Chapter 9

Ryu got the job as a fireman and, today, I was going for an interview and I was going to be showing my designs to this well known rich designers. I was dressed in a beautiful black dress and I walked in the conference room and people looked at me. One of the men stood up and introduced himself, he was dressed in this classic black suit and he said 'I'm glad you could make it Sakura, I'm Darien Lopes'

'It's good to see meet you Darien', I smiled warmly at him, they were over 20, and I haven't even turned 18.

'This is Sumi, Desiree and Ramos, next to me', he sat back down and I looked at him. He looked like he was 20 years old and I had to admit he was cute.

'I'm glad you let me see you in such short notice, I'll just cut to the chase'.

Sumi butted it 'Are you still at school Ms. Kinomoto?'

'No, I dropped out because I got pregnant', Sumi looked at Desiree and Darien just smiled at me.

'That doesn't matter, as long as you've got the skills, right Ramos?'

Ramos flicked through my designs and said 'These are pretty good, different from the fashion now. But I'm not so sure'.

Darien said 'Sakura just leave your portfolio and I'll contact you in a couple of days'.

I stood up and looked at the other three in the room and I thought to myself 'There are so rude'. I smiled and walked out of there, feeling like I was stupid because they made me. My phone rang and it was Ryu. Lately he had been calling me making sure I was allright. I loved him so much and I knew soon enough that he would be proposing to me. We sometimes entered jewelry stores and while I was in the necklace section, he would be in the ring section, making finding out a ring for me.

'Hi Ryu'

'You want to go out for dinner tonight?' he loved taking me out to dinner because the rest of the night turns out really good.

'I don't know. I just got an interview and it didn't go so well. They looked down on me'.

'Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll get feedback'.

'Ryu, I'm just wondering, do you love me?'

'Of course I do. Why would you want to ask that kind of question?'

'I've just been wondering …'

'Okay, I have to go. I'll call you later? Wait … Are we still going out for that dinner?'

'Sure why not?', I started walking towards the elevator and I hanged up. When the elevator doors started opening, I saw Nyoko & Kin Li. I was shocked to see them, but inside me I wondered if Syaoran was with them.

Nyoko smiled at me and she said 'My goodness Sakura, hello, how are you doing?'

'I'm fine Nyoko, how are you?', Kin stood beside her and he smiled at me, they were such a loving couple.

'We were just about to have lunch, you want to join us to catch up on stuff?'

'Sure why not', I answered. I knew this was leading to somewhere but I couldn't say no to them.

I joined them for lunch and we went to some poshy restaurant and ordered something, then I had to ask 'Where's Syaoran , didn't he come with you?'

'No, he's not allowed to leave Japan. His grandmother won't let him, so Sakura are you still with Ryu?'

'Yeah I am', I smiled awkwardly at them. Ever since I gave birth to Machiko, I've never spoken to them and they were the REAL grandparents for her.

'How's the baby?'

'Fine, just perfect, I had a baby girl and I named her Machiko'.

'That's a lovely name'.

I looked at Kin and he hasn't said much during this lunch, so I asked him 'Kin, how's Syaoran doing?'

'Trying his best, he just isn't the same person anymore. He barely talks and eats. I'm starting to wonder what he does when he's not around us'.

'I'm sorry for causing all this'

'It was not your fault Sakura. He's just not himself right now', they smiled at me and I remembered I had to meet Ryu this afternoon because I still haven't made up my mind if I wanted to go dinner with him, so I excused myself.

'It was nice seeing you two again Kin & Nyoko, but I have to go. I have to meet Ryu before he comes out of work. Thanks for having me for lunch', I started packing up my stuff and I accidentally forgot my keys in the table because I dropped it, Nyoko saw me drop this and while I was in front of my car, I could hear her voice.

Nyoko ran to me and said 'You forgot your keys. Sakura, I know your with Ryu now, but I think Syaoran and you needs to talk somehow, he's not doing so well'.

