Out of Order

When Syaoran kicked the vending machine one hot summer's night, he didn't get his change back. Instead, he got Kinomoto Sakura.

4 Black forest cappuccino, Coming right up

Syaoran sputtered, emerald eyes piercing his brown ones through. His heart did a somersault, three double flips, and then proceeded onwards to execute several other reality-defying acrobatics that sent his blood racing. Suddenly, he couldn't breathe normally anymore.

Sakura! It's Sakura! His sense screamed, trying to pull him back to semi-consciousness, but the rest of him was already off, suspended by disbelief and dreams.

The girl in front of him raised an eyebrow, waiting for his response. She was the one, alright—Sakura Kinomoto, the girl he had found drunk beside the vending machine. The one he had been thinking about ever since he met her. The one who was making his stomach do flipflops, the one who had the silkiest looking auburn hair, the one—

"Ahem," Eriol coughed offhandedly, loudly, and tapped the wooden table surface, hard. Just for good measure.

Syaoran, startled, jumped in his chair—but covered the movement flawlessly with a smile. Even though his mind was still screaming, running in circles and shouting for joy, his body language never betrayed what he was really feeling. In fact, whatever he did portrayed a perpetual sense of composure, gentleness, and charm; the same charm he used to lure many women into his arms.

Get up from his chair, he lowered his eyes respectfully, bowing slightly in the way formal businessmen did.

His cousin, sensing that everything was back to normal, smiled widely and went on with business.

"Welcome to Tomoeda Corporation, Miss Kinomoto. I hope you'll find your experience here a pleasant one. May I introduce your guide for this week, Li Syaoran…?"

With butterflies fluttering in his digestive canal, Syaoran looked up. Get yourself a grip, he told himself one last time. Haven't you done this thousand of times before!

"Pleased to make your acquaintance." Bending forwards in a graceful swoop, he caught hold of her hand and pressed his lips to the smooth, cool, skin.

"I hope my services will meet up to your expectations…Miss Kinomoto."

He looked up, smiling again meaningfully. However, the young lady in front of him did not return his greeting but instead froze, eyes widening in shock. Her hand which was enveloping in his stiffened, and with a rather unwomanly jerk, she yanked her hand roughly away. Syaoran, caught off his guard by the sudden movement, fell backwards and hit the table behind him with a large bang. An acute pain rushed up his spine at the impact.

"Owwww…" The young man winced, straightening. His lower back throbbed, protesting against that movement. That was certainly going to leave a bruise…

…And wasn't exactly the spark of recognition he was looking for, but…

Eriol, unable to comprehend what was happened, just stared at the couple in front of him awkwardly.

Sakura, on the other hand, seemed to be oblivious to the situation before her, her emerald eyes still glazed over. However, she snapped out of her reverie after a few seconds, and seeing the chaos she had set off, flushed a thorough red.

A hand flew to her mouth. "Hoooeee…"

Tense silence followed for another few minutes. Fortunately, Eriol managed to smooth the situation out, and after stammering a greeting as well, she allowed Syaoran to guide her to her chair, before getting his own. Then, the young man let his mind drift off while Eriol did all the talking.

Safe to say, the meeting had gotten off to rather weird start.

The clock outside the conference room slowly ticked the seconds by. A long minute hand, sculpted out of black marble, rhythmically moved around its axis in single, gentle jerks. The hour hand did so as well; albeit at a slower pace. The timekeeper as a whole glinted subtly in the low, harsh light, but if one looked closer they would find that the shine was really from numbers of pure gold; engraved into a delicate yet solid looking face. The clock itself was a masterpiece, lending the hallway an air of tranquility that belonged to a museum instead of a bustling workplace.

In fact, the whole of Tomoeda Corporation was littered with these masterpieces…courtesy to the impeccable taste of Eriol Hiiragazawa, of course. The successful businessman was also an avid fan of art—a well-known fact amongst his employees.

Naoko Yanagisawa allowed herself a faint smile. She had become fond of that clock lately. The time she had spent being a receptionist within three metres of it had created some sort of bond, and she had grown used to it as well as everything around her. However, her reverie was soon broken as her earphones began emitting a round of sharp, startling beeps.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Wincing slightly, she tucked a strand of straight, dark brown hair behind her ears and started to speak.

"Moshiiii moshi, this isTomoeda Corporation, how may I help you?"

Nodding, the young woman silently got herself a pen from a nearby stationary cup and prepared to scribble down details. However, her actions were cut off midway and she frowned slightly.

"…You want to speak to speak directly to Mr. Hiiragazawa?"

