Mall Incident
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed! This chapter will be the last one for weeks, because I'm going to be REALLY busy! This ISN'T the end of the story though! I'm also planning to change my user name into: Wishful Dreamer later on in the future. I'm sorry if there's any spelling errors, because I didn't have enough time to look over this.
~*~
As weeks passed by, Syaoran gave Sakura the cold shoulder more and more as each day passed. Although the vase had gotten fixed by an expert, Syaoran knew that all the memories that the vase held wasn't there anymore. Whenever Syaoran could, he would give Sakura a cold-hearted stare and if he had to speak to her, he would tell her that she didn't belong with his family, making Sakura feel as if someone had beaten her.
During the weeks when Syaoran gave Sakura the cold shoulder, she felt unwanted, empty, and lonely. Not knowing what to do about this, Sakura just kept it to herself, even though her heart told her to tell someone about it. Although Sakura had many chances to tell what was wrong with her, Sakura kept quiet.
Sakura tried to forget what Syaoran was doing to her by taking a great amount of learning how to read an write. Day by day, Sakura learned more than she had to. Everyone in the Li household, except for Syaoran, was proud of Sakura when she learnt how to read a word by herself or learn how to write a word from memory.
One day, when Fiemie had to go out to plan her wedding, Fiemie asked Syaoran to teach Sakura for one day. Syaoran turned it down, saying that he had to do something with Eriol and the others. Fiemie, who knew that Syaoran was lying, told Syaoran to bring Sakura as well, saying that she needs to know her way around. Complaining, Syaoran called up Eriol and asked him if he wanted to do something and told him to bring Tomoyo.
"Why should I bring Tomoyo?" Eriol asked.
"Fiemie forced me to bring Sakura, that's why," Syaoran replied, letting out a hot air of hatred out.
"Oh, I see. Why don't you invite Mei Lin as well, that way it would be much more easier," Eriol suggested.
"Fine." Syaoran hung up the phone and called Mei Lin.
Mei Lin, who was at home watching some television, lazily picked up the phone.
"Hello?" Mei Lin asked.
"It's me, Syaoran," Syaoran replied.
"Oh! Hi Syaoran, what do you want?" Mei Lin asked.
"Eriol, Tomoyo, and I are going out, I'm forced to bring Sakura as well. Do you want to come?" Syaoran invited.
"Hmm...Where?"
"I don't know!"
"I know! I'll meet you at the park,"
"Which one?"
"You know, the one near my place. The one with the mini pool nearby," Mei Lin described.
"Fine, I'll be there in about ten mintues." Syaoran hung up and called up Eriol once more to tell him that he would meet him at the park that's near Mei Lin's home.
When Syaoran finished telling Eriol where they would meet, Syaoran went upstairs to find Sakura. Syaoran knew that Sakura would only be in four places in the house---her room, where his mother was, a room where Fiemie teaches her, and the backyard. Knowing that Sakura wouldn't be in the room where Fiemie teaches her and the backyard, Syaoran went to Sakura's room to see if she's there.
When Syaoran got to Sakura's room, he was surprised that the door was open. Looking in, Syaoran saw that Sakura was sitting on her bed, looking outside the window, with a children's book in her hands.
Sakura was lost in her thoughts. The garden that was just outside her window fasinted her. Although Sakura have never seen the garden, she remembered someone telling her about a garden. Sakura felt as if she knew all the places of the garden just from words. Lost in her thoughts, Sakura didn't realized that Syaoran was standing next to her.
Tired, Syaoran waved a hand in front of Sakura, catching her attendtion. When Sakura turned her head, she saw Syaoran, she became very timid.
Sighing, Syaoran told Sakura that Fiemie won't be teaching her that day.
"Sakura, Fiemie won't be teaching you today. You're coming with me," Syaoran briefy said.
Sakura slowly nodded, not quite sure of what Syaoran had meant in the last senstence.
Syaoran walked towards Sakura closet and took out an outfit for Sakura. "Here, change into this and then go downstairs." With that, Syaoran left the room, closing the door.
Sakura slowly got up from her sitting position and placed the book on the night table that was beside her bed. Sakura then changed into the outfit that Syaoran had told her to change into. When Sakura was finished, she slowly opened the door and walked downstairs.
When Sakura gotten downstairs, she saw that Syaoran was on his celluar phone, talking to someone. Not wanting to intruppt, Sakura stayed where she was and was quiet. Soon, Syaoran was finished talking on his celluar phone. He looked around to see if Sakura was finished and had came down yet, but he didn't see her. Mumbling under his breath, Syaoran turned around and jumped, seeing Sakura behind him. Regeaining his posture, Syaoran told Sakura to follow him.
