"I'm home now!" Meiling called out into the apartment when she came home. She could still hear Yang-Chan's voice echoing throughout her head.
Flashback
"When you go home, act as if nothing had happened…Act as you would when I wasn't your master…" she had ordered Meiling earlier. "Now, put these in." Yang-Chan handed Meiling contacts. "These will take the hypnotized look out of your eyes."
Meiling still on knee looked up and accepted the contacts. She inserted them into her eyes, and looked down upon the ground waiting for her next orders.
End of flashback
"Hey, Meiling." Syaoran said from behind her. Startled, she looked to see Syaoran just coming in. "I was out trying on my costume…" he stopped when he noticed Meiling's necklace that was still on her neck.
"Where's that from?"
"It came with my costume Tomo's mom made me. She said if I wore it, I'd get used to it, since I've never worn jewelry before and it felt funny." she said with a smile, hoping he'd buy it.
"Oh, o.k. Well, tomorrow is a big day, with the dance going on late at night and it being Halloween and all…" he yawned and stretched. Syaoran looked at Meiling, who had went into the kitchen to make a snack.
"Want something?" she asked.
"No…" he just wanted to admire everything about her. The way that she moved, her undying love for him…but, he knew that love was dying. She loved Tomo now, there'd be no room for him. "I'll be heading to bed now, o.k.?"
She looked up from her preparations. "Alright. Good night!"
"Good night."
- - -
"So, how's the plan? Did you corrupt her mind yet?" Ice asked Tomo.
"Do you always have to be in my room, asking me questions?" Tomo asked.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I may actually care about you, you know? I mean, it's not exactly a secret is it?" Ice said.
Tomo smiled at her. She was right. Since the first day he joined them, Ice was always there, showing him around just to get close to him. It broke her heart when she found out his heart was still with his girlfriend. Convinced she was dead from the explosion, Tomo was usually melancholy, but after Ice informed him that she found out she wasn't dead and the only way to meet her was for him to be human, he signed up for the job to hunt for the key, Meiling. "The plan is going well, and no, Yang-Chan made her put the ruby on herself."
"Amazing. I wonder why Yang-Chan always says if you don't turn human, the plan will be dead?"
"Probably because it was part of a deal we made…I don't know…"
Sighing, Ice layed on his bed and looked up at him. He turned around in his chair and looked at her, giving her a what's-on-your-mind look.
"Nothing, just nothing…forget it…So…what are you doing there at your desk?" she asked noting the mess of papers and fresh eraser dust.
"Just…stuff…"
"Oh. Well good night then." Ice got up and left his room and headed to her room.
"Well?" a voice said from behind her door.
"It's going good…but, he doesn't know either." Ice said. "Did you find out?"
Xing came out of the shadows. "Nope, nothing. Whatever Yang-Chan has in store for our dear friend, she definitely doesn't want us to know about it…"
- - -
Music to Jessica Andrew's "Helplessly, Hopelessly" begins
I can stand with the weight of the world on my shoulders
I can fight with the toughest of the tough
I can laugh in the face of all my insecurities
Anytime, anywhere, anything…I'm strong enough
Syaoran looked at Meiling. It was almost time for the dance and they were waiting for both of their dates. The last of the trick-or-cheaters passed by the streets an hour ago. She looked absolutely stunning in the vampire costume. Although it was plain, it hugged her body just at the right places. They were sitting outside, on the hill and Meiling was looking up at the stars. Her now pale face, thanks to the makeup she wore, looked somewhat mysterious in the full moon light.
"Um…Syaoran?"
"Huh?" he woke up from his thoughts.
"Have you gotten the elders approval for Sakura to be your bride?"
"Nope, they said 'Talk to us when you're both eighteen.'"
Meiling laughed. "What do they think you'll do? Change your mind? You never do that!"
Syaoran laughed along with her. If only you knew Meiling…If only you knew… he thought.
But when you're holding me like this
I'm carelessly lost in your touch
I'm completely defenseless
Baby, it's almost too much
I'm helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly falling in love
Meiling gave a mischievous smirk and at an astonishing speed, grabbed Syaoran by the waist and tackled him down. He was completely defenseless and they rolled down the hill together. They ended up at the bottom of the hill, with Meiling still holding on to him from the side. He just wanted time to stop right there. He noted everything, her laughter, her touch, the way her hair fell onto her face, and the way he felt there, at the bottom of the hill. It's official…I'm…in love with her… Syaoran thought to himself. Should I tell her?
