Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever own Card Captor Sakura or any of the characters within. However, the story is original and completely mine come near it and I shall chop out your tongue…

Summary Recap: Sakura is a weekly columnist in Tokyo where her best friend, Tomoyo is her editor. Her life seems kind of normal until Tomoyo breaks the news that her next assignment for the newspaper is to travel to Hong Kong to see the annual Arts Festival. Sakura arrives in Hong Kong with Tomoyo and her husband, Eriol, getting more then she bargained for. Sakura finds herself trapped doing a story about the elusive Xiaolang Li, a person who is determined to keep his distance…

Learn to Love Again by Aymiahfayth

Chapter 5

"What have you been EATING the last couple of days?" Tomoyo hissed at Sakura, trying with all her might to make the dress zip up properly. Meanwhile, Sakura tried her hardest to suck in her stomach.

"I've only been eating what you fed me!" Sakura retorted, hating the fact that this would inevitably mean another fitting.

Tugging one last time, the ebony hair seamstress let go of the dress fearing it would rip. "Close, but no cigar. I'm going to have to let out the seams a little. Meanwhile, this color is absolutely fabulous on you!" Tomoyo squealed. Sometimes, it was a wonder that Tomoyo had any decorum at all.

Stripping out of the maroon dress, Sakura pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank top. "How long do you think it'll take?" Her real thoughts on the subject would have been, when will it be perfect enough for you, but that seemed a little rude. Personally, that answer probably would have been, never.

"It'll be done by tomorrow night. No worries, you will look so beautiful that even if Li Xiaolang wanted to stay away, he won't be able too." Laughing coyly into her hand, Tomoyo continued her devious plan.

Sakura could not believe that it was already the aforementioned, tomorrow night. The day had gone and now suddenly, she was getting ready officially for the dinner party. A party where she didn't really know anyone and was trying to get an interview with someone who not even the best reporters could get an interview with. It was madness, and yet she had to go along because Tomoyo would not have it any other way.

Personally, Sakura didn't really see what was at stake since she was in Hong Kong to cover the festival, not stalk a famous politician. Regardless, she was trying on the maroon dress for the second time.

"Here we go, I hope you haven't been eating donuts!" Tomoyo mocked. The moment of truth had come, would the dress fit?!? Placing her hands on the zipper, Tomoyo successfully zipped it up.

"YES! Turn around!" Sakura quickly turned to face the elated Tomoyo. After straightening the dress in a couple of spots, Sakura was released to go look in the mirror. Her hair was piled on top of her head with soft curls falling gently down. The dress was an elegant maroon with a plunging neckline and thin straps. It was the vision of beauty, Sakura hardly recognized herself.

"It's beautiful. You've outdone yourself once again Tomoyo." Sakura said breathlessly.

At her tone of voice, Tomoyo checked the back. "Is it too tight?"

"No, not only does it look amazing but I CAN BREATHE!" Triumphant, Sakura helped Tomoyo into her dress before making the grand appearance to Eriol who was waiting patiently in the lobby of the hotel.

Gasping at the two beautiful women that he was lucky enough to escort, Eriol took both their hands. "My, every man will want to murder me after tonight and take my spot." Eriol said.

Sakura just laughed and glided out of the building. Even if she was completely humiliated at this party, at least she looked better then anyone else. At least that's what she thought until she saw the party…

It was held in a large ballroom owned by a posh hotel. Every person who walked into that building had some sort of designer dress and huge diamonds to go with it. Everyone famous, including some singers from Japan were there. It couldn't have been anymore different then what Sakura expected unless they all showed up in an elephant costume. A dinner party to Sakura meant a long table where dignified people ate with Li Xiaolang at the head making boring speeches. She underestimated the prestige of such a man, or such a family, this was quite the affair.

Walking in, a man stood and asked for their names. Confused, Sakura looked at him as if he was a crazy person. "Eriol Hiragizawa, my wife Tomoyo and our friend Sakura Kinomoto..." Checking their names off the list, they were led quickly through security before being presented in the ballroom.

