Ten Thousand Peony Petals
Chapter 1
It has been twenty years. Twenty years is a long time. For us, for them, for everyone. Even for those who live for a thousand years, twenty years is still a long time. So much happens in the world.
Sakura-chan has grown up. As I have. We've all grown. Eriol just came from England to visit. Nakuru and Spinel came as well.
I've taken over my mother's business. Simply because I wanted to, nothing else. So far, I've been rather successful. Sakura is a doctor, internal medicine. Touya is a professor at the university in Tokyo, teaching history. Yukito is also a professor, teaching math.
It's hard to believe there was another one among us, isn't it.
Sakura is married. She is no longer Kinomoto Sakura. She is now Wakabayashi Sakura. Her husband is Seto, a dentist. Touya is also married. His wife is Kasumi, a very intelligent lawyer and author. Eriol and I are making plans.
So many people. Did you know that Chiharu is still single? That Yamazaki is still single, a very successful author? Did you know that Noako and Rika moved to South Korea? There are so many things that happened. So many things. It may seem like we had forgot about him, going with our own lives like this, getting married, falling in love, watching the world go by and following it. Hai, it might seem like we forgot, like we broke our promise.
But Syaoran left on May seventeenth. And every May seventeenth afterwards, we gathered together in that meadow where we all last seen him-just us, with no husbands, no wives, no friends or family. And we'll sit there for hours, sometimes silent, sometimes laughing, sometimes solemn and serious. Every July thirteenth we celebrate his birthday. Chocolate cake, his favorite. We tell our loved ones his story, of how he had died on that fateful night under the full moon, by the jaws of the crocodile saw the secrets of life, and we spoke of how he became a god, pure and innocent, and Sakura gave that precious peony to Seto. Seto understood how much that flower contains. A simple being, yet immortal.
Iie, we didn't forget. Not this way we won't. We will never forget the day Syaoran first came to us. We will never forget the day he left. We will never forget who he was and who he had become. Li Syaoran of the Li clan.
The Li clan. They spoke not a word of his departure, only a solemn silence, just enough to let us know they understood. Just enough to let us know they accept and they will mourn. With or without proper burial. With or without the body.
And that was when he chose to come.
He came as a full grown teenager, still in his youth but full of wisdom. A god in earthly form, his skin was no longer white, but a healthy pale with pink shadings. His hair was no longer pale but light brown. His eyes were not so golden, but they still had the same flicker. He no longer looked serious and solemn or threatening. He looked cheerful, full of joy. And he came with many older gods, all tall and fair. Like this he came into our world, excited, content, at peace. He first came to my mansion, where Sakura was spending the evening along with Seto.
He was tall. He was fair. An angelic being, filled with divinity and grace. He was not unhappy with the fact that Sakura found a new love, he was happy she was alive and well. I still remember that look on Sakura's face-full of shock and disbelief, a confusion between whether to be happy or afraid. But his cheerful greeting made the decision for her, and she flung herself into his arms-an image of an every day romance movie, with a happy ending.
Happy endings and happy beginnings are two different things.
Behind him were many others. Seven? Four women and three men. All mighty and powerful, filled with an aura of pride that demands respect. Seto did not know how to react to his wife's behavior until Sakura called him by name.
" Syaoran-kun."
Syaoran laughed in response, and a beautiful laugh it was, deep and powerful, as he too, called her by name.
" Sakura."
Then he let go, turned to Seto, and bowed.
" Wakabayashi-san." He said. " I am pleased to meet you. Tomoyo!"
" Li-kun!" I laughed, and too embraced him. I was so glad he was back. I did not ask any other questions.
" How have you been?" He asked.
" What do you mean how have we been?" Sakura slapped his arm playfully. " Twenty years! How have you been! Is that all we get?"
" Hai, until you answer the question." Syaoran teased. " But you don't need to say if you don't want to. I know already. And I'm sorry to spoil your supposed joy-I was certain that you would be glad to get rid of the gaki."
" What are you talking about!" I cried, making a slapping motion myself. " But what joy would you spoil? You're here, after all."
