AN: Oh my goodness, I have horrible memory x_x In the first Ch, I forgot to mention it was an AU fic so I had to reupload Ch.1 saying that it was. And then I forgot to mention that I got inspired from the movie Coyote Ugly although I watched it two yrs ago...yes, I think I had a dream and then I remembered it and I was like 'Oh I have a fic idea...tumdedum.' So, it's not going to follow the movie's storyline because I can't remember the movie's storyline except for the setting (which is the clubish thing). I can't even remember the darn girl's name except that she had stagephobia (however you call this) and wanted to sing (?) -_- But no, this story isn't going to be about Sakura having stagephobia because she's fine with that ^^;; Just the setting is similar and the fact that they work at a club. I mean I can't get them to do anything else but dance and rave cause that's what a club is for -_- Lolz, anyways I can't remember who but someone said why doesn't Sakura work at McDonalds or smth. Ehehehehe well you see, I was half asleep and when I re-read the payment I was like..."Hm, that's even under minimun wage" *wacks forehead* Aiya, thanks so much for pointing that out but let's just say McDonalds doesn't exist LOL (Japan's McDonalds are cool...they serve coke in milk cartons...yes...) And uh yes, I'll do something about her payment ok? It won't remain 20 -_- Ehehe, thanks for all the feedback and comments =) They helped me ALOT ^^ (aiya such a long AN...)
P.S: Meiling is NOT related to Syaoran in this story -_-;; I can't believe I actually forgot to mention that ^^;;
Disclaimer: CCS and all characters belong to CLAMP.
Chapter 2
Dazzle
"Sir, there's a call for you on line two."
Li Syaoran, twenty and well built, let out a groan and looked up to see the composed face of Ms. Owl. That wasn't exactly the secretary's name, but Syaoran sure thought she looked like an owl, and besides her real name was much too hard for him to pronounce. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me sir?"
"But sir, you're going to be boss soon," Ms. Owl persisted with a flutter of her fake eyelashes.
Syaoran frowned and sighed, "I'm not sure if I am."
"But you're the only heir," Ms. Owl reminded patiently with her very red lips. Syaoran wondered if lips could be fake too. "And besides, your mother is very confident that you'll take over your father's company."
Father's company. That hit Syaoran like a ton of bricks. The only reason he was even considering to take over the Li Company was because of his father. The company was probably the only thing his father had left behind before his death. The only thing Syaoran had left of his father. A big, stupid company. He let out another groan and leaned back in the plush leather chair. "Please don't say that."
"Say what?" Ms. Owl blinked through her circular glasses. Syaoran suppressed a laugh. He could not help but find her glasses amusing.
"Nevermind, I guess I better answer that call," Syaoran heaved a sigh and picked up the phone. "Hello, Li Syaoran speaking?"
"Mr. Li Syaoran," a stern voice corrected.
Syaoran's shoulders sagged at the voice on the other line. "Ok, fine. Mr. Li Syaoran speaking. What is it mother?"
"You have to remember to keep the formalities! You're going to be a big businessman, just like your father," Yelan Li said proudly through the phone, the air of authority never leaving the woman's voice.
His brow furrowed before he replied, "Mother, I want a few more years to think about it. I'm not even done university yet, you can't just take me out of school to run the business."
"But you're the only rightful heir! We mustn't wait any longer and let that uncle of yours continue running it. He's getting old, and he may come to think that the company is his if we don't kick him off soon."
"Uncle knows it's not his, he's fine with me taking over when I'm ready," Syaoran emphasized.
"But you are! We've been training you for a month!" Yelan persisted with a slight edge to her voice. "Xiao Lang, you of all people should know how much the company mattered to your father! He would be awfully disappointed if you just turned your back to it!"
Syaoran growled under his breath. His mother was at it again. She knew his weak spot and that was his oh so great father who was six feet under the ground. He took in a breath and steadily spoke, "You know I don't like it when you bring up father in this. This isn't about him."
"And yet it is, and you know it Xiao Lang," her voice said with the same steadiness as her son. "How long are you going to wait? Until your eighty? By that time the Li Company would have been bankrupt!"
"You're exaggerating," Syaoran muttered. "Besides, I just need a few years."
