D'Amour
By Bex Drake
This Kitten has CLAWS
Sakura
She sat in the back of her Uncles limousine between Nariko and Fujitaka as it sped through the streets, which were starting to wake up to the new day. The sun was peering cheerfully out from behind the clouds and warming anything and everything that it had landed on. It was now seven o'clock in the morning and people were starting to wake up to get ready for work. The journey so far had taken longer than it should have because Sakura had left several items back at home and they had had to go back and retrieve them. If she was being honest with herself Sakura knew that she had left them there on purpose to avoid meeting Syaoran again. If the trip to the hospital had taught her one thing it was that she was never to trust Syaoran.
The limo pulled up outside the hospital and they all exited the car. Taking the lead Sakura led them through the hospital to the main reception desk so that they could find out what ward Syaoran's friend was on. Fujitaka went forward to the desk and had a quite word with the duty nurse. The end result was that she led them through the hospital to the ward where Kemp Matty was. It still amazed Sakura that Fujitaka managed to get people to do what he wanted them to, she didn't seem to realise how powerful and influential her uncle was and even if she had she wouldn't have cared.
As they rounded the corner to the private room where Matty lay Sakura could hear hushed raised voices. As they neared the room she identified them as that of Tomoyo, Eriol, Syaoran and a strange girl. They seemed to be arguing about her. Absently she wondered if they had caught Syaoran kissing the girl in the café, if they had then she felt sorry for him. "Do you really think that she's that thick?" She heard Tomoyo demand. Fujitaka raised an eyebrow at the amused grin on Sakura's face she shrugged.
They walked into the room before Syaoran had a chance to answer; Sakura turned to look at him. "Are you going to answer Tomoyo's question?" She challenged her voice bland. She scowled when she realised that he was checking her out and then smiled before turning around and ignoring him. Perhaps this would be the perfect way to get back at him for the café incident. "Hey!" She said to Tomoyo and Eriol with a grin, her eyes flicked to the dark haired girl next to them.
"Sakura this is mine and Syaoran's cousin, Li Meiling." Eriol said gesturing to the dark haired girl. Examining her closely Sakura could see a vague family resemblance between them. "Meiling, this is Kinomoto Sakura the niece of Kinomoto Fujitaka and Lars."
"Please to meet you Kinomoto." Meiling said examining the girl who was going to marry her headstrong cousin.
"Call me Sakura." Sakura instructed with a grin, Meiling smiled.
"And me Meiling." She replied.
"Why the hell are you wearing… that?!" Tomoyo demanded her violet eyes flashing, as she regarded Sakura closely. Sakura looked at Tomoyo calmly, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Because…" She began, her eyes flicked to Syaoran. "I felt like it." Tomoyo rolled her eyes and giggled as it dawned on her that Sakura had seen what Syaoran had been up to earlier and that this was her way to extract revenge because she guessed that it would drive Syaoran up the wall only being able to look and not touch. She had to hand it to Sakura that was a brilliant way to extract revenge.
Meiling looked back and fourth between them, they seemed to be having a silent conversation. It was also interesting that Sakura didn't normally dress like that. She was curious to know why she was dressed in a gothic style and what Sakura's normal style of clothes were.
While this was going on Fujitaka and Nariko had made their way over to Lars and Ieran and began talking to them, well Fujitaka did Nariko felt out of place and was standing there wishing that she hadn't let Sakura talk her into coming. "Sakura?" Lars commanded when the grownups had finished their little discussion. He noticed with amusement that Syaoran was not used to being ignored, which was what Sakura was doing to him. He had to congratulate his niece on her idea, he doubted that Sakura would have missed the little display earlier and her current attire just proved his theory right.
Sakura turned around to face him, an angelic smile on her face. "Yes Uncle?" She questioned. Lars bit back a laugh noticing the scowl on Syaoran's face.
"I'd like to introduce you to Syaoran's mother Li Ieran." He said, Sakura bowed respectfully to the grand looking lady who seemed to carry an aura of power around with her. Like a nervous child Sakura held her hands in front of her and fixed Lars with her large pools of emeralds, a woeful look written on her face. Nariko smiled slightly used to Sakura's little ploys to get what she wanted.