Before going out the door, Syaoran had to figure out where his mother and his sisters had placed all the shoes that they've brought for Sakura. Opening the closet, he found none. Ordering Sakura to stay where she was, Syaoran went off to her room to if Sakura had one pair of shoes up there. Searching her room, he found none as well. As Syaoran was heading back downstairs, he remembered that they've thrown out Sakura's shoes, since they were too small for her. Mummbling, he went to retrive one of his old sandals for Sakura to wear. He knew that Mei Lin and Tomoyo will soon be having fun show shopping for Sakura.
Along the way to the park, Syaoran gave Sakura some strict rules, "Number one: You must NEVER wander off alone. Number two: Don't talk to people you don't know. Number three: Don't touch anything unless Eriol, Mei Lin, Tomoyo, or myself said that it's alright. Number four: Make sure that either Eriol, Mei Lin, Tomoyo or myself is near you at all times," Syaoran waited for those four rules sink into Sakura mind before asking one question, "Understood?"
Sakura nodded her head. Although Sakura didn't understand some of them, she had a good idea of what to do.
Soon, the two was at the park. Eriol and Tomoyo was chatting with Mei Lin. Mei Lin broke off their conversation when she saw her two cousins. As Mei Lin ran off to hug Sakura, Syaoran rolled his eyes.
"How are you, Sakura?" Mei Lin asked, since she haven't seen Sakura for a while.
"Okay," Sakura replied quietly.
Mei Lin smiled, noticing that Sakura wasn't that unsure if she ought to reply or not. Looking over to see what Sakura was wearing, her eyes wondered about the sandals that Sakura was wearing. "Hey Syaoran, aren't those your sandals?" Mei Lin asked, intruppeting her cousin and Eriol's conversation.
"Yeah, why?" Syaoran replied.
"How come she's wearing YOURS? I thought that Auntie and cousins Xiefia, Fanfren, Fuutie, and Fiemie brought her some,"
"They were too small for her,"
"Anything else?"
"You can buy her some new ones, I guess."
Tomoyo squealed out with happiness. Although she had just gone shopping the day before with Eriol, she knew that this time would be different. Tomoyo gave Mei Lin a question by the look on her face, Mei Lin nodded in responese knowing what they'll be doing. Tomoyo couldn't help but to grin widely.
When Eriol saw the grin that was on Tomoyo's face, he groan. He knew what she and Mei Lin was up to and could tell that they were going to take over their afternoon, changing all plans that Syaoran had had in store for them.
"Syaoran, we should go and Sakura some new shoes. I don't want her to be walking in public walking in men's sandals!" Mei Lin suggested, although it seem more a force.
"Alright, alright, but be quick, alright?" Once Syaoran had spoken his words, he regretted it.
"Okay! Let's go, Sakura, Tomoyo!" Mei Lin exclaimed, grabbing her friends' arms as she rushed to the nearby mall, which was one of the biggest that was around.
Eriol and Syaoran were left behind, groaning. Syaoran sighed and took out his cell phone, calling Wei, his personal helper and servant, to bring his car to him.
"You know you shouldn't have said that to Mei Lin, right?" Eriol asked, making sure that his friend knew what was going to happen next.
"Yeah, now you're going to have some sore arms tomorrow," Syaoran snickered.
"You as well," Eriol added, but Syaoran didn't stop snickering.
"You may believe that, but that's why I have Wei with me," Syaoran smirked when Eriol groan.
Soon Wei came with Syaoran's car. Letting Wei drive them to the mall, Eriol and Syaoran figured that the girls would be at the mall by now with Mei Lin's rush to shop for Sakura. When they got to the mall, one realization came across them. Eriol, Syaoran, and Wei didn't know where to find the girls. They also had no way of contacting them, for neither Mei Lin or Tomoyo had brought their celluar phone or beeper. Groaning in fusteration, Eriol and Syaoran went off to every shoe store they came across, asking if they've seen Mei Lin, Sakura, and Tomoyo.
As the boys were about to give up, they saw Mei Lin, Sakura, and Tomoyo in a shoe store in front of the bench that they were sitting on. Tired to get up, Wei went over to get Mei Lin and the others.
"What, Syaoran?" Mei Lin asked in annoyance.
"Just pick a pair of runners for Sakura and next time you can go and buy her some new ones," Syaoran replied, not wanting to stay in the mall any longer.
"No! You know that I'll be leaving to study aboard soon, so this is my chance for a long time!" Mei Lin complained.
"You're not studying aboard for another four months!" Syaoran pointed out, making Mei Lin pout in anger.
As the two cousins were fighting, Tomoyo was taping it, while Eriol and sitting and enjoying it. Wei was standing behind his master, praying that this agruement will soon be over, while Sakura was standing there, lost.
