Author's notes at the end...
Chappie 4, fresh from the oven... ;)
A longer chappie it is...
PREVIOUSLY...
Tomoyo…she wasn't bringing her a Lab pup, was she?
CHAPTER 4: BAR GRENADINA
It was almost nine-thirty when she realized that she was supposed to meet the others at the teriyaki place. She dashed into her den and wrenched open the wardrobe, praying hard that Tomoyo had kept in an outfit suitable enough for a night-club. As she dug in through the sea of clothes, she found a zipped cloth bag hastily labelled "Parties and Night-clubs" in Tomoyo's handwriting. Thanking the gods she pulled it out and placed it on her bed before zipping it open.
And then she blushed.
A sequinned form-fitting emerald green one shoulder dress was neatly packed in. Black roses were sewn on the lone strap and on the waist was a black fishnet belt. It was knee-length with slits running up both sides with the black fishnet material holding them. Though it was pretty, it was bold in Sakura's standards. A note was attached to the covering.
It was from Tomoyo.
I know you would be thinking right now that this dress is too bold for you but DROP THAT THOUGHT like RIGHT NOW. I made this specially for you, knowing how green brings out your eyes. So if you love your friend, you will wear it and I know you will look pretty awesome in it, as always. How I wish I could see you wearing it now…you would look so kawaii! But don't you worry Saku-chan, Eriol has explicit orders to click your pic and mail it to me ASAP. Have fun!
The other one, knee length frilly pink is for your first date (don't give me that nonchalant shrug of yours—I want you to go on a date . Do tell me when you wear it!
Sakura shook her head, smiling slightly. Tomoyo…she was wacky! But she was the best friend anyone could have.
She wore the dress, which was surprisingly comfortable. Next, she dabbed her face lightly with her favourite baby powder, applied a little mascara on the eyelashes and some gloss on her lips. She was never a big fan of make-up, mascara being the highest she would go. But she never needed any—her natural tan and flushed cheeks were a beauty no make-up could ever produce.
She arranged her shoulder-length auburn hair into that messy but glamorous bun, the only hairstyle she learned from Tomoyo because it was so easy, and let her bangs and curls frame her face loosely. She secured the more runaway strands with a couple of emerald hairpins. A black strappy pair of heels was chosen and soon, after throwing on a black shrug and taking her black purse, she stepped out only to find Eriol about to knock.
He was clad in an indigo silk shirt, black jeans, loafers and blazer with crystals on the lapel.
He gave her a triumphant grin before clicking her photo.
"Tomoyo reminded me of the task when I told her about the night-club thing," he said as proceeded to mail her the photo.
Sakura was slightly flabbergasted—who was crazier of the two, Eriol or Tomoyo?
"But I must say, you look amazing, Sakura," said Eriol appreciatively as he called the lift.
"KAWAIII!" Ayume squealed, earning a couple of surprised looks from the passers-by. Even Meiling smiled widely at her.
Ayume was clad in a black halter crop top and jeans skirt up to a couple of inches above her knees with blood red pumps. She had attached red extensions to her black hair, done her eyes in a smoky manner, her lips dabbed with light pink gloss. Meiling was in a deep red off-shoulder dress which flared out from her waist to her knees. The bodice was covered in black lace and the hem was lined with the same material. She wore black stilettos with straps up to her knees. Her glossy black hair was let down over her back, the bangs slightly obscuring her ruby tinted amber eyes.
Speaking of amber…
"Where's Li-kun?" she asked.
"Went over to that store to get some mint…" Meiling drawled, clearly displeased to be standing on the footpath. Their fancy dresses were already attracting some attention which she didn't like a single bit. After what seemed like an eternity, Syaoran arrived. He was clad in a bottle-green silk shirt slightly untucked and blue jeans. His hair, as usual, was messy with the locks tumbling across his forehead.
"Sorry Mei…you how mother hates it when I have that smell," he sighed before looking at Sakura.
And he stared.
Like a goldfish, he tried to say something but nothing came out.
Damn, she was beautiful!
Ayume giggled at Syaoran's flabbergasted look.
"Come on Li-kun! Stop staring at Sakura like that!"
The group headed towards Bar Grenadina, their destination for the night. A DJ played a selection of loud punk rock to which the people gyrated on the floor. It was dark, lit only with the multi-coloured spotlights and the disco-lights. The dance floor was surrounded by sofas and loveseats arranged around rectangular tables. Almost three-fourths were occupied. Syaoran led the group to the area where a "Reserved" sign didn't allow people to occupy the sofas.