"Uncle Lars?" Sakura began, "Do you mind if we go and get something to eat?" She questioned. Lars shrugged.
"If you must." He replied. Sakura grinned and kissed him on the cheek. She turned around to face Meiling, Tomoyo, Eriol and Syaoran her emerald orbs sparkling like two giant crystals in sunlight. Fujitaka coughed pointedly, Sakura turned around smiling brightly.
"Yes Uncle Fujitaka?" She enquired.
"Don't forget you have to be somewhere tonight," He looked at her pointedly, she lowered her gaze to the floor. She remembered visibly what had happened the last time she had disobeyed Fujitaka and she did not want to repeat the experience. "Don't be late." She nodded and then seeing he had no more to say she turned back to face her friends.
"Well?" She questioned. Tomoyo smiled,
"I'm up to it." She replied.
"So am I!" Meiling agreed. Eriol nodded in agreement, he was going to go just because Tomoyo wanted to. Sakura turned to face Syaoran who she had so far ignored, he was wearing a scowl on his face. She shook her head. How did he become the most eligible bachelor when he went around with a face like that? She wondered.
"You coming?" She questioned.
"He is." Li Ieran answered for her son; her eyes fixed on his. He was the one who finally broke the contact looking away and nodding. Ieran smiled. "Be good." She instructed with a smile. Syaoran glared at her.
With a smile tugging at her lips Sakura left the room followed by the others.
Zack
Zack stood outside the dark royal blue door patiently. It was typical of Chad to take so long to answer the bloody door. He always seemed to be attempting to do more than one thing at once, one of the things he always tried to do was undoubtedly illegal either in the city or in the Ravens which was why he took so damn long to answer the door. Zack battered on the door again, a slight scowl starting to appear on his handsome face. At this rate Chad was going to get his sorry arse kicked and kicked good.
It was lucky for Chad that he had had to come and not Uta because whatever Zack did to him, Uta would have done it ten times worse. Finally a drowsy looking Chad answered the door and Zack pushed past him and waltzed into the house. Zack and Chad had used to be best friends but since Uta had taken over the Ravens their paths had split. Zack believing that she had taken over the gang fairly whilst Chad had the sneaking suspicion that somehow she had cheated. Of the two it was Zack who dominated; Chad never dared question Zack and therefore never Uta. If Zack had told him to jump off of a bridge he would have.
Zack waltzed into the living room and sat down in one of the couches and waited patiently for Chad to catch up. "What some breakfast?" Chad questioned stifling a yawn. Zack nodded.
"I might as well. I've been up all night." He explained. Chad looked at Zack suspiciously.
"I take it then this is a business visit rather than pleasure?" He asked Zack nodded in agreement. "What's happened to you Zack?" Chad demanded. "You only visit me now if you want something." Within the blink of an eye Chad found himself pinned up against the wall with Zack's had around his throat, he froze.
"Are you questioning me?" Zack demanded his blue eyes flashing. Chad looked pointedly at the ground.
"No." He murmured. Zack released some of the pressure on Chad's throat and with his free hand he tipped Chad's face up so that Chad was forced to look into his eyes. "No, I'm not questioning you." Chad said quietly, almost whisper like. Zack smiled and licked his lips, slowly he leant in and kissed Chad who at first contact stiffened beneath him and then he relaxed kissing him back.
Zack drew back slowly, slightly out of breath and looked into Chad's dazed eyes. He had to admit that Uta's technique of seducing people worked a charm, you could ninety-nine percent of the time get people to do exactly what you waned them to. He tenderly stroked Chad's cheek. "You went out with Kinomoto Sakura, right?" He questioned.
"Yes." Chad replied, knowing from past experience that there was no point in asking why. If Zack wanted him to know he would get round to the point in his own time.
"Apparently she's getting engaged to the Li heir- Syaoran I think it is…" Chad's eyes widened.
"The player?" He murmured disbelievingly. "That doesn't sound like Sakura. I can't see her marrying someone like him of her own free will, she's too… too innocent." Zack pretended to nod thoughtfully.