As the agruement continued, a group of nearby girls stood and gasped when they saw Syaoran. One, couldn't hold in her excitment shouted out, "Oh, my gosh! It's Li Syaoran!" This caught every girl in the mall attendtion and all of them ran up to Syaoran, asking him to be their girlfriend, wife, autograph, etc. In this process, Sakura was pushed away and left to the floor of the pushing and shoving of the fantic girls. Syaoran, who was getting up from his seat, pushed the girls' hands away from him and began to walk away. Eriol, Mei Lin, Tomoyo, and Wei followed him, trying to get away from the crowd. As they were walking away, all of them had forgotten about Sakura.
Syaoran got to his car and once everyone was in, he sped off home. All of them were happy to be away from the crowd that one simple girl had cause, but they still had forgotten about Sakura.
~*~
Once the crowd had died out, Sakura got up from where she was and looked around for Eriol, Mei Lin, Tomoyo, and Wei, but they were no where to be seen. She then remembered what Syaoran had told her before they had gotten to the park, but Sakura recalled that Syaoran had never told her what to do if any of his rules were broken. Since Sakura was in the way of the shoppers, she moved to an empty area and began to break down and cry. No one seem to notice that Sakura was there, for they wanted to get home before the mall closed. Sakura didn't notice that the lights were beginning to dim and everything was quiet.
~*~
When Syaoran gotten home, he let Wei get back to his work around the house while he and Eriol, Mei Lin, and Tomoyo rest from the short trip to the mall. Yelen came out to see if Syaoran had brought anything for Sakura.
"Syaoran, where's Sakura?" Yelen asked.
"Huh? What do you mean Mother? She's right..." Syaoran trailed off, not seeing Sakura around.
"Where is she?" Yelen asked once again, worried.
"Oh no! We must have left her behind at the mall!" Tomoyo exclaimed when she realized what had happened.
"You left her behind?!" Yelen asked through shock. Yelen knew that Syaoran was always responsible, but never in her life have she seen Syaoran being irresponsible.
"Don't worry, Mother. I'll get Wei to retrive her," Syaoran assured his mother, not wanting her to have a heart attack.
"But, Syaoran, that mall closed about fourty minutes ago," Mei Lin said in a quiet voice.
"This can't be happening! If you only taught her today and this wouldn't have happened!" With that, Yelen walked away to her room.
"We better go before the mall manager goes home." Eriol pointed out.
~*~
A sercuity guard was walking when he heard something that sounded like someone was crying. Pointing his flashlight around, he saw a figure near a fake tree. Her knees up to her chin while her arms were wrapped around her legs. Sighing, the sercuity guard walked up to Sakura.
"Miss, the mall is now closed, would you please get up and follow me?" He asked.
Sakura didn't reply or moved.
Sighing, the sercuity guard asked once more, this time shaking Sakura lightly, "Miss, would you please get up and follow me?"
Sakura was about to follow the sercuity guard when she remembered Syaoran's words. Sakura stayed where she was, confused of what to do.
The sercuity guard decided to take Sakura by the arm, for he had enough with her already. He presumed that Sakura didn't steal anything, or she would have been out of the mall when it closed. Believing that it was a relationship thing, the sercuity guard showed Sakura the door and watched her go off of the mall's properity.
Sakura walked off, not sure where she was walking to. As the cool evening brezze blew by, a fear came across Sakura. She was afraid that she didn't have anyone to call family and a place to call home anymore. Believing that, Sakura wandered around, just like she would when she was living on the streets. Sakura soon came across a park that she remembered going to many times before when she didn't have a place to stay for the night. Sitting on the bench, Sakura sliently cried her tears of pain and loneliness.
~*~
Syaoran and the others were in the manager's office, of the mall, asking him to let them search the mall for Sakura. When the manager refused, this really got to Mei Lin.
"What do you mean 'no'?!" Mei Lin exclaimed, ignoring the fact that Tomoyo was video taping her and the manager.
"I mean that you can't go and look for the girl. The mall is closed and it's her own fault for staying behind when it closed," The manager replied cooly, didn't know that he was walking on thin ice with Mei Lin.
"We've already explained to you how she is!" Mei Lin was tempted to knock some sense into this man.
"I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to go and look for her. You may look for her in the morning when the mall opens,"
"We're not leaving her all alone here at night! Especially when she has nothing to eat and sleep on!"
"As I stated before, I can't let you go and look for her,"
"Is it that you can't or don't want to?" Syaoran asked, as he had enough of the manager as well.
"It's agasint the mall's policies," The manager quickly said.
"I don't remember reading any policies that said that you can't go and look for a lost family member in a mall!" Mei Lin was ready to get this manager fired.
"Well it is," The manager countered.
"I want to see the proof and if there isn't any, I'm going to get you fired!" Mei Lin threatened.
