AN: I am soooooo sorry! It has been a month since I last updated and I had promised myself I wouldn't wait that long to upload the next chapter. But school has been driving me CRAZY! It's been nothing but homework every single day and I've been working on scholarships like crazy. I have very little time at this very moment, but I felt so bad for not having updated for weeks that I found a few minutes to spare. I'm sorry for any mistakes you see in this chapter, and I know they'll be a lot of mistakes, but I don't have to time to edit and that is going to drive me crazy knowing there were mistakes and I couldn't fix them.

Rated: M for Mature do to sexual content and language.

Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura and its characters belong to Clamp. Plot and original characters of this story belongs to me.

Geisha Girl

Chapter Eight

"Hi Syaoran . . . Um . . . I know you're at work right now but I think it's easier just leaving you this message at your place . . . I have to tell you something . . . I'm getting a danna soon. Very soon, actually. Next week on Wednesday is the ceremony. You know him, actually . . . He's your associate, Mr. Totsuda. He requested me soon after you decided not to accept the invitation of being my danna . . . I've known for quite some time now about it, and I should have told you sooner, but . . . You know me having a danna means nothing can happen between us now. I've told you that before, but this should really convince you now . . .I can't risk my reputation by sleeping with you when pretty soon all of Tokyo will know that Mr. Totsuda is going to be my danna . . . Look, I've really had a good time with you, and I'm glad I met you . . . Actually, I should apologize. I let you continue kissing me, leading you on, when I knew that I was getting a danna. I'm so sorry, Syaoran. So very sorry . . . I . . . I . . . I have to go now. I guess. I hope you aren't angry with me about this. Bye . . ."

Syaoran stared at his machine as the beep sounded, indicating the end of the message. This was probably the fiftieth time he has heard it over the past three days, and every time he heard it he grew angry.

He hasn't seen her since getting it on Thursday. It has been five days since he last saw her, and something in him just missed seeing her, missed her laughter and stubborn attitude. Five days wouldn't seem that long to other people but after seeing Sakura practically everyday, five days of not seeing her was agonizing. He had wanted to see her but couldn't bring himself to. How could he see her, talk to her, when in the back of his mind all he would see was her being with Totsuda, allowing that man to have sex with her whenever he wanted?

He sat at his table, staring at the T-shirt he had given her to sleep in on Wednesday, the last time he saw her. It smelled like cherry blossoms, just like her, and he groaned as his mind went back to the message she had left him.

Leading him on? She hadn't been doing that. She had told him time and again that she wasn't going to sleep with him, and he had been too stubborn to admit defeat. All those kisses, he had initiated, trying to break her down. If she had been the initiator, then he would be angry, because then that meant she was just playing with him, giving him a taste of what he would get only for her not to go all the way. She shouldn't even be apologizing.

He stood up and paced, running a hand through his hair, his anger rising as he thought of Totsuda, that jerk. He didn't deserve to have Sakura. He would hurt her, and Syaoran felt that protective side of him emerge again. He cared for that woman, he accepted that now, and to think that Totsuda would have his hands over her . . . Syaoran wanted to do something to prevent that from happening. But what? Should he ask to become Sakura's danna? No, he couldn't. That wouldn't stop Totsuda from requesting her.

Suddenly, Syaoran realized that he wanted Sakura to himself- period. He didn't want her to go out and entertain men, to be viewed and be lusted after almost everyday. No, he wanted her with him, and he wanted to be the only man for her to ever entertain.

But she would never leave her profession and that angered him. She was so devoted to being a geisha she would just accept Totsuda as her danna and continue to entertain men.

Syaoran should just leave her. He should never see her again. He banged his head against the wall. He couldn't do that. He was just to into her. So what now? The only thing left was for him to carry on as he had for the past three weeks. He would just request her and pretend that she wasn't sleeping with Totsuda. But he knew, without a doubt, that he would never be able to pretend because he would never accept Totsuda as her danna. It just wasn't fair.

He laughed at himself. He was jealous. For the first time in twenty-seven years, he was jealous. And over a girl.

A girl he will see later tonight. The banquet for the Prime Minister was tonight and she was going to be there. He truly did not want to see her because he didn't know how he would react. But what made matters worse was the fact that Totsuda was going to be there as well, along with Zen, Tokumatsu, and Tokumatsu's family. Meaning that Leiko would be there too.

