AN: Here's the second chapter… (: 100 views and 1 review, when did get so tight? Eeps, but thankyou to my reviewer anyway!
Disclaimer: Storyline, mine. Nothing else.
Chapter two: Nightlife
They walked in the door, a word not uttered from their lips as they sat in the two plush chairs adorning the office. The man behind the desk sat, his eyes gazing still over the courtyard to where the car had pulled in, it's beaten exterior left, desolate in the middle of the grounds as he stood and stared.
The two men shared a look between them, a slight feeling of dread creeping throughout their bodies. Sure, he was their friend; their mentor and guardian when times were rough, but the man had a temper- a terrible raging dragon of anger that would erupt out of him any second.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU WERE PLAYING AT?" A roar finally escaped Syaoran's lips as he turned, swivelling his chair round in an almost amusing evil villain way. But they both knew there was nothing amusing about this situation.
They shared a look between one another as amber eyes glared upon them, not sure if they should reply. Was it rhetoric? Maybe not.
"Look boss, there was nothing that we could do… They just came out of nowhere… We only went out for some juice! They must have followed us!" One of the men spoke, his young hair ruffled with his hand as his nerves got the better of him. He could stare death in the face each day, but Syaoran Li was different. It was like every word he said cut like ice through your soul, and his anger was not to be taken lightly.
"Well they obviously didn't come out of nowhere did they! You should have known, you should have kept an eye out, and you should have covered your back! Doesn't it cross your mind they might be following you? Are you that stupid? In broad daylight, you should have avoided this!"
The other man spoke up this time, his eyes almost pleading with their leader.
"Boss, you know we couldn't just back down."
Amber eyes glared, if possible more anger exerted through the amber orbs than before.
"I know you couldn't, but in future you damn well will make sure you don't go on these ventures and not keep your back watched. You mind your own business, and if you're not in our part of town, even if it's contested territory, you damn well keep your eyes alert and your back covered."
The men stared at their boss for another minute, keeping his eyes keen upon their faces for reactions. At least they had the decency to look surprised that he hadn't pulled a gun out from the mahogany draws next to him and blown their heads into next month.
"We understand boss." The younger man spoke, looking steadily at Syaoran over the desk, a hand fidgeting with the lapels of his jacket.
"Now, get out!" He bit back, glaring at them as they scrambled out of the office, his body swinging with the chair as he swivelled it back around and turned to a chest to the right. Reaching in, he pulled out an aged bottle, words flashing across the front from the silver calligraphy adorning it. Within a second, a tumbler had reached it, and the amber liquid plopped down into the glass, a tinkle as his ring knocked against the side of it.
"It's got that bad, you're drinking in the day again? I heard from the whispers down the corridor you were quite light on them. Suprising Syaoran, suprising."
"Fuck off Eriol, not interested." He bit back, taking a long swig of the drink and cracking his knuckles against each other. The other man stared, his dark black blue hair swaying slightly in the breeze from an open window. His eyes crinkled as he shifted his glasses down his nose, moving to take a seat, a grim smile adorning his face.
"It's nearly time isn't it, cousin. It's nearly time for this all to end. You're planning something, I just know it." His voice was softer now, talking to his cousin who had just thrown profanities at him in such an ordinary manner. He was used to it. The temper of Li was particularly volatile, and gave with it a foul aura that would surround him for days.
However, this time, it was different. He'd seen his dear cousin kill a man for less than what had occurred with the other two. But now, he had let them off with barely a tongue lashing. Something was wrong, and as the gang fights were getting hastier, faster paced, as the war raged on, he knew that his cousin was planning something, some way to finish this and claim the town as his own.
"I am, and you know that. We're going out this weekend, we're going to go out and get some information. Then, we're going to move from there, and we're going to end this as soon as we can so I can get back on with my duties and everyone can live their lives the way we should. I'm not letting anyone of my men be followed, we should be the ones on top, not fighting for it, we should already have it." A rare grim smile appeared on his face as he spoke, softer now between friends, barriers breaking down between them as one cousin showed his inner thoughts to the other.
"So we will Syaoran, we will. Things are just getting rather violent out there at the moment. It needs a wrap up, he's recruiting more and we aren't, we have more skills than them but soon they'll outnumber us so greatly that we won't be able to retaliate."
