To water-soter, may I please have your email address so we can discuss what
you wrote privately. Thank you.
-coughs- Okay okay! Hi all! It's me Brenda with a new chappie! I'm done with all my school stuff and back from France... where they have the original copy of this chapter. I am so SORRY that I took nearly two months for this chapter and I hope it is well worth it.
But first, let me thank my great reviewers who I love very much and also thank those who put me on their favorites!
And those people are: -drum roll-
Stars From Above
AnimeObsessionFantasy
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Sakura and Syaoran 4 ev
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Eclipse
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Xiao Mei (Mei-chan! No not the pan!)
Sweet~Sakura
TifFa
Moon Venus
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Crissie
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Yuki Arashi
PnaixRose8
Trammy
BumbleBeez
Heavenly Angel
*incredible*
AnimeFreak242
Monsterrat T
Otaku
Fleur
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Aznyugiangel
Water_soter (Email me privately)
Kawaii Kitty
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Glarie
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Pookyber
EAD TAES (Yay you're back!!)
hitokiri-tomoe
Celestial Star
Chunx
RmGrace
Kawaii Yunie-chan
Chao's Light
Puccachan246
LiLbAbYrInY
CuziMaGrL
Brenda (Hee hee it feels like I'm thanking myself.)
Muwah
Yami Hikari
Sailor Jamie
Rath
Carmela Chan
Insanity
SakurasBubbles
Little Peach Blossom
Sutaru
Demon Maho
Hana Tesnhi Himeko
WAII! I received more reviews from the last chapter! I love you all! -kisses and hugs all the reviewers- AND I won the Best Villain Creator EVER award! XD (I can hear my sister say: There is nothing good about that.)
Sorry that I am late. Geez I never had so many people complain to me before. @-@ I was really busy for the New York State Regents (one of which I passed with only local diploma...) and also finishing my finals. (Which none I failed!) Then I left to France for my cousin's birthday. And I forgot my floppy... no I didn't. My COUSIN stole it from my bag (He hates my family) and now I won't be getting it back... till September.
More than a month ago, I celebrated my two year anniversary of being an author in fanfiction.net I celebrated it by posting up my new story: Fantasy. Which I received only 7 reviews but very good ones. I hope I get more reviews for that one. -Coughs, looking at her reviewers- Now I got people complaining that I didn't update this one.
Well Fantasy's first chapter was finished about three months ago but I waited till my anniversary to post it up. I was working really hard on this one too but I hit many writers blocks. Who knows why...
So why is it late? Well first it took me forever to type and then I left to France to finish writing it all. I finished but guess what? My laptop didn't have internet connection from there and the computer I did use, didn't accept my floppy. And then my evil cousin stole my floppy and it is still in France... which made me have to start from scratch. Anyways...
Don't forget to review! You have to or else!!
This chapter is dedicated to: My Youngest Sister Giovanna. Than you for always being there for me and giving me inspiration to do anything.
Special Thanks to: Sleepy Kero and the rest of the people who emailed me to continue the chapter!
Now... -coughs- I Brenda shall present CHAPTER 12!! (Woo!!)
* * * * *- Changing places
A/N- Author Notes
"." Speaking
'.' Thoughts
Friends Forever...Right?
Chapter 12
The Final Showdown
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo yelled but she knew she could not reach her in time.
But someone else did.
Syaoran looked sadly at the thin figure in his arms. The few seconds holding her felt heavenly to him before Meiling snatched her away and held her up with aid from Song Min and her posse.
Syaoran sighed. He didn't mean what he said, he was just pissed off that Meiling punched him- hard. Jesus sometimes he wondered what if he never left China and how his situation would have been.
Tomoyo rushed over to her friend in obvious worry. She placed her hand on Sakura's forehead and released a sigh of relief.
"Our place is close Daidouji-san. Let's take her there and then you could call your home." Song Min mumbled. She didn't want Syaoran to offer his home.
"But my house is right here." Syaoran stated, matching Song Min's glare.
"WHAT the HELL is going on HERE!" A voice shrieked behind the group.
Syaoran groaned as he looked at his watch. The watch showed it was 8:30 and he knew Lily was impatient.
There she was, wearing a midnight blue halter and skirt, her hair in a neat bun with a butterfly clip. By the looks of it, she was mad. But when Syaoran looked at Meiling, he could tell she was madder.
But somewhat happy.
Syaoran gulped as he realized something. He knew Meiling was a skilled martial artist like himself. And if things get ugly, Meiling is willing to fight her. And as he looked at Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine, he knew that they would help too.
"I said what the HELL is going on here!" Lily bellowed.
Now if she had been nicer, Meiling would've dropped the whole thing and knocked some sense into Sakura.
But Lily was a bitch. It was as plain and simple as that.
"Who do you think you are?" Meiling snapped back, fury in her eyes.
Lily was about to answer back until she noticed that she didn't know who the girl was.
Meiling glared at her menacingly whilst Tomoyo looked at Song Min suspiciously and nodded.
"Let's take her there." She whispered. Song Min nodded. "Xiomara and Jasmine will take you. I'll deal with 'that' one."
Tomoyo shrugged, showing indifference. Xiomara nodded at Song Min and began to lead Tomoyo, Sakura, and Eriol away. Ryu slipped into the shadows of the dark.
Lily was too busy glaring back at Meiling to notice that they were leaving. Song Min walked forward and smirked.
"Well well well, you're back for another guy Lei?" Song Min asked snidely.
Lily stopped glaring at Meiling and looked at Song Min. "Nani?"
Song Min rolled her eyes. "Don't you know? Being with Phillip last night to this afternoon and now Li? Wow, I mean that's quite impressive."
Lily paled. She wondered if Phillip told her. She now questioned Phillip's loyalty to her. She had no clue whether or not Phillip saw other girls or just her. She wondered if he was going out with several girls and telling them what they were planning.
Song Min snickered. "You fool. I know everything. You slut. You deceitful wench."
Syaoran looked on in absolute shock. All in his mind that kept repeating over and over was that he was planning to propose to 'that'.
Lily glared at Song Min, her fists clenched. "Shut up! It isn't true!" she screamed looking at Syaoran helplessly.
Her plan was disintegrating right in front of her. She had to act fast or else she's doomed.
* * * *
Tomoyo took out a smelling salt and waved it under Sakura's nose.
"Ick!" Sakura yelped and looked about her. Tomoyo, Eriol, Xiomara, and Jasmine were looking at her, terribly concerned.
Sakura gave a weak smile but her heart was breaking into pieces.
-Flashback-
"I don't care what you all do. It's not my fault. It's Sakura's fault and I am getting married to Lily."
-End Flashback-
Her eyes shut tightly. She knew he didn't love her but now he even doesn't even care about her.
She tried to hold back her tears.
"Sakura-chan..."
Sakura opened her eyes to see worried amethyst ones starting at her. Tomoyo clasped her hand tightly.
Xiomara and Jasmine sat beside them and all of them ended up in a group hug. Eriol watched them and smiled wistfully.
'Kami, onegai don't let them suffer no more.' He prayed just as a shooting star shot across the dark sky.
* * * *
"Lies!"
Song Min laughed wickedly and stood in front of Syaoran blocking Lily from getting to him.
"Syao-kun! You don't believe her right? It's all lies" Lily yelled tears streaming down her face. "I only love you!"
Syaoran looked away. He didn't know who to believe.
Meiling growled when Lily tried to get to Syaoran again.
"Who are you anyway?" Lily asked fearfully as she stepped away from Meiling.
Meiling smirked. "Meiling Raye. Now what would you do if I told you that Song Min has a tape?"
Lily paled. She recalled Phillip has cameras everywhere in his apartment. Her cover up was over.
"Syao...I didn't mean to! I was drunk! I'm so sorry! You rejected me and I was furious. Gomen Sy-"
"Shut up."
