a/n: I THINK I'M FINALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS FIC IN ORDER! Just being able to upload this gives me a small glimmer of hope! This is just chapter three and four back together, as it was meant to be! Please forgive me for not updating... I would always feel guilty when I'd see this in my stats... Anyway, after this, I hope to start this up again!
Aw Heck No: An Ultimatum
Chapter 3
First Words
Kuri cleared her throat, having trouble not laughing. The betrothed couple shook their heads out of their reverie, snapping back to reality. The two were still speechless, but aware of what was going on.
"And, um, this is Li Syaoran. You're fiancee, Sakura." she said, shaking with silent laughter right after she said it.
"Hello, uh, Syaoran sir." Sakura said awkwardly, quirking her eyebrow at her own greeting. She looked down blushing. Syaoran said nothing. Eriol and Meilin continued laughing silently and Kuri rolled her eyes.
"Come on Syaoran. Say hello." she said, going to him and pushing him forward. When Sakura looked up he was only about a foot away. Kuri grinned and briskly walked away, laughing as she reached Meilin and Eriol. Syaoran ran his fingers through his hair subconciously again.
"Hey. What's up?" he said casually, flashing a grin. Although on the inside, his heart was racing. Which was not common for him when he talked to a girl.
"Uh...we're supposed to be...uh, engaged." Sakura mumbled dumbly. 'What the heck am I doing! That was so lame!'
Syaoran sighed. Time to turn on the charm.
"Yeah. How 'bout we step into my office. Get acquainted." he suggested, turning to his door but looking back at her with a smile. Sakura looked up at the ceiling, hoping for hope that it wouldn't be as bad as she thought it would.
"So...Sakura...you're only nineteen huh?" he asked conversationally. He sat down at his desk, flipping through the folder Kuri had slipped in his hands.
"Yeah. So?" she replied. He looked up at her with amber eyes, his hair falling in front of them a little. He smirked.
"Nothing, nothing at all. It's just that you looked older than nineteen." he said. "Please, sit down."
Sakura looked at his motioning arm but didn't sit down.
"What do you mean I 'look older than nineteen?' Are you implying that I look old?" she asked, shifting her weight to one foot and crossing her arms. Syaoran stopped.
"Oh, no, no, no. That's not what I meant." Syaoran said smoothly. Sakura glared at him when he looked away as she sat down.
"We're engaged now right?" Syaoran asked, a playful — or devilish, however you want to put it — glint flashing in his eyes. Sakura's eyes flashed back, but it wasn't any hint of the ones like Syaoran's.
"Yeah. That was the whole deal." she answered, feeling more comfortable now. Syaoran smirked. He put the folder down on his big desk, walked around it, and went to Sakura's chair trapping her with hands on both armrests.
"Well then why don't we get aquainted?" he asked, his face close to hers. He smiled when she smiled back.
"Okay. Here's one thing you should know then." she said, her voice the same tone as his was. She brought her face closer to his.
"Yeah?" he beckoned her reply, looking down at her lips. He saw them part. Just when he thought he was going to get what he wanted, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He had been 'lightly' punched in the solar plexis. He took in a sharp breath as he leaned back upright slowly.
"Don't," Sakura started, putting a finger up. "Ever... Back me into a corner." she warned sternly. Syaoran walked back to his desk.
"Uptight bitch." he scowled. Sakura glared at his back.
"What did you say?" she asked. He turned back to her, glaring daggers.
"None of your damn business." he spat. She continued to glare at him. She crossed her legs and arms and leaned back into the comfy chair.
This was not what Syaoran expected at all.
Syaoran's POV
Who the hell does this bitch think she is! Shit, what gives her the right to treat me like that!
Alright, I don't wanna sound like a male chauvinist pig, but damn! I mean, we're engaged!
Calm down Syaoran...get a grip. It's not so bad...
But I'll be damned if I warm up to HER first!
Sakura's POV
What the fu—! Argh! How dare he! How DARE he try and do that!
What does he think I am? A whore! Ungh!
Just 'cause I accepted this dumb deal doesn't mean that—.
Argh!
Oh no.
I forgot about dad.
And Touya...
Oh shi—.
Normal POV
The betrothed continued to glare at each other. Syaoran doing his work, Sakura wiggling her foot.
"You can leave now. Go talk to Kuri or Meilin or something." he said stiffly, still looking at his documents. Sakura gave him a skeptical look but stood up.
"Fine." she said. She walked out of the office, slamming the door. Syaoran glared up at the doorway where she was and went back down to his work.
Sakura slammed the door and breathed out a sigh of relief. She didn't think she would make it. Meilin spotted her with her back against Syaoran's door and looked at her in a peculiar manner.
