rlm@0: Author’s Notes: Hello, everyone! ^-^ This is a story I’ve wanted to
rlm@0: do for a while, and it actually focuses on Meiling & Syaoran. ^-^
rlm@0: They really do make a good couple. ^,^ If Meiling had gotten Syaoran
rlm@0: and Tomoyo had gotten Sakura, everyone would have been happy. Anyway,
rlm@0: this story has some.. strange themes. ^-^;; Please read responsibly.
rlm@0: ^^ This story played hell with what nouns I should use when and
rlm@0: where, so if it looks a little sloppy, I apologize in advance. ^-^;;;
rlm@0: If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me your
rlm@0: thoughts. I always love to know what people think. ^-^ Please enjoy!
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The Shape of Things
rlm@0: By Amazoness Duo
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Transcendental silence held the world steadfastly in its grip, only
rlm@0: a distant bird daring to interrupt the world’s peaceful slumber. The
rlm@0: spring day was warm and lazy, as if it were trying to lull the
rlm@0: students inside the large school building to a gentle nap. Even the
rlm@0: wind didn’t feel like disturbing the peace and quiet. Flowers grew
rlm@0: and trees stretched out in this quiet interim, in this silent
rlm@0: purgatory that held the world in a sleepy stasis. 
rlm@0: 	A shrill bell broke all the former pristine silence as students
rlm@0: burst out of the school doors like water bursting from a dam. Gossip
rlm@0: and teasing quickly took the place of the lone bird in the distance.
rlm@0: Students hurried this way and that as everyone met up with friends or
rlm@0: went to their after-school clubs or just went home. The lazy spring
rlm@0: day had lost its power over them with the ringing of the final bell.
rlm@0: Boys and girls hurried about their business, none of which was more
rlm@0: important than simply escaping the tomblike confines of the classroom
rlm@0: they had been suffocating in. 
rlm@0: 	Out of this sea of chaos and confusion, walked a pretty, short
rlm@0: haired brunette. There wasn’t anything particularly surprising about
rlm@0: her. Not at first sight, at any rate. She could be any girl that went
rlm@0: to that school, though if you asked anyone, they would have to tell
rlm@0: you that there was something different about the girl. What exactly,
rlm@0: they couldn’t quite say. Except for one girl in specific. She could
rlm@0: answer any question imaginable about the brunette. And what made the
rlm@0: auburn haired girl stand out at the moment was that her arms were
rlm@0: entwined around one of the arms of a very pretty lavender haired
rlm@0: girl. This lavender haired girl was the one that could, indeed, read
rlm@0: the brunette like a well-written novel. 
rlm@0: 	Talking about the day, Sakura and Tomoyo made their way through the
rlm@0: moving throng of students, not seeming to notice the crowd
rlm@0: encompassing them. Stormy blue eyes sparkled in heartfelt joy as they
rlm@0: gazed lovingly into genki emerald gems. Those eyes didn’t see the
rlm@0: flurry of students around them, only seeing the energetic young woman
rlm@0: by her side. And that made the hectic evening all the more enjoyable.
rlm@0: Her free hand went to her cheek as she let out a soft sigh. Sakura’s
rlm@0: cute voice played through her mind like beautiful music. As if
rlm@0: sitting next to the auburn haired girl in class all day wasn’t
rlm@0: enough, this little touch of heaven certainly made her day. The two
rlm@0: continued along, completely oblivious to anyone around them.
rlm@0: 	“So I was thinking about trying out for the soccer team, but I’m
rlm@0: still not sure. It’s been so busy lately that I really don’t know if
rlm@0: I could fit it in. Especially with onii-chan gone. Dad and I had to
rlm@0: split the chores, so I haven’t had as much time after school,” Sakura
rlm@0: continued, still holding onto Tomoyo’s arm. The pale girl leaned
rlm@0: against her, bringing a smile to Sakura’s lips. Of course, Tomoyo
rlm@0: would know that she hadn’t had as much time since her brother had
rlm@0: moved out with Yukito. Tomoyo was there most of the time anyway,
rlm@0: keeping her company as she did her chores or cooked dinner. And
rlm@0: Tomoyo was even helping her with her cooking. It had obviously been
rlm@0: an improvement from some of her father’s compliments about her recent
rlm@0: dinners. She had Tomoyo to thank for that. So Tomoyo definitely knew
rlm@0: about her lack of time after school. But it didn’t seem like such a
rlm@0: bad thing. The pale girl was over more often than not and with Touya
rlm@0: gone it meant that she could enjoy their time together in peace
rlm@0: without the teasing he had given her upon finding out that she was
rlm@0: dating Tomoyo. 
rlm@0: 	“That would be so cute! I’m sure Sakura-chan would be their star
rlm@0: player. And I could go to all of your games and videotape you
rlm@0: playing. And then you could watch them to see how you played and to
rlm@0: get better,” Tomoyo replied, smiling sweetly at her Cardmistress.
rlm@0: Though she knew full well that she would most likely be the one
rlm@0: watching the videos, whether or not they could help Sakura’s game.
rlm@0: Sighing dreamily, she tilted her head to the side, her long,
rlm@0: currently braided hair spilling over their entwined arms. “I can see
rlm@0: it now; Sakura-chan bolting across the field like a streak of light,
rlm@0: looking stylish yet sporty in her team uniform. The crowd cheers as
rlm@0: Sakura-chan gets the ball, every single detail captured forever in
rlm@0: film by her loving koibito while her devoted fans pass out in ecstasy.”
rlm@0: 	Her face a bright shade of cherry red, Sakura stared at Tomoyo
rlm@0: before she began to sweatdrop. She had the distinct feeling as of
rlm@0: late that Tomoyo had been trying harder to embarrass her. It had been
rlm@0: easy for the dark haired girl to embarrass her as a child, but now
rlm@0: that they had been dating, Sakura had grown used to some of the
rlm@0: things Tomoyo said and what she meant by them. So lately she was
rlm@0: certain that her pale girlfriend had been going further to bring a
rlm@0: blush to her cheeks. “Tomoyo-chan...” she got out, a hand behind her
rlm@0: head as she laughed weakly. "I don’t really think it would be like
rlm@0: that.”
rlm@0: 	Giggling softly, Tomoyo led the way to the waiting limousine. Her
rlm@0: bodyguards held the doors open for the pair as they approached. She
rlm@0: would have preferred to walk, simply to spend the warm day by
rlm@0: Sakura’s side, but her house was a bit far for that. With Sakura’s
rlm@0: father out for another convention and no Touya to take care of his
rlm@0: only daughter, Tomoyo’s mother had been eager to have Sakura over.
rlm@0: The Daidouji women were both equally thrilled to have Sakura spending
rlm@0: the next few days. Sonomi had made sure that she could get off early
rlm@0: that night to spend some time with her daughter and the child of her
rlm@0: deceased love. She and Tomoyo would be making dinner for the three of
rlm@0: them. Tomoyo was happy to see her mother enjoying Sakura’s presence
rlm@0: nearly as much as she did, but it was nice to know that they would
rlm@0: have some time alone as well. She already had some ideas for that.
rlm@0: After all, it was nice to plan things out ahead of time. Sakura was
rlm@0: impulsive, leaping into whatever happened, but Tomoyo liked things to
rlm@0: go slowly and smoothly. Not that she didn’t love Sakura’s
rlm@0: impulsiveness, only that she liked to temper it with her thorough
rlm@0: planning at times. Smiling brightly at the brunette, Tomoyo replied.
rlm@0: “I think Sakura-chan would make an adorable soccer player. I can come
rlm@0: over and help out more if Sakura-chan would like, but I think you
rlm@0: should have enough time for it as it is. And it would be exciting to
rlm@0: go to all of Sakura-chan’s games.”
rlm@0: 	“Tomoyo-chan...” Sakura whispered softly as she rested her head on
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s shoulder. Her cheeks flushed faintly, her eyes closing
rlm@0: slightly as she leaned against the slightly smaller girl. A bright
rlm@0: smile crossed her lips as they slipped into the limousine. The pale
rlm@0: girl was always so perceptive about things. And Sakura was always
rlm@0: glad to follow her advice. Thinking back to the little board that
rlm@0: held her chores back home, Sakura tried to think if she would have
rlm@0: the time to be on the soccer team even without Tomoyo’s help. Her
rlm@0: flush grew a little brighter as the image of Tomoyo in a maid’s
rlm@0: costume filled her mind. The last time Tomoyo had come over to help
rlm@0: her out, she had dressed up in a cute maid’s outfit. Of her own
rlm@0: design, as always. So maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing even if
rlm@0: she did need her girlfriend’s help. The eccentric heiress’s costume
rlm@0: fetish (and video fetish and just general Sakura fetish for that
rlm@0: matter) certainly made things... interesting. “Un, I think I’ll try
rlm@0: out for it on Thursday, then. I really do think it would be fun. I
rlm@0: haven’t had the chance to really do anything like that since I was on
rlm@0: the swim team last year,” Sakura said with a smile. 
rlm@0: 	“Sugoi!!” came Tomoyo’s reply. She would have clasped her hands
rlm@0: together, but Sakura still held sole possession of her right arm.
rlm@0: Instead, she began to run her pale finger’s through Sakura’s short,
rlm@0: firey hair. “I’ll be sure to show up with a fresh videotape after
rlm@0: classes on Thursday. I don’t want to miss a second of ‘Sakura-chan’s
rlm@0: Soccer Advance’,” Tomoyo declared. The limousine began it’s path home
rlm@0: while Tomoyo’s fingers made themselves at home in Sakura’s hair. She
rlm@0: let a delicious sigh escape her lips as she felt the soft strands
rlm@0: under her fingertips, marveling at the feeling of Sakura’s strong,
rlm@0: athletic body pressed against her side. She smiled exquisitely,
rlm@0: kissing Sakura’s forehead. After a second, she kissed it again, and
rlm@0: again, all the while moving slowly lower, over her eyelids, down the
rlm@0: bridge of her nose, sweetly caressing her cheek with kisses.
rlm@0: 	Sakura blushed faintly at Tomoyo’s kisses, but didn’t move to
rlm@0: distance herself from them. Her lavender haired best friend had such
rlm@0: soft, sensuous lips. It felt blissful to have them against her. It
rlm@0: was nice to know that, as always, she had Tomoyo’s love and support
rlm@0: behind her. It made the decision to try out for the soccer team much
rlm@0: easier for her. Blinking in confusion, the auburn haired Mistress of
rlm@0: the Cards looked up to the mistress of her heart. “’Sakura-chan’s
rlm@0: Soccer Advance’?” Sakura asked curiously, a thin eyebrow raising.
rlm@0: 	“Of course. I like to have titles ahead of time when I can, but
rlm@0: most of the time you can’t predict what’s going to happen, so I just
rlm@0: wait until afterwards. So this is more of a working title. It’s
rlm@0: because Sakura-chan will surely advance through the other girls to
rlm@0: become the best soccer player on the team. Just like you were the
rlm@0: best on the cheerleading team and the drama club and the swim team,”
rlm@0: Tomoyo explained, kissing down Sakura’s left cheek as she paused.
rlm@0: “Though I may use ‘Sakura-chan, Race for the Goal!’ I’ll have to see
rlm@0: how it turns out,” Tomoyo said thoughtfully. The heiress smiled
rlm@0: sweetly and tilted her head to the side at Sakura’s puzzled
rlm@0: expression. The Cardmistress was just too pretty for her own good.
rlm@0: Just being with her, talking to her, the lavender haired heiress
rlm@0: could feel her love growing stronger and stronger.
rlm@0: 	Sweatdropping, Sakura shifted in her seat, still holding onto
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s arm. “Tomoyo-chan, I think you’re the only one who would
rlm@0: think that. I really wasn’t even all that good at Drama Club.
rlm@0: Besides, that was your idea.” Drama Club had been... difficult. With
rlm@0: so many lines to memorize, it had been almost overwhelming for the
rlm@0: poor auburn haired girl. She found it much easier to memorize
rlm@0: routines or warm ups rather than to force script into her mind. But
rlm@0: Tomoyo had helped her through it with every play she had been in that
rlm@0: year. Sakura never saw Tomoyo memorizing her own lines, but the pale
rlm@0: girl always seemed to know them by heart. Tomoyo had thought it would
rlm@0: be fun to join the club together so they could both join a club that
rlm@0: year. And even if it had been exhausting, it had also been a lot of
rlm@0: fun at times, especially practicing her lines with the lavender
rlm@0: haired girl. 
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo smiled and shook her head briefly. “No, I don’t think so.
rlm@0: I’m sure I could find someone to agree with me. Like mother. And even
rlm@0: if I couldn’t, I think you were the best in all of those things and
rlm@0: more. To me, you are.” Sure, Sakura would drop her baton at times.
rlm@0: Sure, she would miss a line or two. Sure, she sometimes forgot to
rlm@0: stretch before swimming. But she had always tried her hardest. And
rlm@0: Tomoyo had always found that trait to be one of Sakura’s most
rlm@0: endearing. 
rlm@0: 	Blushing slightly, Sakura felt some of Tomoyo’s gorgeous lavender
rlm@0: hair brush past her cheek as Tomoyo watched her intently, her face
rlm@0: mere inches away. “But that’s because you love me,” Sakura whispered
rlm@0: at last, her cheeks still tinted pink. Tomoyo’s hair smelled
rlm@0: wonderful, and the silky strands caressed her cheek with the same
rlm@0: gentleness of the other girl’s pale fingers. 
rlm@0: 	“And I always will,” Tomoyo whispered in reply. She could feel
rlm@0: Sakura’s arms loosen around her right arm before pulling away
rlm@0: altogether. She simply watched the beautiful brunette, smiling softly
rlm@0: at her. She gasped softly as Sakura’s arms went around her waist, the
rlm@0: distance between them disappearing before Tomoyo could even tell that
rlm@0: it was gone. Motioning with her free hand for the driver to circle
rlm@0: the block a few times before they got home, Tomoyo returned the kiss.
rlm@0: As always, Sakura was the most potent, intoxicating drug she could
rlm@0: think of. And Tomoyo was happy to lose herself to the affects the
rlm@0: brunette caused in her heart. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Just a little behind Sakura and Tomoyo, another brunette left the
rlm@0: school. This one, too, had a dark haired girl in their personal
rlm@0: space. This dark haired girl was clinging to her perspective love
rlm@0: interest like a vice. The object of her affections, however, wore a
rlm@0: deep scowl. Syaoran frowned as he watched Sakura and Tomoyo leave
rlm@0: school arm in arm, giggling like... like... like schoolgirls! He had
rlm@0: only recently returned, but already things weren’t exactly turning
rlm@0: his way. Sakura and that Daidouji girl were inseparable as of late.
rlm@0: What with Meiling having shown up only a few days before, it made
rlm@0: things much more difficult. Sakura seemed to be ignoring her
rlm@0: affections, which was only made worse by the fact that Meiling was
rlm@0: almost always there. It made it impossible for him to get to the
rlm@0: bottom of the situation. How could he ask Sakura what was going on if
rlm@0: his fiance was right by his side? But now he would find out what was
rlm@0: going on. He found it strange that Sakura was heading home in a
rlm@0: limousine. She usually rollerbladed or walked back to her home. So
rlm@0: was she even heading back there? Why would she be going to the
rlm@0: Daidouji girl’s house anyway? On a school night, of all nights?
rlm@0: “So what should we do tonight, Syaoran? I was thinking that I could
rlm@0: make some dinner and we can let Wei relax for a bit. Then it can be
rlm@0: just you and me. And maybe some candlelight. And then...” Meiling
rlm@0: trailed off, not noticing her fiance’s nearly constant scowl or the
rlm@0: direction of her thoughts, too lost in her own plans for the night.
rlm@0: “Who knows after that. Maybe we could just talk for a while. I can
rlm@0: wear that little red dress I bought with me and you can wear that
rlm@0: cute blue shirt that I bought you a little while back.” Her finger
rlm@0: began trailing in circles on Syaoran’s back as they walked forward.
rlm@0: She had been rather pissed off to find that Syaoran had disappeared
rlm@0: back to Japan for reasons unknown, but now that she was with her
rlm@0: beloved again, she felt her anger slipping away. Did it matter where
rlm@0: they were as long as they were there together? Syaoran needed her to
rlm@0: take care of him at any rate and now she was here to do it. Besides,
rlm@0: he’d just get himself into trouble on his own.
rlm@0: “Meiling... Come on, stop it,” Syaoran said, trying not to blush as
rlm@0: he watched the limousine pull off. This was exactly why he had wanted
rlm@0: to go on his own. He didn’t want to hurt Meiling. She was important
rlm@0: to him. She was most likely his best friend. She was the only person
rlm@0: that he really spent a lot of time with, that really knew him. He
rlm@0: didn’t want to hurt her over his feelings for Sakura. And with how
rlm@0: she had always made especially sure to mark Syaoran as her property,
rlm@0: that made it much more difficult to reach Sakura. How could he when
rlm@0: everyone at the school already knew he was Meiling’s? A sigh escaped
rlm@0: his lips as he watched the limo speeding into the distance. He
rlm@0: finally did blush as he felt Meiling’s supple body pressing tightly
rlm@0: into his side, his cousin and fiance trying to snag his attention.
rlm@0: Meiling had certainly blossomed in recent years, but he had a hard
rlm@0: time seeing her as anything other than the little cousin that had
rlm@0: always followed him around. Kneeling down both to pick up something
rlm@0: he had spotted and to get away from Meiling’s tight grip for a
rlm@0: second, Syaoran pulled up a small piece of paper he had seen fall
rlm@0: away from Tomoyo’s bookbag. It was a simple sketch of Sakura, but it
rlm@0: was stunning. It looked so real. Tomoyo’s artistic eye and years of
rlm@0: drawing costume designs for Sakura had apparently paid off. 
rlm@0: 	“Wow... She’s good,” Meiling commented, her chin on Syaoran’s
rlm@0: shoulder. The boy blushed and tried to stand up, but she held him in
rlm@0: place with strength gained from a lot of time spent getting out her
rlm@0: frustration over the boy she loved while training in the martial
rlm@0: arts. “I guess Tomoyo finally decided that she couldn’t beat me in
rlm@0: singing so she should find another talent.” The black haired girl
rlm@0: nodded thoughtfully. “Good for her. It’s good to see her with
rlm@0: something to fall back on.” Smiling as she held her hands on
rlm@0: Syaoran’s shoulders, she finally allowed the boy to stand, her arms
rlm@0: wrapping around his waist as soon as he did. Yeah, it didn’t matter
rlm@0: if he did something silly like running back to Tomoeda. She could
rlm@0: forgive him. After all, she did love him. Just so long as he didn’t
rlm@0: do anything that stupid again. 
rlm@0: 	“I have to find out what’s going on,” Syaoran said, more for his
rlm@0: own benefit than anyone else’s. His scowl returned as he watched the
rlm@0: direction Sakura had disappeared in. Just what had happened? Why
rlm@0: hadn’t Sakura jumped into his arms already? Why would she rather
rlm@0: spend her time with the Daidouji girl than with him? Had he done
rlm@0: something wrong? He’d find out what was going on. He was tired of
rlm@0: playing games. He would know before the night was through. Crumpling
rlm@0: up the sketch of Sakura in his fist, he stuffed it in his pocket. 
rlm@0: 	Meiling blinked in confusion. “Huh? What’s going on with what?” She
rlm@0: stared at Syaoran for a moment, following his gaze. Why was the
rlm@0: Chinese boy so out of it lately? He seemed so distant, like he was
rlm@0: always busy with other things. He amber eyes followed to the distant
rlm@0: horizon. “Ohhh… You mean with Sakura.” The black haired girl’s eyes
rlm@0: narrowed as she held onto her fiance tighter. She really needed to
rlm@0: put an end to this whole Sakura thing. And soon. “I’d think that
rlm@0: would be obvious,” she said nonchalantly. “It’s not like it came as a
rlm@0: huge surprise, at any rate. I mean, Tomoyo always was pretty
rlm@0: eccentric about her.”
