C-Mage: Well, after a rather long time (though not as long as previously)
we have this chapter out! Many thanks for those who have stuck with it
this far! I hope we aren't disappointing you! And now, I'm off to camp
for a few weeks. Have fun without me!
T.Anjel: Hi.
Disclaimer: We don't own CCS—if we did, why wouldn't you be watching this in a terrible dub from Nelvana? O.O
Summary: Sakura returns to school, life goes on, and Syaoran comes to a decision.
Learn to Love Me – Chapter 16 – Syaoran's Decision
Kinomoto's first day back was about a week after she was released from the hospital. While she insisted she was well enough to return to the school (so I heard from Daidouji to Hiiragizawa-san during lunch), Daidouji was adamant that she stay home and get well rested. Finally, Kinomoto had had to drag Daidouji to the doctor's for permission to return to work. And so, with medical support behind her, Kinomoto gleefully made her return one chilled windy Tuesday.
Kinomoto had called me the previous night around ten to inform me of her imminent return. I had, of course, lectured her on her choice of calling hours—what if I'd been sleeping?—but assured her that she'd be able to pick up from where I'd been teaching. I also informed her of the classes' constant inquiries about when she'd be back and that I was quite satisfied they'd stop all the ruckus.
I went to bed that night with mixed feelings. I was glad that she'd return to teaching, as the students clearly missed her (I refused to acknowledge that I did), but what if things were...awkward? I hadn't exactly left on the best note with her. I just hoped my card had helped.
I awoke that Tuesday not feeling that great. In fact, if I were prone to using curse words, I might say that I felt like shit. I hadn't slept well at all, anxiety not allowing my brain it's much needed rest until the wee hours of the morning. After a nice, hot shower and a cup of scalding coffee I felt a bit better, and so I set out for school.
Kinomoto practically skipped into the room a good half-hour after my arrival, though still amazingly early for someone who always seems to be late. Her right arm was still in a sling and in a cast beyond that, and her customary backpack was slung over her left shoulder. She was as dressed up as she ever got, and her hair was left down to hang around her face–no doubt she hadn't wanted the hassle of putting it up one-handed.
She went up to my desk, grinning widely all the way. She promptly pulled out the latest stack of homework I'd left her to grade and plopped it unceremoniously on my desk. "There you are!" she exclaimed. "They were torture to grade, as I'm sure you can imagine"—she wiggled her right hand's fingers at me—"but they're all done." Indeed, the paper on the top was covered in jaggedly drawn numbers and lines, and I almost smiled. Using her left hand must have been hard.
Switching to her native Japanese, she added in a quieter voice, "And thank you for the cards, Li-san. They were lovely." A slight blush colored her cheeks.
"No problem," I answered. "The students wanted to do something for you, anyway."
Kinomoto nodded again and proceeded to yank things from her bag and arrange them on my desk while I took my chair and went back to the corner to observe. Students started to trickle in with the ringing of the first bell, exclaiming over Kinomoto's return. She smiled and chattered with them until the second bell rang and class began.
"I assume you've all noticed that I'm back," she said lightly to the class. "I'm sure Mr. Li told you the circumstances of my absence, and now I'm saddled with this thing." She indicated the sling. "And, since I'm back, I suppose we should start with the lesson!" She turned towards the board, but a few seconds later she turned back. "Mr. Li?"
"Yes?" I asked.
"Could you...assist me?" Her cheeks lit in a blush.
"With what?"
"Er...the board." She coughed self-consciously as the class laughed.
"Ah." Comprehension dawned on me. How was she supposed to write left-handed when she was so terrible at it? I set down my notes as I went to the front. "Do you have notes for me?" I asked when I reached her. She nodded and pulled out a stack of haphazardly written ones from the pile of papers littering my desk. I chuckled when I saw them, but at least they were barely legible. "I'll make copies, then," I said, heading out the room. Kinomoto looked startled, then nodded.
A few minutes later I was back and decided to give her the copies—let's see her decipher her own bad handwriting, I thought wickedly. She blushed as I handed them to her with raised eyebrows, and then she began to lecture the class as I copied them down onto the board. After that first class, we got into a rhythm of it, and by our free period it was down pat.
"You know, I could type these for you and make transparencies," I offered as the last of the students left after second period. "The next two periods are free, and I've got nothing better to do." Kinomoto looked thoughtful before nodding in agreement, and I pulled out my school-issue laptop to start typing. A short while later, I was done and headed off to pick the notes up from the printer and make transparencies, while Kinomoto went to borrow an overhead from the library.
Fifth block saw me back in my corner with my notes, as usual. Inconvenient as it had been, it'd been fun to help Kinomoto. Ah, well, it was better for me to make note of her progress while it was ongoing, instead of struggling to remember it later and miss things, I reasoned with myself.
On the way to the teachers' lounge for lunch, Kinomoto turned to me and said, "Thank you for the overhead idea, Mr. Li. I'm sure it's much easier than you having to write all my notes on the board." She tried to stifle her giggling behind her left hand.
"It was nothing," I returned, holding back a smile. "Though, if you can have your notes for the next day done by eight o'clock at night, I'm sure I can have transparencies ready for the next day, too."
"Oh, would you?" she cried happily as we rounded the corner into the teachers' lounge.
"Of course," I answered, just as her attention was drawn to Daidouji and Hiiragizawa-san.
"Konnichiwa, Tomoyo-san, Eriol-kun," she said as she settled into the nearest chair and pulled out her lunch. It was a thermos, instead of her normal Japanese bento, and when she saw my look she said, "Well, I can't really use chopsticks left-handed, can I?"
I nodded thoughtfully as I sat down and pulled out my own lunch, haphazardly made that morning in my grouchy state. "I suppose you're terrible enough with a spoon, though," I muttered to myself, edging away from where her left elbow jutted out awkwardly. Obviously she'd heard me, because she turned to scowl at me briefly before returning to Daidouji and Hiiragizawa-san.
"So, Kinomoto-san, how has your first day back been so far?" asked Hiiragizawa-san pleasantly. "The students aren't bothering you too much, are they?"
"Oh, no, they're fine," answered Kinomoto between slurps. "In fact, even Li-san's being civil to me." I opened my mouth to retaliate, but Hiiragizawa-san cut me off.
"Indeed? I suspect that's just guilt. He was in quite a state after your crash." I stared hard at my lunch, feeling my face rise in temperature and Kinomoto's emerald eyes watching me.
