Author's Notes:  Another chapter….Syaoran at Sakura's work.  The cast of characters continues to grow…  And please read and review; leave comments!  I  appreciate it.

Thanks to SweetCard (I'm afraid S+S meeting won't be for a bit…), LiTtO GyAl, Kavi-chan, Diane, Sailor Star Sakura, Tenshi no Kijutsu (Wow…that's mighty high praise), …, Final Fantasy Princess, SilverMistAngel, mya, devilbossomgirl.

Rhea-chan the great:  you're vegginess is spreading…maybe it's my fault…I'll explain it later…look at the reviews for 'when everything….' You'll understand…

Li Sakura:  Helen!  School starts again?  And hey, HEY!  You're a wonderful writer, that little story about the kids was very good.  We all have different writing styles…I'm probably a horrible bore with all my details to some people…keep writing!

This chapter dedication will be to….Silex!   You've been so kind as to read my stories and you really gave me a lot of encouragement just by reading 'When everything…' when I began posting.  Arigato!

The Hunt for a Cherry Blossom

Chapter 6:  The Co-workers

March 24

I push through the glass doors of Tsukimine Café, avoiding the stream of customers and employees, lost in a waltz of organized chaos.  Subdued whispers, manic laughing, the screaming of orders somewhere in the kitchen area.  The lunch rush.  My stomach growls as a steaming dish of noodles passes my vision.  But resolutely I remind myself:  I've got work to do.  Shaking my head to dispel the hope of a satisfying lunch, I maneuver myself over to the cashier, removing my notepad and taking down a few notes.  The dark haired girl at the register looks up from skimming her secret hidden magazine, pulling out her own pad.  "What would you like sir?"

I clear my throat, assuming that wonderfully official air of investigation.  The badge flashes its way across her face, and she nods silently and somewhat shocked.  "I'd like to talk with the manager please."

"Oh yes, of course."  She runs off, no doubt to find some bumbling stocky little man with a horrible attitude.  I groan inwardly, taking my eyes off the food, forcing myself from smelling that damning scent of coffee in the air.  A man suddenly appears in front of me, thin, tall, smiling and rather pleasant looking.  Maybe there's hope for today after all.  "Are you the manager of this café?"

He extends his hand smiling warmly, another one of those people.  How can they keep their mouths like that?  "Yes, I'm Yoshiyuki Terada, the manager of Tsukimine Café.  Is there something I can help the police with?"

"Is there somewhere we can talk quietly?"  His smile fades as the gravity of my voice strikes him.

"Of course."  He leads me through the maze of tables, past the kitchen where the sounds of sizzling echoes like static, turning away from the bathroom, down a dimmed hallway.  He opens his office, a cramped little cube with no windows, a sad pile of papers scattered about.  "I'm sorry about the mess; bills and such can get quite bad at the end of the month."

I nod with disinterest, scrutinizing his person.  He smiles yet he is obviously dissatisfied with something.  Maybe the café?  I'm not sure.  "That's not a problem."  I remain standing as he takes a seat, the chair squeaking under his weight.  "I'm investigating the kidnapping of Kinomoto Sakura.  She's a waitress of yours?"

He nods dumbly, brows furrowed in some unreadable emotion.  I can hear him whispering.  "That's why she didn't show up today…"  Heaving a sigh and placing a hand on his temple he looks up at me with something like devastation.  "How could…?"  I almost pity him, as if he lost a family member; why does she have this effect on everyone? 

"I know it's a great shock, but time is crucial in kidnapping cases.  I need to ask you a few questions."

"Yes, of course, but I don't know if I'll be much help.  I was poring over bills for most of yesterday night."

"That's alright; I can always ask the waitresses if they noticed anything."  I'm momentarily interested in an answer for something that shouldn't have to do with the case.  "What was she like?"

"Sakura?"  His face seemed to brighten immediately, lost in his own thoughts.  Was he one of her suitors?  "Sakura was like a daughter to me."  I guess not.  "She worked harder than anyone else I've ever seen, even in being a waitress.  No one works that hard for this kind of job; it's almost ridiculous to, but she did.  She respected others' feelings, and it sounds strange, but rooms start to feel alive when she's in them."  A sudden image of her cheery yellow room pops up in my vision, the unbounded joy running rampant in the air.  "Who would do this to her?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out.  Who was on very good terms with Sakura and was working yesterday night?"

He rummaged through a layer of papers, flapping white sheets scattering to the ground.  Triumphantly he holds up a pack of yellow cards, flipping furiously through them.  "Yesterday?  Rika and Chiharu.  Rika's on duty now; she's at the register.  Chiharu's due in…now actually.  Maybe she's already out there."

I thank him quickly, taking a brisk pace back to the restaurant.  Rika looks up from her magazine as I place myself before her.  "Can I talk to you about something?"

She nods gravely, her eyes taking a very shrewd glance at me.  "It's about Sakura isn't it?"

I open my mouth to question her, but she immediately pulls me toward a quiet corner, settling me into a seat.  She purses her mouth in a sign of worry before she breaks the silence.  "What's Jyung done to her?"  Jyung?  "Is she alright?"

I blink despite myself; who is this Jyung?  Should he be a suspect?  "Who is Jyung?"