"That's what Uta thought. She thinks that her brother may have something to do with this. All she wants you to do is find out if her suspicions are real."
"How am I meant to do that?" Zack smirked.
"That's all be taken care of, just turn up to work early."
Uta
Uta frowned at the man on the other side of the glass screen. The guy whom she had thought that she had loved. Chase. Prison had changed him. He seemed more cautious than he was before and she knew when he came out he was going straight. Her eyes flashed in annoyance. She could have done without her beau gaining a conscience. It was just typical and she was sure it had something to do with her dratted niece Sakura! If the little bitch hadn't discovered him with the dead body of her sister she was sure that Chase would have remained the man she had fallen in love with.
"Hello Uta." Chase said, politely. Gone was the passion from his voice, and the warmth in his eyes. Gone was the love that they had once shared and it was all down to her. Well she was going to pay. If Uta couldn't have the life she wanted then Sakura wouldn't have a life.
"Chase." She replied. "I came to say goodbye."
"I wondered when you'd do that." He murmured not sounding not the least bit disappointed or sad. Uta stood up and lent forward pressing her lips against the glass her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Goodbye Chase." She said and turned to leave.
Syaoran
They stood outside the hospital. He had to admit that Sakura looked amazing, she was dressed in a similar way to the kind of girls he normally went for. Absently he wondered on her choice of dress, from what he had heard about the innocent Cherry Blossom there was no way she would wear the kind of clothing she was wearing now. It made him wonder if she had seen him earlier with… Freja? If she had, then she wasn't acting the way he would have thought that she would. He'd have thought that she would have acted like many of his 'girlfriends'- got jealous and tried to hurt the other girl. Perhaps, she was smarter than he thought.
"Where are we going to go?" Tomoyo asked calmly. "I doubt anywhere is open at this time." Sakura smiled.
"I know of a place, but…" She trailed off and her eyes flickered towards him and she bit her lip. "It's not entirely appropriate. Nariko doesn't approve of me going there and it's where I met Chad. It does a great breakfast." Tomoyo's eyes narrowed,
"You cannot be serious Sakura! That's like walking into the lion's den!" Sakura shrugged.
"Where?" Meiling asked, curious as to what they were talking about.
"The Nest-Egg" Tomoyo replied distastefully. Meiling raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"It is one of the Ravens headquarters," Sakura supplied sounding bored. "It's apparently a place the Raven frequently goes to. I've never seen her there."
"You got in there without being a Raven?" Eriol questioned looking thoughtful. Sakura nodded, she had got in without being a Raven.
"Only because of whom she was…"
"Dating." Sakura finished for Tomoyo, knowing without a doubt that Tomoyo would have said fucking which she didn't think was anyone's business if she had or hadn't slept with Chad. "I would like to point out that I didn't know about the Ravens, Panthers and Wolves at the time; I was just an innocent little…"
"…virgin" Tomoyo murmured, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
"…girl." Sakura finished glaring at Tomoyo as if she had heard what her best friend had murmured even though Tomoyo had said it too quietly for Sakura to hear. Tomoyo smiled at Sakura innocently. "So are you guys coming, or are you too chicken?" She questioned a playful smile gracing her mouth.
"Count me in!" Meiling said, Syaoran sighed. His cousin enjoyed a challenge and he knew that she had always been interested in how another gang was run.
"Not me!" Tomoyo said glancing at her watch. "I have to go home."
"I'll take you back." Eriol said, Tomoyo linked arms with him and they started walking away to the taxi stand. Tomoyo waved as she got in the taxi. Sakura had known that Tomoyo wouldn't want to come which was precisely why she had chosen The Nest-Egg. She didn't want her best friend involved in things that were dangerous.
"You coming cousin?" Meiling questioned a smirk on her face. "I wouldn't have thought you'd have been a chicken." Syaoran glared.
"Of course I'm coming." He snapped his amber eyes narrowing. "I wouldn't want to leave you girls unprotected." Both Sakura and Meiling narrowed their eyes and glanced at the other. Meiling rolled her eyes and Sakura smiled. It looked like they were going to get along, just fine.
It didn't quite look like that on the Syaoran and Sakura front.