"Hm," was all she said in response. Startled, I glanced up slightly, wondering what she was thinking. Wasn't she mad at me at all? Bitter? After all, I was pretty sure I was the reason she'd been in that crash, not that I was trying to be self-important or anything.... I sighed in defeat. Perhaps I shouldn't even try to figure out what went on in her female head. Hadn't I decided long since that they were confusing beyond all thought?
Lunch progressed rather normally after that, as did the rest of the day, and I soon found myself facing Kinomoto in the empty classroom. To me it felt a bit uncomfortable, but she gave no sign of it as she hurriedly gathered her things together one-handed and set out for the door. "Better get started on those notes if I'm to have them done by eight, huh?" she said before leaving. "See you later." A wave over her left shoulder and she was gone.
I shook my head. So much for begging for forgiveness, I thought. I dodged a few desks on my way out, turning off the lights with a flick of my fingers on the switch. The door swung shut with a gentle click and was soon locked behind me as I walked down the hallway, pulling my coat around me tighter in anticipation of the cooler air outside.
As soon as I was back at my homely apartment I made myself a mug of black coffee. I took a sip while I settled in my chair to begin waiting for Kinomoto and made a face at the bitter taste. I didn't even know why I drank the disgusting thing, just that I'd somehow gotten addicted to it while I was in college, where I'd been a student struggling against demands for cash and time.
Looking back on college, it really hadn't been that bad. My family had been content to leave me pretty much alone, and even Meiling hadn't forced herself upon me, mindful of my study needs. I hadn't had many friends, but I was fine with that—I'd always been a loner, clear back to elementary school in China, where Meiling had pestered me all the time and always made me lunch.
I smiled at the memory. Even though she'd insisted on feeding me, her cooking really was wonderful. Although—my mouth twitched—her cake baking skills were lamentable. They hadn't been able to scrape the charred remains of her last effort off of the pan, if I remembered correctly. The brand-new mold in the shape of a small wolf (pun intended) had had to be thrown away, and all the while Meiling stood in the background, fuming over how she'd just turned up the temperature a little bit....
I sighed. Meiling. She hadn't been too bad during childhood, tagging along after me. It'd been some comfort in the void that'd been my life. When we'd gotten older, however, she'd gotten more possessive over me, forcing engagement on me through my mother. How she'd managed to wrap the formidable woman around her finger was beyond me, but it was obvious that she had—how else had she gotten permission to follow me to America and coerce me into marriage?
I sat in thought like that for a while, until eventually my virtually untouched coffee turned cold and a knock was heard at the door. I jerked upright. A look at the time told me it was nearing seven, and I hadn't gotten any work done. Feeling the mood I'd had this morning settle upon me once more, I got up and yanked open the door. Kinomoto's eyes stared back at me, and I ushered her in.
"How are you?" I asked, closing the door behind her.
"Pretty good," she replied. "Here are the notes. I hope you don't have too hard a time reading them." She quirked a smile while holding a sheaf of papers out to me, which I placed on my chair.
We stood silently for a while, the air full of things to be said between us. When Kinomoto made as if to leave, I quickly asked, desperate for her to stay longer, "How's Kaplan?"
She blinked at the question, obviously as startled as I at what had popped out of my mouth. She shrugged, "He's doing okay, so I hear. He's gotten a girlfriend over in Europe. I suppose 'out of sight, out of mind' rings true, doesn't it?" Her mouth twisted slightly, as if she'd bitten onto something bitter.
Thinking it was as good an opportunity as any, I ventured, "Um...about our fight...." I winced as I trailed off.
Her beautiful face marred itself in a frown while she answered. "Oh, that. Li-san, if you don't mind, could we just be friends? I hope it's not too much to ask, but I really don't think pursuing a relationship between us would be a good idea, okay?" Before I could do anything but open my mouth stupidly, she glanced at her watch. "Oh, I'd better get going!" As she bustled out the door she smiled at me sweetly. "Thanks again for this. It's a lot of help."
I nodded mutely at her retreating back, dumbstruck. After all that'd happened I guess I was lucky to have gotten the chance to be her friend—she could have asked for a change in teachers, if she'd wanted. I'd just have to keep on better behavior. And what was with my asking about Kaplan? I didn't even like the guy! And to hear that he'd left Kinomoto.... It wasn't a surprise on his part. He didn't play fair in anything, even love.
Shaking myself from my musing, I decided I'd better get make another mug of coffee and get a start on things. I had a bit of time to make up for, and making sense of Kinomoto's abysmal handwriting certainly wasn't going to make things any better.
Meiling was waiting in the teachers' lounge the next day as I rounded the corner with Kinomoto. It was as if she'd read my thoughts from the previous night about her Chinese lunches, even down to force-feeding me like I wanted to Kinomoto. She was still fumbling ridiculously with her spoon, so much so that, between easing bits of delicious Chinese cuisine into my mouth, Meiling shot horrified looks at her.
The room was filled with an odd sort of tension. Kinomoto was too immersed in balancing spoonfuls of soup to notice anything out of the ordinary, but Daidouji clearly was trying to keep from giggling at how I was being spoon-fed, and Hiiragizawa-san had a lazy smirk crossing his face. I glared at him sharply, and he chuckled in retaliation.
"So, Mr. Li," began Hiiragizawa-san, plainly sticking to English in case Meiling wasn't fluent in Japanese, "would you care to introduce us to your charming dinner partner?" Meiling blushed at the praise and set down the chopsticks; I shot Hiiragizawa-san another glare as I slurped up my dim sum and turned to face the three onlookers.
"This is Li Meiling." I gestured at Meiling, who drew herself up in an attempt to look impressive, which I'm sure didn't make up for how she'd just been shoving food into my mouth. "And this is Daidouji Tomoyo and Hiiragizawa Eriol." I paused when I hit Kinomoto. "And you already know Ms. Kinomoto." Meiling's garnet eyes slanted briefly into slits before we went back to beaming.
"I'm his fiancée," she said, shaking hands. Daidouji's eyes widen slightly, but Hiiragizawa-san didn't seem fazed in the slightest. Figured. The man probably had my house bugged or something. And Kinomoto just sat there, brow barely furrowed as she looked at Meiling, then shrugged and went back to her soup.
