A/N: Sorry for the long delay. School, you know.

Disclaimer: Don't own Card Captor Sakura.

CinderSakura

By: Lotus Dreams


Chapter 8: First Day on the Job

Nadeshiko hurriedly put on a simple white skirt with a simple white blouse. She didn't have that many good clothes, and rarely shopped at all.

Li Syaoran had called her and said that he needed to give something to her. He was very casual, yet his voice still sent shivers down Nadeshiko's spine. She didn't know what was happening, but she did know one thing:

She didn't like it.

Reactions when they heard Li Syaoran had called her:

Tomoyo: squealed.

Tomoyo's mother: warned her.

Manami: doesn't know.

Nadeshiko could only take the bus, as riding a bike would undignified, and she didn't have a car. It took her about ten minutes, but that was okay, it was only 6:52, and Syaoran said at 7.

She reached the Bridge Cafe. Inside, she saw Syaoran sipping coffee and checking his watch. He had a package with him.

Nadeshiko entered the cafe. She greeted Syaoran with a friendly smile and warm hello.

"Konbanwa, Li-sama."

"Konbanwa, Nadeshiko-san," replied Syaoran. "Hajimemashite[how do you do]?

"So-so, you could say," replied Nadeshiko, laughing good-naturedly. Syaoran simply smiled. Nadeshiko had this way of making him smile so effortlessly.

"Um...did you say you had something to give to me, Li-sama?"

"You only address me as 'Li' at work, Nadeshiko," said Syaoran, putting down his cup. "The rest of the time, call me Syaoran."

"Hai[yes]," said Nadeshiko. "And...?"

"Oh, right," said Syaoran. He pulled a gift wrapped package from behind him. "This is for you."

Nadeshiko's eyes widened. "This--"

Syaoran put a hand up to silence her. "Don't thank me. It's just a present to congratulate you on getting the job."

"Li--Syaoran-san, I...I don't know what to say." Nadeshiko could not do anything but smile. "I can't accept it."

"Oh, you can," countered Syaoran. "Open it."

With hesitant fingers, Nadeshiko touched the package. Then she opened it slowly, gradually, and when she was finished, her eyes widened.

It was the dress she had wanted for so long! The gray one with the blue blouse!

"Li-sama! N--"

"Syaoran," interrupted Syaoran. "Like it?"

"I--I--"

"No take-backs," warned Syaoran, "Or I am SO taking back the job."

"I--I--"

"No more 'I's, please."

"I--I mean, Syaoran-san...this is too much. Why did you even go to all the trouble?"

Syaoran regarded her thoughtfully.

"You wanted it, so I got it for you. Is there a problem?"

"But...but this is so expensive!" Syaoran snorted.

"Expensive? Please. Don't even mention it. It barely cost me anything at all."

Nadeshiko didn't know what to say. "I'm so touched," she said, her eyes sparkling. "I...I can't believe you went to all the trouble to get it for me."

"No problem," replied Syaoran. "Oh, and I have something else for you too."

"No--WAY," said Nadeshiko loudly. "I am NOT going to accept anything else. I owe you--how much?"

Syaoran ignored the question. "You MUST accept this present, or you won't be able to work in Kinomoto Inc."

"Are you threatening me with a job?"

"No. This is the pure and simple truth."

"Okay then. What is it?"

Syaoran indicated the package on the table. "Once you open it, no give-backs."

Nadeshiko opened it. Inside was a cell phone with wires and tons of other stuff. One look at it, with its silver case and two screens and the way you could flip it open, you could tell it was highly sophisticated.

"A cell phone!" she whispered. "Oh, Li--Syaoran, you shouldn't have!"

"And why is that?" said Syaoran pleasantly.

"It must have cost so much!"

Syaoran was getting impatient.

"Listen to me. Money is no problem for me. Just as long as you like it. And remember, no give backs. Once I give it to you, you keep it."

"Demo[but]--"

"No demos. Keep it."

"You are a liar."

Syaoran was surprised. "Oh? And can you tell me why?"

"You said I NEEDED it."

"Of course you do. How can you work in a cell phone company when you don't even have a cell phone?" With a smile, Syaoran departed.


"He gave you a PHONE? AND that dress you've ALWAYS wanted?"