Tomoyo
She shook her head as the cab pulled away from the stand. Eriol looked at her questioningly. "The Nest-Egg does an okay breakfast." She explained, "But Sakura didn't want me involved in whatever she's planning." She sighed.
"What do you think she's up to?" Eriol asked. Tomoyo smiled.
"I'm 99.999% sure that she saw what we saw- Syaoran kissing another girl. The outfit she was wearing? She only wears it when she's in a really bad mood, when she's soo pissed off with someone she isn't sure what to do."
"Why not say anything to her?"
"They're not even officially going out, so what grounds has she got to say anything?"
"True." Eriol replied frowning slightly. "I take it you still think that they'd be a perfect couple?" Tomoyo smiled.
"I think they already are." She remarked. "She won't let him get away with murder and she'll tell him exactly what she thinks. Syaoran might not realise it, but he needs a girl who isn't afraid to tell him no and stand up to him." Eriol smirked,
"Exactly what I was thinking, my love." He said then leaned in and kissed her.
Sakura
They stood outside The Nest-Egg and it looked exactly how she remembered it; a bit of a tip on the outside, not the kind of place anyone with any taste would want to been seen in. The CCTV units were as obvious as always, or maybe it was because she was getting more used to spotting them. She could almost feel the trepidation coming from Meiling and Syaoran, abruptly she stopped walking and turned to face them. "It's perfectly safe here, if it wasn't I wouldn't be here." She told them bluntly. Meiling grinned recklessly, whilst Syaoran raised an eyebrow clearly not totally believing her. She rolled her eyes and walked to the entrance of The Nest-Egg, opened the door and walked inside followed by Meiling and Syaoran who looked like he wanted to kill her.
Inside The Nest-Egg was pretty much as she remembered it, although a few tables had been moved around to create space for a couple of arcade games, the eighties pop music still blared out of the duke box and the walls still had posters plastered on them of the latest films. All in all, it looked like time had passed the place by leaving it untouched. The same old regulars were in; she smiled and waved at those she recognised.
In a group they walked to the counter, Sakura in the lead and Mailing and Syaoran behind both of who were looking around wearily. At the counter stood Chad. Sakura muttered a curse under her breath she had only suggested The Nest-Egg in the first place because she knew that it wasn't Chad's shift till midday. The fact that he was there was very… dangerous because she knew that he was bound to either make a move or say something and she wasn't totally sure how Meiling and Syaoran would react. She prayed that no one would cause a scene as they approached the counter. "Sakura!" Chad exclaimed cheerfully as if he had just seen her. She smiled brightly at him.
"Hey Chad!" She replied, her tone cheerful giving away none of her feelings. "Can we have three breakfast's to go, please?" She questioned.
"Sure, you can have them on the house." Chad replied Sakura raised an eyebrow.
"To what do I owe that honour?" She questioned easily. Chad smiled at her lazily ignoring Meiling and Syaoran who were both watching the scene unfold with interest.
"Oh, I just want some information. You see there's an interesting rumour going around about you…"
"Really?" Sakura questioned, guessing it probably had something to do with Syaoran.
"Apparently you're getting engaged to that jumped up Li heir, Syaoran? I'd have thought better of you Sakura seeing as you're a Raven, getting mixed up with someone like that. It looks like Raven was right you've become more of a slut…" Chad didn't get any further because Sakura had slapped him and had her gun pointed at his head, a cold smile hung to her lips.
"Keep your nose out of my business Chad." She warned. "We finished a long time ago and as I recall that was your choice. Just because we went out does not give you the right to say any of that." Casually she flipped the safety catch off. "And just for the record I'm not a Raven, never have and never will be."
One of the regular guys stood up bringing his gun out of his pocket and pointing it towards her, with a nod of agreement both Meiling and Syaoran drew their guns. Having arrived at the place both of them had been reluctant to enter. Syaoran's eyes were flashing with anger as he heard Chad's description of him. "Sakura, we've got company." Syaoran murmured out of the corner of his mouth. With her gun still aimed at Chad's head Sakura turned around to survey the room, bringing out another of her guns and aiming it at the guy who was aiming at her.
