Best I ever had - Part 3
A Card Captor Sakura Fanfic
by Iris C - silver_dreams10@yahoo.com
Completed : April 30th 2001
Copyrights apply.
Notes: Ie..gods. Well, this story has just taken on an interesting course. So I realized if
the fic was a S+S it would basic end in Meiling's independence (cuz I don't write S+S
mush :p). Or this could be a Syaoran and Meiling fic sweet occ mush. I picked #2! *.*
However, this does not change my opinion that Syaoran is an arrogant jerk and Meiling's
lovable brat. ^-^
Thanks to those of you that reviewed. Such lovely people. Lol.
***
It has been a week since the capture of the Faze card.
And it really doesn't take a psychologist to figure that Syaoran was still mad at
her. Sure, he was still worrisome and concerned about her, but Meiling swear she could
see a hidden frown behind his every expression.
"Syaoran, you are such a horrible actor," she suddenly blurted during a break of a
soccer game in gym.
Syaoran looked up from his water bottle, "what?"
"I said. You are a terrible actor."
"Huh?"
"Huh? Don't act dumb! I know you are mad at me, so you don't have to put up a
front as if you are not."
"I'm not mad," Syaoran retorted, "just disappointed."
Meiling raised an eyebrow, "why? You sound like my dad. Why are you
excluding me from card capturing Syaoran? It's my life too, you know. I've trained all
my life for this too!"
"You have no magic, Meiling," Syaoran inculcated.
"SO? I helped with the Faze card didn't I?" her arrogance was catching up with
her after leaving her for quite a while.
"No, you got your self hurt," he mumbled, "unnecessary." His arrogance surfaced
once again, after living in a dormant cyst. "Plus, you promised Meiling. Promised," he
articulated, brown eyes piercing through Meiling's with such anguish it left her stricken
for a while.
Not willing to back down just yet, Meiling cried. "I said I was sorry didn't I?
Why can't you just give me a chance, Syaoran?"
Before Syaoran could respond, the whistle was blown and the game was resumed.
Meiling sighed as she dug her foot in the soil, red eyes gleaming into Syaoran's brown
ones.
"Don't treat me like 10 year old, Syaoran," she murmured as the soccer ball was
thrown in. A mob went after it.
"Hey Meiling!!!" one of her teammates cried as he sent the flying soccer ball her
way, Meiling caught it with her foot. Here it goes, she thought silently, smirking when
she realized there was no defense for the other team. It was an easy goal.
Until a leg intercepted, stealing the ball away from her.
It was Syaoran.
Meiling grunted her teeth. Not this time.
She ran after him, sliding from underneath to get the ball. Syaoran grimaced,
seeing he had lost the ball. Soon it became a tag of war between the two, losing the
soccer ball to each other, once, twice, time and again until it was in midair.
"Hiiiya!!" Meiling and Syaoran both leaped for the ball, only neither got the ball
as their foot contacted. Two heavy breaths and grunts later, it was a complete chaos. The
students watched in awe as the two teenagers started throwing kicks and punches at each
other. Moving so swift and elegantly, the martial art combat could have very well been
choreographed. However, the problem was the exact, it wasn't. A while later, both
Meiling and Syaoran were bruised and out of breath, fighting without much cause except
spontaneous bursts of emotion.
A shrilling yell was heard from the gym teacher. Syaoran and Meiling finally
stopped, gazing intently at each other as all kinds of words escaped from the teacher's
mouth.
***
~After school~
"What happened Syaoran? Is it true? Is it true that you and Meiling-chan fought?"
Sakura demanded, a frustrated expression pasted on her face.
"We fight all the time, Sakura," Syaoran replied nonchalantly.
"Not physically!!"
"Yes physically!" Syaoran turned to look at Sakura, then soften his tone, "we
trained together remem..."
Sakura shook her head. "I'm not going to believe that you just randomly decided
you had to 'train' with her during a soccer game."
"I didn't! She did. Well, we both did!" Syaoran frowned, what pathetic responses.
Why did they fight? It really didn't make sense. Both of them just... exploded. "Meiling
lied me, she followed me and got into that Clow card fight. She promised me she
wouldn't."
