Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura is the property of CLAMP - Kondasha - NHK - NEP21 ©1996-2003 Licensed by Nelvana/Pioneer and KidsWB. All rights reserved. Yuu-chan does not own Cardcaptor Sakura or its characters.
Chapter Three
The plane ride was long and tiring, maybe you could call it jet lag, but she doesn't want to fall asleep at the moment. She is in a new city, a completely different part of the world. If it were during any other circumstance, she would be completely excited exploring her new home. No such luck. She is stuck with the most introverted man in the world who has no sense of humour or empathy. She slouched back into the seat of the taxi. She turned her head back towards Syaoran. He was staring out through the car window. Unblinking. Seemingly interested in what the nightlife of New York had to offer. All ideas of igniting small talk has had vanished completely from her mind. Her previous attempts had put her off. She finally gets the point. He didn't want to talk. Especially with her.
She turned her head back towards her side of the car window. Didn't want
to risk him finding out that she had been staring at him. No such satisfaction
of knowing she cared what he thinks, what he's doing. She scolded herself for
thinking, for believing that a part of him belonged to her. That he was thinking
of her as she was him.
The lights outside were beautiful. The neon signs blinking, the traffic
lights changing from red to green and the many people moving about. How alive
city-life is compared to small-town Tomoeda..
The car swerved into a stop outside an extravagant building. The valet
stepped next to the car and opened the door for Sakura.
"Thank you," she smiled. A solemn smile. A smile that was completely
foreign to Sakura's face. It didn't match her, but she didn't care. There was
nothing to smile about anymore but her father had always told her that a smile
holds so much meaning, and when given from the heart, can do so much.
The man smiled back.
It was true. She felt better. At least she now knows that not all men
were as heartless as Syaoran. That she wasn't completely sexless and revolting.
She stepped out of the car and walked towards the entrance of the
building. Syaoran walked up behind her and pushed her forward towards the
registration desk.
"Li."
The woman at the desk gave him a appreciative glance and handed him the
card.
"Here you are Mr Li and.." She side glanced at me as if I was trash, "Mrs
Li."
Mrs Li? Did she think we were married? Hell No.
I began to explain but Syaoran ushered me towards the glass lifts.
Damn this guy was rich. His monthly maintenance fee probably costs about
the same as her entire house.
When the glass doors closed he spoke.
"It's easier this way. We don't need to relay our entire life story to
the receptionist."
I decided to overlook his exaggerated comment.
"Which room are we in?"
"Does it make a difference?"
"Would you just tell me?" Sakura looked at him sharply. She was getting
sick of his witty remarks. How could one man be so different? One minute he was
threatening to put her life on line and the next, he was bickering with her as
if they were in junior high.
"Penthouse, room 2020," he adverted his gaze towards the side of the
elevator looking out towards the ground floor fountain.
"Pretty extravagant, how do you pay for all this?" Sakura looked across
at the paved marble flooring of each level.
"You don't need to know."
"Would you at least carry on a pleasant conversation without adding
bitterness? I'm trying to be nice so we might as well get along! I wont shatter
all that honourable, chauvinistic, masochism you have going. I'm not going
anywhere for the next few months so you might as well act a little more
tolerable." All her pent up anger were let out. She dared not say more, not
unless she was looking for suicide, baiting at the lion. But she needed to let
him know that she wasn't satisfied with his treatment.
He almost looked as if he would strike her, his gaze burning into hers,
then his fiery attitude vanished and his usual cool demeanour was replaced once
more.
"If you're finished with your immature outburst, we're leaving."
It was only then that I realised the doors to the elevator were open, his
foot wedged at the side. I could not hide the contempt I felt, I stomped past
him.
I did feel a bit childish. But a day with a cruel, cruel man in the
cruel, cruel world puts a girl on her pms a few days too early.
You would have thought that amidst my anger, I would have completely
missed the room right? Sorry to disappoint, I stopped right in front of the
doorplate 2020.
I turned around waiting for him to reach the door and scanned the floor.
Alright Einstein, doesn't take a genius to figure out how to get to room
2020 when it was only one of two rooms on the floor.
He did say penthouse didn't he? Damn rich boy.
He stood in front of the door and slid the card across as we waited for
an indication of the lock being inactivated.
Little green light!
Lets enter! I am so eager to get in and hide in a room.
When she entered the apartment, Sakura immediately ran over to the
sliding, glass doors. Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly slid the
door open.
The cool night air swept past her into the living room. It gently blew
her soft brown tendrils back. Staring out at the night sky, she was completely
captivated.
"So beautiful," she breathed.
So beautiful, Syaoran's mind echoed. He, of course, was not referring to the
scenery.
He shook his head and put the bags down in the foyer and walked into his
apartment. He plopped into the couch and started to skim through the newspaper.
