CHAPTER TWO: LETTERS

Meiling rushes home and gets out her best stationery. She only pauses once, to leave a message on someone's answering machine...

"Mardon, it's me, Meiling Li. I sit behind you in third period history... Remember? Anyway, I'm free on Friday and I hear a very good movie is playing..."

She sits down at her desk and begins to write. Her maroon ink pen scratches across the cream--colored paper.

Dear Tomoyo-chan,

I know we have never been the best of friends, but now I need your help with our mutual buddies, Sakura and Syaoran.

I have broken off my engagement to Syaoran, and suggested that he return to Japan, but he will not. Syaoran-kun believes that his first and only duty is to our clan. However, now that Syaoran-kun and I have broken our relationship off, the elders will be looking for a replacement for him to marry.

I believe that they would find Sakura suitable if Syaoran-kun announced his intentions toward her, but that will not happen if he does not see her again.

For his sake, and Sakura-chan's, I beg you to convince him to come back.

Domo arigato gozaimasu!

Respectfully yours,

Meiling Li

IN JAPAN.....

Tomoyo awakens and yawns. The sun is shining brightly through her window.

She dresses quickly. She is going to meet Sakura at the mall and go shopping.

Though, for Sakura, it's more of an obligation than a pleasure, Tomoyo thinks, and sighs. Sakura-chan just isn't happy anymore, and she hasn't been since Syaoran left.

Perhaps she should ask Li-kun to come for a visit. That might cheer Sakura-chan up...

But what if he didn't want to come back? Meiling was going to marry him eventually. Probably soon, in fact... Perhaps he wouldn't want the temptation.

Tomoyo sighs again. After a quick breakfast, one of the servants comes up to her and bows.

"Miss Daidouji-san, you have a letter." He hands her an envelope postmarked Hong Kong.

She opens the letter curiously. Li-kun had never written before, and Meiling infrequently. Why now? Was this a wedding announcement?

She sees the bold handwriting of Meiling, not Syaoran. She scans the letter and smiles happily. Perfect!

"Miss Daidouji-san, may I ask why you are smiling?" one of her bodyguards inquires.

"Sakura is going to be happy again," Tomoyo grins.

Now, she had to help Sakura pick a dress appropriate to celebrate Syaoran's return (and he would return; Tomoyo would make sure of that). Perhaps something in green...

HONG KONG....

"Syaoran!" one of his little sisters yells, "You've got a letter!"

Slowly, he rises from his perch on the step and comes to take his letter. Who would write him? Probably junk mail...

The little sister decides to make it difficult for him. She darts away, trying to read the return address.

"To-- Tom-- Tomoyo Da-- Daid--" She gives up on the name and instead squeals, "Ooh... is it from your girlfriend???"

Syaoran shakes his head. Who is it from? Oh, yeah... "Tomoyo Daidouji was one of my Japanese classmates... Hand it over!"

He wrestles the envelope away from the girl and stares at it. He would open it in private.

"And I have no girlfriend." he says coldly to the sister. He trudges up to his room, letter in hand.

Once alone (though his sisters were listening at the door and pretending not to), Syaoran opened the envelope.

A letter in cheerful light--blue script falls out. He reads it silently, much to the annoyance of the sisters...

Dear Li-kun,

Greetings from Tomoyo-chan! I have received word from Meiling that she has broken off her relationship with you.

She still worries, though, and she believes that you are unhappy.

Well, Dr. Daidouji prescribes that a summer in Japan will do you good. I have left a ticket for you in this envelope.

Syaoran shakes the discarded envelope again, and a small piece of stiff paper falls out.

"1 seat on the 9:05 a. m. June 8th from Hong Kong to Tokyo, Japan" it says on the ticket.

Syaoran can not believe this is happening. But of course he cannot go... He must stay with his clan. He read on.

I will accept no excuses if you are not there to be met. No excuses, Li Syaoran!

Sakura's 18th birthday is coming up,

Of course! Syaoran thinks. Time flies when you're miserable. We are getting so old... Our 11-year-old days seem so far away.

But not far enough.

Sakura's 18th birthday is coming up, and I insist that you attend her party!

Best wishes. I will be waiting for you on June 8th.

Sincerely,

Tomoyo Daidouji