Okay, I deserve all those insults and eggs you throw at me...I know I have been more that fashionably late.
But trust me...life's been cruel the last six months...what with a crazy teacher assuming that emI think I am too big for my own boots and pulling me down for a year.
That's like dinosaur crap...sigh.
But life goes on, as they say. So I am using this "oh-so-sudden" free time in doing something what I like best: reading manga, watching anime and writing stories. I found out this awesome publishing house which will begin accepting submissions for something called the Horation Nelson Fiction Prize and I seriously thinking of trying it out.
Who knows? I might become a published novelist!
Those who are interested, just google it and you will find it...it's open to unpublished manuscripts over 50,000 words.
I apologize for a short chappie but don't worry, I will soon get into the groove.
And please review...I love your reviews.
Previously...
Yelan Li was a woman to be reckoned with. She had presence, grace and poise which filled up the room with the magnanimity of her personality. After the meeting concluded, he helped the Li CEO in gathering her files when she posed a completely irrelevant question.
"How much do you hate the Miyagis?"
He was taken aback but the look of grim determination and hatred answered the question, earning a smile from her.
"I know what happened with your sister. And I know what Taiichi is capable of. He has walked long as a free man—time he came down."
Suzaku was now completely surprised. What interest would Yelan Li have in the Miyagis and him?
"It's personal for me too…I too have a score to settle with him. I will tell you later. But first, are you ready to avenge your sister?"
"Oh yes. I am ready."
Chapter 8: TOMOYO AND FURBALL
One month later...
"I hate college...I hate projects...I hate life..." Eriol grumbled as he crumpled up his twenty-seventh attempt in writing up a report on the Great Depression and aimed it for the dustbin.
Which he missed.
"Cool...even my aim sucks now," he said dolefully.
"You are not helping me with that mopey face of your, Eriol," said Syaoran exasperatedly as he read through a huge tome entitled Economy and the World of Twentieth Century.
"Stop whining and start working!"
Eriol sighed at the comment as looked at the other end of the room; the girls were excitedly gossiping about something but he had no idea what—Sakura guarded the secret jealously.
"It's a girl thing, Eriol. Don't poke your nose in," she had replied when he asked while the other two giggled helplessly. Syaoran mirrored his confused look as the duo settled down to complete their assignment due tomorrow.
The group congregated in Sakura's flat every weekend to complete their assignments, gossip about what happened in the week and chill out in general. Over the past month, they have become firm friends.
"Should have taken up CL...at least they don't have such horrendously long assignments..." Eriol sighed yet again as he unwillingly set about to write again.
Yelan Li rummaged about her files, searching for something.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" her PA Hikari Ayuzawa piped up.
"Not really since you haven't seen that document..." Yelan replied, giving her a harried smile.
"Hmm...then it should be in that other drawer where you keep your personal records...that's the only drawer we staff have no access to," Hikari replied thoughtfully.
"Of course! Thank you Hikari!" Yelan exclaimed as she proceeded to open the said drawer and the squeal that followed confirmed Hikari that she was right.
"It is very important for me...do me a favour and reschedule all my afternoon appointments...tell people Yelan Li is enjoying her Sunday."
Hikari nodded, noting it down on her clipboard.
Sonomi was having her lunch in her room when the reception called in.
"Mrs. Daidouji, someone named Ying Fa is here to meet you," said a voice from the other side.
"Very well, send her up."
Sonomi and Yelan decided it was best if Yelan came to visit her disguised as someone else. After all, Yelan Li was too famous to remain inconspicuous as herself.
A gentle knock on the door followed by a soft "come-in" revealed Yelan Li in Sonomi's room.
"So, how does it go?" Sonomi asked, popping in a piece of pineapple in her mouth.
"It goes well...considering whom we are up against. I had a conversation with Suzaku a week back—apparently Karin has made some noteworthy progress. Looks like we have a silver lining after all," Yelan sighed, seating herself on the edge of the bed.
"Hmm," Sonomi muttered thoughtfully, absently picking on the cherry in the fruit-bowl.
"I did a bit of snooping myself—Taiichi has some seriously upscale lawyers in his employ; and they will leave no stone unturned in getting back at us should we fail."
Yelan looked at her friend, her brown eyes hardening.
"I know that—that's why I think we are going to have just one shot to do all that counts. Li Corp. has its first official meeting with the Miyagis next week...let's hope we can pull off something by then."
Sonomi smiled, running her hand through her short cropped hair.
"I trust you to make the good decisions, Yelan...but let's forget about all that for now...how's your kid? Syaoran?"
Yelan's eyes lit up at the mention of her son.
"Syao? Well, if I am not mistaken, he's pretty much falling for a friend of his..."
"Sssh!" said Sakura violently, making Ayume jump and Meilin smile in amusement.
"Talk more loud and I swear I will pummel you to oblivion," she hissed, glancing over the male duo to make sure they hadn't overheard.
"Tomoyo's coming today afternoon and I promised her that I will keep it a secret from Eriol...so ssshhh!"
"Okay, okay...got the point, Sakura," Ayume said, trying not to giggle at Sakura's petulant face.
"But how do we go out...wouldn't the boys tag along?" Meilin wondered.
"I have thought through that...we will just tell them that we are popping out to get some lunch. After all, my fridge is sort of empty..." said Sakura gleefully, her emerald eyes shining with delight.
"So I guess we should leave...it's almost two...her flight lands at three-thirty..." she added, checking her watch.
Ayume nodded.
"And the traffic stinks at this hour...better leave early."
Syaoran couldn't help but feel left out as the girls kept gossiping at the other end of the room...his eyes continuously felt drawn to Sakura as she smiled with absolute delight.
