A/N: Well, here's the last chapter finally. PLEASE write me a review. I want to know what you think!
* * *
The bus station was swarming with people. Sounds from everywhere became jumbled into a loud hum. Strange smells wafted past her. Colors blurred around her.
Meiling kept her head down and her held her bookbag tight as she pushed through the crowd. People might be suspicious of Sakura's sweet features. She still had half an hour before her bus left, and definitely nothing to do with that time. Spying an empty bench, she hurried to claim it. She collapsed onto the bench, allowing her tired muscles to relax a little. But only a little.
She reminded herself that she only had to last out here for a day. Then it would be permanent. Then I can go home to Hong Kong with my magic, and everything will be just as it should be. She smiled a little. My life will finally be right.
* * *
Syaoran once again straggled through the front door of his apartment, this time alone. He had left Kero with the Mirror Card. And this time he only had one concern: he needed sleep. Badly. He plodded wearily down the hall to Meiling's room, and pushed the door open gently while knocking softly.
Tomoyo's head rose quickly, and he saw that her eyes were red-rimmed. "Is everything all right?" he asked. When she nodded, he continued. "You can stay here tonight if you want," he offered. "You can use some of Meiling's clothes."
Tomoyo nodded again, then turned her face to wipe away a tear.
"Well…goodnight," said Syaoran awkwardly.
"Goodnight, Li-kun," said Tomoyo softly, managing a small smile.
He shut the door behind him. Returning to the living room, he threw himself on the couch and was asleep within seconds.
* * *
A blast of fresh air hit her as she got off the bus, which puttered and bumped away into the distance, leaving her alone with the silent countryside. The sun had just come up, and the scenery was beautifully illuminated in its golden rays. She simply stood there for a minute, arms open, eyes shut, and let her face and body absorb the sun, the wind, the calm that settled over everything. So seldom had she been out of a city, it was refreshing to experience this peaceful setting.
On the left side of the dirt road, a white picket fence enclosed vast open fields, probably farmlands. On the right, a sparse forest grew. She meandered on down the road with a light spirit, but she felt her feet get heavier with every step. How long had it been since she had slept?
So she plopped down underneath a huge tree on the right, not even noticing it was a sakura tree, laid her bookbag beside her, and leaned her head back. Only a few minutes, she told her herself. Then her eyelids started to droop closed…
* * *
Syaoran's eyes squinted open as the morning sun hit them, pouring through the apartment's tiny window. He shook himself awake, forcing himself to stand up. He still wore his battle robes, which felt hot and heavy. He looked at his watch. 6:30. Morning training with Wei began at 7, which meant he would be up soon.
He tiptoed to Meiling's room. Pushing the door open, he was surprised to see Tomoyo sitting up on the bed, with Meiling next to her. Not Meiling, Sakura. Both girls had changed into some of Meiling's clothes. They looked tired, but alert.
"Oh," he stammered, taking a step back. "I'm sorry. Is…are…?"
"It's all right, Li-kun," spoke up Sakura. "Tomoyo explained everything to me." She smiled feebly. "I can live without my magic for a day."
"Okay, well…," he paused, then continued tentatively. "Meiling and I have training with Wei in a half hour. Can you pretend to be Meiling and fake a stomachache or something?"
Tomoyo looked at Sakura, who nodded resignedly.
"All right, then." He looked at Tomoyo. "You can hide with Meiling in my room until Wei and I leave."
When she nodded, he turned to leave. As he stepped out the door, he saw Tomoyo lean over and put her arm around Sakura's shoulder.
He needed to talk to Meiling. He had a weird sense of foreboding, a strange feeling in his gut; about what, he didn't know, but still… He went to his own room, knocking softly as he pushed open the door. "Meiling?" he called softly. He went to his closet and pulled out some workout clothes. Retreating to a dark corner, he threw them on. "Meiling, it's time to get up." He went over to the bed, and leaned down to shake her. "Meiling…" The bed was empty. His eyes narrowed. She wouldn't… But he knew she would. It would be just like Meiling to take advantage of this situation…
He went first to the china buffet. Just as he had thought, her necklace, her good luck charm, was gone. His hope was starting to fade…
He fairly burst in on Tomoyo and Sakura, still sitting on the bed. "Tomoyo, did Meiling tell you she was going anywhere?" he demanded.
Both girls stared at him in puzzlement. Tomoyo shook her head. "No, I don't think so…"
He finally answered their questioning gazes: "Meiling's not here."
Sakura furrowed her eyebrows. "What does that mean, Li-kun?"
