VictorianPearl: I know. It's amazing that I am actually updating this thing. I haven't been able to update because I've been focusing solely on Lucid Darkness, but I decided that I would post up another one. Just for everyone's info. This fiction(s) has not been discontinued, it's simply on hiatus.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Purpose: A short story reminding us what we should be concerned about on Christmas Eve.
Title: Snow Bells
Syaoran sat on a bench outside at the park. It was Christmas Eve, nearing seven o'clock at night. Snow was coming down softly, but unfailingly. The streets were empty and white. Syaoran could hardly help but admire the beauty of it all.
He had a green beanie on his head and light brown gloves on his hands. His brown and white scarf rested around his neck and his jacket was green, fluffy, and warm.
Syaoran dangled his feet a little bit. He exhaled a long and slow breath, watching his breath turn into smoke. The twelve year old boy crossed his arms tightly for more warmth.
All of his family was away in China, or rather, he was away here in Tomoeda. Sakura had invited him over for Christmas Day as well as Christmas Eve. He had accepted the latter but declined the former. Christmas Eve was about family, and if he couldn't spend it with family, then he would spend it alone.
Candle light was visible from almost all of the nearby houses. Inside, children were probably unwrapping presents and family members were probably all laughing merrily.
Syaoran sighed with a sadness and loneliness he had never known. Maybe he would go over to Sakura's house Maybe if he went, he would be happier.
The boy shook his head of the thought. No, they weren't expecting him to come over, he would just go back to the apartment.
Syaoran stood up with full intentions of heading home. Before he could take two steps, a voice stopped him.
"Syaoran Li, where in the good name of Clow do you thing you're going?"
Syaoran automatically spun himself around. He was surprised, but tried to hide it. "Meiling, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in China?"
Meiling glared at her cousin and shrugged. "Well, if you really want me to be." The odongo haired girl turned around and began to walk away.
"No, wait Meiling!" Syaoran yelled. He ran up to his former fiancé, turned her around, and wrapped her in a hug.
Meiling smiled triumphantly. "Now that's how you're supposed to greet your family. What were you doing out here all alone?"
Syaoran pulled back and stared at the ground. "I guess I didn't want to be in the apartment alone all night."
Meiling smiled and linked her arm through her cousin's. "Well now you don't have to be. Come on, I brought fruit cake!"
Syaoran recoiled. "You did what?"
Meiling laughed. "I'm only joking. Now let's hurry and get back to your apartment before someone steals everything in there. You accidentally left the door unlocked. That's when I figured you were really bent out of shape."
"I left the door unlocked?" Syaoran said in shock. This was very unlike him. "We have to hurry now. Come on, let's run!"
The Chinese boy pulled his cousin in the direction of his apartment. They ran all the way there, Meiling laughing up a storm. In the air as this happened, the echo of the bells from the chapel rang out seven times.