Chapter 4

Cowards Only Dream of Bravery

"Where do you want to go Sakura?"

"What do you mean where do I want to go?"

"Is there a problem?"

She turned towards him and gave him her best innocent grin. "Of course not," she said looking towards the front again. Tigen and Sakura were walking down a busy Tokyo street.

"Do you want to go shopping?"

"Err…I don't know. Can we do something else?"

"Can we stop asking questions?"

"I don't know Wang, will you?"

"Sakura…cut it out." He poked her playfully on the arm. She sort of giggled at it and nodded her head. He glared at her playfully and she started laughing. He wasn't so bad, she thought.

"Hey," he said suddenly reaching a corner, he then proceeded to stop her from walking further, "wanna go to my place?"

"I've already been there." She retorted easily.

"No," he replied defiantly, "not the one in Tokyo, I want to take you to Chiba, my father has an estate there. Real nice place, and away from the crowds."

The thought really did appeal to her, with all the hectic things that were taking place in her life, this would be a chance for her to escape the busy Tokyo life. Even if it was just for an evening.

So she nodded her head and watched as Tigen's face brought on a new light.

*

Sakura and Tigen were at the Wang's Chiba Estate in three hours time. When she arrived there, the first thing she noticed that Tigen hadn't been lying when he said that it was an estate.

The house itself was three stories high with several pillars coming out from different sections of the large front balcony. Leading up to the porch were five rounded granule marble steps. The front porch was porcelain and marble and consisted of two columns on either side. The lawn had trees and plants spaced out unequally but she sort of liked the organized mess.

When Tigen was out of the Porsche he went around to Sakura and grabbed her hand. She instantly felt uncomfortable and sheepishly smiled at him. When the chance was given (Tigen had to ring the doorbell with one hand and carry his PDA with the other) she quickly clasped her hands together at her back. Tightly.

The butler opened the door, he was a gentle old man who looked like he had been working on the estate his whole life.

"It's very nice here."

"Yeah. I used to come to this place all the time when I was a child. Almost grew up here."

She didn't know what to say to that, so she just smiled instead.

"I'm glad you came, you know. It's kind of more private here than compared to Tokyo. If you know what I mean."

"Yes, it can get a little stuffy sometimes in Tokyo."

There was an awkward silence.

Tigen led her through the entrance hall to the immaculately decorated parlor. She smiled at him when he sat across from her on a settee. She didn't know what to think. This was all too quick, she realized. Her gaze traveled along the walls and lingered on some old family portraits.

Tigen was still staring at her. This time she didn't smile.

"What do you want from me?" She asked bluntly.

He looked a little startled, and his eyes widened.

"What do you mean, 'what do I want from you', my family is saving your backside," he huffed and crossed his hands.

She felt a little embarrassed. So she sent him a little flat smile.

He got up announcing that he was going to get something to drink for them. It was only then that her thoughts drifted to other matters. She had really wanted to go to Hong Kong with Tomoyo. And she had even promised her new friend, Kita, that she would show up at her company's party. She sighed and laid her head back on the sofa.

Tigen came back in the room with a tray in his hands. She smiled and waited until he put it down on the table and picked up a biscuit and started to chew on it.

"Thighemn," she murmured, "Iwhanmaghothowhonkho."

"What?"

"I want to go to Hong Kong."

He raised an eyebrow, "why?"

"My friend, Tomoyo, she's having this really important start there in her career and her boyfriend, and I have to be there and support her."

"I see," he said, "but I don't see how you can't just call her up."

"There's also this other friend, and her company is having a charity ball, and it would just be bad manners for me not to attend after I promised her that I would."

Tigen grinned. "Yes, it would be bad manners, wouldn't it?"

Sakura flatly smiled back , "won't you come with me?" she said with a little pout. She was learning, she realized, exactly how to get what she wanted from Tigen.

That seemed to have done the trick, because in a matter of seconds he was up and calling for their luggage to be arranged. Sakura smiled widely.

