AHHH! OMG!!! I know I haven't updated this in AGES!!! I'm SOSOSOSOSO SORRY!!! I can't really offer any explanation either, other than the fact that the CCS flame has kinda died for me. Rest assured, I'll be finishing this one eventually, but I think this is my last CCS story.

Without further ado, please enjoy the (LONG overdue) chapter.

Something of Yours

Chapter Nine

Ah, Fucken Hell.

Sakura poured over the phone book on the night of the Ball, in the finest evening gown that Tomoyo had been able to make in the short amount of time given. She made notes of a few paediatricians in the area and jotted down their numbers.

"What are you doing honey?" Fujitaka came in, straightening his tie.

Sakura looked up at him with a small smile. "I'm looking up baby doctors. I'm gonna need one. I'm about a third in, you know."

"Good idea." Fujitaka sat down wearily. "But you know that we need to go soon, right?"

"Yeah, I know." She laughed, setting the book and notepad down, slipping the lid on the pen. "I'm just really anxious and I wanna get this all right."

"No mother gets it all right. Not even on their second, third, or even fourth children." Fujitaka smiled. "You just gotta do what you think is right. Of course Touya and I will help you as best we can." He assured her. "Now come on, I suggest we leave if we're gonna be on time."

"What about Touya?" Sakura blinked.

"He's not coming." Fujitaka shook his head. "Prior engagement. Come on, let's go." He tugged on her hand, earning a reluctant laugh from his daughter.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Syaoran grunted as Meiling knocked on the door, signalling that she was all right to come in. The door opened to reveal Meiling leaning on the doorframe with a slightly amused expression as Syaoran got frustrated with his tie.

"So, what do you think will happen this year?" She asked lightly. Syaoran blinked.

"What?"

"Well the Li Corp Christmas Ball is infamous for changing the life of at least one Li a year… don't tell me you forgot?" She sounded as if the idea were laughable.

"No, Meiling." Syaoran scoffed. "I did not. And I doubt very much that there will be anything drastic this year, considering the only Li's attending tonight are you, me, and my parents."

"Whatever." Meiling shrugged. "I just have a feeling something's gonna happen."

"I doubt it very much." Syaoran eyed her in the mirror. "Hey, do that in your own room!" He yelled at her as she barged him out of the way of his mirror and began to check herself out.

She ignored his outburst. "I think I'm putting on weight. Waddya think, Syaoran?" She asked absently, putting a hand to her stomach. Syaoran raised an eyebrow. Apparently Meiling was still just as vein as she had been when he'd lived in Hong Kong. He decided that he'd have a little fun toying with her before she murdered him when she figured out what he was doing. He pretended to scrutinize her for a moment.

"Yeah, a bit." He shrugged nonchalantly.

Meiling rounded on him angrily. "Are you saying I'm fat?!" She demanded. Syaoran ducked as she threw a pillow at him. He started laughing as he raced out of the room, leaping over the couch and coffee table to put distance between himself and the fuming girl.

"Yeah, duh." He rolled his eyes with a smirk. She cursed indecipherably and he darted in the opposite direction of her rage. "I mean, you're just packing it on. I'm surprised you could squeeze into that dress. Hoochie Mama!" He sang.

Meiling was beyond angry now. Syaoran was actually beginning to regret taunting her; she was a black belt after all. She could match him move for move – maybe even beat him, since he'd been slacking with his training a bit lately. She settled for glaring at him before turning tail and stomping off into his bedroom, slamming the door shut and locking it behind.

Syaoran bashed on the door. "Oi! Come on! That's my room! Out!"

"No!" Meiling yelled back.

"Out!"

"No!"

"Meiling, kindly come out of Syaoran's room." Yelan sighed, coming out of her own room to see what all the fuss was about. "We're going to be late if we don't leave in five minutes. Hurry; Mr Li will be here to pick us up shortly."

Meiling grumbled, but acquiesced. She purposely trod on Syaoran's unprotected sock-clad foot with her inch heels on her way out.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Sakura felt so out of place in the large ballroom. Everyone else was taller than her, with a more graceful stride, eloquent voice, and overall more charm than her. She felt like the awkward kid in the middle of a classroom of kids who were all smarter than her, and she didn't have a clue how to do the task on the blackboard.

She clung to her father's side desperately, zoning out as he discussed boring topic with some of the other people at the Ball. So far she hadn't seen either Tomoyo or Eriol, but she had seen Syaoran and his mother on the other side of the room a few minutes ago. Syaoran had been arm in arm with a lovely woman with black hair pulled into the traditional Chinese bun with chopsticks.

Sakura had taken a moment to admire the woman. Her bronzed skin and shimmery red dress complimented her perfectly. She had been too far away to see clearly, but Sakura was certain that her eyes would have been striking. She had yet to come across a woman in the ballroom who wasn't rich and beautiful. She imagined the strange woman to be related to a business associate of the Li's. It was only logical.

Sakura jumped at a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see the beaming faces of Tomoyo – who looked radiant in a deep purple gown – and her date, Eriol. Sakura, again, felt awkward in their presence. Half of Tomoyo's hair was swept up into a tight bun at the back of her head, and the rest was left to hang freely in waves to her shoulders. Sakura blinked.

