Black Velvet

I have always wanted to write a dark fic. So here it is.
I do not own anything here but the plot.

Meilin'S POV

After years of fighting it, I Meilin Li, humility, outcast, and shame of the Li clan, have finally given in. Given in to being dark. Now that I have given into the dark shadows of this mind, into the black thoughts of impurity, unclean actions which ached to take place, I should have a change of wardrobe. Someone once told me how you dress expresses how you feel. I was certainly dark now. So I changed my whole wardrobe so that I could always be in the color, or some would call a shade, that I felt most comfortable and myself in. The color (shade) BLACK.

Being dark was being truly myself. For once I did not hide how I truly felt, and I did not feel ashamed of my thoughts. It was being free after years of imprisonment. Like a black butterfly, with dark velvet wings that people would think would weigh it down but instead made it fly stronger, and higher than any other butterfly in the air.

That described me. I had always thought that if I gave in to my dark side, it would weigh me down and create another load on my wings that longed to fly free, free from this world. But it didn't instead, giving me from these chains, the chains which had chained me down and imprisoned me for so long.

Now as I looked out the window, my heart felt truly at peace. My heart, which probably resembled a small lump of coal by now, felt light with a satisfaction. Of course now that I had been freed, I could no longer be the "old" Meilin. I decided. I would let go of everything I had ever wanted, including Syaoran. A simple crush I thought. It would pass or I would MAKE it pass. I wonder how long it would take for people to notice the difference.

I heard the clock strike 12. Midnight. Tomorrow would be a big day, the first time I would not hide my true colors or shades.

The next day, instead for waiting for Syaoran as the "old" Meilin would have, I headed to school early. Sakura was there, unusual for her not to be late. I didn't really care though. The New me could care less if Kinomoto (Avalon) arrived early or late. "Hi, Meilin!" said Sakura as I strolled to my seat. I ignored her. Talking to the wimp wasn't necessary. It was purely a waste of breath.

Even though Sakura had been so obviously snubbed, she carried on as if she had not noticed that I ignored her. "Did you hear that there are tryouts for the gymnastic warm-up captain? I know you will want to tryout for that!" I ignored her once again. I had no need of a measly warm-up captain placement. This time Sakura got the picture, she realized I had no time to waste "chatting" with her about little girlish gossip.

At that moment, Syaoran strolled through the door looking distressed and holding one of my old red, silk hair ribbons in his left hand. I had thrown them away. After all, Black was now my color.

When Syaoran saw me, his eyes seemed to cry out in relief. My heart lurched to see what had worried him so, but I held the feeling back, determined to remain calm and preserved. The Syaoran started half talking- half yelling. "Where have you been? I was so worried especially when I found THIS in the garbage" he half said-half shouted motioning to the red ribbon in his hand.

"I thought someone had kidnapped you for goodness sakes!" he continued, "Why didn't you wait for me before going to school? You always do! And why would your hair ribbons be in the garbage bin? I thought they were your favourites."

This time I decided to reply, "Do you expect me to wait for you all the time? I have the right to go where I want whenever I want without waiting on you. As for my ribbons, I have no need of them anymore. And my throwing them away does not imply that someone has kidnapped me." I replied calmly.

Syaoran was stunned. He then glanced at my new black hair ribbons. I think at the moment I saw true sadness in his eyes. Then Sakura, being the busybody that she was, cut in and decided to join the "conversation".

"Chill out Li," said Sakura, "Meilin is alright now already. So you can relax, plus why would anyone kidnap Meilin? Meilin-no offence-isn't of much worth to anyone in particular, is she?" Syaoran glanced at me. He was wondering whether to tell Sakura or not. He decided to reveal our little secret.

"Meilin and I come from the most powerful and most wealthy clan in China, the Li clan. With great power comes many enemies. Because Meilin is the only one without magical abilities"-I flinched-"she is more vulnerable than the rest of us and is a weakness to some extent. Many would kidnap her for a fine ransom from our treasury." He finished.

Sakura slowly absorbed this new information. "Wow!" she exclaimed. I had no more need to pay attention to this useless conversation so I walked away to another desk. And the class started soon after.

All through class, I concentrated on my studies. I answered every question that the teacher could throw at me perfectly and this continued throughout the day. Later the tryouts for the gymnastics warm-up captain -the one that Sakura had been talking about earlier-started. We were all expected to tryout since it was required for all of us to. Syaoran and I tied for the position. Surprisingly, I won the position, but only because I concentrated harder than Syaoran had. The girls had giggled as soon as he went and that threw his concentration off. I remained calm and prepared.

The coach came up to congratulate me for getting the position but I refused to shake his hand. I spoke firmly, "I tried out only because it was required of me, however because I have proven to have gotten the placement, I decline the position because I simply have better things to spend my time on."

The coach was surprised which was evident from his expression. I had no need for this waste of time. I simply walked out of the room. Behind me, every face in my class had a puzzled expression. I allowed myself a small smile as I kept walking.

After school, at our apartments, Syaoran confronted me.