Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Sakura Falls ❯ Jyu ( Chapter 10 )

Sakura Falls

By: Sorano

Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: CCS does not belong to me. It belongs to the extremely talented CLAMP. Nobody sue cos I have no money.

"Mei-ling?" Sakura repeated.

"Eeto, hai. Who else? Is this Sakura?"

"What are you do- I mean, when did you get back?"

Mei-ling laughed. "Last week. I'm coming back to school tomorrow. I wasn't needed anymore in Hong Kong so I was sent back here."

"Umm…umm…that's great." Sakura was a little hurt. Why hadn't Syaoran told me she was back? "Don't worry, Sakura. We broke the engagement. I have a perfectly good boyfriend now and Syaoran is all yours."

"Speakin' of Syaoran-kun, Mei-ling, can I speak to him?"

"Sure. I'll go get him."

Apparently Meling's idea of getting her cousin was to hold the phone away from her face and yell his name over and over until her told her to shut up.

"Sakura-chan."

"Syaoran-kun, hi. What's up?"

"Nothing much. Are you okay, Sakura-chan? You sound funny."

"Huh? Iie, daijoubu. I wanted to make sure you aren't mad at me."

"Iie, of course not. Why would I be mad at you?"

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, then realized his voice was laced with sarcasam. "I'm so sorry, Syaoran-kun. What did Tomoyo tell you?"

"Just that you went to a party. Look, it's not big deal. I trust you."

Sakura swallowed hard as her eyes welled up with tears. "Arigato. Do you want to come over? We could rent a movie and make popcorn or something…" her voice trailed off.

"No thanks, Sakura. Mei-ling and me are going out. She just got back and all. It wouldn't be…I'll see you at school tomorrow."

"Ara, okay. I understand. Do you want to talk for a while? I miss talking to you." Sakura could hear Mei-ling yelling something in the background.

"Sumimasen, Sakura-chan. Maybe some other day. I really have to go.Um, ja." Click. The dial done buzzed in Sakura's ears, a reminder of how screwed she was.

"Sakura-chan?" Kero looked at her puzzled.

"Nani!?" That came out a little harsher than Sakura had meant it.

"Can I have some fudge?" he asked tentatively.

Sakura had to smile. "You know, Kero-chan, I think we could all do with some fudge right now."

* * *

The next day at school, Tomoyo and Syaoran avoided Sakura like she had the plague. They seemed so awkward, if that was the right word, rather than angry. Sakura couldn't figure out what she'd done wrong. And while Sakura's old friends were ignoring her, her new friends were constantly around. Sakura always sat with them at lunch now, and talked with them during class.

Mei-ling had no idea what had been going on in the five years she'd been away, so she was fairly civil to Sakura. One day Sakura's new friends suggested they go disco bowling and Sakura asked if she could bring Mei-ling. "She's new here at school (sort of) and she doesn't really know anybody except for me and Syaoran."

"Is she cool?" Miyuko had asked.

Sakura shrugged. "About as cool as I am."

Miyuko smiled, the cold smile popular people often wear when addressing those they considered below them. "I suppose we could give her a try. Since she's your friend and all Sakura."

When Sakura told Mei-ling all this, her reaction wasn't at all like Sakura had expected.

"I don't need your charity, Sakura. I can make friends on my own."

"Huh? You don't want to come? It'll be fun, Mei-ling.."

Mei-ling frowned sourly, but agreed to come anyway. She did remark upon the fact she didn't like Miyuko's group, however. She said they were a bunch of slutty bitches. Sakura almost uninvited her right then and there. But reminded herself that this was Syaoran's cousin and she didn't want her mad.

"They're really nice, you'll see."

* * *

"Sneaking out again?" Kero asked her later that night. "I thought you said that the party was the last time."

Sakura grinned sheepishly. "I promised Mei-ling that I'd bring her."

Kero rolled his eyes. "I'm sure. As if Mei-ling has anything to do with it."

Sakura turned around to glare at the guardian beast. "Be quiet, Kero-chan. I'm going and that's that."

"Okay. But if you don't get to go on your trip, don't blame me."

Sakura sighed and continued to rummage through her closet. "Kero-chan!" she wailed.

"Nani?"

"I don't have anything to wear!!!"

"Isn't it dark during disco bowling? Nobody will see what you're wearing."

"Errr! That's not the point! I have to look good. Satoshi might be there."

"What do you care about Satoshi? I thought you were going out with Syaoran."

"Well, Syaoran isn't speaking to me right now…I need a backup."

"That's sick."

She pulled her long flared jeans out of her closet and threw them on the bed. "This'll do…"

Kero flew into her closet and pulled up a shirt with his teeth. "How about this? You always look cute in this one."

Sakura snatched it away from him. "Kero-chan! I can't where that! It's got little cutesy flowers on it!"

Kero sighed and picked up another one.

"This?"

"Iie! Kero-chan you have no fashion sense at all." She rummaged through the piles of clothing on her floor. "Perfect!" she held a blue sequined tank top.

Kero made a face. "Horrible."

