Disclaimer: I know I didn't write a disclaimer on my previous chapters, and I'm really sorry. I just want to say that I don't have anything related to Cardcaptor Sakura, it's all belongs to CLAMP.
Game Of Disguise chapter 7
Game Over
Previously
Mei Lin stayed at her place and started to sip her champagne. Her eyes were not leaving Tomoyo's and Ying Fa's figures. Just as soon as she saw Ying Fa walked towards the bathroom, she hurried herself and followed her. She got into the bathroom first and hid behind the toilet cubicle (you know in big houses they separate the bathroom sink and the closet). She placed her ear on the door and heard someone entered the room. She heard Ying Fa's voice sighing.
"Gosh, I'm tired of this game." Sakura opened her right eye with her index and point finger and adjusted her contact lens.
"I don't want to be Ying Fa anymore. I just want to love Syaoran." She sighed again and splashed some waters to her face. She didn't realize that Mei Lin was right behind her. As soon as she held up her head she gasped. Mei Lin was there and smirked at her.
"I know your little lie, Sakura."
Sakura abruptly turned around and faced Mei Lin. She held the side of the sink tightly. She could feel every drops of blood in her body drained. Mei Lin on the other hand felt like she just won a lottery. She stood in front of Sakura with her hands folded on her chest.
"So, what do you say, Sakura?" Mei Lin said, emphasizing on the word Sakura.
Sakura couldn't think of anything as an excuse. She cursed herself for not being aware. She shouldn't have said all those things. But she knew, she had to answer her, or else, the situation could be worse.
"What do you mean? I don't understand." Sakura tried to avoid Mei Lin's stare.
Mei Lin took a step towards Sakura. She gazed her from head to toe. Even though at first she didn't look like Sakura at all, now Mei Lin's sure. She had the same hair color and posture.
"You're wearing contact lenses?" She asked annoyingly.
Sakura didn't answer. She didn't know what to say anymore. All she wanted to do was just disappeared.
"Answer me, bitch!"
Sakura felt anger rising inside her when she heard what Mei Lin called her. She had no right to call her that. So she stared back into Mei Lin's piercing eyes.
"Don't mess with me Ling Mei Lin. So just go now, don't even think to bother me again." Sakura didn't realize how cold her voice was sounded.
"Oh, so you think you're the one in charge here Sakura? I wonder if I told Syao-chan about this, will you be this…. Hmm… bitchy?" Mei Lin smirked again.
Sakura's heart stopped beating when she heard Syaoran's name. Yes, Mei Lin could tell Syaoran who she really was. And if Syaoran ever found out that she was playing him, she knew he would hate her for the rest of her life.
"What do you mean?" Sakura's voice a little bit shaky.
"You know, I can tell Syaoran that all this time you were lying to him. Well, to think that he was head over heals towards you, this could be very interesting"
Sakura was just defeated. She knew she couldn't run anymore. She could just lie to Mei Lin, but in the end, Syaoran would figure out who she was too. She knew Mei Lin wouldn't just do nothing.
"So what do you want?" Now her voice was totally shaky.
Mei Lin pretended to think. "Well, I have to figure out some benefits. Let's see, I don't want you to come near Syao-chan anymore. Not as Sakura or Ying Fa. You have to be out of his life forever. And then in three months I'll be Mrs. Syaoran Li. How great is that?" Mei Lin clapped her hands together. "That would be perfect!"
Sakura felt totally limp and numb. "And if I'm not?"
"Well, there will always be enough time to tell Syao-chan your identity." Mei Lin cleaved her shiny black hair apart. "I'm sure you don't want Syao-chan to remember you as a liar for the rest of his life."
Some how, Mei Lin's words were true. She didn't want Syaoran to remember her as a liar. It's better for her to just disappear from his life. At that moment, Sakura had lost everything, the chance to be near with her love, and she ruined Ashley's plan.
"So? Deal?" Mei Lin stretched out her hand.
Sakura stood still for a moment and then shook Mei Lin's hand. Her eyes were totally blurred by tears. This was the end of her journey. Mei Lin walked towards the door and waved goodbye with mocking face. As soon as Mei Lin gone, Sakura got down to her knees and just cried.:Tomoyo looked at the watch on her wrist. It had been twenty minutes since Sakura left her. She said that she needed to go to the bathroom, but Tomoyo didn't expect her to be this long. Her eyes traveled around the room to catch a glimpse of Sakura, but turned out failed. She then decided to search to the bathroom. And when she finally reached the bathroom, she could hear someone's sobbing behind the door.
"Ying Fa?" Tomoyo asked slowly, she knocked the door.
The person inside the bathroom stopped sobbing. "Come in Tomoyo-chan."