"It means…it means we have to find her. Now." Before she changes things that are not meant to be changed.
The girls stood and followed him to the kitchen. He scribbled a hasty note.
Wei--
Went on an unexpected capture. Be back later, don't know how long.
--Xiao-Lang
"But, Li-kun, I don't understand. Why would Meiling leave?" The innocence of Sakura's question almost killed him.
He took her by the shoulders and sat her down. "Listen to me. Meiling has your magic. She wants to keep it. And the only way for her to do that is to not be at the same place you were switched exactly 24 hours later."
Her ruby eyes widened with horror. "No, she wouldn't…"
"Well, she did," replied Syaoran grimly, standing. "C'mon, let's go."
"But where are we going?" Sakura rushed after him, Tomoyo with her camera in tow.
"First to your house. We need Kero."
Had she not been so anxious and confused, Sakura might have laughed at the irony of Syaoran saying that.
* * *
She was in the park, and it was night. She was waiting for something…but what? She could see the Penguin slide in the distance, and the lampposts. Suddenly, there was a flash of blinding light, and she fell to her knees. She felt cold, yet somehow, relieved…
"Meiling."
She whirled, looking for the source of the deep, calm, compelling male voice. She was no longer in the park, but a field of stars, floating, suspended in them…
"Meiling."
There it was again. She turned…and there he was. Tall, still as a statue, hands clasped in front of him. His long deep purple robes folded upon his black slippers. He had long black hair, very fine, and glasses, and his face held such a wise, peaceful, kind expression that Meiling took a step back. This unfamiliar man seemed to know her and was smiling at her!
"Who…who are you?" she faltered. Yet as soon as she said it, she knew. Her eyes widened. "I've…I've seen you in pictures. You're Clow Reed."
He nodded in assent. "That is correct. You know more than you give yourself credit for, Meiling."
"Where are we? Why am I here?" She was still nervous.
He smiled that gentle smile again. "You're dreaming, Meiling. Sakura has dreams, about the future, and more, all the time. Now that you're in her body, and have her powers, you are having these dreams too. It was imperative that I took this opportunity to talk to you. There is much we need to discuss."
"What about? I'm still not sure I understand, Clow Reed, sir."
The smile was gone from his face, yet his voice still held the gentle tone, and he spoke with utmost kindness. "Then let us get to the point. Meiling, what you are about to do is wrong. It is an act of selfishness. Everything in life has a purpose, a reason. Do not take it upon yourself to decide what that purpose is, or change it."
Her proud shoulders fell as she listened to her wise ancestor speak. Had anyone else scolded her in such a way, she would have made an angry retort. But now, somehow, she couldn't. Because she knew he was right. And after all the chaos of the past night and morning, she suddenly felt hopelessly defeated. Despair welled up inside of her.
She burst out, "But why shouldn't I have magic? Why have I been so…so cursed? Why?" Tears brimmed her eyes as she looked at him, demanding an answer.
The gentle smile returned, but not to mock her. "Meiling, you proved your intelligence only a minute ago. Now use your brain and think hard. Do you really think it is possible for a member of the Li clan to be born without magic?"
She gasped as she realized what he was saying. "But then…"
He cut her off in a gentle sort of reprimand. "That does not mean that you can feel, see, or use those powers. Even I cannot foresee when, or if, they will ever manifest. And that is not the lesson you must take away from this conversation."
Meiling stood stock still, still absorbing what he told her. Clow Reed continued. "You are a special person, Meiling. And if you needed this nightmarish experience to help you see that, then at least you have discovered it now. You don't need Sakura's magic to be happy. Yourself, your abilities and gifts, is all you need. Your spirit, determination, intelligence, athletic skills…your list of attributes goes on. Believe in yourself and you can fulfill all that you dream about."
Then he looked her squarely in the eye. "And about Syaoran." She sighed, having known this would come eventually. She braced herself for the worst.
"Know this: your happiness is not dependant on him. There is one man in this world that is meant for you; whether it is Syaoran or not, again, I cannot see. Your love will come one day, and until then, you must be patient. Patience is something you need to learn."
"But…but then it is possible, right? Me and Syaoran?" Her eyes shone bright with hope.
"The future is always in motion, Meiling. Tomorrow is what you make of it. Now, I think you know what you have to do. Go, and be happy." With that and one last smile, he began to vanish, fading into the swirling mist of stars. "Goodbye, daughter." The deep, kind words resounded in his place. And then the whole scene began to fade away…
Meiling sat bolt upright. She looked around in confusion. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping. The countryside was warm and peaceful. Then she remembered. The dream…
She sighed. This wasn't going to be fun, but at least it would be right. And so she grabbed her bag, stood up, and walked out of the shadow of the sakura tree.