"Wait just a minute. Who do you think you are? Listen, I'm sorry, but I have to call the police now. You're trespassing on my properity after mall hours,"
"Fine! Go right ahead! After all, you're going to get fired anyways!" Mei Lin huffed.
When the manager finished calling the police, he knew that these kids were going to be out of his way and he'll be able to go come soon.
"Well, you can just sit down and wait for the police to come." The manager said, smiling.
"Whatever," Mei Lin huffed.
After a few moments, Syaoran's celluar phone started to ring. Taking it out of his pocket, he saw that it was his mother.
"Yes, Mother?.....No, we can't find her due to the manager here.....No, he won't let us find her.....He called the police.....You want to talk to him?......I'm not going to hand him my phone!.....Yes Mother, I will.....Don't worry!....Bye," As soon Syaoran hung up, the manager's phone started to ring. The manager narrowed his brows down at Syaoran, in return, Syaoran gave the manager cold glare.
"Hello?....Ah, yes, how are you Mrs. Li?....Your daughter is missing in a mall?....That's a shame, I don't see how I can help though....Your daughter is missing in MY mall?!....My greatest apologies! I'll let them find her, my deepest apologies, Mrs. Li!....Yes, I'll call the police to let them know that it was a mistake!....Yes, Mrs. Li....Have a good night, Mrs. Li." The manager gulped, and gestured his hand to let them find Sakura, but before they could get out the door, a sercuity guard came in.
"Any problems?" The manager asked the sercuity guard.
"I'm here to report that I found a girl, crying, in the mall," The sercuity guard answered, catching Mei Lin's attendtion.
"Where is she?!" Mei Lin demanded.
"Uh...I showed her out, believing that you've gone home, Sir."
"Where did you kick out her?!"
"Uh...The South East door," With that, Mei Lin and the others went off to find Sakura.
~*~
"Sakura? SAKURA!" The cries of Eriol, Mei Lin, Syaoran and Tomoyo echoed throughout the place.
"She's not around here," Eriol stating the ovberuous.
"Where can she be then?" Tomoyo asking worrily.
"Oh! I know! At a park!" Mei Lin exclaimed.
"Why would she be at a park?" Syaoran asked.
"Well, I remember when I asked where she've been mostly when she was living on the streets, she mentioned parks. I think there's also a nearby park here too!" Mei Lin explained, running off the find Sakura.
"Mei Lin, wait!" Eriol and Tomoyo choursed, running off the follow Mei Lin, while Syaoran walked back to his car to drive to the park.
~*~
When Eriol, Mei Lin, and Tomoyo found the park, they found Sakura, asleep on a bench. Moments later, Syaoran showed up in his car, blinding everyone with his headlights.
"Sakura? Sakura! Wake up," Mei Lin shook Sakura lightly, but didn't receive a responese from Sakura.
"I think we ought to pick her up and call the doctor when we get back to Syaoran's place," Eriol suggested.
"Yeah, Syaoran, you carry her," Mei Lin started, "And besides, it'll look good in front of Auntie."
"I think you should," Eriol urged Syaoran.
"Fine," Syaoran carefully pick up Sakura and placed her in the backseat, while Mei Lin took this chance to drive.
When Syaoran looked up front, he saw that Mei Lin was in the driver's seat and Tomoyo in the passenger side, sighing, he turned to see Eriol on the other side of the car in the backseat. While on the way home, Syaoran noticed that Sakura's face was a bit flushed and that her forehead felt hot. Realizing that Sakura has a fever, Syaoran told Mei Lin to drive quicker.
When they gotten home, Syaoran quickly carried Sakura up to her room. Yelen was relieved that Sakura was home, but concern that she has a high fever. When Syaoran finished carrying Sakura to her room, he took off his sandals and left the room for his mother and the girls.
The doctor came to check on Sakura and told them that she'll be alright and that her fever ought to go down in the morning. When the doctor left, Mei Lin and Tomoyo stayed with Sakura, while Yelen had a talk with Syaoran.
"Syaoran, I want you to know that what you did today to Sakura was irresponible," Yelen started off.
Syaoran sighed, knowing that this will be a long night. "Yes, Mother. I know,"
"Now, I understand that you want to get away from the girls, but that's no way to ignore your younger sister,"
"Yes, Mother,"
"Now, next time when you have to teach Sakura, teach her. Although it may sound boring to you, she've learnt a lot with Fiemie,"
"I doubt that she would want me near her," Syaoran stated.
"Let her know you. I understand that you're proably still upset about the vase, but let it go,"
"Fine, I'll try,"
"That would be great. You may leave now, Syaoran."
As Syaoran was about to leave, Yelen called her son back, forgetting one more thing.
"Oh, that's right. Syaoran, Churippu's family called today and they're planning to visit us in a couple of months," Yelen said, hoping that would bring joy to Syaoran's heart.