Really, he wasn't that bad. She felt a pang at her chest. Maybe, she thought with hope, maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

*

It took them a day before they arrived in Hong Kong. They were currently standing at the private lounge in the Airport. Tigen was recommending several hotels they could stay at, but Sakura wasn't really paying attention. Her head jerked up when she heard him say something that was all too familiar.

"What did you say?" She questioned.

"Oh, I said there's always the Hyatt, but it's not all that grand and we shouldn't be staying there at any rate. I mean there are others that are much better—"

"No," she stated, "that will do just fine."

It wasn't long before they arrived at the hotel. This time Sakura had no problems in obtaining a room. Ironically, it was on the 40th floor again. She walked by the fuse box, which was now repaired to all its glory, and smiled to herself.

Tigen, as she noticed, wasn't all that perceptive. In fact, his talents lay in charming people. He had smooth-talked the stewardess and had cast her some twenty or odd grins. The same had happened when they had arrived at the hotel, and now that she thought about it, he did the same thing when they had gone shopping.

The odd part was that at all those moments, not once did Sakura feel threatened or jealous. She was alright. He was charming. And that was okay for her.

Another thing she had noticed was that Tigen was not at all interested in business. All he wanted to do was spend his parents' money. All right, she thought, he was spoilt. She could put up with that. Surely, he would spoil her silly too.

But most importantly, she noticed, that maybe she was beginning to like him a bit. Just a teeny bit. A scintilla of a feeling, really. But it was there nonetheless.

When she went to her room to rest, she heard the familiar sound of her cell phone.

"Hey father," she said picking it up.

"Hi Sakura, how're you?"

"I'm alright, thanks."

"I hear you're in Hong Kong after all."

"Hai."

"With Tigen?"

Her cheeks reddened when she found out her father was aware of her whereabouts and wherewhoms. "Yeah," she murmured.

"Alright, well, I'm happy to know that my girl is happy."

"I am," she half-lied. For really, it wasn't that bad.

"Well I just wanted to let you in on something." That caught her attention.

"What exactly father?" She questioned, her eyebrows scrunching up trying to think about anything remotely interesting that her father would tell her.

"The Wang's have truly delivered upon their promise, we have that money to continue the Hong Kong project."

Sakura grinned silly. "Father, oh Outo-San, that is wonderful news!" She beamed and got up off her bed, "I have to go now, but I'm very happy for you father."

"Sakura," he said, "Thank you". And she could just imagine the gentle smile that he was wearing at the moment. "Really".

"I love you," she said beaming happily.

"Me too," he replied, "and take care" and she happily closed her phone and put it to her heart. Oh God, she thought, her father was so happy.

"Who do you love?" She heard Tigen speak from the doorway. She smiled up at him and got up and walked to the door.

"Truly?" She asked.

"Truly." He answered.

"Well right now," she said smiling, "you," and then she enveloped him in a friendly hug. She pulled back and stared thoughtfully at him. "Thank you, really."

And then, for a fraction of a moment there was a frown on his face, and really anyone could have missed it, but Sakura caught it looked at him expectantly.

"No problem," he replied smiling and going to grasp her hand, "none at all. Anything for you."

Sakura smiled back, but couldn't let that frown go. Why had he frowned when she had thanked him? Was he feeling guilty for something? Maybe it was because she had said hat she had loved him. But she didn't really. She was just happy that her father was smiling again. And really, she meant it in a friendly manner.

"Erm, I should probably go call Tomoyo now, we do have to get costumes you know."

"For what?" he questioned, leisurely sitting on Sakura's bed now.

"The charity ball, it requires a costume and all."

"Oh."

*

"Tomoyo, half the girls will be dressed as princesses," Sakura whined sitting on Tomoyo's bed.

Tomoyo was currently residing with her boyfriend in his house.

House, of course, was an understatement. Although the Kinomoto's owned some of the best real estate property in all of Japan, they were still modest. They had lived in a single detached house with about five rooms for about most of Sakura's childhood. When she was a bit older, they had started to live in one of their hotels.

Eriol lived in a mansion. It was as simple as that. When Sakura had seen Tigen's Chiba estate, she was impressed. But now that estate paled in comparison with Eriol's family house.

