"What do you mean Koria quit?!" a disgruntled young brown haired man roared, "She signed a contract back in Hong Kong! She CANT quit!" he yelled, standing up and leaning forward towards the poor man who delivered the news.
"Apparently," the man stuttered, "the contract was only for two years, and it expired two days ago."
With a aggravated sigh, Syaoran sank back into his black leather chair, rubbing his temples. At the tender age of 22, Li Yelen had put her son in charge of the Tokyo branch of their modeling business, Li Corporation, Li C. for short. The renowned modeling agency had divisions all over the world, China, U.S. France, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Philippines, Libya, and just recently Japan. Li. C was the leading organization in the world, but lately, the title of leading company was being challenged by an American company.
Mei Lin quietly slipped into the meeting, watching curiously as her older cousin appeared to be telling himself to calm down.
"What happened?" Mei Lin whispered to the man sitting next to her.
"Koria quit," he answered quietly, shaking his head, "apparently she got married to some hot shot up in Thailand and took all her money and documents with her."
"Ouch," she replied. Koria was one of the most beautiful and successful models Li C. had. "Oh well, I didn't like her anyways."
"What did you say Mei Lin?" a voice boomed at her.
"I said, dear cousin," she repeated boldly, "I didn't like her anyways."
"Do you have any idea how important she was to our company?" he thundered, eyes glaring at his cousin.
"Yes, I realize what an asset she was to the company," emphasizing the 'ass', "but the woman wasn't much of a person. All she was, was curves, height, and rack. She knew she was beautiful and she used it to her full advantage," Mei Lin declared, sitting back in her chair, unfazed by her cousin outburst.
"How are we supposed to find a replacement before next season?" Syaoran questions, letting what Mei Lin said sink in.
"I don't know, but I'm sure we'll find someone here in Japan. If you ask me," Mei Lin replied, flipping her hair," she did our company a great favor by getting her unwanted self out. At least we don't have to put up with her incessant advances and flirting towards you. I think she's just bitter at your rejection."
Sakura quietly crept into her apartment, cautiously scanning the living room. Not spotting anyone there, she silently closed the door behind her sighed in relief, tiptoeing her way to the bathroom. 'Whew,' she thought happily, 'I guess they went out. I'm SAFE!'
"WHERE do you think you were missy?" a voiced boomed from behind her, causing her to jump. Slowly turning around, she saw her good friend Tomoyo standing behind the door, her arms crossed with a threatening look on her face. With a shriek, Sakura bounded for the bathroom, hopping over the coffee table and love seat. 'Hah, I knew jumping hurdles fat track would be good for something.'
Sakura slammed the door to the bathroom, right before Tomoyo was able to reach her.
"Sakura!!" Tomoyo bellowed from behind the door, "Sakura! You're about 2 hours late! Do you know how worried Takashi and I were??"
"Nope! Nope! Just Tomoyo! I wasn't worried," another voice, Takashi, answered from the living the room.
"Thanks Takashi!" Sakura said, laughing, "at least I know someone thinks of me as an adult!"
"Anytime babe."
"Tomoyo-chaaan" Sakura wailed from inside, "I'm already an adult!"
With a sigh, Tomoyo stopped pounding on the door. "Yah, yah I know. Old habits die hard. I'm just so used to pulling you out of all the messes you get yourself into."
"Har Har, funny Tomoyo" Sakura said, turning on the shower for a much needed bath.
Twenty minutes later, Sakura was in her pink pajama bottoms and white tank top. She sat on the counter next to Tomoyo, who was washing the dishes. Sakura's legs were swinging as she took a bite from a green apple, flipping through her Economics book.
"How can you study like that?" Tomoyo asked, glancing up from the sink.
"Easy. With my eyes open. HAHA, I'm funny."
"Oh yea Sakura, you're a riot. So what made you so late?" Tomoyo questioned, drying her hands and pulling out a chair from the table.
""Oh yea! On the way back from the orphanage-"
"You went back?! How come you didn't tell me! I wanted to visit Jet!"
"Sorry Tomoyo, I just decided to go right after chem today. But anyways, so I left right before the 'warden' came, and on my way home, I ran into someone."
"Boy or girl?"
"Girl. Her name is Mei Lin , and she just transferred here from Hong Kong. So, I sorta got side-tracked and we kept talking and walking and talking and walking and talki-"
"Okay! I get it. So she was nice? Is she taking college here?"
"Actually," Sakura said, trying to remember, "I think she said something about a family business. I think she's maybe a little bit older than us, I guess. She was really nice, and she asked me if I could show her around Tokyo."
"Cool. So how's Jet and the others?"
"Ooh Tomoyo, we need to do something" Sakura moaned jumping down from the counter.
"That bad, huh?"
"Even worse. Jet has a nasty bruise on his back. Tomoyo, he's going to go through the same exact thing we went through."
Tomoyo clenched her hands into a fist. "It's that damn policy. If they didn't announce the arrival of the inspection agency, then that orphanage would have been closed down years ago."
"I know. It's bad enough that they threaten the children to praise the orphanage while the inspectors are there. They brainwash the poor things!"
