Ice Princess

Disclaimer: Nope. CCS is not mine… never did… and never would be… sad to say.

The policemen already have arrived. They asked Sakura questions but Eriol was the one who answered them. She was still in shock… she lost her family, the ones she didn't cherish but love the most… they left her physically… and though she knew they would still be beside her, they can never do the things they did to her before.

When all the police left, accepting Eriol's words that Sakura would stay with one of her family members, silence began to envelop the two. It was only broken after a full minute. "Hey, would you like to stay at our house? My parents really liked you and I'm sure they would be more than glad to help you in anyway, especially now." Eriol told her, kindness evident in his actions.

"Iie, it's alright." she said and received another look from her best friend. "Oh would you look at the time. It's getting late. Your parents might be looking for you." she said, avoiding his eyes and feigning to check the time.

"Sakura…" he pressed. "I knew you since we wore diapers and I have memorized your actions when your feeling something. I know whenever you are trying to do something and I know that you are just trying to cover up. I'm your friend. I would be there whenever you need me. Just tell me what I can do and I'll do my best, okay?" he said and hugged her tight, reassuring her that even if the end of the world would occur, he would still be standing right beside her.

"Thanks, Eriol. I really don't deserve this friendship… If only one can turn back the time I would have done that the moment I realized my mistake. I apologize for what I did and please don't be that good to me. It only makes me be bugged by my conscience." she said while placing her head on her best friend's chest, seeking comfort.

"Anyway, since you rejected my offer of you staying in our house then how would you be able to survive alone? Your food, your tuition and the other necessities… I know you can't afford that alone. You don't even have a job." he said as a matter of fact.

Her body left the comfort that he was giving and cheerfully said "Well then what are we waiting for?". She dragged him gleefully to only-she-knows-where.

"Where are we going?" he asked with a smile. She was trying to be back to her old self and is not letting what happened to be a hindrance. What an amazing young girl… Too bad he is only a friend to her. The best she may think but not as special as the one he wishes to be.

"Didn't you just say that I need a job? Well then I would look for one before it would be dark. The nearest would be a small branch of the most famous company these days. Maybe they could give me a job there. Even though the salary's not that good, it's alright. I just need the enough salary to pay for my food and other necessities. Good thing I don't need to worry about tuition fee. I'll just have to maintain being a scholar." she said and then stopped in front of a small branch of a well-known company.

next day, job interview…

"You could enter the room now. Mr. Li is already inside waiting for you." a lady with ebony hair and amber orbs said to Sakura. She was more or less twenty five years old, if you judge it by her looks.

"Arigatou." Sakura bowed to the lady and entered the said room to see the guy she surely wasn't pleased or disgusted to see- Syaoran Li. He was supposed to be the most popular one in the campus but she unintentionally had done something to embarrass him. Since then he was 'the chosen one' to be laughed at. Not the exact same thing that happened to Eriol but almost.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Kinomoto-san." he said, saying her name like it was shit. "What brings you here? Oh, I remembered." he said acting happy to remember the reason. "Your life can be classified to those who were really high but then landed rough. I heard that your family was murdered. Tsk tsk tsk. Now you need to work to survive, ne? Now you would experience what your family did to mine." he said.

Did he lost his mind or what!, she thought. Confused as ever, she asked "What do you mean?".

He laughed but it wasn't what he felt. Maybe she was right when she thought that he's gone crazy… Nah! "Now don't give me that I-am-innocent look. I won't fall for that. I am not a child unlike before… when your parents legally adopted me and raised me as nothing but a servant… when your parents fed me up with lies. Just a month ago did I realize that your family is the one behind my parents' death. If it weren't for you, bitch, and your bullshit family, we would still be having a satisfied life." he said, almost letting his amber orbs show his soft side… almost. He will never let that vulnerable and weak side of his surface again.

"What the hell! My family didn't do such a thing! You, traitor! After all my parents' did for you, you still accused them of such horrible thing. You know that your family died because of a car accident. a-c-c-i-d-e-n-t. You know what that means!" she said, outraged. How could he have accused the one that took care of him for about five years?

For a moment, he was about to let his feeling arise. Of course, he wouldn't allow himself let anger turn his plans into void. She would need to have patience. She would receive her 'prize' sooner or later but not now.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You're here to apply for a job, ne? So let's be professionals and talk about business, not our personal lives." he said, collected her application papers and fixed a look on her.

Sakura gulped. This is not what she expected. This is too far making her nervous. "Since we already know each other, I will just ask you a single question. Why do you think I should accept you?" she heard him say. Gosh, his look really can be compared to a wolf glaring at its prey- her.