He shook his head sheepishly...that brunette was making him experience something which he had never felt before.
"Stop smiling in the space like an idiot and help me out for God's sake, Syaoran!" Eriol hissed angrily, earning a guffaw from him. He sure was pissed.
"Oh come on, Hiiragizawa-san," he said airily, mimicking Amaryl Miyagi.
"You are the class genius!"
"And you know it as well as I do that I suck at History...so get off your high horse and help me!" he said, ending it with a plea.
Syaoran sobered up with difficulty, knowing how Eriol hated in admitting any sort of weakness. He slid over to him and helped with the tome, occasionally glancing at a certain emerald-eyed brunette.
Am I seriously...falling for her?
The trio raced to the elevator with suppressed giggles.
"Man! The look on Syao-kun's face when he realized we were ditching him!" Meilin laughed as the elevator doors closed.
"And Eriol looked as if he would wring the life out of that giant book of his," said Sakura, clutching a stitch at her side as she laughed helplessly.
"Not to mention Li-kun's puppy dog face...he had finished his assignment but still forced to help Eriol out...man, that must be his own version of hell!" Ayume giggled as the elevator stopped at the groud floor.
The three continued to chortle as they walked down the side-walk, hunting for a cab. Ayume was right when she said traffic was horrible at the hour...the road looked completely jammed up.
"Why do I get this feeling that we would reach faster on our feet than on a cab?" said Sakura, looking out for a break in the stand-still.
"We need to take the tube...or have Tomoyo-san wait for us at the airport for like an hour," Ayume mused, checking her watch.
"Tube it is," Meilin decided, leading the way.
A tall, slender girl with long, glossy black hair which fell up to her waist and a pair of startlingly amethyst eyes in a pale face clad in a cream-coloured knee-length dress and light brown jacket stood at the customs with her hands on her waist and a very angry expression on her face.
"Yes sir...I am telling you...THESE ARE MY CLOTHES!" she said angrily, pointing her finger at the three open suitcases on the table.
"I understand, ma'am...but we cannot allow so many clothes bought on foreign soil to be carried into our country without the payment of the necessary taxes," said the customs official apologetically.
"But apparently, he must have a hit a nerve as the pale face acquired the colour of a tomato.
A very angry tomato.
"Are you saying...are you implying that these clothes are bought?" she said quietly, anger evident in her voice.
The official stepped back as the girl in front of began to resemble an erupting volcano.
"Are you saying that I, Tomoyo Daidouji, wear clothes off the rack?" she screamed, making his knees go into jelly-mode.
"But...but..." he stuttered.
"I would like to meet the airport manager...and you better kiss your job goodbye!" she hissed before stomping off.
"Tomoyo's late...her flight has landed a long time back," Sakura mused as she walked back and forth in front of the arrival terminal. Meilin and Ayume sat on a luggage trolley, staring and analysing any good-looking guy who walked past them.
The terminal door opened to allow a black-haired girl with three fat suitcases out into the Tokyo sun.
"Tomo-chan!" Sakura yelled, running forward to give her friend a huge hug.
"Saku-chan!" Tomoyo squealed, throwing her arms around her best friend's neck.
"Come on...let me introduce you to my new friends; Meilin Li and Ayume Tendo."
The duo stood up and bowed slightly. Tomoyo bowed in return before shaking their hands.
"Nice to finally meet you guys in person...Saku-chan told me a lot about you..." she said happily.
"But why were you late, Tomo-chan?" asked Sakura as she wheeled out the trolley into the cab parking.
"Nothing much...just gave the airport manager a piece of mind when he had the nerve to suggest that I bought these clothes in Milan...like I...and am buying clothes...Ridiculous!"
Sakura cringed slightly as she asked.
"Umm Tomo-chan...exactly how many clothes did you bring?" she asked, already scared of the answer.
"A complete wardrobe change for you, Saku-chan!" exclaimed Tomoyo dreamily, earning a look of comical disbelief from the brunette as Meilin and Ayume laughed out loud.
"And I almost forgot...just hang on a sec..." said Tomoyo before rushing back into the terminal.
"Now what...one more suitcase?" Sakura thought out loud.
Tomoyo returned a couple of minutes later, cradling a box in her arms.
"What's that?" Sakura asked.
"Something I told you on phone..." Tomoyo grinned mischievously, handing her the box.
It was a pet-carrier.
And as Sakura opened the door, a tiny little ball of fur stared back.
"Gosh Tomo-chan! It's a goldie puppy!"
Tomoyo's in finally guys...yay! Sorry Sakura but CCS isn't complete without you four.
As all the dramatis personae have entered the stage, the story now moves into the second phase where we will see the action begin.
What is Yelan and Sonomi's plan? And what is Taiichi Miyagi up to? And what will Suzaku Kishitani do to avenge his sister? And, and, and...is our beloved Cherry Blossom in trouble?
Will the mystery behind the deaths of Reiishi Daidouji and Nadeshiko Kinomoto get cleared up...?
Lots of questions to answer...read on folks!
NEXT CHAPTER: CHAPTER 09: ERIOL'S SURPRISE AND SYAORAN'S CONFESSION.
Try and guess the events but as usual, there will be a twist to be expected...read and review!
"i am in! i am in!"
"happy, tomo-chan?"
"relieved more likely...i thought you forgot me..." *pouts*
"aww...can anyone forget you?"
"eriol! i missed him sooooo much! and i am so waiting to see saku-chan try out all those clothes!" *starry-eyed*
*sweatdrop* "poor saku-chan!"
"didja say anything?"
"nopey nope, nopey nope..."
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see ya :)