Hey guys! Another update! I'm trying to write as fast as I can... I've been slacking off at school, though. I'm afraid I'm gonna be a bit slower with updating the story from now on - I HAVE to catch up on homework sometime... But I promise to keep working really hard on this, though! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, so please don't sue me!
Previously on Queen of Clubs:
'Li has made a bad choice, surrounding her with men like that,' his mind seethed, 'With the six of them around, I'll never get the chance to get her alone.' He slowly closed the crack of the door, but continued staring at the wood as if he could simply look through it. "I guess I'll just have to wait until she's alone," he whispered out, an eerie smirk forming on his thin lips. With that finishing sentence, Sirota stepped away from the front entrance and walked in the direction of the lounge.
Chapter 10 – Blushing, Blushing, and More Blushing
Despite having six well-built men helping her with the furniture, Sakura was still rather pressed for time. It was well past midnight when all of the furniture was arranged properly inside the rooms. Having thanked and said goodbye to Loda's teammates and wished Loda a good night, Sakura looked around the rooms and realized that her task was still nowhere near done.
She lat out an exhausted sigh and wondered if she should get some sleep and risk not finishing her task on time. Tiredly, she lay in the middle of the lounge floor and closed her eyes, trying to make a mental list of the things that's till needed to be finished before the other members of the society returned to Clubs Castle and she would have to present her finished task.
'Put on the bedding, put up the curtains, hang up the pictures…' she mentally wrote out the list of her tasks. Sighing, she decided that getting sleep right at that moment was simply not an option. Although she was extremely fatigued, Sakura decided that she would at least put up the curtains in each room before she would allow herself to get some rest.
With that she opened her eyes and to her startling surprise she saw two maroon orbs boring into her. Her heart momentarily skipped a beat out of pure fear and she couldn't fight the urge to scream.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Sakura's voice rang through the entire wing.
"Shhh," hushed Sirota, trying to get her to stop screaming. 'Silly girl! She'll make someone come if she won't stop being so loud!'
Sakura stopped her scream and slowly closed her mouth. Although she now knew who startled her, her fear did not go away. 'I didn't even hear him come in…' she thought, when she realized that they were alone.
"I'm sorry for frightening you, my dearest Cherry Blossom," Sirota voiced out in his most sleek tone, "I just thought that perhaps you would still be in need of some help with your task."
Sakura quickly got herself up from the floor and made a few small steps away from Sirota, noticing that his lips slightly twitched at her actions.
"Umm… No thank you. I think I'll be perfectly able to finish the task by myself. I really don't have that much left to do…" Sakura lied through her teeth. She gave Sirota an uneasy smile, hoping that he would get the hint. However, her little white lie seemed to only make matters worse.
"In that case, since you won't be so busy, how about we spend some time together? I would love to get to know you better, my darling Sakura…" Sirota practically purred out as he made his way closed and closer to Sakura's trembling frame.
"Umm…" Sakura stammered as she slowly backed away from Sirota, "I-I don't think that would be such a good idea. You see, I'm quite exhausted…"
"Oh, that's too bad. What if I promise you that I won't tire you out… too much?" Sirota's mouth curled into a hinting smile that made Sakura feel very uneasy. He made his way towards her once more, making Sakura step even further back. She would have continued backing away, but soon she hit the wall behind her and knew that she had nowhere else to run. Her eyes filled with genuine panic as she saw Sirota near her face.
"I can assure you - you will enjoy yourself…" Sirota drew out before completely pinning Sakura against the wall. He inched his face closer to hers, wanting to finally taste her mouth with his own. 'I've waited for so long…'
Sakura closed her eyes in fright, but managed to whimper out a barely audible "No…"
Sirota stopped his advancement and frowned. 'No? What does she mean "No"!' His maroon eyes began to flicker with dislike, "What did you say, my dear?" he asked, trying to calm his raging hormones.
"I believe she said 'No', Sirota," Li's strong, masculine voice interrupted the scene. Both Sakura and Sirota immediately looked in the direction of his voice and found an enraged Syaoran standing in the doorway. "So I suggest you let her go and remove yourself from this room."
'Damn it!' cursed Sirota, 'I knew her scream would attract someone's attention!' Reluctantly, Sirota stepped away from the trembling Sakura and gave Syaoran a long and icy glare, which was only replied by the fuming King. "Very well," Sirota stated in an attempt to regain his composure, "We will continue this later, dearest Cherry Blossom…" Sirota said to Sakura before quickly trying to flee the room.