rlm@0: 	Frowning, Syaoran turned around in Meiling’s grasp, pulling away.
rlm@0: “And what’s that supposed to mean?” He didn’t like the sound of this.
rlm@0: Or where it was going. But apparently Meiling didn’t like his tone,
rlm@0: because her gaze grew frosty as she crossed her arms. He tried not to
rlm@0: shudder at her piercing gaze, instead letting his hot anger warm him. 
rlm@0: 	“It means that Tomoyo’s with Sakura now. Guess you weren’t Sakura’s
rlm@0: type. Not that it’s any of your concern. I am your fiance, after
rlm@0: all.” Meiling shrugged, tossing a pigtail back over her shoulder.
rlm@0: Tomoyo had been in much the same situation that she had been in, so
rlm@0: it hadn’t been too difficult to see who the lavender haired girl’s
rlm@0: heart belonged to. Actually, by now most of the class should be able
rlm@0: to tell that with little or no difficulty. Upon returning and seeing
rlm@0: that her counterpart seemed to have managed to capture the heart of
rlm@0: the Cardmistress, Meiling had been overjoyed. If Sakura was with the
rlm@0: eccentric pale girl, then she certainly couldn’t get in the martial
rlm@0: artist’s way. Unfortunately, everyone but Syaoran seemed to be happy
rlm@0: with this turn of events.
rlm@0: 	“That’s a lie!” Syaoran shot out angrily. He was not about to be
rlm@0: beaten out by some... some girl! And some weak little crazy girl at
rlm@0: that. He was Li Syaoran, heir to the venerable House of Li, and a
rlm@0: powerful magician at that. That some magic-less, frail, soft spoken
rlm@0: girl could beat him to the heart of the one he loved was
rlm@0: inconceivable. It just couldn’t happen. Besides, Meiling was always
rlm@0: like this. She was just trying to ruin things with Sakura so that he
rlm@0: would have to stay with her. Part of him felt ashamed for writing off
rlm@0: Meiling so quickly, but his mind couldn’t accept her words as
rlm@0: anything but vicious lies. There had to be some other reason that
rlm@0: Sakura was spending so much time with the Diadouji girl instead of
rlm@0: him. 
rlm@0: 	Meiling stared at the brown haired boy incredulously. “What did you
rlm@0: say?” she asked in surprise. Her eyes narrowed in fury as she looked
rlm@0: into his own amber eyes. “You did come scurrying back here to the
rlm@0: Cardmistress, didn’t you?! You were going to try and slip out right
rlm@0: under my nose just so you wouldn’t have to marry me! You’re so stuck
rlm@0: on that bitch that you’ve blinded yourself to the truth. You won’t
rlm@0: let yourself see anything you don’t want to.” By now, a few of the
rlm@0: remaining students had begun to stare, but the black haired Chinese
rlm@0: girl could care less about them. She was furious. No, it wasn’t just
rlm@0: that. She was hurt. Her heart had belonged to Syaoran for so long,
rlm@0: had been his and his alone, but he discarded it at the first
rlm@0: opportunity. All for some naïve Japanese girl. It hurt so much to
rlm@0: know that the one she loved could so easily toss her aside. Tears
rlm@0: threatened to spill from her amber eyes, but her anger held them in
rlm@0: check. For the time being. 
rlm@0: 	“I’m going to find out for myself. I’ll prove that’s not how it is.
rlm@0: Sakura-chan wouldn’t do that.” Syaoran was holding onto his last hope
rlm@0: now. He was trying desperately to hold onto the belief that Meiling
rlm@0: was lying, that it had all just been a mean spirited way of keeping
rlm@0: him with her. But doubts started to creep in to his mind little by
rlm@0: little. Whirling away from his cousin, the Chinese sorcerer leapt
rlm@0: into the nearby trees. He had to find Sakura. He had to find out what
rlm@0: was happening.
rlm@0: 	“Syaoran!! I’m not done with you yet!” Meiling called after him,
rlm@0: her fists balling up as she leapt into the trees behind him. She was
rlm@0: going to put an end to this once and for all. If he was going to be
rlm@0: so stubborn, she’d walk into the damn room and snap some photos of
rlm@0: the two girls doing who knows what just to get him to drop it. And
rlm@0: then he would never hear the end of all of this, especially making
rlm@0: her travel all the way to Japan so he could try to get with someone
rlm@0: else. Hmm... Perhaps there would be a slight change of plans. It sure
rlm@0: sounded a lot more worthwhile to just kill him.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	It was dark by the time Syaoran finally reached the expansive
rlm@0: Daidouji estate. He had only been there a handful of times and that
rlm@0: had been years before. The large gate enclosed a huge, elegant home
rlm@0: that rivaled even the Li estate. It was ironic that such a home was
rlm@0: only for two people, a woman and her daughter. And one of them was
rlm@0: rarely home to begin with. Syaoran didn’t count the maids and
rlm@0: servants as actually living there, since they weren’t a part of the
rlm@0: family proper. They had plenty of them back at his own home in China.
rlm@0: They were a symbol of one’s status, hired to maintain one’s life when
rlm@0: they were too busy with more important things to do so. Of course,
rlm@0: Wei didn’t fit this description in his mind. The man had helped to
rlm@0: raise him, had taken care of him during his time in Japan. The older
rlm@0: man had been a respected elder that he could think of warmly without
rlm@0: the same fear that his mother had instilled in him. The Chinese boy
rlm@0: wondered idly if Tomoyo had a similar surrogate guardian what with
rlm@0: her mother gone so often, but he decided that he had more important
rlm@0: things to worry about. 
rlm@0: 	Amber eyes glanced at the front gate that sealed off the vast
rlm@0: household. Going through the gate wasn’t an option. He had to get in
rlm@0: quietly, sneaking to Sakura to find out just what was going on. If he
rlm@0: just confronted them, they’d probably give him some stupid excuse.
rlm@0: The fact that he was too shy to actually demand Sakura tell him
rlm@0: didn’t cross his mind. He wouldn’t allow such thoughts to linger. He
rlm@0: was Li Syaoran, the next head of the House of Li, a sorcerer who had
rlm@0: helped... He winced a bit at that thought. Helped. He had helped
rlm@0: Sakura. He hadn’t been good enough to handle the situation on his
rlm@0: own. Letting a little anger seep into his mind helped him to focus.
rlm@0: It gave him something to hold onto. Yes, he was mad that he had come
rlm@0: back here for the sake of his love, Sakura, and had found her
rlm@0: spending all of her time with the Daidouji girl. He deserved an
rlm@0: explanation. He had spent years waiting for this time to see her
rlm@0: again, when he could again be with the Cardmistress. 
rlm@0: 	Ducking around the side, Syaoran tried not to make a noise as he
rlm@0: heard one of Tomoyo’s bodyguards approaching. This might not be as
rlm@0: easy as he thought. But he had to find out what was going on, no
rlm@0: matter what lay in his path. ‘Sakura-chan’s determination sparkles
rlm@0: like the stars above,’ her heard from deep within his memories. Who
rlm@0: had said that? It was a soft, sweet voice. The Daidouji girl. Well,
rlm@0: he would prove that he could be just as determined as Sakura. He
rlm@0: would prove that he deserved the brunette. She would fly into his
rlm@0: arms just like he had imagined these last few years when he would lie
rlm@0: in bed, ever since he had left back to Hong Kong. He had confessed
rlm@0: his feelings to Sakura before he had left. And she had felt the same,
rlm@0: hadn’t she? She still felt that way for him, didn’t she? Panic began
rlm@0: to eat at him, but he burnt it away by drudging up more anger. A
rlm@0: scowl crossed his face as he waited for the bodyguard to leave. He
rlm@0: could hear her by the gate, obviously glancing around, dressed in a
rlm@0: black business suit, he was sure. Finally, briskly, the woman walked
rlm@0: away calling someone on her cell phone. Letting out a sigh of relief,
rlm@0: Syaoran let himself relax. But angry amber eyes burned holes into his
rlm@0: own, startling the poor boy before he could regain his composure.
rlm@0: “Meiling!!” 
rlm@0: 	The Chinese girl clenched her fist as she glared at her misbehaving
rlm@0: fiance. “Why are we here, Syaoran? And you better have a good
rlm@0: reason.” This was Tomoyo’s house, she was fairly certain. And sense
rlm@0: she knew that Syaoran held no interest in the pale girl, she knew
rlm@0: what he was here for. Sakura. And that thought brought with it a
rlm@0: meteor shower of jealousy in the black haired girl. She was his
rlm@0: fiance, not the Cardmistress. She was the one that loved him, not
rlm@0: that dense and overly cheerful girl. She felt hurt and disappointed
rlm@0: that he would come running to her the first chance he got. Syaoran
rlm@0: had grown closer to her in the past couple years. They spent so much
rlm@0: time together, had been spending more and more together ever since
rlm@0: Syaoran’s return to Hong Kong. They had shared several romantic times
rlm@0: together, and had even kissed. Meiling had been thrilled. It was all
rlm@0: she had ever wanted, being with the man she loved. But now he was
rlm@0: running away from that, treating her like some type of door prize.
rlm@0: She would feel cold and sad about the whole thing, but she had cried
rlm@0: for him once too often over the years, burying her head in her pillow
rlm@0: when she knew she was all alone. Now she just felt like beating some
rlm@0: sense into him and dragging him back home.
rlm@0: 	‘Ko.. Kowaii...’ Syaoran thought to himself, backed against the
rlm@0: wall as Meiling’s gaze began to bore through him. ‘She’s almost as
rlm@0: frightening as mother.’ The Chinese boy quickly got himself back in
rlm@0: control, his eyes narrowing as he stepped away from the wall. He
rlm@0: shouldn’t be scared of his younger cousin. He was a man now, not just
rlm@0: some little boy. Even if Meiling was a little scary sometimes, it
rlm@0: wasn’t like she could do anything. He was the one in charge of all
rlm@0: this. He’d just have to explain that he loved Sakura and that their
rlm@0: engagement was off. Later. He’d explain it later. He looked away from
rlm@0: the black haired girl, busying himself with looking at the wall for a
rlm@0: way in. A twinge of guilt passed through him at the thought of ending
rlm@0: his engagement to Meiling. She had been there for him sense they had
rlm@0: been children, had been there for him back when he would cry after
rlm@0: meeting his mother’s cold disapproval, back before he had quit crying
rlm@0: altogether. Meiling had always been there for him, his best friend
rlm@0: and sometimes something more. She had been his first kiss, had
rlm@0: accompanied him dancing at all of the school activities back in Hong
rlm@0: Kong. She had never had a problem talking to him about anything. And
rlm@0: more over, she loved him. He knew that. It had only become more
rlm@0: apparent in recent years, growing stronger as she blossomed into
rlm@0: womanhood. And she had always been eager to shower that love upon
rlm@0: him. Sure, she frightened away all the other girls at school that
rlm@0: even looked his way, but it was sweet in its own way. He didn’t want
rlm@0: to hurt her. He never had. But he was in love with Sakura. He had
rlm@0: been for a while now. They were supposed to be together, not him and
rlm@0: Meiling. 
rlm@0: 	“I said, ‘You better have a good explanation for this’,” Meiling
rlm@0: repeated, her hands on her hips as she stared at Syaoran’s back. She
rlm@0: thought she saw the boy shudder visibly at the tone of her voice and
rlm@0: allowed herself a small, quick grin. All that time around Ieran-sama
rlm@0: was paying off. Her aunt could be cold at times, especially to
rlm@0: Syaoran, but she sure seemed nicer to the girls in the family.
rlm@0: Syaoran’s older sisters were all very sweet and energetic, very
rlm@0: different from their little brother. Ieran had raised them very
rlm@0: differently from her son, the one who would one day head the Li Clan.
rlm@0: She even treated Meiling with a gentleness that she seldom afforded
rlm@0: the chestnut haired boy. Meiling didn’t hold the same fear for the
rlm@0: older woman that Syaoran did. She looked up to Ieran, the woman’s
rlm@0: beauty and grace something that she hoped she could one day have
rlm@0: herself.  She had one day asked Ieran about why things were so
rlm@0: different when the older woman’s words had obviously cut into Syaoran
rlm@0: deeply. The black haired girl respected Ieran deeply, but she
rlm@0: couldn’t stand to see the boy she loved hurting so. She had expected
rlm@0: a cold admonishment for her disrespect, but Ieran had remained silent
rlm@0: for a moment. She finally walked over to Meiling, brushing back the
rlm@0: younger girl’s black pigtails in a motherly gesture. She said that as
rlm@0: his fiance, Meiling had a right to be concerned about his wellbeing
rlm@0: like that. The head of the House of Li went on to explain that she
rlm@0: had to be hard on Syaoran, that as a boy, in Chinese culture, he
rlm@0: would be the next head of the Li Clan. She had to make him strong
rlm@0: enough to handle that. Meiling had seen what a huge burden it was for
rlm@0: Ieran and for the first time, she had actually feared for Syaoran’s
rlm@0: eventual rise to the head of the House of Li. Such a burden on the
rlm@0: man she loved... But she had quickly replied to Ieran that Syaoran
rlm@0: would certainly be able to handle it and any other hardships that
rlm@0: came his way. Heading for the door, she had been swift to add that
rlm@0: he’d be able to handle anything because she’d be there by his side.
rlm@0: So at least she knew why he feared his mother. But that didn’t mean
rlm@0: she couldn’t use it to her advantage from time to time. Especially
rlm@0: when he was being so... difficult. 
rlm@0: 	Ignoring Meiling, Syaoran leapt over the wall and landed as quietly
rlm@0: as he could on the other side. His black haired cousin was just
rlm@0: moments behind him. He could feel her ire growing. But he had to do
rlm@0: this. For his sake as well as Sakura’s. He needed to know what kind
rlm@0: of spell held Sakura in its grasp. Then he would ride to the rescue,
rlm@0: her prince come to save her. Then he would finally have his love. He
rlm@0: quickly darted past the neatly trimmed hedges, trying to keep his
rlm@0: presence from Tomoyo’s bodyguards. His amber eyes locked onto
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s open bedroom window. At least, he thought that was her room.
rlm@0: It had been so long ago that he couldn’t quite remember. Hoping that
rlm@0: his instincts were correct, her dashed in that direction, followed
rlm@0: closely by Meiling. The two reached the side of the house without
rlm@0: incident, trying to stay out of view. At least, Syaoran was. Meiling
rlm@0: stood with her hands on her hips, with that same ‘You owe me an
rlm@0: explanation’ look on her face. Syaoran scowled and waved her forward,
rlm@0: out of the line of sight of any passersby. But the Chinese girl stood
rlm@0: stubbornly where she was, her eyes never leaving him. Sighing in
rlm@0: frustration, Syaoran looked back up at her. “I’m here to see what’s
rlm@0: up with Sakura. She’s been acting strangely lately. Are you happy?” 
rlm@0: 	Not exactly pleased, but getting her explanation regardless,
rlm@0: Meiling ducked out of the way of prying eyes. “That’s not really your
rlm@0: problem anymore, Syaoran. I’m sure if anything’s wrong with Sakura,
rlm@0: Tomoyo will be the first to know.” She noticed Syaoran twitch at her
rlm@0: words, but she didn’t feel like tiptoeing around the subject for him
rlm@0: when he obviously didn’t care how she felt about this whole thing.
rlm@0: Smoothing down her skirt, she felt the soft grass tickle her legs as
rlm@0: she sat down, next to where Syaoran was crouching. An inner sigh
rlm@0: accompanied her shoulders slumping. She should have seen this coming,
rlm@0: what with him running off to Japan so suddenly and all. Part of her
rlm@0: had known, but she hadn’t wanted to believe it. How could he leave
rlm@0: her alone like that? After all of the beautiful times they had spent
rlm@0: together? She loved him so much. Why couldn’t he see that? All she
rlm@0: wanted was to marry him, to spend eternity with him. Why wasn’t she
rlm@0: good enough for him? It was always someone else. First that white
rlm@0: haired man and now this naïve little girl. She sighed exasperatedly,
rlm@0: blinking her eyes quickly to hide the tears that threatened. 
rlm@0: 	Gazing up to the open window, Syaoran tried to get a better view.
rlm@0: Was that the room? He couldn’t quite tell. Holding his breath, the
rlm@0: chestnut haired boy tried to listen for any sounds coming from the
rlm@0: room. He thought he heard something, but he couldn’t quite make it
rlm@0: out. It was soft, almost like mumbling. He strained harder to hear
rlm@0: who may be in the room, not wanting to stumble upon Tomoyo’s maids or
rlm@0: her bodyguards. A squeal escaped the open window, sending a bird
rlm@0: fluttering away. Syaoran sweatdropped, wondering just what was going
rlm@0: on up in the mystery room. Did Tomoyo have any pets? He couldn’t
rlm@0: remember. Tomoyo had just never been important enough for him to
rlm@0: remember anything about her. He knew she was one of Sakura’s friends
rlm@0: and that she liked to do crazy things like videotape her and that she
rlm@0: tried to get him to tell Sakura his feelings, but that was about the
rlm@0: extent of his knowledge on the Daidouji girl. But she had to have a
rlm@0: pet. That squeal had given that away. Though it didn’t sound entirely
rlm@0: animalistic. Crossing his arms, Syaoran arched his head to try to
rlm@0: take in more of the window while he pondered this situation. 
rlm@0: 	Meiling turned to look back at Syaoran, a curious look etched onto
rlm@0: her face. What had that been just now? It had sounded like a squeal,
rlm@0: but she could swear that it had been a girl’s voice. She could dimly
rlm@0: hear quiet murmurs again, but the sound didn’t reappear. Brushing
rlm@0: back a black pigtail, she waited. She wasn’t a big fan of waiting for
rlm@0: things to happen, such as her eventual wedding to Syaoran that she
rlm@0: would have been plenty happy to have had five years before, but she
rlm@0: could if the situation called to it. And besides, the scenery wasn’t
rlm@0: so bad. She smiled to herself as she watched Syaoran while silence
rlm@0: surrounded them. He really was cute. A frown crossed her lips. When
rlm@0: he wasn’t being such an asshole. She really hoped he’d get over this
rlm@0: soon so she could drag him back to Hong Kong so he could marry her.
rlm@0: The sooner, the better. Her ears suddenly perked up as she heard
rlm@0: another noise. This one was much more musical, the word filled with
rlm@0: emotion as it drifted down to her. 
rlm@0: 	“Sakura-chan!”
rlm@0: 	The Chinese sorcerer tensed as he heard Sakura’s name cried out.
rlm@0: “Sakura-chan...” Darting to a nearby tree, Syaoran struggled to get a
rlm@0: grip on it. Sakura was in trouble. She needed his help. He couldn’t
rlm@0: hear Sakura’s voice, so it had to be something horrible for the
rlm@0: usually quiet Daidouji girl to call out her name. Images of Sakura
rlm@0: passed out on the floor, injured, entered his head. He forced himself
rlm@0: further up the tree. Maybe she really was under some strange spell,
rlm@0: something that was hurting her and keeping her from him. ‘I’m on my
rlm@0: way, Sakura-chan,’ he thought determinedly.
rlm@0: 	Meiling’s eyes shot open in realization. Moving to her legs
rlm@0: instantly, she darted to her tree-climbing fiance. She knew exactly
rlm@0: what was going on. And she wasn’t about to let her Syaoran barge in
rlm@0: on that. Gripping his ankle, Meiling tried to drag the Chinese boy
rlm@0: down from the tree. “What are you doing? Get down from there, you
rlm@0: pervert!” she yelled at him, her voice only slightly hushed. Her
rlm@0: cheeks were tinted red as she heard more noises coming down from the
rlm@0: room. She certainly hadn’t expected to hear that while they were at
rlm@0: the Daidouji home. She and Syaoran hadn’t even... She blushed deeper
rlm@0: as she tried to get a better grasp on his leg, but she only succeeded
rlm@0: in pulling his shoe off. “Syaoran!!” she whispered harshly after him. 