"I know Eriol, I know. Remember the meeting though, we're going out Saturday, we're going to get some information. Nothing more, nothing less. Get some of the girls too- their men are always up for sharing a bit of information over a double vodka and a female."
"I know Syaoran, I know. Your right hand man remember?" He smiled, pouring himself a tumbler of the amber liquid, feeling the burn as it went down his throat.
"Bloody heck, what percent is that? Oh, that's just foul. Whisky, really?" He choked slightly, a tingle working it's way down his spine as he shivered from the warming feeling and the foul taste. His drinking partner just smiled, pouring himself another glass as he lolled back in the chair, a comfortable silence blanketing the room.
-xx-
Sakura twisted in her bed, moving her head slowly as she registered the clock to her side. 17:00PM. She sighed softly, moving from the bed as she clambered through the satin covers. It was her birthday, of which she'd spent the last two hours in bed. 18, and in bed in the daytime.
Layla had greeted her this morning early, with gifts adorning the sitting room to the west wing of the house, a warm smile on her face etched in sadness as today would be the day she left to explore the world with her husband. She had assured Sakura she would call from her 118 day cruise round the world, and that she was still at the girls beck and call if she needed. She just referred to it as a holiday, but Sakura had known that she was irrevocably changed now. That Layla was no longer her guardian, and she was an independent woman.
The girls had been there too, squealing in delight as Sakura had grinned at their faces as she opened presents, Tomoyo with her video camera shoved into her face as she had opened the gifts, each with a small smile and a laugh. Her parents had left her a gift too, one from the family vault that would have been passed to her upon her eighteenth birthday anyway, a beautiful emerald necklace to sit around her neck and match her eyes. She had cried receiving it, but considered to herself that she should be happy. They had brunched together and laughed, before Layla had bid her farewells with her suitcase and husband, smiling and crying before she left with her promises of contact. Then, the girls had dispersed home, leaving Sakura to catch up on some sleep she would surely miss tonight.
For tonight was the night of their outing, the big pole-vault into the real world as they ventured out into the streets of Tomoeda. Sakura was excited to say the least, looking forward to an evening of fun and the right of passage into her adult life that was about to begin.
-xx-
The wind blew through Sakura's hair, a waft of cherry blossom and gentle soap swaying into Tomoyo's nostrils as she sat next to her.
They had, of course, hired a limousine to take them to the club- one of the largest in the town, and apparently the place to be on a Saturday night according to two girls from their class. She tugged softly at her black dress, the chiffon material of it glittering from the glint of the street light as she attempted to attempt to hide more of her body. It wouldn't work of course, it was short enough Sakura was sure that it would not look out of place dressing up a doll.
"WE'RE NEARLY HEREEEEE!" Rika's voice shattered through the light conversation, her glass of complimentary champagne tipping slightly as she raised it in the air, a look of pure delight adorning her features. Chiharu next to her was singing softly to the music supplied as the rest turned to look out of the windows, winding through the streets.
"Aren't we in like… The wrong part of town… If you get me…"
"Naoko, Naoko. ALL the clubs are in this side of town, you can't very well expect them to put them next to an elementary school can you!" She declared, pointing a finger at her friend with a fiendish giggle. Was it possible she could already be tipsy? Not that any of them were particularly skilled in the art of drinking, especially champagne, the bubbles fizzing and winking happily in the night.
Sakura sighed, tampering with her dress again. The neckline accentuated her curves, sitting just above her chest in a slight v in the middle. It ended just inches from her backside, which she was not enjoying. She felt exposed, to say the least. However, from the looks of things, she would feel a lot more relaxed with a bit more of the alcoholic poison that Rika was throwing down her neck.
"Come on girls, we're nearly there, drink up yeah?" Tomoyo's voice cut through her reverie as she held up the bottle, tipping the soft bubbles into their glasses and throwing back hers with a wince when she appeared for air, the others following suit, a grimace adorning their faces. Apart from Rika, who appeared to have taken a liking to the stuff- or the fuzzy fairies that were appearing in her head at this moment, she wasn't sure.
The limousine stopped, it's black doors shining against the bright red lights of the club, the neon sign hanging over the door looking more like something for a Broadway advertisement than if it should belong in a high street.
