Sugar Pink: Hello everyone! I really want to thank those of you who reviewed last chapter. I really appreciated it! This story is still in its tentative stage so I might remove it if it's isn't that popular haha.

Please R/R this chapter and let me know what you think, even if it's criticism!


Fate's Journey

Chapter 2: Knowing You

Syaoran Li sat in his office, reflecting on the past. He remembered three years ago back in China. He remembered...her.

I loved her so much...I wonder where she is now...

Flashback

"I got you something, Miya," Syaoran said mysteriously.

"What is it, Syaoran?"

"Remember that gift store we visited the other day? Remember that legend of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl?"

"Yes...oh, Syaoran! You bought the Cowherd and Weaver girl dolls!" Miyako gasped, her lilac eyes in wonder.

"You bet I did!"

"But I thought the owner of the store said it wasn't for sale."

"I offered to pay more than it's worth." Syaoran smiled.

"Why did you do that!"

"Because you are worth it, and I want to make you happy." Syaoran smiled. He showed her the Cowherd doll. He reached into his pocket. However, the Weaver girl doll he had wanted to give to Miya was not there. He frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

"The Weaver girl doll...it's gone. Oh shoot, I think I lost it." Syaoran groaned.

"That's ok, Syaoran," Miya gave him an understanding smile.

"But I wanted to make you happy."

"I am happy, as long as I'm with you."

End of flashback

Syaoran glanced over at his desk. A stuffed Cowherd doll was on his worktable. It wasn't a big stuffed doll, just about 12 centimetres in height. The Cowherd and Weaver girl dolls were a symbol of love and he wanted to give the Weaver girl doll to Miya. He had managed to keep his Cowherd doll until now, but he had lost the Weaver girl doll before he could give it to Miyako.

And the owner of the store said it was an original...each set of Cowherd and Weaver girl doll set that were ever made is different...I had picked out the cutest looking one...yet I lost one of them...

A sudden knock on his office door snapped Syaoran out of his daydreams.

"Come in," he said. The door opened and his new secretary, Sakura, entered.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Tokoshi said he will be having the business deal chat with you next Wednesday. He also said he was very sorry for not being able to make it today." Sakura informed.

"Oh, okay. Thanks, Sakura." Syaoran said. He noticed that she was not looking him in the eye as she spoke. Poor thing, probably still embarrassed about the granola bar wrapper, he thought to himself.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving for my lunch break now, Mr. Li." Sakura said, not looking her boss in the eye.

"Okay. Oh, Sakura?"

"Yes?"

"I'm really okay about the granola bar wrapper." Syaoran chuckled. Sakura's cheeks flushed as he mentioned the incident. "I mean, I wasn't bruised by your bad aiming." Syaoran grinned.

"I'm really sorry about that, Mr. Li." Sakura said, walking out of his office.


Sakura sighed as she sat back down in her chair. Facing her boss was embarrassing enough, and it's even more embarrassing that he's young and cute and...

Stop thinking about him, Sakura! She scolded herself. She glance at Weaver girl doll on her worktable. She felt a sense of relief whenever she look at that doll. Even though she doesn't have the Cowherd doll to match with the Weaver girl, it was okay. She knows that each set that were made is different. A specific Cowherd doll goes with a specific weaver girl doll. She's sure one day she will find the Cowherd doll to complete the set.

"Sakura, it's lunch time." Claire said.

"I know. Are you going out too, Claire?"

"I'm going to wait for Syaoran."

"Ooh, looks like someone has a crush." Sakura teased, like a high school girl.

Claire blushed. "I do not!" She knocked on Syaoran's door, and after hearing a muffled, "Come in," she entered.

Sakura stuffed the doll into her handbag and strolled out for lunch.


Sakura sat down by the local Starbucks and sipped her cappuccino. The first day at work wasn't so bad.

Suddenly, the front door to Starbucks open and Sakura's eyes widen. It was Syaoran Li! Why is he here on a lunch break? And where's Claire? Weren't they having lunch together?

Sakura stared down at her drink. Don't come over, don't come over, she prayed.

"Hi," Syaoran's voice said. He came over, Sakura sighed.

"Hi, Mr. Li." she greeted with a smile.

"We're not on work hours...call me Syaoran." he grinned.

"Okay...Syaoran." Sakura let the name rolled off her tongue. She decided she like the way it sounds.