He did not want to think her of anything other than an annoying brat. Which she
was, he reminded himself. Annoying but exceedingly beautiful brat. He needed to
meet up with Chiharu and Eriol again. Ol' pals to have a drink with and discuss
ideas with.
Chiharu had been his friend since he joined the organisation. She had
used to always discuss tactics with him, helped him get through unbearably
difficult tasks, and had been there for him through.. well, the most complex
years of his life.
His best friend Eriol was one of his only friends. One of the only people
that he would trust his life with. They were very different. Eriol was more of
the Casanova type, and he, he was a workaholic.
He dialled Eriol's number and was replied immediately.
"Cecilia, I'm serious. Stop ringing me back!"
".. well hello to you too.. girl problems?" Syaoran blinked.
"Xiao Lang?"
"Back in town. Menix tomorrow night?"
"Sure.. at 8?" Eriol blinked at the sudden invitation.
"Mm, bring Haru-chan too."
"I swear Xiao Lang, you two should so get together. You're so completely
in love with her.."
"I'm not going to go through this with you again, just bring her."
"Yeh, yeh.. I'll call her now."
Sakura's hand slid along the marble railing, she slowly strolled across
the semi-circled balcony. It was huge! When she got to the end, she found an
adjoined balcony on the side, mirroring hers, separated only by the marble
railing. The floor of the entire penthouse was probably the size of half the
entire circular building!
She sat on the sun seat and looked up at the stars.
This was one of the best times since they had left, to reminisce. To
think about what had happened in the last few days. Her drowsy eyelids gradually
fell as she was engulfed in a dreamless sleep.
Morning, wash up, breakfast and .. not school.
Not a so usual morning.
After the omelettes Sakura and Syaoran devoured, Sakura was awaiting
something new to trigger her anticipation. Her life is filled with surprises
recently, it would almost seem strange to face a day eventless.
"As we're in New York, a new set of rules apply, mounting on top of the
basic ones I have already informed you of," Syaoran started.
"Rules?"
"This apartment,"he gestured with his hand, "Is one of the most carefully
guarded buildings in New York."
Sakura just stared at him blankly waiting for him to literally, get to
the point.
"You are to stay here when I'm out, not opening the door even for room
service. I won't be away for long but when I don't need a 17 year old girl
hanging around, this would be your daily environment. I am going to Bar Menix
tonight with a few of my colleagues to discuss tactics. It's a dance club so
that we would not arouse suspicion."
"Wait wait wait.." Sakura started shaking her head, "Let me get this
right, I am to stay here, caged up with no communication with the outside world
for God knows how long while you party your ass off at a dance club?"
"Precisely."
"That's not fair.."
"Deal," Syaoran continued. "It is for your own good that you do not put yourself in danger and I'm
not partying, I'm doing business."
Sakura had already lost all hope of fighting back. She did not want to
fuel his anger, as his collected attitude now is much simpler to endure than the
fire in his eyes when he becomes livid.
She turned around and trudged away.
"Control freak." She muttered.
Syaoran had already left. Its some time around 9 at the moment. Not many
rules to abide apart from the ones he had already mentioned. She had just
finished her shower and slung one of Syaoran's oversized silk shirts on as a
nightgown. She shuffled from the bathroom to sit on one of the couches.
She picked up the newspapers that were left on the table and tried to
drown into the daily news. No such luck. The air was warm that night and she
couldn't concentrate.
She picked herself up and walked towards the balcony. She slid open the
glass door as she had done the first time she had arrived and stepped out.
She sat on the sun seat and focused her eyes on the night sky. Although
she was in the city, the stars that night were still bright. She fixed her eyes
on one of the less luminescent stars and stared. It dissolved into the blackness
as she switched her gaze to another. The sky was beautiful, swallowing up each
star her eyes had focused on and spitting out more dazzling ones in return.
"Alluring isn't it?" a low tenor cut off her concentration on stargazing.
"Wh-what?" she snapped out of her trance and looked for the source of the
voice and found the owner lying on the sun seat on the balcony next to theirs'.
A man who looked a few years Sakura's senior was lying there. A peaceful
expression adorned his facial features. He was truly magnificent, a sight to
behold. The shimmering moonlight graced across his features as he turned his
head in her direction.
"The stars.. they attract the gaze to all who is.." he focused his gaze
at her, "..confused."
"Confused?" Sakura echoed.
"You are confused aren't you?"
She dropped her eyes to her fingers. "Perhaps.." How can someone whom she
had only just met, see through her so clearly.
"Please don't lower your eyes," the stranger begged, "They're so
beautiful.."
She met his eyes again. Emerald clashed with light blue. "..You're so
beautiful."