"Welcome ladies, to the Black Mamba!" The young latino man next to the entrance smirked at them, a small wink producing a giggle from Rika and Naoko as he did so, a charming smile enveloping his features as he beckoned them in.
"Why thank you… Sir" Rika purred, giggling like the schoolgirl she was as she produced her identification, one by one them pouring into the club.
Inside, the club was dark, the only light produced from staggered flashing strobe lights and other various neon signs depicting smoking areas and toilets, as well as bars. The music blared, the floor vibrating the room in an assault of movement as people bustled around one another, dancing to the beat, finding friends, grabbing drinks from the bar. The girls stood, unsure as exactly what was their next move.
"Let me guess, first timers?" A voice behind the group startled them, as they turned to find the man who had let them in.
"How did you know?"
"Blondie's ID say's it's her birthday, so one plus one my dears, makes two." He grinned with a wink, directing a jerk of his head at Sakura.
"Let me take you to the bar, free bottle of bolly for each of you when it's one of your groups birthday you know, and I doubt anyone in their right mind would pass that up." He ushered them to the bar as Sakura hung back to grab Tomoyo's hand, scared of losing her.
The girls graciously accepted their drinks, each being produced a bottle of champagne from behind the bar, uncorked and passed ceremoniously along until each one had in their hands a bottle. Sakura's mind idly wondered how this could be afforded, a bottle of champagne for each of a group member on their birthday. The amount of money would be too expensive.
"So, what do we do now…?" Chiharu spoke up, looking at the rest of them and taking a swig directly from the bottle, wrinkling her nose as the bubbles erupted in her throat.
In turn, they all looked to Rika. She seemed to perhaps be the most drunk, so for some reason they had appointed her as their drunken leader. Perhaps this would be a bad idea, but as she was loosened up compared to them, who cared.
"We, my lovely ladies, drink. Then, we will dance. Then, we will feel rotten in the morning. But before all this, we get shots and die. Deal?" She grinned, a whimsical smile adorning her features as she swivelled the bar chair around, the champagne bottle clutched between her legs as she pulled money out, producing two rounds of shots from the bartender and passing them down.
"GO!" Her voice raised over the beat of the club, throwing the fiery substance down their necks. Sakura felt her head fuzz slightly, the mix of alcohol in her system only affecting her slightly. But she knew what was coming; it would seem like Rika had some crazy ideas out of the classroom.
"GO!" Before she could comprehend another thought, she was robotically raising her arm and throwing another down her neck. It burned all the way down, as she winced at the burning aftertaste. Next to her she heard Chiharu and Naoko cough slightly, Tomoyo had already turned a bright pink.
"Right, now. We drink from these…" She held up the magnum of champagne," and we go dance. Lots!" A grin adorned her face, and Sakura mused for a moment she had never expected her friend to be so… Wild. It was quite a strange experience.
Taking a heavy swag from the bottle, she moved from the stool, her hand set in Tomoyo's as they wandered to the dance floor, clinking the bottles together and swigging as their bodies moved together under the strobe lights.
-xx-
"Syaoran, you sure they're not going to notice?" A voice whispered in his ear, his friend's glasses knocking slightly against his face as they moved to the edges of the club, their group surrounding them to listen intently to the conversation.
"Look, we're in no problem. Now if you're all going to stand there and act like we're playing ring-a-rosies, it's gonna look like there's something wrong, so listen up. Girls, split up, pairs of two, move around, dance, find a guy and get some information. Me, Eriol, Takashi, Hiru, Kero and Samaya will all be here, hopefully finding some prey of our own. You've got your guns as a last resort tonight, remember that. If you're found out, don't come back here; get out as fast as you can." The girls of the group nodded and wandered off, slipping away from the men.
"So we're just going to stand here, and expect groups of girls to come fawn over us… Sounds a plan to me…" Hiru sighed, his young features creasing slightly. Alright, they were good looking, but surely girls have a bit more tact?
"Trust me, they'll throw themselves over a man in here."
As if on cue, two girls walked over seductively, swinging their hips as they walked towards them.
"Hey big boys, haven't seen you around… Take it you're new, I'm Misaki" One of them said, her voice raised slightly over the music as she flipped her long blonde hair and extended a hand. Syaoran raised an eyebrow at Hiru, his eyes glinting with amusement at the stunned look on his companions face. Tonight was going to be a long night.