She frowned seeing Chad casually try and study Syaoran and Meiling's guns, curiously she glanced towards them and noticed the obvious Wolf insignia on them, and not just any insignia but that of a Leader in the case of Syaoran and a Second in the case of Meiling. Her own guns were pretty plain as she had asked for them to be that way so she couldn't be identified until she was officially engaged to Syaoran. "Put your guns away!" She hissed her emerald eyes flashing in annoyance, apparently the gossip she had picked up here was correct- the Wolves were flashy, but that figure considering that Syaoran the player was a leader. Meiling started to put her gun away but Sakura could see that Syaoran wasn't going to do that and she couldn't really afford to say his name he was too well known, nor could she afford to lower one of her guns. She looked at Meiling. "Get your cousin to lower his goddamn gun!" She murmured barely moving her lips; she fixed her eyes on Chad.
After a couple of minutes she sighed realising that Meiling was getting no where with Syaoran, with a sigh she handed one of her guns to Meiling (the one that was pointed at the guy who had his gun aimed at her) and moved so she could have a whispered conversation with Syaoran whilst still keeping the gun on Chad. "Will you please put your gun away!" She whispered into his ear, emphasising the please. "Because your gun kinda advertises which gang you belong to." He turned his intense amber eyes on her.
"I don't like people pulling guns on me." He retorted, without looking at her. She sighed and lowered her gun and put it away her emerald eyes blazing with anger.
"Will you put your goddamn gun away!" She hissed.
"No." He replied coldly. Meiling looked back and fourth between Sakura and Syaoran a smile tugging at her lips. It looked like Ieran had found the perfect match for her son, someone who wouldn't back down and be intimidated.
"You have quite a reputation." She murmured. He shrugged, perhaps he did. "What makes you say I'm going out with Li?" She asked Chad, "Because I can honestly tell you at this moment in time I am not dating him." Syaoran smirked, amused at her reply as he grudgingly lowered his gun. Whilst it was true that they weren't going out now, in a couple of hours time it wouldn't be true. It proved one thing, she had guts. He noticed the wry smile tugging at her lips and the way her emerald eyes sparkled with amusement. In that moment she looked truly timeless, like a female gang leader of old who had no worries and no cares.
From behind the counter Chad didn't miss the way the guy was looking at Sakura, the feeling of sparks that seemed to flash between them and the way she was protecting him. It appeared that she had learnt a lot since he had last seen her- why hadn't Zack warned him she was dangerous? The sweet innocent Sakura he had known was gone and in her place stood a fierce vixen, ready to fight to protect the people she loved. "People change." Sakura remarked almost as if she could read his thoughts, Chad had to remind himself that they had been together so long they could guess each others thoughts but he was unable to do that anymore. She had changed, evolved too much.
The boy looked… familiar but he couldn't quite place the face. It didn't help that neither Sakura or the other girl- Meiling?- refused to say his name. Wait! Meiling, wasn't she a member of the Li clan? Her bristling at the way he had described the Syaoran guy certainly indicated that she was. The guy was her cousin, so there were only two possibilities Hiiragizawa Eriol or Li Syaoran and the guy standing in front of him was definitely not Hiiragizawa. He wasn't… classy enough to be Hiiragizawa that meant he must be "Li." He said abruptly, he regarded Sakura coldly. "You shouldn't have bought trash like him here." The other members of the Ravens regarded Syaoran coldly, so that was the famous Li. "Go away Little Wolf, you're kind doesn't belong here. We're not 'good' enough for you. I'm surprised you even looked at Sakura, she doesn't seem quite your style but then seeing this slut who's pretending she's Sakura…" Chad didn't get any further because he had two bullets lodged in his brain. One had come from Sakura's gun and the other from Syaoran's.
Sakura looked at the Raven's coldly. "Has anyone else got any comments about my moral state? I just came here for some breakfast," She headed for the door. "I don't think I'll come here again the service is lousy." She walked out the door. Meiling and Syaoran exchanged bemused looks, Syaoran was amused by her parting comment and Meiling was entertained by the fact that Syaoran had shot Chad for his attack on Sakura's moral state. Perhaps her cousin did feel something for Sakura. If he did then that was a good thing, because she liked Sakura the first 'girl' of his that actually had some personality.
