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 Eight

When Sakura woke up, every inch of her body seems to throb with pain. But the mere fact that her body aches didn't bother her, but it's the weird feeling at the back of her mind that seems to tell her that something different happened to her.

Sakura never even remembered how she managed to go back home last night. She finally decided that she had no choice but to ask Grace about the events of yesterday, even though she's a bit shy to ask her, because it's almost indirectly admitting to her that she's too groggy not to remember anything about what happened last night.

"Hey, Grace…how did I get back here yesterday?" Sakura asked meekly.

"Xiaolang drove you home last night, Sakura." Grace smiled gently. "You got drunk that's why he decided to take you home. You were even sleeping soundly in his truck when we first saw you."

Sakura's faced darkened at what she heard. She remembered it now; how Syaoran invited her to drink some wine that she ended up getting intoxicated!

And she vaguely remembered how she was laughing crazily with that jerk after she finished drinking, god-knows-how-many, glasses of wine.

Sakura instinctively looked at her clothes. It seemed like she ended up sleeping with the same piece of clothing she wore yesterday.

"I hope you don't mind Sakura, I decided not to change your clothes last night because I didn't want you to be disturbed. "

Sakura couldn't help but feel more anxious as events of what happened last night suddenly flashed before her mind. Her instinct that something weird happened to her back at Syaoran's administration office seems to confirm her worries.

"What did that guy tell you?"

"He told us that you were drunk.." Grace replied. "And that your car was convoyed by one of his drivers in the mango orchard. Xiaolang decided to use his own car to drive you here safely."

She could feel her heart pounding nervously as she pictures the scene wherein she's sitting beside Syaoran in his truck. Somehow it doesn't seem right to her.

"Thanks, Grace. You may now go downstairs. I can manage very well of mysef."

"I am currently brewing some hot soup for you, Sakura. I'll just come back later to give you some soup, okay?"

Sakura nodded absent-mindedly before Grace disappeared out of her sight. Her head aches so much that it feels like it's going to explode any minute now.

Hang-over.

She decided to go to the bathroom to wash herself off. She can't stand being in such a disgusting state.

When Sakura was taking off her pieces of clothing, she was startled at the fact that her bra was not clasped rightly. It was worn inside out and that the hook was even clumsily clasped, as if the person who wore it was in a hurry.

Her eyes practically bulged out of its sockets at that revelation.

She could assure to herself that she didn't do it. She's not that stupid that she can't able to dress herself properly. Which means that…somebody took her clothes off last night, dressed her back, and stupidly clasped her bra.

Sakura was practically out of breath as she examined the last piece of clothing that protected her femininity.

Her panty was not worn inside out but the faint streak of blood in the middle was enough to confirm her thoughts.

Sakura's cheeks drained out of color.

She bled last night.

And she knows now why. She's very, very sure of it.

Syaoran Li took advantage of her!

And he even took her virginity off her!

With frustrated tears streaming down her cheeks, Sakura shouted angrily inside her bathroom as her brain absorbed that fact.

She took care of her virginity for such a long time, making sure that she'd only give it to the right man in her life, and it was taken by the person she hated the most in such a very undignified manner? She got drunk and that's it…he took her body and she didn't even object?

She can't even remember the important details of what happened between her and Syaoran. How did they do it? Was she respected by him? Was there even a hint of tenderness in his actions? Was she forced to do it?

Sakura impulsively looked for clues that might suggest that he harassed her. Instead, she found nothing. There was no bluish or reddish mark all over her body.

She gingerly patted her hair just to make sure if her hair was not pulled out by him. But her silky tresses still remained the same and it didn't even hurt just a bit.

Okay. So it was not a violent sex.

But what kind of sex was it?

Maybe she was treated like a slut? Maybe that jerk was having the time of his life as he told her to do some sickening things to him? Maybe she was treated just like a piece of dirt?

Sakura couldn't help but burst loudly into tears.

The idea that somebody did something to her without her even knowing it was just too humiliating. However, in their situation, she just couldn't file for a rape against him.

It's because she just couldn't prove the fact that she was really raped. Heck, she couldn't even remember anything!

She hurriedly took a shower, put on her robe, and immediately contacted Syaoran. When she found out that he was not home and was not even in his office, she decided to call him in his cell phone.

