The hot sun was beating down on her like an oven roasting peanuts. She was just about to get up and trudge home when something, or rather someone slammed into her, full force. The force pushed her onto the floor, and she landed on her back. She groaned out of annoyance and sat up with a glare, ready to give whatever pushed her down a piece of her mind.

"Watch where you're going!!" she yelled. She winced when she realized that it was a little boy that crashed into her. Sitting on the floor a couple of feet away, he was on the verge of tears. Or so it looked.

Afraid that anything loud would upset him, it almost came out as a soft whisper. "What's wrong?" she asked. His hiccuping sobs filled the atmosphere and Meiling got up with a sigh and helped him to the curb.

"Now, what's wrong?" she repeated, trying to look him in the eye. Not knowing what to do, she put a reassuring hand on his back to comfort hm. After what seemed like a eternity the boy's sobs subsided and he told her his story.

"My name is Aidan," he sniffed. "My brother is somewhere back there and I can't find him." His little hand gestured toward the large crowds of people lined up at the booths. The little boy had messy black hair and bright blue-green eyes. He looked about 7 or 8 years old.

Meiling smiled, "How 'bout I help you look for your brother huh?" Soon the sniffling stopped and was replaced with a soft warm smile, as a dimple appeared in his left cheek.

"There that's better isn't it Aidan?" she said as she picked up her books and took a hold of his right hand. As they walked toward the crowd his voice piped up, "What's your name?"

"Oh, my name's Meiling Li," she said as she looked down at him. "Now what does your brother look like? Maybe I can spot him out."

"He's 16 and has black spiky hair and the tips are dyed red. .....Uhm he has green eyes, and he's a little bit taller than you," Aidan said, as his face scrunched up, while he tried to pull up an image of his 16 year old brother in his mind.

"Okay lets see what we can do with that." She strained her eyes looking for a teenager that fit Aidan's descriptions, but at the same time she kept an eye out for Syaoran.

After a short search Aidan shouted out, "Ben!" and started to tug Meiling toward a bunch of guys that stood under the shade of a tall tree. Wiggling free from Meiling's hand Aidan jumped into his brother's arms with a big hug. "There you are squirt, been wondering where you were," said an obviously worried older brother.

"Meiling, helped me find you!" Aidan said beaming at Meiling. Ben put Aidan down on the floor and stuck out his hand to her.

"Thanks, Meiling. I'm Ben Sallas. " he said with a smile that showed a dimple on each side of his cheek.

"You're welcome," she said as she took his hand. Meiling smiled as she saw the uncanny resemblance between the two brothers. "I don't mean to be rude, but you guys aren't from around here are you?" she asked after a little moment of silence as her curiosity got a hold of her.

"Nope," chirped Aidan. "We came from California, Ben and his friends are gonna studing here in Japan."

"Oh, you're the transfer students from America," she said as she raised an eyebrow. "You guys are pretty popular you know."

"Really?" replied Ben with a smirk. "Oh by the way this is Scott and David," he said referring to the two guys that stood with him. She looked over at Scott who had spiky blonde hair, a muscular build and sparkling blue eyes, she noted. David, on the other hand, was like the complete opposite of Scott, he had wavy dark hair, a slim but slightly muscular figure and glasses over his clear hazel eyes. She gave them each a smile and excused herself, promising to see them around school once it started.

Walking away sulking, she looked once again for Syaoran. Patience was not one of Meiling's virtues and she was annoyed that Syaoran ditched her, yet again. Giving up, Meiling made her way back to the house. When she got there she slowly went up to her room and sprawled onto her bed sighing. Out of exhaustion, she soon drifted off to sleep.

When Meiling woke up, she felt her stomach grumble at her for not eating anything for breakfast. Stealing a glance at her clock she noticed it was almost 3. She decided she would go get something to eat as well as some air. Going to her dresser, Meiling ran a comb through her long black hair and fixed it into the two usual buns on top of her head.

