A/n: This is the reposted first chapter of Strictly Professional formerly known as All That for Nothing. I had to retype this chapter because of certain author reasons, and I hope you guys like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura.Strictly Professional
Chapter I:
Key of Frustration
A tall and slender figure stood in front of the plain white door, which read '2714'; her bright emerald eyes glittered with confusion and worry. Delicate eyebrows furrowed as she desperately rummaged through her bag. Gloved hands were digging through the very depths of her almost ripped out bag and white winter coat. She grabbed her keychain, which held about twelve different keys. Her green eyes stared at each key one by one and with an exasperated sigh, she pulled out a silver phone out of her almost recklessly opened bag. She walked down the vibrantly lit hallway as she dialled a very familiar number.
"Pick up," she mumbled the words under her breath, tapping her foot on the carpeted floor. She pressed the down button of the elevator, and impatiently paced back and forth. "Come on, pick up," she pleaded to nobody in particular.
The sound signalling the elevator's arrival greeted her ears and she entered the large and empty space. With her phone still pressed against her ears, she pressed the "L" button with her free hand and the elevator doors slowly closed. She once again returned to tapping her foot as she waited impatiently for someone to answer the call.
"Hi! This is Tomoyo Daidouji, I'm sorry I can't pick-" with another frustrated sigh, she roughly snapped her phone closed and exited the elevator once it reached the lobby. She placed her phone back inside her peach-coloured bag and grabbed a cream-coloured hat. After zipping her bag, she securely placed the hat on her head, and walked out the glass doors.
0o0o0o0o
"I can handle it, I know I can!" roared a young lady with blazing amethyst eyes. She was angrily pacing back and forth, her fists balled tightly, causing her knuckles to turn an unnaturally pale shade.
"Tomoyo-chan, I know you really want to be her agent," a calm and firm voice started. "Yet we need to have you more focused on this task. It will be too stressful for you to handle."
"Mom, I know I can take the stress! Why do I have to give up the position?" Tomoyo questioned, smashing her right fist against her mother's desk.
"You have to give up the position because I am your mother and I say so!" Sonomi Daidouji stood up from her table infuriated with her daughter's childish behaviour.
"Okaa-san," she started more quietly, as she allowed herself to slowly sink down on the chair in front of the hardwood desk, piled with files. "I'll quit my position as long as I think the person replacing me is suitable enough." Tomoyo said looking up at her mother who was taking a sip of her cold coffee that was left unattended on her table.
Sonomi sat back down as well and grabbed a thick folder from her desk. "Oh, I am sure you will find the person very suitable for the job." Sonomi opened the green folder and took a quick glance, before passing it to her daughter.
"Oh my," Tomoyo stated; her eyes growing wide with disbelief. "Is it really…"
"Yes my dear," Sonomi chuckled at her daughter's reaction. "Now get ready, we've only got thirty minutes to prepare for the conference."
Tomoyo nodded as she stood up, slowly flipping through the papers in her hand; her lips forming a faint smile.
0o0o0o0o
Where could it be? She thought to herself. Oh please let me find it.
She stared at the cold pavement, as if fascinated by the grey-coloured ground. The lights of Tokyo illuminated the crowded streets. It was a bit past nine o'clock and people were still buzzing about the busy streets. She had been walking at about the speed of an aged turtle for the past twenty minutes searching for that single key, just because her friend was too busy to answer her phone.
Where is that girl anyway? She thought annoyed at the fact that Tomoyo wouldn't answer her phone.
Irritated, she abruptly stopped and almost bumped into an old man. His hair was grey, or rather, the remains of his balding head were grey, and his face looked contorted with anger and frustration. He was on his phone. "Hey! Next time be sure to give a warning when you stop like that!" he yelled and continued with his yelling on the phone.
Stupid grumpy man, she huffed. He's the one that's not paying attention, walking around and yelling like a maniac on his phone. I'll tell you one thing, learn how to multi-task!
After another fifteen minutes of walking; she reached the park where she was earlier that day, there was still no luck of looking for her house key. She sat down on one of the benches and stared at the moon that brightly shone above. She shivered as a cold breeze blew gently against her cheek. She grabbed her scarf and fixed it around her neck. She sat down to give her aching feet a break. Whoever knew that one could walk so much in a day?
