Ren chased after Ronnie, who seemed to have left a small trail as he jumped from tree to tree.
"Buchama," went Bason.
"What is it?"
"What if we're too late to retrieve my lady's spirit in time?"
"That's not an option. We will get her spirit in time," said Ren, somewhat ignoring Bason and it seemed more for himself.
Ren finally followed Ronnie up until he found the secret opening to the underground hall. Without hesitating he entered the secret opening and into the hall.
The place was getting darker. The torches seem to be losing it's light. But something at the far end of the hall grew a bright yellow.
Meiling's spirit.
Ren began to move towards it only to be blocked by Ronnie.
"Come closer, Tao Ren, it'll be my pleasure to kill you," he said.
"Well, you won't be having that pleasure," said Ren. He brandished his Basontou. "Give that back."
"Well, you see, I think you're wasting your time. Realise that the colour has changed from red to yellow? Once it changes to white, her spirit will be lost forever. Which is about say, 10 minutes more."
"Then I'll use less than that amount of time to kill you. Bason!"
"Ah!" cried Bason.
"OVERSOUL!"
Bason then entered the Basontou. "GOLDEN CHUUKEN ZANMAI!" cried Ren.
Ronnie dodged the attack, but the hall began to crumble. "Be careful, or you'll bury us all," said Ronnie.
"I'll have to be more careful with my attacks." Ren made his Basontou shrink to a smaller size.
Ronnie then attacked using his Ofuda. Ren dodged it but the hall crumbled even more. Ren looked at the crystal sphere, it was turning a pale yellow. Time was running out.
"Hey, Tao Ren, ever wondered why I was there during your battle with Togira?" said Ronnie.
Kisama, he's stalling… Ren hid behind a pillar.
"I wanted to kill you right at that moment so that I could steal your magic to make me stronger. But my plans changed when I saw that girl and saw the spirit that took over her when she attacked me."
Ren's eyes grew wide. No time… Ren ran out of his hiding place and attacked Ronnie.
Ronnie held out his Ofuda and it acted like a shield for Ren's attack couldn't reach him. "I saw the great potential in that spirit and saw her need to take the girl's body as her own. So I took my chance. Once the girl's body dies from the separation from her real spirit, I will take the spirit's powers."
Ren pulled back and began to breathe hard. "You… are so selfish."
"So I am. But in this world only the powerful will survive, so I need more power." Ronnie attacked and Ren dodged again.
Ren laughed as he landed. "Being strong doesn't mean stealing other people's power. It's about being strong on your own. Depending on other people's strength means you are weak."
"Hmph!" said Ronnie as he attacked again. Ren dodged.
"I know a girl who was weak but she became strong by her own faith. That is true power. I will not let you take that away." Ren attacked in midair, catching Ronnie off guard. "GOLDEN CHUUKEN ZANMAI!"
Ronnie screamed as the attack brought him to the ground. Slowly, his screams died, only to be replaced by laughter. "Time is almost out. Even if you do get it, you'll still have a lot of problem putting it back in her body since there is another residing in it."
Ren hadn't thought of that. He ran towards the sphere and grabbed it. There was a tinge of yellow in the midst of white. "Hold on, Meiling," he whispered. He then ran out of the hall.
"You're too late, you idiot! She's already dead!" Ronnie's laughter echoed through the hall as it crumbled completely, blocking the entrance towards it forever.
Ren didn't even bother to look back. He had to find Meiling's body. He silently hoped that Sakura didn't lose.
"Bason! Go—!"
"Right!" cried Bason, disappearing.
Ren ran with all his might. He had to hurry or else…
"Ren-kun!" cried Sakura.
Ren ran towards Sakura. "Where's her body?"
"Over there. But you'll have to get Siew Cheng out," said Syaoran.
"Is she willing?" questioned Ren.
Sakura and Syaoran nodded. Ren handed the sphere to Sakura and walked towards Siew Cheng who was sitting down.
"Faust taught me this a long time ago. I'll pull you out, just don't struggle," said Ren.
