Chapter 4
'flying free'
Meilin watched the cigarette tremble as Eric tried to light it unsuccessfully. Try though he did, he couldn't seem to generate a steady flame in his lighter.
"It's an unhealthy habit anyway," she pointed out, and he gave her a hunted look.
"Not you too. Jessie was always harping on it as well. Right now, I really need this to relax. It's not every day one becomes a target for criminals."
He looked so shaken, and she really couldn't blame him. The events of the past day were a little surreal to her too.
Without speaking, she took the lighter from his hand and pressed the latch, holding it up until his cigarette was lit and he could take a deep and grateful breath.
"Thank you," he sighed, and blew the smoke out into the muggy evening air. They were leaning against the railing of the fire escape outside the room, watching the activity below.
"Will you be all right?"
"Fine, fine. Just a little, um, jumpy. I keep seeing guys that look like them, and that's wearing, because here in Hong Kong there's a lot of guys that look like them."
"Yes."
She sounded so cool and collected, and Eric despised himself for sounding like such a wimp.
"Damn, how can you be so calm about this? This happen to you often, or what?"
"No, of course not. But it's hardly the end of the world. Men attack, I fight back. It's something I know how to do, and so I do it." To her, the fighting aspect wasn't nearly as disturbing as having just walked out on her family, but she could hardly explain that. All she could do was shrug complacently, and then wince a little at the burst of pain in her shoulder. Eric noticed right away.
"Whoa, did you hurt yourself?"
"It's nothing. Just a few aches. That concrete was very hard."
"Always is." Eric stubbed out his half-finished smoke and turned to crawl back inside the window. "Come on, I'll give you a massage."
"What? Oh no, I couldn't."
"Seriously, come on, it's the least I can do." He snagged her wrist and pulled her gently over the windowsill. "It's what any decent guy would do for a girl that just got wailed on while fighting to save him. Right?"
Meilin hesitated; this didn't seem very proper. But probably no more so than sharing a room with a complete stranger for two nights in a row.
"Just sit down and relax. Trust me, I'm good at this."
He pushed her gently down on his bed and sat behind her, moving her silky black hair to over her shoulder. Though she was back in the same clothes, she'd just showered in the hostel's bathroom and smelled fresh and clean. Her muscles were rigid under his hands, but he rubbed his fingers gently over her skin and exerted a slight pressure.
"Wow," she said after a few minutes. "You really are good."
"What did I tell you? I was on the swim team all through high school, and we all got really good at giving each other backrubs after practice. It's a finely tuned art." Not to mention a great way to get girls over the years. Jessica had certainly been hooked. He leaned forward slightly and inhaled her scent, wondering whether or not he should drop a light kiss on the back of her neck. It was the perfect time; he should go for it.
But then he pictured an offended expression, a look of disgust or rejection, and her walking out the door. He'd never been afraid before that a girl might reject him, but this was different. The stakes were so much higher. If Meilin left, he'd be fair game for his attackers. So he played it safe and dropped his hands after a while, scooting away and hoping that his red face wasn't too visible in the dimly lit room.
"Thank you," she finally said after a long moment of silence.
"It was nothing." She stretched her arms above her head and yawned, feeling more relaxed than she had in a while. Eric really was quite good.
"You look beat. Guess that was some fight."
"Most difficult opponent since I was ten," she said matter-of-factly. "He's almost as good. Well, maybe the same."
"Ten? Who did you fight when you were just ten years old?" She hesitated, not meeting his eyes.
"A girl in blue. It's… difficult to explain."
"Yeah. I get that." He watched her stand up and cross the room to collapse onto her own bed with a tiny groan of pain. "Uh, you beat her. Right?"
"She pounded me flat." She rolled over to face away from him. "Would you mind getting the light?"
Eric did as he was told, plunging the room into relative darkness. Flickering neon lights still blared through the window, and he paused to look out at Hong Kong once more.
I am so screwed, he thought to himself. Meilin's breathing was already becoming more regular and even, and he watched her lustrous black hair fall across the covers in the glow of the city.
But hell, what else am I going to do? She's all I got. There's no one else.
*****
"Hai, I'm fine, Onii-chan. The flight was fine, the house is fine, everything is fine. Nothing disastrous has happened yet."
"It's probably only a matter of time," her brother sniffed. "I know you."
"How nice for you," she said wryly. "I've called and checked in. Can I go now? I'm really tired."
"What room are you sleeping in?"
"The same room I always sleep in when I visit, Onii-chan. And it's all the way down the hall from Syaoran's. Relax, already."
"When are you coming home?"
"Onii-chan! I just got here! Would you mind giving me a chance to even look for Meilin before you start demanding my return?"
"Well, how long is it going to be?" he huffed impatiently.