rlm@0: 	Struggling up to the top of the tree, Syaoran started to climb out
rlm@0: along a limb. The sounds from inside had stopped a short time before,
rlm@0: back when his shoe had fallen off. It had been silent now for a
rlm@0: minute or two. Was the Daidouji girl hurt, too? What was in there? He
rlm@0: had to get to Sakura before it was too late. He didn’t have time to
rlm@0: deal with Meiling’s jealousy issues. A surge of magic shattered
rlm@0: Syaoran’s concentration. Sakura’s magic had increased significantly
rlm@0: since he had last seen her use it. The power was just mind blowing.
rlm@0: Syaoran barely gripped onto the branch, nearly having lost his
rlm@0: balance. So Sakura was still inside. Was she fighting someone? He
rlm@0: couldn’t feel anyone else’s magic. Just one of the Sakura Cards.
rlm@0: Sakura’s yelp caught his attention, his eyes moving up to the window.
rlm@0: His cheeks flushed a dark crimson as he saw Sakura. The brunette had
rlm@0: pink cat ears on and frilly matching stockings. Where the rest of
rlm@0: Sakura’s clothes had gone seemed to be a mystery. Near Sakura was the
rlm@0: Daidouji girl, her pale skin starkly contrasted with her long, dark
rlm@0: hair. She wore nothing, but looked no less elegant than Sakura with
rlm@0: her beautiful hair draped across her. Syaoran nearly lost his grip
rlm@0: again, leaves falling below as he scrambled for a purchase. His mind
rlm@0: tried desperately to make sense of the situation, anger and confusion
rlm@0: warring with his embarrassment. It didn’t look like they had seen
rlm@0: him. Then why had Sakura yelped? His eyes latched onto a large
rlm@0: chameleon-like animal that was running from Sakura. “What?” Syaoran
rlm@0: got out before realizing the creature was headed right his way.
rlm@0: Bracing himself on the tree branch, he caught the animal right as it
rlm@0: leapt towards him. He struggled to hold onto the tree branch with his
rlm@0: legs, but its momentum was too great. Without time to utter a curse,
rlm@0: he found himself falling from the tree.
rlm@0: 	“Syaoran!” Meiling got out, her eyes wide as the boy fell. With the
rlm@0: reflexes of the trained martial artist she was, she quickly got
rlm@0: beneath her cousin. She had been about to berate him about staring
rlm@0: into the window like that when she had suddenly seen him grow very
rlm@0: serious, as if ready to pounce on an attacker. Whatever had lunged at
rlm@0: him, he still held it in his grasp. Syaoran seemed to fall in slow
rlm@0: motion, but in retrospect it all felt blindingly fast. Meiling’s
rlm@0: heart skipped a beat as she watched her beloved plunge. Her arms
rlm@0: grabbed him tightly as he finally fell into her grasp. The sudden
rlm@0: weight made her stagger backwards. Her mind was on Syaoran, and not
rlm@0: on where her feet where going. She was about to ask him if he was all
rlm@0: right before she toppled backwards onto the grass, Syaoran crumpled
rlm@0: on top of her. She felt the animal’s tale moving against her stomach
rlm@0: as the Chinese sorcerer still held it fast. Before Meiling could open
rlm@0: her mouth, she felt her whole body freeze, energy trailing through
rlm@0: it. She felt a sudden grip around her, but it didn’t feel physical.
rlm@0: It was as if someone had snagged her soul. She tried to call out to
rlm@0: Syaoran, but nothing got out of her lips. 
rlm@0: 	And just as soon as it had begun, the strange feeling came to a
rlm@0: sudden conclusion. Meiling shifted around, disoriented by the strange
rlm@0: feeling. She could feel the animal writhing in her arms and
rlm@0: immediately let go. How did it make its way up to her? Her whole body
rlm@0: felt strange. But it didn’t hurt as much as it had a moment ago. It
rlm@0: felt as if something had broken her fall. “Syaoran!” she called out,
rlm@0: the Chinese boy quickly forcing his way to the forefront of her mind.
rlm@0: She struggled up into a sitting position when she felt him squirming
rlm@0: under her. How had they switched places? They must have rolled over
rlm@0: when that weird feeling passed through her. Her clothes suddenly felt
rlm@0: awkward on her body, every movement feeling wrong. ‘It must have been
rlm@0: the fall. I hope I didn’t hurt anything in it. But at least it was to
rlm@0: save Syaoran,’ she thought to herself. “Syaoran, are you okay?” she
rlm@0: asked gingerly, reaching out for her fiance. If he was hurt, she
rlm@0: wanted to make it all better. But her hand froze inches away from the
rlm@0: boy she had been reaching for. Amber eyes widened in surprise.
rlm@0: Sitting in front of her, wincing in pain as they sat up, she saw
rlm@0: herself. Black pigtails and amber eyes, rustled skirt showing off
rlm@0: more than Meiling would care too because of the awkward way the other
rlm@0: Meiling was sitting. Her fists whipped out like lightening bolts,
rlm@0: gripping either side of the imposter’s blouse as she pulled her
rlm@0: closer. “Where’s Syaoran!? What did you do with him?” she asked
rlm@0: angrily. 
rlm@0: 	Syaoran struggled to think clearly amidst the pain shooting up and
rlm@0: down his body. Meiling must’ve dropped him when she’d grabbed him,
rlm@0: because it certainly hurt. He’d felt something strange when he’d
rlm@0: gripped the odd little beast, but it had quickly gone away. His body
rlm@0: still felt strange, as if it weren’t his own, but it didn’t feel like
rlm@0: there was any permanent damage. He glanced around for Meiling to try
rlm@0: and see what shape she was in, but before he got a good look he was
rlm@0: being throttled back and forth. “Wha..? Meiling, what are you tal...”
rlm@0: His voice trailed off as he saw who was shaking him. He looked up and
rlm@0: saw himself. Suddenly, everything snapped into place. The chameleon
rlm@0: like creature, the strange feeling that had coursed through him as he
rlm@0: and Meiling had been pressed against it. He’d felt that before,
rlm@0: hadn’t he? “Oh no... The Change...” Syaoran’s eyes shot back up to
rlm@0: the window. His heart began to pound in his chest as panic really did
rlm@0: grip him this time. He remembered that the Change’s magic took a day
rlm@0: to recharge. There was no way he was going to spend a day like this.
rlm@0: This was worse than being the Seal Beast. He was a girl. His cousin.
rlm@0: Mortified, Syaoran struggled to his feet. The sudden realization of
rlm@0: his new body made the lack of something between his legs a horrifying
rlm@0: feeling as he stood up. He suddenly wasn’t quite as pleased with how
rlm@0: feminine Meiling’s body had grown in recent years. He still
rlm@0: remembered when they were children, when there had been little
rlm@0: difference in that regard. Why couldn’t this have happened back then? 
rlm@0: 	“And who might you be? Most of Tomoyo-sama’s friends use the
rlm@0: intercom at the gate,” a woman’s voice said. Syaoran and Meiling
rlm@0: turned to find two woman dressed entirely in black watching them. One
rlm@0: raised an eyebrow in slight amusement.
rlm@0: 	“Wait! You don’t understand!” Syaraon got out as he watched them
rlm@0: approach.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo walked towards the window, her lavender hair messily falling
rlm@0: past her shoulders, some draping across her front. “What was that?”
rlm@0: She asked curiously, jumping at the sound of her own voice. Shaking
rlm@0: her head, she reached the window. “There you are. You shouldn’t run
rlm@0: away like that. I can’t go chase you like this,” the pale girl
rlm@0: admonished gently. The chameleon-like Change Card simply nodded as it
rlm@0: sat on the windowsill. “You scared me when you took off like that.
rlm@0: But you’ll be good now, right?” A smile crossed her lips when she saw
rlm@0: the Card nod. “Good. Now go back to your normal form for now. And
rlm@0: thanks.” She added the last as little more than a whisper. Sighing,
rlm@0: she watched the Card return to its pink rectangular form in front of
rlm@0: her. Holding it in her hands, she gazed out the window at the
rlm@0: countless stars above. The little pinpricks of light looked like
rlm@0: countless diamonds spilt across the night sky. She hadn’t realized
rlm@0: how late it had gotten. But then, she usually did lose track of time
rlm@0: when she was with her best friend. It was just so easy to. Those
rlm@0: beautiful, sensuous eyes, her gentle touch, her musical voice... The
rlm@0: girl sighed again, her shoulders slumping. How did she let herself
rlm@0: get talked into this? Arms wrapped around her shoulders as she felt
rlm@0: an athletic body pull against her back. A dark blush spread across
rlm@0: her cheeks and down her neck as she felt a soft kiss behind her ear. 
rlm@0: 	“Sakura-chan is so good with the Cards. They trust you even when
rlm@0: you aren’t Sakura-chan,” the brunette commented, giggling softly. So
rlm@0: this is what it felt like to be Sakura. It was such a strange feeling
rlm@0: to be in her energetic girlfriend’s body. It was much more athletic
rlm@0: than her own, though not quite as graceful. But Tomoyo loved every
rlm@0: second of it. Not simply for the thrill of seeing Sakura in the
rlm@0: mirror, but because it was such an intimate thing to share with
rlm@0: Sakura. It was something most people could never do, that most never
rlm@0: would do. It was a clear sign of trust, to be able to switch places
rlm@0: like that, to share the other’s body. It was such a fun little thing
rlm@0: to do, to be able to delve so deeply into Sakura this way. It would
rlm@0: certainly let her test her knowledge on Sakura the next day at
rlm@0: school. Not that she'd probably put much of it to use. She’d much
rlm@0: rather follow along her beloved, even if Sakura was in her own body.
rlm@0: It certainly made things interesting. Tomoyo had wanted to try this
rlm@0: for a while, ever since she had learned that Syaoran had switched
rlm@0: with Kero so many years before. It sounded like the perfect way to
rlm@0: get even closer to Sakura, to switch bodies with her. It was like a
rlm@0: lover’s game of pretend. What better way to get closer than to
rlm@0: actually be the other? Of course, Sakura had been pretty embarrassed
rlm@0: about the idea. She still was from the blush Tomoyo could see, which
rlm@0: stood out quite clearly on her pale skin. She’d finally described it
rlm@0: as similar to the costumes, that it would be like Sakura putting on a
rlm@0: Tomoyo costume for a while. Sakura had finally agreed with some
rlm@0: gentle prodding from Tomoyo, and they now found themselves in a very
rlm@0: different way than they ever had before. Tomoyo sighed happily as she
rlm@0: hugged the pale girl in her arms, kissing behind her ear again. 
rlm@0: 	“Tomoyo-chan...” Sakura whispered in reply, blushing deeper.
rlm@0: Nonetheless, she slowly let herself relax into Tomoyo’s embrace. It
rlm@0: felt strange, but nice. Tomoyo was always so soft, almost seeming
rlm@0: delicate. It felt different to have her own body against her. Her
rlm@0: athletic frame wasn’t quite as soft as Tomoyo’s, though the girl’s
rlm@0: gentle touch remained the same as it had always been. This whole
rlm@0: situation had Sakura feeling very confused. She was in Tomoyo’s body,
rlm@0: inside the pale girl in a way she had never imagined. Meanwhile,
rlm@0: Tomoyo was in her own body and with the closeness in proximity,
rlm@0: Sakura couldn’t forget that for a second. She shifted a long, pale
rlm@0: leg as she felt the frills of the stockings Tomoyo was now wearing
rlm@0: against the back of her thigh. She turned around against, Tomoyo,
rlm@0: still shocked to see her own face looking back at her. It was her own
rlm@0: face, but it looked so different. She could see Tomoyo’s warm smile
rlm@0: etched into it, her emerald eyes sparkling lovingly. She shivered at
rlm@0: the sight. Her heart skipped a beat. Seeing Tomoyo like that, even in
rlm@0: her own body, sent warm ripples through her heart. Leaning forward,
rlm@0: she kissed the newly christened brunette, feeling her own arms go
rlm@0: around Tomoyo’s waist. It felt bizarre to be kissing herself, to feel
rlm@0: short brunette hair teasing her now longer dark hair. But she could
rlm@0: feel the eccentric girl’s slow, sweet kisses. Even if the body was
rlm@0: different, that was still the same. And it slowly sent sparks through
rlm@0: Sakura as they continued to slowly kiss each other. Tomoyo melted
rlm@0: against her at the kiss, the two ending up on their knees, kissing
rlm@0: again and again on the floor. Sakura felt herself shudder again when
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s fingers began brushing through her now long, lavender hair.
rlm@0: She had always loved Tomoyo’s hair. It was always so gorgeous, no
rlm@0: matter what style Tomoyo had it in. Feeling it against her shoulders
rlm@0: and down her back, feeling Tomoyo’s hands running through it, it was
rlm@0: a very intense feeling. She had to remember to play with Tomoyo’s
rlm@0: hair more often when they switched back. 
rlm@0: 	The currently brunette heiress sighed inwardly. This was even
rlm@0: better than she’d imagined. The chance to be with Sakura like this,
rlm@0: to be together so completely, to share her own body, it was all just
rlm@0: overwhelming. And Sakura still looked so cute. She still had that
rlm@0: same genki energy in her eyes, that same sweet look on her face that
rlm@0: Sakura always got when they kissed. It was heavenly. Her hands went
rlm@0: down across Sakura’s shoulders, savoring the feeling of Sakura
rlm@0: shivering against her hands. Kissing herself may have been strange,
rlm@0: but seeing Sakura underneath it all pushed her further and further.
rlm@0: Her tongue slowly brushed against Sakura’s as the two held each
rlm@0: other, kneeling. There was something very magical about this whole
rlm@0: thing, just seeing Sakura in her own body being enough to play with
rlm@0: the strings of Tomoyo’s heart. It was so cute to see Sakura trying to
rlm@0: get used to the longer hair, the different body. The heiress knew
rlm@0: that with Sakura’s determination, she would get it down before too
rlm@0: long. She may not make a perfect Tomoyo no matter how long she was
rlm@0: stuck in that body, but that didn’t matter. She made a perfect Sakura
rlm@0: even if she didn’t look like Sakura. Her toes curled up in the
rlm@0: stockings as she felt Sakura’s tongue stroking back against hers and
rlm@0: let herself sigh into the kiss. Yes, this was fantastic. 
rlm@0: 	“Tomoyo-chan,” Sakura got out after several moments of silence. The
rlm@0: two sat together in the dark room, the starlight filtering in through
rlm@0: the open window. Sakura’s arms were still around Tomoyo’s waist,
rlm@0: curiously following the different feel of the muscles under the skin.
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s hands were still on her shoulders, her delicate touch moving
rlm@0: slowly down Sakura’s shoulders and to her back, brushing through the
rlm@0: lavender hair as she went. Sakura inhaled deeply at the feeling. It
rlm@0: always felt wonderful when Tomoyo would play with her hair, but this
rlm@0: was even better. Her fingers running through the silky strands felt
rlm@0: lovely. It was still strange to be gazing lovingly into emerald eyes
rlm@0: instead of lavender ones, but she could feel the love in them
rlm@0: directed at her with the same passion that she could always remember
rlm@0: in Tomoyo’s eyes. “Isn’t this.. a little awkward?” she asked at last.
rlm@0: She shook her head quickly, marveling at the way her long hair moved
rlm@0: with her head. Maybe she should try long hair when she was in her own
rlm@0: body again. Her mind tried to formulate what she wanted to say. Of
rlm@0: course it was awkward, but so were some of the other things they had
rlm@0: done before. Her face flushed in remembrance of some of the costumes
rlm@0: Tomoyo had made for her that only the two of them ever saw. She
rlm@0: hadn’t known Tomoyo could make something so cute out of leather.
rlm@0: Shaking her head again, Sakura fought to remain focussed on the task
rlm@0: at hand. She could tell that Tomoyo was delighting in her blush and
rlm@0: that just made her blush deeper. “Isn’t this a little too strange? I
rlm@0: love being so close to you, but you’re looking at yourself, not at me.”
rlm@0: 	Shaking her head, the brunette heiress dismissed the idea. So was
rlm@0: that what Sakura was worried about? Oh, her poor Cardmistress.
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s hand went to Sakura’s cheek, brushing it lightly with her
rlm@0: fingertips. She smiled softly, watching the pale Cardmistress. “Of
rlm@0: course not, Sakura-chan. I see my body, but I don’t see me. It’s not
rlm@0: like looking into the mirror. I see Sakura-chan when I look at you.
rlm@0: Not the brunette, athletic girl I’m in now, but Sakura-chan herself.
rlm@0: I see your mannerisms in everything you do. I see you in how you move
rlm@0: your hands.” Tomoyo trailed off for a second as she took one of
rlm@0: Sakura’s hands and brought it to her mouth, kissing it. “I see it in
rlm@0: your eyes.” She leaned forward, kissing Sakura’s eyelids. “I see it
rlm@0: in your cute little smile.” Tomoyo’s lips brushed Sakura’s as she
rlm@0: leaned forward, giving her a soft but sweet kiss. “I see my body, but
rlm@0: I see Sakura-chan. It’s like you’re trussed up in a new costume for
rlm@0: me. When you’re in the costumes, you look different every time. But
rlm@0: you’re always the same genki girl that I love,” Tomoyo explained,
rlm@0: keeping Sakura’s voice gentle as she spoke. She smiled at the
rlm@0: Cardmistress, her hand going back to her cheek. Sakura was gorgeous,
rlm@0: whoever she was. That’s why it had never bothered her once that she
rlm@0: had fallen in love with a girl. That wasn’t important. She had fallen
rlm@0: in love with Sakura, and little things like that didn’t matter in the
rlm@0: least. If Sakura was a boy or a girl, in her body or another, she was
rlm@0: the one that Tomoyo loved. 
rlm@0: 	Sakura could only blush, her hand resting on top of Tomoyo’s as she
rlm@0: looked deeply into Tomoyo’s now emerald eyes. She could see it. Yes,
rlm@0: it was Tomoyo, deep in those emerald eyes. She heard her own voice
rlm@0: ringing in her ears, but those words were certainly Tomoyo’s. She
rlm@0: always said the sweetest things. It didn’t feel like such a big deal
rlm@0: anymore, even if it still felt a bit strange. Because it was still
rlm@0: Tomoyo. Shifting towards Tomoyo, Sakura captured another kiss,
rlm@0: holding onto Tomoyo in a passionate embrace. “Tomoyo-chan!” Sakura
rlm@0: got out happily as the two fell back on the floor.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	The gender disoriented Syaoran and Meiling quickly found themselves
rlm@0: outside of the gates of the Daidouji estate under a large and lonely
rlm@0: moon. It offered no comfort for the two cousins. Syaoran stared up at
rlm@0: the sky, sighing. He was frustrated and very embarrassed about the
rlm@0: situation, but he seemed to be taking it better than Meiling. The
rlm@0: former black haired girl was still freaking out about the whole
rlm@0: thing. He slowly got to his feet, trying to get accustomed to his now
rlm@0: female body. It was still warm out, which he was glad for. He didn’t
rlm@0: want to see how cold his legs would get in the little protection the
rlm@0: skirt offered. Crossing his arms, he tried to think. ‘What do we tell
rlm@0: Wei? Should we even try to tell him anything? And how am I supposed
rlm@0: to tell Sakura about all this?’ His thoughts were quickly interrupted
rlm@0: by Meiling gripping his arm tightly. He whirled around to see his own
rlm@0: face looking back at him, but the amber eyes were wild and worried. 
rlm@0: 	“Syaoran, we have to get back in there!! We need to make Sakura
rlm@0: change us back!” Meiling felt panicky. This wasn’t at all on her
rlm@0: plans for the day. She loved Syaoran, but that didn’t mean she wanted
rlm@0: to be him. She wanted her own body back. She wanted things to be back
rlm@0: to normal. And this certainly wasn’t helping her opinion of Sakura.
