STARTING OVER

Sakura stared languidly outside the window of her bus, a preoccupied look registered on her face. One would misjudge her guise as that of interest as her eyes bore a glance at her other co-employees chattering animatedly outside the bus, obviously in no hurry to get inside.

She sighed. Again.

Lately, she'd become more of this dazed, unsure and moody girl. Even Touya noticed her shift in moods. And she absolutely hated it. Ever since that jerk of a man, Li Syaoran, kissed her and admitted to her how attracted he was to her, she felt confounded inside. She damn hated him for making her look this confused and gullible.

She vividly remembered that night. How she managed to walked out on him when she just realized how he kissed so damn well, still surprised her. But she knew she should never sell herself short. If there's anything she should be proud of, it had to be her self-control.

Sakura fidgeted in her seat as she remembered Syaoran calling out her name as she ran away from him. It was a cowardly thing to do, really, but she just couldn't accept the fact that she might be also attracted to him. She couldn't let herself fall for the player. She should know better than that. For she was once in the same league as he is.

It happened almost a week ago. And ever since that night, Syaoran has not yet been seen at the premises of the office. It just conveniently happened that he need to return to wherever he came from to attend to something important, which she found out later on, from their boss.

She didn't know by then if she should be pleased or not with his sudden disappearance. One night, he's kissing her and then the next day he's gone.

She glanced at the empty seat beside her. She need not bother for someone to chat with throughout the entire trip to some resort that their company is taking them for the company outing. She couldn't care less.

Her eyes fluttered lazily as sleep crept its way slowly to her tired body and restless mind. Before she closed her eyes, she vaguely noticed her co-employees finally stepping inside, probably knowing that it's already time for them to depart. The bus was immediately filled with voices, hushed and excited at the same time, but that didn't stir her. Their voices seemed to lull her more as she dozed off, her mind slowly shutting down to everything that's happening around her.

"Is this seat already taken?"

Sakura heard someone asked her, or she thought she heard someone. It was really hard to distinguish if she's dreaming or not, what with her eyes closed and everything.

"…No." she answered absentmindedly. She swore she actually felt her lips moved as she answered in her dream.

"Mind if I sit beside you?"

Sakura slightly moved her head, in hoped that it resembled a gesture of 'No'. She doesn't really care. She just wanted to sleep.

"Arigatou." The man replied gratefully. She felt the sudden shift of weight in her seat, and wondered for a fleeting moment if she really is dreaming. But in just a few seconds, any thoughts of 'if she's dreaming or not' was tossed aside, as she silently slumbered in a peaceful sleep.

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Syaoran quietly took a glimpse at her bus' 'seatmate'.

He watched as she shifted her weight slightly to the other side, resting her head gently against the window. Her chests rose steadily in synch with the slow rhythm of her breath, oblivious that her seatmate has taken a liking out of surveying her.

Syaoran's lips molded into a small smile, as he watch her head banging slightly against the glass, as they took on a slightly rough road. But it seemed like she didn't care for her only response was a slight grunt and then in an instant she was once again lost in her own lala-land.

Silly girl . He noted to his self mentally.

He tore his eyes off her and adjusted his position so he could rest his back against the seat comfortably.

He didn't know why he bothered to go to the company's outing. He just came back from Hongkong last night, exhausted from the previous engagement his mother had set him up with. He couldn't help rolling his eyes as he remembered how his mother pleaded to him how important it is for him to be there, as his mother played hostess to some country's ambassador and his family as they visited Hongkong. If he didn't know any better, his mother just wanted him to meet the ambassador's daughter.

"She's a Harvard student. Taking up Law." He could almost hear his mother's voice practically gushing in his ear as he recalled the way she introduced Alaine, (the ambassador's daughter) almost as if it was her own child.

He frowned slightly. Since when did my mother decided to be the matchmaker?

But he suddenly remembered her reply to his question.

It's about time you get serious with a girl. I'm hoping that you would stop messing around with women, Syaoran!

Syaoran winced slightly, as if he just remembered how shrill his mother's voice could get once she got all piss off.

He closed his eyes half-heartedly, slightly hoping he'll enjoy this break. He came here to Japan to take some time off from 'limelight' back at his good old University, but he never expected he'll meet someone like Sakura.