She looked around the park and noticed a guy with blonde hair was sitting on the other bench, a few meters away from her. He seemed to be waiting for someone, as he shot a glance at his watch. A girl with light pink hair soon came running, and halting in front of him, panting. She apologized repeatedly and the guy laughed. He stood up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. The girl smiled back at him and they left.
Emerald eyes sparkled as she observed the young couple walk away, wrapped in each other's arms. She then noticed the multiple numbers of couples walking around. She sighed, the parks were after all, famous meeting spots for romantic dates at night. She looked at her bag and unzipped it, checking her phone if there were any missed calls. Unfortunately there was none. She carefully replaced her phone back in her bag and closed it. Once she looked up, intense yellow eyes greeted her. There was a guy, standing just in front of her. He had spiked, blazing red hair and yellow eyes. He had a smile plastered across his face. No, it was more like a grin… a rather malicious grin.
"Hey there," he said with a flirtatious tone. Too flirtatious.
"Um. Hey," she hesitantly said, her whole body tensing with the situation.
"So," he started, as he sat next to her. He moved and positioned himself closer to her, "what's a hot young lady like you doing in a park like this, all alone," The guy stretched his arms up, "and can I mention, at this time of the night?"
"Well, I don't think that's any of your business." She said defensively, as she moved over away from him. "I have to go." She said flatly, standing up before he could put his arm around her. She wasn't a prostitute someone could just pick up just like that. She was a decent individual.
"Leaving so soon?" He said while he dropped his arm that was placed on mid air, as if expecting to hold a person's shoulder. "Why, scared? Don't be, I'm harmless." He said with that malevolent smirk on his face.
She glared at him and briskly walked away, past a few other couples. She looked back and heard footsteps follow her rapid pace. Shit. She thought as she walked faster, her high-heels definitely making it harder.
"Oh come on," he said in that cocky tone, of his. "I won't do anything to you. I'm innocent." He argued in a smug and obviously dishonest statement.
She quickened her pace and tried to run. Those high-heels were really pissing her off, she almost tripped! It was then that he had caught with her pace.
"Why won't you go out with me?" he asked.
The guy sickened her. He was one of those jerks who just didn't know when to stop. "No!" She turned around and screamed.
"Why not?" He asked with a smirk, as he slowly approached her panting figure. "What's there not to like about me"
"Everything," she said, clutching her bag tightly in case he does any assaults.
"Ouch, that hurt hun." He said with pretend hurt expression.
"Well, I bet all the people tell you that, so it shouldn't." she said as she slowly backed away, sweat starting to accumulate on her forehead. She wasn't supposed to be sweating, it was cold. This was bad.
"You're a feisty one," he said with that annoying sneer. "I like that."
Her throat was dry and she didn't know what to do, "Well," she started. "I don't like morons like you." She reasoned, forcing her voice to sound as tough and collected as possible. "Besides," she stopped, she couldn't say that, could she? She slowly walked back and gulped whatever moisture she had left in her mouth. Her green eyes filled with worry and fear as she hit something, or someone.
"Besides," a deep masculine voice repeated her last word. "I'm her fiancé."
Strong arms enveloped around her waist, slowly leaning her against a strong, protective body. She didn't know what to do; she was in shock of the situation. She slowly looked up, only to see a sight that stunned her. A guy about six feet two towered above her, his features well defined. He had a messy, chestnut brown hair. His jaw was just sharp and clenched, and his lips tight in a straight line. His profound amber eyes threateningly sending multiple daggers toward the Red-haired freak. Even with the situation at hand, she could feel the relaxed rise and fall of his chest against her back. He seemed unthreatened of what was happening.
"Yeah right, I bet you just want to score on the chick." The guy sneered, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I think I have more rights over her, I saw her first."
"Are you that dumb?" His deep threatening voice questioned louder, "Do you not know what fiancé means?" He asked again. "No wonder nobody wants to be with you."
"That was harsh. Come on, hand her over." He said again, gesturing his arms in an opened manner. "She obviously doesn't even know you." He smirked.
"Of course I know her," he said, glancing down warmly and knowingly at her, as if signalling her to continue his statement.
"I'm his fiancé." She stated firmly, gathering the confidence she had earlier. The guy smiled down at her and she turned away, slightly blushing. Who is this guy anyway?
"I bet you any-"
"What part don't you get? We're about to get married, lay off my fiancé and…Leave before I shatter every fucking bone you have!" He said, pulling her body closer to him, protectively. He glared menacingly at the young man who stood still in a distance.