"Hai, unfortunately," said Nadeshiko grimly. "I can't believe it."

"OHMIGOD!"

"He shouldn't have gone into all the trouble!"

"OHMIGOD!"

"Why is he being so nice to me?"

"OHMIGOD!"

"It is totally unnecessary."

"OHMIGOD!"

"Are you going to keep saying that forever?"

"OHMIGOD! I mean, Nadeshiko, this is FANTASTIC news for you!"

"Whaddaya mean, fantastic? It's horrible! It's scary! He's doing all this so that I'll feel comfortable in Kinomoto Inc.!"

"EXACTLY," said Tomoyo triumphantly, "Which means that he likes you!"

Silence.

"He does NOT like me."

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Does not."

"Does too."

"HAH! YOU FELL FOR IT AGAIN!" cried Tomoyo. "Nadeshiko, you are--" Nadeshiko made a face.

"I don't like you anymore."

"Aw, come on, Nadeshiko-chan, I--"

"You played a trick on me. I'm going to cry."

"Nadeshiko! I--"

Nadeshiko burst out laughing.

"I'm only JOKING, Tomoyo-chan! Don't worry, it doesn't affect me. Besides, even if he DOES like me, it's not like we're going to get together or anything. I bet he's only doing all this stuff for me so we can become friends. Really."

"Friends, yeah. REALLY CLOSE FRIENDS."

"Shut up." Both of them laughed.


A couple of days later, Nadeshiko woke up at 6:00 sharp in the morning, and dressed, but then she noticed the dress that Syaoran had given her. She saw a note beside it and picked it up.

To: Nadeshiko

From: Syaoran

Message: I hope you like this suit. It didn't cost me much, really. If you are thinking to pay me back, wear it to your first day of work.

Cheers.

Li Syaoran.

Nadeshiko looked at the suit. Then she looked back at the note. Should I? she asked herself.

In less than five minutes, she had taken off her previous ensemble and was in the gray suit.

When she arrived at Kinomoto Inc., she had to go see Syaoran first. Kinomoto Inc.'s security was extremely tight, and she had to get an ID card pinned to the front of her suit, that had a magnetic strip in which a scanner scanned to sign in (she had to ask somebody to help her sign in on the first day), and plus, she had many keys hung around her neck to various offices, and then she was also introduced to her own little corner in Syaoran's department. There, she was to organize other people's files and things.

That day was just a tester, for her to get experience. She had a tray full of mugs of coffee.

"Coffee, sir?"

"Would you like some coffee, miss?"

"May I offer you some morning coffee, sir?" The man looked at her.

"Does it have caffeine?"

"Nani?"

"Does. It. Have. Caffeine."

"Um...I'm not sure, sir, I think it does."

"Then I will not drink it. I never drink coffee with caffeine in it." The man returned to his work. Nadeshiko was slightly taken aback by his attitude, but moved on to serve the coffee.

When she was finished putting the tray away, somebody called her.

"Kinomoto-san!" Nadeshiko hurried to the woman who called her.

"Hai?"

"Photocopy this, please. Three copies."

"Hai," replied Nadeshiko, taking the papers.

"Kinomoto-san!" Nadeshiko turned around. A man was calling her.

"Hai, sir?"

"Deliver this up to the fourth floor, please, room 410, to Yamazaki-san."

"Hai. Deliver blue folder to 410, photocopy pink folder three times. Hai."

Throughout the whole day, she was busy doing different tasks for the people in the foreign negotiations department. Syaoran dropped by occasionally, to evaluate her work, and found that her amazing ability to cooperate with people was a definite asset. He smiled.

When Nadeshiko was finished, Syaoran walked up to her with a cup of water.

"Kinomoto-san."

"H--" She saw it was Syaoran. She blushed. "Gomen, Li-sama. Do you have anything for me to do?"

"Iie," replied Syaoran, "Have a drink of water. You didn't even go to lunch."

Nadeshiko shrugged. "I want to make a good first impression." Syaoran smiled at her.

"Don't get too worked up." Nadeshiko saluted him.

"Hai!"
Thanks to all reviewers! Sorry for the delay, again. REVIEW!!

Next chapter is titled: Two Girls, One Boy. I daresay you'll find it interesting.