Chapter Two: Tears of Joy

" Li?" Sakura questioned dazed.

" How have you been Sakura?" He asked in a much deeper voice than Sakura remembered.

" Oh Li!" She hugged him.

Completely taken by surprise Li didn’t really know what to do. Especially since people were starting to stare at the odd hugging couple. He hugged Sakura back blushing even more. " Sakura?"

" Yes Li?" Sakura asked still hugging him.

" Uh Sakura. Please not in public. Everyone‘s staring at us," Li stated.

" Okay," She agreed letting him go.

" You’re crying," Li told her handing her a tissue from his pocket.

" Sorry," Sakura apologized not knowing that she was. She reached for the tissue Li offered to her.

Their hands touched and Li pulled away. He cleared his throat and tried to think of something to say as Sakura wiped her tears. " Um you look different."

Sakura sat under the tree. " Yeah you do too. Taller, than me." Sakura laughed.

Li blushed, " That happens, as you grow older." He admired her face and how beautiful she looked even though she was crying.

" Oh!" Madison screamed. " You mean I missed it!"

" Oh Madison," Sakura said looking up. " Missed what?"

" When you two saw each other!" Madison squealed sitting down in front of Sakura and Li. " I had my camera ready and everything too!"

" You mean you knew?" Sakura asked.

" Yeah Li called everyone and told us that he was coming, but not to tell you because he wanted it to be a surprise," Madison explained.

" Really?" Sakura questioned looking at Li.

" Yeah something like that," Li turned away so Sakura couldn’t see him blushing.

" Why did you want to surprise me?" Sakura asked.

" Well were you?" Li inquired standing and dusting off his pants.

" Yeah I was," Sakura replied also standing.

" Then that’s it," Li answered putting his hands in his pocket.

Madison stood and looked at her watch. " The bells going to ring soon. How about the three of us meet at the front of the school after class and we can go get some snacks and catch up on things," Madison suggested.

" Great idea Madison," Sakura complimented.

" Yeah okay," Li shrugged.

RING!!!

" Time to go," Madison gestured to the school.

" Great," Sakura sighed. She couldn’t wait till this afternoon.

RING! RING!

" Alright class that means that you’re dismissed until tomorrow," The teacher announced.

Shouts of joy went up all around the school and students ran out of their classes eager to go home and rest.

" Sakura over here!" Madison waved.

Li and Madison were already waiting when Sakura walked to the front of the school. " Ready to go?" Sakura asked.

" Just one more thing..." Madison said thoughtfully. Her purple eyes searched the crowd.

" Is it really necessary to bring her?" Li asked.

" Yes it is Li," Madison answered.

" Bring whom?" Sakura asked.

" You’ll see," Li sighed.

" Meilin over here!" Madison shouted.

" Meilin!" Sakura exclaimed turning around to look for her old friend.

" Hey guys," Meilin greeted.

Sakura turned to her, " Meilin?" She asked her eyes watering.

" Sakura!" Meilin shouted hugging her old friend. They danced around in circles laughing.

" I can’t believe it’s you!" Sakura shouted.

" I can’t believe it’s you!" Meilin shouted back.

" Okay can we please go now," Li said annoyed at Meilin’s presence.

" Oh don’t be so sour Li Showran," Meilin scolded, " We’re celebrating here. You did your own celebration," Meilin teased elbowing Li in his side.

Li blushed furiously, " Alright enough of this already, let’s go!"

" Luckily, I caught this moment on tape," Madison spoke winking.

" So what are you guys doing back?" Sakura asked gracefully scooping up some strawberry ice cream into her mouth.

" We’re back to visit Reedington," Meilin answered shoving chocolate ice cream into her mouth.

Li stared at Meilin in disgust. His mint chocolate chip ice cream began to melt creating puddles in his cup.

" How long are you guys going to stay?" Madison questioned swallowing her vanilla ice cream and bringing out her new planner.

" Until the 24," Meilin answered eating more ice cream and licking some off the corner of her mouth. " Wei’s watching us again."

" So you guys are going back in three weeks?" Sakura asked.

" Yeah," Li replied for the first time.

" That’s not a whole lot of time," Sakura commented.

" Yeah especially if you want to finish what you came for Li," Meilin accidentally said. " Oops," she exclaimed after.