Her eyes widen in shock, grabbing my arm in the throe of some indistinguishable emotion.  "Oh, Jyung's no one.  What's wrong with Sakura?"

I press the issue, wanting to hear more of Jyung.  "She's been kidnapped; I wanted to know if there was anyone who hated her or had any reason to want to kidnap her."  I pause for the moment, letting Rika's eyes stare incredulously at me for a second.  "Who is Jyung?  He may be involved."

Almost reluctantly, she sighs and confesses.  "Jyung is one of the waiters here; when you didn't know who he was, I didn't want to cause any trouble for him.  As much as I don't like him, he doesn't deserve it."

I question myself inwardly, unable to understand her reasoning, but my train of thought passes to another matter.  "Still, you asked me if Jyung had done anything to Sakura.  Obviously, there was something that happened to make you think that he did."

She nods slowly, screwing up her eyes in concentration.  "It was weeks ago, although it sort of started much earlier than that."  I knit my brows in confusion.  "You see…hmm….well, Jyung started working here a couple of months back.  He developed feelings for Sakura, not very uncommon when you get to know her, but still…  I'm sure she tried to let him down gently, but I don't think he ever got it.  It was maybe three weeks ago.  I was taking out the trash and I heard them talking.  Sakura was saying something about how Jyung was nice and all, clearly a lie, and she didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't have the same feelings for him as he did her.  I was still behind the dumpster so I didn't see them, but I'm guessing he grabbed her or something cause she yelled out in pain.  I threw the trash into the dumpster and went to go see if Sakura was alright, but the conversation was already over, Jyung storming back inside.  I asked a dazed Sakura if everything was alright, but she didn't seem to hear me.  So when she didn't come in today and the police showed up…I don't know…I just thought maybe Jyung did something to her."

I look down at my pad, distorted and crushed in a death grip, my knuckles turning a dangerous white.  When did I start clenching my fist?  Loosening my hold, I jot down Jyung's name, asking the rest of my questions.  "Did she ever mention something about having enemies or someone bothering her?"

"Enemies?  Who would want to hurt Sakura; she was a saint for lack of a better word.  She's the kind of person you want to be, but can't."  The inflection of admiration was strong in Rika's words, Sakura's image in my mind taking on a brighter quality.  "What about boyfriends?  Suitors?"

She shakes her head.  "She didn't talk to me about that kind of personal matter; I don't think she had a boyfriend, but I can't say for certain.  For all I know, she could've been engaged…" 

An inexplicable pang stabs in my chest for a second.  "Did you see her leave yesterday night?"

"I don't think so; it was really busy here and I was waitressing so…  Chiharu could probably answer better; she was at the register last night."  She points out a busy woman circling around tables.

Mihara Chiharu, as my little pad tells me, stands in front of me, steadying herself, leaning on the back of a chair.  "She was kidnapped?  But, but why?"

I shrug my shoulders, inwardly the question irritating me to no end.  Why would anyone want to hurt someone so…I'm not sure…so kind?  I forcefully push back the mess of feelings and thoughts back into the deeper recesses of my mind, focusing back on Chiharu.  "I don't know; Rika said you saw her leave yesterday?"

She nods slightly.  "Yeah; it was at 11 when she clocked out."

"Does she drive home, walk, take the bus?"

She taps her pen distractedly on the veneered tabletop.  "The bus I think; she always said she had to hurry up so she could catch her ride home."

"Was there anything different about her yesterday?"

"I don't think so; she was normal, smiling, humming a little."

"Did you notice her with anyone either before or after she left?"

"I don't think so.  She was running around bringing out dishes and stuff during work; I saw her walk alone down the street through the door, but that was only for a split second.  There were a lot of customers last night."

"What was Sakura's relationship with Jyung?" 

"Jyung?  He was always flirting with her, but I don't think she ever took him seriously.  She tried to avoid him as much as possible; it was awkward.  Other than that, I don't know.  Was there something between them?"

"No."  The hint of vehement denial in my voice puzzles me deeply.  "Was Jyung working last night?"

"No, he's only part time.  He has the late night shift tonight if you want to talk to him, probably be here after ten or so."

"I'll do that.  Did Sakura ever say anything about someone hating her or having a grudge on her?"

"Hate her?"  Chiharu laughed.  "That's like hating the air; it's impossible."

"I see.  Did she ever say anything about a boyfriend or men bothering her?"

"She wasn't very forward with her personal life, but I got the feeling she was single.  Occasionally some guys would show up asking for her, but she never really talked to them."

I nod wearily, all the possibilities leading to dead ends.  "Thank you for your help; we'll do our best to find her."  How many times will I have to say that with this case?  It's like some horrible police cliché, a defense mechanism when things aren't going the right way.  I'm halfway out the door before I remember what my next stop is.  Hopefully Daidouji's alone this time, though my stomach churns a 'probably not.'  I turn back into the café, hanging my head, trying to brace myself for meeting him again.  Rika looks at me weirdly, thinking I've got another question for her to answer.  In fact I do.  "Can I have a double espresso to go?"

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Author's Notes: And the next chapter will be Tomoyo, Eriol and Jyung…I don't think Syaoran will be very happy…