A few minutes later, she managed to successfully contact Syaoran.

"Dmn you!" She screeched, her emotions giving in. She didn't care anymore about anything at this point. All she wanted was to hurl every word that she could speak of to him so she could express the rage burning inside of her.

"Sakura…"

"You violated me! You took advantage!"

"L-listen, I am not proud of what happened." Syaoran's voice seems to falter at the other end of the line. "The truth is, I am really confused right now. I'm here, driving around the town, but I don't know where I'm going to. I know what I did was wrong."

"You purposedly got me drunk so you could do your horrible plan to me!"

"No! I'm attracted to you despite our differences! I like you and at first, I just couldn't take advantage of you. It's not really my nature. But just before I returned you back to your house, you brought up the topic of that ground-breaking event with your factory and I just couldn't help it! My mind got blank and I was so mad at you! And that did it. I couldn't think clearly then. I couldn't stop myself and then everything happened. I'm sorry." Syaoran apologized humbly.

"Sorry? Did you just think that what you did to me was just some little thing that happened normally to everybody? If I willingly gave it to you then I won't even accuse you of doing something like that…"

"But you willingly gave it to me! I didn't force you to do it! Sakura, it was lovemaking! It was not a one-sided sex. You responded…and how! And you - and you even had an…orgasm…twice!"

She freaked out. "What?"

"That's the truth. How I wish you could remember it. We even had lovemaking twice. And because we were not hurrying, I was able to nurture your movements…that's why…you - you reached that point. It's an orgasm in other words."

"Nooooooo!" Sakura shouted as she threw the phone, slamming it to the wall.

Sakura didn't get out of her room for two days. Even when her father tried to contact her, she still refused to answer the phone. She just didn't feel like talking to anybody else right now.

She just told Grace to tell her father that she's not feeling well.

But the truth is, it's not only her body that hurts but her dignity as well.

How could she erase the disgrace she's feeling right now?

Sakura couldn't help but think that what happened to her was even worst compared to a rape.

In rape cases, the assaulting party is the only one who has the fault. But in her case, she's also to be blame for what ensued between them.

She took part in destroying herself. Two orgasms with the man she hates so much?

My God, how can I reason this out to the Court if ever I wanted to file a case against him? I will be laughed at! Of all the guys out there, why did I end up with my worst enemy?

The scheduled ground-breaking ceremony of the factory that the Kinomoto was going to build finally pushed through. The event was well-attended by important people in the business society. There was even a media coverage about it, too.

The two opposing groups were rallying near the area where the ground-breaking ceremony were currently taking place. Syaoran's Green Lovers and Sakura's group were shouting at each other, expressing their own sentiments. The place is very tensed but because of the presence of policemen, any riot that might occur was prevented. Thankfully, the two groups didn't end up fighting against each other.

Sakura was hurrying to get out of the ceremony, feeling very much harassed, when instinctively, she glanced at the direction of Syaoran's group.

She instantly caught two pairs of amber eyes looking back darkly at her. And she knew right away that it was Syaoran's.

She angrily stared back at him, her eyes blazing with fury at her enemy, making it clear how much she loathed him. How she hated this guy now more than ever.

Sakura walked out from them with her head raised up high. She wanted to show Syaoran that even if something was taken away from her, she still didn't lose in their fight. She will not give up. Surrendering to him is the last thing on her mind.

The Green Lovers on the other hand, finally decided to take some steps once the Kinomotos decided to formally start the construction of the factory.

They hurriedly filed for a petition in the Court so that they could prevent the building of the factory. The environmentalists asked for a Temporary Restraining Order. For them, it is the only way they could temporary stop the construction.

The court battle between the groups finally began.

Grace was crying uncontrollably. The rain continues to pummel loudly outside but still, there was no sign of Simoun. She decided to wake Sakura up.

"What happened?" Sakura asked worriedly, as the tear-stained face of the elderly woman looked back at her.

"Simoun's still not home. He said he's just going out in the sea to do some fishing. I allowed him because the weather's perfectly fine earlier. But I was surprised when the sky darkened and the rain continues to pour. It's been raining for several hours now. He's still not here and I'm really afraid."