rlm@0: Not only was the girl trying to steal her boyfriend and fiance, but
rlm@0: she had also gotten them all mixed up. She could see Syaoran hesitate
rlm@0: at her urging. Balling up her fists, she leaned towards the former
rlm@0: boy. “Syaoran!!” She’d drag him back there if she had to. She didn’t
rlm@0: care how embarrassed he was about telling Sakura what happened, she
rlm@0: was not going to be spending the night as a boy. 
rlm@0: 	Scowling, Syaoran shook his head. How could this happen to him? It
rlm@0: was like everything had been against him since he had returned to
rlm@0: Japan. And Meiling wasn’t exactly helping at the moment. He wasn’t
rlm@0: too pleased with his new body either. “Crying isn’t going to help the
rlm@0: situation. Besides, there isn’t anything we can do tonight. The
rlm@0: Change Card’s magic takes a day to recharge.” He turned around as he
rlm@0: let that sink in, starting to walk home. It was awkward in this body,
rlm@0: but right now he just wanted some warm food and to try to ignore
rlm@0: everything until the next day came.
rlm@0: 	Frozen to the spot, Meiling stared after Syaoran. Her heart seized
rlm@0: up in her chest. “You mean we’re stuck this way?” she asked
rlm@0: incredulously. He simply sighed and nodded. Clenching her hands
rlm@0: tightly, she hurried off after her cousin. She didn’t like this at
rlm@0: all. It was all Syaoran’s fault for coming to Tomoyo’s house in the
rlm@0: first place. So why did she have to get punished for him? It wasn’t
rlm@0: fair! She wanted to be holding on to Syaoran, not to be inside of
rlm@0: him. “Syaoran! Wait for me!” she insisted, chasing after him. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	“I can’t stay...” the man said as he turned from the beautiful dark
rlm@0: haired woman. He couldn’t look her in the eye. His feelings tried
rlm@0: desperately to betray him but he held them back with all of his will.
rlm@0: They both knew he had to leave, but his heart begged him to
rlm@0: reconsider. After all they had been through, leaving felt like he was
rlm@0: cutting out a piece of himself, the most important piece. But his
rlm@0: duty lay elsewhere. He couldn’t back down on his word. No matter how
rlm@0: much he wanted to. 
rlm@0: 	Hao Minh took several steps towards the brave, silent warrior. With
rlm@0: his stoic appearance, his feelings were a mystery to her. What she
rlm@0: did know was that it felt like she should have died back in the
rlm@0: burning village, that being rescued once again by him wasn’t worth it
rlm@0: if she couldn’t stay by his side. “I.. I could never love anyone
rlm@0: else,” she got out quietly, stopping a few feet from the soldier. 
rlm@0: 	Closing his eyes, he knew he couldn’t face her. His heart and his
rlm@0: honor fought to the death inside of him, conflicting emotions warring
rlm@0: for control. All his life had been nothing but pain and death. He
rlm@0: could remember nothing besides the cold, expansive depths. But she
rlm@0: had pulled away the curtains and let in the light in his life,
rlm@0: chasing away the darkness that latched onto his soul. The prospect of
rlm@0: plunging once more into the darkness, lit only with swaths of
rlm@0: crimson, it filled him with hopelessness. Her sobs broke his strength
rlm@0: and he quickly turned to her. He held her close, her head on his
rlm@0: chest. No words came to mind to express his sorrow or even to help
rlm@0: ease her own, but that was all right. Because...
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	A knock at the door shook Wei from his writing, dragging him from
rlm@0: the long ago time he had lost himself in. The caretaker of both
rlm@0: Syaoran and Meiling Li hurried to the door, leaving his work behind
rlm@0: him. He had been a faithful servant to Syaoran’s mother, Ieran, for
rlm@0: many years now. He had known her when she had been but a child. So
rlm@0: she had trusted him with her son’s care when the boy had been sent to
rlm@0: Japan years earlier. Now that Syaoran had returned to Japan, Wei had
rlm@0: come along with Meiling to keep an eye on the young man. Ieran had
rlm@0: been angry about Syaoran’s disrespect for his engagement to Meiling,
rlm@0: but Wei could also tell that she worried about her only son. So he
rlm@0: had promised to take good care of the boy. But what with Meiling and
rlm@0: Syaoran being older this time around, he had much more time on his
rlm@0: hands. The two seemed to be fine on their own, and he often worried
rlm@0: that he was getting in the way. So he had started writing a romance
rlm@0: novel to while away the time. 
rlm@0: 	Reaching the door, Wei opened it and stood by politely. Sure
rlm@0: enough, there were the two cousins waiting. “Miss Meiling, Master
rlm@0: Syaoran, how are you? I trust that your day was pleasant?” he asked,
rlm@0: bowing his head to the two as they entered. He waited for a response,
rlm@0: but found that none seemed to be forthcoming. He watched the two
rlm@0: teenagers looking around awkwardly. Frowning in confusion, he stepped
rlm@0: forward. “Are you both all right?” They were both acting so
rlm@0: strangely. He’d known them both from the time they had been born and
rlm@0: neither seemed to be their normal selves. And Meiling was wearing a
rlm@0: scowl that looked remarkably like Syaoran’s. It must have rubbed off
rlm@0: on her. 
rlm@0: 	Syaoran whirled around quickly, the small tie on his uniform
rlm@0: trailing to the side as he did. He smiled quickly and nodded. “We’re
rlm@0: both fine, Wei. Today was great. Nothing big. Oh, I’m over that
rlm@0: Sakura girl now. Maybe we can head back to Hong Kong soon. Like after
rlm@0: tomorrow or something. Anyway, Meiling and I were going back to my...
rlm@0: her room. Have a good night, Wei!” The chestnut haired boy waved
rlm@0: energetically before turning and grabbing his cousin’s arm. 
rlm@0: 	Meiling stopped dead in her tracks, eyes narrowing as she scowled.
rlm@0: Wei would have sworn that he’d seen that exact same look on Syaoran
rlm@0: countless times before. He was impressed at how well Meiling pulled
rlm@0: it off. She did spend most of her time with him, so it made sense
rlm@0: that she would be able to know him well enough to copy his
rlm@0: mannerisms. But Meiling wasn’t concerned with Wei’s line of thought
rlm@0: at the moment. Her amber eyes were instead focused on her fiance.
rlm@0: “Since when did I say I was going back to Hong Kong? And I never said
rlm@0: anything about getting over Sakura-chan. I...” The girl trailed off
rlm@0: as her thoughts returned to earlier that evening. Her shoulders
rlm@0: slumped and her eyes closed as the image of Sakura with Tomoyo filled
rlm@0: his mind. So that’s why the Cardmistress had been spending all of her
rlm@0: time with the heiress lately. They were dating. Meiling had been
rlm@0: right in the first place. Coming to Japan had been pointless. 
rlm@0: 	Nonplussed by the glare he had received from Meiling, Syaoran
rlm@0: shrugged. It had been worth a shot, at any rate. Besides, maybe she
rlm@0: could convince Wei to take them back to Hong Kong while she was
rlm@0: Syaoran. Not until after they got changed back, of course. Smiling
rlm@0: wickedly, the woman inhabiting Syaoran’s body smiled. His hand moved
rlm@0: from Meiling’s arm down to her hand. “Besides, I want to hurry back
rlm@0: so that I can marry my beloved Meiling. The sooner I can get back,
rlm@0: the better.” Leaning forward, he kissed the defeated looking Meiling.
rlm@0: The kiss broke through the black haired girl’s thoughts and brought a
rlm@0: deep blush to her cheeks. It felt so strange to be kissing herself.
rlm@0: He had to keep reminding himself that he was kissing Syaoran. But
rlm@0: despite the awkwardness of the situation, it was surprisingly easy.
rlm@0: Seeing the former boy blushing so brightly was a nice touch and it
rlm@0: felt so nice to be able to kiss him again, even if he was a girl at
rlm@0: the moment. That thought ended the kiss pretty quickly. Maybe this
rlm@0: was a little more bizarre than she thought. “I just love her so
rlm@0: much,” he added with a smile. “Sleep well, Wei! See you in the
rlm@0: morning!” He knew that it wasn’t really Syaoran’s words, but it
rlm@0: helped to at least hear them for once. Taking Meiling’s arm again, he
rlm@0: hurried back towards the girl’s room that had previously been his own.
rlm@0: 	Watching in silence, Wei could barely contain his excitement. Ieran
rlm@0: would certainly want to hear of this sudden development! He had to
rlm@0: make plans to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Meiling sighed as she closed the door to her room behind the two of
rlm@0: them. Being in Syaoran’s body was getting a little too confusing for
rlm@0: her. But still... She smiled as a hand went to her lips. It had been
rlm@0: Syaoran and Meiling kissing, even if it had been a little mixed up
rlm@0: about who was who. It would’ve been nicer had Syaoran kissed her
rlm@0: back, but it had been fun to make him blush like that. Sitting on her
rlm@0: bed, Meiling tried to smooth down her skirt only to find Syaoran’s
rlm@0: shorts instead. Her hands immediately went to her sides, her own
rlm@0: blush burning across her cheeks. No, she didn’t like being in a boy’s
rlm@0: body. She wanted to be in her own again soon. She had been a girl her
rlm@0: entire life. She had always had such strong feelings for her cousin.
rlm@0: Now she was trapped in the body of the boy she loved and it was just
rlm@0: making everything so difficult. Her eyes slowly went over to Syaoran,
rlm@0: who was still a little flushed from earlier. The former boy was
rlm@0: having trouble with the skirt, but his mind was obviously elsewhere.
rlm@0: She giggled a bit at his frustration and scooted over to help him.
rlm@0: Her hands went to his waist. It felt strange to feel her body like
rlm@0: that. At least her martial arts training kept her in good shape.
rlm@0: “Okay, stand up.” Syaoran frowned but complied with her command. She
rlm@0: pulled the skirt back down and sat Syaoran down again, smoothing it
rlm@0: out over his legs. “There. See? It’s not so difficult. But you
rlm@0: shouldn’t have to get too used to it. We should be ourselves
rlm@0: tomorrow. Then we can put this nightmare behind us.” 
rlm@0: 	Simply nodding, Syaoran looked around Meiling’s room. It wasn’t
rlm@0: that he hadn’t been there before, but he had been avoiding the room
rlm@0: since they had kissed in it the night after Meiling had arrived from
rlm@0: Hong Kong. He knew how she felt about him, but he was supposed to be
rlm@0: there for Sakura, damn it, and not an obsessive cousin. So he had
rlm@0: thought it best to try and ignore the room and the girl who slept in
rlm@0: it as much as possible, at least until he was dating Sakura again.
rlm@0: Meiling confused him. Even after all this time, she still loved him.
rlm@0: Despite his pledge of love for Sakura and despite his ignoring most
rlm@0: of her advances again and again. She was extremely determined, not
rlm@0: giving up on him. It was something that he had found incredibly
rlm@0: attractive in Sakura, that determination. And aside from Meiling
rlm@0: sharing that trait with Sakura, he genuinely liked spending time with
rlm@0: Meiling. She was probably the only person that he could relax around.
rlm@0: She made him feel good, like everything was fine. Meiling had been
rlm@0: his best friend since they had been children, and she still held up
rlm@0: that position even as she fell in love with him. She was closer to
rlm@0: him than anyone else could be. And it was for all of those reasons
rlm@0: that he had tried to stay away from her. Too often, he had felt a
rlm@0: warm feeling wrapping around his heart, his heart beating faster as
rlm@0: they were together. Too often, he had found himself nearly lost to
rlm@0: his beautiful cousin. And he simply couldn’t allow that of himself.
rlm@0: Not when he was going to make the Cardmistress his bride. Not that
rlm@0: that seemed like a possibility at all at the moment. But she was the
rlm@0: one he loved? Right? But he didn’t feel the same conviction he had
rlm@0: held for the past few years. It felt weaker, empty. How well had he
rlm@0: ever known Sakura? Why had his feelings for Yukito transferred so
rlm@0: quickly to her instead? Would he have even liked her had it not been
rlm@0: for her power, her determination? No, he loved her. It was simple.
rlm@0: He’d prove that he was the one for the Cardmistress, not that
rlm@0: backstabbing Diadouji girl. She had been the one who had nursed his
rlm@0: feelings for Sakura in the first place, had told him to tell her how
rlm@0: he felt. But now she was the one with Sakura. How could such a weak,
rlm@0: pathetic girl ever be enough for the powerful and determined Sakura?
rlm@0: It was just mind boggling. 
rlm@0: 	Watching Syaoran closely, Meiling reached out and pushed back one
rlm@0: of his new black pigtails behind his shoulder. It was her body, but
rlm@0: it was so obvious that he was inside of it. That quiet, almost
rlm@0: irritated look that he always gave shined through even in another
rlm@0: body. But she knew what was behind all of his machismo, all of his
rlm@0: manliness. He was shy and uncertain. He always had been, for as long
rlm@0: as Meiling could remember him. He had never been very good at
rlm@0: expressing his feelings. They baffled him and he tried to keep them
rlm@0: all hidden, even from himself. Growing up in a house filled with
rlm@0: girls and faced with his mother’s high expectations of him, Syaoran
rlm@0: had overcompensated in his attitude, trying to be as manly as
rlm@0: possible to make up for the fact that he had no men to look up to, to
rlm@0: make up for his own shyness and insecurities. That was part of why
rlm@0: Meiling thought that he had gotten a crush on Yukito, because he was
rlm@0: a boy that he could really look up to, a boy that was sweet and kind
rlm@0: and didn’t need to worry about how manly he was. But Syaoran wanted
rlm@0: to be as masculine as possible, to prove that he was one in a house
rlm@0: full of women. That he was not one of them. Most of the time, it just
rlm@0: made him look like a jerk. At least at first glance. But Meiling
rlm@0: could see under that at the boy underneath it all. And there was
rlm@0: something almost feminine about him. Which made sense in its way,
rlm@0: what with him being the only boy in the entire family. It was fine
rlm@0: with her if Syaoran wanted to hide behind this tough boy image he had
rlm@0: made up for himself. But sometimes Meiling wondered if that stood in
rlm@0: her way. Was he so desperate to be strong on his own that he kept
rlm@0: pushing her away? That he couldn’t let her be strong for him? She
rlm@0: wasn’t sure, but it had begun to gnaw at her lately. It wasn’t so
rlm@0: much that he didn’t need her, but that he didn’t want to need her. At
rlm@0: least, she thought that it might be part of why she was having so
rlm@0: much trouble getting him to return her feelings. 
rlm@0: 	“Why did you say all of those things to Wei?” Syaoran finally
rlm@0: asked, a trace of anger in his/Meiling’s voice as he spoke. He had
rlm@0: been lost in thought, but now he found himself once again facing the
rlm@0: present. Looking into Meiling’s large mirror, he could see a
rlm@0: beautiful black haired girl looking back at him. That wasn’t at all
rlm@0: what he was supposed to see. The feminine image looking back at him
rlm@0: just served to frustrate him even further. He felt so powerless, so
rlm@0: trapped by this whole scenario. He couldn’t do a thing until the
rlm@0: coming day to change back to who he was. “You had no right to say any
rlm@0: of that. Just because you’re in my body doesn’t mean you can go
rlm@0: around saying things like that. It’s my choice if I’m going to go
rlm@0: after Sakura-chan or not. I’m going to decide when I go back to Hong
rlm@0: Kong.”
rlm@0: 	Lowering her head, Meiling closed her eyes. Hearing Syaoran yelling
rlm@0: at her, even in her own body, cut her deeply. She hadn’t meant to
rlm@0: make him angry, only to use her time as Syaoran as best as she could.
rlm@0: But her moved changed swiftly. Her hands clenched as his words played
rlm@0: through her head over and over. Her heart suddenly dropped. “So it’s
rlm@0: all right for you to run off here to chase some other woman while I
rlm@0: spend my whole life waiting for you? How long do I have to wait,
rlm@0: Syaoran? If you’re going to end the engagement, just do it already!
rlm@0: I’m tired of waiting for you, of being the door prize in case things
rlm@0: don’t work out with Sakura. I want you to love me, but if you can’t
rlm@0: then you need to tell me that. I won’t always be there for you to
rlm@0: fall back on, Syaoran.” Her head came up as she looked him in the
rlm@0: eye. Tears ran down her cheeks, but her amber eyes burned furiously.
rlm@0: “I’ll always be there to pick up the pieces when you fall, but I
rlm@0: won’t stand for second best. You know I never could.” She scoffed,
rlm@0: crossing her arms. “Besides, if you want Sakura so much, now’s the
rlm@0: time to do it. Dark haired girls are her thing, after all.” Crying
rlm@0: herself to sleep on her pillow sounded like a great idea at the
rlm@0: moment, but she was still too pissed off to let Syaoran get away that
rlm@0: easily. She felt sick inside, crushed by his inability to return the
rlm@0: feelings that she held for him, by his longing for another woman when
rlm@0: she was his fiance. “If you don’t want it, I won’t force you. I’m not
rlm@0: going to trap myself in some loveless marriage the way my mother did.
rlm@0: I’ll go home to Hong Kong myself and I’ll tell Ieran-sama that the
rlm@0: engagement’s off, that I’ve given up my claims on you. Just tell me.
rlm@0: I can get Wei to send me back on the next flight.” The fact that she
rlm@0: was still in Syaoran’s body didn’t register to her, or that Syaoran
rlm@0: was sitting across from her as a girl. None of that seemed to matter.
rlm@0: She was simply staring into Syaoran’s eyes, looking one last time for
rlm@0: something she had searched a lifetime for. Sometimes there had been
rlm@0: peeks, little flashes of what might have been, but she could never be
rlm@0: sure. This was all or nothing. If it wasn’t there this time, then she
rlm@0: was through. “I won’t love anyone else. I couldn’t,” she whispered.
rlm@0: “But I’m not your property, Syaoran.”
rlm@0: 	“Mei... Ling...” Syaoran watched Meiling in surprise. He had always
rlm@0: thought that Meiling would simply be there, waiting, for all time if
rlm@0: need be. But how could he ever ask that of her? How could she sit by
rlm@0: while he continued to hurt her by trying to win the love of another?
rlm@0: And he had been hurting her more and more lately. He had always been
rlm@0: so careful about not hurting her. He had never simply thrown off her
rlm@0: advances or told her outright to stop them. He had tried his hardest
rlm@0: to never hurt her that way. She was too important to him. The thought
rlm@0: of her in pain because of him was unbearable. But here he was hurting
rlm@0: her all the same. They had grown closer in their time back in Hong
rlm@0: Kong, but ever since he had returned to Japan, he had tried to
rlm@0: distance himself from her as he focused on Sakura. So he had to be
rlm@0: man enough to accept this. That thought seemed a little strange as he
rlm@0: glanced back at the mirror, at the female body that currently housed
rlm@0: him. But that didn’t seem important. None of this seemed important
rlm@0: any longer. Finding out Sakura was with the heiress, or that he and
rlm@0: Meiling had switched bodies, none of it seemed all that tragic at the
rlm@0: moment. The tragic thought was that he might lose Meiling because of
rlm@0: this. And that frightened him. He couldn’t remember a time when she
rlm@0: hadn’t been there for him. He had always been too proud to go to her
rlm@0: with his problems, but she usually came to him and helped him through
rlm@0: them anyway. It was so much more than just that. She had stood up for
rlm@0: him in front of his mother before, something even he found almost
rlm@0: impossible to do. She had given him the strength to face so much. She
rlm@0: loved him even though he never returned the warmth she gave him. And
rlm@0: now he had to decide. Would he pull her closer or set her free? Would
rlm@0: he tug the string that bound her to him, or cut it loose? He looked
rlm@0: down at his skirt clad lap indecisively. He wasn’t good with things
rlm@0: like this. It had taken Tomoyo quite a while just to convince him to
rlm@0: tell Sakura how he felt. How was he supposed to handle a situation
rlm@0: like this? “Meiling,” he said at last, slowly looking up into her
rlm@0: tear soaked eyes. He looked directly into the face that had been his
rlm@0: own up till a few hours before. “I can’t let you go. I don’t want you
rlm@0: to stop being my fiance. It would be.. harder without you. I... I...”
