Chapter 2
Roses and Blackmail
Rating: PG-13 (Just to be on the safe side)
Title: The Wedding Planner
Disclaimer: Author: MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!! EVERYTHING HERE IS MINE!!!!!
Ying Fa: Nah ah, we are not!!!! HAHAHAHAHA Points a finger at author and sticks out tongue
Author: Oh well, not everything has happy endings.
A few years after last chappy
"Not red! WHITE! TODAY! DELIVERED TODAY! White…white roses…those little things with thorns…" I hollered into the cell phone.
"Tomoyo, what is it now?" I said when I saw who was tugging my sleeve. I left the man on the phone cursing away.
"I got a date for you." She said, grinning happily.
"I said white roses damn you! What part of white roses you don't understand mister? WHITE ROSES. Got it? Sheeeesshhh!" I put a hand over the mouth piece of my cell phone and turned once again to my best friend. "Tomoyo, don't even get me started on men!"
"Hello? HELLO? Argh!!" I said, slamming my phone shut. "He hangs up on me! Can you believe that!? Well, what did you expect…? He is a man after all…" I would have kept ranting on and on, hadn't it been for Tomoyo.
"He is really cute Sakura, and..."
"Who is?"
"Daimio is."
"Really? Great for him…now…what was the phone number of the company where…?"
RRRRRIIIIIIINNNNGGGG
"Hold on a sec, Tomoyo." I said, once again opening my always-used-cell phone. "Moshi moshi? ... Finally! … Heavenly Gardens?! … NO! Not Heavenly Gardens … why? Because Joanne already has a wedding scheduled there for tomorrow… NO I won't make Joanne reschedule … I know I can … NO! … Good God!"
"Sakura…he really wants to meet you…and you won't meet a man every day that is really in to meeting you…"
"Tomoyo, I won't go out with him…"
"Go out with whom? You are going out with somebody and you're not telling me?" I heard a voice at the end of the line.
"NO! I wasn't talking to you Chi-Ling… I won't go out with him either … Carnations? Are you kidding me?! … Why? That's a stupid question in itself! Because carnations don't set the mood we want! They give you carnations when they are going to break up with you! Kami-sama! It's a wedding Chi-Ling, not a god damned divorce! How thick can you get? … Are you a greenhorn? … I can't believe Melanie actually pays you! … Of course not! I totally disapprove! That's so disgusting! …" I said, totally shuddering.
"SAKURA, YOU REALLY NEED TO GET YOURSELF A LOVE LIFE!" Tomoyo hollered to be heard over the entire racket I was making.
"I have a love life Tomoyo." I said patiently, and I heard a snorting over at the other end of the line. "Mind your own business Chi-Ling." I snapped into the phone.
I turned and saw that Tomoyo was scowling at me. I gave her an exasperated glance and tuned out Chi-Ling.
Why was she so upset about me not having a g-damned boyfriend? Can't she get through her thick head that I don't care for a relationship right now?
"WE ARE NOT PUTTING CARNATIONS ON A WEDDING CHI-LING!" Kami-sama…talking about dense people…
What if I didn't have a boyfriend? What if I have never had a boyfriend? There's nothing wrong about not being kissed before…ooookay…maybe there is something wrong…but so what? (…) I don't care!!!
"AND THAT'S FINAL, UNDERSTOOD? Now, I don't want to be bothered again with such simple manners when I had already specified exactly what was to be done!" I tapped my Gucci covered foot while I waited for Chi-Ling to check on the caviar.
"Shhheeeeeeshhh, you would think that they could manage! But ah no! Bakas…all of them…" I muttered to Tomoyo.
"I heard that Sakura," said Chi-Ling, while Tomoyo shot me daggers. I snapped my phone shut, hanging up on Chi-Ling, something that I had been doing very often quite recently…
"Tomoyo, why don't you understand?" Tomoyo turned to me, her amethyst eyes glittering with that mean gleam that I have learned to avoid over time. Once again I shuddered, but this time it was inwardly. "Tomoyo…" My voice was high pitched? Argh… "Tommy…" I tried again, smiling sweetly to her, displaying my ever-so-cute dimples.