"I know, but you'll be the best one," Tomoyo said looking at her from the closet, which was by no means a closet. "Even Eriol thinks that would be so kawaii."

Sakura gave a little smile, "speaking of Eriol, where is he? I haven't seen him once in the two days that I've been here."

"Oh," Tomoyo said poking her head out of the closet doorway, "he's at work." She came out of the closet holding a pile of clothes. "With the big bad boss."

Sakura wrinkled her forehead, "does he even need to work?"

Tomoyo sighed, putting down the pile of clothes onto the polished floors. "Erm, he said it was a personal favor or something. I think it's his best friend or something."

Sakura looked to Tomoyo curiously, "have you met him?"

"No," she said honestly, "but I guess we will tonight."

"I have another friend who is coming tonight too. I met her back in Tokyo. I'll introduce you to her too."

"Great, all the better reason for you to dress immaculately tonight," Tomoyo beamed holding out a pink gown, a tiara, and a ribbon

"Tomoyo! That looks like it's from the middle ages," Sakura protested pointing at the incredibly childish garb.

"I know, I know, I intend to fix it up a bit." Tomoyo then proceeded to a wood manaquin and slipped it on the headless bodice. She then cut the dress so it was knee length from the front and still remained long at the back. She used a ribbon to tighten the waste and then she cut the excess of. All in all, when she was finished, Sakura was quite impressed.

When she was coerced into trying on the garment, Sakura did not protest all that too much. After all, she was representing the Dadouji Line.

When she came out of the changing room, Tomoyo was standing with the newly arrived Eriol, both with silly grins plastered on their faces.

Eriol was first to speak up, "You look really good Sakura-Chan."

She was sure she was blushing. Here she was, a twenty-year-old, pretending to be a princess.

"You really do Sakura-Chan." Tomoyo confirmed.

"Thanks Eriol, Tomoyo."

"What's Tigen going as," Eriol questioned resting on one of the sofas in the tailor room, "I hope as a prince, it would be fitting really."

"I don't think so," Sakura said walking over to the shoe cabinet, "He wanted to be a vampire or something."

Eriol gave a little laugh and Tomoyo shot him a warning glare.

"No Tomoyo, you have to admit that's just a bit amusing," Eriol rationalized.

"Yes, well no more silly than you," Tomoyo said pointing at him.

"What's Eriol wearing?" Sakura asked while trying to find some suitable shoes for herself.

"You'll see tonight Sakura-chan." Eriol said from his position on the sofa.

Sakura was going to ask him again when the butler walked in through the door. "Sire," he said to Eriol, "It seems that you have an urgent call from Li-sama."

"Urgent? What could he want right now?" Eriol said getting up and walking over to the only phone in the room.

"Li-sama?" Sakura questioned Tomoyo.

"That would be the Big Bad Boss," Tomoyo answered.

Sakura mouthed an 'Oh' while Eriol picked up the receiver.

"Hey," she heard him say, "er… yeah I suppose. Well I'm a bit caught up today," Tomoyo sent her boyfriend a meaningful look, "it doesn't matter with what. You know, I am allowed to have a life afterall."

Sakura giggled looking over at Tomoyo who smiled back.

"No, absolutely not. Most certainly not." Eriol said, now with a frown on his face.

Sakura picked up some pink flats with ribbons that would tie all the way up to her knees. Her curiosity piqued once again when Eriol, who usually kept his composure spoke up, "Li," he said tightly, "this is ridiculous. I have guests whom I am taking with me, is there anything that could be done?"

Tomoyo sat down on the sofa and watched him carefully now. "Fine, I'll take her. Send her over by two." And he hung up the phone.

"What was all that about?" Tomoyo said frowning. Sakura joined her over at the sofa.

"It's his child," he said, "he needs someone to babysit her for tonight."

"Why doesn't he just get a Babysitter?" Tomoyo questioned.

"No, Li would never do that, his mother would eat him alive."

"What about his butler, or, or housekeeper?" Sakura asked.

"That's what irks me," Eriol said sitting across from them, "I think that his mother wants the child to be there, but he doesn't want her to be there."

