Hong Kong International Airport...
"Well, we're here," said Sakura, glancing around the unfamiliar city in trepidation
"Yup. We're here." Tomoyo took out her camera, shrugging.
"Are we supposed to be here?" wondered Sayau.
Eriol grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I think it's China this time."
TO: "Touya Kinomoto"
FROM: "Sakura Kinomoto"
SUBJECT: Re: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!
Hey Nii-chan!
Your last email told me to email you as soon as I landed, so here you go. We just got to HK because Eriol messed up the plane tickets and landed us in Calcutta first. India is such a beautiful place, even if we were stuck without visas at the airport. I'm in the HK airport right now, using Tomoyo's laptop to send you this message. Tomoyo just got of the phone with our landlady, and she's (quite meanly) decided to give our apartment to someone else because we missed our entrance date. After all that planning! Eriol had promised to get us a new place to stay that is as good or better since it's really his fault anyway. He says the same thing happened to him (about the apartment, I mean). But he was smirking, and I don't trust him. After all, how come the most intelligent person I know can't tell the difference between a plane ticket with a big "CALCUTTA, INDIA" on the front and a ticket with a big "HONG KONG, CHINA" on the front"? Well, I've got to go. Ja,
Lots of love,
Sakura
PS- too many capitals, 'Nii-chan!
Original message
TO: "Sakura Kinomoto"
FROM: "Touya Kinomoto"
SUBJECT: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!
KAIJUU!!
WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, KAIJUU, JUST DISAPPEARING LIKE THAT WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A WORD TO YOUR OLDER BROTHER?! DON'T YOU SEE THE DANGER IN GOING TO HONG KONG, KAIJUU?! DON'T THINK I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO! THIS WAS ALL THE CHINESE GAKI'S IDEA, WASN'T IT?! IT'S ALL PART OF HIS ELABORATE PLAN TO STEAL YOUR VIRGINITY!! AND AFTER ALL I'VE DONE TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE CHINESE GAKI, YOU RUN OFF ONE DAY AND LEAVE DAD TO TELL ME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO UNIVERSITY THERE!!! YOU EMAIL ME BACK IMMEDIATELY, OR BETTER STILL CALL! YOU'RE GOING TO GET A EARFUL OF IT!!
Your loving brother,
Touya
PS- Like my new email address? I got it especially for the occasion.
Hong Kong University...
"Ohh! This is the greatest!" Meiling jumped about happily. "I'm so excited!"
Ryu and Syaoran wore identical expressions of wary amusement. "We know," they chorused. All three of them had picked out their majors months ago, but the course fair was designed to let them see what other courses or electives they may be interested in.
Ryu was majoring in the sciences. He planned to take a position as a research scientist in one of the clan's laboratories. Mao Rei Li, the first of the Li Clan, had inherited quite a lot of money from Clow Reed, who had ensured that his descendants would be well provided for. Mao Rei had founded the Hong Kong Children's Hospital, which employed many of China's leading doctors. The hospital was for people from everywhere, but soon became in very high demand amongst the rich. While it relied on the elite of Hong Kong, and their charitable donations, to operate, the Li Clan was not stingy about providing health care even to people who could not afford it. It was this generosity that made the Li Clan so popular in Hong Kong, and this was where Ryu wanted to work in when he was older.
Meiling knew that her future was as a housewife. There was nothing she wanted more, of course, than to be Ryu's wife, but Meiling had always been ambitious, and was rightly indignant about the fact that her future was set in stone. She was going to major in Literature, with a minor in Philosophy, and maybe attempt to become a writer in her spare time.
Syaoran's future was pretty cut out for him. As everyone knows, he was destined to become to future leader of the Li Clan. This entailed looking after the finances of the hospital, and taking care of the assorted businesses that the Li Clan ran. Of course, this also entailed protecting the clan and the mansion from villains who wanted to gain control of their incredible magical powers. But that's another story altogether. Syaoran was going to take Economics and Archaeology (there was no doubt about why...), and teach the Martial Arts course.
"Xiao Lang has to go sit in at the "Martial Arts" booth, so that people can meet the instructors," Meiling told them.
They walked over to the booth where sign-ups for the course were taking place It was currently deserted, except for an old man sitting on a chair, behind the counter.
"Good morning," greeted Syaoran, politely. "I'm Xiao Lang Li."
"Ahhh, Xia Len, 'oo are 'ere to teash wit' me, are not 'oo no'?"
He had an atrocious accent. A cross between Scottish, French, and a cold, and believe you me, it's not easy to speak Cantonese with that sort of an accent. Syaoran nodded, hoping that the guy had said what he thought he said.