"Don't sweet-smile-and-dimple me Sakura Kinomoto! You are going out with this guy whether you want it or not, and that's it! That's final!"
I just continued smiling, playing with my last card. "Come on Tommy…You have always understood me…you know that I can't live under the pressure! Please comprehend. You know that I am happy…being single."
Tomoyo sighed, signaling that I was about to win this repetitive discussion. She raked her hair with one of her hands and, once again, turned to me. "Sakura…I understand…" I let out the breath I had been holding for some time now. She was letting in without further discussion! But then…I heard the rest of what she had to say.
"…that you are afraid, since you have never had a boyfriend before, but let me assure you that noth–"
"AFRAID???!!!!" I bellowed out, really pissed off now. She simply didn't understand did she? Her lids went flying up, and her eyes were wide with fright. She had seen me throw tantrums a lot of times over the years we had been living together, but oh boy, this was going to be the worst yet!
"DAIDOUJI!!! HOW CAN YOU EVEN HINT THAT I AM AFRAID? I AM NOT SCARED LEAST OF ALL OF A GUY!!" I felt my temporary anger seeping away, but I wasn't quite yet done with my plotting friend. I knew there was something behind this…this…date…and I would find out "DON'T YOU DARE TALK TO ME AGAIN DAIDOUJI! I WILL MOVE AND—"
"Please don't Sakura-san! I wouldn't bear it if you left! You know, you are so kawaii…" She said it with an exaggerated dramatic tone of voice. Of course she didn't even mean it, she was examining her fingernails, but we just followed our cues.
Should I…? Nah, her 'soothing' methods wouldn't smooth my ruffled feathers this time.
"I'M NOT GOING OUT WITH ANY OF YOUR FREAKING IDIOT FRIENDS!!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!!!" (AN: Eh, eh, eh?)
"Oh no! Please! Daimio owed me a favor and I asked him to go out with you! And I needed a favor out of you…" This time she had spilled the coffee way too early! I didn't even have the pleasure to keep on ranting! Well, we would just hurry up the act.
"Aha!" I cried out triumphantly. I knew that no man in his five senses would go out with me, Sakura-Ice Queen (wink)-Kinomoto. Hey, I had worked out hard these years for my reputation and I wouldn't get it ruined for a teensy favor. I arched an eyebrow at her, and she, seeing that I was willing to negotiate, got up from her knees, where she had been begging me to stay (wishful thinking…)…
"You see Sakura… You know how kawaii you are and…"
"Oh for Christ sake, go straight to the point Tommy!" I loved to see her beg. It sort of paid back all the embarrassments she had made me go through the years with her…
"This is really important and…" She said, looking everywhere but at me. I groaned out loud.
"Tomoyo, what is it?" I said, dropping into a couch, already getting tired of the discussion.
"Ineedyoutoplanmywedding" She mumbled blushing savagely. So this was it eh? HA, I was prettily enjoying this…
But waaaaaaaait a moment, she had just asked me to plan her wedding?
"And since when are you exactly betrothed?"
Tomoyo looked at me with confusion dancing in her eyes. I threw up my hands in exasperation.
"Betrothed! Affianced! It's the same thing!" She still looked at me confusedly. "OH KAMI-SAMA!!! ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOT IT???? E-N-G-A-" Now, what was next of that? Hmm, a G or a J?
"OH!" Tomoyo burst out laughing, but I didn't even turn to her, I was still thinking about what letter came next. "Since…like…two months ago?" She said minutely, ducking just in time to avoid a flying cushion.
