CardCaptor Sakura Remastered III Episode 3 (10)

Homeroom went smooth, it was afterwards during Keiko’s first period “study hall” which wasn’t going to well. “Why aren’t you teaching anything?” (Meilin)

Keiko stared dully at Meilin, “Don’t want to.”

Meilin - “Is this a tactic so people---”

Keiko - “Don’t want to.”

Meilin - “Are you holding back your deepest---”

Keiko - “What part of “Don’t want to.” do you not understand. I. Don‘t. Want. To.”

Meilin - “Are you feeling OK?”

Keiko - “Don’t want to.”

“That’s one too many “Don’t want to”’s dear.” (Rebecca)

Keiko - “No, it’s not. I DON’T WANT TO FEEL OK! There! Happy?” (to accentuate
her point, Keiko rolls over in her chair to stare listlessly in the opposite direction of Meilin.)

“Speaking of things that don‘t want to be done, any progress on the “getting Nina beat up so she and Tina get over Nina’s moody blues period plot?” Rebecca asked.

Keiko doesn’t even bother giving the voicer of the question a look. “It’s your stupid plan, you go get the crap kicked out of you by Fight to get Nina beat up so she can stop moping over the absent Eliza. Dummy.”

“Bitch. You were excited about it yesterday.” (Rebecca)

“I was not. I was not. And, if I didn’t say this enough It. Was Not.” (turns to look back at Meilin & Rena) “It’s your dumb idea, you don’t need me to hold your hand.”

“What about---” (Rebecca stops, notices that Tomoyo/Sakura were nearly sitting on top of each other studying) “---never mind.”

Meilin huffs her breath, “I’ll do it then! I got beat up by Fight once and I want a rematch!”
Keiko turns, blinks a few times, then turns back. “Xai’s going to be pissed if I let her future bride get the stupid kicked out of her--- again. So I guess I’m in.” (stops) “By the way, how is Xai anyway? Is she all maniac depressed about being apart from you for so long?”

Meilin grows silent, turning back to her studies without giving an answer.

Her thoughts wander---

* * * * * *

That morning.

The hotel room was very nice.

Having an expense account that was bottomless helped a lot. She never worried about money anymore, she had other things to worry about. Mostly Xai’s bruised feelings.

The room came with three meals a day (good ones though she ate lunch in school which the hotel supplied for her as well), a large bed, nice bathroom, a huge closet, and best of all--- a full room setting holosystem which allowed her to use the entire room as one huge
holochamber. Usually reserved for couples or guests with wild sex fantasies, it’s sometimes also used by business saavy people, Judgements and Guardians while out of their own country of origin to keep in touch with loved ones (it’s like never leaving the loved one behind--- if you had a personal holochamber room in your house which was becoming a fad since the technology became easier to install and purchase in the late 90’s).

Xai was gracious, and as good a lover as always, but she was distracted when Meilin woke up.
She sat on the edge of the bed, listlessly kicking her strange shaped feet, still naked her strong muscular form rippled abit as she sat there staring at her four fingered hands, and lamenting the same thing she laments on and off again.

Meilin didn’t need to say anything, she’s done a lot of growing up since she was younger. She simply curls up next to Xai and lets her speak on her own good time. Seconds later---

“I guess it’s an acquired taste.” she whispers quietly. “I heard humans sometimes have a passion for--- well--- people like me because they have some sort of inner desire for--- uh--- what is word--- beastie-ality? Something like that---” (Meilin edges closer, drawing
Xin’s head onto her shoulder) “---I heard stories about families ostracizing their children for marrying--- outside their species--- bad stories--- you don’t want me do you? We could always just stay---” (Meilin firmly places her fingers on Xai’s lips to shush her) “I’m too
stubborn to listen to what others want. Remember?”

“I do---” (Xai goes back to leaning on Meilin for support) “---you definitely are not the arrogant little girl I received as a pupil those years ago. The years have matured you, made you better--- stronger--- while it made me weaker--- uncertain--- old---” (before Meilin could stop her she continued) “---I’m old, Meilin. I have the body of a 20-ish woman but I feel inside my age. You shouldn’t marry an old mare like me--- it‘s not right---”

“Your only 214.”

