I dedicate this chapter to all the readers especially to these special people who read and reviewed my other stories as well: Syaoran's Tenshi Itsumademo, Sapphire Midnight, Sakura Lover, Rachie-chan, Sakura and Zenin. And to those I've missed, you guys know who you are. Your reviews serve to fuel me up for yet another hardwork to be poured and labored for all of you. Again, Arigatou ^_^.
CHAPTER FOUR
MEMORIES AND ACQUAINTANCES
"Oniichan!" An excited shriek escaped from Sakura's lips as soon as she saw her tall brother waiting in the arrival area, along with dozens of other expectant people.
"Hey," Touya said casually sounding so nonchalant but nevertheless, his eyes showed happiness upon seeing her. "Welcome to Tokyo!"
"Arigatou." Sakura replied. True to his brotherly fashion, Touya immediately ruffled Sakura's hair in an affectionate way before carrying her suitcase. As they walk towards the parking lot where he parked his car, Sakura keeps glancing amusingly at her brother while her eyes traveled up and down his whole body.
"Oi, what are you looking at?" He asked consciously before opening the door for her.
"Nothing." She grinned. "You just looked more handsome, I guess."
Touya frowned at her compliment. "What happened to you, flattering me all of a sudden?
Sakura sat comfortably in the front seat as soon as her brother settled her bags at the back.
"Really, you look different. Somehow you look more dignified." She joked, and Touya immediately gave her a side glance as a reply. "Living in Tokyo actually did something good to you."
"If you're working as hard as I am, you'll learn how to dress and look properly." Touya chuckled. "But hey, I'm still the same old Oniichan that you knew! And I guess, you're still pretty much the same kaijuu I left almost a year ago!"
Instinctively, she answered back her brother with a wailing, "I am not a kaijuu!!!" before giving him her venomous glare. Upon such actions, the two siblings ended up laughing as their bickering reminded them of those moments they've had growing up together.
"You know, even though you call me kaijuu and I absolutely hate it, surprisingly, I kind of miss hearing that expression from you." Sakura said softly, a small smile playing on her lips as she reminisces those days she had with her brother.
"And I miss saying that expression, too." Touya smirked. "I actually called my boss 'kaijuu' silently to myself, but it certainly doesn't fit him. He's off with something worse than that. 'Kaijuu' suits you much better."
At that, Sakura couldn't help laughing. "Is your boss that bad?"
"No." He answered. "But every employee thinks of their boss that way."
Sakura's mind suddenly drifted off as she imagined what her boss would be like. Even though she'll only be working part-time, she's really determined to give it her best shot since, it will help add up to her experience before she could finally venture out to the real world when she graduated
"Speaking of bosses, do you know anything about that company I'll be working to?" Sakura asked.
"Not much. All I know is that they're a big successful company specializing in the fields of computers and those stuffs." Touya informed her, his eyes never leaving the road infront as he drives. "You don't have to worry that much, you're only be working for a month as a trainee. And you're only assigned in the documentation section which means all you have to do is type or double check certain documents given to you. To say the least, your job is fairly easy but at the same time quite important too."
"Well, I'm really excited already." Her eyes sparkled in anticipation. "But you still have to help me familiarize with the place first. Or else, I will get lost around here."
"Of course. Anyway, it's only Friday today and we have the whole weekend to ourselves. I could take you to all the important landmarks here and those places that you need to know."
"Don't forget to take me to the mall! I have to go shopping!"
Touya snorted. "Women and shopping. How typical of my little sister. Don't worry, I'll take you to the mall too."
"Arigatou!" She answered appreciatively.
"Anyway, with all of these talking, I actually forgot to ask you how the flight went."
"The flight's very much okay but," Sakura's beautiful face scowled remembering a certain incident. "my arrival was not."
"What do you mean?"
"It was actually not a big deal." She shrugged. "It just so happens to be that I bumped into a certain jerk and that he decided to blame all the incident to me."
"So what did you do?"
"Of course, I answered him back!" She answered haughtily. "You know me, I don't usually let my temper get the best of me but at that time I couldn't help myself!"
Touya laughed amusingly, finding the whole situation funny. He certainly can't imagine her friendly and nice sister blowing her head off about some guy she just bumped into the airport.
"You know Sakura, sometimes those flights can stressed out a person." He informed. "So you really can't blame the guy if he's that bad-tempered. But, it's still not enough of an excuse for him to get all angry at such little incident and embarrass you."
"Hai. You could say that." Sakura smiled sheepishly. "Although, it is also partly my fault that we ended up bumping into each other. I was busy looking around the airport the same way as he is busy with something else!"
"Some kaijuu you are." He joked.
A few minutes later, Sakura noticed the change in her surroundings as Touya steered the car to the right, entering a street lined up with condo buildings and apartment.
"We're almost near." Touya announced as Sakura eagerly look outside the window.
And how right her brother was. It actually didn't take them long before Touya pulled the car beside a building and they went out to see his place. In a matter of few minutes, the two were already up in his well-furnished condo while Sakura is busy marveling around Touya's place.
"Sugoi!" Sakura gushed. "You have such a cool place here, Oniichan. I never thought you'll be this big here in Tokyo!"