"Tomoyo, you cut your hair!"

Tomoyo and Eriol laughed. "I didn't want to." Tomoyo shrugged with the giggles. "Mom was helping me cut the material on another outfit and she accidentally sheared off half my hair. You know how hopeless she is with scissors." She shrugged. "Makes me wonder why I bothered to trust her."

Sakura laughed. "Well, you look great." She commented, running her eyes over her friend again. Tomoyo's designer skills had not gone to waste on her dress. The garment was made of what looked like satin, with beaded trimmings along the edges. The deep purple colour only seemed to make her milky skin glow in the soft light from the chandelier above. Tomoyo smiled brightly, revealing newly-bleached teeth.

"You too." Tomoyo grinned, admiring her friend. The slinky green dress that she wore was trimmed with golden lace that also ran as a divider between the two portions, separating a lighter green from a darker green. Her hair had been straightened out and left to hang freely to her shoulder blades. "You cut yours too?"

"Not as much as you." Sakura laughed as Tomoyo linked arms with her. Tomoyo dragged Sakura and Eriol all the way over to Syaoran, the girl, and Mrs. Li. Sakura, seeing their destination, scowled at Tomoyo. "Oh, come off it, Sakura. It's only for a second." Tomoyo whined. "Eriol just needs to say his to his Aunt and cousins, then we're free for the night, basically."

"I don't see why you had to drag me along." Sakura sighed.

Tomoyo flashed her an apologetic look. "Eriol might take a while and I really didn't wanna stand there by myself like a shmuck." She giggled nervously.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Fair enough. As long as I don't have to talk, it's all good."

As if on cue, Mrs Li noticed them. "Sakura! Eriol! Dears, come over here and let me see you." She clucked, beckoning them toward her. Sakura inwardly groaned, noting Syaoran's and the girl's eyes on her as she walked. The expression on Syaoran's face was unreadable, but Sakura could easily see the curiosity on the other one. "And who have we here?" She asked, looking Tomoyo over.

"My second cousin, Daidouji Tomoyo." Sakura smiled. "Daidouji Sonomi's daughter."

"Oh!" Mrs Li smiled graciously. "Yes, I remember Sonomi well." She sighed. "It's a shame I haven't see her in years. How is she then, Miss Daidouji?"

"Call me, Tomoyo, please." Tomoyo smiled awkwardly. "And Mom's fine. We have our problems, but who doesn't?"

"Very true, very true…" A clearing of the throat broke across Mrs Li. "Oh, of course. Sakura, Tomoyo, meet Li Meiling, my niece." She ushered the girl who was hanging off Syaoran's arm forward. Sakura couldn't help but notice the look of extreme relief that washed across Syaoran's face and resisted the urge to giggle at him. She settled for examining the girl up close.

Sakura had been right. Meiling's eyes were strikingly beautiful. They were a deep amber colour with a ruby tint to them – most probably brought upon by contact lenses. Sakura found herself shrinking in intimidation at the sheer power and passion that burned in them. She was both inspired and awed by the confidence that the girl was oozing. In fact, Sakura's mind registered that she was not, in fact, a girl; but a woman.

Sakura smiled awkwardly as she bowed her head to acknowledge the beautiful woman. Meiling flashed her a million dollar smile. "Nice to meet you." She crooned in a heavy Chinese accent. Sakura felt even worse. The woman had the voice of an angel; and here Sakura was, with a voice that was too deep at times and too high in others. Se felt like she wanted the earth to open up and swallow her.

"Likewise." Sakura chirped meekly. Tomoyo nodded and the two girls stood there fidgeting. They were eternally grateful to Eriol, who drew his three relative's attention away from them and onto himself. Tomoyo and Sakura turned to each other and began to chat, completely forgetting about the four people behind them.

"So, what do you think so far?" Tomoyo commented, looking around. "It's really something, isn't it?"

"You can say that again." Sakura whistled low. I feel like I'm about two inches tall at the moment."

"I know the feeling." Tomoyo agreed. Thy lapsed into silence again. "So… have you been thinking about…?"

"Yeah. I have." Sakura nodded absently.

"And are you going to…?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Are you insane?" Sakura almost yelled, ignorant of the people around them, now staring at them. "What am I supposed to say? 'Oh, hey Syaoran; we need to talk. Remember how we used to sleep together? Oh, well, you'll never guess! I'm pregnant!' Yeah. That'll go down really well."

Silence rang throughout the hall for a moment, before a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. Sakura's breathing froze as her face flamed up. She agonisingly slowly turned her head to look at the Li family.

Eriol was staring at her as if she had grown another head.

Meiling's eyes were a big as dinner plates.

Mrs Li had gone white and looked as if she were about to faint.

And Syaoran… no words could describe the look of pure shock and terror across his face.

Sakura could not stop the next words that flew out of her mouth.

"Ah, fucken hell."

Did you like? I actually had half of this written up beforehand, but my computer died and lost it all. I was so depressed that I couldn't bring myself to write for it. But here we are; end of the new chapter.

I'm not making any promises about the next one.

So review. Let's see if it motivates me, eh?