"Do you mind if I call you Sakura?"

"Um, not at all."

"You have a pretty name."

"Thanks...where's Claire?"

"I told her not to wait for me for lunch. She went ahead."

"Oh, I see." Sakura replied. The two of them were silent for a while.

"So, how do you like the coffee at work?" Syaoran asked, with a chuckle.

"Huh? The coffee? Um...it's...delicious." Sakura said. Truthfully, she just had a cup this morning and it was awful. Absolute poison and the worst ever.

"Really? That's odd, because I find it disgusting." Syaoran laughed. "No need to be polite, Sakura. Lunch break is drawing to a close. Want a ride back to the office?"


Sakura entered the office with Syaoran, and the first thing they heard was loud voices in the conference room.

"I refuse to change my designs!"

"Miss Daidouji, the colour on that dress is not what we're looking for!"

"What's going on?" Sakura asked.

"Sounds like Eriol is in another one of his successful business meetings." Syaoran smirked. Suddenly, a girl with long violet hair and indigo coloured eyes stormed out of the conference room.

"If Tomoeda Corporations can't accept my designs, then I'll just have to take my business elsewhere!" the girl snapped.

"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura gasped at the girl. The girl, whose name was Tomoyo glanced up.

"Sakura? You work here?"

"I didn't know you were coming here today to sign a new deal." Sakura said.

"I'm not!" Tomoyo said, sending a glare in Eriol's direction.

"Okay, what's going on?" Syaoran frowned.

"Miss Daidouji's designs are not what Tomoeda Corporations is looking for. We had wanted a new spring line." Eriol explained.

"This is a spring design!" Tomoyo snapped.

"Let's take this back in the conference room, shall we?" Syaoran said. "I'm sure there's a way we can solve this."

"Mr. Li, Claire isn't back yet, though." Sakura reminded.

"You can join me in the conference room in Claire's place for the time being, Sakura." Syaoran smiled.

"M-me?"

"Well, you are my secretary, and I think you can learn from this experience. Oh yes, don't bring in any coffee." Syaoran winked.


"Now, isn't that much better than losing a client?" Syaoran asked Eriol after Tomoyo had left. They four of them had spent two whole hours talking about the deal in the conference room.

"Fussy clients like her, I can do without." Eriol grumbled.

"Syaoran, did you ask Sakura to go in my place for the conference with the Daidoujis?" Claire asked.

"Yeah, you weren't back yet, so I asked Sakura to take your place for the time being. You don't mind, right?" Syaoran asked.

"Um, no, of course not. Well, I better get back to work now." Claire said. Eriol spoke up as soon as Claire was gone.

"She has the biggest crush on you."

"Who? Claire?"

"Duh, of course Claire."

"Nah, we're just really good friends. I've known her for seven years already."

"And she has a crush on you for all seven of those years."

Laughing, Syaoran shook his head. He wouldn't believe for a single second that Claire Joshi has a crush on him. Not at all.


"Sakura, it's almost five. It's getting dark, do you have a ride home?" Sakura's co-worker, Ariya, asked.

"No, my car is being fixed. I guess I'll just take the night bus." Sakura said. She put her Weaver girl doll in her bag and got up.

"But that's really dangerous. Why don't you hang around for a while? I'm sure a certain Mr. Li will drive you home." Ariya teased.

"Ariya!" Sakura scolded playfully, a blush ascending her cheeks.

"Well, the two of you did come back from lunch together." Ariya continued. Claire sat silently at her desk.

Syaoran went to lunch with Sakura? That's why he said no to me when I asked? Claire thought. She felt her eyes sting, but fought back the tears.

"I'm going home now, everyone." Sakura said, walking out of the office.


Sakura sighed as the cool night wind blew her hair softly. She shivered as she continued to wait near the bus stop along with a couple of other people.

Suddenly, she felt an impact, crashing into her.

"Ow!" Sakura winced as she landed on the cement.

"Sorry lady," a little boy on his scooter apologized as he speeded on ahead.

"Young man, you come back here right now!" an elder woman shouted after her son. "I'm terribly sorry, miss." she apologized to Sakura, and raced after her son again.

"That's okay." Sakura said, but she wasn't sure if the lady heard her. Sighing, Sakura picked up her handbag and the bus soon arrived. Getting on the bus, Sakura didn't realize that her favourite weaver girl doll had fallen to the ground when the kid had ran her over with his scooter.