Sakura panicked. "We'll ask for help from the police. We have to form a search party right now so we could look for Simoun out there in the sea! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I-I waited first for him, Sakura! I thought he'll be here any minute now as soon as the weather changed but still…" Grace mumbled.

"Don't worry, I'll immediately call the precinct."

Right after she changed clothes, the police were already in her front door. She was surprised to discover that Syaoran was also with them.

"I was the first to be called by chief to form a search party, composed of private citizens. In that way, it would be better if more than one group will look for my partner."

Sakura shot dagger looks at him.

"Your partner? Isn't it that you left the old man already that's why he is out there alone in the sea, fishing all by himself?"

Syaoran took a deep breath. It was obvious that he was affected badly at the whole situation. He could help but blame his self for what happened.

"Now is not the right time for us to fight, Sakura. This is our chance to work together. Please…"

Sakura tried to compose herself. For the first time, he was right about something.

"I will go with you. I'll be out of place with the police." She declared.

Syaoran smiled softly. "Just make sure that you'll stay beside me, okay? We'll use my speedboat. Only five persons are allowed to ride in it."

Syaoran, and three other guys from Green Lovers, along with Sakura hurriedly went out to the sea to search for Simoun. The rain stopped but the sea still looks dark.

Five different speedboats were roaming around the sea, intent on finding the old man as soon as possible. Half an hour had already passed but there was still no sign of Simoun.

"We'll go the Plateau Island." Syaoran stated.

"Why there?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Nothing. I just have this feeling inside of me. And besides, no search party still reached that island."

"It's your call, Syaoran." One of the guys said.

Because no one objected, they steered the boat towards the island. As soon as their boat reached the shore, Syaoran immediately shouted.

"Simoooouuuuuuuun! Simoooouuuuuuuun! It's me, Xiaolang! If you're here please tell usssssss!"

A few moments of silence replied.

However, a familiar voice broke that silence.

"Heeeeeyyyyy, Xiaoooolaaaaannng! I'm heeeeereee!"

Everyone glanced at each other. They burst into gleeful shouts as they discovered that Simoun was safe after all. Syaoran's instincts were right; Simoun did end up in this island.

Syaoran and Sakura hurriedly ran to where the voice is coming from.

"Xiaolang!" Simoun shouted happily as soon as he saw them. The old man is drenched, shivering from the cold while he's trying to cover his self up behind a huge rock.

Syaoran hugged the old man happily, his face a mixture of obvious happiness and relief. Sakura couldn't believe that Syaoran could look so concern about someone in his life. She never saw his face full of gratitude.

"Simoun, don't go out all by yourself in the sea anymore, okay? I promise, we'll go fishing together again. It's dangerous to be out here all alone, especially at your age. You'll be much safer if you're with me." Syaoran smiled.

Simoun couldn't help but laugh loudly. "I thought…you don't want to be with me anymore. The truth is, I only want to go fishing when I'm with you. Grace and I treated you just like our son and you know how much we became fond of you. But even though we don't go fishing anymore, I just wanted to let you know that I am not mad at you. I really have no idea about what you and Sakura were fighting about. And if you asked Grace and me, we think it's much better that we know nothing about it. Because you know…it's hard for us. We love you both just like our own children and it's hard for us to take sides because we cannot choose either of the two."

Syaoran and Sakura glanced at each other. Simoun's words hit straight home.

"Let's go home, Simoun. I'm sure that Grace will be happy to see you." She said, taking his arm gently.

Sakura was silent the whole time as the speedboat traveled back to the shore near their mansion.

She was surprised to feel humility in her heart. And some sort of peace inside her.

She suddenly found herself willing to think things through and weigh everything as to how she could straighten up the mess without using ways based on what she wanted.

She's always speaking infront of the media. But not infront of the members of Green Lovers.

The Green Lovers on the other hand also gives their side of the issue, but only infront of the press and not with the Kinomotos.

And Sakura and Syaoran still remained pitted against each other. Stubbornly fighting without even hearing each other's side.

There was no real dialogue.

They even reached the point where they decided to take matters into the Court. They have their own lawyers who were fighting intelligently, representing their respective arguments. But still, there was no real dialogue.

No one wins because both groups didn't want to lose.

And Sakura thought that everything became all the more messy because she and Syaoran already have their own personal conflict as well. The issue was also "polluted" by other important matters.

…

kotsch

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