"I had called up earlier to book us a table," he yelled to get himself heard over the din.
The group seated themselves and soon, a smartly clad waiter came up for the order. Everyone apart from Sakura ordered cocktails whereas she settled down for a Virgin Pina Colada. Meiling raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Sakura felt a bit uncomfortable—she hated noisy places. But she could see that Eriol was enjoying himself; after all, Tomoyo and he did go out to various such places when they came to Tokyo or Yokohama along with Tomoyo's mother. So she didn't say anything as she sipped her mocktail quietly.
Meiling and Ayume went to the dance floor followed by Syaoran. Eriol took this opportunity to talk to Sakura—he had noticed she was quiet.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked gently.
"I am fine, Eriol. You go on ahead." She said brightly.
"You do know you can tell me if this bugs you," he said, getting up.
"Nopey…in fact, it's pretty interesting. You dance away, for me, I having fun enough watching."
Eriol smiled and went where the trio were now bunny-hopping like madcaps. Sakura couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
The dancing crowd mostly ranged from late-teens to early thirties and the various mad ways in which many danced kept her amused. A group of guys were now chugging around the dance floor like a train and soon most joined, her friends included. As the waiter approached for order, her hungry stomach compelled her to order a plate of chicken fingers. Her eyes kept going back to Syaoran unwittingly—he was now sweating profusely, his perspiration glinting in the lights. Ayume was now dancing with some blond guy (Sakura thought it was blond but she couldn't be sure, the lights played around with colours way to much). Meiling and Eriol were dancing together whereas Syaoran was with some girl she couldn't see. She nibbled onto her chicken fingers slowly; the crowd increased as the night wore on.
Her purse vibrated, alerting her that she received a text.
Are you home yet? —Touya
Sakura typed back.
No, but will return soon.
Touya's reply was too fast; Sakura had a feeling that he hadn't even read her reply.
Call me once you reach home…I won't be sleeping unless I get your call.
Sheesh onii-chan! I can take care of myself.
And I am the President of the country…I know you want to be independent but take one step at a time.
Sakura sighed as she replaced her phone in the purse—Touya was a serious mother hen.
She checked her watch, yawning. It was almost midnight. And she, along with the others, did have college tomorrow. She ordered a plate of Caesar salad along with a ginger-mint-lemon cooler, seeing that the others had no intention of returning to the table anytime soon.
"Excuse me, is the table taken?" a slightly slurred voice came from her left, opposite to the dance-floor side. It belonged to a young man clad in a white shirt and supposedly maroon pants and his breath stank of alcohol.
"I am sorry but yes this table is taken and my friends are on the dance floor. I am awaiting their return."
To her disgust, he sat next to her on the sofa.
"I will go when they return. I am surprised that anyone could leave behind someone as gorgeous and beautiful as you." He said, his eyes glazed over due to a drink too many.
"Please, I would appreciate if you leave." Sakura said angrily.
~-Sakura's POV-~
I felt terrified. I spied a glance to the dance floor but couldn't see anyone. And the other seats were empty too; the dance was on its peak. I couldn't drive him away…and he kept on inching closer.
I was at the edge of my sofa—screaming was out of option as no one would hear me over the din. I stood up, intending to search Eriol and the others when I felt a tight, almost painful grip around my wrist. I tried to shake it off but for a drunk, it was surprisingly firm. He pulled me towards him, trying to caress my face as I tried to squirm away. I stomped my heels on his feet but no avail—he was wearing hard leather loafers. I tried kicking and punching him but it didn't work; either he was strong or he felt nothing in his stupor.
"Leave me or I will call security," I hissed.
To my horror, he gave a chilly laugh.
"I own the security here, baby. They won't throw me out, not the person who pays their salaries!"
I felt a chill settle in my chest. What can I do?
Where did that waiter go when I needed him?
A realization hit me; maybe, this creep ordered the waiter to stay away from my table.
Holy shit! I was in deep waters now.
He tried to force his lips on mine, and finding no other choice, I bit him. Hard.
He gave a feral cry and was about to slap me when…
"Don't you dare, Ryuuga Miyagi," said Syaoran, holding his hand in a vice-like grip as his amber eyes burned in anger. Meiling held me tightly, rubbing my back for consolation while Ayume and Eriol flanked Syaoran, staring at that creep menacingly.
"Why do you care, Syaoran? I was just having some fun," he said, laughing as he stared at me with hunger evident in his eyes.
"The reason will never permeate that block-iron head of yours, Miyagi. So stay put. And if I see you ever staring, or even looking at her," his grip tightened to the extent that Miyagi yelped in pain.