Tomoyo opened the bathroom's door slowly and gasped founding Sakura sat against the toilet cubicle, holding her knees. Her dress was crumpled, some strands of hair were covering her face, and her eyes were just puffy and red. Tomoyo hurriedly came towards her and hugged a shaky Sakura.
"Honey, what happened?"
Sakura started to sob again. But she had to tell Tomoyo. "It's… It's all… all over…"
Tomoyo rocked Sakura's body back and forth. "I don't really understand what you mean Sakura-chan, what's over?"
Sakura still sobbing, making Tomoyo's shoulder's wet with tears. "Mei Lin… she… she… knew who I am… and-and, she wanted me… to-to stay away from… from him."
Tomoyo only stroke Sakura's head gently. She knew at this situation, Sakura only needed someone to be talked to.
"I have to… to quit from the house… and… and quit being Ying Fa… or-or… she'll tell him who I really are…"
"Sssh… Baby, it's okay… calm down now…"
Sakura held Tomoyo's dress tightly. "It's over Tomoyo-chan"
Syaoran held his vodka tightly, as if he wanted to smash it into pieces. He had searched for Ying Fa for almost a half an hour, but found nothing. He wanted to apologize to her about Mei Lin's behavior. But most importantly, he wanted to assure her that he's not a bad person. Ying Fa's attitude towards him made him think that he was a criminal. It was true that he was bad for being such a playboy, but he wanted to change. That kind of life had nauseated him. All this long he only lived under his uncle's shadow and glory. That was the main reason for him to become such a playboy.
"Syao-chan…"
Syaoran turned his head lazily. Mei Lin was the least person he wanted to meet that night.
"What do you want?" But somehow his facial expression changed when he saw her. Mei Lin's face was just plain pale, and her eyes were watery.
"I… I don't feel really well…" She answered, trying to hide her face from his gaze. Deep in her heart she was smiling in victory. This was her plan to take him away from that stupid party, and Ying Fa of course.
Syaoran hurriedly touch her forehead. It wasn't burning, but somehow her face was just so pale, it kinda scared him. Despite of his hatred towards her, he didn't want to be blamed if anything happened to her.
"Okay, I think we should just go home do you want me to take you to the hospital?" Syaoran asked with concern.
Mei Lin tried hard to hide her smile. This was going to be very easy. "No, no, I'm okay, but if you don't mind I think I need some rest."
Syaoran touched her shoulder and helped her towards the main door. "Let's just say goodbye to Mrs. Daidouji and we'll go home."
Mei Lin nodded weakly and whispered. "Thanks Syao."
"I'm really sorry aunt Ashley… I really am…"
Ashley paced around Tomoyo's room. Even though deep in her heart she was very disappointed, but she couldn't help to feel sorry towards Sakura too. She knew it was very hard for her to play Syaoran. And now, she couldn't even get near him again, maybe for the rest of her life. Her whole revenge plan might be failed, but it was nothing compared to Sakura's heartbreak. After all, Sakura was just like a niece, or maybe a daughter to her. It hurt her more seeing Sakura's heart torn apart than her plan ruined.
Ashley walked across the room towards Sakura who was sitting on the edge of Tomoyo's bed. She sat beside her and saw a tear fell down Sakura's cheek. She couldn't help herself, so she hugged her.
"Sakura, it's okay darling. It's me who has to apologize. It's all because of my stupid plan."
Sakura who wasn't expecting her to act like that, was a little startled, but then she managed to hug her as well.
"I was so selfish, asking you to do such things, not even considering your own feelings."
Sakura could feel Ashley's tears on her bare shoulder. She was crying.
"It's okay aunt Ashley, it's not your fault either, I was agreed with you, if I wasn't ready, I wouldn't agree with your plan."
Ashley released the hug. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She then looked intently into Sakura's emerald poles. Even though Sakura wasn't crying, she could see the deep cut in her heart.
"I just want you to know Sakura, the plan is not that important anymore for me. Especially when I realized that it doesn't bring any happiness to me, on the other hand, it brought sorrow to you," Ashley touched Sakura's cheek gently. "You're just like a daughter to me Sakura, both you and Touya are like my own children. I don't want to see any of you sad."
Sakura smiled. "Thank you aunt Ashley, thank you for all your help for my family. Especially for my dad, we really need some money for his check ups and medicines, if you hadn't help us, I don't know how we can help him."
"Oh, don't say that. It's my pleasure to help your family, or maybe, my family too."
Sakura lunged forward and hugged Ashley again. it was the first time she felt so warm and loved, just like when her mother hugged her long time ago.