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed! This chapter will be the last one for weeks, because I'm going to be REALLY busy! This ISN'T the end of the story though! I'm also planning to change my user name into: Wishful Dreamer later on in the future. I'm sorry if there's any spelling errors, because I didn't have enough time to look over this.
~*~
As weeks passed by, Syaoran gave Sakura the cold shoulder more and more as each day passed. Although the vase had gotten fixed by an expert, Syaoran knew that all the memories that the vase held wasn't there anymore. Whenever Syaoran could, he would give Sakura a cold-hearted stare and if he had to speak to her, he would tell her that she didn't belong with his family, making Sakura feel as if someone had beaten her.
During the weeks when Syaoran gave Sakura the cold shoulder, she felt unwanted, empty, and lonely. Not knowing what to do about this, Sakura just kept it to herself, even though her heart told her to tell someone about it. Although Sakura had many chances to tell what was wrong with her, Sakura kept quiet.
Sakura tried to forget what Syaoran was doing to her by taking a great amount of learning how to read an write. Day by day, Sakura learned more than she had to. Everyone in the Li household, except for Syaoran, was proud of Sakura when she learnt how to read a word by herself or learn how to write a word from memory.
One day, when Fiemie had to go out to plan her wedding, Fiemie asked Syaoran to teach Sakura for one day. Syaoran turned it down, saying that he had to do something with Eriol and the others. Fiemie, who knew that Syaoran was lying, told Syaoran to bring Sakura as well, saying that she needs to know her way around. Complaining, Syaoran called up Eriol and asked him if he wanted to do something and told him to bring Tomoyo.
"Why should I bring Tomoyo?" Eriol asked.
"Fiemie forced me to bring Sakura, that's why," Syaoran replied, letting out a hot air of hatred out.
"Oh, I see. Why don't you invite Mei Lin as well, that way it would be much more easier," Eriol suggested.
"Fine." Syaoran hung up the phone and called Mei Lin.
Mei Lin, who was at home watching some television, lazily picked up the phone.
"Hello?" Mei Lin asked.
"It's me, Syaoran," Syaoran replied.
"Oh! Hi Syaoran, what do you want?" Mei Lin asked.
"Eriol, Tomoyo, and I are going out, I'm forced to bring Sakura as well. Do you want to come?" Syaoran invited.
"Hmm...Where?"
"I don't know!"
"I know! I'll meet you at the park,"
"Which one?"
"You know, the one near my place. The one with the mini pool nearby," Mei Lin described.
"Fine, I'll be there in about ten mintues." Syaoran hung up and called up Eriol once more to tell him that he would meet him at the park that's near Mei Lin's home.
When Syaoran finished telling Eriol where they would meet, Syaoran went upstairs to find Sakura. Syaoran knew that Sakura would only be in four places in the house---her room, where his mother was, a room where Fiemie teaches her, and the backyard. Knowing that Sakura wouldn't be in the room where Fiemie teaches her and the backyard, Syaoran went to Sakura's room to see if she's there.
When Syaoran got to Sakura's room, he was surprised that the door was open. Looking in, Syaoran saw that Sakura was sitting on her bed, looking outside the window, with a children's book in her hands.
Sakura was lost in her thoughts. The garden that was just outside her window fasinted her. Although Sakura have never seen the garden, she remembered someone telling her about a garden. Sakura felt as if she knew all the places of the garden just from words. Lost in her thoughts, Sakura didn't realized that Syaoran was standing next to her.
Tired, Syaoran waved a hand in front of Sakura, catching her attendtion. When Sakura turned her head, she saw Syaoran, she became very timid.
Sighing, Syaoran told Sakura that Fiemie won't be teaching her that day.
"Sakura, Fiemie won't be teaching you today. You're coming with me," Syaoran briefy said.
Sakura slowly nodded, not quite sure of what Syaoran had meant in the last senstence.
Syaoran walked towards Sakura closet and took out an outfit for Sakura. "Here, change into this and then go downstairs." With that, Syaoran left the room, closing the door.
Sakura slowly got up from her sitting position and placed the book on the night table that was beside her bed. Sakura then changed into the outfit that Syaoran had told her to change into. When Sakura was finished, she slowly opened the door and walked downstairs.
When Sakura gotten downstairs, she saw that Syaoran was on his celluar phone, talking to someone. Not wanting to intruppt, Sakura stayed where she was and was quiet. Soon, Syaoran was finished talking on his celluar phone. He looked around to see if Sakura was finished and had came down yet, but he didn't see her. Mumbling under his breath, Syaoran turned around and jumped, seeing Sakura behind him. Regeaining his posture, Syaoran told Sakura to follow him.