" Only for a little while." Syaoran answered pleasantly. " Come along. I'm sure you can cope with that. We're taking a sampling of this world to bring to the Land of Mystical Dreams. That's its name, since there's been ideas, but none were tried yet. We'll be staying here for some time though, but not a year, that's for sure. Where is everyone?"
There was a brief hesitation, before I recovered. " You're just in luck! Eriol came back from England."
" Hai. You and he are making plans." There was an unfamiliar glint in his eye. " Romeo and Juliet!"
" I sure hope it won't end that way!" I laughed.
" Come along. I want to meet everyone, especially Touya. I miss him so much." Syaoran laughed. " Oh, by the way, Tomoyo, Sakura, Seto, this is Aisha, Ronald, Shruti, Anna, Alicia, Louis, and Dayne. The seven of you, you know who they are."
After a trading of greetings, we finally realized that Syaoran was part of the High Council.
" Young indeed!" Syaoran had laughed when Ronald had mentioned it good humoredly. " In fact, all of them are seventeen times as old as I am!"
" You don't look that old." Sakura remarked.
" Do I look thirty-one years old?" Syaoran smirked.
" Iie. You look sixteen."
" Exactly."
" Ah, immortals, eternal youth. No fair!"
" Fair!" Syaoran laughed. " We live and be tormented by memories of our past accumulating forever, while you guys live easy lives! Good heavens! But speaking of heavens, how's Yue been doing?"
The gods laughed at that, and Sakura explained how he had been doing, and Syaoran smiled.
" Professor Tsukishiro! Now that's a bundle of news, no mistake! And Professor Kinomoto! I'll have to address them by their proper title! I guess I really did miss a lot then."
" How long will be staying?" Sakura suddenly asked.
Syaoran didn't seem distressed.
" How long will we be staying, Shruti?"
" Ah, good question." The goddess looked over at Ronald. " How long could we afford?"
" Well, the forces are in good condition. I'll say about several months or so."
" Four or five." Syaoran nodded. " Long enough to catch up, iie?"
" Oh..." Sakura suddenly looked saddened. " Hai."
" Come along. Show us around. Never bothered to look into details in this town, so give us a tour, would you?" Syaoran answered pleasantly, as if not noticing her distress.
Nodding, we left the table and went to get our coats.
Nothing changed much, really. The town seemed like a frozen place. But having Syaoran around felt queer. It was almost as if he didn't belong. He was fair and a pure being amidst a corrupt world. He was a being that no longer is. And somehow it seems he's too perfect for us now.
Yet there was this warm look in his eyes, something about his smile, that makes others feel wanted. There was something that had changed. But there was also something about him that says loud and clear, " I still love you."
Shortly afterwards, we all took Syaoran to Yukito's home.
He was shocked. Hai, Yue was shocked. At first he didn't know what to make of it, even when Syaoran called him. He stood there, and one would have mistaken him for rejection. But Syaoran was a god.
Hai! God he was, of the High Council. One of the eight that decides it all. He masters all kinds of magic we can never dream of. He has seen more than we can dream of. And he knows, knows, good heavens! No one knows more than he, save the High Council. Where is the clueless and dense Li Syaoran that we knew? It seems he was never so clueless in the first place. Does he still love Sakura like he use to?
Yue didn't know how to react at first, then he just threw himself onto Syaoran, who was nearly as tall as himself now.
" You gaki." Was all Yue said. But he wouldn't let go. " You've grown." He muttered.
" Yue." Syaoran finally said, after some hesitation. " I've only come back for a while. Don't get too comfortable."
Yue suddenly flung himself away from Syaoran and stared at him.
" How long?" He asked.
" Four to five months." Syaoran answered. " Maybe a little more. It depends."
" On what?"
" On when we'll get this done."
" Get what done?" Yue was distressed. I looked at him apologetically and we had to explain everything.
Yue studied Syaoran and the other immortals for a long time, a considering and slightly disappointed look in his eyes. For a while he was silent, not speaking, his gaze deep and thoughtful. Then he raised his arm and patted Syaoran's.
" I've missed you." He said softly.
" Me too." Syaoran answered quietly. " But sometimes that's not enough."
" What will be?" Yue asked.
" Nothing." Syaoran answered.
And we all knew what he meant.
