Authors Note: Hey guys! I've totally revamped this chapter and plan on revamping the others because after not updating for a long time I decided to come back and read my own story. Truth is, I think the writing was horrible. I'm making it something a bit better than it was starting with Chapter 01. Reviews are encouraged and asked for so I can know what you think. If nobody is reading this story I won't bother finishing it, so please let me know! I never finished the story the first time around because I was getting no reviews. Well, until next time, enjoy the new and improved Chapter One. Oh and I know it sucks that the fic is still untitled. Any title ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm not good at naming things...
Chapter 01 Updated On: 28, June 2005
Syaoran Li buried his head in his hands. He seldom ever left his room except to buy the wine that fed his new habit. It had been two yeas since the death of his dear friend Eriol Hiiragizawa and life hadn't been the same since. Syaoran's dreary apartment was so littered with wine bottles and garbage that you could hardly see any his belongings underneath it all. Sitting upon his desk, though, was a dusty picture of three smiling figures standing in front of a lit up carousel just after the sun had disappeared for the evening. They were Syaoran, Eriol, and Eriol's love- Sakura Kinomoto. Sakura and Eriol were engaged to be married at 24, shortly before the accident that killed him. The last time Syaoran had seen Sakura was at Eriol's funeral. He had heard a multitude of rumors such as she had moved to Paris, committed suicide, gotten married to some rich businessman... None of that mattered though. Nothing anybody did would bring back his best friend.
Takashi Yamazaki burst into the room, breaking Syaoran from his thoughts. "Syaoran! Dah'ling!" he said in an exaggeratedly feminine tone. 'Great...' Syaoran thought sarcastically. This ritual has started earlier in the year. Every time this occurred he'd either want Syaoran to come out into the world and go to a strip club or to some other sort of night spot. "What is it, Yamazaki?" he bit out. Takashi frowned at his friend's drastic personality change that had occurred after Eriol's death. He no longer saw the Syaoran that Eriol had introduced him to back in high school. A man who was full loneliness, despair, hate and sadness had engulfed the lively young man he once knew. All Takashi wanted to do was bring the old Syaoran back to life- to ignite that flame that used to burn in his amber eyes. "Come on buddy, let's go to Silver's and get so drunk that our mothers wouldn't even say they knew us."
Syaoran grumbled in distaste. "Why bother?" With that Takashi let out an exasperated sigh knowing he had to say it. "Because Eriol would've hated to see you like this! You've become a dirty little hobbit! Do you think he'd enjoy that you never leave your room or take care of yourself? It's time for you to get up and shave your face, put on some clean clothes, and meet me downstairs so you can join me for a night on the town. Okay?"
Taking the words in, Syaoran realized that it was true. Eriol wouldn't want to be friends with a smelly, dirty, cold-hearted shut-in. As he walked into the bathroom for a nice hot shower, Takashi smiled and left him a note saying to meet him in the lobby when he was done getting ready.
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The lovely Sakura Kinomoto was truly heart-broken over the death of Eriol, but she had realized early on the Eriol would hate to see her as the mess she had become. Immediately she tried to return to normal for his and her own sake and now, at 26, was finally back in the swing of life. In memory of her love she never removed the necklace he had given her in place of an engagement ring. Hanging from a golden chain, upon the nape of her neck lay a small star within of a winged pink ring. It truly was more beautiful than any engagement ring he could have given her.
Now, Sakura stood waiting outside of her family's mansion for her friend, Chiharu Mihara. Sakura didn't feel like another high class party that only her Eriol was able to get her through without going completely insane. "Sakura!" Chiharu called from just beyond the iron bars of the large iron fence. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she rushed through the gate. "I thought you'd never get here." she laughed upon reaching Chiharu. Sakura
Now, Sakura stood waiting outside of her family's mansion for her friend, Chiharu Mihara. She didn't feel like attending another high class party that only her Eriol was able to get her through without going completely insane. "Sakura!" Chiharu called from just beyond the iron bars of their large iron fence. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she rushed through the gate. "I thought you'd never get here." she laughed upon reaching Chiharu. The two climbed into the back of Chiharu's black Mercedes that was headed towards Silver's. As the driver pulled away from the curb Sakura laughed at escaping the party that most other people would have loved to go to. "I hear that Terada Yoshiyuki will be attending the party tonight." Chiharu stated raising her eyebrows suggestively. Terada Yoshiyuki was a very powerful business man that owned a massive luxury hotel chain along with a multitude of smaller moneymaking businesses.
"Yoshiyuki? Why?" Sakura raised a delicate eyebrow at the thought.
"My father said that he was going in hopes of finding a beautiful bride."
"Why would he go to one of my families parties to find someone to marry?" she laughed.
