Author's note: This is an AU fic. Which means it will not follow anything that happened on the series. There's no magic or card capturing involved. If some of you are uncomfortable with that idea, I suggest not to read the entire story because there will be lots of OOCness on their parts. And eventually, I've decided that the ratings will change. Some of the chapters will contain hints of lemon. If that is the case, this is the first fic I'm attempting to do one. But since, the storyline of the whole fic will need such parts, I have to do those scenes. And again, if you're not comfortable with that, you may stop reading the fic. But if you are mature enough, then there will be no problem at all . This is a different fic I'm doing, to deviate with those styles I've used with my other fics, if you're one of those few readers who have read my other stories.

And as always, I want to thank everybody who read and reviewed this fic. This story is made possible because of your support.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own CCs and never will I. Sad, but true.

Clear Skies

by: kotsch

Summary: Sakura: The succesful businesswoman. Syaoran: The devoted environmentalist. Two people w/ different principles and ideals. But if love will intercede between them, can they put their differences aside?

Chapter Two

Sakura didn't have a hard time in her mission of finding people whom she can befriend in Hongkong. When she was on the market, she just brought a lot of goods and immediately, she gathered a lot of people to talk with. And because of Sakura's newfound friends with the locals in that small place, she was even able to have some very willing and nice guys to deliver her goods straight in their rest house!

"Are you sure you trust me with all of these stuffs?" A friendly looking teenager asked Sakura, as he hesitantly gathered her belongings.

"Of course!" Sakura smiled sweetly. "Just one look at you and I knew right away that you can be trusted. Anyway, you already knew our house, right? It's that one on the far end of the town."

The guy nodded. "Yeah. Okay, we'll be going now, I guess." And with that, he sauntered off to their house, along with some of his friends.

Sakura watched amusingly as her eyes followed the teenagers walking and talking energetically on the road.

When they start building the factory, maybe the father of those teenagers could be one of their employees. Even in minimum wage, she can be sure that it'll already be a lot of help to the locals of the place.

She knew how hard it was to earned money in provinces such as this. So if you're a factory worker, it's a big of a deal to be able to earned a regular fee every month in a value that will not go lower than what the law dictates. And because of these ideas, Sakura could say that she didn't have anything to be ashamed of. Mainly because, they were really honest on their intention: to have a business that would help in expanding the jobs of the people.

After a while, Sakura decided to go to the town square. In this place, she was also able to make friends with a lot of people. She saw a lot of families, walking happily along the place. Indeed, the area within the town square are full of people hustling every now and then, going in whatever place they are supposed to go to.

Sakura happily left the town square after about half an hour. An idea suddenly sparkled in her mind and she suddenly wanted to do some meditation in a very quiet place. However, when she decided to go to the seashore, a few blocks away from their house, Sakura was not contented on just merely sitting on a huge rock, about five meters away from the water.

Sakura wanted to play with the strong waves. It's just okay for her if she did that even if her jeans get wet. She found happiness and excitement in her childish acts, just playing with the waves. Sakura's jeans was already soaking wet but still, she never had the intention of swimming in the sea. She was even laughing softly as she watched the waves rising every now and then. She really felt free; away from all the pressures of her work.

But suddenly, Sakura's feet lost its balance and the next thing she knew, she fell into the water. The waves are not really that strong but she could feel a very powerful under current at the bottom of the water and she was able to figure it out briefly in her mind that the under current maybe the cause of losing her balance.

Sakura didn't have the chance to stand up quickly. She just felt being taken by the powerful force of the water and she couldn't help panicking at that. Sakura was already afraid because the current under the waters were already taking her away from the shore. And there was no one around to help her. She never noticed anyone around the place.

Just when she thought that she might actually die and that her body could not be found, she suddenly felt two strong hands lifting her up. At last, Sakura was glad that she could finally stand. And when she still stumbled because of the effects of being washed ashore, once again, those hands even carried her up. She wasn't able to open her eyes at once because it's still a bit sore due to the fact that it was exposed under the salty water.

