Prologue
Syaoran and Meilin delivered the final punch to their opponents to finish them off. The two toppled back on their heels. Syaoran and Meilin took their identical fighting stances to see if their adversaries would try to get up.
"Wow, don't they look so determined?" Tomoyo asked from behind her camera.
"Yes they do," Eriol said looking on. He was standing there calm as if transfixed with his arms crossed about his chest. He then looked over to Sakura who was jumping up and down screaming for them. "Don't others of us seem so excited?"
Sakura stopped jumping and looked over to Eriol and smiled. "Yes, I am. I think it's very exciting. I'm sure they'll win." She looked up to Tory. "What do you think, Onni-chan?"
"Congratulations to Meilin and Syaoran Li for winning their third consecutive match today," the announcer yelled through his microphone. Meilin was ecstatic and hugged Syaoran around the neck, while he stood there looking serious and a bit embarrassed. Meilin then let go, and she and Syaoran bowed to their challengers who were easily twice both of their sizes.
Tory glared at Syaoran. "The kids okay. It's nothing to get excited over."
Yukito poked Tory and smiled. "Oh come on, after all these years you still can't give him any credit."
"I don't see any credit to be given."
"You're too hard on him," Sakura told him.
Tomoyo jumped in front Sakura. "Don't you look especially cute today?"
Sakura jumped back. "Aren't you supposed to be filming Meilin and Syaoran.
Tomoyo tilted her head, resting it on her hand. "Yes, but I just had to get a shot of you. Besides, they're done right now."
"Well, thanks but," she pointed towards the stage, "here come Syaoran and Meilin now."
Tomoyo quickly whisked her camera around to Syaoran and Meilin walking towards them. "Here come our soon to be champions now."
Meilin quickly ran up to the camera and threw out a peace sign smiling. "We are going to win this." She ran back to Syaoran and dragged him to the camera. "Say something."
Syaoran pulled his arm from Meilin blushing. "You shouldn't be so cocky. I would think by now you would have grown out of it, you're 16."
Meilin cast her eyes down. "I was only being confident." Tomoyo quickly stopped the camera from recording.
"There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance, you'll do well to remember that. You have always had a problem with that."
Touya looked over at Syaoran. "Why do I let you go out with my sister? If you can't even be nice to your own cousin how do you treat her?"
"Sakura has nothing to do with this," Syaoran said as he cast angry eyes at Touya. "Meilin knows that I'm only looking out for her."
"Really? She looks kind of upset to me. Oh, and that whole arrogance thing, why don't you practice what you preach, kid?" Touya and Syaoran stared each other down, making everyone around them really uncomfortable. They both seemed ready to pounce on the other at any given moment.
Yukito stepped in front of Touya at the same time Sakura stepped in front of Syaoran, taking up their jobs of peacemakers.
"Yuki, move," Touya growled.
"It's cool, Touya," Yukito said, holding up his hands and smiling. He put is hand on Touya's shoulder. "You don't want to upset the nice day we've had so far."
"Calm down, Syaoran," Sakura pleaded. "You don't want to ruin things for both you and Meilin. She came all this way to fight in the competition with you. Meilin will only be here for a few more days. You don't want to ruin her trip do you?"
Meilin watched as Sakura soothed Syaoran sadly. I should be the one to console him, she thought. At least it's Sakura, my best friend. I just wish I was good enough for him to want me.
Eriol stood off to the side studying Meilin silently.
Syaoran looked down angrily. "No, I don't want to ruin it for her." I have already ruined enough things for her. He muttered an apology to Meilin.
Meilin quickly changed her face and put on a bright smile. "It's okay, Syaoran."
"Sakura, why don't you take Syaoran somewhere else for now?" Yukito said, still holding Touya back a little. "I don't want there to be any problems."
"Hai." Sakura took Syaoran's and started to lead him off. Syaoran held his head down and let Sakura start to lead him away. Suddenly, Syaoran felt a jolt from his side and was sent aback.
