AN: How soon! From this point on (okay, from the start of the previous chapter) I'll probably upload every weekend, maybe even twice a weekend. Depends on how much I can write during the week. :)

Oh, and if you think later…'Why the big fuss about the gossip!' I just don't like gossip, most people go way overboard with that, so I just have been putting a bit of myself in this chapter. You don't mind, I hope… Right? ;) hehe Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter 11

'He is so nice...' Sakura said dreamily. Tomoyo had just entered the class, and heard her mumble.

'Who is?' She asked.

Sakura looked up, disturbed from her daydream. 'Good morning, Tomoyo-chan. And Yukito is...'

Tomoyo looked at her friend suspicious, while Syaoran and Eriol entered the class as well, and took their seats behind the girls. 'Good morning, boys.' She said, not really noticing them, after they greeted her and Sakura. 'I hope you don't have a crush on him?'

'Why not?' Sakura now looked at her friend, wondering why she shouldn't. Not that she really had, but he sure was nice.

'Well, I got the feeling he doesn't want you that way. Nor any other girl, for that matter.' Tomoyo explained. 'I even think he already has someone.'

'How can you know, you only have seen him for a moment, right? Besides, it's not that I have a crush on him. He is just so...nice!' Sakura said.

'Believe me on this one, Sakura-chan. It will only break your heart, if you don't.'

Eriol and Syaoran looked at each other in wonder. 'Who are they talking about, I wonder.' Came Eriols voice from behind.

Tomoyo looked at the boys in confusion. 'Since when are you here?' She asked insure. 'You haven't... you have heard it all?'

The boys nodded at the same time. 'We even greeted you, and you replied!' Syaoran tried to remind her.

Tomoyo looked quite uncertain, and was looking at them and Sakura in wonder. 'Hmpf...these subjects makes a girl forget about their surroundings, that's all.'

'Right.' Syaoran, Eriol, and even Sakura said disbelievingly.

When Terada-sensei entered, he pronounced the coming of another new student. 'I do hope she'll be the last one though. That's the fourth one in just two months. We're running out of seats.' The class laughed at that, while Sakura and Syaoran looked away, Eriol just smiling mysteriously.

'She'll be coming in a few moments, after she dropped her stuff at home. Her name is Li Meilin. Family of you, Li-san?'

Syaoran looked up, with a rather painful look upon his face. 'Hai, sensei.' He mumbled, quite miserable. Eriol just grinned at that, knowing Meilin very well.

'Save me, Eriol.' Syaoran mumbled, begged, only heard by Eriol, who only grinned wider. 'Don't worry, my cute descendant, she'll be your savior, trust me.' Eriol pronounced, getting a weird look from Sakura and Tomoyo, who did hear him.

Class began, and with every moment passing by, Syaoran got more nervous and Eriol more cheer fuller. The rest of the class didn't understand what that was about, or just didn't realize the quick change of moods.

And then, the door opened.

A girl with black long hair, still dressed in her usual clothes, obviously Chinese, was standing in the door opening. Everyone would have said that she was beautiful, but she had a hard and painful look in her eyes, which ruined the effect on the boys.

Terada-sensei welcomed her, presuming this would be Meilin, but she didn't respond on that. She just looked in the class, eyes immediately focusing on Syaoran. He changed. He hasn't even been gone that long!

Then she managed to surprise the entire class by running to the back, and jumping to embrace a shocked – though he could have expect it – Syaoran. Syaoran was about to scold at her, for doing that – she always did, and he always scolded – when he realized she was crying.

They had fallen of his seat, lying on the ground, and he looked up for help from Eriol. But he, of course, only smiled and let him fix this mess himself. He tried to at least sit, and it took a while to accomplish that.

'Meilin?' he tried. Not the smartest thing to say, but hey, he wasn't used to do this. Meilin shifted in his arms, which he carefully put around her for comfort.

'I missed you, damned! You had left without even saying goodbye!' she cried, but then looked up to face him. Her eyes had become a bit softer, looking at him, but the tears streamed down her face. 'So much happened, and you weren't even there to help me. To protect me. We really have to talk later. Big talk.'

'Hai, hai. We'll talk later. But why would you have needed my help? You can take perfectly care of your self.' He said, trying to dry some of her tears with his sleeve. 'Probably even better than I can do.' He mumbled afterwards.

'Something that I can do better than you, that's rare. But nothing like that happened, it's something else.' She looked in his eyes, and could see he didn't know where she was talking about.

'Rare indeed. We'll talk later, but for now, just get off me. Please?'

A tiny laugh escaped her lips. 'Sure, Syao-kun. Sorry for bumping in to you like that, but you know I like it.'

'Sure know that, alright.' He gave her a little smile, while she climbed on to her feet's again and looked around the class. Everybody stared at her.

'Hello, I'm Li Meilin. Sorry for the interruption, but I really needed to.'

Syaoran got up his feet's as well, while Terada-sensei gave her a seat next to Eriol. That's not the Meilin I know. Except for the first scene, that is. She normally doesn't apologize for jumping on me. He sighed and returned to his fallen chair. Glad she did though, it makes her a lot nicer.

