Author's Note:  Thanks for your thoughts; I was thinking about just Syaoran's point of view this fic, but the more I think about it, you really do need Sakura's point of view.  But that's in the next chapter.  I think this fic needs some more humor don't you?  Or I need a break from writing heavy drama… This is a semi long chapter, maybe the rest will be long…probably not, seems too unbalanced though…*sticks out tongue* whatever.  Read and review please. =)

Firstly to Sahmandah (I'm not sure if there's something wrong with your computer or the server, but I didn't find any Chinese characters.  Gomen for you having a hard time reading my fics.  Thanks for trying anyway…) 

Aeris Gainsborough/Brenda:  I'm very grateful for your reviews…thanks a lot.  Happy New Year!

An big appreciation to:  Misty Showron, xINg ChEnG, AmiThest (like the name), Chibicherry (arigatou gozaimasu), Laura, pokey (I think I'll dedicate this chapter to you…), eternal innocence, Silex (wait no more!), A Reader And A Fan (*bows in gratitude*), …, An Author Out Of Pen Names (I'm not really that cool. =P), Loper, BabyBlonde5333, Silver_Kat, and Kristen.  

This chapter will be dedicated to pokey…so very loyal and polite. =)

Disclaimer:  If I die I want to be reincarnated as a poison arrow frog…oh, yeah and I don't own CCS.

The Hunt for a Cherry Blossom

Chapter 4:  The Family

Night had fallen.  I'm back at my desk, the Kinomoto folder closed in front of me.  Continue or not?  If I passed it back to Naoko…but I promised Daidouji…  My contemplation is broken as someone snaps her fingers in front of my eyes.  "Yanagisawa?"

She looked slightly fed up; the half glare in her eye a warning not to provoke her.  "Who else?  I asked you where the Kinomoto folder is?"

I looked down, bringing the case to her hands; I guess I'm not continuing.  "I talked to the Daidouji girl and it doesn't look very promising."

Naoko looks at me quizzically.  "What are you talking about?"

Now she has me confused; what else were we talking about before?  "The Kinomoto case?"

She rolls her eyes.  "I knew that.  I mean isn't the case solved?"

"Solved?"  If solved meant just begun, then she'd be right.

She sighs in frustration.  You and me both.  "But you got a phone call from her."

And that means…?  "Yeah?"  Maybe this is just a bad dream, one of those backward talking ones that ends with some weird image like a dancing clown or something.  I look at an annoyed Naoko; this is definitely not a dream.

"So, didn't she show up?"

"No."  So that's what she thought.  "She called for help; she was kidnapped."  I watched in amusement as the many different emotions flickered over Naoko's face:  confusion, shock, irritation and finally seriousness. 

"I thought she showed up, and it was all finished."

I eye the folder in her hand; maybe I will be continuing.  "Well, you're not going to be able to sign this one off yet."

"I guess not, but I don't have time for this…some important guy got himself killed in the park today.  The chief's got me on the case; I can't drop it."  So there is a ray of light; perhaps she caught the anticipation in my eyes.  "You want it?"

I readily accept the case, careful not to seem too happy, though strangely I'm more elated than I think I should be.  "Sure, I've already done the preliminary work anyway." 

She shrugs, turning toward the door, pausing just before swinging open the glass.  "I bet she's pretty huh?"  I can hear her loud laughter echo in the room, sudden heat in my face.  How many people are against me today?  First Daidouji and that boyfriend of hers, then Naoko and then probably Yamakazi.  That reminds me…  I look around trying to find the smiling Takashi, only to be met with him, close faced and wholly unhappy. 

"Li!"  I'm already half way to the parking lot, his angry voice trailing behind me.  Looks like I owe him a few night shifts.

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I'm turning the key in the lock, when the telephone rings from inside.  "Damn; hold on."  The keys are flung somewhere near the hall table, shoes abandoned halfway toward the kitchen.  I pick up the phone, leaning so far over the counter that I'm practically laying on it.  "Yes?"

The voice seems a bit taken back by my tone, but what do you expect when you're in an uncomfortable position barely home and without getting chance to exhale before the phone rings.  "Oh.  Should I call back?"  The voice, the same in Daidouji's apartment.

I allow myself a small smile; it just seemed too strange.  Kidnapped yet polite to the end.  "Kinomoto?  No, I just got home and you called and…"  I pull myself fully into the kitchen getting off the counter.

"Home?  This is your home phone number?"

Great.  The fourth time today I'm red.  "Sorry, I blurted out my home number when you asked, and you hung up so quickly, I didn't get the chance to correct myself."

"Oh…would you rather I call your work number?"

"No…it's okay.  I'm in charge of your case now anyway…"  I squash that little voice that tells me that's not the only reason I want her to call here.  "By the way, how do you call?  Your kidnapper's not that stupid to let you have a phone is he?"

She laughs, speaking with the same normal tone I heard at her apartment today.  "Your funny, you know that?"  Funny?  Not something people usually call me.  "Thanks for the laugh; I've been worrying about everyone's reaction.  How's Tomoyo and Touya?"

