Last Time: Everyone arrived at Hong Kong and while on the way to the Li family home, Sakura got to see a fight between Ryu and Fei Long. But during the fight, the assassin Katrina had escaped, but Li made no attempt to go after her. Then everyone got to the Li family home and, in an unexpected occurrence, Li's mother and sisters welcomed Sakura with open arms. Li's not convinced, though, and he wants answers. Meanwhile, Bison has signaled to one of his main henchmen, Vega, but for what?


Plucking a Cherry Blossom: Part 4


Scene: The Li Family Home

Perspective: Sakura Avalon

To say that Sakura was confused was an understatement. She was expecting to be condemned by Li's family, but that wasn't the case…yet. Sakura was being welcomed, but Li didn't believe any of it. Li's mother, Yelan, had proposed to talk. So everyone got ready to talk. Sakura, Li, Madison, and Meilin sat calmly on the floor while Yelan brought in a pot of tea.

~* So this is it. I've been waiting for so long to see why they've hated me. I've been waiting for almost five years to find out why they don't want me with Li. Now…I'll find out. *~

"It's been so long since I've had the opportunity to talk to any of you," Yelan began. "Li…you never gave me the chance…to explain."

"What's there to explain?" Li asked bitingly. "None of you could come to Japan to get me yourselves. You had to send a messenger. A messenger who told me that the family demanded I break up with Sakura. A messenger who told me that the family demanded I come back to Japan. A messenger who told me that I was forced to choose between the family and Sakura." He put his arm around Sakura's shoulder. "It was an easy choice."

Yelan sighed. "It's…much more complicated than that, Li."

"How?"

Yelan struggled to find the words. But Sakura had to put her two cents in as well.

"I thought we had an understanding," Sakura said. "When we first met, I thought you said that Li would be better off with me. You said that…because I had magical powers. But why did you change your mind?"

Yelan hesitated and sighed. "It wasn't my decision."

"Wasn't your decision?" Li repeated skeptically. "You're one of the heads of the entire clan. Who else could have made a decision like that?"

Yelan took a deep breath. "It wasn't me. It was…Tao."

Li's eyes grew wide. "Tao did this? That's impossible, since when did anyone start listening to Tao?"

"Since I grew very ill," Yelan answered. "When you left to return to Japan the second time, I grew very sick. For a while, I could not fulfill the duties of a clan head. So Tao filled in for me, and gradually he started to consolidate power within the clan. It took me about seven months to recover, but by the time I did, the rest of the clan members had made Tao one of the heads. I congratulated him at first, but I had no idea how much I'd come to regret letting him fill in for me."

Sakura blinked. "Who's…Tao?"

"Tao is one of my uncles," Li replied. "He's…a distant uncle, but he's still a member of the Li family. No one really paid much attention to him before, because he wasn't as strong as my side of the family. But now…I guess things have changed." He looked at his mother. "But…why would Tao want to separate me and Sakura?"

"Tao has his reasons," Yelan continued. "He was well aware of our bloodline and he knew why you had left Hong Kong the first time. He wanted the Clow Cards and he wanted you to bring them back. It wasn't just that, though. He was also one of the biggest supporters of your arranged marriage with Meilin. And he refused to see any outsider let into our family. That's why he had that messenger issue you the ultimatum: Return to Hong Kong and end your relationship with the outsider or be kicked out of the clan." She sighed again. "I see you made your decision."

"Yeah, I made my decision," Li said. "I left the family. The family never kicked me out. But I can't believe you all went this far. Couldn't you say anything?"

"I've tried," Yelan responded. "I tried to tell Tao that Sakura was very powerful and was very adept at using the Clow magic. But since Tao has never seen her with his own eyes, he refused to believe it. I told him that once I saw Sakura and seen what she has done, that there was no need for you to take the Clow Book from her. He didn't believe it. He thought you failed in your mission to bring the Clow Book back. He said he wouldn't hold it against you, as long as you went through with the arranged marriage as planned. He became infuriated when he heard you were staying in Japan for good."

Li knew what this meant. He turned to Sakura. "He doesn't think you're worthy." Then he angrily turned back to his mother. "But you didn't have to do it. The clan might be against my relationship with Sakura, but they had NO RIGHT to send an assassin out to kill her!"

