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 Nine

Sakura went back to Japan and decided to have a heart to heart talk with her father.

She told everything about what happened between her and Syaoran to her dad. She made sure not to forget about every little detail. There's no use trying to keep a secret from her wise father, anyway.

At first, Fujitaka Kinomoto was utterly surprised at his daughter's revelations. But being a true father that he is, his love and concern for his child still reigned. He also decided to grant Sakura's proposition that she will no longer be involved in any matters concerning the factory that their company will be building in Hongkong. Sakura told him that she would just leave the decision to him and their partners regarding that project.

Sakura also told Fujitaka that she decided to pursue her postponed vacation in Europe. A month long vacation is what she definitely needed right now basically just to 'get away from it all'.

Fujitaka knew how much she is troubled right now and it pains him to see his own child suffering. Particularly if it pertains about matters of the heart.

"Are you sure you could manage all by yourself, Sakura? You're an effective businesswoman, a great boss but I'm not sure if you're also that good in handling problems about your love life. In the first place, I think you've got the wrong guy…he's not even your friend."

Sakura smiled slightly.

"Dad, My only edge is that…he admitted he was also attracted to me. So, we're even. I guess he's also suffering just like me." She heaved a sigh. "Because…he wanted the wrong girl, too."

Fujitaka shook his head gently. "Two wrong people crossing paths. You are right, dear. Go somewhere. Anywhere. As long as you could clear your mind from thoughts of him."

"Thanks, Dad. I'll leave the rest up to you, okay? I'm not saying you should give everything up. All I'm saying is that, I trust you a lot to come up with a solution to our problem."

A few days after her small talk with her father, Sakura slipped out from the country quietly. She told Fujitaka not to tell anyone where she's going. She really needed some time off alone so she could find herself again.

What Sakura doesn't know, Syaoran was also bidding his goodbye to his other members in Green Lovers back in Hongkong, almost the same time that she bid her goodbye to her father.

And just like her, Syaoran decided to be honest to his members.

"I have no choice but to tell you the truth, guys. It's the best explanation I could give to justify my sudden need for leaving this group."

Everyone was still silent after he finished talking. Needless to say, they were definitely surprised.

"I love this organization and you all know that. And even if I am not already a part of it, that doesn't mean that I will not continue anymore on my passion as an environmentalist. I'm still just like all of you; I will still do my best to protect this world that we're living in." He said with conviction. "I really needed some time with myself right now. I can't fight for our own principles anymore especially if the matter was already mixed with some personal conflicts between Miss Kinomoto and me."

Syaoran paused for a while, as he stared thoughtfully at the group infront of him.

"I just have to confess that…I wasn't able to control my feelings. I am attracted to her. And…we have gone intimates…though we still don't have any relation of that sort. Well, it's quite muddy. We're really in disarray right now…that's why I have to leave the group. I don't want the ideals that all of you were fighting for so passionately be included in our problem."

The members of Green Lovers nodded and smiled. One of the leaders of the group decided to spoke in behalf.

"Thanks for being honest with us, Syaoran. We all understand what you've been going through right now. You can leave the group…temporarily, as you've promised. When everything is already settled, make sure to return to us right away. We'll wait for you and welcome you with open arms."

Syaoran smiled sincerely at the people who already became a second family to him.

"Thank you very much, everyone."

Sakura lived a simple life in Italy. She stayed in a medium-sized flat, with no caretakers or secretary around to attend to her needs, and no car of her own to drive around the city.

And she was on a strict budget.

One of her unknown hobby, which kept her busy during her vacation, is sketching. Just like her brother Touya, who is a fantastic painter, she's also inclined to arts. It must be in their genes though, for she could remember how her father told them that her late mother was also good in drawing. Sketching is what she considered as her first love. She just couldn't pursue it because she's also busy in managing their family business.

Every afternoon, carrying her sketching materials with her, she goes to the park and sits there to draw her favorite subjects: Children. The birds. The colorful flowers. Fountain. An old couple strolling hand in hand in the park.

At least, little by little, she was surviving and coping with her life. She was still emotionally battered but she was very much determined that when she return back to Japan, she would forget everything about Syaoran and that bitter episode of her life.

But at the back of her mind, Sakura was scared about something else.

She was afraid that what happened between them on that night will result in something else. She's getting really paranoid now. She's afraid to get pregnant.

Come to think of it, why is my menstruation delayed for several days now? I usually have a regular cycle. She thought nervously.

Maybe I should have a check-up. Okay. If I will still not have my menstruation after three days, I should go see a doctor. Even if it's embarrassing, I will take a pregnancy test.