'What could I do to make him better?'

'I don't know. We're throwing a party for his 19th Birthday Party and I'm asking you to come'.

'I can't do that Nyoko you know that'.

'I'll make sure she's not around'.

'I still can't do it. I know something's going to happen between us if I go to that party and I don't want to ruin the great relationship I have with Ryu now. I mean he's an amazing guy'.

'I know, but please try and make it. I don't have the invitation with me now, but I'll send it to you'.

'I'll try Nyoko, I can't make any promises and I don't want to have to keep this from Ryu'.

'You won't have to, you can tell him about this so that he could come with you'.

'I'll see you around, bye', I went inside my car and thought about what she just told me. I wasn't sure of going because if I did see Syaoran once again. I didn't know what to tell him. I couldn't just pick up from where we left off.

I visited Ryu during work. I knocked on his office, and no-one was in there, so I sat down in front of his table and waited for him. Someone else came in the room who looked like Ryu's pal, Dennis Wilson.

'He's in the boss's office, he won't be long now. I don't think I've met you, I'm Dennis Wilson', he shook his hand for me to shake.

'Sakura Kinomoto, its nice to meet you. I've heard about you. Ryu has mentioned you now and then', I kissed him in the cheeks and he smiled at me. I looked out the window and I asked 'How long have you been doing this?'

'2 years at least, but it's a great job, makes you feel like a real hero. I heard about the baby you just had, congratulations'.

'Thanks', Ryu came in the room and he kissed me in the lips, and I said 'I met your friend here'. Danny stood up and he left us.

'I've been trying to call you, where were you?', he hugged me from behind and I was unsure whether or not to tell him.

'I've just had lunch with Syaoran 's parents', I felt him tense up so I turned around and faced him 'Nothing happened I promise'.

'But what did they want?', before I used to tell him that whenever Syaoran 's parents would talk to me, there would be a point to it.

'Nothing, they just invited me to Syaoran 's birthday bash, according to them, he isn't doing so well'.

'I'm sorry, but are you going?', I looked away from him, not knowing what to say.

'I don't know', he kissed me passionately and I said 'We're still going for dinner tonight right?'

'Yeah, sure', he kissed me in the neck and we started walking to his car. I felt that he didn't want me seeing Syaoran again, or for me to go to that party but I didn't want Syaoran to live the rest of his life, a hell.

We got home and we got changed so that we could go out for dinner, and it was around 7.30 when we left. We were in the car, and Ryu hasn't said much ever since I told him what Syaoran 's parents wanted me to do, so I had to ask him 'Is everything allright?'

'Yeah … I was just thinking', he smiled warmly at me.

'Good, I didn't want the rest of the night feeling awkward', then we arrived to the poshy restaurant and we went to our own private area. We had our own area because the owner of the restaurant was Ryu's cousin, Jane Eba, they looked a like and when I first saw them I thought they were sisters or something, but they weren't.

We ordered our food and I noticed that something was going to happen tonight, I just didn't know. He kept smiling at me all night and I started to feel hot. I broke the silence by saying 'Ryu, stop looking at me', I was really starting to get annoyed for some reason.

'I'm sorry', he looked away, and I could see him taking out something from his pocket, but I was unsure of it.

'I need to go toilet, I'll be back', somehow I felt irritated around him, because I really hated it when people hid stuff from me, it made me act bitchy.

'Okay', he said. He was starting to get worried for me, but it wasn't my fault. After I went to the toilet and I came back, I felt different around him.

'Is something bothering you Sakura?', I looked away from him as he asked me that question, and that answered it.

'I've just been moody lately'.

'I love you, do you know that?'

'I love you too', he stood up from his chair and he walked beside me and took something out from his pocket, a black box. He knelt in front of me and I knew instantly what he was going to ask me.