"Okay, okay. I get it!" The egotistical jerk said in surrender, as he raised his hands in defence. He slowly backed away and, swiftly made a run for it.
She let out a long breath that she wasn't even aware she had been holding. Finally, she thought. After a couple of minutes, she then realized the strong arms loosening their embrace around her waist. She instinctively looked up, only to find the amber-eyed man looking back down at her. Who is this guy?
0o0o0o0o
The people chattered in the reserved conference room. "Where is he?" they questioned.
"I apologize; it is very unlike him to be this late in an important meeting." A young girl apologized as she shook her head, making her long black hair swish with her movement. "May I ask everyone to remain patient." She said, with as much confidence she can muster. Where is he?
"I agree with Ms. Li," Sonomi said in a firm tone.
"We must remain patient and hope that nothing bad had happened." Tomoyo added.
"Thank you Mrs. Daidouji, Ms. Daidouji." She nodded appreciatively, and stood up. "Please excuse me for a couple of minutes."
0o0o0o0o
He looked around the park, his eyes darting to every direction. Good, he thought as he sighed with relief. He looked down and stared at the lady that was still wrapped in his arms. He slowly weaved his arms away from her slim figure. She looked up at him, and their eyes met.
Emeralds, gorgeous ones, he thought as he stared down at her figure that was still leaning against his. Is she?
"Umm…" She shifted under his gaze uncomfortably. She took a step forward and she gradually turned to completely face him. "Umm…" She continued, as she shifted her weight from one foot to another, then her eyes looked back up at him.
"Sorry about that," he apologized. His amber eyes staring directly back at her, "I didn't mean to call you my fiancé." He said coolly, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"No, it's umm. It's okay," She said and she looked away slowly, fidgeting with her bag's strap. "No, I mean. I didn't mean that. I mean, I didn't mean it that way." She said in a panicked voice, looking back at him with pleading eyes. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
"It's okay," he said shaking his head. "I get what you mean." He continued and found himself smiling.
A frosty gust of wind whizzed by and she yelped as her hat was blown away, her auburn hair swaying freely with the wind. She turned and looked for her hat only to find it gone. She sighed and hung her head low. The wind played with her hair and soon it stopped, leaving her auburn locks to drop just on top of her shoulders. She turned back to him once again.
"No, you don't get what I mean." She said, looking down, trying to hide her face. "Don't you have any idea what kind of consequence you, we can face?" She questioned in a harsh yet troubled voice.
She slowly lifted her face up, her face confused, fearful and slightly flushed. What is she talking about? He thought, as their eyes met once again. Talk about mood swings.
"I'm sorry," He looked at her awkwardly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"What do you mean you don't know?" She questioned a bit taken aback. I know I'd like to be treated like a normal person, but how can this guy not know me?
"Umm… I just don't know." He said arching one of his eyebrows and scratching the back of his head.
They stared at each other for a few more minutes, three feet away. Awkward, that's what it felt like. Their eyes met, one confused and one astonished. It was then that they heard someone squeal.
"Eh? Isn't that Kinomoto, Sakura?" a teen whispered to the guy she held hands with, yet it was loud enough to attract attention.
"Eh? Sakura-chan, doko?" another voice came.
Soon the whole park was whispering, and that whisper turned into a bunch of gossiping people. More like buzzing bees, to be precise. It was shocking to know how much damage a single blow of wind can do. Plus, who would have thought that standing still for only a few minutes can cause such an audience.
"Sakura-chan!" They all screamed calling out her name.
She stood there with a broad smile, making the crowd squeal and cheer. Camera flashes and different types of clicks sounded everywhere, drowning her in the middle of the crowd. She turned to find the guy, standing a few meters away, pushed near the very back of the crowd. She looked at him, and found soon found him gone, he vanished just like that. How rude,
That was when someone had screamed, pointing at the direction where he had been standing, "Aaah! Syaor-" However, she never heard the rest of it, as someone grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the continuously growing crowd.
0o0o0o0o
Sakura panted heavily as they reached a derelict alley. She rested her hands on her knees, just after the person who had dragged her let go of her hand. She looked up in shock, to find the guy earlier. He was wearing a black hat, yet he was still recognizable. He was leaning against a wall and seemed slightly out of breath. He inhaled, held the air for awhile and slowly let it out.
The mysterious individual slowly approached Sakura. He took a few steps, stared up, and looked back down at her. "Woah," he said taking his hat off, running his fingers through his already messy chestnut hair.
