Disclaimer:

I have no affiliation with Cardcaptor Sakura or any other of CLAMP's works. Also any similarities to real life events or people are unintentional unless explicitly stated.


"Where's Meiling?" said Sakura.

It was recess and she arrived to their usual spot at the rooftop gardens to only Tomoyo. Her cousin had her elective commerce class with Meiling and Mr Li, while Sakura had home economics. Presea Pharle and Caldina Chizeta usually arrived a little later after their dance elective, and the boys occasionally made an appearance depending on their moods. Mr Li sometimes had lunch with some of his football teammates and classmates, but after the fight yesterday, it was no wonder that he wasn't here today.

"Meiling has gone to freshen herself up in the ladies' room," she yawned.

"What's wrong, Tomoyo?" Sakura had never seen her cousin yawn during daytime.

"It is nothing for you to be concerned about," she said, smiling.

Sakura shook her head. "But I'm worried about you. Something must have happened for you to still be tired."

Her cousin sighed and said, "Last night I had a nightmare and I could not return to sleep."

Sakura encouraged Tomoyo to keep going, passing the tin of madeleine cakes she baked during the double period home economics lesson. "Take an extra cake for your nightmare," she insisted.

"I saw Mr Li severely injured. He was bleeding and his leg was bent at an odd angle. And Meiling was being attacked by a monstrous spirit." Tomoyo ate a bite and wrapped her arms around herself. Sakura was feeling cold as well.

"That's horrible," said Sakura. She took her cousin's hands in her own and leant forward so that their foreheads touched. "Last night I had a happy dream of being safe and warm. I pray that Tomoyo will experience very warm dreams."

"What are you two doing?" asked Meiling, giving them an odd look. She sat down slowly.

"Mother always does this when I have a nightmare," said Sakura addressing the girl sitting on her opposite side. "Tomoyo had a dream last night of you being attacked by spirits and Mr Li getting hurt."

"Eh? Is this a foretelling dream?" said Meiling.

"I am not certain it was one," admitted Tomoyo. "However, it was very vivid."

"So it may just be an ordinary dream. Ah, are those madeleines?" said Meiling. She took a cake. "My dream last night was of Syaoran giving me a bird pendant." She bit into the cake. "This is pretty good. Have some of my homemade spring rolls."

"Your spring rolls are amazing!" Its salty sweet flavours melted in her mouth. Sakura had to get Meiling to teach her how to make them one day.

"Have the two of you worked out your differences yet?" said Tomoyo. "You were talking to him normally again during class this morning, however I did not have to opportunity to ask."

Meiling smiled. "Yup. He's has a football club meeting at this moment, but he'll be having lunch with us later today."

"I'm so glad that you're talking to each other again," said Sakura. She had felt very awkward in yesterday's classes and didn't believe that she could continue not talking to him on Meiling's behalf.

"Speaking of Mr Li, it may be me however have you been noticing that he has been acting oddly today?" said Tomoyo. "He did not scold us for chatting during class today as he normally does."

"I'm sure that you're imagining things," said Meiling, quickly.

"Now that you mention it," said Sakura, "lately he keeps tripping or dropping things recently."

"I'm telling you that you're seeing things that aren't there. I've known him since I could remember, this is normal behaviour for Syaoran," said Meiling. "I think both of you need to rest."


Syaoran woke up to the sound of Meiling crying. He looked at the wall chronometer; the sun wouldn't rise for another several hours. Meiling hadn't woken up from a nightmare since they were children. Maybe it was something to do with that off feeling he's been sensing from her recently.

From experience, this could this kind of aura could easily continue to grow and consume the person's mind unless they could find balance in their life. It was similar to the Ko parasite, but this condition originates from the person themselves.

Furthermore, this imbalance tends to attract malicious spirits that feed off this energy. The wards surrounding the house will keep them away for the moment, but for how long? He had to intervene now; it obviously wasn't going to go away on its own.

Meiling had her hand on the doorknob when he opened his bedroom door.

She blinked then wrapped her arms around his neck. Syaoran heard snatches of "I'm so glad," and "You're safe," in between her sobs.

That off aura was stronger than last time. He had to act fast.