At that Xai laughs, rubbing her short snout against Meilin’s shoulder. “In Palominian terms it still means I’m 42 human years old---” (closes eyes for a second) “---does that make me a dirty old---” (once again Meilin gently shushes her with her fingers on Xai’s lips) “---I’m old,
Meilin, I can’t help being what I am! A dirty spent up old mare jumping a girl’s bones that’s barely half her age just so she feels young again! I have stamina and energy, but that’s nothing compared to a mare 100 years younger than me. I feel so---”

Xai shakes her head to avoid Meilin’s fingers, pulling away. “NO! Look at me! I’m scarred emotionally from years of duty and--- other things, I’m recovering from an addiction to pain killers and it’s only thanks to you I crawled out of that pit, and hell I can’t even reproduce anymore because I screwed that up when I was your age and a booze swilling whore! I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!!” (Meilin only reaches out and pulls her back in, knowing Xai’s resistance was about wasted away and she would go back to resting her head on Meilin’s shoulder because they couldn’t stop being with each other, still that didn‘t stop a few errant tears from rolling down Xai‘s face) “---why didn’t we meet when I was younger? It could have been so different---”

“I’m here now.”

She always says that. And it always works. Xai smiles abit, and pulls Meilin back onto the bed kissing her passionately. Sometimes Xai can be the happiest woman on the planet.
Sometimes she can come apart as if she was worthless, if only to herself.
But she never let Meilin down once in all the years they’ve been together.
And Meilin? She never regretted the day she bent down on one knee, and proposed marriage to her mentor. The happiest day of her life. She didn’t think much of him anymore after that--- she had Xai, that was enough for her.

“Xai’s fine.” Meilin finally whispered, her eyes focused on her work.
Keiko let the topic drop and didn’t mention it again.

* * * * * *

Math work was making Sakura’s head spin, so Tomoyo was helping her crunch the numbers.
As they went through the equations and the statistics, they occasionally exchanged touches and brief smiles as they worked. “Got it now, Sakura?”

“I think,” (blushes) “But I guess I won’t know until the test!”

“It’ll be too late by then if your waiting for a mathematical miracle.” Tomoyo chides her, running a finger along the back of Sakura’s hand. “How’s the Christmas shopping going with you, by the way, making any progress?”

“I’m almost done. Just need a few more things to buy for everyone. How is your shopping?”

“Done. I might pick up a few extra odds and ends before Christmas but I’m done already.”

Sakura sweatdrops, but Tomoyo picks up on it right away and smiles, “It’s alright. I’m just a quicker shopper than you. You’ll find the right gifts in time, I know you will.”

“Thanks.” (sighs) “I’m still confused though---”

“About Christmas--- or about Nina?”

“Both. But Nina mostly---” (rests head against Tomoyo’s shoulder) “---why are they having problems? Eliza’s been gone for a few years now… but she hasn’t gotten over it yet.“

“I can emphasis. If you suddenly left me I would be emotionally devastated for a long long time, so I can completely understand how Nina feels when this time of year rolls around for her. Maybe Nina‘s just not ready to surrender her feelings about Eliza yet. And you remember what Keiko said--- Nina will get over it soon enough with a little help from us.“

“Maybe, but I wish they’d find a way…”

“We haven’t found a way yet.”

At that Sakura stops even pretending to work, turning to Tomoyo suddenly, “Your not---”

“No. I just mean one day we’d want our special day to come--- not yet, but one day.”

At that Sakura smiles again, which only widens as Tomoyo gently cups one of her cheeks with her hand, “One of these days, Sakura-chan, one of these days---”

“I’m glad.”

Tomoyo smiles. “What’s that equation answer again?”

Sakura nearly faints into her book. “---Tomo-chan---”

“Test is tomorrow, Sakura-chan, have to be ready---” (leans over and kisses her forehead) “We’ll have all Christmas vacation to plan our happily ever after--- and longer still to plan that special day.”

Sakura nods once, and goes back to her studies, smiling a bit even when the answers eluded her. At least when it came to her and Tomoyo, the answers were clear and nothing eluded her--- if only this mathwork was as easy as their love for each other. Sigh.