Before going out the door, Syaoran had to figure out where his mother and his sisters had placed all the shoes that they've brought for Sakura. Opening the closet, he found none. Ordering Sakura to stay where she was, Syaoran went off to her room to if Sakura had one pair of shoes up there. Searching her room, he found none as well. As Syaoran was heading back downstairs, he remembered that they've thrown out Sakura's shoes, since they were too small for her. Mummbling, he went to retrive one of his old sandals for Sakura to wear. He knew that Mei Lin and Tomoyo will soon be having fun show shopping for Sakura.
Along the way to the park, Syaoran gave Sakura some strict rules, "Number one: You must NEVER wander off alone. Number two: Don't talk to people you don't know. Number three: Don't touch anything unless Eriol, Mei Lin, Tomoyo, or myself said that it's alright. Number four: Make sure that either Eriol, Mei Lin, Tomoyo or myself is near you at all times," Syaoran waited for those four rules sink into Sakura mind before asking one question, "Understood?"
Sakura nodded her head. Although Sakura didn't understand some of them, she had a good idea of what to do.
Soon, the two was at the park. Eriol and Tomoyo was chatting with Mei Lin. Mei Lin broke off their conversation when she saw her two cousins. As Mei Lin ran off to hug Sakura, Syaoran rolled his eyes.
"How are you, Sakura?" Mei Lin asked, since she haven't seen Sakura for a while.
"Okay," Sakura replied quietly.
Mei Lin smiled, noticing that Sakura wasn't that unsure if she ought to reply or not. Looking over to see what Sakura was wearing, her eyes wondered about the sandals that Sakura was wearing. "Hey Syaoran, aren't those your sandals?" Mei Lin asked, intruppeting her cousin and Eriol's conversation.
"Yeah, why?" Syaoran replied.
"How come she's wearing YOURS? I thought that Auntie and cousins Xiefia, Fanfren, Fuutie, and Fiemie brought her some,"
"They were too small for her,"
"Anything else?"
"You can buy her some new ones, I guess."
Tomoyo squealed out with happiness. Although she had just gone shopping the day before with Eriol, she knew that this time would be different. Tomoyo gave Mei Lin a question by the look on her face, Mei Lin nodded in responese knowing what they'll be doing. Tomoyo couldn't help but to grin widely.
When Eriol saw the grin that was on Tomoyo's face, he groan. He knew what she and Mei Lin was up to and could tell that they were going to take over their afternoon, changing all plans that Syaoran had had in store for them.
"Syaoran, we should go and Sakura some new shoes. I don't want her to be walking in public walking in men's sandals!" Mei Lin suggested, although it seem more a force.
"Alright, alright, but be quick, alright?" Once Syaoran had spoken his words, he regretted it.
"Okay! Let's go, Sakura, Tomoyo!" Mei Lin exclaimed, grabbing her friends' arms as she rushed to the nearby mall, which was one of the biggest that was around.
Eriol and Syaoran were left behind, groaning. Syaoran sighed and took out his cell phone, calling Wei, his personal helper and servant, to bring his car to him.
"You know you shouldn't have said that to Mei Lin, right?" Eriol asked, making sure that his friend knew what was going to happen next.
"Yeah, now you're going to have some sore arms tomorrow," Syaoran snickered.
"You as well," Eriol added, but Syaoran didn't stop snickering.
"You may believe that, but that's why I have Wei with me," Syaoran smirked when Eriol groan.
Soon Wei came with Syaoran's car. Letting Wei drive them to the mall, Eriol and Syaoran figured that the girls would be at the mall by now with Mei Lin's rush to shop for Sakura. When they got to the mall, one realization came across them. Eriol, Syaoran, and Wei didn't know where to find the girls. They also had no way of contacting them, for neither Mei Lin or Tomoyo had brought their celluar phone or beeper. Groaning in fusteration, Eriol and Syaoran went off to every shoe store they came across, asking if they've seen Mei Lin, Sakura, and Tomoyo.
As the boys were about to give up, they saw Mei Lin, Sakura, and Tomoyo in a shoe store in front of the bench that they were sitting on. Tired to get up, Wei went over to get Mei Lin and the others.
"What, Syaoran?" Mei Lin asked in annoyance.
"Just pick a pair of runners for Sakura and next time you can go and buy her some new ones," Syaoran replied, not wanting to stay in the mall any longer.
"No! You know that I'll be leaving to study aboard soon, so this is my chance for a long time!" Mei Lin complained.
"You're not studying aboard for another four months!" Syaoran pointed out, making Mei Lin pout in anger.
As the two cousins were fighting, Tomoyo was taping it, while Eriol and sitting and enjoying it. Wei was standing behind his master, praying that this agruement will soon be over, while Sakura was standing there, lost.