Her savior casually placed her on the large rock that she used to seat earlier.

"T-Thank you very much. I thought I'd be swept off far away from here already. The waves are so strong, so is the under current." Sakura said gratefully while scrubbing her eyes, still not seeing her rescuer.

When Sakura looked up, she found out that the guy's back is exposed to her, his face not visible to Sakura, and it seems that the guy is even looking at the sea, as if assessing the dangers lurking within in it. He even had both his arms placed on his hips, like an arrogant guy whom at that time looked as if he wanted to get angry at the sea.

"That sea is really unpredictable. Sometimes, there is no under current but sometimes, you will be surprised by its strength. Someone already died here in this sea last year; someone who's just vacationing. But he drowned because of the current at the bottom."

The guy's statements didn't actually surprise Sakura. Instead, what caught her off-guard was the familiar clothing that the guy was wearing.

The guy is sporting that same attire like the guy she saw talking to Simoun earlier. Minusof course, the jacket. She noticed vaguely in her mind that the polo shirt he's wearing earlier was replaced by a jacket.

She smiled to herself. Sakura was already imagining the boyish look of this guy's face and she knew that she shouldn't have anything to be ashamed of. Even if she did look helpless earlier in the sea.

"Really, thank you very much. You're Simoun's friend, aren't you? I've heard that both of you are quite fond of fishing. Actually, I've seen you earlier when you passed by our house so I asked Grace who you were. You're Xiaolang, right?"

The guy didn't answer right away. A few seconds still passed and yet he still didn't turn around. After a while, Xiaolang turned towards her slowly, his hands holding his wide-brimmed straw hat.

The affectionate smile from Sakura's face gradually disappeared. Slowly, as Sakura saw the aristocratic and handsome face of the guy infront of her, she also realized her savior's true identity.

Xiaolang's face was far from that face she imagined. Boyish, Meek, Harmless.

The guy infront of Sakura staring at her certainly looks like a grown-up man. Thick eyebrows that seemed to curl towards each other, amber eyes looking at her darkly, perfectly sculptured nose and sensual lips. His perfectly toned body standing poised under the jacket that he's wearing.

Sakura's mouth slightly opened.

There's only one guy who owns such face. He is familiar to her because she usually sees him on television, newspapers and magazines.

"You're not Xiaolang…I know you! You are Syaoran Li!" She immediately stood up looking so infuriated at the guy she even referred to as her savior before.

The guy's face creased into a frown, as he looked at her darkly. "I'm also Xiaolang. I'm Xiaolang to those whom I considered as my closest friends. Like Simoun, for instance."

"I better go now!" Sakura announced, determine to get away from him as soon as possible.

This is so unfortunate of me! She grunted silently. Syaoran, out of all people, rescued me!

"Wait! You just found out that I'm Syaoran and you now seem to be regretting that I saved you?" Obviously, judging from the sound of Syaoran's voice, he was insulted at that fact. He grabbed her arm as she prepares to walk out of him.

Sakura wanted to free her arm from him but Syaoran's strong grasp made it impossible for her to do so.

"I will thank you, don't worry. Thank you very, very much for saving my life." She said neutrally. "Now, could you please let go of me?"

"So you're that woman standing on the window while I was talking to Simoun."

"Yes, I am." She glared.

"You're the owner of that mansion up the hill."

"Yes."

Syaoran smiled. She was waiting for him to tell her that she is none other than Fujitaka Kinomoto's daughter, the owner of the proposed factory that their organization was diligently opposing. But he just continued to smile sardonically at her, a look of amusement dancing in his eyes.

This only made Sakura flare up in irritation at him.

"You do know that I'm Sakura Kinomoto, don't you? And that Simoun is working under me."

Syaoran shrugged. "It really doesn't matter. All I know is that I like that old man. We have a sort of bonding. Maybe because I saw how he respects nature. The way he catches his fishes, it shows. Whenever Simoun catches little fishes, he returns it back to the sea even if I didn't tell him to do so. He only catches those fishes which are fit for consumption. Unlike other people I know, who doesn't seem to care the least bit on their environment and only sees the financial aspect of things."