Yelan looked incredulously at her son. "Assassin? What do you mean?"

"I caught the clan's assassin trying to kill Sakura!" Li answered. "When I caught her, she said she was sent by the clan! She said if she killed Sakura, I would just come back and marry Meilin…or so that's what they thought."

Yelan pondered that and then called behind the door. "Shiefua? Could you come in here?"

Everyone turned around and waited for Li's eldest sister to come in. The red robed sister came in with a curious look on her face.

"Shiefua…were you aware that Tao sent an assassin?" Yelan asked.

"I…I'm not sure," Shiefua said. "Did he send one?"

~* She obviously doesn't know. I don't think any of them knew. *~

"He must have kept it a secret from us," Yelan growled. She got up. "Li, I think it's time we paid your uncle Tao a visit."

Li scowled and got to his feet. Then he looked down at Sakura. "Let's go."

Madison blinked. "Sakura…do you want us to come, too?"

"Stay here," Li said. "You and Meilin stay behind. This is something we have to do alone."

Sakura tried to step forwards, but Madison grabbed her hand. "I don't like this, Sakura. From the sound of it, this guy really has it in for you. What if…?" She stopped.

"He wouldn't dare," Li growled.

Sakura realized Madison's concern and nodded. "I'll be fine."

Madison sighed deeply and closed her eyes. "Be careful, Sakura."

Sakura smiled. "I will."

Sakura took Li's hand and they were both led to the front door. It wouldn't take too long to find Tao. The Li clan all had their homes within arms reach. But as soon as Li and Sakura stepped outside, Yelan stopped.

"This would better if the whole clan heard what we had to say," she said. "We'd better call them all together."

Scene: Outside the Li Family Home (A few minutes later)

Perspective: Vega

Vega was perched atop one of the trees. No one could see him, but Vega could certainly see his target. This was the Li family home. He knew that this was where the Clow mistress was and Bison left him one simple mission: bring him Sakura Avalon. Vega would not disappoint.

He had a lot to prove on this mission. Vega wasn't doing this just to help resurrect Shadaloo, but he had another ulterior motive. Sagat had been Bison's right-hand man for far too long. It was time for Vega to prove that HE was the better warrior and more suited to be at Bison's side.

He would prove it by taking Sakura Avalon…and crushing anyone who got in his way.

Scene: Outside the Shadaloo Jet

Perspective: Sagat

There wasn't much more to do. All Sagat could do was wait. He didn't know why Bison confided so much in Vega. While it was true that he is one of the most lethal assassins in the world, Vega more often than not came back a failure.

But this wasn't the same as taking out a world warrior. All Vega had to do was bring back an 18- year-old girl. How hard could that be?

Then Sagat watched as another of Bison's mini-cyborgs flew over to him. Bison pulled out the machine's visor and looked into it. He was laughing at what he was seeing.

"Perfect," he said. "I think it's time for us to go and get our girl."

Balrog seemed confused. "But…I thought you sent Vega to get her."

Bison chuckled. "No, Balrog. You see, Vega is merely serving as a diversion tactic. To bring someone like Sakura Avalon…that is a matter that I should tend to personally."

As Bison looked out into Hong Kong from the distant cliff, he began to float in the air. It was another remarkable quality of his Psycho Power. Bison calmly turned around and floated towards the jet. Bison seemed confident, but Sagat knew better.

~* Bison's put far too much confidence in Vega. If that prima donna isn't aware he's being used as a diversion, then this won't work. Vega will undoubtedly try to sneak in undetected…and that should throw a monkey wrench into Bison's plan. *~

Sagat should have said something, but he ultimately shrugged it off and just got into the jet.

Scene: The Li Family Courtyard

Perspective: Sakura Avalon

Yelan sat on a chair in a remote part of the clan grounds. Sakura had never seen this abandoned part of the grounds, but she assumed that this courtyard was where the Li clan often met. Everyone waited as the robed clan members began to make their ways in, one by one, until there was practically no room to sit.

~* I never realized Li had such a big family. This must be literally the ENTIRE clan. *~

"Yelan!"

Sakura turned to see a slender old man come up to Yelan. It was Li who recognized him.