"Are you alright, Kinomoto-san?" she asked. Sakura's eyes snapped open having being closed, and she looked at her.
"Please, call me Sakura. And yes, I'm alright thanks." she said with a crooked smile.
"Let me guess.." Meilin started. She walked over and placed some papers on the secretary's (her) desk.
"He put the moves on you right?" she asked. Sakura fumed silently and Meilin understood.
"Yes! How dare he!" she demanded angrily. Meilin laughed good-naturedly.
"He's Li Syaoran. It's his 'way.' Besides, it's his pure animal attraction!" she said jokingly. Sakura smiled before her emerald eyes flashed angrily.
"Just because I agreed to this dumb deal doesn't mean...argh!" she cut herself with a cry of frustration. Meilin put a hand on the girl's shoulder to calm her down.
"People are starting to look.." she whispered with a small smile. Sakura stopped her rage and looked around at employees looking at her weird. She immediately blushed and hunched her shoulders in an attempt to shield herself from view.
"Just give him some time...Who knows? He might prove more than a self©centered jerk to you." Meilin said, trying to cheer the girl up. Sakura smiled brightly.
"Yeah! He just might! And I won't back out of this deal. 'S not my style.." Sakura said. The girls both laughed. Suddenly Sakura's cell phone rang. Sakura picked it up without looking at the ID.
"Moshi moshi! Sakura speaking!" she greeted cheerfully.
"Sakura! Where are you?" demanded a certain over-protective brother of hers. Sakura's eyes widened considerably.
"Uh...hi nii-chan! I'm at...the mall!" she said sheepishly. She glanced at Meilin who was looking at her weird.
"At the mall? Then how come I hear things about a Hiiragizawa in the background?" Touya demanded. Sakura sweatdropped.
"Um...no you don't?" she replied sheepishly.
Meilin blinked a few times at the high pitched yelling on the other end of Sakura's cell. She wondered who would be biting off her head. Oh wait, she did say nii-chan. So it's her brother... Meilin stuck her bottom lip out a little in thought. Why would someone get mad...Hm... Then a thought struck her and her eyebrows shot up.
Is it possible that her brother didn't know about the engagement?
Meilin pondered that thought and looked at Sakura who was trying to explain the whole thing to the other person on the line. She looked about...eighteen or nineteen, so she'd be able to make a decision on her own... She was technically an adult. But the company, or Mrs. Li, would probably have to inform her parents or guardians anyways.
The ruby-eyed girl giggled as the emerald©eyed girl made a pained frustrated sigh as her brother continued to reprimand her.
"Touya! Listen to me! I did for you guys too! I got a job with this deal also!" Sakura said, glad she finally got a good word in.
"What do you mean for us! What good could you getting engaged do?" Touya exploded once more. Sakura rolled her eyes skyward for what was probably the upteenth time that day.
"Because it got us money, OKAY?" she almost shouted. She glanced at Meilin. The odango girl had went back to her desk 'seeing this was a family matter 'but was still looking at her from the corner of her eye.
There was silence on the other end and she knew she hit a sour note.
"Touya...I'm sorry but,"she started apologetically.
"No." he cut her off. Iknow we're tight on money. And I'd do my best to get money too...It's just that I didn't know that you'd do something...like this."
Sakura's eyes softened as she heard the tone of her brother's voice. She slumped down to the floor, not caring if anyone looked at her weird.
"Touya...don't worry...I'll..." she took a deep breath. "I'm sure I'll be alright."
She heard her brother heave a sigh.
"Alright kaijuu. That's what I needed to hear." he said. Sakura pricked at the nickname.
She was about to retort but heard another voice on the line. And it was someone she was glad to hear. Her eardrums really needed a break.
"Hello Sakura. Are you alright?" Kinomoto Fujitaka asked. Sakura smiled at the plush beige carpet.
"Yes Otou-san. I'm fine." she said softly. She felt like her dad was right here with her as he laughed heartily. No matter what the situation, he always managed a smile. Much like Sakura.
"Are you sure that you want to do this Sakura?" Fujitaka asked her gently. Which was the complete opposite of how Touya worded it.
"Mmhm. I'll be alright." she said smiling. "Besides, a deal is a deal and you know how I keep my word!"
They laughed at the same time.
"Well if you're sure." he said. "Li-san has invited your brother and I to a dinner tomorrow night at the mansion."
"Mansion?" Sakura's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Fujitaka chuckled.
"Yes. I suppose you get the information from someone working there. I think Li-san mentioned Ren-san." he said, apparently thinking. Sakura blinked.
"Okay dear. I'll leave you to your business now." Fujitaka said kindly.
"Okay dad. Bye." she said. As she was about to hang up, someone came to the phone.