"Your family quite wealthy so I don't see why he wouldn't go. Ha ha, you'd better watch your back. He might choose you." She joked. "Have you ever seen him?"
"I haven't and I don't really want to. He's probably just some snide jerk looking for some young girl to screw around with."
"Hmm... so I wonder if Sakura doesn't want to meet Terada."
The duo laughed over the comment before falling into a silence. Chiharu chose to break it though asking the question that had been on her mind. "Sakura... why are we going to Silver's tonight?" Sakura sighed at this. "You're gonna think I'm crazy but... I had a dream last night... Eriol was there and he told me to... he told me to find someone... I think I'll know when I see who he was talking about..." "So why do I have to come with you?" "Because I can't do this alone..." This brought them back into a silence that lasted for the rest of the ride.
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Takashi and Syaoran arrived at Silver's shortly after they met in the apartment lobby. Syaoran looked like the old Syaoran, save his unruly shaggy hair that hadn't been cut in quite some time. Unfortunately, looks were as far as the old Syaoran went. Women flocked to him but he ignored any advances they made. Men tried to start up conversations but he just walked away having no desire to speak with the strangers. 'Well at least he cleaned up...' Takashi thought sadly. He wished Syaoran would just snap out of it and go back to the way he once was.
Syaoran didn't want to disappoint Takashi but everywhere he looked he saw friends laughing and having fun and it made him miss Eriol terribly. The two had been best friends since Eriol moved to Japan from England in the first grade. They were practically attached for so many years. Sure, he had other friends but Eriol was the only one who understood Syaoran inside and out.
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Sakura and Chiharu were engulfed in the loud music the second they stepped into the club. It pulsated through everyone from the bar on one end to the lounge on the other.
"How about we spilt up? Maybe we'll find this guy quicker that way." Sakura was looking around at all the people trying to find whomever she was supposed to be looking for.
"Right. The mystery man. " Chiharu smiled having no clue who her friend intended to find that night.
"Don't make fun of me." Sakura giggled, "You go over to the bar and I'll look over there. Sound ok?"
"Alrighty. Not a problem. But I hope you don't mind if I do a little boy scouting of my own."
"I'll come and get you if I find him. Have fun looking for your own dream man." she sighed, and with that she disappeared into the large crowd.
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Chiharu walked up to the bar and ordered a piña colada as she eyed the handsome dark haired young man sitting next to her. He was wearing a tight black shirt that showed off his abs and a pair of extremely worn blue jeans.
"I'm Chiharu." She said extending her hand to him.
"Takashi." He replied taking her hand and kissing it rather than shaking it. Chiharu blushed making Takashi think the night wouldn't be such a total waste of his time.Both smiled at one another as they started chatting over the loud music.
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Sakura was walking through the lounge with her eyes on the dance floor trying to find whomever she was searching for. In fact, she was so absorbed in her search she didn't see the man she ended up bumping into. Sakura looked up apologetically but was taken aback by the most beautiful amber eyes she had ever seen. Beautiful and yet they seemed so familiar to her.
"Sorry about that. I'm kinda clumsy sometimes." She apologized when she could finally get the words out.
"That's alright..." He said with a fake smile. All he wanted to do was get out of Silver's and into his apartment where he intended to stay for a couple more months before giving the world another try.
Sakura blushed. "I guess I got so preoccupied with..." She looked for an excuse that wouldn't make her seem crazy. Her eyes landed on the abstract artwork on the wall in front of them. "the art...um...this one is pretty... interesting." She sighed tilting her head to see that it depicted a fairly graphic image of three lovers in bed together. Blinking, she turned her head upright and looked away feeling embarrassed.
"I guess..." the man replied in a sad tone.
"Sorry to pry but is something wrong? If you don't mind telling a stranger who just bumped into you, I'd be glad to listen."
He laughed. "No, it's nothing."
"Guess not. Well, if you change your mind…" Try as she might, Sakura just couldn't take her eyes off him. He was terribly handsome and quite intriguing. He looked at her with a forced smile and those beautiful eyes of his thinking that it would make Takashi happy if he talked to at least one girl. "So... name?" "It's Sakura."
"...S... Sakura Kinomoto?"
Well, I hope you enjoyed the new and improved first chapter. I'm asking for at least 10 reviews of this chapter before I start reposting the next chapters. After that, I'll have the next chapters up ASAP and if people are liking it then I'll try and finish the story. Special thanks to anjuliet, orlandosangel, Simplicity, Tenshi Lil Cherry Blossom Angel, Tenshi no Kijutsu, SilverLunarStar, Sarah, Sakuzha, blazinggirl, CherryBlossomYingFa, & anime-lover-forever2007 for reviewing the first time around.