A/N: Hi people! Wow. I never thought I'd get 103 reviews! Thanks to all! Sorry for the delay...school, you know...

shizuka03: it IS based on the Korean Drama Glass Shoes/Slippers.
Nisha: No offense, but did you read ALL of the 6th chapter? Syaoran says, "What are you doing here? And why are did you dye your hair and wear contacts?" in the 6th chapter, near the end. Which means that he recognizes her.
hot chocolate: don't worry, I won't use it. The idea IS kind of sad...and I'm also kinda confused too. o.O But that's just me. Arigatou!
Mariko: Yes, Manami is SO bad, but she won't have imaginary monsters going after her...sorry. She'll get her punishment, don't worry.
ANYBODY WHO KEEPS ASKING WHEN SAKURA WILL REMEMBER WHO SHE IS: Geez! Be PATIENT will you? If I made her remember so quickly, would there be a storyline? Would it be interesting anymore? If anybody asks me that one more time, I WILL make her remember and see what a bad story you made me write. If I hurry it up, it won't be good anymore. SO STOP ASKING! PLEASE!!

CinderSakura

By: Lotus Dreams


Chapter 9: Two Girls, One Boy

Manami's new white shiny high heels clicked against the marble floor as she strutted up the stairs. She wore a short expensive jean skirt with frills at the hem and an expensive navel-showing cleavage-showing -.- tsk, tsk. Dirty girl. Cleavage? purple velvet tank top, with a rose sewn onto one of the straps. On her wrists were many gold and silver bracelets, plus diamond earrings and a matching necklace. She clutched a white leather purse with at least 5000000 yen in it O.O 5000000 yen? :faints: and several brand new credit cards.

She clicked up another staircase, and into a carpeted hallway, so her heels didn't click anymore, but it was full of workers--especially MALE workers. Many of them checked her out as she passed the confidently. One even asked her out on a date. She only batted her curled . curled? :smacks head: eyelashes at him and kept walking. When she reached a set of double doors labeled 'Boss's Office', she opened her purse, took out a card, and swiped it through a card scanner, so Mr. Kinomoto could acknowledge who she was.

A second later, a speaker under the card scanner said, "Come in." The doors were unlocked.

Manami stepped in, smiling with her glossy lipstick-covered lips. "Ohayo, ojii-sanHi, grandfather," she said cheerfully as she clicked towards him, sitting down. Mr. Kinomoto looked up at her and frowned.

"Sakura-chan, why are you wearing such skin-showing clothes?"

"Ojii-chan, these are the latest styles. They are wonderfully in."

"Still, as the sister of Touya and my granddaughter, you are expected to dress more appropriately." Manami lowered her head.

"Hai, ojii-chan."

"You can wear them if you like in your spare time, but please, not in the company."

"Hai, ojii-chan."

A small screen at the corner of Mr. Kinomoto's desk lit up. A twelve digit number was displayed as well as a name: 192511518140 Syaoran Li.

"Ah. Syaoran's here." Under the screen were some keys. One had 'Access Accepted' and 'Access Denied' written on it. Mr. Kinomoto pressed 'Access Accepted'. The door opened, and Syaoran Li stepped in.

Manami instantly turned towards him, smiling. Her outfit was absolutely smashing, and she hoped it would catched his eye.

However, Syaoran did not even glance at her as he walked to Mr. Kinomoto and bowed respectfully. "Kinomoto-sama." Mr. Kinomoto nodded at him.

"Li-san."

Syaoran handed him a translucent pink, green, white, blue, and yellow duotang. "These are the response we received from the five major countries. The United States seems to be most eager to negotiate with us, though not Korea."

"Arigatou, Li-san," replied Mr. Kinomoto. "I will look at them and make a decision."

"Hai."

"You can go now."

"Hai." Syaoran bowed again and left.

"JA NE, SYAORAN!" screamed Manami as loud as she could. Mr. Kinomoto jumped a mile.

"Kami-samamy god, Sakura!" he scolded. "What were you thinking? I know Syaoran Li is a handsome boy, but can't you control yourself?"
Nadeshiko typed away furiously at the computer, trying to copy down the document exactly as a co-worker, Akina, had instructed her. She had to make sure the font was right, the size was right, the characters were readable, and every minute or so she had to revise to make sure she was right.