She was one of the few women, or most probably, the only woman, who absolutely loathed her. So okay, it was his fault that she wasn't able to get a good first impression of him, but he never thought that someone would get so all worked up with irritation just by mere presence of him. He must admit, he found it funny and charming at the same time, as he recalled how her emerald eyes would sparkle with palpable hatred of him.

Syaoran grumbled slightly as he remembered that kiss he stole from her and the soft lips he felt against his lips. He hadn't meant for it to happen, really, but the intensity of her dislike emanated waves of challenge, as if she was almost taunting him. And he, Syaoran Li, was born for challenges. He thrived, need, want, lived for challenged.

He briefly reflected at the back of his mind why most of his relationships fail, cause as much as he hated to admit it, most often than not, he sometimes see women as a hurdle to be made.

Oh god, I am an egoistical jerk. He couldn't help agreeing at what Meiling told him before.

He felt someone unintentionally placing her head in the soft mold of his right shoulder. His eyes twitched in slight surprise as her hair brushed the side of his neck. He awkwardly brushed it off and wondered if he should wake her up so she could readjust herself or just let it be.

But he need not to, because a few seconds after, the bus halted, signaling that they've already reached their destination. And about the same time, as if she knew they were already there, his seatmate stirred groggily, already awakened by the growing noise of the other passengers as they gathered and prepare their belongings.

Syaoran watched with interest as he saw her face flushed with embarrassment as she realized her head has been resting on his shoulder. Her eyes were still partly closed, not quite sure whether she would stay awake or stay asleep.

She opened her eyes, with as much force as she could (as he noticed), looking back at him passively, her gaze a bit unsteady, coming off from a deep sleep.

He slowly stood up.

She slowly stood up.

"Oh my god..Li—!"

Syaoran knew she was already fully awake by now.

"Hey, Kinomoto."

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Sakura chastised herself silently for being so groggy that she was stupid enough to not realize that she wasn't dreaming when somebody asked for the seat next to her. And it just happened to be her luck, that it had to be none other than the guy who's been haunting her thoughts lately.

"Why are you here?" Smooth, Sakura. Really, smooth.

She winced at the first unintelligent sentence that she could formulate.

Syaoran trudged beside her, scanning the surroundings around them.

The resort was good, high-class to be exact, as she herself hastily scanned the area, not failing to notice the elegant building, the expanse swimming pool and the vast sea behind it, from afar.

He turned to look at her, his eyes blocked by the sunglasses he's wearing.

"I think I also work here."

"No. Why did you have to come back?" She asked impulsively, biting her lip. She hoped she was not really that rude.

She could feel his eyes penetrating through the tinted lens of his glasses. She shifted uncomfortably. She was not pleased.

Sakura placed her hands on her hips and raised one eyebrow at him, sending a furious glare, in his direction.

"So?"

She tilted her head to one side. Syaoran couldn't help but noticed how cute she was when she does that.

He smirked at the recent object of his infatuation.

"Because.I.Want.To."

Syaoran walked away from the woman whose face is suddenly shifting to that all-too-familiar look of hostility reserved only for him.

One look. And he knew he just have to walk away. Or else, he could end up kissing her. Again.

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Sakura flopped herself at the soft mattress of her bed, inhaling the scent of the fresh sheets, grateful for the privacy.

Her eyes flickered at the empty bed beside her, wondering who her roommate was, half-hoping that it'd be someone she could actually get along with. They will be stuck with each other for three nights and four days and having a monster for a roommate is definitely the last thing on her mind.

As if on cue, the door to the room opened slightly, made a creaking sound, and Sakura immediately bolted upright, trying to seat casually at her bed.

"Hello..?"

A tentative voice asked, as Sakura heard her small steps echoing across the room.

Sakura put on a smile and stood up, preparing to welcome her roommate.

"Hi—" Sakura halted as she was a bit surprised at the familiar face standing infront of her. Her smile widened. "Ema!"

Ema looked as glad as she was and gave her the same smile.

"Glad to know you're going to be my roommate, Sakura." She chuckled quietly as she wheeled her suitcase beside her bed. "I'm hoping that it's someone nice to be with. I'm just plain glad that it happened to be you."

"Yeah, me too." She nodded in agreement. "Where's your two other friends?"

"You mean Tara and Mae?" Ema glanced at her sideways as she proceeded to open her luggage and surveyed her clothes. "Damn lucky they get to be roommates on this outing."