Professor Kinomoto ain't impressed.
Oh, he ain't, that's for sure. Touya did not like it at all. The nickname gaki came back, although with less offense, but he wasn't happy.
Syaoran didn't seem to mind. Gradually I began to wonder. Did he still love us? Did he still care? Or is this something that happened by accident?
Shruti and Anna went off to collect some samplings of sand from the beaches, which would take some time. Ronald and Louis collected what leaves and plants they could. I was confused at first. What could plants and dirt do? But Syaoran had insistently wanted to go with Ronald and Louis for some reason.
" Onegai!"
" Iie."
" Why?"
" You're too young, and besides, you have long lost friends."
" But-"
" No buts."
Syaoran frowned. I felt slightly hurt and doubtless everyone felt the same. But when the gods left he beamed and played with Sakura's baby, Mimi.
" She is so kawaii." He said over and over again, poking at her nose. " And she has her oka-san's eyes!"
He seemed so oblivious to our looks of disappointment. It seemed like he was the one that broke the promise.
Later that day Sakura and Syaoran went out. Seto didn't mind really, after all, he knew she loved him. Eriol and I sat down on the couch with Nakuru, Kero and Spinel.
" What's up with him?"
" He's changed, Tomoyo-chan."
" But Eriol-"
" He's changed."
" Is that a good thing?"
" Depends." Eriol answered pleasantly, acting unbearably like Syaoran. " IF you want him to be happy, it's good. If you want him to stick to the past like he use to, well, than it's bad."
" Well, it's not that I don't want him to be happy." I protested. " It's just that it seems like he doesn't care."
" Why should he?" Eriol asked me, curious. " Think about it, Tomoyo. He loves Sakura. If he still is after her, he has no chance. Sakura's already married. Heck, she has a baby girl already! So that's gone. What else? He's a god, Tomoyo, and what's more, he's part of the High Council. He is one of the eight that is planning to build up another world in the Land of Mystical Dreams. Tell me, why should he care for the likes of us?"
It was a discomforting thought, but I knew he was right. Somehow, I knew Eriol was right. And I hated that.
Chapter 1
It has been twenty years. Twenty years is a long time. For us, for them, for everyone. Even for those who live for a thousand years, twenty years is still a long time. So much happens in the world.
Sakura-chan has grown up. As I have. We've all grown. Eriol just came from England to visit. Nakuru and Spinel came as well.
I've taken over my mother's business. Simply because I wanted to, nothing else. So far, I've been rather successful. Sakura is a doctor, internal medicine. Touya is a professor at the university in Tokyo, teaching history. Yukito is also a professor, teaching math.
It's hard to believe there was another one among us, isn't it.
Sakura is married. She is no longer Kinomoto Sakura. She is now Wakabayashi Sakura. Her husband is Seto, a dentist. Touya is also married. His wife is Kasumi, a very intelligent lawyer and author. Eriol and I are making plans.
So many people. Did you know that Chiharu is still single? That Yamazaki is still single, a very successful author? Did you know that Noako and Rika moved to South Korea? There are so many things that happened. So many things. It may seem like we had forgot about him, going with our own lives like this, getting married, falling in love, watching the world go by and following it. Hai, it might seem like we forgot, like we broke our promise.
But Syaoran left on May seventeenth. And every May seventeenth afterwards, we gathered together in that meadow where we all last seen him-just us, with no husbands, no wives, no friends or family. And we'll sit there for hours, sometimes silent, sometimes laughing, sometimes solemn and serious. Every July thirteenth we celebrate his birthday. Chocolate cake, his favorite. We tell our loved ones his story, of how he had died on that fateful night under the full moon, by the jaws of the crocodile saw the secrets of life, and we spoke of how he became a god, pure and innocent, and Sakura gave that precious peony to Seto. Seto understood how much that flower contains. A simple being, yet immortal.
Iie, we didn't forget. Not this way we won't. We will never forget the day Syaoran first came to us. We will never forget the day he left. We will never forget who he was and who he had become. Li Syaoran of the Li clan.
The Li clan. They spoke not a word of his departure, only a solemn silence, just enough to let us know they understood. Just enough to let us know they accept and they will mourn. With or without proper burial. With or without the body.