After about half an hour, she was finished. She printed it out and stuck it into her folder.

There were about three or four workers left. Nadeshiko sighed.

"Damn. Now I have to wait until all of them go."

Eriol Hiirigizawa walked up to her, smiling. "Hey, Kinomoto-san. It's seven already, why aren't you going home?"

Nadeshiko smiled at her friend. "My work shift ends when everybody goes home. I'm the last worker--excluding the janitors that is--to leave."

"Oh," replied Eriol. "Well, don't tired yourself out."

"I won't," said Nadeshiko, smiling.

At eight, all the office workers cleared out. Nadeshiko could finally go home. When she gathered up her things, she felt a tap on the shoulder. She turned around...

...and came face to face with none other than Syaoran Li.

Nadeshiko felt her cheeks heat up. Good thing it was dark!

"Oh, ohayo, Li-san," said Nadeshiko, her voice unusually high. She hated it when she sounded so stupid!

"Ohayo, Nadeshiko," said Syaoran softly. "Why aren't you going?"

"I am. I'm just...packing up my stuff."

"Did you eat dinner yet?"

"Iieno."

"Would you mind if I--?"

"Iie. I mean, hai, hai. Yes, I WILL mind if you take me to dinner again. Li-san, I appreciate what you have done for me, but really, it's not necessary to spend money on me. I--"

"You said iie. Therefore, I can take you." Before Nadeshiko could protest further, Syaoran grabbed her things, steered her out of the building and dragged her into the nearest expensive restaurant.

Syaoran ordered dumplings and ate hungrily. Nadeshiko, however, did not touch anything, even though she would practically die of hunger any minute. She pushed her plate away. Syaoran looked up.

"What's wrong? They're not yummy when they're cold, you know."

"I can't eat them."

"Why?"

"I'm allergic to dumplings."

Syaoran put his chopsticks down slowly. "That's funny. I remember a couple of days ago you were telling me a story about how you loved to eat dumplings."

Nadeshiko averted her eyes. "I'm sorry. I lied to you. I never really liked dumplings, they always made my tongue swell and made my face get rashes; I only told you that story to make you think I was cute." Internally, Nadeshiko slapped herself. What a STUPID lie!

"O-kay..." Syaoran then pushed his bowl away. "If you're not eating, then I'm not eat--"

"No! Please don't!" Nadeshiko burst out. Syaoran looked at her strangely. "Keep...Keep eating. Don't. Please. I don't like it."

"If you eat."

"I told you, I'm allergic to dumplings!"

"How can somebody be allergic to dumplings?!"

"I am!"

"How can you be?"

"How do you know I can't be?"

"Because dumplings are too good to be allergic to!"

"Then eat!" Nadeshiko pushed Syaoran's bowl towards him, and it slid across the table until Syaoran caught it. Nadeshiko's eyes softened. "Eat it. Please."

It was really weird for Nadeshiko to act the way she was acting. Over one little thing. Syaoran had already suspected that Nadeshiko's 'allergy' was just an excuse to not let him spend money on her...but why? There were tons of girls out there waiting for him to spend money on them! Why not Nadeshiko?
When Syaoran paid for the meal, he walked Nadeshiko back to the company. However, when they reached the bus stop, Syaoran wheeled her around to the parking lot. Nadeshiko cried out, "Li-san!"

"Call me Syaoran."

"Syaoran-san! What are you doing?"

Syaoran stopped dragging and smiled at her. "It's nine, right now, and the streets are as dark as the night, even with lights. Are you really going to take the bus home at this time of the hour?"

"Hai, nazeyeah, why?"

"No you're not," said Syaoran, his eyes twinkling. "I'll give you a ride."

"Syaoran-san--no--iie--please--onegai--STOP--Syaoran--" Syaoran was so much stronger than she was, and seated her inside his car. Still smiling, he backed out of the parking space, and drove towards Tomoyo's house.

When they reached Tomoyo's house, Syaoran turned his car off and opened the door for Nadeshiko. She stepped out. Her head was down again, and she seemed really...upset about something.