"Hey, stop crying," said Syaoran. "I'm fine."

But she sobbed harder. He needed her to calm down.

"Come on. I'll make you pancakes." Quick and easy to make, they had it frequently growing up.

He gently loosed her grip and led her to the kitchens, lighting couple of lamps to not wake up their parents on the upper floors.

Meiling sat on a stool, sniffling throughout the preparation.

"Hey, are you all right?" he said, looking at her. His cousin was usually more talkative.

"Yeah." She wiped her tears with a sleeve. "It was just a dream after all."

He added the first of the pancake batter to the frying pan. "Do you want to tell me what the dream was about?"

"Nah, it's ok." She swung her feet rhythmically. "I'm fine knowing it was a dream."

"It's still better to talk about your problems."

"Ha. You're one to talk. You never talk about yours."

He flipped the first pancake. He had to make her talk.

"Listen, Meiling-"

"Syaoran, do you love me?" she interrupted him.

He spun his head towards her. "What? Where did that come from?"

"Answer the question. Yes or no, do you love me?" she repeated.

He put the first pancake onto a waiting plate. "We're family so…"

"So…?!" Syaoran winced at her tone. "Do you like someone else?"

"What? No," he protested.

"Miss Daidouji?"

"You're wrong."

"Miss Pharle?"

"No! Keep your voice down."

"Miss Kinomoto?"

"What? Don't be absurd!" he said. He flinched when he saw Meiling's hurt expression. "Don't cry. Have this pancake."

"If I were to die, would you care as I would for you?" Her words were barely audible.

He handed her the plate with the pancake on it. "Of course I would. So don't die."

To Syaoran's relief Meiling smiled.

"You really are kind."

She ate the pancake while he made more and suddenly stood up. "I'll grab us some juice. No don't worry, I got this. Cheers."

She got a couple of glasses from the cupboard and filled it with orange juice before handing it to him. Meiling clinked her glasses with his and they both drank their orange juice.

"Thank you, Syaoran," she said while washing up. "Hey, do you mind staying with me tonight to help me sleep like when we were children?"

Syaoran expected that she'd ask that. Their pancake sessions when they were kids nearly always ended up that way.

Her aura wasn't as dark as it was earlier, but it was still necessary for him to keep an eye on her. "Do as you like."


Meiling woke up three more times before dawn broke and each time she was glad that Syaoran was there every time. He insisted on sitting on the chair beside the bed, but she managed to convince him to hold her hand while she slept.

She could feel the warmth radiating from his palm like the sun, eliminating the shadows of the night that arose with sleep. It scared her, these dreams. She could visualize the gashes on Syaoran's leg, the bent angle, and the jagged edges even after she awoke.

Syaoran was fine. He was in front of her, but so were the visions.

"Uncle, Auntie, Mother," he said during breakfast. "I suggest that Meiling should stay home and rest today."

"I'm fine," she said.

"She kept waking up the whole night and hasn't gotten any sleep."

"And you were up with me the whole time," she argued. "If I'm to stay at home, you should too."

"I'm fine," Syaoran said. "I've had less sleep while I helped hunt Ko."

The Ko. Meiling was so tired that she forgot to give Syaoran the morning dose in his food or drink. She hoped that the medicine in last night's orange juice would last until lunch.

She couldn't perceive the wings herself, but why else would Syaoran keep arguing with her? Luckily Kinomoto followed her after that argument mentioning his Ko hunting activities. Meiling managed to catch the infection early.

Meiling must sneak in the next dose soon.

"If you're going, I'm going too!"

"Stay here!"

"Don't leave me!"

"Syaoran, Meiling, you either both stay or both go," said Aunt Yelan. "We have matters to attend to at Piffle Palace and won't return until the start of next week."

"It can't be good for her to go," said Syaoran. "And I need to go."

"Decide."

"Fine," he relented. "We can do as she likes."

Meiling grinned.

"Syaoran," warned his mother, unimpressed with his tone.

"I apologize, mother. I've decided that we will both go to school."


Meiling didn't want to be at school anymore and she just arrived.