"Vey goo'!" exclaimed the man. "I'n Zutoto-sensoe. Naw, if 'oo veel escuse me, I's got to do sumpin ess." And so, off ambled the old man, leaving Syaoran in charge of the booth. When he was a merciful distance away, Meiling burst into hysterical laughter.
"Oh, come off it, Meiling," said Syaoran, despondently. "I'm going to be teaching the whole course with that-that-" he trailed off, at loss for words.
"You have to admit, it's pretty funny," choked out Ryu, between spasms of laughter.
Syaoran mock glared at them, and picked up the roster, looking through it. But he didn't really see the page. His senses were concentrated on finding the auras he thought he had sensed earlier. In doing so, he unconsciously reached out with his own.
And in the café across the street, Sakura's eyes widened, and a dreamy smile came to her face.
Six Months Ago, Yelan Li's Study...
In the middle of the room was a circular table and around it were five occupied armchairs.
"No doubt you know the incentive for our visit, Yelan-san," said Eriol, sounding very smug.
"Yes, of course, Hiirgizawa-san. You have...an idea, I believe, to further the courtship of my son and the Cardmistress?"
"One might say so," said Eriol, smirking. "However, I am sure we require your consent and blessing in the matter, Li-sama."
"I'm equally sure I can sympathize."
"Your understanding is greatly appreciated, Li-sama," said Tomoyo, sweetly. "We thank you."
Yelan gave them a commiserating look. "Both of you seem like responsible young adults." Out of the corner of her eye, she suspected she saw Meiling and Ryu exchange skeptical glances. "Nevertheless, Xiao Lang is not particularly fond of those who meddle in his business."
"Yelan-san," said Tomoyo, leaning forward earnestly. "I know that Syaoran isn't the easiest person to be around here, but in Tomoeda, with people his own age that treated him as a friend and an equal rather than as the future leader of the Li Clan, he was different. He is my friend just as much as Sakura is, and I know that they love each other very much. Though the initial phase of our 'plan' might cause them some temporary discomfort, we do mean the best for both of them."
Meiling gave her an approving smile. That was gold. Yelan Li seemed to think so too, because she nodded.
"Then, Tomoyo, Eriol, tell me of your plan."
Sora's Café, HKU Campus...
"But Tomoyoooo," Eriol whined. "I want a car now..."
"Come now, Eri, you'll get your car soon," said Tomoyo in a placatory tone.
"But Tomo, I want a car nowww."
"Alright, alright! We'll go get you your car!" Tomoyo turned to Sakura and Sayau who were also seated at the table. "Do you guys mind horribly if I take this big crybaby out to get a car?"
Sakura gave them a peculiar look. She knew her friends had a lot of money, but she had never seen them so... extravagant. "Eriol, you have a car in Tomoeda. A brand new Viper, if memory serves."
"Well, that doesn't do any good here, now does it?" Eriol explained patiently. "Beside Nakuru will have smashed it up chasing after Touya by the time we get back."
Sayau sighed. "So you're going to buy another brand new one?"
"But I wanna Firebird," whined Eriol, reverting back to baby-talk.
Tomoyo stamped outside, throwing up her hands in disgust. "Why in God's name do I put up with him!?!"
"BECAUSE YOU'RE MADLY IN LOVE WITH ME!" he called loudly after her. He looked sheepishly around the crowded café at the people staring at him. "Well, she is!"
Course Fair, HKU Campus...
"Meiling, do you remember Sakura Kinomoto and Eriol Hiirgizawa?"
Meiling stared at him for a moment, her mind whirling. If Syaoran had brought them up now, that would mean that he had just sensed them. That would also mean that Eriol had been successful in getting them on the wrong plane, and Sakura and Tomoyo would be apartment-less. Phase One, complete.
"Meiling? Do you?"
"Do I what?" she asked, distractedly.
"Remember Sakura and Eriol?"
"Syaoran, don't be stupid, of course I do! But, why do you ask now?" she wondered, innocently. "Do you," she gasped dramatically, "sense something?"
"You don't think Sakura would ever actually fall for Hiirgizawa, do you?" asked Syaoran, predictably worried at the prospect of their aura's being too close together. "They could never be a couple... could they?"
Meiling and Ryu facefaulted. It was going to be one of those days.
Somewhere along the streets of Hong Kong...
"I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed in my life."
Tomoyo was doubled over with laughter. "You didn't have to act so childish! You just needed to give us an excuse to get out of there."
"But it was effective, you must admit."
"Except that half the university now thinks you're a total baby."
"Gee, thanks." Eriol slipped his arm around her waist.
She grinned.