However, three days had already passed but nothing different happened to her.

She decided to consult a doctor. And the result of her check-up just only confirmed her worries.

She is indeed pregnant.

Sakura had a hard time trying to keep a happy face when the doctor told her, what he said, "a great news". At the back of her mind, she anxiously tried to figure out the next best thing of what she's supposed to do.

She can't go back to Japan with such an unexpected pregnancy. People would only talk about her. She can't bear to give her father such an embarrassment.

She decided to call the one and only person who could help her.

Syaoran Li.

"Syaoran…do you still recognize my voice?"

"Sakura?"

"Thank goodness…" Sakura breathed with relief. "Listen, Syaoran…you got me p-pregnant. And this is a big, big problem! My dad's reputation will be ruined!"

Obviously, Sakura is panicking now.

"So? What do you want me to do?" Syaoran's voice seemed to take a hard edge on the other line.

"Marry me!"

Syaoran suddenly seemed to be at loss for words upon hearing her reply.

"What happened between us on that night doesn't matter that much. But being pregnant and left all alone by some guy…this is unthinkable!"

"You will marry the guy just because he accidentally got you pregnant?" Syaoran answered with sarcasm.

"If it's only my reputation at stake here, even if it got ruined, I don't care. I could manage it." She paused to take a deep breath. " But I care too much for my dad…he's too old to shoulder a problem like this."

"What about…we hide your situation from anybody else for the meantime? You'll give birth to our child then I will take the child from you. We will not tell anyone that it's your child. But I will tell them that it's mine although of course, I can't tell them that you're the mother. How about that?"

Sakura couldn't recognize Syaoran's voice if he's really serious about the whole thing or was just pure sarcastic. But nevertheless, what he just told her is enough to make her burst into tears.

"No! No! I can't do that!"

"But I can't marry you!"

Her spirits felt crush in an instant. His reply lost every single hope she had.

Crying and shaking all over, Sakura put down the phone with a heavy heart.

What should I do now? Where will I born my child? How could I return to Japan?

Sakura was such in a very problematic state when an hour later, she suddenly felt something.

She got her menstruation.

Sakura was dumbfounded at that revelation. How come the doctor told her she's pregnant?

Without any second thoughts, she immediately went back to the clinic to ask the doctor. After taking some exams, the doctor told her what really happened.

"I'm really sorry Ms. Kinomoto. It's just delayed. You were not pregnant. There could be some mix-up with the records since you were not the only one who took the pregnancy test."

Upon knowing that she wasn't really pregnant, Sakura couldn't help but feel embarrassed at her actions earlier. She let fear and panic take over her mind that she immediately demanded for a marriage to a guy who wasn't even her boyfriend in the first place.

She realized that Syaoran was right. Marriage was not the solution for such situations.

And it's not right that just because of reputation, she would plunge into something as big and serious as marriage, which will require a lifetime responsibility from her.

Sakura was too humiliated to call back Syaoran to tell him the news.

Anyway, he didn't want to marry me so telling him the truth or not doesn't matter anymore.

It was Wednesday when she called Syaoran and told him she's pregnant.

By Friday, Syaoran was already infront of her, inside her flat, in Milan.

Sakura looked as though she have seen a ghost.

"Oh my God! What are you doing here?"

He looked at her darkly, his brows burrowing at her sudden outburst. "You told me you're pregnant!"

"You're not interested about my situation, isn't it?"

"Do you honestly think that I will go this far just to see you if I am not interested?"

"B-but you told me that you don't want to marry me!" She sputtered.

"Because I was angry at that time! I felt insulted!" Syaoran answered back angrily. "You were just ashamed and too concern about your family's reputation that's why you wanted to marry me! Don't you know I have feelings too?"

Sakura looked down, her face flushing with shame.

"That is my baby, too. That's why I should make sure that his mother would not be too depressed to do anything that could hurt him. That's my reason why I went here."

"S-Syaoran…there was a mistake." She said anxiously and nervously twisted her hands. "It turned out that there was only a…mix-up of records in the clinic. I already had my menstruation. The doctor found out that it was only d-delayed and that I was not pregnant. I'm really sorry for putting you through all the trouble most especially that you've wasted your time and money just to get all the way here."

Syaoran's face looked shock.

"Is this a joke, Sakura?"

She couldn't look straight to his eyes. "N-no, of course. Why would I do such a thing?"

"So you're not pregnant, huh?"

She nodded slowly.

