(A/N: la la la I'm back…huh, like anyone really cares…)

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, (is this like so necessary to say? It hurts!)

Chapter Two: Dancing Maiden - Syaoran

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"Master Li, Mistress calls for you in the Meeting Parlor." My butler, Wei appeared at the door of my indoor track. He held a bottle of water. Gliding to a stop in front of him, I took it from him. I drank it quickly, since I was practically dehydrated.

Catching my breath from just finishing the 3 mile, I replied panting, "Thanks Wei. Tell her I'll be there in ten minutes." He nodded and left.

Throwing the empty bottle over my shoulder not at all caring where it falls, or what a mess the remaining water makes and headed out.

I entered the emerald colored bathroom. Looking at myself in the large mirror above the sink, I grinned slightly, yet somehow I was still frowning. This was all disconcerting. Hah. I'm using big words now. Despite that, I'm not stupid. I know what people assume about me, what the Elders say about me, and what Mama thinks about me. I just don't understand. No matter what I do, it isn't enough. I glared at the chestnut haired boy-man in the mirror, what would you call someone like him? Like me? I didn't know what to call myself. Other people did, and knew exactly how to explain themselves.

"Every time I look at you, I see him. His eyes. His features. His expressions. You are identical to the man that I fell in love with. "

"You may look indistinguishable to your father when he was your age, but do not believe that will get you off the hook. You have to train harder than he did. Keep his status as Champion. Champion Li. Never back down from a challenge, your father never did."

"Stop being a coward. You fall and you get back up again. You're a Li. Not a damn wuss! Got it?"

"Oh my gosh. You-you-you seem just like father, just like him. "

"Please give me a second glance. Look at me. Notice me, please! I've been here all along!"

I smiled faintly at the last thought. Meilin. Cute, popular, sexy, including everything else a guy could want. But, she had wanted me. I didn't have a clue why, seriously, she was my cousin. I loved her, as a sister. She trailed behind me, like a bodyguard against my crazy fans, my sole companion who would never leave my side if she had a choice. If she didn't get to, she'd try as hard as she could, so that she would get her way. Right now, she was away in America with her new boyfriend. Imagine my relief, yet my loneliness. It was strange, but I knew I'd get used to it,

Splashing cold water against my skin, I breathed a sigh and using my (green) towel, I wiped my face clean. Cleaniless was a Champion must do for Mama.

Quickly changing out of my sweaty track clothes, which were green, I put on some formal clothes (Main Parlor meant formality, for guests should be expected…Mama's rule again.) And yeah, green is my favorite color. It's the only color father hated. It seems as if the whole world wants me to live up to their expectations of him. I hated that. So green is the only way I know that I have myself. That no one can take away that, myself and my thoughts and my feelings.

Not bothering to comb my hair, I hurried down to the Main Parlor. I checked my watch, 8:35 am, right on time.

The butler standing outside the door opened it, and let me inside.

Mama was sitting poised, elegant and graceful on the couch chattering excitedly to guests. I glanced at the guests. Inwardly I groaned. Another girl and another set up. How many freaking times does she want me to tell her that I don't want to get married now? Especially with one of her silly 'exotic' giggling set ups?

"Mr. And Mrs. Patel, I'd be honored to introduce my son and heir to Li clan, Syaoran." The tan skinned couple nodded approvingly of me. I had to resist the urge to just slump on the couch and sulk.

"Namaste, Si-o-ron. Pleasant to meet your acquaintance." Mr. Patel stood up and shook my hand. My face remained un-emotional. We both sat down after a couple of more introductions. Me, I sat next to Mama, and him next to his wife and daughter, who wore tons of jewelry that glittered constantly.

"Let us discuss the main reason of this meeting we have held today. We have come here with a marriage proposal. Usually in India, it is common to have the groom's family to ask for the bride's hand, so to let you know this proposal is a very important one." I almost raised my eyebrows at Mr. Patel's statement. Did he think that this was going to make me say yes? Never.

"Fascinating." Mama said, trying to look interested.

"Yes, there is much to know about Indian culture and about the Raj Clan. We hope that this marriage can unite two powerful clans. There'll be many advantages to this, if your clan agrees." He continued. I glanced at the girl for the first time. She was pretty cute, but I didn't want to marry her. Her long black hair fell to her waist and she was dressed in some kind of Indian clothing. Thick eyeliner framed her eyes and she looked kind of sad actually. As our parents continued to speak, her face fell with almost each word. I was beginning to get the idea she didn't like this anymore than I did.