"Are you sure you're okay? You don't want to be checked by a doctor?" Syaoran asked as he helped Mei Lin took off her coat. Some of the helpers came into the hall and helped Syaoran and Mei Lin.
"No Syaoran, I'm okay, I just need some rest, thank you for your help."
Mei Lin had all well planned. Since that night she would act pure and innocent in front of Syaoran, and of course nice. She'd try to change her attitude and impressed Syaoran. And as soon as she got him, everything would change, she'd be the one who's in charge. In order to succeed she needed to be patient, and she knew, it was hard for her to do so.
"I'll just tell Wei to get you some hot drinks and soup." Syaoran added.
Mei Lin gave him a faint smile and walked towards the stairs. On the way up, she stopped and turned around. "Ne, Syaoran."
Syaoran who was just telling Wei about the drinks and soup stopped his talking and looked towards Mei Lin on the stairs. "What's up?"
Mei Lin bowed her head a little, pretending to be shy. "If I don't feel okay tonight, can I get to your room?"
Syaoran gave her a puzzled look. She then hurriedly added. "No, no, I don't mean anything, I just need a company, but I can always ask some helpers."
"Guess it's okay. If you feel worse you may come to my room."
Mei Lin smiled even wider. "Thank you so much Syaoran, really appreciate that." She then walked towards her room with big smile plastered on her face. This far, the plan worked marvelous.
Sakura stared at her bedroom's ceiling. It was a very hard night for her. Everything's worked out very much different from what she expected, especially the Mei Lin's part. Tomorrow she'd go to the Li mansion and quit her job. She didn't dare to expect anything for tomorrow; she was scared that things would go even worse. She didn't want to picture Syaoran's facial expression if she asked to quit from his house or when she'd become Ying Fa for the last time and told him that she'd moved to French, forever.
It was hard enough for her picturing his face. She knew she wouldn't be able to see that face again. Maybe it wouldn't be that worse. Maybe some times she could follow him, just to see his face. But to expect appearing herself in front of him again, maybe it was impossible. What would she be? Herself? Or Ying Fa? All this time she had dreamt to just become Ying Fa forever. Why? It was obvious that he like her more when she was Ying Fa. Sakura could feel her body was shivering a little when she thought about how he held her when she danced with him, or the gleam of his eyes whenever he looked at her.
She rolled over her bed, hugging her bolster tightly. All that memories were great to remember, but, something was missing. Yes she was happy with the way he treated her, but it was Ying Fa. It was Ying Fa Zhang he was attracted to. But she, she was no more that Sakura Kinomoto. She never had an id with Ying Fa Zhang printed on it. It's Kinomoto Sakura. Ying Fa was only a person she and Ashley created to play him. The one who fell in love with him was Sakura Kinomoto all the way. And it hurt her if she realized that Syaoran was in love with Ying Fa, not her.
Tired of thinking a lot, Sakura fell to a deep slumber. That night, she was dreaming herself running along a white-sanded beach with Syaoran holding her hand. Sakura smiled in her sleep, although a drop of tear fell down to her pillow.
"So, this is it Sakura?"
Sakura, Ashley and Fujitaka were having their breakfast in the dining room. Touya had left earlier because of his job. They were eating silently because of the situation they currently in. Fujitaka observed his daughter between his meals. Ashley told him what had happened when he cooked the breakfast. Even though he couldn't deny a feeling of relieved that his daughter would be out from such a complicated tangle, he also couldn't help to feel sad for her. He knew how she really liked that Li guy. Before Ashley came to their life, Sakura always told him about her work experience after she got home. And he remembered that she never forgot to mention his boss, Li Syaoran. From what she pictured, he seemed like a good guy. But Fujitaka never really bought it. He knew that maybe it was just because Sakura liked him so she boasted a lot about him. But despite of all that, Fujitaka really loved it whenever she talked about Syaoran. Her eyes were always shining and her cheeks were always blushing. She looked so happy and beautiful. Sometimes it reminded him of her mother, Nadeshiko. He really loved it whenever she was blushing. Nadeshiko just looked like an angel.
Sakura took her eyes off her meal and looked at Ashley. "Yes aunt Ashley, this is the only way."
"I'm sorry dear." Ashley added.
Sakura gave a weak smile. "It's okay, really, I've told you many times. Maybe somehow my life will get better. I think he's just not for me."
"I'm feeling sorry for you too, honey. Just talk to me whenever you feeling low, okay?" Fujitaka gave her a warm smile.
"Thanks dad."
Not so long after, Sakura was ready in front of the limousine that would take her to Syaoran's mansion. Her aunt Ashley was by her side, stroking her hair.
"It'll be alright dear, it would be hurt yes, but you'll grow up and learn more. Once again, I'm really sorry."