"YOU BETTER TELL THAT PUNK TO GET READY 'CAUSE I'M GONNA PUT THAT LI SYAORAN IN PLACE! MY SISTER AIN'T GONNA MARRY NO PLAYER – !" Touya was cut off by Sakura pressing a button. Suddenly the door swung open behind her and she fell on her back, knocking the wind out of herself slightly. She scowled up at the face smirking down at her.
"See? You already falling head over heels for me. Are you sure that's healthy?" he tsk-ed. And for some reason she couldn't understand, that action made Sakura blush madly.
She pushed herself up roughly off the soft carpet.
"Shut up."she spat in his face. Syaoran did everything but explode. Instead he walked closer to her.
"Why?" he prodded quietly. He put his smooth hands on her shoulders guiding her so that she was in his office. He held her innocent emerald eyes with his own experienced amber ones. She didn't notice as he closed his door with a soft click. He steered her so that she was between a rock and a hard place.
You decide which one Syaoran is and which one the door is.
"Is it because it's the truth? It's true isn't it, you can't resist me?" he finally asked her. A smug smirk peeked out of the corner of his lips. Sakura suddenly snapped back down to reality, immediately pushing him away from her with a scowl. Syaoran stumbled back in shock, catching his heel on the carpet and falling literally head over heels.
Sakura laughed as Syaoran kerplunked on his face. Syaoran planted a hand after another on the thick padding, lifting himself up. He groaned and lifted his head, showing that his face was as red as a blushing child. Sakura continued laughing as he rubbed his face. Though she had to admit, it did look like it hurt.
Sakura nearly clawed and or crawled out of his office, laughing so hard she was gripping her side. With one last look back at him she burst out, "Looks like you're the one falling head over heels!" before sputtering again as he threw something at the closing door.
Syaoran's POV
Damn...Where does that girl get off!
Laughing at me like that...
I rubbed my face in agony. Thank God for the plush carpet.
I stood up and straightened myself. I'd probably look like shit if mom waltzed in right now.
I kept rubbing my face as I sat down at my desk, feeling the leather sink under my weight.
I had all this crap on my desk to think about and had only ONE damn thing in my mind...
How Sakura's laugh sounded like the sweet tinkling of bells.
Normal POV
As Kuri clicked her way to Syaoran's office, she spotted his new fiancee. She raised an eyebrow at the scene before her.
Sakura was laughing hysterically and grasping the wall for balance. It looked like she was trying to get herself under control but every time she did, she would burst out laughing. When Sakura finally did calm down, she leaned against the wall with a calming breath.
"Are you alright Sakura?" Kuri approached her cautiously. Sakura faced her with an embarrassed flush on her cheeks.
"Oh yeah! I'm f– " but she couldn't finish her sentence because she sputtered in Kuri's face with a laugh. Kuri blinked with wide eyes and wiped her glasses rather stiffly. She would say ew, but she tried her best to stay professional at all times.
"Geez, I'm sorry!" Sakura apologized, finally sobering up. Kuri shook her head with smile.
"It's alright." she assured the girl, waving her hand comically. Sakura smiled.
"Li has informed me that you're going to work here soon..." Kuri said. Sakura groaned and nodded as Kuri laughed.
"Yeah. It was part of the deal." Sakura bobbed her head. Kuri nodded as well.
"Yeah. So it's my job to help you out and stuff." she replied. "Oh! And to tell you about tomorrow...pick out some clothes."
"Oh yeah! My dad surprised me with that. I was like, what?" Sakura joked as they both laughed.
Kuri lead Sakura to her desk right across from Meilin's outside Syaoran's closed doors. She pulled out a seat for Sakura before seating herself.
"Okay. We should start with the uniform at the workplace." Kuri said, and Sakura heard a bit of annoyance in her voice.
"Is there something wrong?"she inquired. Kuri turned to her after taking out a few papers and folders for possibly later.
"Well...not really. One top rule if you work under Syaoran – directly or not – you must wear a skirt." she said, stacking the items neatly. Sakura blinked.
"What do you mean, 'under' him. What about Eriol?" she asked. Kuri sighed wistfully.
"Eriol works on the other side of this floor. Syaoran works on this side. He's more in charge of public relations, while Eriol takes care of most things behind the scenes." she explained. She really didn't like Syaoran's rules.
"Dang, what's his problem? Did HE make that rule up?" Sakura cried indignantly.
"Sadly, yes." Kuri replied, putting a hand to her head in some shame. It was Sakura's turn to roll her eyes.
"What a pig..." she said. Kuri nodded in agreement. "So who am I working under?"
Kuri tried not to laugh.
"Li Syaoran himself."she answered. Sakura groaned once more.
Thanks so much for reading again! I really appreciate it! Now...if you'll...review? Please?