Siew Cheng nodded. She looked at Sakura and Syaoran, and gave a warm smile of appreciation. They gave the same smile back.
Ren held out his right hand and it began to glow green. Slowly, it entered Meiling's body. A bright flash, and Meiling's body lay slumped on the ground as Ren pulled out Siew Cheng.
"Quick! Give me the sphere!" cried Ren.
Sakura handed the sphere to Ren. "Buchama…" whispered Bason.
"Not now!" Ren hissed. Please…
But as he held the sphere, he stared at the milky white.
"Buchama…"
"What's wrong?" asked Sakura.
Bason began to explain to them, but Ren was pensive. No… it can't end like this… "I'll have to enter the sphere."
"Buchama!" cried Bason. "That is dangerous!"
"Meiling is still in there," said Ren. "I have to revive her from the inside of the sphere."
"But anything could go wrong, Buchama! What if we lose you, too?"
Ren kept quiet. "That's not an option now, is it?"
Bason looked at his master, then with a heavy heart agreed.
Ren took a deep breath. Going in might not be so simple. He held the sphere in one hand, and held Meiling's hand in the other. He closed his eyes and let his magic flow…
OoO
It's so cold… thought Meiling. She pressed her hands upon a glass barrier that seemed to confine her. If I could just get past this wall, I know… I need to get out of here…I know if I don't I might…
Meiling couldn't hear anymore, and slowly the feeling of the cool glass on her hands disappeared. She almost sobbed… I'm going to die…
Meiling hadn't realised Ren was there, too. And all this while, he had pressed his hands upon the glass barrier searching for a weak spot to get Meiling out. The barrier was strong… with the amount of magic he had left it's not going to be easy breaking the barrier.
Meiling watched as Ren stopped in front of her, he let out a small smile to assure Meiling it will be all right, but Meiling still panicked. Ren then focused his magic on his hands and then tried to break the barrier.
He won't make it…Meiling thought sadly. He's not strong enough…
Meiling… you are so pathetic…
Meiling lifted her head to see Ren again. His teeth clenched, he continued to talk to her.
You think… by whimpering away… and giving up… will solve everything… Meiling… I'm only assisting you… but you have to save yourself…
Meiling placed her hands on the barrier where Ren's hands were on the other side. What if I can't?
I know you can…
Meiling concentrated with all her might and to her surprise, felt magic pour from her heart to her hands. The barrier cracked.
Just a little more… whispered Ren.
Meiling let out a sigh as the barrier broke into a million pieces. She felt so weak, instantly Ren grabbed her as she passed out. Although much weaker than Meiling, he tried his best to use whatever power he had left to bring Meiling's spirit back.
Meiling gasped as she felt all her senses kick in. What? I'm back in my body… She then heard a slump next to her. A few screams of surprise. Slowly she opened her eyes. "Ren…" she murmured as she slowly passed out.
OoO
"So how's Meiling-chan?" asked Tomoyo over the phone.
"She's okay. She recovered more quickly than Ren-kun," said Sakura, talking to Tomoyo on the phone.
"That reminds me, how's their engagement getting along?"
"I don't know. Meiling-chan never told me about it."
"Why? Did one of them break up the engagement?"
"I don't know, Tomoyo-chan. There doesn't seem to be any sign from both parties yet. But I really hope they stay engaged!"
"Me too."
"I'll be going back there soon. Syaoran-kun might join us."
"Really? I can't wait!"
"Yeah, me too…"
Meiling passed by Sakura's door. Then moved forward. It's now or never… Slowly, she stood in front of Ren's door, took three breaths, and then knocked.
Ren opened the door. When he saw that it was Meiling, he said, "Come in."
Meiling entered his room and gave a light jolt. "You're… packing?"
Ren nodded. "I have to go back to China. My family and friends are expecting me."
"Oh…" said Meiling. "Anyway, I wanted to ask… erm… well… if it's okay…" Meiling sighed. "Never mind." She turned to leave.
"You'll have to pack, too."
Meiling stood frozen by the door. "What?"
"Of course, the only reason why my family and friends are asking me to come home is to see my fiancée."