Lily sank to the floor, tears in her eyes. Syaoran stepped in front of Song Min and Meiling.
"I've heard enough." He said icily. His soft amber eyes were now stone cold.
"Nani?" Lily whispered.
"Lei it's over." He simply said before walking off. Song Min and Meiling looked at Syaoran slam the door of the apartment building. Lily automatically stopped crying and stood up. She glared fiercely at the two girls.
"You think you've won ne? Watch, just you watch. You'll regret messing with me."
Song Min and Meiling rolled their eyes as Lily stalked off.
* * * *
"So now you know the truth, Li. You have two days before you're placed in an arranged marriage. How do you feel?"
Syaoran grunted as he pressed the Up button for the elevator. He could hear the elevator descending from the floor it was on.
"Why didn't you tell us that you were going to be the leader of the Li clan?"
Syaoran looked away. He didn't want to answer Ryu's inquiring questions. He didn't even know how he found out. Hell, he didn't even know how Ryu entered the building before him. He thought Ryu left with Sakura and the rest. But no, he was here, interrogating him.
"I didn't think that information was necessary." He muttered. Ryu shook his head.
"We wouldn't have treated you any differently! Geez Li, open your eyes. Once your brain starts working, and you begin to listen to your heart, you'll be able to answer my questions... and even yours."
The elevator doors opened and a single ring was heard. Syaoran looked up but he didn't make an indication that he was going in. Ryu sighed and walked out of the building. Only then did Syaoran go in.
* * * *
Lily growled as she kicked open the door to Phillip's apartment. Surprisingly Phillip was still sleeping in the red stained sheets. This didn't perturbed Lily anymore though. She walked right up to the bed and kicked the mattress.
"What?" He growled, his eyes partially opening. Once he saw it was dark, he closed them again.
"It's still dark. Leave me alone." He grumbled. Lily became furious.
"Baka! You slept through the whole da-" Lily stopped. Something finally dawned to her. She was tricked! The girls never had a tape. Phillip never left his apartment in the first place to tell any witches about what 'they' had done last night.
She was tricked to confess!!
Phillip didn't take her silence into any consideration.
"Whole day? Man that sucks." He looked at his sheets and his eyes widened. He looked at Lily in complete shock.
"Y...y...yo...you we...were...a...a...vi...vir..."
"Virgin?" Lily finished sarcastically. She scowled when Phillip nodded slowly.
"Forget about that. We have a huge problem that has developed while you were sleeping. It has much more importance than my virginity."
Phillip gaped at her. He was stunned that she didn't remember anything about last night and also that before she... she was a virgin.
"What has more importance?" He finally asked, after he pulled himself together.
"Syaoran knows what happened last night- and he dumped me."
* * * *
Meiling sighed as they reached Song Min's house.
"It's not over... is it?" She asked quietly.
Song Min shook her head sadly. Meiling then walked in, seeing Eriol.
"Hey Eriol... how is she?"
Eriol turned away from the living room doorway and smiled a bit.
"She'll recover. I think she needed that final break."
Song Min closed and locked the front door. She looked at Eriol oddly.
"But what about Li? I really don't want him to be in an arranged marriage...even after all of this."
Meiling tensed. "Oh no... The Elders. They want Sakura..."
Eriol froze but Song Min tilted her head.
"Elders?"
* * * *
Syaoran plopped onto his couch. He looked up at his ceiling with a dazed look. Wei walked into the living room with a tray of tea.
"Tough evening Master Syaoran?" Wei asked as he set the tray down on the coffee table.
Syaoran let out a deep sigh.
"Well you can say that."
Wei smiled softly as he poured the tea. He placed the cup down and began to retreat to the kitchen. Before he completely left however, he turned to the young teenager on the couch.
"Open your eyes Master Syaoran. Once your brain starts working and you begin to listen to your heart, all the questions that you have unanswered right now in your head will be solved quite easily."
Syaoran sat up abruptly and gaped at Wei who just left into the kitchen.
'Deja vu? Syaoran asked more than stated in his mind.
* * * *
Ryu kicked a pebble as he proceeded down the block. His mind deep in thought.
'Meiling will get reprimanded if Sakura doesn't accept AND get into an arranged marriage.' Ryu thought miserably. He wondered why she got into things that do not concern her. And he's sure that Meiling forgot about that 'little' detail.
Ryu looked up and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Shiefa-san?"
A dark figure emerged with a warm smile on her face and her dark pink kimono flowed slightly about in the wind.
"Konbanwa Ryu-san."
Ryu gaped at her not only in surprise but in worry and horror.
* * * *
Sakura broke first from the hug, tears brimming around her eyes. She smiled and looked at all of her friends.
How she could've survived everything without them, she wouldn't know. The truth was she wouldn't have survived without them. And she knew it.
"We'll help you Sakura-chan. You'll get over him. I promise."
Sakura nodded and looked up. She tilted her head when she saw Meiling. But it wasn't because Meiling was there that she was confused about. It was Meiling, Eriol, and Song Min's expressions.
"What's going on?" Sakura said loudly, breaking the circle at the entrance. Song Min shrugged while Meiling and Eriol chuckled nervously. Sakura walked towards them with a questioning look, followed by Tomoyo who gave the same look and Song Min's group which had the same clueless look as their leader.
Meiling sent a desperate look to Eriol who just shot another one back at her. Tomoyo then came to their problem and looked as helpless as they did.
A soft knock then came to the door and all of them looked at it. It came again before Song Min decided to open the door.
"Kim-san, where were you?" She asked with a quizzical look on her face. Ryu just looked away and proceeded down the hall.
"Meiling, Eriol, and Tomoyo... we have a problem." He managed to mutter before Shiefa appeared in the doorway.
"Konbanwa." She said lightly as she walked into the room. Her face didn't detail who she was much but Meiling managed to put it all together.
'Shit.'
* * * *
The doorbell rang.
Syaoran shot up and frowned. He knew he wasn't expecting anyone.
But that wasn't the part he was frowning about. He automatically assumed that it was Lily begging for forgiveness. He could picture it: her with tears streaming down her cheeks, sobbing in sorrow all for his forgiveness.
With a huge sigh, he got up as it rang again. Wei came through the kitchen and looked at Syaoran, as if to ask if he invited a guest.
Syaoran shrugged. "I have an idea who it is, so to save trouble, I'll answer the door." Syaoran said.
Wei nodded, not saying a word as he entered the kitchen again.
Syaoran jumped as the bell rang again. He grumbled as he walked down the hall and opened the door.
Instead of a weeping girl begging for forgiveness, it was someone taller and solemn. Now he wished it was the weeping girl as he looked into the expressionless golden eyes of...
"Xiao Lang, what does it take to answer the door? And what on earth happened to your face?"
His mother.
* * * *
Phillip scowled as he looked at Li's home.
They had discussed what to do when Lily had explained everything. He grinded his teeth when he remembered how Lily was tricked by Meiling, no less. He should've known why Lily wasn't beaten to a pulp earlier. Meiling was away at Lily's arrival.
He, Phillip, forgot about the treacherous Meiling Raye.
"I can't believe you fell for her lie." Phillip said exasperated.
Lily hit him softly and proceeded to walk in before he grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"What?!" She asked in an irritated tone. Phillip did not answer and continued to stare at a limo parked right next to the entrance of the building.
Normally he would've cared less but this one was different.
This one had flags on the hood of the limo.
And not just any flags of Japan.
This limo had Hong Kong flags with the Li symbol on it.
"Well?" Lily asked now completely irritated.
"No, not now. His family or mother may be there. They won't approve of you if they hear of this situation. No, let's come back later."
Lily looked at him weirdly as he tried to pull her away.
"No we will not back down. I have another idea."
Phillip looked at her as if she were crazy. Lily on the other hand smirked and pulled him away.
"I'll explain to you at 'home'." She said purring into his ear. He smiled and pulled her to him by her waist.