"What do you think of your brother? Don't you have faith in me that I will succeed?" Touya asked, mocking a look of bewilderment.
"Iie! Of course, I know you'll succeed! I guess I'm just kind of really astounded and awed at your place." She smiled. "And I bet that the price you pay for the rent of this condo must be pretty high."
"Not really. The company pays for all of these." He said proudly.
"Honto ni? That's cool! You must be really such a great engineer!"
"I guess so." Touya shrugged but obviously, his cheeks are slightly flushing from happiness because of Sakura's praise about his job. Touya don't usually talk much about his job but actually, he's really one important guy in their company and one of those who were considered as an asset to them. It is not surprising for him however, to manage to become successful in hic career because Touya is an intelligent and very determined guy.
"Arigatou. Now why don't you unpack you clothes already?" He suggested. "Come on, I'll take you to your room."
"Where will you sleep?"
"I have two rooms. One for me and the other is for the visitors which is a bit small." He answered. "I'll let you take my room and I'll sleep in the visitors' room."
"You don't have to be so nice." Sakura joked.
"Ha! Who says I'm being nice?" Touya smirked. "In return, I'll assign you to be the one who's going to cook our meals!"
"Oniichan!" Sakura's lips pursed in disagreement. "Okay, why don't we take turns in doing that?"
"Why would we do that?"
"Because it's only fair. You know, sort of like our tasks back in Tomoeda?"
Touya sighed finally accepting his sister's offer partly because he's already tired to argue and partly because he really can't say 'no' to her. Especially when he actually misses Sakura although he doesn't want to admit it.
"Oh, okay." He reluctantly said. "But hurry up kaijuu so we could get moving now. You need some rest because we're going to lots of places tomorrow before you work."
~~~~~~~~~~
As Sakura entered the elegant building and very modernized office, she immediately felt again a sudden rush of anticipation welling up inside her body. And she also couldn't help but feel a little nervous about working as a trainee in this company. Sakura is very grateful that her father was able to get her a job in this big company because she knew how successful companies such as these don't usually accept trainees easily. It's just a good thing that her father has lots of friends and connections.
In fact, her previous weekend with her brother was spent on getting around the place and familiarizing herself with it. And that includes, of course the building where she will work for a month. Last Saturday, she even had the opportunity to meet the guy whom her father knows. It was only by chance that they've met him because, as they walked around this building while Sakura memorize its name and location, a very professional looking guy stepped out of its huge doors. Touya immediately recognized the guy as Mr. Cheung, whom Sakura eventually found out as the head of the company's Accounting Department. Upon a brief invitation to the coffee house which the two siblings reluctantly accepted, Sakura learned that her boss was on vacation for a month and that fortunately for her, Mr. Cheung got to be assigned as the officer-in-charge in the department she'll be working at. At least, that got her out of her worries having a kaijuu, as what Touya said, for a boss.
Sakura smoothed out casually her skirt as she went infront of the receiving desk to inform them that she'll be starting her work already.
"Good morning." She smiled. "Kinomoto, Sakura."
"Good morning, ma'm. Please wait for a minute." After typing some words and glancing at the sleek-looking computer, the attendant looked up and smiled at her. "You'll be reporting in the Documentation Department, which is located on the third floor. Mr. Cheung said to expect you there."
"Thank you very much." She replied gratefully as she walked near the elevators that will take her up. As soon as she reached the place that she is supposed to go to, Sakura took a deep breath first before opening the door.
"Ms. Kinomoto!" A man in his early fifties immediately greeted Sakura upon seeing her when she entered the large, busy office.
"Mr. Cheung, good morning." She greeted politely.
"Ah, yes, good morning to you too." He smiled as he walks infront of her, motioning for her to follow him. "Let's go first to my office so I could give you additional briefing on your work."
As soon as she reached Mr. Cheung's professional and well-furnished office, her assigned boss immediately talk about some important details regarding her work. Touya was right that all she has to do is type and double-check some certain documents.
"Don't worry, the documents that we usually give to trainees are not that much of an importance." He smiled. "Unless of course, we have certain rush works wherein additional manpower is needed then, we could give very important documents for trainees to hold. But otherwise, you'll just be checking about certain letters, minor accounts and some stuffs. Anyway, if you have any questions, just feel free to ask me, okay?"
"Hai, Sir." Sakura replied.
"And I also found out yesterday that the company also employed another trainee in the documentation of papers." He informed. "He's already working on his cubicle, but I've already sent off my secretary to call him and let him come up here so that you could meet him."
Sakura's cheeks blushed a little, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
"He's already working, sir? Am I late already?" She asked nervously.
Mr. Cheung chuckled softly. "No, Ms. Kinomoto. You've arrived just in time. It's just that this partner of yours arrived here very early."
"Partner?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. You'll be working together to ease your load."
The office door opened and a guy about the same age as her stepped inside.
"Here he is." Mr. Cheung smiled broadly as the two of them stood up. "Mr. Li allow me to introduce your partner for this job, Ms. Kinomoto. Ms. Kinomoto, this is Mr. Li."
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise.
Syaoran's face smirked in recognition.
And as soon as their eyes met up and look into each other, both immediately blurted out the same word instinctively.
"You?!?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
kotsch
A/N: Reviews are very much needed for inspirations. Arigatou!