A Cherry Blossoms Death
Well, after the revelation…we'll see a bit of action…but the real action lies one or two chapters later. So hold onto your seatbelts! Woohoo!
Yup. Totally hyper-active…and I'm loving it! You're asking me if I suffer from insanity?
The answer is no. I quite enjoy it, actually. Soo…I do not own Card Captor Sakura. On with the story.
Hey, do you guys know that this is the fourth last chapter? (Yes, I've actually been counting! ) And then the last chapter will be super long to celebrate the ending of this fic…::sigh::
Where the Bones Lie
Seconds ticked by slowly as Meiling and Syaoran continued to stay frozen like blocks of ice refusing to melt. Syaoran didn't know how long he had been standing there, gaping at open space with his mouth wide open like an idiot. Meilin's reaction mirrored his own, and her eyes stared back at him, speechless.
"Kinomoto Sakura is not dead…" Syaoran broke the silence with a doubtful whisper as he repeated what the strange creature had just told them a moment ago…before she disappeared from sight.
Meiling swallowed, and managed to gain control of half her mind. The other half, it seemed, was still paralyzed in complete shock and utter disbelief. "Sakura…Sakura's alive?" She played with her dark hair, which had come loose at some parts from the swirling winds that had erupted from the Clow Book. Or rather…the Sakura Book. Meiling wondered if that once Syaoran was reunited with Sakura again, he might forget the little bond they had made as cousins during the day. He might even forget Meiling herself…as if she had never existed, and she'd be placed back on that platform again. Where she was assured a safe place, but also a place where she could see every movement and feel every ounce of love that radiated from Syaoran to Sakura. Meiling felt a lump in her throat. She had thought she had gotten over him…but obviously her heart needed more mending…
@ Don't be so selfish @ she admonished herself, shaking her head to clear her mind. @ You know that things would never be able to work out between you two anyway…but still…@ Meiling bit her lip and stole a glance at her ex-fiancée. His face seemed to become younger and filled with more hope…like the last time she'd seen him before this trip to Japan. It was clear that Sakura was the right one for her cousin and always had been. "Maybe…maybe the nymph was lying…" Meiling muttered, trying to make sense of her feelings while sorting out her mind at the same time.
"Yeah…but what would she get if she lied to us?" Syaoran asked her, already beginning to feel light-hearted again. Sakura was alive…if the nymph hadn't been lying of course…
"Only one way to find out…" Syaoran muttered. It was gonna be tough, but tonight he'd find out everything that he needed to know. Even if it killed him.
~ * ~ * ~
A damp cloth was pressed against Eriol's forehead, bringing him to open his eyes slowly and painfully. As his eyelids fluttered open, he glimpsed a pair of emerald eyes and wisps of brown hair…but he couldn't be sure.
He shut his ice-blue eyes again to stop the searing pain that crashed around inside his skull. "Seria…?" he whispered…his mouth dry. With a huge effort, he brought his eyes to open again and saw a pained look cross her features…and all at once he realized…
"Sakura…" his eyes closed again, and he heard a soft, pained answer.
"No…Kinomoto Sakura is…no more…"
There was a soft sigh, and then footsteps that retreated slowly, as Eriol felt a strange aura engulf the young girl. His breathing became laboured as sweat trickled down his face, and onto the dusty floor. His coughs were becoming harsher and drier. Whatever…Seria had hit him with, had definitely worked…
But this time nobody hurried to his aid to press a damp cloth against his forhead…it was as if the young brunette had changed entirely in the course of a few moments…(AN: does anybody think they get it now?)
"Syaoran you really //are\\ crazy!" Meiling exclaimed placing her hands on her hips in defiance. She shook her head and tried to stare her cousin down, but while she had been trying to regain a smile on her face in Huaring Bay, Li Syaoran had perfected his look of death, here in Tomeada, Japan. "I can't believe that you're actually going to do this!"
Syaoran wore a fixed look and Meiling knew that she wouldn't be able to change his mind once he got that look on his face. She sighed.
