Disclaimer
One day I sought for Xiao Lang,
And together the fictions we sang,
But then Sakura came along,
And hit me with a "BONG",
And now my head hurts with a pang.
Lesson: Olwen-Cheesecake does not own CCS!!...Nor does she own Xiao Lang. --
"Takashi, the stand is over here!" Sakura called for Takashi.
"Eriol said this would be easy," Syaoran began and then he pointed inside the stall. "How are we to find it in this mess?"
Sakura turned to look inside and saw the stacked scrolls. It was definitely abandoned. Definitely a mess. "It's flooded with scrolls..."
"Not just any scrolls. Fortunes." Takashi beamed. He looked like he wanted to read every last one of them. Sakura laughed to herself at the thought of Takashi, snug, inside the stand. She pictured him sitting in the middle of hundreds of thousands of scrolls. It was too easy to imagine. She was suddenly distracted by the intricate design of moon and sun on the front board of the stand.
"Familiar-vaguely." Sakura whispered. She took her finger, without knowing it, and ran it along the outline of the design until it came to an abrupt halt; caught on a small hatch for a miniature door, which Sakura opened. Inside sat one single, dust-coated scroll. It was the second task. Sakura snatched up the scroll and closed the miniature door. She began to read, as did Takashi and Syaoran.
The next task is ever so near.
Those who seek you out,
Have your task-no doubt.
"Let us go over how many people are-as the scroll says-seeking us out. There's Sakura's lovely brother, his friend, a few hundred officers, the imperial officers sent by the emperor himself, and-no doubt-Chiharu has probably reported me missing. Knowing her, she probably knows I'm in Tokyo." Takashi listed, almost carelessly.
"I'm pretty sure it isn't anybody we expect to find us. After all, we do find these tasks in the strangest of places." Sakura gathered her thoughts.
Syaoran nodded in agreement. "Maybe for now we should find an inn to stay at while we're here." They made their way to a well-known affordable inn, just outside of the city square. The inn, they had discovered, was on the other side of the neighborhood. This meant that they'd have to walk across the city square and busy areas of Tokyo to the suburban villages. Sakura trudged down the sidewalk and dirt paths with Takashi and Syaoran following close behind.
Once they had gotten to the far-away by foot inn, they decided not to settle in right away. Sakura encouraged them not to claim their room just yet and instead to join her at the park just blocks away. Her instinct was tingling, but she ignored it. The tingling let her completely when she saw the sturdy, wooden swings. The swings blew aimlessly in the wind. Sakura's face contorted at the flashbacks forcing their way back into her mind. She remembered someone joining her at the swings in Tomoeda. She remembered appreciation for the person's company. She remembered unspoken words and denial. She remembered longing.
Sakura sat on one of the two swings sadly. Syaoran sat on the swing beside her, his face showing an intense emotion. Understanding? Sakura looked away and at the park. It was barely being used lately. The rusted look added to the affect and only three children used the slides and other various obstacles of the park. Sakura watched the children solemnly. She swung back and forth lightly, not as energetically as a child would. From the corner of her eyes she could see Syaoran trying to keep in pace with her.
I wonder where Takashi could be, Sakura thought to herself. She didn't ask it out loud because she knew Syaoran would get worried. He would go, and let go of her hand which he had grasped second before. She smiled when she realized Syaoran was holding her hand and their hands were in between both swings, entwined. She looked up at the sky and began to comment on the weather to herself.
"Excuse me, but if you two lovebirds don't mind, this boy wants to use one of the swings you two are currently occupying!" A girl their age stood above them, shadowing their hands, intertwined between. Her face displayed a look of disgust, but her black shadowed the look slightly when she forced a demanding smile. Her hair hung loose over her shoulders. Her clothes were not those of a regular Japanassian girl's and Sakura realized the girl was Chinassian. Sakura's stomach did twirls and flips. She felt uneasy around this girl and the girl didn't display what Sakura felt like she should see. She ignored the feeling, again, and abruptly got up off the swing. Syaoran looked hurt when Sakura let go of his hand, but he quickly covered the expression up. Sakura passed the black-haired girl to make room for them to go by, but not before glancing at the boy at her side, clutching her hand with joy.