Together they walked out of the café to find Sakura leaning up against the wall tears falling down her face. Seeing them she wiped them away and smiled cheerfully at them. "Come on lets get out of here before the leader realises that Chad is dead." Abruptly she turned away and started walking down the street, Meiling looked at Syaoran and then looked around for somewhere where she could disappear so that they could have a talk.
"Sakura, wait!" She called spotting somewhere useful. "I er… I need to get some ingredients for a cake." She said when they'd caught up with Sakura, ignoring the look that Syaoran was giving her. "Why don't you and Syaoran wait here whilst I rush into the shop? Thanks." She said not waiting for an answer, but crossing the road and heading into the shop.
"Do I detect an ulterior motive?" Sakura murmured thoughtfully. Syaoran was impressed; she had just met his cousin yet it was almost like she had known her for a long time because of her ability. Sakura sat down on a nearby bench her emerald eyes oddly thoughtful, Syaoran sat down next to her for a lack of a better thing to do. "What do you know of White Chad?" She asked abruptly, he didn't miss how watery her eyes looked; it was almost like she was about to cry it was pure instinct that made him place an arm around her. At first she stiffened and then she relaxed and leant into him slightly. It felt right having her there.
He mused over her question, thinking about what he had heard about the guy. "He was the most ruthless guy in the Raven's until about six years ago when he meet a twelve year old girl, then he went 'soft'. Four years later he breaks up with her and comes out gay." Sakura nodded her eyes clouded with an unreadable emotion. "After that he seems to disappear from the scene and Lin Zachary took over…" He paused noticing the disgusted look on Sakura's face. "Sakura?"
She sighed. "You know I went out with Chad? Well he told you anyway, that guy in there that we shot was White Chad the untouchable." She smiled bitterly. "But all that changed when he came across a twelve year old girl, who had been left in the custody of an Aunt whose boyfriend had killed her sister, whose Aunt had left her in Raven territory in the hope that she would be killed for trespassing." She smiled sardonically. "She was lucky that he happened to be passing, anyone else and she'd have been killed without a second glance. So it was by pity that they first met. He took her to the edge of the territory and told her she shouldn't come back again. The girl replied that she hadn't wanted to come in the first place but her Aunt had made her and told her to wait. He asked her the name of the Aunt and she replied, he looked thoughtful and told her to wait in the park across the street whilst he did something then he would take her home." Sakura swallowed her eyes swimming with tears, even in the frank tone she had been talking in didn't make the tale any easier to tell. Syaoran held her tightly it didn't sound like she had had an easy life so far, this was the first time he had heard anyone mention that she had used to have a sister.
She drew away slightly tears still falling down her face, "I never was a member of the Raven's, they accepted me because of what I was to Chad and I killed him. The first guy, outside the family, I ever learnt to trust and I killed him." She shook her head in disbelief. Syaoran swallowed, he hated dealing with crying girls but Sakura… well she seemed different. She seemed oddly strong in her moment of pain and she was talking to him, a guy she scarcely knew about her past. He wondered if she would have told him, if he hadn't been there when the Chad guy was killed and it worried him slightly that he didn't want the answer to be no. Was he starting to have feelings for her? He couldn't. He was only going to marry her out of duty.
He pulled her to him, and gently stroked her hair as she cried softly into his shoulder. When she calmed down he kissed her on top of her head before letting her draw away. She sat with her head resting on his chest and her right arm draped across his stomach. He had his right arm draped casually along her hips. None of his girlfriends would have sat with him like that, unless they had wanted something, and when they had sat like that he had to admit to himself that it didn't feel as right as it did now with Sakura lounging against him. "Why did you tell me that?" He asked softly. He could feel her shrug in response.
"I don't know." She replied softly, "Something told me I could trust you, despite what your earlier actions portrayed." She lifted her head to look at him her emerald orbs sad, and he got the feeling that the sadness wasn't just to do with the death of White Chad, that the sadness was something to do with… betrayal? She licked her lips unsure what to say she swallowed and looked away. "The blonde American sounding girl with a foreign sounding name like erm… Freja? Or something like that." She shrugged indicating that she didn't really know. "That you were making out with whilst I took Sky to her mother." She said bluntly, her eyes flashing with something akin to anger. "Do you know who she really is?"