"Well, count me out this time! What would the Elders think?" She chewed her lip nervously wondering if they knew how she and Syaoran had entered somebody's house without invitation. It was one of their strict rules, and Meiling knew that there were equally strict punishments for the breakage of rules.
"Screw the Elders," Syaoran growled, harshly and Meiling was shocked. It was the first time that Meiling had heard Syaoran say something like that. When they were twelve he had complained about all of the rules, but she'd thought that he'd get over it once he got used to the idea of him becoming the clan leader. That was back when they had been engaged, of course. But now, things were different. Syaoran's resentment toward the Elders had led him to rebel against their wishes. Meiling was certain that even before her engagement with Syaoran had been broken off, he'd been making eyes at other girls for so long. Oh, Meiling knew that he wasn't really interested with any girls that he made eyes at, except Sakura, that is. He'd done it to spite the Elders and the entire clan. She remembered the grave faces of the members of the clan when they'd discussed whether or not Syaoran should leave Japan. In the end, they had decided to bring him back to China, and Syaoran had agreed, only because he was afraid of brining shame to his mother – Auntie Yelan. And that was when their engagement had been broken off and Meiling had left. Before they had both left Tomeada, Meiling remembered the harsh words that she had directed toward Sakura, and once again she felt guilt well up in the pit of her stomach. And she remembered the way everybody steered clear of her sullen face and harsh words, until her mother had had enough and took her to the outskirts of China. Meiling hadn't known that Syaoran had found a way to sweet talk his mother into sending him back to Tomeada. If she had, Meiling would have rushed to Tomeada all at once, in a seething rage. But now was different, and Meiling didn't feel the same jealousy and resentment that she would have six months earlier. She was even ready to accept Sakura as Syaoran's only love…but like most situations, it was too late. The most hated words in the English/Japanese dictionary, yet possibly the two words that hit closer to home.
"God, Meiling…don't you even care that they're stringing us along like little wooden puppets? If I had my way, I would've left all their rules and regulations a long time ago."
Meiling looked shocked. "But you're going to be the leader of the Li clan someday," she protested.
Syaoran frowned and shook his dark head stubbornly. "Don't remind me of all that cr@p, Meiling-chan," he growled. "You know as well as I do that the Elders would rather take over the whole position themselves."
Meiling wondered how Syaoran had learnt to break free of all his responsibilities like that. She, herself would never have been able to do that. What position could she possibly have in life then? For Syaoran, his case was different, because he would soon be the leader of the clan, whereas Meiling could be cast aside with no difficulty at all. She was just a mere cousin of the great Li Syaoran. Why, she didn't even have any real powers!!!
Maybe it //was\\ time to learn to set herself free from the bind she found herself trapped with.
"Okay," she said finally. "Tonight, half-past-twelve…I'm there!"
For one of the first times ever, Meiling found herself staring at a smile she had not seen too often directed at her, and Meiling couldn't help but smile back. Soon, the mystery would be uncovered and they'd find out if Sakura was dead…or not…
"…and now I've lost you both…" Fujitaka murmured, holding two framed photographs in his hands – one with a smiling young woman who seemed to hold all the love and peace of the world onto her shoulders…the other, a grinning fourteen-year-old girl with resplendent eyes, and a happy-go-lucky nature. Fujitaka hung his head, letting the dimness of his study consume him. "I thought that things would be alright…" he whispered. "By not killing her, I thought I was doing the right thing…but she came back, to ruin both your lives and it's all my fault."
He watched as a mosquito skimmed over the glass frames and absent-mindedly, he swiped it away. "And now…you're both gone…"
A shadow removed itself from the darkness and Touya stepped over to comfort his father. He had been standing there for quite some time, remembering how Sakura had come here once, and after that it seemed like something inside her had changed. "It'll be alright," he soothed. For him, it had always been both his parents who had comforted him whenever he had felt sad. When mother had died, though, it was as if a part of Fujitaka had been taken with her, and he no longer had enough time for his family. Instead, he threw himself into his job, spending his whole life teaching other students, or out on another trip. But, Fujitaka had still been a great father…and now, it was Touya's turn to comfort him in his time of turmoil.