"Wei! It's been a long time."

"It's so good to see you again, Master Shoran," Wei said. "It's been far too long."

"Wei, where's Tao?" Yelan asked. "It's not like him to be late…seeing as how he's one of the heads and all."

"He's just arriving," Wei answered. "He should be starting any second now."

Sure enough, someone walked up to the podium set up on these grounds. It was a middle-aged man with a long beard and a handlebar mustache. He also wore robes like Li, except his were black. Upon seeing this man, Yelan approached the podium.

"You've called us all here, Yelan," the man began. "I am most surprised that you would do so. What is the occasion?"

"Spare me, Tao," Yelan growled. "I've called the clan for one very simple reason. One of our own…has returned."

Taking his cue, Li Shoran stood up and the entire clan gasped upon seeing him. They began to murmur amongst themselves, astounded upon seeing the missing Li Shoran for the first time in many years.

"So you've come back," Tao said dryly. "It's about time. I guess it took you only a few years to realize that you could never be in love with…an outsider."

Li scowled and stood Sakura up by the hand. He emphatically embraced her, as if to show her off. "You mean THIS outsider? You're wrong! I'm very much in love with her!"

The clan gasped again. They began grumbling when they heard that. The clan obviously didn't approve of this and Sakura was getting nervous, but Li seemed so determined. He was so determined to make his point clear: that he loved Sakura and he always would, no matter what anyone said.

"You disappoint me, Shoran," Tao frowned. "I thought we made ourselves clear. You cannot be in love with this girl. That is not how it was arranged. You are to marry Meilin."

"I don't want to marry Meilin," Li shot back. "And Meilin doesn't want to marry me! Neither of us wants this marriage to happen. I'm not in love with her. I'm in love with Sakura!"

Tao shook his head. "Seven years ago, you went to Japan to seize the Clow Cards from this girl who is unworthy. You were supposed to take them and bring them back, not…fall in love with her!"

"Well, I have!" Li shouted. "And how do you know she isn't worthy?"

"She's not one of us; that's how I know!" Tao hissed.

"You're wrong!" Li told him. "It doesn't matter that she's not a part of the family. She has Clow magic flowing within her, too! I can't blame you for thinking she's not worthy. That's what I thought when I first saw her. But she's proven something to me. Her determination, her will, her strength, her…heart has shown me that she is more than worthy to have the Clow Cards."

"You'll understand if I can't take your word for it," Tao said coldly.

"If I may…" Sakura said timidly. "There's something else that says I'm worthy."

Li sweatdropped. "Sakura…don't show them…"

Sakura didn't listen. She shook her pocket. "Wake up!"

Kero woke up and flew out of the kimono pocket and into the air. The clan was left breathless by this sight. They couldn't believe they were in the presence of the guardian beast…such a small guardian beast.

"What is that supposed to be?" Tao asked.

"This is Kero!" Sakura answered.

Tao let out a shocked groan. "No way! K-Keroberos? The guardian beast of the seal? The greatest of all, the beast with the golden eyes…is a STUFFED ANIMAL?!"

Sakura sweatdropped at the extremely familiar dialogue. It was the exact same thing Li said when he first laid eyes on Kero. And Kero didn't take it any better this time around, either.

Kero glared at Li. "Boy, I'm just loving your entire family, kid."

"It is said that Keroberos is supposed to GUARD the Clow Cards," Tao continued. "How did you let the Clow Cards fall into the hands of someone like…her?"

"I…might have been sleeping at the time," Kero said sheepishly.

"Pathetic," Tao sneered. "What a joke. I can't believe our ancestor, Clow Reed, could have made such an incompetent sealing beast. If you weren't so foolish, maybe you wouldn't have let the Clow Cards fall into the hands of this undeserving girl."

"She is NOT undeserving!" Kero shot back. "Sakura's matured a lot since she first started. If she were undeserving, she wouldn't have been able to capture them all."

"All?" Tao asked wide-eyed. He glared at Li. "You weren't able to bring back ANY of them?"

Li scratched his head. "Well…I have a few of them. But I didn't think about that as much towards the end. I wanted to help Sakura seal the cards."

