Cards of Tomorrow

Miss Kinomoto

Sakura tried to make her bun as neat as possible and smoothed out the creases of her cream top. Her peach lipstick looked not too suggestive and she used her concealer to dab away her dark circles.

She sat by the counter and hoped the dim light of the bar would make her look less flawed.

"Have I kept you waiting?" An unfamiliar voice spoke.

She turned back to see Li standing behind her. It had been so long since she met him that she couldn't connect the image she had in her mind with the person before her.

"No no. I was just settling down." Sakura looked at him as he sat down on the seat beside her. He was wearing a black formal suit with a well folded tie. She couldn't imagine this was the Li who had dressed up as Sleeping Beauty in school.

"How are you doing?" She asked as he ordered for some drinks.

"I've been doing great. I actually had a case meeting today and I didn't have time to change. Mother's firm is seeing good profits although I must say it's because of my sisters' professionalism. Meilin is great too. How about you Miss Kinomoto?"

"Miss Kinomoto? You don't call me that." In a way it is good that he's changed so much. He's almost a different person.

"Touya and Yukito have been doing great. They live together at our place. Dad has retired from college since his health won't allow him to work. I have been working too."

"That's great. So about the thing I had to talk about." He sipped some alcohol as he sounded like he was going to negotiate about something.

"Is there any disturbance in Tomoeda?"

"No. There hasn't been any problem since a long time." Sakura answered.

"Great. Great. And what about the cards?"

"They're safe in my house. Yukito makes sure they're okay."

"Great. So you haven't used them since a long time?"

"No." She nervously sipped her Martini.

"What about Kero?"

"He didn't want my roomate to find out about him so he stays with Yukito."

"Okay. That's great. So. Mother has sent me here. She told me there is something I need to do for the cards."

"We can go to my house this weekend."

"How do I put this... Mother has given me a responsibility. I ought to take the cards back to Hong Kong."

"What?" Sakura hesitated.

"Yes. I promise they will be fine." He assured her.

Sakura kept the Martini on the table, tucked money under it and silently got up from her seat.

"Sakura, you're mature now. You need to understand the responsibility of the cards."

"Please don't call me that. Miss Kinomoto was better." She enunciated and didn't turn back.

"It would be good for you too. Think it over." He reasoned.

"I thought this was about something professional." She murmured and disappeared into the crowd.

-

Sakura returned back to her flat with her hair let down messily. She took out her work uniform from her bag and hung it beside her bed. She quickly changed to her home clothes and flopped into her bed.

"Hey." - A notification chimed.

She ignored the message and stared at the moon outside her window. It was dark and she could feel it get chilly again. As she stared at the sky blankly tears welled up in her eyes.

-

"Mother, she refused." Li sighed.

"Persuade her more then." Her ice cold voice spoke clearly.

"Mother, she is still not over it."

"It is your responsibility to get the cards back. We don't want them causing trouble."

"Mother, it will be hard for me to force her."

"The past is past. Make sure you complete your duties." She kept the phone.

Li sat rubbing his weary forehead.