Hello original fandom! After almost eight years of saying I'd write this story, here it is! The original story is "Little Finger of the Watermelon Patch" from the anthology "The Brocaded Slipper and Other Vietnamese Tales" by Lynette Dyer Vuong. Her stories have been my gateway to Vietnamese fairy tales and serves as an inspiration for many of my fanfiction stories. My apologies for my previous story, "Second in Command" for completely misspelling the Kinomoto last name.
Under the Watermelon Leaf
Chapter I
Syaoran growled fiercely cursing the bright noonday sun, fingers gripping the reins with tense knuckles. With every uncomfortable jolt upon his horse's saddle, the young man questioned why he was even on this foolhardy mission. He flicked his fingers idly, calling up a cooling breeze with his magic. His grandfather's words continued to haunt him.
"My great age makes it impossible for me to look after my affairs of state as carefully as I once did. I begin to fear that this may affect the welfare of my subjects, therefore, I wish that one of you should succeed my crown. You must find a girl to be your wife, for my successor must certainly be married."
Apparently the God of Fools and Goddess of Bad Luck had teamed up against him to ruin his life! His grandfather, lord ruler of the central kingdom, had not been governing the realm for the past ten years! The king spent his days merely amusing himself with lapdogs and lamenting his old age. His councilors, including Syaoran himself, were the ones who dealt with running the country and listening to the plights of the people.
What kind of madman chooses his successor solely based on what kind of wife he marries?
It had not always been this way, Syaoran thought gloomily. There used to be love and happiness, joy and peace. The Ruler of the Central Kingdom presided over his people wisely and justly previously for several years, in addition to producing three stalwart sons. However, fate had turned its wheel, and his sons perished one by one, each leaving behind a wife and his own young son.
Father, I wish you were here.
His head full of worries and heart full of turmoil; it was times like these where he sorely missed his departed Father's wisdom. Xiao Rong Li was the middle child, and as most stories go, was neither destined to rescue beautiful princesses or slay terrible giants.
"There are much more fearsome things in the world, my son, than giants, and they all cannot be defeated by the sword."
Instead, he found love with a highborn lady, Yelan Reed, blessing themselves with a son early on. The father instilled in his firstborn wisdom and humility, and his son did his best to emulate his barrel-chested father, whom he loved most in the world. He had been consumed with grief when a carriage accident had killed his beloved sire, but by that time, his Grandfather had sent for him to be fostered at the palace, along with his cousins after the loss of their own fathers.
His cousins, one older than Syaoran and another younger, had also retained the personalities of their forbearers. Such was the way of children. The elder, Yoshi, cared only for battle and warfare, content to lead a soldier's life. Whatever problem existed in the land, it could be solved by military might. The younger, Shinji, was a foppish sort, entertaining parties and forever riding on hunts. Every penny of his was spent upon the most extravagant of garments, whimsical fancies, and beautifying spells. All the more befitting of his rank, he insisted.
Syaoran shuddered trying to decide which was worse, the Kingdom's wealth being spent on war, or on fashion. Nevertheless, it was an opportunity for him to try, one he wouldn't have been presented with by being the Middle Prince's son. Yoshi, by rights of being the Elder Prince's child, had surprisingly not made much protest over the contest. He could probably do more of his heart's delight as a simple soldier than as a king.
He spurred his horse on, dislodging vexing thoughts. Judging by the height of the sun, it was close to the luncheon hour.
Upon receiving the task of selecting a wife, the young man knew it had to be for love. His parents had married for that reason, and he had seen its superior results. Besides, having someone he could converse with, who could settle his fears and worries and delight in his successes; these were most prominent in his mind, rather than a pretty, empty-headed china doll.
A picturesque spot caught his eye, and he eagerly dismounted from his horse to eat his simple meal. Syaoran called together a spell allowing his horse to graze, but not to wander off. He ate his lunch mindlessly, his mind preoccupied with morose thoughts.
Magic had always been a part of his life, and the ability had been inherent through all families from the lowest commoner to the elite echelons. Not everyone was blessed with the talent though, but all were considered equal within the nation. He surveyed his surroundings with an appraising eye. Soft green leaves and vines twisted together upon the ground end over end to reveal a wild watermelon patch.
