~I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura~

Shaoran x Tomoyo, it's sappy, you know the drill.

Thanks to Serenity Blossom, D a r k n e s s in H e a r t, and starrGurl for reviewing! ^^ you rock.

~~~~~Chapter 5: Pink Camellias~~~~~

Shaoran's POV

When did my hormones decide to take over and not tell me?

Every single time Tomoyo and I brushed arms, anytime I caught her eye, anything... it would make my stomach flip-flop. My skin was tingling all freaking day long. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, I had to sit next to her that entire roller coaster ride! I never knew 45 seconds could be so damn long. Aah, it was torture. Torture in a good way, but torture nevertheless. I thought I'd be fine, but now I don't know. Maybe I ought to tell her.

And when that bastard started hitting on her and wouldn't leave her alone! The first thing that went through my mind was, 'No! He can't do that to *my* Tomoyo!' And with that thought, I ran over with my sword. I mean, I can't blame the guy for hitting on her; damn, she was the prettiest girl at the amusement park. He was just no good.

Although I admit, even if he hadn't been such a bad guy, I still would have gone over and intervened. *My* Tomoyo. Damn. I need help.

Speaking of help... maybe I should call Meilin. She'd know what to do. I know that I can tell Sakura anything, but, if I told Sakura, I know she'd automatically tell me to 'do what my heart says' or something sappy like that. She's such a hopeless romantic, she would overlook all the problems it would cause... And Meilin... I've known Meilin forever. She knows the family as well as I do, she'd have some advice... and if she thinks I shouldn't tell Tomoyo, at least I wouldn't have to deal with Sakura being upset with me for not 'going for it' and giving up on 'making my dreams come true.' There are some things that girl just refuses to understand. One of them is that there isn't always a happy ending.

So, yeah. Call Meilin. I guess now's as good a time as any, seeing as I've been staring at the ceiling in my bedroom the past hour and a half. Heh, guess this is starting to get to me, huh? All right. Call... call... gotta find the phone. I really oughta clean my room one of these days.

ring, ring

"Hello?"

"Meilin!"

"Shaoran!?"

"Yeah, it's me. What's up?"

"Oh my gosh, you haven't called me in so long! I've missed you! It's been, what, a month and a half since we last talked? How have you been?!"

"Ah, about that."

"Knew you had a reason! It's not like you to call me out of the blue. So what is it? Trouble with Kinomoto?"

"Actually..."

"Actually what? So it's *not* trouble!? Are you getting married or something?!"

"NO! I mean, Sakura and I, we're not really like that anymore."

"What do you mean? I thought you... And you would have told me if... And the family!"

"Yes, I know, the *family*... That's the reason I called you."

"What's wrong?"

"Sakura and I haven't loved each other romantically for a while now, but she had agreed to marry me if neither of us found anyone else, for the sake of the family. She's something of a sister to me."

"So you made the same promise with her you made me."

"Yeah, something like that. So, anyway. I've found someone I'm in love with, and I'm so much in love with her that I can barely even think straight... Meilin, what's *wrong* with me?!"

"Are you serious? That's not like you at all! If this is a joke, I don't get it..."

"Meilin! I spent the last hour and a half staring at my ceiling thinking about her and all the problems this is causing me! Even though I know it's making a mess of everything, I can't help it! I'm in love with her, damnit!"

"Wow... you've got it bad. So who is it, Shaoran? Who's the lucky girl?!"

"I didn't call to give you something to gossip about, just to get your advice about the family situation! She doesn't have any magic."

"None? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure, now tell me what you think already!"

"How can you be sure?"

"Look, Meilin, I'm sure."

"Do I know her? Tell me who she is!"

"Meilin..."

"Please?"

"Meilin!"

"Come on, I won't tell anyone! You can trust me! You know that!"

"Fine. It's Tomoyo."

"TOMOYO? You're in love with *Daidouji*?! ...You call her Tomoyo?!"

"Yes, and yes. We've been good friends a long time now..."

"But I know that's not enough for you to use first names..."

"Okay, okay. I started to call her Tomoyo yesterday."

"Ah, I see. So that's when you realized it, huh."

"Well..."

"Well what?! How long have you been in love with her, huh? Huh?"

"I-I don't really know. I guess I've always thought about her more than I let on. But recently..."

"Ooh, so you really think you love her?! Really, really?"

"I don't think. I know. Lately, she's seemed really out of it, and it feels like my heart's being broken every time I see her like that... And, with that guy..."

"What guy? Do you have competition?"

"No! Well, at least, I don't *think* so... but there was this guy today, at the amusement park... he was getting nasty with her when she turned him down..."

"Ooh, did you jump in and save her?!"

"Ah, yeah... but there's a problem... the first thing that went through my mind when I saw it was 'he can't do that to *my* Tomoyo'... and every time I look at her, I keep finding myself staring... she's gorgeous! It's almost like she's so perfect, she can't be real..."

"Perfect, hm? '*Your* Tomoyo'? Yep, you've got it bad!"

"I already knew that, Meilin! I didn't call to ask you whether or not I liked the girl! I want to know what you think I should do! I mean, should I tell her? Should I chance it? I don't really even know how she feels about me as a person, let alone whether or not she'd want to go out with me. And on top of that, I've got the whole thing with the family! You know Tomoyo, Meilin! She doesn't have magic! None at all! What if I marry her?! How am I going to produce an heir to the Li clan with my weak magic and a wife with none at all!? And the cards...!"

"Yes, I know, your mother wants you to marry Kinomoto to keep the cards in the family, and her magic's a bonus too... but, Shaoran, don't you understand that your mother can't dictate everything you do in life?"

"But, don't I have duties to fulfill as the next clan head? Shouldn't I be concerned about this? My mother's only acting in my best interest..."

"Are you sure about that? I mean, the family has been without the cards for years now, right? The cards were inactive the whole time between Clow 'dying' and Kinomoto releasing them. And, if you married Daidouji, who's to say your children wouldn't have magic? Your magic isn't weak, you know. I mean, the chances are lower than they would be if you married Kinomoto, but still! And the family never had a problem with our engagement, and you know I don't have magic either."

"I guess you're right..."

"And, although your mother will most definitely be angry about it if you don't marry Kinomoto and bring the cards back into the family, making her happy is *not* your primary concern in life! Since you only live once, don't you think you should at least *try* to make yourself happy? You know full well that both you and Kinomoto would be happier with others. And, since you've found the so called 'love of your life', go for it! You'd better! Or I'm going to go over there to Japan and make you!"

"Thanks, Meilin."

"Anytime! You know me! Always here for ya!"

"Really, thanks. If I hadn't called you..."

"Yeah, I know. You would never tell her, would you?"

"You know me too well."

"Yeah, well... I've known you a long time, ne?"

"Haha, true. I'm really glad I called you, you know."

"I know! Of course you're glad! It's *me* we're talking about here! Of course I'd figure out a way to solve your problem! I'm *so* wonderful!"

"And modest!"

"I know, aren't I? Oh-ho-ho-ho!"

"All right, Meilin. Thanks again, I'll definitely think about telling her. And, if I'm going to tell her, guess I gotta think of a way how..."

"If you need help with that, you know who to call!"

"Yeah... Thanks for your help. I'll call you again soon, okay?"

"You'd better! And 2 months doesn't count as 'soon'! Call me sooner than that, okay?"

"Yakusoku da yo."

"Yeah, you promise. Just don't forget this time!"

~~~~~pink camellias mean 'longing for you'.

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