"Sure."
* * * *
Sakura smiled softly at the lady and bowed to show respect.
"Konbanwa. I am Kinomoto -"
"Sakura. You are much more beautiful in person." Shiefa said warmly.
Sakura blinked several times, processing the information into her brain.
"You've seen me where before?" Sakura asked confused beyond all words.
Meiling was squeezing Ryu and Eriol's hand so tightly; it couldn't be helped when each let out a yelp.
Sakura and Shiefa jumped in surprise while Song Min, Jasmine, and Xiomara were looking confused yet interested.
Tomoyo on the other hand, looked as if she were about to faint.
"What is the matter with you three?" Sakura asked sharply. Meiling sheepishly smiled while Ryu and Eriol happily massaged their own crippled hands. Neither of them responded to Sakura.
"Tomoyo-chan! You're so pale!" Sakura said, gasping when she turned towards her best friend. Tomoyo weakly smiled but that didn't alter Sakura. She immediately rushed to Tomoyo's side and began to lead her away.
"Gomen nasai Miss..."
"Call me Shiefa-san, Sakura."
"Shiefa-san. I'll speak to you later, okay?" Sakura said politely to Shiefa.
"Okay. It'll be a pleasure to speak to you later." Shiefa stated as Sakura smiled and led Tomoyo away.
Eriol was about to go after them when Tomoyo turned and winked at him.
He smiled cutely at her and winked as well. He saw her bite her lip to suppress a giggle from escaping as she turned to go upstairs with Sakura.
When he turned around, he saw Shiefa, Ryu, Meiling, Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine all staring at him. He sweat-dropped figuring out that they saw the whole thing.
Shiefa turned to the others and clasped her hands together. "May I have a private meeting with you," She pointed to Ryu, "you," then to Meiling, "and you." Finally pointing to Eriol.
Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine frowned. Meiling turned to them and forced a smile. "Just wait here. We'll talk in your conference room." She stated.
Song Min nodded and walked away with the other two girls. Meiling motioned to Shiefa to follow her and they all entered the conference room.
Just as Meiling shut and locked the doors, Shiefa began to speak.
"May someone begin to tell me the meaning behind all of this." She implored.
Eriol, Ryu, and Meiling gulped.
* * * *
Touya ate his dinner silently with Kaho by his side. He was used to hearing the loud munches of his best friend Yukito, who was seated across from him. Nakuru smiled at Yukito and ate at his pace as well.
Touya always knew that both of them were always somewhat weird.
But this wasn't what he was concerned about right now. He felt a strange need to go find Sakura and protect her.
Kaho looked at him but Touya just continued eating. She knew he was being troubled by Sakura's silent pleas for help.
And there was nothing they could do about it. She read it in her cards. If they got involved, something that's supposed to happen won't.
That is why Kaho tried to keep everyone occupied every single day. The less they knew, the less they would be concerned, and the less they will participate in the destiny of Sakura.
But how long could she hold onto this charade? She already knew Touya was sensing something wrong with his sister. It won't be long till Yukito pinpoints it out too.
Then what?
She prayed to God that everything that should happen would already happen.
"Touya-san, you okay?"
Touya looked up into the brown eyes of Nakuru. "Eh? Oh err... yeah I'm fine."
Nakuru tilted her head and Kaho instantly knew she was going to ask an abundant amount of questions.
"You seem like something is on your mind. What's troubling you? Is it your jobs? Or that school is about a month away? Or you can't deal with stress? Or that you're how old and you still live at him with your father and sister? Or how ab-"
"That's enough Nakuru-san. I'm fine and nothing is troubling me." He said growling and blushing bright red about the 'you're how old and still live with your father and sister' part.
Kaho giggled quietly. Leave it to Nakuru to change courses of everyone's mind with her silliness.
* * * *
"It's nothing mother."
Yelan Li walked forward into Syaoran's apartment, her robes lightly touching the ground. Syaoran closed the door quietly, still astonished at the fact that his mother was at HIS house.
Yelan walked slowly towards the living room before Wei came out.
"Mistress..."
Yelan smiled and shook her head. "I suppose you are here to announce Xiao Lang's dinner."
Wei nodded, dumbstruck. He had no idea that Yelan was arriving to Tomoeda either. It was apparently a surprise.
"I shall set another place at the seat. Excuse me Mistress Yelan, Master Li." Wei said hurriedly as he rushed into the kitchen.
Yelan laughed softly at Wei's antics. It was obvious that he had prepared a regular meal for Syaoran and now that she was there, he had to whip up something special.
That is why Yelan always adored Wei and selected him to take care of Syaoran.
Syaoran inched closer and closer to the living room but not close enough to touch the soft fabric of the living room carpet.
"Xiao Lang, do you know why I am here?" Yelan asked unexpectedly as she turned to face her son.
Syaoran gulped and shook his head.
"No."
Yelan lifted an eyebrow. "That is quite peculiar. I would have thought Meiling would mention this in her return. Has she told you anything about her trip?"
Syaoran groaned. Of course he knew she hadn't. Once she returned, she punched him deliberately on the face for hurting her best friend when she was away.
They didn't talk over tea about her trip to America. Hell if they would've had tea, Meiling would've spilled the whole teapot on top of him for revenge.
"Umm...no."
Yelan had a questioning look on her face and her index finger was tapping her chin lightly.
"Not at all? Strange she has been here for a day. Perhaps she is discussing it with her friend. It is quite uncharacteristic of Meiling that she hasn't boasted yet."
Syaoran looked at his mother with dot eyes. His mother was rambling on and on about a topic he never heard of.
"I mean she should ha-"
"Mother what on earth are you talking about?!" Syaoran asked clearly frustrated.
Yelan stopped and looked at her son for a full minute before realizing that didn't have a clue. "Oh. Well Xiao Lang you'll have to wait then. Your sister is here als-"
"All of them?!" Syaoran asked bewildered.
"No I said sisteR not sisteRS." Yelan said before continuing. "As I said your sisteR, Shiefa, is here but tracking down Meiling. I do hope she is all right. I didn't have a chance to receive details about this Tomoeda place. I pray that it is safe for her to wander about."
Syaoran rolled his eyes since he knew that Tomoeda was the safest city he ever knew. Not even a burglar dared to show his face here.
"Why is she looking for Meiling?" He asked, petrified about what Meiling might do.
"I just told you that you'll have to wait." Yelan said sternly.
"Till when?"
Yelan smiled as Wei entered the room and bowed.
"Dinner is served." He said politely before retreating.
"Thank you Wei." Yelan called at his figure. She turned back to Syaoran who looked clearly annoyed about being denied all the facts.
"Till your sister returns." Yelan said simply before going into the dining room.
Syaoran growled and stomped all the way into the dining room.
* * * *
Song Min grinned as she pressed the 'On' button on her video surveillance system. She had secret hidden cameras all over her house and that suited her well. Now she could easily hear what was going on.
"Song Min, don't you think we should give them some privacy?" Xiomara asked as Song Min put the big screen with surround sound on the conference room channel.
"No. Meiling knows very well that only the conference room has sound available to us. I suppose she led them there because she knew we'd get mad for being left out. Now hush so we can hear." Song Min said as she cranked the volume up from 0.
Jasmine giggled and took a seat next to Song Min. "I feel like one of those... secret agents listening in to an interrogation." She said smiling.
Song Min rolled her eyes as Xiomara sat next to her. "Turn it up a little more Min, I can't hear a thing."
Song Min did exactly that.
* * * *
"What do you mean?"
Meiling rubbed her hands nervously. "Sakura and Li-kun never got together because of this girl. They actually hurt each other deeply and Sakura's wounds of all of this are still fresh. Just now Li-kun broke up with that girl but Sakura doesn't know. And I don't think Sakura will accept now..."
All of them looked at Shiefa but she wore a blank expression and slowly seated herself onto one of the chairs.