"Sakura called to the girl, "Uh...Ms?"
"Meilin."
"You are Chinassian?" Sakura asked.
"What's it to you?" Meilin snapped back, crisply.
"This boy-does he have a younger brother?" She asked, but knew the answer that she would receive.
"Yes-why?"
Sakura sighed and giggled. Then she turned to the boy who now sat on the swing, excitedly pumping himself forward and back at Syaoran's side. She whispered softly, "They were in Tomoeda awhile ago. It may sound crazy, but I saw them at the small fair near he market, begging for cotton candy. Basically, I bought both of them some and left in a hurry-not even able to learn their names."
Meilin relaxed and began to giggle lightly too. "When you began asking them questions did they reply by telling you that they dunno."
Sakura nodded and gave knowing smile, "Obviously!"
"Here in Tokyo my orphanage is responsible for lost children whether in Tokyo or not. The emperor favors us, but keeps our volunteers at a very low amount. In fact, they use my place as the orphanage. My home may not be huge, but it is big enough for a massive load of children each year." Meilin informed, with pride.
"Why does the emperor favor you?" Sakura asked curiously.
Meilin's face melted into a swamp of sadness, "There was an incident two years ago-the emperor hates mention of it, but he lost his sons in that incident."
"What incident?" Sakura's face turned hot with anger, frustration, confusion and emotional discharge.
"Oh the emperor will never remind us, nor does his imperial army-it seems that only the Obythian Lords were there to remember the incident." Meilin began to feel an odd sense of familiarity about this girl and the incident.
"Meilin-" Sakura began, but Syaoran; who had been watching them talk, pulled her aside. He whispered hoarsely, "She's familiar-do we know her?"
"I don't know-but I agree she is familiar." Sakura replied half-heartedly. She wanted to tell Syaoran of the news of the incident, but decided to leave it aside. It wasn't important, for now.
"I think-well-she reminds me of one of my sisters..." Syaoran began.
"I thought you only had one!" Sakura exclaimed.
"I do-but my memories tell me otherwise. Oh-but I think Meilin may be a member of what my family has left." Syaoran admitted.
Sakura looked at Syaoran with urgency in her eyes, "Do you think she will remember?"
"We can ask, convince and if she doesn't believe us, we'll leave her letting her think we are crazy and on the loose." Syaoran replied pessimistically. "I want to know if her name is Li."
Syaoran and Sakura turned back to Meilin. Sakura smiled kindly, "I forgot-my name is Kinomoto Sakura."
Meilin smiled, "And your friend is?"
Syaoran grabbed Meilin's hand in a and-shake. "I'll tell you if you answer me these questions."
Meilin let her hand be grabbed and didn't bother to take it back, "Fine." Coldness swept her eyes.
Sakura began, "Is your name Li?"
"Yes, but-"
"Are you aware we are relatives? You and I?" Syaoran continued.
"No, but how-"
"Do you remember us at all?" Sakura kept the questioning simple and fast.
"No, but maybe-"
"That's fine for now." Syaoran inspected. "I'm Li Syaoran-you may remember me as Xiao Lang." he let go of her hand and she smiled at him.
"So you're my cousin?" Meilin asked. Syaoran nodded.
Sakura shook her head and both Li's turned to her. "Meilin-why?"
"Why what?" Meilin's smile shook into a confused grin.
"Why did you give him up for me?"
Takashi had been pulled up and away from his fallen position behind Syaoran. He could hear a familiar voice whisper harshly at him, while pulling him into hiding behind a bush and a few trees. "Takashi! What the hell are you doing here with Li the assassinating moron?" Then there was a pause. "And that pretty girl!"
Takashi was up to his knees in his pride by now. "That moron happens to be my kindly master whom provides me with money to support us and that girl is a friend of his, not mine. If you really-"
Chiharu made a gesture to grab his ear, "And so you were going to be faithful and assassinate the emperor for him!?"
All pride vanished and Takashi felt bare at the knees, "I'm sorry honey I was just-"
"Just what?" Chiharu was trying to get to Takashi's ear, but Takashi pulled away. This angered her further more and he felt the intensity rising so quickly he pulled out a red velvet box and shielded himself with it. Her assault was abruptly pulled to a stop by her squeals. "A ring!? Real gold? How???"