Sakura felt her face burning up. She hadn't received so much male
attention for a long time and here she was, allowing a stranger to praise her
without a thing to say. She looked down at her hands once more. Not being able
to find anything to say, she excused herself to retrieve for the night.
Him being the gentleman he is stood up and leaned over the separator of
the two balconies and smiled.
"Seita Nagoya." He held out his hand as if to shake hers as a friendly
gesture.
"Saku.. Tsukishiro Sakura." She smiled and held out her hand. She had
nearly spilled out the fact that she was Sakura Kinomoto.
He took her hand in his and pressed his lips gently to the back of her
hand.
"A pleasure. Would I see you again?" He asked charmingly.
"Perhaps.." she smiled back and turned around to return to the penthouse.
She slid the door closed and leaned her back onto the glass door. She
smiled a real smile. She had just met one of the most charismatic and gorgeous
men that had graced the earth and he was clearly interested in her. She couldn't
hide her smile, she was indeed ecstatic.
Syaoran
Syaoran walked through the busy dance club searching for the friends he hadn't seen in ages. He walked up the stairs and rested in one of the seats at the bar. Eriol and him always had a few drinks there. His eyes scanned the area. It hadn't changed much since the last time he had been there, the lights, the staff.
The bartender came around and Syaoran ordered his usual and tuned out to
the music, his surroundings, and delved deeply into his thoughts.
Sakura.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was thinking of her again.
Not of her kiss anymore, not of her antics, but of her determination. The
determination in her eyes whenever he spoke to her. He just couldn't get her out
of his head.
"Scott, get me a coffee." Syaoran called to the bartender annoyed at his
thoughts.
"You're at a bar."
"I know."
"We don't do coffees." He raised an eyebrow.
"I know."
"Coming right up," Scott said as he rolled his eyes and walked to the
other side of the bar.
"So what's up with you?" A voice came from behind him.
Syaoran turned around immediately and caught side of his long-term friend
and a gorgeous woman behind him.
"Just stuff.." He focused his eyes on the girl behind Eriol, "Haru-chan?"
"Long time eh?" Her mouth curved into an amused smile.
"I guess."
"Why you back in New York?" Eriol and Chiharu asked simultaneously
laughing at each other. How eager they sounded now, popping the question that
had bugged them all night.
"Another assignment, devil's child."
"I like her already, what's her name?" Chiharu grinned.
"How do you know it's a her?"
"You don't do men."
Eriol laughed at the irony. Syaoran just glared at him.
"I asked you two to come to discuss a back-up plan just in case mine
stuffs up."
"Syaoran's project. Stuff up?" Eriol looked incredulous.
"Never!" Chiharu play mocked.
"Dear god you two.. grow up." Syaoran lifted the coffee to his mouth and
took a sip. He liked how his two friends had warmed up to him so easily after
being away from them for so long.
"Caffeine isn't good for you," Chiharu chided.
"Neither is yeast."
"I'm not drinking beer."
"He is." He gestured at Eriol.
"I'm talking about you."
"I'm talking about him." Syaoran drawled carelessly looking at the dark,
creamy liquid in his cup.
"You sound so cynical." Chiharu continued with a slight worry in her
voice.
"I am."
"Alright Syaoran. You, me, out now."
Chiharu led Syaoran out of the lounge whilst Eriol wolf whistled
childishly.
"What's wrong with you?" Chiharu asked looking at Syaoran in the eye.
"I don't know," He shut his eyes and focused it on something behind her,
"She just gets to me so much.."
"The assignment?"
"Sakura."
"I see," a knowing smile crept upon her face as Syaoran shifted
uncomfortably. She had probably understood him more than he understood himself.
She had spent a long time with him and developed a very strong relationship.
Nothing romantic. Just as friends. Everyone else had thought they were of more.
More than friends. They didn't mind. She wanted to keep the guys off her just as
he wanted to keep the girls off him.
Strange though. Most of the girls decide to throw themselves at him
finding his aloofness sexually appealing. Brainless bombshells these days eh?
She didn't mind acting the overprotective girlfriend some of the time.
Syaoran and her usually enjoy it, and have a laugh after. But it gets annoying
sometimes.
"Daddy's girl doesn't want to be Syao-chan's love slave ne?"
"Not true. Must you twist everything?" He glanced up slightly annoyed.
"Only when you don't tell me anything. Start from the beginning."
"On a bright, happy Sunday morning-" Syaoran started sarcastically.
"Skip to the juice."
"There is none."
"You know what? Just bring her next time you meet us. You're obviously
PMSing on me now and I'd very much like to meet the girl who's causing Syao-chan
so much irritation."
"Definitely not."
"Which part?"
"The bringing her part. She might be spotted."