"You realize what will happen now Meiling-san?"
Meiling's eyes filled with tears. Ryu could only clasp her hand to give some comfort. She nodded slowly as she looked at Shiefa.
"An arranged marriage with someone else, I know."
Shiefa sighed. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and a picture. She gave the handkerchief to Meiling and stared at the picture silently.
Meiling took it and wiped her eyes.
"I can protest against your arranged marriage but I do not know if that will work. After all you said you'd bring Sakura in three to four days. How will that be possible if Sakura or Xiao Lang won't comply?" Shiefa questioned as she stroked the picture's exterior.
Eriol shifted his glasses as he saw Meiling give no reply while Ryu just rubbed her hand sorrowfully.
"I do believe Li would comply but Sakura... she's too hurt. Can't we just explain this to the Elders so they give Li more time? I mean Li used to be a good friend of mine and it'd hurt me and the rest of us if he gets into an arranged marriage that has no love."
Shiefa sighed. "I do not believe they'd agree to that."
All of them sighed.
There was absolutely no solution in sight.
* * * *
Sakura left Tomoyo and proceeded to walk down the hall to find out who the mysterious person Shiefa-san was. As she walked down the hall she heard noises coming from a strange room. She peeked inside and then saw Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine looking at a big screen television.
But what they were watching wasn't regular TV. They were watching Meiling, Ryu, Eriol, and the mystifying Shiefa talk about something. And the volume Song Min and the rest were listening to was quite loud so she heard the whole thing.
Sakura bit her lip. She didn't comprehend everything they were talking about but somehow she knew that Shiefa was close to Syaoran and that he was about to be in an arranged marriage.
And somehow Meiling got into this mess, mentioning her and Syaoran. Since it didn't go as planned, she has to get into an arranged marriage as well.
She noticed the grim expressions on Song Min and her friend's faces.
Her hands clenched. She knew it was pretty stupid for Meiling to get involved in such a situation but she didn't want her to break up with Ryu for a guy she didn't know. She cared about her friends.
And if she had to get married to Syaoran to spare her best friend's relationship...
So be it.
* * * *
Lily put all her clothes on and smirked.
"Time to execute Plan B."
Phillip chuckled as he lied back on her bed. "You sound like the worst villain in a book, you know that?"
Lily smiled deviously. "I know."
* * * *
Yelan sipped her tea as Wei cleared the table. Syaoran still sat grumpily, stirring his tea.
"How on earth did you get those hideous marks on your face?" She asked.
Syaoran debated whether to tell her that Meiling punched the hell out of him and lose his dignity or...
"It was nothing Mother. I already told you."
Yelan quirked an eyebrow. "You do not wish to tell me?" She asked.
Syaoran sighed deeply and stirred the tea faster. "It's not that I don't want to tell you it's just that it isn't import-"
"How is Sakura?"
Syaoran nearly spilled his tea. How on earth did his mother know about Sakura? Did she knew what was going on between them and Sakura's feelings for him that destroyed her?
"Err... she's okay but could be better." Syaoran replied. "Mother, can you explain why you're here and why Meiling's trip is related to all of this."
Yelan placed her cup down and smiled the mysterious smile Syaoran always hated.
"No."
Syaoran grunted and this time spilled his tea.
* * * *
Lily's heels clicked on the pavement as she made her way down to Syaoran's apartment building.
Her long luxurious midnight blue hair swayed in the light breeze and her smile shining brightly as the moonlight.
Her plan had a 1% of failure and she knew that she wouldn't fail.
'Goodbye Sakura Kinomoto.' She happily thought.
* * * *
Tomoyo opened one eye and then the other. She really expected for Sakura to stay with her longer than she did.
Tomoyo knew that Sakura was insanely curious on Shiefa knew her before today. Tomoyo slowly got up from the bed Sakura made her lie on and proceeded down the hall. Before she got too far, she saw Sakura listening in to a loud conversation in the room. Tomoyo also noticed the determined expression on Sakura's face.
'Oh no. Don't tell me she knows.' She prayed.
Tomoyo crept silently closer to Sakura and she heard a few words coming from that very room.
"So your mother is waiting for us?"
Tomoyo made a mental note that Meiling was speaking. But why would she choose a room so close where they were and speak so loud?
"Yes. I believe she hasn't told Xiao Lang yet about this and I know you haven't either."
Now Tomoyo knew there was something wrong with this whole picture.
Shiefa's voice sounds like it is being on a loud speaker. But before she could investigate further, Sakura walked down the hallway and down the stairs.
'Where in the world is she going?' Tomoyo thought.
* * * *
Sakura walked down the stairs and silently towards the locked door of the conference room. Without thinking it well, she did what was least expected of her.
She kicked the door.
It didn't open.
She growled and kicked it again.
This time it did.
You would think that she was exhausted from all the tears and pain. I know I know but her determination was strong, you've got to give her that.
All eyes were at the door.
"I'll get married to him." Said the clear voice of Sakura.
Shiefa smiled, Eriol frowned, Meiling was surprised, and Ryu gaped at her.
Did they just hear that Sakura who now despised Syaoran say that she will marry him?
* * * *
The bell rang again. Syaoran happily got up to go get the door since he wants to know what was going on in the first place.
As he opened the door, he was unbelievably surprised on who was on the other side of the door.
"Lei!" He said flabbergasted.
Lily smiled softly and hugged him. Syaoran didn't know what to do before he remembered why he was mad at her in the first place.
"Get the hell off of me." He growled pushing her away.
"Xiao Lang, is Shiefa all right?" Yelan said walking towards the door. Yelan raised her eyebrow when she saw it was not her daughter at all but a young girl around her son's age.
"Who is this Xiao Lang?" She asked, worried that he was cheating on Sakura.
Lily smiled evilly as she put on the engagement ring Phillip bought.
"I am your son's fiancé. My name is Lei Lily."
Yelan gasped and looked at her son. But Syaoran looked furious and astounded at the same time.
"What?!"
Lily smiled sweetly as she showed her left hand to both Syaoran and Yelan.
"Isn't this the ring you used to propose to me Syao?" Lily asked sweetly.
Syaoran gaped at her not recalling buying her any engagement ring.
"Well Xiao Lang you have a lot of explaining to do. For the Elders wanted Sakura and not her. Young Lady, come inside. I have some questions for you as well." Yelan said furiously, angry that Sakura was not the one Syaoran wanted.
Syaoran couldn't think of anything to say about his mother's brief speech. He was completely confused, especially the fact that the Elders wanted Sakura. How did they know about Sakura? Then he noticed Lily and glared at her.
"Get the hell out. I never gave you a ring. And you are NOT my fiancé you tramp."
Lily giggled.
"Yes I am. Unless I lie to your mother and say you raped me."
Syaoran looked at her wide eyed. "I'd deny it all. I never laid a finger on you."
Lily smiled deviously. "Ah but that's not what Phillip would say. Kinomoto won't help you because she hates you as well as the rest of her friends. You are stuck with me Syaoran Li and I'll make your life hell for dumping me in the first place."
Syaoran scowled at her. "Like hell you will. I'll never say I do."
Lily giggled again which irritated Syaoran. "You will, if I tell you that Sakura's life is at stake. I'm willing to set a conniving scheme to get her into Phillip's arms and he will rape her and then if I like, kill her. Or maybe kidnap her and rape her all the time? Which would you prefer?"
"Bitch." Syaoran said, his fists clenching so tightly.
"Awe thank you Hunny. Now your mother is waiting for us. Shall we go?" She said before kissing him hard on the lips.
Syaoran could only turn away and go into the living room.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
FFPN: Ahhh you are all going to kill me right? It was quite different from what I was planning. I know Lily is evil.
Will everything be better? What will happen to Sakura and her choice of marrying Syaoran?