-xx-
Sakura grinned as Tomoyo spun her round like a child, squealing loudly as she did so, her world melting into smudges of colour and blurred lines as the group giggled, hands upon each other's shoulders as they attempted to steady themselves from falling off the towering heels attached to their feet.
"Give me… I wanna go!" Sakura grinned happily, extracting a cigarette from between the fingers of Chiharu, who was currently coughing like a lunatic.
"Where did you get these anyway, you don't smoke?"
"I thought it would be fun… You know, you get drunk, you smoke." Naoko replied, a giggle coming from within before turning into a rumbling laugh as Sakura nearly dropped the offending item, attempting to place it between her fingers in position.
"You know, it's funny, I've never ever wanted to do this, but now I'm happy, really happy, everything looks so fun!" Sakura squealed before taking a drag from the cigarette, instantly coughing like crazy much to the amusement of the other revellers stood with her.
It was a safe bet to say that the five girls were merry. More safe to say that they were drunk. Possible, even, to say that they were almost at the point that they were completely inebriated. At least Rika and Naoko, who seemed to have swigged the whole of the champagne bottle, gone back for shots, and sported some rather nice looking Italian men on their arms for the past hour before they'd managed to get rid of them to attempt a cigarette with the girls.
"Sakuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, you need to find a man!" Chiharu declared, clapping her hands together in delight as a smile adorned her face
"Yes! Tonight is the night girls!" Tomoyo laughed, swaying slightly as Chiharu's hand left her shoulder to clap, returning to the circle in the next moment. They giggled together, moving back into the club as Sakura said she wished to stay there a moment, the offending cigarette still twirling between her fingers.
She leant against the mesh that signified the smoking area, her eyes closing slightly as she felt the world spin. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to close her eyes.
She mused about their night, many men had indeed attempted to dance with her. She just didn't care. She wanted to have fun, not some slimy man covering her all night. Rika and Naoko were more interested in them than her, seeming to find it more amusing the more a man seemed to want to be their puppy dog.
"You've obviously never smoked before with the end on that thing have you?" A voice cut through her moment of contemplation as she moved to look at the owner. Her vision finally focused on a young man, a few years older than her, looking at her with inquisitive amber eyes, a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips.
"Ugh…" She felt herself pale as she narrowed her eyes to see him better, his sharp features, chestnut hair and piercing eyes. He was breathtaking. In her drunken stupor, at least, and now she felt herself cherry a little. She looked to the cigarette in her hand, half of it was unflicked ash, the other unburned from the few drags that had been taken from it.
He laughed at her predicament, a glint in his eye of mirth as he looked her up and down.
-xx—
Syaoran looked at the girl before him, a mischievous glint in his eye. Sure, this girl was beautiful, but she was one of them. And by the looks of things, she was enough drunk to give him the information he'd need. He could charm a woman, he knew that, and she would be an easy target to manipulate.
He looked her up and down, and took in her beauty. It was a shame that she would be playing for his enemies. Perhaps she was significant to them, someone this beautiful would surely be used as a temptress as the girls from his side were doing now? Her hair fell softly in layers, at longest reaching the small of her back, her emerald eyes wide from no doubt copious amounts of alcohol, explained by the magnum of champagne sat limply in her left hand. She was indeed, absolutely tiny, like a small china doll, still a good few inches below him on the dangerously high heels she was wearing.
"You come here often then?" He said, gesturing his free hand around them at the club.
"Oh er, yeah. All the time." She replied, smiling meekly at him. She inwardly swore, why did she lie? Why was she lying to this beautiful specimen in front of her. Maybe perhaps he would think she was less of a child if she didn't disclose that this was her first alcohol fuelled outing… Yes… That would indeed look rather sad.
"I see. Not seen you around is all… You must work the other side of the city to me…" He grinned at her, looking down expecting an answer. He was in, he knew. He knew that if he pretended to be what she was, she might disclose information to him. He knew that if she worked west, she would assume he worked east. And visa vi for the rest of the areas of the city. He was working his way in to extract his information.