"Ah, so you're getting married," stated Hiiragizawa-san, returning to delicately eating his food.
"Yes," answered Meiling, so pleased she forgot to continue feeding me. I picked up the chopsticks and resumed eating my lunch, savoring every bite. Meiling really was a great cook.
"When's the wedding?" asked Daidouji, looking mildly curious.
"Oh, that hasn't really been decided yet. It'll have to be in China, of course, and we all know Syaoran has a busy schedule." She leaned down to kiss my cheek, and I barely refrained from wrinkling my nose in disgust. Couldn't she see I was eating?
Hiiragizawa-san nodded absently, but his eyes glinted at me mischievously. The gods knew what he'd do for entertainment, and it seemed I was in his sights today. I swallowed, hard.
Things were quiet for a few minutes, albeit awkwardly. For a while there I actually thought he'd let the rest of my lunchtime go uninterrupted, but it seems he had other thoughts. Just as I was finishing up the last of my lunch, he had to go and open his trap.
"What are you going to do about the self-defense club, Mr. Li?"
"Hm?" Kinomoto and I both perked up at this. What did anything have to do with the self-defense club?
"I mean, what with Ms. Kinomoto's injury, you'll be short an instructor his Friday." He nodded towards Kinomoto's sling. "You wouldn't expect her to fight with her arm like that, would you?" Kinomoto's face fell; I could tell she hadn't thought about that aspect of things at all. As it was, doing the club the previous Friday had been hard enough with just me, and we'd ended up adjourning early.
As much as I hated to admit it, Hiiragizawa-san had a point. Now, why would this be so torturous for me? After all, the devious Hiiragizawa Eriol never did anything unless there was an upside for him, and more often than not it was in baiting people.
"Won't you need a substitute assistant?" he asked, looking at me from over his silver spectacles. "What about that...David Kaplan? Didn't he help out once?" I growled low in my throat, ignoring that he was safely out of the country, but Kinomoto shook her head.
"No, he's in Europe...." Her face soured briefly. "Who else do you know, Mr. Li?" she asked me.
"He knows me," said a voice haughtily over my shoulder. I groaned. Meiling. Of course! "I'd be more than willing to help out, and I'm sure I'm much better than you, anyway. I've been trained by the Li Clan, after all." She finished this with a flick of her raven hair and glared a challenge at Kinomoto.
Kinomoto, however, stood down. "I suppose...as long as I could watch. I wouldn't want to get too far behind on what my students were doing. Is that all right, Mr. Li?" I nodded, helpless. But it appeared Hiiragizawa- san wasn't yet done inflicting needless pain, as he soon continued.
"Didn't Ms. Kinomoto have a match to show her worthiness in front of the students?" inquired Hiiragizawa-san politely. My blood ran cold, and I nodded jerkily. He grinned his Cheshire cat grin. "Then, shouldn't Ms. Li be afforded the same honor?" Meiling's eyes lit up.
"That's a brilliant idea, Mr. Hiiragizawa!" Meiling rounded on me and glomped onto me. "Please say you will, Syaoran, please!" As I couldn't very well say no, especially with Kinomoto looking at me sternly in the background, I nodded. And, as I did so, Meiling—there is no other word for it—squealed and started kissing my face madly. I tried to pull back, but Meiling would have nothing of it and wouldn't release me until I'd felt a bit of her tongue around my mouth.
Finally I managed to pull away and wipe off my mouth in disgust. "Meiling, it's not that big a deal," I whispered to her, trying to get her to calm down. Honestly, this woman had the immaturity of a young teenager.
"No big deal?" she exclaimed. "No big DEAL?! I've been trying to get you to treat me as an equal in martial arts forever!" She pouted momentarily before flinging herself back onto me again. "I'm so glad!" The bell rang, and she started. "Oh, you'd better get going! I'll see you tonight, all right? For a celebration dinner." She winked at me as she left, and it was then that I realized the others had left me. Figures. The display of Meiling kissing me must have been too much for them after having just eaten. Even my own stomach was growling irritably.
My mail was waiting for me when I got home, and amidst the normal junk and bills there was a package. From China, no less. Now, that was odd. It wasn't every day I got something from my dearest, eldest sister in China. I absentmindedly wandered up to my apartment, not even noticing that the door was unlocked. The door opened to a waft of heavenly cooking, and I glanced up to see Meiling cooking away in my kitchen, as cool as you please. Wait. Meiling?
"How'd you get a key?" I asked after I kicked off my shoes, dumping my normal load of things on my chair and going to my bedroom to change, grabbing a paring knife on the way.
"Oh, I asked the super for one. He even said he'd make a copy for me. Isn't that nice?" She went off into girlish giggles while I disappeared behind my bedroom door. A copy? I'd have to talk to my super about that. It was disturbing enough knowing Meiling was in the U.S. at all, let alone had free range of my apartment.
I plopped down on my bed. What I wouldn't give to take a nice, relaxing nap. It seemed my head had been aching constantly since lunch. Maybe I'd take some of the medicine I had in my bathroom for the sake of having it. Sighing, I slit open with package. What on earth would my sister have sent to me?
An engagement ring, it turned out. I sat, stunned, staring at the ring in the little velvet box. While it was against Chinese tradition to use rings, my family had started Westernizing to go with the times, and this was clearly my mother's. The diamond nestled in the smooth gold was nothing to take lightly; I was sure any girl who saw it would faint on the spot. But why did my sister send it to me?
There was only one thing for it—Meiling. I moaned and fell over onto my bed. Why did she insist on messing with my life so much? If she weren't here, I'd be happy being grouchy with Kinomoto. Or, worse yet, I might even have a chance with her!
Just then, Meiling creaked open the door. "Syaoran, what are you doing?" I snapped the case shut and promptly sat on it, but I was certain she'd seen it. There was something about the smug look on her face that told me she had. "Are you all right, dear?"
"I'm fine," I muttered. "I was just changing."
"Oh, that's all right. Now, just come out and I'll set the table...." I quickly slid the case under the mattress when she'd turned her back and followed her out. She'd found a rickety card table somewhere and had it set up in what served as a foyer. On the kitchen counter she'd stacked proper Chinese dishware, presumably ones she's brought with her, as mine were barely serviceable for normal fare, and next to the china were plates full of steaming dishes. My mouth watered at the thought of dishes that I hadn't had properly prepared in years. She definitely knew my weakness.