"Syaoran's pay off." Takashi wriggled his eyebrows.
"Oh Takashi!" Chiharu yelled in delight as she slipped the ring on. "You shouldn't have!"
"I'm sure it was the only protection I had." Takashi mumbled under his breath.
"What?" Chiharu strained to hear his mumbled words.
"Oh nothing-just trying to figure out how much I love you. My calculations tell me that I'll have to settle for more than a lot."
Chiharu squealed again, with surprise this time. "I never knew you could be so romantic!" She kissed Takashi on the lips.
"Sakura! Syaoran!" Takashi suddenly remembered.
"Who?"
"The two people I was with-I have to go back. They'll be looking for me and-" Takashi was cut off.
"I came looking for you all the way from Chinassia! No way am I giving you up now. I am staying at this wonderful girl's orphanage-type home. It's wonderful-really!" Chiharu said convincingly.
"Home?"
"Yes," Chiharu dragged Takashi with his arm hooked into hers.
Takashi sighed heavily, "I guess my adventure ends here."
Meilin led a quiet Sakura and Syaoran to her home to stay while they were in Tokyo. She had invited them to stay since they hadn't checked in at the inn yet. She said she would be pleased to have guests for once and Sakura and the kids were getting along fine, but it was for Syaoran she did invite them to stay. She wanted to learn more of her family and she felt different around him-happy.
"Are you sure we aren't any trouble?" Syaoran asked, not sure whether it was appropriate to be asked to stay at your new-found cousin's place the first day you met.
"No you aren't, in fact we have two other people staying over too. They've been searching for missing people for awhile now and the rest of the inhabitants are mainly children coming in and out, but for now we only have those two girls and these two lost ones." Meilin replied.
"There aren't a lot of lost children then, are there?" Sakura asked.
Meilin smiled, "No-I'd like to think that there aren't, but there are. Just aren't capable of staying with us or want to anyway." Meilin stopped at a dirt road and walked toward the house hidden behind the many trees. "Now I know it isn't big but-"
"Isn't big!? It's big for me!" Sakura exclaimed. Meilin chuckled while opening the door. They followed in behind her.
"We're home!!!" she called out. Then back to Sakura she said, "You mustn't have encountered many decent houses then."
There was a thudding and Sakura could see a girl holding some boy's ear. The boy was red with fury, but obviously bottled it in. It was Takashi! Behind them a purple-haired and sparkly eyed face poked out curiously to peek at the visitors. Tomoyo. Disbelief bubbled to the surface of Sakura's emotions, but she knew it had to be true. She felt herself being launched at Tomoyo. Then she found herself in Tomoyo's arms, both of them screaming at each other and crying and happily laughing at the same time.
Finally Sakura pulled away and said clearly, "Reunited at last!"
"A week and a day since I last laid eyes on you, my friend!" Tomoyo laughed too.
Meilin added, "I take it you know each other." And then everyone began laughing. Even Takashi in his furious state.
Tomoyo giggled, "So long-and with Touya and Yukito nagging me I had to escape and come here. Who knows where they are now-probably at the nearby inn."
"In Tokyo?" Sakura's eyes widened.
"Yes..."
"Oh my-"
"But don't worry too much-they've totally given up hope of you coming. Though I do think Touya may kill himself trying to find you." Tomoyo giggled. "Not too big of a loss." Then she continued, "Before they could think of what to make me do or where to send me, I ran."
Sakura pondered of what to say next and she carefully said, "I have to tell you of why this has come to pass, and of the adventures I have been having." Tomoyo smiled in reply and snapped her fingers so loud it echoed throughout the house. The next thing Sakura knew was that a young scribe had appeared from one of the rooms, scurrying with his parchment and brush.
Tomoyo gestured for him to sit on the floor near her and Sakura. "I pay him five silvers a day and buy or make his meals. We provide him with a room as well."