Small, round tables scattered precariously throughout the ballroom, name cards telling the threesome where to sit. Apparently, they were the pity of the party, being placed on the farthest table away from the political family and with nobody that they knew. Sakura was extremely grateful that they hadn't tried to split them up though.

The table was set up with china and crystal, all put together with white tablecloths and beautiful flowers in the middle. There was one other couple sitting at their table of five. Sitting on the other side, they passed names around. The other couple must have been distant relatives, their names being Shen and Lian Li.

"So what brings you to Hong Kong and this lovely gathering?" Lian Li, a woman of about 22, looking beautiful in a simple gown. Less lavish then the others at the party but still very stunning.

"I'm a columnist for a Japanese newspaper and Tomoyo here is my editor. We're actually here on vacation." Sakura said before Tomoyo and Eriol had a chance to mention what she was writing about. For some reason, she felt silly crashing a party like this for a stupid article.

"Eriol is good friends with Jin Tao." Tomoyo said by way of explanation of their being at this dinner party which was obviously very exclusive.

Laughing the woman replied, "Well good, I thought you were going to say that you were writing about the Li family."

Sakura looked at Tomoyo and Eriol who just shrugged. "Excuse me, but why is that funny?" Sakura asked, trying to be diplomatic.

"Well, they are by far, the hardest people to write about. Not only are they the hardest people to get an interview with," Lowering her voice, the woman leaned in closer at the next sentence, "but if you say one thing that they think is remotely insulting, you will find yourself out of a job and an outcast of society." Leaning back in her chair, the woman grabbed her husband's hand, suddenly a lot more relaxed, "Although being foreigners grants you some immunity."

It was then that Sakura felt her senses going off. This was the reason that she was a writer, because stories like this needed to be told, and there was apparently a large story hiding under the family façade.

Clearing her throat, Sakura asked stealthily, "So what are your relations with the family? I assume that your related since you have the last name." Sakura said laughingly, trying to put the tension out of the air.

For the first time since saying his name, the husband spoke. "Lian is the second cousin of Li Xiaolang." He spoke with pride.

Curious that they were so closely related and at the pity table with them, however, that was something that she could pursue later.

The meal was finally served with a lavish of four course meals and lively conversation with their new friends Lian and Shen. The three found out that they live in a lovely apartment on the outskirts of town, something that was highly unusual in light of their famously rich family (an avenue to venture down later). Lian invited them for dinner next week at their apartment which they thankfully accepted.

When the dinner portion was over, Li Yelan stood up to give her official speech. She was an older woman, who in the prime of her life was probably very beautiful. Age had taken its toll and her skin was wrinkled, her brown hair fading. However, the strength in her voice belied her appearance. "Thank you all so much for coming to this wonderful celebration of my son, Xiaolang." Everyone clapped dutifully before letting the mother continue. "After many years of training and education, excelling in everything but the art flirting with the press…" This prompted the obligatory laughs. "My son has succeeded in everything put in his path and I feel that he is finally ready to take on this rising metropolis. I am proud to have him as my son." Looking over, she held out her hand, Li Xiaolang came on stage and held his mother's hand. "Now, I present to you, the future leader of the Li Clan, the pride of all Hong Kong." With this, everyone clapped as Xiaolang took his spot in front of the crowd, and his mother sat back down at her table.

Bowing, he smiled softly and stated, "Thank you all once again for coming." His voice was stiff, very formal. "I have been honored with this knew calling and plan on taking over to the best of my abilities. Hopefully I'll be on somewhat the same scale of my magnificent mother who has definitely set the bar incredibly high for one such as myself." Once again, the obligatory laughs played. Sakura was certain that a lot of people were worried of one so much younger taking over.

After this, Li Xiaolang talked a little more about coming together, basically everything that you would hear with any sort of politics. Sakura listened only because it might be good for her story that she was inevitably writing. When it was finally over, it was the mingling portion of the night, something that Tomoyo was itching to do and Sakura was dreading.