"I'm not a prostitute Mr!" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, tumbling in a multitude of jumbled thoughts and words. She was sure, somewhere, in her drunken mind, that his eyes raving up and down her form and his ideas that she worked a 'side of the city' were an implication that she was promiscuous with her body. It didn't help that her dress rode so high up it looked more like underwear.
"Woah, Missy, I didn't mean that. I meant, you know, gang work." Syaoran's mind had run into overdrive the moment she thought he was asking if she was a prostitute, a speechless moment falling upon them before he spoke. She was perhaps a little too drunk to glean information out of.
"Oh, erm…" She shifted nervously under his gaze, as a small smile ran it's way along his face. She looked up at him. Shit. Her eyes moved from his in a swift gaze and she noticed something she had not before. Upon the girls backs, upon the mens arms, were tattoos. Shown proudly on their bodies, black mamba snakes, curling around themselves in inking's upon their skin. Shit.
He stepped forward toward her, the man in front, who she was now sure was one of them. She was in a place full of gang members, one of the places Layla had told her not to go. Oh gosh, on a Saturday, in a club, drunk out of her mind, full of gangs.
Syaoran watched the girl in front of him, all of a sudden she looked like a deer caught in the headlights. What was with this girl? He followed her gaze as he stepped towards her, watching her face as her chest rose and fell quicker as she noted the tattoos on the bodies of the people around them. Then, and only then, did it click. He moved closer, she hadn't noticed, until he was next to her, looking over her shoulder and onto her back. Clean.
Sakura felt a wave of scent wash over her, as she looked up she saw the man leaning over her, his frame towering over her, the bottom of his neck near her nose as she smelled the soft spice and sandalwood of cologne. And she was terrified. She squeaked, moving backwards, before she felt his hands wrap around her upper arms in a sudden movement.
"Don't make a sound…" His voice came out, softly, head crooked down near her earlobe so that she could feel his soft breathing tickle the hair next to her ears. "You aren't a gang member, are you?" He felt her shake her head violently, trembling now under his hands. "Then I suggest, you stay away from those that are, young lady. Got it?" He felt her nod now, with added vigour as her body trembled under his hands.
Then as sudden as their moment had been, he had left her there, moved on, his cigarette butt on the floor as he vanished inside, his smell lingering in the air.
She stood, unknowing what to do. Should they leave? Was he warning her of trouble if she didn't? Her mind was fuzzy, confused almost, as she took a rueful swig of the bottle in her hand. What was going on? She had absolutely no idea- apart from her feet were starting to hurt. Stumbling inside, her eyes moved to her friends as she ambled over, her eyes still wide from her encounter with the mysterious brown haired man.
A voice appeared all of a sudden, to boos of the crowd, cutting out the music. When it spoke, the whole club fell into darkness, the voice ringing over them as some saluted, some just stood, still. Sakura clutched Tomoyo's hand, looking at her in fear.
"My precious precious people. I feel that perhaps it is time I spoke. I've been watching you all night, and now a little bird tells me there are some imposters in my Snake Pit. I think that perhaps you should find them" A slight ripped of talking followed the announcement from a man, his voice echoing around the walls of the room and through the speakers. Sakura's mind fell into overdrive; they were imposters? Oh god, they were going to die.
She felt Tomoyo freeze up next to her and leaned into their group of friends, her head bowed. "We're in a gang club, we need to get out of here. Now. Move slowly, towards the door, it's not far." She heard Chiharu intake a sharp breath of air somewhere to her left as she heard. She felt Tomoyo's grip harder on her hand, and started to move. Before she could move another inch, she felt a strong arm grip hers, yanking her to the side.
"Agh!" An exclamation made its way out of her mouth as she felt herself dragged to the side, unable, barely, to see in the plunged darkness of the club. She could here muttering around here, but it was just a low volume noise, nothing like the exclamation she'd just uttered.
"You, you don't have tattoos do you? I know you're not imposters, but someone's going to notice you, and they aren't going to believe you, you need to get yourselves out of here before the lights come back on." She recognised the voice, the familiar utterings oweing to the man who had cheekily winked and grinned at them as they had come through the door earlier. She nodded against his chest, and moved him out of the way, scrambling for the exit.