Guru Clef was in the classroom early praising Miss Daidouji's project progress and Miss Kinomoto was showing the other girls her necklace. It was a fine chain linked to two points of a small star gem. And dangling next to it was a little bird pendant, the exact same pendant she dreamt Syaoran give her two nights ago.

"Where did you get that?" said Meiling.

"Good morning, Meiling," said Miss Kinomoto, obliviously smiling. "I was asking that myself. I woke up and it was on my necklace, but I can't take it off unless I break this star power seal. What do you think it is, Mr Li?"

She held it out in his direction and he held it his hand.

"Have you seen it before?"

Meiling left the classroom.

Did Syaoran give Miss Kinomoto that bird pendant? They were so close, so casual, and there was something in his expression that Meiling had never seen before. Something Meiling wished to see when he looked at her.

She ran. She needed to get out of there. The winds encircled her, sapping the warmth from her body.

If Syaoran loved her or even cared, he would follow her.


"Sakura," Tomoyo called out for the third time. Sakura was still staring off in the distance and absentmindedly fiddling with the bird pendant on her emergency magical power necklace. She decided to change tactics. "Mr Li."

Sakura snapped out of her daze. "Hoe? What's wrong?"

Tomoyo laughed. She did not believe that her cousin noticed how adorable she was being. That moment before their geography class between Sakura and Mr Li was so magical.

"Have you seen Meiling? She did not appear in my mathematics class today," It was recess and they were sitting in a sheltered spot in the rooftop gardens. There was a wall of ominous clouds rolling across the sky headed for them. Most of their friends opted to stay indoors.

"No, that's strange," said Sakura. "Mr Li was telling me earlier that Meiling was insisting on going to school. Maybe she went home sick. The sky isn't looking that great either today. Hoe, what's going on?"

Her bird pendant was tugging on the chain in the direction of an erratically moving figure in the sky. It was a dream-collector struggling in the wind with its many dream filled balloons. Tomoyo created a barrier surrounding him and his balloons, and pulled him to shelter.

"Mr Dream-Collector, are you okay?"

"Quite so. I must thank you Miss. Without you I might've lost all of my dreams. If there is anything I could do for you in return..."

Dream-collectors traded and raised good dreams for a living. Sakura once told her during a magical research period how most people have four to five dreams per night but only remember one because the collectors would come and take the valuable ones to insert into their balloons. In return the dream-collector would tell the dreamer where to find a lost item in a dream or sometimes leave some money under their pillow.

"Would it be possible to receive that scarlet dream balloon?" questioned Tomoyo.

"Ah, but-"

"Surely an experienced dream-collector, such as yourself, would agree that one balloon is equal in value to saving your life and trade." She smiled sweetly at the trader.

The dream trader gazed at the balloon longingly. Then he shut his eyes and gave it to her. "This young lady drives a hard bargain. I'm no match."

He suddenly fixated on Sakura. "You, with the emerald eyes!"

"Hoe? Me? Emerald eyes?"

Tomoyo agreed with the description. Sakura's eyes resembled the precious gems in their brilliance.

"Yes you. I notice that you have a dream remnant on your on your necklace? Would you be so obliged to sell it to me?"

"This bird pendant is a dream remnant?" Sakura asked.

The dream-collector nodded.

"I've read about them," said Sakura. "If a dream is strong enough it leaves an imprint in the living world upon awakening. But I don't have any magical abilities."

"Maybe some magical power that is attracted to your star charm enabled the dream to take a physical form," suggested Tomoyo.

"Ah I see." Sakura inspected the bird pendant on her necklace. "You know, I think you can put the dream fragments into a dream balloon."

Tomoyo handed her the scarlet one.

"Wait! Don't-!"

"Is it all right?" said Sakura.

"We can give it to our precious friend," said Tomoyo.

"No!"

"Okay," said Sakura. She tapped the pendant on the balloon and it shined like warm embers.

The dream-collector appeared deflated.

"Sorry, Mr Dream-Collector," Sakura said. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

He became spirited again. "Ah, are you interested in trading for some more dream balloons?" he said.

"We don't have any money today." She checked with Tomoyo who shook her head.

"I accept cash, check, dream remnants, food-"

Tomoyo blinked. "You can trade dreams with food?" she said hurriedly.