He groaned. Leiko. That little brat. In his opinion, he was too old for her but she didn't seem to care. Of course, she only wanted him just because he didn't want her, but it didn't lessen his annoyance towards her childish tactics to get him. He was still angry at her for hurting Sakura that one time when he took the geisha to the Tokumatsu home.

He walked towards his bedroom. It was six-thirty in the morning, meaning he should start getting ready for work. He sighed, burdened by jealously and anger.

He had spent so much time thinking of a way of getting Sakura in his bed, wooing her senseless, making her comfortable around him. And now, his primary goal was gone. It should have made him not think of Sakura, but it didn't. He still wanted to see her, still wanted to take her out on dates. He no longer felt the need to sleep with her. He just felt the need to be with her, period. Oh hell, they didn't even need to touch, so long as she was with him.

But how would he be able to handle her presence when all he would be able to think about was her in Totsuda's bed?

- -

Sakura opened her eyes slowly, not wanting to wake up. Last night she couldn't sleep, thinking about the banquet. She was so nervous! And now, immediately, her stomach clenched at the thought of her dancing for the Prime Minister. She sat up in bed and looked at the clock. It was almost nine, and she dreaded the day that lay ahead of her. Today she would spend all day getting ready: buying a brand new kimono, going to a salon to do her hair. She preferred to do some training instead.

That way her thoughts wouldn't wander to Syaoran.

She sighed with remorse. She missed him. Of course it was only five days, but what made it hard was the fact that it was only the beginning. Soon, five days would turn into five weeks, and five weeks would turn into five months, and so on. She wished she could believe that he just had other things to do, but it was the weekend that past. Since they met, he had requested her for both Saturday and Sunday, because he didn't work on weekends. Since he didn't request her, it only meant that she had been right. He didn't want to see her anymore, because now he knew, without a doubt, she wouldn't sleep with him.

To her surprise, she grew angry. How selfish that man was! Just because she wouldn't sleep with him, he wasn't going to see her anymore? How childish, like a little boy who sulked just because he didn't get his toy. Well, fine. He can continue being childish. Let him sulk. Let him not see her. Her love for him was not going to turn her into a self-pitied geisha. She will continue entertaining men, she will do that ceremony with Totsuda if it killed her, and soon Syaoran will be a distant memory.

She smiled, but it was humorless. She remembered when she had to do the same thing with her parents. How hurt she was when she learned her parents sold her, and how she pitied herself for weeks afterward when she arrived here, crying her eyes out, until finally she grew angry. She had promised herself she wouldn't pity herself, and that she would forget her parents. If they could so easily sell her and forget her, then she would do the same and forget them. And she had. Both her parents had become distant memories to her, and she rarely thought of them. Her devotion to being a geisha proved that what her parents had done to her hadn't scarred her, that their selfishness hadn't affected her in a great way. It still hurts, yes, but not like before. She had continued living life.

She would accomplish the same thing with Syaoran.

- -

Syaoran tapped the pencil against the desk, staring at the man across from him.

"I would have preferred for your father to come, Kinomoto" Syaoran stated, glaring at the man.

Touya glared in return. "My father is ill today. He made me come." He looked back down at the papers, reading them carefully.

"Damn it, everything in in perfect order. There are no tricks."

"How do I know that?" Touya snapped. "I don't know what type of man you are."

"I'm an honest when it comes to business. I make a lot of money, as you should know, considering that you most likely check my background out."

"Of course. What kind of business man would I be if I didn't know about the man I would be working for." It was clear by the disgusted face Touya made that he wasn't pleased to say that.

Syaoran smirked. "If I make generous money, that only means that there are many people who trust me. I don't play around in business, because playing around only brings down companies. I won't bring down Dynasty."

Touya glanced at him as he read the last page. "Well, everything seems to be in order."

"I told you."

Touya glared. "I really do dislike you, Li."

"Interesting that I dislike you, too."

The older man patted his business suit, apparently looking for something. Syaoran opened a drawer. "Pen?" He asked, extracting one.

Touya swiped the pen and as he grumbled, he signed his name on the last page where indicated. He gave both pen and the contract papers back.

"Kinomoto . . . ." Syaoran said as he took the papers and placed them in a folder.

"Yeah?" he asked warily.

"Where do you live?"

Touya blinked. "Why? What does it mean to you?"

"I'm just curious."

He frowned. "Downtown."

Syaoran nodded. "And your parents?"

"East Tokyo."

"I would like your complete addresses."

Touya scowled. "You don't need neither my parents' address nor my address."