rlm@0: He wanted to look away, to trail off, but he forced himself to try
rlm@0: again. His fingers clutched onto the fabric of the skirt as amber
rlm@0: eyes met amber eyes. “I.. I need you, Meiling,” he got out at last.
rlm@0: Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. It had been one of the
rlm@0: hardest things he had ever said, but he suddenly felt like a weight
rlm@0: had been lifted off of his shoulders. It felt nice to finally admit
rlm@0: that to himself and to Meiling.
rlm@0: 	The currently brown haired boy looked on in astonishment. Had
rlm@0: Syaoran actually said that he needed her? That he wanted to stay her
rlm@0: fiance? “You really mean it?” she asked quickly, her hands on her
rlm@0: knees. He nodded, dark hair fluttering about his back. A giddy thrill
rlm@0: shot through Meiling, her heart swelling with joy. She had waited so
rlm@0: long to hear that, to hear him finally accept her. So often in recent
rlm@0: years, she had wondered if he ever would, if she would ever be able
rlm@0: to marry the boy she loved. Her arms wrapped around him joyously as
rlm@0: she clutched on tightly to her betrothed. It didn’t matter if he was
rlm@0: a girl at the moment or if she was currently a boy. It didn’t matter
rlm@0: if she was looking into her own eyes as long as Syaoran was on the
rlm@0: other side of them. Such things were of little importance to her. She
rlm@0: was in love, and that blinding light made everything else seem
rlm@0: insignificant. Tears spilt down her cheeks as she felt his arms go
rlm@0: around her neck. She had been on the razor’s edge just a moment
rlm@0: before, torn apart at the thought of leaving her cousin behind.
rlm@0: Relief flooded through her in a torrent, mixed with the delicious
rlm@0: love that poured over her heart and soul. Hesitating for only a
rlm@0: second, Meiling kissed Syaoran again, but this time without the
rlm@0: concerns that had brought her earlier kiss to an early conclusion. A
rlm@0: moment like this wouldn’t feel right without a kiss. It signified so
rlm@0: much in that sweet meeting of lips. Meiling was delighted to feel
rlm@0: Syaoran return the kiss this time. Though she wasn’t exactly
rlm@0: narcissistic, Meiling had plenty of confidence in herself. And one of
rlm@0: the things she was fairly certain of was that she was a pretty young
rlm@0: woman. Seeing Syaoran in her body just strengthened that belief
rlm@0: because she sure thought Syaoran looked pretty in it. She didn’t know
rlm@0: if it was from the euphoria of the moment or if it was just a simple
rlm@0: as being in love, but it really didn’t matter that Syaoran was a girl
rlm@0: at the moment. 
rlm@0: 	Syaoran blushed as he tried to catch his breath from the kiss with
rlm@0: Meiling. It felt so nice not to have to worry about how manly he
rlm@0: seemed or whether or not he was in charge of things. It was such a
rlm@0: relief to leave it in Meiling’s very capable hands. And what hands
rlm@0: they were. Syaoran blushed a darker shade of red as Meiling’s hands
rlm@0: trailed up and down his back, holding him close. Meiling was always
rlm@0: so sure of what she wanted, so determined and ready to go for it. For
rlm@0: once in his life, he didn’t feel wrong for just wanting her to lead
rlm@0: him wherever she wanted to. He felt so free, to just give up and let
rlm@0: it happen, to know that Meiling would handle things. Part of him
rlm@0: almost didn’t want to go see Sakura to switch bodies the next day. He
rlm@0: thought that he had to act certain ways as a boy, that he had to hide
rlm@0: his own insecurities and shyness behind a picture of confidence and
rlm@0: bravado. As a girl, he could finally let go of them. His mind drifted
rlm@0: back to his sisters and how happy and carefree they always seemed. As
rlm@0: a girl, he didn’t have to live up to his mother’s high demands of
rlm@0: him. He didn’t have the entire weight of the Li Clan resting solely
rlm@0: on his shoulders. His mother had always treated him so harshly in
rlm@0: comparison to his sisters. It almost felt a shame that he would have
rlm@0: to go back to all that when he regained his own body. Besides,
rlm@0: Meiling was already so confident, so self-assured. He envied that in
rlm@0: her, but it was also something that he loved about her. Loved? Had he
rlm@0: just thought that? Well, yes... Yes, he did love her. This
rlm@0: beautiful... err… handsome boy that was currently holding him,
rlm@0: kissing him again and again. He had to admit, Meiling did make a nice
rlm@0: boy. And he felt so peaceful in Meiling’s arms. It felt like he was
rlm@0: floating along in a crystal stream, flowing deeper and deeper.
rlm@0: 	“I love you, Syaoran,” Meiling whispered breathlessly as her lips
rlm@0: finally parted from her cousin's. This felt like a dream, a
rlm@0: hopelessly wonderful yet admittedly bizarre dream. She just prayed
rlm@0: that she would never have to awaken from it. It didn’t matter who
rlm@0: Syaoran was so long as he was Syaoran and as long as he was hers. Her
rlm@0: heart burned passionately for her more introverted fiance, driving
rlm@0: her ever forward. Her hands gently followed her old body’s curves,
rlm@0: moving over every inch of Syaoran that she could. It felt so
rlm@0: different now. It wasn’t like when she would bathe or dress or
rlm@0: anything. No, then it was just her body, nothing special. Now it was
rlm@0: Syaoran, and that made all the difference in the world. She blushed
rlm@0: as Syaoran let out a gasp, finding her hand on his now more ample
rlm@0: chest. Looking over at him, she saw that his eyes were closed, his
rlm@0: face red. She should stop. Who knew where this could go? She had been
rlm@0: wanting to be with Syaoran for so long that it was almost
rlm@0: irresistible to continue. Besides, they were in each other’s bodies
rlm@0: at the moment. She’d stop before she got too far with anything. It
rlm@0: wasn’t like she wanted to do anything to her own body. She just...
rlm@0: wanted to be close to him for as long as she could.
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: 	Wei could see the two cousins kissing in Meiling’s room through the
rlm@0: slightly ajar door and couldn’t help but grin. Ieran had made an
rlm@0: excellent choice in engaging the two. They really made a perfect
rlm@0: match. He had been hoping that they would eventually work out, for
rlm@0: both of their sakes. “They seem to be... They’re both asleep at the
rlm@0: moment, Miss Ieran. But I’m sure they’ll love to speak with you as
rlm@0: soon as they can. I have the tickets, so that will be very soon.”
rlm@0: Smiling, the older man shut the door the rest of the way and returned
rlm@0: to his conversation with the head of the House of Li. He remembered
rlm@0: when he had been that young, so he didn’t wish to disturb the two of
rlm@0: them. It looked like Master Syaoran was feeling a bit adventurous.
rlm@0: They would have such beautiful children. He hoped he could be around
rlm@0: to help that generation as well. A lifetime of service to the Li
rlm@0: family had endeared him to them very much. He was glad to see it
rlm@0: continuing on.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	“Master Syaoran, Miss Meiling, it’s time to wake up,” Wei called
rlm@0: from somewhere that sounded extremely far off to the still sleepy
rlm@0: Meiling.
rlm@0: 	Shifting in bed, Meiling was surprised to find one of her arms
rlm@0: pinned under something warm. A flush spread across her cheeks as she
rlm@0: felt the soft skin against her arm. ‘Syaoran!!’ she thought
rlm@0: excitedly. ‘So he must have stayed with me last night.’ She rolled
rlm@0: back on her side and hugged the sleeping form of her fiance with all
rlm@0: of her might. “Syaoran,” she sang into his ear. “Time to wake up. We
rlm@0: have school.” Kissing the side of his head, she felt his hair brush
rlm@0: against her face. “You need a haircut soon,” she said, yawning. Her
rlm@0: hand finally paused on Syaoran’s stomach. Something was wrong. Having
rlm@0: grappled onto Syaoran more than a thousand times in her lifetime, she
rlm@0: knew what it felt like to hold onto him. She was more or less an
rlm@0: expert on the subject. And this felt.. different. “Syaoran?” Sitting
rlm@0: up in bed, the blanket slid down past her, leaving her sitting naked
rlm@0: in the cold air and Syaoran only half covered by it. Next to her, she
rlm@0: saw herself, lying with the blanket around her waist and her black
rlm@0: hair in disarray. Looking down slowly, she saw Syaoran’s body, along
rlm@0: with something she hadn’t seen very often currently between her legs.
rlm@0: “Syaoran!!!!” She cried out, standing up on the bed. Her eyes were
rlm@0: wide with panic. She was still Syaoran. Which meant that Syaoran was
rlm@0: still her. Well, in her body, at any rate. Which meant that.. What
rlm@0: had happened last night? They had been kissing and holding each other
rlm@0: and they had slumped back on the bed together and... She nearly
rlm@0: toppled off the bed as the realization struck her. She had slept with
rlm@0: Syaoran the night before. That would have been a cause for
rlm@0: celebration under most other circumstances seeing as how she had
rlm@0: wanted to be with him for the longest time. But slowly, the night
rlm@0: began returning to her and it wasn’t exactly what she had fantasized
rlm@0: about. Not that it hadn’t been intense. But the fact that she had
rlm@0: slept with Syaoran as a girl suddenly had her disoriented. It was
rlm@0: only made worse by the fact that she had been a boy at the time. What
rlm@0: had she been thinking? ‘Those eyes,’ she thought dreamily. She shook
rlm@0: her head instantly, trying to banish the thought. How could she have
rlm@0: let that happen? Let alone, how could she have actually been the one
rlm@0: to bring it about? Why the hell would she want to sleep with her own
rlm@0: body? Why would she want to have sex as a boy? Those eyes once again
rlm@0: came back as her answer. Because it had been Syaoran. Because she had
rlm@0: seen it in them. Because she wanted nothing more than to be with him,
rlm@0: even if he wasn’t a he at the moment. Slumping back on the bed,
rlm@0: Meiling stared at the roof. This was going to take a while to get
rlm@0: over. 
rlm@0: 	Stirring in bed, Syaoran slowly blinked himself awake. Seconds
rlm@0: later, a scream shook the household.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	A playful morning breeze meandered through the still sleepy
rlm@0: students as they all made their way towards their inevitable
rlm@0: destination as if by drawn by the hand of Fate. The warm wind worked
rlm@0: its gentle fingers on the tired students, easing the anxiety over the
rlm@0: school day laid out before them. Most of the teenagers lazily made
rlm@0: their way to the vast complex that would house their young minds for
rlm@0: the majority of the day, stopping to wave hello to fellow students or
rlm@0: to stop and chat with friends in an attempt to stall the awaiting
rlm@0: judgement. But two students stood out from the crowd, not at all
rlm@0: sedated by the early morning breeze and the still low lying sun.
rlm@0: Syaoran and Meiling Li hurried through the crowd with single-minded
rlm@0: intent. Meiling’s hair lay draped across her shoulders, her usual
rlm@0: pigtails abandoned, but no one thought it wise to ask the admittedly
rlm@0: short tempered Chinese girl about it. 
rlm@0: 	“Where is she?” Meiling asked anxiously, scouring the crowd for the
rlm@0: Cardmistress but to no avail. After that morning’s little ‘surprise’,
rlm@0: she was in no mood for games. She just wanted to end the whole thing.
rlm@0: She wanted her own body back. She was supposed to be on the other end
rlm@0: of things the night before, not the other way around. A slight blush
rlm@0: crossed Meiling’s cheeks as she tried to force back the thoughts from
rlm@0: the night before. Her almond eyes darted back to Syaoran despite
rlm@0: their current mission. Seeing the boy she had longed to marry for
rlm@0: most of her life in her body was a very strange sight indeed. He
rlm@0: looked so awkward in the skirt, shifting around uneasily in it and
rlm@0: holding it down tightly whenever any breeze would threaten to ruffle
rlm@0: it. But there was something cute about that, seeing him as herself,
rlm@0: long hair, skirt, and all. He looked so much more vulnerable in her
rlm@0: body, something that the Chinese boy always tried desperately to hide
rlm@0: beneath a rough and uncaring exterior. He had grown up with the
rlm@0: expectations that he was supposed to be a man in a family full of
rlm@0: women. And he didn’t know how. So he tried far too hard,
rlm@0: overcompensating in an attempt to prove his worth. Sometimes amusing,
rlm@0: sometimes frustrating, Meiling always stayed by his side. It wasn’t
rlm@0: his exterior she was interested in. He could be as quiet or as
rlm@0: haughty as he wanted. It was the shy, emotionally troubled boy inside
rlm@0: that had always captivated Meiling. And it showed through exquisitely
rlm@0: while he was trapped in her body. Just as it had shown through the
rlm@0: night before. Sighing, Meiling tried to force the blush away from her
rlm@0: cheeks. But just like her search for Sakura, it proved to be
rlm@0: fruitless. 
rlm@0: 	Syaoran, meanwhile, was wondering how in the world he was supposed
rlm@0: to keep his skirt down with the wind mischievously tugging at it
rlm@0: every few seconds. What used to be a mild interest now turned
rlm@0: irritating. Short skirts were definitely more fun to look at on
rlm@0: others than to wear himself, he decided. He was still desperately
rlm@0: searching for the Cardmistress, hoping that Sakura could put
rlm@0: everything right again. And then he could try to forget all about the
rlm@0: night before. He scowled as images and sounds flooded back from
rlm@0: memory of his time with his fiance. Meiling’s hands all over his
rlm@0: body, her lips gently caressing his own, her murmurs and whispers of
rlm@0: love as they writhed together on her bed. The electrical feelings
rlm@0: that tingled through him as Meiling’s body reacted in ways that his
rlm@0: never could. Balling his hands into fists, he tried to fight back his
rlm@0: embarrassment the way he always did, with anger. This was all
rlm@0: Daidouji’s fault. Somehow. If she hadn’t lured Sakura back to her
rlm@0: place... But then, if he hadn’t follwed them... Damn it, he didn’t
rlm@0: care whose fault it was. He just wanted to get things back to normal.
rlm@0: He certainly wasn’t supposed to be fooling around with himself like
rlm@0: the night before. Even if it was Meiling. And even if thoughts of
rlm@0: those sweet kisses threatened to send a shiver down his spine.
rlm@0: Blushing and scowling in unison, Syaoran threw himself into finding
rlm@0: Sakura.
rlm@0: 	The two cousins finally spotted Sakura under a tree near the gates
rlm@0: to the school. The brunette was joined by her lavender haired
rlm@0: companion as usual. But oddly enough, Tomoyo looked to be the
rlm@0: embarrassed one this time around. Sakura was smiling brightly, her
rlm@0: hands on her cheeks as she spoke to the blushing pale girl. Meiling
rlm@0: was the first to react, practically dragging Syaoran over to the two
rlm@0: girls. She didn’t care if they were both acting flaky that morning or
rlm@0: what they were up to. She wanted things set back to normal before
rlm@0: anything else happened. There were already enough problems she had to
rlm@0: handle with only the night before. If this went on any longer, who
rlm@0: know what might happen? Noticing Syaoran’s typical scowl crossing his
rlm@0: face as he waited, she realized that her quiet cousin wasn’t sure of
rlm@0: how to proceed. With a sigh, Meiling decided to handle things
rlm@0: herself. Stepping forward, she crossed her arms. “Sakura, we need to
rlm@0: talk.”
rlm@0: 	Turning to face the Chinese Sorcerer and his martial artist cousin,
rlm@0: the brunette smiled Tomoyo’s patented eerie smile. “Hello, Li-kun,
rlm@0: Meiling-chan. Is there anything I can do for the both of you?” she
rlm@0: asked politely, looking from one to the other. It didn’t surprise her
rlm@0: to hear Syaoran asking to speak to her so seriously. She’d been
rlm@0: waiting for him to ask Sakura about what was going on. Sakura was
rlm@0: obviously his reason for returning to Japan. Sakura treated him like
rlm@0: one of her friends, kindly and happily just like Sakura always did.
rlm@0: But this surprised the sorcerer who had been expecting something more
rlm@0: from the Cardmistress. Tomoyo had actually expected him to ask Sakura
rlm@0: earlier, but she supposed that with how long it took for him to
rlm@0: confess his feelings for Sakura, it must take a while to ask about
rlm@0: Sakura’s feelings. But now it appeared he was ready to ask her, and
rlm@0: sense she was in Sakura’s body, she was the one he had come to. But
rlm@0: as she waited for his response, she began to reevaluate the
rlm@0: situation. Why would Syaoran come to ask about the brunette’s
rlm@0: feelings with Meiling in tow? That would just be cruel to Meiling and
rlm@0: with her temper, she wouldn’t be very happy to hear her fiance asking
rlm@0: about Sakura’s love life. On top of that, Meiling appeared to be
rlm@0: acting strangely. She was scowling very familiarly, letting Syaoran
rlm@0: do the talking. She was oddly quiet, wrapped up in her thoughts. Just
rlm@0: like someone else. Tomoyo brought her hand to her chin thoughtfully,
rlm@0: never once losing her smile. 
rlm@0: 	Meiling frowned for a moment, at a loss for words. This seemed a
rlm@0: lot easier when she’d been running around the house in a panic,
rlm@0: getting an odd stare from Wei when she walked out of her room wearing
rlm@0: the girl’s uniform. Things had been very straightforward. They would
rlm@0: find Sakura and make her change them back. But how was she supposed
rlm@0: to say that? She suddenly felt very self-conscious, shifting around
rlm@0: under the boy’s uniform. She was a girl trapped in a boy’s body and
rlm@0: she somehow had to explain that. This wasn’t at all like when Syaoran
rlm@0: had been trapped in Kero’s body. At least that whole event had been
rlm@0: mostly painless. This time she was directly involved. “Sakura, we’ve
rlm@0: got a problem. Last night...” She glared over at Syaoran. She’d bop
rlm@0: him right now if she wasn’t so nervous. If he hadn’t gone after that
rlm@0: Japanese hussy, she’d be in her own body at the moment, clinging to
rlm@0: her cousin’s arm lovingly. Just like how Sakura was leaning happily
rlm@0: against Tomoyo at the moment, a contented look on her face as she
rlm@0: held her chin in thought. Meiling placed her hands on her hips,
rlm@0: frowning as she tried to describe what had happened. “You need to fix
rlm@0: things,” she got out at last, frustrated with how difficult this was
rlm@0: turning out.
rlm@0: 	Syaoran sighed. This wasn’t turning out as well as he’d planned.
rlm@0: Then again, he hadn’t had much time to plan anything. Upon waking up,
rlm@0: he had found himself in a very awkward position with memories of the
rlm@0: night before returned shortly thereafter. The whole morning felt more
rlm@0: like a haze than reality. He couldn’t even remember walking to
rlm@0: school, having been too lost in his thoughts. The night before
rlm@0: blurred together with images and thoughts and feelings, all
rlm@0: compounding together until the poor boy was thoroughly confused. His
rlm@0: feelings for Meiling burned inside of him in a way that they never
rlm@0: had with Sakura. She didn’t have Sakura’s limitless magic, something
rlm@0: that demanded his attention, but Meiling had a magic all her own, a
rlm@0: will that managed to grab his attention whether or not he wanted to
rlm@0: give it. He had grown much closer to his fiery cousin in the past few
rlm@0: years during his time back in Hong Kong, her unswerving loyalty and
rlm@0: beautiful presence always keeping him company through even the
rlm@0: roughest waters. And what did he give her in return? Nothing. He had
rlm@0: always assumed that he would return to Japan and claim Sakura, even
rlm@0: as he and Meiling would talk in the garden under the stars back home.
