Lchan: A boring chapter. This time I'm not just being modest. Neither am I
lying. It's just a chapter to get you guys wondering about the epilogue,
which'll contain the R-E-A-L ending. But there is a bit of humor...
XIV-Phone Call
Yelan dialed the number to Syaoran's apartment. Argh. A week. A whole damn week, and she still hasn't gone to Japan.
Reason?
The elders had gotten a sickly idea penetrating through their thick skulls that this 'hypothermia' thing could be part of Syaoran's what they call "deteriorating training". The fact that her son was falling for the mistress and peferred to play the supporting, partner-in-adventure, savior of the day, knight in shining armor role rather than the card master, rival of the mistress, descendant of Clow Reed one...
They had no right to dump him into the 'weak' category.
Ring...
Riiiiing...
Yelan flopped down on the leather couch.
The elders had made sure she wouldn't interfere with that bright idea of theirs. They had their minds fully made up that this near-death-dilemma with her son could be turned into a sidedish to his future-Li-Clan-master training. They wouldn't allow her to go until they would be positive Syaoran had failed.
'Until it's too late...' Yelan mentally corrected. 'And now it is.' She had succeeded in convincing the elders that she was the mother and they were just the trainors earlier that morning.
"Even though my son is perfectly well by this time, I would prefer going over there to check on him," she'd told them. And they'd replied with a simple assent, as if they hadn't forbidden her communication with anyone in Japan for the past seven days, refusing to allow her to give medical motherly tips or words of motherly love.
Well now all her things were all packed up and the girls had gone to the mall for a short shopping spree. They were ready to go to Japan.
Riiiiiiiiiiing...
"Moshi moshi."
"Wei."
"Ah, Ms. Yelan."
"Yes. Is Xiao Lang there?"
"No, ma'am. He's out."
"Hospital!?!?" Yelan cried.
"Absolutely not, ma'am! From what I know, he's at Daidouji's."
"Is he absolutely okay now?"
"It's been two days since he has been, Ms. Yelan."
Yelan face-faulted. "H-he's not sick anymore?" she clarified.
"No, thank goodness. It took three absences from school to restore some heat in him and another to be positive of a full recovery," Wei responded. "He claims he has had a bit of trouble card captoring, and Ms. Daidouji had so kindly offered him and the mistress shelter for the weekend."
"What happened during the fight? Did he tell you?"
"Well, he never was a graphic storyteller," Wei said, smiling.
"Well, thank you anyway, Wei. Where is he now?"
"Daidouji's ma'am."
"Oh, yes. You told me."
"I did, didn't I?"
"Yes. Kindly give me the number there, please, Wei..." Yelan requested.
"Please hold, Ms. Yelan. I'll look for that piece of scrap where he writes phone numbers," Wei said.
"Sure." Yelan almost smiled.
Wei plunked the phone down and strode towards the refrigerator door to see if he'd stuck the scented pink notebook paper, most probably from the mistress, there.
No.
To his room. And there it was--tacked and taped to the wall with adhesive sticker, scotch tape, thumbtacks, staple wires and pushpins. The numbers there, Sakura's and Tomoyo's, were written in the mistress' childlike handwriting.
Wei took note of 'Tomoyo-chan's' number and read it to Yelan, who thanked him and said goodbye.
* * *Hong Kong* * *
"YAY!!! Japan, here we come!!!!" Fuutie shrieked, flinging the door to her room open with her paperbag-laden hands.
"We'll feel the glory of tormenting our little brother again!" Feimei rejoiced, jumping inside and whirling around, her own purchases flailing in the air.
"Do you think he'll stand for that!?" Sheifa cried, giggling, flopping down on the bed.
"Yeah, sure. That is, after he's really okay! But even after that...he'll HAFTA!!!" Fanren burst out, her arms choking Sheifa in joyous delirium. Sheifa laughed and shook her off.
Yelan entered.
"Paper bags to the closets, girls. Xiao Lang's perfectly alright. We don't need to stress ourselves with a long three-way-trip-for-five-second-class to Japan." She wryly held up the promo ticket which Fanren had bought. Her daughter flushed.
A four-in-one groan achoed throughout the whole five-story house.
