Her Rising Saviour:

Chapter Seven – PARTY!(?)

Sakura couldn't keep the smile off her face as she worked at her computer in the office. It was only a month before the wedding, and she felt as if everything was ready. Tomoyo had gotten her dress in, and was currently fixing it up to personalize it for Sakura. The caterer had been picked out, along with all the fine tunings for the event such as flowers and decor. They planned to have the wedding in Tomoyo and Eriol's backyard, as it was cheaper and more romantic – Syaoran's idea.

As for the guest list, Sakura couldn't be happier with it. The list wasn't huge, but it was nice.

"Hello? Excuse me?" A posh-like voice said from the desk, trying to catch Sakura's attention.

Sakura stopped her work and smiled as she looked up. She felt her insides twitch instinctively for some unknown reason to her, but maintained her professional smile. A super model seemed to be standing before her, with platinum blond hair and pouty soft lips. Her bright blue eyes shone in an almost fake-appearance. She wore a large brown coat, hiding what she was wearing, and a large Gucci purse slung over her shoulder.

"Can I help you?" Sakura asked politely.

The woman looked at her nails as if bored and opened her mouth to speak, when a man came bustling in an interrupted her. He had short, spiky black hair and small eyes.

"Ah, Bloom!" The man Sakura recognized as Takashi Yamazaki said with a wide grin. He gave a nod to acknowledge Sakura, but she didn't like the grin he wore. It was something she had seen almost too many time in her past; slimy, disgusting and lustful. She figured the woman was his girlfriend or wife. Nice, she thought grimly.

Yamazaki turned to the woman, Bloom, and nudged his head in the direction of the hall. "If you could follow me? We're just getting ready."

"Oh, not a problem," she smiled sweetly, making Sakura want to gag. She just seemed way too fake.

When she was sure the two were out of sight, she placed her mouth in her hand and stifled a laugh. Ah, the poor man was definitely in trouble if he was dating that woman. No wonder he had her make an 'office call'. That thought alone made Sakura giggle softly again before going back to her work.

b.K.d

Syaoran sat on the client side of Eriol's desk, his head resting lazily in his palm and his elbow on the chair's armrest. He blew a piece of hair away from in front of his eyes, but it just fell back to it's previous spot. He tried to blow it away again, but the pattern repeated.

At his desk, Eriol was typing away. His eyes went over to Syaoran and saw him and his wisp of stray hair. After a moment, he became irritated and slammed his hands down on the keyboard.

"Why don't you go to your own office?" He asked, fed up. He had been trying to work for the past hour and Syaoran was making it difficult. He hated being short with Syaoran – since he had long forgiven him for everything – but he just could not work well with someone in the room watching him.

"I can't," Syaoran shrugged in a monotone, bored voice. "Yamazaki shoved me out. H e said the boss asked him to take measurements of my office for renovations or some crap like that."

Eriol sighed and gave in. He turned back to the papers on his desk and began to skim them, sorting them into two different piles. He heard Syaoran let out a sigh and cracked a smile. "Well then why not go out to Sakura?"

Syaoran sighed heavily again, frustrated. "I tried, but she reminded me that we have to remain professional and that she has her own work. I don't get it. I mean, honestly, by now the entire building knows that we're going to get married – even if she does still have to ward off some of the damn interns – so what's the p oint in trying to remain professional? It's not like we're keeping our relationship a secret." He threw his head back against the chair and looked up to the ceiling, "God!"

Eriol chuckled, "She's trying to be responsible, Syaoran."

"I don't want her to be so damn responsible," he mumbled childishly.

Eriol chuckled again and grabbed the pencil from behind his ear. He quickly scribbled something down on a sheet and tucked it into a folder. "So how nervous is Sakura getting about the whole wedding?"

Syaoran sat back up and laughed lightly. He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up farther. "She seems alright. If anything, she seems really excited. We expanded the guest list last week and invited two girls from our lamaze class and a few people from the office. She felt bad for inviting them on such short notice, but I knew it made her happy. She's always wanted a large wedding, even if she wont say so now."

"Oh?" Eriol raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware of that."