"I don't know. That's the point. We're here to find Meilin and I cannot tell where she is and how long it's going to take to find her. I've got almost two weeks before school starts again, there's nothing to worry about."
He said nothing, but she heard him make an unhappy noise in the back of his throat and take a breath, as if he were about to speak. There was a muffled noise in the background, and the sound of the receiver being covered by someone's hand. Now she could hear two voices arguing, and smiled to herself as she wandered through the door and out into the gardens of Syaoran's home. As always, Yukito was intervening on her behalf. She knew she could count on him.
"All right," Touya finally grouched. "I guess it will be okay. But you're calling and checking in every night, you hear? I will be waiting, and if I don't hear from you I'll be coming down there too. Got that?"
"Got it," she assured him, tipping her chin upward until she was looking up to the roof. He was still there, as he had been for the past hour. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye."
She hung up before he could delay her any longer, and set the phone down before clambering up the rainpipe to join her boyfriend. She could have used the Jump Card, but every so often she liked to climb for the fun of it.
"Syaoran, it's almost one in the morning. Why don't you go to bed?"
He opened his eyes and heaved a sigh, glaring at the brightly lit panorama before them. This house had a beautiful view of Hong Kong and the harbor.
"I never noticed how much was out there," he despaired. "It's a jungle of mysterious powers, latent forces, ancient and new magics vying for control. It's impossible to get a bead on any one force."
"Kero-chan used to say the same thing. I guess the city's retained a lot of its old mysticism."
"I feel some stuff, stronger and more dangerous than the rest, but Mother was right. I'm not picking up any hostility directed towards us at all. And nothing that seems capable of blocking my locator magic." He waved his hand out to the night air. "Really, it's just business as usual. So what the hell happened?"
It was a rhetorical question, and Sakura could only shrug helplessly as they turned their gaze on the city lights.
"Clow couldn't have created a Find or a Search Card. Oh no, he had to make a Sweet Card instead. That's helpful."
"Syaoran, it'll be okay." She covered his hand with hers. "I said I'd help and I'm going to. But neither of us can do anything when we're exhausted and irritable. You're not thinking clearly. Go to bed. Tomorrow is another day."
"I won't be able to sleep, Sakura. I keep seeing her. All alone, helpless, totally cut off from everyone and at the mercy of something horrible. It hurts," he choked.
"I know. But you'll be able to sleep."
"No I won't."
"Yes," she said firmly. "You will. Even if I have to play dirty. You will get your rest tonight."
It said a lot for Syaoran's fatigue that he didn't understand what she was talking about at first. Then he remembered the Sleep Card and groaned.
"You wouldn't."
"I will. And there's nothing you can do to stop me. So come on. Let's go back inside."
There was such determination in her eyes, and Syaoran hesitated only a moment longer before surrendering and giving a resigned nod.
"That's more like it." She planted a light kiss on his cheek. "Let's go."
----------------------------------------------------------
This time when Eric woke up, Meilin was already up and out of bed. Blearily he watched her lean over to touch her toes, then stretch her arms over her head.
"You make me feel like a sloth just watching you," he mumbled.
"So get up then."
He fumbled for his watch and held it up.
"You're kidding. It's before noon? I didn't think there was a time before noon on vacations. Forget it."
Determinedly he buried his face in his pillow, but already he was too awake to drift back into slumber. He sneaked a peek at Meilin, now moving into the splits and touching her chest to the floor.
"Do that every morning?"
"Most days, yes. Followed by weapons training and shadowboxing, then finished with several repetitions of pushups and pull-ups."
He snorted into his pillow. "Talk about an overachiever. How boring. What do you do all that junk for?"
She rested her chin in her hands and gave him a withering look. "You're actually asking that, after what happened last night?"
"What – oh, right." He closed his eyes again in brief despair. Why did she have to bring that up? "I completely forgot about that. That's it, I'm not getting up."
"Don't be silly. You're bound to get hungry eventually."
"I can go without food."
"Eric, you can't hide in bed for the rest of your vacation."
"Oh yeah? Why not?" At last he managed to push himself up to a sitting position, and scowled in her direction. "There are nasty people out there that want to kidnap me for money, and probably make my life hell. Call me crazy, but they don't look like the touchy feely kind of criminals. I'd just as soon not give them that opportunity, thank you. I'm staying put."
She pushed her legs together and hugged her knees to her chest as she stared down his scowl.
"Last night you were angry that these men might ruin your vacation. How will staying in bed save it?"
Eric opened his mouth, then shut it again. Damn, she did have a point.
"Trying to pretend a situation doesn't exist will never work. Trust me. You have to deal with it, even if it's scary."
"Oh, come on. Who are you, Yoda?"