"Now, Syaoran, you just sit right on down, and I'll have everything ready in no time." And, sure enough, a few minutes later the table was set, wine was poured, and the dishes were ranged between us. "To us," she said, lifting her wineglass in a toast. I obliged and clinked mine against hers, taking a swallow of the wine. It really wasn't too bad. She must have spent a lot of my family's money on this meal.... After all, she didn't work over here. She was fully financed by the Li Clan, and her mission was to bring me in for marriage and eventual return to China.
Things progressed quite nicely until dessert. Each dish was as good as the last, if not better, and the dim sum (forever and always my favorite) was to die for. But, just as she was getting up to bring over a scrumptious-looking chocolate pie, presumably bought, as she couldn't bake to save her life, there was a knock on the door. I glanced at my watch and started to get up, seeing that it was probably Kinomoto. How many people visited me, anyway?
Meiling beat me to the door. "Hello? Li res—" She stopped abruptly when she saw that it was Kinomoto, and her lips pressed together tightly. "Syaoran, there's someone at the door." And she turned around and stormed back to the kitchen, ending short of slamming the door in Kinomoto's apprehensive face.
I moved over to the door. "Sorry about that," I muttered, nodding towards Meiling.
Kinomoto nodded in understanding. "It's all right. I can see why she wouldn't like me...." She blushed. "Anyway, I just came to drop off the notes. I'll see you tomorrow." And before I could say anything, she was off down the hall. I plopped the notes down onto my chair, covered in the schoolwork I hadn't even touched, and looked at Meiling. She looked suspicious for a second, but then she happily brought the cake over.
"And before you even ask, Syaoran, I didn't bake it."
All too soon, Friday was upon me, and the self-defense club along with it. I trudged to school in the moodiest of moods and was rather harsher with Kinomoto than was warranted. But, however slowly the day went by, it was eventually four o'clock and time to prepare for the club. Kinomoto came into help with the mats, and then I went to change. When I came back out, students were trickling in, calling greetings to one another and Kinomoto.
At 4:16, Meiling ran in, looking rather flushed. She was dressed in tight-as-spandex clothing, and her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. At least she wasn't in her traditional Li clothing. That would just get the students to laugh at her, not respect her.
"You're late," I said coolly, glaring at her. Students tittered; I suppose it was fun for them to watch someone else being admonished, for once. She winced.
"I'm sorry! I forgot!" She quickly slipped out of her shoes at the edge of the mat and came over, looking at me imploringly.
"That's no excuse. Tardiness is not something to allow of oneself." She nodded stonily. She must have heard this thousands of times from the Clan elders, but never from me. I made sure she was properly sorry before switching focus to the students. "What are you waiting for? Warm up!" Meiling and I joined in, and Kinomoto tried to the best of her abilities, shooting me a wry grin. It must be hard for her to sit at the sidelines, but it would have been harder for her to be at home, away from the fun.
"This is Li Meiling," I said when the slower of the students had finished. "You may all call her Ms. Li. She's been generous enough to help out while Ms. Kinomoto can't, so be sure not to waste her time." I heard murmured signs of agreement. "And, since Ms. Kinomoto did a practice match with me, she'll do one with me. All right?" This time the noise was louder, and there were even a few cheers.
I allowed myself the tiniest of smiles as I faced off against Meiling, going into a defensive pose. "Ready?"
"Ready," she replied, sliding into a pose across from me.
I nodded. "Ms. Kinomoto, if you would tell us when to begin?" She blinked from where she'd been slumped against the wall and sat at attention.
"Begin."
I let Meiling throw the first punch. She always had been aggressive, I remembered. I shortly switched to offense, kicking at her legs and chest. With Kinomoto watching as a referee, I couldn't fall back on simple defense as I'd done in our first fight. I knew she wouldn't stand for something she saw as so unfair, so I had to give this fight my all.
Soon I was engrossed in the fight, kicking and jabbing as I'd been doing it since I was out of the cradle. Which, I thought, was almost true. The Li Clan had been adamant about training their young in martial arts since they were old enough to walk, so that it was thoroughly ingrained in their heads.
In due time the fight wore down, and Meiling and I were covered in a shimmer of sweat. I slammed my fist to a stop before her nose, stopping the fight with the same move I'd used to defeat Kinomoto previously, panting heavily.
"Mr. Li wins," proclaimed Kinomoto, giving a standing ovation while the rest of the students applauded. The students seemed ecstatic to know that I'd won. Maybe not everyone hated me, as I'd been growing to suspect. We turned to bow at each other and the class, and then I grabbed my water bottle and took a swig.
"Not bad, Meiling."
She flashed her teeth at me. "Good to know."
"Not as good as Kinomoto," I muttered under my breath in Japanese. Kinomoto glanced quizzically at me, but I turned aside.
We spent the rest of the time going through drills as we normally did, Meiling helping to demonstrate while Kinomoto walked through and fixed stances and throws. By the end it seemed the students were okay with Meiling, if not accepting her with open arms, and all were eager to know when Kinomoto would finally get her cast off and be able to return.
"I'll be back, soon, I promise," she said, laughing as they left. When the door closed behind the last one, she came over to me. Meiling had got to use the restroom in the lockers. Quietly, she asked, "Was I really better than Li-san?"
I nodded as I poured water on my head, knowing I'd be freezing when I hit the colder air outside. "Yes," I assured her. "Why wouldn't you be?" She looked flustered, but then Meiling came back out.
"Syaoran! Let's go." She tugged on my arm insistently. I shrugged at Kinomoto and relinquished myself to Meiling, all the while thinking about how happy she'd looked to hear my praise.
The days and weeks melted away into a blur of cold and ice and too many blankets to count. Before long, winter was fully upon us, and everything that went with it. Daidouji was more insistent about the dance Kinomoto and I had pledged ourselves to so long ago, and Meiling was still as persistent as ever. Kinomoto still acted as if she only wanted to be my friend, if that, and I began to ponder.
Why not just do as the Clan and Meiling wanted? I wasn't holding out for anything. The one person I'd ever taken an interest in outside of casual life was dead-set on being nothing more personal than friends, and I could always talk to the Clan about staying in America, at least for a few years.
And so it was on one cold, stormy winter's night that I was sitting on my bed, contemplating the engagement ring my sister had sent me, and decided to marry Meiling.
TBC.
