"Was it okay to leave Tao and Meiling alone?" asked Syaoran. Both he and Sakura were walking down a brightly lighted park.
"I'm sure of it!" replied Sakura. "Those two need to spend some time together or else they'll never learn about each other."
"It's going to be tough. Both Tao and Meiling are tough in the head."
"Think nothing of it. When two people of that type collide, you're bound to find out how loving they can be towards each other."
"Sakura, do you really think that way?"
Sakura smiled. "I don't want to push, Meiling. After all, being engaged to an unknown man and trying to develop powers you've just only gotten isn't easy. But I think Ren is special. He might be the man Meiling has been looking for all her life."
Syaoran then smiled warmly at Sakura. "You seem to know a lot about Meiling," he teased.
"I try my best," she replied, sticking out her tongue. And then she spotted something. "Syaoran-kun, look!"
"A… roller skate rink?"
Sakura thought for a moment. And then, "That's it!"
OoO
"KISAMA!"
"Are you all right, Ren?" cried Meiling as she slowly skated to Ren who couldn't get up.
Sakura suggested they go roller-skating for a little fresh air. While Sakura and Syaoran were already at the rink, Meiling stayed back with Ren who was struggling to stand up on his roller skates.
"How do people balance on these things? Kisama…" growled Ren as he tried to get up on his own. He slipped and fell down again.
"Ren-kun, are you all right?" asked Sakura from the skating rink.
"Stop asking me if I'm all right! Kisama… I can't even stand on these things!"
"Look, if you don't hold my hand we'll never set foot on the rink!" said Meiling as she held out her hands.
"I don't need your help!" cried Ren, slightly screaming in anger. "I'll get this by myself!" With that he struggled to stand but again slipped and fell.
"You can do it, Buchama!" said Bason, supportingly.
"Don't make me slice you in half, Bason!"
Meiling crossed her arms. "What is your problem Ren? You've never skated before so of course you'll need help."
"Look, I'll get the hang of it sooner or later."
"Not without help, you won't. This isn't a Shaman training you know, it's plain fun."
"Why don't you leave me alone!" Ren cried, clenching his fist.
"Fine!" cried Meiling. With that she slowly skated towards Sakura and Syaoran.
"Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all," sighed Sakura as she watched Ren struggle and fall again.
"It's not a bad idea, Sakura," said Syaoran. "But by the looks of things Tao is pretty tense to look bad in front of people. He must have a lot of pride."
"So I guess you wouldn't mind if I hurt yours!" With that, Sakura gave Syaoran a push. He slid and landed exactly on his bottom. Sakura laughed out loud.
Meiling couldn't help but look at Ren. One part of her nagged that he deserved it, he and his stupid pride. Another part nagged that it's not right to leave him like that. So ignoring the ruckus Sakura and Syaoran were making (Syaoran trying hard to chase the ever roller skating champion Sakura), she skated towards Ren, leaning against the railing.
Ren looked defeated on the floor. "No way," went Meiling. "The ever great Tao Ren has given up?"
Ren's shark fin went higher.
"Oh ho! What would your opponents say when they find out that the ever powerful Tao Ren has given up doing simple roller skating?"
And higher…
"You'll get more opponents now that they know you have a weakness, that you easily give up."
And higher…
"Hey, everyone! Listen up!"
Ren exploded. He got up, took two skates and grabbed Meiling by the collar. "Don't you dare," he hissed.
At first, Meiling was terrified. He's fast! And then it slowly dawned to her… "You skated."
"What?"
"Ren, you skated! How do you explain you grabbing me?" Meiling grinned.
Ren, in absolute horror, let go of Meiling and fell to the floor again. For the first time, he was unable to retort.
Meiling smiled warmly. She jumped across the railing and kneeled next to Ren. "Sometimes great kings need help," said Meiling as she held out her hand.
Ren stared at her. What was in his eyes? Kindness? Could it be? Slowly, Ren took her hand.
Meiling pulled him up and grabbed both his hands. "Now the first thing we need to do is to teach you how to balance. Keep your legs apart, about the same length as your shoulders. There. Now slowly… take a step… there you go! Let's try this a bit longer so you can get the hang of this…"
Ren had not taken his eyes off Meiling since. His eyes were unbelievably wide and uncertain. He thought he knew everything about Meiling. He was wrong…
After a while, Sakura and Syaoran decided to help. Both of them (especially Sakura) kept giving him tips on how to roller skate. After a while Ren was able to skate on his own without any support.
"That's it!" cried Meiling as she watched Ren take a full round without her help.
"Way to go, Buchama!" cried Bason, waving a flag of support.
And for the first time, Meiling saw him smile. A genuine smile. It made her smile, too.
OoO
"That was a lot of fun!" cried Sakura as they walked back home.
"A lot of fun for you," replied Syaoran. "I haven't skated in years. Whereas even at this age you're still skating to school."
"It's my only mode of transport," laughed Sakura. "Otou-san says it's my trademark to skate to school."
"That's why I can never catch you." Both of them began to laugh.
Meiling smiled as she saw them. Looking at how Syaoran was happy made Meiling felt it was worthwhile to get these two together…
"Thank you."
Meiling snapped out of her thoughts. "Eh?" She turned to Ren.
Ren cleared his throat. "Thank you… for… teaching me how to skate." Meiling could see he was turning a slight pink. She was tempted to tease him, but she kept quiet.
"You're not so bad, Tao Ren," she said.
"Nah, I still can't turn properly without wobbling."
Meiling laughed. "No, not that." She beamed at him. "You're not such a bad person after all."
Ren turned a bright red. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not so sure myself." She looked at Syaoran who was still happily laughing with Sakura. I definitely see what you mean, Sakura…
OoO
Meiling was writing calligraphy again by herself in her room late at night. Simple spells… five elements. Wood, Fire, Wind, Water, Metal. Which defeats which. What creates what. Meiling sighed. "I'm sure Sakura understands this. From what I heard she managed to capture the Earth card because for some reason she understood this."
"That was just mere luck," said Sakura by the door.
"WAH!" Meiling blotched her work. "Oops…"
"Be careful," said Sakura, she sat on Meiling's bed. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"No, not at all." Meiling decided to put her work away. "You're getting very good, Sakura. Even Syaoran's mother is impressed by your work. Soon enough you'll be fit to be a part of the Li-clan."
"I guess," said Sakura. "But I still struggle trying to defeat certain types of spells using the cards. Ofudas can be very powerful."
"Don't I know it!" said Meiling. "I don't know why she said I'd do great in the Ofuda field. I can't even control Thunder."
"Ma'am has a funny way of thinking, but I think her method is true."
Both girls kept quiet for a minute. "But there is something I'm thinking," said Sakura.
"What?"
"You and Tao Ren. Is the engagement… going to continue?"
Meiling sighed. "It's really up to Ren. He hasn't said anything about our engagement ever since he came here."
"That's strange. Isn't that the reason why he's here?"
Meiling thought about the Shaman battle he had a few days ago. "I'm not so sure."
Suddenly Meiling jolted. "What was that?"
"What was what?" said Sakura, staring at Meiling.
"I sensed something. An aura…"
"Hoe?" went Sakura. Then the both of them heard someone scream. "What?"
"Let's go," said Meiling, grabbing her clothes.
"Shouldn't we tell someone?"
"It could be a man being mugged."
"What if it's something else?"
Meiling pondered. "The scream didn't sound too far away. If anything happens one of us could run back here and get help. Agreed?"
Sakura nodded.
"Now get dressed and bring your staff, quickly!"