"Claire, do you need a ride home?" Syaoran asked.

"Um, not tonight. I'm going out with my family. My brother is coming to pick me up." Claire said.

"Oh, okay then. Have fun." Syaoran smiled as he went out the door.

I wish you care about me...I wish you feel the same way about me like I feel about you...


Syaoran sped down the road in his silver vehicle. It had started to rain and it was coming down quite heavily. He slammed on the brakes on a red light. Glancing around his surroundings, Syaoran suddenly froze in his seat. His eyes landed on a small doll on the side of the road.

It's the weaver girl doll...


Sakura looked out at the rain splashing against the windows on the side of the bus. She reached into her handbag to hold her doll.

That's strange...where is it?

Sakura opened her bag wider and rummaged around. "It's not here! Driver! Next stop please!"

I've got to go back and find it!


Syaoran quickly parked his car and got out into the rain. He bend down and picked up the small doll. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Cowherd doll.

It's a perfect match! This weaver girl is the other half of my cowherd!


Sakura ran through the rain. She was getting soaked, but she doesn't care. She need that doll back. It was very important to her.

I bet it fell out of my bag when I fell, she thought. Soon, she reached the bus station where she left from. She couldn't believe her eyes.

There, crouching down, was her boss, Syaoran Li. Sakura quickly ran over.

"Mr. Li?"

Syaoran looked up. "Sakura? You're all wet!"

"So are you."

Syaoran noticed his current state: in the middle of the sidewalk, holding two dolls in his hands. He burst into laughter as he got up.

"What's so funny?" Sakura questioned.

"This is the silliest situation I've been in. In the middle of the road with two toys in my hands." Syaoran said.

He looks really cute and boyish when he laughs like that, Sakura thought. Suddenly, she saw her doll in his hand.

"My doll! Mr. Li, you found it!" Sakura squealed in joy. She quickly snatched the weaver girl doll from her boss's hand.

"That doll...is yours?"

"Yeah. I came all the way back here to look for it! Oh gosh, I thought I would lose it forever!" Sakura let out a satisfied smile. Suddenly, she noticed the cowherd doll in Syaoran's hand.

"Oh...you have the other half!"

"Sakura?"

"Yeah?"

"Seeing that it's raining, and we're both soaked, do you want a lift home?" Syaoran chuckled.

"Um, okay. Thanks, Mr. Li."

"What did I say about calling me that after work hours?"

"Whoops! I mean...thanks, Syaoran."


"Sakura, where did you get that doll?" Syaoran asked as they drove.

"Well...I found it actually. I found it three years ago." Sakura said. Syaoran felt his body went numb.

She found it? Three years ago?

"Did you find it in China?" he asked. Sakura looked up.

"Yes...how did you know?"

"Never mind how I knew. Why don't you tell me why it's so special to you."

"Well, it's a silly story, but..."

Flashback, three years ago in China

Sakura strolled down the streets of China, in search of a cowherd and weaver girl doll set for her parent's anniversary. She heard that there were many sets made, but each set were made differently, such as the characters will have matching clothes. This is so there is a specific match for each cowherd and for each weaver girl.

"I wonder if this store has any..." Sakura said to herself. Her mother had told her the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver girl when she was young. Sakura had fallen in love with that story.

Suddenly, she saw a young man ran out of a shop in excitement. He ran quickly, and didn't notice that he had dropped something from his pocket. Sakura quickly ran up to see what he dropped.

She gasped as she saw that it was a stuffed weaver girl doll, wearing a pink kimono. She hastily picked it up and ran forward, looking for the young man who had dropped it, but he was already out of sight.

"Oh gosh...these dolls come in a set...he will be so disappointed when he realize that the weaver girl is gone. He can never find any other weaver girl to replace it either...each cowherd doll has a specific weaver girl doll to go along with it. It just won't be the same and a replacement won't match." Sakura sighed. There's nothing she can do now.

Hours later, Sakura still wasn't able to find a cowherd and weaver girl doll set for her parents. Feeling dejected, she went back to the hotel where they were staying.

When she got back, she noticed something was wrong. First, she saw a note on the door. It said:

Sakura,

Go to the local hospital when you see this note

Touya and Dad

Panicking, Sakura quickly flagged a cab and got to the local hospital. She noticed right away that her brother was crying and so was her dad.