"How long are a few years, Syaoran?" His mother's voice was softer now, desperate maybe. But Yelan Li was never desperate. Syaoran didn't like that tone on his mother.
"Not long," he answered. "But I'm only twenty. I don't want to be tied down by the company already. I know how much it means to you mother, and it means a lot to me too believe it or not. But I'm just not ready."
There was a pause before Yelan sighed through the phone, "Very well Xiao Lang. I can't seem to sway you, but you have to keep in mind that if you don't get ready soon, your uncle's son is ready to take that position from you."
"Yeah, just let him try," Syaoran mumbled and smiled slightly. He had finally persuaded his mother. "And I was hoping you wouldn't mind that I take a break."
"A break?"
"Yes...to Japan perhaps, maybe I'd visit Eriol," Syaoran pondered out loud. "Remember him?"
"Ah yes, Eriol," Yelan said with familiarity. "Well...Japan...I guess that would be fine, but come back soon."
"Thank you mother," Syaoran didn't know why he felt so stiff, but having his mother agree to his requests seemed too surreal to be true. "Yes, ok, I'll call," he nodded as his mother said a few more things and finally hung up.
Syaoran, suddenly feeling content and relieved, let a grin spread across his young face etched with stress. He was finally going to be free for a while. Free from the pressure Hong Kong had on him. Free from all his responsibilities for just a good while. And he'd get to visit his childhood best friend too. Life couldn't get any better for Li Syaoran at the moment.
Sakura stifled a yawn as she turned the knob to her apartment. Her mind was tired from the day's adventure. Meiling and Tomoyo's words still swam in her head like a swarm of bees. They had told her to come earlier tomorrow to show them her stuff. Sakura wondered what they meant, but knew she would have to step out of her comfort zone.
Rubbing her eyes slightly, she entered the kitchen and was shocked to see her brother sitting at the small kitchen table with a blanket around his shoulders. His head was nodding slightly as he was obviously trying to stay awake. Rushing to his side, Sakura steadied her brother and worriedly burst out in surprise, "What are you doing awake?! You should be in bed..."
Touya Kinomoto looked up at his baby sister and simply asked, "Where have you been?"
Sakura looked away quickly as she slung her bag from her shoulder to the kitchen counter. "...I've got a job now," she said in a rather tight voice. "You know, the 24/7 grocery in downtown. I've got a night shift." She dared herself to look over at her brother who merely nodded, his eyes drooping slightly.
Much to her surprise, Touya believed her and only asked, "Why a night shift?"
She racked her mind for a plausible explanation and finally spluttered, "No one wants the night shift! I mean, I don't know what's wrong with the people in this city," she laughed lightly. "They seem to have a nightlife and don't want to spend the evening cooped up staring at lettuce and magazines. Besides, we need the money and I'll have something to do at night."
Her brother was silent for a while, making Sakura frantic that perhaps her brother had saw through her lies like usual. Yet when Touya slammed his fist on the table, Sakura lost all sense of speech. Finally overcoming the shock her brother had caused, she quickly grabbed his hand and checked for any cuts. "Touya! You know you can't go around hurting yourself! What if you got a cut?! You'd bleed to death you baka!" Sakura held back the tears in her eyes.
Touya's shoulders shook slightly as he choked out, "Dammit, I'm sorry. I'm the big brother and you're the one out there supporting us..." he sucked in a shaky breath. "Mom and dad must hate me..." his voice trailed off and completely died out as silence consumed the two. He finally buried his face in his hands as Sakura felt a tear drop from her eyes.
Sakura placed her arms around her brother and spoke softly, "Remember when we were kids? You would always make fun of me, but I knew that if I needed saving or help, I could count on my onii-chan. So just think of this as me repaying all those years of protection," she smiled a meek smile. "It's time for me to be a good sister."
"Sakura..."
"We're a family, we share our loads," Sakura said and shushed her brother as he opened his mouth to speak. "You're going to bed and you're going to get well. That's your job, got it?"
After a moment of silence, he slowly stood up and replied, "Got it...kaijuu (monster)."
Sakura smiled, a genuine smile as she helped her dear brother into his room and into bed. Shutting the door quietly behind her, she leaned with exhaustion on the shut door, mumbling under her breath, "Mou...I'm not a kaijuu..."