"Life will go on…"
Touya, himself, felt his own inner anguish, but he was reminded of how his younger sister had always maintained such a bright and positive outlook on life, even when she was upset…
Chiharu stared out of the window of the classroom, the sparkle from her eyes gone. (AN: well, it's about time that the rest of the gang showed up!)
"When Tomoyo and Sakura were still here, we would have been having fun…" she murmured, her voice breaking as she looked down. Rika nodded and looked somber, patting her friend on the back. "God, I miss them…" Naoko added, in a near whisper. All three sat in gloomy silence.
The party that had once been five, had been downsized to three sad teenage girls. "And Syaoran and Eriol both haven't come to school ever since…" Chiharu trailed off, staring into space. Even the prospect that she was going to see Yamazaki-kun later tonight didn't excite her as much as it would have a month-or-so ago. Naoko nibbled her lip. "It's pretty strange, though how both Sakura and Tomoyo are both…um…dead…"
The word rang in their ears, painful as it eased into their minds and forced them to face reality. Rika nodded her dark brown head. "It's like they're all hiding something from us…even Li-kun and Hirigizawa-kun are secretive…it's like they know something that they know shouldn't be let out…"
There was silence…strange, uncomfortable silence. Finally, Naoko looked up.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! Did you know that Li Meiling is back?"
The other two shook their heads and stared at the girl in amazement.
"Are you serious?" they asked in unison. "Maybe she came back to take Syaoran back to Japan with her…"
Naoko shook her head. "No, I saw her at the park when I was walking to school today…and she seemed like she wasn't here to take Syaoran back. In fact, it's like she doesn't even care for him as more than a cousin anymore…"
Chiharu shrugged her shoulders. "Well, whatever reason she came back here for, I bet it's got something to do with Sakura…Meiling seems to know a lot about Sakura than she let on last time." The bell rang for the end of the school day and the rest of the class got up to go back home. The three girls stayed behind.
"Well…" Rika mused doubtfully. "It's not as if we can go to either one of them and demand to know what's going on…they've practically forgotten about us. Even Terada-sensei seems to acknowledge the fact that both Syaoran and Eriol aren't going to be joining us any time soon."
The three stood up to leave and said their goodbyes, each taking a different route towards home…
~ * ~ * ~
"Somebody tell me why I agreed to do this again," Meiling moaned as she crept through the darkness of the cemetery where all the deceased lay, in peaceful sleep. Now that they were actually following along with the plan, Meiling began to feel doubtful. Cemeteries always gave her the creeps, especially in the middle of the night. But Syaoran seemed as confident as ever.
"C'mon," he beckoned. "I know where her grave is…"
Meiling wondered if Wei had woken up and had discovered their empty beds, but she shook her dark head and decided not to think about it.
Instead, she followed Syaoran, tripping over sticks and stones. The moon was hidden behind a vast array of stormy clouds tonight, and each time Meiling heard a noise, she froze in fear. "Hurry up Meiling!" Syaoran called to his cousin.
Meiling obeyed and hurried to where Syaoran had stopped, stumbling over the tufts of grass.
"This is it…" Syaoran gave her a questioning look, then began digging. It was Meiling's job to claw away the roots that Syaoran couldn't get at with his shovel. It was around one, when Syaoran stopped the hard labour and leaned against his shovel, wiping sweat away from his forehead.
MEiling stood up and stared down at the dark oakwood casket planted among the soil. "It's now or never…" Meiling breathed, trying not to think about what there just about to do. With a nod, Syaoran knelt down and placed a firm grip on the coffin. "Help me with this, will you?" Syaoran asked, tugging at the wood.
Meiling compliedm, and together they pulled at the lid, working to get it open. Her hands and arms were aching and she was just wondering if they would ever open it, when she heard a small snap, and realized that they must have opened it somehow. Syaoran dug his fingers under the groove and pushed it wide open…
And it was at that time that the moon appeared (AN: coincidence, I think not!) from behind its hiding place to reveal a coffin devoid of any body…
It was empty!!!
Well, well, well…so the nymph was telling the truth after all!
Third last chapter up soon!
