Part 4
I think that full-contact tournaments have an age limit in that you have to be a certain age to compete. (I forget, tournaments are banned around here now -_-) But the reason why this tournie is full contact is for an excuse to do a spiffy fight scenes. ^^;; Cardcaptor Sakura and all characters are (C) CLAMP. This fic was made by a fan for fans. Please don't sue!
In the locker room, Meilin slid off her boots, allowing her feet some rest. She was thoroughly furious with herself. Sure she managed to get a good win, but it was still 5-4 while Ritchner... Tomoyo... won 5-1. To make things worse, Li was watching her from the stands with that same unfazed expression. How she wanted to get him to smile for her. But he never smiled for anyone...
Rin Rin came up to her. "Umm... good match, I think. I don't remember it all, but congratulations anyway!"
"Do you mind?!" Meilin snapped. "I'm contemplating here!"
Rin Rin blinked. "Oh, sorry..." she apologised innocently and left.
Meilin slipped off her other boot. 'It's not fair. How come everyone else gets to be special and I don't?'
Her mind flashbacked to moments when Sakura would outdo her in gymnastics and baton twirling. The Japanese girl looked so cheerful as all her friends would crowd around her and call her great. Then, there's Meilin, in the back, not loved at all.
'Is everyone just seeking to outdo me?'
She closed her eyes and pictured last night when she attacked Tomoyo. She remembered the thorough bruises and bumps she sustained afterwards while Tomoyo walked off without a scratch. But more than anything, her pride was hurt.
"What are you doing with Daidouji's camcorder?" Lee had asked.
"T-this?" Meilin had laughed sheepishly and hid the camcorder behind her back.
"Let me see." Lee shad natched the camcorder away from Meilin. The female cousin didn't say a word. She had probably wanted him to see, and that he did. "I see. You challenged Daidouji again, didn't you?"
Meilin had nodded miserably.
Li had given her a look that was half condescending but half in sympathy. Her precious Syaoran, giving her sympathy? "I'll return this tomorrow. Seriously, go to bed."
No one was left in the locker room. Meilin curled up into a corner and hugged her knees. 'I'm not worth anything, am I?' she thought to herself and sobbed.
"Step aside, girl." the security guard bellowed, pushing Sakura away with his arm.
"But I absolutely have to see Tomoyo-chan... I mean Kitohara-san!" Sakura insisted as she tried to push her way through. "Please, let me see her! It's very important!"
"You and all the other news media people. Now, step aside..."
"It's okay, sir. Please let her through. She is my best friend." spoke a gentler voice from behind the guard. Sakura immediately recognised her as Tomoyo. The dark-haired girl slipped under the guard's arm and to Sakura. "What's the matter, Sakura-chan?"
Sakura didn't let a moment pass when she poured out her feelings. "Why didn't you tell me? I'm you friend, aren't I? Tomoyo-chan... I would have understood. What's so wrong about being a martial artist? I'm on the cheerleading team and there's nothing wrong with that, right?"
"It's not like that, Sakura-chan." Tomoyo looked to the ground. She closed her eyes, trying to force back tears. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan... I'm really sorry!" And with that, she ran off.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura called, slipping past the guard and trying to keep up but was pushed around by too many people. Eventually, Tomoyo was gone. She fell to her knees. "Why... why won't she tell me anything?"
Just then, Li of all people came up to her. He held out a hand to help her up. "Come back with me, Kinomoto. There's something you ought to see."
"Wasn't that last match spectacular, ladies and gentlemen?" the announcer blared. "Niharu has accepted his gracious defeat and allowed Seto to snatch 3rd place! And how, here is the grand moment you've ALL been waiting for, the bout for 1st and 2nd place! In the left corner, we have the beautiful Meilin!"
The crowd roared as Meilin entered her corner of the ring. Her grin was full of confidence, although now it was obvious she used that grin to hide her sadness. She waved to her captive audience. 'First place will be mine. No matter what. I have to prove to myself that I am the best!'