"Homemade meals the best, but store bought food is-"

"Cousin," she said, "yesterday did you eat anything of our precious friend's when we were talking about my nightmare?"

Her emerald eyes grew wide. "I did! I took a couple of her spring rolls and didn't you eat my madeleine cakes? That means-"

"She ended up with my nightmare because you purchased it from me with your cakes, and then she purchased it from you after hearing about when she gave you her spring rolls, while you end up with her dream that resulted in the dream fragment when she ate your madeleines!"

"Then, that if the nightmare comes true? We need to find her!"

The tiny dream-collector jumped, trying to gain their attention. "Hello? Are we still trading?"

"Sorry Mr Dream-Collector," said Sakura. "We need to save our precious friend."


There were masses of spirits surrounding the Li Mansion. So far their spirit barriers were holding, but for how long?

Tomoyo could tell that irrespective of if Sakura could not sense or see spirits, she would know they would be up against something immense and dangerous. Her hands in her own wouldn't stop shaking even if her emerald eyes stared straight ahead.

The presence of malicious spirits were triggering similar events in the city, the law enforcers would not be able to help them at the present.

Tomoyo and Sakura had quickly found Mr Li and told him about the situation. It was he who located her using is Rashinban.

His own enchantments shielded him from the spirits while Tomoyo and Sakura wore matching lavender cloaks that made them unnoticeable to spirits. Tomoyo always carried her enchanted purse with her everywhere she went. The cloaks had deep hoods and kept then warm and dry regardless of this strong wind and rain.

He reminded them that it would be better not to use first names with all the spirits around.

The beam of light radiating from the compass was directed at the top of the building. It was Meiling.

She walked off the roof.

Mr Li created a whirl of wind, just in time to break her fall safely.

Tomoyo was pulled along to where her friend was being shaken by Mr Li.

"Syao-?"

"Shh"

"Why are you here?"

"More importantly, are you okay? Why did you-?" he said.

She started to sit up. "I thought that, I thought that if you caught when I jumped then it meant you cared."

"Don't think that way. Hey, stop crying. I'm here."

The skies started to clear. The dream was not a premonitory dream. Tomoyo exhaled.

"Everything should be all right now," Sakura whispered to her.

"Why are they here?" Meiling stood up, the clouds returned.

"Calm down," said Mr Li.

"Calm down?! Why aren't you answering the question?" She started to walk away. "You don't care! If I'm gone you and Miss Kinomoto can be happy together and Miss Daidouji can win the research award."

Tomoyo heard a large crack from above. The barrier was breaking.

Sakura ran to Meiling, "Wait-"

"Don't touch me!"

"They came here because they were worried. And so am I," said Mr Li. He pushed his way between Meiling and Sakura. "And it's not pity."

"Obviously it's not, because you'd need love for there to be pity, and you've made it clear that you don't love me."

Tomoyo had never seen Meiling's eyes look so dark.

"Wait-!"

"Leave me alone!"

The barrier shattered. Tomoyo was pushed back and she caught a glimpse of Sakura colliding with Mr Li. Spirits poured down and circled Meiling whispering terrible things.

"We need to reach her," yelled Tomoyo.

Syaoran ran in carving his way through, Sakura followed.

"Come back! The cloak only works if you don't touch the spirits."

Sakura unseeingly bumped into a massive spirit. It was the same as Tomoyo saw in her dreams. It had its claws raised. Sakura was too far away for Tomoyo to protect with a barrier.

"Sakura!"

Tomoyo heard the sound of what she hoped were just tiles breaking. Bone white powder obstructed her view.

"Mr Li, what's wrong?"

She ran in the direction of Sakura's cries. She was dusty with minor cuts and clutching at Mr Li's hand. He had a nauseating gash on his leg.

Tomoyo raised a barrier around the two off them.

The spirit, unable to reach its prey, left. It continued to head towards Meiling.

"What was that?" panicked Sakura. "Mr Li is bleeding. Can you save him?"

Tomoyo stopped Mr Li's bleeding with magic, but she couldn't tell what internal or spiritual damage there was. They required a more experienced healer.