"So what color should the car be this time?" he asked.
"What? You're actually getting one?"
"Well, after those theatrics, we had better have something to show for it. Anyway, I was thinking black or midnight blue."
Tomoyo swatted him playfully. "Now, Eri, no more of this 'I am all evil and darkness' stuff."
"But it matches the hair!"
"I'm so going to dye it pink in your sleep," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that, darling?"
"Oh, nothing, love."
Sora's Café, HKU Campus...
"Sakura?"
"Yes?"
"Any particular reason you're grinning like that?"
Sakura paused. To tell him about magic and that she could sense Syaoran across the street or not to tell him about magic and that she could sense Syaoran across the street? That was the question.
"Well, have you ever noticed how weird our friends actually are?" (and that was the answer)
Sayau nodded solemnly. "Yes. Haven't you?"
"Hasn't everyone?" asked Sakura, rhetorically.
They exchanged rueful looks.
"Hnn, so what do we do now?"
"We could go check out the Course Fair," suggested Sakura, crossing her fingers under the table.
"Good idea; let's go."
Leaving payment and a tip for the waiter, Sakura and Sayau proceeded out of the restaurant, and towards the big yellow "Course Fair" sign.
"Hey," said Sayau thoughtfully, as they walked. "How are Eriol and Tomoyo going to know where to find us?"
"You see," said Sakura, by way of explanation. "Tomoyo and Eriol have this uncanny way of knowing exactly what we're thinking. I'm sure they'll find us eventually."
"Or we could call them on Tomoyo's cell," suggested Sayau, rolling his eyes.
"Fine then. Take all the fun out of it."
Sayau refrained from any "don't be so childish" comments, and so they walked in silence. The courtyard that the course fair was being held on was crowded, and it would have been difficult to find anyone you wanted unless you had amazing magical powers. And as luck would have it...
"Hey! I think I know him!" she told Sayau, gesturing furtively at a tall, brown-haired male sitting on the grass by the Martial Arts booth.
"He looks awfully familiar."
Sakura gave a skeptical look. "You don't know him."
"How do you know?"
"Trust me, you don't know Syaoran."
"That's his name! Syaoran Li! He was on the cover of Masenko a couple of weeks ago." Sayau pulled the dog-eared magazine out of his bag. "Classic issue, this one. Tips from famous martial artists all over the world."
Sakura eyed the magazine. On the front cover was a picture of Syaoran, smiling! (Looking very hot too, but Sakura wouldn't allow that thought at the moment). She took the copy from Sayau. Sure enough, in the corner was the little byline: "photo provided by Meiling Li".
"This," she said, smirking, "gives me an idea."
--
Syaoran rested on the grass, his back to the booth. Ryu and Meiling had disappeared a while ago. They said they were going to do "stuff". And though Syaoran didn't trust them, he didn't dare pry. (Ryu and Meiling, after all, weren't very discreet people).
Syaoran was thankful, actually, because he needed to concentrate. The two auras he sensed were bouncing. Quite literally, going up and down and side to side, and it was scaring him. Auras didn't bounce, dammit!! Unless it was that fool Hiirgizawa underestimating his intelligence and trying to throw him off their trail with a little spell. Ha! Anything that fool Hiirgizawa could do, he could do ten times better! Except for the whole having the knowledge of the ages because of being reincarnated thing. But that was beside the point. The point was that Hiirgizawa was a jerk, and if he was in anyway "involved" with Sakura, Syaoran would disembowel him and feed the remains to a fire-breathi-
"Xiao Lang, sir," said a sweet, shy voice, interrupting his thoughts. "I was wondering if you could autograph this for me." A magazine was thrust into his view. That infernal magazine. He knew it would come back to haunt him. Ryu had flashed a picture of Sakura, and Meiling had taken the photo at the exact moment when he had broken out into a goofy smile. She'd made three thousand bucks on it too! Which was terrible and exploitation and all, but most importantly, she wouldn't even share it with him! Syaoran shook his head silently without even bothering to look up.
"Please, Xiao Lang?"
"I'm very sorry, but I can't do autographs."
"Not even just one?"
"Sorry, I just can't," he said in a cute apologetic voice.
Sakura grinned. Syaoran was such a sweet, loveable dolt. He hadn't even looked up yet. Sayau shook his head disgustedly, and mouthed "let's go". Sakura shook her head too. "Watch this".
She switched to Japanese. "Mou, Syao-chan, be nice to Eriol!"
"I'll be nice to him when he stop being such a baka, know-it-all," he answered absently.
Pause.
"OH MY GOD! SAKURA?!?!"
"Hello. Took you long enough."