Sakura turned over. "It's not your fault aunt Ashley. I'm fully aware of the risk that would occur when I agreed to join your plan." She took a deep breath. "Just think that plan's not working like we wanted it to. I'm okay, I'm a big girl." Ashley nodded in return.
Sakura then got inside the limo, and took off.
"Excuse me, I'm here to meet Mr. Syaoran Li." Sakura said from the intercom outside Syaoran's gate.
"Do you have any appointment?" A voice of a woman replied. Sakura knew exactly that it was Shiao Chin's voice.
"Unfortunately no, but please do tell him that Ying Fa Zhang is looking for him."
"Please wait a minute."
Sakura stared at Syaoran's mansion behind the bars of his gate. It didn't change at all. She giggled gently; it felt so long since she last swept dry falling leaves on the garden.
"Miss Zhang? Mr. Li awaits you in the back garden. Our maid will escort you there." The voice from the intercom said.
"Thank you." Sakura replied. A minute later, the gate opened slightly letting Sakura in and a maid had waited her.
"This way miss":Syaoran paced around the back terrace. He couldn't believe Ying Fa finally approached him first. He pinched his cheek slowly, it hurts, it wasn't a dream, Ying Fa's here to meet him.
"Excuse me master, Miss Zhang is here." The maid said.
Syaoran turned over and saw Ying Fa, as beautiful as ever. Even though a mist of sadness covered her dark blue orbs.
"Miss Zhang, it's a pleasure to have you here." Syaoran kissed her cheek gently. An electrifying feeling swarmed all over Sakura's body.
"I apologize if I have interrupted your day Mr. Li."
"No, not at all." Syaoran gestured her to sit on the exact same bench when she first heard and understood his real feeling.
After seated herself uncomfortably, Sakura couldn't help to feel very nervous. It was hard enough imagining herself doing this thing and yet, it was much more difficult when she's supposed to be doing it for real.
The awkward situation continued for several minutes when Syaoran decided to open a conversation. "So, what do I owe you for this visit?"
But just before Sakura could answer, Shiao Chin came towards them. "Excuse me Sir, Miss, what would you like to drink?"
Syaoran looked at Sakura patiently, waiting for her answer.
"Hmm… A cup of tea would be nice."
Shiao Chin nodded in understanding but Sakura could see that she was examining her carefully, so she shifted uncomfortably.
"Well then just give me the same as hers, thank you Shiao Chin."
After Shiao Chin disappeared behind the door, Syaoran returned his attention to Sakura again. She took a deep breath and started talking. "I do have purposes coming here."
"Would you mind sharing it with me?"
Sakura closed her eyes momentarily. "Honestly, I don't know how to tell you this. I just want you to know that it's also very hard for me."
Syaoran's face became concern. "It seems very important. Please do tell me, if you need any help, I'm willing to help you anytime."
Sakura shook her head slightly. "No, I don't need any help, thanks anyway. It's… it's about me…"
To Sakura's surprise, Syaoran took her hands and stroked them gently. Without saying anything, Sakura could feel all his attention and care.
"I'm going back to French, forever."
Sakura could feel Syaoran had stopped caressing her hands. She didn't have any courage to look at his face so instead she looked straightly towards his huge backyard. To the cherry blossom tree she had planted with his permission. It had grown bigger from the last time she saw it.
"Are… are you, are you serious? But why?"
And when Sakura saw his face, she was closed to tears. His eyes, his strong amber eyes that usually gave her a chill with his intense look, now had covered with dark mist of sadness, desperation, and hurt. She was speechless. She couldn't find any words at all. She even couldn't find her senses anymore. So she just hugged him, hugged him tightly like she never wanted to let him go.
Syaoran was very surprised. He was also lost for words. All he could think about was her scent tinkling his nose. Her body was melted with his. He could only return her hug with all his might.
That moment, nor of them cared about what happened in the world. The time was stopped for them. They just wanted to savor each other, devouring all their feelings that had been banned by they didn't even know who.
Syaoran released their hug gently. He looked closely to her face, absorbing her soul from her orbs. Suddenly, he felt like he knew her before. Her presence felt familiar to him, but he couldn't find out whom. "I think I loved you before I even met you. Your presence seems familiar to me. Is this what they called fate?"
Sakura could only smile. "I don't know what you-"
But her words were cut by his lips. Sakura was so much in shock that she didn't even move. But just like before, her senses were not there anymore. All she could feel was his caress, and nothing mattered anymore. She kissed him back with all the love she had inside. This is for the last time. I will never see him again in my life.
to be continued
AN: Hope you enjoy this chapter. I know it's kinda short but I need it to burn my spirit first. Well, don't forget to review guys, ya'll the best!