Thankfully, or unthankfully, before the threesome could interrogate some of the guests, a young woman with long ebony hair and piercing eyes came over to their table. "Why Lian, I didn't know you would be here." The woman smiled and Lian seemed unusually happy for her to come over.

"Frankly, either did I…" There was bitterness in her laugh but she continued, "However, I found out that it was obligatory for me to be here. Shen is optional however." Bitter laugh once again, obviously, this couple was one the outs with the family.

"I wish I was optional." The woman muttered under her breath, at which everyone laughed. The woman then took Lian's hands, "I'm certain that Xiaolang is happy that you're here…" Then the woman lowered her voice and Sakura had to strain her ears to hear her properly "…and frankly, if it pisses the elders off in the process, then its just one more blessing." Laughing, the woman moved to Sakura's side of the table. "And who might you be?"

The woman stared hard at the threesome, whether because she wasn't happy that they were here or something else, Sakura wasn't sure. Before she could state her business though, Lian butted in. "Meiling, these are some of Tao's friends. Sakura Kinomoto, Eriol and Tomoyo Hiiragizawa."

At this, the woman's face suddenly changed from one of scrutiny, to one of pure happiness. "Sakura Kinomoto from Japan?"

Before Sakura could answer, Tomoyo squealed with delight and stood up, throwing her arms around Meiling. "Oh my goodness! I should have known that it was you guys! I don't know why I didn't figure it out!" Meiling squealed in obvious enjoyment and Sakura was feeling suddenly very dense.

Did everyone know someone from Hong Kong except Sakura?! The only people that Sakura knew from Hong Kong were from…elementary…school… "OH MY GOD!" Sakura jumped up and joined the two giggling girls in a giant hug.

"You look amazing" Meiling commented on Sakura. "I hardly recognized you. It was your name that gave you away. Well, that and Eriol's smiling face which hasn't seemed to change since we were ten." Eriol had by now stood up from the table and still had that smiling face on. Suddenly, Sakura became very suspicious. How much did Eriol really know before coming tonight?

"I would have never guessed in a million years that I would ever see you guys again! It's been so long I would have never recognized you!" Sakura said in all truthfulness. After all, they haven't had contact in about sixteen years.

"Oh my goodness! You have got to talk to Xiaolang, he'll be so happy you're here."

"Xiaolang Li…. Why?"

Tomoyo looked at Sakura in exasperation. "Oh, that's Syaoran…. Right… I knew that…." Sakura said, scratching the side of her head.

Meiling just laughed, "I guess you're not as different as I thought." Tomoyo laughed, and followed Meiling away.

"Hey, did you just call me naïve!?"

Syaoran… After sixteen years, were they even the same people? What does he remember?

Sakura contemplated this as she walked away…

Authors Notes: So I kind of wrote this one faster because I felt bad for taking so long on the others so this better bring lots of comments. Take my word for it, the more reviews I get, the better and the faster I write.

Truth be told, I was kind of excited to write this chapter because it's when everything really comes to a head. This is kind of a longer chapter but I felt it important to get as much in there as possible. I know most of you wanted her to meet Syaoran right then but I just have to climax it! Lol, makes you want more now doesn't it!? Okay, so don't kill me, I'll write the chapter as fast as humanly possible.

My inspiration for this chapter: a hundred dollar gift certificate at my favorite clothing store. Lol, I'm so so so happy! Granted, I worked really hard for it. I volunteer at a community center playing the piano and singing for older people. It's really fun but it was my last week, so they gave me that as a going away gift… sniff I started crying, I'm really really going to miss it but oh well.

Anyway, I'm moving out of my house and into my own apartment so I'm really excited about that. So I'll try to get the next chapter out soon, it just depends on how much time I have between moving, work and school starting. sigh so much to do, so little time. Just be glad that this is my stress reliever, meaning: I will ALWAYS come back.

REVIEW! THANKYOU!