"Daidouji's worried sick, though you couldn't tell when she's with her boyfriend." 

She chuckles when I mention the word 'boyfriend,' distaste plain in my tone.  "I see you've met Eriol; he grows on you after a while."  I don't want him to grow on me; I want him to wipe that fucking grin off his face.  "And Touya and Otou-san?  How're they?"

"Wouldn't know.  I'm talking to your father tomorrow.  Who's Touya?"  Is this the black-haired guy in her photograph?

"He's my oni-san."  Brother?  "He's a bit…overprotective?  Don't think too badly of him.  If he gets angry or violent, it's just that he's worried about me."

Wonderful; I'm looking forward to tomorrow already.  "I won't."  I pull the case folder from my jacket; I should get overtime for this.  "I promised your friend Daidouji that I'd have you back by the end of the week.  Do you know who kidnapped you?  Can you describe him?"

She sighs into the phone.  "I don't think I know him; he's tall, Touya's height maybe, I didn't see anything else.  One minute I'm walking toward the bus station and the next I have something over my mouth.  And now…I'm just here."

I'm scribbling the notes, picturing the abduction in my mind.  Darkened street, unknown man, chloroform.  "Any idea where 'here' is?"

There's a rustling on her end, stopped suddenly with a thud and a 'hoe.'  What does 'hoe' mean?  Her voice comes back sounding embarrassed.  "Gomen, you can't see me shaking my head can you?"  My mouth is fighting a losing battle from grinning; this is certainly one of the more interesting cases I've been on.  "Um…it's dark here; there's no windows.  Sometimes when he opens the door, I hear sounds but I can't recognize them."

The pencil stops its writing; a few short sentences on the pad.  Not much to start on.  "Does he…want anything from you?"  I swallow the lump in my throat half fearing an answer in the affirmative.

"Want something?"  She sounds genuinely confused, pausing for a while before realization dawning on her.  "Oh.  No; thank Kami-sama.  I can't understand what he wants with me; he leaves food and goes without saying a word."

"And you haven't seen his face?  Does he wear a mask?"

"It's not like that; I think I'm in a sort of basement.  He stands at the top of the stairs, puts the food on the top step and leaves.  It's too dark to see his face; I've only got a candle and that…" 

She pauses in mid-sentence, something causing my stomach to drop.  "Is there something wrong?"

She speaks hurriedly like this morning.  "I think he's back; I have to go.  I'll call…um…same time next week?  Please tell my family I'm doing okay."  Again like this morning, the phone clicks before I can form some kind of reply. 

_________________________________________

It's bright; too fucking bright.  I open my eyes, the early sun streaming.  Rubbing my eyes, I try to lift myself out of bed, but I'm sore.  Sore from lack of sleep, not having slept until 3 at least.  All those ideas I've been thinking seem so far away now, each possibility over the Kinomoto case lost.  Another day…the coffee's scalding as it burns its way down my throat.  I pick up the notepad, ticking off the names in my head.  All these people:  Daidouji, her father, Touya, her employer…  Too many, too early.  The toast pops up from the toaster; I quickly stuff the hot starch into my mouth, jamming the key into the lock heading toward the elevator.  Where's the case folder?  Of course, the dining table, in my locked apartment.  Shit.  I'm finally on the elevator, having headed back to my apartment a few times for forgotten items.  My notes are glaring at me as the elevator moves downward.  First stop the station, and then…home.

__________________________________

I put myself down on the board; now I'm officially in charge of her case.  I carefully make my way to my desk, watching my back in case Yamakazi wants to thank me for yesterday.  On my desk is a slip of paper reading 'Turn around.'  No sooner do I twist myself around do I stare into the face of Takashi, grinning idiotically.  "Takashi, what's the matter?"

The smile remains on his face.  "Oh nothing.  Just wanted to say thanks for yesterday."  The trace of resentment laces his words, his grin breaking temporarily into a frown. 

I smirk sheepishly; I didn't mean to have him suffer on operator duty, or maybe I did, but now I feel sort of guilty.  "Oh yeah, sorry about that.  I guess I could've warned you huh?"

"No matter.  Actually I have to really thank you for taking my next two night shifts.  I think I can really use the break."

I raise an eyebrow.  "I didn't sign up for the next two nights."  He gives me a pointed look, a 'you owe me big' gaze.  I sighed in acquiescence.  "Oh yeah, it's nothing."

His mouth beams even more, satisfied.  "So what's on the board today?  You're on the Kinomoto case?"

"Yeah, Yanagisawa gave it to me; she's on some important case from the chief." 

"The Penguin Park case?  Yeah, I've been assigned to it too.  Some millionaire's kid got himself killed.  Probably some gang thing.  Give me an old-fashioned kidnapping any day over murder.  Hey, I'll trade cases with you."

My mind flashes back to yesterday night's conversation, fully realizing that was the first time I've genuinely smiled in a long time.  But doesn't mean anything.  "No thanks, I've already started on this case; I intend to finish it." 