C-Mage: Ah, the plot thickens. I wonder what on earth could happen next?!
T.Anjel: Oh yeah. Finally. =]
T.Anjel: Hi.
Disclaimer: We don't own CCS—if we did, why wouldn't you be watching this in a terrible dub from Nelvana? O.O
Summary: Sakura returns to school, life goes on, and Syaoran comes to a decision.
Learn to Love Me – Chapter 16 – Syaoran's Decision
Kinomoto's first day back was about a week after she was released from the hospital. While she insisted she was well enough to return to the school (so I heard from Daidouji to Hiiragizawa-san during lunch), Daidouji was adamant that she stay home and get well rested. Finally, Kinomoto had had to drag Daidouji to the doctor's for permission to return to work. And so, with medical support behind her, Kinomoto gleefully made her return one chilled windy Tuesday.
Kinomoto had called me the previous night around ten to inform me of her imminent return. I had, of course, lectured her on her choice of calling hours—what if I'd been sleeping?—but assured her that she'd be able to pick up from where I'd been teaching. I also informed her of the classes' constant inquiries about when she'd be back and that I was quite satisfied they'd stop all the ruckus.
I went to bed that night with mixed feelings. I was glad that she'd return to teaching, as the students clearly missed her (I refused to acknowledge that I did), but what if things were...awkward? I hadn't exactly left on the best note with her. I just hoped my card had helped.
I awoke that Tuesday not feeling that great. In fact, if I were prone to using curse words, I might say that I felt like shit. I hadn't slept well at all, anxiety not allowing my brain it's much needed rest until the wee hours of the morning. After a nice, hot shower and a cup of scalding coffee I felt a bit better, and so I set out for school.
Kinomoto practically skipped into the room a good half-hour after my arrival, though still amazingly early for someone who always seems to be late. Her right arm was still in a sling and in a cast beyond that, and her customary backpack was slung over her left shoulder. She was as dressed up as she ever got, and her hair was left down to hang around her face–no doubt she hadn't wanted the hassle of putting it up one-handed.
She went up to my desk, grinning widely all the way. She promptly pulled out the latest stack of homework I'd left her to grade and plopped it unceremoniously on my desk. "There you are!" she exclaimed. "They were torture to grade, as I'm sure you can imagine"—she wiggled her right hand's fingers at me—"but they're all done." Indeed, the paper on the top was covered in jaggedly drawn numbers and lines, and I almost smiled. Using her left hand must have been hard.
Switching to her native Japanese, she added in a quieter voice, "And thank you for the cards, Li-san. They were lovely." A slight blush colored her cheeks.
"No problem," I answered. "The students wanted to do something for you, anyway."
Kinomoto nodded again and proceeded to yank things from her bag and arrange them on my desk while I took my chair and went back to the corner to observe. Students started to trickle in with the ringing of the first bell, exclaiming over Kinomoto's return. She smiled and chattered with them until the second bell rang and class began.
"I assume you've all noticed that I'm back," she said lightly to the class. "I'm sure Mr. Li told you the circumstances of my absence, and now I'm saddled with this thing." She indicated the sling. "And, since I'm back, I suppose we should start with the lesson!" She turned towards the board, but a few seconds later she turned back. "Mr. Li?"
"Yes?" I asked.
"Could you...assist me?" Her cheeks lit in a blush.
"With what?"
"Er...the board." She coughed self-consciously as the class laughed.
"Ah." Comprehension dawned on me. How was she supposed to write left-handed when she was so terrible at it? I set down my notes as I went to the front. "Do you have notes for me?" I asked when I reached her. She nodded and pulled out a stack of haphazardly written ones from the pile of papers littering my desk. I chuckled when I saw them, but at least they were barely legible. "I'll make copies, then," I said, heading out the room. Kinomoto looked startled, then nodded.
A few minutes later I was back and decided to give her the copies—let's see her decipher her own bad handwriting, I thought wickedly. She blushed as I handed them to her with raised eyebrows, and then she began to lecture the class as I copied them down onto the board. After that first class, we got into a rhythm of it, and by our free period it was down pat.
"You know, I could type these for you and make transparencies," I offered as the last of the students left after second period. "The next two periods are free, and I've got nothing better to do." Kinomoto looked thoughtful before nodding in agreement, and I pulled out my school-issue laptop to start typing. A short while later, I was done and headed off to pick the notes up from the printer and make transparencies, while Kinomoto went to borrow an overhead from the library.
Fifth block saw me back in my corner with my notes, as usual. Inconvenient as it had been, it'd been fun to help Kinomoto. Ah, well, it was better for me to make note of her progress while it was ongoing, instead of struggling to remember it later and miss things, I reasoned with myself.
On the way to the teachers' lounge for lunch, Kinomoto turned to me and said, "Thank you for the overhead idea, Mr. Li. I'm sure it's much easier than you having to write all my notes on the board." She tried to stifle her giggling behind her left hand.
"It was nothing," I returned, holding back a smile. "Though, if you can have your notes for the next day done by eight o'clock at night, I'm sure I can have transparencies ready for the next day, too."
"Oh, would you?" she cried happily as we rounded the corner into the teachers' lounge.
"Of course," I answered, just as her attention was drawn to Daidouji and Hiiragizawa-san.
"Konnichiwa, Tomoyo-san, Eriol-kun," she said as she settled into the nearest chair and pulled out her lunch. It was a thermos, instead of her normal Japanese bento, and when she saw my look she said, "Well, I can't really use chopsticks left-handed, can I?"
I nodded thoughtfully as I sat down and pulled out my own lunch, haphazardly made that morning in my grouchy state. "I suppose you're terrible enough with a spoon, though," I muttered to myself, edging away from where her left elbow jutted out awkwardly. Obviously she'd heard me, because she turned to scowl at me briefly before returning to Daidouji and Hiiragizawa-san.
"So, Kinomoto-san, how has your first day back been so far?" asked Hiiragizawa-san pleasantly. "The students aren't bothering you too much, are they?"
"Oh, no, they're fine," answered Kinomoto between slurps. "In fact, even Li-san's being civil to me." I opened my mouth to retaliate, but Hiiragizawa-san cut me off.
"Indeed? I suspect that's just guilt. He was in quite a state after your crash." I stared hard at my lunch, feeling my face rise in temperature and Kinomoto's emerald eyes watching me.