"Oh, really? Mou, that's too bad you weren't with them."

"Silly, we all know only two persons are allowed per room." Ema grinned. "But I'm still glad, cause at least, I get to be stuck with you. Now's a nice time to get to know each other better, eh?"

Sakura chuckled. Maybe this trip is going to turn a bit better for her, she supposed.

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"Let's officially start the p-aaarty!"

Clapping ensued as the host gleefully announced the official start of the four-long company relaxation, in which, almost a hundred employees got to enjoy.

Her eyes scanned the flock of people bustling their way towards the buffet table, probably hungry after a day of swimming at the beach or the pool. Sakura was in no mood to take a dip in either of the beach or pool, and she ended up watching a few movies on their room, courtesy of the hotel's cable, even though Tara, Mae and Ema was persuading her to come.

She came up with lazy excuse of 'I'm having a headeache' (adding a little grimace, to make it believable) and not before long, they've given up their ways of trying to convince her to come.

But she eventually realized later on that she's being a hell of a bore so she decided to drop by at the party tonight and decided she should go have a look at the various people attending the same company outing.

"Hey-hey Sakura!"

Sakura whirled her head around slightly, trying to place the source of the voice.

"Over here!"

She tried to stifle a laugh as she saw Tara waving her hand happily at her. The sight of a sophisticated woman, wearing a deep-red halter top and skirt, practically bouncing at the sight of her, somehow looked amusing.

"Hi guys," Sakura smiled at the trio (Ema, Tara and Mae) as she approached their table.

"Are you feeling any better now?" Mae was the first to speak up.

"Uh-huh" was all her reply.

Sakura took a seat as she gingerly adjusted the hem of her one-piece summer dress, noticing how she's slightly underdressed as compared to the clothes the Tara and Mae were wearing.

"So how's it going Sakura? How's work?" Mae continued to ask.

"Oh, it's fine. Just fine." She smiled nonchalantly, as she tried to erase unwanted thoughts of that amber-eyed partner of hers.

Ema shook her head in disbelief. "Can't believe we only have one week left after this outing before the training program ended."

Sakura jolted slightly at that realization. She never realized how time flew by so fast. Her one-month long stay in Tokyo is already nearing its end and she couldn't helped but feel a bit sad, knowing that she's going to leave her brother and Yukito behind.

"Yeah, you got that right Ema." Tara sighed loudly. "Too bad I wasn't able to snag a date from my crush—" she stopped abruptly as though a sudden realization dawned on her. Tara whipped her head towards Sakura's direction, her ash-blonde hair swaying in time with her movement.

"How's Li?" She suddenly asked.

Sakura groaned inwardly. She was trying hard not to think or speak anything with regards to him and yet it seemed that it is inevitable.

"He's still alive, if that's what you mean." She joked half-heartedly.

Tara and Mae giggled on her cynicism while Ema just smiled quietly.

"Is he dating anyone?" Mae added helpfully. Tara leaned in closer to her for her answer.

Sakura tapped her foot, slightly getting impatient. She can't help but wonder why girls fell for him!

Yeah, as if you haven't kissed the guy! Another voice popped inside her head.

Instinctively, she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block the nagging voice at the back of her mind. Egads, she must be going crazy.

"You okay, Sakura?" Ema's concerned voice broke her thoughts and she immediately opened her eyes and saw three girls looking back at her with a combination of worried, flustered and hopeful (Tara's and Mae's ) faces.

"Not that I know of." She finally replied, mentally adding to herself that she doesn't actually care.

Silent giggles followed afterwards at her reply. She fought the urge to roll her eyes and saw at the corner of her eyes the embarrassed look that registered on Ema's face.

"Do you know what exactly is Li looking for in a girl?" Tara smiled at her expectantly, as if she was expecting her to say: 'Someone like you.' .

"Err—" she started.

"He likes someone who's stubborn, hard-headed, hated him since she first laid her eyes on him and looked as if she won't back down on a fight." Someone interjected helpfully, who probably saw the helpless look on her face at the question that was thrown at her.

Sakura could see the color drained on Tara's cheeks as she saw the guy who apparently overheard their conversation.

And when she saw Syaoran standing behind her, looking handsome at the expensive polo shirt and jeans he's wearing, she literally felt as if her cheeks were turning into a ghastly color of white as well.