"Why did you do that?!" Syaoran said instead.
"You looked like you needed it. And anyways, I haven't done that since I was 10!" she laughed even harder.
Syaoran smiled at her. "Now look at you, you're covered with grass!"
So let consequence do what it will to us, I don't care
Let the stars stand as witness to all
Say the word and tonight I will follow you anywhere
I just can't pretend anymore I'm too sturdy to fall
Just then, Yang-Chan and Tomo pulled up. He got out of the car and walked over to them. Smiling at the two he cleared his throat. Syaoran's hand stopped picking off grass off of Meiling and got up. Tomo helped Meiling get up and Syaoran couldn't help but get angry.
"Remember, I'll be taking Meiling home after the dance. Got it?" Syaoran said rather coldly.
"Of course, of course. I don't know what you're problem is. I've told you I wasn't going to do anything to her."
"Whatever." he gave him his glare and his body shook with anger. Who was he anyway? Doesn't he know I can pound his face in anytime?
Tomo took Meiling's arm gracefully and said, "Well, let's go Meiling." She followed him as he escorted her to the car.
GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF OF HER! Syaoran screamed in his head.
Meiling looked out of the car and rolled down her window, "See you at the dance!" she called as the car drove off.
'Cause when you're holding me like this
I'm carelessly lost in your touch
I'm completely defenseless
Baby, it's almost too much
I'm helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly falling in love
"Take out your contacts." Yang-Chan ordered from the driver's seat.
"Yes master." Meiling did as she was told and her hypnotized eyes shone in the full moonlight.
"Remember, you have to act like yourself."
"Yes master."
Tomo put a shawl around her and whispered in her ear, "You were shaking."
His voice tickled her ear and she sat more straighter in surprise. Her eyes started to lower as a new, warm feeling came over her as he was holding her. She wanted to stay forever in his arms.She just couldn't tell him her feelings toward him. He may just push himself farther away from me if I do…she thought to herself sadly. Just like Syoaraon did with me…
- - -
Syaoran and Sakura were the talk of the dance. Sakura, looked just like a princess should, with her gorgeous pink dress that sparkled in the light. It was made in the style of a Medieval time period dress, with a few modifications. Syaoran's costume was made much that of what a prince would wear during that time period. They had just ended a dance and Syaoran kept his eyes on Tomo and Meiling the whole time.
"AND NOW, THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! THE BEST COSTUMED COUPLE!" a teacher said in the microphone. The students cheered. Tomo whispered something in Meiling's ear, and they left the dance, unknowing to Syaoran and the other teenagers.
I am not afraid, I am not afraid
"Now, after extensive counting, the best costumed couple is…Sakura Kinomoto and Syaoran Li! Everybody, give a round of applause!" the teacher said as he moved over for Sakura and Syaoran to get onto the stage. The children applauded and cheered, some even nodded their heads in agreement.
"Thank you all for voting for us and I'd like to thank my dear friend and cousin, Tomoyo, for making these wonderful costumes for us!" Sakura said. Syaoran looked around frantically for Meiling, but he couldn't find her. Where could she be? he thought. He was getting scared, but he didn't show it. All he could find was Tomoyo and Eriol looking up from the front row in their Yue and Ruby Moon costumes.
'Cause when you're holding me like this
I'm carelessly lost in your touch
I'm completely defenseless
Baby, it's almost too much
I'm helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly falling
I'm helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly falling in love
"Helplessly, Hopelessly" ends
A/N: Like my second chapter fic? Sorry if this chapter wasn't as good as the rest, but…it was all I could come up with! Thanks fallen and apple-cinnamon for the reviews! Just to reassure you apple-cinnamon, this isn't another suicide fic. I hate those. And I don't own the song "Helplessly, Hopelessly", that belongs to Jessica Andrews. Remember, to be kind and review! Your reviews are my motivation in actually FINISHING this fic!