Chapter 6 – Surprise, Surprise

The early morning light blasted from Sakura's windows. She turned over and flopped the pillow on top of her eyes, but that didn't work too well. The sun was hitting other bare parts of her body that began to burn quite quickly. She groaned and glanced at her clock with one heavy-lidded eye. What was she supposed to do again today? Ugh, Sakura didn't want to think. Not now when her mind was still living in her dream that seemed to be way better than reality. She got up and went to the bathroom to take a cold bath.

The phone rang about 30 minutes later once she stepped out of the shower. It was only 8:00am. Who could be calling her now? Sakura wrapped her hair with the towel. "Hello?" Her voice still held that husky sound from sleep.

"Hey Miss Kinomoto," the familiar voice made her smile.

"Hi," she replied softly.

"I just got back from L.A. It was an awesome trip," he laughed. "I got to see my family and all that."

"You have jet lag, don't you? That's why you called so early?"

"Yeah," he admitted. "I wake you up?"

"No, but you came close."

He laughed again. "Sorry, sweetie. Anyway, I was wondering if we could do something today. Unless you're busy?"

"I've got nothing planned," Sakura said, "so sure, let's go somewhere."

"Great. I'll come and pick you up at 10. Is that good?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"All right, so we'll see each other in 2 hours. Can't wait to see your cute face again," he said with a tone of playfulness.

Sakura laughed. "Right," she rolled her eyes teasingly. "Bye Ken."

"See you later, beautiful."

--- --- ---

Hours later, Sakura glanced at the now-blonde man grinning up at her from his stance beside his green car. Silver sunglasses glinting against the sun covered his eyes. She couldn't help but laugh at the very amusing sight. Ken, once a raven-haired man and owner of a very ugly, black truck, had now been changed into a completely different person. He looked much more handsome now, despite the color change of his hair. Sakura was reminded of what she was missing from being so preoccupied with a stubborn chestnut-haired man.

"Don't you look different," Sakura teased as soon as she was 3 feet away.

He laughed and opened his arms, pulling her into his arms for a hug. "I've missed you!"

"Same here," she managed as she patted his back. "Now let me go before I faint in your arms."

"Now, wouldn't that be a sight?" He grinned and let her go. "So how do you like it?" He glanced up at his hair and made a sweeping gesture to his car.

"It's not something I expected," she confessed. "But I love it. How'd you afford this?"

"My grandma passed away a couple months ago and I was in her will. She gave all her grandchildren $25,000 US dollars."

"Wow!!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise. "You're kidding, right??"

"Nope," he shook his head. "She was a rich woman."

"Well…looks like you didn't wait too long to spend it."

He laughed embarrassedly. "I don't need it for anything else, so I thought I might change some things. Maybe hoping you'd fall for me this time," he winked and opened the door for her.

Sakura wasn't sure exactly how serious he was. Because if he were, she knew she'd consider it. It was time to get Syaoran off her mind… and heart for good. "So where are we going?" She asked as soon as he entered the other side.

"Before we go somewhere, I have to drop off a couple packages for my brothers at the Li Corporation in Kyoto. Mind if we go there for a while? It'll only take 20 minutes," he said.

She stiffened. What was going on here? It seemed like fate wanted her to get back with Syaoran! Everywhere she went, he always seemed to be there! Sakura, not wanting to be rude, bit her tongue, and composed herself. "Only 20 minutes? You're sure?"

Ken nodded, sending her a raised-eyebrow look. "You excited having me all to yourself?"

Sakura laughed a slightly strangled one. "Sure." She swallowed and looked away, her stomach doing somersaults. Twenty minutes wasn't long, she repeated. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Wanting to get Syaoran out of her system, she convinced herself it was a good thing Ken only wanted to spend 20 minutes in Kyoto. That way, she wouldn't even get a chance to peek inside the building. She would just stay in the car and wait patiently for him.

--- --- ---

Syaoran parked his car late that morning, deciding to sleep in. It was his birthday, after all. He glanced at himself in the rearview mirror, finding that he looked decent and good enough. No one knew it was his birthday, and the thought sucked like hell, but he wasn't planning on telling anyone. Who cared? He knew they didn't. Maybe Takashi, but he didn't want to make a big deal and cause him trouble. He got out and pushed the keys inside his pocket. As soon as he began his third step to work, he saw a couple standing by a forest green car. The woman's face was hidden by the van in front, but he could see the man urging her to do something.

He neared them, and from the corner of his eye, he sneaked a look at the couple. Their voices had stopped. Syaoran almost fell when he stumbled. Did they catch him eavesdropping in their conversation? He looked away and began walking faster to the building.

"Syaoran Li?" The man called.

He stopped. Shit... And turned.

