Whole at Last

Disclaimer: Read Chapter 10.

Let's begin!

Whole at Last

Chapter 11

The kiss lasted neither too much nor too little time. As Ieran and Touya's lips parted their eyes finally met.

"I do not know exactly which way it will go. But someone must die. It is the law of nature… she was supposed to die before anyway…" Ieran completely separated herself from Touya and walked to a couch in the middle of the library.

"Even if it was so. She didn't die, Ieran. I will not let the elders kill her just because one of them had a premonition that if she lived the Li clan and the world would be destroyed." Touya looked fiercely at Ieran but she did not move.

"I was hoping that your reasons were something else… I am a fool… I thought that you save Meilin because it was the right thing to do!" She got up suddenly.

"Ieran…"

"Instead, you just saved her from death, you just 'resurrected' her because you want to mess with the elders! Oh Touya, I thought that there was more to you than that..."

"You shouldn't judge me Ieran, after all, it's not like you are that innocent in all this." Touya turned around slightly and picked another book up and started perusing it.

"Why, you-" She stopped mid sentence. There was no use in arguing. She moved her hand to her forehead and after a few seconds said: "Very well, but I must warn you, Touya, vengeance never ends well. Also, the elders could decided that some other must die in her place, so I would be careful if I were you…" Saying that, the room started to melt and Touya found himself, alone, in front of the Li mansion.

"Whatever." He said and started walking in the direction of his apartment.

The next morning was uneventful, something that made everyone quite uneasy. Many questions tortured everyone. When was Alex going to attack? Was he really going to kill Sakura or Touya? Why was he going to do so anyway? What happened with Alex's father and Nadeshko? And most importantly, what was going to happen?

The first thing Sakura and Syoran decided to do was talk to Touya. Kaho, Yuki, Kero, Eriol and Tomoyo had agreed with them. They hadn't told anything to Meilin yet, and they didn't plan to. Everyone was deeply afraid that something might happen to her again so with a little white lie they left her at the mall with some cash and went over to Touya's.

He was not at his apartment. They knocked and yelled his name for several minutes but no one answered. But they couldn't give up, not on this so they decided to split up and search for him in other places.

Sakura and Syoran were going to the park and the beach, Yuki and Kaho went to the temple and places near it and Tomoyo and Eriol searched clubs, bars and anywhere else they could think of. It was not time to slack off or to wait for another time, Alex was a great threat and worse of all, and he was too strong for them. They needed Touya by their side this time.

After about two hours at the mall, Meilin had already spent most the money Syoran had given her on clothes and food. She was tired from walking around and carrying her bags so she decided that the most logical thing to do was to rest somewhere quiet. She walked to a Juice Bar outside of the movie theater and asked for a Strawberry Banana smoothie.

"2.25, please." The lady said.

"Yeah, ok." Meilin searched her purse for her wallet. She couldn't find it. "Wait just a second, please." 'Maybe it is in one of my pockets.' She searched there but no luck. 'Uh Oh… Ok, maybe it's in one of my shopping bags…' No luck there either. Meilin started to panic, she didn't have the money, and what was she going to do?

"Ahem, you don't have the money?" She asked politely.

"Uh… no." The cashier looked at her angrily.

"Then you can't have the smoothie, give it back." She reached over to grab the smoothie but someone was faster than her.

"Here ya go Meilin. I'll pay for it. Oh yeah, and make me one too. I'll pay for both."

"Ya got the money?"

"Yeah." It was Touya handing Meilin her smoothie while taking out his wallet with his other hand.

"Uh… Thanks." Meilin said as she took it.

"No prob. Thanks, here ya go." He paid for the smoothies and just started walking away from the establishment.

"Wait!" Meilin ran after him. "Why'd ya do that? I could've paid for it myself!" Touya laughed.

"No you couldn't. You lost your wallet." He took a sip from his smoothie.

"Shut up, I could've handled it by myself!" She stopped walking.

"Hahaha, sure ya would. Hey, why you stop?" He too stopped and turned around questioningly.

"What? Can't I stop walking? It's not like I have to walk with you anywhere!" She crossed her arms.

"Yeah. Ya got that right." Touya's eyes saddened suddenly but he just turned back and kept on walking. As soon as he started doing so Meilin felt a sting of regret inside her.

"Hey, wait." He stopped again but this time he did not turn.

"Where are we going anyways?" She ran to catch up with him. He smiled.

"Wanna go to the beach?"

"Sure! I can wear my new bathing suit! It's a bikini, ya know?" He laughed again.

"What did I get myself into?" He said as they both walked.

A few hours later at the beach, when Meilin and Touya were just lying on the sand resting from all the fun they had, Meilin said randomly:

"Why are you here?" Touya turned his head towards her in a puzzled look. "I mean, we were never friends before and it's just weird that you've taken this sudden interest in me all of a sudden." He showed her a small smile.

"You are very smart, Meilin…" He sighed. 'Should I tell her the truth?' He thought. "The truth is… I don't really know. You should know that when I saved you a connection was formed between us. That's probably why I happen to be everywhere you go… it's not like I'm stalking you or anything." He added quickly and then heard Meilin giggle. "But, aside from that, I have no idea. It's probably just coincidence too, so don't worry much about it."

"Oh. I see." Her voice showed disappointment and he was quick to notice it.

"What? Where you secretly hoping that I had a crush on you?" He sat up looking at her. She blushed and quickly turned the other way.

"What? No. Of. Of course not." Touya bitterly smiled.

"Good. I wouldn't want for you to get sucked into my life."

"Why not?" Meilin stopped blushing but still didn't turn to face him.

"You'd only end up hurt by me. Completely miserable."

"Oh…"

"Yeah…" He looked at his watch. "Hey, it's a little late. I should take you home." He got up and extended a hand on to her. Meilin didn't take it.

"Alright." She got up on her own.

The walk to the Li mansion was quiet. Neither of them spoke a word the whole way but when they got to the door and as Meilin got her keys out she said:

"What if. What if I don't care?"

"You don't care about what?" Touya asked.

"About the end."

"What are you talking about?" He looked at her, puzzled once more.

"Uh. Nothing. About nothing." Meilin opened the door to the Li mansion, turned around and without warning kissed Touya on the cheek. "Thank you, for such a good time, Touya." She smiled.

"No. Uh, thank you." She closed the door. Touya touched the place where Meilin had kissed him on his cheek; it was a little bit wet. He couldn't help but smile, but he immediately erased the smile off his face. And started on the way to his apartment. It was going to be a long night for him, he still had some business to take care of…

Then End

Hope you liked it!

Ale