"Uh,hi..Syaoran..I mean Li." Tara stuttered. Mae's eyes looked a bit shocked at the fact that their crush is standing right next to them.

To Sakura's surprise, Li replied with a polite 'Hello' before deciding to look at her, his eyes piercing right through hers. She diverted her gaze away from him, focusing on Tara's mortified face.

"Kinomoto."

"Yes?" It was all she could do to prevent herself from retorting some catty reply.

"I need to talk to you about something."

"Can't it wait?"

"No." Syaoran replied firmly. There's no sense of urgency in his voice but one could not deny he's really serious.

She inhaled her breath, silently wishing Syaoran could just drop dead right now. She stood up slowly, an apologetic look on her face for the trio, silently scolding herself for acknowledging Syaoran's 'plea.'

"Thank you girls," She smiled quietly at them. Ema just nodded and smiled, acknowledging the fact that Syaoran wanted to talk to her. As for Tara and Mae, she didn't even know if they heard her; for they was probably occupied at the though that their ultimate crush was just standing near them. Sakura almost snorted at that fact.

She followed Syaoran's lead as he walked ahead of her. She didn't know where he was taking her or why he needed to talk to her. But she knew she's even more stupid because she still went with him.

As they reached the beachfront, which is almost deserted, except for a few couples strolling for a walk or cuddling up infront of the crashing waves of the sea, Syaoran decided to stop.

Sakura cringed a little as she warily noticed that couples are the only ones left in this area.

"So?" she blurted, hurrying to get this done as soon as possible. "What do you want to say to me?"

She heard him exhaled. She took a furtive glance at the dimly lighted face of Syaoran's.

"I would just like to…apologize."

Sakura almost choked.

"What?"

"No need to get so excited." Syaoran almost grinned at the astounded look of Sakura's face. But all of that was replaced a few seconds after, as her eyes narrowed doubtfully at him.

"Why are you saying that? Why are you apologizing?"

He swallowed a small lump in his throat. He never was really good at these things.

"I apologize for…" he slowly started. "…for kissing you that night."

Sakura could feel her heart slowly crushing against her own will. She shouldn't be feeling this way. She know she shouldn't.

Her mouth formed a small 'Oh' but no words came out. She brushed a strand of hair off her eyes irritatingly, as she grasped the words he just said to her.

Syaoran must've known what she was thinking (Could I be that transparent? Sakura bitterly asked) for he was quick to add : "No, no. It's not what you're thinking."

He tucked in a small strand of her auburn hair helpfully, which she've been struggling to keep in place, as the wind blew gently around them.

"I'm not sorry it happened. If there's anything, I was glad I kissed you.." He paused, suddenly awkward at the last words he just said. "I apologize because it was ungentleman of me to steal it from you, and I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you."

Sakura could actually feel the beating of her heart, drumming loudly against her chess.

"Uh..okay." She replied weakly. "I want to apologize too for walking out on you just like that."

He laughed softly.

"I understand. You have a flair for drama, ever since I met you—"

"I do not!" She cut him off angrily.

Syaoran looked at her face, with her lips pressed tightly together and her brows slightly knitted in annoyance.

"Do you think it would be too much if I asked you to let's start things all over again?"

"What do you mean by that?" her voice strained with slight confusion.

He averted his gaze and idly dug his shoes at the white sand beneath them. He hesitated. He briefly wondered why he's doing this but decided to push through with what he's been thinking for past few days now.

"I wanted us to be friends, Kinomoto and believe it or not, you're the only woman I've ever had such a hard time trying to get along with."

"Maybe you forgot why I loathed you in the first place."

"I do not!" He grunted in exasperation. "I know I'm an annoying, arrogant, stupid git!"

Sakura's lips smiled slightly.

"Are you amused now?" he added. He dug his hands in his jean's pocket in aggravation. He doesn't know why she gets her kick out of making him look stupid. She should know he's already having a hard time doing this; for heaven's sake, she's not even his girlfriend and yet here he is practically hoping she'd forgive him.

"What did you just said?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I am not saying it again. If you—"

Her laugh rang heartily across the beach. It was the first time she laughed like that around him, or because of him, for that matter.

"Okay, okay! I got it already. Sheesssh—" She wiped her eyes which watered due to such amusement. "Apology accepted."

"What about the other one I'm asking you?"