"NO!!!!!!!" they wailed. "Mother, WHY!?!?!"
"Because he's okay, and if I want to go there I'd rather we have one-way first-class tickets each, please." Yelan turned and left the room.
Her daughters shrieked and scuttled after her, grabbing at her sleeves and peering into her eyes, looking like lost, sad puppies. "P-p-p-p-p-p-puh- leeeeaaaaaase!?!?" they wailed. "Please, mother, pleeeeeeaaaaaaase!?!?!?!?"
Yelan rolled her eyes. "Ssh now, darlings. Xiao Lang isn't done with his mission, and we can't butt in right now for no reason and interfere. We will just ruin his concentration. No need for distractions now, hmm?"
"But, mo-om!!! We LOVE our little brother and we NEED to see his face!!" Fuutie shrieked, putting on her best pitiful pout.
"It's been a year, mother!!" Sheifa cried.
"Six months, darling--SIX MONTHS," Yelan corrected.
"Half a year, then," Fanren gave in. "B-b-b-b-b-but PLEASE!?!?!?!?"
"Not now, darlings, now hush. I need to call Daidouji's house and speak with him." Yelan held up the phone importantly. "Excuse me."
She left.
The sisters collapsed to the floor, heaving heavy groans.
* * *Tomoeda* * *
"Tomoyo-san?" Yumi poked her pretty dark head through the door of Tomoyo's room, where Tomoyo, Sakura and Syaoran were lounging around, pigging out on juice and cookies.
Sakura was in the middle of "And Kero-chan went wild because you know how he doesn't want me to be with Syao--" when she interrupted.
"Yes, Yumi-san?" Tomoyo cocked her pretty head at the waiting bodyguard.
"Phone call." She raised the cordless phone she was holding.
"Who is it?" Tomoyo asked, curiously, hopping from the bed to accept the call.
"A certain...Yelan Li..."
Syaoran's amber eyes widened, the first bolts of another emotion finally emerging from his blushing-otherwise-nothing countenance. His MOTHER is calling!?!? He reverted back into a blush. Urgh.
Tomoyo took the phone. "Konnichiwa!" she greeted. "Tomoyo desu. How can I help you, ma'am?"
"Ah, Tomoyo-san," Yelan said, her smile evident in her voice. "May I ask if my son is there?"
"Sure! Ask away!" Tomoyo replied, stupidly, for Syaoran was busy sending frantic what's-she-saying signals. "Ah, chotto," she said to Yelan. "Please hold."
She rolled her amethyst eyes at Syaoran and walked to the phone beside her bed, snapping on the speaker phone. "Hello?"
"Tomoyo-san? Is my son there?" Yelan's voice echoed through the whole room.
Syaoran mouthed 'no!'.
"Er...he says he isn't here," Tomoyo quickly said, frantic because she was taking a long time to reply. "I-I mean...he's not. He's coming later, but not yet."
"Oh? But Wei says he's there."
"O-oh...Wei? He's...he's wrong. Yeah, that's it. Wei's wrong. Syaoran's coming over later, er...he's not here NOW, but he will be later."
Syaoran smacked his forehead. Sakura sweatdropped. Tomoyo shrugged, sheepishly.
"Okay...I'll check back later, then?"
"Uhm...yeah, okay, sure."
"Thank you anyway, Tomoyo-san."
"Hai. Glad to be of service, heheh. Uhm. Bye."
Click.
Tet...tet...tet...tet... (sound of a busy line or no-person-on-the-other- line)
Syaoran pounded on the button, turning off the speaker phone, brushing a hand through his messy auburn locks in exasperation. "That sounded..." he started. "...totally...totally...STUPID!!"
"I know," Tomoyo said. "Ooh, wait." She snapped on her camcorder. "Go-men Syao-ran," she said in staged guilt, smiling brightly.
Syaoran scowled.
Tomoyo taped.
Sakura giggled.
Syaoran glared.
Tomoyo laughed.
Sakura sweatdropped.
* * *Syaoran's POV* * *
I'm staring at her again.
She's watching me too. But not me, as in, ME. Me on TV, or rather, in one of Daidouji's tapes. We're watching her videotape collection, by the way. Daidouji's recording us right now too. The girl's obsessed with taping.