"You were supposed to take them!" Tao bellowed. "You weren't supposed to help her! The Clow Cards don't belong to her, they belong to us! They belong to the Li clan!"

"That's where you're wrong, pal!" Kero snapped. He started to work his own magic. He used his magic to have the Clow book float out of Sakura's kimono and float in the air. "The Clow Cards rightfully belong to whoever opened the book! And that would be Sakura!"

Tao shook his head. "You should have taken them, Shoran. But that is not what disappoints me that most. What really disappoints me is that you disobeyed the clan. You were told to return to Japan and end this…relationship, but you refused to obey us. I thought that ultimatum would have shown you how serious we were, but you apparently didn't get the message."

"I got the message," Li said. He tightened his embrace with Sakura. "I don't want to be part of a family that won't let me be with the girl I love."

Tao groaned. "Love. It pains me to see you think you're in love with an outsider. I'd do anything to see you come to your senses."

"You've done enough!" Li shouted. "You've already sent an assassin to have Sakura killed! Isn't that enough for you?!"

There was silence. None of the clan members said anything. They all looked confused…and so did Tao.

"Assassin? I sent no assassin."

Scene: Inside the Li Family Home (At the same moment)

Perspective: Madison Taylor

Madison was worried. She looked out the living room window and she knew something wasn't right. She never had magical powers like Sakura, but she knew when something was wrong. And Madison could feel something was wrong. Or maybe she was just feeling that way because, at that moment, she was alone…in a strange place.

~* Sakura…I hope you're ok. I just wish I could be there with you. *~

"Madison?"

Madison turned her head to see the door sliding. It was Shiefua. "Oh…hi."

Shiefua sat next to Madison and looked out the window. "You're worried about her, aren't you?"

Madison nodded. "I just don't know, Shiefua. I don't understand why any of the clan members would want Sakura dead."

"I don't know, either," Shiefua responded. "The clan has never been like that. It's not like them to resort to this."

"Why can't they just let Li and Sakura be happy?"

Shiefua sighed. "I never thought I'd see Li and Sakura together. From what I saw the last time you guys came here, it didn't look like Li had any interest in her. I guess things change. But the clan won't see that. They've had a marriage arranged and they want to see Li and Meilin married."

"But isn't there any way to change their minds?"

"…Maybe if they could see that Sakura was capable of wielding the Clow magic. That's been pretty much the only thing that Tao's been protesting. He doesn't think Sakura's worthy of holding the Clow Cards."

"Well, he's wrong. Sakura's more powerful than he can ever imagine."

Shiefua let out a smile. "I can sense these things, Madison. And I can feel that everything will be just fine. Sakura will be happy…and so will Li. And they will be together because they love each other.

"So…what about you, Madison? Is there…anyone in your life?"

Madison was a little shocked at the sudden question, but she knew the answer. "Well…there is someone. He used to live in Japan…back when we were younger. His name is Eriol. But…he moved back to England and I went years without seeing him." She giggled. "Until I went to find him myself. We haven't stopped writing each other since then."

"Writing? He didn't come back?"

Madison smiled. "He will someday. He promised me he would. I just get this…feeling when I'm around him. Like…everything will be ok. Like I'd rather not be with anyone else. That everything can be all better when I lay back in his arms. I'm sure it's a lot like the feeling…Sakura gets whenever she's around Li."

Shiefua sighed deeply as she looked out the window. "Tao can never be that stubborn. He'll give in. And they'll be together…maybe even forever."

Madison nodded. "Of course forever. They wouldn't have it any other way."

There wasn't much else said after that, but then there was a pounding on the front door.

"Someone's impatient," Madison frowned.

Shiefua shook her head. "My sisters all went out. I guess I'll have to open the door."

But Shiefua didn't get the chance. The front door flew open, coming off its hinges. There was a tall, muscular man with a ponytail jumping right into the Li family home. He wore a white mask and had metal claws attached to the back of his hands.

"I've come for the Clow mistress! I've come for Sakura Avalon!"


Author's Note: Yikes! Vega has arrived. Now what happens? Shiefua and Madison are defenseless…or are they? But let's not forget…Bison's on his way, too. The next part gets very interesting, so come back for it.

Any comments? Then you can mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below, because I really want your feedback!