A young boy about three years old with amber eyes and tousled brown hair
jumps onto the bed he shares with his older cousin.
A muffled groan comes out from under the covers as Dina wakes up as Syaoran lands on her and starts to shout. "Dia!! It's Christmas! Wake up!!"
Dina frowns up at him, her expression becoming annoyed as she glances out the window and sees it's still dark both outside and in the room. "Xiao Lang, it's not even dawn yet. No one besides you is going to be up. Now go back to bed."
Syaoran pouts, looking sad. "But Dia..Santa came!" He bounces up and down again making his cousin become even more annoyed.
The eight year old girl sighs and then with a very fast movement, lunges and tackles her three year old cousin to her now messy bed and starts to tickle him. "I got you now!" She tries to take his mind off of Santa because she doesn't want to be the one to tell him that Santa doesn't exist.
The boy shrieks loudly, wiggling under her to get free but can't since his cousin is so much larger. "No!"
Dina keeps tickling him, grinning. "Now will you go back to sleep, little wolf, because it's still dark and I'm tired." She watches him, still holding him down. "Xiao Lang, your mother won't be happy if she wakes up this early."
He nods and curls against his cousin, sharing a room with her since he hates being alone. "Dia?"
"I thought you were going to go back to sleep, little cousin." Comes Dina's reply and despite her being tired and woken up so rudely, she's very patient with him. She turns her head to look at him, curious. "Is something bothering you?"
He nods slowly as he puts his small arms around her. "Sorry Dia for waking you up." Syaoran doesn't hear her answer for after he speaks, he falls back asleep next to her.
Dina smiles, hugging her younger cousin and whispers. "It's alright, little wolf. I know what it's like to be excited about it being Christmas morning." The girl falls back asleep, neither her nor Syaoran having noticed the tall woman standing in the opened doorway holding a camera and smiling.
Yelan smiles at the picture her niece and son make, thinking it's so cute and glad she took a picture of them. "This will look so nice in the album."
What seems like only minutes later, Dina again is awoken rudely by the same small boy who seems to take some kind of pleasure in jumping on top of her.
"Xiao Lang!! You better run!" Dina sits up really fast, shouting at her cousin.
Eyes wide, the boy slides off the bed and runs off with his older cousin chasing him downstairs.
"Momma!! Help! Dia's gonna kill me!" Syaoran slides behind his mother, wrapping his arms around her leg, trying to hide from Dina.
Yelan looks down at her son. "There must be a reason for her trying that. Now what did you do to her?" She is trying her best to hide her amusement and glances to Dina then back at Syaoran.
Syaoran looks down, sheepish. "I jumped on her again." He refuses to meet her eyes.
Dina sighs and walks over. "Don't be sad, cousin. And I wasn't going to hurt you." The girl hugs him then lets him get on her back, bringing him over to the tree. "Look, we have gifts to unwrap."
Syaoran brightens and slides down then starts to rip into his gifts, looking up when he hears laughter. His cousin had stuck a large, pink bow on his head as she had opened her own gifts. Syaoran glares at her, yanking the bow off and whines. "Eww pink!"
Dina giggles as he scowls at her and jumps on her, shouting. "Dia!!!"
Yelan smiles at the picture they make, knowing that despite how annoyed they get at each other, they still care a great deal for the other. "Now children, this is not the time to make that much noise."
The two look up sheepishly and nod, speaking at the same time. "Yes Momma/Aunt Yelan."
Dina looks through her gifts, studying the book of magic spells she got along with a sword, ceremonial robes, a hat, a doll and some other toys that had nothing to do with magic. "Aunt Yelan?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Is something bad going to happen?" For once the eight-year-old is very serious, almost like her mother.
Yelan gets a thoughtful look on her face, wondering if it's best to tell her that in seven years her cousin might be sent on a mission. She taps her fingers on the chair's arm, then looks at her niece and makes a fast decision. "No Dina. Nothing bad is going to happen for awhile yet. But it is always best to be prepared."
