Chapter 1 The Plan
"Sakura! Come on! It's almost your turn!"
"Hold your horses, I'm coming!" a girl that was looked about 20 stumbled out of one of the many dressing room, hopping on one foot while putting on a high heels. She was wearing a one shouldered mini sundress. A built in pink belt acented her slim waist, and the hem, which was a few inches above her knee showed off her long toned legs. She ran to the nearest mirror and hastily put some rhinestone studded clips in her light brown hair. She put on some sheer pink lip gloss and black mascara to bring out her deep emerald eyes. She stole one last look in the mirror before running up the stairs to the entrance of the runway.
"Okay I'm here. Please tell me I'm not too late."
Her agent laughed "Well Sakura, I must say that you're getting better. You're up next. Ahh, here comes Melissa." he indicated the model that just came off the runway. Sakura smiled at her, but she just stared coldly back .
Sakura ignored it, and plastered a bright smile on her face before stepping onto the runway. Immediately hundreds of flashes went off around her. It made her a little uncomfortable, but she was used to it. She walked confidently down the runway, and anybody could tell that she had been doing this for years. As she reached the end of the runway, she smiled flirtagiously and blew the audience a kiss. The photographers went crazy, and flashes went off more wildly. As she was about to go behind the curtain, she gave the audience one last wink before disappearing.
The audience was always large, and it was nearly impposible to tell who belonged there or not. However, there were two figures who sat near the front who stood out. They were both gorgeous with long black hair, and but one had crimson eyes while the other had gentle amethyst eyes. They were both dressed in leather, and favored black, while those around them were clad in pastel colours. The conversed quietly between them while everybody else was transfixed on the model walking up and down the runway.
"Was that her? In the white dress?"
"Yeah I think so. Wow, she was gorgeous."
"Uh-huh. She knows how to work the audience too. I think the guys are going to find it a little hard to concentrate with her around, won't they?"
"Probably, I really don't care what happens as long as she keeps away from Adam. If she doesn't I don't care what Syaoran says, I'll kill her myself."
"Don't you think that'll you're being a little overposesive Meilin?" The girl with amethyst eyes smirked.
"I don't think so. You'd do the same if in Eriol's case."
"I guess so. Anyhow, are we taking her tonight?"
"No. I think Syaoran wants him and the guys to capture her himself."
"Why?"
"I don't know. It must be he doesn't trust us." the girl with crimson eyes spat out her last sentence."
"We could handle her. I mean she's a innocent and weak as they come."
They looked back at the runway, and Sakura was once more walking down it with a big smile. She was now were very short red satin shorts with a pink and red striped capped t-shirt. Her hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail.
"Yeah, she's looks pretty weak, but I don't understand how she and Touya can be that different. Who knows, maybe looks can be decieving."
"Maybe. Lets get outside before the show ends. We should plant that tracking device on her car."
"Yeah, lets go."
They slipped unnoticed out of the audience and went to the parking lot. When they went to the area that was reserved for the models they faced a slight dilemma. There were only two vehicles parked in this lot, because there only two models, but the question was which was Sakura's. One was a bright pink Jaguar, the other was a sleek black motorcycle. The girls stared at each other before turning to the vehicles.
"That one" they said in unison, pointing at different vehiles. Meilin, the girl with crimson eyes had pointed to the motorcycle while the other, Tomoyo had pointed to the Jaguar."
Tomoyo laughed. "Do you really think that she can handle that bike? It's the same one Eriol had, and he had trouble controling it at first."
"Yeah, but do you think that the other model could handle it? I mean I don't think Sakura is that tough, but think about it. Her brother it Touya! The leader of the Dragons! Come on. He had to have taught her something right?"
"I guess you're right, but what if she isn't as tough as you think? Nobody had ever seen her before, she's only known as a model, to the Dragons she pretty much never existed."
"Well it doesn't matter. I have two tracking devices anyway, we'll put one on each."
Tomoyo looked at Meilin suspiciously. "How do you have two tracking devices? Syaoran only gave you one."
Her friend smiled evilly and her crimson eyes danced with mischief. "I'm not telling you how I got it. I was planning on putting it on Adam so I could keep an eye on him, but hey I could always get another one.
Tomoyo just rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh Meilin, you re too much."
"You know it girl. Anyway, let's plant these bugs. Then we'll see who's right." They both smirked. People started to come out of the building, so they had to go back to their Mercedes, parked a short distance away.
A few people walked out with smiles on their faces before getting into their car before driving away. A few minutes later, they saw the other girl that was modelling today. She didn't look at all happy as she took out her keys and pressed the button to unlock her car. The Jaguar's lights flashed and both Meilin and Tomoyo could hear a distant click. She got into the car, slammed the door and drove away in a squeal of tires.
Meilin looked at Tomoyo with a smug smile on her face. Tomoyo just glared at her "Shut up"
"I didn't say anything" she responded gleefully. The quickly fell silent as they saw Sakura come out, followed by about a dozen reporters and photographers, a many young men with flowers in their hand that were obviously there for a date. Meilin and Tomoyo both inserted a small device into their ear, enabling them to hear what was being said.
"Sakura how do you - "
"Sakura is there any truth to the rumors about - "
"How did you react knowing that your old high school friend was going to be - "
"Sakura what did u think - "
"Excuse me, but unless you have a death wish or an appointment to talk to me, I suggest you all leave me alone!" she snapped, her emerald eyes blazing.
The reporters all slowly shrank away, while the photographers followed suit,e but snapped as many pictures as they could along the way. They stopped however, after the look that Sakura gave them. When the were gone the suiters all began talking at once, and Meiling and Tomoyo had to stifle their laughter.