"Thank goodness for small blessings," he muttered, bending down with a knife to cut into a ripe sphere. It was juicy and sweet, a perfect compliment to his luncheon, and Syaoran flung away the rind when he was through.
"Ouch!"
A small cry of pain barely met his ears.
"Who's there?!"
Syaoran glanced around in bewilderment, his aura flaring out for any intruders. He could detect no one. When he had selected this place to eat, he had seen neither hide nor hair of any being. Was this the domain of someone from the Jade Palace? Beings that served the Heavenly Emperor were known to be invisible to human eyes, and undetectable to mortal magic. They surfed along blue skies on clouds, and maintained everything on and under the earth, from fruits to oyster pearls. He swiftly turned sharp eyes over the scene. There was still no one. That pained cry though... Nevertheless he had hurt someone accidentally.
Re-tracing the arc his rind had traveled, Syaoran followed it, locating the discarded item a short distance away. Beside it, a girl no bigger than his little finger was collapsed on the ground, clutching her ankle, hidden beneath the watermelon leaves. If she had not been injured, she would have escaped his eye completely.
"Get away from me!"
Her emerald eyes, though they made the foliage pale with its brilliance, held signs of pain and abject fear. The young man froze suddenly, realizing how terrifying this was for her. Slowly he held up both of his hands, signaling he had no weapon, and would not call an incantation, and crouched down until he was closer to her level. Syaoran had often calmed a skittish child before, and used the same tone to alleviate this tiny girl's terror.
"I'm sorry. I won't hurt you." He grimaced slightly, "Well anymore than I already have."
The tiny girl could only quip back, "Why do I get the feeling that you'll be saying that again?"
The young man eyes widened in astonishment. Such a mouth on this one. "So we'll be meeting again?"
The girl seemed to note her forwardness, and shrunk again further beneath the leaves.
"At least let me tend to your injuries. Or pay you. Is this your watermelon patch?" He fumbled into his pocket, and pulled out a coin as reimbursement.
Her muffled voice sounded beneath the greenery. "It is useless to pay me money."
The man volatile temper flared, and he made to protest that it was an honorable deed and not a bribe, when he grasped the implications. The small coin in his hand was most likely the length of her arm, how would she manage the logistics of dealing with it?
"Okay I'm an idiot." Syaoran grimaced knowing he would definitely be saying that to her again in the future. "Won't you please come out? How long have you been here? Where do you come from?"
No response came.
He growled, moving to leave her to her whims, but the guilt within urged him to try again. The man took a different approach. "My name is Syaoran Li. I've traveled here from a long distance. Most likely I'll need to start back to get return home before the deadline."
A soft rustle and his mysterious companion fully presented herself. As he observed before, she stood no higher than the size of his little finger, an elfin girl with short auburn hair and light skin, dressed in worn peasant's clothes.
"What deadline?" Her curiosity must have gotten the better of her.
"To find a wife. My grandfather has decreed it. How's your ankle?" He tried to maintain a casual air, as he called his mount back to him.
She rolled it, testing its limits. "It's fine. Just a little bruised from the rind."
"I am sorry for that."
She looked upon him with luminous green eyes, "It was an accident. I forgive you."
The young prince was impressed with her ease in absolving him of his wrongdoings, and wondered at her sheltered life.
Sakura paused weighing her concerns to speak any longer to this stranger. This mysterious man had been sincere in his apology, and his offer of money was honorable. She studied her companion thoughtfully. He was tall, with amber gold eyes and dark brown hair. Of course, all men were giants compared to her, but judging from her father's height, Syaoran would have easily dwarfed him.
"My name is Sakura Kinomoto. I came here with my parents, but I wandered away from them. There was a bear, so I ran off. I hid in a broken bamboo reed, and I fell asleep, but when I woke up my parents were gone." Sakura brushed away the tears from her eyes. It was foolish of her to say so much, but after so much time without any human interaction, the words flowed easily.