Sigh.
She is SO pretty. She's blushing now, lookit.
I flick my eyes towards the television. Oh. The invisible-strings incident-- the work of my 'cute little descendant' name-caller. My stupid ancestor.
She looks great blushing. It's because she's seeing herself falling asleep on my lap is why. Hmm...
Ah...she's looks like an angel. I swear.
You don't think so, I know, but that's because you don't feel the same way I do about her. Which is, like, totally, truly, madly, deeply in love.
I don't deny that now. I'm not good at not facing my fears so I'll face it right now the way I faced the others.
I am in love.
Why can't I tell her!? I wonder about that too. Why can't I? Because I'm a coward? Yeah, that's it. Nah...can't be.
Okay, so that IS the reason, so what? Wouldn't YOU be scared of heartaches too?
But, honestly, I DO want to tell her. My greater fear than rejection is having her taken by someone else not me. Ouch. Especially not that darned ancestor of mine, ERIOL HIIRAGIZAWA, who's charming his way through every girl's heart.
Could Sakura really learn to love me? Don't answer. I'm asking myself.
Her emerald eyes turn to me. I could feel the now-familiar rush of blood to my cheeks. Is it just my imagination or is she blushing too? Deeper?
Whoa. I wish. I really wish.
She flicked her eyes away and avoided my gaze.
I try to avoid hers too, but it just doesn't work well. I can't keep myself from staring at her. Oh, heck, she's glancing too!!
She knows, probably, but knowing her...nah. TOO naive.
Now I'm positive. She's blushing!!! But probably not because she feels the same way. My guess is that she's starting to get creeped out. Who wouldn't be?
I'M STARING AT HER!! And this has been going on for quite a while now. Say, two hours?
Hmm...agh!! It's my eyes against hers again!!! She's making me melt with just that look!!
Face your fears, Li Syaoran!!
Okay. You're right, brain. I don't care anymore. I shouldn't care. As long as SHE knows MY feelings, I'll be okay.
I'm gonna tell her.
* * *Later* * *
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Moshi moshi?"
Yelan smiled. "Ah, Tomoyo-san!" she said. "It's me again, Yelan Li." She heard Tomoyo's voice over the line requesting her to 'hold'. Then in a second she was back again.
"Is Xiao Lang there now?"
"Huh? Oho, hai!"
"Oh, good. Can I talk to him?"
"Huh, oh, wait. Syao--ohohohohohohohoho!!!!!!" Tomoyo shrieked.
Yelan felt the phone being plunked down. "Huh!? Wait! What's going on? Tomoyo-san?" She sighed in exasperation, wondering what the commotion was all about.
Faint kmurmurs reached her over the line. Tomoyo's voice couldn't be heard. Neither could she sense any other girl's voice. But surely Syaoran was talking to a girl...
A girl...Sakura?
And then, as she strained to make out some of the hushed words, her eyes widened. Six or seven syllables had strayed to her ear over the line.
And it shocked her to the core. She couldn't believe...what the heck...why is he..what is going on!?!?
"...And I just thought you might wanna know..."
Silence.
"...S-Syaoran-kun..."
There. Another voice. And a GIRL'S one at that. She couldn't be wrong. She just couldn't.
"Watashi...'atashi...me too, Syaoran-kun...me too!"
That's it. Confirmed.
"XIAO LANG LI, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW!!!" Her voice boomed throughout the room by way of the speaker phone.
Tomoyo's camcorder zoomed in on two shocked faces as both her friends broke apart.
* * *Hong Kong* * *
"Girls, pack up."
"EH!?!?!?!"
"We're going to Japan. Fanren, go tell Meiling. She's coming with us."
"Mother--!?"
"Hush. Xiao Lang's found someone. He fell for the mistress."
"REALLY!?!?"
"Yes, now hurry up!"
Four pairs of eyes widened.
Four long seconds of agonizing silence took place.
And then...
Four squeals rent the air.
* * * tbc
Lchan: Nothin' much to say. I know you know what happened, and the epilogue shall confirm your most probably correct ideas. I edited this chapter 'cuz I didn't like it the way it was. Thanks for those who read this again.