Sakura smiled at the boy. He was unlike any of the servant boys or scribes she had ever met. They were usually short, plump, and fidgety around the one's they served. This scribe was young, tall, fit and totally unalarmed by the closeness of his master, Tomoyo. Also, he would look them straight in the eye, as an equal, not a servant. Sakura liked him, immediately. "How about we save the story for later and get Kero some food-he's starving. I can feel his agitation rising." Sakura suggested.
Sakura walked toward the living room, which met the kitchen diagonally. It was dimly lit and Sakura couldn't help, but laugh at the sight before her. Syaoran was sitting on the sofa across from a levitating Kero. They were glaring at each other with the utmost sense of hatred. By the looks of it they had been settled there since they had spotted a place to sit comfortably.
"Kero..." Sakura called. Kero hungrily flew over in front of Sakura and settled himself mid-air. His eyes reflected hunger and near to madness symptoms. Sakura giggled, "Kero, you look like you could eat an elephant." Sakura turned to Meilin and nodded. "Get some of that pie for him."
Meilin, with a grudge-like look, stubbornly brought hot apple pie from the oven. Sakura sat at the kitchen eating bar, on the old wooden stool and soon everyone was pushing past Meilin to follow her. Meilin's temper was rising for some reason and she knew it was because of Sakura. That annoying, dense, little-
Her thoughts were cut off by Sakura's call. "Meilin!"
Oh her Highness calls once again! Meilin's jealous thoughts were enough to sear through her enemy's skin. She shuffled to where she could reach Sakura unharmed by the crowd's disputes and wild behavior.
"Have some pie." Sakura offered her a fresh piece on a plate. Sakura had obviously noticed Meilin's change from scowl to surprise. "Don't you think I forgot about our ever-so kind host that's provided us with everything we've needed so far! You've made our trip so much easier...I'd think you'd at least be smart enough to realize that we've recognized you for it." Meilin guiltily took the pie with a forced smile. She walked over to the living room and sat beside the only person not rushing for some pie. Syaoran.
"Hey." she plopped down on the huge sofa beside him.
"Hi."
"Pie?"
"Why aren't you eating it?" he was still looking forward, at the table.
"Can't," she said simply.
"Why not?" Syaoran's eyes met her eyes.
Meilin sighed guiltily. "I was thinking harshly of Sakura and no matter how stubborn I am to her or how cold I am, she's so forgiving, so sweet. I know I have no reason to hate her, but I just feel something inside me that hasn't stirred for years and years. It's odd, but I think this is a reason to believe your story of Earth and how we were together before."
"I wish I hated her as you do. Perhaps then..." Syaoran began bitterly, but his voice faltered and his face paled.
"Perhaps what?" Meilin put the pie down on the side table and turned diagonally to face Syaoran again.
"Maybe I wouldn't suffer as much. She's different though; you just can't hate her. And I know that I thought I hated her, then disliked her and finally liked her. Soon enough I more than liked her didn't I?" Syaoran expressed honestly. "But what if it's she who doesn't love me anymore? After all that has happened, who would?" Syaoran began to feel that it wasn't strange or too honest of him to be expressing this to Meilin. They must have been close, because his instincts told him that he should tell her. It was the usual thing. The right thing.
Meilin's face contorted with a mixture of different emotions. She stood up quietly and turned away from Syaoran, heading straight for Sakura.
"Did I say something wrong?" Syaoran called after her. Meilin turned from her mid-walk position. She smiled and shook her head. Then she tapped Sakura on the shoulder, calling Sakura to pay her attention.
Sakura finally turned, "Yes?"
"I know why. I knew you would make him happier. I knew you two loved each other; were made for each other; and would die for each other, even after such an event would split you for two years." Meilin's eyes began to water.
Sakura's face remained blank and she nodded. Meilin realized she should leave Sakura alone to think and decided it best to go back and talk with Syaoran. She sat beside him again. Meilin thought carefully, planning out what advice she could give. "Syaoran, you are my cousin. I love you very much as my cousin, as my friend; almost like a brother. I guess it's my job to tell you the truth, what I think you should do." Meilin chuckled softly, "It can't be easy going through this twice, but you have to tell her how you feel and then if she is ready, she will tell you how she feels as well. That is the only way to settle it."
