A New Season

Chapter 6

Mei Ling

Shun had once told me, that if someone important to you cried, the tears would make you hurt so much, that you would do anything possible to help them. He had told me that when he had seen his mother cry for the first time after her brother's death. He had said that the worst part of it was that he couldn't do anything. He had felt like a statue, standing there doing nothing.

Mei Ling.

I had felt like that when I had seen Fei Mei, my third oldest sister cry when her Omai was arranged. She was in love with a friend and had been dating for a while, she had cried nonstop for two day, until Fan Ren, my oldest sister had come home and had told her what might happen if she refused the engagement. She had then reconsidered and went through with the Omai, which had proved to be successful. For some reason, Mei Ling reminded me a lot of Fei Mei, her eyes seemed to hold a tenth of what Fei Mei had.

A gust of wind came from behind Mei Ling's figure, causing her hair to swirl around her. I had to cover my eyes from the dust, and dirt that had come my way. I looked up, blinking any of the dust particles that had managed to get in my eyes. Her ice cream that she had been holding fell on the ground. There she stood, she hand kept her hand by her side as another gust of wind came again. However, this time she looked directly at me.

The wind slowed down to a steady breeze. "I don't know." I answered her. I really don't know, am I? I looked up to the sky and watched as wisps of clouds moved, "Mei Ling, I really don't know." I said again. "I wish I did."

"I-I want you to give me a serious chance before you tell me truthful answer." She saw that I had opened my mouth to say something, and silenced me with raising her hand and continued "No, I know that you have feelings for someone that you need to confirm for yourself properly."

"Mei Ling, that would only hurt you more." I replied, it seemed like she really wanted me to really do this, but I had a terrible feeling that she would just be hurt.

"No, I want you to seriously consider me, and then we–you can decide what you want to do." Tears seemed as if they would fall any second, but didn't, I could hear her voice breaking.

I moved closer to her, "Mei..." I called her by her nickname from when we were younger.

"If it doesn't work out, we can break of the engagement, this way, I-I will be satisfied."

My mind was screaming yes, that it would end the engagement, but my heart was yelling no, that it would only cause her more pain. "I don't want to hurt you anymore."

"Please, Syaroan, please, just this one time."

I sighed, "Alright Mei Ling. Alright."

She smiled sadly, and started to fix her hair, "Let's go back then."

I nodded, and followed her as she began to walk. My mind began to think; well at least you can face Sensei.

Yeah, perfect! just wait until you tell her that instead of stopping leading her on, you're going out with her! Just perfect Li! Perfect. Next, what you will be marrying her instead!

Shut up you stupid voice!

"Uh... Syaroan..."

I am you! I can't possible shut up, and while we are still at it, how are you going to tell Eriol and Shun? You know that Shun is a little protective of Mei Ling, for some odd reason.

"Syaroan?"

Eriol will be fine to tell; Shun, he might get a little mad, but technically I don't have to tell either of them, after all this really isn't very serious.

"Woohoo? Syaroan?"

Did you not see Mei Ling's eyes! This is serious to her!

"Syaroan!!"

"What!" I snapped getting annoyed of the voice. I looked towards the voice to see Sensei had an exasperated expression, while Mei Ling was hiding a smile and Daidouji-san had an eyebrow raised. I felt myself lightly redden. Damn you inner voice!

Oh, go damn yourself.

I cleared my throat and said, "What was that?"

"Geez, what is wrong with you Syaroan! Honestly!" Sensei said, she seemed to be getting mad, but then her expression changed again into a taunting one. "Ohhh" she nudged me, "Don't tell me you've fallen in love with me."

I would have gaped at her, but was too shocked to do anything. I took control of it within seconds, "Why exactly would that be something to ask from your student?"

"Mou, Syaroan, can't you just humor me sometimes? Is it that hard to?" she asked as she pouted. I took almost all of my will power not to pull her into a hug.

"Sensei, keep this humor of yours to your self. I don't want anything to do with you, but unfortunately I don't have time to indulge in your antics."