"Sakura would you like to have - "
"He's a loser Sakura. Will you go with me to - "
"Sakura they are all boys, you need a man like me!"
"Sakura come on, you know how much I want you! Just give me - "
"Come on, you that I'm - "
Sakura however paid no attention go any of them. She got on her bike and put on a pair of sunglasses, before turing on the engine and reviving it up. She was now wearing dark blue jeans, a tight black tank top, and a close fitting leather jacket.
She looked at all the men in exasperation, and smiled sweetly.
"Sorry, but I am busy until June. Of next year. Excuse me, I have to get home." She looked at all of them in disdain, and they were all in shock. Some were standing in her path and she snapped at them.
"Move, or I'll do it for you!"
They all jumped back in surprise and she sped off into the distance.
In the car, both the girls were a little taken aback at how she had handled the situation. Meilin smiled.
"I like her" she proclaimed. Tomoyo just laughed.
"Yeah, me too, let's just get back. I miss Eriol already."
"You are pathetic!"
"Shut up!"
"Make me!"
They drove away laughing
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We're back!" Meiling annonced when she and Tomoyo stepped inside of the large mansion which a lot of Wolves lived.
They walked into the living room to find Syoaran on the couch with his laptop, and Adam and Eriol sitting lazily on the various furniture that they had. On the coffee table there were open and half empty pizza boxes and cans of beer lying around.
Tomoyo went and sat down on top of Eriol giggled, as he gave her a kiss, and Meilin went to get a piece of pizza before sitting down beside Adam, who started to play with her hair. Syoaran looked at them quizzingly.
"So? How did it go?"
"It went fine." Meilin answered nonchalantly.
"I see, then explain to me please, why do I have two cars on my radar going in opposite directions?" he asked coldly.
"Oh, we just had a little trouble deciding which vehicle was hers, and so we put one on both."
"My god Meilin! I won't even ask how you got the other tracking device, lord knows how you got your hands on it, but deciding what car it hers? How hard could it be? She's a freaking model, she probably drives like a - "
"Pink Jaguar?"
"Yes!"
Meilin and Tomoyo both laughed.
"Wrong, my cousin, wrong. She drives the same bike as Eriol. The pink toy was the other model's."
All the guys looked at them with raised eyebrows. Syoaran just scoffed.
"Yeah right" he said coldly.
Meilin was now mad. "Why is it so hard to imagine her being tough?"
"Becuase! I bet she's never been in a fight or anything like that.!"
"You didn't see the way she acted. There's definately more to her then meets the eye!"
"I really doubt that Meilin, and I didn't ask for your opinion!" He was now on his feet yelling at her, but she didn't back down.
"I don't care that you didn't ask me! Don't underestimate her Syoaran, you did with Touya, that's why things went wrong, because you thought that you knew everything, but you don't you just - "
SMACK
He had hit her so hard that it made her head snap to one side, and a large hand print appeared on the side of her face. She looked at him with fire in her eyes and he immediately regretted what he did. He'd never hit her, or Tomoyo before, and he wished that he never would.
"Meilin I didn't mean to - "
She was already walking out of the room. Tomoyo looked like she wanted to follow, but Eriol held on tightly to her.
"Meilin, I'm sorry! You know I didn't mean to! Come on! I'll make it up to you!" That caught her attention. She stopped dead and turned around slowly.
"How?" she asked coldly.
"Uh," he scratched the back of his neck nervously, where the tatoo of a wolf could be clearly seen. "I don't know! What do you want?"
There was a small smile on her lips. "I want to come along on the capture."
Everybody in the room, with the exception Syaoran gasped, however he had no reaction except that his eyes became noticibly colder.
"No" he said quitely and firmly.
She gave him a fierce glare before turning on her heel on walking out again. She stomped up the stair and when she reached her room, she went inside, but not before slamming her door so loudly it shook the house. The fight in the living room had caused quite a bit of commotion and a few people were peeking their heads into the room to see what was going on. Syaoran glared at all of them
"What!?" he snapped loudly. It made quite a few of them jump, and they all went back to whatever they were doing. He sighed.
"Tomoyo, did you guys get some pictures?"
"Yeah, here." She handed him her cell phone which he connected to his laptop and downloaded the photos. Adam and Eriol crowded around him to look at the images.
"Hmmmmm" Eriol mused. "She does ride a bike. Impressive. Wait, where did she get that bike?"
Tomoyo looked confused. "Isn't the same as yours?"
"No, not exactly. That bike isn't even supposed to come out until next year!"
Syaoran answered calmly "Dragons have their connections. It must have been a gift from Touya." They were now looking at the pictures of when she was modeling. A whistle was heard behind them. Eriol, Tomoyo, and Adam all looked around to see who it was, but Syaoran didn't bother.
"What do you want Bobby?" he asked in a bored voice.
"Nothing, and I told you that's not my name!" he snapped. He was the same age as Syaoran, with spiky jet black hair and piercing blue eyes that were now blazing. He hated nicknames.
Syoaran didn't even bother to turn around. "Okay, Bobert, you'd better have a reason to be here, or you're leaving"
"I was just looking at the pictures. Is that Touya's sister?"
His question was met by silence, as nobody really like his attitude. "Okay, I guess that's a yes. So she's going to be taken by us right?"
Another silence.
"Damn you idiots! What is wrong with you guys!"
Silence.
"Okay, you know what? You may not like me, but I will be the leader of the 'Wolves' and there's nothing you guys can do about it!"
Syaoran snorted. "On the contrary, I can keep living. You'll only be leader when I die! Now get out!"
"You can't make me do anything! I'm a Wolf! I have the right to stay here!."
"Whatever, get out of my face! You can't change the fact that while I'm alive, I'm leader!"