"Syaoran..." Sakura whispered, "maybe you ought to think what it's like to be in
her shoes. Meiling's not 10 anymore, she's 15. She's accomplished and can really really
fight..."
"I know she can!" Syaoran was exasperated. "I know, I know! But I don't want
her to get hurt! You didn't see her in China, Sakura. She was in pieces. Just because she's
strong on the outside doesn't mean she's iron inside!" he looked away.
Sakura gazed at Syaoran strangely, she had never seen him so angry and
distressed before. "Oh Syaoran... it's going to be okay," Sakura pulled him into a hug,
"Meiling's going to be okay."
Syaoran gently pulled away from the hug, "I think I'm going to take a walk,
Sakura."
"Want me to come?"
"No, it's all right, I want to be alone."
"Oh... okay," Sakura murmured.
"I'll see you," Syaoran turned and walked away.
"..I love you," Sakura frowned. What was going on with Syaoran? Ever since he
had returned from China, she felt his aura cold again. No, it wasn't cold, it
was...protective, a sense that he's not willing to throw his heart too far out.
Could it be? Could it her? Meiling?
***
Silence. The door opened. Silence. The girl slept peacefully on the couch. Silence.
He gently tugged her in with a blanket. Silence. He stared at her, the blue black hair and
ruby red lips.
Syaoran rubbed his sore chin, caused by the miscalculation of her punches.
Meiling really had gotten superior in her art. Maybe Sakura was right. Maybe he was
treating Meiling as if she was a child. Sometimes he tend to forget that he wasn't that
much older than she.
Her eyes suddenly snapped open, as if she had sensed his presence.
They stared on, silently, either willing to smash the shard stopping time.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran," Meiling broke the silence, "I don't know what happened
with me. I guess I was just so angry that you're treating me like I'm... a damsel in distress
or something."
Syaoran fell onto the couch. "Meiling I..." he looked up and saw her face, invaded
by pain and confusion, "I..." the words were caught up in his throat.
"Yes?"
"I DON'T want you near Sakura and me when we are capturing the Clow cards,"
Syaoran winced immediately after the spoken sentence. That did not come out right.
Meiling was taken back by the coldness of his voice. But what thwarted her was
how he formed his sentence. Sakura and I... What was she? Chopped liver who was
nothing but a restrain? "Fine, if it makes his excellency happy, I will stay out of the way
and just be his little friend who will remind him of the old times," said Meiling bitterly.
She pushed herself up and left for her room.
Syaoran wanted to smack himself, he followed Meiling. "No, Meiling! I'm sorry.
I'm not too good at verbal communications! I'm..."
She slammed the door in front of his face.
A Meiling tantrum.
Uh-oh.
"Meiling...?" he knocked on her door. Dammit, he sank down by her door,
"Meiling? I'm sorry, really. I know I've overused that word, but I got to use it again."
Meiling was on the other side of the door, listening.
"It's just that I, I don't know how to act around you anymore, Meiling. I feel like I
could hurt you no matter what I do. Before I was treating you too cold, now I'm too over
protective. I just don't want anything happening to you that's all, Meimei," he explained,
"Meiling? Tell me how to act, I'll do it. Tell me what I'm doing wrong, tell me..."
He fell on her feet as the door swung open.
"Moving, Syaoran. That was the most eloquent speech I've heard from you," Meiling teased.
"You're not mad?" he beamed.
"Yes I am."
"You're not!" he got up.
Meiling looked down and shrugged. "I don't want to play any more games, that's all."
Syaoran nodded. "Yeah, you're right," a pause, "so what is? Do I have the kitchen
AND bathroom duty now?"
"And the grocery."
"Hey! Is that fair?"
"Of course it is."
"Nah-uh."
"Uh-huh."
"Nah-uh."
"Uh-huh!!"
"Nah-uh!"
"UH-HUH!!!"
"All right all right!" Syaoran groaned inwardly. Whoever said guys are more
domineering than women must have been drunk.
