Cards of Tomorrow

Twin Bells

"Finally? FINALLY you pick up the call? I was talking to your voicemail for HOURS!" Meilin scolded.

"I had some important work." Li responded blatantly.

"Well I know a liar when I spot one. You didn't tell Sakura that I'm here did you?"

"I had to talk about some important stuff so I didn't come to that." Li leaned back on his cushioned chair and massaged his forehead as his face was enveloped by the curtan's shadows.

"I am important stuff too! Anyway I don't need your help, I went upto her myself!"

"What? Why would you do that?"

"Because I wanted to meet her. Not everyone is selfish like you." Meilin snapped.

"Is that why you called?" Li sighed as he tossed his bangs out of his face. He sat tracing the fabric of the chair he was seated on.

"I know why we're here and all... But... I don't think you should do it... Sakura... Isn't that great right now... I don't know what she's been through but... She's not in a position to take all this shit right now. Let's just go."

Li looked outside the giant window before him and rubbed his face.

This was not going to be easy on him either. The night they met, for a moment he had stolen a glance of the old Sakura he knew sitting there beside him, gilded in her talismans to protect herself from him.

He didn't want to get close to her again, especially after the damage he'd done. It was true that they drifted apart a few months into college, but it was him who had chosen to disappear into the fog, who had left her hand when she needed him the most.

"I just need the cards. I won't do her harm." Li choked as he enunciated the words.

"But they're HER cards. She doesn't see them as cards, she sees them as family!  You can't just take them from her!"

"I'll talk to her properly, and try to negotiate with her. I promise I won't do anything to her. Is that okay?"

Meilin didn't respond. In hindsight, she only gave tangible words for what he himself had been constantly thinking about.

"So tell me what else did you talk about?" Li changed the subject to cheer her a little.

"She's grown her hair! Have you noticed? I'm not sure how it looks on her, but she looked really nice in her maid outfit." Meilin cheerfully spoke.

"Maid outfit?" Li sounded puzzled.

"Yes, she works at Twin Bells Cafe. She has to wear a waitress outfit there. It reminded me a lot about Daidouji, you know."

"Daidouji? How is she?"

"I don't know... Sakura said she hasn't heard from her in sometime. There was also this weird guy with her. She said they were "kinda dating".

"Kinda dating?" He repeated her words.

"Yeah. He seemed okay. But I think they're just starting off. Also he seemed really awkward around me. But then again, it must be my glowing aura." Meilin chuckled.

"Where was this exactly?" Li asked her with a pen and paper in his hands.

"Twin Bells. It really suits Sakura though. Remember how you guys were waiters at the functional event in school? I can't believe Daidouji made you a costume too then!" Meilin laughed. Syaoran covered his face with his fingers, annoyed at her incapability to stay on one topic.

"Hey Syaoran, why do you want these cards back from her?"

"Because I've promised my mom I'll bring them back." He played with the pen in his hands.

"Maybe I'll try to convince her to let Sakura keep them." Meilin sounded optimistic.

"She actually wanted to get to you. Her friend's daughter wants an autograph or something." Li pushed the conversation to a lighter tone.

"WHAAA~ I can never get bored of doing this!" Meilin beamed.

Li smirked as he put her on speaker and typed "Twin Bells" on his phone.