Therapy for the Therapist

By Louann1

Session 1: Beginning Therapist-Therapist Relationships

I start by introducing two people. The best in the profession of therapy. They used to get along and I mean used to. They went to the same schools together, studied the same things together, got their qualifications together... And that's where their friendship ended. When they opened up their practices they just broke off. Now they are rivals. No matter who you ask, that's what they'll tell you, apart from them, naturally. They don't exactly do anything to provoke each other either. Never has a rivalry been more known than theirs. They brought a new light to the world of therapy. That's right; Sakura Kinomoto and Syaoran Li.

Sakura Kinomoto sat in her office tapping her pencil on the small notepad on her rosewood desk. She sighed heavily and looked at her silver watch. She could see her reflection through the clear glass. Her bright emerald green eyes stared back at her. They were reddened but that was alright. It was an improvement from yesterday. She went back to tapping her pencil in between the ticks and tocks of her watch. A buzz from her intercom startled her and caused her to drop her pencil. She perched on the edge of her black leather chair and tried to retrieve her pencil. The intercom buzzed again and she slammed her hand on the button.

" Miss Kinomoto?" A distorted voice blared through.

" Yes, Tomoyo?" Sakura managed to grab her pencil and she sat at her desk. She added cheerily, " And call me Sakura."

" Your next patient is here... Miss Samantha Kytori."

" Send her in, please," Sakura pushed the button again and waited with a smile for her next patient.

A young woman, no older than her, walked in nervously. Her hair was half tied at the back and barely brushed against her shoulders. Her blue eyes were gloomy and looked down.

" Please, take a seat," Sakura smiled sweetly in an effort to relax her patient.

The young girl sat on the chair opposite Sakura on the other side of the desk. Sakura looked down at the notes that were before her. Samantha didn't seem to have anything wrong with her. So what could be the matter? Sakura looked up and smiled again.

" So, what brings you here?"

Across town, Syaoran Li had already began his hour session with his patient Jasmine Satoshi. Luckily, for him, it was drawing to a close. Jasmine didn't have anything wrong with her and she wasn't worried about anything in particular, both of them knew that. She just wanted to spend time with the man she thought was God's gift. And with good reason too. Syaoran was the most handsome man in the area, probably because he was a foreigner in a country he knew well. He had the most wonderful amber eyes and the most scrumptious body, well tone with a cute little tushie. She would return with made up stories just to see him even though it made her seem like a complete weirdo.

" And how does that make you feel?"

" Upset," Tears began to stream down her face.

" Uhh... Um... Here," Syaoran handed her a box of tissues from his oak desk..

" Thank you," She warbled as she took the box from his tender hands.

Syaoran looked at her with piercing amber eyes which softened after a while. He brushed his messy chestnut hair with his hands but it didn't make a much of a difference and glanced at his silver watch. It was almost lunch time. He looked back at Jasmine who had recovered and was looked at at him with cool blue eyes.

" Uhh... Your session of over..." He stuttered.

" Would you care to join me for lunch?"

" Ummm..."

Back in Sakura's practice, Sakura was making good progress with Samantha,

" So you see? I'm always being worried by someone else's troubles but it doesn't even affect me and I'm just so confused..."

" I see..." Sakura pondered over whether to continue through lunch or not briefly. Her next patient wouldn't be in until much later after lunch so there was nothing much to worry about. Her answer soon came when a rumble came from her stomach.

" How about we continue this after lunch?"

" Erm... Sure!" Sakura sighed with relief at Samantha's answer.

Sakura sat at the restaurant alone with a Caesar salad before her. She looked casually around at the other customers. They all seemed to be so wrapped up in their work that they didn't have time for much else. Sakura was sure that she would be seeing someone there in her practice soon. She shook her head at the thought of how ignorant people could be.

Syaoran entered the restaurant with Jasmine at his side. She had him in a tight arm-lock, just to make sure that he wouldn't run away.