"And in the right corner, we have our equally beautiful returning champion, Ritchner Kitohara!"
The crowd's cheers didn't let up one bit as Tomoyo entered the ring. She appeared somewhat sad as she glanced at the stands - first Sakura, then someone directly behind her.
"Every year, these two young ladies fight for first place! Will Ritchner snag the title again or will Meilin come from behind to finally win the first place she deserves?"
Up in the stands, Li dragged Sakura back to her seat. "Li-kun! What's the matter?"
Li shoved a pair of binoculars at Sakura, then pointed to the stands directly behind Tomoyo. "There. Do you recognise that woman?"
Sakura peered through the binoculars at the direction Li was showing her. Sitting right at in the front row was Sonomi, screaming something or the other at the top of her lungs. Her eyes were insane, that of a psychopath. It gave Sakura the chills just watching her an imagining what was going on through her mind. "Li-kun... that's Tomoyo's mom, isn't it?"
Li nodded. "She's up to something. I don't trust that look."
"Li-kun... You don't think that Tomoyo's mother is the cause of her suffering, do you?"
The Chinese boy said nothing.
Back in the ring, Tomoyo nodded towards Meilin as she approached her. "Meilin... it's been awhile, hasn't it?"
"Damn straight!" Meilin grinned.
Before Meilin could continue with her bravado, Tomoyo started up again. "If you want... I'll forfeit."
Meilin looked at Tomoyo, appalled, as if Tomoyo said the dirtiest word known to any language. "Forfeit?! What for?"
"I mean..." Tomoyo looked to the side, "you've worked so hard to get here, you deserve first place. Besides, I don't even want to be..."
Tomoyo was cut off by Meilin's stomp on the ground. "Don't you dare forfeit! Look, Daidouji, I know you've been through alot - you told me yourself - but just think of the damage you'll do to me if you forfeit. You think that I came all the way here, training my heart out, just so I can be handed first place? No! This is a test of my skills, Kitohara, and if I beat you fair and square, then it proves to me that I am the best." She pointed at Tomoyo. "I want nothing but the best effort from you, otherwise I'll never forgive you!"
Tomoyo nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Meilin..."
"Fighters, take your places." the referee called. The two girls went into their stances. "Ready... BEGIN!"
Tomoyo wanted to finish this fight quickly and came with a quick backfist jab. Meilin must have been used to such tactics for she easily swapped Tomoyo's arm upwards with a left rising block and aimed for a punch to Tomoyo's armpit. The Japanese girl spun out of the way, avoiding the blow. But the second she came for another attack, Meilin already had a spearhand pointing at Tomoyo's eyebrow.
"Point for Meilin!" the announcer yelled. The fighters returned to their ready positions and the referee called, "BEGIN!"
Yet another quick strike landed Meilin another point.
"Another point for Meilin! The score is 2-0."
"BEGIN!"
But as Tomoyo raised her guard, Meilin lowered hers. The Chinese girl gave her opponent a glare which said, "Stop holding back! Fight me! I don't want an easy win. I want a real victory."
That look was all Tomoyo needed to make her own quick attack.
"Point for Kitohara!" cried the announcer.
And another quick attack, this time before Meilin could even blink. Tomoyo slid on the ground, feet first, and caught Meilin between her feet, then twisted her weight sideways, causing Meilin to fall over. The Chinese girl held out an arm to recover but not before Tomoyo released her grip and pivoted on one foot with a backfist aimed at Meilin's forehead.
"Another point for Kitohara!"
Meilin was quivering. Tomoyo noticed, but this time she didn't back down, and scored yet another quick point.
"Yet another point for Kitohara! Wow, ladies and gentlemen! Only a minute has passed and already the score is 3-2. Meilin showed a strong start by gaining two points, but Kitohara came from behind to score a quick 3 points in a row. Is this only a taste of what's yet to come?"
Meilin glared at Tomoyo, panting from exhaustion. 'I can't lose. Daidouji, you have nothing to lose. But I have everything!'
