Summary: A White Day celebration – CardCaptors style!

Today, in CardCaptors:           

The latest of Zachary's creative stories serves as the catalyst for much mayhem.  Can Li make White Day a special day for Sakura?  Can Li fight off the advances of Meilin?  Will Sakura spend the day with Li, or Julian?  Will Zachary survive the tortures he receives from Chelsea?  Find out as the characters we know and love struggle through a most unusual day.

Forever

Background:     In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated differently than in America.  Valentine's Day in Japan is a day for girls to give gifts to the boys they like.  White Day is the day where the boys reciprocate, giving gifts to the girls they like.

Note: this story is based on the American dub, CardCaptors.  For those not happy with that, feel free to read the Card Captor Sakura version of this story, "Sakura's Heartwarming White Day".  Bonus material is included at the end of this story, where I discuss the creative editing performed by myself (in the spirit of Nelvana) to bring this episode to you.  (Author's note: actually, that's not quite accurate – I wrote this version first, before I knew much about Card Captor Sakura.)

All reviews are welcomed with open arms – including flames!  Bring it on!

I

'Soon, I'll be home,' Li told himself, as he went through the photographs of his mother and sisters once more.  It had been almost a year since he first arrived at Reedington with the mission to recover the magical Clow Cards – and he was very close to capturing them all.  He was so close that he could almost mark the day on the calendar, buy the plane ticket, and plan his journey home.  Or was he?  Most of the cards didn't belong to him; they belonged to Sakura – and Li couldn't bear the thought of stealing them away from her.  Besides, even if he succeeded in taking the cards, her older brother Tori would make sure that the cards did not stay with him for long.  'And he would probably rearrange a few of my body parts in the process,' Li mused.

'Why do you have to make things so difficult!' Li shouted in his mind.  'If you hadn't come into the picture, I would have gotten them all a long time ago.  You're pathetic, Sakura.'  'Do you really believe that?' a voice seemed to be telling him.  Li reasoned, 'Of course I do!  She hasn't captured a card in weeks!  She's really losing it.  The cards are getting away all the time lately.  At this rate, I'll never get all the cards!  I'll never get home…'

Li wanted to remain angry at Sakura, but as hard as he tried, he couldn't stay that way.  He remembered all the adventures they went through, the times that she rescued him, the smile she had on her face as she thanked him, the wonder in her eyes as she encountered new cards, and new magic… and soon, Li's features softened.  He mouthed "Sakura…" as he stared out the window, trying to pick out Sakura's house from among the lights.

He was still looking out the window when the phone rang… and still lost in thought, he momentarily forgot to harden his voice, answering softly, "Hello?  This is Li…"

"Li?  Oh, my little wolf!  How are you doing, darling?"

Li's face fell – and upon hearing the voice, he had no trouble finding the edge in his voice.  "Fine, mother."

"Li, I was just concerned about you.  I miss you.  So, how are you doing?  Have you captured any more cards since last time?"

"No.  But I'll catch them soon."

"That's good.  So, have you been nice to Meilin Rae?"  Li didn't like the tone of her voice.  When she started addressing people by first and last name, it usually meant trouble.

As tempted as Li was, he knew he could not lie – most likely, she knew everything already.  He could only answer: "I try."

"You try?"  She was incredulous.  "Li, isn't it true that you ignore her, don't walk her to school, and you push her away all the time?"

"Uh…  Why did she have to come?  I never asked for it." Li grasped the phone tightly – it was all he could do to prevent himself from throwing it.

"Li," she scolded, before saying gently, "it's just that you're so far away from home, and all alone in a town with strangers… I just thought it would be easier for you… if your friend was there."

"My friend."  Li replied sarcastically.

"Yes, your friend.  I know you're busy with school and capturing cards, but that's no excuse.  I just want you to make me this promise: do you promise to spend more time with Meilin?"

"I'll try…"

"Say yes."

"Uh… er… yes…"

"Do you promise to talk to her, and walk her to school everyday?"

This was too much.  Li tried to stall, but his mother continued, "I'm not hanging up until you make this promise."

After a minute Li gave up, and muttered, "OK."

"Good!" she paused, and continued, "Li, I want to tell you something important.  Your friends will always stick by you, they'll help you up when you're down; they'll be there for you, no matter what happens.  I just hope you realize that friends like that are precious, darling.  Treat your friends well, and never let them go – and you'll never regret it."

"Mother… it's not that simple."

"I know, dear – but try your best.  I know you and Meilin haven't always gotten along, but you've always been a friend to her.  Don't give up on it so soon."

"But mom – " Li quickly corrected, "Mother, you have no idea how annoying she can be!"

"Don't worry about it, Li.  When I was your age – " she paused, as a small smile came to her face – "I remember that your father and I used to be the same way.  We used to call each other names, insult each other, and push each other around – but no matter what happened, we always understood that we were best friends.  Over the years, things began to change – and… well…" she broke off embarrassedly.

'What's this queasy feeling in my stomach!  I just wish it would go away…' But Li didn't have much time to recover, since his mother continued,

"Li, remember to be nice to Meilin, OK?  I know she can be demanding sometimes, but be patient, and continue to be her friend.  If you wait for her, she will change… and perhaps your friendship will develop into something even more wonderful, as it was for me and your father…"

"WHAT!"  Li screamed involuntarily.  'It's so – so – disgusting!' he said to himself.  He didn't understand why his face was getting hot, or why his heart was racing – all he knew was that he wanted the uncomfortable feeling to stop.  He was glad that his sisters couldn't see him at the moment, or there would have been no end to their teasing.

Li blanked out for the rest of the conversation.  He vaguely remembered agreeing to something, but he couldn't remember what it was.  By the time he hung up, he was fuming.  'I can't believe mom would say something like that!  Ugh!'  It was times like these when he was almost relieved that he was away from home – having to talk to her on the phone was bad enough.  When his mother was actually there in person… Li shuddered, trying his best to forget.

Li stared out the window once more.  "Oh, Sakura…" Li managed to say, before closing the blinds and going through his collection of Clow cards.  'Sakura, you can do it.  We're almost there now.  And then when it's all finished, it will be time to say goodbye…' Li choked up and fought back tears, as he uneasily made his way to bed.