Can Shiefa stop this? Or will Yelan? Or will Syaoran get screwed and end up marrying the whore?
What will the three old villains: Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine do?
Will Meiling get into an arranged marriage now that Lily is the fiancée of Syaoran?
And will Syaoran ever find out of Meiling's unexpected trip to Hong Kong?
All these answers might be answered in the next chapter!!
I'm again so sorry for not updating sooner. Please go check out Fantasy! The next chapter is out!
Love you all!
Have a great summer vacation and REALLY expect the next chapter in August.
Muahz!
~*Final Fantasy Princess*~
-coughs- Okay okay! Hi all! It's me Brenda with a new chappie! I'm done with all my school stuff and back from France... where they have the original copy of this chapter. I am so SORRY that I took nearly two months for this chapter and I hope it is well worth it.
But first, let me thank my great reviewers who I love very much and also thank those who put me on their favorites!
And those people are: -drum roll-
Stars From Above
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*incredible*
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WAII! I received more reviews from the last chapter! I love you all! -kisses and hugs all the reviewers- AND I won the Best Villain Creator EVER award! XD (I can hear my sister say: There is nothing good about that.)
Sorry that I am late. Geez I never had so many people complain to me before. @-@ I was really busy for the New York State Regents (one of which I passed with only local diploma...) and also finishing my finals. (Which none I failed!) Then I left to France for my cousin's birthday. And I forgot my floppy... no I didn't. My COUSIN stole it from my bag (He hates my family) and now I won't be getting it back... till September.
More than a month ago, I celebrated my two year anniversary of being an author in fanfiction.net I celebrated it by posting up my new story: Fantasy. Which I received only 7 reviews but very good ones. I hope I get more reviews for that one. -Coughs, looking at her reviewers- Now I got people complaining that I didn't update this one.
Well Fantasy's first chapter was finished about three months ago but I waited till my anniversary to post it up. I was working really hard on this one too but I hit many writers blocks. Who knows why...
So why is it late? Well first it took me forever to type and then I left to France to finish writing it all. I finished but guess what? My laptop didn't have internet connection from there and the computer I did use, didn't accept my floppy. And then my evil cousin stole my floppy and it is still in France... which made me have to start from scratch. Anyways...
Don't forget to review! You have to or else!!
This chapter is dedicated to: My Youngest Sister Giovanna. Than you for always being there for me and giving me inspiration to do anything.
Special Thanks to: Sleepy Kero and the rest of the people who emailed me to continue the chapter!
Now... -coughs- I Brenda shall present CHAPTER 12!! (Woo!!)
* * * * *- Changing places
A/N- Author Notes
"." Speaking
'.' Thoughts
Friends Forever...Right?
Chapter 12
The Final Showdown
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo yelled but she knew she could not reach her in time.
But someone else did.
Syaoran looked sadly at the thin figure in his arms. The few seconds holding her felt heavenly to him before Meiling snatched her away and held her up with aid from Song Min and her posse.
Syaoran sighed. He didn't mean what he said, he was just pissed off that Meiling punched him- hard. Jesus sometimes he wondered what if he never left China and how his situation would have been.
Tomoyo rushed over to her friend in obvious worry. She placed her hand on Sakura's forehead and released a sigh of relief.
"Our place is close Daidouji-san. Let's take her there and then you could call your home." Song Min mumbled. She didn't want Syaoran to offer his home.
"But my house is right here." Syaoran stated, matching Song Min's glare.
"WHAT the HELL is going on HERE!" A voice shrieked behind the group.
Syaoran groaned as he looked at his watch. The watch showed it was 8:30 and he knew Lily was impatient.
There she was, wearing a midnight blue halter and skirt, her hair in a neat bun with a butterfly clip. By the looks of it, she was mad. But when Syaoran looked at Meiling, he could tell she was madder.
But somewhat happy.
Syaoran gulped as he realized something. He knew Meiling was a skilled martial artist like himself. And if things get ugly, Meiling is willing to fight her. And as he looked at Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine, he knew that they would help too.
"I said what the HELL is going on here!" Lily bellowed.
Now if she had been nicer, Meiling would've dropped the whole thing and knocked some sense into Sakura.
But Lily was a bitch. It was as plain and simple as that.
"Who do you think you are?" Meiling snapped back, fury in her eyes.
Lily was about to answer back until she noticed that she didn't know who the girl was.
Meiling glared at her menacingly whilst Tomoyo looked at Song Min suspiciously and nodded.
"Let's take her there." She whispered. Song Min nodded. "Xiomara and Jasmine will take you. I'll deal with 'that' one."
Tomoyo shrugged, showing indifference. Xiomara nodded at Song Min and began to lead Tomoyo, Sakura, and Eriol away. Ryu slipped into the shadows of the dark.
Lily was too busy glaring back at Meiling to notice that they were leaving. Song Min walked forward and smirked.
"Well well well, you're back for another guy Lei?" Song Min asked snidely.
Lily stopped glaring at Meiling and looked at Song Min. "Nani?"
Song Min rolled her eyes. "Don't you know? Being with Phillip last night to this afternoon and now Li? Wow, I mean that's quite impressive."
Lily paled. She wondered if Phillip told her. She now questioned Phillip's loyalty to her. She had no clue whether or not Phillip saw other girls or just her. She wondered if he was going out with several girls and telling them what they were planning.
Song Min snickered. "You fool. I know everything. You slut. You deceitful wench."
Syaoran looked on in absolute shock. All in his mind that kept repeating over and over was that he was planning to propose to 'that'.
Lily glared at Song Min, her fists clenched. "Shut up! It isn't true!" she screamed looking at Syaoran helplessly.
Her plan was disintegrating right in front of her. She had to act fast or else she's doomed.
* * * *
Tomoyo took out a smelling salt and waved it under Sakura's nose.
"Ick!" Sakura yelped and looked about her. Tomoyo, Eriol, Xiomara, and Jasmine were looking at her, terribly concerned.
Sakura gave a weak smile but her heart was breaking into pieces.
-Flashback-
"I don't care what you all do. It's not my fault. It's Sakura's fault and I am getting married to Lily."
-End Flashback-
Her eyes shut tightly. She knew he didn't love her but now he even doesn't even care about her.
She tried to hold back her tears.
"Sakura-chan..."
Sakura opened her eyes to see worried amethyst ones starting at her. Tomoyo clasped her hand tightly.
Xiomara and Jasmine sat beside them and all of them ended up in a group hug. Eriol watched them and smiled wistfully.
'Kami, onegai don't let them suffer no more.' He prayed just as a shooting star shot across the dark sky.
* * * *
"Lies!"
Song Min laughed wickedly and stood in front of Syaoran blocking Lily from getting to him.
"Syao-kun! You don't believe her right? It's all lies" Lily yelled tears streaming down her face. "I only love you!"
Syaoran looked away. He didn't know who to believe.
Meiling growled when Lily tried to get to Syaoran again.
"Who are you anyway?" Lily asked fearfully as she stepped away from Meiling.
Meiling smirked. "Meiling Raye. Now what would you do if I told you that Song Min has a tape?"
Lily paled. She recalled Phillip has cameras everywhere in his apartment. Her cover up was over.
"Syao...I didn't mean to! I was drunk! I'm so sorry! You rejected me and I was furious. Gomen Sy-"
"Shut up."
Lily sank to the floor, tears in her eyes. Syaoran stepped in front of Song Min and Meiling.
"I've heard enough." He said icily. His soft amber eyes were now stone cold.
"Nani?" Lily whispered.
"Lei it's over." He simply said before walking off. Song Min and Meiling looked at Syaoran slam the door of the apartment building. Lily automatically stopped crying and stood up. She glared fiercely at the two girls.
"You think you've won ne? Watch, just you watch. You'll regret messing with me."
Song Min and Meiling rolled their eyes as Lily stalked off.