"She has," Syaoran smiled at a memory. "She told me when we were eleven. I was walking her home and our homeroom teacher was telling us that she's getting married soon – remember her? – and Sakura smiled and said 'When I grow up, I'm going to have the largest most beautiful wedding in all of Japan!'." He chuckled softly at hearing her young, excited voice. "God, even then I liked her. And I was so damn arrogant about it! I turned away from her and grumbled that I would give her that wedding.. I don't think she heard me because then she began talking about the math homework she didn't get."

Eriol laughed, "Well, that would sound like our Sakura. As clueless as ever."

"Well anyway, I know she wanted a large wedding," Syaoran summed up with a small chuckle. "And though it's still not going to be huge, it is going to be beautiful."

"Tomoyo's pumped about decorating the backyard for a wedding," Eriol explained and scoffed jokingly. "Thanks to that idea, she's upset that that's not what we did! Gee, thanks. I only took her and everyone invited to Saint Lucia, huh?"

Syaoran chuckled at his friend's rant, "Oh, my mistake. Next time I'll make sure we get married in an ally way so that it doesn't upset your wife and doesn't compare to your wedding."

"Damn straight you will. Thank you for that understanding, Mr. Li," Eriol sniffed snobbishly before the two broke out into laughter.

Syaoran looked down at his watch and frowned, "Yamazaki said he'd come get me when he was done, but honestly, who the hell takes over an hour to take measurements?"

Eriol sighed and stood at the same time as Syaoran. "Well, I might as well come with you. I need to stretch my legs anyhow."

But what they were met with was not what either expected.

Inside Syaoran's office was nearly half the men from their floor, about twenty or so, standing with a beer in their hands. A table lined with a bright red table cloth was against the wall, filled with bottles of beer and cans of pop. And behind his desk, at his chair, was a woman with bleach blond hair. She wore a seductive smile on her lips, black lace undergarments and a red silk tie Syaoran recognized as his – he kept it in his drawer in case of an emergency. He had once spilt something on his tie right before a court session and had kept one handy since.

She twirled a pen between her thumb and forefinger, her lips seductively around the tip.

Anger rose in Syaoran as he felt his face pale. He spun to Eriol who looked just as pale. Eriol slowly shook his head, "Oh, God, Syaoran...I didn't now. I swear, I didn't know."

Before Syaoran could make any sort of escape, Yamazaki was at his side. He slung an arm around his shoulder and wore a crooked grin, "So what'cha think bud? Isn't this a surprise? Now don't worry, I spoke to the big guy and he allowed this."

"Wh-Wh-Wh..." Syaoran began, fuming but unable to find his voice.

"It's a Bachelor Party, of course!" Yamazaki scoffed with a laugh. He began to direct Syaoran over to his desk, ignoring Syaoran's struggle. "Now don't offend the girl, Li. She's from the Kyoto district and has made a special trip out here just for you. And believe me, she's worth it."

The young woman stood up and walked over seductively to Syaoran, swaying her hips. She kept holding onto the pen and swirling it in her mouth while her other hand rested on her hip. A few men moaned at this sight. She stopped and looked Syaoran up and down, then held his gaze and smirked. She threw the pen20toward a potted plant and grabbed onto Syaoran's tie. She pulled him down and traced his face with her finger.

"Wow, so they weren't lying. You are cute, handsome," she whispered lowly. She walked backward slowly, pulling Syaoran along by his tie.

"No, you don't understand," Syaoran began to protest, looking back to Eriol for help. Eriol just stood there, dumbfounded. He turned back to the woman. "I can't do this."

"Oh c'mon, sugar," she smirked. She spun him around and pushed him down into the office chair. That earned a few howls from his co-workers. She quickly straddled him and began loosening the tie around his neck. "Every man has to have a proper bachelor's party. It's like a passing of rite. I'm just here to make this rite right."

She began to unbutton his shirt, but his hands found hers and stopped her. They locked gazes and Syaoran's was blazing. "I asked you to stop, please."

"Oh, silly boy," she smirked. Keeping her hands locked in his, she leaned forward and flicked her tongue on the contour of his ear. She brought her voice down into a husky whisper, sounding aroused, "All men give in to Bloom eventually..."