He stomped out muttering uner his breath. "Not for much, longer you won't." He was opening the door to the garage when he heard Syaoran say clearly, "I heard that, 'Robert' " The others burst out laughing, while Syaoran chuckled slightly.
"You guys had better get to sleep. We'll have a metting first thing in the morning."
The others got up and shuffled out of the room, while he stayed and continued to study the images. He stopped at the one where she was blowing a kiss at the audience and sighed.
"You'll be the key to my success, or my downfall. It can only go one way of the other."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura had just stepped out of the shower, and had her pajamas on. She was towel drying her hair when her cell phone rang. She dropped the towel and ran to picked it up.
"Hello?" she asked holding her breath. There was silence on the other end of the phone line.
"Hello? Touya is that you? Touya please, tell me that's you!" She was sobbing now,with tears streaming down her face. Her brother had been gone almost six months, and the only reassurance she got that he was alive were these phone calls, where she could her the person on the other line breathing, but they never spoke.
"Touya! Say something! I'm so worried. I miss you so much, Touya, please come back, I need you! Touya please!."
She heard the deep intake of breath on the other line.
"Be careful my little cherry blossom. I love you." said a quiet, - but deep - voice, her brother's. Then all she heard was a click and then silence.
"Touya? Touya please, don't hang up! Please. Where are you?" she said between sobs. The cell phone dropped to her side and she covered her face sobbing. Slowly she crawled into her bed, holding her knees up to her chest, silent tears flowing steadily. She always got the same phone call every night, but this was the first time her brother had spoken. Slowly she cried herself to sleep, like she did every night, since her brother had disappeared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A tall figure was sitting in a dark room with only the moonlight coming from a window as his light. He was holding his cell phone to his ear, listening to his sister sobbing on the other line. He closed his eyes painfully, and a tear slid out of his closed eyes.
'I'm so sorry Sakura. What am I doing to you? I wish I was there with you, I miss you so much. I hope you pull through this'
He got up out of his chair and paced around the room, running his hands through his dark hair. He went to the window and looked out longingly at the cherry blossom tree.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was almost noon by the time Sakura woke up. The sun was streaming into her light pink room, and when she looked at the clock, she panicked, but then realised that she had no photo shoots, or fittings to go to today so it was a free day. She got out of bed, unsure of what to do. Lately she rarely had any free time, and she liked it that way, because when she had free time, she just thought about her brother, and her life. She didn't want to think about it. It hurt too much.
She brushed her hair absently before tying it into a ponytail. She went to her closet and ruffled through her clothes. She finally decided on a pair of dark jeans and a sleeveless white t-shirt. She walked to the kitchen and pulled open her fridge. She sighed; she hadn't had much time to shop lately and she usually ate out, so all that was in her fridge was a carton of fruit juice, a few bottles of salad dressing and a packet of baby carrots that she had bought to snack on while she was bored. Sighing, she poured herself a glass of juice and walked outside.
The house that she shared with Touya was just across the street from a park. It had a little playground and many cherry blossom trees. She sat on the front steps leading to her door and lokd at the children playing with their friends, and parents. She looked at the children with smiles on their face and wished that she had a family like that. Even if it was just for one day, she wished that her family was a proper one, but then, she wouldn't ever trade the relationship that she had with her brother. She looked at her motorcylce and walked over to it with a smile.
It had been a gift from Touya, obviously. He gave it to her just a week before he disappeared, for no reason at all. He did that a lot, giving her random presents, but now she wondered if it was because he knew that he would be leaving her soon. Maybe it was his way of saying sorry or goodbye, a comfort present. Either way, it was her most cherished possesion. She rans he fingers over it's smooth, sleek surface, admiring how it looked.
When she looked up at the park again, her body started to shake and her grip on a glass started to tighten. She had seen a flash of blonde, and a pair of dark eyes. ' No!' she thought to herself. 'No! You're not real! You're not there, you're dead!' Despite the fact that she had conceously tightened her grip on the glass,she unknowingly loosened her grip and it slipped out of her hand and shattered beside her motorcycle. The noise startled her, and she looked down, only then did she realise that she had dropped her cup. When she looked back at tha park, there was nobody standing where the other person was. She shook her head and bent down to pick up the pieces.
As she did so, she saw that piece had scratched the paint on the bike and she winced. She loved the bike, but she didn't have enough time to mantain it. Since she had a free day, she decided to take it to a body shop to have it checked out, waxed and polished. She picked up the remaining pieces and walked inside to get her keys, before riding away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Okay then it's settled. Eriol, Adam and I will take her tonight." Syaoran concluded as they all sat around the dinning room table. They were just finishing up their meeting. Meilin and Tomoyo were sitting there chatting about what they would be doing tonight since the guys wouldn't let them come, when a very annoyed Robert walked into the room.
"What's this about you guys taking her without me?" he snapped. He never quite got over the fact that Syaoran was the leader after thier former one died a year ago, and seemed quite disgruntled that Syaoran wasn't hard of hearing either.
Syaoran looked at him with a bored expression. "Well, Bobert I don't see why it would be neccesary to take you along. After all, we only need one person to drive, one to wait in the car, and one to take her. That's three people, and if your were to come along, there wouldn't be that much space in the car. I doubt she will be much use to us if she suffocates in the trunk." He said all of this calmly, though inside he was fuming. Robert always got under his skin, demanding to know everything that was going on, when he didn't even have a clue what to do.
He was satisfied when he say that Robert was fuming, but he didn't show it. He hardly ever showed his emotions. He glared at Robert, and he glared back. He had to give Robert some credit though, he was one of the few people who was not affected by his glare.
Eriol cleared his throat, but they didn't take their eyes off each other. He looked at them in amusement.