"Her negative thoughts have broken the barrier protecting this place and the spirits are spilling in. I need to get through to her before she listens to what they say. Stay here," she said, handing Sakura the scarlet dream-balloon. "Mr Li needs you."

"Be careful," she called.

Tomoyo stepped out of the barrier and flew on her winged flying staff to Meiling, weaving her way between the spirits. She landed in her friend's path.

"Move out of the way," said Meiling.

"I will not."

"Fine I'll make you."

"Mr Li is dying."

"Wha-"

"He was struck by a spirit. I have stopped the external bleeding for the time being, but there he probably has some internal damage that needs to be treated immediately."

"Why are you telling me for?" Meiling tried to dodge her. "It would be better to call for a proper healer."

"It is currently impossible. There are spirits swarming this place, no authoritative figure is going to spare a healer or even reach the eye of this storm."

"I don't care." She kept avoiding Tomoyo's gaze.

"You do care. You're crying, because you love him and because he is dying. He will die unless you can control your inner demons and find balance again."

"It's impossible." She looked at Tomoyo, eyes filled with tears.

"Then he will die."

"Then I might as well kill myself!"

Tomoyo slapped Meiling.

"And what do you hope to prove by dying?"

"I don't want him to die." Meiling held a hand to her cheek, shocked. "I might be mad at him now but I'll always love if for as long as I live. And if I go the spirits will too and everyone will be happier."

Tomoyo pinched the other cheek and shook her head.

"If you were to die, Meiling, I would be sad. All of our friends will be sad. Mr Li will be sad," cried Tomoyo. "You are our brave, beautiful, intelligent and precious friend. If you were to go a part of us would too because we love you. Please do not leave us."

The sun peaked out from behind the clouds.

They stayed where they were embracing each other until a law enforcement team arrived with a simple butterfly-horse drawn open carriage.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Yes," said Tomoyo. "However there is a boy down in the courtyard that needs medical treatment."

"We've got a team there already. All of the spirits should be cleared from this area by now."

"Is he okay?" said Meiling.

"Hop on and I'll take you to him."

Sakura hugged them both when they arrived in the courtyard. The field healers were treating Mr Li.

"I'm so glad that you're okay," she said.

Meiling tugged at the ribbon on Sakura's wrist. "What's with the balloon?"

"It's a dream-balloon and it's for you," she said."It also has the dream remnant, the bird pendant, from your dream I accidentally bought when you ate my madeleines yesterday."

"We got it in exchange for saving a dream trader," added Tomoyo.

"You tie it on your bed before you go to sleep, and its contents will fill your dreams."

"Ready? One, two, three, lift." Mr Li was being loaded into the patient transport wagon.

There was another familiar face in the team of field healers. "Cousin Toya, what are you doing here?"

"Part time job," he said, holding one end of Mr Li's stretcher. "We'll have to take the brat to the hospital. He's under some sleeping potions and will have to undergo some surgery by the looks of things. But he'll be all right."

"Can Meiling ride with you please?" asked Tomoyo.

He nodded, and Meiling hopped in after them with a small smile to Tomoyo and Sakura. Her eyes glistened like rubies. "Thank you."


Author's notes:

- Thank you again for reading, following, liking and reviewing. The comments also help me figure out what I might need to clarify in future chapters, so keep them coming. =P

- I realize that this is a little intense, but I promise that there will be happier chapters!

- Meiling is one of my favourite characters from the Cardcaptor Sakura anime and is one of the reasons why I love it more than the manga. She's so wholehearted with everything that she does. I hope that this chapter didn't make her seem out of character; I just interpreted her as being very extreme in her actions.

- To the readers from when I initially posted the first few chapters, yes, Caldina and Presea were later given last names. I ran into some trouble in later chapters when I couldn't use their first names to describe them and kept writing stuff like "the girl with the ponytail," or "Meiling's friend". It was driving me nuts. While I'm at it, I'll confess that I changed some of the words because I realized that I used words such as "just" and "really" way to frequently.

- Please don't spike other people's food and drink or self medicate. And if you are feeling depressed talk to someone. There's heaps of resources like beyondblue or the Kids Helpline. I keep a diary to sort out my thoughts.