Syaoran cringed. So Tomoyo had been right and she had seen him with Freja- damnit! But why hadn't she said anything to her Uncles or his Mother? He shook his head, half expecting her to draw away in disgust because he had basically admitted that he had been making out with the girl. He looked at Sakura about to answer in the negative, he didn't know who the girl really was, only to find her looking amused. "Sorry," She said before he could glare at her or make any comment. "But I didn't tell anyone because right now what business is it of mine if you have sex with the Queen of England we're not going out." She laughed; his face had been a picture when she had used her analogy. "But from the moment we're officially an item, let me warn you if you cheat on me there will be hell to pay." She smiled at him sweetly, her smile had a disarming effect because it didn't look at all like she had just threatened him or she would have even thought about doing something so underhand.
Syaoran searched her eyes with his; she seemed to know more than she let on. In fact, he was beginning to wonder if she was as innocent as she first seemed. She moved so that their faces were just inches apart. "Well do you?" She breathed, apparently unaware of their close proximity.
He smiled at her seductively and stroked her cheek, brushing her hair gently off of her face. Passers by smiled at the young couple on the bench, they looked like they were made for each other and were very much in love. He lent forward and their lips met in a gentle kiss. He drew back and searched her eyes, for the first time unsure about kissing a girl. Then he leant forward again and kissed her, this time more passionately. Gently, almost timidly, he began searching her mouth with his tongue.
Meiling
Looking out of the window of the shop she smiled at the couple kissing on the bench. A couple of hours earlier she doubted that anything like that would have happened. She pulled a mobile phone from out of her pocket and using speed dial she rang an old friend. "Eriol?" She said when the person picked up their phone. "Oh hi Tomoyo. It's me, Meiling. Eriol asked me to call if anything interesting happened…" She trailed off listening to something Tomoyo said then laughed. "No, they've not killed each other yet- quite the opposite actually. They're making out in the middle of the street… Yes I'm sure it's them." She laughed. "Yeah, I'll give them a couple more minutes then I'll go out. Any idea what I'll need to make a cake?" She looked bemused. "Yeah, Eriol's right I am a terrible cook but I kind of need to come out the shop with something. Okay, I'm listening…" Meiling wondered about the shop looking for the ingredients that Tomoyo was telling her she'd need.
Sakura
They broke apart panting, both had a slightly red tinge on their cheeks but they looked happy. Sakura swallowed, she didn't really want to ruin the moment but he had to know who Freja really was. She tried to move… to break away only to find she couldn't because Syaoran was holding onto her tightly. She twisted her head and searched his amber pools. Looking into their depths she found her resolve crumbling away, but she knew that she had to tell him there was no other choice. If she didn't tell him then she was working for the Raven's. "Syaoran…" She murmured wretchedly, then screwing up her courage she continued. "Frejaisn'twhoyouthinksheis.SheisanelitememberoftheRaven'sdesignedtodistractmensandfindoutinformationfromthemthatistotheRaven'sadvantage.SheonlysleepswithguyswhotheRaventellshertosleepwith.I'msorryIdidn'ttellyouearlierbutIdidn'trealisewhosheis."
"Say it again, but this time slowly and breathe." He instructed his amber eyes serious, once again she felt distant from him and she couldn't help the feeling that she should have kept her mouth shut. She rested her head on his shoulder so she wouldn't have to look at his face.
"Freja, or rather drago rosso is an elite member of the Raven's. I have no idea what her real name is; all I know is that drago rosso roughly translates into English as red dragon. She is used to obtain information from other gangs, business and well anything the Raven deems as important. Basically, sleeping with her comes at a high price." She bit her lip, "It wasn't until we got into The Nest-Egg that I realised where I'd seen her before." She explained. "Otherwise I'd have said something earlier." She could feel Syaoran tense beneath her so she tried to pull away again only to discover that he was still holding onto her. She looked at him questioningly.