-

The class wasn't quiet anymore, after the arrival of Meilin. In the entire room, filled with students, she could hear them mumbling about the new one, some quiet, others didn't care that she could here it, and talked out lout.

That girl is dangerous, have you seen that look in her eyes?

She must really love him, to follow him all the way here.

Are those two even capable of loving? They sure don't act like it.

Not everybody talked about Meilin, some wondered what Syaoran had done, that she had acted this way.

Did he really leave her, like she said?

But she's so cute, who would want to leave her?

He has to be a real asshole, to something like that.

I always thought he was strange…

Syaoran and Meilin tried not to listen to all the babbling, but Sakura was very irritated. She had introduced herself to Meilin, and she liked her immediately. When she looked in her eyes, she could see immense pain, and she vowed to herself, that she would help her to fix it.

Sakura's friends didn't bother to join the gossips, and introduced themselves to Meilin, taking Sakura's example. Meilin seemed to lighten up a bit, but the rumors from the rest of the class sure didn't help her with that.

Sakura didn't like the rest of the students, she had never liked them, but this time, it was a lot worse. Her former class, in elementary school in Hong Kong, would never go this low. Tomoyo agreed with her and told her that Terada-sensei had always made sure that none of his pupils would do things like this. He had been very strict at that. But this wasn't the same class anymore as in Tomoeda elementary, a lot went to different schools. Just the little group of friends, together with Terada-sensei, had gone here.

Now, she, Syaoran, Eriol and Meilin had joined the group of friends. This way, it was easier to stay friendly, for there was always someone who'd agreed with you. But this day, Sakura was not about to stay friendly. She was fuming. All this gossip was about two of her friends, although Meilin had just received that role.

Tomoyo looked at her, knowing what she was about to do, and tried to stop her. But the look in Sakura's eyes, made sure that she wasn't planning to stop. Syaoran also figured out what she was planning to do, and shook his head. Not that it helped, but Sakura did realize she had not to go overboard.

'You're with me?' She asked the group. Not everybody reacted but she knew, that they would. She stood up from her seat and walked to the front of the room. Terada-sensei stood there, trying to keep the class calm, but not succeeding at all.

Suddenly, she had really no idea what she was doing. How could she made this class listen to her? Nice words, like the way Terada-sensei tried, weren't working. She had to be not nice for ones. She smiled a bit. That shouldn't be so hard, for she was quit angry with them.

The group gossiping about the Li's, had stopped talking individual. Having the gossips started, they only went on and on, taking more and more subjects for the talk. They all listened to one another now. She knew how to get their attention, finally. She walked to the group, grabbed a chair and sat down in the middle.

A few looked up surprisingly, but all continued, probably thinking she'd agree. Now for the big opening… At this point, they all agreed that they had always disliked the Li. Some even said they hated him from the beginning.

'Oh, come on! What about football? You only win because of him, and you have never complained about that.' Sakura said in clear voice. She didn't sound angry anymore, her face was calm, and the entire group gave their attention to her. 'Not that you really disliked him, so you never had a reason to.'

She was still fuming inside, but she hid it pretty well, for only Tomoyo and Syaoran noticed it.

'We did, we have always done so.' One said. 'Moron…'

'Don't try to scold now, okay. You have lowered yourself more then enough already. Let us be reasonable and try to talk this matter away.' She continued. 'You are not even capable of knowing what the word love means, so don't say they don't know anything about it, before you know for yourself.'

'Shut up, will you? We know better then you. At least I have a boyfriend, which you, of course, haven't.' Another said

'Hmpf, who should want you anyway.' Someone snorted.

'Well, love sure doesn't mean having a boyfriend. Especially not with the boyfriend you have. I have seen him, and I think you both got yourself way to deep.'

The group seemed to be quite angry at this point, but Sakura wasn't even near to finishing at all. 'Maybe, before you start another gossip, you should try to listen to your own feelings, instead of the words of the one who started it. You are capable of thinking for yourself, aren't you?'

'We are perfectly capable of doing so! Grow up, kiddo, we are way ahead of you, we know what we are talking about. So stop bothering us, and go playing with your dolls instead.'

Sakura smiled. Victory…! At that moment, Eriol and Takashi joined Sakura in the middle of the group, both smiling their ears of. Eriol talked, his words somewhat like Sakura wanted to say. 'We, we, we, we…that really proves you can think of yourself, doesn't it.'

Sakura and Takashi burst out in laughter.

The one who had spoken before, was fuming now, not wanting to give in. She really made herself look bad, in front of the rest of the group. And it was all her fault: Asymia Sakura. Damned bitch, how dare she! But she wasn't willing to give this fight away, and thought of something else to say.

'You…you… Do you even know who your messing with? I never go easy on my enemies, and you sure are one!' The girl talked to Sakura, not even looking at the boys next to the girl with the green eyes.