That was strange…normally people just requested to speak to the specified managers of certain departments…but the boss of the whole company? An unusual request indeed…

She sighed inwardly. This defeated her. Maybe she could divert the call to Tsukishiro's department—he at least had a better chance of getting through to the boss—

The unmistakable sound of idle chatter filtered through the hallway. Naoko's head snapped up, and she instinctively leaned forward. Obviously, the meeting had adjoined. Looking further, the young receptionist managed to spot Li and Hiiragazawa himself strolling slowly towards her, entertaining a stranger—probably the important guest she had heard a group of colleagues discuss about earlier.

…and how did she know this important piece of information?

Being a receptionist was like landing yourself smack in the middle of a gossip mill—plunked at hearing-range of every single conversation that passed by had it's advantages and disadvantages. It was not as if she liked knowing things, she just…knew. In all honesty, Naoko much preferred curling up with a good horror novel…but pleasure was pleasure, and work was work.

But seeing the group of three so conveniently coming this way…

Naoko smiled, grateful that she did not have to make that extra call after all.

"Please hold on, he'll receive your call in a minute. Thank you for waiting!"

Standing up from her seat, the young woman smoothed down the creases in her shirt before running after the suited gentleman. High heeled shoes are a pain in the butt, she grumbled to herself, breathing a sigh of relief once she reached them.

"Mr Hiiragazawa, call for you!"

"Please excuse me."

Eriol Hiiragazawa nodded politely at the receptionist, then gave his cousin a look before heading towards the information counter.

Syaoran watched as Eriol took his leave. He also understood what he had to do, which was to entertain Kinomoto.

But since Hiiragazawa wasn't here…

…and there was noone around…

It wouldn't hurt to ask some non-business related questions, would it?

Putting a warm smile on his face, he turned to his charge, who was staring fixatedly at the carpeted floor.

"Kinomoto-san…you're the girl I met last week, am I right? By the vending machine near my apartment?"

Silence.

"…Kinomoto-san…?"

Silence.

Syaoran raised an eyebrow, contemplating what was happening. His charge was behaving in a decidedly strange way…

"Kinomoto-san?"

Silence once more.

He was growing more confused by the second. Why was she ignoring him? She had been fine throughout the meeting—in fact, it had gone fantastically well--

Growing more desperate for her attention, he spoke a little louder.

"Kinomoto Sakura!"

She finally looked up. However, her gaze was as cold as ice. Syaoran took a step back, intimidated.

"Don't call me that…"

Her features were steeled into emotionlessness, and the frost in her aura shocked him. Did he cross the line? But, all he did was call her name…

He reached out to touch her shoulder. "I'm sorry--"

…But he had barely moved a millimeter before her hand stopped him, clenching his wrist with a vice-like grip.

"Don't touch me…I don't know you…."

The few words, although short and curt, hurt him as if he had been stabbed by a knife. His wrist felt like it was on fire, but Syaoran no longer had the strength to wrench it away. All he could do was look at the woman in front of him in shock.

"You recognized me! I know you did! Y-you—at the beginning of the meeting…"

Sakura looked into his eyes. Her irises were no longer emerald but had hardened into a cold, calculative jade. The sudden change in personality scared him.

"I have never seen your face before. What makes you think…I know you?"

Then suddenly, the pressure was gone and before he could blink, she was halfway down the hallway. Her feet landed on the carpet in erratic thumps, and after a few seconds, Syaoran heard a door slam shut.

The Ladies…?

If he wasn't so traumatized, it would be funny. Instead, he was left wondering what in the world had happened. Her harsh words echoed in his head, and his heart reacted painfully. He shook his head.

I don't know you…

Was she schizophrenic or something?

And what was he still doing here!

"Dammit!" He cursed, amber eyes narrowing. He didn't know why she reacted that way and why he felt hurt, somehow…but all he knew was that his charge, his responsibility, had just escaped from him, run down the hallway and taken refuge in the ladies' toilet!

Grumbling out another round of not-so-choice words, he started running.

Syaoran Li deserved an explanation, and he was going to get one no matter what the cost.

He also needed an extra-large black forest cappuccino with lots and lots of cream, but that would come at lunch break.

…Headache…

End, for now

This totally killed me.

Seriously, my brain just melted.

Although nothing much happens this chapter.

Ugh. -I- need that cappuccino.

Though there're some interesting developments…

Has Sakura gone rabid?

Or is she just crazy?

Or both?

You'll know soon. Here's to hoping it's not too crappy.

I'm sorry for the lateness. Feel free to kill me. -wince-

Please review?