On his way out, Sirota was stopped as Syaoran grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and brought Sirota's face close to his own. Syaoran then treacherously whispered to Sirota so that only he would be able to hear, "If you lay your fingers on her one more time, you'll be dealing with me. And believe me, there will be Hell to pay if you anger me more than you have already." Syaoran's amber eyes burned with utter rage as he harshly pushed Sirota away from him and sent him flying into the wall.
Staring with scared maroon eyes at the angry King before him, Sirota scrambled out of the room, thinking, 'This is far from over…'
After making sure that Sirota left, Syaoran turned to Sakura and saw her slowly slide down the length of the wall. She had her eyes closed and her pretty pink lips slightly open and shakily breathing in air.
"Are you alright?" Syaoran asked with true concern as he walked over to where she sat. He crouched down before her and looked at her frightened face. Suddenly, Syaoran felt immense warmth engulf with chest and he realized that Sakura was embracing him in a tight hug.
"Thank you so much!" she cried, "I was so scared!" Sakura held on tightly to Syaoran. Every angry thought that she held against him melted away with her gratefulness for his protection.
Meanwhile, Syaoran was barely holding on to his own sanity. Feeling her body so close to his made Syaoran's heart race within him and a bright-red blush appear on his tanned cheeks. Although he knew that she was probably just grateful for him saving her from Sirota's advancements, he couldn't help but feel ecstatic at having her in his arms. Unsurely, he brought his own arms around Sakura's body and lightly pressed her to him.
"It's alright," he tried to calm her, "Meilin probably didn't get the chance to warn you…"
"W-warn me?" Sakura asked, moving slightly away from Li to be able to face him. Regretting to loss of their closeness, but concentrating on her question, Syaoran tried to explain the danger that Sakura was in.
"Yes. Meilin found out that it was Sirota that stole your picture. We think that he is probably… infatuated with you. In an unhealthy way…" Syaoran tried to say it calmly, as to not worry Sakura too much. Unfortunately, he was failing.
Sakura's emerald eyes shined with dread as she asked, "H-he stole the picture? He's infatuated…? Are you saying that he's obsessed with me?" The fear in her voice began to rise with every word she uttered.
"Yes," said Syaoran putting his hands on her shoulders, "But don't be scared. Meilin and I will do our best to keep him as far away from you as possible. He only needs to stay in Clubs Castle for another week or so. After that, I'll make sure he never bothers you again." He ran his hands up and down her arms in a gentle manner, hoping that she would believe him. Sakura looked at Syaoran's beautifully chiseled face and was surprised that instead of his usual detached gaze, Syaoran's eyes twinkled with a kind and warm reassurance. She even noticed that he was giving her a calming smile.
'How can he be so cold and arrogant one moment, and so soft and soothing the next?' she thought to herself as she continued staring into his eyes.
"Two weeks? A-and there's no way of… sending him away somewhere?" she finally uttered out, her eyes filling with anxiety. Syaoran found himself feeling incredibly protective of the gorgeous girl in his arms. Seeing the fear in her eyes made him want to walk after Sirota, break him into little pieces, stuff him in a box, and send him back to China.
"I'm afraid our society will still be in need of him for the next two weeks. His position as the Ambassador to China is a very important one right now and there would be very troublesome to replace him right now…" Syaoran tried to explain to Sakura without getting into the complex state of The Deck's politics.
Sakura nodded in mock apprehension and quietly said, "T-then there's nothing else for me to do but be careful, I suppose… I thank you for your concern." Her voice was still tinted with fear, but Syaoran also noticed her hint of formality. He frowned at her change of voice, wanting her to drop the ceremonial tone.
Sakura slightly trembled as she thought of what Sirota might do to her in two week's time and Li could feel her shudder as he held her in his arms.
'In my arms…' his thoughts trailed. Suddenly he realized that she WAS still in his arms, making him blush even more. "Y-you're welcome," he stuttered out, turning his face away from her in hopes that she wouldn't notice the rosy tint of his cheeks.
"I-if you wish, I could get someone to stay with stay with you until feel safe… O-or I could stay with you…" he said, his handsome face coloring into all shades of red.
Sakura's eyes widened in shock. 'He's actually trying to be nice!' She looked on as Li once more turned his eyes away from her to hide the rising color in his cheeks. She then became aware of their position – they were both on the floor, while she was practically sitting in his lap, her slender arms circling his torso. Syaoran's arms, too, were still around Sakura. Suddenly embarrassed by her own forwardness, Sakura loosened her grip on Syaoran and tried to move away.