* * * * * *

PE wasn’t going very well either.
“Come on!” Meilin goaded, pounding her chest with an open hand, “Let’s go Sensei! I’m ready!”

“----” Keiko just stared, not even certain how this came up, “But it’s gymnastics---”

“Let’s fight! I need the practice and you need to stop moping about!”

“I’m not moping!” Keiko retorted.

Meilin - “Come on! Let’s go! Come on! I’m ready! I’m ready!”

Rebecca sighs as she leans against the wall, watching Meilin/Keiko, to her side she senses somebody. “Hey, Jack.”

Jack, looking abit confused, pointed over at the two. “What’s with those two?”

“What?” (Rebecca turns to look) “You mean Keiko and “Spongebob” who won’t stop yelling “I’m ready! I’m ready!”?”

“---uh--- yeah.” (Jack)

“Meilin’s got a bug up her panties and she’s trying to goad Keiko into a fight.”

Jack - “Where’s Sakura & Tomoyo?”

Rebecca - “Oh, them? Well---”

* * * * * *

The room didn’t want to stop spinning.
“You OK, Tomoyo?!? You over rotated on the cartwheel! You OK? Tomo---” (Tomoyo raises two shaky fingers to Sakura’s lips, smiling as the room spun) “Hold me.”
Sakura nods, lying down on the bed to take her dark haired love into her arms, holding her tight--- Tomoyo smiles, resting her head against Sakura’s shoulders, her thoughts only on one thing. “So this is what the inside of a washing machine feels like.”

“She didn’t think that.”

* * * * * *

Rebecca huffs her breath.
“She COULD be thinking it! I just know they’re cuddling by now, that’s for sure! (That was a kind of a nasty spill she took!) And Sakura? She practically threw a hissy fit because of it! I mean, damn, I never seen someone explode like that--- well, except for Keiko.”

“Alright already!” Keiko finally snapped, her arms coming up defensively as she takes a few steps back from Meilin. “Alright, spunk girl, give it to me.”

Without waiting for another word, Meilin lashes out, charging forward fists flying, only for her blows to be batted away by Keiko without her even putting much effort into it.

“She’s doing it again.” Rebecca sighs as she (and the rest of the class) watches the fight unfold. “She’s doing what?”

“Lashing out too much. Keiko’s going to do the same thing Fight did and wear her down.”

“Rope-a-dope?”

“Yeah. Watch---”

Meilin moves forward, lashing out with fists and feet, rotating her moves to keep Keiko thinking, but all Keiko does is continue to batter away each strike without even noticing. But just as quickly as her defenses went up, Keiko lashes out. As Meilin moves in to take a
strong swing, Keiko falls back, reaching out quickly to grab Meilin’s exposed arm as she swings and misses, yanking the girl in and slamming her leg into Meilin’s side bringing her down. Her other leg whips around quickly, slamming into Meilin’s backside dropping her face
first into the flooring, stunned and injured.

“Yeah. That was fun.” Keiko sighs, shaking off the dust and walking away.

As the others gather around her, she pulls herself to her feet and shakes off the other students, “I’m fine! I’m FINE!! Get away from me!!” (a thin trickle of blood seeps out of her nose, another from her mouth where she bit her own lip in shock) “Damn it---” (with a final
huff of anger, Meilin storms out of PE wiping the blood from her face, eyes blazing.)

“Guess the little girl isn’t as good as she thinks.” Rebecca remarks, motioning for the teacher to get the class back under control. As she does, Jack turns towards the exit where Keiko & Meilin walked out, “Guess not.”

To Be Continued

Meilin was still pouting that night, still dressed in her schoolgirl uniform as Xai set out their dinner. The food each was eating was real (prepared using a replicator), but the food the holo-version of the other was eating was fake. Only the food in front of the real Meilin/Xai where they were (Nippon or the Shining Star) was real, and vice versa (Xai’s food was real but Meilin’s was fake from her viewpoint).

Xai however was more concerned about Meilin than the details of dinner. She wanted to check Meilin over again, she felt so inadequate from the distance they were apart. Meilin, noticing Xai’s worried expression, managed a meek smile, reaching over from her place near
Xai to touch her hand.