"TWO MONTHS???!!! AND WHEN EXACTLY DID YOU PLAN ON TELLING ME ABOUT IT??!!! DON'T YOU TAKE ON COUNT MY OTHER ACCOUNTS??!!! SHHHHEEEEESSHHH, IF MELANIE KNEW!!! WELL, JUST IN SPITE I WILL SAY NO!!!!"
"I don't have any idea what spite means, but did I understand completely well that you are not planning my wedding?"
"EXACTLY! BRAVO!"
"And exactly why not, Sakura?"
"Because…because…"
"How many times have I been sooo good to you…I even set you up for a date with Daimio!"
"And you thought that if you managed to hook me up with some guy I would be so grateful to you that I would say yes to anything? Kami-sama; and you say you are my best friend?"
Tomoyo grinned sheepishly. "Weeeeell…something like that…"
"Tomoyo I won't. And besides, I have other accounts to keep track of. You were just witness to the uselessness of Hui-Leng here. Kami-sama, I don't even want to imagine what would happen to the mayor's wedding…!"
"Aw, come on Ying Fa!" she tried the only tactic she had left when she saw that I wasn't responding positively… pleading. "You are the best in Japan. I have the permission of your boss, and let me tell you that she is not cheap. God knows how much money I had to pay for your services!"
I smirked evilly. Maybe this could turn out to my advantage…
Tomoyo, seeing my smirk, narrowed her eyes. "Oh God, I can already see the plan that is forming in your twisted mind!" My smirk turned right out in a wicked grin. Tomoyo groaned. "Aright, aright, how much more is this gonna cost me Sakura?" And then under her breath she muttered, "I wonder where in hell that sweet and innocent girl went…"
I wonder why she doesn't videotape these moments. I would split up in laughter one day seeing how I blackmailed her… It would be sooo kawaii! O.o (Did I just say that?)
"I still can't believe that I am on this airplane Tommy, you didn't even tell me that I had to go to Hong Kong in order to plan your wedding, and I'm still angry at you for not telling me you were betroth—engaged…"
"I still can't believe the amount of money you got off me!" Tomoyo cried indignantly, shoving a finger at my poor little face.
"Oh come on Tommy, you won't hold that against me, will you? I mean, I forgave the fact that you tried to set me up a blind date with some loser…" Tomoyo turned to me, her mouth opening and closing as if trying to reply, but no words came; so she sat there, looking ridiculously like a goldfish. I laughed and slapped her jaw shut. She scowled at me and crossed her arms.
"Well, you can't blame me for your so totally boring and sour life!" It was my turn to have my jaw hanging open, and she did the same thing I had done to her seconds earlier. I scowled and stuck out my tongue.
"Oh, stop being so childish Sakura. You didn't even go out with the guy anyways, so what are you mad at?" Tomoyo said, at the beginning scolding, and at the end giggling.
"What am I mad at? I'm mad of the simple fact that you keep dipping your finger in MY life! That's what I'm mad at!"
Tomoyo just giggled some more while she swept up a compact mirror and fluffed her hair. She had just gotten a new haircut…to give a good impression to the family she said…yeah right. She's crazy because she's finally going to meet for the first time with her fiancé.
Who's as crazy as her? I mean, she even stopped writing to him years ago, so now she doesn't know shit about him. But for what she told me when she still wrote to him, he seemed waaay too serious to satisfy someone like the-ever-chattering-Tomoyo Daidouji.
"Do you think I look pretty with this new haircut Sakura?" She had had it layered and at shoulder length just yesterday, after we both had been blackmailed by each other…
It simply looked great on her. But then, take on count that almost everything looks good in Tomoyo with her onyx locks and porcelain skin…
"No Tomoyo, you look horrible." I said jokingly, but at the same time with some unkindness. She was always asking somebody to reassure her of her beauty, and you could get tired of it after a while.
"You're not nice Sakura." Tomoyo said pouting.
"Oh shut up Tomoyo, at least I don't go digging in your life."