Morning dawned bright and warm as Sakura jumped out of bed instantly, not wanting to be late for the first day at work. Opening her closet door, she rummaged through her clothes with pursed lips. "Oooh they're not going to like anything I wear," she sighed in dismay as she pulled out a sleeveless green turtleneck and a pair of white pants.
Changing quickly, she brushed out her auburn hair and left it down.
Tiptoeing silently into the small kitchen, she checked the fridge to make sure her brother would be able to have lunch without a problem. Satisfied, she left a quick note on the counter saying that she was going to be out and to not wait up. Grabbing her bag that she had left on the counter, she slipped into her worn runners and headed out of the apartment.
Kicking the pebbles off the sidewalk as she went, she couldn't help but wonder if they would stare at her and kick her out again. Maybe they had been tired and made a bad decision...Sakura shook her thoughts away as she looked up to see the Vibe just a few feet away. It looked very different in the daylight. Much more...calm. There was no ear deafening music, nor was there the smell of smoke in the air.
Taking a breath, she pushed open the doors and entered the club. She saw Tomoyo mopping the floor and Meiling cleaning the bar counter. Another girl she didn't know was practicing some routine on the stage, her dark red hair bouncing around her. Hearing someone enter, all three looked up at Sakura, causing her to feel small again.
Tomoyo was the first one to react and rushed over to Sakura, dropping her mop to the floor. "Oh Sakura! You came! Early too! Oh, you didn't get to meet Rika yesterday did you?" She waved a hand over towards the girl on stage. "Hey Rika-chan, come on down here!"
The girl obliged and hopped down, hurrying over to them with a smile on her lips. "So you're the Sakura they've been telling me about," Rika commented as she tilted her head slightly. "You have pretty eyes."
Sakura flushed slightly and thanked her as Meiling walked up to them with a rag in her hand. "Hmm, what is that?" The ruby-eyed girl pointed a finger at her pants.
"Um, white pants," Sakura answered.
Meiling shook her head immediately, "No, no...don't you think so too Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo looked thoughtful before nodding, "I agree."
Sakura looked at the two. They were doing that eye-communicating thing again, much to Sakura's annoyance. "Ok, what is it now?"
"I think they're talking about your clothes," Rika suggested and placed a finger under her chin. "Hmm, I agree with them." The three girls looked at each other with a nod.
Sakura felt awfully out of place until all three of them spoke up, "New wardrobe."
"What?" Sakura blinked in confusion.
"You need a new wardrobe," Meiling stated simply and nodded over towards Tomoyo. "Tomoyo makes excellent clothing. Over 50% of my clothes are Tomoyo-made," she smiled slightly. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind making you some."
Tomoyo nodded earnestly. "I don't mind at all!"
"She can get a bit...strange though," Rika warned.
Tomoyo giggled, "Ohohohoho, it's not called strange Rika, it's called style."
Sakura looked worriedly at Tomoyo, but then she wondered why Tomoyo stayed at the club if she could make such excellent clothing. "But why aren't you a fashion designer or something?" Sakura couldn't help but ask.
Tomoyo's sparkling eyes dimmed slightly as she shrugged, looking at the opposite wall to them as she spoke, "I...I can't. Well, it's not that I can't, I just don't want to," she explained hesitantly as she sighed. "I can't leave my girls," she smiled at Rika and Meiling. "When I was in trouble, Meiling-chan here gave me a place to stay and work. I owe her."
"Aw Tomoyo-chan," Meiling flushed.
Rika smiled warmly at the two other girls and turned to look at Sakura. "Meiling-chan owns this place. It use to be a place selling flowers."
"What happened to the flower shop then?" Sakura asked curiously.
Meiling answered stiffly, "When my mother died, the flower shop died with her."
Sakura let the words sink in and instantly felt sorry for asking. Opening her lips to apologize, Meiling simply shushed her and said, "It's ok. We're all open here, we say whatever we want," Meiling said lightly. "I changed it to the Vibe soon afterwards, and Tomoyo just kind of stumbled in."
"Just like you," Tomoyo indicated towards Sakura. "And I was instantly welcomed."
"Tomoyo just blew me away with her voice," Meiling confessed. "And Rika...well--"
"Like you said, we're open here, so I'll just tell you straight off," Rika said with a smirk. "I ran away."
"You ran away?" Sakura echoed with raised eyebrows.