"You think they abandoned you. They didn't. They couldn't have." Syaoran said absentmindedly as he packed his belongings, and digested her torrent of words.
Sakura jerked her head up is surprise, "How did you know that's what I thought?"
"I can sense it from you. Your pant leg is torn right?"
The young girl turned her leg showing a piece had been ripped off.
"It was probably caught when you were running, and the bear tracks most likely made them jump to conclusions."
She leapt up excitedly, "They didn't abandon me. Hoe! How stupid of me! They must be so worried. Can you help me find them?"
Syaoran's forehead wrinkled in confusion at the strange word she uttered when she was excited. "Where do you live?"
"In a one room house with sakura trees in the back on the edge of the river."
That was bad news. There were hundreds of houses lining the edge of a river in the kingdom, each with sakura trees. He tried a location spell on her, but without any knowledge, the images he pulled were hazy. Physically searching would take weeks if not months, time which he didn't have, but he couldn't leave her here. Curse his situation! His cousins had always scoffed at his soft ways. His mind was set however. He could not in good conscience abandon her. Perhaps the old ways were better. A proclamation would certainly be quicker, and he could still return to the palace on time.
He explained to her his plan, vaguely skirting the reason for his time constraints, but reassured her in his gruff way, "We'll find your parents if I can get a message out to be delivered to the cities. I'm sure they will know it's you. How many tiny girls can there be? We'd have to return to my home, though."
Sakura hesitated. Syaoran's home? It was better than sitting in a watermelon patch. She'd never survive in the winter time. She'd end up nearly freezing to death, and be forced to marry a mole or something outrageous.
"Alright Syaoran. I'll come with you."
"How does that work anyway?"
Sakura laughed, the first time she had done so since she had lost her parents. How light hearted her soul felt now, thanks to her serious discoverer. Carefully, she instructed how to fold and tie a handkerchief around his forehead, and after getting him to lie down, she snuggled in between the edges. He stood slowly, mindful of his burden. Sakura took a steady breath, never getting used to the dizzying height.
"Just don't turn your head too quickly– whoa!"
Syaoran stilled his head immediately. "Sorry!" he apologized (again). Slowly he mounted his horse, guiding it towards home.
The pair found the time an excellent way to find out more about each other, though initially Sakura had to work to get Syaoran to say more than a few words, after he drifted into a moody melancholy.
"So your grandfather said you had to find a wife?"
"Yes."
"And how long have you been searching?"
"A week."
"But why?"
The young man sighed in exasperation at her prying, "Are you always this nosy?" At her silence, he continued, "Yes, he instructed me and my cousins to find a wife, and whichever choice he approved of will get to inherit his position."
"Well that's a little silly. What if she's pretty, but as dumb as a rock? It sounds like you don't want the honor anyway." She supposed the heir would receive their grandfather's business or his lands or something of that nature.
"Most likely one of my cousins will win, and I'll continue my duties behind the scenes. It doesn't matter if I do or not, I'll still perform everything to the best of my ability." His assured confidence was not meant to be boasting, but he had a strong conviction in his talents. He questioned her this time, "Where did you come from?"
"From a cherry blossom on the tree out behind my home."
He huffed crossly, "I was being serious."
"So was I. My Mother always said that she and Father found me one moonlit night. They called me Sakura because I wasn't any bigger than one of the blossoms, and raised me as their own child."
"It sounds very troublesome."
Sakura laughed. "It was. My parents always said I was constantly tripping as a child and would wind up in odd places like my father's empty shoes or in teacups on the kitchen table."
The duo traded stories of their childhood, with Syaroran especially questioning her on how it was like growing up as a tiny child in a giant's world. Her parents, however, were just as loving as his.
"Are you under a curse?" Many times it was to a person's unfortunate experience that not paying a stranger the proper respect found them at the receiving end of a nasty enchantment. His hands itched to dissect whatever magic had ensnared her into this form. It wasn't often that he was presented with such a puzzle.
"If I am, I don't remember when it was cast. I've always been this size."
Sakura turned the tables on him. "So you couldn't find a wife in all this time?"
