Hey. New chapter up. Just want to bring to your attention that Sundays are my weekly update day. Any info and stuff until then will be posted on my Bio.
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura. CLAMP does.
Chapter 2: Holiday Interrupted.
The sun shined through the gap under the roller blind at Sakura's slanted window. Sakura's eyes fluttered open. Groaning, she lifted her arm over her head and grabbed the small alarm clock from the shelf above her head. It read eight-thirty. Putting it back, she kicked off her bed sheets and stood up, stretching.
"Mornings are so much better when you don't have to get up at a certain time." She smiled, padding barefoot to the door, and searching under her bed for her slippers.
Appearing downstairs, she called out to her father. Hearing no answer she crossed the hall to the kitchen. Yawning she went over to the fridge, opening it and pulling out a carton of orange juice. As she sleepily closed the fridge door, she noticed the note pinned to it by a magnet.
Gone to work. Finishing early this afternoon. Be back at 3.00. Feel free to do what you like, honey. Love Dad xxx
Sighing, Sakura got some cereal and walked to the living room, her juice and breakfast bowl on a tray.
Somehow, even though she had nothing to do today, it didn't seem boring. It was more relaxing. Usually she would have been up at five this morning, getting make-up applied and so on. This seemed a lot better. Peace, quiet and a television to herself. No busy agent, with a telephone glued to his ear, no fussy co-stars demanding things, no heavily perfumed make-up ladies fussing about an out-of-place eyelash.
She quickly ate her cereal, before the milk made it too soggy, and drained the orange from her cup. Leaving her tray on the coffee table, she picked up the little black remote control and watched the television flicker into life.
The sound of weekend cartoons filled the room. Sakura found herself laughing at the strange characters chasing each other and such. This was something she hadn't done for years or at least not since her last break from work. He had little time for peace and quiet, rest and relaxation and time to herself. What little free time she did get she spent rehearsing her lines. Sakura took her job very seriously, ever since she was young, when it had seemed like it was just a distant dream.
Back when her mother was alive, Sakura became interested in performing arts. Nadeshiko Kinomoto was once an actress and model and had passed her talent on to her daughter, encouraging the toddler to talk, sing, dance and express herself. When Sakura's mother died, her father promised the three-year-old would grow up to be a brilliant actress and attend the best performing arts school he could find. And this promise was kept.
Sakura lay back on the sofa, her thoughts trailing back to Drama school.
The huge modern buildings with orangey-yellow brick walls, silver framed windows, three storeys tall and scattered across great green gardens, carefully decorated for opening day. Large silver letters on the main building spelled out the name of the prestigious school.
"Akakawa Gekijo School of Performing Arts."
Sakura remembered how she has settled right in, topping her classes in acting and dance and doing fairly well in music and singing. Her grades were never beaten, but they were always matched by one person. Syaoran Li.
They were rivals, Sakura and Syaoran. Both trying their best to beat one another and hating each other because of it.
"So Kinomoto," Sakura recalled him saying before the auditions for their class play of 'Romeo and Juliet', "Are you ready to heave the honour of playing my Juliet?" He smirked, his amber-brown eyes full of mischief and cocky confidence. It was the realisation that the play had romance in it, that made Sakura audition for the role of Nurse, rather than Juliet. As both Sakura and Syaoran predicted, Syaoran got the role of Romeo and took great pleasure in teasing Sakura, saying how he scared her out of the role of Juliet and how he was glad, because she wouldn't be good enough to kiss him anyway.
"Why would I want to kiss that bastard anyway?" Sakura said aloud, thinking of how strange it was that a good memory of school life could change into an unpleasant one. Sakura frowned. She just had to go and remind herself that that asshole exists. She could have had a pleasant afternoon watching television and relaxing, but no, she had to think about that jerk.
"I hate him." She growled, getting up and going upstairs to get dressed.
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The day went quite fast for Sakura, despite her only activities being watching television and reading books. Three o'clock was nearing and Sakura was looking forward to spending the remainder of the day with her father. A quiet evening at home, just like when she was younger.
Sakura heard the ringing of the telephone from the hallway. Thinking it was her father, she rushed over to the phone. Expecting the voice to be saying "I'm on my way home," or even a "I'm running a little late" she picked it up.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Sakura, sweetheart, It's me, Marlon." the deep voice called. The actress was quite taken back this. She was convinced it would be her father, however it turned out to be her agent, Marlon Hills.
"Oh, what do you want?" Sakura queried, rolling her eyes.
"Well, I know you're on your break Sakura, babe, but..."