I'm sure that this breaks the 'no relationships with patients' rule, Syaoran thought.

" A table for two please," Jasmine asked the waiter. Syaoran thought he looked familiar but then again he saw soo many patients.

" Please follow me," Syaoran and Jasmine followed him to a small table which seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. There were no people at the tables around them. In fact, everyone else were at least two tables away.

Syaoran and Jasmine sat down and looked at the menus, there was certainly a good variety of dishes.

" So, what would you like to order?"

Here we go, Syaoran thought, I bet she'll expect me to pay for this as well.

" We'll have two of your 'meal of the day's and a bottle of champagne, please," Jasmine smiled sweetly and handed the waiter her menu.

And my pocket just got lighter, Syaoran rolled his eyes. They landed on the other side of the restaurant where a lone lady was eating a salad by the window. The light from outside gave her the most unearthly heavenly glow. She seemed vaguely familiar but then again so many patients came to his practice, it has hard to keep track. He had to talk to her, he was enchanted by her, most definitely but he also hoped that she would get him out of the situation he was in, it wasn't everyday that you find someone you like or found attractive. Then again the two are practically the same thing when it comes to the opposite sex. But how could he get the opportunity? He may look like someone who was good at conversation but he wasn't really. He was really bad, if he wasn't good looking females would definitely stay away from him. He glanced around her, he was in luck, there was a restroom close to her.

" Uhh, may I be excused?"

" What? Why?" Jasmine had a look of shock horror on her face.

" I need to use the restroom," Syaoran pointed in the direction of the toilets.

" Oh, alright..." Jasmine smiled. " Hurry back!"

Syaoran began to walk towards the restroom. He could feel Jasmine's eyes on him. There was no escape, he had to use the restroom. Now, that might not seem like a lot but to him it was. Ever since he was young he had a slight phobia of public restrooms due to an experience he'd rather forget.

" Here goes nothing..."

Sakura sat quietly, enjoying the peacefulness until the one and the only Syaoran came by and swept her off her feet, literally.

The five seconds were to come were unexpected but most of all, blurry. Syaoran had a, coughed, b, grabbed her hand, c, lifted her over his shoulder, d, covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming and e, carried her into the restroom.

Once there he he soon realized that he made the mistake of kidnapping his school crush. Her eyes were just as sparkly as he could remember except they weren't exactly the expression he had hoped for.

" What was that!" Sakura looked at him with eyes full of rage.

" I need you to help me..." His voice was breaking.

" Syaoran!" Sakura's eyes opened more widely in shock than she'd done before.

" Yeah, hi. I need you to do something for me," Syaoran placed his hands on her shoulders gently, just in case she was to run away.

" No way! You are the most ungrateful person I've ever met! I really thought that you were my friend, but boy, was I wrong! You walked all over me in school and college and university! And...! You are my 'rival'! You had to take all the things I took didn't you? You buddy, are the one who needs therapy!"

" If you do this one thing for me then I'll take therapy. I just can't stand to stay here," Syaoran looked around with the most disgusted look on his face.

" You know what? I'll take you up on that. You come to me for therapy," Sakura crossed her armed and smiled her usual sweet smile.

" Fine, whatever! Wait- Why you?" Syaoran rose an eyebrow.

" Because I can tell you seriously need it and it's the only way I can make sure that you go."

"Right... Anyway, this is what I want you to do..."

Ten minutes later Sakura and Syaoran emerged from the restaurant in fits of laughter. Soon their laughter subsided and a card was thrust in front of Syaoran's eyes.

" This was a lot of fun y'know, but remember you still have a session with me," Sakura said wryly.

" You sure you want to go through the torture?" Syaoran took the card and peered past the edge.

" If it'll save future generations from the present you then yes," Sakura rose an eyebrow.

" That hurt," Syaoran's confidence had been bruised. Did the last fifteen minutes mean nothing?

" I'll see you tomorrow then," Sakura slung her pastel pink jewel-encrusted handbag over her shoulder and walked away.