"Syaoran!" Sakura said, startled when he came rushing in the hospital along with Ice and Shinta.
"How is she?" he asked demandingly.
"Not so good…as soon as the nurse saw her, she put her in immediate surgery." she said slowly. Syaoran hit the wall.
"Calm down. We're all worried about her." Shinta said, trying to reassure him.
"You're right…" he said, calming down. He went over and decided to sit down in a nearby chair. They were all worried, he knew it, but he also knew that he was the most worried about her.
"So…what are you going to do about Tomo?" Sakura asked the ex-vampires.
"Well, Xing is taking care of cleanup at the moment…" Ice said. "We're thinking about cremating the both of them." Shinta looked like she could just burst into tears at any given moment.
"Are you o.k.?" Sakura asked Shinta.
"Yeah. It's just that…I loved him so much…It's hard, you know, to lose a loved one…He kind of meant the world to me…I was waiting for him, and then Yang-Chan knocked on the door, and that was all I could remember of that day…I met him again for only what? Half an hour? And then he died…" Shinta said shakily. A small tear came down her face, and then more followed. Ice took her and held her to try and calm her, but it wasn't working.
"I miss him too." Ice said quietly. She looked up at Sakura and said, "Listen, I better take her back. Contact us there if Meiling gets better." Taking Shinta's arm, she guided her out of the quiet hospital. All that was left in the quiet waiting room was her and Syaoran, who was staring at the desk. Sakura made her way toward him and sat by him.
"Syaoran…" Sakura said slowly.
"I'm sorry Sakura, I really am." he said, looking at her with sad eyes. "I didn't want to hurt you that way, you know it." She nodded in response and set her head on his shoulder. They stayed that way for what seemed like eternity, silent, waiting. It seemed like nobody was hurt or sick because they knew that Meiling was hurt and all the doctors needed to be with her. But, they both knew it wasn't true. Slowly, the waiting room started to fill with people as the day dragged on. A nurse came into the waiting room and looked around. Finally seeing Sakura, who still had her head on Syaoran's shoulder, she came up to them with a smile on her face.
"She's fine. She made a full recovery and you both can come in to see her if you wish. Room 12C." the nurse said before leaving to allow another patient in. Sakura's brought her head back up and her eyes were wide.
"Did you hear Syaoran?! She's o.k.!" she squealed.
He sighed in relief, glad that she was o.k. and finally smiled at Sakura. It had been a long night, and she needed to get back home before her dad and Touya found out. "That's great. Uh, Sakura…you really should get back home before…" he said.
Sakura looked at him, and then nodded. "You're right. I'll be back later with the others, o.k.?" she said. Syaoran nodded and watched as Sakura left the slightly busy hospital. He slowly got up and went to the elevator to go to the level Meiling was at. He may not have shown it, but he was excited, nervous, and anxious to see her for the first time in his life.
The elevator ride seemed to last for hours and then short walk to her room seemed endless, but he made it fine. Knocking on the door two times so she knew someone was coming in, he let himself in. There she was, laying in the sunlight, hair down, head propped up, and smiling at him with her sparkling ruby eyes. He sat on the edge of her bed and smiled at her while taking her hand.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he kissed her lightly on her forehead.
"I could be better." she answered truthfully. Sighing, she looked at him seriously. "You know, with my new magical powers, I'm going to be summoned home shortly."
He was silent for a moment before answering, "Yeah, I know. I'm sure my mom or one of the elders have already sensed your powers and are trying to contact us at the moment." He smiled, knowing that Wei would tell them the truth. All he could say was they were out at the moment, since he didn't know where they were.
"They'll probably send someone over immediately if they can't reach us by phone. Looking for us, using a lasin board." she said. She could already picture one of the Li's coming to Tomoeda, using the lasin board, and be surprised to find the both of them in a hospital.
"Mom's going to kill me when she finds out what happened you know." Syaoran said, smirking at her. She nodded in response, knowing that was true. She was pretty strict and didn't like it when Meiling was in danger. They all knew she was the weakest and had to be kept safe, but know, that was different. She was the strongest, and didn't need their protection. She could finally be as free as a bird.
"Sakura said she'd be here later with everybody else." he said. It was funny. They knew each other so well, could always talk about anything nonstop if they wanted, and here they were, having trouble talking to each other since last night. She was silent, not knowing what to say. "Meiling…I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For how I treated you in the past. I really am." he said looking at her with sincere eyes.
A small smile came across her face. "It doesn't matter. I just wanted to be with you. As long as I was by your side, it didn't matter how you treated me." He looked at her sadly and, much to both of their surprise, hugged her. He didn't want to let go, he didn't want to lose her. It was so much that he already almost lost her last night while she protected him. They stayed like that for a while before Meiling said, "Syaoran?"
