The Desease that Killed Love

Chapter 6-Sakura

The land of the Li clan was very like that of the age of feudalism in China, where the noble aristocrats get land a country of size. And the Li clan was not small. Generations of elders, with hundreds of aunts and uncles and cousins of Syaoran. So many, that Syaoran did not know every one of them, and had yet to meet them all. But of all of the hundreds of cousins and aunts and uncles and elders, Meiling was his closest cousin. And Meiling, aside from his sisters and mother, is my closest friend, and the only one I know from that whole group.

There were many things to discover in that land. Hundreds of birds flocked within the trees. The air was fresh and cool, unlike that of the city of Tomoeda. It was hard to imagine any evil, darkness, or sorrow had ever existed here.

Oni-chan asked many questions, un, many questions. Tomoyo-chan and I had managed to keep him company, and occasionally Meiling as well. The sisters of Syaoran-kun went to accompany his mother, as well as accompany the rest of us during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. None of us went out for a while to enjoy the sights-we didn't have the heart to, and it just didn't seem right with us having fun while Syaoran was at home, taking his bitter medicine.

I tasted it once. Li-san was brewing the herbs when I went to the kitchen, and she smiled sadly at me. I remember asking how did it taste, and if Syaoran really hated it. She did not answer, but held out the broth to me.

I dipped a finger in it. It was hot, but not so it would burn me. I sucked my finger dry.

Bitter! Indeed! Those few drops scorched my tongue as if it was spicy, and down my throat. The bitterness remained on my tongue, in my throat, around my teeth and the roof of my mouth. I was bitter. It was bitter. I stuck my tongue out and tried to rid it of the taste, but it wouldn't go. I looked at Li-san and asked, how could Syaoran drink such a thing? And she said,
" He's a good boy. He's a very good boy."

Not that I'm not a good girl. But she said it sadly, and I knew she meant that he did not deserve to drink this daily. The taste remained for hours, and the only thing that could relieve it was chocolate. Chocolate! No wonder Syaoran-kun loved chocolate, the only medicine for this bitter draught. Wonderful, sweet chocolate, Syaorans' favorite. And I no longer blame him, if I ever did.

Kero hung out with Syaoran, a good thing. Sometimes Syaoran would appear with Meiling, but that became less and less. He grew more and more quiet, and at mealtimes he would hardly eat anything. Spoke not a word to his mother, sometimes hanging out with his sisters, but never a word to me.

I will not hide the fact that I felt hurt, but I suppose the fact that Yue's his father and he's also my guardian Syaoran would not have anything to do with me for a long while.

One day it was raining. Syaoran was nowhere to be seen, and we, the young girls-Tomoyo, Meiling, and I, were in Meiling's room at the other side of the mansion. There were a couple of other mansions about, but this one happened to be the largest.
" So Yamazaki fooled Chiharu on the only ' logical' story he had ever told in his life."
" Really?" Meiling laughed. " He never said anything with common sense when I was there. People change quickly."
" No kidding." I laughed uneasily. I was still worried about Syaoran, but for the present our minds are away from it. " So Chiharu-san went with him and you know what happened!"
" Oh shoot!" Meiling laughed. " I so wish I was there to see her face!"
" Hai, it was some laughing matter." Tomoyo smiled. " So how have things been going here?"
" It was alright, I guess." Meiling thought for a moment. " Aunt was a little sick these days, I guess from the heat. I hope she's not having another baby again..."

We sweatdropped. That was not a good reminder.



Kero came to my room during nighttime. It was still raining outside. I was laying on the bed reading Chinese-there were a great many words I didn't know, but most of them I understood, although the grammar was awful. It was kind of like saying " You are who?" although it probably would have been better if it was ' You are whom?" But I suppose it didn't matter. There was another funny thing that Chinese has-when they say " I speak Chinese," They say " Chinese speaks I". Or so it is to those who speak Japanese.

But not withstanding, Kero appeared through the doorway looking quite depressed, and flew over to my bedside.
" The kid would not eat." He muttered. " He'll starve to death if he does not eat. And he insists on practicing that stupid martial arts at in his condition, although thankfully not now. Good god."
" Ay, you know Syaoran, Always stubborn. We'll deal with him tomorrow." I yawned. " I hope he'll come to his senses. I feel so sorry for him."
" Don't we all?" Kero snapped. " But he is drowning in self pity, not that I blame him, and his anger is going to kill him. I"m going to sleep in his room tonight."
" Ano...hoe?" I blinked. " Ke-"

But he was already gone.