"But what? 'I just got a great movie deal for you'" She mocked putting on a gruff voice. She was fed up with him. All he cared about was money.
"Funnily enough, yes." He said calmly, ignoring Sakura's sarcasm.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't hang up on you."
"Because," Marlon began craftily, "This could make or break you." Silence followed.
"Er, hello? You still there?" Marlon panicked. Sakura replied calling him stupid.
"That isn't a good enough reason." She added, ready to put the phone down.
"Hey, well, you didn't let me finish... I read the papers. You need an image make-over."
Sakura sighed.
"What do you have in mind?" She asked, knowing that she was going to regret it later.
"Action movies." came the sharp reply. "Movies where you are the sexy lead female love interest for the big tough hero. Movies where you are the bad ass chick who makes out with the guy. Movies with a ton of sex appeal. Stuff like that. You following me?" He added.
Sakura's eyes widened. These were rolls she could not picture herself in. She was all for the sweet, yet strong willed lead female characters in chick flicks, not scantily dressed temptresses from action movies filled with fights, explosions and sex.
She could just see Marlon swinging around behind his desk, cordless phone in one hand, movie info sheet in the other, just swinging from side to side, bored. This wouldn't be a big thing to him. He would be just sitting there in a tacky suit wearing sunglasses despite there being no sun. She heard him impatiently clacking on his chewing gum.
"Look sweetheart, we got this movie deal here. It's an action-romance. A rogue-type guy who works for the FBI. He meets up with the daughter of a suspect for drug baron. Now, at first he sees the daughter as the key to cracking down on the drugs ring. Unfortunately for him, the daughter is engaged to another drug dealer, who wants revenge on the FBI guy for previously putting him away. Of course the sexy daughter is attracted to the FBI guy and all sorts of complications occur and so on and so forth. You get it, right?"
Sakura sighed a yes.
"Well, anyway, this gives you a change to explore other fields and show off your acting ability. Also, you can change that 'innocent' image you've been labelled with. It makes mishaps like the other day's club/bar accident look alright."
Sakura growled. He had to mention that. He was right in a way. And though she didn't like the sound of the story too much, it was still a good opportunity.
"Fine." She said, again thing that she was going to regret that.
"Great! Hop on a plane and fly back here right away, so we can arrange to meet with Mr. Hiiragizawa. He's the director and producer..."
"WHAT!?" Sakura cried in disbelief.
"I know, I know. He's one of the best in the biz, but he said he'd consider you for the role..."
"No, not that." Sakura scolded, "Why do I have to come back!?" She fumed, "It's my holiday!"
"Well," Marlon went into detail about how the director needed a leading lady and quickly.
Growling again, Sakura muttered that she'd be there this evening. So much for old times, she thought after putting the phone down.
Sakura called her father and told him of the abrupt ending to her holiday and he said he was on his way home. Sakura went to repack her bags.
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"Sakura, honey, I'm sorry that your stay wasn't longer. I just wish I didn't have to go to work, I hardly saw you at all." Her father sighed, as Sakura stood in the hallway, ready to go.
"Yes, I know Dad. But hey, next time, I'll make sure my stay isn't interrupted. We'll have a real family evening." She smiled, and he returned the favour. They smiled for what seemed like ages before hugging. Sakura held onto her father for dear life. She didn't know when she would see him again. Her eyes misted with tears, they broke apart and Fujitaka kissed his daughter's cheek.
"Love you, sweetie. Stay safe and come back soon. And remember- enjoy yourself." He advised.
"Bye Dad. Love you too. I'll call you later, ok?" Sakura called as she left the house and got into a yellow taxi.
Though it was only four-thirty, the sun seemed to be as hidden as it would be at six.
The taxi pulled away. Waving to her father who stood at the gate waving back, Sakura felt empty. Her stay was way too short. She was going to have to hit Marlon for doing this to her.
As Sakura's childhood home grew out of sight, she felt the tears roll down her cheeks. God she was going to miss her father.
But now, all that she had to worry about was her trip back to Tokyo and back to her job as a misunderstood movie star.
Syaoran slightly introduced here. Next chapter will see a lot more of him. A huge amount more of him. lol. Till next Sunday then. Bye.
AN: I don't know whether Tomoeda is a real place or not, or where it is in relation to Tokyo, so just pretend that they are far away from each other.
And for those who are good at Japanese- yes the Performing Arts school (Akakawa Gekijo School Of Performing Arts) means Red River Theatre School of Performing Arts and no, I don't know if it is a real place.( I did, however base some of the description of it, on my Music and Drama block at school, lol.)