"Oh, will you please get over that!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "I'm really getting tired of your immaturities!"
"Oh yeah? Well, guess who's tired of Miss-I-am-so-damn-beautiful-turn-to-stare-and-drool-at-me?! I am!" I exploded.
"Oh well, at least I've got some self-esteem and respect!"
"At least I'm not asking every five minutes if I'm pretty or not!"
"You're just being mean Kinomoto, because you know I'm prettier than you are!" She said sticking out her tongue at me.
"That outcome is so crappy that I won't even answer it. Besides, I don't give a damn about my shitty looks Tomoyo! If you would just realize that" I muttered under my breath. Glaring at her, I turned away, sniffing. She just kept poring at herself in the mirror.
Exasperated, I took the mirror threw it, heard an OUCH coming from the general direction of my aim, turned to her and spoke when I saw her gaping at me.
"Don't worry Tomoyo; Li-kun is like every other man! Of course you'll look gorgeous to him! So empty headed he won't notice what type of person you really are! But then, your match would be perfect! Empty head and 'Cool' with Arrogant Vanity. Nice isn't it?" I spat out venomously.
I was TIRED of being the one who had to reassure her every time that she was as beautiful as…as…as…well, as something really, really, really, beautiful… I crossed my arms, and looking out the window, I noticed that we were over Hong Kong. The lights were twinkling madly below, and I almost let out a squeal of delight. Although we had just quarreled like five year olds, we still were friends, and it would be the first time I would be meeting Tomoyo's family. She had always spoken so much of them (well, not that much recently, but the first years we lived together she didn't stop talking about them) that I was really looking forward at meeting them.
Soon the pilot's voice was heard, announcing our safe arrival at the airport, and I smiled in spite of myself. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tomoyo looking at me in the same way. We just laughed and grabbed our knapsacks from above our heads and were the first out of the plane.
She raked the airport with her round eyes, searching for some familiar sign. I sat down heavily and was almost dozing off when she grabbed my arm and squealed excitedly. She stood me up and jumped up and down, her grip on me becoming painfully tighter. She waved her free hand like crazy, and I just stared at her.
"Over here Aunt Yelan! Over here!"
She dragged me behind her as we (or must as I say she?) made our way to her aunt.
She finally let go of me and embraced her aunt. She returned the embrace and held her at arms length, examining her over.
"Wow! Tomoyo, look at you! You are…radiant." Tomoyo giggled and her eyelids fluttered shyly. She blushed violently, and her aunt let out a sweet laugh.
"Don't play the rôle of modesty with me girl. I know you are everything except that." Her aunt said with a grin, and Tomoyo giggled some more. I cleared my throat before her aunt could hitch Tomoyo's ego a bit higher.
Tomoyo seemed to have forgotten my existence for the moment… Her aunt arched an eyebrow, frowned, and I smiled sweetly.
"Tomoyo, you didn't tell me that you were bringing company." My sweet smile froze an instant, but I quickly recovered.
"My apologies for not writing to you that I was bringing her along, but I wasn't quite sure that she would come. She is the one I told you about, the one I want to prepare my wedding. She simply is the best in Japan, and probably in China too, Aunt."
Yelan arched a delicate and elegant brow while examining me from head to toe.
"And her name is?" I smiled innocently and showed my dimples at the best for her. Her brow came down for a moment and almost melted away into a smile. Tomoyo shook her head with a mischievous smile tugging at her lips, knowing fully well what I was doing. Charming her aunt away shamelessly.
"Aunt Yelan, this is Kinomoto Sakura. Sakura, Yelan Li, matriarch of the Li clan."
"For the moment my dear, only for the moment. Syaoran will take up my place not in a far away future." Tomoyo perked up at the voicing of her cousin's name and fiancé. Yelan only smiled and Tomoyo blushed and looked away.