rlm@0: Though he didn’t say it, he was grateful for her presence. She was
rlm@0: truly his best friend, the only person to really know him for who he
rlm@0: was and not for the masculine façade he tried to hold up. Life would
rlm@0: be too lonely without her. Even if she was rather forceful in staying
rlm@0: with him no matter how quiet and aloof he generally was. He had had
rlm@0: some rather doki doki, romantic moments with Meiling over the past
rlm@0: few years, but they were always left unfinished as the Chinese boy
rlm@0: found one way or another to get away. How many half kisses, embraces,
rlm@0: and deep looks had they shared since his return to Hong Kong? The
rlm@0: night before just felt like a natural conclusion to things, a long
rlm@0: drawn out consummation of the unspoken feelings between the two.
rlm@0: Syaoran had actually felt relieved when it was all done, glad to have
rlm@0: finally broken the barrier that had held back his heart for so long.
rlm@0: The small, unfinished moments they had shared beforehand had been
rlm@0: teasing him for what felt like an eternity. It was so nice to finally
rlm@0: have it behind him, to have it out in the open. Being a girl at the
rlm@0: time gave the whole thing a freakish spin that threatened to twist
rlm@0: the whole thing out of perception, but he was slowly coming to grips
rlm@0: with it. Just like how the night before felt like a forgone
rlm@0: conclusion, so did his being a girl during it. In fact, Meiling being
rlm@0: a boy at the time had made it easier for him. He hadn’t been so
rlm@0: worried, so overwhelmed by what he should by doing or how he was
rlm@0: supposed to act. He hadn’t felt so pressured to be the cold, aloof
rlm@0: man he thought he was expected to be. He had just gone along with her
rlm@0: wishes. Meiling always was so much better at deciding things than he
rlm@0: was anyway. The thought of the night before and Meiling herself was
rlm@0: like warm, delicious honey coating his heart, no matter how hard he
rlm@0: tried to deny it to himself. Meiling loved him in a way Sakura and
rlm@0: Yukito never could, bringing out feelings in him that neither of his
rlm@0: previous crushes had elicited. 
rlm@0: Sighing again, he scowled and crossed his arms over his now more
rlm@0: ample chest. At least he was getting used to the girl’s clothes. He
rlm@0: hadn’t worn girl’s clothes since he was a kid, back when his crazy
rlm@0: older sisters had dressed him up often in their old clothes. They had
rlm@0: all loved it, treating him like their little doll. He had complained,
rlm@0: but he secretly loved how they would call him their little sister,
rlm@0: giving him a taste of the love and care that had been denied him as
rlm@0: the male heir to the Li Clan. He had been raised with the explicit
rlm@0: purpose of becoming head of the Li Clan, groomed for that position.
rlm@0: All the while, his sisters had been granted all the love and
rlm@0: attention that his sometimes distant mother could afford them. They
rlm@0: all looked so happy while he was always scowling. It hadn’t seemed
rlm@0: fair at all. Sometimes he had envied his sisters, wishing his mother
rlm@0: would treat him as she did his siblings. But he had grown angry and
rlm@0: introverted, his feelings all looping back into himself. He had tried
rlm@0: to be exactly what his mother wanted him to be, a strong man. But
rlm@0: sometimes all he wanted was for her to look at him the way she looked
rlm@0: at his sisters...
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo brushed away some of the brunette hair from her face,
rlm@0: studying the two cousins with her now jade eyes. Having a penchant
rlm@0: for trying new hairstyles, she didn’t let being in Sakura’s body stop
rlm@0: her. The short auburn hair was done up in two short pigtails, little
rlm@0: lacy ribbons interspersed all through her hair. She had done Sakura’s
rlm@0: now long, dark hair on the way to school in the limousine as well,
rlm@0: giving her longer pigtails so they would match. It was still a bit
rlm@0: different for her to be in her love’s body, but she was enjoying
rlm@0: every single second of it, thrilling at the smallest details like
rlm@0: watching the muscles under soft skin as she moved Sakura’s legs. It
rlm@0: was so incredibly different to watch Sakura from outside. Now she saw
rlm@0: Sakura the same way that the Cardmistress saw herself and it was a
rlm@0: fascinating experience. And seeing Sakura trying to get used to her
rlm@0: old body was just so incredibly adorable! The way she moved, the way
rlm@0: she talked, it was all so cute. Tomoyo’s body wasn’t as athletic as
rlm@0: Sakura’s, but the Cardmistress continued to move with an almost
rlm@0: blinding amount of energy, always letting her genki spirit shine
rlm@0: through. Hearing Sakura use her voice and watching Sakura moving
rlm@0: around so enthusiastically was better than seeing Sakura in any
rlm@0: simple costume. It was like she had put Sakura in a Tomoyo costume
rlm@0: and let her run free. Tomoyo was still trying to videotape as much of
rlm@0: Sakura as possible, wanting to capture it all for posterity and her
rlm@0: own viewing pleasure later on. 
rlm@0: 	Thoughts flowed serenely in Tomoyo’s head as she listened to
rlm@0: Syaoran, watching the two cousins as she rested against Sakura. The
rlm@0: answer to the puzzle she found herself looking at was just on the tip
rlm@0: of her tongue, the picture almost making sense for her. Something
rlm@0: finally clicked into place while she saw Meiling’s long hair flutter
rlm@0: in the wind. Smiling sweetly, she turned to the Chinese boy, his
rlm@0: hands still on his hips. “What can I do to help, Meiling-chan?” she
rlm@0: asked the boy curiously, though she had a fair idea what that would
rlm@0: be. The boy’s eyes went wide and then closed in relief. Tomoyo felt
rlm@0: Sakura shift against her, long lavender hair teasing her face when
rlm@0: the Cardmistress moved.
rlm@0: 	Breathing a sigh of relief, Meiling’s eyes fluttered open. This
rlm@0: whole thing would be over soon enough and she could forget all about
rlm@0: it. But did she want to? She had given her love to Syaoran and for
rlm@0: once her fiance had accepted it. Well, that hardly mattered. First
rlm@0: things first, after all. She grinned from ear to ear at Sakura’s
rlm@0: words. Things would be back to normal soon. “We need you to change us
rlm@0: back. Now.”
rlm@0: 	Sakura looked from Meiling to Syaoran and back, dark hair obscuring
rlm@0: her vision for a moment before she moved a pigtail to the side. What
rlm@0: had just transpired? Did Tomoyo really say that Syaoran was Meiling?
rlm@0: Then that meant... “Syaoran-kun?” Sakura asked, turning to the dark
rlm@0: haired girl. Syaoran looked miserable, but he nodded. “Hoe...” The
rlm@0: Cardmistress nearly felt dizzy. As if things weren’t usually
rlm@0: confusion enough, now everyone appeared to be someone that they
rlm@0: weren’t. What next? Chiharu telling all kinds of crazy stories while
rlm@0: Yamazaki got frustrated and said she was lying? Syaoran being Meiling
rlm@0: was certainly a little more bizarre than when the boy had switched
rlm@0: places with Kero. How was he handling being a girl? Sakura was
rlm@0: curious to ask, but now didn’t feel like the appropriate time. She
rlm@0: followed Meiling’s gaze to Tomoyo. So they still thought that Tomoyo
rlm@0: was her. “Ano... I’m Sakura-chan,” she said hastily, sweatdropping.
rlm@0: She felt both of the Li’s eyes turning to her and immediately
rlm@0: regretted saying anything. She probably should have waited for a
rlm@0: better opportunity to explain things. Oh well. Too late for that now.
rlm@0: 	“Sakura-chan?” Syaoran asked in confusion. So that’s what had
rlm@0: happened with the Change Card... Sakura must have been using it on
rlm@0: herself and Tomoyo. His shoulders slumped as his mind went back to
rlm@0: what he had seen in Tomoyo’s window. He felt a flash of anger at
rlm@0: that, but he tried to focus on the important part of the situation,
rlm@0: getting the whole thing sorted out. “So you got switched with
rlm@0: Daidouji-san, Sakura-chan? How did that happen?” He nearly bit out
rlm@0: the last part, anger building up at Sakura’s choice in Tomoyo over
rlm@0: him. That, however, was short lived. As soon as it was out of his
rlm@0: mouth, Meiling’s elbow connected with his ribs none too gently, her
rlm@0: currently brown eyes shooting him a glance. Scowling again, he
rlm@0: crossed his arms and waited.
rlm@0: 	Pale cheeks turned a dark shade of scarlet as Sakura struggled for
rlm@0: a reply. She could remember the events that had led up to her
rlm@0: switching places with Tomoyo in crystal clarity, but she didn’t
rlm@0: exactly want to share the explanation. She could remember Tomoyo and
rlm@0: stockings and video cameras and lace and kisses and warm skin and...
rlm@0: No, she definitely didn’t think an exact recollection of the night’s
rlm@0: events was called for. Luckily, Tomoyo came to her rescue, not
rlm@0: seeming at all fazed by the mention of the night before.
rlm@0: 	“Sakura-chan was staying at my house last night because her
rlm@0: father’s out of town at a conference,” Tomoyo stated with a smile.
rlm@0: Her gentle voice didn’t betray her as her thoughts replayed her time
rlm@0: with Sakura in vivid detail. “We finished our homework early and
rlm@0: decided to play a game. I thought it would be fun to trade places
rlm@0: with Sakura-chan for a while, so she used her magic,” the heiress
rlm@0: explained, head tilted to the side. She wasn’t technically lying.
rlm@0: What she said was all true. It just lacked some of the meatier
rlm@0: details that led up to their switching places. “The Change Card
rlm@0: switched us and then hopped out the window for a moment.” Tomoyo
rlm@0: turned to Sakura and smiled brilliantly, holding onto a blushing
rlm@0: Sakura. “Isn’t Sakura-chan gorgeous even when she’s in another body?
rlm@0: Sakura-chan can pull off any look!” Noting the even more embarrassed
rlm@0: look on Sakura’s face, Tomoyo smiled happily, though she didn’t
rlm@0: release Sakura from her embrace. “How did the Change get a hold of
rlm@0: the two of you?” she asked curiously. She already had a pretty good
rlm@0: idea of what on her own. Syaoran must have followed them, Meiling
rlm@0: giving chase. Syaoran must have been somewhere very near the house
rlm@0: when the Change jumped out the window because it had come back to
rlm@0: Sakura rather quickly. 
rlm@0: 	Meiling stepped forward and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. We
rlm@0: just need to fix this right now. I don’t care if you two want to run
rlm@0: around like this, but Syaoran and I would kindly like to have our own
rlm@0: bodies back. I just want this whole nightmare to be over with.” That
rlm@0: wasn’t exactly true, as Meiling couldn’t honestly say it was a
rlm@0: nightmare. But nevertheless, she longed to return to her own body. 
rlm@0: 	Looking down nervously, Sakura placed a hand behind her and
rlm@0: laughed. It was a nervous laugh, but she hoped they wouldn’t catch
rlm@0: on. From the looks on their faces, it appeared that they had. “Hoe...
rlm@0: I can’t,” she mumbled. 
rlm@0: 	“What?” Syaoran asked. He tried to catch Sakura’s now stormy blue
rlm@0: eyes, but Tomoyo was obviously distracting her, keeping her
rlm@0: attention. His heart seemed to be pounding in slow motion, panic
rlm@0: struggling within his brain. But it wasn’t time for that yet. He had
rlm@0: to know what was going on. Maybe he had misunderstood. “What do you
rlm@0: mean?”
rlm@0: 	“I can’t change everyone back yet,” Sakura began, taking a deep
rlm@0: breath before looking up. She smiled weakly, her hand still behind
rlm@0: her head. She scratched through her long, lavender hair as she tried
rlm@0: to go on. “The Change Card needs a day to recharge when I use it. It
rlm@0: takes a lot for it to switch the souls of two people.”
rlm@0: 	“But it’s already been a day. Almost,” Syaoran added quickly,
rlm@0: waiting for Sakura to continue.
rlm@0: 	“Un. But that’s when it’s only changing two people. This time, it
rlm@0: switched all four of us. And I was using a lot of magic at the time
rlm@0: because I was… excited about the whole thing.” Her cheeks burned as
rlm@0: she fought for words. She had been in a very excited state of mind at
rlm@0: the time she had used the Card, so her magic had come pouring forth
rlm@0: in vast quantities. “So it’s going to take longer for it to
rlm@0: recharge,” she finished quietly. 
rlm@0: 	“What?!?” Meiling’s eyes went wide as she stared at the pale girl
rlm@0: that was now the Cardmistress. Her hopes for a speedy resolution to
rlm@0: the situation were now dashed beyond recognition. “You mean we’re
rlm@0: stuck this way? For how long?”
rlm@0: 	The world spun around Syaoran as he replayed Sakura’s words. The
rlm@0: logic was sound. Even if logic could be a funny thing when applied to
rlm@0: magic. This was much, much worse than getting stuck in the body of
rlm@0: the Seal Beast. He was stuck in the body of the girl who loved him,
rlm@0: his own cousin, and he somehow had to deal with it for however long
rlm@0: it took the Card to recharge. Did Fate think he hadn’t been
rlm@0: humiliated enough by finding out that some weak girl was the
rlm@0: Cardcaptor, that she held the limitless power of his great ancestor?
rlm@0: Was his role as her sidekick simply not enough of a slap in the face
rlm@0: to the heir to the Li Clan? 
rlm@0: 	Sakura smiled, trying to put a brighter slant on the situation.
rlm@0: This just meant they’d all have to spend a little time in different
rlm@0: bodies. And besides, she was getting used to Tomoyo’s body. It was so
rlm@0: much prettier than her own, a gorgeous look that always left her
rlm@0: breathless when she was in Tomoyo’s presence. A few more days as
rlm@0: Tomoyo didn’t feel like such a bad thing. Then again, Syaoran and
rlm@0: Meiling didn’t seem to be as happy about the situation. She and
rlm@0: Tomoyo had been exploring what it was like to be in the others body,
rlm@0: almost treating it like a game. How were Syaoran and Meiling handling
rlm@0: it? Her smile faltered a bit as she spoke up. “The Change Card
rlm@0: probably needs another day or two to recharge before I can use it
rlm@0: again. Maybe a little longer. I did use a lot of magic with it.”
rlm@0: Syaoran and Meiling both looked devastated by the news, shock
rlm@0: registering on Syaoran’s face while mute horror etched itself onto
rlm@0: Meiling. Sakura sighed, brushing more lavender hair from her eyes.
rlm@0: Sometimes being a magical girl was not what it was cracked up to be.
rlm@0: 	“So what do we do in the meantime? Are we just stuck this way? I
rlm@0: don’t want to be a boy!!” Meiling slumped to her knees on the grass
rlm@0: miserably. Students stared oddly for her comment, but she wasn’t
rlm@0: paying them any attention. 
rlm@0: 	“We just have to wait for the Change Card to recharge. It’s not
rlm@0: like we’re stuck this way. Besides, there’s no other option, so we
rlm@0: have to wait,” Syaoran explained, crossing his arms. To his surprise,
rlm@0: he felt cool relief spread through him. The thought that they
rlm@0: wouldn’t be changing back right away was a soothing one. Like finding
rlm@0: out a dentist appointment was cancelled or postponed, he was glad to
rlm@0: know they wouldn’t be going through with it. He couldn’t quite
rlm@0: understand it, but he didn’t want to be in his own body again, at
rlm@0: least for the moment. Playing dress up with his sisters came to mind,
rlm@0: but this felt much stronger. Back then there was the knowledge that
rlm@0: they were simply playing, that he wasn’t a girl like his sisters. But
rlm@0: now... He felt free in Meiling’s body. He was free from his mother’s
rlm@0: coldness and the responsibilities that had been thrust on him simply
rlm@0: for the mistake of his being born as a boy. Fanren, his oldest
rlm@0: sister, would make a better head of the Li Clan than he would anyway.
rlm@0: Syaoran didn’t even mind Meiling being in his own body. He had always
rlm@0: had an interest in boys, especially when he had met Yukito, and
rlm@0: Meiling made an excellent boy in his mind, even if she was rather
rlm@0: feminine for one. So maybe it wasn’t all that bad. Maybe they
rlm@0: wouldn’t have to Change back for a few days. Heck, maybe even a week.
rlm@0: A sigh escaped Syaoran’s lips, his worry dissipating. He would have
rlm@0: been more concerned about his feelings regarding the whole matter,
rlm@0: but he simply didn’t feel like dealing with them at the moment. 
rlm@0: 	“And in the meantime, we can try to get to know the one we love
rlm@0: better while we’re in their place,” Tomoyo said happily. She was
rlm@0: already enjoying sharing this with Sakura, and it could easily help
rlm@0: Syaoran and Meiling to grow closer if they were stuck as each other. 
rlm@0: 	Getting back to her feet, Meiling scoffed. “I already know my
rlm@0: Syaoran just fine. I don’t need to know him any better.” She grabbed
rlm@0: Syaoran’s arm, yanking her cousin close by and holding onto him. 
rlm@0: Syaoran sighed as Meiling manhandled him. He really did need to get
rlm@0: used to that. She’d been doing it since they were little kids and she
rlm@0: didn’t seem to be in any hurry to stop. 
rlm@0: “I’ll tell you when the Change Card recharges. Then we can all meet
rlm@0: at the park and I can switch us all back,” Sakura said hopefully. It
rlm@0: was weird but a little fun to be Tomoyo, but she was starting to
rlm@0: worry. If the Change Card didn’t recharge soon, she’d miss the soccer
rlm@0: tryouts. And with all of Tomoyo’s encouragement, she was really
rlm@0: looking forward to trying out for the team. She could always try out
rlm@0: as Tomoyo, but it just didn’t feel right to be throwing her fragile
rlm@0: friend out on a soccer field. It was like putting a piece of fine
rlm@0: china on the edge of a building. Delicately beautiful things should
rlm@0: be held reverently, not in the way of flying soccer balls. So she’d
rlm@0: just have to hope she could fix things in time. With Tomoyo as her
rlm@0: personal cheerleader, she knew she could get on the soccer team. Now
rlm@0: it was all up to whether or not the Card would be ready in time.
rlm@0: The bell rang shrilly, giving the students a sense of urgency as
rlm@0: people began rushing to class. “All right. We’ll meet back when the
rlm@0: Card’s ready.” Nodding, Syaoran hurried off with Meiling, leaving the
rlm@0: Cardmistress and the heiress. At least something was solved, even if
rlm@0: it would take a few days. But inside, he still couldn’t explain his
rlm@0: feelings. Struggling with his inner turmoil, Meiling dragged him off
rlm@0: towards class. 