-xx-
Syaoran looked to Eriol, who in turn looked at him with an upturned lip. "Shit." He muttered under his breath, daring to breathe as the announcement went off. "We need to move, the girls will know to move." He stared into his friends eyes, not liking the look that they held. They were surrounded, and they knew it. And they'd probably barely got enough information to shake a stick at from the expedition.
He could hear murmurs across the club, most people were just standing around. Any minute, the lights would come on, and they would check tattoos. If they did, they were officially in for it.
They moved swiftly, winding in and out of people attempting to be as inconspicuous as possible towards the doorway. Nearly there, they stopped when he heard a screech from a girl to his right. Unable to ignore it, he stopped, feeling Eriol behind bump into him.
Sakura writhed under the man's grasp, huge, calloused hands gripping her wrist as she looked in terror to a man holding her arm up as if she were a prize, nearly pulling her off the floor.
"Fuck." The profanity had escaped her mouth before she could stop it, and she was pretty sure it didn't help her.
"Got her! This one! Saw her earlier, she's got no tattoo! Bet she's one of Li's undercover bitches!" He snarled loudly as the club stopped, the lights suddenly focusing on her and the offensive man, his spit glimmering out of his mouth as he spoke.
Sakura's eyes widened as she screeched in fear, writhing again, feeling his grip tighten.
"No, no, Mr, you've got it all wrong…" She could hear Tomoyo's trembling voice enter the room, piercing through the silence that now blanketed it.
"I know what you're like; you wolf bitches, always feigning something. Li send you did he!" The man was shouting now, his nostrils flared and his bicep adorned with the tattoo twitching ever so slightly. The crowd was closing in.
Syaoran stood, staring, almost rooted to the spot as he felt Eriol nudge him in the back, motioning for him to move, until his eyes lay upon the scene, hearing the man's rant. "They aren't… Are they…" Eriol's voice whispered in his ear, leaning into him. "No, they're not ours." He sighed into the silence, wondering what he could do.
"Syao, man, move, they're just kids, come on, we need to move," he felt a female hand wrapping her fingers round his. Lielle, the girl who had been hampering after his affections since he had met her, long straight black hair swishing behind as she tugged on his hand. But something in his insides started to squirm furiously as his eyes focused on the trembling girl he had met earlier, her face contorted into a mixture of emotions, her eyes looking ready to spill tears.
He looked to Eriol as if to ask what to do, his friend looking at him as if he was awaiting order already. Why should they save these kids? Going out, getting drunk in unfamiliar territory, it just wasn't their fault that they had come to this side of town, but something inside him was whirring; a juxtaposition of feelings erupting inside him that felt unfamiliar.
It had all happened within seconds.
A crash rang across the club as stunned partygoers were pushed onto the floor, an angry shout sounding off as the offensive man was suddenly flying across the floor, a bloody nose now adorning his features, blood dripping down his white vest.
Sakura felt herself being wretched from the man's grasp, larger hands setting themselves around her waist as she was uncouthly plucked from her position, yanked towards the door. Her world spun as she moved, a dizzy feeling creeping its way across her form as she heard Tomoyo scream behind her, somewhere close, as if she was following. Or being forced, as Sakura was sure she was.
What's going on? Tomoyo, she's behind me? Oh gosh, what's happening? Thoughts spun through her head as her emerald orbs failed to focus on the world. Her mouth failed her as she tried to speak, grimly opening and closing it akin to a koi carp ready for the catch.
Syaoran threw the young girl into the back of the car, watching as Eriol stuffed in the amethyst eyed girl she'd been with, the others shoving her friends into the next car. What am I doing? Thoughts crossed his mind as he furiously revved the engine, aware now to gun shots ringing through the night as the car swerved from the lot, marking their escape, marking the sudden new cargo that they had in their possession.
Sakura grimaced, feeling for her head which she was sure she'd banged. Regaining slight composure, she sat from her position, which had somehow come to be her head lolled into Tomoyo's lap who sat next to her, a fearful expression adorning her beautiful features.
Creeping her hand from her own lap, she moved her fingers deftly over to Tomoyo's, grasping her in a cast iron grip as her friend moved to look at her, eyes wide and frightened.
Who were these men? Were they about to die? Why did they take her from the club? And why in God's name wasn't she sober.
AN: That's it for this chapter, probably update in the next few days! R&R!
Love and hugs,
Maria