Rika nodded, "Don't gross out but I had a relationship with my homeroom teacher and my parents found out. Guess they didn't like it very much, so they wouldn't stop yelling. I had to leave."
Sakura processed the words, trying to keep her face blank as she nodded. "Oh, I see."
Silence fell on them before Meiling clapped her hands together. "Well then, you'll get to meet Chiharu and Nakuru later. They make the best drinks," Meiling said proudly. "Ok, so Sakura, get up there."
The emerald eyed girl stared at Meiling blankly. "Get up where?"
"The stage," Meiling explained. "And show us what you've got."
She said it as if it were the easiest thing on earth, Sakura thought nervously. Scuttling onto the stage, she stood there, fidgeting with the zipper of her turtleneck for a few seconds while the three other girls stood below with expectant looks on their faces. Swallowing, she questioned in desperation, "What am I suppose to do?"
Tomoyo offered a reassuring smile before answering, "Just sing."
"Sing what?" Sakura asked in an awfully squeaky voice.
"Oh...let me get the music going," Rika suggested as she went over to the stereo and pressed a random CD. A few seconds went by before a song began to play and Sakura could only swallow as she listened to the song all the way through.
"Ok, got the tune?" Meiling asked right after the last beat faded.
Sakura stared at her wide-eyed. "Just like that?"
Meiling snapped her fingers. "Yep, just like that."
"How am I suppose to just remember it all?!" Sakura cried out frantically.
Rika glanced at Meiling who shrugged and nodded. Sakura stared and turned to look at Tomoyo who looked at her thoughtfully before running up to the stage. "Here, since it's Sakura's first time, I'll sing with her."
"You sure?" Meiling asked Tomoyo dubiously.
Tomoyo smiled cheerfully, "Of course I'm sure. Come on Sakura-chan, we can do it!"
Tomoyo's enthusiasm washed away a bit of Sakura's butterflies as the auburn haired girl nodded. "Ok, Rika, music," Sakura said with a finality in her tone that set a small smile on Meiling's lips.
The music began with a definite beat and Tomoyo started moving to the music. Sakura followed suit, though she felt a bit strange and awkward.
So what am I not supposed to have an opinion
Should I be quiet just because I'm a woman
Call me a bitch cos I speak what's on my mind
Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled
Sakura glanced at Tomoyo occasionally, but the other girl seemed to be lost in her own world as her hair flew all around her like a lion's mane. Tomoyo slammed the heels of her boots on the wooden stage as she sang with such force that Sakura thought she might have just been standing there not speaking at all for her voice was so tiny compared to Tomoyo's.
When a female fires back
Suddenly the target don't know how to act
So he does what any little boy will do
Making up a few false rumors or two
After a few more words, Sakura smiled to herself. What the heck, I'll just lose myself, why be nervous with these girls when there's going to be tons of people tonight? She thought and nodded to herself.
This is for my girls all around the world
Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth
Thinking all women should be seen, not heard
So what do we do girls?
Shout louder!
Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground
Lift your hands high and wave them proud
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down
Sakura swung her hips out wildly as she sank lower and lower onto the ground with her hands through her hair. With every beat, and with every word, she moved her body sharply and confidently.
Nobody can hold us down
Nobody can hold us down
Nobody can hold us down
Never can, never will
She waved a finger at her imaginary audience while shaking her head with wide innocent eyes. Whipping her head to her left, her hair swung out with her as the last beat died out with the falling of her hair. Panting breathlessly, she shook her auburn hair out of her face as she whiped the sweat from her brow. It soon dawned on her that she had been performing for Meiling and the rest, and she quickly turned to look at them and instantly asked, "Was that ok?"
Tomoyo was staring at her with approval as she gave the emerald eye girl a thumbs up. Rika simply clapped and Meiling smiled. "You were a bit stiff at the beginning," Sakura face fell slightly at Meiling's words but the other girl continued, "but I know that I never make the wrong choices in picking my girls."
Sakura felt her lips tugging into a smile. "Thanks."
"I say we run through it a few more times," Tomoyo suggested as she threw a towel to her. "You know the part where it says something about swinging our arms? Emphasize that and swing your heart out."
Sakura nodded as she dried herself. "Ugh it gets hot in here."