'Please don't look at me like that, Meilin.' Tomoyo thought. 'You're here because you want to be. But I...'
"Tomoyo!" screamed Tomoyo's not-so-sane mother from the stands. "If you don't win, you'll be sorry!"
"BEGIN!"
Meilin grinned, punching Tomoyo and knowing that the Japanese girl would step to the side, which she did. "Well, Tomoyo, looks like someone will be quite disappointed when you lose."
"Meilin..." Tomoyo easily deflected a kick, "how can you say such a thing?"
"Because, dear Kitohara, you know what's going to happen to you when you lose. Your momma is going to-"
"Don't say it, Meilin!" Tomoyo cried, but had let her guard down for Meilin had scored a quick point.
"3-4!"
Sakura stood. "Li-kun! Meilin said something to Tomoyo-chan and scored herself a point! What happened there?"
"Sit down, Kinomoto." was all Li said.
"But..." Sakura reluctantly returned to her seat.
Li folded his arms, frowning deeply. 'You would go so far as to exploit your enemy weakness. I don't know if to congratulate you or to frown upon that.'
Down in the ring, Tomoyo had scored another point. Now, the score was 4-4. The next point would declare the victor. Each fighter panted heavily, waiting in anticipation. Any next move could be their last.
'I can't lose...' Meilin grit her teeth. 'I have to prove to everyone - Sakura, Syaoran, Daidouji... myself... that I am worthwhile, that I'm not second best!'
'I can't lose...' Tomoyo put on a face of determination. 'It doesn't matter if I win or lose, the outcome is still the same. But I don't want to be...' She heard her mother scream more at her. 'I don't want to be...'
The two girls rushed at each other simultaneously.
All of a sudden, Sonomi snapped. It was as if she was waking up from a trance or sleepwalking. Looking around curiously, she then realized where she was and saw her daughter in a fighting ring. She had never been so apalled in her life and her face certainly didn't hide that fact. "Tomoyo Daidouji! What are you doing up there? Get down here at once! What did I tell you about entering these things--?"
The second she finished her sentence, silence filled the room. The two girls had struck each other. But between the fighters and the audience, it was a clear decision of who won. They returned to their positions, bowed to each other, shook hands - Meilin reluctantly - and left the ring.
The score was 5-4. Tomoyo had won once again.
"And the winner, claiming her fifth championship in a row, is Ritchner Kitohara! Everyone, give her and her opponent - who had put up a genuinely great fight - rounds of applause!"
The crowds never cheered any louder. Sakura jumped up and down, waving her arms as if she had pom-poms, then grabbed her bag and ran off. Li watched her leave, then returned his attention to the ringside.
"Are you okay, Meilin?" Tomoyo asked with genuine concern.
Meilin got to her feet, grinning. "Couldn't have been better!" she declared, hands on hips, although to Tomoyo, something was off about her expression and tone of voice. "You see? That was a good match. It just means I'll have to try harder next year."
"Meilin..." Tomoyo held out her hand for a handshake but was promptly refused.
"I'll be going now. See you around!" Meilin gave Tomoyo a two-finger salute and left the ring.
Sakura, who had somehow managed to find her way around the guards and to the ringside, climbed through the ropes and threw her arms around Tomoyo. "Tomoyo-chan! You won! I'm so glad you're okay!" she giggled with an audiable, "Hanyan!"
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo returned the affectionage glomp, smiling broadly. To her, Sakura's affection was worth so much more than any trophy or title.
Kero poked his head out of the knapsack. "So, why didn't you tell us you kicked ass sooner, Tomoyo?"
Before Tomoyo could answer, Mrs. Daidouji came upon the scene. She didn't seem all too pleased. Sakura instinctively moved to the side, however still holding Tomoyo supportively by the shoulders. Tomoyo was trembling. Kero returned to hiding in the bag.
"Tomoyo, what are you doing here?" Mrs. Daidouji demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
"Ma... mama..." was all Tomoyo could say.