"I promise you will never see the light of the day again."
With that, we left.
~-Sakura's POV ends-~
Syaoran was fuming with anger—that nerve of that Miyagi crapball! How dare he…
After the group had put a substantial distance between the bar and themselves, he stopped with a sigh.
"I am sorry Kinomoto," he said, his voice laced with shame. "I am sorry who had to go through all that crap."
"You don't need to apologize, Li-kun," Sakura replied softly. "It wasn't your fault."
"We are all to blame," said Meiling in a low voice. "We shouldn't have left you alone."
"Yeah," Ayume piped in. "You are new to town; sorry for showing the bad side of Tokyo so soon."
Sakura couldn't help but smile a little. She spared a glance at Eriol, who had been deathly quiet till now.
"I of all people should have known," he said quietly, trembling with self-loathing. "I know you don't like clubs and places like that…I should have been there with you—what sort of a friend am I? If we hadn't seen you in time…what if that Miyagi creep kidnapped you or something…how would I have faced Tomoyo and Touya? For a moment of fun, I abandoned a friend of mine…" he shuddered, covering his face with his hands.
Sakura gave the dark-haired boy's shoulder a light squeeze of reassurance.
"A lot could have happened—but a lot did not happen. And that's what counts, Eriol-kun," she said smiling. "The truth is, we are all okay and upbeat—not upbeat as such but okay, right? So stop that, otherwise I will complain to Tomo-chan that you are being a baby."
Eriol lowered his hands, giving his friend a weak smile. Sakura Kinomoto was really an amazing person.
"I don't know about you guys," said Ayume lightly, breaking the tension. "But all that dancing and the excitement later have made me hungry. Can we eat?" she ended by pleading.
"Now that you mention it, I am hungry," Meiling added.
"But it's almost one in the morning…where can we find food?" asked Syaoran puzzled.
Sakura exclaimed suddenly—others could almost see a light bulb hovering over her head.
"Come to my place!" she said brightly.
"Your place?" Ayume said, surprised.
"Yeah, why not?" Sakura replied, her emerald eyes gleaming like stars. "Let's have a sleepover!"
Syaoran mulled over the thought for a minute before breaking into a huge smile.
"I don't see why not…Mei and I just have to inform Wei that we would be sleeping over at a friend's…but what about you, Tendo?"
Ayume shrugged.
"My parents are out for the month and the housekeeping people don't stay over…so no worries from my side."
Meiling whooped.
"Gosh! It feels like we have known each other for like forever!" she said happily.
"Happens when we are with people we like being with. And don't you worry, Sakura's meat buns and honey chilli potatoes are to die for." said Eriol with a wink.
Sakura blushed, happy to feel a part of something which she knew will blossom out into something really beautiful.
Thank you father, for enrolling me into Tokyo U.
She took out the phone from her bag, intending to call Touya when something on her screen made her sweatdrop.
You have 19 new messages and 14 missed calls.
With a sigh, she tapped the "Messages" icon to see 19 messages from certain overprotective hen.
Sakura, where the hell are you?
She wasn't in hell, but she would face an oral version of it when she called the sender.
With a sigh bigger than the last one, she dialled Touya's number.
It was the opposite side of Tokyo. The mansion was a huge one, befitting its residents one hundred percent. After all, Taiichi Miyagi was known all over the world for his extravagant tastes which made him focus on the upcoming deal with Yelan Li.
He had no love for the Li's—with their omnipresent hawking of how business deals should be made in a clean and transparent manner; he really felt their ideas grate over his own. But once the collaboration was official, he would soon begin his more ambitious project.
Not the Bahamas hotel chain; that was too tame, not even fit for an entertaining side show. He would take over the entire Li Corp. and finally be the richest man in the world. That old bat had ruled enough, time for the professionals to step in.
As the Miyagi senior sat in his study, his tall well-built frame encased in the century old teak-wood armchair which had belonged to his armchair, no one would even guess what thoughts crossed his mind. The door flew open and his older son came bustling in. Apparently, he was pissed off.
"What is it Ryuuga?" said the senior Miyagi coldly. He sniffed in the potent smell of alcohol which his son gave off.
"Was in Bar Grenadina," he shrugged at his father's questioning glance.
"Was having some fun with this common girl when that Li brat stepped in,"
Taiichi Miyagi's eyes grew big; Li as in Syaoran Li?
"What did you do?" he asked calmly.
"Nothing…just fun, you know. It was harmless. But he stepped in and made it crash."