"Hm," was all she said in response. Startled, I glanced up slightly, wondering what she was thinking. Wasn't she mad at me at all? Bitter? After all, I was pretty sure I was the reason she'd been in that crash, not that I was trying to be self-important or anything.... I sighed in defeat. Perhaps I shouldn't even try to figure out what went on in her female head. Hadn't I decided long since that they were confusing beyond all thought?
Lunch progressed rather normally after that, as did the rest of the day, and I soon found myself facing Kinomoto in the empty classroom. To me it felt a bit uncomfortable, but she gave no sign of it as she hurriedly gathered her things together one-handed and set out for the door. "Better get started on those notes if I'm to have them done by eight, huh?" she said before leaving. "See you later." A wave over her left shoulder and she was gone.
I shook my head. So much for begging for forgiveness, I thought. I dodged a few desks on my way out, turning off the lights with a flick of my fingers on the switch. The door swung shut with a gentle click and was soon locked behind me as I walked down the hallway, pulling my coat around me tighter in anticipation of the cooler air outside.
As soon as I was back at my homely apartment I made myself a mug of black coffee. I took a sip while I settled in my chair to begin waiting for Kinomoto and made a face at the bitter taste. I didn't even know why I drank the disgusting thing, just that I'd somehow gotten addicted to it while I was in college, where I'd been a student struggling against demands for cash and time.
Looking back on college, it really hadn't been that bad. My family had been content to leave me pretty much alone, and even Meiling hadn't forced herself upon me, mindful of my study needs. I hadn't had many friends, but I was fine with that—I'd always been a loner, clear back to elementary school in China, where Meiling had pestered me all the time and always made me lunch.
I smiled at the memory. Even though she'd insisted on feeding me, her cooking really was wonderful. Although—my mouth twitched—her cake baking skills were lamentable. They hadn't been able to scrape the charred remains of her last effort off of the pan, if I remembered correctly. The brand-new mold in the shape of a small wolf (pun intended) had had to be thrown away, and all the while Meiling stood in the background, fuming over how she'd just turned up the temperature a little bit....
I sighed. Meiling. She hadn't been too bad during childhood, tagging along after me. It'd been some comfort in the void that'd been my life. When we'd gotten older, however, she'd gotten more possessive over me, forcing engagement on me through my mother. How she'd managed to wrap the formidable woman around her finger was beyond me, but it was obvious that she had—how else had she gotten permission to follow me to America and coerce me into marriage?
I sat in thought like that for a while, until eventually my virtually untouched coffee turned cold and a knock was heard at the door. I jerked upright. A look at the time told me it was nearing seven, and I hadn't gotten any work done. Feeling the mood I'd had this morning settle upon me once more, I got up and yanked open the door. Kinomoto's eyes stared back at me, and I ushered her in.
"How are you?" I asked, closing the door behind her.
"Pretty good," she replied. "Here are the notes. I hope you don't have too hard a time reading them." She quirked a smile while holding a sheaf of papers out to me, which I placed on my chair.
We stood silently for a while, the air full of things to be said between us. When Kinomoto made as if to leave, I quickly asked, desperate for her to stay longer, "How's Kaplan?"
She blinked at the question, obviously as startled as I at what had popped out of my mouth. She shrugged, "He's doing okay, so I hear. He's gotten a girlfriend over in Europe. I suppose 'out of sight, out of mind' rings true, doesn't it?" Her mouth twisted slightly, as if she'd bitten onto something bitter.
Thinking it was as good an opportunity as any, I ventured, "Um...about our fight...." I winced as I trailed off.
Her beautiful face marred itself in a frown while she answered. "Oh, that. Li-san, if you don't mind, could we just be friends? I hope it's not too much to ask, but I really don't think pursuing a relationship between us would be a good idea, okay?" Before I could do anything but open my mouth stupidly, she glanced at her watch. "Oh, I'd better get going!" As she bustled out the door she smiled at me sweetly. "Thanks again for this. It's a lot of help."
I nodded mutely at her retreating back, dumbstruck. After all that'd happened I guess I was lucky to have gotten the chance to be her friend—she could have asked for a change in teachers, if she'd wanted. I'd just have to keep on better behavior. And what was with my asking about Kaplan? I didn't even like the guy! And to hear that he'd left Kinomoto.... It wasn't a surprise on his part. He didn't play fair in anything, even love.
Shaking myself from my musing, I decided I'd better get make another mug of coffee and get a start on things. I had a bit of time to make up for, and making sense of Kinomoto's abysmal handwriting certainly wasn't going to make things any better.
Meiling was waiting in the teachers' lounge the next day as I rounded the corner with Kinomoto. It was as if she'd read my thoughts from the previous night about her Chinese lunches, even down to force-feeding me like I wanted to Kinomoto. She was still fumbling ridiculously with her spoon, so much so that, between easing bits of delicious Chinese cuisine into my mouth, Meiling shot horrified looks at her.
The room was filled with an odd sort of tension. Kinomoto was too immersed in balancing spoonfuls of soup to notice anything out of the ordinary, but Daidouji clearly was trying to keep from giggling at how I was being spoon-fed, and Hiiragizawa-san had a lazy smirk crossing his face. I glared at him sharply, and he chuckled in retaliation.
"So, Mr. Li," began Hiiragizawa-san, plainly sticking to English in case Meiling wasn't fluent in Japanese, "would you care to introduce us to your charming dinner partner?" Meiling blushed at the praise and set down the chopsticks; I shot Hiiragizawa-san another glare as I slurped up my dim sum and turned to face the three onlookers.
"This is Li Meiling." I gestured at Meiling, who drew herself up in an attempt to look impressive, which I'm sure didn't make up for how she'd just been shoving food into my mouth. "And this is Daidouji Tomoyo and Hiiragizawa Eriol." I paused when I hit Kinomoto. "And you already know Ms. Kinomoto." Meiling's garnet eyes slanted briefly into slits before we went back to beaming.
"I'm his fiancée," she said, shaking hands. Daidouji's eyes widen slightly, but Hiiragizawa-san didn't seem fazed in the slightest. Figured. The man probably had my house bugged or something. And Kinomoto just sat there, brow barely furrowed as she looked at Meiling, then shrugged and went back to her soup.
"Ah, so you're getting married," stated Hiiragizawa-san, returning to delicately eating his food.