Sakura laughed and threw her pillow at him.

When Sakura was all dressed she summoned the Mirror card once more and told it to pretend to be asleep. The card grumbled a bit at this, saying that's all it ever go to do was sleep."

"Ja, Kero-chan!" Sakura said and climbed out the window.

"Bye…Oh, well!" Kero turned on the TV set and put in his favourite game.

* * *

Sakura picked up Mei-ling at her house. The other girl hadn't changed at all- she was still wearing what she worn all day.

"That's what you're wearing?"

"Yeah. So what?"

Sakura shrugged. "Nothing." She saw Syaoran move through the house, though her view was obsocured by Mei-ling's figure. "Syaoran-kun!"

Syaoran jumped in surprise. "Konbanwa," he said polietly and quickly got himself out of there.

"Sakura-chan…," Mei-ling remarked slyly as they walked along. "What's up with you andmy dear cousin? He barley says a word to you anymore."

"I wish I knew."

"Did you two have a fight?"

"Iie …Not exactly."

"So what then?" Mei-ling pressed. The girl never knew when to leave alone.

"It's not really any of your business, Mei-ling!"

"Daidouji-san said you cheated on him."

Sakura turned to the girl, horrified. "Tomoyo-chan said that?"

"Yup Its all over school now!"

I can't believe. My good sweet little Tomoyo? No wonder nobody but Miuyko and them are talking to me. "Eeto, hurry up, we can't miss this bus," Sakura said and the two girls walked down to the bus stop.

"Did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Cheat on my cousin?"

Sakura glared at her. "Of course not!"

"Hmm, that's funny. I wouldn't have taken Daidouji-san as a liar."

Sakura flushed and got on the bus. "Forget about it, Mei-ling. Me and Syaoran-kun are fine."

Mei-ling grinned. "Whatever. I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. I'm just watching out for my cuz, you know?"

The girls sat in the back and talked the whole way to the bowling alley. Sakura could remember a time when she and Mei-ling hated each other. Now she couldn't even remember why. Was it the Clow cards? Or was it Syaoran? All she knew was it was nice talking to Mei-ling like this. She discovered Mei-ling was a totally different girl than she'd thought. Ara, sure they'd made up before Mei-ling went back to Hong Kong, but they never really had the chance to get to know each other.

The light sprinkling of rain that had accompanied them to the alley now turned to a heavy downpour. Hunched over, the girls raced to the door and hurried inside. It was dark inside; the strobe lights hadn't been turned on yet. And the building was completely empty, save a custodian in the back, sweeping up old chip bags.

Sakura and Mei-ling huddled close together and walked to the desk.

"Where is everyone?" Mei-ling asked, on the verge of annoyance. "Where are your friends?"

"Are they closed? I'm sure this is the time Miyuko-chan told me to come."

"They can't be closed," Mei-ling pointed out. "The door's unlocked."

"Excuse me," Sakura called out to the custodian. "Is the alley open?" The old man looked up at them and showed a toothy grin. "You two girlies shouldn't be here. This place doesn't open for two more hours."

"Nani? Are you sure?"

The skeleton-like man cackled. "Of course I'm sure. Now get out before I call the cops."

Sakura and Mei-ling left, confused and angry. "Did Miyuko lie to me?" Sakura asked herself.

"I told you those girls are trouble," Mei-ling said.

"Iie! They just must have told me the wrong time! They…forget stuff sometimes…"

Mei-ling sighed and glanced up at the sky. "Sakura-chan…it's raining. I'm going home."

All of a sudden, despite their past differences, Sakura wanted Mei-ling to stay. "Please don't go, Mei-ling-chan. Let's go see a movie or something, okay?"

Mei-ling was tempted to refuse. When a night starts out so awful sometimes its best just to go to bed. Though she enjoyed Sakura's company she wasn't sure she felt so good with her anymore. Maybe she should cuddle up with Syaoran and re-watch Hikizuruka ni Seika. That's probably what he was doing, in a nice, warm… But she couldn't just leave Sakura out here alone. "Alright," she sighed.

The next bus wasn't coming for half an hour so they had to walk. The sky exploded with a great boom and a flash of brilliant white light. "Great," Mei-ling muttered. "Lightning."

"Come on, Mei-ling!" Sakura said cheerfully. "Don't be a grouch. It's kind of fun!"

"Hah! Fun?"

"Look, Mei-ling. The theater is just up there. We'll be inside in five minutes."

"Okay." They could hear tires screech and water spraying. The two girls turned to see a car swerving at them at an unbelievable speed.

"What the hell is with that asshole?" Sakura yelled. "Learn to drive!" she shouted. Her eyes widened in confusion. "Hey, isn't that Satoshi's car? And all the girls are in there!" They must be stoned again…

Mei-ling tugged at Sakura's shirt. "Sakura-chan…" fear was apparent in her eyes. "Nani?"

"Doesn't it seem as if it's heading right at us?"

"Hoe?" Sakura saw a bright flash of headlights, water sprayed into her eyes, and the two girls screamed once before everything went black.