Thanks to my reviewers.
To Hellsfire: Thanks for your comments. I know I didn't introduce all the CCS characters in my first chapter, is it Mizuki Kaho, Tereda sensei, or Sakura's classmates? Or Clow? Or Kero-chan and Spinel Sun? I won't be using all the CCS characters, only the main ones. Glad you still enjoyed my fic despite being so long-winded.
To Ghost: Thank you for enjoying the story, and the hint at who I missed out. Actually Spinel and Kero will appear in Act Four, so stay tuned!
Disclaimer: The CCS and MKR characters are owned by CLAMP, not me. The only character I own in this fic is Mace, and if anyone's interested in him *gags in disbelief*, feel free!
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ACT TWO======
Four pairs of eager eyes were glued to the screen of the V8 that Tomoyo is holding in her dainty hands. It shows Mace, in a popular club situated downtown, where the adults (and some teenagers pretending to be adults) of the Anime World usually go to chill out. Despite the smoky and dark interior of the club, CLOW, named after its sole proprietor Clow Reed, Tomoyo had managed to get a clear footage of Mace and the girl he was talking to. The girl looked to be eighteen, but could be younger. And Tomoyo was right; the girl is cute. She had long silky hair the color of the sky that flowed down to her slender waist. Her blue bangs nearly, but didn't manage to, cover her beautiful cerulean-colored eyes. With a fair complexion that most girls would die-for, and elongated smooth legs that many could only dream about, that girl is definitely cute and hot. And her short black mini-skirt that covers just the bare essentials only emphasize those gorgeous limbs she has. Her only flaw, if any, would be her breasts, which were somewhat underdeveloped for an eighteen year old. That is, IF she is really an eighteen year-old.
Eriol whistled in appreciation, and said, "What a babe!" Syaoran shot him an irritated look. Sakura silently agreed with Eriol. Being good friends, she was probably the only one who knows Eriol is a bisexual, like herself. And likewise, Eriol is the only one who knows she's a bisexual too. Sometimes, Sakura would feel sorry for Syaoran, who appears to be oblivious about his boyfriend's preferences.
The scene on the V8 ended when Mace took the cute girl's hand and they left the club, Mace grinning and the girl giggling.
"So, Mace got laid last night." Eriol leaned back as he stated with a cat-like smile.
"Eriol!" The girls shouted, not believing his crudeness. (Except for Sakura who is pretending, because she knows Eriol too well to be surprised by him or his language.)
"What? So he got some. That would explain his chirpy mood today. Then wait till he gets dumped, and we'll suffer." Eriol concluded.
"Hey, Mace isn't that bad, he wouldn't get dumped." Sakura defended him. Despite his erratic temper, she kind of admires him, for his talent.
The rest were silent. Conjuring an image of Mace in their minds, they came to a conclusion. Either that girl was really high on drugs or alcohol, or she's trying to get something out of the director. Because there's no other way that a hot girl like her would ever choose Mace. Mace, who shortsightedness is so bad that his glasses are thick like the bottom of glass bottles. Mace, who has no fashion sense and wears baggy, worn out clothes that seemed to fall out of a nearby garbage truck. (But they are clean and doesn't smell) And Mace, who always stuff his long unruly red hair carelessly under a Planet Anime cap. No way that girl would go out with Mace.
Sakura was about to list Mace's good points when their food arrived. Putting away her V8 carefully, Tomoyo dug into the food with relish. She loves to eat, and easily has the appetite of three grown man. However, she never grows fat, to the envy of many girls who struggles with their weight. Lucky for her she's rich, otherwise she would eat herself out of every single cent she owns. Meiling looked at Tomoyo with amazement. No matter how many times Meiling sees her eat, she never fails to be surprised at the amount of food Tomoyo puts away into her small pouting lips and slender body. Sakura, Syaoran and Eriol were used to Tomoyo's eating habits, so they started to eat their dinner too.
"Hi!" A gentle voice called out to the group. Sakura turned around and her heart thumped faster. "Yukito!" She waved at him happily. Then she froze when Yue appeared behind Yukito, giving her an unfriendly look. "What the hell got up his ass?" Sakura muttered softly. Eriol's sharp ears caught that, and he leaned over to whisper, "I think the question is who, not what." Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. She would have to ask Eriol what he meant by that later.
Syaoran grabbed two chairs nearby and invited the newcomers to join them. Yukito smiled and thanked him, while Yue just grunted something incoherent.
"Hi Yukito, hi Yue!" The gang greeted, and Tomoyo gestured to a waitress to take their orders.