As the agruement continued, a group of nearby girls stood and gasped when they saw Syaoran. One, couldn't hold in her excitment shouted out, "Oh, my gosh! It's Li Syaoran!" This caught every girl in the mall attendtion and all of them ran up to Syaoran, asking him to be their girlfriend, wife, autograph, etc. In this process, Sakura was pushed away and left to the floor of the pushing and shoving of the fantic girls. Syaoran, who was getting up from his seat, pushed the girls' hands away from him and began to walk away. Eriol, Mei Lin, Tomoyo, and Wei followed him, trying to get away from the crowd. As they were walking away, all of them had forgotten about Sakura.
Syaoran got to his car and once everyone was in, he sped off home. All of them were happy to be away from the crowd that one simple girl had cause, but they still had forgotten about Sakura.
~*~
Once the crowd had died out, Sakura got up from where she was and looked around for Eriol, Mei Lin, Tomoyo, and Wei, but they were no where to be seen. She then remembered what Syaoran had told her before they had gotten to the park, but Sakura recalled that Syaoran had never told her what to do if any of his rules were broken. Since Sakura was in the way of the shoppers, she moved to an empty area and began to break down and cry. No one seem to notice that Sakura was there, for they wanted to get home before the mall closed. Sakura didn't notice that the lights were beginning to dim and everything was quiet.
~*~
When Syaoran gotten home, he let Wei get back to his work around the house while he and Eriol, Mei Lin, and Tomoyo rest from the short trip to the mall. Yelen came out to see if Syaoran had brought anything for Sakura.
"Syaoran, where's Sakura?" Yelen asked.
"Huh? What do you mean Mother? She's right..." Syaoran trailed off, not seeing Sakura around.
"Where is she?" Yelen asked once again, worried.
"Oh no! We must have left her behind at the mall!" Tomoyo exclaimed when she realized what had happened.
"You left her behind?!" Yelen asked through shock. Yelen knew that Syaoran was always responsible, but never in her life have she seen Syaoran being irresponsible.
"Don't worry, Mother. I'll get Wei to retrive her," Syaoran assured his mother, not wanting her to have a heart attack.
"But, Syaoran, that mall closed about fourty minutes ago," Mei Lin said in a quiet voice.
"This can't be happening! If you only taught her today and this wouldn't have happened!" With that, Yelen walked away to her room.
"We better go before the mall manager goes home." Eriol pointed out.
~*~
A sercuity guard was walking when he heard something that sounded like someone was crying. Pointing his flashlight around, he saw a figure near a fake tree. Her knees up to her chin while her arms were wrapped around her legs. Sighing, the sercuity guard walked up to Sakura.
"Miss, the mall is now closed, would you please get up and follow me?" He asked.
Sakura didn't reply or moved.
Sighing, the sercuity guard asked once more, this time shaking Sakura lightly, "Miss, would you please get up and follow me?"
Sakura was about to follow the sercuity guard when she remembered Syaoran's words. Sakura stayed where she was, confused of what to do.
The sercuity guard decided to take Sakura by the arm, for he had enough with her already. He presumed that Sakura didn't steal anything, or she would have been out of the mall when it closed. Believing that it was a relationship thing, the sercuity guard showed Sakura the door and watched her go off of the mall's properity.
Sakura walked off, not sure where she was walking to. As the cool evening brezze blew by, a fear came across Sakura. She was afraid that she didn't have anyone to call family and a place to call home anymore. Believing that, Sakura wandered around, just like she would when she was living on the streets. Sakura soon came across a park that she remembered going to many times before when she didn't have a place to stay for the night. Sitting on the bench, Sakura sliently cried her tears of pain and loneliness.
~*~
Syaoran and the others were in the manager's office, of the mall, asking him to let them search the mall for Sakura. When the manager refused, this really got to Mei Lin.
"What do you mean 'no'?!" Mei Lin exclaimed, ignoring the fact that Tomoyo was video taping her and the manager.
"I mean that you can't go and look for the girl. The mall is closed and it's her own fault for staying behind when it closed," The manager replied cooly, didn't know that he was walking on thin ice with Mei Lin.
"We've already explained to you how she is!" Mei Lin was tempted to knock some sense into this man.
"I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to go and look for her. You may look for her in the morning when the mall opens,"
"We're not leaving her all alone here at night! Especially when she has nothing to eat and sleep on!"
"As I stated before, I can't let you go and look for her,"
"Is it that you can't or don't want to?" Syaoran asked, as he had enough of the manager as well.
"It's agasint the mall's policies," The manager quickly said.
"I don't remember reading any policies that said that you can't go and look for a lost family member in a mall!" Mei Lin was ready to get this manager fired.
"Well it is," The manager countered.
"I want to see the proof and if there isn't any, I'm going to get you fired!" Mei Lin threatened.
