Story Name: Portrait of a Little Wolf

Author: DarkxDiamonds

Comments: I'm BACK~! Woohoo! XD Betcha missed me, ne? No? You didn't? T_T Oh well ...

Here is the "long-awaited" chapter three of Portrait of a Little Wolf ...

Chapter Three

"Yes yes ... You didn't expect that they could keep it in for long, now did you?" Sakura simply moved past the group of gossipy women and began examining the threads. "Of course, those people were always secretive. Locks and closed windows and curtains ... Why, you'd expect that they were doing something illegal!" The women burst out in laughter.

"Louna, dear, don't you think you're being a bit too cruel?" a hesitant voice spoke up. "She wasn't a bad woman ... Maybe just a little spoiled, but by no means evil." Sakura could feel the hair on the back of her neck begin to stand up. There came a short guffaw and several uneasy coughs.

"Maybelle, there's no reason to worry anymore. Meiling is as dead as a doornail. She can't possibly hurt us now!"

Sakura spun around. Did ... did she just say ... Meiling? Her brain tried to process what she learned. I could have heard wrong ... She slowly eased her way closer to the huddled group.

"But .. At least you should have respect for the dead," the woman called Maybelle murmured. Already, her resolve was weakening. "I know that if I died ... I wouldn't want people discussing bad things about me. I'd like to be remembered as someone special and nice."

There was a small silence. A slightly chubby woman placed a hand on Maybelle's shoulder. "Maybelle is right of course. If we are to talk about Meiling Li, then we might as well tell the good things about her."

Everyone nodded solemnly. Sakura backed away unsteadily from the group and ran.

The Li House

Great ... two nurses should be enough for the child. Wiping his brow, Syaoran looked at the slip of paper. Now, to pay my respects to Meiling...

He hurried through the streets. The morning bustle surprised him. Well, I've never been out this early ... I guess I'll have to get used to it. He stopped man that he had almost walked into. "Excuse me sir, could you point me in the direction of um…. this address?" The man pivoted on his heel and gestured at a house directly in front of Syaoran.

After thanking him, Syaoran made his way to the door. He pushed aside the cloth to hear the snipping sound of scissors against cloth. "Excuse me? I'm interested in buying a quilt." The snipping stopped. "I don't mean to intrude or anything, but there wasn't a bell or any sign on the door."

He stopped, unsure of what to do. She hasn't responded to anything…"I thank you for coming, stranger, but I do not make quilts for the young. Please visit another maker of such things."

Quilts for the young? How would she know anything? She hasn't even seen me or know my name! "I'm not here to ask for that. I'm looking for a quilt to cover ... the dead."

The woman tensed. "Who is it for?" Please … let what I heard just be a nasty rumor …don't make it true! Her voice grew impatient with worry and waiting. "Every person has a different life and a different story! I would make a different pattern for you than any other person I've done before. Each of my quilts are unique and represent the new owner."

"As an artist, I thought you could understand that!" Syaoran's eyes widened and he inhaled a sharp breath. "Hang on! How did you know that I had a child! And how did you know that I'm an artist? Answer me!"

"Everyone in this town knows about you, Syaoran Li. And I'd be a fool if I didn't know more." There was a sharp bitterness in her voice.

"Stop talking in these riddles! Who are you?" He stomped up and grabbed her shoulders and violently twisted her around. Amber eyes met emerald eyes that glimmered in her pain.

"Are you happy now?" Syaoran watched her in sorrow. "Sakura …"

"Well? Answer me! Are you happy with your life now?" There was no sarcasm or bitterness in her voice. Just a plain question asked. Syaoran didn't know how to respond.

"Sakura! Don't do this! You know … you know I never really … loved Meiling." She blinked. "So what about now?" He shook his head. "Sakura … the quilt is for Meiling."

Her worst fears were confirmed. Of course she had tried to make herself think that it was all a lie. That people just were being mean. But she should have known from Maybelle's voice that she wasn't. That Meiling was really dead. Sakura lowered her eyes. "I don't know what to say … Everyone would say 'I'm sorry' but it just … makes you feel worse, doesn't it?"

"Sakura … I can finally understand why you ran away that day. You made a huge sacrifice ... for me. I'd like to thank you for that. But … I still love you Sakura." She stopped. "Syaoran, Meiling just died! Don't disrespect her memory by doing this!"

He thought for a moment. "You say her memory. Meiling's memory is in our minds…don't pretend. Or make excuses."

Sakura was shaken with the statement. Is Syaoran right? Is Meiling … only in my mind? Not just the life of Meiling … Am I hiding? I…

"Sakura, Meiling exists only because you consider her still alive. Don't. You're fooling yourself again." Sakura exhaled deeply. "You have no idea how many times I've done that."

He nodded. "No. But I can always guess." There was an awkward silence as the two considered it. "Syaoran, you know so much about me, too…it's almost like..." Syaoran finished her sentence. "We share the same mind."

"I will make a quilt for Meiling. I think I can finish today. Do you see this?" She indicated her latest project. "I can easily make a pattern for Meiling. Since … I think I knew her well enough …"

Syaoran nodded. "Thank you Sakura…" He watched her nimble hands fly as she cut and stitched. Oh, Oh Sakura … this is so strange. When can I go back to telling you?

Her hands blurred his vision. You still have … all of my heart.

[A/N]: Extremely gushy, ne? Hehe ^^''' I hope you didn't mind it TOO much ... Until then .. bye! Please R&R!