R+r plz!!!
Well, after the revelation…we'll see a bit of action…but the real action lies one or two chapters later. So hold onto your seatbelts! Woohoo!
Yup. Totally hyper-active…and I'm loving it! You're asking me if I suffer from insanity?
The answer is no. I quite enjoy it, actually. Soo…I do not own Card Captor Sakura. On with the story.
Hey, do you guys know that this is the fourth last chapter? (Yes, I've actually been counting! ) And then the last chapter will be super long to celebrate the ending of this fic…::sigh::
Where the Bones Lie
Seconds ticked by slowly as Meiling and Syaoran continued to stay frozen like blocks of ice refusing to melt. Syaoran didn't know how long he had been standing there, gaping at open space with his mouth wide open like an idiot. Meilin's reaction mirrored his own, and her eyes stared back at him, speechless.
"Kinomoto Sakura is not dead…" Syaoran broke the silence with a doubtful whisper as he repeated what the strange creature had just told them a moment ago…before she disappeared from sight.
Meiling swallowed, and managed to gain control of half her mind. The other half, it seemed, was still paralyzed in complete shock and utter disbelief. "Sakura…Sakura's alive?" She played with her dark hair, which had come loose at some parts from the swirling winds that had erupted from the Clow Book. Or rather…the Sakura Book. Meiling wondered if that once Syaoran was reunited with Sakura again, he might forget the little bond they had made as cousins during the day. He might even forget Meiling herself…as if she had never existed, and she'd be placed back on that platform again. Where she was assured a safe place, but also a place where she could see every movement and feel every ounce of love that radiated from Syaoran to Sakura. Meiling felt a lump in her throat. She had thought she had gotten over him…but obviously her heart needed more mending…
@ Don't be so selfish @ she admonished herself, shaking her head to clear her mind. @ You know that things would never be able to work out between you two anyway…but still…@ Meiling bit her lip and stole a glance at her ex-fiancée. His face seemed to become younger and filled with more hope…like the last time she'd seen him before this trip to Japan. It was clear that Sakura was the right one for her cousin and always had been. "Maybe…maybe the nymph was lying…" Meiling muttered, trying to make sense of her feelings while sorting out her mind at the same time.
"Yeah…but what would she get if she lied to us?" Syaoran asked her, already beginning to feel light-hearted again. Sakura was alive…if the nymph hadn't been lying of course…
"Only one way to find out…" Syaoran muttered. It was gonna be tough, but tonight he'd find out everything that he needed to know. Even if it killed him.
~ * ~ * ~
A damp cloth was pressed against Eriol's forehead, bringing him to open his eyes slowly and painfully. As his eyelids fluttered open, he glimpsed a pair of emerald eyes and wisps of brown hair…but he couldn't be sure.
He shut his ice-blue eyes again to stop the searing pain that crashed around inside his skull. "Seria…?" he whispered…his mouth dry. With a huge effort, he brought his eyes to open again and saw a pained look cross her features…and all at once he realized…
"Sakura…" his eyes closed again, and he heard a soft, pained answer.
"No…Kinomoto Sakura is…no more…"
There was a soft sigh, and then footsteps that retreated slowly, as Eriol felt a strange aura engulf the young girl. His breathing became laboured as sweat trickled down his face, and onto the dusty floor. His coughs were becoming harsher and drier. Whatever…Seria had hit him with, had definitely worked…
But this time nobody hurried to his aid to press a damp cloth against his forhead…it was as if the young brunette had changed entirely in the course of a few moments…(AN: does anybody think they get it now?)
"Syaoran you really //are\\ crazy!" Meiling exclaimed placing her hands on her hips in defiance. She shook her head and tried to stare her cousin down, but while she had been trying to regain a smile on her face in Huaring Bay, Li Syaoran had perfected his look of death, here in Tomeada, Japan. "I can't believe that you're actually going to do this!"
Syaoran wore a fixed look and Meiling knew that she wouldn't be able to change his mind once he got that look on his face. She sighed.