"What?" Sakura questioned, arching an eyebrow at him.
"It's just that, I'd never expect to meet you like this." He stared back up at a billboard that was well lit up on top of a building.
There, on that billboard was Kinomoto, Sakura, advertising Coca-cola. It was a side-glance capturing her gulping the drink, with it pouring just before her mouth. She was wearing a one-piece, female version of a Santa suit that reached her knees. It was furry, red which had huge, white, pompoms for buttons. The suit was slightly opened to reveal an elegant, peach-coloured dress that fell just above her knees, slightly shorter than the coat. She was wearing a gold, chain belt which rested right on her hips. It had green circular beads whish hung loosely at the end. In addition, a bold circular green pendant shone and lay on top of her neck. Her hair was worn down and being blown by the wind, together with her outfit, much like he saw earlier. Just above her head, she held down a Santa hat. On top, it wrote "Merry Christmas!" It was a stunning picture, even for just a typical advertisement.
No wonder she's well known. He thought, looking back down at her.
"Well then next time, it would be nice to have you introduced to me, not as my..." she paused, coughed, and blushed. "Fiancé. Also, no unnecessary hugs are required."
"I apologize for not recognizing you earlier, and for saving you from that jerk." He started, smirking as he emphasized the word and. "I'm Li, Syaoran. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kinomoto-san." He said extending his bare hand.
"Kinomoto, Sakura, thanks for earlier… I guess." She shook his hand with her gloved one. "But, I could have handled that jerk, and that crowd by myself. I've dealt with those kinds of situations before. I don't like it when people treat me like a child." She huffed, and glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. That name, it sounds familiar.
"May I ask you a question?" he asked, stuffing his hand back inside his pockets. He waited before she nodded, "Why is someone as famous as you, out this late at night without company anyway?"
"Um… I kind of lost my house keys." She said, quietly as she fiddled with the straps of her bag once again.
"Weren't you just complaining about being treated as a child?" Syaoran started, poking his head out the alley looking right, then left. He walked out of the deserted alley.
"Yeah," She agreed, looking around cautiously before stepping out. "What about it?" she questioned, following him out of the alley.
"If you don't want to be treated like a child, then why act like one?" he questioned teasingly.
"I do not act like one!"
"See what I mean?"
"Hey! For a person who I've only met for a few minutes, you can be rude." She said with a frustrated huff.
"You're whining like a little girl."
"I am not!"
It was at that point where he laughed, he laughed so hard that he was having trouble walking and laughing. She pouted with a humph.
"Why lose your keys then?" He asked after he had calmed down; continuing his walk.
"Excuse me?"
"Why lose your keys, if you're not so childish?" He asked glancing at her through the corner of his eye.
"It's not my fault that my keychain had to make a major malfunction," Sakura reasoned with an irritated face. "I could swear that I didn't just lose it like that."
"Uh-huh. So you're not childish, you're simply irresponsible." Syaoran responded back, with a growing smirk.
"No! I told you already Li, it's my broken keychain!"
"That's not what I meant." He said, in a more serious tone. "What if, I'm one of those narcissistic assholes that are trying to take advantage of women?" He glanced at her, raising one of his eyebrows, a nasty smirk forming on his face.
Sakura stopped and stared at him, with wide Emerald eyes. Fear crossed her face for a minute, He isn't one of those…is he? She thought, squinting her eyes at him when he stopped and turned to face her.
"What if I was really with that red-headed jerk earlier and this was all a plan to abduct the irresistible, mouth-watering, well-known, and hot model?" He said, emphasizing the word hot, and smirking wider than before. He took a step forward, "What if…"
She slowly took a step back, Nah, don't make him fool you. She thought as she debated with herself. He's just playing around. But what if he really was with that moron earlier? Sakura's mind panicked as he took another step forward.
"What if…" he repeated, stopping right in front of her pale face. "I was just joking." He finished, looking at Sakura's expression turn from dread to a blank expression. He then burst in fits of laughter.
What the… Sakura thought as he stared at the young man laughing in front of her. He actually scared me there for a minute. This guy… is the most annoying, stupid idiot I have ever met! She mentally screamed. Her face burning with rage, and her fists were balled, shaking with anger.
"You, you…" Syaoran tried to start in between his laughter. "You should have seen your face!" He continued laughing as Sakura's face glowed scarlet.