Syaoran's eyes widened in shock as her words echoed in his head. Vaguely, he could hear the men wolf-whistling and egging the two on. And vaguely, he could feel the woman, Bloom, working on his shirt while eating away at his ear.

But all he could hear was Sakura's voice from what seemed like a horrible life time ago; "Oh, but you're body is telling me you're 'into'20this sort of thing," she purred into his ear. "And all men give into Blossom eventually..." She pulled away and looked Syaoran in he eyes, her eyes dimming even more at seeing the lust beginning to cloud his eyes. "Tell me, do you want me?"

"Do you want me now?" Bloom moaned into his ear, pressing herself against him.

"Tell me, do you want me?"

It was only then that Syaoran realized he could feel everything Bloom had to offer and that she had managed to unbutton his shirt and rid his tie. She moaned against the side of his neck and ran her hands down his arms, feeling his muscles.

And without any warning, Syaoran shoved her off him. She yelped and fell back toward the floor, smacking her head off the handle of a drawer at his desk. She sat on her ass, rubbing the back of her head.

"What the hell?" She asked. She looked up to Syaoran, still rubbing her head, and smirked. She licked her lips, "Oh, I get it. You like it rough, huh sugar?"

Syaoran jumped out of chair as if he had been electrocuted. He made a bee-line for the door, ignoring the woman's mews and Yamazaki's protests.

Then he rushed to the men's bathroom and threw up.

b.K.d

"Sakura!"

Sakura looked around at the call of her name to see Eriol rushing from the office-halls and toward her desk. He seemed paler than usual with the look of dread and regret across his face.

Sakura frowned, and for no reason fear gasped her heart. She stood up, but stayed behind the desk. A nervou s frown was drawn across her face. "Eriol, what's wrong?"

"It's Syaoran," Eriol explained, making the fearful hand around Sakura's hand squeeze. "I-I think he's sick."

"Sick?" Sakura asked, confused. "But he was fine this morning."

"Never mind that," Eriol huffed. "He's in the men's bathroom. Just...Just go, please."

She didn't need to be told twice.

Sakura rushed down the hall, ignoring the commotion she could hear emitting from Syaoran's office, and went straight to the men's bathroom. It was a single stall room. She jiggled the door handle, trying to open it, but it was locked.

She rapped her knuckles against the door lightly and heard a sob break out in the bathroom, breaking her heart.

"G-Go away!" Syaoran ordered angrily, his voice trembling.

"Syaoran?" Sakura asked tentatively. She could almost hear him stiffen. "Syaoran, baby, please let me in?"

There was a long pause, and then a heavy sigh from within. She heard the lock click and the door swung open. She was met with a heart breaking yet confusing sight.

There Syaoran stood, his amber eyes strained, red and puffy from crying so hard. His face was pale as if he had just been sick. He didn't cry now, but Sakura knew it was because it didn't want to seem vulnerable. His tie was gone and his shirt was unbuttoned, showing off his heaving chest.

The room stank of puke and when she glanced to the sink, she realized he hadn't even made it the toilet to get sick.

"Oh, Syaoran," she sighed sadly. She heard him sniffle and stepped into the room herself. She closed and locked the door behind her, then backed Syaoran up to the toilet. She put down the seat and sat him down like a child. She grabbed a paper-towel and ran it under some cool water, washing down the bile in the sink as she did so. When she returned to Syaoran, she knelt in front of him and began dabbing at his face.

His eyes were dazed, peering down at her, as if he could see through her. As if her were in a different world.

"What happened?" She asked in a whisper. When he didn't answer, she remained patient. "Syaoran, what's wrong? What happened?"

Syaoran moved his head to meet her gaze. His eyes were brimmed with tears waiting to be shed; tears he was trying to keep locked up. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He let out a small whimper and shook his head.

Sakura continued to soothe over his face with the damp cloth, wanting nothing more than to take the pain in his eyes away. "Syaoran...Syaoran, baby, I need you to tell me what happened. What's wrong?"

He opened his mouth again when a loud knock came from the door. Sakura saw his eyes shut, pained, and pulled the cloth away. She began to button up his shirt.