"-Oh really? That's a good idea you know? Uniting clans with this marriage." Mama looked thoughtful. I stared. Was she serious?

" Yes, so is it settled? The marriage? Your son to wed ours. Did I tell you that due to culture most Indians do not marry other races? So, this is a good deal. An offer that won't be offered again." Mr.Patel and his little black mustache were starting to annoy me. Terribly. He was talking about us like we were products!

I quickly interrupted, because I could see that she was going to start crying. "Uh..Me and a uh…" Crap. What did they say her name was again?

"Asha." She said softly.

"Yeah, me and Asha want to be in private for a while. May we be excused?" I guess they got the wrong idea because then Mrs. Patel was smirking, Mr. Patel raised his eyebrows as if to say, 'oh can't get your hands of her, huh?', and Mama was glaring at me. Ignoring their answer I got up and so did Asha, still looking pitifully at the floor. I began to wonder what was so interesting about the marble tile down there.

As soon as we were out of the room and out of ear shot, I led her to the Parlor. (We have many Parlors).

It was just silence. Then she raised her head to me, and then started to cry. Shit. I hate it when people cry, especially girls, because then I never know what to do. I stood there, and then I got an idea. Reaching into my pocket, I took out a handkerchief. (Mama makes me have one everywhere I am).

I handed it to her and immediately she started laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked breaking the silence.

"Nothing. You give me handkerchief." She giggled again then said, "That is old fashioned. Like in silly love Movie." Her accent was soft and pretty. Tears glistened on her eyelashes but she was smiling now.

"Oh." I said lamely. Then I asked her, "You don't like this marriage thing either right?"

"Yes. Not like at all." She whispered hoarsely. Her tone of voice implied to me, that it was probably a big thing in her life.

Biting her lips she said, "I have boyfriend. In India. I want to marry him. Sorry."

"Then why can't you marry him?"

"My parents won't let me. He is not from clan. He is not rich. He is painter."

I was clueless on what to say to that.

"Well, I don't want this marriage either, so if we both don't want it, you won't be married," I said. I just ignored her other comment.

"What can we do? We have no choice in this. Maa and Baap, and your Maa seem to have other in mind." She countered looking sullen and teary eyed.

I furrowed my eyebrows in frustration.

"I want to marry Ravi. In India. And be free. Can you help me?" She asked. Man, that sucked. What do I do?

"I don't know. How would I be able to help you?"

She seemed to not of thought of this and looked pleadingly at me. Anger swelled up inside me at Mama and her parents. Pulling her hand fiercely, we headed back to the Main Parlor.

At the slam of the door, all the adults stood up looking startled.

Taking a deep breath I began, "There will be no marriage." Looks of shock and horror were written over their faces.

I continued, "We are not something to be sold away without our consent."

Mr. Patel said quite briskly, "We are your parents. You two are not old enough to make decisions."

I glared at him now, "Who are you to say that? Marriage is not a joke! And even if parents have the right to govern our choices till we may make our own, life happiness is one they don't have the option to make!"

Mama looked at me vehemently and said, "Syaoran, go to your room. Leave us alone here." Turning back to the Patel's she said, "I'm sorry. Please excuse his rude behavior today. His cousin just left for America, and he must be missing her."

"I'm not shutting up. And have you forgotten my age? I can no longer 'be sent to my room'." After a moment of silence, I said, "It's not about Meilin either! It's about me! I told you that I don't want marriage yet! That I will marry whom I chose! It's about Asha! And her boyfriend she wants to marry! How can you people keep her away from that?" By then I was breathless. I didn't know that I could do all this stuff. Being all right and nice. I didn't know I had that speech in me.

Mama shut her eyes and breathed in sharply. She looked mad. Mr. Patel said suddenly, "Asha! What is this?"

"H-H-He's my boyfriend Baap. I love him. Please let us marry…" Her voice trailed off.

"Ravi? That painter? How dare you see him after I forbid it! Sorry Yelan, but we must leave. I am breaking off this proposal." He said roughly and stormed out. Mrs. Patel looked at her daughter.