"What are you guys having? The dinner special?" Yukito asked.
"Hai, and it's pretty good!" Sakura replied happily, gazing into his handsome face with delight. She can't believe that Yukito is sitting beside her, what luck! Yue noticed this and quickly swapped seats with Yukito. Sakura glared at Yue who was sitting beside her and smirking. She stamped her foot on his and then smiled innocently. Eriol's lips tugged at the corner, while Tomoyo hid a giggle behind her hand. Syaoran, Meiling and Yukito were clueless to what was going on.
Yue grimaced, and fumed silently. Much as he wanted to yell at his green-eyed co-star, he didn't wish to create a scene and disrupt Yukito's dinner. His younger brother had been rather depressed recently, having to stuff his face with food that he didn't want to eat, but have to because of his role in the CCS. Yukito is kind, gentle and nice, but he has one flaw, and that's…………………..
"Hey this is so fatty! How can anyone eat this?" Yukito demanded when the waitress brought his food. His voice, usually gentle, was now cold with anger. "Are you trying to poison me? Huh?"
Yue sighed and patted Yukito's shoulder to calm him down. His younger brother's only flaw is that he's obsessed about his weight and figure. Anyone who dares to offer him unhealthy or fatty foods will get hell.
"Ah, just take the food away and get him a salad. With no dressing." Yue told the trembling waitress. She gladly obliged, and after apologizing to Yukito for the hundredth time, she hurried off to the kitchen.
Syaoran, Meiling, Tomoyo and Sakura stared at Yukito's outburst with shock. They had never seen him this upset before. Then again, they hadn't dined with him before either. Eriol, however, seemed to be unruffled by Yukito's actions.
"Er………Sorry about that." Yukito scratched his head sheepishly and apologized. "I lose control when it comes to this kind of stuff."
Sakura said quickly, "Of course, we understand. Ah, I'm sorry for recommending you the dinner special." She bowed her head.
Yukito turned his amber eyes to Sakura, leaned over Yue and stroked her cheeks, replying softly, "It's not your fault, please don't apologise, okay?"
Sakura grew all starry eyed, while Tomoyo whipped out her V8 and started recording this kawaii moment.
Yue frowned, and shoved Yukito back to his seat. "Your salad's here. Eat."
Sakura shoot daggers with her eyes at Yue, who gave her a cool smile.
Tomoyo giggled. She always enjoyed the squabbles that Yue and Sakura have, because they are just so cute. Although Yue had a reputation for shooting his mouth off and being impulsive, he never takes his hand to girls. So Sakura always stamps on his foot, knowing he wouldn't retaliate, and that she'll get away it. In fact, Sakura seemed to enjoy it, even though Yue always shouts back at her with an extensive vocabulary that little kids shouldn't be allowed to hear.
Eriol smiled to himself, knowing something that Sakura doesn't. In fact, nobody does…………….
"Eriol? What are you smiling about?" Syaoran asked his boyfriend.
"Nothing, my dear little wolf. Nothing for you to worry your cute little head about." He bent his head and continued eating, ignoring the puzzled look Syaoran was giving him.
Meiling and Tomoyo were exchanging some other gossips, while keeping their eyes on Yue and Sakura, who were now engaging in a mini-battle of death glares.
"Tomoyo, do you know why Sakura and Yue always fights like this?" Meiling asked, as she glanced at the two who were now eyeballing each other even more intensely.
"Ho ho ho ho ho! I think its because Yue always prevents Sakura from talking to Yukito. And Sakura loves talking to Yukito. Yue just has a brother-complex, you know?"
"Huh? You mean Sakura likes Yukito?"
Tomoyo gave Meiling a strange stare and rolled her eyes. "Of course! I thought that's pretty obvious? I think it was love at first sight. When Yukito had come in for audition with Yue, I noticed Sakura swooning over Yukito. So I hinted, well, sort of threatened really, to the director to get Yukito into the CCS TV series."
Meiling eyes grew rounder. "Oh! I see!"
"And I also noticed Yue getting on the wrong foot with Sakura when he accidentally stepped on her long skirt and tore it, exposing her legs and panties to the world. Sakura was so mad I thought she would burst, but luckily there were only the five of us there at the time. Yue, Yukito, Mace, Sakura and myself. It took both Mace and I to keep Sakura from murdering Yue. Of course, it helped that Yukito was apologizing to Sakura on Yue's behalf." Tomoyo's eyes took on a faraway look, probably remembering the sight of Sakura's naked legs and cute undergarments.
"And Yue still managed to get into the cast? I thought Sakura would have protest fiercely." Meiling asked.