The touch felt warm to her as if Meilin was there in that room and not a holograph of the real thing which was miles away. But, in a sense at least, it was Meilin touching her hand. Since the holo chamber was sending realtime info, it meant as she touched Xai’s hand, her
holographic counterpart reaching out touched the real Meilin’s hand through the long distance away. It was as if they were still close despite the distance.

“I’m sorry---” she whispers.

“Why?”

“I wish I could have been there for you.”

“You‘ll be here once the paperwork is done. Then we can spend Christmas and a lot of time here catching Clow cards together -- darling.” (reaches up to touch Xai’s cheek, her fingers rubbing the woman’s small snout and strong face) “Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are in candle light?“

“---more times than I deserve to hear that--- thank you--- beloved--- I---”
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, from Meilin’s side of the room.
‘I told the front desk not to let anyone up to my room.’ Meilin thought to herself in a slight annoyance as she stood up, “Be right back, darling.” (‘Who could it be?’ Meilin groused to herself in her thoughts as she walked over to the door.)

As Meilin opens the door she finds herself face to face with the Judgement liaison of Nippon, the energetic and rather chipper fellow bursts into the room, his face just beaming with excitement. “I got a bead on that item you requested! It took awhile but I should have one for you by tomorrow, here’s the storage broach you wanted---” (hands off a crystal broach in the shape of a dragon) “---same storage capacity as a standard crystal tesseract, so you can store quite abit in here and it’s easy to hide as well. Your first report is expected
in a week so please make sure to drop off your paperwork as soon as you can.” (regards Xai, blushes) “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company. I’ll speak---”

“It’s alright, you can speak freely. She‘s my mentor Xai Shar, the---”

“Sorry--- didn‘t mean to interrupt.” (looks at Xai, bowing to her) “I didn’t know you had company.” (turns to leave, again pointing at the broach) “It’s impervious to a great many things so it won‘t break easily, but keep a good hand on it nevertheless. Well, I’ll have a
file on what card captures have been reported by Lt. Kotobuki to date, and be sure to look it over before you start assisting with the captures. I also heard there’s a card in the industrial park where King Penguin Park used to be? I’ll have a file for that area ready for
you also by tomorrow.” (steps backwards towards the door) “---I’ll be on my way.”

As he opens the door one of hotel’s security is already there. “I’m sorry, 11th Judgement! He said you were waiting---”

“That’s OK. He was just leaving.”

“That’s right. I’ll be going. And don’t worry, I didn’t see a thing.”

“Huh?”

“Your companion I mean.”

“Yes---” Meilin smiles, blushing, “---well, it’s because---”

“I know how you feel.” (he whispers to her) “I always wanted to bone a pony girl myself.”

Meilin face faults, her teeth clenching together as she nearly shoves him out the door. “Never say that to me again…“ she hisses, eyes narrowing, “Or so help me I’ll KILL you!“ (as the security guard hustles the shocked man the the elevator, Meilin takes a few
seconds to calm down, her anger still raging after what he said to her) “What did he say?”

She quickly shuts the door, her face glowing abit red as she hastily heads back to the table, her voice shaking a little as she speaks, “N--n-nothing. Nothing at all. Let’s eat---”

“He said something bad didn’t he?”

“Don’t be silly.” (smiles as she returns to the table) “He just surprised me, that’s all.”

“I‘m old but I‘m not that old yet, precious--- I know what he said---”

“Eat your dinner, darling, it’s getting cold.” Meilin countered.

Xai Shar - “Well I guess I should be tickled pink that I’m a pony girl in his eyes. At least he can’t tell an old---”
Meilin slams a hand down on the table shocking Xai suddenly, “Stop it! Just--- stop it---” (a few tears flow down her cheek) “I don’t care how fucking old you are--- I don’t care if we’re
different! I just want to love you--- why can’t anyone understand that? Why can’t you understand that?! I don’t care if your old, or worn out, or another species! I don’t give a damn about any of that! I-Love-You. I---” (Xai moves forward, taking the shivering girl into
her arms, holding her tight as she cries, her body shaking with each pained sob) “I’m sorry--- I’m sorry--- I didn’t mean---” Xai closes her eyes, her own teeth clenched. “To hell with it.” With great flair she pulls Meilin into her arms, holding the young woman in her strong
grip, “Tonight I’m going to love you like a young philly and I’m not going to give a damn anymore how old I am! I’m going to be your wild young pony girl and love you forever and nothing’s going to stop me! Nothing!”