Feeling her pull away from him made Syaoran mentally groan in protest. "It's ok," he heard her say in a small voice, "I'm sure I will be fine…" He frowned. He knew that he has scared Sirota pretty well, but he was still unsure whether or not that creep would dare return to Sakura again. After all, Sirota did say, "We will continue this later…"
'She must be scared! Why can't she stop being so stubborn and let me help her?' he thought irritably.
"But I don't think it's reasonable for you to stay by yourself tonight," Syaoran insisted, his voice loosing some of his softness. Sakura immediately noticed this change of tone. 'His kindness certainly is short-lived…'
"And I don't think it would be fair of me to ask you to wake someone just to make them keep me company," said Sakura, her voice getting a slightly annoyed pitch.
"I'm sure no one would mind to keep you company, considering the circumstances," Li once again tried to persuade her.
Sakura let out a long sigh and flatly said, "I know no one would MIND, but that's not the point! I'll be finished as soon as I hang up the curtains and then I can go to bed in Naoko's room. See? Not a big deal! I think I can handle to be by myself for about an hour or so…" Although Sakura was scared, she didn't want The King to think that she needed a babysitter.
"An hour is plenty of time for Sirota to return and continue what he was doing," Syaoran stated, frowning down at Sakura. 'Why is she being so stubborn?'
"Yes…" Sakura squirmed at the mention of the creepy ambassador, "But I still don't want to bother anyone…"
Syaoran frowned once more. He didn't want to leave her alone for Sirota to waltz in and go on with his assault. "In that case, I'll be staying with you," he said matter-of-factly and sat down in a plush chair that Sakura has bought for the lounge of the new wing that very day.
"But," Sakura began to protest, "I don't need anyone staying with me!"
Syaoran silently folded his arms across his chest to let her know that nothing that she would say would make him change his mind. Sakura watched Syaoran cockily slump into the chair and raised an eyebrow. 'He really is as stubborn as Yamazaki described him to be,' she chuckled.
"Have it your way," she said to The King, figuring that it would be nice to have some company while she put up the curtains anyway.
"So you've said," Li replied a sly smirk formed on his lips, remembering their morning's fight. He was glad to find that his comment earned him a quiet laugh from his emerald-eyed companion. His hear beat wildly in his chest as he heard her melodic expression of mirth and he found himself wishing that he could make her laugh all the time.
Sakura went over to a few bags that were laying on the wood floor of the lounge and began to sort through them to find the curtains. From the chair that he was sitting in, Syaoran had the perfect view of Sakura. He gulped as he saw her bend down to go through a plastic bag. Feeling his palms begin to sweat, Syaoran cleared his throat and unfastened the top button of his black dress-shirt.
'If I don't find something to distract me, I'm afraid I might just take her up on her word and have it my way,' he thought, desperately trying to force his thoughts away from Sakura's alluring figure.
"Aha!" cried Sakura, pulling out a set of long, red, velvet curtain from one of the bags. "I've found them! I think these will go nicely with this room," she added, unwrapping the elegant draperies.
Her comment made Syaoran finally look around the lounge and take in his surroundings. The walls, painted in a soft shade of gold, gave the room a warm and glowing look. There were a few empty bookshelves arranged alongside one of the walls with three entrances to bedchambers; a big fireplace on the wall opposite it with a couple of doors leading to the other bedrooms; and the entrance into the wing in the third wall. The last wall in the room was mostly occupied by an enormous window leading into the castle's back gardens.
A nicely-padded red couch that was facing the fireplace was the centerpiece of the room, with two plush chairs – one of which was now occupied by The King himself – accompanying it. A delicately-carved coffee table stood in front of the couch, creating a cozy sitting area.
Though the room was lacking many accessories and personalizing touches, Syaoran could feel that the room would turn out very homey and elegant.
"You've done a good job on this room," Syaoran said absentmindedly. Sakura looked up from her curtains to meet his eyes. He blushed and added, "F-for a silly little girl, that is."
Sakura rolled her eyes. 'That guy just can't be nice to me. I guess I'll just have to get used it…' She then shook her head and said, "Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment," and then went back to the curtains.
'Damn it!' mentally cursed Syaoran, 'Why can't I just be nice to her!' He watched as Sakura finally managed to unwrap the draperies and attempted to hang them up.