"What other one? Oh-" Sakura added quickly when she saw his face looking tensely at her. She's trying to make the atmosphere light for if she didn't do that, her face would betray the growing nervousness gnawing deep inside her stomach. "So what do you have in mind with regards to…" she scoffed. " …starting over again?"

Syaoran groaned, mocking an embarrassed look at his imaginative choice of words earlier.

"I want to ask you to be my date."

He swore he heard a faint whimper of surprise but as his eyes laid its sight upon the pretty woman standing infront of him, he saw how her mouth was shut tightly, as if fighting the urge to answer his question.

He's almost close to taking back his words when he heard her spoke.

"No. You can't be serious. Is this.." she stammered. "your idea of starting things all over again?"

Syaoran ran a hand though his hair in a hint of exasperation.

"I admit, you were not my type at first." He sneered. "But I found it quite charming how you managed to uphold you're feelings against me."

"Of all the arrogant things to say!"

He took one step forward, as if sizing up her size against him. Sakura could only gape at him in utter disbelief, her mind in awe at such complexity of a man she never thought she would ever meet. She has never met someone as moody, secretive, impulsive and she must admit, as dangerously handsome as Li Syaoran. Unfortunately, he's also one hell of a conceited excuse for a living creature.

"Isn't it that's what you wanted to hear?" His voice almost snarled back at her.

"What?" She asked in confusion.

"I'm beginning to like you. And if you were not so much to be as condescending as you always were when you're around me, I'd think that you'd notice it too." Syaoran glared at her angrily. She watched as he took a few steps back away from her and kicked a few stone pebbles lying across the sand.

"I-" she stopped. She seemed to be at loss for words now.

"But right now, honestly, I don't think you're worthy of it anymore." He snapped.

Sakura's mind reeled at what he just told her. But before she knew what she was doing, she grabbed his hand on impulse, not knowing what she have to say to make him realized how afraid she was of him. For making her feel this much uncertainty with somebody.

"Gomen nasai. I-I didn't mean to say that." She shook her head ruefully. "I just…I'm just confused."

Syaoran stared blankly at the sea infront of them.

"I can't helped it. I mean, you seemed like a player to me and—" she paused, thinking over how inconsiderate of her to say things like that infront of him.

"Kinomoto, look. I'm not saying you marry me or something." He stated, helping her out of her misery because lately, she'd been making a fool of herself for saying things without thinking. "I'm just asking you out on a date!"

Sakura flushed. He's right. Why am I making this thing so damn complicated!

"There's no strings attached between us, Kinomoto. All I'm asking is a date, a chance for us to get to know each other better. And hopefully, sort out the differences between the two of us." Syaoran shooked his head. "I don't know what's the fuss all about."

Sakura recoiled as she suddenly realized she's been holding his hand. She immediately jerked her hand away from his, noticing his eyes darkened slightly.

"You're right." She held her head up high and forced her self to look at him straight in his eyes. "A chance for us to get to know each other better. No strings attached eh? Couldn't be any better." She laughed forcefully, slightly flinching at how fake her voice was.

Syaoran was looking back at her eyes curiously, as if trying to read whatever's going on with her mind. He seemed to give up because a few seconds later, he tore his eyes away from hers but what he did next was something that made Sakura wish he didn't stop looking at her eyes.

His face was so close to hers now, she could feel his breath fanning across her mouth. She almost start to tremble but she decided against it as she tried to will her mind to stop making her body feel like a tremor of emotions had just washed over her, whenever Syaoran was so close to her.

"Good." He said.

Sakura closed her eyes; she almost felt his lips on hers descending any moment now.

"Just to let you know, we're still even."

She blinked her eyes wide open, half expecting his lips still close to hers, but all she could see was his face, whom was now a few good inches away from hers now, a smile playing on his lips playfully.

She couldn't discern whether he's just playing a joke on her or not when he said that.

"Screw the bet." Syaoran muttered just loud enough for her to hear. "I'm just kidding, Kinomoto."

Her lips parted in an amused smile.

kotsch

A/N: I must admit, I'm kind of rushing the story a bit now, wanting this to end as much as you readers are before I go and totally forget how this story is supposed to go. Actually, I kind of forgot the plot already..hehe :sighs: Its hard, and I must admit its not coming off quite as expected but bear with me as I try to finish this fic. I would appreciate your reviews. Thank you :)