Clamp owns CCS, I don't. Just borrowing some characters.

Genre: Romance / Drama / Angst / Humor / Mature

A.N.: To those who have read the first chapter, please support this Chap as well. I wanted to portray a completely different Sakura. Hopefully I have succeeded in showing it here. Thank you readers and fellow CCS fan. Til next update.

Enjoy reading! R and R!

Meeting Syaoran, Loosing Sakura

Chapter 2 – The Meeting

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Sakura was awakened by the need to pee. She was lying on her stomach, her left leg hanging by the edge of the bed. She pushed herself up using her elbows while slowly sliding off the bed down to the wooden floor. Her head still rested on the bed.

"Let me sleep." She murmured. However, the urge was getting stronger it left her no choice but to get up and go to the bathroom. When the knob turned she smiled glad that Meilin wasn't using it. They shared the same bathroom.

She decided to have a warm shower to soothe her muscles. Her shows last night had caught up to her. Usually guests would always pay for an hour show, but last night one group of young entrepreneurs paid a good amount for a one and a half hour show together with Meilin. It was exhausting to dance while baring herself and pretending all throughout that she fantasized them as well.

She put on a black almost see-through stretch leggings, a short denim shorts and an off-shoulder top. She completed the outfit with a 3 inch stiletto. She grabbed her bag and went out. She made sure to lock the door before slowly descending the 3-step stair before reaching the flat pavement.

The sun was golden brown since it was late in the afternoon. She loved it, it didn't hurt her eyes. She crossed the street to buy coffee at her favorite café just a block away from her apartment. Satisfied when she got her cup, she went out of the café ignoring the lustful stare from the male patrons. Hatred never fails to boil within her whenever she sees those lustful eyes. It would always remind her of the two men in her past she dreaded the most.

She suddenly remembered the Cherry Blossoms Park two blocks away. 'Might as well go there.' she murmured to herself. When she was about to take a turn around the corner, someone suddenly appeared in front of her. The collision was inevitable. The contents of her coffee spilled unto both of them. "Ow, ow, ow! Hot!" She immediately pulled her loose top away from her body to listen the burn while looking up to see who she collided with.

Amber eyes, calm yet surprised. He is tall. She can only see the Adams apple on his throat at eye level. She caught him swallowing and the slight movement of his throat stirred something in her. 'Shit.' Why I am gaping at this man when I spilled hot coffee on myself?

"Ehem… Are you okay?" Syaoran suppressed the smile forming on his lips. Before him was a petite woman, with emerald eyes, soaked top partly sticking to her skin and partly opened pink lips. She shocked him when she openly assessed him. He coughed again to get her attention.

Sakura immediately closed her mouth and faced him again. This time, anger showing in her eyes. Before she can filter her words, a hissed "Are you fucking blind?" question came out.

"What?" His amusement dissolved upon hearing the acid in her words.

"Not only are you blind, you're also deaf!" Sakura exclaimed in annoyance. So much for the good looks. He is just like the rest of the male population, stupid and annoying. "Are you fucking serious?" her annoyance grew by the minute.

Before she can throw more insults at him, he found his voice. "Hold on miss." He said it as calmly as he could. "Look, I'm sorry for bumping into you. I didn't…"

"Sorry your ass! I know the likes of you. Pervert!" She glared at him.

"Hey! Would you stop for a minute? I'm not a pervert." After saying the word his eyes immediately trailed to her soaked top. 'Crap!' Upon realizing what he just did he felt her hand on his cheek.

She gave him a hard slap. She saw how his eyes trailed unto her top just after denying her accusation. "Pervert!" She hissed at him again.

Syaoran, both surprised and angered by her slapping him, the calmness left his senses. No one has ever slapped him, not even his mother. She was about to give him another slap but he easily stopped her by catching her raised hand. "You're not going to hit me again. Or I swear I won't hesitate to it you back." His tone was low and dangerous.

Sakura felt it so she immediately pulled her hand away. He didn't let it go, instead his grip got tighter. "Ouch! Let go! You are hurting me!" She felt like tearing because of the pain.

He immediately let go of her hand when he saw her twitch in pain. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"Don't be sorry." She interrupted him again. "You meant everything you just did, conscious or not. Just shows how stupid and ill-mannered you are." Sakura stepped back a little, realizing that they were standing too close to each other.

"Will you just shut up?!" Syaoran couldn't hold his anger any longer. The insults are not stopping despite his apologies. This woman needs to be tamed.

"Aya what's going on here?" A woman in her forties came out from the pastry shop. They were standing in front of her shop, Sakura's favorite as well. "Is he harassing you?" worry was in her face.