"Ugh! You are annoying you know that!" She yelled, stomping on his foot.
"ITAI!" he screamed as her stilettos dug in his foot.
It was her turn to smirk, as his face twisted with anguish. "And I am neither childish, nor irresponsible!" She added, raising her chin up as proudly as she can, and walking passed him.
"Sure, easily getting mad from teasing, and stomping on someone's foot to gain revenge is not childish or irresponsible." Syaoran said trying to keep up with her fast strides, using just one foot.
"I am neither of those!"
"What those?" He asked, as he walked beside her, his foot capable of walking once again. "The irresistible, mouth-watering, well-known, and hot model part?"
"Can you just stop following me, and leave me alone?" She asked in a low and exhausted voice. You shitstick, she mentally commented.
"I don't trust you walking alone by yourself," he said in a more serious tone. "I'll walk with you, besides you were the one who followed me out of that alleyway. Nobody forced you to follow me."
Sakura chose to keep silent, and thought that it was the smartest thing to do. There was twenty minutes of silence as they walked together. The crowded streets have calmed down a bit; it was less busy compared to the time Sakura had bumped into the uncapable-of-multi-tasking, old man. It became easier to inspect the ground for any missing keys. She was still observing the pavement when the silence that was once there purged.
"Daidouji Modelling Organization," Syaoran mumbled as he stopped in front of a tall modernized building.
Sakura stopped after him, and noticed that they had reached the front of her work building without finding her keys. She sighed and entered greeting the guard, receptionist, and the floor caretaker. They stared at her as Syaoran followed her inside the lobby.
"Nice place," he commented admiring the architectural design of the building. "It must be nice working at a place like this." He said casually following her.
She abruptly stopped and turned around, "Ugh, Do you have to follow me everywhere?" She was frustrated, that was what she was. Exhausted and frustrated. "Leave. Or I'll tell the guard to kick you out!"
The guard stared confusedly at the model and back at Syaoran. He stared at Syaoran worriedly.
"Don't worry about it," he said, gesturing his hand to a stop. "I'll leave."
0o0o0o0o
He turned around and stood outside the glass doors of the enormous, high-rise building. Syaoran watched as she entered the elevator. He shook his head and smiled. "I'll let Daidouji handle this one."
0o0o0o0o
Sakura turned her heel and stomped her way to the elevator. She roughly pushed the button reading '31' and screamed in anger as she thought to herself; I hate the damn broken keychain! I hate that bald man! I hate that red-headed jerk! I hate this day AND I hate that stupid, overconfident Li, Syaoran!
Once she reached the designated floor, Sakura's phone started to ring. She took it out of her bag and answered it, "What?" Sakura asked in a harsh tone.
"It's just me, Sakura-chan." Tomoyo said with a chuckle.
"Oh, hey Tomoyo!" Sakura exclaimed in a totally different tone. "Where were you? I've been trying to call you."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I went to an urgent meeting." Tomoyo said unsurely.
"Meeting? How come I wasn't informed about this?" Sakura questioned, and raised her eyebrow.
"Well, it was urgent. Plus, mom said you needed your day's rest."
"Sonomi-san's right about that." She sighed. "I've been walking around town looking for my house key. I was thinking that I might have dropped it on the way home, since my car's out of gas today, and I had to walk to work." Sakura said pulling her bundle of keys out from her coat's pocket. "I remember my keychain being too full, that it went loose. I was thought that my key might have slipped from it. I was trying to call you and borrow your key, but that didn't work." Sakura said as she fiddled with her keychain for the key to her room's door.
"Do you happen to know what happened to that key?" Sakura asked as she opened her room with a twist of the key, and pushing it open.
"Um, Sakura…" Tomoyo started.
"Yeah?"
"Well, you separated your house key from your keychain earlier today. I remember you complaining about it and you put in your pocket."
"I've checked my coat pockets…" Sakura's eyes then widened at the realization.
"Not your coat pockets," Tomoyo started but was cut off.
"My jeans' pockets!"
0o0o0o0o
A/n: This is it, the end of chapter one. I hope you guys like the format for this one. It has more space, and less stress for the eyes because of those bold letters are gone. I might have them in the next chapters, but not for the entire stories, just for certain words.
The new version of chapter two will be coming up. I will update the second chapter soon. I apologize for not updating since there has been a lot of drama and school work going on in my life. Grade nine took a lot of time from me. Sorry. ;
Read and Review!