The girl stares at her aunt with a disbelieving look on her face that clearly says she doesn't believe a word her aunt said. "Then why was I given these books? And robes? And a sword? Only children who are over the age of ten gets this stuff Aunt Yelan. I'm only eight."
The older woman smiles sadly, thinking for not the first time that her spirited niece is too smart for her age with wisdom decades pass her age as well. "You are more advanced then most eight-year-olds, Dilea Li and it has been decided that you would do more advanced spells."
The girl winces as her aunt uses her full first name and not her nickname and in that instance she knows she must be careful where she steps for this is delicate territory. "Alright Aunt Yelan."
Yelan decides to talk with her sister and see who would be best to teach Dina the advanced spells, sword work and martial arts. She rises and turns to leave the living room. "Watch your cousin, Dina. I have business to take care of."
A bewildered Dina stares at her retreating aunt's back. "On Christmas Day? What place is opened today?" Dina gets distracted from her thoughts by a cry and she spins. "Xiao Lang??"
Syaoran sits on the ground, rocking back and forth, Dina's new sword laying before him with blood on the blade, crying.
"Oh no!" She rushes over and gathers him up, gently feeling the deep cut. "Hold still, cousin." Dina focuses and sends some of her healing magic into the cut, healing it fast.
Syaoran sniffs, staring at where he was cut then looks up at her and squeals. "Magic!"
"Yes that was magic little wolf. Now you know better then to touch weapons. They aren't toys, Xiao Lang so next time I see you touch my sword I won't play with you for a week." Dina says, trying to think up the worse punishment she can give him.
"No!! Don't wanna Dia to leave!" Syaoran wraps his arms around her waist as she stands, refusing to let go. "My Dia!"
The little boy glares up at her as if he's daring her to disagree with him and he repeats himself. "My Dia!"
Dina laughs softly, messing up his already messy hair. "Yea whatever you say, little wolf." As she looks down at him she sighs. "I'm too soft on you, but you're far too cute for me to stay mad at."
Syaoran blinks, not fully understanding what she meant but knows that his cousin isn't mad at him any longer and beams up at her, hugging her tightly then bounces off to play with his toys.
Dina sighs and mutters to herself. "That little boy has me wrapped around his finger and he knows it. I can't say no to him. This is so embarrassing." But Dina knows why she is so protective of her little cousin, having watched her own brother and sister die slowly in that hospital over a year ago.
Meanwhile in another room, Yelan is talking with Jara. "Sister, your daughter is very bright for her age, more so then any of the other children in the clan her age. She might even be smarter then the other advanced students. We should train her in the advanced spells."
Jara frowns. "This is my daughter you want to endanger? Yes she is smart but I will not allow her to be endangered not now nor ever! The advanced spells can wait until she's older."
"Jara, she already has been using spells that most fifteen-year-olds don't. Dina knows more then we're willingly to believe. Allow me to train her. I'll take it very slowly if I must but please. We could use someone knowing these spells and who can actually use them." Yelan pleads with her sister.
The other woman turns away. "I don't know Yelan, I have no other children. The twins died one after the other; they were born too soon. I would give my life to protect my little girl."
Yelan steps forward, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I know. I would do the same for my children. But Jara, the more she knows the better she can protect herself. Just say yes and you can put a stop to it at anytime if you think it's too hard for her."
"Alright, but the moment I believe she has been hurt it is over. And she goes back to learning the basic spells."
"Agreed sister."
"Where are the children?"
"I left Dina to watch over my son, but I think he got a hold of her sword and cut himself."
Jara turns at that, frowning. "A sword? I never agreed to that!"
"I didn't either but the elders believe she is at an age and skill level to have one." Yelan replies trying to keep her younger sister calm.
With a defeated sigh, Jara sits down. "All I want to do it protect her."
"Everyone wants to protect their children but there comes a time when they can't. Sometimes I can not even protect Xiao Lang and he is only three."
"Yes but Dina is always with him, those two are inseparable, my sister." Jara says, holding her head in her hands as she sits there.
Yelan watches her sister with concern. "Do not worry about them. They will be fine, I'm more worried about you."
