The Testing of Li Peony
A CCS Fanfic
by SyaoranSword
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Card Captor Sakura. CLAMP and other companies I may not know of own it all. This is a fanfic and not part of the "official" storyline. The story is only meant for the enjoyment of the author and any would-be readers.
Notes: Sorry this took so long, but I had to deal with an unpleasant family problem. Don't worry; it has been taken care of. Now it is time for the anticipated battle to begin. Let's get right to it…
~~~ (place) ~~~ = scene change
" " = dialogue
[ ] = thoughts
( ) = commentary
Chapter 4: The Final… er, First Judgement
"Your fist opponent is… Yue."
All eyes turned to the silver-haired and spectacled man as he smiled. "I'll see everyone in a little bit. Good luck, Peony-chan." Yukito waved goodbye as large wings enveloped and transformed him into the moon guardian of the Sakura cards. The first thing Yue saw as he opened his eyes was the little girl, who very much resembled his mistress at her age. He had watched Peony grow up through the eyes of his other form, and he remembered their first face-to-face meeting.
~~~ Flashback: Peony at 5 ~~~
It was Christmas Eve at the Kinomoto house. Fujitaka made final preparations to the dinner he prepared in anticipation of a few guests. No sooner had he finished perfecting the setting did the tune of the doorbell reach his ears. "I'm coming!" he called out. Fujitaka opened the door and was greeted by two smiling parents, each holding a hand of their daughter between them.
"Ojii-chan!!" cried Peony as she leapt into her grandfather's waiting arms.
"Oh, Peony-chan, I've missed you," he responded. Fujitaka set her down and admired her. "You've grown up a lot haven't you?"
"Hai, I have Ojii-chan! Okaa-chan and Otou-chan told me so!"
"That's wonderful." He took her little hand and led her inside as Sakura and Syaoran followed. Fujitaka looked towards his daughter and his son-in-law. "Sakura-san, Syaoran-san, merry Christmas."
Sakura hugged her father. "Otou-san, Merry Christmas!"
Syaoran shook Fujitaka's hand. "Merry Christmas, Otou-san."
"Is that a kaijuu I hear stomping around downstairs with her gaki husband?" Touya teased as he and Yukito came downstairs.
"Mou, Onii-chan! I'm not a kid anymore. I've been a mother for over five years now."
"Then Peony-chan is going to be a little kaijuu."
"Peony-chan is not a little kaijuu!" Sakura glared at her big brother. She would have stomped or kicked Touya, but she didn't want to set a bad example for her daughter. Unfortunately, it was too late for that. Peony got out of Syaoran's grasp, went up unnoticed to Touya's leg, and kicked him hard.
Touya winced as he looked down to what caused the sudden pain in his shin. "I am not a little kaijuu!" Peony cried.
"To-ya, you shouldn't tease Sakura-chan or your niece like that," Yukito said, standing next to his beloved.
"Uncle Yuki-chan!" Peony happily squealed as she gave him a hug.
"You're getting prettier every time I see you, Peony-chan."
"Yukito-san," Syaoran began, "we have something to ask of you."
He looked up. "What is it, Li-kun?"
Sakura answered, "We think it's time for Peony-chan to meet Yue-san." Everyone was silent. Yukito then began his transformation.
"Uncle Yuki-chan?" Peony watched in awe as Yue emerged from his cocoon of wings. "Okaa-chan, is Uncle Yuki-chan an… angel?"
Sakura smiled. "In a way. Peony-chan, we'd like you to meet Yue-san. He is the second guardian of the Sakura cards."
"Yue-san?"
He knelt on one knee to get down to her level and cupped her chin gently in his hand. "At last we meet, Peony-san." Yue saw the same warmth and innocence in her eyes as he saw in Sakura. "It is an honor to see the firstborn daughter of my mistress."
The little girl stared straight into him. She had never seen Yue before, but she didn't fear him. Instead, she felt comfortable and secure with Yue. Peony smiled and chirped, "Konnichi wa, Yue-san! But… what happened to Uncle Yuki-chan?"
He dropped his hand. "Yukito is my other form. He and I share the same body."
"Hoe?" she asked, scratching her head cutely.
Yue had no previous experience with children, and so he was at a loss for words. His mistress bailed him out. "Uncle Yuki-chan is Yue."