"Johnnie (darling in Hindi), let us go now. I did not know of this 'Ravi'. If you love him, we will see about marriage. For now, let us go explain to your baap." She said calmly and Asha rushed into her arms. They left too.

That left Mama and me. Not good.

She opened her eyes finally. "Syaoran, how could you! Every single time!" Her voice didn't sound regal or disciplined, it sounded, well, desperate.

"Damn!" She screamed hysterically. I flinched.

"Do you know how painful it is Syaoran? It's the same thing everyday. Your rude cold behavior towards me! Why me?" She asked. What was she talking about?

She looked at me with her sad hazel eyes. "You remind me so much of him. So much that it hurts sometimes to look at you."

"Mama, I-"

"No Syaoran. Don't talk." She said softly. "Do you want to know what's wrong?"

I nodded.

"You." That was it. All she had to say. She went on, "You are like him"

"So?"

"Don't you understand what you are doing? To me? To this clan?" She questioned frantically. She waved her arms un-sophistically around as she talked.

"No. I don't." I seriously didn't. Time and time again, nothing pleased her or the clan. No matter what I did! Practice, practice, practice…

"That marriage offer won't come back again, you know? And you blew it!" She screamed.

"Every offer isn't good enough for you, huh? You think you're too good. Adding to that, you got involved in their family matters! You could have nearly broken them all apart!"

"What, is it your specialty? Breaking families? I think you've broken ours too!" I thought it was right. To tell her parents about Ravi. And what the fuck did she mean that I broke our family?

She shook her head disapprovingly, her hair disheveled framing her tired face, and said, " I don't want to see your face anymore. Go away. Don't let me see you till tomorrow."

I was shocked and it was visible to her.

"I said GO!" I left, wondering what caused her to spaz out on me. I really didn't do anything wrong. What was going on that I didn't know? Today was too much for me.

……………………………………………………………………………………

Somehow, I didn't know, I ended up in my car. Feeling a hammering in my head, an urging of disgusting stuff in my throat wanting to get out, I had figured that I must of gotten drunk and wasted.

Opening my car door, I puked. That's when I noticed where I was. In front of a bar. Still I was confused, what had happened?

That's when memories floated by. The set up, the talk, the Patels, and Mama crying over something she blames on me. I still didn't understand why she was damn mad at me. And my fucking head wouldn't stop hurting.

I realized I was in the back seat. That must've meant someone put me here. But who? Looking outside, I saw a bar. I decided to check it out since it was probably the only place I could've gotten drunk. I hesitated at first, because the bar gave me an odd vibe, like I shouldn't go in there, but I did anyways. There was no other way to find out what the hell happened to me.

Walking into the misty, smoky bar casually, I looked at my surroundings. Aw fuck!

The ongoing scene I saw: "Hey baby," A man in a black slinky dress cooed, cuddling up to another man. Shit. Fuck. Damn. No more words to explain my shock.

"Hey cutie." A voice said, startlingly me from behind. Aw fuck! I repeated several times in my head before I swung my head to face the voice.

"Eriol? Dude, what are you doing in a gay bar?" I asked the navy haired, four eyed friend of mine.

"Hmm…maybe I should ask you that. Never knew you were gay." He said smirking slightly.

"Damn Eriol, I'm not. I don't know how I fucking got here." I replied while observing my environment. More like out on watch for scary drag queens.

"Ohhh, right." He slurred. I turned to look at him and realized he was drunk.

"Eriol, are you freaking drunk?" I asked stupidly.

"Man, you're pretty hot, you know Syao? Yeah, Meilin used to tell me about how fantastic your ass was!" I winced.

"Dude, you are not gay!" I said incredulously and was very disturbed to find out that a friend of mine was…it was all just perturbing.

"Hmm…what if I am, baby?" He swaggered around a bit and said in a singsong tone, "Yup, I am gay. But, it's this big secret you know? I can't tell anyone." I stood there speechless. Why didn't I notice he was drunk before? I should have been able to tell. But then again who cared about that? He just told me he was gay. Gay…I didn't know what to think.

"You see…" He hiccupped, " No one likes gay people. No one will like me anymore. You still do, don't you buddy?" He asked pleadingly.

"Uh, yeah man. How long have you been gay?" I asked, very afraid.

"Hmm…ever since I met you. You know, I really like you." He said then looked at me funny. I began to shiver.