"Well, when you guys are finished your staring contest, I think you'd like to look at this. I think you might find it find this important."
"What is it?" Syaoran asked, his eyes not wavering.
"Our little 'prisoner to be' is in motion."
"Just keep an eye on her. We don't strike until tonight."
"Whatever you say."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hi, can I help you?" A man who looked in his late twenties was looking at Sakura with interest. 'I wonder where she got that bike.'
She smiled. "Yes. I'd just like you to take a look at my bike."
His eyebrows furrowed. "Is there a problem with it?"
She laughed. "I hope not. I'd just like you to check it over. I been neglected the last while."
"Alright, just take a seat inside. I'll be with you once I'm done my inspection."
"Thank you." She hand him her keys and she sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting room. She caught the sight of her own face on one of the magazines and picked it up. Inside was an interveiw that she remembered doing a while ago. She looked over the article and smiled.
Tia: What was it like growing up?
Sakura: (Laughs) It was very good. Even though my mother passed away early on, my father took great care of me, and I was always surronded by people that loved and protected me.
She looked a little further down the page. It was amazing the stories she came up with.
Was it lonely being a only child?
No, I had a lot of friends, so I was never lonely.
She sighed. She would have been proud to say that Touya was her brother, but he insisted that seemed to the public that he didn't exist as her brother.
She was so involved reading her own interview that she didn't notice when the mechanic had returned.
"Miss?" she heard a quiet voice call, and she looked up startled.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
He laughed. "That's okay. What were you reading?" He looked down at the magazine in her hands, and was startled to see her on the cover. "No wonder you looked familiar! You're that model, um what's her name."
She laughed. "I'm Sakura Kinomoto." she said holding out he hand.
"Nice to meet you." he took her hand and shook it.
"Was there anything wrong with the bike?"
He shook his head. "Oh no, it's in perfect condition, except..."
She looked worried. "Except what?"
"It's just really odd. I found this attached to the bike. I dont' know what it is, but I know that it wasn't supposed to originally there."
She looked down at the object in the palm of his hand. It small, black, and round. She took it gingerly from him and looked at it carefully. When she realised what it was, she gasped. 'A tracking device? What on earth?'
The mechanic looked at her. "Is there a problem?"
She shook her head and plastered on a smile. "No, everything's fine. Thanks, I'll see you some other time."
'Well I guess I know why Touya said to be careful.'
She was deep in thought, and didn't notice when a kitten ran across the street. She screamed in shock, and squealed to a stop. Panting she looked at the little cat as it climbed up a tree. She was about to drive away when she was struck by a sudden thought. She parked her motorcycle and looked up at the kitty that looked too terrified to come down.
'Perfect'
She grabbed on to the nearest branch, and began climbing the trees with great agility and a real smile on her face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey Syoaran, I think there's something wrong" Eriol said as they ate their lunch, leftover pizza.
"Something wrong?" he asked in a dangerous tone, but it was apparent he was worried. Eriol didn't look at all ruffled by his cousin's actions and answered calmly.
"Well it was in motion, then it stopped for a while, nothing strange in that, but then it had about a few minutes of regular speed before it stopped again, and now it's moving at an incredibly slow speed."
"Define incredibly."
"Uh, about 2 miles an hour on average?"
"Are you serious?" he said barely more than a whisper. Meilin looked positively giddy about her cousin's predicament. She still hadn't forgiven him for hitting her, and he hadn't really made and effort to make it up to her. She smirked while Syaoran glared at her. It didn't seem to affect relatives, he thought absently, must be something about thier blood.
"Yeah I'm serious, take a look." He slid the laptop over to Syaoran who looked at it, his eyebrow furowing in apparent worry. He got up and put on his jacket, not saying anything.
"Where are you going?" Adam asked with mild concern.
"Checking this out." he answered in a hollow tone. Meilin immediately shot out of her chair.
"I'm coming with you." Syaoran looked like he was about to protest, but Meilin was already out the door. He just shrugged, and followed her; he always seemed to make exceptions for his cousin.
When they got into the car, Meilin was sitting in the paseenger seat.
"I don't see why I can't drive." she grumbled.
"You have to keep and eye on the radar. Now where is she?"
"Hold on." she typed a few things into the computer before answering. "Um currently 18th street and Westminster Ave."
"Alright, let's go."
They drove in silence for a while, before Syaoran broke the silence.
"Why did you want to come along?"
Meilin just smirked, which he found irratating.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I want to see the look on your face when you se it's not her." He scowled at her words.
"We'll see about that." Meilin didn't say anything but she was thinking, 'Yes, we will'
They had arrived at their destination, but the bike was nowhere in sight. Syaoran knew what Meilin was thinking as her smirk widened, but he wasn't going to accept defeat just yet.
"Come on, let's walk around, she's got to be around here somewhere" Syaoran said in a hollow voice.
They walked for a while but found no sign of her or the bike.
"Are you sure this is the right spot?" he asked annoyed
"Yes" her voice was just as annoyed. "Here, take a look yourself." She thrust the laptop at him at folded her arms.
He studied it and grumbled. According to the radar, they were supposed to be practically standing right beside the bike. He heard Meilin cooing at something. He looked over the laptop, to see her bent down, scratching a little kitten behind the ears. He narrowed his eyes.
"Meilin, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Let's go Meilin, it's not her. She must have found the tracking device." He looked at the kitten more closely, and bent down also. The little kitten had a collar, and a piece of paper was attached to it, and when he looked ran his fingers over the collar, he also found a small black device. He sighed and took the piece of paper and unfolded it. He stared at the neatly handwritten words in disbelief.
This must belong to you. Sorry, but I don't like others keeping 'track' of me. 'Til next time, whoever you are.