Syaoran frowned, but he forced a smile. "You remind me of a cousin I once knew two years ago. She was just like you; strong spirited, caring when she wanted to be, a little childish, but now she's mature and wise." Syaoran paused. "She still carries the same pride she has for her whole life. I wonder, do you know her name?"
"No..." Meilin was puzzled.
"Li Meilin." Syaoran winked. He sighed and got off the sofa, disappearing into the chatter of Meilin's guests.
Meilin let tears stream down her face. There is hope for us. Our world must be restored!
Tomoyo's face lit up at the mention of Tokyo's big event next week. Perfect, she thought with a sinister look on her face. she slid out of the room as Takashi began explaining what the event was about.
"It's like a peasant fair and they have stalls too! A few rides-I'm sure, but the biggest highlight is that it's all free!" Takashi said excitedly causing everyone else to erupt with excitement as well. "There will be a few Obythian Lords asking for more servants too. Rumour has it that they pay large amounts of money if you work for them."
"Why are you still interested in staying? Chiharu and Tomoyo have found what they were searching for and what they wanted." Meilin asked of Chiharu, though she could not seem to see where Tomoyo might have been.
"But the ones they have found haven't found what they've been searching for and what everyone has been wanting." Kero replied out of turn, but it seemed to bring a curious silence to the group.
Chiharu broke the silence, "Are you telling me that you folks are still out on this search for something we people have never been able to acquire...hope." Though she sounded surprised her expression was blank and almost convinced people she was speaking in monotone.
"Yes," Sakura finally answered. "Now that That's been answered and pushed to the side, may I ask a question myself?"
"You already have, technically." Chiharu commented with much thought.
"Uh huh..." Sakura tried to ignore the comment. "Where is Tomoyo?"
"I don't know, I couldn't see her either. I think her scribe is missing al-" Meilin was cut off.
"She's gone out for fabric." Syaoran spoke over Meilin's voice.
Sakura was caught by surprise, "Why?"
Syaoran grinned, "I guess we'll have to wait and find out."
Tomoyo galloped in and out of the fabric stores.
At least I can enjoy this trip at an affordable price! She zipped throughout the stores along the empty street. She could feel her weight getting heavier at each store and finally relaxed as she approached a flower shop. She glanced in the window and an idea struck her.
Tomoyo speed walked to the nearest craft store and five minutes after exited it happily. She was carefully heading back to Meilin's house, clutching two fake flowers, in her hand. One, a peony and the other, a cherry blossom.
Sakura didn't know when Tomoyo had come back, but she was standing at the foot of Sakura's bed as Sakura began to wake up the next day. Tomoyo was holding some sort of kimono in her hands. It was red with a detailed design in gold, blue and some dark green. A soft, black lace was weaved around the waist of the kimono simply for aesthetic value.
Sakura was more than delighted for her new kimono; she was astonished at how fast Tomoyo had put it together and managed to be fresh and full of energy that morning. She couldn't understand how such an intricate kimono could've been made in less than eight hours.
"Tomoyo, you sneaky little brat!" Sakura squealed and took it thankfully.
"I want you to wear it at the big fair next week. I got something special for you hair, but I show you now-it's a surprise!" Tomoyo was desperate for the fair to take place sooner, Sakura could see it in her eyes. She dragged Sakura to the kitchen.
"I see Tomoyo found your room quite easily, Sakura." Meilin laughed. Sakura began laughing as well, followed by Tomoyo's giggles and Chiharu's shy laugh.
Syaoran, Takashi, Kero and the two young, orphan brothers entered the room, unable to figure out as to why the girls couldn't stop laughing.
"What's so funny?" Takashi poked Chiharu. Instead of pulling his ear for being a "pest", Chiharu toppled over with laughter. Takashi smiled, "This reminds me of a story when three scientists in a Tomoeda laboratory let the first samples of laughing gas loose in 1794, a year after it was discovered by some English scientist. Well it was a tragedy, really. What happened was that as soon as the-" Takashi screamed as Chiharu pounced on him, trying to get to his ear. This caused everyone to laugh and it took many, long , slow minutes to calm down the laughing.
