Author's Note: Another little series that sprang up in my mind. No magic, no Clow cards, completely Alternate Universe. Quite a few bad words, but that adds…realness? Ah hell, I just felt like cursing a lot in a fic. Hehe. This is just a little intro, so I'm not going to be updating for a bit, until Christmas time probably or later, but I thought I'd post this and see if anyone thinks I should continue. If I don't get many reviews, I'll still continue just at a slower pace. Then it'll probably not be updated until I finish the next chapter of my other series. If there's a lot of reviews *hint hint* then I'll be forced to write more often. Don't feel pressured though, I'm definitely going to finish this fic. Not many Japanese words in this, so don't need a vocab guide. Thanks to everyone who reads my stories. It's so nice to be appreciated. (head swelling dangerously) okay, bye, need to find a pin.
Disclaimer: *whiny* don't own CCS; why don't I own CCS? I want to own CSS!
The Hunt for a Cherry BlossomChapter 1: Coffee
Fuck. This is going nowhere, the papers splayed before me like a blizzard, the harsh bitter taste of stale coffee in my mouth. I'm not a fucking step closer. My hands go to massage my bloodshot eyes, the consequence of thirty six hours straight with no sleep and an ever increasing frustration. Normal cases wouldn't have me so stressed, but this one is special. She is special. I look over my notes again; what the hell is the answer? My fingers go to my temples now, a terrible headache coming, my vision already blurry. The sun's already peaking out of the night; the clock says six, or maybe eight, but I can't tell. What's the link? Shit, I can't do this anymore.
"So the great Li Syaoran is stumped on a case? Where's that golden boy the chief so lovingly applauds?" The voice, arrogant and derisive came from a tall lanky man, looking ridiculously like a pencil in a blue uniform: Hwang Bo. The asshole, always trying to prove he's something. I'm sure he hears the groan of disgust I make, but he just smiles stupidly and towers above me like a disproportioned statue, something people pass by without a second look and something for the birds to shit on.
"What do you want Hwang?" God I hate him; it's all I can do to stop myself from putting my fist into his pitted face.
"Oh…nothing much; just thought I'd see how you're doing. No luck yet?" The sarcasm was dripping, my face barely holding in my fury, maybe it was the coffee, but I'm sure it was just being in the presence of this bastard. "It's been how long? Six, seven months?" That's it! I don't want to deal with this so early in the morning.
I grab his collar, tightening my grip. He's struggling to breathe, his hands trying to pry me off him. No such luck. I think I'll return the favor of conversation. "What? Nothing to say Hwang?" It's inhuman how angry he can make me; I just want to break his neck now, but someone stops me.
"Syaoran; put Hwang down! You don't want disciplinary action do you?"
I reluctantly let go, the stick that's call Hwang slumping to the ground to catch his breath. I hope he thinks twice next time he wants to fuck with me. "Fine. I swear, Hwang, you better get out of my sight now." I turn irritably to Yamakazi, my teeth still gritting. "One day without that asshole; just one day." He gives me this goofy smile, something I've never learned to understand. How can someone be that happy all the time? My face almost wants to smirk, but a frown forms as he asks his question.
"How's the Kinomoto case going?"
"Oh, don't you know? He's having trouble. Maybe he's losing his touch." That voice, mocking and drawling; he's still here! The blood is racing through my veins; the caffeine doesn't help.
"Hwang! Get…out…of…here…now." Each word comes out of my mouth with venom, my fist already balled into a fist. If I could just punch him… He slinks off to his corner desk, seeking others to pick on. Asshole.
"Not well, huh? I have to admit; it's hard. I can't make any leeway with it either."
"Tell me about it." I glance back at my desk, scattered with interviews, with forensic reports, with photographs… Photographs; her pink and yellow bedroom, her stuffed animal Kero, her college graduation photo, green eyes. Something glowing in them; I know it's corny, but they have…life, you know. Where are they now? Closed and sunk at the bottom of a lake, buried under the leaf fall in the woods? "Damn it!" I pound my fist against the surface of my desk, the pain nothing compared to my frustration. The coffee mug topples, bitter liquid staining everything, the papers, the blotter, my gloves. "Shit!" I reach over to salvage the case file, barely in time before coffee floods over where it was. A hand reaches over to touch my wrist; Yamakazi is looking at me, corcerned.