Tomoyo eyes snapped back to Meiling, and she smiled. "She did, but Yukito changed her mind."
"Ah, the power of love." Meiling sighed dreamily. Though she's a little tomboyish, deep down she's a romantic at heart.
Sakura had finally lost the glaring match when Yukito looked over and smiled at her sweetly, "Sakura, mina-san, we better be going soon, it's getting late."
Yue smirked in satisfaction while Sakura cast him a dirty look before turning her hundred-watt smile onto Yukito and nodded. "Hai, bye Yukito!" She purposely left out Yue's name, getting back at him in this small little way.
Yue saw Sakura's smile directed at Yukito, and grumpily dragged Yukito out of the restaurant. Eriol, finishing the last spoonful of his food, stood up. "Yes, we better get home soon too, see you all tomorrow!" They bid their farewells to one another and went their separate ways.
Sakura walked home, kicking at some poor stones that happened to be in her way and muttering something about killing Yue. "That idiot, who does he thinks he is! Always coming between Yukito and me. Freaking brother-complex, doesn't he have anything better to do? Damn his interfering ways. Just seeing him makes my blood boil. Should get Mace to kill his character off CCS so that I won't have to see his stupid face again."
She was about to turn into the lane that leads home when she noticed a blue neon light flashing in the opposite lane. "Huh? A new bar?" She went closer, and standing under the signboard, she read, "Moon Shrine." Thinking what a weird name it is, she was about to turn away when someone called her name.
"Sakura-chan!"
Sakura was wondering who it could be, when two slim arms wrapped around her and carried her into the air. "Hey! Let me down!"
"Chill it, Sakura-chan." Kaho smiled at her niece as she put Sakura down and beckoned her into the bar.
"Aunt Kaho! What are you doing here?" Sakura was surprised to see her aunt here, standing outside a bar that has a weird name. Ever since the last episode of CCS season one has ended, Kaho has not appeared in the set. But Sakura knows she has one more scene with her in one of the last few episodes of CCS season two.
"I own this bar, so of course I'm here." Kaho replied, still smiling.
"Huh? Since when?"
"Yesterday, so I need all the support I can get. Come on in! It's my treat." Kaho pulled her into the bar before Sakura could reply.
The bar was pretty crowded, with a piano and some people dancing in the circular dance floor. Sakura examined the deco of the bar. It was dimly lighted with hanging orbs that resemble the moon, and twinkling stars in the ceiling that are made out of miniature light-bulbs. The walls were plain, painted in a midnight blue. The bar counter was made of polished wood, brown from its original color. Transparent glasses of all sizes hang from the top of the counter, while bottles of varied drinks lined the wall behind the counter. The stage was small, but exquisite, in the shape of a large crescent moon. Again, it was made of the same material as the bar counter. The dark marble floors with its shiny surface reflected the lights from the ceiling, giving the illusion that one is walking in the night-sky. All in all, pretty nice, thought Sakura.
"This is cool, Aunt Kaho!" Sakura grinned.
"Thanks! Now go enjoy yourself. Tell Lafarga the bartender that you are my niece, and get a drink. Non-alcoholic one, ok?" Kaho signaled to the bartender and pointed at Sakura, giving him a complicated hand gesture. Kaho left Sakura and walked towards the back of the bar.
Sakura walked towards the counter and sat in front of Lafarga. "Hi Lafarga, I'm Sakura. Aunt Kaho asked me to get a drink from you." Lafarga was a heavily built man with short spikey hair and busy brows. He looked stern, but had a pleasant smile. Sakura liked him immediately, sensing he's the type that appear hard on the outside, but is actually a softie at heart. "Sure, Kaho already told me who you are."
"When?"
"We both know sign language, so just now she had gestured to me that you are her niece and asked me to give you an non-alcoholic drink."
"Bugger, I was hoping to get drunk." Sakura grumbled.
"Why would a young girl like you want to get drunk? Having problems?"
"Yeah Lafarga. Not exactly problems though. More like a thorn in my flesh." Sakura directed murderous thoughts towards Yue, hoping they would somehow reach him and cause him a hell of a headache.
Lafarga set a drink down in front of her and said, "Ok, you better not tell your aunt, but I put a little dash of bourbon in this. It's called bourbon coke."
"Thanks! I won't tell." Sakura happily gulp down her first alcoholic drink. She turned her attention to the stage when Lafarga went to serve some other customers.