"Huh?" She looked so confused that he had to smile. "Who?"
"Never mind. Fine, I'll get out of bed. But I won't like it."
She shrugged.
"Whatever you say."
*****
He did look a little jumpy for the remainder of the morning, as well as through lunch. When a waiter dropped a dish behind him, he rocketed out of his chair and nearly tipped over their own table.
"Eric."
"What?"
"I think you need to calm down." His face was paper white and he was breathing heavily. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at them. "You're attracting attention to yourself."
He forced a nervous chuckle and sank back into his seat. Now he could feel a blush spreading across his cheeks when he saw the way she was looking at him. He was coming off like a complete wimp, and she looked so collected. It was a little humiliating.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"There's no need to be sorry." She sipped her tea and he gave her an envious look.
"Meilin?"
"Hmm?"
"You're not, by any chance, enjoying this. Are you?"
He knew he'd guessed right the second she met his eyes.
"Ah, well. 'Enjoy' is a strong word. But it's nice to feel useful, I suppose."
"Great. Swell. Glad to oblige." He buried his face in his hands and whimpered a little. Never had a relationship taken such a turn for the worse in his life. She would never respect him now. And what girl liked a guy that she didn't respect?
"Have some of the spicy beef. It's quite tasty."
He'd been picking at his food, but another glance at her placid expression convinced him. Maybe he was freaked out more than he'd ever been in his life, but for the sake of his pride he could try and at least hide it. He would put up a brave face for her.
"You're right," he said after swallowing. "It is good."
She allowed one of her rare smiles to emerge, and he gave a sincere grin in return. She realized that he was trying, and that impressed her. She did feel sorry for him, really. He seemed so nice, completely undeserving of all this. Meilin made up her mind right then that she would make sure nothing happened to him. It was the least she could do.
Eric never had to work so hard at relaxing in his life, but as the afternoon progressed he realized that it was just too much effort to be nervous all the time. He let Meilin take him on a tour through a couple of temples, then they wound up on a busy street corner for a frappuccino break.
"What's that noise?" On the far side of the intersection he thought he could see a shadowy alleyway with crowds of people going in and out. A shrill cacophonous noise carried clearly across to the café.
"That's Bird Street." A funny look crossed her face.
"What's that?"
"It's a bird market; nothing special. Tourist trap, really."
"Everybody looks Chinese to me," he pointed out, and she bit her lip. "What? Have a thing against birds?"
"Hardly."
"Well let's go check it out. Now I'm curious." He was more than curious. Something about that place seemed to bother her, and he was more than interested in something that bothered that too-cool exterior. She just shrugged.
"Fine, if you want to see it, we can see it."
"So enthusiastic!"
"I never signed on to be your personal tour guide."
"But you're doing a swell job of it," he teased, and she rolled her eyes.
"I've had practice. You're not the first."
"What?" But she was already crossing the road, and didn't reply.
*****
"This is really the best you could think of?" Kero sniffed, and Li shot him a glare.
"That's the tenth time you asked me that. Do you mind? Yes, this is the best that I could think of!"
"But we've been all over the city! I'm tired."
"Tough. We're scouting for magical power, and it can only be done one block at a time, on foot. And why are you complaining anyway? I've been letting you ride on my shoulder!"
"Not exactly a selling point," he griped, and rustled his wings in irritation. With a little help from the Illusion Card, any casual onlooker would have only seen a white crested parakeet on Li's shoulder. For Li, however, Kero's annoying fuzzy smirk was plainly visible, and he ground his teeth.
"You shouldn't be talking so much anyway. Parakeets rarely carry on opinionated and pointless conversations with their owners."
"Well I don't see why we had to go through with this ridiculous illusion anyway. I wanted to go with Sakura!"
"So did I. But she said she wanted to work on her own, and so here we are. So would you just pipe down?"
"You could have said no."
"Clearly," Li grunted, "you've never had a girlfriend."
Kero hmphed disdainfully, and they fell into a grouchy silence as Li continued up the block.
"Ooh, a café! Let's stop for scones, please? Please?"
"No! For the millionth time, you stupid stuffed animal, we're here to find my cousin. This is not a pleasure trip!"
Someone nearby looked up, and he blushed before turning away.
"And you're doing such a terrific job," Kero drawled. "Walk around and hope you can 'feel' something? Good plan."
"I don't see you coming up with any brainstorms."
"Well there's got to be an easier way than this."
"There isn't," Li snapped. "There's no hint of who may have done it, and there's no way of knowing even when she disappeared, let alone how. My spell wouldn't work and she doesn't even have a magical aura that I can sense."
"You grew up with the girl. Can't you sense anything of her?"