"Hey, Li?" A man's voice came from the other side. He sounded like Yamazaki. "Aren't you coming back? Bloom's wondering if she should wait for you or if she can do a dance for the other guys. She'd rather the guest-of-honour have the first chance, but – "

"Fuck off, Yamazaki," Syaoran growled.

Sakura opened her mouth to correct him of his language, but he then gave a low moan and leaned down to rest his head on her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him and began soothing his back with gentle rubs.

"What the hell is your problem?" Yamazaki shot back, but a few moments later his fading footsteps told the two that he had left.

"Can you please tell me what's wrong?" Sakura pled in a whisper, caressing his back lovingly. She turned her head and pressed a gentle kiss to his temple. "Please?"

"Yamazaki decided to throw me a bachelor's party," Syaoran explained quietly. He was grateful that Sakura was so patient with him because it took him another minute to swallow the bile in his throat and continue. "He...He got a hooker to come in. For entertainment, I suppose."

Sakura stiffened, but hopped he didn't notice. "Ah."

"What the fuck is wrong with them?" Syaoran suddenly asked angrily, his voice stung with rage. "That's just sick! Don't they know that most of them have a fucking tragic story to them? That they shouldn't be doing that kind of work? They're humans, god damn it! Not objects!"

"I know, baby, I know," Sakura continued in a soothing tone. "But men don't see a lot of them as humans. They see them as a toy. As something to please themselves with. A quick fix. They don't think about why they work in that line or work."

Syaoran rolled his head over to meet her gaze. Sakura realized that his eyes were puffed out again, and only then did she take notice to the wet spot on her shoulder. His voice came out strained, and she almost couldn't hear him, "I...I'm not like that."

Sakura gave him a small, sad smile, "No, you're not."

He turned his head back to bury his eyes into her shoulder again. "All I could think about was how you looked when I saw you at that bar. Yours eyes were so sad, as if they shone from pure force. All I could hear was your voice. All I could see was the darkness behind your eyes. And...And that girl probably has a similar story, or maybe even worse. How can someone screw that poor girl when something so bad might have happened to her? Something bad enough to put her into prostitution?"

"Shh," Sakura said quietly. "I know, I know. Men are assholes."

Syaoran gave a cold, dry chuckle. "Yeah."

Sakura waited for a moment, listening to his breathing slowly even out. She turned to kiss the side of his head again, "Do you want to go home? I'll tell everyone you're not feeling great."

"No," he sighed and turned his head to face her again. His eyes were wide and pleading. "Do you think we could just stay here for a bit? Just us two? Please, Sakura?"

Sakura smiled and pressed her lips to his cool forehead. She whispered, "Of course."

She pulled away and ignored his confused frown, then stood and reached out for his hands. She pulled him up to stand and then backed away toward the door. On the wall beside the door, she slid down and pulled him down with her. She spread her legs, knees bent, and sat against the wall. She nestled Syaoran between her legs, gently pushing down his head to her chest and wrapped her arms around him.

Syaoran wrapped his arms loosely around her waist and kept his head resting against her soft chest. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, breathing in her comforting scents.

Sakura began dragging her one hand through his hair, her finger nails gently scraping against his scalp while the other snuck under his shirt and began soothing his side. She heard him sigh in comfort and pleasure, and she smiled. She knew how much he liked her playing with his hair. She laid her cheek down against the top of his head and kept dragging her hand through his hair while humming a soothing tune.

"I love you," Syaoran whispered, his voice almost too faint to hear.

Sakura kissed the top of his head, "I love you too."

"I'm sorry," he whispered before his breathing became shallow and he fell into a light sleep.

Sakura had to draw her bottom lip in between her teeth and bite to stop herself from crying – he still hadn't forgiven himself from the crap in her past.

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed ^.^

And ^.- HUGE thanks to xXShining ShadowXx for beta-ing again!! You rock hun! Miss Shadow beta-ed this in less than an HOUR after sending it out!! Round of an applause to her, please and thank you. LOL

PLEASE REVIEW!!!

XOX, Riva

Next Time.... OMGOMGOMG!! The day before the wedding has COME! Will the nerves get to Sakura? Who's showing up? Is Tomoyo going to turn into MaidOfHonour-zilla?!?!