AN: My first non-crossover and first Shoujo ai. Written because shoujo ai is so very underrated. It has been slightly rewritten, just slightly, to fix old grammar mistakes and such. I hope someone out there enjoys it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, so get back! Back! Brandishing a stick at the man-eating lawyers.
Fixation
One-shot
It was getting late.
The last of the other stragglers had cleared out of the bar, but she had remained almost motionless, an unmoving figure sitting at the bar counter with a quarter-full glass in her hand. She appeared to be deeply lost in her thoughts as she sat alone. She continued to nurse her drink as the bartender wiped the counter clean. The only waitress still there began gathering up the chairs, placing them upside down on the tables.
Time crept by while she morosely sat.
"Would you like another drink?" the bartender asked. His voice startled her out of her reverie.
"No," Meilin hastily drained her glass. She rose from her seat and noticed the clock. The place should have been closed an hour ago. She had unknowingly kept it open beyond its normal time. The bartender, who happened to also be the owner, didn't comment on the late closing.
"My business is always open to you, Miss Li. It has always been a privilege to have a member of the Li-clan here in my establishment," he bowed humbly.
Meilin smiled wanly.
Pulling out a good size wad of bills, she paid the man, tipped the waitress, and she strolled through the doors of the warm building into the cold night.
She cursed the moment she felt the chill nipped at her expose skin.
Rising her arms, she rubbed her bare shoulders and glanced down with a critical eye to her outfit; a sleeveless, red battle grab, reminiscent of the battle outfit she wore when she was ten. The length of the grab reached only a little passed her thighs and it did little good to keep her warm. The outfit was a poor choice, but she had chosen it regardless of the weather.
She was feeling a little nostalgic tonight.
Her breath came out in a puff of smoke. She watched as the wisp trailed away into the air before she trudge her way around a street corner. She heard, rather than saw, a dark hair girl struggling against a gang of men that had cornered her into a wall. The tallest of the men reached out to run a caressing finger down the girl's pale face.
Meilin frowned.
All she wanted was an adventurous-free night so that she could wallow in her depression.
Hours ago the news had broke. Sakura and Syaoran were getting married. It was a particularly hard and ugly truth that wouldn't leave her alone. It echoed in her head and poisoned her thoughts. She had been completely blindsided and to add insult to injury, she was offered the part of being a bridesmaid. Sakura, damn her. Meilin wouldn't be the least bit surprise if she had been offered the role just so Sakura could flaunt that she had won. (Meilin ignored the little voice in her head that said that she would have done the same thing). The invitation was promptly balled up and thrown into the garbage where it belonged. She had ignored all the phones calls, even the ones from Sayoran. After taking care of Li-Clan business, she headed for the nearest bar.
All she wanted was a little peace and quiet to get over her broken heart. Apparently, it was too much to ask for. Meilin feels her mood take a dark turn. Stealthy walking up to group, her eyes drew in the sight of three men. She barely glanced at the girl as she stood behind the man in the middle with a look of contempt. The man's burly figure practically dwarfed her own figure, but a lesson that grandmother Li had drilled into her training was that size didn't matter in the scheme of things.
Power and skill, that was the Li way.
Raising two fingers, she jabbed at his lower back where one of his pressure points was located. Almost immediately the man toppled over, paralyzed and afraid. The other two companions took one look at the Li insignia on her chest before they took off running, leaving their friend behind for her to deal with.
"You have wonderful friends," she said cynically. She gave him one good, hard kick. She took out her anger on the unfortunate bastard that crossed her path. Three more kicks had completely worked out the despondent feelings she held inside. Satisfied that she had done her good deed for the day, she turned ready to head back home to where a warm bath was waiting for her. She was startled to feel a gentle hand on her arm. She was stopped by the girl she had saved.
"Meilin-san. Thank you," a relieved puff of breath wisp from the girl's lips.
How familiar the girl was made Meilin frown slightly.
"Do I know you?" A closer study of the girl brought forth an image of another girl, much younger, with a video recorder in her hands. "Tomoyo?"
"Yes," the dark hair girl beamed as she drew Meilin into an ecstatic hug.
Later, Meilin sat in her warm kitchen with a mug of dark coco in front of her as Tomoyo sat across the table. Tomoyo felt the need to update Meilin on all the happenings, both the good and the bad, that occurred after she left Japan.
"So he was fired." Meilin was unsurprised by the news.
