By SibylSofiana
Chapter Thirteen
Speaking OutCard Captor Sakura from the Li point of view Ch. SummarySyaoran finally speaks out what's in his heart, and so does Meiling. But both of them to two different people. Some spoilers for the anime.
Disclaimer: We don't own Card Captor Sakura.
"Stupid Xiaolang! Why haven't you told Kinomoto-san yet? You have to tell her, it's your last day!..."
Don't you think I know that, Meiling?
"Ah, Meiling, I have to go now. I'll talk to you later okay?"
"But Xiao Lang...!" Meiling's frantic words from earlier were still in his head, as Xiao Lang looked at his room one last time. When he left the room, the stuffed bear was still sitting on the bedside table.
000
He should have known – he should have known that it had been Hiiragizawa all along.
He should have remembered his dream of Clow – the adult Clow and the younger version. He felt dismay and betrayal, same as what Sakura would be feeling at the moment.
But he also felt – confused. Hiiragizawa had made him uneasy, true – because his feelings for Sakura made him jealous of all the attention she gave the other boy – but somewhere inside him, he also felt being prodded and guided, his self-confidence boosted by Hiiragizawa's cryptic advises at the most unexpected times.
So, how was he to take this new form of Hiiragizawa?
"Why are you doing this?" Sakura demanded from the figure on top of the entrance to the Shrine.
"We will talk after you defeat me." Clow's reincarnation calmly stated, his dark cloak billowing in the wind. And then he attacked, targetting Sakura.
Xiao Lang watched stunned as Sakura got hit by Hiiragizawa's attack and started to fall. Lifting his ancestral sword, he quickly released his wind magic to break her fall.
As soon as he released the spell, he felt his body give way. He was breathing hard, using his sword as a support. He could already feel the tendrils of Clow's magic, beckoning him to sleep. He couldn't even lift his head up anymore, but he could just imagine Eriol looking down at him with that condescending look on his face.
"You're already weak and you're still using magic?" The dark-cloaked form of Hiiragizawa asked.
Grrr. Hiiragizawa. I knew there was a reason I didn't like you. The Li in him refused to be swayed, powerful ancestor or not.
"Soon you'll be sleeping like the rest of them."
Xiao Lang remained slumped over his sword, his eyelids feeling heavy. It took most of his will to struggle to stay awake. He would protect Sakura.
The Guardians had already merged with Sakura's staff to bring up her magic so she could change the two strongest remaining cards. Sakura had finally figured out that she needed The Light to defeat Eriol. But even then it wasn't enough – he could see her faltering.
He staggered to his feet and bolstered Sakura's flagging spirits with one hand on her shoulder and the other firmly keeping her hands on the magically-enhanced staff aloft.
"I have some of Clow Reed's blood – I might be able to help, too."
"But if you do that, you'll ..." Sakura's voice was tinged with worry and anxiety, and he smiled.
"Because of you, everything will surely be alright."
Sakura eyes softened and she gave him a sideways glance as if seeking reassurance. He managed to give her a small smile, and that seemed to be enough; the next thing he knew, all the Cards were transformed and Sakura was invoking Light. Soon the whole place was awash in light and the sky lightened up.
It was finally over. Xiao Lang took deep lungfuls of air as he crumpled down behind Sakura. Yue and Keroberos, after reappearing soon chased after Eriol as he disappeared after leaving a cryptic remark.
Tch. How annoying. How like Hiiragizawa.
He watched as Sakura stood there, basking in the affection of the Sakura Cards. The Sakura Cards. They were no longer Clow Cards – and his father's legacy was gone forever. He had failed.
But as he looked at his one-time rival, all he could think of was how he would no longer see her once his Mother asked him to come home. Her sparkling green eyes, her laughter, her kind heart. This would be a harder loss – and he had not told her how he felt yet.
Sakura... He must have made some noise as Sakura turned around and knelt beside him, looking at him in concern."Hai? Are you alright, Syaoran-kun?"