"Yes," answered Meiling, so pleased she forgot to continue feeding me. I picked up the chopsticks and resumed eating my lunch, savoring every bite. Meiling really was a great cook.
"When's the wedding?" asked Daidouji, looking mildly curious.
"Oh, that hasn't really been decided yet. It'll have to be in China, of course, and we all know Syaoran has a busy schedule." She leaned down to kiss my cheek, and I barely refrained from wrinkling my nose in disgust. Couldn't she see I was eating?
Hiiragizawa-san nodded absently, but his eyes glinted at me mischievously. The gods knew what he'd do for entertainment, and it seemed I was in his sights today. I swallowed, hard.
Things were quiet for a few minutes, albeit awkwardly. For a while there I actually thought he'd let the rest of my lunchtime go uninterrupted, but it seems he had other thoughts. Just as I was finishing up the last of my lunch, he had to go and open his trap.
"What are you going to do about the self-defense club, Mr. Li?"
"Hm?" Kinomoto and I both perked up at this. What did anything have to do with the self-defense club?
"I mean, what with Ms. Kinomoto's injury, you'll be short an instructor his Friday." He nodded towards Kinomoto's sling. "You wouldn't expect her to fight with her arm like that, would you?" Kinomoto's face fell; I could tell she hadn't thought about that aspect of things at all. As it was, doing the club the previous Friday had been hard enough with just me, and we'd ended up adjourning early.
As much as I hated to admit it, Hiiragizawa-san had a point. Now, why would this be so torturous for me? After all, the devious Hiiragizawa Eriol never did anything unless there was an upside for him, and more often than not it was in baiting people.
"Won't you need a substitute assistant?" he asked, looking at me from over his silver spectacles. "What about that...David Kaplan? Didn't he help out once?" I growled low in my throat, ignoring that he was safely out of the country, but Kinomoto shook her head.
"No, he's in Europe...." Her face soured briefly. "Who else do you know, Mr. Li?" she asked me.
"He knows me," said a voice haughtily over my shoulder. I groaned. Meiling. Of course! "I'd be more than willing to help out, and I'm sure I'm much better than you, anyway. I've been trained by the Li Clan, after all." She finished this with a flick of her raven hair and glared a challenge at Kinomoto.
Kinomoto, however, stood down. "I suppose...as long as I could watch. I wouldn't want to get too far behind on what my students were doing. Is that all right, Mr. Li?" I nodded, helpless. But it appeared Hiiragizawa- san wasn't yet done inflicting needless pain, as he soon continued.
"Didn't Ms. Kinomoto have a match to show her worthiness in front of the students?" inquired Hiiragizawa-san politely. My blood ran cold, and I nodded jerkily. He grinned his Cheshire cat grin. "Then, shouldn't Ms. Li be afforded the same honor?" Meiling's eyes lit up.
"That's a brilliant idea, Mr. Hiiragizawa!" Meiling rounded on me and glomped onto me. "Please say you will, Syaoran, please!" As I couldn't very well say no, especially with Kinomoto looking at me sternly in the background, I nodded. And, as I did so, Meiling—there is no other word for it—squealed and started kissing my face madly. I tried to pull back, but Meiling would have nothing of it and wouldn't release me until I'd felt a bit of her tongue around my mouth.
Finally I managed to pull away and wipe off my mouth in disgust. "Meiling, it's not that big a deal," I whispered to her, trying to get her to calm down. Honestly, this woman had the immaturity of a young teenager.
"No big deal?" she exclaimed. "No big DEAL?! I've been trying to get you to treat me as an equal in martial arts forever!" She pouted momentarily before flinging herself back onto me again. "I'm so glad!" The bell rang, and she started. "Oh, you'd better get going! I'll see you tonight, all right? For a celebration dinner." She winked at me as she left, and it was then that I realized the others had left me. Figures. The display of Meiling kissing me must have been too much for them after having just eaten. Even my own stomach was growling irritably.
My mail was waiting for me when I got home, and amidst the normal junk and bills there was a package. From China, no less. Now, that was odd. It wasn't every day I got something from my dearest, eldest sister in China. I absentmindedly wandered up to my apartment, not even noticing that the door was unlocked. The door opened to a waft of heavenly cooking, and I glanced up to see Meiling cooking away in my kitchen, as cool as you please. Wait. Meiling?
"How'd you get a key?" I asked after I kicked off my shoes, dumping my normal load of things on my chair and going to my bedroom to change, grabbing a paring knife on the way.
"Oh, I asked the super for one. He even said he'd make a copy for me. Isn't that nice?" She went off into girlish giggles while I disappeared behind my bedroom door. A copy? I'd have to talk to my super about that. It was disturbing enough knowing Meiling was in the U.S. at all, let alone had free range of my apartment.
I plopped down on my bed. What I wouldn't give to take a nice, relaxing nap. It seemed my head had been aching constantly since lunch. Maybe I'd take some of the medicine I had in my bathroom for the sake of having it. Sighing, I slit open with package. What on earth would my sister have sent to me?
An engagement ring, it turned out. I sat, stunned, staring at the ring in the little velvet box. While it was against Chinese tradition to use rings, my family had started Westernizing to go with the times, and this was clearly my mother's. The diamond nestled in the smooth gold was nothing to take lightly; I was sure any girl who saw it would faint on the spot. But why did my sister send it to me?
There was only one thing for it—Meiling. I moaned and fell over onto my bed. Why did she insist on messing with my life so much? If she weren't here, I'd be happy being grouchy with Kinomoto. Or, worse yet, I might even have a chance with her!
Just then, Meiling creaked open the door. "Syaoran, what are you doing?" I snapped the case shut and promptly sat on it, but I was certain she'd seen it. There was something about the smug look on her face that told me she had. "Are you all right, dear?"
"I'm fine," I muttered. "I was just changing."
"Oh, that's all right. Now, just come out and I'll set the table...." I quickly slid the case under the mattress when she'd turned her back and followed her out. She'd found a rickety card table somewhere and had it set up in what served as a foyer. On the kitchen counter she'd stacked proper Chinese dishware, presumably ones she's brought with her, as mine were barely serviceable for normal fare, and next to the china were plates full of steaming dishes. My mouth watered at the thought of dishes that I hadn't had properly prepared in years. She definitely knew my weakness.