Li heaved a sigh and raked his fingers through his hair. The afternoon was getting hotter and hotter, and his bangs were sticking to his forehead with sweat.
"I don't know. Not really. I never had to worry about finding her before. Generally I was more concerned with hiding from her."
It hurt to say that, and he closed his eyes briefly. All those wasted years, all that time when he took her presence completely for granted. He'd give anything right now just to see her safe and sound.
"Hang on. I think I'm picking up something."
"Of her?"
"No, nothing like that. It's definitely some kind of magical power, but I can't tell if it's good or evil or somewhere in the middle. Can't you feel it?"
"Maybe. But it's no different than anything else I've sensed this morning. This stuff is everywhere in this city, particularly the old parts." He raised a paw to point. "Look, there's Bird Street, right where Sakura first sensed Madoushi. It could be anything."
"All the more reason to go check it out."
"Fine, get going already. I'm not stopping you. I'm just saying it will be a waste of time."
"Shut up."
"Wow, this place is so cool." In the shade of the scarlet tent awning, Eric pushed his Oakleys up and smiled at her. "I can't believe how many birds there are!"
"They're popular pets."
"No kidding? I was always figured that whole 'walking the bird for air' was just another Asian myth. It's really true?"
"I suppose so."
"Do you have one?"
"What?"
"A bird." Eric raised his eyebrows slightly at her startled expression. After a few moments she finally answered.
"Um, no. I don't."
"Oh."
Her eyes dropped and she leaned down to examine a brightly colored cockatoo in its cage.
"Poor little thing, all caged up. I should have told him to just let her go. Maybe she didn't want to come back."
Eric leaned in slightly, trying to hear what she was saying. It was so noisy here, and she was speaking quietly.
"What?"
"Nothing." She straightened a second before Eric did, and stepped away from the birdcage and its uncomfortable memories.
And found herself looking directly at Li Syaoran.
Li was scanning the crowded marketplace when their eyes met, and his gaze traveled onward before his mind caught up and he snapped his head back.
There was no one there.
"Polly want a cracker?" Kero whistled again, taking pleasure in teasing the poor parakeet that had been leashed to its post. "Hey, good lookin'. What's happening?"
"Kero!" he gasped, rooted to the ground in shock.
"What?"
"I saw her! She – she's here!" He started pushing his way through the crowd, a flabbergasted 'bird' flapping to catch up.
"What? Who?"
"Meilin! Just a second ago, I saw her standing right there in the street!"
"Your imagination."
Li was breathing hard as he slowed down, turning in circles as he neared the red tent.
"No," he insisted. "It was her. She was looking right at me."
"Well, where is she then?"
There was no sign of her.
"I don't know."
Eric wasn't quite sure what had happened. One second she'd been standing there, looking all tragic, the next she'd thrown herself against the tent post and pulled him close.
"Hey -"
"Shh!"
"What?" he whispered. "Is it Jingo and his gang?"
She didn't take the time to correct him.
"No," she hissed. "No, it's nothing to be afraid of." She tightened her grip on his shirt, keeping the tall blonde between herself and the rest of the crowd. "Just – don't move."
"Hmm… this is interesting. Somebody is looking scared."
"I'm not scared," she lied.
"Yeah right." For a girl that could take on three attackers at once without batting an eye, she looked petrified. She was peeking around his arm now, looking at something. He was dying to turn around and see, but being this close to her had its own attractions as well. He leaned in closer and brushed her ear with his mouth.
"Hiding from someone?"
"Maybe."
"Who?"
"It's complicated." She followed Li with her eyes over Eric's shoulder, watching him wander closer. He looked confused; she could see it. He had definitely spotted her, she was sure, but he might brush it off as his imagination if she could just keep hidden.
What was he doing here anyway? And with a bird on his shoulder? Of all people, why did he have to be here?
He was just a few steps away from Eric when he snapped at the bird that he wasn't seeing things, and to shut the hell up.
So that's it. It's Kero in disguise. I should have known. Sakura must be here too. They're all here. Oh god, what am I doing?
Meilin whimpered and rested her head against his chest, causing Eric to swallow and clear his throat a little.
"But I saw her," Li protested again, beginning to feel less sure of himself.
"Sure you did, kid."
"I did! She was right here, and she looked at me and I think she saw me too. She looked surprised."
"Look, kiddo, I thought the br- Meilin was in the clutches of some horrible sorcerer. She wouldn't exactly be wandering around Bird Street, now would she?"
"Well… no."
"And even if she was, it's not like she would see you and then run off, right?"
"No," Li admitted grudgingly.
"You're just hallucinating," Kero surmised. "Picturing what you can't see for real. Maybe it's time we took a break, okay?"