He shrugs, turning as he hears the chief bellowing for him and Yanagisawa.  "Kami-sama, he's got something up his ass this morning.  Just because he has political connections to the millionaire doesn't mean we're all his puppets."  He heads down the hall disappearing into the office as I pick up my jacket, turning towards the door.

_______________________________________

I arrive in front of a small house; inviting and warm, the yellow of its walls comforting.  I ring the doorbell, hearing footsteps approaching, one set slow and steady another becoming louder and faster nearing the door.  Before I can think anymore, the door is flung open, and I'm hovering a few inches over the ground, having the life choked out of me.  Of course she was right; I see her brother before me, his hands around my collar hoisting me into the air.  He's strained, eyes rimmed with a red exhaustion.  "What the hell have you done with Sakura?!"

I fumble as best I can slowly losing the air I need to breath.  What a fucking sister complex.  I pull out my wallet flipping the badge in front of his face.  "I'm with the police; I'm in charge of your sister's case."

Surprisingly, he doesn't let go, instead opting to shake me.  "Then where the hell is she?"

I finally find the chance to bring my hands to my neck, prying off his death grip from my collar and returning myself to the ground.  "I don't know; I've just started the investigation."  He looks like he's about to strike me, the crazy bastard, but a restraining hand pulls on his shoulder.

A similarly worn man steps out from behind Touya, easily recognizable as her father.  I pull out my pad business-like, ticking off two names.  "Ah, Mr. Kinomoto, I am Li Syaoran from the police.  I am in charge of Sakura's case.  If I could ask a few questions?"

He smiles kindly stepping aside, simultaneously dragging Touya back into the house.  "Please com in.  I'm very sorry for my son; he's very worried about Sakura as we all are."  He gives the brother a reproaching look.  "But he should learn not to let his emotions control him and jump to conclusions."

I cough strategically, straightening my tie, fixing my ravaged collar.  "Of course, I have only a few questions to ask."

He briefly nods, leading me through the hall into the comfortable interior, the smells of breakfast wafting in the air, the air clean yet heavy with living.  So this is home…

______________________________________

I settle into the couch, a cup of tea placed before me.  This is singularly the most unnerving experience I've had up to date.  A man smiling, the picture of hospitality with genuine concern for my comfort, the other glaring dangerously.  Ultimately, the latter began the conversation, without much tact I may add.

"Well?  Why are you here and not doing your job?" 

"Touya."  Fujitaka's voice snaps instantly.  "Be respectful."  He turns to me with an apologetic look and concern on his features.  "We're all just a little tired.  Sakura has never had us worried like this.  Is there anything we can do to help?"

Normally I'd be giving a fake smile, issuing reassuring words as the parent fumes or cries hysterically.  But this time, I find myself easily sympathizing with him; his words are true, no blame on his daughter, nor self-pity.  "I'm sure Daidouji has told you about Sakura's kidnapping."  The man nodded as I contrived to find the best way to tell him the details.  "I received a phone call yesterday from her; she wanted me to reassure you that she's doing well.  She also called Daidouji and this house as well, but received no answer."

Fujitaka seemed to digest the information, albeit greatly confused.  "Phone call?  But she's kidnapped…"

"I wondered the same thing myself, but I didn't get the chance to get an answer from her."

Touya rolls his eyes, exhaling with disgust.  "Smart."

I glare at him as if to set him on fire, already able to smell his burning flesh.  "Anyway, as I was saying, I'm here to ask a few questions to help in the investigation.  I'm trying to find possible suspects.  Is there anyone that may have had something against your daughter?"

Fujitaka shook his head, looking past me at something.  Turning around I follow his gaze to a photograph of a woman.  "Sakura's very much like her mother; no one could have ever disliked her.  She was too nice and understanding."

"Oh, does she have a boyfriend or any suitors?"

This time Touya spoke, finally without some anger directed at me.  "Boyfriend?  No.  Suitors?  Many.  But no one ever deserved her attention.  There was someone pursuing her recently, but she didn't tell me his name or much about him."

Fujitaka grinned lightly.  "Perhaps, Touya, that's because you scare off any boy interested in her."

Touya replied indignantly.  "Like I said, none of them deserved her attention.  I just helped take care of those who don't give up when they should have."

"Any particularly nasty suitors?"  My pencil hangs over the pad in anticipation only to be disappointed when they shake their heads no.  "Are you sure?"

The older man bows his head in defeat after scouring his memories for names.  "I'm very sorry, but she doesn't normally discuss that part of her life with us.  If you talk to Tomoyo I'm sure she'll be able to help you.  They're best friends."  I incline my head in agreement trying to escape the uncomfortable silence between us.

I get up walking briskly to the door, the day spread before me like a never-ending road.  I watch the two other men follow me, worry and concern in their faces.  "I promise you I will return her to you."  Something inside me, perhaps recognizing the impact she makes on those around her, speaks even louder in my head.  I will return her.

___________________________________

Author's Note:  Originally this was supposed to have all the interviews, but I think it's better to separate them, a better introduction.  The next chapter though, is Sakura's point of view, so not a flashback…but interviews continue the chapter after that.  Next on the list…Tomoyo and Eriol or her employer and fellow waitresses?  Who do you think?