He took one look into her green, green eyes and was lost.
" Sakura, I... "
She cocked her head as he struggled to say the words. And then they came out in one breathless rush.
"I like you!"0000
A few days later.
Yelan went straight to the heart of the matter in her phone call to Japan.
"Xiao Lang, are all the cards transformed?"
"Yes, Mother. They're all Sakura Cards now."
Yelan was silent for a while before she finally said, "The Elders are summoning you home." Silence on the other end of the line, before she heard her son reply softly.
"Yes, Mother. I'm coming home." No argument, no reproaches.
0000
Yelan put the phone back on the receiver and turned to find Peng Mai behind her. Her cousin-in-law had a satisfied look on her face.
"You told them?" Yelan asked in a low voice.
Peng Mai smirked. "I only told them that Xiao Lang broke off the engagement to Meiling because of another girl."
"Sister Mai, Meiling broke the engagement herself," Yelan argued, and Peng Mai bristled at her tone.
"Because you have brainwashed her!"
"Will you listen to yourself? You keep thinking that everyone is against you, and you plot and plan every step of the way. You don't even treat Meiling as if she were a person – just a thing you can use to suit your own ends! Her marrying Xiao Lang will not bring Li Han back! It will not make you the Li's wife once again!"
Yelan's words made Peng Mai see red.
"How dare you! Meiling is my concern, not yours – and she will be wife to the Li!"
"No, Mother." The firm voice came from the doorway and the two older women turned their heads to look at Meiling, who stood there quietly.
"I only wanted Xiao Lang to be my fiance because he is Xiao Lang. He has always been nice to me, and I love him dearly. But Xiao Lang is the Li, and The Li loves another. And I will not stand in his way." Meiling stated quietly, bringing her hands to her chest, her eyes brimming with tears. "Please, Mother -- I am not YOU." She looked directly at Peng Mai, whispering brokenly. "I am not the Li's fiancee. I am only Meiling -- your daughter. Can't you love me if I am just Meiling?"
Meiling quickly turned away, hands to her face, and ran outside, leaving the two women standing, looking after her.
0000
Narita International Airport.
Will she be mad I didn't tell her?
Yesterday at the bridge, I wanted to tell her that I was going home. But I didn't. Here at the airport, an hour just before my flight, I'm still thinking about her.
Will she be mad I didn't tell her?
I pick up my bag and begin to move away. But then like a dream, I hear a familiar voice and I turn back. And suddenly there she is, right there in front of me, breathing heavily, like she had run the whole way. Or flown, by the looks of it. My heart leaped, and it felt so full that I couldn't say anything but just looked at her.
"Syaoran-sama..."
I looked up at Wei, who had come near. He only smiled, coming over to hand me something. I stare, confused. It was the bear I had meant to give to Sakura but didn't have the courage to. How did he --?
"Can I have that bear, Syaoran?" Her gentle voice interrupts my thoughts and I look at her as she looks back at me shyly. And I walk over to her, like I'm in a dream, and I find myself handing the bear to her.
"Please keep him safe for me." I manage to say, and she smiles and holds the bear close.
"I will." She looks up at me with those beautiful green eyes and says, "We'll see each other soon, Syaoran-kun, won't we?" She sounds so sure that I can only nod my head.
There were a lot of things I still wanted to say, but I didn't. And then I left, knowing that this might be the last time I'd ever see her again.
I left Tomoeda, not knowing her heart. But I didn't want to force her to give me an answer.
I don't know. Maybe I was just afraid of what that answer might be.
AUTHORS' NOTESSofiana: Oops. I kinda messed up with Syaoran's name last time. For consistency, I should have used "Xiao Lang", as the story is from the Li POV, but I forgot and used the Japanese version for Chapter 12.
And yeah, the many viewpoints made writing this kinda difficult, but I think it was necessary. Hope it made sense...
And finally one more chapter to go -- Sibyl went all out on this one, believe me!