"After Rika-chan's parents found out, they shipped her off to England, to her grandmother," Tomoyo shook her head. A single hand was held to her heart in sympathy.
"He was her teacher. He should have known better," Meilin said, almost callously. It was strange enough with the age difference, but adding the teacher and student relationship into the equation had practically doomed that relationship from the start.
"Yes, but he loves her," Tomoyo insisted. "He shouldn't be punished for loving someone."
Meilin raised an eyebrow and changed the subject. "What are you doing here in Hong Kong?"
"I came to pick you up for Sakura-chan's wedding," Tomoyo seemed earnest. "Sakura-chan and I were hoping that you might want to help us plan the ceremony. Sayoran-kun has a room waiting for you at the mansion."
Meilin scowled.
"As it turns out, I'm busy that day. I won't be able to attend." Rising from her seat, Meilin pushed her chair back and grabbed both of their cups. "You can spend the night here. I have an extra nightgown you can borrow."
The discussion was over.
"Thank you," Tomoyo took the offer. She was given a pair of red pajamas with the Li insignia on the breast pocket. She took up resident on Meilin's couch and Meilin wordlessly handed her two pillows and a warm quilt before she made her way back to bed for a night of restless sleep.
The warmth of the sunlight woke her the next morning. Meilin opened her eyes and there was Tomoyo looming quietly over her. Surprised, Meilin fell out of bed as Tomoyo burst out into laughter. Meilin quickly straightened herself up and glared.
"I thought I'd wake you for breakfast," Tomoyo said.
Meilin grumbled.
You're twenty-two," Tomoyo added quietly.
"And?" Meilin asked rather crossly. She reached out and snagged her robe.
"You haven't change all that much," Tomoyo got up. "I'm glad."
Tomoyo left the room, leaving Meilin staring at her.
A few days passed, weeks, then a few months. Tomoyo had become somewhat of a permanent guest in Meilin's home. She wouldn't allow herself to go back to Japan until she had convince Meilin to take part in Sakura's upcoming wedding and Meilin resisted every step of the way. On the last day of her visa, Tomoyo declared defeat.
Meilin, having rather got use to Tomoyo's presence, had came home after a Li-clan meeting only to find Tomoyo standing in the foyer with a suitcase at her side. She froze and they stood there in silence.
Dark eyes clashed.
"Sakura-chan's wedding is in a week," Tomoyo finally broke the silence.
"So you're leaving," Meilin nodded.
"Yes."
No one moved.
"How can you stand it?" Meilin finally blurted out. It was question that had been burning at the tip of her tongue since the moment Tomoyo had entered her home. "I know you love her. How can you stand watching her declare her love for someone else?"
What kind of inner strength did Tomoyo have that allowed her to get through each day watching Sakura love someone else, Meilin wanted to know. Just the thought of Sayoran with someone else felt like knives in her chest. How did Tomoyo do it?
Tomoyo never wavered at the question.
"As long as she's happy, then I'm happy. That's what you do when you love someone. You wish them the best." Tomoyo reached down for her suitcase. She took several steps forward until she was in front of Meilin. She placed her suitcase down and wrapped her arms around Meilin's neck. Her head settled itself on Meilin's breast insignia and they stood there for a long moment. When the bell from the clock struck twelve in the afternoon, Tomoyo released her and grabbed her suitcase. She stood on her toes and gave Meilin a chaste kiss on the lips before she walked out of the door.
And out of Meilin's life.
A week later and Meilin stood uncomfortably in front of the bridal door as the sounds of laughter echoed inside. She smoothed a hand over her bridesmaid dress. She had discovered the purple garb on her bed, after Tomoyo had left, with a note that said "Just in case you change your mind" pin on it.
Yes, she changed her mind and she had taken the first available flight back to Japan. She had arrived on the day of the wedding.
It took a lot of soul-searching, lonely nights, and a lot of wine, but she somehow managed to buried the past resentments she felt for the green-eyed card captor. She concentrated on her love for Syaoran. He was the reason she was doing this. It was because…and here she quoted a very wise person... if the one she loved was happy, then she was happy. Nothing else mattered.
Hesitantly, she knocked on the door and waited.
When no one answered, she raised her hand to knock again.
The door opened.
She stood there in silence as Tomoyo smiled at her. The dark hair girl reached out a hand and grasped hers tightly. Feeling warmth flow through her, Meilin was usher inside as a cry of excitement from the bride greeted her as the door closed, leaving the rest of the story said and untold.