***
Meiling yawned, letting the cascading sunlight wake her little by little. So it was
another Saturday. Another day to bask in the sun and feed on its rays. Another day to
pass without any regrets. Another day to ride the roller coaster of life.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in, Syaoran."
"Hey Meiling," he wore a smile on his face, as if the incident yesterday was
nothing but a faint speck on pure jade, "guess where we're going today."
Another planned day with Syaoran, who will bring Kinomoto who will bring Daidouji.
"Where?"
"Hiking."
"Hiking?"
"Yeah. I thought maybe we could go to Okasa mountain and take a hike."
"Really? Cool," and she meant it too, it's been a while since she had been in the
nature. "When's Sakura and Tomoyo meeting us?"
"Subway in...30 minutes," Syaoran said.
Meiling blinked, "30 minutes?!?!? What? I won't have time to get dressed and eat
and do stuff and.." Meiling went into a frenzy of assembling.
"I'll take that as a yes then!"
***
Hiking is fun. Anyone who disagrees obviously hadn't spent a quality day on the
mountains with your favorite friends; obviously hadn't felt the ascendance to the clouds;
and obviously, hadn't chased over a butterfly and argue where to let it go.
However, the best time on the mountains will always be at night. Night. When the
stolen peace took over earth with the last gold ray sinking behind the horizons. However,
darkness didn't mean silence or the absence of mischief. Night on the mountains for
example, is the complete opposite of that. Night on the mountains meant bonfires and
stories and cuddles.
Meiling stared as Syaoran brushed a piece of melted marshmallow off of Sakura's
cheek, the mere motion caused the girl to giggle.
Stifling a groan, she turned her gaze back to her own marshmallow, which was
burning in red fire. Today had been fun, very much fun. She felt she had bonded with
Sakura over a short afternoon. Meiling realized past all the competition between herself
and Sakura, they really could get along. Yes, they were different, exceeding different, but
Sakura is an easy friend to make. She's always willing to listen and commiserate. Meiling
admired her for that.
Her marshmallow was in danger of being devoured by the cackling fire. Yet, it
doesn't change anything. Meiling knew she will never be able to stand the sight of the
girl; no matter how much she tries, Kinomoto will always stand as her adversary.
Syaoran had his arms around Sakura now; had his arm around her while feeding
her a marshmallow. Meiling switched her gaze toward Tomoyo, who was smiling as she
set up her equipment to cook some fish. Smiling. How does that girl always smile?
Meiling knew Tomoyo loved Sakura more than a friend. She couldn't think of anyone
that couldn't see that. Well, anyone except Sakura. So fate was cruel to them both. But
Meiling had resisted putting on a smiling mask to pretend everything was okay. That was
lying, and she refuses to lie to anyone, especially to herself.
The marshmallow was burnt now, consumed by hungry fire. Meiling threw her
stick into the fire and got up.
"I'm going to go take a walk, be back soon,"
Syaoran frowned, "now? It's pretty dark."
"Don't worry, I'll just be at the greens, if you need me, just yell," said Meiling..
"Well, come back soon, I'll have the fish done," Tomoyo beamed.
"Yes, yes."
"Be careful and don't go anywhere too far okay?" Syaoran called as Meiling walked away.
"Yes, Daddy, and I won't talk to strangers either!" Meiling yelled back, causing
a fresh round of giggles from Sakura.
***
And finally, there was peace. Meiling lied against the cool grass and stared at the
yellow Moon; Proud, beautiful and dignified, it radiated only on the dark nights; not
willing to share its beauty with unworthy people. Poor poor Moon, thought Meiling, too
vain to realize it's alone and perhaps always will be. She turned around to face the grass
and picked up a dandelion. Now, a dandelion is different. A dandelion was strong,
unpredictable and lovely. Strong to survive in yards and hills. Unpredictable to pop up in
a day. Lovely; as you can never play he loves me & he loves me nots without smudging
its petals together. Thus, the only result you get is tinted yellow fingers.
It would be very cool to be a dandelion. Much better than a rose, or a Moon...
"Meiling..."
She looked up. "Syaoran."
"Tomoyo-san's done with the fish. Come and eat now?"
