Beautiful14

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No matter what we say

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Meilin gave Shou a puzzled look. She wasn't expecting anyone, was he? He shrugged and wasn't sure who the other person behind the door was. He wiped her tears and got up to open the door.

"Uh, I think I have the wrong apartment. I'm sorry," said the person behind the door. He had a deep, strong, familiar voice. "But do you know which apartment is Meilin Li's?"

Meilin instinctively froze. At that moment she wished that she were invisible. She wished that Shou knew to say, "No". She wished XiaoLang would just leave. "How did he find me?" Meilin thought.

Shou turned around to look at Meilin to ask but it was too late, XiaoLang had already saw her. He had known her too long to be fooled by the short red hair. He knew before he even knocked that this was her apartment. He knew it was Meilin he was looking at.

"Meilin!" he screamed at an almost disciplinarian way, shoving Shou out of the way. "Is this where you've been? You ran off with some guy to live here!" Meilin's tears were still visible and XiaoLang was horror-stricken. "What's wrong?" he asked in a softer tone. "Are you okay? Why did you run off? Meilin I have been looking for you for so long. Meilin-"

"XiaoLang," responded Meilin in the tone she always spoke to him with, "I did not run off with some guy. There are many reasons why I left. I wasn't even going to stay in China. I know you have been looking for me."

"Who is HE?" asked XiaoLang rudely pointing like a child, at Shou.

"He is, he is…" Meilin wasn't sure who he was to her yet. "Shou," who at the moment was still standing by the opened door speechless.

"Meilin, why'd you leave?"

"You already know the answer to that. Why'd you find me?"

"What if something happened to you?"

"I DON'T NEED A BABY SITTER!" she screamed at both of them. "Why doesn't anyone understand that? I can take care of myself. I never needed anyone, what makes you guys think I need you now?" and with that she ran out of the room, into the bathroom. She barricaded herself inside.

She knows that both of them have immense magic and could open the door if they wanted but they would never dare to open the door if she was on the other side, angry and bitter.

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She cried more than she ever remembered she had. All those years of pent-up anger, hate, sadness, and depression was coming out. The more tears that fell, the more it seemed like she could never stop. Just as her life was coming together and she was content, people need to come and make her Meilin again.

She should've left China but she didn't have enough money, yet. She should've just robbed a bank. She should've never let Shou get as close as he did. She should've hid better from XiaoLang. She should've had never let Sakura know it was her. She should've done a lot of things but they were all done and now she was suffering the consequences.

There was a light tapping on the door, "It's me XiaoLang, Meilin we need to talk."

"Meilin, please come out," asked Shou nicely.

Meilin tried to pull herself together. Had it always been this hard to stop crying? She slowly but surely opened the door and walked to the couch with out looking at either of them. Sitting down she eyed them both.

XiaoLang went and sat next to her, while Shou pulled up a chair next to her.

"Meilin, are you okay?" asked Shou.

"Prefect. I'm perfect."

"Are you going to keep staying here?" asked XiaoLang.

"No."

"The you're going to come back and live on the estate with Sakura and me?"

"No."

"Are you going to live with me?" Shou asked.

"No."

"Meilin, your parents are sorry for what they have done. They would like to apologize. If you would only come back."

"But what about our child?"

"CHILD!" shouted XiaoLang. "You are with child?" Meilin nodded slowly. "Since when? Is this why you left?"

"No. I left because I could no longer stand living there any more. I hate that place. My parents hated me. My family hated me. Everyone hated me. There was no reason for me to even stay."

"But Sakura and I love you."

"That's it! XiaoLang, you've never seen it! I loved you. All those years! For as long as I can remember I loved you and then you left me. You have no idea what kind of life I had to live. You ask me to return?"

"But I thought you-"

"No! Are you happy now? I knew you loved Sakura that's why I wanted you two to be together. That's why I couldn't come to the wedding. I knew I could never make you happy like Sakura did. I know she is great. That's why I love her too. But I could never be as good as Sakura." XiaoLang's eyes turned to the floor. Meilin was starring directly at him. He could feel her gaze on him. "XiaoLang I thought you would've figured it out by now. Just leave me, alone. Both of you! I don't need you two right now."

XiaoLang sorrowfully walked out the door. He looked at Meilin once more before he left. Shou on the other hand closed the door and tried to comfort her.

"I said leave me alone."

"You know what I use to say to you in your dreams, I'll always be here for you, even if you don't want me here."

"I know," replied Meilin.

[End of CH 14. So yes I made it, one day early too! Aren't you guys proud of me? ^_^ But uh, yea. There will be more Li and Sakura to come. Which will be online by the 11th, if I'm not too busy. So R&R!]

[September 3, 2003]