I'm back again with another chapter for all of you. This is a bit short but I'm at loss for words right now…my mind's not fully utilizing its potential and I couldn't think of anything to further lengthen the story. Hmmm, yeah…if you might notice, I changed the format of the story so I could get the italics and the bold thing working. However, I still do get some errors like, I couldn't center justify it or that I couldn't get the bold thing properly working, I don't know why that's why it might looked untidy for some of you. I'm hoping that this time, there will be no errors with regards to formatting. ^__^
Anyway, I've decided to do a list of those people I want to thank for. However I could only include those who reviewed in Chapter four since, if I'm going to include all people who reviewed from the start, this list would be a bit long. And I know that you want to get in with the story as soon as possible, right?
Kotsch's thank-you list:
Iyeza – You're the first to review chapter four! Thank you very much for liking the story! Don't worry, I'll continue e-mailing you for any updates on this fic. How about that?
Silver-Cherry – Thank you for reviewing! Is this really a great story? Hmmm…I'm glad you thought so!Lala – Yes, they meet again! You may stop waiting now because I've already uploaded this chapter. ^__^
Summer Rain – Arigatou for regularly reviewing this fic! So you never thought that S+S will meet this way, huh?
Lilyflower – I agree with you on that one: it's definitely kawaii!!! And thanx for reviewing!
Sakurabunnie – I'm so glad to make you laugh. I also think it's funny how they've met. ^__^
Fanny chan – Aaaaaawww….thank you for saying you luv my story! And yes, I'm overwhelmed too by the number of reviews I got!
SAKURA LOVER – Thank you very much for constantly reviewing my fics! And I'm glad you liked the ending of the previous chap!
Pinkgurl_ails – You think this is a cool story? Thank you! *_*
iii_sis – thank you for saying that it was a good chapter! Of course, I'm going to write more!
Syaoran's Tenshi Itsumademo – whoa! A bit hyper there aren't we? Lol! But Arigatou for always reviewing my fic. Ur so sweet! And don't worry, even if you don't threaten me, I will upload a chappy….hmmm…time might varies how fast though. ^_^
Fabi-chan – thanks for ur nice review! Yup, S+S are partners now…wonder what will happen?
Kawaii-Libra-Waziha-chan – thanks for reviewing! I'll try my best to always upload soon!
Bishounen lovah – I love Touya too, you know! *winks* He's definitely hot! And competitions between S+S?!? Hmmm…you will find that out…soon.
Lonely Tenshi – Yes, I'm going to add more chap! Don't worry! ^_^
Tomoyo-chan – Arigatou for ur review. I'm so glad you liked dis fic!
Sapphire Midnight – Thank you for always reviewing the fic! Me so happy you liked it! And you may stop begging now…this is the new chap for you to read. =)
Time Warp – Don't worry about your late review….at least, that's still a review! And thank u for making sure to review this fic!
Litun - *blushes* You love the way I write? That's so sweet of you to say that! And thank you for reviewing!
Azn Gurl 4 3ever – that's definitely fate! And yep, I'll e-mail you again for any upcoming chapters that I'll upload!
e t e r n a – Arigatou gozaimas for reviewing!
~*angel*~ - Me so happy you luved the fic!
Sakurablaze13 – I think that this also getting good by the minute. ^__^ And here's another chap to satisfy you…I hope!
Sahmandah – thank you for always reviewing! Glad you liked dis!
Finally….you could now read the story! I really have lots of people to thank for ^__^
CHAPTER FIVE
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
Syaoran couldn't help raising an eyebrow upon realizing that the woman infront of him, who also happens to be the same person that he bumped into at the airport, is going to be his partner.
Sakura, on the other hand, is basically thinking the same thing. She just couldn't comprehend why, of all people, she get to be paired up with the jerk that she met a few days ago. She felt as if the high heavens above is punishing her for something bad that she did, to which she absolutely has no idea of, for her to meet again this snotty guy. And definitely, meeting again this Li Syaoran didn't change her first impression of him, not even a bit.
"So, you know each other?" Mr. Cheung asked them, a look of surprised on his friendly yet strict face.
At that question, both of them immediately took a casual glance at each other, thinking what they are supposed to say.
Syaoran was the first to speak up.
"Sort of." He cleared his throat. "I just recognized Ms. Kinomoto by her face."
Sakura faked a smile, hoping that their boss wouldn't notice anything odd between the two of them.
"Mr. Li is right, sir. I think we've already met before in a certain place or gathering. We just couldn't remember how and where we saw each other right now but for sure, we've recognized each other."
Obviously, Mr. Cheung didn't suspect anything weird going on. He is so oblivious to the fact that both the company's new trainees are just about ready to practically walk out of his office right now upon learning that they're going to be partners in their job.
"That's good." Mr. Cheung's smile broadened. "Partners should always have a good relationship with each other. At least, knowing or having a little background of each other is a good start."
Syaoran almost choke at his boss' last sentence.