"Sakura! Come on! It's almost your turn!"
"Hold your horses, I'm coming!" a girl that was looked about 20 stumbled out of one of the many dressing room, hopping on one foot while putting on a high heels. She was wearing a one shouldered mini sundress. A built in pink belt acented her slim waist, and the hem, which was a few inches above her knee showed off her long toned legs. She ran to the nearest mirror and hastily put some rhinestone studded clips in her light brown hair. She put on some sheer pink lip gloss and black mascara to bring out her deep emerald eyes. She stole one last look in the mirror before running up the stairs to the entrance of the runway.
"Okay I'm here. Please tell me I'm not too late."
Her agent laughed "Well Sakura, I must say that you're getting better. You're up next. Ahh, here comes Melissa." he indicated the model that just came off the runway. Sakura smiled at her, but she just stared coldly back .
Sakura ignored it, and plastered a bright smile on her face before stepping onto the runway. Immediately hundreds of flashes went off around her. It made her a little uncomfortable, but she was used to it. She walked confidently down the runway, and anybody could tell that she had been doing this for years. As she reached the end of the runway, she smiled flirtagiously and blew the audience a kiss. The photographers went crazy, and flashes went off more wildly. As she was about to go behind the curtain, she gave the audience one last wink before disappearing.
The audience was always large, and it was nearly impposible to tell who belonged there or not. However, there were two figures who sat near the front who stood out. They were both gorgeous with long black hair, and but one had crimson eyes while the other had gentle amethyst eyes. They were both dressed in leather, and favored black, while those around them were clad in pastel colours. The conversed quietly between them while everybody else was transfixed on the model walking up and down the runway.
"Was that her? In the white dress?"
"Yeah I think so. Wow, she was gorgeous."
"Uh-huh. She knows how to work the audience too. I think the guys are going to find it a little hard to concentrate with her around, won't they?"
"Probably, I really don't care what happens as long as she keeps away from Adam. If she doesn't I don't care what Syaoran says, I'll kill her myself."
"Don't you think that'll you're being a little overposesive Meilin?" The girl with amethyst eyes smirked.
"I don't think so. You'd do the same if in Eriol's case."
"I guess so. Anyhow, are we taking her tonight?"
"No. I think Syaoran wants him and the guys to capture her himself."
"Why?"
"I don't know. It must be he doesn't trust us." the girl with crimson eyes spat out her last sentence."
"We could handle her. I mean she's a innocent and weak as they come."
They looked back at the runway, and Sakura was once more walking down it with a big smile. She was now were very short red satin shorts with a pink and red striped capped t-shirt. Her hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail.
"Yeah, she's looks pretty weak, but I don't understand how she and Touya can be that different. Who knows, maybe looks can be decieving."
"Maybe. Lets get outside before the show ends. We should plant that tracking device on her car."
"Yeah, lets go."
They slipped unnoticed out of the audience and went to the parking lot. When they went to the area that was reserved for the models they faced a slight dilemma. There were only two vehicles parked in this lot, because there only two models, but the question was which was Sakura's. One was a bright pink Jaguar, the other was a sleek black motorcycle. The girls stared at each other before turning to the vehicles.
"That one" they said in unison, pointing at different vehiles. Meilin, the girl with crimson eyes had pointed to the motorcycle while the other, Tomoyo had pointed to the Jaguar."
Tomoyo laughed. "Do you really think that she can handle that bike? It's the same one Eriol had, and he had trouble controling it at first."
"Yeah, but do you think that the other model could handle it? I mean I don't think Sakura is that tough, but think about it. Her brother it Touya! The leader of the Dragons! Come on. He had to have taught her something right?"
"I guess you're right, but what if she isn't as tough as you think? Nobody had ever seen her before, she's only known as a model, to the Dragons she pretty much never existed."
"Well it doesn't matter. I have two tracking devices anyway, we'll put one on each."
Tomoyo looked at Meilin suspiciously. "How do you have two tracking devices? Syaoran only gave you one."
Her friend smiled evilly and her crimson eyes danced with mischief. "I'm not telling you how I got it. I was planning on putting it on Adam so I could keep an eye on him, but hey I could always get another one.
Tomoyo just rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh Meilin, you re too much."
"You know it girl. Anyway, let's plant these bugs. Then we'll see who's right." They both smirked. People started to come out of the building, so they had to go back to their Mercedes, parked a short distance away.
A few people walked out with smiles on their faces before getting into their car before driving away. A few minutes later, they saw the other girl that was modelling today. She didn't look at all happy as she took out her keys and pressed the button to unlock her car. The Jaguar's lights flashed and both Meilin and Tomoyo could hear a distant click. She got into the car, slammed the door and drove away in a squeal of tires.
Meilin looked at Tomoyo with a smug smile on her face. Tomoyo just glared at her "Shut up"
"I didn't say anything" she responded gleefully. The quickly fell silent as they saw Sakura come out, followed by about a dozen reporters and photographers, a many young men with flowers in their hand that were obviously there for a date. Meilin and Tomoyo both inserted a small device into their ear, enabling them to hear what was being said.
"Sakura how do you - "
"Sakura is there any truth to the rumors about - "
"How did you react knowing that your old high school friend was going to be - "
"Sakura what did u think - "
"Excuse me, but unless you have a death wish or an appointment to talk to me, I suggest you all leave me alone!" she snapped, her emerald eyes blazing.
The reporters all slowly shrank away, while the photographers followed suit,e but snapped as many pictures as they could along the way. They stopped however, after the look that Sakura gave them. When the were gone the suiters all began talking at once, and Meiling and Tomoyo had to stifle their laughter.