"That's odd," said Sakura thoughtfully, "it's his child, why wouldn't we want her to be there?"

"It's complicatied," Eriol said looking in the distance, "but enough of this for now."

"Tomoyo, you should get Sakura ready for tonight, and I'll tell Wan to make dinner then for us."

"Wait, no, no," Sakura protested, "that's silly. Eriol you should go. I'll look after the girl. And I'm sure Tigen wouldn't mind."

"No, absolutely not," Eriol said holding up a hand, "you are our guest, I would never ask such a thing."

"But I insist." Sakura protested, "I wouldn't mind at all. And Tomoyo was supposed to meet important people tonight, not to mention make an impression."

"No Sakura, I would never do that to you," Tomoyo said rising and standing beside her boyfriend, "you have to go."

"Well, I'm not going it's as simple as that."

"Sakuraaa."

"No Tomoyo, I've made up my mind, and you can't change it."

Tomoyo and Eriol shared a look and Sakura felt a pang of pain in her chest. Oh Gosh, she really wanted to have a relationship like that.

"Alright," Eriol said, "well she'll be here in an half an hour then." And then he held out his hand for Tomoyo, who gave her a sheepish look and exited the room.

Sakura changed and gathered her costume and shoes. Maybe they could play dress up and she could have her own ball afterall.

Although she had really wanted to go, she knew that winning her best friend's boyfriend's loyalty was even more important.

And really, she needed to spend more time with Tigen. The poor man had been left alone at the hotel for two days now. No surprise he was probably out at the spa pampering himself. Oh well, she thought, might as well do something before the princess came around.

It wasn't long before said princess arrived at Eriol's household. The butler brought her into the living room where Sakura was sitting reading a newspaper. There was an interesting article about the new real estate purchase that was her father's genius. Of course, the general public wasn't aware of the downfall that the Kinomoto's would have taken if it wasn't for the Wangs.

Sakura put the newspaper and down and looked at the little child who could be no more then six or seven. She was a beauty to behold, Sakura thought admiringly.

"Hi," Sakura said getting up walking over to the girl, "I'm Sakura."

She bent down to the girls level and held out her hand. The girl stared at her but didn't make a move.

"I'm going to be watching you today." The girl was still staring at her with her doe eyes. "Uncle Eriol couldn't watch you today because—"

"I know where he is, he's at that party with my daddy." Sakura was taken aback, but she realized quickly that the girl was mad.

"Oh yes," Sakura said thoughtfully, "but you see, it's a grown up party and little girls aren't allowed to come." The girl stared up at her, her eyes relaxing a bit. "Boring really," Sakura continued, "all business talk."

"Oh." The girl said and looked to the ground.

"Do you want to come sit with me on the sofa?"

The girl looked to Sakura and then the sofa and deciding that Sakura was safe, she held out her arms signaling a universal sign.

Up.

Sakura looked, bewildered, at the child. She could probably carry her. She wasn't big at all. Small really, for her age. But Sakura definitely didn't know how to mother a child. She never had a mother growing up, so this is was definitely a surprise.

But she obliged and picked the child up and set her against her frame and started to walk over to the couch. "What's your name?" She asked the child in her hands.

"Niyaah."

Sakura smiled even thought the child could not see it. "What a kawaii name," she said sitting her down on the sofa.

"Thanks," she mumbled and it occurred to Sakura that she did not know how to take compliments very well. Sakura momentarily wondered of the father this child had. She frowned looking at the little girl. What a horrible parent he was. But at least she would have a comfortable childhood as money would not be a problem.

"What do you want to do today?" Sakura asked.

"I don't know." The girl answered honestly.

Sakura pondered for a moment, what did little girls like doing. A slow smile spread across her face when she realized exactly what they would do today. Sakura called over the butler, Wan.

"Please do call Tigen for me and let him know that I am coming home," the butler nodded, "and please arrange a ride for me and Niyaah as well." Wan nodded and left the room.

Sakura got up and picked up Niyaah and set her against her frame once again.

"What are we doing?" She asked raising her head.

Sakura rubbed her back and said, "We're playing house today".