"Oh man, it's so nice to meet you!!" His voice neared.

That surprised him. "Do I know you?" He inquired, his gaze travelling to the car. The woman was gone.

"No, but my brothers know and work for you. I've been waiting a long time to meet you, Mr. Li," he shook Syaoran's hand. "Damn…I thought you'd be a lot older-looking!"

He smiled, relieved at the reason the man stopped him. "Good to meet you too…"

"Ken Sasaki. I was just passing by to give my brothers some things."

He nodded. "Ken Sasaki. Oh…you're Hiro and Jun's little brother?"

"Yes sir. Anyway, I just wanted to meet you and all," Ken finished embarrassedly. "Sorry to keep you from your work."

"I'm not working," Syaoran replied with a shrug. "I'll bring your stuff up if you want," he offered.

"Really?" Ken asked incredulously.

With a chuckle, Syaoran nodded. "I'm going up anyway."

"Thanks, man," Ken began walking to his car, motioning him to follow.

Syaoran followed, strangely a little curious to see who the woman was. As soon as he passed the front window, he glanced in and saw bright, green eyes staring at him in shock. He froze.

"Uh…here it is…" Syaoran could no longer hear Ken after that.

His eyes fixed on the woman inside, Syaoran felt the pounding of his heart hard. She was breathing just as difficultly as he was, their gazes never wavering.

"Mr. Li?" Ken asked once more, practically waving a hand in Syaoran's face.

He snapped out of it. "What?" His voice had gone a little hoarse.

"Uh…the packages?" Ken held them up. "Here they are."

"Oh," he glanced at them and took it in his arms.

"Cute, isn't she?" Ken grinned, pointing a thumb behind his back to Sakura.

Syaoran's gut twisted. "How'd you get so lucky?" He asked with a forced casual look.

"She's not mine yet, but tonight, she will be," Ken grinned at him. "Anyway, thanks for this, man. I owe you, seriously."

Unexpected jealousy and anger waved through him as the thought of Ken and Sakura in bed together crossed his mind. He gritted his teeth and tightened his fists to keep from hitting the guy. "Uh…yeah, see you later," he muttered and sent one last look at Sakura. She was looking away, but he could almost feel the uneasiness in the air. Then she turned once more, perhaps checking if he was still there. Their gazes met once again. Syaoran looked away and nodded at Ken. He was damn pissed! It was his birthday and the one thing, no, the one woman, he wanted, somebody else was taking. Syaoran turned and stalked off in the building, walking as if nothing had happened just now.

--- --- ---

"Great man," Ken commented as he entered the car and began to drive off.

Sakura's gaze still hadn't wavered from the man walking away from them. "Who was he?" She asked with feigned ignorance. Sakura's heart wrenched.

"Syaoran Li. He's the owner of that place. Isn't that crazy??" Ken laughed. "He even offered to take that stuff up to my brothers."

"He's young, isn't he? To be owner, I mean," Sakura mumbled.

"That's what I thought at first too."

Not thinking, Sakura spoke what her mind thought. "Why is he just walking around here and not in his office, working? He looks like he's got all the time in the world."

"I don't know…maybe they're not busy or—" Ken stopped. "Shit!"

Sakura snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Ken. "What is it?"

"What's the day today?"

"The tenth of Aug…" Sakura's voice drifted, realizing the date.

"It's his birthday today!" Ken replied, as if echoing Sakura's thought. "I read it in this Chinese magazine. That's probably why he's working so late today!" Ken said in awe, and then looked highly ashamed. "Man, I'm such a dumbass!"

The words no longer went through Sakura's mind. Today was Syaoran's birthday. That's right. It was! Her heart practically burst from her chest. Her hand clutched at the door handle with a fierce, tight grip. How could she have forgotten that?? Momentarily beating herself up for forgetting such an important fact, Sakura blinked her eyes to steady her gaze. In haste, Sakura stared at Ken with an apologetic, yet firm look. "Ken, I need you to turn this car around now, please. I just remembered I have to go with my friend somewhere, and-"

"What?" He glanced at Sakura. "What did you just remember?"

"I-I-I forgot I had something to do. I'm sorry, but I'm actually busy today," Sakura stammered as she collected herself together. "I-I, um, only remembered now because we stopped at the Li building my friend also works in. Please turn around and drop me off there, Ken. I promise we'll do this some other time, ok?"

"Sakura, slow down a minute," He asked, holding her arm.

She shook her head. "I don't have time. I-I'm so sorry, Ken. I'll take a rain check, ok?" Sakura waited until Ken finally turned the car around.

"Sakura, wait," he stopped her. "Could you explain it one more time?"