Jara glances up at her. "I'm fine. I just need time to accept this."
A muffled groan comes out from under the covers as Dina wakes up as Syaoran lands on her and starts to shout. "Dia!! It's Christmas! Wake up!!"
Dina frowns up at him, her expression becoming annoyed as she glances out the window and sees it's still dark both outside and in the room. "Xiao Lang, it's not even dawn yet. No one besides you is going to be up. Now go back to bed."
Syaoran pouts, looking sad. "But Dia..Santa came!" He bounces up and down again making his cousin become even more annoyed.
The eight year old girl sighs and then with a very fast movement, lunges and tackles her three year old cousin to her now messy bed and starts to tickle him. "I got you now!" She tries to take his mind off of Santa because she doesn't want to be the one to tell him that Santa doesn't exist.
The boy shrieks loudly, wiggling under her to get free but can't since his cousin is so much larger. "No!"
Dina keeps tickling him, grinning. "Now will you go back to sleep, little wolf, because it's still dark and I'm tired." She watches him, still holding him down. "Xiao Lang, your mother won't be happy if she wakes up this early."
He nods and curls against his cousin, sharing a room with her since he hates being alone. "Dia?"
"I thought you were going to go back to sleep, little cousin." Comes Dina's reply and despite her being tired and woken up so rudely, she's very patient with him. She turns her head to look at him, curious. "Is something bothering you?"
He nods slowly as he puts his small arms around her. "Sorry Dia for waking you up." Syaoran doesn't hear her answer for after he speaks, he falls back asleep next to her.
Dina smiles, hugging her younger cousin and whispers. "It's alright, little wolf. I know what it's like to be excited about it being Christmas morning." The girl falls back asleep, neither her nor Syaoran having noticed the tall woman standing in the opened doorway holding a camera and smiling.
Yelan smiles at the picture her niece and son make, thinking it's so cute and glad she took a picture of them. "This will look so nice in the album."
What seems like only minutes later, Dina again is awoken rudely by the same small boy who seems to take some kind of pleasure in jumping on top of her.
"Xiao Lang!! You better run!" Dina sits up really fast, shouting at her cousin.
Eyes wide, the boy slides off the bed and runs off with his older cousin chasing him downstairs.
"Momma!! Help! Dia's gonna kill me!" Syaoran slides behind his mother, wrapping his arms around her leg, trying to hide from Dina.
Yelan looks down at her son. "There must be a reason for her trying that. Now what did you do to her?" She is trying her best to hide her amusement and glances to Dina then back at Syaoran.
Syaoran looks down, sheepish. "I jumped on her again." He refuses to meet her eyes.
Dina sighs and walks over. "Don't be sad, cousin. And I wasn't going to hurt you." The girl hugs him then lets him get on her back, bringing him over to the tree. "Look, we have gifts to unwrap."
Syaoran brightens and slides down then starts to rip into his gifts, looking up when he hears laughter. His cousin had stuck a large, pink bow on his head as she had opened her own gifts. Syaoran glares at her, yanking the bow off and whines. "Eww pink!"
Dina giggles as he scowls at her and jumps on her, shouting. "Dia!!!"
Yelan smiles at the picture they make, knowing that despite how annoyed they get at each other, they still care a great deal for the other. "Now children, this is not the time to make that much noise."
The two look up sheepishly and nod, speaking at the same time. "Yes Momma/Aunt Yelan."
Dina looks through her gifts, studying the book of magic spells she got along with a sword, ceremonial robes, a hat, a doll and some other toys that had nothing to do with magic. "Aunt Yelan?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Is something bad going to happen?" For once the eight-year-old is very serious, almost like her mother.
Yelan gets a thoughtful look on her face, wondering if it's best to tell her that in seven years her cousin might be sent on a mission. She taps her fingers on the chair's arm, then looks at her niece and makes a fast decision. "No Dina. Nothing bad is going to happen for awhile yet. But it is always best to be prepared."
The girl stares at her aunt with a disbelieving look on her face that clearly says she doesn't believe a word her aunt said. "Then why was I given these books? And robes? And a sword? Only children who are over the age of ten gets this stuff Aunt Yelan. I'm only eight."