Onegai, review!
Epilogue's comin' up.
XIV-Phone Call
Yelan dialed the number to Syaoran's apartment. Argh. A week. A whole damn week, and she still hasn't gone to Japan.
Reason?
The elders had gotten a sickly idea penetrating through their thick skulls that this 'hypothermia' thing could be part of Syaoran's what they call "deteriorating training". The fact that her son was falling for the mistress and peferred to play the supporting, partner-in-adventure, savior of the day, knight in shining armor role rather than the card master, rival of the mistress, descendant of Clow Reed one...
They had no right to dump him into the 'weak' category.
Ring...
Riiiiing...
Yelan flopped down on the leather couch.
The elders had made sure she wouldn't interfere with that bright idea of theirs. They had their minds fully made up that this near-death-dilemma with her son could be turned into a sidedish to his future-Li-Clan-master training. They wouldn't allow her to go until they would be positive Syaoran had failed.
'Until it's too late...' Yelan mentally corrected. 'And now it is.' She had succeeded in convincing the elders that she was the mother and they were just the trainors earlier that morning.
"Even though my son is perfectly well by this time, I would prefer going over there to check on him," she'd told them. And they'd replied with a simple assent, as if they hadn't forbidden her communication with anyone in Japan for the past seven days, refusing to allow her to give medical motherly tips or words of motherly love.
Well now all her things were all packed up and the girls had gone to the mall for a short shopping spree. They were ready to go to Japan.
Riiiiiiiiiiing...
"Moshi moshi."
"Wei."
"Ah, Ms. Yelan."
"Yes. Is Xiao Lang there?"
"No, ma'am. He's out."
"Hospital!?!?" Yelan cried.
"Absolutely not, ma'am! From what I know, he's at Daidouji's."
"Is he absolutely okay now?"
"It's been two days since he has been, Ms. Yelan."
Yelan face-faulted. "H-he's not sick anymore?" she clarified.
"No, thank goodness. It took three absences from school to restore some heat in him and another to be positive of a full recovery," Wei responded. "He claims he has had a bit of trouble card captoring, and Ms. Daidouji had so kindly offered him and the mistress shelter for the weekend."
"What happened during the fight? Did he tell you?"
"Well, he never was a graphic storyteller," Wei said, smiling.
"Well, thank you anyway, Wei. Where is he now?"
"Daidouji's ma'am."
"Oh, yes. You told me."
"I did, didn't I?"
"Yes. Kindly give me the number there, please, Wei..." Yelan requested.
"Please hold, Ms. Yelan. I'll look for that piece of scrap where he writes phone numbers," Wei said.
"Sure." Yelan almost smiled.
Wei plunked the phone down and strode towards the refrigerator door to see if he'd stuck the scented pink notebook paper, most probably from the mistress, there.
No.
To his room. And there it was--tacked and taped to the wall with adhesive sticker, scotch tape, thumbtacks, staple wires and pushpins. The numbers there, Sakura's and Tomoyo's, were written in the mistress' childlike handwriting.
Wei took note of 'Tomoyo-chan's' number and read it to Yelan, who thanked him and said goodbye.
* * *Hong Kong* * *
"YAY!!! Japan, here we come!!!!" Fuutie shrieked, flinging the door to her room open with her paperbag-laden hands.
"We'll feel the glory of tormenting our little brother again!" Feimei rejoiced, jumping inside and whirling around, her own purchases flailing in the air.
"Do you think he'll stand for that!?" Sheifa cried, giggling, flopping down on the bed.
"Yeah, sure. That is, after he's really okay! But even after that...he'll HAFTA!!!" Fanren burst out, her arms choking Sheifa in joyous delirium. Sheifa laughed and shook her off.
Yelan entered.
"Paper bags to the closets, girls. Xiao Lang's perfectly alright. We don't need to stress ourselves with a long three-way-trip-for-five-second-class to Japan." She wryly held up the promo ticket which Fanren had bought. Her daughter flushed.
A four-in-one groan achoed throughout the whole five-story house.
"NO!!!!!!!" they wailed. "Mother, WHY!?!?!"