"None that I loved or could fall in love with. They either noticed me for my looks, or my wealth."
"All good traits in a husband." She gave him an appreciative glance from her precarious position. With his unruly locks, piercing eyes and lean face, he certainly did make a handsome appearance.
"But not ones I'd want my wife to desire. She should know my likes and dislikes, and I should know hers. I certainly wouldn't want to be known as only a pretty face, so she shouldn't either. You can't fall in love with someone in a few days."
Sakura nodded in agreement. "It's a pity you'd be disqualified. Whatever your grandfather does, I'm sure you'd perform it admirably."
Syaoran thanked her shyly. Though he put out a cold and confident air, it was, in truth, merely a shield to hide his insecurity. They talked of more pleasant subjects for the rest of the way. Surprisingly when he started the journey, his quest weighed heavily upon him, making the ride an eternity. His return was, in contrast, completely delightful as the road sped by. Whether it was because he knew he was not going to satisfy his Grandfather's edict, or the presence of his pleasant miniature companion, he didn't quite know.
As the farmland progressed into houses, and the houses into extravagant villas, Sakura began to question who exactly her rescuer was.
"Syaoran? Where exactly is your home?"
"Did I not tell you? I'm..." He rode through the gates as a triumphal fanfare marked his approach. Colorful bursts of magical sparks announced his return. "Oh no, the others must be here too."
He dismounted (slowly), and carefully unwound the handkerchief from his forehead.
Sakura slipped from the dark cloth onto his open palm, and held onto his thumb for support. She was grateful for it, and gazed around in wide-eyed astonishment as the palace walls loomed before her adorned with the flags of her homeland.
"Welcome home, Prince Syaoran!"
Courtiers and dignitaries alike bowed formally before the son of the Middle Prince.
"Prince?" Sakura's small voice quavered before him in confusion. He could barely hear her over the raucous noise.
"I told them not to make such a big deal," he grumbled. He turned towards the shocked girl. "Sakura, I'm the grandson of Daisuke Li."
"The King! Which makes you a Prince," she exclaimed. She had never connected his name with that of the royal family. Li had been a common last name amongst the populace. No doubt they adopted it from the long rule of that family throughout the centuries. Thus city mayors, Mandarins, farmers, and laborers could all have the same last name, though in no relation to each other.
And she had managed to stumble upon one of the most distinguished ones.
"Syaoran! Where's your wife?"
Two men stood with equally beautiful women beside them. One man was broad shouldered with a muscular physique, and the other thin and wiry with countless spells to beautify, and create a made up look. The amber-eyed youth opened his mouth to retort he had no luck in finding one, when the princes spotted what he had cupped in a hand.
"Whoa! What is that? Is that the only person who would marry you?"
"Better hold on to her, I think I'm going to sneeze!"
Their cruel laughter and remarks had long ceased to harm him, though Syaoran was angry that they would abuse Sakura so. They knew nothing of her, but how she looked, yet they judged her spitefully! This mysterious girl was already was proving to be one of the most interesting and unique people he had ever encountered, and thus undeserving of their ridicule.
"This is Sakura Kinomoto, and you will treat her with respect," he growled out.
The other princes actually took a startled step back at his tone. They had been censured by their middle cousin before, however this ferocity and protectiveness was one they were not used to hearing from him.
"If this is the wife he has chosen, let no one question him," a deep authoritative voice interrupted.
"Your majesty." Each person bowed lowly in his presence. He gestured importantly, and they followed him into the throne room, where he seated himself before them.
The King admired each pair. His oldest grandson, Yoshi had chosen a well respected general's daughter as his bride. The youngest, Shinji, had picked a duchess from the upper circles. He kept his eyes thoughtfully trained on Sakura. She stood proudly, but Syaoran could feel her gripping his thumb firmly in her nervousness. Daisuke knew to not underestimate her.
"I have decided that merely finding a wife is not enough. In my old age-"
Sakura felt Syaoran snort quietly. His grandfather still had strength in limb and bone, yet he proceeded to lament about his old age. There were many worse off than he, yet they never complained. Such was his vanity.