"What's wrong?"

"It's mom...she's been in a car accident...the doctor said she wouldn't make it." Touya said. Sakura's world came crashing down.

"Is there anyone else who wishes to see Nadeshiko Kinomoto?" the doctor asked.

"I do! I'm her daughter!"

"I suggest you go in right away. I'm not sure how long your mother will live." the doctor said sadly. Quickly, Sakura dashed in.

"Mom!" she cried.

"Sakura-chan. Don't cry." Nadeshiko offered her daughter and serene smile.

"Mom, you can't go! Look what I've found today! It's a weaver girl doll!" Sakura fished the doll out of her pocket eagerly, like a child. Nadeshiko stroked the doll.

"Keep the doll with you always, Sakura-chan. Remember the story, and one day you will find your true love. That doll will bring you luck."

End of Flashback

"And...those were her last words to me." Sakura said, tears rolling down her cheeks as she told her painful memory to Syaoran.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories for you." Syaoran said, offering her a tissue.

"I'm okay. I just had to come back for the doll because I feel like my mother would want me to keep it with me." Sakura said. "What about you? You seem to know the doll well."

Syaoran chuckled. "Have you heard the story of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl? The two of them were in love when Weaver girl came down from heaven to earth, but the cowherd caught her bathing. He stole her clothes and since he saw her naked, she has to marry him. Of course, they lived a happy life, until the heavens found out. They were furious that a fairy married a common mortal." Syaoran stopped at a red light.

"They drew a river in the sky, so that the two lovers would never see each other again. However, the magpies feel sorry for them, and once every year, on the seventh day on the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar, the magpies will form a bridge to let the two lovers cross and see each other. And on that day, you can actually see the river made by the heavens, which is the milky way. The constellation Altair represents the cowherd and the constellation Vega represents the weaver girl. These two stars shines extra bright on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month." Syaoran said.

Sakura nodded slowly. "My mother told me that story when I was a kid. I've always loved it." She gently grazed her fingers over the doll. "You still haven't told me why you know the doll."

"Actually, I think I was the guy you saw who dropped it." Syaoran smiled slightly.

"What! So I've actually met you three years ago, but didn't know it was you!"

"I guess you can say that. Three years ago in China...that was the best time of my life. I had met a girl there. She was the love of my life."

And for some reason, as the drove on, Syaoran told Sakura all about Miyako. He told her about their fated encounters, how it was destiny that their coins had collided when they were both making a wish. He told her about the twin crystals, and how he still kept his charm from the fortune teller. And he told her how he had found her necklace by chance after she had thrown it away.

Syaoran wasn't sure why he was telling his newly hired secretary all this. But he felt that he knew Sakura. And after all, she had told him her past, so it's only fair that he should trust her enough to tell her his.

"That is such a dreamy tale." Sakura sighed. "You two were destined."

"If we were...I don't think she would have told her ex that she still loves him." Syaoran said bitterly.

"Did you talk to her?"

"No, I just left China." Syaoran said. Sakura stayed silent. "Well, here's your house, Sakura."

"Syaoran?"

"Yeah?"

"I've been thinking, and I think you should have the doll back."

"What? Why?"

"Because this doll is a symbol of love between you and Miyako. You should have it back, to make a complete set. You can never find another weaver girl doll exactly like the one I have here now. Your set will never be complete. You and Miyako were destined for each other, and I believe that someday you will find her again and the two of you will have a fairytale ending. So, I think you should have this back, because it's destined to be shared between you and Miyako."

Syaoran smiled softly. "Sakura...what I shared with Miyako is in the past. I think you should keep the doll. Even though I take the doll back, it won't matter anymore. So what if I have the complete set? Me and Miyako will never be complete. I think it's time to move on. You should keep the doll. You were lucky enough to pick it up after I dropped it, and it's something to remember your mother by."

Sakura stared at her boss in silence before smiling.

"Arigatou, Syaoran."


Sugar Pink: Well, that's the second chapter for Fate's Journey! How did you guys like it? Was it too boring? Did it suck? Was it crappy? PLEASE R/R TO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! Well, that's the second chapter for ! How did you guys like it? Was it too boring? Did it suck? Was it crappy? PLEASE R/R TO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

I personally enjoyed writing this story and I hope all you readers out there can simply take a minute after reading and give me your feedbacks!

R/R!