Episode 5

"What am I doing here?"Tomoyo demanded as she gripped the blanket tightly.

Eriol calmly crossed his legs."You're lying down in my bed,resting."Behind him,Nakuru snickered.

She sat up."Yes,but-"She remembered that she tried to save Sakura,and in turn,was thrown off by Himitsu's attatck.And then..

She vaguely felt someone break her fall.Strong arms caught her and brought her to safety.The boy with the black coat..

So now what was she doing in ERiol Hiragizawa's room?

He read her thoughts."Someone dressed in black outfit brought you here."

She nodded.

"So you're feeling well enough to go home?"he asked.

She nodded again.

"She's quite talkative."commented Nakuru sarcastically.

Eriol chuckled."Now don't scare her.She just woke up."

She bowed down"Arigato for looking after me,Hiragizawa-kun."

"You're most welcome,Daidouji-san."He stood up too."But I do hope that next time you will think twice before you act.Heroism is not always the eagerness to get hurt for other people's sake,but the good outcome your act brought out."he advised.

She paused."Hiragizawa-kun?"

"Forget what I said."he said.



"Syaoran,wait up!"Sakura ran after the walking boy and his cousin."Help me look for Tomoyo,plese!I called up Aunt Sonomi but she said Tomoyo didn't go home last night."

Li frowned.Is it possible that Himistu kidnapped Tomoyo?

Meiling looked back and forth at the two."Why?What happened last night?"

Li's teeth gritted."M-Meiling,go home ahead of me.Prepare our dinner."

"S-Syaoran..?"

He ran off with Sakura,leaving Meiling standing all alone in the middle of the school yard,confused.She sighed.She still wasn't used to the notion that Sakura is now the no.1 girl in Li Syaoran's life.

She then noticed Himitsu walking home all alone.She ran to him,waving."Himitsu!!"



"Yao!!"Little Meiling ran to him,sobbing.She threw herself into his chest and started wailing."Yao,Syaoran refused to play with me again!"

He sighed."Mei,your cousin is busy doing some serious training.You know that he's the next leader of the Li clan."He tried to sound reasonable.

"But can't he spare at least half an hour from his time?Am I not worth it?"she asked,eyes wide.

"Look,I'll try to talk to him again-"

"No,I changed my mind.I'll play with you."

"But I thought-"

"You're the only person who is this kind to me.Hsieh hsieh."She hugged him tightly."Wo ai ni,Yao."

"Mei.."He felt his heart beat quicken.

Wo ai ni.

I love you.

Mei didn't know yet how much those three words affected him.



"Himitsu!!"He heard someone call his name.He turned around and saw Li Meiling running after him.Blood crept on his face as his heart started pounding and his palms began to feel sweaty and clammy.

Damn,what was happening to him?

"M-Ms. Meiling?"he said.

She beamed."Let's walk home together."

"T-Together?"he choked.

"Yeah,what's wrong with that?"she asked.She then smiled teasingly."Don't tell me you ALREADY have a girlfriend and she would get jealous when she sees you with me,hmm?"

"N-No,I-"Good grief?Why does he get tounge-tied whenever she's talking to him."I don't have one."he managed to choke out."How about you,Ms.Meiling?Won't someone get jealous when he sees you with me?"

She pouted."I wish,but he ran off with another girl already."

"Who?"

"He's a boy in our class.My cousin,Li Syaoran."

"Oh."he said.Still Li Syaoran?

"But well,this is my cousin's chance to ask the girl out anyway."she said sadly.

He looked at her."Your cousin..you love him,don't you?"

"Very much,Himitsu."she whispered."I love him more than anyone else in the world."

He remained quiet,listening.

"But I want him to be happy,even if it means someone else would give him that.E-Even if I know he would only get hurt in the end."

She looked up and found him gazing at her sympathetically.Just like Daidouji,he didn't pity her.His eyes showed concern.

She gasped.Just like-

-the nine year old boy who was her best friend.

She shook her head.Yao is gone.Why was she suddenly remembering him again?

"Ms.Meiling,I'm sure the right man will come for you someday.Someone who would love you better."he said comfortingly.

"Thanks,Himitsu."She felt strangely good."Is it ok if I call you Himitsu?"

"N-No problem,Ms.Meiling."he croaked.

"Well,this is my house."She stopped in front of the gates."Thanks for walking with me.I barely felt the time pass."

"L-Likewise."He made no move to leave.

She looked puzzled."Do you want to come in?"

He blushed."N-No!"He cleared his throat."I mean,I was just waiting for you to enter your house safely.I-I was just making sure-"

Meiling giggled."I see.Thanks,Himitsu.see you tomorrow!"She skipped into the house.

Himitsu looked at her,a small smile on his face.For the first time since ages,he was excited to face the next day."See you tomorrow,Ms.Meiling."he whispered.



"Tomoyo?!"SAkura and Li looked at Tomoyo who was kneeling beside her videotape.

She looked up,a weak smile on her face."Hey."

"What happened?"asked Li.

She looked down."Um.."

"Where were you?"asked Sakura,clearly worried.

Tomoyo looked at her videocam."I'm not sure myself."she admitted."Let's watch my video record on last night's battle just to be sure."

Both Sakura and Syaoran nodded.


To be continued..