"I know. Remember when we were ten-"
"I wish I didn't remember," Sakura cut in.
"Neither do I, but we do, and we need to do something about it. But remember when we were ten, we tried writing a letter to the social worker, and he laughed? He thought it was a joke." Tomoyo reminisced, venom dripping from her voice.
"Boy, did we get it Yamamoto-san got a hold of that," Sakura remember, hugging her friend. "But don't worry, Moyo, we can change this."
"I know, we're working double for this too, damn. But the question is: Will we reach our quota before it's too late?"
"I don't know, Tomoyo, but we have to try. For the next generation!" Sakura said, jumping up.
"Yah…for the future." Tomoyo said, reluctantly getting to her feet and hugging Sakura.
"Okay, now get out of my face! You're distracting me from me studying. I am 'Super Sailor Studious Sakura-sama!'" Sakura said, striking a pose, "and I will punish you, for diverting my attention!"
"You watch waaay to much Sailor Moon dear. Do you need me to warm you up a bottle of milk and find your rattle?" Tomoyo said, talking to her like she was a three year old.
"Haha, now out! I need to study!"
"You can study in the kitchen?"
"Shut up, fine, nevermind," Sakura said, grabbing her neglected Economics book and heading towards the living room. "Takashi's funner anyways," she added darting out of the kitchen before she could get whacked be her friend.
"It's 'MORE FUN', not funner!!" Sakura heard Tomoyo holler from the kitchen as she flopped down next to Takashi.
"Konnichiwa Takashi-kun!" Sakura said, grabbing the remote from his hand.
"Hey Sakura, I thought you were studying."
"I am! Ooooh! Look! Sesame street is on!!" Sakura exclaimed, watching cookie monster gobble up a cookie. "Haha! Those aliens crack me up, man! Yap yap yap yap!"
"How mature," Takashi responded. "It's nice to know you're not moping around like earlier back at the O" he said, staring at his friend.
"Quiet, I'm learning how to count," Sakura said, ignoring his comment. Count Dracula was on the screen with his bats, counting off. One..two..three..four…
"OH Yah!" Sakura exclaimed, jumping up. "I'm going to go call Mei Lin!!" and with that, Sakura was off, sprinting to her room, but not before tripping over Takashi's feet. Takashi sweatdropped as he saw his friend stumble across the floor, and Tomoyo sweatdropped even larger from the entrance of the kitchen. A few minutes later, Sakura's was chatting away in her room.
["quotes" are Sakura, 'these things' are Mei Lin]
'Moshi moshi? May I ask who's calling?'
"Konnichiwa Mei Lin! It's Sakura, the one you ran into earlier?"
'Oh! Hi Sakura-san! I was hoping you would call. So how are you?'
"I'm fine. Were you really late for your meeting earlier?"
Mei Lin laughed. 'Oh yea, I was really late, but my cousin's the boss. He can't do anything to me.'
"Haha, it must be really fun working with your family," Sakura said.
Mei Lin didn't notice the sad undertone of her comment. 'Not really Sakura, my cousin is a workaholic! All he does is work work work. He hasn't even seen Japan yet and he's been here for a month already!'
"Wow..must make a lot of money then, ne?"
'You betcha. That boy is loaded. And I mean l-o-a-d-e-d. Haha. Oh yaaah, by the way, I was wondering, how old are you exactly?' Mei Lin asked.
"Uhmm, I'm nineteen. How about you? We never really got around to talking about ourselves."
'I'm 2I. I just turned 21 last month.' she answered proudly. 'So anyways, when should we go out? I'm so anxious to see Japan! It seems so fun and interesting!'
"Hmm, let's see. I have class tomorrow until 1:30. How about 2:00? You think you could drop by my apartment?"
'Yah, yah! Sure!'
Sakura gave Mei Lin the directions and address and the two said goodbye. When Sakura was off the phone, she opened the door and yelled outsideTO HER ROOMMATES, "MY NEW FRIEND MEI LIN IS COMING OVER AT 2:00! DON'T WALK AROUND NAKED, NOW. I KNOW HOW YOU TWO LOVE TO WALK AROUND IN YOUR BIRTHDAY SUITS!"
"Aww, damnit," Takashi said from his room, playing along. "Fine, I guess one day wouldn't kill me."
"Eww, Takashi. That's gross. I don't think anyone would be able to handle looking at you and your package of marbles." Tomoyo replied from her room. "Poor Chiharu."
"Hey, I'll have you know Chiharu happens to like my 'package of marbles' as you so blandly put it."
"Okay, eew. That was way to much information for me to know." Sakura said, making a face.
"Wait..you actually have marbles?" Tomoyo asked, feigning shock, "who knew!"
Birds were chirping merrily outside the window of apartment 628 as the sun shone its bright rays onto a completely innocent sleeping form.
"Damn birds."
Well, maybe not completely innocent, but close enough. Wiping the sleep out of emerald eyes, Sakura groggily rolled herself out of bed and pulled on her fluffy pink robe. Neon green numbers flashed up at her. 8:03 am. 'Great' Sakura thought, 'I have 12 minutes to get to class.'