* * * *
"So now you know the truth, Li. You have two days before you're placed in an arranged marriage. How do you feel?"
Syaoran grunted as he pressed the Up button for the elevator. He could hear the elevator descending from the floor it was on.
"Why didn't you tell us that you were going to be the leader of the Li clan?"
Syaoran looked away. He didn't want to answer Ryu's inquiring questions. He didn't even know how he found out. Hell, he didn't even know how Ryu entered the building before him. He thought Ryu left with Sakura and the rest. But no, he was here, interrogating him.
"I didn't think that information was necessary." He muttered. Ryu shook his head.
"We wouldn't have treated you any differently! Geez Li, open your eyes. Once your brain starts working, and you begin to listen to your heart, you'll be able to answer my questions... and even yours."
The elevator doors opened and a single ring was heard. Syaoran looked up but he didn't make an indication that he was going in. Ryu sighed and walked out of the building. Only then did Syaoran go in.
* * * *
Lily growled as she kicked open the door to Phillip's apartment. Surprisingly Phillip was still sleeping in the red stained sheets. This didn't perturbed Lily anymore though. She walked right up to the bed and kicked the mattress.
"What?" He growled, his eyes partially opening. Once he saw it was dark, he closed them again.
"It's still dark. Leave me alone." He grumbled. Lily became furious.
"Baka! You slept through the whole da-" Lily stopped. Something finally dawned to her. She was tricked! The girls never had a tape. Phillip never left his apartment in the first place to tell any witches about what 'they' had done last night.
She was tricked to confess!!
Phillip didn't take her silence into any consideration.
"Whole day? Man that sucks." He looked at his sheets and his eyes widened. He looked at Lily in complete shock.
"Y...y...yo...you we...were...a...a...vi...vir..."
"Virgin?" Lily finished sarcastically. She scowled when Phillip nodded slowly.
"Forget about that. We have a huge problem that has developed while you were sleeping. It has much more importance than my virginity."
Phillip gaped at her. He was stunned that she didn't remember anything about last night and also that before she... she was a virgin.
"What has more importance?" He finally asked, after he pulled himself together.
"Syaoran knows what happened last night- and he dumped me."
* * * *
Meiling sighed as they reached Song Min's house.
"It's not over... is it?" She asked quietly.
Song Min shook her head sadly. Meiling then walked in, seeing Eriol.
"Hey Eriol... how is she?"
Eriol turned away from the living room doorway and smiled a bit.
"She'll recover. I think she needed that final break."
Song Min closed and locked the front door. She looked at Eriol oddly.
"But what about Li? I really don't want him to be in an arranged marriage...even after all of this."
Meiling tensed. "Oh no... The Elders. They want Sakura..."
Eriol froze but Song Min tilted her head.
"Elders?"
* * * *
Syaoran plopped onto his couch. He looked up at his ceiling with a dazed look. Wei walked into the living room with a tray of tea.
"Tough evening Master Syaoran?" Wei asked as he set the tray down on the coffee table.
Syaoran let out a deep sigh.
"Well you can say that."
Wei smiled softly as he poured the tea. He placed the cup down and began to retreat to the kitchen. Before he completely left however, he turned to the young teenager on the couch.
"Open your eyes Master Syaoran. Once your brain starts working and you begin to listen to your heart, all the questions that you have unanswered right now in your head will be solved quite easily."
Syaoran sat up abruptly and gaped at Wei who just left into the kitchen.
'Deja vu? Syaoran asked more than stated in his mind.
* * * *
Ryu kicked a pebble as he proceeded down the block. His mind deep in thought.
'Meiling will get reprimanded if Sakura doesn't accept AND get into an arranged marriage.' Ryu thought miserably. He wondered why she got into things that do not concern her. And he's sure that Meiling forgot about that 'little' detail.
Ryu looked up and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Shiefa-san?"
A dark figure emerged with a warm smile on her face and her dark pink kimono flowed slightly about in the wind.
"Konbanwa Ryu-san."
Ryu gaped at her not only in surprise but in worry and horror.
* * * *
Sakura broke first from the hug, tears brimming around her eyes. She smiled and looked at all of her friends.
How she could've survived everything without them, she wouldn't know. The truth was she wouldn't have survived without them. And she knew it.
"We'll help you Sakura-chan. You'll get over him. I promise."
Sakura nodded and looked up. She tilted her head when she saw Meiling. But it wasn't because Meiling was there that she was confused about. It was Meiling, Eriol, and Song Min's expressions.
"What's going on?" Sakura said loudly, breaking the circle at the entrance. Song Min shrugged while Meiling and Eriol chuckled nervously. Sakura walked towards them with a questioning look, followed by Tomoyo who gave the same look and Song Min's group which had the same clueless look as their leader.
Meiling sent a desperate look to Eriol who just shot another one back at her. Tomoyo then came to their problem and looked as helpless as they did.
A soft knock then came to the door and all of them looked at it. It came again before Song Min decided to open the door.
"Kim-san, where were you?" She asked with a quizzical look on her face. Ryu just looked away and proceeded down the hall.
"Meiling, Eriol, and Tomoyo... we have a problem." He managed to mutter before Shiefa appeared in the doorway.
"Konbanwa." She said lightly as she walked into the room. Her face didn't detail who she was much but Meiling managed to put it all together.
'Shit.'
* * * *
The doorbell rang.
Syaoran shot up and frowned. He knew he wasn't expecting anyone.
But that wasn't the part he was frowning about. He automatically assumed that it was Lily begging for forgiveness. He could picture it: her with tears streaming down her cheeks, sobbing in sorrow all for his forgiveness.
With a huge sigh, he got up as it rang again. Wei came through the kitchen and looked at Syaoran, as if to ask if he invited a guest.
Syaoran shrugged. "I have an idea who it is, so to save trouble, I'll answer the door." Syaoran said.
Wei nodded, not saying a word as he entered the kitchen again.
Syaoran jumped as the bell rang again. He grumbled as he walked down the hall and opened the door.
Instead of a weeping girl begging for forgiveness, it was someone taller and solemn. Now he wished it was the weeping girl as he looked into the expressionless golden eyes of...
"Xiao Lang, what does it take to answer the door? And what on earth happened to your face?"
His mother.
* * * *
Phillip scowled as he looked at Li's home.
They had discussed what to do when Lily had explained everything. He grinded his teeth when he remembered how Lily was tricked by Meiling, no less. He should've known why Lily wasn't beaten to a pulp earlier. Meiling was away at Lily's arrival.
He, Phillip, forgot about the treacherous Meiling Raye.
"I can't believe you fell for her lie." Phillip said exasperated.
Lily hit him softly and proceeded to walk in before he grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"What?!" She asked in an irritated tone. Phillip did not answer and continued to stare at a limo parked right next to the entrance of the building.
Normally he would've cared less but this one was different.
This one had flags on the hood of the limo.
And not just any flags of Japan.
This limo had Hong Kong flags with the Li symbol on it.
"Well?" Lily asked now completely irritated.
"No, not now. His family or mother may be there. They won't approve of you if they hear of this situation. No, let's come back later."
Lily looked at him weirdly as he tried to pull her away.
"No we will not back down. I have another idea."
Phillip looked at her as if she were crazy. Lily on the other hand smirked and pulled him away.
"I'll explain to you at 'home'." She said purring into his ear. He smiled and pulled her to him by her waist.
"Sure."
* * * *
Sakura smiled softly at the lady and bowed to show respect.
"Konbanwa. I am Kinomoto -"
"Sakura. You are much more beautiful in person." Shiefa said warmly.
Sakura blinked several times, processing the information into her brain.
"You've seen me where before?" Sakura asked confused beyond all words.
Meiling was squeezing Ryu and Eriol's hand so tightly; it couldn't be helped when each let out a yelp.
Sakura and Shiefa jumped in surprise while Song Min, Jasmine, and Xiomara were looking confused yet interested.