Sakura immediately cooled off upon hearing her tender voice. "Aunt Remy! Well…" She was at a loss of words. It finally sunk in. Her outburst was uncalled for.

"I accidentally bumped into her spilling her coffee. It's understandable that she gets mad seeing how hot the coffee is." Syaoran apologetically explained at the old woman. He nearly snapped out and might have done something he would regret for the rest of his life if not for her intervention.

"I see. Aya why don't you come in so you can clean yourself? And…"

"It's Syaoran Li." He answered seeing the unspoken question on her face.

"Ah, Syaoran come in as well. I've got the best cakes and desserts. Why don't you try some? Shall we?" she smiled at them.

"Thanks Aunt Remy. I owe you big time." Sakura, for the first time since the little incident, smiled sweetly. She followed the old woman without looking at the guy named Syaoran Li who followed them in. 'Hmmp!'

…

Sakura, who is still flaring from their not so quiet encounter sat across Syaoran, who is now back to his calm self, humming while waiting for Remy. Before she can spit another batch of insults towards him the old lady came into view followed by a waiter with some afternoon delights. Sakura's mouth watered at the sight.

"Pfftt…" Her stare immediately flew to him after hearing him chuckle. 'Did he just laugh at me?' Unmistakable, she saw a slight smile on his face that immediately disappeared, like it never formed on his lips. 'The nerve of the guy.' She looked around to find something that she can use to get her revenge. "I would not do anything stupid if I were you." He silently warned.

"The only one stupid here is you. And a pervert too." She was about to add some more but Remy already settled beside her and the waiter placed several saucers with desserts and three glasses of refreshments.

"I hope she's not choking you with her stare. Aya is a sweet girl. I just couldn't figure out why she acted so violently towards you. I apologize on her behalf." Remy apologetically smiled at Syaoran.

"You don't have to apologize for her. Let her speak for herself." He gave her a challenging look. And Sakura Kinomoto never backs out from a challenge.

'If you think you got the upper hand, you are definitely wrong.' She cursed silently before giving him a forced smile. "Sorry, I was wrong." Then she made the cutest puppy eyes look hoping to convince Remy. Gladly the old lady believed it. 'Huh! You can't beat that Li!'

"No prob." was all he said. Amusement filled his eyes.

'Well, amuse yourself to your hearts content. I'm out off here.' She reached for Remy's hand and said, "I should be going now. It's getting late. Miori is home by now." She lovingly hugged the old woman before making her exit. She rolled her eyes when their eyes met. Then she confidently walked out of the pastry shop.

Both Remy and Syaoran watched her as her confidence radiated while she walked outside the shop. She turned right and she disappeared from their sight.

…

She was right. Meilin is already awake and is now cooking dinner. "Hey!" She called out upon seeing Sakura.

She dropped herself in the sofa. "You wouldn't believe what happened today."

"Hmmm. Is that why you look like trash?"

She looked at herself and giggled. She really was a mess. Her plan to just take a walk at the park turned into a horrible encounter with that Li pervert.

"Well?" Meilin raised a brow waiting for an explanation.

"I bumped into a guy near Aunt Remy's shop, spilled my coffee, slapped the guy and we argued out in the street."

"You're crazy! Why did you slap him?"

"Simple. The guy was stupid and a big time pervert."

"You're exaggerating Sakura. Any guy would become a pervert seeing you in that outfit. You should know that."

"Everything about the man spelled P.E.R.V.E.R.T." she defended herself. Meilin just shook her head in disbelief.

"Come on. Join me."

"Sure! I'm starved." She was making her way to the kitchen when the buzzer buzzed. She looked at Meilin, "Expecting someone?" Her friend just shook her head. She frowned. They never invite people in their apartment for security purposes. Nonetheless, she glided towards the door. She checked who it was through the peep whole. She gasped at the sight before her. Guess who?

She immediately opened the door. "Were you following me? Good Lord, aside from being a pervert and a stalker, what other sick habits do you have?" She searched him up and down with her eyes trying to find any weapon hidden in his body. The guy just stared at her with the same amount of shock, or worse.

His shock was so grave it looked like she was a mad woman ready to harm him anytime. "I'm calling the police."

Meilin, hearing the commotion, hurriedly ran to her rescue. Her tracks died a foot away from Sakura when she saw who was standing outside their door. She gasped in pure surprise. "Xiao Lang!" was all she said before bolting out to hug her brother.

Due to his grave surprise upon seeing the mad woman he met earlier and Meilin in the same house, Syaoran lost balance when Meilin jumped at him. "Oww! Mei I can't breathe."

Meilin immediately rolled to her side and stood up the same time Syaoran did. It was now Sakura's turn gasp in pure surprise. "What the hell?! You know this pervert?"