And that was when he chose to come.
He came as a full grown teenager, still in his youth but full of wisdom. A god in earthly form, his skin was no longer white, but a healthy pale with pink shadings. His hair was no longer pale but light brown. His eyes were not so golden, but they still had the same flicker. He no longer looked serious and solemn or threatening. He looked cheerful, full of joy. And he came with many older gods, all tall and fair. Like this he came into our world, excited, content, at peace. He first came to my mansion, where Sakura was spending the evening along with Seto.
He was tall. He was fair. An angelic being, filled with divinity and grace. He was not unhappy with the fact that Sakura found a new love, he was happy she was alive and well. I still remember that look on Sakura's face-full of shock and disbelief, a confusion between whether to be happy or afraid. But his cheerful greeting made the decision for her, and she flung herself into his arms-an image of an every day romance movie, with a happy ending.
Happy endings and happy beginnings are two different things.
Behind him were many others. Seven? Four women and three men. All mighty and powerful, filled with an aura of pride that demands respect. Seto did not know how to react to his wife's behavior until Sakura called him by name.
" Syaoran-kun."
Syaoran laughed in response, and a beautiful laugh it was, deep and powerful, as he too, called her by name.
" Sakura."
Then he let go, turned to Seto, and bowed.
" Wakabayashi-san." He said. " I am pleased to meet you. Tomoyo!"
" Li-kun!" I laughed, and too embraced him. I was so glad he was back. I did not ask any other questions.
" How have you been?" He asked.
" What do you mean how have we been?" Sakura slapped his arm playfully. " Twenty years! How have you been! Is that all we get?"
" Hai, until you answer the question." Syaoran teased. " But you don't need to say if you don't want to. I know already. And I'm sorry to spoil your supposed joy-I was certain that you would be glad to get rid of the gaki."
" What are you talking about!" I cried, making a slapping motion myself. " But what joy would you spoil? You're here, after all."
" Only for a little while." Syaoran answered pleasantly. " Come along. I'm sure you can cope with that. We're taking a sampling of this world to bring to the Land of Mystical Dreams. That's its name, since there's been ideas, but none were tried yet. We'll be staying here for some time though, but not a year, that's for sure. Where is everyone?"
There was a brief hesitation, before I recovered. " You're just in luck! Eriol came back from England."
" Hai. You and he are making plans." There was an unfamiliar glint in his eye. " Romeo and Juliet!"
" I sure hope it won't end that way!" I laughed.
" Come along. I want to meet everyone, especially Touya. I miss him so much." Syaoran laughed. " Oh, by the way, Tomoyo, Sakura, Seto, this is Aisha, Ronald, Shruti, Anna, Alicia, Louis, and Dayne. The seven of you, you know who they are."
After a trading of greetings, we finally realized that Syaoran was part of the High Council.
" Young indeed!" Syaoran had laughed when Ronald had mentioned it good humoredly. " In fact, all of them are seventeen times as old as I am!"
" You don't look that old." Sakura remarked.
" Do I look thirty-one years old?" Syaoran smirked.
" Iie. You look sixteen."
" Exactly."
" Ah, immortals, eternal youth. No fair!"
" Fair!" Syaoran laughed. " We live and be tormented by memories of our past accumulating forever, while you guys live easy lives! Good heavens! But speaking of heavens, how's Yue been doing?"
The gods laughed at that, and Sakura explained how he had been doing, and Syaoran smiled.
" Professor Tsukishiro! Now that's a bundle of news, no mistake! And Professor Kinomoto! I'll have to address them by their proper title! I guess I really did miss a lot then."
" How long will be staying?" Sakura suddenly asked.
Syaoran didn't seem distressed.
" How long will we be staying, Shruti?"
" Ah, good question." The goddess looked over at Ronald. " How long could we afford?"
" Well, the forces are in good condition. I'll say about several months or so."
" Four or five." Syaoran nodded. " Long enough to catch up, iie?"
" Oh..." Sakura suddenly looked saddened. " Hai."
" Come along. Show us around. Never bothered to look into details in this town, so give us a tour, would you?" Syaoran answered pleasantly, as if not noticing her distress.