"Syaroan, I am so proud of you! You can actually talk like a grown up now."

"Shut up." I retorted in English.

Her eyes only brightened, she grinned and in English said, "So you have been paying attention in class."

I rolled my eyes, and looked back to Mei Ling, "Where to next?" I asked.

She looked down at her watch, "Why don't we explore, we have about two hours before we crown the spring couple."

"Okay, lets go." I said as I walked up to Mei Ling, and placed a soft hand on her shoulder. She blushed, I turned back to look over my shoulder and said with a smirk, "Ja, Baka-Sensei."

I saw as she looked at me with large angry eyes, and turned to look over at Daidouji-san, who just seemed to look even more anger. It was probably because I hadn't followed her advise for hurting Mei Ling.

Mei Ling gave a small cough, I turned my attention to her, she seemed a little sad from before, "Hey, you know we should get something to eat."

"The ice cream fell…" she recalled.

I scanned the stall, and saw a small coffee shop stand, "Let's go eat something to drink." She nodded, we walked over and gave our order, and went to sit on a small table. "Mei Ling, I was telling you the truth before, I don't want to force you into anything and the last thing I want is for you to feel hurt."

"Syaroan-san, I decided this on my own. I want to be held up for some merit." She smiled a small smile when a waitress dressed in a traditional red Chinese dress came to ask our order. "I'll have an orange juice, please."

"Hai, and you sir." she asked as she giggled softly.

I didn't even look at her and turned towards Mei Ling, "A coffee." With that the waitress left, leaving Mei Ling and I alone. "Having merit isn't going to make any hurt go away."

"The way your talking, it almost like you have already decided that I will get hurt." Mei Ling said quietly.

The same waitress brought back our drinks, Mei Ling thanked her quietly. I nodded a thank you as well. i took a sip of my coffee, and found it to be scorching hot, the least the waitress could have done was warn me it was going to be hot. "I haven't decided anything yet. You should always remember there are at least two possible outcome for an issue."

My cell phone started to vibrate, pulling it out of my pocket, I greeted the person, "What is it?"

I could hear a chuckle from Shun, "Don't you ever say Hello?"

"Why did you call? I'm out with Mei Ling today."

"I know that, give me some credit. No, actually it's important. Did I ever mention to you that Otou-san decided to open another one of his clubs... you know the weird exotic type."

"No." I stated as I glanced over to my coffee.

"Oh, really... well, then. I'll make this short Eriol about two shots from getting pissed drunk. And I'm not brave enough to handle him on my own."

"You let him drink?" I winced inwardly as I remembered what had happened to him last time... It had come very close to Eriol giving the city a blackout, by unplugging every plug in the vicinity.

"Do you really think I had choice? Once they saw us enter, some girls dragged him away."

"It's two in the afternoon."

"Did I forget to mention that these girls are very vicious."

I turned to look at Mei Ling, "Where is the place?" I noticed her look down.

Shun sighed a breath of relief, "It's on Kawisarao Street, next to the Club Kiba. The name is Veriona."

"You owe me." I said, as I closed my cell phone and started to take money out. "Sorry, Mei Ling... Eriol's not feeling well. I have to go."

"I see..."

Rummaging in my pockets I found the paper I had picked out earlier. Taking it out, I glanced quickly at Mei Ling to see that she was looking down. "I'll call you, and if I'm done before, I'll pick you up, and we can go out or something."

I placed 200 yen down, "I'll talk to you later than." the piece of paper I handed to her, "It's yours now. Though I doubt it really does anything."

She nodded slowly. "Okay, then, bye..."

I nodded and walked away. Now, the real problem was going to be a hard one to survive through. A drunken Eriol. I pulled out my cell phone, and dialed Shun's number, and was greeted with a "Yeah?"

"Don't you ever say hello?" I said. This caused him to laugh.

"Fair Enough, so what's wrong?"

"Want to give me a ride?" I said, knowing full well, that some of his Kumin would be around.