There was someone playing the piano, but it was too dark to make out his face. Sakura guessed it's a man by his height and figure. His hair was a little too long, but rather silky and nice. She closed her eyes and relaxed in the music coming from the stage. It was an original tune that she hadn't heard before. Sakura felt tears prickling her eyelids as the tune made her feel sad without knowing why. It was as if the person playing the piano was pouring his soul into this song, this song of loneliness and sadness. Sakura could relate to those two emotions. Although she's now rather famous, and reasonably well off, she sometimes feel so lonely she could cry. Nobody truly understands her, not her friends and definitely not her family. They thought of her as a cheerful, optimistic girl, but she's actually not. Eriol could sometimes sense her loneliness, and comforted her with his kind hugs, but it's not enough. He doesn't know her past, no one does. And Sakura has grown so used to the all-happy-no-worry mask she's wearing that she's starting to believe that's really her true nature. Then, when she hears these kind of soulful songs, the past will come back to haunt her. Without opening her eyes, Sakura fingered the scars that are hardly visible on her wrist. And she remembers.
She remembers slashing them with a penknife, and watched in fascination as the blood trickled down her arm. The contrast of red over her pale skin was captivating, for her. Then someone had come into the toilet, and she had hurriedly wrapped a red cloth over her wrist, and put her watch with its large strap over it. Soon, this became a ritual, something she would do whenever she recalls her past. But when she was asked by Tomoyo to join the CCS production as the lead character, she knew that these comforting rituals were over. She had stopped, and using some healing lotions, crèmes and concealing powder, reduced the red welts on her wrist. They had faded into almost nothing during the actual filming of CCS, and she was relieved. In some ways, the anime helped to take her mind off things, keeping her busy and too tired to recall those awful memories.
The sound of clapping caused her to sit up and open her eyes. The man playing the piano left after bowing, without standing in the centre of the stage where there was a spotlight shining. She frowned, as she had wanted to see how that pianist looked like. His song has touched her, in a long time where none other had.
"Lafarga! Do you know who that pianist is?" Sakura asked the bartender, who had appeared before her once again.
"Nope, it's his first night here, so this is the first time I'm seeing him too." The bartender admitted.
Sakura nodded, and smiled cheekily. "Hey, can I have another bourbon coke, pretty please?"
Lafarga gave her a stern look. "You already had one, and I did promise Kaho not to give you any alcoholic drinks."
"I'm not a kid Lafarga! Besides, if you don't serve me some, I'll just get it elsewhere. If I'm going to get drunk, don't you think it would be better to be here in Moon Shrine?" Sakura persuaded, batting her eyelashes and pouting prettily.
The bartender grimaced at her subtle threat to get drunk elsewhere, and nodded in defeat. "Fine. How about a volka lime this time?"
"Thanks!" Sakura had no idea what that was, this being the first time she's drinking. But it sounded nice. Besides, any alcoholic drink is fine, as long as she gets some.
Lafarga sighed heavily and mixed the drink for her. Sakura take a tentative sip, and beamed. "Hey it tastes great!"
Lafarga smiled shyly, and left to attend to another customer.
Sakura take a deep swallow and drank the remaining volka lime quickly. She really wanted to get drunk, just to escape her thoughts for a while. Since she's not able to hurt herself to forget, she figured drinking would be a good alternative.
Standing up, she prepared to go home, and looked for her aunt Kaho. Sakura felt a little light-headed, as her body reacted strongly to the alcohol. She had no idea she's such a lousy drinker. Stumbling around the bar, she gave up looking for her aunt, and concentrated putting her feet at the right place. As she was about to step out of the bar, she tripped on something and fell.
"Mace is not going to be happy to see my face and nose flat from the fall tomorrow……" Sakura mumbled as her face became closer to the concrete pavement.
Suddenly strong arms gripped her shoulders and stopped her fall. Sakura twisted around and saw a tall man with broad shoulders. As the street was badly lighted, she couldn't see his face clearly. And she was too drunk to notice any details either. She became unconscious as the alcohol finally took its toil on her.
"Hey! Wake up!" The man shook Sakura gently. No response.
"Shit, she's out cold. What am I going to do now?"
====TBC====
A/N: Thanks for reading, and please review! In case you are wondering who that blue-haired girl with Mace is, she's Umi, one of the lead characters in Magic Knights Rayearth. And Lafarga? He too, is one of the characters in MKR, but has a smaller role. He's one of the warriors in Cephiro, a place where the main bulk of MKR takes place.
Oh, you must also be wondering why Sakura hurt herself on purpose? Tune in the future chapters, which will reveal the truth. Of course, that's IF there are going to be future chapters…………..depending if there's anyone reading my fic! So Review!