"How do you know what you do about the Raven's?" He demanded, his voice hard but his eyes giving away the inner conflict happening within him. He looked like she had betrayed him but he also looked curious and relieved that she had told him.
"I… I didn't know any other gang existed accept for the Raven's for a long time and when I did I doubted they'd want me for a member, who would want a girl that had connections with their enemies? I mean, could she be trusted? So, for a while I considered joining the Raven's then… Then the old Raven died and a new Raven took over and everything changed. Chad and I ended and the Raven's become increasingly more violent. But in the four years that I was there I picked up a lot of stuff. No one thought I was listening and if I was, who would I tell it to?" She murmured bitterly.
Syaoran looked down at Sakura, she looked frightened and brave both at the same time. How was it possible that she could embody two different emotions at the same time? He knew he had to tread carefully, one wrong move and she would be gone and he didn't want that- though he wasn't quite sure why.
****
Authors Note: Well that's it for another chapter of D'Amour I was hoping to make it longer, well to actually get to the part where Sakura and Syaoran become engaged but apparently that wasn't to be. For all you S+S fans I hope you like the small bit of S+S action, there will be more in the next chapter I promise, and for all you wondering about her abrupt confession it's because she has been pushed to the end of her emotional tether and she has to tell someone everything, it just 'happens' to be Syaoran.
I'd just like to say a huge thank you to:
EucaGirl: Lolz, yah Sakura's outfit's cool. I saw someone wearing something similar to it (but it was black) and I thought hmm… Well Syaoran making out with the waitress is even more problematic than it first appeared but at least he's being a good little wolf… for now ^_~
JaMiE LoVeR: Yeah I've read Sweep, well Wicca the English version. Yeah Wicca as a religion really exists. If you want to find out about it I suggest you search on the web, or go to a library and look in the religious section. Wicca's a Pagan religion, which I was interested in a couple of year's back- hence how I know about Samhain.
Sailor Earth: Sorry about missing the 'I' out but I normally just write what it says in the box where the penname is because sometimes people sign different names and its easier for me to know who I've said thank you to. I'm glad you like the story ^_^
AmericanGirl1114: When people steal other peoples ideas, it's really annoying for the original author which is why if people compare this story to LWL's I always make sure that I tell them it's not. I'm glad you liked the last chapter, and thanks for your support ^_^
kmpnay: ^_^ The question is thought, even with Sakura's information about the blonde and Sakura's warning, will it stop Syaoran from sleeping with the blonde? A friend's like that as well, if they're annoyed they changed into something gothic-esque.
Kawaii_CherryWolf: I hope this chapter made up for the last S+S wise, I did want to put another S+S moment in but because I wanted this out before Christmas I couldn't u.u but I hope you liked the small moment.
Namesake-Girl: Thankies ^_^
SaKuRa Kinomoto-Lil: ^_^
RuByMoOn17: I'll keep writing as long as people keep reviewing, or until I finish the story whichever happens first ^_~ Thankies of the support ^_^
ChibiKit: I hope you liked the glimpses of the new Sakura you got, if Syaoran misbehaves then she'll be back ^_~ and 'better' just to prove a point.
Tortured soul246: Espero que su preparación española no fuera demasiado dura. (I must admit I don't speak Spanish, I got that from babelfish's translator). Unfortunately you can't really see Sakura's plans yet cause they've been put on hold ^_~
silverymare: Don't worry he will do, but the question is will he realise before it's too late? (lol)
sakurapetalsntears: What does onegai mean? I'm only fluent in English but I can speak a little French, I'm guessing that onegai is Japanese but other than that I have no clue u.u
babybluestarangel: Noo!! Don't kill Syaoran! *huggles Syaoran* I need him to be alive, if only so I can torture him *grins* (jk) Thankies ^_^
A mammoth THANK YOU to all fourteen people, who reviewed Chapter 4, you helped get the number of reviews I got for this story up to 51- the largest number of reviews I have EVER got for one story. Arigato-gozaimasu.
I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas, and get what you want! A brilliant New Years Eve partying and a wonderful New Year! I, on the other hand, will be revising for my AS-Level Biology exam over the Christmas holiday period- so wish me luck!
Love
Bex Drake
xxx