Taiichi looked thoughtful. Hmm…
"Was she his girlfriend?" he asked in that same calm voice.
"Naah…Amaryl has the hots for him dunno why. But that cheap towner seemed good enough for a nighter, nothing more. If he hadn't butted in, I would have had a fun night…" that hungry look from earlier appeared in his eyes, making him look almost like an animal.
"I don't care what you do. But don't try that stunt from two years ago—you do realize that not all people take money to shut up. And the other ways aren't that simple." His father replied, digesting this new bit of information.
If Amaryl likes him and manages to make him fall for her, maybe that airhead would prove to be useful. Till then, he needs to find out about this girl.
Who was she?
Yelan Li was turning in for the night. She along with her trusted PA Hikari Ayuzawa had discussed from the early evening till way past the witching hour about the upcoming deal.
"Taiichi Miyagi gives me a bad feeling, Mrs. Li," Hikari had said, shrugging.
"I know why. That man's a wolf in sheep's clothing and he thinks that the Li Corp. is a baby which he could uproot anytime. That's why I want to take him down. This deal will enable me to gain access to the information not easily available to public. I hate people like him—they are the ones who give big business houses a bad name." said Yelan dispassionately but her eyes told a different story. Her lavender eyes had that feline predatory gleam. And a certain incident from two years ago had spurred her on.
Taiichi and Ryuuga Miyagi…you will pay for what you have done.
Sonomi Daidouji sat in the veranda of her mansion in Tomoeda, revelling in the unnatural quiet. The house had always been full of squeals and laughter, courtesy to her daughter and her friends. But with Tomoyo away to Milan and Sakura and Eriol to Tokyo, she was mostly alone in the house. But in nights like this, when the moon shone bright in an attempt to blot out the stars, she felt at peace.
The decision to leave Tokyo and settle down in Tomoeda was correct, after all. Her initial years were difficult but as Tomoyo grew up, juggling between home and work drove away all sad and lonely thoughts. Her husband passed away three months before Tomoyo was born—hence doing everything on her own made her a smart, capable businesswoman. And the tiny "Kirei Toyshop" grew up to be an international brand name within a few years. Her older sister Nadeshiko had helped her during her initial struggle, both financially and emotionally—taking care of little Tomoyo when she went on extended foreign trips. But her untimely death tore apart the Kinomoto family—and then she realized it was time she paid back. She loved Sakura like her own daughter and helped Fujitaka to keep up the house. She knew that the head of the Kinomoto household was a proud man; he would never ask for help, nor would he accept charity. So she did little things to ease their lives—shopping for groceries, linen, getting the maids to clean and air the house, inviting them for dinner, helping Touya get into a good university etc.
But that strange phone call got her up from her social slumber. Yelan Li, the head of the Li Corp., had called her. And asked for help.
For something personal.
When she heard her request, she couldn't help but agree—it was way personal.
It was almost eighteen years since her husband Reiishi Daidouji had died in mysterious circumstances. Sonomi had known, but the proof was too less for accurate conviction.
Not this time…
Next up: Chapter 5: Miyagis and Muffins: Amaryl Miyagi is tenacious but will her attempts reap fruit? What does Yelan Li and Sonomi Daidouji have in common? And what happened two years ago?
Secrets...secrets...!
The three way game between Miyagi, Li and Daidouji will begin soon though their younger counterparts have no idea what's going on. And if you guys send in tons of reviews, maybe Tomoyo will return sooner! How's that for a bribe? *winks*
Thanks for reviewing love-life, cat-of-luck, nami, Kumioko, Kimiko17, Afienasm, soojungg...you guys are fab!
And those who have added this story to their alerts, a giant thank you to you guys too *jumps and hugs*
Please review folks, love hearing from you...gives me the inspiration to type down long and interesting chappies.
"you are mean, Naz-chan! i wasn't even mentioned in this chappie! i will complain to sakura that you are mistreating me!" *bawling*
*sigh*"come now tomo-chan, you were mentioned...see, your note was way up in the beginning..."
*pouting*"but that's just a piece of paper!"
*sweatdrop*"ok ok...tell our readers to send in nice long reviews and maybe i will let you enter sooner than expected" *winks*
*big-eyed*"really? readers! please, do type in a review otherwise i am afraid i will remain an unseen character in the story!"
*gleaming eyes*"and if the reviews come in hordes, maybe i will, you know, put in some SxS moments of cuteness!"
"kyaaaah~"*almost fainting*"now, its my order...send in reviews...!"
*devil's laugh*"yes yes tomo-chan...keep up the good work!"
see ya later
:)