"Hm?"
"Do I squeeze you this hard as well? I mean, I am recovering." He went back and sat up and blushed.
"No, you squeeze a lot more harder." he said smiling at her.
- - -
It was a while after they heard a knock on the door again. Syaoran got up from Meiling's side and opened the door to let the person in. He was nearly trampled on when Kero, Tomoyo, and Sakura came running in soon followed by a collected Eriol, Ice, Xing, and Shinta.
"Hey brat! We brought you some flowers!" he said flying in with a lotus in his hand. He handed it to her, and she received it gratefully. "I of course remembered that the lotus is your favorite." he said with pride.
"If I do remember, it was the Flower that knew it." Sakura said. Tomoyo was filming and asking Meiling all sorts of questions, while Eriol tried to make her put it down.
"This is kind of serious…you really shouldn't be filming here my Tomoyo." Eriol said while holding her shoulders.
"Aw, come on, I'm sure she doesn't mind. Or do you?" Tomoyo asked.
Meiling smiled at the camera lover and said, "Of course I don't mind. Just make sure you get my good side." she said jokingly. Flowers soon filled the room when everybody set them down, and they even brought a gift for her. She never felt so wanted in her life, and it made her feel happy for once.
Syaoran brought the gift over to her, and she opened it carefully. A small red and pink teddy bear was inside with a get well card. She smiled widely and thanked them all for everything. They told her it was no problem, and then started the array of questions.
After that, they all started talking and having fun and the nurse had to come in to settle them. "If I have to come in again, your visitors are out of here." she threatened. They all had to look sad and serious, and as soon she closed the door, they went right back into a fit of laughter. For a while it seemed like nothing could stop Meiling's great mood, even if she couldn't move from the bed and she was in a hospital. Somebody knocked twice on the door, and it slowly opened. Syaoran stiffened suddenly, and everyone looked at the door to see what caused his sudden stiffness. Yelan was standing there, looking very relieved. Kero stiffened as well, and layed by Meiling's bear. The room suddenly got quiet.
"Meiling. Syaoran. Do you know how worried I have been?" she asked keeping her calm. They didn't answer. "Once you're done recovering, you'll be heading back to Hong Kong so you can start your training."
"But-" Meiling started to protest.
"I don't want to hear any of it. And it'll be immediately. Syaoran may stay here if he wishes." She walked out of the room just as quietly as she entered. They all stayed in silence as silent tears fell down Meiling's face.
"I don't want to go back." she said quietly as Syaoran finally loosened up.
- - -
It was a week later when everybody said goodbye to Meiling. Shinta, Ice, and Xing said they'd be going with her because they all originally came from China. Syaoran on the other hand, decided to stay behind.
"Why?!" Meiling asked for the millionth time at the airport.
"I told you. There's only a month of school left. I'll use that month to finish packing everything and I'll be back with you. O.k.?" he said reassuring her. She frowned at him, then finally nodded.
"But do you promise?" she asked making sure. He never did break a promise to her, and they both knew it.
He smiled at her. "Yes. I promise." Finally smiling, she hugged him quickly. "I'll be waiting. Got it?"
"We both know you could wait forever."
"That's true." She walked over to Sakura and grabbed both of her hands. "I'll miss you. Promise to keep in touch?"
"Of course." Sakura said.
"And no hard feelings about what happened?"
"No hard feelings." They hugged each other, as Tomoyo was capturing the whole goodbye moment. Meiling walked up to her know.
"Take the camera away from your eye for a moment so that I can hug you goodbye." Tomoyo smiled at her and handed the camera to Eriol to hug her dear Chinese friend goodbye.
"You know my e-mail address." she said, while getting the camera back. Meiling nodded and gave Eriol a quick hug goodbye. Just before she left, Meiling had a goodbye argument with Kero and boarded the plane with Shinta, Xing, and Ice. All of them had said their goodbyes, but since they all just met, it wasn't as long Meiling's. Meiling turned around and waved at everybody just as she disappeared from view.
A/N: The last chapter. Sad I know. I'm still recovering from the shock of me actually finishing a story for once from beginning to end. Thanks to all who reviewed! Yes, if your still wondering, Tomo is actually dead. I'm sorry. If I left you hanging, don't worry! I was debating with myself for a while, and have finally decided to make a sequel to this story. I have no clue when I'll have it up, but just be on the look out. O.k.? Now, for some advertisements: If you liked this story of mine, then why not try to read a crossover that I'm writing, while waiting for the sequel to this story, called Flying Dragon and Lonely Bird. It's a CCS and Yu-Yu Hakusho story, and involves Meiling. This time, I'm using the English dub names though. ; So, please review this last chapter!!! Thanks for reading!!