"Really? Y-you mean…?"
"Yes, Li Meiling, I am keeping our engagement." Ren smiled.
Meiling couldn't keep her happiness. She ran to Ren and gave him a death hug. "Hey, watch it!" cried Ren, but in the end, he returned the hug.
"This is so beautiful," said Bason, wiping his eyes as he cried happy tears.
"Watch out, Bason," hissed Ren.
Meiling laughed.
OoO
"Make sure you write, Meiling-chan! I'll definitely be waiting for them!" said Sakura.
"Write to me, too! But I wonder if your letter will ever reach me since I'll be staying in an unknown place in China…" said Meiling-chan.
"Don't worry, I have 33 post companies so it'll be no problem," said Ren.
"That's why you're Buchama!" cried Bason.
Sakura and Syaoran were accompanying Meiling and Ren at the airport. In a few minutes time, they would have to board, so they were giving each other some last words before they leave.
Sakura pulled Meiling away from Syaoran and Ren. "I really hope you're happy, Meiling-chan."
"I am! Ren maybe hard headed, but he's the kindest guy I've ever met," said Meiling, smiling.
"Then I'm glad," said Sakura, smiling as well. "I hope you're happy, too, Siew Cheng."
The spirit Siew Cheng appeared behind Meiling. "Of course I am. I'll be able to make amends for my mistakes plus I'll be just as powerful."
Meiling smiled at Siew Cheng who smiled back. "We're going to be great friends, aren't we Siew Cheng?"
"Definitely!" Meiling, Siew Cheng and Sakura began to giggle.
Ren watched Meiling with an eased heart. Things didn't look so bad as he thought after all…
"Please take care of Meiling for me," said Syaoran.
Ren turned to Syaoran who looked at his feet. "I broke her heart probably a few times. So when me and Sakura announced our engagement I wanted to make her happy," continued Syaoran. "In the end it wasn't me who was meant to make her happy." With this, Syaoran turned to Ren and grinned.
Ren's ears turned a light pink. "You can come and visit her anytime you want. I'll try to bring her back as much as possible, too."
Syaoran held out his hand. "Thank you very much for everything. Tao Ren."
And Ren took Syaoran's hand warmly in appreciation.
Bason appeared holding on to Ren's yellow scarf and crying on it. "Buchama is so kind! No wonder he is so great!"
"Don't ruin my scarf, Bason!" Ren scolded. Syaoran laughed.
The two girls and Siew Cheng then came back. "Bason, are you okay?" said Meiling.
"My lady!" cried Bason as he grabbed her and gave her a death hug. "You are the most luckiest person in the world for you are marrying the great Buchama!"
Sakura and Syaoran sweat-dropped. But Meiling merely laughed. "And your 'Buchama' is also the most luckiest man to be marrying me!"
Sakura and Syaoran's sweat-drop grew.
The announcement to board the plane to China rang in their ears. It was time to say goodbye…
"Ah, Meiling, hold on…" Syaoran dug into his pocket. "It's a gift from me and Sakura for you and Ren." He held out a sphere that looked exactly like the one where Meiling's spirit was once in.
"I thought it broke…" said Ren.
Sakura giggled. "This is another one. I couldn't help but realise how much that sphere brought you two together, so I got this one as a symbol." Sakura took it from Syaoran, put it in Meiling's hand and made Ren's hand rest on it. "Guess what's the symbol?"
Both Ren and Meiling blushed. "Sakura!" cried Meiling in defiance. But she couldn't help but laugh and give her a hug. "Thank you so much." She then went to Syaoran.
"I wish you well, cousin Meiling," said Syaoran.
"Same to you, cousin Syaoran," replied Meiling as the both of them gave a warm hug. And then she went to Ren who held his arm out. Meiling took it happily.
Sakura and Syaoran waved with all their might as they watched Ren and Meiling together with Bason and Siew Cheng disappear from their sight. They sighed.
"I'm really, really happy for Meiling-chan," said Sakura as she leaned on Syaoran's shoulder.
"So am I."
(Next chapter --> Special!)