"Sakura would you like to have - "
"He's a loser Sakura. Will you go with me to - "
"Sakura they are all boys, you need a man like me!"
"Sakura come on, you know how much I want you! Just give me - "
"Come on, you that I'm - "
Sakura however paid no attention go any of them. She got on her bike and put on a pair of sunglasses, before turing on the engine and reviving it up. She was now wearing dark blue jeans, a tight black tank top, and a close fitting leather jacket.
She looked at all the men in exasperation, and smiled sweetly.
"Sorry, but I am busy until June. Of next year. Excuse me, I have to get home." She looked at all of them in disdain, and they were all in shock. Some were standing in her path and she snapped at them.
"Move, or I'll do it for you!"
They all jumped back in surprise and she sped off into the distance.
In the car, both the girls were a little taken aback at how she had handled the situation. Meilin smiled.
"I like her" she proclaimed. Tomoyo just laughed.
"Yeah, me too, let's just get back. I miss Eriol already."
"You are pathetic!"
"Shut up!"
"Make me!"
They drove away laughing
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We're back!" Meiling annonced when she and Tomoyo stepped inside of the large mansion which a lot of Wolves lived.
They walked into the living room to find Syoaran on the couch with his laptop, and Adam and Eriol sitting lazily on the various furniture that they had. On the coffee table there were open and half empty pizza boxes and cans of beer lying around.
Tomoyo went and sat down on top of Eriol giggled, as he gave her a kiss, and Meilin went to get a piece of pizza before sitting down beside Adam, who started to play with her hair. Syoaran looked at them quizzingly.
"So? How did it go?"
"It went fine." Meilin answered nonchalantly.
"I see, then explain to me please, why do I have two cars on my radar going in opposite directions?" he asked coldly.
"Oh, we just had a little trouble deciding which vehicle was hers, and so we put one on both."
"My god Meilin! I won't even ask how you got the other tracking device, lord knows how you got your hands on it, but deciding what car it hers? How hard could it be? She's a freaking model, she probably drives like a - "
"Pink Jaguar?"
"Yes!"
Meilin and Tomoyo both laughed.
"Wrong, my cousin, wrong. She drives the same bike as Eriol. The pink toy was the other model's."
All the guys looked at them with raised eyebrows. Syoaran just scoffed.
"Yeah right" he said coldly.
Meilin was now mad. "Why is it so hard to imagine her being tough?"
"Becuase! I bet she's never been in a fight or anything like that.!"
"You didn't see the way she acted. There's definately more to her then meets the eye!"
"I really doubt that Meilin, and I didn't ask for your opinion!" He was now on his feet yelling at her, but she didn't back down.
"I don't care that you didn't ask me! Don't underestimate her Syoaran, you did with Touya, that's why things went wrong, because you thought that you knew everything, but you don't you just - "
SMACK
He had hit her so hard that it made her head snap to one side, and a large hand print appeared on the side of her face. She looked at him with fire in her eyes and he immediately regretted what he did. He'd never hit her, or Tomoyo before, and he wished that he never would.
"Meilin I didn't mean to - "
She was already walking out of the room. Tomoyo looked like she wanted to follow, but Eriol held on tightly to her.
"Meilin, I'm sorry! You know I didn't mean to! Come on! I'll make it up to you!" That caught her attention. She stopped dead and turned around slowly.
"How?" she asked coldly.
"Uh," he scratched the back of his neck nervously, where the tatoo of a wolf could be clearly seen. "I don't know! What do you want?"
There was a small smile on her lips. "I want to come along on the capture."
Everybody in the room, with the exception Syaoran gasped, however he had no reaction except that his eyes became noticibly colder.
"No" he said quitely and firmly.
She gave him a fierce glare before turning on her heel on walking out again. She stomped up the stair and when she reached her room, she went inside, but not before slamming her door so loudly it shook the house. The fight in the living room had caused quite a bit of commotion and a few people were peeking their heads into the room to see what was going on. Syaoran glared at all of them
"What!?" he snapped loudly. It made quite a few of them jump, and they all went back to whatever they were doing. He sighed.
"Tomoyo, did you guys get some pictures?"
"Yeah, here." She handed him her cell phone which he connected to his laptop and downloaded the photos. Adam and Eriol crowded around him to look at the images.
"Hmmmmm" Eriol mused. "She does ride a bike. Impressive. Wait, where did she get that bike?"
Tomoyo looked confused. "Isn't the same as yours?"
"No, not exactly. That bike isn't even supposed to come out until next year!"
Syaoran answered calmly "Dragons have their connections. It must have been a gift from Touya." They were now looking at the pictures of when she was modeling. A whistle was heard behind them. Eriol, Tomoyo, and Adam all looked around to see who it was, but Syaoran didn't bother.
"What do you want Bobby?" he asked in a bored voice.
"Nothing, and I told you that's not my name!" he snapped. He was the same age as Syaoran, with spiky jet black hair and piercing blue eyes that were now blazing. He hated nicknames.
Syoaran didn't even bother to turn around. "Okay, Bobert, you'd better have a reason to be here, or you're leaving"
"I was just looking at the pictures. Is that Touya's sister?"
His question was met by silence, as nobody really like his attitude. "Okay, I guess that's a yes. So she's going to be taken by us right?"
Another silence.
"Damn you idiots! What is wrong with you guys!"
Silence.
"Okay, you know what? You may not like me, but I will be the leader of the 'Wolves' and there's nothing you guys can do about it!"
Syaoran snorted. "On the contrary, I can keep living. You'll only be leader when I die! Now get out!"
"You can't make me do anything! I'm a Wolf! I have the right to stay here!."
"Whatever, get out of my face! You can't change the fact that while I'm alive, I'm leader!"