"- I desire to partake of a meal, one that shows your sincerity and reverence that comes from how you perceive me. Thus will I decide who will reign in my place."
He gave them two days time, dismissing them with another gesture. The princes and their wives bowed again, and left to their respective quarters.
"Who does that man think he is?! Sincerity and reverence? Is he kidding me?!" Syaoran ranted and raved while Sakura thoughtfully watched him from her safe perch upon his bedside table. The young prince released his vexations and ire at his King and grandfather.
"I'm sure he has his reasons," she ventured. "He is the king."
The young prince could only huff in frustration. "He is my grandfather, and they are not the same thing."
"Are they not?"
Syaoran gave her a confused look, but merely waived it off and summoned a servant. After settling Sakura in his room with a bowlful of hot water and a sliver of soap (the maids had given him a strange glance at that request), it wasn't until the young prince was deep in his own bath that Syaoran realized he never told anyone that she wasn't his wife.
He entered his room when the emerald-eyed girl ducked behind the bowl's rim. Closing his eyes, he apologized (again!), and placed a clean cloth for her to wrap in. Sakura gratefully took the proffered item.
"What about my clothes, Syaoran?" Her bath had been wonderfully blissful. She hated to put on her dirty clothes on after being completely clean for the first time in days.
"I believe I can take care of that."
A woman with amethyst eyes and ebony tresses bustled into the room. Her winsome smile was shining as she took a quick glance at Sakura.
"Kawaii! Syaoran, she's so adorable! Wherever did you find her?" Never in her life had she seen such an odd enigma. What on earth had Syaoran gotten himself into? All the young prince had to do was bring a girl home.
The petite girl blushed fiercely at the excited stranger's compliment.
"Tomoyo, this is Sakura Kinomoto. Sakura, meet Tomoyo Daidouji, our head seamstress. And for your information, she pretty much found me."
The seamstress still exclaimed at the cuteness of the girl, taking measurements while the embarrassed sprite looked on in wide eyed astonishment at the young woman's exuberance.
Syaoran rolled his eyes, and seeming to read Sakura's mind, sniped, "Yes, she's always like this." Tomoyo threw a prim look at him for his impudence.
"How did you know I was thinking that?" Sakura watched as he smirked. It seemed to be a regular occurrence between the two.
"Because that's what everyone always thinks when they first encounter Tomoyo's energy."
The source of his slight laughed taking it all in good humor. The young prince had never tolerated fools, and it was sign of his respect to see him actually teasing her. Taking needle and thread, she quickly fashioned a dress for Sakura to garb herself in. Sakura noted that she did not use the aid of magic to construct her creation.
"Like many, I was not born with the talent, but I made up with determination."
"More like stubbornness."
"Syaoran!" The young man rolled his eyes. Daidouji may not have the magical gift, but her handiwork was always judged superior to the most apt magical weavers.
"I can have several more comfortable ones ready by tomorrow, Sakura, if he behaves."
"Oh don't trouble yourself," the tiny girl protested. "This is adequate enough"
"Nonsense! You can't go around dressed in that scrap of cloth. Actually, I've seen women dressed in less that that, and trust me, it's not a pretty picture.
A burst of laughter came from the auburn haired girl. Syaoran was inwardly pleased as he noticed the two women getting along. He had trusted Tomoyo's judgment, and seeing the two interacting meant a lot to him, for some strange reason.
Except that Sakura wasn't his wife. In fact, she'd be gone in a few days time. Why was that so unsettling?
Notes: The grandfather's proclamation comes from the tale of "The White Cat" by Madame D'Auloy.
"They surfed along blue skies on clouds..." – from the Journey to the West
"...from fruits to oyster pearls" - From the "Legend of My Chau and Trong Thuy"
"She'd end up nearly freezing to death, and be forced to marry a mole or something outrageous." – from the original Thumbelina
I have no original thought it my head. I've tried to stick to canon personalities but I've honestly have not watched the series in a few years. The story is nearly finished with about seven chapters. I will post once a week. Enjoy it, hate it? Please review.