Something Pink

Part 5: Acceptance

"I'm so glad you accepted my offer," Eriol said, shaking hands with Li enthusiastically. "I knew you would."

"Where's Sakura?" Syaoran asked. "I thought she works here."

"She works part time, my good man. Sakura is somewhere else at the moment. Now, back to the topic. I think I have the best models for your next product…"

            Syaoran's heart dropped in disappointment. By joining the four-eyed boss of Sakura, he was hoping to get closer to her and maybe be able to speak with her. Nevertheless, fate ruled no on that matter. Thinking and wondering about Sakura drew him away from whatever Eriol, his new partner in business, was saying.

Eriol noticed how silent and mentally distant Syaoran was, so he waved his hand in front of Syaoran's face. When he saw Syaoran blink in surprise he chuckled a bit and said, "I believe, you know Tomoyo Daidouji?"

"Huh?"

"Tomoyo Daidouji in the U.S. She's one of the top designers there?"

"What?! Tomoyo!"

"I brought her up a while ago when you were daydreaming," Eriol said in an irritated tone. His glasses slipped to the tip of his nose and he looked up at him over the round frames.

"What about her?"

"I can get Tomoyo to design something for Sakura."

"Huh? For what?"

Eriol rubbed his temple, annoyed at his ignorance. "Syaoran—"

"Li."

Eriol laughed at that, utterly confusing Syaoran. Eriol looked at him seriously when his laughter subsided, "Li, You saw Sakura, one of my top models might I add, she's stunning and I'm lucky to even have her part time. Who else would I use? That sweet girl works more for me than money."

"Does she get a lot for what it's worth?"

Eriol shrugged, "A decent salary, I'd say."

"Will she be in tomorrow?"

Eriol shrugged again. "Maybe, if she can. It's her choice."

"Don't you know anything?"

"I know that it is none of your concern whether I know anything about her or not. I don't tell random strangers about my employees."

"I know her and she knows me," Syaoran spoke in an eerie and hostile voice.

"Even if she knows you and you know her, I'm not the one to answer for her," Eriol sighed, exasperated. "Now, can we get back to the task at hand, boss?"

"Whatever."

Eriol grinned and drew out a folder. "There are many others who are more than willing to work for you, Sir. All, very great, who work fulltime unlike my sweet Sakura."

"No, if Sakura is your best, I want your best."

"Or your angelic Heather," he continued in good humor.

"Heather is quite a model, but not the one I'm looking for."

"Not the one? You have her, what more can you want?"

'I want Sakura,' Syaoran told himself, but out loud he said, "I need someone who fits."

"A fitting one, eh? Well, how about this one?" Eriol revealed a picture of a red head from the folder.

"No."

Eriol was going through picture after picture, which caused Syaoran to gradually grow more and more impatient.

"To find one that fits," Eriol spoke, his voice friendly and soft at the same time, "you might need to give it time. Being patient helps to make cognizant decisions. There's about a million photos in here."

"But, I need a model soon. Don't look anymore. Sakura is fine."

"Okay, then it's settled Sakura is the one."

"That took long enough. I've been saying Sakura is fine," Syaoran muttered, rolling his eyes. His cell phone rang at the same time. Eriol watched him closely as he spoke. Once Syaoran hung up Eriol asked him who it was.

"No one… I have to be going now."

"Alright, let's meet after lunch," Eriol said nonchalantly, looking at him.

"Yes, I promised someone lunch, but I still don't quite know my way around, here. Do you know a good place?"

"Have you tried Arai's place? They have great service there."

"I'll give it a try."

"Syaoran, sweetheart, how was your meeting with Hiiragizawa?"

"That man is so confusing," was Syaoran's unsure answer.

"If you want my opinion, I think that Yamada might have been better—Oh, look Syaoran! Their menus are in English, too! Hey, there's American food, too. Oh, how I craved for food like this. Syaoran, how did you find this place?"

"Hiiragizawa."

"Him again?"

            Just as Heather spoke a waitress walked up to their table. "Konnichiwa. Watashi no namae wa Sakura desu— (Good afternoon. My name is Sakura.)"

            Syaoran stopped and looked up at the woman, who stood by their table. "Sakura," he whispered gently.

            Sakura had been receiving orders and serving people, since seven in the morning. When she worked to the point of exhaustion, she never really took the time to glance at the customers. She saw the pad and pen in her hands more than she saw the customers. She always just greeted them, her sentences somewhat slurred. Near the middle of her shift, she would usually even lose her sense of hearing, only to use it for when the customers ordered something.

"Sakura…" That voice sounded so familiar to her. After five hours of work, she broke out of her routine to look up and meet the bright brown eyes of Syaoran Li.

Sakura blinked in surprise. "Syaoran…" She whispered just as softly as he.

"You again," Heather said, a little annoyed. "Syaoran, sweetheart, look at her. She works here, too!" Her voice was somewhat high with distaste.

