Disclaimer: As usual, as all will know, "Cardcaptor Sakura" and all related characters belong to Clamp, not me.
Author's Notes: It's getting close. The climax. My muse finally decided to pay me a visit. I even thought of the sequal though I am not that sure whether I am going to put it into writing. This chapter will help portray the 2 female characters better and the key to the further part of the fanfic. Everything is getting exciting. Ok, enough with my nonsensical talk. On with the chapter!
Meiling looked up from the paper to view the door of the apartment. This should be it. Syaoran better not lie to me or else, he's going to get it. She pressed the doorbell and a resounding Ding Dong could be heard echoing through the apartment.
"Hai, coming. Matte!" A clear voice confirmed her that there was someone staying there. The door opened and a girl with emerald green eyes stared at her, surprised. Her auburn hair was tied into one short ponytail with her bangs hanging loosely at the sides of her face, hinting that she could have been doing some handiwork.
"Meiling-chan! Why are you here?" The girl asked.
"I came to visit you, of course. Can I come in?" Meiling asked.
"Sure, come in. Thank you for visiting me. The place is in a mess. I hope you won't mind." The girl shifted her clutches so as to make room for her to enter.
Meiling glanced around the apartment. The pastel yellow walls were a cheerful colour and the little decorations on the walls were sharply contrasted by the yellow.
"Please take a seat while I get you a drink." The girl smiled and struggled towards the kitchen.
"There's no need. I will be here for a short while." Meiling called out as she settled down onto the sofa. "It's ok. It's not that troublesome." The girl replied back from the kitchen. Meiling glanced further down the long sofa to see a sewing kit and a white kimono lying there. That is so beautiful. Maybe, I should wear that on International Understanding Night.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the girl struggled back into the living room with a tray of tea-set and her clutches. Meiling stood up to take the tray from her and place it onto the small coffee table.
"Thank you." The girl smiled. "You have something to talk to me, haven't you?"
"Yes, I do. Can I, Kinomoto?"
"Please, call me Sakura." The girl smiled cheerfully.
* * *
Sakura poured the warm tea into Meiling's cup. "You are Li-kun's cousin?"
"And fiancée." Meiling added. Sakura chuckled. "I'm sorry for asking that, but is this true of the Chinese culture?"
"What do you mean?"
"Cousins getting engaged. I have read in historical books about Chinese families planning the child's wife even before he was born."
"Syaoran and I are different. What you have read is true but our generation is more liberal in thinking and do not follow that anymore." Meiling paused for a while. "Anyway, what about you? Do you have a boyfriend?"
Sakura smiled wryly as she filled her own cup with tea. She took in a mouthful of air and let it out. "No, I don't."
Meiling drew back in surprise. "You don't?"
"I don't have a boyfriend because of my inner ability. Guys find me either too frightening or they use me as a dare. Those who come close to me are trying to prove to their friends that they can get me, the trophy of some stupid challenge." Sakura paused. "But then, I am used to it already."
Meiling drank her tea, feeling uncomfortable for having asked that question. Her eyes fell back onto the white kimono. "That outfit is beautiful. Did you make it yourself?"
Sakura nodded. "My dad got the material for me when I was in Japan. I just sewed it into the kimono."
"Can you make one for me? I will love to have one for International Understanding Night."
"That will be no problem. However, you have to get your own material, since I can't move around that easily." She chuckled. "But International Understanding Night?"
"Oh, it's an annual event where students are to dress in costumes of different cultures. Syaoran and I will be most likely attending. You can come too. It's a month from now."
"You must be very close to Li-kun." Sakura's voice was tinted with a little curiosity.
"Our relationship has been going on for many years. I still remember the promise."
"The promise?"
* * *
Five-year-old Meiling practically stormed the balcony table as she retorted, "I want to be your bride!"
"But I…" Syaoran muttered, his baby face exhibiting signs of surprise.
"Syaoran, I like you! I want to be your bride!" Meiling persisted, a flustered colour appearing on her cheeks.
"But I…" Syaoran tried.
"Do you have someone else you love more than me?"
"No… But…"
"Then I will be your bride until there is a girl whom you will love more than me!"
"But…"
"Please…" Meiling drew herself close to Syaoran, her tears threatening to spill. Syaoran looked at her, feeling the pleading eyes beg him.
He turned away as he muttered, "As you wish."
* * *
"Anyway, Syaoran and I have been together since young. I only started liking him after he took the effort to find my lost sparrow on a rainy day." Meiling paused, letting a smile warm her own heart. "I still remember the promise. Though at the moment, there is no one that he loves more than me, I am sure that if that day comes, I will not hate the girl. I will respect Syaoran's choice."
"Sakura looked at the black-haired Chinese girl. She is so much more courageous than I am. She smiled. "Meiling-chan, if that day do come, you are not alone. You still have me as a friend."
Meiling looked at her, surprised.
"You will not be alone. I will be your best friend."
Author's Notes (again): Meiling isn't that bad. I like her, really. Sakura card series say that and movie 2 say that. She even wishes the couple well and has been the 'match-maker' in the movie. I like her.