"Wait just a minute. Who do you think you are? Listen, I'm sorry, but I have to call the police now. You're trespassing on my properity after mall hours,"
"Fine! Go right ahead! After all, you're going to get fired anyways!" Mei Lin huffed.
When the manager finished calling the police, he knew that these kids were going to be out of his way and he'll be able to go come soon.
"Well, you can just sit down and wait for the police to come." The manager said, smiling.
"Whatever," Mei Lin huffed.
After a few moments, Syaoran's celluar phone started to ring. Taking it out of his pocket, he saw that it was his mother.
"Yes, Mother?.....No, we can't find her due to the manager here.....No, he won't let us find her.....He called the police.....You want to talk to him?......I'm not going to hand him my phone!.....Yes Mother, I will.....Don't worry!....Bye," As soon Syaoran hung up, the manager's phone started to ring. The manager narrowed his brows down at Syaoran, in return, Syaoran gave the manager cold glare.
"Hello?....Ah, yes, how are you Mrs. Li?....Your daughter is missing in a mall?....That's a shame, I don't see how I can help though....Your daughter is missing in MY mall?!....My greatest apologies! I'll let them find her, my deepest apologies, Mrs. Li!....Yes, I'll call the police to let them know that it was a mistake!....Yes, Mrs. Li....Have a good night, Mrs. Li." The manager gulped, and gestured his hand to let them find Sakura, but before they could get out the door, a sercuity guard came in.
"Any problems?" The manager asked the sercuity guard.
"I'm here to report that I found a girl, crying, in the mall," The sercuity guard answered, catching Mei Lin's attendtion.
"Where is she?!" Mei Lin demanded.
"Uh...I showed her out, believing that you've gone home, Sir."
"Where did you kick out her?!"
"Uh...The South East door," With that, Mei Lin and the others went off to find Sakura.
~*~
"Sakura? SAKURA!" The cries of Eriol, Mei Lin, Syaoran and Tomoyo echoed throughout the place.
"She's not around here," Eriol stating the ovberuous.
"Where can she be then?" Tomoyo asking worrily.
"Oh! I know! At a park!" Mei Lin exclaimed.
"Why would she be at a park?" Syaoran asked.
"Well, I remember when I asked where she've been mostly when she was living on the streets, she mentioned parks. I think there's also a nearby park here too!" Mei Lin explained, running off the find Sakura.
"Mei Lin, wait!" Eriol and Tomoyo choursed, running off the follow Mei Lin, while Syaoran walked back to his car to drive to the park.
~*~
When Eriol, Mei Lin, and Tomoyo found the park, they found Sakura, asleep on a bench. Moments later, Syaoran showed up in his car, blinding everyone with his headlights.
"Sakura? Sakura! Wake up," Mei Lin shook Sakura lightly, but didn't receive a responese from Sakura.
"I think we ought to pick her up and call the doctor when we get back to Syaoran's place," Eriol suggested.
"Yeah, Syaoran, you carry her," Mei Lin started, "And besides, it'll look good in front of Auntie."
"I think you should," Eriol urged Syaoran.
"Fine," Syaoran carefully pick up Sakura and placed her in the backseat, while Mei Lin took this chance to drive.
When Syaoran looked up front, he saw that Mei Lin was in the driver's seat and Tomoyo in the passenger side, sighing, he turned to see Eriol on the other side of the car in the backseat. While on the way home, Syaoran noticed that Sakura's face was a bit flushed and that her forehead felt hot. Realizing that Sakura has a fever, Syaoran told Mei Lin to drive quicker.
When they gotten home, Syaoran quickly carried Sakura up to her room. Yelen was relieved that Sakura was home, but concern that she has a high fever. When Syaoran finished carrying Sakura to her room, he took off his sandals and left the room for his mother and the girls.
The doctor came to check on Sakura and told them that she'll be alright and that her fever ought to go down in the morning. When the doctor left, Mei Lin and Tomoyo stayed with Sakura, while Yelen had a talk with Syaoran.
"Syaoran, I want you to know that what you did today to Sakura was irresponible," Yelen started off.
Syaoran sighed, knowing that this will be a long night. "Yes, Mother. I know,"
"Now, I understand that you want to get away from the girls, but that's no way to ignore your younger sister,"
"Yes, Mother,"
"Now, next time when you have to teach Sakura, teach her. Although it may sound boring to you, she've learnt a lot with Fiemie,"
"I doubt that she would want me near her," Syaoran stated.
"Let her know you. I understand that you're proably still upset about the vase, but let it go,"
"Fine, I'll try,"
"That would be great. You may leave now, Syaoran."
As Syaoran was about to leave, Yelen called her son back, forgetting one more thing.
"Oh, that's right. Syaoran, Churippu's family called today and they're planning to visit us in a couple of months," Yelen said, hoping that would bring joy to Syaoran's heart.