Meiling shook her head. "Just a little while Syaoran, tell Daidouji to save me an
eye or something," she laughed, "mama said they're the best part of a fish."
Instead of leaving, Syaoran sat beside Meiling.
"You are still mad at me, aren't you?"
Meiling turned in confusion. "Mad? Why should I be mad?"
"Because I keep saying you can't capture cards when you have every right to."
Meiling shook her head. "That's not true. I don't have magic, Syaoran.
Remember? And magic separates all," a pause, " What's it like having magic? Is it any
different? Do you feel different?"
Syaoran shook his head. "No, not really..."
Meiling frowned. "Don't lie, I bet it feels really cool..."
"Meiling, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not having magic. I...I wanted you to have magic. Honest. I didn't want to be
alone, I thought we could be in this together and when the elders said you didn't, I was
angry too. It's not fair Meiling, it's not fair."
"You think?"
"But it's a good enough reason why you mustn't get into this card capturing thing.
It's dangerous, Meiling, I don't want you hurt."
"Sometimes," continued Syaoran in a small voice, "I wish everything was the
same. I wish it was like the old days. Do you remember Meiling?" he turned to face her,
"I would get up earlier and earlier each day just avoid your pestering, but you would just
get up earlier and earlier to continue your pestering until the elders finally granted you to
train with me?" a dim smile lit on his face, "I hated it at first. I hate training with
someone near me. But then I had other reasons to hate training with another person a few
months later. You were good, Meiling, exceptionally good. I overheard the elders talking
once, they mentioned of how they had so much hope for you as a card captor," a cloud
hovered over his eyes, "it isn't fair. You are the perfect card captor. It isn't fair that fate
has denied you and chose me."
Meiling stared at Syaoran in confusion. Both of them knew that he was the better
of the two. She may have enough physical skills, but Meiling knew her senses can never
be as keen as Syaoran's. And besides, when did Syaoran become so passive? So
nostalgic? So not Syaoran?
Her. It was always her. She even managed to change stone cold Li to sensitive
Syaoran.
Meiling clutched her fist.
She shook her head furiously. "I don't care Syaoran! I don't care if I don't have
magic. I don't care if I can't fight the cards! I don't care if the elders are disappointed at
me!!" she cried. All I want is you Syaoran...you... "What does she have Syaoran? What
does she have that I don't? How does she have the power to change you? How come I
can't? Am I ugly? Am I too pushy? Why Syaoran? Why? Why do you love her and not
me? Why can't I be her? How do I be her?" bubbles of built up emotions traveled from
the bottom of her spine to the tip of her throat.
Syaoran looked confused at first, but then softened his expression. "You are not
her, Meiling," he whispered, "and I don't want you to be her. I want you to be you. You
are fine the way you are."
"NO Syaoran. You love HER. You don't love me! You don't and you never
will!"
Puffy red eyes and nose, messy hair sticking to her chin, her tears stained her pale
cheeks to flushed. But still, she was beautiful, with a rural expression mixed with every
emotion possible to describe a precocious girl. "I'm such a weakling..." she moaned and
shook violently.
"Meiling," a pair of arms steadied her, comforted her.
His eyes were amber under the dim moonlight. An amber so captivating they
froze her tears. Syaoran brushed her blue-black hair away from her cheeks.
"Don't cry Meiling. I don't want to see you cry..."
He stared into her ruby eyes, luminous by her tears. He stared at her lips, ruby red.
Then he kissed her, merely a brush against the lips. No, a graze, but enough to
cause Meiling's eyes to expand and enough to make Syaoran fumble.
He froze, in shock.
Meiling stared at him, her mouth slightly open.
"I'm...I'm sorry..." he stumbled up and practically ran away.
Meiling turned back to the fazing Moon. It was still alone up in the black sky.
Still so very very alone.
To be continued....
Notes : Poor Syaoran, he's the confused one. Poor Meiling, she thinks she's the confused
one. Poor Sakura, she knows everything. Poor Tomoyo, I failed to explore her character
in this. Poor me, why do I ALWAYS end up writing such sappy stuff??!?!??! .