'Gosh, and I really thought we'd be friends by now…' Sakura said sarcastically. Eriol grinned widely at that. Takashi already had another statement ready to throw at their surrounders, who where visibly backing away from the discussion.

'You know, in the past, the enemy always lost form the ones fighting for the right thing. Something makes me believe that this hasn't changed one bit.' He said.

'Oh, yeah?' The girl, the only one that still shot back at every statement, was furious. She had dark grey eyes, with specks of blue. Her light, blond hair had put been put up, two tiny streaks of hair falling at the side of her face. She was pretty, but in an arrogant way. Obviously one of the bully's in this school, and she said the exact same thing that everybody would have expected from her: 'We'll see about that… My group against yours, the pathetic ones!'

Sakura chuckled, Eriol and Takashi laughed victoriously. 'You and… what group?' Sakura asked innocently.

The girl looked besides her, and then behind her. Al her so-called friends, had backed away, standing on the other side of the classroom. 'What the hell are you doing?' she screamed at them.

On of the boys was brave enough to answer that. 'This is going a bit overboard, Zecky. Gossip is fine with me, but not like this. They're right, you know. Just for today, that is…We are over our heads.'

The one named Zecky shot him a murderous glare, but he didn't cringe. She returned her glare at Sakura. 'Fine, then I challenge you, Asymia Sakura.'

It was said in a very cold tone, the same tone Syaoran used in the beginning. Eriol and Takashi where about to shot something back, for they didn't want that to happen. Syaoran and Meilin where also about to join the scolding, but all hesitated when Sakura just giggled, followed by a short laugh. She stood up from the chair, very relaxed, and looked at Zecky with cheerful eyes.

'You may challenge Asymia Sakura as much as you want. As for you, I hope you can find her, I sure can't.' She smiled at the shocked girl, who probably thought Sakura had gone mad, just as the rest of the class. 'I, for one, don't like to fight. Not you, not anybody. If your friends have left you indeed, then remember: you brought this on yourself. You started the gossip, you where brave enough to go against our statements. You made a fool of yourself.'

And with those words, Sakura calmly walked away from her, out of the class. Eriol and Takashi, who had wanted to say a lot more, shrugged and followed her outside. Not much later, the rest followed, leaving the scattered group behind, together with a stunned sensei.

-

Eriol and Takashi found Sakura outside, by the Sakura-tree. She leaned against it, a small smile on her face. Syaoran and Meilin caught up with them, before they reached her. They had all been a bit afraid, when that Zecky-girl challenged her, but she had managed to get away from her just perfectly.

'Sakura, you alive?' Eriol asked dumbly waving in front of her face. She opened her eyes and looked at her the four people standing there. She sighed and her smile grew.

'More then alive! I haven't felt this good in years! Okay, that's not entirely true, last week felt even better! But anyway, thank you, Eriol, Takashi, for backing me up.'

The boys shrugged. 'That's what we are good at. Talking.' They laughed together, for it was o so true. When Eriol came, he immediately joined Takashi in telling lies, and if they where together, no one could stop them, not even Chiharu, who didn't like that at all.

'Lying, you mean.' Sakura winked at the boys, who's smiles only grew wider.

Meilin stepped forward, so Sakura would see her. 'Thank, Sakura-chan, fur sticking up for us. Not many would do that, and I hardly know why you did it. I guess you just do that for others.'

Sakura smiled. 'Not for everybody, but for you two, of course. You're friends of me right?'

Meilin's eyes brightened a bit. 'I truly hope so, yes.'

-

Tomoyo finally got outside, where Sakura sat with the boys and Meilin. She wasn't sure what had happened yet. Sakura, the girl that never realized anything around her, had just done something that proved the opposite.

How can she give such harsh statements, while she normally doesn't even know if one deserves them. Did I really misjudge her? Apparently.

She walked to her friends, and saw that Sakura was very cheerful, and the ones around her as well. She smiled. I may have misjudged her on that, but she is still the same as always. She brightens everyone's life.

-

Syaoran listened to Sakura's babbling with the others. Everyone else of the group of friends had joined, all wanting to know what had happened, how she had stayed that calm, in front of Zecky. But he listened only with an half ear.

Meilin, his fiancée, had changed so much. If he hadn't seen it for himself, he would have thought that Meilin hated every girl that came near him, and would have made that very clear. But instead, Meilin offered Sakura her friendship, which was very rare.

A long time ago, when they were little kids, they had been more then good friends, but the years that followed changed everything. They had made a promise, and neither of them had broken it, but it had been the cause of much pain between them.

Syaoran didn't actually want to think about that, so he pushed it back, to the place where all the bad memories and forbidden thoughts were stored. Instead, he tried to focus on the conversation that was held – not much important, everyone just chatted happily – but he was distracted by Meilin, chatting along with the rest. She never used to chat like that, only with me (which I never allowed). She isn't even hanging on my arms, as she has always done. Something sure happened. She just…didn't claim him anymore.

That was supposed to be a glad thought, but it did made him worry over her. What happened…