"Yeah, I'll let Sato know, he's around the block from the school, near the subway. He has a lightening bolt goatee, you won't be able to miss him. And, Syaroan, come quick he just had another shot." Score one for my legs!

"Thanks." I closed my phone then, just as I reached the school's main gate. I walked in the same direction I had come in.

So, Eriol was close to being drunk and would probably be drunk by the time I got there. Not to mention I was now kinda-sorta-not really dating Mei Ling. And I had to find a guy with a lightening bolt goatee? I wonder why its called a goatee? It doesn't look like a goat beard... Hmm... maybe, but it doesn't really hang off of the chin... more closely cut. Maybe I should grow a goatee.

A car honked in my direction causing me to lose my train of thought, I looked up and saw a man with a bald head and red goatee. I raised my eyebrow. Well, Shun was right I sure as hell didn't miss him.

"Li-Aniki?" he asked.

I inclined my head, "Shun told you?"

"Hai, I'm to take you to Shun-sama." he said, as he held a door open for me. great the guy had manners.

I nodded and sat in the car. So, now at least I'll get there faster and with the help from Shun, maybe we will be able to calm Eriol down. Ha! Who am I kidding, everyone knows that getting a Hirigazawa drunk is probably the worst thing possible. They even have a special code for it at the police station. Eriol's grandfather had caused the blackout of 1992, while Eriol's father had held the whole Senate captive until everyone played a game of Twister. The result was a a few Senates whom weren't able to stand straight for a week. Of course, now everyone kept any type of alcohol beverage or food away from the two gentlemen even if they were great politicians.

A few minutes later we were in front of a large modern building, it was made of a black marble and had gold lining around the door and windows. It had an outdoor bar, with small speakers around, there was also a dance floor and most probably an indoor bar one as well. I sighed, yeah, that's right Shun's dad doesn't leave things half done.

I walked inside, and noticed that people were already trying to get away from Eriol, and behind the 'sanctuary' of the bar. "Eriol." I said.

A hunched over Eriol looked up with large innocent sapphire eyes. Shun also looked over and mouthed 'help me'. That's when I noticed his brown hair was pulled into several braids and ponytails. Oh, hell no.

Eriol advanced towards me slowly, I clenched my fist lightly. "Eriol, Eriol listen to me." I said trying to be reasonable. I had to keep my voice calm, and composed. Any break, and there would be the small yet enormous opening this guy would need.

Eriol took out a comb from his back pocket, and his eyes glazed in an unnatural way. I inched back. "Eriol, come on, why don't you go to bed."

He shook his head in a vigorous no. "Syao-kun... you're hair... it's so unruly."

Oh, now I took a slow swallow. My hair was unruly... I had the privilege of never having to worry about my hair after I got out of bed or shower. Now... it seemed like my doom. Even my crazy four sister couldn't get my hair to look...combed.

I stepped back, and was about to make a run for it, except I felt something cold run down my spine, that left me shivering, that was chance enough for him,"Eriol--" was all I could say, when he attached, yes attached himself onto me. flaying my arms around like a maniac didn't work, and he attacked my hair. He pulled at it, and magically took elastic hair bands from his pocket.

I fell down with a thud as he continued to tame my hair. I felt like all my strength was leaking. He was almost glued on, he held my head with a strong grip so I wouldn't try to move. I was running out of hope, my hair was basically being pulled out of my skull, since my hair wasn't that long, and hard to get through. That's when my eyes fell on a lavender, feeling like that was my only hope, I said what first came to my mind, "I met a girl today."

He continued to torture, "She had really long hair, it was curled nicely." This caused him to stop and I continued holding onto the little ray of light, "Her hair was a raven-ish purple, almost violet color." Now I had his attention, "She was really pretty, and had amethyst color eyes. I'll introduce you to her, if..." I glanced over to Shun and he had gotten up and was coming near with thick rope in his hand, maybe in hopes of tieing him down to something. I took a mental sigh of relief I didn't know where he got it from but, I was glad. "Why don't you put away the comb Eriol."