"Actually, I do. I have all of my employees addresses in order to send them their paychecks. Unless you don't want to get paid . . .?"

Touya clenched his hands. "Fine" he spat, and when handed a piece of paper he immediately wrote down their addresses.

"Phone numbers too, please."

More grumbles.

"There. Happy?"

"Oh, yes" Syaoran replied, taking the paper and looking at the addresses. "That's all I need. I will send one of my associates to K and K Corps next Monday and he will be the supervisor of your company."

Touya continued to grumble as he stood up. He headed towards the door.

"What, no shaking hands? No 'pleasure doing business with you'?"

"I prefer to just leave. Your presence is intolerable."

"So is yours, but in business I prefer to ignore it."

Touya glared at him once more before leaving.

Syaoran picked up the paper with the addresses. He didn't particularly need the addresses now, but he requested it not for himself, but rather for Sakura. He didn't like what her parents did to her, but he thought that Sakura should know at least why they had done it. It was obvious that she was still hurt by what they did, no matter how much she buried it. Maybe it would bring her closure to know at least a reason for selling her.

But would she want to see them? She was angry at them, and she had already said she didn't want to talk to them, but she should. Unless she confronted them, then she would never get over it.

Maybe this would be the last thing he ever did for her, because he still wasn't sure if he would continue to see her. But at least, for once, he would do something nice for a woman.

Sakura deserved that much from him.

- -

Laughter was everywhere in the banquet as the clock struck eight. The ballroom of the hotel had been decorated in honor of their special guest tonight. An orchestra played at one side of the room on a stage. Tables outlined the shape of the room, making the center the dance floor. Men in tuxes swept the women dressed in all sorts of gowns on to the dance floor. The Prime Minister laughed joyously as he sat on the table that was across from the orchestra on the other side of the room, making it the center of attention.

Syaoran sighed, looking at his surroundings. He was downright bored. He had no one to talk to. Tokumatsu was dancing with his wife. Leiko had been escorted to a dance from a gentleman. Zen . . . Zen was somewhere in the blasted room. Thankfully, Totsuda hadn't yet arrived, meaning that, hopefully, by the time he did, Tokumatsu and Zen would be back by now.

"Well, I would have expected for you to be dancing."

Syaoran sucked in a deep breathe as his hope crashed. Totsuda sat on the seat next to him.

"I don't feel like it" he muttered, which was very true.

"But you always dance with a woman at these type of functions. And, a lot of the times, you always go with them to their homes for, ah, fun and games?"

Syaoran frowned. "What do you want?"

Totsuda merely shrugged, before grinning. "Just wanted to talk, Li. After all, we haven't spoken in a couple of weeks. And over a silly argument."

The last thing Syaoran wanted to do was talk to this man, the man that would get Sakura in his bed. The very idea made bile rise in his throat, and he slightly shuddered. He had an idea of why Totsuda was suddenly talking to him.

"Um, have you ever heard of a danna?" Totsuda asked, confirming Syaoran's hunch.

"If your are here to pass the news as to you being Sakura's danna, you are too late. Sakura already told me."

To the Little Wolf's satisfaction, there was a bit of disappointment in Totsuda's eyes for not being the one to tell him.

"And how do you feel about it?"

Syaoran shrugged. "Indifferent." He leaned back in his chair. "You may become her danna, but I was offered first."

That obviously took the older man by surprise. "What? When?"

"Don't really remember. I was offered by the okami herself, but turned it down."

"Why?"

Syaoran gave him a blank face. "I have my reasons" he said softly.

Totsuda studied him. "You were the one taking care of Sakura on Thursday, weren't you? The reason why I couldn't request her that day was because of you."

Syaoran said nothing.

Totsuda stood up abruptly. "I won, Li. She's mine, so I suggest you stay away from her."

"Just because you're her danna doesn't mean you own her. She is still free to entertain men. So if I request her, then she has to entertain me."

Totsuda glared at him before leaving, apparently to find another vacant seat.

Syaoran smirked just as the Tokumatsu clan came back. Leiko immediately sat herself in the seat Totsuda had just occupied.

"Oh my goodness, that man was so handsome!" She exclaimed, looking at him. He had the feeling she was trying to make him jealous, so he turned away from her and looked at Tokumatsu.

"It's about time you came back. Don't leave me alone for the rest of the night."