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: 	“I never should have let you do that for me, Tomoyo-chan,” Sakura
rlm@0: reiterated for what had to be the hundredth time as she held onto her
rlm@0: injured girlfriend. Tomoyo rubbed her back as she murmured her
rlm@0: apologies over and over again. Sakura had always felt a strong urge
rlm@0: to protect her best friend from harm, saving her above all of the
rlm@0: others back in Hong Kong one time and asking Tomoyo to stop coming
rlm@0: along when she was capturing Cards for fear that Tomoyo would get
rlm@0: hurt another time. And so she always kicked herself when, despite her
rlm@0: efforts, Tomoyo sometimes got hurt or in trouble. But the gentle
rlm@0: heiress always soothed away her worries before too long. 
rlm@0: 	Shifting on her crutches, Tomoyo continued to caress Sakura’s back.
rlm@0: Sakura was still in her pale body while she was still enshrined in
rlm@0: Sakura’s athletic body. Unfortunately, athletic body or not, Tomoyo
rlm@0: simply wasn’t athlete material. The sweet, soft-spoken girl was much
rlm@0: more at ease singing or sewing than she was out running. So even with
rlm@0: Sakura’s swift form, she had managed to sprain her ankle during
rlm@0: soccer tryouts. “I’m sorry that I hurt Sakura-chan’s cute body,”
rlm@0: Tomoyo whispered in reply as she returned her needy girlfriend’s warm
rlm@0: embrace. Sakura needed plenty of love and attention, which Tomoyo was
rlm@0: more than happy to supply. She would do anything for the
rlm@0: Cardmistress, after all. Which is how she had ended up with a
rlm@0: sprained ankle in the first place. They hadn’t been able to change
rlm@0: back before the soccer tryouts that Sakura had so eagerly
rlm@0: anticipated. Sakura had been disappointed that she couldn’t tryout
rlm@0: for the team. Wanting to help her darling Sakura, Tomoyo had tried
rlm@0: out for the soccer team herself while in Sakura's body. As she had
rlm@0: discovered, however, watching soccer and playing soccer were two
rlm@0: completely different things. Not much sooner had she showed up on the
rlm@0: field than she had slipped on the soccer ball, landing awkwardly on
rlm@0: her ankle. One doctor’s visit and plenty of concern from an
rlm@0: overprotective parent later, Tomoyo was hobbling around on crutches
rlm@0: with support from her sweet Sakura. 
rlm@0: 	“Poor Tomoyo-chan...” Sakura lamented, helping Tomoyo onto her bed.
rlm@0: She had blamed herself for Tomoyo’s injury, as she often did when
rlm@0: something bad would happen to Tomoyo. Somehow she felt that she
rlm@0: should be able to protect Tomoyo from everything, that she alone
rlm@0: could keep her safe from all the pain and troubles in the world.
rlm@0: Sometimes she wasn’t as successful as other times. This was one of
rlm@0: them. Even though it seemed like she was looking in a mirror, Sakura
rlm@0: could still see Tomoyo’s ever-present smile on her lips. The
rlm@0: currently pale girl found herself relaxing as Tomoyo’s gestures
rlm@0: slowly began to affect her. Her gentle fingers rubbing her back, her
rlm@0: soft voice, her soothing smile; they all managed to numb the worry
rlm@0: that ate at her. Brushing dark hair from her eyes that she still
rlm@0: wasn’t completely used to, Sakura sat down next to her eccentric
rlm@0: friend. The bed shifted as Tomoyo made her way behind Sakura. The
rlm@0: Cardmistress was about to ask the other girl what she was up to when
rlm@0: she felt Tomoyo’s hands in her currently long hair, stroking back the
rlm@0: long silken hair in her gentle hands. Feeling Tomoyo’s fingers
rlm@0: through her hair, Sakura held her breath for a long moment as her
rlm@0: heart pounded in her chest. Tomoyo had such long, beautiful hair. Her
rlm@0: own was usually so much shorter. But it felt so nice to have Tomoyo
rlm@0: focusing so intently on her hair. The heiress always spent so much
rlm@0: attention on her and she always came up with such beautiful styles
rlm@0: for her own hair. So it was nice for Sakura to have Tomoyo trying out
rlm@0: those styles on her. Just like seeing herself in Tomoyo’s gorgeous
rlm@0: costume designs, it was stunning to see what Tomoyo could do with her
rlm@0: hair. She had never been able to do much with her own hair, but
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s was like an art form. 
rlm@0: 	Slowly letting Sakura’s hair out of the high ponytail she had put
rlm@0: it into earlier, Tomoyo let the lavender hair cascade through her
rlm@0: fingers. She could make out a faint blush on Sakura’s pale cheeks and
rlm@0: felt a blush spreading across her own. “Sakura-chan is so gorgeous,”
rlm@0: she whispered in awe, letting her fingers roam through Sakura’s
rlm@0: silken locks. And it was true. Even in Tomoyo’s body, Sakura was
rlm@0: still so deliciously herself. She pulled it off beautifully, like an
rlm@0: elegant costume, Sakura’s cute and energetic charm sparkling out from
rlm@0: underneath it. Sakura was always the most crucial part of her
rlm@0: costumes. She was what truly made them shine. And so Sakura did the
rlm@0: same with her body. Tomoyo always loved dressing up her genki friend,
rlm@0: trying out all sorts of styles on her with different costumes and
rlm@0: things. And so she was loving the moment, being able to try new
rlm@0: hairstyles out on Sakura. She enjoyed trying new hairstyles herself,
rlm@0: but it was so much more fun for her to try them out on her precious
rlm@0: Sakura, to see how they fit the Mistress of the Cards. Sakura was
rlm@0: like a life size doll for her to dress up and style. And it made
rlm@0: perfect sense to dress up the girl she loved, to see her in such
rlm@0: dazzling clothes and costumes. Because she loved her. Who better to
rlm@0: dress up than the one you love, to see them in all manner of designs?
rlm@0: Sakura was lovelier than any doll could hope to be, so it would
rlm@0: simply be a shame if she weren’t dressed prettily. All of Tomoyo’s
rlm@0: designs were for Sakura, her lovely, spirited doll. Now she got to
rlm@0: play with her hair, a new thing for Tomoyo. Sakura’s hair was a
rlm@0: little too short for her to do much with, but now it was perfect. She
rlm@0: could try out all of her hairstyles and more on the pretty
rlm@0: Cardmistress. Sighing contentedly, Tomoyo rested against Sakura. “I
rlm@0: love my Sakura-chan.”
rlm@0: 	Blushing deeper at Tomoyo’s touch and her words, Sakura shifted on
rlm@0: the bed, feeling Tomoyo’s head on her shoulder as the heiress hugged
rlm@0: her from behind. Sakura relaxed against her, hands resting on
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s arms that were still encircling her waist. It was so strange
rlm@0: to have everything switched around, but when they were all alone, not
rlm@0: much had changed. It was just her and Tomoyo. Sure, she saw green
rlm@0: eyes and auburn hair when she gazed at her lover instead of stormy
rlm@0: blue eyes and lavender hair, but that was really a minute thing
rlm@0: overall. It was still Tomoyo. And it was easy to forget that anything
rlm@0: was different at all when they kissed, aside from Tomoyo’s fingers in
rlm@0: her now longer hair. “Hanyaan...” What had started out as an
rlm@0: extremely bizarre thing now barely mattered to the Cardmistress.
rlm@0: Sure, she wanted her own body back. But it wasn’t all that important
rlm@0: to her when she did. As usual, Tomoyo’s idea turned out rather well
rlm@0: in the end. Which was nice what with how... experimental the heiress
rlm@0: could be. A crimson blush crept down to her shoulders as she thought
rlm@0: back through a number of other incidents that had turned out
rlm@0: similarly. For being so quiet and gentle, Tomoyo was certainly
rlm@0: eccentric and ready to try new things. Well, as long as said new
rlm@0: things involved Sakura in some way, shape, or form. “Hoe..?” Sakura
rlm@0: turned back to face her girlfriend when she felt Tomoyo’s arms pull
rlm@0: away from her, but only managed to get a face full of hair. Shaking
rlm@0: her head to get the lavender strands away from her eyes, she tried to
rlm@0: see what the heiress was doing only to find fingers once again at
rlm@0: home in her hair. Sakura quickly looked forward again, feeling Tomoyo
rlm@0: carefully braiding the dark hair. Tomoyo sure had some interesting
rlm@0: tastes, but Sakura was very happy to be one of them. “Aren’t I
rlm@0: supposed to be taking care of you, Tomoyo-chan? You’re the one who
rlm@0: got hurt.”
rlm@0: 	“Sakura-chan is taking care of Tomoyo-chan. One way or another,”
rlm@0: Tomoyo replied, smiling as she held up Sakura’s long, dark hair for
rlm@0: inspection. It brushed past her own auburn hair, tickling past her
rlm@0: forehead. “All I could want is to have you here with me, Sakura-chan.
rlm@0: I can’t move around much because of my ankle, so I’m just happy to
rlm@0: have you close by. And it does give me the chance to play with your
rlm@0: hair, so maybe it was a good thing.” She gave Sakura a soft kiss on
rlm@0: the neck, secretly delighting at the darker blush that spread across
rlm@0: Sakura’s pale skin. If she was going to sprain her ankle, this was
rlm@0: certainly the way to go about recuperating. So close to Sakura,
rlm@0: braiding her hair, could she be any closer to heaven? Holding the
rlm@0: soft hair against her nose, she inhaled the wonderful scent of
rlm@0: lavenders. 
rlm@0: 	“I still feel bad that you got hurt for me,” Sakura said with a
rlm@0: sigh, her shoulder slumping. The image of Tomoyo holding onto her
rlm@0: ankle once again felt her mind. Sakura had felt helpless as she ran
rlm@0: to her, stuck in a much slower body than her old one. There had to be
rlm@0: some way to make it up to Tomoyo. The beautiful heiress had gotten
rlm@0: hurt while trying to help her join the soccer team. Even if she had
rlm@0: failed, it was a very sweet thought. The least Sakura could do was to
rlm@0: repay the favor. Somehow. Her eyes lit up as she sat up straight
rlm@0: against Tomoyo again. “Sense you’re stuck in bed, I can try on some
rlm@0: of those costumes you’ve finished lately. I can model them for you
rlm@0: while you videotape.” Being videotaped in different costumes wasn’t
rlm@0: exactly her favorite thing in the world. It was always so
rlm@0: embarrassing. And some of Tomoyo’s designs had become a little more
rlm@0: grown up in recent years. But the way Tomoyo looked when she
rlm@0: videotaped her or watched her in the costumes was enough to send
rlm@0: Sakura’s heart fluttering. She was the full focus of Tomoyo’s
rlm@0: attention, the only thing in her world. So even if it was
rlm@0: embarrassing, it was something she would always do for Tomoyo.
rlm@0: “Oooph!!” Sakura felt Tomoyo’s now stronger arms squeeze her tightly
rlm@0: in a warm hug. Apparently the other girl liked her idea.
rlm@0: 	“Sugoi! I don’t have to leave the bed to videotape, so I can
rlm@0: capture all of Sakura from here. That would be perfect, Sakura-chan.
rlm@0: And I get to see you in a whole new light.” Tomoyo sighed happily, a
rlm@0: hand on her cheek and stars in her eyes. She had thought that the
rlm@0: costumes would have to wait until they changed back, but this
rlm@0: afforded the perfect opportunity to get plenty of videotape she
rlm@0: wouldn’t otherwise have. “You’ll have to try on the costumes again
rlm@0: when you’re back to your old body so I can compare both videos of
rlm@0: you,” Tomoyo said excitedly. 
rlm@0: 	“Tomoyo-chan...” Sakura sweatdropped. Tomoyo had a lot of costumes
rlm@0: she would need to wear. This would take a while. And it would all be
rlm@0: on video for Tomoyo’s later perusal. Sakura was about to continue,
rlm@0: but Tomoyo’s soft lips on her own silenced her. Kissing back, Sakura
rlm@0: decided she’d wear whatever Tomoyo wanted.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	“This isn’t fair!” Meiling said angrily as she and Syaoran got out
rlm@0: of the limousine that had picked them up at the airport. “We need to
rlm@0: get back, Syaoran!” If anyone found it strange that the boy was
rlm@0: calling his cousin by his name, they didn’t say anything. But Meiling
rlm@0: didn’t care. She pushed short brown hair out of her eyes as she got
rlm@0: out of the limousine. Ahead of them lay the impressive Li household.
rlm@0: Meiling lived with her parents elsewhere, but she spent much of her
rlm@0: time there with Syaoran. It was usually a pleasant sight, but now it
rlm@0: looked so ominous and foreboding. She didn’t want to admit it, but
rlm@0: she was afraid. Afraid of what would happen and of how long she would
rlm@0: be stuck in her cousin’s body. Nothing was certain any longer and she
rlm@0: wasn’t taking it very well. She felt an icy pit in her stomach,
rlm@0: uncertainty and worry trying to drag her down. She fought it off with
rlm@0: difficulty, hurrying towards the house. “We have to tell Ieran-sama
rlm@0: what happened so we can go back.”
rlm@0: 	Upon returning home from school, Meiling and Syaoran had been
rlm@0: shocked to find everything neatly packed up. Wei had explained to
rlm@0: them that he had told Ieran of their growing feelings for each other
rlm@0: and that the Li matriarch had decided to have them return home
rlm@0: immediately. After all, if Syaoran was no longer after Sakura then
rlm@0: there was no reason for them to remain. The two cousins had been
rlm@0: mortified, but there had been nothing they could do as they rapidly
rlm@0: got shuttled off towards far away Hong Kong. The past few hours were
rlm@0: little more than a blur as they made their way back home. All because
rlm@0: of Meiling’s pretending that Syaoran was in love with her earlier.
rlm@0: Now they were stranded far away from their chance to return to their
rlm@0: own bodies, stuck as each other and about to meet with Syaoran’s
rlm@0: expectant mother. And neither cousin was overly eager to tell her the
rlm@0: bad news. As Syaoran had come to realize quite a long time ago, his
rlm@0: mother could be an extremely imposing figure. 
rlm@0: 	“Syaoran! Meiling!” An energetic figure met the two at the door,
rlm@0: waving brightly. “I was wondering when you two would finally get
rlm@0: back. Fuutie will have to stop using your closet to hold her extra
rlm@0: clothes, Syaoran. Everyone’s so excited to know your both back.
rlm@0: Mother already has a banquet planned in your honor. It’s going to be
rlm@0: a huge affair. Everyone will be attending. That’s where Shiefa is
rlm@0: right now.” Fanren gave Syaoran a warm hug as the girl reached the
rlm@0: top of the stairs, believing that her brother was Meiling. Her
rlm@0: brother wasn’t much for emotional displays, so she didn’t bother
rlm@0: ruffling him up for once, but her younger cousin usually didn’t mind.
rlm@0: Which is why she found it odd that the girl she was hugging tensed up
rlm@0: in her grasp, the same way Syaoran usually did when she’d hug him.
rlm@0: Deciding it didn’t matter, Fanren grinned. “So you finally dragged my
rlm@0: little brother back home, eh, Meiling? I can’t wait to hear how you
rlm@0: did that. Mother’s already planning the wedding. She was so pleased
rlm@0: to hear that you two were finally ready to start a life together.”
rlm@0: She held the younger girl at arms length, still smiling. “And you
rlm@0: must be absolutely thrilled. You’ve wanted this for years. Oh, I
rlm@0: can’t believe my little brother’s getting married before me! It’s
rlm@0: just not fair.” The eldest of the Li children laughed. “But I’m sure
rlm@0: it will be beautiful. You’ll make a wonderful bride, Meiling.”
rlm@0: 	Unsure of what to say, Syaoran could only nod as he watched his
rlm@0: sister. Fanren never treated him like this normally. She treated him
rlm@0: differently. Like a boy. No, a man. The distant, aloof man that he
rlm@0: had always tried to be. It was for the sake of the Li Clan. His
rlm@0: mother had always treated him like that and his sisters had slowly
rlm@0: grown to treat him the same. Because that was how he acted. But now
rlm@0: Fanren was being as expressive and loving as she usually was around
rlm@0: others. It felt... nice. It felt very nice to be held by his big
rlm@0: sister, to see her smiling so warmly at him. Blinking back a stinging
rlm@0: sensation in his eyes, Syaoran hugged his older sister again.
rlm@0: “...Thanks, Fanren.”
rlm@0: 	“Anytime, sweetie. You always were like another little sister. Now
rlm@0: you will be.” Fanren smiled sweetly as she wiped away the tears from
rlm@0: the edges of Syaoran’s eyes. The scowl that had been on his face
rlm@0: faded away, replaced by a look of reverence. He had always seen
rlm@0: Fanren’s emotional displays to be pointless, childish, and weak. But
rlm@0: now he had to reconsider. Could it be that he was just jealous, that
rlm@0: he was spiteful that he was left out while his sister’s grew up to be
rlm@0: so happy and emotional? He wasn’t sure. 
rlm@0: 	Meiling, in the meantime, was still not very pleased with the
rlm@0: situation she found herself in. Syaoran was still blushing from the
rlm@0: mention of marriage. If the boy wasn’t scowling, he was blushing.
rlm@0: Sometimes Meiling wondered if he had any other expressions. Sighing,
rlm@0: she hurried inside past Fanren. She had to speak to Ieran. The Li
rlm@0: family matriarch had to hear what was going on before it was too
rlm@0: late. She wanted to be the one in the wedding dress, damn it! She
rlm@0: wanted to marry Syaoran with all of her heart, but she really would
rlm@0: rather marry him in her own body. Her eyes darted around the vast
rlm@0: interior of the Li household, trying to discern where Syaoran’s
rlm@0: mother may be.
rlm@0: 	Finally noticing Meiling disappearing into the house, Syaoran
rlm@0: pulled away from Fanren and hurried after her, scowling. “Meiling!
rlm@0: Wait!” Meiling was much more impulsive than he himself was. And being
rlm@0: impulsive wasn’t always a good thing. Especially around his mother.
rlm@0: “We need to wait until she asks for us. I’m sure she’ll want to see
rlm@0: us soon.” He had to admit that he was a trifle concerned about seeing
rlm@0: her. How was he supposed to explain this to her? He was supposed to
rlm@0: be the strongest mage in the Li Clan and yet he had accidentally
rlm@0: gotten switched with his fiancee. He could only imagine how angry she
rlm@0: would be. A shudder ran through his spine at the thought. She was
rlm@0: always calm, never letting her anger shatter her placid exterior. But
rlm@0: it was quite evident when she was mad. And he had been at the center
rlm@0: of her cold, cutting scrutiny enough to fear her. Disappointing her
rlm@0: had never been an option in his life. Which is why it had taken all
rlm@0: of his will to sneak off to Japan to see Sakura again when Ieran
rlm@0: wanted him to marry Meiling. So she wouldn’t be pleased about that to
rlm@0: say the least. And finding out that he wasn’t ready to marry Meiling,
rlm@0: that it had all been a misunderstanding, and that he had in fact
rlm@0: gotten stuck in her body would not smooth things over with the
rlm@0: matriarch. 
rlm@0: 	“I don’t want to wait. She needs to know now. She’s a strong
rlm@0: sorceress. She’ll understand. And then we can go back to Japan, fix
rlm@0: this up, come back and get married. Hopefully by the end of the
rlm@0: week.” Meiling continued down the hallway, ignoring Syaoran’s
rlm@0: frustrated sigh. She wasn’t in the mood to worry about such trivial
rlm@0: things. Her mind was set. She had her game plan. Now all she had to
rlm@0: do was find... Ieran’s study seemed to beckon to the two of them, the
rlm@0: door left slightly ajar. Meiling hurried to it, ducking into the
rlm@0: room. Syaoran paused for a moment before following. Meiling glanced
rlm@0: around the room, her lungs releasing a breath that she hadn’t even
rlm@0: known she was holding when she spotted the beautiful head of the Li
rlm@0: Clan at the other end of the study. “Ieran-sama!” 
rlm@0: 	“Please forgive us, mother. We didn’t mean to intrude. We’ll wait
rlm@0: in the parlor until you wish to see us,” Syaoran said quickly, bowing
rlm@0: low before grabbing Meiling’s arm. As if things weren’t bad enough,
rlm@0: Meiling seemed intent on angering his mother. He could only guess
rlm@0: where that would go. Vivid images popped into his mind, none of them
rlm@0: good. He pulled again on Meiling’s arm, but the girl in his body
rlm@0: simply pulled away from his grasp, stepping towards Ieran. 
rlm@0: 	“Ieran-sama, I’m sorry for being so forward, but I have to talk to
rlm@0: you. I’m not Syaoran. I’m Meiling.” Gesturing back towards Syaoran,
rlm@0: Meiling continued. “That’s Syaoran.” She could feel her heart
rlm@0: lighten, a weight lifting off of her. At least that was out of the
rlm@0: way. Ieran would know what to do. She always did. 
rlm@0: 	Syaoran, on the other hand, felt an icy hand clamp onto his heart,
rlm@0: clutching deep inside of him. His head slumped as he waited for
rlm@0: Ieran’s harsh words. They would come, he was sure. Of course,
rlm@0: sometimes it was worse when she would greet him with only silence.
rlm@0: All he could do for now was wait. She would know doubt be angry at
rlm@0: him for his mistake, for causing so much trouble for the Li Clan. 