A Card Captor Sakura Fanfic
by Iris C - silver_dreams10@yahoo.com
Completed : April 30th 2001
Copyrights apply.
Notes: Ie..gods. Well, this story has just taken on an interesting course. So I realized if
the fic was a S+S it would basic end in Meiling's independence (cuz I don't write S+S
mush :p). Or this could be a Syaoran and Meiling fic sweet occ mush. I picked #2! *.*
However, this does not change my opinion that Syaoran is an arrogant jerk and Meiling's
lovable brat. ^-^
Thanks to those of you that reviewed. Such lovely people. Lol.
***
It has been a week since the capture of the Faze card.
And it really doesn't take a psychologist to figure that Syaoran was still mad at
her. Sure, he was still worrisome and concerned about her, but Meiling swear she could
see a hidden frown behind his every expression.
"Syaoran, you are such a horrible actor," she suddenly blurted during a break of a
soccer game in gym.
Syaoran looked up from his water bottle, "what?"
"I said. You are a terrible actor."
"Huh?"
"Huh? Don't act dumb! I know you are mad at me, so you don't have to put up a
front as if you are not."
"I'm not mad," Syaoran retorted, "just disappointed."
Meiling raised an eyebrow, "why? You sound like my dad. Why are you
excluding me from card capturing Syaoran? It's my life too, you know. I've trained all
my life for this too!"
"You have no magic, Meiling," Syaoran inculcated.
"SO? I helped with the Faze card didn't I?" her arrogance was catching up with
her after leaving her for quite a while.
"No, you got your self hurt," he mumbled, "unnecessary." His arrogance surfaced
once again, after living in a dormant cyst. "Plus, you promised Meiling. Promised," he
articulated, brown eyes piercing through Meiling's with such anguish it left her stricken
for a while.
Not willing to back down just yet, Meiling cried. "I said I was sorry didn't I?
Why can't you just give me a chance, Syaoran?"
Before Syaoran could respond, the whistle was blown and the game was resumed.
Meiling sighed as she dug her foot in the soil, red eyes gleaming into Syaoran's brown
ones.
"Don't treat me like 10 year old, Syaoran," she murmured as the soccer ball was
thrown in. A mob went after it.
"Hey Meiling!!!" one of her teammates cried as he sent the flying soccer ball her
way, Meiling caught it with her foot. Here it goes, she thought silently, smirking when
she realized there was no defense for the other team. It was an easy goal.
Until a leg intercepted, stealing the ball away from her.
It was Syaoran.
Meiling grunted her teeth. Not this time.
She ran after him, sliding from underneath to get the ball. Syaoran grimaced,
seeing he had lost the ball. Soon it became a tag of war between the two, losing the
soccer ball to each other, once, twice, time and again until it was in midair.
"Hiiiya!!" Meiling and Syaoran both leaped for the ball, only neither got the ball
as their foot contacted. Two heavy breaths and grunts later, it was a complete chaos. The
students watched in awe as the two teenagers started throwing kicks and punches at each
other. Moving so swift and elegantly, the martial art combat could have very well been
choreographed. However, the problem was the exact, it wasn't. A while later, both
Meiling and Syaoran were bruised and out of breath, fighting without much cause except
spontaneous bursts of emotion.
A shrilling yell was heard from the gym teacher. Syaoran and Meiling finally
stopped, gazing intently at each other as all kinds of words escaped from the teacher's
mouth.
***
~After school~
"What happened Syaoran? Is it true? Is it true that you and Meiling-chan fought?"
Sakura demanded, a frustrated expression pasted on her face.
"We fight all the time, Sakura," Syaoran replied nonchalantly.
"Not physically!!"
"Yes physically!" Syaoran turned to look at Sakura, then soften his tone, "we
trained together remem..."
Sakura shook her head. "I'm not going to believe that you just randomly decided
you had to 'train' with her during a soccer game."
"I didn't! She did. Well, we both did!" Syaoran frowned, what pathetic responses.
Why did they fight? It really didn't make sense. Both of them just... exploded. "Meiling
lied me, she followed me and got into that Clow card fight. She promised me she
wouldn't."