Jumping into the shower, Sakura quickly washed up her hair. Drying off, she pulled on a pair of pants with a large brown belt, and a brownish tan shirt. She twisted her somewhat dripping hair into a messy bun and kept it tied up with a little tan strip of clothe, and slipped on some tall flip-flops. She threw some cup of noodles into the microwave as she searched for all her books. After hearing the ding of the microwave, Sakura grabbed a pair of chopsticks, her books, bag, and keys, and then hollered out, "Bye Tomoyo and Takashi! Have a nice morning!" before slamming he door.
Rushing outside her building while trying successfully to balance her steaming cup of noodles was one task she had mastered. She reached her cute little silver Lexus IS 300 (which she had spent her whole high school years saving up for) and sped her way towards campus.
'Another day spent at the university,' Sakura thought, leaving her last class of the day. 'Thank kami I don't have work today.' Business and economics were the only two classes she had, and yet Sakura felt so tired out. 'Probably because the class' objective is to put you to sleep,' Sakura thought to herself.
Deciding to visit the O, Sakura gathered her books and made her way to the place she was brought up in. Reaching the entrance, Sakura quietly crept along the hallways she knew all too well. Checking up on the older children and saying hello, she then made her way to the youngsters. Getting to the hallway, Sakura was greeted by a sound that made her heart drop in her chest.
Commands were being barked at the young children, their cries and whimpers echoing down the empty hallway. She slinked down the hallway without making a sound. Four feet away from the door Sakura heard something that caused her jump and wince. A loud smack and afterwards cursing was heard, as a child wailed in pain. Sakura braced herself, remembering the sting of Yamamoto's punishment.
Peering through the small window, Sakura's eyes widened in horror as she saw the children being smacked around by that devil of a man, Yamamoto. Anger built up inside of her, and she surprised herself by yanking open the door to the children's ward. She stood with an enraged aura, staring harshly at the 49 year old man.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Sakura screeched, balling her hands into fists at the side of her. "You have no right abusing these children like that."
A look of shock crossed the aging man's face, but was quickly replaced by a look of smugness. "Kinomoto Sakura, back again are we? Can't get enough?" When Sakura didn't answer, he continued. "Any luck finding that family that didn't want you? Or is it that they just don't want to be found by a bastard child like you?"
Sakura's anger was rising by the minute. How dare this man speak to her like that.
"Are you still coming to visit these little wretches? I would think that once you were released at 16 I would never see you again. Guess not. According to these little brats," he said, yanking a girl's hair with orange curls as she whimpered, "you come by almost everyday. I wonder how I always manage to miss your little visits. I always thought you only came once a month."
"Mr. Yamamoto," Sakura began, trying to suppress her rising fury, "you are ruining these children's future. How could you even think about beating these poor defenseless children?"
"Simple," he replied, "like this." And with that, he slapped Jet.
Sakura finally lost it after that. seeing red, she charged blindly into the man who made her life a living hell. She landed a single punch on his jaw, but seconds after that, the man had an iron grip on her arm. Sakura struggled, but his grip only got tighter and more painful.
"I suggest you never do that again," he said, whispering into her ear, "otherwise you probably won't live to regret it."
"Is that a threat, Mr. Yamamoto?" she bit out venomously, staring straight into his eyes.
"Maybe," and with a powerful throw, he pushed her across the room, making his way out of the room.
After twenty minutes of consoling the children, Sakura rushed out of the orphanage with promises to return the next day. 'Man! I completely forgot about Mei Lin!' as she slowed her pace down, her thought began to wander. 'I have to be more careful when I visit the kids now. Who knows what kind of danger I'm putting them at risk for. Damn that Yamamoto.' Her arm was stiff and she could tell that a large bruise would show up later on her upper right arm.
Reaching her apartment, she was surprise to see the door cracked open as voices drifted out into the hall. Pushing open the door, she was greeted by the sight of Tomoyo and Mei Lin conversing in the living room. 'Heh, I must be really late.'
"Uuh..hi guys! Sorry I was late Mei Lin." Sakura said, smiling sheepishly.
"Oh no! It's okay! Tomoyo and were just talking about the latest spring fashion line." Mei Lin said.
"Hey, wanna come with me to show Mei Lin our beautiful city?" Sakura asked as she made her way to the kitchen.
"I wish I could," Tomoyo responded, getting up from the couch, "but I have work today. Don't wait up for me, kae? I'm working double-shift tonight," she finished with a grimace.
Sakura laughed. "Alright, suit yourself, you'll be missing out!"
"Oh I know, won't I?" Tomoyo said, heading to the door. "Bye Mei Lin-san! Nice meeting you. Come by here any time, our door is almost always open! Oh, and watch out for Sakura later, sje has a tendency to klutz out."
Sakura threw a pillow t her friend and stuck her tongue out. "Don't you have a job you should be going to?"
"Oh yah..job. Heh, bye guys!" and with that she was off.
- - - -
Hah..this story is getting somewhere..i promise! I have the whole plot figured out in my head. Review review!! Please?