Finally, some ten minutes after they had stopped, the girl's decided not to poke fun at the guys for fear of another laughing fit.
Meilin's jaw was throbbing and her throat was left dehydrated, but her abdomen hurt the most. "I think I've gotten the abs I've always wanted!"
Touya pulled the stall off the cart and onto their chosen area. "This'll be where we give away our charity to the children."
Yukito nodded. He had helped Touya make dolls and teddy bears with his own two hands and this made him even more determined to find Sakura. Find her ever more quicker, the less work I must do! he thought enthusiastically.
The city's peasants were setting the free fair up for next week. The Obythian stalls were segregated in a much more delightful place for peasants to go.
Yukito thought it strange that Touya wanted to do this, but ever since they had known of Tomoyo's disappearance, Touya had realized she would most likely be searching for Sakura. And to see Tomoyo skip so brightly out of a craft store with fabrics, a peony and a cherry blossom was even more suspicious.
Tomoyo called the young scribe to her side. "Record this all-remember!"
Sakura was trying on the kimono Tomoyo had made for her. They had spent six relaxing days with each other and the two orphan boys. Sakura had slowly told Tomoyo everything and Tomoyo had made the scribe scribble it down on his parchment. Even now, Tomoyo wanted everything visionary recorded. She wanted a novel, if it was possible.
Sakura came out from behind the Shoji screen and out into the open for Tomoyo to admire and the scribe to scribble. The scribe paused and bit his lip at all the ways he could write of the description of her beauty and how the kimono fit her perfectly. He decided on the most descriptive one.
Her pale skin glows radiantly in contrast with the kimono, gripping at her waist. Lovely auburn hair falls to her shoulders, outlining her emerald eyes; full of joy. A necklace of Celtic beauty glints around-he turned to the next piece of parchment to write more, but no scribble could be heard to Tomoyo's dismay.
She turned to him, "Why aren't you-what is that?" Tomoyo snatched the paper that he had been reading curiously, from his hands.
"I don't know ma'am." he said as Sakura him more to sneak a look. He was left breathless by their small proximity range and realized that he was never shy around those masters of his that neared him except this one. He averted his eyes away from her as he had never done to anyone before. He couldn't understand why his stomach was twisting and turning like some thrilling ride.
Sakura plucked the paper out of Tomoyo's hands and held it tightly. "What's your name?" she asked the brown-haired scribe, gently, without lifting her eyes from the parchment.
The scribe expressed his surprise by knocking over a bottle of ink. He scrambled to clean it up, but dismissed the duty when he heard Sakura clear her throat, this time looking straight at him with a genuine smile.
"Uh-Mamoru," he replied.
"Alright...Mamoru. Thank you very much for your help." Sakura said hesitantly. "Though unintentional-do you mind giving this to Syaoran while I change-"
"He does mind." Tomoyo said hurriedly. "Take it yourself."
"In these clothes?" Sakura asked astonished.
"Oh don't be a baby!"
"Fine," Sakura said hastily, but turned back to the scribe before leaving. "By the way-I love your eyes!"
"Why do you care?" he suddenly asked, not caring if he was rude.
Sakura grinned and shrugged, "Common courtesy."
"Uh-that's gr-great." Syaoran gaped up and down at Sakura when she came, holding the task. "And you too."
"What?"
"You look great."
"Thanks..."
"Well-"
"Gotta go!" Sakura pounced off ready to attack Tomoyo. "That was embarrassing!"
"Good." Tomoyo calmly smiled and walked away.
Meanwhile Syaoran read the last task that would lead them to find the Hope. He read it over and over again, but no success was gained of the whereabouts of Hope.
A.N.: They may not have met all their old friends, but it's for a good reason. Mostly because I'd rather not have a million perspectives and characters to describe, but there are other reasons-hint hint.
List of Explanations:
1) Before I used Kai as the scribe's name but I changed it to something more
meaningful-Mamoru...
2) Meilin is beginning to remember everything, but isn't as mean as she was in
the CCs series because she has
gotten over the "Syaoran is my fiancée" period. She can be nice...right?
3) The necklace she wears in this chapter is not the one you read about in the
Prologue.
Thanks CCS fans-and remember: SS! R&R!