"Syaoran..." Sakura whispered, "maybe you ought to think what it's like to be in
her shoes. Meiling's not 10 anymore, she's 15. She's accomplished and can really really
fight..."
"I know she can!" Syaoran was exasperated. "I know, I know! But I don't want
her to get hurt! You didn't see her in China, Sakura. She was in pieces. Just because she's
strong on the outside doesn't mean she's iron inside!" he looked away.
Sakura gazed at Syaoran strangely, she had never seen him so angry and
distressed before. "Oh Syaoran... it's going to be okay," Sakura pulled him into a hug,
"Meiling's going to be okay."
Syaoran gently pulled away from the hug, "I think I'm going to take a walk,
Sakura."
"Want me to come?"
"No, it's all right, I want to be alone."
"Oh... okay," Sakura murmured.
"I'll see you," Syaoran turned and walked away.
"..I love you," Sakura frowned. What was going on with Syaoran? Ever since he
had returned from China, she felt his aura cold again. No, it wasn't cold, it
was...protective, a sense that he's not willing to throw his heart too far out.
Could it be? Could it her? Meiling?
***
Silence. The door opened. Silence. The girl slept peacefully on the couch. Silence.
He gently tugged her in with a blanket. Silence. He stared at her, the blue black hair and
ruby red lips.
Syaoran rubbed his sore chin, caused by the miscalculation of her punches.
Meiling really had gotten superior in her art. Maybe Sakura was right. Maybe he was
treating Meiling as if she was a child. Sometimes he tend to forget that he wasn't that
much older than she.
Her eyes suddenly snapped open, as if she had sensed his presence.
They stared on, silently, either willing to smash the shard stopping time.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran," Meiling broke the silence, "I don't know what happened
with me. I guess I was just so angry that you're treating me like I'm... a damsel in distress
or something."
Syaoran fell onto the couch. "Meiling I..." he looked up and saw her face, invaded
by pain and confusion, "I..." the words were caught up in his throat.
"Yes?"
"I DON'T want you near Sakura and me when we are capturing the Clow cards,"
Syaoran winced immediately after the spoken sentence. That did not come out right.
Meiling was taken back by the coldness of his voice. But what thwarted her was
how he formed his sentence. Sakura and I... What was she? Chopped liver who was
nothing but a restrain? "Fine, if it makes his excellency happy, I will stay out of the way
and just be his little friend who will remind him of the old times," said Meiling bitterly.
She pushed herself up and left for her room.
Syaoran wanted to smack himself, he followed Meiling. "No, Meiling! I'm sorry.
I'm not too good at verbal communications! I'm..."
She slammed the door in front of his face.
A Meiling tantrum.
Uh-oh.
"Meiling...?" he knocked on her door. Dammit, he sank down by her door,
"Meiling? I'm sorry, really. I know I've overused that word, but I got to use it again."
Meiling was on the other side of the door, listening.
"It's just that I, I don't know how to act around you anymore, Meiling. I feel like I
could hurt you no matter what I do. Before I was treating you too cold, now I'm too over
protective. I just don't want anything happening to you that's all, Meimei," he explained,
"Meiling? Tell me how to act, I'll do it. Tell me what I'm doing wrong, tell me..."
He fell on her feet as the door swung open.
"Moving, Syaoran. That was the most eloquent speech I've heard from you," Meiling teased.
"You're not mad?" he beamed.
"Yes I am."
"You're not!" he got up.
Meiling looked down and shrugged. "I don't want to play any more games, that's all."
Syaoran nodded. "Yeah, you're right," a pause, "so what is? Do I have the kitchen
AND bathroom duty now?"
"And the grocery."
"Hey! Is that fair?"
"Of course it is."
"Nah-uh."
"Uh-huh."
"Nah-uh."
"Uh-huh!!"
"Nah-uh!"
"UH-HUH!!!"
"All right all right!" Syaoran groaned inwardly. Whoever said guys are more
domineering than women must have been drunk.