"Because he's okay, and if I want to go there I'd rather we have one-way first-class tickets each, please." Yelan turned and left the room.
Her daughters shrieked and scuttled after her, grabbing at her sleeves and peering into her eyes, looking like lost, sad puppies. "P-p-p-p-p-p-puh- leeeeaaaaaase!?!?" they wailed. "Please, mother, pleeeeeeaaaaaaase!?!?!?!?"
Yelan rolled her eyes. "Ssh now, darlings. Xiao Lang isn't done with his mission, and we can't butt in right now for no reason and interfere. We will just ruin his concentration. No need for distractions now, hmm?"
"But, mo-om!!! We LOVE our little brother and we NEED to see his face!!" Fuutie shrieked, putting on her best pitiful pout.
"It's been a year, mother!!" Sheifa cried.
"Six months, darling--SIX MONTHS," Yelan corrected.
"Half a year, then," Fanren gave in. "B-b-b-b-b-but PLEASE!?!?!?!?"
"Not now, darlings, now hush. I need to call Daidouji's house and speak with him." Yelan held up the phone importantly. "Excuse me."
She left.
The sisters collapsed to the floor, heaving heavy groans.
* * *Tomoeda* * *
"Tomoyo-san?" Yumi poked her pretty dark head through the door of Tomoyo's room, where Tomoyo, Sakura and Syaoran were lounging around, pigging out on juice and cookies.
Sakura was in the middle of "And Kero-chan went wild because you know how he doesn't want me to be with Syao--" when she interrupted.
"Yes, Yumi-san?" Tomoyo cocked her pretty head at the waiting bodyguard.
"Phone call." She raised the cordless phone she was holding.
"Who is it?" Tomoyo asked, curiously, hopping from the bed to accept the call.
"A certain...Yelan Li..."
Syaoran's amber eyes widened, the first bolts of another emotion finally emerging from his blushing-otherwise-nothing countenance. His MOTHER is calling!?!? He reverted back into a blush. Urgh.
Tomoyo took the phone. "Konnichiwa!" she greeted. "Tomoyo desu. How can I help you, ma'am?"
"Ah, Tomoyo-san," Yelan said, her smile evident in her voice. "May I ask if my son is there?"
"Sure! Ask away!" Tomoyo replied, stupidly, for Syaoran was busy sending frantic what's-she-saying signals. "Ah, chotto," she said to Yelan. "Please hold."
She rolled her amethyst eyes at Syaoran and walked to the phone beside her bed, snapping on the speaker phone. "Hello?"
"Tomoyo-san? Is my son there?" Yelan's voice echoed through the whole room.
Syaoran mouthed 'no!'.
"Er...he says he isn't here," Tomoyo quickly said, frantic because she was taking a long time to reply. "I-I mean...he's not. He's coming later, but not yet."
"Oh? But Wei says he's there."
"O-oh...Wei? He's...he's wrong. Yeah, that's it. Wei's wrong. Syaoran's coming over later, er...he's not here NOW, but he will be later."
Syaoran smacked his forehead. Sakura sweatdropped. Tomoyo shrugged, sheepishly.
"Okay...I'll check back later, then?"
"Uhm...yeah, okay, sure."
"Thank you anyway, Tomoyo-san."
"Hai. Glad to be of service, heheh. Uhm. Bye."
Click.
Tet...tet...tet...tet... (sound of a busy line or no-person-on-the-other- line)
Syaoran pounded on the button, turning off the speaker phone, brushing a hand through his messy auburn locks in exasperation. "That sounded..." he started. "...totally...totally...STUPID!!"
"I know," Tomoyo said. "Ooh, wait." She snapped on her camcorder. "Go-men Syao-ran," she said in staged guilt, smiling brightly.
Syaoran scowled.
Tomoyo taped.
Sakura giggled.
Syaoran glared.
Tomoyo laughed.
Sakura sweatdropped.
* * *Syaoran's POV* * *
I'm staring at her again.
She's watching me too. But not me, as in, ME. Me on TV, or rather, in one of Daidouji's tapes. We're watching her videotape collection, by the way. Daidouji's recording us right now too. The girl's obsessed with taping.
Sigh.