Nodding, we left the table and went to get our coats.
Nothing changed much, really. The town seemed like a frozen place. But having Syaoran around felt queer. It was almost as if he didn't belong. He was fair and a pure being amidst a corrupt world. He was a being that no longer is. And somehow it seems he's too perfect for us now.
Yet there was this warm look in his eyes, something about his smile, that makes others feel wanted. There was something that had changed. But there was also something about him that says loud and clear, " I still love you."
Shortly afterwards, we all took Syaoran to Yukito's home.
He was shocked. Hai, Yue was shocked. At first he didn't know what to make of it, even when Syaoran called him. He stood there, and one would have mistaken him for rejection. But Syaoran was a god.
Hai! God he was, of the High Council. One of the eight that decides it all. He masters all kinds of magic we can never dream of. He has seen more than we can dream of. And he knows, knows, good heavens! No one knows more than he, save the High Council. Where is the clueless and dense Li Syaoran that we knew? It seems he was never so clueless in the first place. Does he still love Sakura like he use to?
Yue didn't know how to react at first, then he just threw himself onto Syaoran, who was nearly as tall as himself now.
" You gaki." Was all Yue said. But he wouldn't let go. " You've grown." He muttered.
" Yue." Syaoran finally said, after some hesitation. " I've only come back for a while. Don't get too comfortable."
Yue suddenly flung himself away from Syaoran and stared at him.
" How long?" He asked.
" Four to five months." Syaoran answered. " Maybe a little more. It depends."
" On what?"
" On when we'll get this done."
" Get what done?" Yue was distressed. I looked at him apologetically and we had to explain everything.
Yue studied Syaoran and the other immortals for a long time, a considering and slightly disappointed look in his eyes. For a while he was silent, not speaking, his gaze deep and thoughtful. Then he raised his arm and patted Syaoran's.
" I've missed you." He said softly.
" Me too." Syaoran answered quietly. " But sometimes that's not enough."
" What will be?" Yue asked.
" Nothing." Syaoran answered.
And we all knew what he meant.
Professor Kinomoto ain't impressed.
Oh, he ain't, that's for sure. Touya did not like it at all. The nickname gaki came back, although with less offense, but he wasn't happy.
Syaoran didn't seem to mind. Gradually I began to wonder. Did he still love us? Did he still care? Or is this something that happened by accident?
Shruti and Anna went off to collect some samplings of sand from the beaches, which would take some time. Ronald and Louis collected what leaves and plants they could. I was confused at first. What could plants and dirt do? But Syaoran had insistently wanted to go with Ronald and Louis for some reason.
" Onegai!"
" Iie."
" Why?"
" You're too young, and besides, you have long lost friends."
" But-"
" No buts."
Syaoran frowned. I felt slightly hurt and doubtless everyone felt the same. But when the gods left he beamed and played with Sakura's baby, Mimi.
" She is so kawaii." He said over and over again, poking at her nose. " And she has her oka-san's eyes!"
He seemed so oblivious to our looks of disappointment. It seemed like he was the one that broke the promise.
Later that day Sakura and Syaoran went out. Seto didn't mind really, after all, he knew she loved him. Eriol and I sat down on the couch with Nakuru, Kero and Spinel.
" What's up with him?"
" He's changed, Tomoyo-chan."
" But Eriol-"
" He's changed."
" Is that a good thing?"
" Depends." Eriol answered pleasantly, acting unbearably like Syaoran. " IF you want him to be happy, it's good. If you want him to stick to the past like he use to, well, than it's bad."
" Well, it's not that I don't want him to be happy." I protested. " It's just that it seems like he doesn't care."
" Why should he?" Eriol asked me, curious. " Think about it, Tomoyo. He loves Sakura. If he still is after her, he has no chance. Sakura's already married. Heck, she has a baby girl already! So that's gone. What else? He's a god, Tomoyo, and what's more, he's part of the High Council. He is one of the eight that is planning to build up another world in the Land of Mystical Dreams. Tell me, why should he care for the likes of us?"
It was a discomforting thought, but I knew he was right. Somehow, I knew Eriol was right. And I hated that.