to his self about being almost caught staring at Sakura.

            "Li?" She sat up gently and tried to look around, noticing that she's back at the office. "How did I end up…here?"

            "Isn't it obvious?" He almost snarled at her. "I brought you here."

            Sakura blinked confusingly at him.  The last thing she remembered is a car stopping by beside her and then everything around her seemed to whirl around and then it turned black.

            "I guess I fainted…" She said quietly.

            Syaoran walked back to his desk and sat to his executive chair.  He looked at her infuriatingly.

            "You are so stupid, don't you know that? Don't you even think first of the consequences of your actions? Can't you even assess the status of your health that's why you don't even realized that you could end up fainting outside, in the road, under the heavy rain?" He paused to take a deep breath. "What were you thinking?"

            "I-I just wanted to go home as soon as possible. The taxi's engine gave in and I have no choice." She averted her eyes from his angry face. "I tried to ran back to the nearest shelter I could get but it turned out that I didn't make it."

            "Don't you know that car phones exists?"

            "Of course, I do!"

            "Then why didn't you call me up here and told me you were stranded?" He asked her angrily. "I could just easily fetch you in that place!"

            "Why would I do that? That idea didn't even crossed my mind!" Sakura looked at him astoundingly.  Had she just heard what she thought she heard?

            "Are you giving me that reason that because I hate you so much, you probably thought that even if you called for help, I would still leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere? What do you think of me? A heartless person?"

            "What do you think I would think?" She countered.

            "Oh puh-leeasee." Syaoran rolled his eyes mockingly. "You are really stubborn. And stupid."

            Sakura found herself scowling at his comments.  Because she is so busy talking to him, she didn't even notice that she is wearing a different shirt.  An idea crossed to her mind and she couldn't help blushing slightly at that thought.

            "Where's my…clothes?"

            "What?!?" He asked back distractedly.

            "My clothes."

            "Oh, your clothes." He smirked. "They are in the dryers.  I ordered one of the maintenance women to change you into dry clothes."

            "Oh. Um, thanks." Sakura replied. "I guess, I owe you one for…for everything you did today."

            "You are darn right at that. How about repaying me, huh?"

            "Well, if I could do it then why not?"

            Syaoran placed his elbows up to his desk and look at her knowingly.

            "How about…packing your bags and moving out of the mansion?"

            "Anything but that."

            Syaoran glared at her angrily.

            "Tell me, why is it that you don't want to return to whatever place you came from?  You know how much I detest your presence yet you still insist to live with me in the mansion.  I could easily give you in equivalent money your share in the mansion and you know that." He scoffed.  "But you are so hard-headed.  Why is that?"

            "That's none of your business." Sakura answered angrily.

            "Touchy.  There must be a reason. And you have to tell me." His eyes narrowed at her threateningly. "We have the whole night to ourselves."

            "What are you talking about?"

            "Can't you see that it's still raining outside?" Syaoran whirled his seat slightly and pointed at the windows behind him.  "We can't go home at this state."

            "Where are we going to sleep?" Sakura asked, sounding horrified at the thought that she'd be stuck with him. In the same room!

            "You could sleep at the bed in the adjoining room of my office. I could just, sleep in that couch." He replied annoyingly.

            "You don't have to do that."

            "Quit changing the topic! Just answer my question!"

            "What question?"

            "You know damn well what I'm asking about." Syaoran snapped.

            Sakura shook her head gently. "As I've said, that's none of your damn business."

            "Fine." He answered exasperatedly.  It seems like he really can't make her talk right now. "If that's what you want."

            "Good. Now if you don't mind, I really want to take some more rest. I still don't feel well."

            "You could use the bed. I said I'm going to sleep in the couch."

            "I know you're not used at sleeping in couches, but I do. So just go to your warm and fluffy bed and leave me alone here."

            "No, I won't." Syaoran practically shouted. This woman is definitely giving him a headache!

            "What is it to you?"

            "What is it to me? Are you asking me that?" He crossed his arms impatiently. "A woman sleeping in that lumpy couch and a man sleeping in a big and soft bed just doesn't sound right! Don't you get it?"

            Sakura was taken by surprise at the fact that Syaoran sounds like he really cared for her.  Does that mean that he's not mad at her anymore?  Why is he acting like a gentleman now?

            "Why are you acting so kind and giving towards me? I thought you hated me." She asked him.

            "Of course I still don't like you!  Nothing changed that fact." Syaoran raised an eyebrow. "I just don't want somebody barging into the office seeing you sleeping in the couch.  Who knows what idea they might think?"

            "That's the reason?!?" = What a jerk! = Sakura added silently.

            "Yes. That's it. And if you still don't want to budge in that couch, I'd swear I'm going to drag you by myself in that room."  Syaoran threatened her.

            "You are impossible!" She shot back.

            This, is going to be a long night.

~~~~~~

kotsch

A/N: Gomen nasai if this chapter is lame and short.  I'm not really feeling well today and I couldn't really execute my idea that well.  Anyway, I still do hope you liked it. I'll try to make the next one longer and more detailed. Ja!