Tomoyo on the other hand, looked as if she were about to faint.
"What is the matter with you three?" Sakura asked sharply. Meiling sheepishly smiled while Ryu and Eriol happily massaged their own crippled hands. Neither of them responded to Sakura.
"Tomoyo-chan! You're so pale!" Sakura said, gasping when she turned towards her best friend. Tomoyo weakly smiled but that didn't alter Sakura. She immediately rushed to Tomoyo's side and began to lead her away.
"Gomen nasai Miss..."
"Call me Shiefa-san, Sakura."
"Shiefa-san. I'll speak to you later, okay?" Sakura said politely to Shiefa.
"Okay. It'll be a pleasure to speak to you later." Shiefa stated as Sakura smiled and led Tomoyo away.
Eriol was about to go after them when Tomoyo turned and winked at him.
He smiled cutely at her and winked as well. He saw her bite her lip to suppress a giggle from escaping as she turned to go upstairs with Sakura.
When he turned around, he saw Shiefa, Ryu, Meiling, Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine all staring at him. He sweat-dropped figuring out that they saw the whole thing.
Shiefa turned to the others and clasped her hands together. "May I have a private meeting with you," She pointed to Ryu, "you," then to Meiling, "and you." Finally pointing to Eriol.
Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine frowned. Meiling turned to them and forced a smile. "Just wait here. We'll talk in your conference room." She stated.
Song Min nodded and walked away with the other two girls. Meiling motioned to Shiefa to follow her and they all entered the conference room.
Just as Meiling shut and locked the doors, Shiefa began to speak.
"May someone begin to tell me the meaning behind all of this." She implored.
Eriol, Ryu, and Meiling gulped.
* * * *
Touya ate his dinner silently with Kaho by his side. He was used to hearing the loud munches of his best friend Yukito, who was seated across from him. Nakuru smiled at Yukito and ate at his pace as well.
Touya always knew that both of them were always somewhat weird.
But this wasn't what he was concerned about right now. He felt a strange need to go find Sakura and protect her.
Kaho looked at him but Touya just continued eating. She knew he was being troubled by Sakura's silent pleas for help.
And there was nothing they could do about it. She read it in her cards. If they got involved, something that's supposed to happen won't.
That is why Kaho tried to keep everyone occupied every single day. The less they knew, the less they would be concerned, and the less they will participate in the destiny of Sakura.
But how long could she hold onto this charade? She already knew Touya was sensing something wrong with his sister. It won't be long till Yukito pinpoints it out too.
Then what?
She prayed to God that everything that should happen would already happen.
"Touya-san, you okay?"
Touya looked up into the brown eyes of Nakuru. "Eh? Oh err... yeah I'm fine."
Nakuru tilted her head and Kaho instantly knew she was going to ask an abundant amount of questions.
"You seem like something is on your mind. What's troubling you? Is it your jobs? Or that school is about a month away? Or you can't deal with stress? Or that you're how old and you still live at him with your father and sister? Or how ab-"
"That's enough Nakuru-san. I'm fine and nothing is troubling me." He said growling and blushing bright red about the 'you're how old and still live with your father and sister' part.
Kaho giggled quietly. Leave it to Nakuru to change courses of everyone's mind with her silliness.
* * * *
"It's nothing mother."
Yelan Li walked forward into Syaoran's apartment, her robes lightly touching the ground. Syaoran closed the door quietly, still astonished at the fact that his mother was at HIS house.
Yelan walked slowly towards the living room before Wei came out.
"Mistress..."
Yelan smiled and shook her head. "I suppose you are here to announce Xiao Lang's dinner."
Wei nodded, dumbstruck. He had no idea that Yelan was arriving to Tomoeda either. It was apparently a surprise.
"I shall set another place at the seat. Excuse me Mistress Yelan, Master Li." Wei said hurriedly as he rushed into the kitchen.
Yelan laughed softly at Wei's antics. It was obvious that he had prepared a regular meal for Syaoran and now that she was there, he had to whip up something special.
That is why Yelan always adored Wei and selected him to take care of Syaoran.
Syaoran inched closer and closer to the living room but not close enough to touch the soft fabric of the living room carpet.
"Xiao Lang, do you know why I am here?" Yelan asked unexpectedly as she turned to face her son.
Syaoran gulped and shook his head.
"No."
Yelan lifted an eyebrow. "That is quite peculiar. I would have thought Meiling would mention this in her return. Has she told you anything about her trip?"
Syaoran groaned. Of course he knew she hadn't. Once she returned, she punched him deliberately on the face for hurting her best friend when she was away.
They didn't talk over tea about her trip to America. Hell if they would've had tea, Meiling would've spilled the whole teapot on top of him for revenge.
"Umm...no."
Yelan had a questioning look on her face and her index finger was tapping her chin lightly.
"Not at all? Strange she has been here for a day. Perhaps she is discussing it with her friend. It is quite uncharacteristic of Meiling that she hasn't boasted yet."
Syaoran looked at his mother with dot eyes. His mother was rambling on and on about a topic he never heard of.
"I mean she should ha-"
"Mother what on earth are you talking about?!" Syaoran asked clearly frustrated.
Yelan stopped and looked at her son for a full minute before realizing that didn't have a clue. "Oh. Well Xiao Lang you'll have to wait then. Your sister is here als-"
"All of them?!" Syaoran asked bewildered.
"No I said sisteR not sisteRS." Yelan said before continuing. "As I said your sisteR, Shiefa, is here but tracking down Meiling. I do hope she is all right. I didn't have a chance to receive details about this Tomoeda place. I pray that it is safe for her to wander about."
Syaoran rolled his eyes since he knew that Tomoeda was the safest city he ever knew. Not even a burglar dared to show his face here.
"Why is she looking for Meiling?" He asked, petrified about what Meiling might do.
"I just told you that you'll have to wait." Yelan said sternly.
"Till when?"
Yelan smiled as Wei entered the room and bowed.
"Dinner is served." He said politely before retreating.
"Thank you Wei." Yelan called at his figure. She turned back to Syaoran who looked clearly annoyed about being denied all the facts.
"Till your sister returns." Yelan said simply before going into the dining room.
Syaoran growled and stomped all the way into the dining room.
* * * *
Song Min grinned as she pressed the 'On' button on her video surveillance system. She had secret hidden cameras all over her house and that suited her well. Now she could easily hear what was going on.
"Song Min, don't you think we should give them some privacy?" Xiomara asked as Song Min put the big screen with surround sound on the conference room channel.
"No. Meiling knows very well that only the conference room has sound available to us. I suppose she led them there because she knew we'd get mad for being left out. Now hush so we can hear." Song Min said as she cranked the volume up from 0.
Jasmine giggled and took a seat next to Song Min. "I feel like one of those... secret agents listening in to an interrogation." She said smiling.
Song Min rolled her eyes as Xiomara sat next to her. "Turn it up a little more Min, I can't hear a thing."
Song Min did exactly that.
* * * *
"What do you mean?"
Meiling rubbed her hands nervously. "Sakura and Li-kun never got together because of this girl. They actually hurt each other deeply and Sakura's wounds of all of this are still fresh. Just now Li-kun broke up with that girl but Sakura doesn't know. And I don't think Sakura will accept now..."
All of them looked at Shiefa but she wore a blank expression and slowly seated herself onto one of the chairs.
"You realize what will happen now Meiling-san?"
Meiling's eyes filled with tears. Ryu could only clasp her hand to give some comfort. She nodded slowly as she looked at Shiefa.
"An arranged marriage with someone else, I know."
Shiefa sighed. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and a picture. She gave the handkerchief to Meiling and stared at the picture silently.
Meiling took it and wiped her eyes.
"I can protest against your arranged marriage but I do not know if that will work. After all you said you'd bring Sakura in three to four days. How will that be possible if Sakura or Xiao Lang won't comply?" Shiefa questioned as she stroked the picture's exterior.