“Maybe dinner?” Meilin meekly asks, her stomach grumbling suddenly.

Xai turns red. “Oh--- yeah---” (she quickly tosses Meilin into the bed and grabs the trays) “Dinner in bed and a movie on pay-per-view!! (Sometime tame for the meal and something naughty later!)”

“Now that’s the frisky lover I know and care about---” (suddenly her voice grows weak) “You know what? He never did this for me.”

“Huh?”

“Li. We never had this kind of love---” (cuddles closer to Xai) “---who cares! I have you and your all that matters to me! That and our love and---” (stomach growls) “---uh---”

“Dinner?”

“Dinner.” (blushes) “Let’s eat.”

* * * * * *

Sakura sighs contently, her muscles relaxing as Tomoyo rubs into her shoulders and back hard, relaxing her muscles and nerves. She was just too tense from studying so Tomoyo wanted to do something to help her unwind from the stress. Of course she remembers the first time she tried this--- she was all sensitive and yelping, and Tomoyo had a hard
time sitting on Sakura’s bottom section because she kept wiggling under Tomoyo’s hands and her massaging. In the end they opted for a warm bath instead of a massage to unwind that first time, but later she got into it. One massage at a time.

“Are we going to catch Fight tomorrow?”

“Your math test is tomorrow, Sakura-chan, I just want you to be relaxed--- your well being means so much to me.”

“Thank you---” (sighs) “---I hope you like what I got you for Christmas.”

“I know I will.” (stops her work, flipping Sakura over onto her back) “I was hesitant to ask, but did you do any shopping for our guests?”

“Yeah. Tina helped me with Nina’s gift and vice versa.”

“I had the same help---” (rolls over to lie down next to Sakura) “---Nina is still a little moody over her feelings but when she and Tina’s together it’s as if Eliza never existed to her. I know it seems a bit harsh to say, but in this case maybe it’s for the best.“

Sakura turns suddenly, eyes wide, “About -- I mean about… I…”

“Oh, Sakura-chan---” (rolls to her side and stares into Sakura’s eyes) “---don’t be so pouty! We’ll have our day, one day. One day we’ll marry and it’ll be a special day we’ll never forget.”

“Yeah.“ Sakura nods in agreement, “I see.”

The two roll back onto their backs, pondering. Then Tomoyo laughs, causing Sakura to sweat drop, “What’s wrong?”

“We’re so worried about their love! We should let them find their way themselves, remember? They’ll find their happily ever after -- we did, didn‘t we Sakura?”

“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

“Guess?!“ Tomoyo mock growls, “You mean you know!“ (playfully whacks Sakura with one of the pillows) “Besides which, right now the only love I should be thinking of us yours---”

“---Tomo-chan---”

“Let’s go get something to eat!”

“---” (sweatdrops) “---Tomo-chan!”

Tomoyo pulls Sakura out of bed without another word, bumping heads with her gently to make her smile again, drawing her out. “I’ll make your favorite treat if you’re a good girl.”

Sakura nods her head and allows herself to be led out.

In the hallway they run into Umi, in her pajamas, holding a glass of water.

“Thirsty?” Tomoyo asks as she and Sakura stop to let Umi pass.

“Had water in the kitchen. It’s for the bed.”

“You mean Gaia?”

“The bed.”

Seconds later---

Gaia - “---?---” (feels something wet splash the bed covering)

Umi - “Don’t you ever water the bed? It‘s always so thirsty!”

“Water the---?” (looks down at the moss covering and blinks) “---it’s thirsty?”

“You are so clueless sometimes.“ Umi growls, “It draws enough moisture out of me so it must be thirsty.” (draws the sheets down and crawls into bed) “And maybe if you’re a good little girl I’ll give you a tall drink of me to sate your palette before bed--- want to draw a little moisture yourself?”

“I’m thirsty?”

“Just hurry and take off your clothes, Gaia, right now.”

“Oh. Ok.”

To Be Continued