With a swallow, she repeated her words. "I just remembered," she said hastily, pulling her arm away. "I have to do something with one of my girlfriends today. When we passed by the Li building, I remembered we made a plan today, and I'm really late! But I am sorry for backing out at the last minute. I promise I'll make this up to you, but I'll talk to you later, ok?" She got out of the car. "Sorry!" She called as she walked away.

Ken stared at her from inside the car. 'What the hell…'

Sakura, heart thundering, stomach cramping, she turned and walked the steps to the building, not exactly composed.

--- --- ---

Syaoran said hello to people around him and settled down in his desk, desperately trying to forget Ken Sasaki and...her. He shut his eyes and held his forehead with a grimace. Damn that woman. Not only was she stubborn in reality, but in his mind as well. She just wouldn't leave him alone and erase herself out of his mind, much less his heart. Syaoran growled deep in his throat and turned on the computer, looking over at the files with a bunch of numbers and words that he couldn't process. Ken Sasaki's words punched him in the gut every time he pictured Sakura with him. It made him growl in disgust.

"Phone for you, man," Takashi's distant voice neared.

Syaoran blinked out of his thoughts. "What?"

"The phone's been ringing for a while now," he smirked. "I think you should answer it."

He sent a glare to Takashi, and picked up the phone. "Syaoran Li."

"Mr. Li, a woman here is asking for you. Should I send her up or will you be coming down?"

Syaoran's eyebrows rose questioningly. "Who's the woman?"

"She won't say," the secretary answered a little uncomfortably.

"Uh…" 'Weird,' he thought. "Just send her up."

"Ok, thank you sir."

Syaoran sat back on his chair and glanced up at Takashi's curious face. "Who was that?" he asked.

"A woman wants to see me," Syaoran said with confusion clear in his voice. "That's weird."

"A woman, huh?" Takashi laughed. "Finally! It feels like forever since you've talked about a woman."

"No, I have no idea who she is," he replied. "Do you know?"

Takashi scoffed. "How the hell could I? You sleep with anyone yet? Maybe you got her pregnant or something."

Syaoran shook his head with a glare again at Takashi. "You know I don't sleep around."

"Oh that's right, you're a man with no hormones," Takashi grinned. "Well, let's see who it is."

They both turned to the elevator. As the bell dinged, the doors opened, and revealed the woman. Syaoran's eyes bugged as he almost fell from his chair in shock. Takashi had gone quiet as he stared at the woman as well. Sakura's eyes shifted around the room with uncertainty, her steps faltering a little in reluctance and wariness. Suddenly, her gaze met warm blue eyes and realized it was the same man she saw weeks ago in that diner. Her face fell into a relieved look as she started walking faster to him.

"Hi, it's me, Sakura Kinomoto. Do you remember, from the restaurant? Chiharu's friend?" Sakura asked, holding onto her bag with a pale, tight grip. It was evident she was nervous.

Takashi managed a laugh. "Yeah, I remember you. Who wouldn't?" He grinned, finally getting his composure back. "Uh…what are you doing here?"

Syaoran stared from his desk, still apparently shell-shocked at the sight of her. She couldn't see him, what with all the papers and folders covering her view. "I…I…um," she swallowed, her cheeks reddening at the second. "Do you know where Syaoran is? I…I have to talk to him."

"Yeah, I know where he is," Takashi smiled again. "He's right here." He pointed at the desk right across from them.

Syaoran finally stood up, his gaze directed at her beautiful, pink face. "Hey," he said calmly, despite the hard pounding of his whole body.

Sakura's heart skipped a dozen beats as she met eye-to-eye with Syaoran. "H-hi," her voice faltered.

He buried his hands in his pockets. "You eat lunch yet?" The invitation rolled over his tongue easily.

She shook her head, their gaze never leaving each other's eyes.

"Let's go," he suggested, moving forward.

Finally, Sakura nodded in his eyes. "Ok."

"I'll see you later," Syaoran muttered to Takashi.

"Good luck," Takashi whispered to Syaoran and pushed him towards Sakura.

--- --- ---

It was quiet as they walked down to the elevator and out into the parking lot. Sakura kept her head down at all times, not trying to meet his gaze. Syaoran was more than confused, unsure of what to say, and of course he was still in disbelief that she was here when he just saw her with that man, off for a stupid lovers' vacation. He opened the door for her and she murmured a quick thank-you. As soon as he got in the driver's seat, all the nervousness and tension built up. He could smell her from where he was sitting and it was driving him crazy. He closed his eyes and swallowed. Within a moment, he started the car and began to drive to the highway.

Her mouth opened from the corner of his eye, but she looked like she was hesitating. Then, sincerely, she spoke. "Happy Birthday."

--- --- ---

To be continued…