Author's Notes: Major problem with this story? The family tie between Syaoran and Meiling. I'm not sure if I want to mention their kinship, so, in order to save myself the flames of conservatives, I've decided to leave it vague. That, and incest is just icky. Please, don't mate with your family. This world does not need any more inbreeding.
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the anime series, "Card Captor Sakura" or CLAMP, and any of its affiliates. This fanfic is for entertainment purposes only. This fanfic and its author do not intend to infringe on any copyrights.
A Perfect Union
Chapter Two.
Meiling arched her head back, and she submerged herself in the scented water. Thinking back to the previous week, she could only ask herself: was this her role to play in the threads of life? Was she forever doomed to containment within Syaoran's sphere?
She burst through the delicate membrane of the water in anger. How dare he return to jar the precious balance she had managed to find! The newly acquired sponge in her hand hit her pale flesh. Rubbing herself with great force, Meiling mentally glared. Fate was cruel as to merge her with the one being in this world that she had wished to forget--that stranger she had scarcely seen since the days of his arrival, Syaoran.
Upon rubbing her back, the full consequences of what today would bring hit her. With a sharp gasp, the sponge hit the soapy water.
It would be forever.
How ironic, she thought. As a young girl, when she had wanted him, she was forced to keep her distant. Now, as a young woman, she was being forced into a marriage with him. Well, perhaps being forced wasn't entirely correct. She had, after all, told the elders to decide her fate several months ago. Meiling had given up on finding someone or something to fulfill her life. Ever since her younger years, something inside her had broken, and, as hard as the people around her and herself tried, nothing was able to mend the wound.
A bitter smile hit her lips. It was a wound that could never be mended--not even a union with Syaoran.
At the time of her declaration, where she renounced her independence, she had decided that if the elders wanted her to become a wife, they could find her a husband according to their taste. Meiling would just have gladly joined the convent, as she was under the impression of before that wretched man had re-entered her life.
"Damn him!" Meiling cried, clenching her fists under the bath water.
"Meiling, are you okay?" broke a loud, clear voice through the door.
"Yes…"
Several giggles followed before the same voice continued, "Oh, stop that! She doesn't know of that yet, sister." Clearing her voice, she continued, "Hurry up, then. Meiling, you are running out of time. Come now, or, we'll be forced to drag you out. I don't think our dear brother would appreciate having a wet beast for his bride." The last comment was soon followed by more cheery laughter.
Meiling rubbed her temples, cursing at the world. She lifted herself out of the bath, and wrapped a towel around herself. Taking a deep breath, she tried to imagine what the day would and wouldn't hold. Everything was too surreal.
Straightening her posture, she fixed her mind. She would spend the rest of her life as the perfect wife so Syaoran would not be able to find fault in her--not for Syaoran nor the Elders, but for herself. Even though she could not change her future, she was determined to succeed in it—or die.
Tears stung at her eyes. She would be laughed at, she resolved. Who ever heard of someone of non-magical abilities marrying into the Li family? By gods, it was unheard of! She would go down in history as the spinster bitch, one that just happened to be at the right place at the right time.
But, Syaoran's sudden return was still unclear in her mind. The last time she had corresponded with him, he had only written of the great love and admiration he felt towards the Card Captor. Perhaps he had finally realized that after over a decade, his heart lied with his childhood friend? Perhaps the entire Li family was able to get over their prejudices, and had finally accepted her as truly one of their own?
Yet, the back of her mind prickled. Ha! Meiling was no fool, and she knew far too clearly that Syaoran's mother favored Sakura. Part of Meiling's being also longed to hold a place in her heart similar to Sakura. If making Syaoran happy was the key, then she would meet the challenge.
"I'm coming," she declared, part to the sisters and part to the future, opening the bathroom door.
The Li sisters rushed at Meiling, and proceeded to dress her in the traditional attire. Meiling's jacket and skirt were both predominantly red with golden and white colored designs decorating the fabric. A large phoenix adorned the skirt. Then, they had Meiling step into a pair of red shoes. The finishing touch was the phoenix crown they placed on top of her styled hair.
Meiling felt herself losing her balance from the intricate crown. Feimei quickly ran to assist Meiling with walking. When the he red silk veil came down from the crown, her vision began to blur. Tears were threatening to spill from the corner of her eyes as the veil came down. Donning her wedding attire, she was slapped in the face of what was to come. She would be undressing later this evening from this very clothes into Syaoran's bed! She would be forever tied to that man and everything associated with him. Meiling grew dizzy from all the realities that assaulted her mind.
She would no longer be her own person.
"Are you getting cold feet, Meiling?" Fanran Li commented with a smirk.
Meiling's eyes narrowed. "Never," she harshly stated.
It would take a great deal to diminish her competitive spirit—and, this was one fight she was not willing to lose to her heart. No matter how her heart stung when she thought of Syaoran, she would not back away from the mandate by the Elders.
Meiling had survived everything fate had thrown at her. She would face whatever lay ahead with the same consistency.
The bride-to-be pointed towards the door, and declared, "Let's go."