He stomped out muttering uner his breath. "Not for much, longer you won't." He was opening the door to the garage when he heard Syaoran say clearly, "I heard that, 'Robert' " The others burst out laughing, while Syaoran chuckled slightly.
"You guys had better get to sleep. We'll have a metting first thing in the morning."
The others got up and shuffled out of the room, while he stayed and continued to study the images. He stopped at the one where she was blowing a kiss at the audience and sighed.
"You'll be the key to my success, or my downfall. It can only go one way of the other."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura had just stepped out of the shower, and had her pajamas on. She was towel drying her hair when her cell phone rang. She dropped the towel and ran to picked it up.
"Hello?" she asked holding her breath. There was silence on the other end of the phone line.
"Hello? Touya is that you? Touya please, tell me that's you!" She was sobbing now,with tears streaming down her face. Her brother had been gone almost six months, and the only reassurance she got that he was alive were these phone calls, where she could her the person on the other line breathing, but they never spoke.
"Touya! Say something! I'm so worried. I miss you so much, Touya, please come back, I need you! Touya please!."
She heard the deep intake of breath on the other line.
"Be careful my little cherry blossom. I love you." said a quiet, - but deep - voice, her brother's. Then all she heard was a click and then silence.
"Touya? Touya please, don't hang up! Please. Where are you?" she said between sobs. The cell phone dropped to her side and she covered her face sobbing. Slowly she crawled into her bed, holding her knees up to her chest, silent tears flowing steadily. She always got the same phone call every night, but this was the first time her brother had spoken. Slowly she cried herself to sleep, like she did every night, since her brother had disappeared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A tall figure was sitting in a dark room with only the moonlight coming from a window as his light. He was holding his cell phone to his ear, listening to his sister sobbing on the other line. He closed his eyes painfully, and a tear slid out of his closed eyes.
'I'm so sorry Sakura. What am I doing to you? I wish I was there with you, I miss you so much. I hope you pull through this'
He got up out of his chair and paced around the room, running his hands through his dark hair. He went to the window and looked out longingly at the cherry blossom tree.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was almost noon by the time Sakura woke up. The sun was streaming into her light pink room, and when she looked at the clock, she panicked, but then realised that she had no photo shoots, or fittings to go to today so it was a free day. She got out of bed, unsure of what to do. Lately she rarely had any free time, and she liked it that way, because when she had free time, she just thought about her brother, and her life. She didn't want to think about it. It hurt too much.
She brushed her hair absently before tying it into a ponytail. She went to her closet and ruffled through her clothes. She finally decided on a pair of dark jeans and a sleeveless white t-shirt. She walked to the kitchen and pulled open her fridge. She sighed; she hadn't had much time to shop lately and she usually ate out, so all that was in her fridge was a carton of fruit juice, a few bottles of salad dressing and a packet of baby carrots that she had bought to snack on while she was bored. Sighing, she poured herself a glass of juice and walked outside.
The house that she shared with Touya was just across the street from a park. It had a little playground and many cherry blossom trees. She sat on the front steps leading to her door and lokd at the children playing with their friends, and parents. She looked at the children with smiles on their face and wished that she had a family like that. Even if it was just for one day, she wished that her family was a proper one, but then, she wouldn't ever trade the relationship that she had with her brother. She looked at her motorcylce and walked over to it with a smile.
It had been a gift from Touya, obviously. He gave it to her just a week before he disappeared, for no reason at all. He did that a lot, giving her random presents, but now she wondered if it was because he knew that he would be leaving her soon. Maybe it was his way of saying sorry or goodbye, a comfort present. Either way, it was her most cherished possesion. She rans he fingers over it's smooth, sleek surface, admiring how it looked.
When she looked up at the park again, her body started to shake and her grip on a glass started to tighten. She had seen a flash of blonde, and a pair of dark eyes. ' No!' she thought to herself. 'No! You're not real! You're not there, you're dead!' Despite the fact that she had conceously tightened her grip on the glass,she unknowingly loosened her grip and it slipped out of her hand and shattered beside her motorcycle. The noise startled her, and she looked down, only then did she realise that she had dropped her cup. When she looked back at tha park, there was nobody standing where the other person was. She shook her head and bent down to pick up the pieces.
As she did so, she saw that piece had scratched the paint on the bike and she winced. She loved the bike, but she didn't have enough time to mantain it. Since she had a free day, she decided to take it to a body shop to have it checked out, waxed and polished. She picked up the remaining pieces and walked inside to get her keys, before riding away.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Okay then it's settled. Eriol, Adam and I will take her tonight." Syaoran concluded as they all sat around the dinning room table. They were just finishing up their meeting. Meilin and Tomoyo were sitting there chatting about what they would be doing tonight since the guys wouldn't let them come, when a very annoyed Robert walked into the room.
"What's this about you guys taking her without me?" he snapped. He never quite got over the fact that Syaoran was the leader after thier former one died a year ago, and seemed quite disgruntled that Syaoran wasn't hard of hearing either.
Syaoran looked at him with a bored expression. "Well, Bobert I don't see why it would be neccesary to take you along. After all, we only need one person to drive, one to wait in the car, and one to take her. That's three people, and if your were to come along, there wouldn't be that much space in the car. I doubt she will be much use to us if she suffocates in the trunk." He said all of this calmly, though inside he was fuming. Robert always got under his skin, demanding to know everything that was going on, when he didn't even have a clue what to do.
He was satisfied when he say that Robert was fuming, but he didn't show it. He hardly ever showed his emotions. He glared at Robert, and he glared back. He had to give Robert some credit though, he was one of the few people who was not affected by his glare.
Eriol cleared his throat, but they didn't take their eyes off each other. He looked at them in amusement.