"Like a needle in a haystack. Now stop being such a bum and run along
home."
"What would I do without you Chiharu?"
"What would you do?" She asked rhetorically smiling at him.
The room was dark when he entered his penthouse. He flicked on the lights
and looked around the room. It was around midnight and he didn't want to wake
her. He shut the door and crept into the room silently. He stopped mid-step when
he was about to enter the corridor when he noticed the figure slumped on the
floor.
Leaning against the sliding glass door was his assignment. Kinomoto
Sakura, slouched and obviously asleep by the steady rise and fall of her chest.
Her hair slightly dishevelled from her position sleeping.
He took a slight step forward. What was he thinking? Was he really going
to carry her to the bed? What will happen when she wakes up? Wouldn't she wonder
how she got there? Why does he care for her so much, or rather, at all?
So many questions, he spun on his heel and headed for the bedroom
himself.
Who cares if she woke up with a sore back.. She'll have all next day
resting anyway.
He lied in bed contemplating on if he should go and help her or not.
Finally after thinking the simple matter over many times, he decided against it
and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Syaoran woke to the smell of fresh eggs and bacon. The hell? He was
always the first one up. He shuffled to the kitchen and found Sakura flipping
over an egg. How had he slept through the entire process of cooking bacon and
toast? He was a very light sleeper and it was only.. 5:30 am.
"Why are you up so early?"
"I found myself on the floor," She laughed sheepishly, "I couldn't go
back to sleep. Egg?"
"Sunny-side up."
She nodded and went back to cooking her bacon humming a nameless tune.
"You seem happy," he commented as he took a seat in front of the table
lifting the papers.
"I am," she smiled and twirled around.
"Strange, after all that's happened yesterday," Syaoran lifted his eyes
up to meet hers.
"I'm over that! Staying here isn't that bad after all," she smiled as she
flipped over the bacon again.
"I'm going to the branch in New York today. Stay here and don't try
anything."
"Not planning to," she slurred as she disappeared into the bathroom.
"I'm taking a shower ok?"
He didn't answer, only lifted a piece of toast to his mouth and bit into
his first home-cooked meal.
Syaoran had left. Before leaving he told her that he will be back to take
her to lunch to meet some of his friends. Of course, without forgetting to add,
that it was just for future references. No friendship attached.
She grabbed a piece of fruit and flicked through a few magazines, grabbed
one and sauntered to the balcony. It was such a beautiful day. The sky was blue,
Syaoran was being tolerable. Can the day get any better?
She leaned over the veranda and looked down at the streets below.
Childishly, she started leaning further and further but grabbing on to the
railings tightly.
"Boo."
"Hoee-!" She stumbled and pushed herself back immediately. Her heart
beating rapidly and her knuckles white, still clutching the railings. She turned
her head to her right, where the voice had come from and found the same guy
there as the day before.
She quickly composed herself and with all the dignity she had left,
strolled over to her sun seat and sat down.
"Don't you work?" She threw an annoyed glance at him. He was hot yes, but
didn't have to scare her so early in the morning.
"I do." He tapped the side of his laptop gently and smiled.
"Ohh.. what do you do?"
"I'm the CEO for Nagoya Corp. I don't need to check into office
everyday."
"Sit back, relax, and watch the profits expand from home ne?"
"Basically." He smiled again.
The man was so.. gorgeous. His ebony coloured hair and finely chiselled
face was even more apparent in the daylight.
"Would you like to meet up with me for lunch?"
The offer was left hanging. She pondered on the thought. She would
definitely accept if she wasn't locked up in Syaoran's penthouse but how was she
going to explain it to Nagoya-kun.
"I lost the card to the apartment." She tried feebly.
"Climb over to my side and we'll go down together. Just leave the balcony
doors open. I'll help you look for it when we get back."
If there was any man in this world that was sweeter than Nagoya-kun, she
is going to change her complete outlook on men. Syaoran didn't really set a very
good example in her impression.
If she goes to lunch now, she'll get back before Syaoran notices anyway.
He might go to a nightclub again and not get home until late night. Who was she
to turn down such an appetizing offer?
"Sure! I'll come."
She stepped on the flowerpot and sat on the edge of her veranda preparing
to push herself over to his.
"What the fuck are you doing?" A voice boomed from her door.
She turned her around and found an expressionless Syaoran Li standing
there glaring.
Not at her.
Seita Nagoya.
Author's Notes: Eeek.. Seita Nagoya trouble!!! I named Seita Nagoya after Chiaki Nagoya from Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne. Search for Chiaki if you want to see how Seita looks like I changed his hair colour though *drools* he's not as hot as our Syao-chan but definately more charismatic..... !!don't kill me Syaoran fans T.T
Gimme Reviews!! :D
Yuu-chan