Li shuffled a little as he paused beside a blonde tourist. He couldn't explain it precisely, but there was something that was calling at him, telling him not to walk away. But the stuffed animal was right; Meilin was nowhere here and probably never had been. He was becoming delirious with fear and overwork.
"Fine. We'll stop for a drink. I guess I need it."
"Finally."
With supreme reluctance, Li backed away and then turned to retreat past the tents. He never saw the tourist wrap his arms around Meilin and squeeze her comfortingly. For the first time since the night she'd rescued him, Eric saw her as a girl who could be vulnerable and scared. She wasn't untouchably fearless after all. In an instant he forgot all his own fears in concern for her.
"It's okay," he murmured, and held her close. "You're okay."
No I'm not, she thought miserably, but didn't say anything out loud. I'm lost, and I'm so confused. I hid from Syaoran! What's wrong with me? Why did I hide?
It's not too late. I could go after him right now, explain everything. He might be angry with me, but at least he'd be relieved. I should go find him.
But she didn't move, just stood still and let Eric hold her.
Li stuffed his hands in his pockets and left Bird Street, an unhappy mixture of frustration and fatigue. He didn't see the man with the red band over his brow until it was too late, and he stumbled backward from the painful collision.
"Gomen – I mean, excuse me," he quickly corrected himself. The other Chinese man scowled, and instinctively Li tensed. They traded glowers for a moment, then the stranger brushed past him, followed by a few others. They were headed right where he'd just come from, and for a moment he was tempted to follow. There was something about that group that didn't feel quite right.
"Kid! Are we getting a drink or what? C'mon, I'm thirsty!" When he didn't respond immediately, the beast of the seal clamped his teeth down on Li's ear, making the teen yelp and leap into the air.
"Ouch! Stop that!"
"Had to get your attention. Now come on, I wanna frappuccino!"
"You're not getting one out of me." Li rubbed his smarting ear and tried to swallow a groan. Why did Sakura have to be so cruel, anyway? No one deserved this!
"Sakura said you have to," Kero taunted. "I'll tell if you won't!"
"Fine, fine! Just keep your teeth to yourself. Stupid mangy stuffed animal…"
"I heard that!"
"Yeah? Whatcha gonna do about it?"
Li forgot about his minor encounter as they bitched their way across the street. All he could think of was getting home and getting rid of Kero's cursed presence.
*****
Sakura bit her lip as she drew closer to the forbidding gates of the Li home. She really did feel bad about insisting that Kero and Syaoran work together. She knew one was very likely to injure the other before the day was out. But it couldn't be helped; she had her reasons.
"Jump." Wings sprouted on her shoes and she leapt lightly to the top of the wall. She was still a little nervous about this; she'd have a heck of a time explaining herself if she got caught. But she had to go for it now; it would be time to meet with Syaoran back at his home soon, and she needed to do this alone.
The sun rested easily in the late afternoon sky, casting the estate in its golden light. No one seemed to be about; perhaps they were taking tea. It was just as well. Adroitly she sprang for the nearest rooftop, then the next and the next until she found Meilin's parents' dwelling.
**
Eric thought he could feel her shivering, despite the humid and close atmosphere, and drew away slightly so he could see her face. Her eyes were dry, but there was a conflicted, tortured look in them that made him cringe.
"Meilin?" She didn't reply. "Meilin, who was it?"
It must have been someone really awful, he thought. She looked so wrenched, so desperate. So in need of comfort…
He was already leaning in before it consciously occurred to him to kiss her, but he never had a chance to carry through.
"I'm so good at interrupting these moments," Jing Kun said apologetically, "aren't I?" Both of them stiffened, and Eric pulled away with a resigned sigh.
"Not you again," he groaned. How were these guys even finding them? "What do you want? Can't you go pick on some other rich kid?"
He sneaked a sideways glance at Meilin and saw that she'd pulled herself together in an instant; there was no trace of the turmoil that had been so vivid earlier.
"Oh, but we like you," Jing Kun answered cheerfully. His cronies were spreading out again, drifting casually to the tents and stands nearby. Because of their position, the two couldn't be literally surrounded, but Eric had the uneasy feeling they were being penned in. "You strike me as being fun."
Eric almost gulped at the nasty inflection, but he kept his game face on and lifted his chin.
"Hey man, don't make me make Meilin kick your ass."
Those black eyes sought Meilin and stayed on her face, glittering with desire.
"I'm ready any time she is."
"A little public, isn't it?" Meilin queried.
"I could have said the same for you two. What, couldn't wait to get a room?" Eric reddened at the snickers all around, and nearly kicked himself. How could he be more obvious? Meilin didn't seem to get it at all and just looked puzzled.