"So that's why you don't want to marry me anymore, am I right?" He asked sarcastically.

"Why should I marry you? Before, even if there was a reason, you told me that you don't want to be involved with me. And now that it turned out there was no reason to begin with, why should I think of such things?"

Syaoran just stared blankly at her, wondering why up to now, they were still fighting over their pride.

"Again, I'm sorry Syaoran. It was my fault. You should go back home. You don't have anything to do with me anymore."

"But I already told your father that you were pregnant. That's why he gave me your address here."

"What?"

"I told him, I'd marry you. What if he already told some people back there? It's no surprise if he got excited at the thought of his only daughter getting married. Anyway, you're already at the right age."

Syaoran's mood returned back to its casual state. He is now enjoying the sight of a very panicked Sakura looking back at him.

"Gosh…why did you tell him? And to think that I even tried to keep it from him?"

"I panicked, you know? I had to get your address here! And the only person who knew it was your dad. How could I convince him to give that information to me if I would not tell him the truth?"

Sakura paced back and forth.

"You know, you're so hard to figure out! You told me before that even if I were pregnant, you would not marry me. But you told my dad that you would marry me! What's the real deal, Syaoran?"

"You're hard to figure out, too. You're also not consistent!"

Sakura stopped pacing and glanced at him miserably.

"I guess…we still can't agree over things, Syaoran."

Syaoran looked at her sadly. If only things could be very simple so they could fix it right away…

Maybe they should start at the beginning. At the number one step. Slowly…but surely.

They should be friends first. They shouldn't talk about difficult things which they couldn't come up with the right solution for now.

He instinctively glanced at the sketch pad which was placed at the center table of her flat.

"Whose work is that?" He asked curiously.

"Mine." Sakura answered without any trace of arrogance in her voice.

Syaoran picked up the sketched pad and looked at it. He couldn't help but be awed at the drawings he saw. Everything looks so real and full of life.

"You're good."

Sakura blushed at his compliment.

"Maybe you could sketch me."

"Where?"

"Here in Milan."

"You will not go back to Hongkong?" She stared at him in disbelief.

"No. I long needed a vacation. And because I'm already here, it's not a bad idea to extend my stay. I've already decided to take my vacation here, too." He smiled slightly.

Sakura could feel her heart pounding loudly in her chest. Suddenly, she couldn't help but feel happier at the thought.

"Are you just joking?"

"Nope. And I am also not kidding when I told you that you could sketch me."

She raised an eyebrow. "It requires patience, you know. You'll be posing for such a long time. And oh -! Unnecessary movements are not allowed. I doubt if you could do it."

"Try me!" Syaoran answered with conviction.

"We'll only end up fighting with each other. We both have the same temper. We are not compatible. We're the type of persons who couldn't come up with a project together."

"Not when we became friends."

Sakura was stopped dead in her tracks when she heard his reply.

"Friends? I don't know…" She said uncertainly.

"Anyway, I should be going now to unpack my clothes. Just to inform you, I'm staying in this hotel. Here's my room number in case you needed anything."

Syaoran gave her a small piece of paper before waving his goodbye to her. Even after he's gone, she's still staring at the paper he gave her.

She shook her head. She still couldn't believe it.

It's too good to be true.

He's staying here? And he even told me that we could become friends?

Was it really true that there's still hope for the two of them? Could they just really forget all the words they've hurled to each other back then and just get on with their lives?

Sakura is not naïve. She's very critical. And pessimistic.

She's sure that by tomorrow, Syaoran will change his mind and go back to his place without even bothering to say goodbye to her.

He was not the type of person to waste his time just 'getting to be friends' with her.

That's why she decided that she shouldn't hope for anything else. It was enough that he came to visit her and that's it. At least, even if she didn't want to admit it, it eased the longing she had for him.

The next day, Sakura was awaken by the shrill sound of her flat's buzzer.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see the person standing infront of her.

Syaoran Li looked so handsome to her eyes. His casual attire complemented his looks. He is smiling genuinely at her, his eyes looking at her amusingly.

"I'm ready for my artist."

"Syaoran! You should be in an airplane now!" Sakura shouted. " I can't sketch you! I won't!"

However, about an hour later, she found herself very engrossed on her work, as she concentrated on drawing Syaoran in her sketch pad. They were at the park. She's concentrating on her work as an artist while Syaoran is concentrating on his part as a model.

They have rapport. Both were taking their part seriously.

And as they focused on their work, they were not aware that they were slowly taking the first big step towards friendship.

There is hope, after all.

…

kotsch

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