"Syaoran; you need a break. How about breakfast?"
Breakfast? What's that? I haven't even thought of food for so long. What did I have last night? A candy bar? I don't even remember. But I guess I should eat something. "Yeah, sure." He leads me out into the morning; does the sun have to be that fucking bright?
"You know, a little fresh air clears the mind. I once heard that…" I block him out, like I need another story in my head. I'm close; I can feel it. It's right there in front of me, I can taste it… "What?" Yamakazi's been asking me something for a couple of minutes.
"Thinking about the case again? I asked what would you like?"
We're in a booth in the diner, the pleather bouncy under me. How did I get here? Was I that out of it? I really am obsessed. I wave my hand randomly over the menu, landing at number fifty whatever that is. "I guess this."
The waitress gives me a quick look. What? "That's an unusual order to have this early."
I look at the words under my finger, a chocolate milkshake? By Kami-sama, I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. "Oh, just bring me some eggs…bacon, coffee." I trail off. She looks at me again. What now? Did I do something wrong, bitch? It's just the exhaustion; I'm not normally stressed out, this stressed out anyway, but her… I could kill her right here, standing prim and proper with her white apron, greasy hair, pen scribbling on her little pad. What? What is so damn interesting about me?
Luckily Yamakazi interrupts my thoughts. "I think he means he'll have two eggs, scrambled, two strips of bacon and cup of coffee. Number fifteen." She seems placated, scrawling my order down, taking the menus away, trotting down to the counter, her white apron waving. Good riddance. I jolt awake, Yamakazi's voice again hanging in the air. What's he saying? "Syaoran? Are you even listening to me?"
"Uh…yeah. What were you saying?"
"I said you look like hell; when's the last time you slept? Is this case that important to you?"
I know he's right; it's ridiculous to stay up for days on end eating crap and drinking the liquid death called coffee. But like I said, this case is special. "Yes, it is." Automatically, I'm already flipping through the case folder, scouring the evidence over again, hoping I missed something the last thousand times I've done this. I look up again to Yamakazi's mouth moving, his voice suddenly registering in my brain. "What?"
He shakes his head in disbelief. "You're obsessed with this case; you'd think you were in love with her."
The heat rushes to my face; I know I'm already red. Damn. I'm fucking twenty five and I can't get over this stupid blushing. Though I've never really had much reason to blush before; he just doesn't know how close he is. I'll never hear the end of this. "No."
He laughs, loudly and uncontrollably; the other customers stare at us but turn back to their food. He's still laughing, gasping out words. "You…love…her. I…can't…believe…this."
I glare at him, wanting to burn a hole right through him. He finally stops laughing wiping the tears away from his eyes. "I don't love her." The fire in my face tells me differently, to Yamakazi too. Shit.
He smiles like an idiot, how anyone can do that without breaking their face is beyond me. "You're blushing. This is just too screwed up; how do you fall in love with someone you've never met? Photographs?"
I give up; he'll just pester me until I break. "No, there's more. I…" This has to come out; no one knows this and yet I'm sure the chief would kill me if he knew. "I talk to her."
His smile fades, replaced by a blank, stupid look. I don't blame him; he'll ask 'how.' "How?" I'm proud of myself; he's so predictable.
"On the phone." He still looks lost. Shit. This was supposed to be my secret. Fine; it's all got to come out anyway, doesn't it? "I'll tell you how." I sigh, the coffee's not here yet. Where's that bitch? Never mind; I'll just have to do this without it. "I'll start from the beginning."
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Author's Notes: Oooh, rated 'R' my first! Tell me how it was. Can anyone suggest a good title; I'm not sure if mine is that good. Oh, and chapter title suggestions are welcome too. Arigatou for all reviews and also arigatou for anyone who read this little chapter.