'Sakura, I know we've been through so much. But all that matters to me is that I love you. I'll love you no matter what, be with you, I'll do anything for you, so that is why, I'm asking you to marry me because I think we're ready for the next level. So will you marry me?'

'No', I answered and that broke his smile. I felt guilty but I couldn't just say yes to him because he asked me.

'I don't understand, is there a reason why you said no?'

'No', he stood up and started getting angry. This night didn't turn out to what he expected, and I had to tell him why I said no 'You asked me at the wrong time Ryu, and we haven't even been together for more than a year, well in a stable relationship no, but I do love you Ryu'.

'What are you saying?'

'We need to know each other more, I know you were expecting a yes from me, but you know me, no-one can force me to do stuff I don't want. But I do want to marry you, just not now', I stood up and hugged him tightly and I whispered to him 'I'll always love you'.

That night when we were in bed, Ryu hasn't talked to me. He couldn't get over the fact that I didn't say yes to him and it was killing him inside because all these thoughts of me and Syaoran being together in the past, and I asked him 'You don't have to worry Ryu, I'm faithful to you'.

'Its not that, its just I'm scared for the future, what if Machiko wants to know about her real father, what are we going to say to her?'

'The truth might be good but I don't know, she might take it the wrong way. But we don't have to worry about that yet, she's not growing up that fast, she's just a baby'.

'Are you going to the party?', he asked me holding me tightly by the waist.

'Yeah, nothing's going to happen Ryu, I mean, he's the Prince, I wouldn't just foolishly sleep with him and leave him'.

'Okay, do you want me to come with you?'

'If you want, but I doubt you can because you have a busy work', he kissed me and I said 'I've been thinking about what you asked me earlier tonight, I say yes, I know it broke your heart with me saying no, but I want to take a chance, lets get married, if this doesn't work, we can always try again right?'

He kissed me passionately and I laughed as he moved on top of me and said 'That sounds great'. They made love that night and it was the most amazing things we've shared together.

The next morning, Ryu left bed early to get the mail, because he was a morning person and prepared breakfast for her and took a walk around the house to make sure everything was fine. The maid who took care of Machiko, Nolee didn't stay in the house all the time, just when Ryu and I would be out. Ryu cooked breakfast and looked through the mail, there was a letter for Mr. Eba and Ms. Kinomoto, he opened his letter and it was an invitation, he looked at it.

Ryu Eba

You are invited to Syaoran Li's 19th Birthday Party in Japan, Royal Palace. Included in this letter is a plane ticket to Japan. I hope you could make it, and it's not necessary to bring a gift, just bring yourself.

He read it, thinking it was the letter that I was talking about. He continued to cook dinner, not able to take the situation off his mind. When I would wake up this morning, he would be giving me the ring, and he was so happy that I said yes. He cooked my favorite breakfast, pancakes with Maple syrup and Muesli with Juice, he started walking upstairs with a tray and he kissed her in the forehead and I started waking up, I heard him say to me 'Wake up sleepy head, I made you breakfast'.

I sat up and smiled at him, getting used to the light in the room 'You woke up to make me breakfast?'

'Yeah, come on eat', I started swallowing down the food and I asked him why he wasn't talking 'Something up?'

'I actually got a letter this morning, from Syaoran 's parents, they've invited me to the party', I stopped and he continued 'I don't think you should go, I have a bad feeling about this'.

'Don't worry about it, its nothing …', he hugged me tightly and there was something different in it. I looked down at the tray and there was a box, while I was opening it, I asked 'What 's in here?'.

'Look for yourself, I think you'll like it', I opened it and there was an extravagant ring inside and I gasped.

'Oh my god, its so big'.

'Its too big?'

'Its perfect, but it looks so expensive'.

'Your worth more than that, come on let me put it on you', I smiled as he took the ring from the box and slowly put it on my hand and kissed me passionately. I was so happy that morning and he decided to take a day of work to be with me and Machiko. He had been so amazing lately, he was there for me, and I continued to eat my breakfast by the verandah, giving me a view of the lake. I opened the invitation after Ryu gave me the letter and I looked at the sunrise. Maybe I should bring Ryu with me just in case?