"Look," Eric snapped, trying to cover his embarrassment, "I don't know how you found us, or why you're so fixated on me. But even you must realize that it would be idiotic to start something here. There's a hundred people in this street."
"Indeed," Jing Kun agreed, still staring at Meilin. "So many people, so crowded." He raised a finger and pointed toward his guy on the far right, who moved even closer to an elderly customer. "Hardly have to reach out at all to find our nearest victims. We're all pretty good, you know. Any one of us can break a neck in under five seconds. Imagine how much the four of us could do in just a minute."
Eric inhaled sharply, but Meilin said nothing.
"I mean, imagine the panic that would ensue. People might riot. A lot of folks could get hurt, not to mention the poor little birdies. Police would get here right quick, sure, but I think they'd have a problem just getting through the mess, let alone finding us. And gwei lo here might even disappear in all the confusion." He paused, watching her expression, and slowly smiled. "So, firecracker. What's it going to be?"
**
The sun was no longer in the western sky. Instead it was directly overhead, beating down with its warmth. The grounds and sky were suffused with the same pale lavender that had appeared when she first met the Return Card. Like before, everything was still and quiet. Sakura waited patiently, and after a few moments a door slammed beneath her.
There was a quiet giggle, then a metallic sound, like something being unclasped. Sakura crept to the edge of the roof and peeked over.
A young girl with long black pigtails was skipping forward from the porch, holding something carefully against her chest. She leaned down and murmured something in Chinese that was far too quick for Sakura to catch, her Cantonese being marginal at best.
But she did recognize that dress. How could she ever forget, that last day of summer vacation? Meilin had taken them all by surprise.
"I don't need you anymore," the girl below said in almost perfect Japanese, louder. "We both get to fly."
She held out her hands and opened them, revealing a twittering bundle of feathers. After a moment, the bird flapped her wings and took off, quickly disappearing in the treetops.
Sakura almost cried out in surprise, but clamped her mouth shut just in time.
Meilin loved that bird. I never asked what happened to it. She just let it go?
"Got rid of it?" inquired an impatient voice. The woman Sakura had met the night before emerged from below, lugging a suitcase.
"Yes, Mother."
"Finally. Nasty, dirty creature. I never did like it, and I think my sister knew that when she gave it to you."
She dropped the suitcase on the lawn and leaned over to fuss with Meilin's dress, straightening it. Meilin's smile had slipped away as her mother spoke, and now she clasped her hands behind her back and looked down.
"Well, that's as good as it gets, I suppose," Mrs. Li sighed, and stood up. "It's almost time for you to go. Do you understand what an honor this is?"
"Yes Mother."
"Do you? I doubt it. This is your chance to redeem yourself to the family. A chance to prove yourself worthy."
"Yes Mother."
"This is your best opportunity to curry Syaoran's favor. You know important it is to us."
"Yes Mother."
"I mean it." She took Meilin's chin in her hand and gripped it fiercely, her glare becoming threatening. "This is your chance to make something of yourself. Surprise me and don't screw this up."
"My lady," called a polite new voice, and Sakura saw a servant standing by a car in the drive. "It's time to leave."
"At last," Mrs. Li grunted. She pushed the suitcase into Meilin's arms and reminded her of posture. "Don't let anything get in the way of you and him. You can't afford it; you're worth nothing without him. Remember that."
She turned on her heels and strode briskly back into the house, without so much as a hug or even a goodbye. Meilin hugged her suitcase to her chest and sent one last look at the trees before running to the car.
**
Meilin was holding his hand lightly, not lacing their fingers in case she had to let go quickly. They were being herded now, guided down the remainder of Bird Street. Eric's palm was sweating a little, but he didn't look ready to panic. He must have pushed back his fear. That was good. Now if she could just do the same for herself.
Jing Kun's breathing behind her was light and steady, but it sounded like a turbulent roar in her ears. He was better than any human she'd ever fought, and she couldn't be sure his henchmen would hold back this time. Her adrenaline was pumping hard, her heart beating fast.
The two men before them turned into a little alleyway off to the left.
"If you please," Jing Kun asked politely. Meilin nodded and motioned for Eric to go in first, then followed. It was just a tiny corridor between buildings that would end soon, she could see by the light up ahead. When they came out in that light, the two would be surrounded. That she could not allow to happen.
**
The sun was closer to the horizon now, it was approaching evening. The exact same car was pulling up the drive now, coming to a slow stop. A rather pale-looking Meilin emerged from the back, clutching that same suitcase and wearing another flowered dress. Sakura remembered that outfit too; this was Meilin's return from Japan. She didn't quite understand how the Return Card did this, but like in the shrine with her brother and Mizuki-sensei, it just seemed to know what to show her.
There was no hint of the brave smile Meilin had been wearing in the Tokyo airport earlier that day. She trudged to the porch under Sakura and opened the door.