"Why, Miss Kinomoto, you bring us honor with your presence and preparation for my son's wedding. We have heard a lot from your extraordinary achievements and let me tell you that not less than one will be green with envy when they know who is organizing this great event." She said in a confidential tone.
I didn't blush nor did I smile shyly. Why should I? I was more than proud of my success. I just stared Yelan Li straight in her face and nodded.
"Please call me Sakura Lady Li. I just don't feel comfortable when someone calls me Kinomoto…much less Miss." Yelan let out a good-natured laugh and nodded.
"Under one condition."
"Huh?"
"Don't ever call me Lady Li. It makes me feel so…matronly. Please, simply call me Yelan, like my niece does." She turned to Tomoyo. "Now, why don't you give Wei your luggage? He will see it to the limousine dears."
After pointing our baggage to Wei, we went out of the airport. The air was biting cold, and I shivered inside my light coat while Tomoyo was totally comfortable inside her heavy one. Darn her. She hadn't warned me about the drastic change of temperature, and now I was freezing my butt off! Thank God that I had put some heavy stuff when packing my clothing. Who knew what to expect in this god forsaken place?
Tomoyo seemed to read my thoughts, because she laughed right out loud when we got out of the limousine that had parked in front of a beautiful Victorian…mansion. The shutters were a pale green, and the house was totally white, with golden carvings glinting in the moonlight.
"Come on Sakura; don't tell me that you thought the weather would be sunshine!"
My teeth were chattering! "I…I…gues…guess s…so…"
"It took you two minutes to get that out." Tomoyo said grinning. We went inside the mansion and I was relieved of my rather useless coat. Everything was dark except for some few candles that illuminated all the way into darkness in the hallway.
We followed the ghostly lights and were brought upstairs, where two rooms (two rooms? I wasn't supposed to be expected…that Wei is fast… O.o) waited with their doors propped open. I took the one to the left and Tomoyo the one in the right. I felt for a light switch, and found none. I turned to my left and found, lying on top of the bureau, a candle stick with a very ornate lighter siding it.
Candles? Whoever had heard of using candles in the middle of the 21st century?
Oh well, whatever. I was already feeling drowsy. The fire was roaring in the chimney at the foot of the bed, and I simply couldn't resist. I took off my shoes and threw myself onto it.
I woke up to the weak sunshine washing over my face. I yawned and sat up, stretching my arms, my loose hair coming into my face. I tucked it behind my ears and got up. There ought to be a bathroom somewhere near and…POOF
"HOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!" I cried as I saw the floor coming nearer…and nearer…
THUMP
Below, four out of the five people sitting in the dining room jumped out of their seats. Tomoyo barely suppressed a right out laugh.
"Don't worry Aunt, cousins; it's just Sakura waking up." Everybody turned to stare at Tomoyo who was shaking with silent laughter. They were wondering about the strange manners the Japanese wedding expert had. They returned to their food, but still wondered silently about when she would make her apparition. It was past noon already…
They heard stumping coming from the stairs and turned their attention to them. Down from them came a silhouette, with disheveled hair and totally a wreck. She had clothes clinging to her…
"Good morning Tommy…"
"Good afternoon Saku." Seemingly, Sakura didn't notice Tomoyo's reference to the time, because she continued drowsily.
"I just had an encounter with my luggage…that Wei left it in the middle of my room…"
"That explains the clothes that are clinging to you, right?" Tomoyo said amusedly.
"Yeah, I guess so. Could you please tell me where the bath—" She stopped in mid sentence when she saw that Tomoyo wasn't alone. She stared at them through sleep puffed eyes and then they were opened wide. "TOMOYO!!!!!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU—ARGH!!!!!!" She went racing up the stairs and they heard a door slam upstairs.
This time Tomoyo couldn't help it. She laughed with all her might.
AN: Well? How's it going??? You guys are just great!! Seven reviews!! WEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! shakes butt happily. But plz, plz, plz keep sending reviews!!! I'll accept even flames!!!