= Good relationship?!? = He silently thought. = If he only knew! =
"Now that everything's settled and that you've already met each other, I think we should go now to your office area so that you could start already with your job assignments." Mr. Cheung said as he stood briskly. "I'll accompany you now to your working area. Of course, Mr. Li already know it but Ms. Kinomoto still haven't that's why I should take you there."
Sakura and Syaoran made a move to follow their boss as he walked out of his office. As they walk slowly to their cubicle, Mr. Cheung pointed out some important places around the working area, making sure that Sakura will remember it.
"In case you forgot these places, your partner could help you around. I think he already knew the place." Mr. Cheung even said to which Sakura silently objected. Asking instructions from Li Syaoran is definitely the last thing on her mind right now.
As they continue to walk along the cubicle-lined office, both Sakura and Syaoran kept a good distance away from each other. The two of them tried their best not to glance at each other, engrossing themselves with their boss' instructions and looking around the employee filled office, all of whom are busy with their own work.
"Here is your assigned cubicle." Mr. Cheung announced when they stop infront of a cubicle, a bit larger and spacious than most cubicle inside the office, as far as Sakura have seen.
"Uh, sir…don't you think this is somewhat big for me?" Sakura couldn't help asking, wondering why she got a bigger cubicle than the other regular employees considering the fact that she's only be working here as a trainee.
"I thought this is my cubicle." Syaoran frowned, thinking differently than Sakura.
"Mr. Li and Ms. Kinomoto, I'm afraid you understood me wrong." Mr. Cheung shook his head gently. "This is not your own cubicle Mr. Li and this is spacious enough for two persons, Ms. Kinomoto. I've decided that since, you're going to be partners, you should only have one working area. And those who are partners in the job always have one cubicle to work in so that they could discuss with each other rather than getting up from their own cubicles just to ask something from each other. "
"So you mean to say, sir…we only have one cubicle for the two of us?" Syaoran asked incredulously.
Their boss nodded. "Yes, of course."
"What?!?" Sakura and Syaoran exclaimed at the same time.
~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later, after Mr. Cheung left them on their own, both Sakura and Syaoran are still not on speaking terms with each other. The two of them just kept in uncomfortable silence, blaming their unfortunate luck and thinking god knows what of each other, while they do their assigned jobs.
"There." Sakura said in a neutral tone, handling the accounting papers to Syaoran without even glancing at him. "Please double check it now, for me. I'm finished typing the figures and computing them again but just to make sure, double check it again."
Syaoran took the paper from her, also not looking at her eyes. When Sakura spoke, he was almost surprise that she managed to talk to him. All he could hear in the past few hours are her sighing and the sound that the keyboard made when she type.
"Are you sure you double checked this one before?" Syaoran asked half an hour later. "Seems like you got a lot of computations wrong."
At that, Sakura couldn't help looking at Syaoran now, her emerald eyes blazing with obvious annoyance in irritation.
" Yes, I double checked it already. Excuse me for having a lot of errors, as what you've said. Because I computed it and typed it too, my eyes might have been mixed up with all of the figures I'm looking at. I'm afraid, Math's not exactly my best subject." She admitted as she takes back the papers from him, looking at those computations which Syaoran said she got wrong.
"A lot?" Sakura snorted as she gave the document a thorough glance. "I only got four wrong computations out of fifty plus computations and that's a lot? Give me credit here, please." She remarked sarcastically.
"That is just basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Even first-graders can do that and they got their answers correct." Syaoran answered haughtily. "Even if you did compute a lot of numbers, you still shouldn't get them wrong. Especially if it's just basic operations."
"Oh, I'm so sorry Mr. I'm-so-good-at-Math-I-cannot-be-wrong!" She hissed softly. "I am just your average person and I do make mistakes too. I'm really sorry if I can't be perfect like you."
Syaoran narrowed his eyes. "I'm not saying anything like that."
"Yeah, of course, you didn't." She said mockingly.
Sakura closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She knew she just couldn't stand being around with him for so long, much more being with him eight hours a day (in our country, that's the basic number of hours an employee should work for about 5 days in a week) for one month! The least they could do is deal with the situation, no matter how hard it is so that they could get their work done fast. If they're always bickering, they won't be able to do anything fruitful in their job.
"Look, I know you don't like me and that I don't like you, too. But, can't we put that aside, at least while we're working and try to do our own jobs as efficiently as possible?" Sakura suggested. "Especially after we've been assigned as partners."
Syaoran looked at her thoughtfully. "I guess you do have a point. We should at least try to be professionals on this job even if we are only trainees."
Sakura nodded appreciatively. "I'm glad you understand me."
Syaoran scowled. "But that doesn't mean we're friends. Don't get the wrong ideas, now."
"As if I want to be your friend!" Sakura glared. "Don't get your hopes too high, please."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
kotsch
A/N: Reviews are very much appreciated. Arigatou everyone!