"Yes, I understand. I saw you talking to Totsuda and figured I should return." Tokumatsu raised an eyebrow. "Why aren't you guys talking?"

"I'm a little surprised you don't know. Zen does but only because Totsuda told him."

"Well, Totsuda didn't tell me shit and neither did Zen."

"Well, then I won't either" he muttered.

Tokumatsu sighed. "Fine." He then began looking around. "Speaking of Zen, where is he?"

Syaoran looked around, too, before spotting his associate talking to the Prime Minister himself. "Making friends with a powerful man."

Tokumatsu looked lost for a second before seeing what he meant and smiled.

Suddenly, the orchestra stopped playing, and a man appeared on stage. He had a microphone in his hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming to this very special occasion in honor of our Prime Minister."

Everyone clapped as the Prime Minister, a short, slightly bald man, stood up. He smiled at everyone before sitting back down.

"We have a very special performance for you tonight, Prime Minister" the man on stage continued. "We have scouted around all of Japan to find the finest geishas around, and selected seven, who all are honored to be here and dance for you. So I present to you, Tsuchida Inari, geisha from Sapporo."

Applause came as a tall geisha, wearing a dark blue kimono, appeared from a side door and went to the dance floor before the Prime Minister, bowing.

"Hatayama Kagami, geisha from Kumamoto."

Another geisha appeared, wearing the same kimono as the other one before doing the same thing she did.

Syaoran sat up straight as four more geishas appeared from other parts of Japan, all wearing the same kimono.

"And last but not least, I present to you, Prime Minister, the top geisha of all Japan, our very own flower from Tokyo, Kinomoto Sakura."

Syaoran 's breathe caught as Sakura appeared, wearing a white kimono imprinted with cherry blossoms. She looked just like an angel, with her hair being the only one down. Her face was painted white, and a small emerald was resting on her forehead, a thin chain that circled the top of her head kept the jewel in place. The other geishas, who had formed the shape of a rectangle with their bodies, paled in comparison to her.

The other geishas were bowing as Sakura moved to the center of them.

"Prime Minister" she spoke, bowing. "We are honored to give you a performance that we hope will please you."

Music started to play, and at once they started to move.

"How unique" Leiko said in a boring tone. "I've seen this dance before by other people."

Syaoran looked at her. "They specialize in traditional dance, Leiko. Be quiet and let everyone see them perform."

Leiko huffed, but did as told.

Syaoran was entranced by Sakura, who moved so graciously it was almost as if she were floating. He smiled when she took out a pink fan, making him remember when she once told him that fans were an important prop to use when doing a dance.

Ten minutes of silence passed as they did their dance, when suddenly all seven bowed at once, and the music stop, indicating that they were done.

"Oh, how wonderful" Mrs. Tokumatsu said as everyone in the ballroom clapped. "Sakura was the most beautiful one there was."

"Yes she was" Syaoran murmured to himself. All the geishas bowed once more before separating and going in different directions. He frowned when he saw Sakura move immediately to where Totsuda was, which was at the other side of the room. Totsuda looked up and winked at him before grasping Sakura's hand and kissing it. Syaoran suddenly realized that Totsuda had chosen that specific spot across from him to show off. He held in a growl seeing her talk to him with a smile on her face.

Sakura never felt more miserable than she did at that very moment. The last thing she wanted to do was talk with Mr. Totsuda, but she forced herself to endure it. Even if it killed her, she would stay with him until it was time for her to go. She had completely forgotten that Syaoran was going to be here, until she spotted him during her dance. But he had been speaking to Leiko; apparently he was more interested in talking to a nineteen-year-old than he was seeing her perform.

Sakura wanted to go to him, but after seeing him talking to Leiko, and after being told earlier that Mr. Totsuda wanted to talk to her right after her performance, she went straight to Totsuda, pretending that she hadn't seen Syaoran at all.

"Sakura" Mr. Totsuda said, caressing her cheek. She refrained from flinching. "You are so beautiful."

"Please don't touch my face. You'll get paint all over your fingers, and will leave marks on my face." He shrugged, uncaring, and Sakura pulled away. "No, please."

She blinked when his hand clenched suddenly, and his eyes were blazing, before he closed them and took in a deep breathe.

"I apologize."

Sakura nodded, accepting that apology. "It's quite all right." She was completely baffled. For a moment there, Mr. Totsuda looked as if he wanted to slap her, but she mentally shook her head. Why would he want to slap her?