"Well, count me out this time! What would the Elders think?" She chewed her lip nervously wondering if they knew how she and Syaoran had entered somebody's house without invitation. It was one of their strict rules, and Meiling knew that there were equally strict punishments for the breakage of rules.
"Screw the Elders," Syaoran growled, harshly and Meiling was shocked. It was the first time that Meiling had heard Syaoran say something like that. When they were twelve he had complained about all of the rules, but she'd thought that he'd get over it once he got used to the idea of him becoming the clan leader. That was back when they had been engaged, of course. But now, things were different. Syaoran's resentment toward the Elders had led him to rebel against their wishes. Meiling was certain that even before her engagement with Syaoran had been broken off, he'd been making eyes at other girls for so long. Oh, Meiling knew that he wasn't really interested with any girls that he made eyes at, except Sakura, that is. He'd done it to spite the Elders and the entire clan. She remembered the grave faces of the members of the clan when they'd discussed whether or not Syaoran should leave Japan. In the end, they had decided to bring him back to China, and Syaoran had agreed, only because he was afraid of brining shame to his mother – Auntie Yelan. And that was when their engagement had been broken off and Meiling had left. Before they had both left Tomeada, Meiling remembered the harsh words that she had directed toward Sakura, and once again she felt guilt well up in the pit of her stomach. And she remembered the way everybody steered clear of her sullen face and harsh words, until her mother had had enough and took her to the outskirts of China. Meiling hadn't known that Syaoran had found a way to sweet talk his mother into sending him back to Tomeada. If she had, Meiling would have rushed to Tomeada all at once, in a seething rage. But now was different, and Meiling didn't feel the same jealousy and resentment that she would have six months earlier. She was even ready to accept Sakura as Syaoran's only love…but like most situations, it was too late. The most hated words in the English/Japanese dictionary, yet possibly the two words that hit closer to home.
"God, Meiling…don't you even care that they're stringing us along like little wooden puppets? If I had my way, I would've left all their rules and regulations a long time ago."
Meiling looked shocked. "But you're going to be the leader of the Li clan someday," she protested.
Syaoran frowned and shook his dark head stubbornly. "Don't remind me of all that cr@p, Meiling-chan," he growled. "You know as well as I do that the Elders would rather take over the whole position themselves."
Meiling wondered how Syaoran had learnt to break free of all his responsibilities like that. She, herself would never have been able to do that. What position could she possibly have in life then? For Syaoran, his case was different, because he would soon be the leader of the clan, whereas Meiling could be cast aside with no difficulty at all. She was just a mere cousin of the great Li Syaoran. Why, she didn't even have any real powers!!!
Maybe it //was\\ time to learn to set herself free from the bind she found herself trapped with.
"Okay," she said finally. "Tonight, half-past-twelve…I'm there!"
For one of the first times ever, Meiling found herself staring at a smile she had not seen too often directed at her, and Meiling couldn't help but smile back. Soon, the mystery would be uncovered and they'd find out if Sakura was dead…or not…
"…and now I've lost you both…" Fujitaka murmured, holding two framed photographs in his hands – one with a smiling young woman who seemed to hold all the love and peace of the world onto her shoulders…the other, a grinning fourteen-year-old girl with resplendent eyes, and a happy-go-lucky nature. Fujitaka hung his head, letting the dimness of his study consume him. "I thought that things would be alright…" he whispered. "By not killing her, I thought I was doing the right thing…but she came back, to ruin both your lives and it's all my fault."
He watched as a mosquito skimmed over the glass frames and absent-mindedly, he swiped it away. "And now…you're both gone…"
A shadow removed itself from the darkness and Touya stepped over to comfort his father. He had been standing there for quite some time, remembering how Sakura had come here once, and after that it seemed like something inside her had changed. "It'll be alright," he soothed. For him, it had always been both his parents who had comforted him whenever he had felt sad. When mother had died, though, it was as if a part of Fujitaka had been taken with her, and he no longer had enough time for his family. Instead, he threw himself into his job, spending his whole life teaching other students, or out on another trip. But, Fujitaka had still been a great father…and now, it was Touya's turn to comfort him in his time of turmoil.