"Tadaima – I mean, I'm home," she called out. "Mother? Father?"
There was no reply, and the door shut. Sakura hurried over the roof. Like most of the buildings here, there was a skylight over the living room. She'd noticed it the evening earlier.
"Erase," she said softly, and soon the glass barrier had disappeared.
"Mother, I'm home -"
"I can see that," answered a crisp voice. "Sit down."
"It's…" Meilin tried falteringly. "Good to see you."
"Really?" her father asked dangerously. "You like it, that you're back home?"
"Well, I -"
"You like it, that the family decided you were unworthy, and had to order you back to Hong Kong?"
The first of their attackers was almost in the light. Meilin stumbled forward as if she'd tripped, yanking Eric's backpack down from his shoulders and jamming her foot right into the back of his knee. He wasn't very stoic about pain, and uttered a startled yelp before crashing to his knees. He wasn't even totally down before Meilin was rolling up and over his back, bringing her heel sharply down on the shoulder blade of the man in front of her. Eric's backpack was still in her hands and she twisted to throw it in Jing Kun's face before delivering a solid back kick behind her. There was a muffled grunt as the first man toppled into the one in front of him and both went sprawling.
"Tuck and roll!" she shouted, grabbing Eric's shirt and rolling onto her back.
"What?" was all he had the chance to ask before she was bracing her feet under his stomach and pushing up, throwing him backward. There wasn't a chance that he would remember to tuck his head in and roll gracefully to a halt on the hard cement, but the two attackers behind Meilin thoughtfully broke his fall. They all hit the ground in a tangled heap, and she leapt lightly over the bodies before Jing Kun could recover and strike. On the way she snagged Eric and dragged him to his feet.
"That hurt!"
"Hey, I'm a little outnumbered here. I'm going to need your help, so get over it!" Now they were in a wider alleyway between buildings, one that had more daylight filtering in from above. Long lines of laundry crisscrossed the open space above their heads. At least now they were no longer surrounded, but the danger was far from over. Jing Kun was springing off the backs of his men and leaping right for her.
"Idiot, clumsy girl. What did I say when you left for Japan?"
"That this was my chance to redeem myself to the family," Meilin answered softly.
"And did you?"
"I did the best I -"
"No! The elders determined from Syaoran's reports that you were no help at all! And that you even made some captures more difficult!"
"But I -"
"Don't talk back to me! All you had to do was make yourself marginally useful, and you couldn't even do that!" He slammed his fist on the table in anger, and she cringed. "Now he's alone in Japan with that – that witch that's taking all the Cards. How did you fail to keep even her away?"
"Sh-she was very nice," Meilin managed, then flinched again when her father jumped to his feet.
"Don't talk back to me, girl, I know my place. Apparently you've forgotten yours. You're nothing in this family; you know that! You're an aberration, a Li born with no magic! You have no use to the elders, no practical value. And now even Syaoran is losing his interest in you. What worth do you have left?"
She was ready for Jing Kun and twisted slightly to throw him against the opposite brick wall. Without even glancing backward she sensed the next attack and leaned slightly to the left, trapping the man's wrist and pulling him over her shoulder. Before she had time to think about it, she was bracing her foot against his shoulder and cracking his wrist. He screamed in pain as someone else tackled her from behind, trying to put her in a chokehold. She elbowed him in the ribs, but he had a solid grip and she felt her air being cut off. Then he grunted in pain as Eric struck his ear and dragged him off. Kung fu or not, Eric still knew how to throw down, street hockey-style, and he kept a tight grip on the man's hair before slamming him face first into the brick wall.
Meilin turned just in time to see the fourth man whip out a switchblade, and she kicked it from his hand before using her momentum to spin around and plant a kick right in his chest. He wheezed and stumbled a little before Jing Kun caught him and struck him irritably on the back of his head.
"Moron!" he snapped. "Didn't I say there would be none of that?" He gave an impatient snarl before pushing him off and skipping into a high turning kick aimed at Meilin. She blocked it, wincing at the recoil through her arm, and counterattacked.
"Ah me," mourned the woman. "My younger sister had five magical children and a son to assume the leadership. Why did I have to be cursed with just one useless girl-child? What have I done to deserve this burden?"
She shook her head in sorrow, paying no attention to her daughter's expression.
"And now you're back, to remind me of it every day. Tell me why I shouldn't be angry at you, girl, give me a reason."
"I promise to train harder," Meilin pleaded. "Syaoran is still promised to me, I know he won't forget about me." Sakura could detect the faintest hint of self-doubt in her tone, but knew she was clinging to her last hope.