" MEILIN!" Li shouted covering her mouth so that she couldn’t say any more.

" I mean to finish the classes we got when we came," Meilin corrected laughing as she pushed Li’s hand out of the way.

" Oh," Sakura responded. " Want to come over for dinner tonight?" Sakura offered. " My dad’s making some great food."

" That’d be wonderful," Meilin answered. " Right Li?"

" Yeah great," Li agreed without much enthusiasm.

" Great I’ll call my dad and tell him we have guest," Sakura got up and walked to the pay phone.

When she left Madison and Meilin faced Li.

" Tell her tonight," Meilin ordered.

" Huh?" Li questioned.

" Tell her tonight," Meilin repeated.

" Uh," Li stuttered, " Not tonight. Maybe some other time."

" But it’s the perfect time to," Madison retorted.

" No I’ll do it when the time is right," Li answered eating his ice cream which was almost completely melted.

" Well if you don’t-" Meilin tried to convince Li, but Sakura showed up.

" My dad said that he was expecting it and that we should get there as early as possible because dinner’s almost ready," Sakura explained sitting back down.

" That’s great," Meilin commented.

" You’re coming too right Madison?" Sakura asked.

" I wouldn’t miss it for the world," Madison replied. " I’m bringing my video camera."

" Great," Sakura commented not too thrilled.

" Now all we have to do is go home and change," Meilin complained. " This uniform is killing me!"

" Don’t forget Meilin we have to get Wei’s permission too," Li reminded.

" Don’t worry I didn’t forget," Meilin assured Li. Meilin stood. " Well what are we waiting for, the end of the world, LET’S GO!"

The four of them walked out the ice cream parlor and walked towards Madison’s house first. " Do we dress casually?" Madison asked.

" Well it’s not like it’s some kind of big fancy dinner," Sakura replied.

" Yeah you’re right," Madison agreed.

" Hey Sakura do you want to wear something that I made for you?" Madison offered to Sakura.

" I guess," Sakura answered not too thrilled at the idea of dressing up in one of Madison’s get ups.

" Great, let’s go then," Madison pulled Sakura up to the house gate with her. " Be back in a few minutes guys," Madison said entering the security code.

" Don’t worry we’ll be here," Meilin assured.

" What is taking them so long?" Li complained.

" Oh be patient Li it’s only been ten minutes," Meilin scolded.

" Sorry we took so long," Madison apologized.

" Wow Madison you look so nice," Meilin complemented.

Madison was dressed in a casual denim skirt studded with jewels, a yellow blouse with daisy embroidery and her hair was braided on the back of her head.

" You like it?" Madison asked laughing and turning around.

" Yeah it’s so nice," Meilin complemented. Meilin looked at Sakura. " Where’s your clothes?"

" In here," Sakura answered lifting up a black bag. " I’ll change when I get home."

" Let’s just hurry up and go," Li answered annoyed. He started walking down the road to the apartment he and Meilin were staying at.

" C’mon before Li leaves without us," Sakura joked.

They arrived at the apartment. Wei answered the door. " Hello Master Li and Meilin, please come in. Oh and of course your two friends."

" Move aside Wei, I need a dinner party outfit," Meilin ran into her room.

" Wei we’re going to Sakura’s house for dinner," Li explained walking to his room.

" That’s fine Master Li have a good time," Wei assented. " Please sit down as you wait," Wei gestured to the Living Room.

" What a nice place," Sakura looked around. It was a really big place and there was a window looking over almost all of Reedington.

" Yeah you get such a great view from up here," Madison agreed.

" So I’m ready," Li said walking into the living room.

Sakura and Madison turned around. Li was wearing a pair of slacks and his denim jacket over a green shirt.

" Very casual Li," Sakura complemented.

" Yeah," Madison agreed.

" I’m ready too!" Meilin shouted running into the room.

" Nice dress Meilin," Sakura complemented.

" Thanks I’m glad you like it," Meilin answered. Meilin was wearing a red dress with a dragon print on it and bead bracelets. " Now come on let’s go. We don’t want to be late now do we?"

" Yeah just let me get one more shot of you guys," Madison replied video taping them.

" Let’s just go," Li complained not liking to be filmed. " Bye Wei."

" Good-bye Master Li and Meilin," Wei bid farewell closing the door behind them.