Sakura was utterly confused. Did Mrs. Daidouji not want Tomoyo here? But then why was she cheering her daughter so intensely earlier?
"You're coming home with me, Tomoyo, immediately." Mrs. Daidouji grabbed her daughter by the wrist. Sakura protested, still holding Tomoyo's shoulders, but Mrs. Daidouji brushed her off. "Let go, Sakura. You will see Tomoyo tomorrow at school."
"But... but... what are you going to do to Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura asked.
"Let go before I call your father!"
Sakura reluctantly let go. Tomoyo gave her a last sad glance of, "I'm sorry," before being dragged off by her mother. The brown-haired girl was speechless. She didn't know what to say or do.
Kero poked his head out of the bag. "Man, that was one crazy lady." he commented. "We'd better go before your dad gets worried about you, Sakura."
Sakura bowed her head. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Meilin wasn't seen for the next hour. Nobody saw her leave the locker room. As a matter of fact, she was still in there, alone, hugging her knees and sobbing her eyes out. Just then, the door opened. She ceased her crying and looked up to see who had heard her make such shameful noises. But it was only Li.
"Syaoran...?" Meilin blinked in surprise.
"Yeah?" Li replied. He had this look that said, 'I don't care that I'm in the girl's locker room.' "What are you still doing here?"
Meilin choked. She couldn't hold her tears back any longer. "Syaoran... Syaoran... I'm so sick of it! I'm so sick of being worthless!" She threw herself at Li. "Syaoran... tell me that I'm not worthless..."
Li wrapped his arms around his cousin. "If you're useless, I haven't noticed... because you're not."
The two sat alone in silence and Meilin's tears.
Sakura was surprisingly quiet on the way home. She was too in shock over Mrs. Daidouji's behaviour to say anything at the moment. Whenever her father asked her questions about the tournament, Sakura returned one-word answers or a cheerful, "It was fun!"
Finally, Sakura was unable to hide her feelings any longer. She told her father everything, from Tomoyo being in the tournament to Mrs. Daidouji's strange behaviour. Mr. Kinomoto listened patiently, nodding after each sentence. Sakura finished with, "You must think I'm crazy, don't you?"
Fujitaka was silent. His expression was grave, as Sakura saw through the rear-view window. "Sakura, I know Tomoyo is your best friend, but don't get caught up in her problems. She wouldn't want that."
"Why not?" Sakura protested. "What if Tomoyo-chan is hurt? I can't sit by and watch her suffer!"
"Sakura..."
"Please, dad! Please tell me. I don't care if I get in trouble for the rest of my life! Please..." Sakura cut herself short. 'Oh no, Sakura, you've done yourself in! Now you're really in trouble!'
To her surprise, Fujitaka exhaled in defeat. He rolled up the windows as a safety precaution. "What I'm going to tell you can't leave this car, okay? You must promise me."
"Okay." Sakura promised, now realizing that she was right all along - the situation was just as bad as she thought.
Fujitaka paused again, then finally spoke. "You know that your mother and Tomoyo's mother used to be the best of friends," he started, adding under his breath, 'Maybe even more than that...' "Ever since childhood, Mrs. Daidouji hasn't been the most normal of people. She was fascinated with the dark arts - Dark Martial Arts, that is. Her obsession grew worse ever since your mother died. So bad, in fact, that Mrs. Daidouji forced her own daughter to practice them."
"Hoe!! You can't be serious..." Sakura started. A million thoughts raced through her head. 'Poor Tomoyo-chan!' 'But why couldn't she tell me? Is she that afraid of her mother?' 'How can I help her?' 'What should I do?'
"If anything, be there for her, Sakura." Fujitaka continued. He was talking about Tomoyo. "But don't let anyone else on this secret. It's bad enough that I know... that I couldn't do anything in my power to stop her..."
Sakura was forced to nod. "Okay... I'll keep my nose out of her business now."
But those words were the opposite of her intentions.
'You tried your best, dad. Now it's my turn to help out Tomoyo-chan by doing anything in my power to save her.'