"Hey!" Syaoran exclaimed. "What's the idea, baka?" He looked up to see a guy easily a head taller than him. The stranger had dark hair and eyes, and was wearing a tank top and baggy pants. The male was also easily Touya and Yukito's age.
The guy looked down at Syaoran, smiling a bit. "You should watch where you're going, kid."
Meilin ran up to him and pushed him. "No, you should watch where you're going before you get hurt. Nobody messes with Syaoran." Meilin glared at him with her fist clenched.
"Meilin, I can handle this," Syaoran growled, looking at the stranger.
The stranger looked at Meilin, then at Syaoran, smiling. "You should take up for yourself instead of having your girlfriend fight your battles for you." He then turned to Meilin, looking her over. "Meilin, huh? You are a feisty one, a bit young, but... The name is Zan. I've been watching your, ah, moves. When you're ready, why don't you look me up?"
He reached towards Meilin. Syaoran quickly blocked him. "Don't touch her, you pervert. She's way too young for you anyway. Now step away from me and my cousin and I won't hurt you."
"Cousin? I guess since she isn't taken she can make her own decisions. Don't worry though, I won't touch her now, but when I see you both in the ring with my partner I can do all the touching I want." Zan started to walk off, but turned around. "I'll see you later, we'll have fun."
"Try it and die," Syaoran warned him. Zan just waved it off and turned away. Syaoran turned towards Meilin. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Meilin answered, smiling. "I was just worried about you."
"I'm fine."
"Okay," Sakura said. "I think I had really take Syaoran somewhere else before he gets into a fight." Sakura took Syaoran's hand once again and led him off.
Meilin looked after them sadly.
"Are you okay there, Meilin?" Eriol said, walking up behind her.
"The best I'll ever be," Meilin said, still looking after them. "I shouldn't be saying this, but I just keep thinking I'll never be good enough for Syaoran."
"Meilin, you can't help how the heart feels."
"I know, but I keep thinking if I wasn't the weird Li out in the family I could have kept Syaoran. He would have never left me, and had to spend so much time with Sakura on capturing the Clow Cards." Meilin looked down at the floor. "I just am not special."
Eriol took Meilin's chin and lifted her face to look in her eyes. "You are defining special in an unusual way. In the Li family, having magic is usual, and you not having it makes you very special. I admit having magic is fun and enjoying, but every now and then you get tired of it. Just to be around someone without it is comforting. Meilin, you are a spirited young woman, gifted in so many other things than magic. You're letting this hold you back. Any man would be glad to love you, to have you as his wife-even me." A tear started to roll down Meilin's cheek, but Eriol brushed it away. "Maybe you were never meant to be Syaoran's wife, but someone else's."
Meilin smiled weakly at Eriol. "Thank you."
Eriol smiled back. "You're welcome, Meilin. Many things are in the eye of the beholder, you should remember that. Now, why don't you cheer up and get ready for your next battle. I know you'll do well." Eriol looked deep into Meilin's eyes, while she stared back.
"Hey, I saw what happened," Tomoyo said, as she walked up to Eriol and Meilin. Tomoyo looked at Eriol than Meilin. Meilin was a shade of red. "Am I intruding?"
Eriol turned his attention to Tomyo. "No, we were just having a conversation. I wanted to make sure Meilin was okay, Syaoran seemed to have Sakura taking care of him."
"Was he okay?" Tomoyo asked, after one more look at Meilin.
"He was just find, the same as always," Meilin answered Tomoyo. "The same as always."
"I guess that means he's fine." Tomoyo quickly whipped out her camera again. "Are you ready for your next match?"
Meilin took a look over in the direction that Zan walked off to. "I'm only too ready."
AN: Remember, many things are in the eye of the beholder. My very own quote, I think that's important for lots of people. Again, please review, even if it's a face or flame. I just want to see if anyone is reading my story. Thanks.