"Sak… err.. Aya this is my brother Xiao Lang Li. But you can call him Syaoran." She sheepishly smiled. "How long have you been here?" She asked him with excitement in her voice.

"I got here yesterday." He answered while scratching his head.

"Oh where are my manners. Please come in."

An hour later…

Sakura tapped the glass table with her fingers, the food now cold. Since the pervert came in she settled at the kitchen/dinning area. Behind her was the sink, cupboards and drawers while at her right is where they cook. She glanced impatiently towards the two who were talking seriously, Meilin frowning from time to time while the pervert kept his calm facade the whole time. 'Argg. This isn't happening!'

The pervert might have heard her grunt because he discreetly looked at her direction. She rolled her eyes and smirked. The man had not done grave sexual advances at her. In fact he tried his best to be as gentleman as possible. But she couldn't let go of the thought that keeps flashing on her mind. She couldn't forget the desire that she saw on his eyes when he quickly glanced at her wet top.

Despite her anger, she couldn't help but feel a slight tug within her. Rather than wasting her energy in giving him deathly glares, she stood up and went to her room completely forgetting her hunger.

…

Sakura was absentmindedly adjusting her wig when Meilin tapped her shoulder. She looked up and smiled at her. "Hey."

"Are you still mad?"

"Me? Mad? No." she returned her gaze to the mirror and continued with what she was doing.

"Xiao Lang told me about the incident near the pastry shop. Though I believe he had no intention of harassing you or anything of that sort, still I'd like to apologize."

"You don't have to Meilin. I'm fine." she assured her. She recognized the glint of sadness in Meilin's eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Well, he came to bring me home. Mother is already worried. But I told him I can't leave yet. I want to prove to him that I can stand up on my own."

"What did he say?"

"He's giving me a month. If he is not satisfied he will drag me home, if he has to. It's ironic. I can be tough if I want to but Xiao Lang is Xiao Lang. He may be a naturally calm person but he is stubborn once he sets his mind. I don't think I have the courage to defy him when the time comes."

"He can't do that! I won't let him drag you back to Hong Kong against your will." Sakura fumed.

Meilin hugged her friend hoping that she can prove what she needed to prove before it's too late. She's happy here. Meilin pulled away after a moment. "By the way he is here."

"What?!"

…

"Xiao Lang Li?" Larry cautiously approached the man sitting at the bar sipping a glass off whiskey. The man looked at his direction and he was right. "I knew it!"

"Larry Tiu! Long time no see old friend." He shook the hand extended to him as they patted each others back.

"What are you doing here man?"

"Just hanging out." He answered politely. "You own the place?"

He nodded in response, pride plastered all over his face. "Married?"

Syaoran chuckled. Marriage had not crossed his mind yet. Not yet. "No plans."

With this Larry grinned from ear to ear, the old familiar playfulness showing. "Let me show you around."

Syaoran stood up and followed him as he entered a dimly lit hallway. The next thing he saw was a huge dome like room packed with wealthy businessmen both young and old. He glanced sideways throwing a questioning look on Larry.

"This, my man is the epitome of all manly paradise. You see those men? Why do you think they are here?" Syoaoran just gave him a shrug. He grinned evilly this time. "They are here to watch my angels. I'll show you one."

They exited the room at the opposite door which leads to another hallway. Then he saw multiple doors painted black. Larry pushed open the door of the tenth room. Inside was a rounded platform cage in a fiber glass. The top of the glass did not reach the ceiling; the opening was purposely done to allow oxygen to flow inside. Surrounding the platform was a square shaped black leather couch that traced the entirety of the room.

Syaoran had a guess what this room is for. Larry pushed him down the couch. "This is on the house. Relax and enjoy the show my friend." He walked out of the room and closed it. The door automatically locks once the show starts. He braced himself, whatever horror he will see tonight will be forgotten. Or he thought so.

…

Sakura made a quick retouch. This time she will be wearing a masquerade mask in black, gold and red that matches her black lace bra and thong with red and gold sequence. She topped it with a spaghetti strapped black see-through negligee.

It was her first show tonight. She pushed the memory of Li out of her head and focused on what she was about to do. She went out of the longue and pushed the door that leads to a passage that only strippers like her can enter.

She stood on the platform and held her right thumb up to the operator. Seeing her go signal, the man clicked the red button. Automatically she was lifted up, fog slowly oozing out to cover her appearance before she starts her show.

The platform she was standing in halted. The white smoke slowly disappeared and she slowly saw who her audiences were. 'Oh!' She only had one viewer. Seated calmly on the leather couch almost looking bored - Syaoran Li! Double fuck!