"English speakers…" Sakura said, putting on a smile. "May I take your order?"

"I would like the special and make it quick," Heather demanded.

"And you, Syaoran?" Sakura looked at him, her voice raspy from talking so much.

"Same for him," Heather answered for him.

"Drinks? What would the both of you like?"

"Sakura?!" Syaoran shouted, slamming his hands on the table as he stood up. Heather jumped in shock and everyone in the restaurant turned their attention to them.

"Syaoran, sit down, please," Sakura insisted, hoping to hide behind the notepad in her hand.

"Sakura, we need to talk."

"Not, now… Finish your order," Sakura insisted, determined to keep her eyes cast down on the floor.

            Syaoran simmered down and sat back on his chair. After taking their orders, Sakura hastily disappeared through the double doors that led to the kitchen and came back with their orders in minutes. She walked about constantly, tending to other customers, which irritated Syaoran all the more. He knew she was avoiding him by pretending to keep herself busy.

            Once she disappeared through the kitchen doors again, he found the urge to get up and confront her, leaving behind fuming Heather. Once in the kitchen, he was consumed by a surging heat that started his sweating immediately. It didn't take him long to see Sakura through the haze, standing by the counter with her eyes closed and her hands on the wall for support. She was breathing deeply, moving from her position only when she sensed someone walking up to her.

"Sakura, what have you done to yourself?"

"Syaoran, you are not allowed in here," she started in a stern voice.

"Look at you? You seem restless," he reached out to touch her, but she stepped away from him swiftly.

'Yes, and it is all because of you,' Sakura said to herself. Aloud she really said, "I have to keep myself busy to earn a living."

"You're a waitress?"

"It depends. Sometimes I have to be the head chef," Sakura said casually, swiping at the beads of perspiration on her forehead with the back of her hand. "Luckily, the chef's here, so now all I do is be among people. It's a lot better than being cooped up in here."

Syaoran's heart ached even more at the tone of voice she used than the sight of her. She seemed more pale and thin, then when he saw her last, which was at the party.

"This is not what I wanted you to be…"

"You were hoping I only worked for Eriol, where I could be coddled by him." Maybe it was just her being tired, which led to her next bitter statement. "You sound like Eriol, no, scratch that, more like Touya. It's not like I'm any match for those younger and much more beautiful models," she bit out in anger.

Taken aback, Syaoran responded quietly, "Did he not want you?"

"No," she said shaking her head. "Eriol is very dear to me and I owe him a lot. In fact, he forced me into modeling for him."

"Hiirigazawa… Is he more than your boss?"

"Huh? He's my boss and nothing more! Besides, he's engaged to Tomoyo—now get back to Heather… You're slowing down business, here."

"Sakura, order for table ten!" One of the chefs shouted.

"Coming," Sakura shouted back, retrieving two dishes.

Syaoran followed her once she walked out of the kitchen.

"Why did you leave?" He asked abruptly, while she set the food down on the table.

            She looked up at him with her bright emerald eyes, and he could see her eyes shimmering with tears of remembrance. She took a deep breath before she came up with an answer. "I needed time."

"You lie," he muttered, scowling at her pale face.

"I have more than one mouth to feed, Syaoran. These hands, they can only do so much. I cannot remain young and fair forever, so I took this job to teach myself how to really work. I guess that's what distinguishes me from you; I dirty my hands to get things done and get mouths fed, while you can just stand around giving orders as a rain of money soaks you everyday."

"You could have stayed."

"I know, but I didn't. That's something you won't understand."

Syaoran stood up straight, and his eyes were filled with remorse.

"Syaoran, don't make another mistake. Look, Heather's leaving. Go after her."

He shook his head, not caring to glance up at Heather, who was already calling for a cab right outside the restaurant window.

Sakura shrugged, "Sometimes it takes two mistakes to know that one is wrong." Sakura stepped back and resumed work.

Syaoran left the restaurant, and murmured to himself, "No, it took only one mistake to prove that I was wrong. Now, I will do everything to win you back."

            Sakura watched him go and felt a wash of relief overcome her fatigue. She stood so still watching him walk away; she barely felt her cell phone ringing in the pocket of her apron. She quickly picked it up to receive the call just before the last ring.

"Hey!" A bright, cheery voice greeted her on the other end.

"Hey, Love… Don't worry I'll be home soon… I'll try. I love you…."

TBC

A.N: Here are my notes, since that is what A.N stands for. I took some of today writing this, so be nice. As my school year is drawing to an end, state tests and finals are creeping its way. It's nothing to stress about, but finals have to be studied for though it seems a long ways. I'm surprised I even had the time to write this chapter. Now, I expect reviews loaded with questions since I ended this chapter so tersely. Hehehehehehe. Comments and constructive criticism are allowed in reviews, but I have a feeling there might be more of "?'S" in your reviews. Review!