S a k u s h a : D a r k n e s s in H e a r t

S u m m a r y : Touya, Meiling, and crew go to a Ski Resort for the weekend. But when left alone, Touya and Meiling talk about some things that may just lead to something more than friendship. T/M One-Shot RR ONEGAI! C o m p l e t e d !

M a i n C h a r a c t e r ( s ) : Li Meiling

C o u p l e ( s ) : Kinomoto Touya and Li Meiling

V e r s i o n : 1.0

A u t h o r ’ s N o t e ( s ) : Wows, so here’s another one of those random one-shots I keep doing while writing DC…XD Yeah, I’ve recently gotten into Touya/Meiling. BUT! I’m still a crazy E/T fan, so yeah. XD There aren’t enough T/M’s out there, so I wanted to make one. Enjoy! RR ONEGAI!

D i s c l a i m e r : I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura, Kinomoto Touya, or Li Meiling. They are the sole property of the four-female manga artist group CLAMP.

Fire.

It can be beautiful, majestic, yet sad and lonely as well.

Li Meiling swiped a dainty finger cross the top of the dancing flame, a warmth pricking at her frosted tips.

A soft Peach and fierce Rose melded together; to one. One small flame cannot withstand a storm.

“Kind of like us.”

Kinomoto Touya fell unceremoniously onto the plush velvet loveseat with an audible ‘poff’. He bit onto the tip of his woolen gloves and pulled it off, one after the other.

Meiling turned, a smile, small yet a smile all the same, tugging at the corners of her rosy lips.

“And how exactly is that like us?”

“Just ‘cause.” He replied simply. Her eyes narrowed.

“‘Just ‘cause’ why?” She pried, voice lowering sarcastically several octaves to match his.

“Because…” He began, fawn brown eyes slinking to the side in vain of finding the right thing to say. “…because you and I are both alone. We’re both abandoned. Unwanted yet wanting.” He explained, barely over a whisper.

Time just seemed to stop for the two of them. Albeit the noise and excited chatter amongst the other guests at Tomoeda Ski Resort, Touya’s words flew strait into her ears.

And hit home.

Meiling sighed, turning from the warmth of the tall fireplace of the lobby to the ornate furniture on which he sat, unblinking and expecting. She shuffled over to him and sat down, deflating with a drawn out breath.

“And?”

He turned to her, mildly amused. “And what?”

Her porcelain face broke out into a small attitudinal pout, her small arms reaching up and sliding back the pin from her long raven coloured hair; falling and wafting down around her shoulders. “And what else is new? Don’t play dumb with me; everyone knows about—“ She cut herself off involuntarily, the anguish of which his name supplied building up her throat. “About…” She finally forced it out, a pronoun instead exploding from her lips. “…Him and me. Your stupid Snow Bunny too.” She spat angrily.

Although she immediately regretted it. Touya’s soft eyes narrowed in sorrow, his lips pursed through pain. Meiling scurried to apologize, but he held a finger to her lips. “Don’t. It’s okay.”

Meiling shivered slightly when he removed his hand, a cold chill creeping its way to where he had touched her. “I’m sorry.” She muttered guiltily anyway. Touya didn’t reply, and they sat in an unsettling silence for several moments.

Until he broke it.

“Meiling.”

She jumped, startled and her heart racing. He said her name. Her first name. He never even called her Li. It was then she began to wonder how he even got her attention in the first place.

Of course, though she would never admit to this, he didn’t need to try hard.

Despite, she managed to squeak out a reply. “Hmm?”

“Can I ask you something?” His voice rumbled in her ears, gentle and defenseless; lost.

She hesitated, somehow fearful. “S-sure…” She sputtered out.

“How did you do it?”

Meiling turned her head toward him, confusion clearly printed onto her delicate features. “Do what?” She asked.

“Do it.” He replied vaguely, allowing a small smirk to take over at the faces she was making. He turned his head to look into the flame of the fireplace. The glowing red of the fire bounced and flickered onto the black marble of the mantle, a reflection in his eyes as he smothered himself with thought.

“It’s been nearly a year, Meiling. A year. And still I can’t forget. I don’t think I’ll ever forget. But you…” He shifted so that he was wholly facing her small frame. “You’ve seen your fiancée, your first love, the one you were supposed to marry, be snatched away from right under your nose by someone you thought to be a friend. But still, you smile, you act happy, and you bless them with all you can give to support their love! How? How come you can do it, you can be so bold and selfless, and I have to sit here and suffer through it over and over every time I see them together?”

Meiling inwardly winced at the look in his eyes; those once beautifully intense chocolate brown eyes fogged over with a pain so strong it made her heart constrict. She didn’t know what to do. She knew he was asking her for help, he was asking her to help him move on. But how do you help another move on when you hadn’t moved on yourself?

“K-Kinomoto-san…” She began, at a loss for words, when he cut her off.

“Touya.”

“What?”

“Touya. Call me Touya.”

“Touya-san…” She stressed, the feeling of his name rolling off her tongue enjoyable. “I…I may look strong on the outside…but it’s all a front to please the crowd. I don’t want people fussing over me, that’s why I act happy and cheerful all the time.” Her eyes shifted focus to a nearby design on the rug, staring as though her life depended on it. She nervously took a silken lock of her hair and twined it in and out of her fingers, uncomfortable.

“The truth is…the truth is…” She took a glance back toward his chiseled face, seeing his silent push to go on. “The truth is that I’m not over him. I still think about him, my heart still aches every time I see him with the card mistress, I still cry myself to sleep almost every night.” Her voice wavered, the tears filling her vision.

‘Oh God, please, not here…not in front of him…please…’

Meiling’s eyes slid shut tiredly as she sunk back deeper into the plush stuffing of the loveseat, trying desperately to withhold her saltine drops. They snapped open again when she felt a pair of well-built, warm arms wrap around her waist and pull her closer to a sweatered chest.

“T-Touya…?” She whispered, shocked.

“Maybe you need someone new.” He told her softly, stroking her hair. But she could sense the hidden meaning, and replied back just the same.

‘Give me a chance.’

“I don’t think so.” She muttered, her voice muffled against the cloth of his shirt.

‘I don’t want to be hurt again.’

“It might help you forget.”

‘Help me. I can help you.’

“I don’t think I can forget.”

‘Can you really?’

“Yes.” He cried softly, raising her head with his cupped hands. Touya brought her face close to his, resting his forehead gently against hers, eyes closed. “I can help you. I can, if you let me.” He breathed sadly. She shuddered.

“I don’t know…” Meiling responded hesitantly, sliding her hands to rest at the crooks of his neck.

He opened half-lidded eyes, looking broken. “Please Meiling. Please…” He whispered, defeated and tired. She unconsciously began to close her eyes, bringing her arms to fully wrap around his masculine neck. She was uncertain, but as soon as her eyes dropped shut and she felt him pulling her closer to his build, she couldn’t be more sure of anything in her entire life.

“Yes.” And his lips crashed into hers.

“HOOOOOOOOOEEEEEE! ONII-CHAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MEILING-CHAN?!”

‘Damn.’

O W A R I

OMG, I have no idea where this came from. I swear it was spur of the moment…XD Though it took me ALL FRUGGIN’ NIGHT TO WRITE! looks at clock 3:02 A.M.?!?! Damn, I’m hella tired…XD Anyhow, hope you guys liked it! It’s kinda Christmassy I guess (even though it wasn’t meant for the holiday)…’cause they at a Ski Resort…Snow…WOOT! XD Anyhow, Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone is happy this year! RR ONEGAAAI!