She is SO pretty. She's blushing now, lookit.
I flick my eyes towards the television. Oh. The invisible-strings incident-- the work of my 'cute little descendant' name-caller. My stupid ancestor.
She looks great blushing. It's because she's seeing herself falling asleep on my lap is why. Hmm...
Ah...she's looks like an angel. I swear.
You don't think so, I know, but that's because you don't feel the same way I do about her. Which is, like, totally, truly, madly, deeply in love.
I don't deny that now. I'm not good at not facing my fears so I'll face it right now the way I faced the others.
I am in love.
Why can't I tell her!? I wonder about that too. Why can't I? Because I'm a coward? Yeah, that's it. Nah...can't be.
Okay, so that IS the reason, so what? Wouldn't YOU be scared of heartaches too?
But, honestly, I DO want to tell her. My greater fear than rejection is having her taken by someone else not me. Ouch. Especially not that darned ancestor of mine, ERIOL HIIRAGIZAWA, who's charming his way through every girl's heart.
Could Sakura really learn to love me? Don't answer. I'm asking myself.
Her emerald eyes turn to me. I could feel the now-familiar rush of blood to my cheeks. Is it just my imagination or is she blushing too? Deeper?
Whoa. I wish. I really wish.
She flicked her eyes away and avoided my gaze.
I try to avoid hers too, but it just doesn't work well. I can't keep myself from staring at her. Oh, heck, she's glancing too!!
She knows, probably, but knowing her...nah. TOO naive.
Now I'm positive. She's blushing!!! But probably not because she feels the same way. My guess is that she's starting to get creeped out. Who wouldn't be?
I'M STARING AT HER!! And this has been going on for quite a while now. Say, two hours?
Hmm...agh!! It's my eyes against hers again!!! She's making me melt with just that look!!
Face your fears, Li Syaoran!!
Okay. You're right, brain. I don't care anymore. I shouldn't care. As long as SHE knows MY feelings, I'll be okay.
I'm gonna tell her.
* * *Later* * *
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Moshi moshi?"
Yelan smiled. "Ah, Tomoyo-san!" she said. "It's me again, Yelan Li." She heard Tomoyo's voice over the line requesting her to 'hold'. Then in a second she was back again.
"Is Xiao Lang there now?"
"Huh? Oho, hai!"
"Oh, good. Can I talk to him?"
"Huh, oh, wait. Syao--ohohohohohohohoho!!!!!!" Tomoyo shrieked.
Yelan felt the phone being plunked down. "Huh!? Wait! What's going on? Tomoyo-san?" She sighed in exasperation, wondering what the commotion was all about.
Faint kmurmurs reached her over the line. Tomoyo's voice couldn't be heard. Neither could she sense any other girl's voice. But surely Syaoran was talking to a girl...
A girl...Sakura?
And then, as she strained to make out some of the hushed words, her eyes widened. Six or seven syllables had strayed to her ear over the line.
And it shocked her to the core. She couldn't believe...what the heck...why is he..what is going on!?!?
"...And I just thought you might wanna know..."
Silence.
"...S-Syaoran-kun..."
There. Another voice. And a GIRL'S one at that. She couldn't be wrong. She just couldn't.
"Watashi...'atashi...me too, Syaoran-kun...me too!"
That's it. Confirmed.
"XIAO LANG LI, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW!!!" Her voice boomed throughout the room by way of the speaker phone.
Tomoyo's camcorder zoomed in on two shocked faces as both her friends broke apart.
* * *Hong Kong* * *
"Girls, pack up."
"EH!?!?!?!"
"We're going to Japan. Fanren, go tell Meiling. She's coming with us."
"Mother--!?"
"Hush. Xiao Lang's found someone. He fell for the mistress."
"REALLY!?!?"
"Yes, now hurry up!"
Four pairs of eyes widened.
Four long seconds of agonizing silence took place.
And then...
Four squeals rent the air.
* * * tbc
Lchan: Nothin' much to say. I know you know what happened, and the epilogue shall confirm your most probably correct ideas. I edited this chapter 'cuz I didn't like it the way it was. Thanks for those who read this again.
Onegai, review!
Epilogue's comin' up.