* * *
Tap, tap, tap. Syaoran rapped gently on the glass. The mustached ticket attendant behind it slid the window open. "Can I help you, young man?"
"Yes," replied Syaoran, speaking over the noise of the bus station behind him. "I was wondering if you had seen a girl about my age, with short, honey brown hair and green eyes. She would have come through here early this morning."
"No, I'm sorry, I can't help you there. Try speaking with the main desk, over there." The man pointed.
"Thank you, sir," said Syaoran as the man closed the window. He sighed and hung his head. There was no point in telling the man that the main desk had sent him here. Hoping the others were having better luck, he started to turn around.
"Syaoran."
His head snapped up. He knew that voice. He whirled around to find…a girl with short, honey brown hair and green eyes. She looked terribly tired and her eyes were cast to the ground.
For a second he just stared, then the relief exploded inside of him. "Meiling! Oh, thank God…" Angry and happy at the same time, he rushed to embrace her.
She held out her hands to stop him. "Syaoran, listen," she spoke quickly. "Before you say anything, yes, I knew what I was doing, and yes, and I know it was wrong. But, Syaoran, I saw Clow Reed, I saw him, in a dream, and you won't believe what he told me…" Her eyes were wide with earnestness.
Some of Syaoran's anger washed away, but he still cut her off. "Meiling, it sounds like you have quite a story to tell, and some apologies, too." She hung her head. "But all of us have been looking for you all day and are extremely tired." He checked his watch. "We still have a good deal of time before the Switch. Let's find the others and go home." Still trying to ignore the fact that she looked like Sakura, Syaoran put his arm around Meiling and led her away.
* * *
Meiling felt anxious as she stood in the dark park. The others were silent as well. She looked around at the Penguin Slide and lampposts, trying to calm herself. She suddenly had a strange sense of déjà vu, but quickly shook her head to put it out of her mind. She wasn't sure she could go through with this if she didn't stay focused… She repeated the words Clow Reed had told her in her head: You are special. You don't need Sakura's magic…
"Ready?" Syaoran's voice broke through the fog of her thoughts. She looked at Sakura, and they both nodded.
Meiling pulled out the Change Card and held it in her hand, and for just a moment simply stared at the card and the wand, trying to memorize that warm, happy feeling of magic that had always been so elusive to her. All eyes watched her with anticipation. Then, with a deep breath, she raised the wand. "Change Card!" she called. "Return us to our rightful bodies. CHANGE CARD!"
As she released the card, she felt her world turn to fire once again. And as she felt the energy swirl around her, she reached out blindly, eyes half-shut, for Sakura's hand, so the change would take effect. She found it, and clasped it tight. Then a brilliant flash of light struck her eyes, and she fell to her knees…
Just as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. She opened her eyes, and then immediately looked down. The red of her battle costume blazed in the dark. She breathed a sigh of relief. I'm back! She shivered a little from the cold, dull feeling that washed over her, but she soon grew re-accustomed to it.
Next to her, Tomoyo ran to embrace Sakura. Then they both turned to hug Meiling. Syaoran watched in amazement. He would never have been able to forgive Meiling as the ever-kind Sakura had. That girl had the biggest heart of anyone he knew.
He went over to Meiling and extended a hand to help her up. "Are you all right?"
She smiled feebly. "Yeah." But then she laughed a little as she took his hand and stood. "Yeah. I think I'm better than I've ever been." Ruby eyes glistening with sadness and joy, she hugged him, and then turned back to hug Sakura and Tomoyo again, and finally even Kero.
I guess it was nice to see the world through Sakura's eyes for a while, she thought as they all walked home through the park arm in arm. But Clow Reed was right. I like being myself the best!
* * *
A/N: Well, I really liked the way this story turned out. But what did you think? Write a review!!! Also, I'd just like to say that I didn't really want any pairings, be it MeiLi or S+S or even slash, in this story; I wanted to just stick some hints of some stuff in and let the reader decide. I think by staying so open-ended I was trying to be true to the atmosphere of the first season anime, where you weren't really sure how things were going to turn out.
Once again, other title ideas for this fic would be most appreciated.
Thanks to Nathalie, Iris, and FLAPPY, plus badhbh catha, for their nagging and encouragement.
Well, thanx for reading!! If you liked it, read my other stuff too! Bye! ~Mei-Mei ^_^