"Well, when you guys are finished your staring contest, I think you'd like to look at this. I think you might find it find this important."
"What is it?" Syaoran asked, his eyes not wavering.
"Our little 'prisoner to be' is in motion."
"Just keep an eye on her. We don't strike until tonight."
"Whatever you say."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hi, can I help you?" A man who looked in his late twenties was looking at Sakura with interest. 'I wonder where she got that bike.'
She smiled. "Yes. I'd just like you to take a look at my bike."
His eyebrows furrowed. "Is there a problem with it?"
She laughed. "I hope not. I'd just like you to check it over. I been neglected the last while."
"Alright, just take a seat inside. I'll be with you once I'm done my inspection."
"Thank you." She hand him her keys and she sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting room. She caught the sight of her own face on one of the magazines and picked it up. Inside was an interveiw that she remembered doing a while ago. She looked over the article and smiled.
Tia: What was it like growing up?
Sakura: (Laughs) It was very good. Even though my mother passed away early on, my father took great care of me, and I was always surronded by people that loved and protected me.
She looked a little further down the page. It was amazing the stories she came up with.
Was it lonely being a only child?
No, I had a lot of friends, so I was never lonely.
She sighed. She would have been proud to say that Touya was her brother, but he insisted that seemed to the public that he didn't exist as her brother.
She was so involved reading her own interview that she didn't notice when the mechanic had returned.
"Miss?" she heard a quiet voice call, and she looked up startled.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
He laughed. "That's okay. What were you reading?" He looked down at the magazine in her hands, and was startled to see her on the cover. "No wonder you looked familiar! You're that model, um what's her name."
She laughed. "I'm Sakura Kinomoto." she said holding out he hand.
"Nice to meet you." he took her hand and shook it.
"Was there anything wrong with the bike?"
He shook his head. "Oh no, it's in perfect condition, except..."
She looked worried. "Except what?"
"It's just really odd. I found this attached to the bike. I dont' know what it is, but I know that it wasn't supposed to originally there."
She looked down at the object in the palm of his hand. It small, black, and round. She took it gingerly from him and looked at it carefully. When she realised what it was, she gasped. 'A tracking device? What on earth?'
The mechanic looked at her. "Is there a problem?"
She shook her head and plastered on a smile. "No, everything's fine. Thanks, I'll see you some other time."
'Well I guess I know why Touya said to be careful.'
She was deep in thought, and didn't notice when a kitten ran across the street. She screamed in shock, and squealed to a stop. Panting she looked at the little cat as it climbed up a tree. She was about to drive away when she was struck by a sudden thought. She parked her motorcycle and looked up at the kitty that looked too terrified to come down.
'Perfect'
She grabbed on to the nearest branch, and began climbing the trees with great agility and a real smile on her face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey Syoaran, I think there's something wrong" Eriol said as they ate their lunch, leftover pizza.
"Something wrong?" he asked in a dangerous tone, but it was apparent he was worried. Eriol didn't look at all ruffled by his cousin's actions and answered calmly.
"Well it was in motion, then it stopped for a while, nothing strange in that, but then it had about a few minutes of regular speed before it stopped again, and now it's moving at an incredibly slow speed."
"Define incredibly."
"Uh, about 2 miles an hour on average?"
"Are you serious?" he said barely more than a whisper. Meilin looked positively giddy about her cousin's predicament. She still hadn't forgiven him for hitting her, and he hadn't really made and effort to make it up to her. She smirked while Syaoran glared at her. It didn't seem to affect relatives, he thought absently, must be something about thier blood.
"Yeah I'm serious, take a look." He slid the laptop over to Syaoran who looked at it, his eyebrow furowing in apparent worry. He got up and put on his jacket, not saying anything.
"Where are you going?" Adam asked with mild concern.
"Checking this out." he answered in a hollow tone. Meilin immediately shot out of her chair.
"I'm coming with you." Syaoran looked like he was about to protest, but Meilin was already out the door. He just shrugged, and followed her; he always seemed to make exceptions for his cousin.
When they got into the car, Meilin was sitting in the paseenger seat.
"I don't see why I can't drive." she grumbled.
"You have to keep and eye on the radar. Now where is she?"
"Hold on." she typed a few things into the computer before answering. "Um currently 18th street and Westminster Ave."
"Alright, let's go."
They drove in silence for a while, before Syaoran broke the silence.
"Why did you want to come along?"
Meilin just smirked, which he found irratating.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I want to see the look on your face when you se it's not her." He scowled at her words.
"We'll see about that." Meilin didn't say anything but she was thinking, 'Yes, we will'
They had arrived at their destination, but the bike was nowhere in sight. Syaoran knew what Meilin was thinking as her smirk widened, but he wasn't going to accept defeat just yet.
"Come on, let's walk around, she's got to be around here somewhere" Syaoran said in a hollow voice.
They walked for a while but found no sign of her or the bike.
"Are you sure this is the right spot?" he asked annoyed
"Yes" her voice was just as annoyed. "Here, take a look yourself." She thrust the laptop at him at folded her arms.
He studied it and grumbled. According to the radar, they were supposed to be practically standing right beside the bike. He heard Meilin cooing at something. He looked over the laptop, to see her bent down, scratching a little kitten behind the ears. He narrowed his eyes.
"Meilin, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Let's go Meilin, it's not her. She must have found the tracking device." He looked at the kitten more closely, and bent down also. The little kitten had a collar, and a piece of paper was attached to it, and when he looked ran his fingers over the collar, he also found a small black device. He sighed and took the piece of paper and unfolded it. He stared at the neatly handwritten words in disbelief.
This must belong to you. Sorry, but I don't like others keeping 'track' of me. 'Til next time, whoever you are.