It was close to midnight when the party began to slow down. People started to leave, saying their goodbyes to the Prime Minister. Sakura opened her mouth to tell Mr. Totsuda that it was time for her to go when he said "Come with me. I have to show you something in the garden."

Sakura frowned, but stood up and did as told. She couldn't help but glance at where Syaoran had been sitting, but he wasn't there. Neither was the Tokumatsu family. She sighed in disappointment. Although she was angry at him, there was this little hope in her that he would come talk to her, explain to her that he was just busy and didn't care that Mr. Totsuda was going to be her danna. But tonight proved that he did care, which meant he truly never wanted to see her again.

She walked slowly, following Mr. Totsuda out into the garden. She felt like crying. She would never see the man she loved again, all because his damn associate was going to be her danna. It probably would have been better if Mr. Nishimoto had become her danna, because then, perhaps, Syaoran would have continued to request her.

They reached the garden and Mr. Totsuda stopped walking.

"What is it you wanted to show me?" She asked, almost cringing when she heard the sadness in her own voice.

"Actually, I came to talk with you. About what will happen between us starting on Wednesday."

Sakura frowned. "You mean about what you are allowed to do as my danna?"

"Hmm . . . Not quite. I know what I am allowed to do. What I really brought you out here for is for you to . . . Ah, give me a preview?"

She gave him a confused look. "Preview?" She repeated. He nodded. "I apologize, Mr. Totsuda, but I am a little lost as to what you are asking."

He cleared his throat, and began to remove the bow-tie that was on his neck. "You are very beautiful, Sakura. You have the greenest eyes I have ever seen, and the longest hair."

"Thank you, but that doesn't clarify as to what you want."

"Sakura, Sakura . . . How can you not understand?" He looked her up and down. "You are only wearing a thin kimono, aren't you?"

An uneasy feeling began to form at the pit of her stomach. "Y-yes. Traditionally, I'm supposed to wear other layers, but wearing more would have prevented me from doing some of the moves I did in there."

He smiled, and she took a step back. She watched as he took off his bow-tie and then removed his jacket.

"I want you to show me some moves, cherry blossom."

"D-dance moves?" She asked nervously, looking around. Abruptly, she realized that they were completely isolated from the hotel. Lost in her own sadness, she didn't notice how far they were from the hotel.

How far she was from other people.

"Mr. Totsuda, I wish to return to the hotel" she said firmly, or at least she hoped she had sounded firm..

"No, not dance moves" he said, ignoring her request and instead answering her question. "More . . . Private moves. Don't you know any private moves, Sakura?" His voice was hoarse, and she froze when she saw him removing his T-shirt quite rapidly.

"I want to go!" She nearly shouted as she turned to do just that, but he grabbed her and spun her around before backing her up against a wall. She tried to scream but he clamped on hand over her mouth. With dismay, she knew he was planning on raping her, and no one was going to see it. The wall completely covered them, and they were completely alone.

"Don't scream" he whispered in her ear before nibbling it. "Or you'll regret it."

Sakura slightly whimpered, but she nodded. He removed his hand. "P-please" she whispered. "You're not my d-danna yet. Just wait two more days, and I'll be more willing. You don't have to do this. Please" she begged.

"I'm a very impatient man" he murmured, placing one hand over her breast. She stiffened. Even through her kimono, she cringed from the touch, never having anyone touch her breasts. Not even Syaoran had touched her breasts.

No, she couldn't stand here and let him rape her.

"No!" She shouted and began fighting against him.

"Calm down, you little bitch" he hissed, trying to grab her arms as she pounded against his chest, trying to push him away.

"Get away from me" she screamed, and clawed at his face.

He let out a yell of pain as her nails scratched his cheek. He backed away a bit and Sakura raised her leg in order to kick him. Her foot made contact with his crotch, hard, and he screamed before falling on the floor, clutching himself.

With a sob of relief she ran away. She lifted up her kimono in order to run faster. She didn't know where she was going, and the idea to return to the hotel was lost to her as she made her way through the garden. She saw an open gate, recognized the street, and ran in that direction, the only thing in her mind being to get away from the man who nearly raped her. The streets were practically empty, but she didn't care as she ran. The okiya was too far away, but she knew where to go. She knew where she would be safe.

She just hoped Syaoran wouldn't turn her away.

AN: Good? Bad? I hope it won't take me a month to upload the next chapter. Please review! We have five more chapters to go, including the epilogue, so review because each and every one of them counts as we start counting down to the ending!