That day, I spent the day with Ryu and he took Machiko and me out to a ride in his boat he owned. He got that boat on his 12th birthday and he was just starting to use it now. While I was holding Machiko in the top part of the boat, Ryu looked at me. I could see in his eyes that this was the kind of life he wanted. He had everything he could possibly have in the world and he couldn't ask for more. Ryu sat beside me and said 'I just want to marry you right now, or maybe we can elope?'

'Elope? I don't think so Ryu'.

'I just want you to be in my life so soon'.

'I am a part of your life', I said, smiling in his eyes. Everyday, he became this guy that grew more handsome, and I couldn't resist him anymore. I was about to say something else to Ryu, but my mobile phone rang and I answered it.

'Hello?'

'Ms. Kinomoto, this is Darien Lopes, you had an interview with me yesterday. I would like to meet you sometime … tomorrow maybe?'

'Yeah sure … does this mean I got the job?'

'I'll tell you when I meet you, so please make it to the Starbucks Café, 10am sharp'.

'Okay, thanks', I smiled brightly at Ryu and he was curious of what was going on. I put Machiko down and I jumped on Ryu and said 'I got the job!'

'You got the job!', he had no idea with what I was talking about.

'I got the job in the fashion industry; remember I had an interview yesterday?

'Yeah, that job', finally getting with what I was talking about, 'You didn't answer my question?'

'What question?', I asked, I couldn't remember what he was asking me.

'No don't worry about it'.

It had been over 4 months since I gave birth to Machiko and Christmas was only a month away. The party for Syaoran was on September 20, and it was only the 6th of September. Everything was going so well, and the job that I got was amazing. Even though Darien's workmates didn't like me I still got in because I had the skills and he loved my designs. Ryu and I were so happy together, we've been engaged or at least a week now. No-one knew of the amazing news except for Ryu's parents, who were ecstatic when they found out. So right now, I was going shopping with Nolee and baby Machiko to get a dress for the party. Somehow I wanted to look my best because I wanted to make a good impression for the new people I might be meeting. Darien even suggested that I should wear one of my designs because he would gladly make a dress for me. But I didn't want to; I just wasn't ready to wear my own designs. Not yet.

While I was in Bondi Junction (a local shopping mall), I tried looking for clothes. I said to Nolee 'Please Nolee you have to help me find clothes, the party is this 20th and I'm so unorganized'

'You want something sexy but something that covers you?'

'Yeah, exactly', we walked into a designer clothes store and I looked through the racks 'Some of these are allright, but its just not me'.

'I bought my formal dress in a store that's not well known but they sell good dresses', leading me into these formal clothes store, I looked around and even though I didn't know the shop well, they looked pretty allright. I started looking through the racks, rummaging through and finally I found the PERFECT DRESS. It was black and it showed off you collarbones. I instantly tried it on and it looked perfect on me and the dress was only $175, and I was definitely getting it. I looked for more dress around in case I changed my mind and these were MY type of clothes, they were sexy but not slutty and they were at the right price.

We took a break and ate muffins and I fed Machiko and we continued on shopping, I looked for shoes, accessories, bags and more and I also shopped for more clothes for Machiko because she just needed new ones. I spoilt Machiko now at then but not always. While we were being driven back home, my phone rang and it was an unrecognizable number. I answered it and said 'Hello?'

'Hello Sakura', it sounded like Nyoko 'I was just wondering if you could make it to the party. Did you get the invitation?'

'Yeah I did and I'm coming', I smiled while I said that 'I hope he wants me there'.

'He definitely does, I'm glad you could come'.

'I've got to go Nyoko, so I guess I'll see you at the party?'

'Yeah, I'll see you'.