He reluctantly put away the comb and looked up expectantly. "Okay Eriol, that's good. I'll take you to her, if and only if you take a nap first. You know first impressions are very important." He nodded earnestly, getting off of me he walked over to some coaches over in the end and laid his head down, not long after that we could hear slow breathing, knowing he was asleep people came out from behind the bar.

Shun threw the rope down onto the ground. "So, who's the chick?" He walked over to me and started to pull his hair out of the ponytails and braids.

"Baka-sensei's cousin, also the student council president of our sister school." I answered as I ran a hand through my wild hair, which only made it messier.

"The famous Tomoyo Daidouji? She's related to Akira-Sensei?"

"Yeah, that's her... although I did get off on the wrong foot with her."

"A girl that does not like the great Syaroan Li?" he asked feigning shock.

I rolled my eyes at him, "Well, she's Mei Ling's friend and is somewhat protective of her. So, naturally she didn't want anything to be between Mei Ling and I that didn't show that I was her fiance."

"And you always treat her like...?"

"You know how I treat her," I said as I went and sat down at a stool. "Shun... I don't know. I can't keep doing this to her. She's being forced into this. I don't want that."

Shun heaved a sigh, "So... you're telling me that you don't love her, right."

"Not exactly, I do care for her... I thought maybe with time--"

"--You could fall in love with her." He said as he finished his sentence. His eyes seemed to have hardened, his jaw had tightened, that was for sure.

I sighed, "Shun, don't. Listen, I talked to her today about this whole engagement thing." He turned to look at me, I wasn't sure how decipher his expression. but I continued, "She insisted that we should try dating. If it didn't work out then we would cancel this whole engagement." His eyes blazed angerly, while his face remained calm. Well, he was the son of the yakuza not to mention a strong politician so naturally he had some control over his emotions. But still I could feel his anger, "Shun..." I said calmly.

He heaved a large breath of air and let it out slowly, "She insisted on this? And you agreed?"

I nodded my head, "I didn't want to Shun, I really didn't want to. But what was I supposed to do, she was about to cry."

He placed his head in his hands. I had to tell him this, he was after all like a brother. And I had a feeling that he liked Mei Ling... or maybe he thought of her as a sister. Which ever it was there was something there.

"Alright. If she wants this, then it's okay." He said as he pulled his face from his hands and looked towards the door. "So, are you planning to go back now?"

"Yeah, I think so." I turned to look in Eriol's direction. "Do you think you can handle him?"

He smirked a little at that, "Yeah, when he's a sleep, he's like a little innocent kid."

"I know, too bad he's not really like that."

"Maybe, when he mets the right someone he will change for the better."

We both tried to picture him with just one girl, a girl that could keep him control. A girl that would be his only love and devotion.We both simultaneously started to laugh and said, "Yeah like that's going to happen."

This had lightened the mood considerably. I got up, "Should I wait for him to get him to meet the Daidouji girl?"

Shun seemed to think on that for a second, "I think... that we should probably set that up for another day, she might think something else about it. Especially, since she doesn't like you, she might think that you want to get rid of her."

"Good point." I said. "Well, then, I better be off." I said, and started at the door.

He nodded his head and held up his hand a little for a small bye. I could feel his eyes on my back and walked out. I knew he wasn't happy about this, I knew that this might cause tension in our friendship. But at the same time it, might solve a little thing to. It might actually also us to be better friends. I sighed at that thought. I was only seventeen, and was having to deal with these kinds of problems.

Author's Note: I have beta readers now! Kiirya-chan and Artgirlchan50. But unfortunaltey, I wasn't able to give this chapter to them, since I'm on my cough-last day-cough of my usual deadline. So I would like to formally apologies to them, since I was lazy and put this off for too long.

Okay, now readers, you guys can help in what will happen in the next chapter, if you would like to. It's simple just give me two examples of what you would do on a date. just little things, and I'll put it into the next chapter and give that person or persons credit. Alright then, till next time. Ja ne

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