Rika whistled, "Oh believe me girlie, it gets hotter."
Sakura smiled meekly as Tomoyo threw her a bundle. It seemed to be clothing. "Since it'll take me a couple days to make your clothes, and plus I have to measure you, you can borrow my clothes for tonight. I think you can fit into them."
"Arigatou," Sakura thanked gratefully as she looked down at the pile in her arms.
Meiling yawned slightly before she walked over towards the stereo and hit the play button once more. "Ok, no more chit chat, we've got to practice and impress our crowd tonight. Oh and Sakura, since you're new, you get a kind of...welcome."
"Hoe?" Sakura blinked in confusion.
Rika's eyes twinkled along with Tomoyo's. "You don't think twenty dollars is all you get do you? That's just the part Meiling pays, but look at all the people that come," Tomoyo hinted.
Rika continued for her, "When there's people, there's money."
Sakura simply looked at the three girls who were both nodding at her knowingly. Still muddled with confusion, Sakura could only look at them skeptically and wondered what tonight would be like.
"Aw don't look so worried Sakura."
"Yeah Sakura, you'll dazzle them all."
And she sure hoped so.
He hoped he had remembered to pack his toothbrush. Though he was the great, organized, sophisticated son of Yelan Li, he had a habit of always forgetting to pack his toiletries. Unbuckling his seat belt as the plane slowed to a stop, a woman's voice was heard from the speakers telling the passengers that they hoped to serve them again soon.
Syaoran rolled his eyes as he opened the overhead compartment and pulled out his black leather bag. Coughing slightly, he followed the queue off the plane and into the airport. Looking over the many heads, he found it rather hard to spot his navy haired best friend. Grumbling in annoyance, he was about to plop down on a seat when he heard a familiar shout come from his right.
"Mr. Li Syaoran!"
Smirking, his amber eyes amused, he hit his long time friend on the shoulder as he approached. "Hiiragizawa," he acknowledged with a nod.
"How are you sir?"
"Fine," Syaoran replied and shook his head. "Oh shut up."
The navy haired man cracked a smile. "Fine, fine Li."
"So how have you been?" Syaoran asked as they headed off towards the automatic glass doors. "Not missing Hong Kong anymore?"
"Japan's good," Eriol responded with a nod as they walked towards his parked silver Mercedes. "Simple life is the life I like. How about you Syaoran? Your mother still being a pain in the ass?"
Syaoran could only nod while clearing his throat. "It's almost as if she wants to control my life still. I'm an adult."
"But still a little boy in the mother's eye," Eriol smirked as the car's engine hummed to life. "Ah, it sucks to be you."
"You're awfully helpful," Syaoran's voice dripped with sarcasm. "So, where are we going? Your apartment? It better not be like last time. It was much too clean to seem...manly," he finished off strangely.
Eriol chuckled, "Sure thing, I tossed a few dirty undershirts around before you came to please you. But no, I don't think we're going to head back to the apartment right away. That's no way to welcome back a best friend, is it?"
Syaoran raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "What's on your mind Hiiragizawa?"
His dark eyes twinkled mischievously before he replied with a turn of the wheel, "Well, let's bring you to Tokyo's hottest night club. I bet you never relax back at your so called home."
"It's not that bad," Syaoran muttered.
Eriol didn't look convinced as they drove down the street. "Oh, once you see this place you won't want to leave. There's this beautiful young lady with dazzling amethyst eyes and silky locks--"
"Okay, okay, I get the part about being obsessed."
Eriol snickered, "Glad you get the point. I'm sure you'll find someone to obsess over too."
Syaoran shrugged carelessly, turning to look at the passing scenery. "Night club huh? I don't think that's my thing, and I sure didn't think it was your thing either."
"Stop whining, no one ever has a bad time at the Vibe."
"If you say so," Syaoran answered unconvincingly, never noticing the confident glint in his friend's eyes as they pulled over just as the sun slipped away and night began in Tokyo, Japan.
AN: S+S shall meet in Ch.3 =) Ooh and I didn't bother to type out all the lyrics to Christina A.'s song Can't Hold us Down because I didn't want to take up too much space just with lyrics -_- Hope you enjoyed this chapter though things aren't on a roll yet since it's only Ch.2...mehehe, stay tooned and R+R, thankies =)