He chuckled as he saw her struggle to put them on their rods. After she hung the draperies on the curtain rod, she tried to place the rod on top of the window. While she was definitely not short, she was still not tall enough to reach the top of the window. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Sakura dropped the curtains and the rod, and walked over to the unoccupied chair. Dragging it after her, she brought the plush seat up to the window and used it to help her reach the top of the window.
Sakura tried and tried to make the curtains stay, but all to no avail. She knew very well that she would need someone else to help her with it, but she dared not ask Syaoran for help. Deciding to give it a last try, Sakura reached and leaned with all her might to hang up the curtains, but then felt the chair underneath her move from her own pushing.
She let out a small yelp before she felt two strong hands holding her in place by the waist. She looked down and found Syaoran giving her an amused sneer. "Need some help?" he smirked.
"Yes," Sakura said in an aggravated tone, "but I know better than to ask you for it! Heaven forbid a Royal help someone like ME."
Once again Syaoran regretted for acting so harshly towards the new inductee. He looked away from her frustrated face in remorse and stepped away after making sure she was steady in her place. "It's OK if you ask me for help now…" He said, walking to the other side of the window and taking the other end of the curtain rod.
"Why is it OK now?" Sakura asked with confusion.
"It just is," said Syaoran plainly, not wanting her to probe his feelings, "Now let's get these things up." Unlike Sakura, Syaoran was able to reach the top of the window, although he had to stand on his toes to do so. He reached with the rod in his hand and motioned for her to do the same.
Sakura complied with The King's order and in second's time the first curtains were up. "See? There's nothing to it," Syaoran teased Sakura for her previous curtain struggles. Sakura gave him a mock glare, but answered, "Yes… And now to the five bedrooms!" She then happily skipped towards the plastic shopping bags to fish out the next set of curtains.
"Five more?" groaned Syaoran, "Don't you want to sleep?" He walked over to Sakura to see which curtains they were to hang up next.
"Of course I do!" said Sakura, "But I don't have much time to finish the rooms… I need to do as much as I can tonight. After I hang up the curtains, I'll get some rest." She took out a set of gorgeous violet curtains and looked over them. Turning to face Syaoran, she gave him a small smile before saying, "If you're tired, you're more than welcome to go, your highness…"
Syaoran wrinkled his nose at her address. "I'm not tired…" he mumbled out, taking the curtains from her hands. Sakura blushed slightly as she felt Li's hands brush against hers. "Which room do these go in?" asked Syaoran, already putting the drapes on the next curtain rod.
"T-that one over there," Sakura pointed to a lavender painted bedroom. Her heart was still beating harshly from Syaoran's accidental touch. 'W-why is my heart beating so fast!' she asked herself while Syaoran nodded and walked over to the room that she pointed at. Sakura followed close behind him, still wondering what it was about Li's touch that made her feel so giddy.
With Syaoran's help, Sakura managed to hang up all of her curtains in about half an hour. "Thank you for your help," Sakura sighed out, tiredly tumbling onto the lounge couch. She closed her weary eyes and simply sat, finally enjoying a moment of rest.
Syaoran walked over to the couch and sat not too far away from Sakura. "You're welcome," he quietly said and looked at her sleepy face. 'She must be exhausted…' he thought, barely stifling a yawn himself.
"I guess you're really not as bad as I thought you were," drowsily mumbled Sakura as her head began to droop. At first Li scowled at her confession. 'Not as bad? What's THAT supposed to mean!' But his displeasure melted away when he saw her give out a cute yawn and her head slowly titling to the side.
Sakura began to feel all of the day's events taking a toll on her body. Her head started to feel dizzy and her eyelids became as heavy as lead. Unable to keep herself awake for much longer, she tilted her head in the most comfortable position – towards Syaoran. Once again she could sense his soft smell of sandalwood and feel the radiating heat of his body. 'So warm…' she thought before finally loosing her mind in sleep.
Slowly Sakura's head made its way to Syaoran's shoulder as she fell into an exhausted sleep. Furiously blushing, Syaoran had every intention of waking her and telling her to go to bed, but he simply couldn't bring himself to open his mouth.
Silently he watched Sakura sleep on his shoulder. Her pink lips were slightly open as her chest was slowly rising with every deep breath he took. He sighed, suddenly grateful for Sirota's worrisome actions. 'If it wasn't for that creep, I wouldn't have an excuse to stay with her…' he thought.
After a while of watching Sakura, Syaoran began to feel his own head grow tired. Letting out a last yawn, he closed his eyes not to open them again until the next morning.