Something made her stop for a moment as she stared at herself through her own ruby eyes. Her bangs were gone now, she had grown them out a while ago. There was no other reason for that, than simply her desire to change something about herself. As if a switch was suddenly turned on, her eyes gave a slight sparkle and her mouth curved into a smile. She grabbed some money out of a jewelry box on her dresser and a jacket from the closet all the while humming a Chinese tune, and walked out of the house.

Meiling strolled into a bakery, savoring the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods. Buying two glazed donuts and a water, she sat down in a chair. Her eyes rested on the displays behind the big pane of glass, which held scrumptious looking birthday cakes. Looking at the birthday cakes she suddenly remembered it was going to be Wei's birthday soon. A petite smile graced her features as she eyed one cake in particular. It was a Lemon Bundt Cake, Wei's favorite. The cake was made with pudding and lemon-lime soda which made it moist and delicious.

Blinking she also remembered that Tomoyo's birthday was coming up. Knowing the dark haired camera girl, she would probably hold an immense party at her mansion, courtesy of her own mother, Sonomi Daidouji. Meiling sighed, she would have to go shopping for a present after she finished her food. While trying to decide what present would be perfect for Tomoyo, a group of people walked into the bakery. Okay, it was more like two teenage boys surrounded by a group of teenage girls.

The first boy she noted, was the spiky haired blonde from earlier. She searched her mind for his name. Scott, her mind finally spit out. The second boy, whom she had never seen before, had tousled blonde hair and dark blue eyes that looked almost black from where she was sitting. Not feeling like talking at that moment, Meiling slipped out of the bakery, unnoticed, avoiding a encounter with them.

Meiling walked by countless windows, deciding what to get for Tomoyo. Perhaps a new camcorder? No, she has a good one already. A couple of blank tapes? No, she probably had many of those too. Maybe jewelry box? Hm..maybe, she thought. As she walked by an antique shop, something caught her eye. Smiling she made her way into the shop and picked it up. A music box. The box was made out of wood, with gold trimming along the edges. There was a Sakura tree engraved on the top of the box. Little Sakura petals graced the otherwise unadorned sides.

Triumph was in her eyes as she set the box down so she could look around the dusty old store. Along the top walls were beautiful paintings of scenery, painted with the colors of sunset. Walking closer to one sitting on the floor, she felt like she was being pulled into it. White foam edged colorful tints of blue, as it ended on tawny colored sand. Once again smiling, she picked up the poster sized painting and turned around for the music box. She scowled as she saw someone pick up the box before her.

"Excuse me, I believe that box belongs to me," Meiling said in a exasperated voice.

"Really? I didn't see your name on it," retorted the tousled blonde haired boy from the bakery, as he turned around.

"But I was looking at it first," Meiling shot back.

The boy only smirked at her aggressiveness and pointed out, "But I plan on buying it, so technically, it's not yours anymore, now is it?"

Meiling put the painting on the floor gently and crossed her arms against her body. She was not going to lose this fight to some dumb blonde kid. "You're not buying it, because I'm buying it," she said irritated.

"Watch me." Was his only reply as he walked to the counter and told the owner to wrap it up. As he made his purchase Meiling glared at him obviously fuming. She walked out the door and stood outside leaning on the wall, arms crossed against her body once again. As he stepped out of the store with his prize, Meiling stopped him with her arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" she said as she glared at him.

"Where else? I'm going home." He held up the bag containing the music box with two hands "With this," he added another smirk.

"You're not going anywhere until I get that music box boy," she replied. His ignored her and started to walk down the street. Meiling followed him until he turned around and said, "Oh yah, weren't you going to buy that precious painting I saw you holding?"

With a frustrated growl Meiling marched back into the store and bought the painting. When she came back outside, the boy was gone. With another growl Meiling walked back home in the already dark sky.

Yay! done wiff another chapter..kinda..heh..well review, review!! o.o;; pretty please?