"And that's me and my dad, right? Come on, tell me the truth!"

"I will only take back those words that I've said if you'll only promise that you will not anymore push through with that factory you're planning to build."

Sakura trembled, both from the mixture of anger and cold. The wet blouse and jeans seems to cling to her skin.

"Listen, Mister Li, you are not the only one who owns this place. I also live here because we own a house here. So don't you dare think that you're the only one capable of doing good deeds!"

"Ha! Putting up that factory means pollution, pollution and more pollution. Or don't you know…?"

"I know. But haven't you heard of anti-pollutant devices which you can integrate within the system of production machineries in a factory?" Sakura answered sarcastically.

"It's very easy to promise. There's no difficulty in integrating those anti-pollutant devices at first. But can you assure to us its maintenance?" He countered. "Are you sure that the level of effectivity of these devices that you've been bragging about will always be of best performance? It's hard to take chances, Ms. Kinomoto. And we won't let any chances ruin the fate of this town!"

Sakura hugged herself tightly, aware that her clothes are dripping wet. She's definitely seething inside because of Syaoran and the awkward feeling she has, standing infront of him looking like a drenched rat, doesn't help in calming her nerves.

"If all the people will be as narrow-minded as you Mister Li, then your country will even need to export consumable goods from other countries. Can you imagine if there's no single factory that's built in China? What will happen to those factory workers that are depending on their salaries? If the production of our factory will push through, more than a thousand people will have a regular job. Hongkong has a fairly large population, based on our studies." She stressed as a matter-of-fact. "Agriculture alone can't absorb all the needs of people living in this town."

Sakura watched as she noticed Syaoran undressed his jacket angrily. Beneath that piece of cloth he took off revealed a white t-shirt that clings to his well-physique body.

Sakura couldn't help blinking her eyes. She was distracted.

She must admit that she wasn't able to tear her eyes away from Syaoran especially when he took off his hat and loose jacket. It seemed to her eyes that he has grown more handsome at that act.

"Here! Before you put up a fight, wear this jacket so that you won't freeze to death!"

Sakura's shivering body cannot argue at that. The warmth comfort that Syaoran's jacket brought to her body served as a welcome relief.

"I never wanted for you to rescue me! God knows that! But I want to go home now and you have to take me there! I know you have means of transportation with you!" She said this with as much dignity as she could muster, not even the slightest hint of frustration in her voice.

"Okay! But can you walk? I parked my pick-up a bit far from here." Syaoran pointed in the direction of his pick-up.

"Of course!"

Sakura walked ahead of him to have a headstart. However, as Syaoran caught up with her, she could feel the muscles on her legs tensing up.

She only managed to walk four small steps.

Syaoran was already walking ahead of her. A look of irritation registered on his face when he saw her standing far from him.

"When are you going to reach my pick-up on that pace?" As soon as Syaoran reached Sakura, and before she could say anything else, he proceeded to carry her with his strong arms without exerting effort on his part. Syaoran looked like he was just merely carrying a small kid with tantrums.

Sakura, surprised at his act, wanted to shout in objection at that. But she grudgingly admitted to herself that Syaoran won against her this time. Lucky for him that she can't barely walk straight.

When they reached his parked pick-up, Syaoran gently placed her in the front seat. Afterwards, he hoisted himself up to get something from the backseat.

Sakura found out that he only retrieved a warm bundle of fresh blanket. She was all the more surprised when he covered her up with the blanket all the way from her neck to her feet.

She couldn't help admiring Syaoran for being ready and prepared. As for her, she didn't even thought of bringing a blanket with her on her car, which she could use in times of need. Unlike Syaoran Li.

He's sort of a nice guy. Sakura thought with a frown. But he's still my enemy and we could never get along with each other.

…...

kotsch

A/N: Author's love reviews! So, suggestions and reviews are very much welcome. As well as constructive criticisms too.