***
Meiling yawned, letting the cascading sunlight wake her little by little. So it was
another Saturday. Another day to bask in the sun and feed on its rays. Another day to
pass without any regrets. Another day to ride the roller coaster of life.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in, Syaoran."
"Hey Meiling," he wore a smile on his face, as if the incident yesterday was
nothing but a faint speck on pure jade, "guess where we're going today."
Another planned day with Syaoran, who will bring Kinomoto who will bring Daidouji.
"Where?"
"Hiking."
"Hiking?"
"Yeah. I thought maybe we could go to Okasa mountain and take a hike."
"Really? Cool," and she meant it too, it's been a while since she had been in the
nature. "When's Sakura and Tomoyo meeting us?"
"Subway in...30 minutes," Syaoran said.
Meiling blinked, "30 minutes?!?!? What? I won't have time to get dressed and eat
and do stuff and.." Meiling went into a frenzy of assembling.
"I'll take that as a yes then!"
***
Hiking is fun. Anyone who disagrees obviously hadn't spent a quality day on the
mountains with your favorite friends; obviously hadn't felt the ascendance to the clouds;
and obviously, hadn't chased over a butterfly and argue where to let it go.
However, the best time on the mountains will always be at night. Night. When the
stolen peace took over earth with the last gold ray sinking behind the horizons. However,
darkness didn't mean silence or the absence of mischief. Night on the mountains for
example, is the complete opposite of that. Night on the mountains meant bonfires and
stories and cuddles.
Meiling stared as Syaoran brushed a piece of melted marshmallow off of Sakura's
cheek, the mere motion caused the girl to giggle.
Stifling a groan, she turned her gaze back to her own marshmallow, which was
burning in red fire. Today had been fun, very much fun. She felt she had bonded with
Sakura over a short afternoon. Meiling realized past all the competition between herself
and Sakura, they really could get along. Yes, they were different, exceeding different, but
Sakura is an easy friend to make. She's always willing to listen and commiserate. Meiling
admired her for that.
Her marshmallow was in danger of being devoured by the cackling fire. Yet, it
doesn't change anything. Meiling knew she will never be able to stand the sight of the
girl; no matter how much she tries, Kinomoto will always stand as her adversary.
Syaoran had his arms around Sakura now; had his arm around her while feeding
her a marshmallow. Meiling switched her gaze toward Tomoyo, who was smiling as she
set up her equipment to cook some fish. Smiling. How does that girl always smile?
Meiling knew Tomoyo loved Sakura more than a friend. She couldn't think of anyone
that couldn't see that. Well, anyone except Sakura. So fate was cruel to them both. But
Meiling had resisted putting on a smiling mask to pretend everything was okay. That was
lying, and she refuses to lie to anyone, especially to herself.
The marshmallow was burnt now, consumed by hungry fire. Meiling threw her
stick into the fire and got up.
"I'm going to go take a walk, be back soon,"
Syaoran frowned, "now? It's pretty dark."
"Don't worry, I'll just be at the greens, if you need me, just yell," said Meiling..
"Well, come back soon, I'll have the fish done," Tomoyo beamed.
"Yes, yes."
"Be careful and don't go anywhere too far okay?" Syaoran called as Meiling walked away.
"Yes, Daddy, and I won't talk to strangers either!" Meiling yelled back, causing
a fresh round of giggles from Sakura.
***
And finally, there was peace. Meiling lied against the cool grass and stared at the
yellow Moon; Proud, beautiful and dignified, it radiated only on the dark nights; not
willing to share its beauty with unworthy people. Poor poor Moon, thought Meiling, too
vain to realize it's alone and perhaps always will be. She turned around to face the grass
and picked up a dandelion. Now, a dandelion is different. A dandelion was strong,
unpredictable and lovely. Strong to survive in yards and hills. Unpredictable to pop up in
a day. Lovely; as you can never play he loves me & he loves me nots without smudging
its petals together. Thus, the only result you get is tinted yellow fingers.
It would be very cool to be a dandelion. Much better than a rose, or a Moon...
"Meiling..."
She looked up. "Syaoran."
"Tomoyo-san's done with the fish. Come and eat now?"