"Eriol, snap out of it! You're seriously freaking the fuck out of me!" I told him.

Then he laughed hysterically. I glowered.

"Syaoran-" pant/laugh/giggle "You should of seen your face! It was so fucked up funny!" I didn't think it was funny at all. Looking at him, I inspected him carefully. He didn't seem like he was joking. Something seemed to be behind his giggle. Because there was something so real about his 'fake' confession. I could feel it. Although I knew he didn't want to say. That was fine. He could tell when he wanted, so I ignored it.

"Yo dude shut the fuck up before I kill you and answer my friggin question. How'd I end up in my car, totally wasted?" I asked directly.

"Let's see. You drove to my house. Got wasted and spilled out your guts. I drove us here because they have the best cigarettes." I sighed at that part. Eriol couldn't quit smoking. I tried to help him with nicotine patches, but it didn't work. I knew this place had the best cigarettes. It was probably to attract more guys into this lame bar, that they sold stuff like that. He continued talking, " I took your car of course, this baby's a flashy thang. You fell asleep when we got there, so I left it like that. I went to get some, and came back to find you gone. I decided to look here, and I found who?!" He said enthusiastically.

"Muah." I replied lamely. We didn't say another word. Heading out together, I heard catcalls from the gay people. Why couldn't people mind their fucking business? This has probably been the most terrifying, embarrassing evening of my life. And I knew Eriol wouldn't let me live this one down. Damn.

"So doubting your sexuality man?" He smirked.

"No, You were the gay one infatuated with me." I replied boredly.

"Aww…Syao-chan is getting mad at me. How terrible! I'm so Sorry for teasing you, Syao-chan." He mocked. I glared at him.

"Don't call me chan." I ordered. He just rolled his eyes.

"Okay, okay. Let's go back to my house dude. You seem really roughed up."
"Uh…my head is fucking killing me."

"Yeah, I knew that. So that's why I changed our plans right now and we are going to crash Misaki's party. And have some fun, too"

"You know what four eyes? I don't feel like it. I'll drop you home. I need some time to think" This statement obviously shocked him. He eyed me skeptically with raised eyebrows. He probably thought there was something wrong with me since I have never turned down to crashing Misaki's parties or refusing to get a chance to make out with her. Damn, she was hot, but I didn't feel like it.

"Whoa. Sure." I started the car up and we were on our way. It was just silent after that.

Dropping him off, I didn't know where to go. Then I realized how late it was. Suddenly I heard thunder and little drops of rain fell on my windshield, so normally I turned on the wipers.

I drove blindly, just taking turns here and there until I reached a neighborhood. I decided I would just take a drive around here. To just see normal people's houses. And normal people. Although I bet most would be inside. Driving up further, I reached the cul-de-sac.

Faintly I saw a figure. Gradually as the wipers did their thing, I could see her. She was dancing.

The rain was falling hard against her, but she seemed to be enjoying it. Her eyes were closed and she was oblivious to the anything but her little world. Beautifully, she did a pattern of elegant movements. I watched in fascination. She was good.

I observed carefully. She was short, yet cute. Not hot, but a childish cute. She had long auburn hair that stuck to her face since it was wet, as long as Asha's. She was wearing a pink rain coat and had two ribbons tied up in her hair. Let's say she looked like a cherry blossom. All pink and stuff.

Her expression was happy. She seemed to love this, dancing stuff. I didn't what to make of it. But, it entranced me all the same. Her movements flowed together and I couldn't tear my eyes away

She stopped dancing and smiled to herself. I didn't know why I did what I did, but I honked. I wanted her attention. She turned around to look at me, her face filled with shock and confusion. She blushed madly.

I opened the car door. On impulse, I smiled. The rain caused my hair to instantly get wet. Not that I cared then. She smiled back. I liked her smile. Although, I didn't expect her too. I half expected to her faint or swoon or fall at my feet or something like the other girls did.

Abruptly, she turned around and ran. Leaving me with an unexpected present. Something was lying on the black round shining pink. A ribbon. Her pink ribbon. Walking over, I picked it up. Looking at it closely, I noticed there was a cherry blossom print over it. I smiled to myself, knowing in some weird way I'd see her again, this ribbon being the cause. Ying Fa. That's what I'd call her. I looked at the ribbon again. Cherry Blossoms.

(A/N: Hope someone liked it…)