Eriol shifted his glasses as he saw Meiling give no reply while Ryu just rubbed her hand sorrowfully.
"I do believe Li would comply but Sakura... she's too hurt. Can't we just explain this to the Elders so they give Li more time? I mean Li used to be a good friend of mine and it'd hurt me and the rest of us if he gets into an arranged marriage that has no love."
Shiefa sighed. "I do not believe they'd agree to that."
All of them sighed.
There was absolutely no solution in sight.
* * * *
Sakura left Tomoyo and proceeded to walk down the hall to find out who the mysterious person Shiefa-san was. As she walked down the hall she heard noises coming from a strange room. She peeked inside and then saw Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine looking at a big screen television.
But what they were watching wasn't regular TV. They were watching Meiling, Ryu, Eriol, and the mystifying Shiefa talk about something. And the volume Song Min and the rest were listening to was quite loud so she heard the whole thing.
Sakura bit her lip. She didn't comprehend everything they were talking about but somehow she knew that Shiefa was close to Syaoran and that he was about to be in an arranged marriage.
And somehow Meiling got into this mess, mentioning her and Syaoran. Since it didn't go as planned, she has to get into an arranged marriage as well.
She noticed the grim expressions on Song Min and her friend's faces.
Her hands clenched. She knew it was pretty stupid for Meiling to get involved in such a situation but she didn't want her to break up with Ryu for a guy she didn't know. She cared about her friends.
And if she had to get married to Syaoran to spare her best friend's relationship...
So be it.
* * * *
Lily put all her clothes on and smirked.
"Time to execute Plan B."
Phillip chuckled as he lied back on her bed. "You sound like the worst villain in a book, you know that?"
Lily smiled deviously. "I know."
* * * *
Yelan sipped her tea as Wei cleared the table. Syaoran still sat grumpily, stirring his tea.
"How on earth did you get those hideous marks on your face?" She asked.
Syaoran debated whether to tell her that Meiling punched the hell out of him and lose his dignity or...
"It was nothing Mother. I already told you."
Yelan quirked an eyebrow. "You do not wish to tell me?" She asked.
Syaoran sighed deeply and stirred the tea faster. "It's not that I don't want to tell you it's just that it isn't import-"
"How is Sakura?"
Syaoran nearly spilled his tea. How on earth did his mother know about Sakura? Did she knew what was going on between them and Sakura's feelings for him that destroyed her?
"Err... she's okay but could be better." Syaoran replied. "Mother, can you explain why you're here and why Meiling's trip is related to all of this."
Yelan placed her cup down and smiled the mysterious smile Syaoran always hated.
"No."
Syaoran grunted and this time spilled his tea.
* * * *
Lily's heels clicked on the pavement as she made her way down to Syaoran's apartment building.
Her long luxurious midnight blue hair swayed in the light breeze and her smile shining brightly as the moonlight.
Her plan had a 1% of failure and she knew that she wouldn't fail.
'Goodbye Sakura Kinomoto.' She happily thought.
* * * *
Tomoyo opened one eye and then the other. She really expected for Sakura to stay with her longer than she did.
Tomoyo knew that Sakura was insanely curious on Shiefa knew her before today. Tomoyo slowly got up from the bed Sakura made her lie on and proceeded down the hall. Before she got too far, she saw Sakura listening in to a loud conversation in the room. Tomoyo also noticed the determined expression on Sakura's face.
'Oh no. Don't tell me she knows.' She prayed.
Tomoyo crept silently closer to Sakura and she heard a few words coming from that very room.
"So your mother is waiting for us?"
Tomoyo made a mental note that Meiling was speaking. But why would she choose a room so close where they were and speak so loud?
"Yes. I believe she hasn't told Xiao Lang yet about this and I know you haven't either."
Now Tomoyo knew there was something wrong with this whole picture.
Shiefa's voice sounds like it is being on a loud speaker. But before she could investigate further, Sakura walked down the hallway and down the stairs.
'Where in the world is she going?' Tomoyo thought.
* * * *
Sakura walked down the stairs and silently towards the locked door of the conference room. Without thinking it well, she did what was least expected of her.
She kicked the door.
It didn't open.
She growled and kicked it again.
This time it did.
You would think that she was exhausted from all the tears and pain. I know I know but her determination was strong, you've got to give her that.
All eyes were at the door.
"I'll get married to him." Said the clear voice of Sakura.
Shiefa smiled, Eriol frowned, Meiling was surprised, and Ryu gaped at her.
Did they just hear that Sakura who now despised Syaoran say that she will marry him?
* * * *
The bell rang again. Syaoran happily got up to go get the door since he wants to know what was going on in the first place.
As he opened the door, he was unbelievably surprised on who was on the other side of the door.
"Lei!" He said flabbergasted.
Lily smiled softly and hugged him. Syaoran didn't know what to do before he remembered why he was mad at her in the first place.
"Get the hell off of me." He growled pushing her away.
"Xiao Lang, is Shiefa all right?" Yelan said walking towards the door. Yelan raised her eyebrow when she saw it was not her daughter at all but a young girl around her son's age.
"Who is this Xiao Lang?" She asked, worried that he was cheating on Sakura.
Lily smiled evilly as she put on the engagement ring Phillip bought.
"I am your son's fiancé. My name is Lei Lily."
Yelan gasped and looked at her son. But Syaoran looked furious and astounded at the same time.
"What?!"
Lily smiled sweetly as she showed her left hand to both Syaoran and Yelan.
"Isn't this the ring you used to propose to me Syao?" Lily asked sweetly.
Syaoran gaped at her not recalling buying her any engagement ring.
"Well Xiao Lang you have a lot of explaining to do. For the Elders wanted Sakura and not her. Young Lady, come inside. I have some questions for you as well." Yelan said furiously, angry that Sakura was not the one Syaoran wanted.
Syaoran couldn't think of anything to say about his mother's brief speech. He was completely confused, especially the fact that the Elders wanted Sakura. How did they know about Sakura? Then he noticed Lily and glared at her.
"Get the hell out. I never gave you a ring. And you are NOT my fiancé you tramp."
Lily giggled.
"Yes I am. Unless I lie to your mother and say you raped me."
Syaoran looked at her wide eyed. "I'd deny it all. I never laid a finger on you."
Lily smiled deviously. "Ah but that's not what Phillip would say. Kinomoto won't help you because she hates you as well as the rest of her friends. You are stuck with me Syaoran Li and I'll make your life hell for dumping me in the first place."
Syaoran scowled at her. "Like hell you will. I'll never say I do."
Lily giggled again which irritated Syaoran. "You will, if I tell you that Sakura's life is at stake. I'm willing to set a conniving scheme to get her into Phillip's arms and he will rape her and then if I like, kill her. Or maybe kidnap her and rape her all the time? Which would you prefer?"
"Bitch." Syaoran said, his fists clenching so tightly.
"Awe thank you Hunny. Now your mother is waiting for us. Shall we go?" She said before kissing him hard on the lips.
Syaoran could only turn away and go into the living room.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
FFPN: Ahhh you are all going to kill me right? It was quite different from what I was planning. I know Lily is evil.
Will everything be better? What will happen to Sakura and her choice of marrying Syaoran?
Can Shiefa stop this? Or will Yelan? Or will Syaoran get screwed and end up marrying the whore?
What will the three old villains: Song Min, Xiomara, and Jasmine do?
Will Meiling get into an arranged marriage now that Lily is the fiancée of Syaoran?
And will Syaoran ever find out of Meiling's unexpected trip to Hong Kong?
All these answers might be answered in the next chapter!!
I'm again so sorry for not updating sooner. Please go check out Fantasy! The next chapter is out!
Love you all!
Have a great summer vacation and REALLY expect the next chapter in August.
Muahz!
~*Final Fantasy Princess*~