"You'd better be right," her father snarled. "Or you won't have anything left. On your own, you are nothing but a stupid, worthless female. I'm tired of this conversation. Go to your room and unpack. Dinner is in an hour, and it had better be good."
His attacker slumped to the ground and Eric stepped over him to grab his backpack. The one holding his wrist looked like he might still try something, so Eric swung the heavy load right into his face. He grunted and stumbled back, and Eric struck mercilessly at the injured hand.
"So there," he snapped. "That's what you get." The man's face was frozen in pain and hate as he crumpled against the wall and slid down, holding his hand to his chest. He didn't seem to be a threat anymore, but Eric kept an eye on him anyway as he backed away. Meilin was still trading blows with Jing Kun and the other one, striking and blocking at a frantic pace to keep up. He was wondering if he should try to assist when she crouched to dodge a high kick and then sprung straight up, grabbing a thin clothesline overhead. Her kick caught Jing Kun solidly in the chin and he was knocked off his feet, thrown clear back. Eric almost cheered, but the other one behind Meilin was still a danger. He needn't have worried. The stupid and worthless female was already swinging her body up and over the clothesline, out of range. He ducked to the side and out of her way, and Meilin felt the thin rope snap from her weight. She bent her knees and landed gracefully on her feet, clothesline still in hand. When he attacked with an axe kick, she was ready and trapped his ankle before grabbing his shirt and tipping him back onto the ground. As she moved, the clothesline followed her hand until she'd wrapped his ankle to his neck and then tied it neatly to his belt loop. Leaving him effectively hogtied and rolling across the ground in frustration, she backed away and appraised her new situation. One injured, one tied, one unconscious, and Jing Kun coming to with an annoyed expression on his face.
"Son of a bitch, that hurt," he griped, and climbed to his feet. "Just who trained you, anyway?"
She planted her hands on her hips. "Wouldn't you love to know?"
He wiped a little blood from his mouth and smiled.
"You're even better than I thought. Hot damn, and I didn't think he would be a challenge at all. You are turning this into something really special, you know that?"
He licked a stray drop of blood from his lips as she watched, and her insides gave an uncomfortable twinge.
"Just stay away from him," she stated flatly. "Leave him alone."
"Not a chance. I'm hooked now, firecracker. See you soon." He pressed his fingers to his lips and turned them toward Meilin, who just looked away and grabbed Eric's hand.
"Now's our chance. Come on."
Together the two of them sprinted back towards civilization.
**
It was mid-afternoon, as best as she could tell. Once again she was perched on the edge of the rooftop, looking out over the grounds. Meilin was smiling, but holding back tears, as she reached forward to embrace Syaoran in a final hug.
"I'm so glad Auntie is allowing you to return," she murmured. "You must be so happy."
Syaoran nodded, unable to hide his grin.
"I've been dreaming of this moment for two years," he sighed. "For a while I thought it would never happen. But now I can go back and see her every day. She's so excited. It'll be great." He squeezed Meilin's hand in a friendly way.
"You'll be coming up for the summer vacation soon, right?"
"Of course," she said immediately. "Wild horses couldn't keep me away. It'll be so much fun."
"And we'll be down for the Christmas after that," he promised. "Write often, okay?"
"I will."
He dropped a kiss on her forehead, then stooped to pick up his bag. She stood and waved as the car pulled out of the driveway, and he blew her a kiss from the window. Long after the car had disappeared from view, she remained; standing still and watching the sun go down.
It was only when the shadows had engulfed the entire estate that she turned and went back inside her home.
"He left?"
"He's gone."
"Well," her mother sniffed. "Isn't this interesting? Back off to Japan to live with the precious Card Mistress. Apparently forgetting about that promise to you!"
"He didn't forget, Mother. I released him from it."
"You – you what?"
"I -"
"You freed him from his obligation willingly? How could you? He was our one chance at status in the family!"
"I know," Meilin answered softly. "But he loves her. He doesn't love me."
"Love? What silly tripe are you talking about? How can you be so calm about this? You've lost Syaoran after all! You failed at everything, you stupid, useless, burden of a girl. Get out of my sight! I can't even look at you right now!"
The door slammed, and Sakura ran lightly across the roof and jumped to the grass outside Meilin's window.
She was locking her bedroom door behind her, and leaning her head back against the wood. It looked as if she was trying to control herself, and after a long minute she somehow succeeded. Taking a deep breath, she sat on her bed and carefully unwound her long pigtails, until her hair was swinging free. Sakura had never noticed how glossy and thick her hair was, always tied up like it was. After a minute of brushing out the tangles, she pulled her desk chair to the corner of the room and opened a small tin of black paint. Taking a brush, she balanced carefully atop the chair and began the first strokes of calligraphy.
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Disclaimer: I do not own these characters