"Arigatou gozaimasu," she said softly. She stepped forward, past Syaoran's broad shoulders.

"Am I that frightening?" Syaoran burst out suddenly. Nadeshiko stopped.

"Why would you think that?" she asked quietly.

"You're always avoiding me. At work, at dinner, and you never speak that much outside of work, especially when you're with me. Am I that frightening?"

"No," replied Nadeshiko at once, "you're not frightening. You've got the wrong idea."

"If I don't scare you, then why do you avoid me?"

Nadeshiko remained silent. How should she explain it? That her cheeks always went red when he was around her? That her heart beat ten times as fast when he was in sight? That her mind went wistful and dreamy when she saw him? That she had trouble meeting his gaze? That she felt crazy when she was around him and had to bottle it all up?

"Do you hate me?"

"Iie!" cried Nadeshiko forcefully, whirling around.

"Then why did you refuse to let me buy you dinner? Why did you make up that stupid excuse about the dumplings? If it's not hatred, then what is it?"

"I--"

"I what? I just want to know the truth, Nadeshiko. It doesn't matter if you hate me or not, or if I scare you or not; whatever you say about me, I can accept it. Trust me."

How could she say it? It was totally impossible to say how she was feeling inside!

"I don't hate you, Li-san. You don't frighten me, either. I swear."

Nadeshiko sounded so innocent, so quiet, so shy...Syaoran could help himself. His passion died away. Nadeshiko had that effect on him.

"If you don't hate me," he said softly, "and you're not scared of me, either...then...are you afraid you like me then?"

For once in her life, Nadeshiko didn't know how to answer. Could she? Even if she DID like him, she would never admit it.

The silence was deafening.

"Gomensorry," Nadeshiko whispered, "I have to go."

Then she ran.
Manami saw her go. She cursed under her breath. That stupid dirty female dog! How DARE she steal away Syaoran! That was just totally rude!

She rose from her hiding place in the bushes, brushed off a couple of leaves, and marched up to Syaoran. She punched him on the shoulder. Syaoran whirled around.

"You!" she yelled at him. "How can you like someone OTHER than me? Look at me! What do you see in Nadeshiko that is so attractive? Huh?! HUH? HUH?!! Tell me!" she screamed. Syaoran looked mildly surprised.

"Miss Kinomoto, have you been drinking or something?"

"I'M NOT DRUNK!" screeched Manami. "I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU SEE IN NADESHIKO THAT IS SO MUCH SPECIAL THAN ME! LOOK AT ME! I'M THE SISTER OF TOUYA KINOMOTO AND THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF YOUR BOSS! I CAN GIVE YOU MILLIONS OF YEN A DAY! ALL I ASK IS FOR YOU TO LOVE ME! WHY ARE YOU WITH NADESHIKO? WHY?!"

"What's going on?" Syaoran wanted to know. "What are you talking about? Have you mistaken me for your boyfriend?"

"IIIIIEEEEEEE!" bellowed Manami. "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, SYAORAN LI! AND I--I--" Manami was going crazy. Whenever somebody else was after a guy she thought was hot, cool, or darn attractive, she went insane when she saw them together. Without thinking, Manami grabbed Syaoran, and smashed her lips onto his.

Syaoran's eyes widened and struggled to push Manami off. He struck Manami's shoulder and stepped back. Manami's lipstick was smeared, and she was breathing heavily. Syaoran's eyes danced with fire.

"Listen, Sakura Kinomoto," he said dangerously, "I don't know why you're so--so overemotional right now, but you just don't come up to me and kiss me like that! You may be my boss's granddaughter, but that gives you no excuse to molest me! Now if you'll pardon me, I have to get home." With a disgusted look on his face, Syaoran wiped his mouth, climbed into his car, and drove off.

Manami burst into tears.
Later that night, Nadeshiko went to check the mail. She took everything out of the mailbox and found one note addressed to her. She unfolded it.

TO: NADESHIKO KINOMOTO

FROM: YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW, FILTH!

MESSAGE:

Stay.

Away.

From.

My.

Syaoran.

Ooh...Manami sends her warning. REVIEW! (And I'll update faster)