"Now, Syaoran, you just sit right on down, and I'll have everything ready in no time." And, sure enough, a few minutes later the table was set, wine was poured, and the dishes were ranged between us. "To us," she said, lifting her wineglass in a toast. I obliged and clinked mine against hers, taking a swallow of the wine. It really wasn't too bad. She must have spent a lot of my family's money on this meal.... After all, she didn't work over here. She was fully financed by the Li Clan, and her mission was to bring me in for marriage and eventual return to China.
Things progressed quite nicely until dessert. Each dish was as good as the last, if not better, and the dim sum (forever and always my favorite) was to die for. But, just as she was getting up to bring over a scrumptious-looking chocolate pie, presumably bought, as she couldn't bake to save her life, there was a knock on the door. I glanced at my watch and started to get up, seeing that it was probably Kinomoto. How many people visited me, anyway?
Meiling beat me to the door. "Hello? Li res—" She stopped abruptly when she saw that it was Kinomoto, and her lips pressed together tightly. "Syaoran, there's someone at the door." And she turned around and stormed back to the kitchen, ending short of slamming the door in Kinomoto's apprehensive face.
I moved over to the door. "Sorry about that," I muttered, nodding towards Meiling.
Kinomoto nodded in understanding. "It's all right. I can see why she wouldn't like me...." She blushed. "Anyway, I just came to drop off the notes. I'll see you tomorrow." And before I could say anything, she was off down the hall. I plopped the notes down onto my chair, covered in the schoolwork I hadn't even touched, and looked at Meiling. She looked suspicious for a second, but then she happily brought the cake over.
"And before you even ask, Syaoran, I didn't bake it."
All too soon, Friday was upon me, and the self-defense club along with it. I trudged to school in the moodiest of moods and was rather harsher with Kinomoto than was warranted. But, however slowly the day went by, it was eventually four o'clock and time to prepare for the club. Kinomoto came into help with the mats, and then I went to change. When I came back out, students were trickling in, calling greetings to one another and Kinomoto.
At 4:16, Meiling ran in, looking rather flushed. She was dressed in tight-as-spandex clothing, and her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. At least she wasn't in her traditional Li clothing. That would just get the students to laugh at her, not respect her.
"You're late," I said coolly, glaring at her. Students tittered; I suppose it was fun for them to watch someone else being admonished, for once. She winced.
"I'm sorry! I forgot!" She quickly slipped out of her shoes at the edge of the mat and came over, looking at me imploringly.
"That's no excuse. Tardiness is not something to allow of oneself." She nodded stonily. She must have heard this thousands of times from the Clan elders, but never from me. I made sure she was properly sorry before switching focus to the students. "What are you waiting for? Warm up!" Meiling and I joined in, and Kinomoto tried to the best of her abilities, shooting me a wry grin. It must be hard for her to sit at the sidelines, but it would have been harder for her to be at home, away from the fun.
"This is Li Meiling," I said when the slower of the students had finished. "You may all call her Ms. Li. She's been generous enough to help out while Ms. Kinomoto can't, so be sure not to waste her time." I heard murmured signs of agreement. "And, since Ms. Kinomoto did a practice match with me, she'll do one with me. All right?" This time the noise was louder, and there were even a few cheers.
I allowed myself the tiniest of smiles as I faced off against Meiling, going into a defensive pose. "Ready?"
"Ready," she replied, sliding into a pose across from me.
I nodded. "Ms. Kinomoto, if you would tell us when to begin?" She blinked from where she'd been slumped against the wall and sat at attention.
"Begin."
I let Meiling throw the first punch. She always had been aggressive, I remembered. I shortly switched to offense, kicking at her legs and chest. With Kinomoto watching as a referee, I couldn't fall back on simple defense as I'd done in our first fight. I knew she wouldn't stand for something she saw as so unfair, so I had to give this fight my all.
Soon I was engrossed in the fight, kicking and jabbing as I'd been doing it since I was out of the cradle. Which, I thought, was almost true. The Li Clan had been adamant about training their young in martial arts since they were old enough to walk, so that it was thoroughly ingrained in their heads.
In due time the fight wore down, and Meiling and I were covered in a shimmer of sweat. I slammed my fist to a stop before her nose, stopping the fight with the same move I'd used to defeat Kinomoto previously, panting heavily.
"Mr. Li wins," proclaimed Kinomoto, giving a standing ovation while the rest of the students applauded. The students seemed ecstatic to know that I'd won. Maybe not everyone hated me, as I'd been growing to suspect. We turned to bow at each other and the class, and then I grabbed my water bottle and took a swig.
"Not bad, Meiling."
She flashed her teeth at me. "Good to know."
"Not as good as Kinomoto," I muttered under my breath in Japanese. Kinomoto glanced quizzically at me, but I turned aside.
We spent the rest of the time going through drills as we normally did, Meiling helping to demonstrate while Kinomoto walked through and fixed stances and throws. By the end it seemed the students were okay with Meiling, if not accepting her with open arms, and all were eager to know when Kinomoto would finally get her cast off and be able to return.
"I'll be back, soon, I promise," she said, laughing as they left. When the door closed behind the last one, she came over to me. Meiling had got to use the restroom in the lockers. Quietly, she asked, "Was I really better than Li-san?"
I nodded as I poured water on my head, knowing I'd be freezing when I hit the colder air outside. "Yes," I assured her. "Why wouldn't you be?" She looked flustered, but then Meiling came back out.
"Syaoran! Let's go." She tugged on my arm insistently. I shrugged at Kinomoto and relinquished myself to Meiling, all the while thinking about how happy she'd looked to hear my praise.
The days and weeks melted away into a blur of cold and ice and too many blankets to count. Before long, winter was fully upon us, and everything that went with it. Daidouji was more insistent about the dance Kinomoto and I had pledged ourselves to so long ago, and Meiling was still as persistent as ever. Kinomoto still acted as if she only wanted to be my friend, if that, and I began to ponder.
Why not just do as the Clan and Meiling wanted? I wasn't holding out for anything. The one person I'd ever taken an interest in outside of casual life was dead-set on being nothing more personal than friends, and I could always talk to the Clan about staying in America, at least for a few years.
And so it was on one cold, stormy winter's night that I was sitting on my bed, contemplating the engagement ring my sister had sent me, and decided to marry Meiling.
TBC.
C-Mage: Ah, the plot thickens. I wonder what on earth could happen next?!
T.Anjel: Oh yeah. Finally. =]