All of what they talked about went at the back of her head and was replaced by continuous 'Oh, my gosh!'. "I know that I'm one of the right ones to work here because I assure you that I'll be devoted. Besides, you know I know a lot about computers. Who knows? Maybe I can somehow help." well there goes her not-so-intelligent answer. It was like as if she's talking to her classmate, not her boss.

He furrowed his eyebrows and said "Well you sure want to answer me simply, ne? And don't give me that tone. I am not your friend anymore. I hoped you already found that out when you entered this room.".

"Yes, sir." she said, somewhat sadly. Would you be able to blame her? He was once her closest friend who always lend her a shoulder to cry on… the one who always save her from all those bullies. Who thought it would just end up like this? As if they were two strangers crossing ach others' paths because of pure coincidence…

"Alright, you can start tomorrow. Be sure not to be late." he said and caused her to have a scene of the past.

"Tomorrow would be an important day. The stars would have my name engraved to it… 'Li Syaoran. The winner of the sports championship… kid's division.' " a cute little Syaoran said to an intently listening Sakura.

That's what his dreams were before. So simple yet a big deal to him… He said he hate to work for an international company. He said that he wants a simple life… like those middle class families. He doesn't want any title other than being in people's hearts. He wants to help them and hates those who steps on poor people's lives. So why did he change his mind now? When she most needed his presence and comfort…

"I want you to be there, watching for me. I want you to see me win." he said.

"There's your ego again. Are you sure you're going to win?" she said, not because she doesn't trust him but because she wants to tease him.

"Well then let me prove to you what Li Syaoran can do. Be sure not to be late. I know you're such a sleepy head but still try to wake up early, kaijuu." he said and left a fuming Sakura.

That day was just before everything changed. Oh how she missed it. If that would repeat again, her anger would turn into gladness. It only meant that this is just a nightmare… she would still be happy with her friends- Syaoran, with him still thinking of her as his sister and Eriol, without her conscience bugging her… and her family would still be able to make her smile somehow.

"What the hell, Kinomoto-san! Are you going to just stand there and go to dreamland!" a harsh voice revived her back from fantasy, the past. "Get your lazy ass off this office now! Before I fire you without you even starting." what a good threat. With that, Sakura immediately headed to the door, almost tripping.

She immediately shut the door. After catching her breath, she saw Eriol standing there, giving her a did-you-see-a-ghost look. How she wished she just aw a ghost other than that- that monster. Although she was terribly afraid of the supernatural creatures, she would still rather choose it.

"Are you alright?" what a good question to ask… Is he blind or what!

"Eriol, you didn't tell me that Syao- I mean Li-sama was the owner of this company!" she said, eyes having its own flame. Poor Eriol… the blame was on him again.

"Ehehehe" he let out a nervous laugh as he waved a small white flag. "Well, I hoped you would somehow apologize and he would forgive you. Voila! Our friendships' would now be saved." he said.

Fortunately for him, she let it go and just sighed. "Thanks to you, hell will surface tomorrow." she said.

hell, Sakura's first day as an employee…

Tick Tock Tick tock… Beep Beep Beep Beep!

Sakura emerged from her pink comforter without her deafening 'hoe'. She got to change her habits now, especially since her family wouldn't be able to guide her physically.

With one last stretch, she reached for her slippers and headed to her room's bath room for a quick shower. She did the usual- blow dry her hair, tie it in a firm pony tail and headed downstairs.

She sighed. She needs to get use to this. Today, she would starve or just eat instant noodles. She chose the latter. Breakfast is the most important meal. She couldn't risk missing it.

Though she only spent 5 minutes at most on every thing that she'll do, she still was late. The alarm clock didn't do its right job. It rang an hour after she set it. Oooh! If she can only get her hands on it at this moment, that thing will not see the daylight ever again.

But for now, her attention is on arriving at her working place as soon as possible.

Panting, she arrived at her destination only to see the half smirking and half angry face of her boss. Her eyebrow arched subconsciously. Usually, if that's his facial expression it only means he's going to tease her. But she thought he's angry at her…

"I thought I strictly ordered you to come here on time. Look at the time! You're an hour and a half late! I think I have to give you a punishment. Maybe you would learn of your mistake." that was the answer to her question. Maybe there really is no chance to regain their friendship… she just hope that she's wrong. gulp!

… what goes around comes around. what goes up must come down …
from Alicia Keys' song… 'Karma'.

Please! A review wouldn't be that bad… I want to know if there's still a reason to continue this story.

Just like the creature with pure wings
Standing up from all the difficult things
Soaring from the Bottom
Lies a Shattered Blossom…

ja ne! )