The older woman smiles sadly, thinking for not the first time that her spirited niece is too smart for her age with wisdom decades pass her age as well. "You are more advanced then most eight-year-olds, Dilea Li and it has been decided that you would do more advanced spells."
The girl winces as her aunt uses her full first name and not her nickname and in that instance she knows she must be careful where she steps for this is delicate territory. "Alright Aunt Yelan."
Yelan decides to talk with her sister and see who would be best to teach Dina the advanced spells, sword work and martial arts. She rises and turns to leave the living room. "Watch your cousin, Dina. I have business to take care of."
A bewildered Dina stares at her retreating aunt's back. "On Christmas Day? What place is opened today?" Dina gets distracted from her thoughts by a cry and she spins. "Xiao Lang??"
Syaoran sits on the ground, rocking back and forth, Dina's new sword laying before him with blood on the blade, crying.
"Oh no!" She rushes over and gathers him up, gently feeling the deep cut. "Hold still, cousin." Dina focuses and sends some of her healing magic into the cut, healing it fast.
Syaoran sniffs, staring at where he was cut then looks up at her and squeals. "Magic!"
"Yes that was magic little wolf. Now you know better then to touch weapons. They aren't toys, Xiao Lang so next time I see you touch my sword I won't play with you for a week." Dina says, trying to think up the worse punishment she can give him.
"No!! Don't wanna Dia to leave!" Syaoran wraps his arms around her waist as she stands, refusing to let go. "My Dia!"
The little boy glares up at her as if he's daring her to disagree with him and he repeats himself. "My Dia!"
Dina laughs softly, messing up his already messy hair. "Yea whatever you say, little wolf." As she looks down at him she sighs. "I'm too soft on you, but you're far too cute for me to stay mad at."
Syaoran blinks, not fully understanding what she meant but knows that his cousin isn't mad at him any longer and beams up at her, hugging her tightly then bounces off to play with his toys.
Dina sighs and mutters to herself. "That little boy has me wrapped around his finger and he knows it. I can't say no to him. This is so embarrassing." But Dina knows why she is so protective of her little cousin, having watched her own brother and sister die slowly in that hospital over a year ago.
Meanwhile in another room, Yelan is talking with Jara. "Sister, your daughter is very bright for her age, more so then any of the other children in the clan her age. She might even be smarter then the other advanced students. We should train her in the advanced spells."
Jara frowns. "This is my daughter you want to endanger? Yes she is smart but I will not allow her to be endangered not now nor ever! The advanced spells can wait until she's older."
"Jara, she already has been using spells that most fifteen-year-olds don't. Dina knows more then we're willingly to believe. Allow me to train her. I'll take it very slowly if I must but please. We could use someone knowing these spells and who can actually use them." Yelan pleads with her sister.
The other woman turns away. "I don't know Yelan, I have no other children. The twins died one after the other; they were born too soon. I would give my life to protect my little girl."
Yelan steps forward, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I know. I would do the same for my children. But Jara, the more she knows the better she can protect herself. Just say yes and you can put a stop to it at anytime if you think it's too hard for her."
"Alright, but the moment I believe she has been hurt it is over. And she goes back to learning the basic spells."
"Agreed sister."
"Where are the children?"
"I left Dina to watch over my son, but I think he got a hold of her sword and cut himself."
Jara turns at that, frowning. "A sword? I never agreed to that!"
"I didn't either but the elders believe she is at an age and skill level to have one." Yelan replies trying to keep her younger sister calm.
With a defeated sigh, Jara sits down. "All I want to do it protect her."
"Everyone wants to protect their children but there comes a time when they can't. Sometimes I can not even protect Xiao Lang and he is only three."
"Yes but Dina is always with him, those two are inseparable, my sister." Jara says, holding her head in her hands as she sits there.
Yelan watches her sister with concern. "Do not worry about them. They will be fine, I'm more worried about you."
Jara glances up at her. "I'm fine. I just need time to accept this."