"Life will go on…"
Touya, himself, felt his own inner anguish, but he was reminded of how his younger sister had always maintained such a bright and positive outlook on life, even when she was upset…
Chiharu stared out of the window of the classroom, the sparkle from her eyes gone. (AN: well, it's about time that the rest of the gang showed up!)
"When Tomoyo and Sakura were still here, we would have been having fun…" she murmured, her voice breaking as she looked down. Rika nodded and looked somber, patting her friend on the back. "God, I miss them…" Naoko added, in a near whisper. All three sat in gloomy silence.
The party that had once been five, had been downsized to three sad teenage girls. "And Syaoran and Eriol both haven't come to school ever since…" Chiharu trailed off, staring into space. Even the prospect that she was going to see Yamazaki-kun later tonight didn't excite her as much as it would have a month-or-so ago. Naoko nibbled her lip. "It's pretty strange, though how both Sakura and Tomoyo are both…um…dead…"
The word rang in their ears, painful as it eased into their minds and forced them to face reality. Rika nodded her dark brown head. "It's like they're all hiding something from us…even Li-kun and Hirigizawa-kun are secretive…it's like they know something that they know shouldn't be let out…"
There was silence…strange, uncomfortable silence. Finally, Naoko looked up.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! Did you know that Li Meiling is back?"
The other two shook their heads and stared at the girl in amazement.
"Are you serious?" they asked in unison. "Maybe she came back to take Syaoran back to Japan with her…"
Naoko shook her head. "No, I saw her at the park when I was walking to school today…and she seemed like she wasn't here to take Syaoran back. In fact, it's like she doesn't even care for him as more than a cousin anymore…"
Chiharu shrugged her shoulders. "Well, whatever reason she came back here for, I bet it's got something to do with Sakura…Meiling seems to know a lot about Sakura than she let on last time." The bell rang for the end of the school day and the rest of the class got up to go back home. The three girls stayed behind.
"Well…" Rika mused doubtfully. "It's not as if we can go to either one of them and demand to know what's going on…they've practically forgotten about us. Even Terada-sensei seems to acknowledge the fact that both Syaoran and Eriol aren't going to be joining us any time soon."
The three stood up to leave and said their goodbyes, each taking a different route towards home…
~ * ~ * ~
"Somebody tell me why I agreed to do this again," Meiling moaned as she crept through the darkness of the cemetery where all the deceased lay, in peaceful sleep. Now that they were actually following along with the plan, Meiling began to feel doubtful. Cemeteries always gave her the creeps, especially in the middle of the night. But Syaoran seemed as confident as ever.
"C'mon," he beckoned. "I know where her grave is…"
Meiling wondered if Wei had woken up and had discovered their empty beds, but she shook her dark head and decided not to think about it.
Instead, she followed Syaoran, tripping over sticks and stones. The moon was hidden behind a vast array of stormy clouds tonight, and each time Meiling heard a noise, she froze in fear. "Hurry up Meiling!" Syaoran called to his cousin.
Meiling obeyed and hurried to where Syaoran had stopped, stumbling over the tufts of grass.
"This is it…" Syaoran gave her a questioning look, then began digging. It was Meiling's job to claw away the roots that Syaoran couldn't get at with his shovel. It was around one, when Syaoran stopped the hard labour and leaned against his shovel, wiping sweat away from his forehead.
MEiling stood up and stared down at the dark oakwood casket planted among the soil. "It's now or never…" Meiling breathed, trying not to think about what there just about to do. With a nod, Syaoran knelt down and placed a firm grip on the coffin. "Help me with this, will you?" Syaoran asked, tugging at the wood.
Meiling compliedm, and together they pulled at the lid, working to get it open. Her hands and arms were aching and she was just wondering if they would ever open it, when she heard a small snap, and realized that they must have opened it somehow. Syaoran dug his fingers under the groove and pushed it wide open…
And it was at that time that the moon appeared (AN: coincidence, I think not!) from behind its hiding place to reveal a coffin devoid of any body…
It was empty!!!
Well, well, well…so the nymph was telling the truth after all!
Third last chapter up soon!
R+r plz!!!