rlm@0: 	Watching the two cousins contemplatively, Ieran thought for a
rlm@0: moment. “Is this true?” she asked the dark haired girl. Syaoran
rlm@0: nodded in response, long hair draping past her face. The older woman
rlm@0: nodded, rolling this information over in her head. “I thought that
rlm@0: something of the sort had happened. I could feel Syaoran’s magic in
rlm@0: Meiling’s body, whereas Syaoran’s body currently has no magic.” She
rlm@0: paused, letting an uneasy silence reign over the room. The two
rlm@0: shifted uncomfortably as they waited for her to continue. She simply
rlm@0: raised an eyebrow and continued to watch the gender switched cousins.
rlm@0: Syaoran’s head was still lowered like a sad puppy, obviously
rlm@0: expecting some sort of negative reaction on her part. Her daughters
rlm@0: were all much happier, none of them nearly as afraid of her as
rlm@0: Syaoran was. But it was necessary. She had raised Syaoran to fill his
rlm@0: role. He was to be the head of the family. He had to grow up to be
rlm@0: strong, to be the pillar of the family. So she had raised him very
rlm@0: differently from his sisters. It was his duty as the male heir. Just
rlm@0: as it had been her duty to assume the role as head of the Li Clan,
rlm@0: not having any male siblings herself. She knew how difficult it was
rlm@0: and she had tried to raise him accordingly. And also to fulfill his
rlm@0: duties to the Li Clan by becoming as strong a mage as he could to aid
rlm@0: the true Cardcaptor, and later the Cardmistress. She had known early
rlm@0: on that he would not be the Cardcaptor, nor could he handle the
rlm@0: situation on his own. The most he could hope to do would be to help.
rlm@0: But she had instilled in him a lust for power, to force him to be as
rlm@0: strong as he could be when the Cardcaptor needed him. At times like
rlm@0: this, seeing Syaoran cower before her, it was a sad sight. But it was
rlm@0: necessary. She couldn’t allow herself to regret it. Regrets only
rlm@0: mired one in the past. “I think I’ll set the wedding in two months.
rlm@0: That should be a nice enough time to get everything ready. I would
rlm@0: wait longer, but I really don’t think that will be necessary.” 
rlm@0: 	Meiling and Syaoran both looked up in surprise. “What? Wait, Ieran-
rlm@0: sama, we need to go back to Japan soon so we can switch back to our
rlm@0: old bodies. We don’t have time to worry about a wedding,” Meiling
rlm@0: argued. “Yet,” she added quickly. Oh, a wedding sounded absolutely
rlm@0: lovely. But she had more immediate concerns. 
rlm@0: 	“And I never agreed to marry Meiling. Wei heard Meiling talking and
rlm@0: thought that she was me,” Syaoran shot in, stepping up next to
rlm@0: Meiling. He immediately regretted the words as he saw Meiling wince.
rlm@0: He didn’t mean to hurt her. And he hadn’t meant it like that. He...
rlm@0: loved Meiling? Yes... Yes, he did. But he wanted his mother to know
rlm@0: that he hadn’t decided on this yet. 
rlm@0: 	“I forbid it. You are not going back to Japan. You will not return
rlm@0: to your old bodies. We will leave things like this,” Ieran stated
rlm@0: calmly. She could see the two react in shock, but kept up her cold
rlm@0: composure. Their reaction was of no concern for her. She was simply
rlm@0: doing what was best for the Li Clan. And she had quickly realized how
rlm@0: this would benefit them. It was her decision to make. It may not be
rlm@0: what they would choose, but it hardly mattered. Things would be nicer
rlm@0: if they agreed, but you couldn’t always have things run perfectly.
rlm@0: This bit of luck actually quelled quite a number of her worries about
rlm@0: the future of the venerable House of Li. 
rlm@0: 	Syaoran was left speechless as he watched his mother. She wasn’t
rlm@0: angry with him. She was actually pleased with the situation. Why
rlm@0: would she want things to turn out this way? What was going on? So he
rlm@0: was stuck this way? Forever? He suddenly felt dizzy, as if he was
rlm@0: spinning at a blinding rate. His fate seemed sealed with her words.
rlm@0: He would spend the rest of his life as Meiling. He would see Meiling
rlm@0: in his body from now on. He felt angry and sad and... elated? He
rlm@0: couldn’t deny that he once again felt relieved. His mind flashed back
rlm@0: to Fanren, to his bright and cheerful sisters, to the warm manner
rlm@0: that his mother showed them and kept from him. No!! He didn’t want
rlm@0: any of that. He was Li Syaoran, powerful sorcerer and the next head
rlm@0: of the House of Li. And he was not a girl! He would not spend the
rlm@0: rest of his life trapped in a girl’s body, in the body of his fiancee. 
rlm@0: 	“What? But... Ieran-sama, why?” Meiling asked, near panic in her
rlm@0: voice. Her hopes were once again slipping away from her, this time
rlm@0: waving goodbye for what could be an eternity. This didn’t make any
rlm@0: sense. She had thought that Ieran would be eager to have this sorted
rlm@0: out, but instead the matriarch wanted to leave things as they were.
rlm@0: Meiling could see her wedding dress flying off into the distance. She
rlm@0: shook her head, balling up her fists as she looked pleadingly at
rlm@0: Syaoran’s mother. “Why are you doing this?”
rlm@0: 	Ieran allowed a small smile to cross her lips as she looked at
rlm@0: Meiling. The girl was extremely strong willed. In some ways, Meiling
rlm@0: reminded her of herself at that age. “Very well. Though my reasons do
rlm@0: no concern you, I will concede that to you.” She stood up, walking to
rlm@0: the two cousins. She placed her hands on Meiling’s shoulders, looking
rlm@0: the girl in her son’s body in the eyes. “Meiling, you have the
rlm@0: strength to hold the Li Clan together. You have the will it takes to
rlm@0: be the head of the House of Li. I believe that if anyone can handle
rlm@0: whatever tragedies face our clan in the future, it will be you. You
rlm@0: do not give up, you are willing to go the distance to achieve your
rlm@0: goals. You are a bit impetuous, but I’m hoping that will mellow with
rlm@0: age. That is one of the reasons why I set you as Syaoran’s fiancee.
rlm@0: You and he are the best match for each other. I have seen that. Which
rlm@0: is why I wish that Syaoran had listened to my decision rather than
rlm@0: looking for someone not half as well suited to him.” She gave Syaoran
rlm@0: a quick glance before looking back to Meiling. “You are the one I
rlm@0: would choose to head the Li Clan. But Syaoran is the male heir, so it
rlm@0: is his duty, not yours. This way, you can head the Li Clan after
rlm@0: all.” She turned from Meiling, stepping in front of Syaoran. Her son
rlm@0: kept his eyes averted for some time before she tilted his chin up to
rlm@0: see his eyes. To his surprise, she smiled gently at him. “Syaoran,
rlm@0: I’m afraid that you weren’t suited to many of the tasks I gave you.
rlm@0: In some ways, I wonder why you weren’t born as a girl to begin with.
rlm@0: I think a lot of this could have been avoided had that happened. But
rlm@0: we do not choose how we are born, so we must all play with the hand
rlm@0: we are dealt. You are shy and emotional, even if your emotions are
rlm@0: all twisted inside of you as you repress them. But I must take the
rlm@0: blame for that. I have pushed you to be something that you are not.
rlm@0: Now we have the chance to remedy that. Your heart is like that of a
rlm@0: girl who has striven to be the boy she cannot be. I think you may
rlm@0: have turned out much like your sisters had things gone another way.
rlm@0: But regrets will get us nowhere. I wish to leave things as they are
rlm@0: because I believe it is best for the Li Clan. Even in your
rlm@0: relationship with Meiling, she is dominant in it over you. You are
rlm@0: too shy and unsure, though you pretend to be otherwise. Which is why
rlm@0: I wonder why you ever assumed you could handle the Cardmistress, who
rlm@0: can also be very shy and unsure. But all of this points to this being
rlm@0: the best possible solution. You get to be my daughter as you should
rlm@0: have been while Meiling will be my successor as she rightfully should
rlm@0: be.”
rlm@0: 	Meiling’s mind reeled as Ieran’s words spun round and around
rlm@0: through her thoughts. ‘She wants me to be the next head of the Li
rlm@0: Clan? But how can I? I always thought I’d marry Syaoran, but I never
rlm@0: thought that I’d have the weight of the Li Clan on my shoulders. I
rlm@0: thought that would be Syaoran’s responsibility.’ Her mind was too
rlm@0: consumed with these new revelations to realize what else was going
rlm@0: on. She was still trying to understand the full extent of Ieran’s
rlm@0: words. 
rlm@0: 	“I... I...” Syaoran struggled for words, choking back the tears
rlm@0: that threatened. He wasn’t weak. He was strong. His mother was wrong
rlm@0: about Meiling being the right head of the Li Clan. He was the one.
rlm@0: How could he get replaced again? By another girl? First Sakura and
rlm@0: now Meiling. And what did she mean about him being a girl? No, he was
rlm@0: a man. Just like he’d always grown up to be. But... Ieran was smiling
rlm@0: at him. Warmly. It was so different from the cold looks she usually
rlm@0: gave him. It was the motherly smile she would bestow upon his
rlm@0: sisters, the love that she seldom gave him. “Mother...” he got out
rlm@0: weakly. The older woman held him as he trembled. He could be like his
rlm@0: sisters... He could stop worrying, stop holding everything inside. He
rlm@0: could stop trying so hard to be strong and unemotional. Tears burned
rlm@0: in his vision as visions of he eternally cheerful, flighty sisters
rlm@0: danced through his head along with the warmth his mother would show
rlm@0: them. But... But he couldn’t... No, he was Li Syaoran... Li Syaoran.
rlm@0: 	Slowly pulling away from his mother, Syaoran quickly wiped away his
rlm@0: tears, composing himself. He knew who he was. His mother was wrong.
rlm@0: He would be the head of the House of Li. He would be the man he was.
rlm@0: “Mother, please let us go back to Japan. I promise you that I’ll
rlm@0: marry Meiling as soon as I get back, just like you’ve wanted for me,”
rlm@0: he vowed. He knew that it wasn’t much of a deal, that Ieran could
rlm@0: probably find a way to force him to marry Meiling anyway, but he
rlm@0: hoped it would be enough. He had to get back, to end this.
rlm@0: 	Ieran sighed inwardly, but didn’t let anything show through.
rlm@0: “Meiling, do you wish the same? If you both wish to return to Japan,
rlm@0: I won’t stop you.” She couldn’t help but let her disapproval of the
rlm@0: idea drift through, but there was no use forcing the both of them. 
rlm@0: 	Nodding quickly, Meiling took Syaoran’s hand. “Yes, Ieran-sama. We
rlm@0: want to go back to Japan to get our own bodies back. And then I want
rlm@0: to marry Syaoran.” Her eyes went over to her cousin, hopes somehow
rlm@0: returning to her. She almost felt giddy, though she tried not to let
rlm@0: it get the best of her. Not only could she be herself again, but she
rlm@0: could have Syaoran at that. She couldn’t think of a happier ending.
rlm@0: She squeezed Syaoran’s hand in her own and was surprised to feel him
rlm@0: squeeze back. 
rlm@0: 	“All right,” Ieran conceded, turning from the two. It looked like
rlm@0: the Li Clan’s problems wouldn’t be solved so easily after all. But at
rlm@0: least she could have the marriage problem dealt with. “But I want you
rlm@0: to stay for a week or two. Everyone’s looking forward to the banquet
rlm@0: and I want to speak with you both a bit before you return.”
rlm@0: 	“Thank you, Ieran-sama!” Meiling felt relief flood through her
rlm@0: body. Ieran simply nodded in reply, dismissing the two of them.
rlm@0: Anxiously awaiting both a return to her own body and her impending
rlm@0: marriage to Syaoran, she quickly dragged her cousin out of the study.
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: 	It took some time, but Syaoran and Meiling had finally returned to
rlm@0: Japan once more, for what Syaoran had promised would be the last
rlm@0: time. They would only be there for a short time, to get themselves
rlm@0: changed back by Cardmistress Sakura. With several weeks having passed
rlm@0: from the time the Change Card had been used, it had recharged back to
rlm@0: it’s full power long before the cousins had returned to Tomoeda. They
rlm@0: had all met outside of Tomoyo’s house, where it had all began in the
rlm@0: first place to finally put an end to the long nightmare.
rlm@0: “Are we almost ready?” Meiling asked impatiently, her arms crossed.
rlm@0: She was eager to have her own body back, to be a girl again. It had
rlm@0: been almost impossible to last the past few weeks with the knowledge
rlm@0: that she would soon be in her own body again. She wasn’t the most
rlm@0: patient individual, but somehow she survived. But she seriously
rlm@0: doubted she could last another few seconds. 
rlm@0: “Un, just about,” Sakura said happily. Sakura and Tomoyo were both
rlm@0: in their normal bodies, if the two could be called normal. Tomoyo was
rlm@0: recording Sakura who was decked out in a flashy feather design
rlm@0: costume. Why such an elaborate setup was needed for the Cards,
rlm@0: Meiling couldn’t fathom. Tomoyo tried to explain that the
rlm@0: Cardmistress had to be professional and that she had to take it all
rlm@0: down for posterity. 
rlm@0: “Perfect, Sakura-chan. You look so cute! Sakura-chan makes such a
rlm@0: beautiful magical girl,” Tomoyo said with a sweet yearning in her
rlm@0: voice as she zoomed in on the Cardmistress. Sakura blushed at her
rlm@0: comments, but modeled for the video camera nonetheless. Tomoyo only
rlm@0: swooned further, videotaping every inch of her magical girlfriend.
rlm@0: “Sakura-chan is both gorgeous and cool in her costume, a flurry of
rlm@0: feathers. The Card will certainly heed Sakura-chan’s call.”
rlm@0: “Can we please just get this over with?” Syaoran growled irritably.
rlm@0: He had already been sick that morning and he wasn’t feeling all that
rlm@0: well now. He wanted to switch bodies and have this whole even behind
rlm@0: him. He felt a tinge of sadness that he’d lose the chance that his
rlm@0: mother had mentioned, but he forcibly pushed it out of his mind. This
rlm@0: would be over soon enough.
rlm@0: “Oh, right!” Sakura sweatdropped. Looking forward with her
rlm@0: determined emerald eyes, the Mistress of the Cards through a pink
rlm@0: Card on the air, letting it spin for a moment before hitting it with
rlm@0: her staff. “Change! Put these two back to the way they should be!”
rlm@0: the brunette called out, magic swirling around her. She could see
rlm@0: Tomoyo moving to the side to get a better shot out of the corner of
rlm@0: her eye and smiled a bit, waving her fingers at her eccentric best
rlm@0: friend. 
rlm@0: The Change leapt out of the Card, jumping towards the embracing
rlm@0: Syaoran and Meiling. They both braced for the Sakura Card as it
rlm@0: headed towards them.
rlm@0: “Wait!!” Tomoyo called out, halting even the Sakura Cards advance. A
rlm@0: confused pair of jade eyes and two angry sets of amber and brown eyes
rlm@0: shot her way. 
rlm@0: “What is it this time? Do you need more film or something?” Meiling
rlm@0: asked in frustration. Why couldn’t they just get this over with? She
rlm@0: didn’t want to wait another second. 
rlm@0: “I think that it would be a lot more touching if the two of you
rlm@0: weren’t just embracing as the Change affects you. You both learned
rlm@0: quite a bit throughout all this and with the wedding approaching, you
rlm@0: both have to be very excited. It would be much more romantic and
rlm@0: meaningful if you were kissing when you change back. Then you will
rlm@0: shift from one side of the kiss to the other, returning to your old
rlm@0: body but still joined,” Tomoyo explained with a smile. She pulled up
rlm@0: her camcorder to see the two, adjusting the picture. Having a flare
rlm@0: for the aesthetic, it just seemed to fit much better on tape that way. 
rlm@0: “What?” 
rlm@0: “Tomoyo-chan does have a point,” Sakura said with a giggle,
rlm@0: motioning for the Change to stay still for a moment. 
rlm@0: Meiling looked back to Syaoran, still holding onto her fiancee. He
rlm@0: sighed as they held each other. It did seem to make enough sense,
rlm@0: Meiling reasoned. Licking her lips, she leaned forward slowly.
rlm@0: Syaoran blushed as she touched her lips against his. The two began to
rlm@0: kiss softly, growing more passionate as they forgot about the Change
rlm@0: Card and their audience. 
rlm@0: Looking back to the Change Card, Sakura smiled and gave a nod. The
rlm@0: chameleon-looking Sakura Card sped towards the kissing couple,
rlm@0: pressing into their legs as it’s magic lit up the area around them.
rlm@0: Magic coalesced around the two, a small sun covering them with
rlm@0: blinding intensity. And then, just as suddenly, it was gone. The
rlm@0: Change Card reappeared in Sakura’s hand. 
rlm@0: Syaoran felt Meiling’s lips against his own as they kissed, holding
rlm@0: each other. The kiss dragged on as he finally felt the magic around
rlm@0: him. It gripped him like it did the last time, maintaining its hold
rlm@0: for a second before pulling away. He could still feel the kiss, their
rlm@0: lips never leaving the other even as Sakura’s magic overtook them.
rlm@0: Relieved, Syaoran kissed Meiling deeper, in a passionate kiss that
rlm@0: let out all of the worry and tension that had built up inside of him.
rlm@0: He could feel their tongues dancing as their victory kiss continued.
rlm@0: Meiling’s hands shifted down his sides. He made a soft gasp into
rlm@0: their kiss as he felt her hand on his breast, feeling the fingers
rlm@0: through the blouse and bra. His arms went around her as their lips
rlm@0: met again and again. His hand slipped down her back as he.. Wait..
rlm@0: His eyes shot open in terror. His hands went to Meiling’s still flat
rlm@0: chest. “What the hell?” Pulling away, he gazed at Meiling, still in
rlm@0: his body. “What happened?” He asked frantically, whirling towards the
rlm@0: Mistress of the Cards.
rlm@0: 	Shrugging helplessly, Sakura looked down at the Card. “I don’t
rlm@0: know. It should be charged by now. I know I used enough magic. And
rlm@0: the Change seems to be doing fine. I don’t know what could have gone
rlm@0: wrong.” 
rlm@0: Kero nodded thoughtfully. The Seal beast had his arms crossed, his
rlm@0: brow furrowed. “The Change can’t work it’s magic if someone’s
rlm@0: pregnant. It might accidentally switch the baby’s soul, too, so it’s
rlm@0: too dangerous.”
rlm@0: Syaoran’s eyes were the size of saucers. Meiling was blushing a
rlm@0: cherry red while Sakura sweatdropped and Tomoyo looked on with a
rlm@0: smile. Syaoran looked down at his female body, still too in shock to
rlm@0: utter a word. “I’m... pregnant?!” His mind was still having trouble
rlm@0: registering the thought. ‘Pregnant?’ he thought, staring down. His
rlm@0: first night with Meiling in each other’s bodies raced to the front of
rlm@0: his mind. He’d gotten pregnant from Meiling...
rlm@0: “Congratulations, Li-kun! Meiling-chan!” Tomoyo said cheerfully, a
rlm@0: hand on her cheek. She seemed to find the situation a lovely one
rlm@0: indeed. Her camcorder panned from one of the cousins to the other,
rlm@0: trying to get both of their reactions for the tape in case they
rlm@0: wanted one later. 
rlm@0: “Seems so, kiddo,” Kero replied, grinning from ear to ear. “And ya
rlm@0: should stop yelling like that. It can’t be good for the baby.” As if
rlm@0: it hadn’t been good enough to hear that Syaoran had switched bodies
rlm@0: with Meiling, this was icing on Kero’s cake.
rlm@0: “Syaoran...” Meiling got out, still too embarrassed to say anything
rlm@0: else. She watched as Syaoran fainted dead away.