Meiling shook her head. "Just a little while Syaoran, tell Daidouji to save me an
eye or something," she laughed, "mama said they're the best part of a fish."
Instead of leaving, Syaoran sat beside Meiling.
"You are still mad at me, aren't you?"
Meiling turned in confusion. "Mad? Why should I be mad?"
"Because I keep saying you can't capture cards when you have every right to."
Meiling shook her head. "That's not true. I don't have magic, Syaoran.
Remember? And magic separates all," a pause, " What's it like having magic? Is it any
different? Do you feel different?"
Syaoran shook his head. "No, not really..."
Meiling frowned. "Don't lie, I bet it feels really cool..."
"Meiling, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not having magic. I...I wanted you to have magic. Honest. I didn't want to be
alone, I thought we could be in this together and when the elders said you didn't, I was
angry too. It's not fair Meiling, it's not fair."
"You think?"
"But it's a good enough reason why you mustn't get into this card capturing thing.
It's dangerous, Meiling, I don't want you hurt."
"Sometimes," continued Syaoran in a small voice, "I wish everything was the
same. I wish it was like the old days. Do you remember Meiling?" he turned to face her,
"I would get up earlier and earlier each day just avoid your pestering, but you would just
get up earlier and earlier to continue your pestering until the elders finally granted you to
train with me?" a dim smile lit on his face, "I hated it at first. I hate training with
someone near me. But then I had other reasons to hate training with another person a few
months later. You were good, Meiling, exceptionally good. I overheard the elders talking
once, they mentioned of how they had so much hope for you as a card captor," a cloud
hovered over his eyes, "it isn't fair. You are the perfect card captor. It isn't fair that fate
has denied you and chose me."
Meiling stared at Syaoran in confusion. Both of them knew that he was the better
of the two. She may have enough physical skills, but Meiling knew her senses can never
be as keen as Syaoran's. And besides, when did Syaoran become so passive? So
nostalgic? So not Syaoran?
Her. It was always her. She even managed to change stone cold Li to sensitive
Syaoran.
Meiling clutched her fist.
She shook her head furiously. "I don't care Syaoran! I don't care if I don't have
magic. I don't care if I can't fight the cards! I don't care if the elders are disappointed at
me!!" she cried. All I want is you Syaoran...you... "What does she have Syaoran? What
does she have that I don't? How does she have the power to change you? How come I
can't? Am I ugly? Am I too pushy? Why Syaoran? Why? Why do you love her and not
me? Why can't I be her? How do I be her?" bubbles of built up emotions traveled from
the bottom of her spine to the tip of her throat.
Syaoran looked confused at first, but then softened his expression. "You are not
her, Meiling," he whispered, "and I don't want you to be her. I want you to be you. You
are fine the way you are."
"NO Syaoran. You love HER. You don't love me! You don't and you never
will!"
Puffy red eyes and nose, messy hair sticking to her chin, her tears stained her pale
cheeks to flushed. But still, she was beautiful, with a rural expression mixed with every
emotion possible to describe a precocious girl. "I'm such a weakling..." she moaned and
shook violently.
"Meiling," a pair of arms steadied her, comforted her.
His eyes were amber under the dim moonlight. An amber so captivating they
froze her tears. Syaoran brushed her blue-black hair away from her cheeks.
"Don't cry Meiling. I don't want to see you cry..."
He stared into her ruby eyes, luminous by her tears. He stared at her lips, ruby red.
Then he kissed her, merely a brush against the lips. No, a graze, but enough to
cause Meiling's eyes to expand and enough to make Syaoran fumble.
He froze, in shock.
Meiling stared at him, her mouth slightly open.
"I'm...I'm sorry..." he stumbled up and practically ran away.
Meiling turned back to the fazing Moon. It was still alone up in the black sky.
Still so very very alone.
To be continued....
Notes : Poor Syaoran, he's the confused one. Poor Meiling, she thinks she's the confused
one. Poor Sakura, she knows everything. Poor Tomoyo, I failed to explore her character
in this. Poor me, why do I ALWAYS end up writing such sappy stuff??!?!??! .