Peony's eyes lit up. "So can I call you Uncle Yue-san?"
The guardian was a little shocked by her request. "If it will make you happy, you may."
She jumped up and hugged him. "Arigato, Uncle Yue-san!"
He hesitated, but eventually hugged her back. "You are welcome, Peony-san."
~~~ End Flashback ~~~
Yue turned his eyes to Sakura, who nodded her confirmation. [I do not wish to fight her, but my mistress wills it.] "Cerberus, have you chosen the next candidate for the mastery of the Sakura Cards?"
The tiny golden creature transformed into his fierce lion-like form. "Yes, Peony is more than capable of becoming the future mistress."
Yue looked back to the wide-eyed girl standing before him. "She may be capable, but is she destined?"
"She is," replied Cerberus.
Yue floated inches off the floor. "Very well. Peony-san will be tested in… the Final Judgement."
"Hold on!" Tomoyo wanted to point something out. "Shouldn't it actually be the First Judgement?"
Collective sweatdrops rolled down everyone's heads.
~~~~~~
At the Coliseum, Yue hovered a few feet off the ground. His figure was silhouetted against the full moon behind him. His eyes were closed, and he was concentrating on his task. The only other person in the deserted arena was his auburn-haired mistress.
"Yue-san, I am your friend. I understand your feelings," Sakura said. "You don't want to hurt Peony-chan, and you don't want to have to decide on another master when you still have me, ne?"
He opened his eyes to meet her. "You know me well. I felt the same way when Clow died. Why do you want to put Peony-san through this?"
"I'm not going to be around forever. I may be more powerful than Clow-san was, but the future is never certain."
"You have Clow's ability to predict the future. You can know what will happen years beforehand."
"I do have that power… but I choose not to use it." She closed her eyes. "No one should know too much about their own future. Life is more exciting that way, and I love being surprised." Sakura opened her shimmering emerald eyes. "If anything ever does happen to me, I don't want to leave you and Kero-chan without someone to love."
Yue flew down toward her. "Nothing will ever happen to you! I won't let you die."
She reached out her hand to touch his cheek. "I know. Syaoran feels the exact same way, but tell me Yue-san. If I was gone, and you were given the choice, do you think Peony would be a good mistress for you?"
He flinched at the question. Yue replied, "She will answer that question, herself."
"Then do your best, Yue-san, so you will get a good answer."
~~~~~~
Peony stood in the center of the training room as her father and the others looked on. She held the Book of Sakura, and she opened it. One-by-one the cards floated and hovered around her, as she focused on their magical energies. After some time, the cards flew back into the book. Peony closed it and sighed. "How am I supposed to fight Uncle Yue-san? He's family."
"Remember what is the purpose of all this," Syaoran said, "You are the one destined to have the cards. In order to prove that, you defeat Yue."
"You can beat him. I believe in you, Peony-san," Jin encouraged, faintly blushing.
"We all do," added Tomoyo.
"Arigato, minna-san. I'll do my best!" Peony marched out of the house and towards the Coliseum, with everyone else following her.
~~~~~~
Eriol had made a few modifications to the copy of the stadium. With a wave of his hand, large banks of electric lights illuminated the arena for nighttime combat. He took his seat with the rest of the group, who were Peony's cheering section. The Elders sat in a section by themselves, and the Li Clan leaders took their positions in the emperor's box, right above the cheering section.
Peony stood near the center of the field and looked upward toward Yue and the full moon. She grasped the purple key around her neck and recited her incantation. "Key that hides the powers of the moon and the stars, reveal your true form before me. I, Peony, command you under the contract. Release!" The key became a purple staff. Inside the winged top ring, a crescent moon was inscribed, and a star was inscribed within the remaining circle.
Seeing that Peony was ready, Yue began his speech. "Cards created by Sakura, the one who wishes to be your future mistress stands before me." The cards glowed and scattered around the startled girl. "Is she worthy of being our future mistress? I am Yue, the Judge, and this… is the Final…" a sweatdrop rolled down Yue's head, "er, First Judgment." Everyone sweatdropped and face-faulted.
After recovering, Tomoyo turned to her husband. "If Peony-chan loses, will the Disaster occur?"
"Hai," Eriol replied, not smiling.
"Peony-san won't lose. She will win!" shouted Jin. His cry reached Peony's ears, and she beamed a smile at him, turning his cheeks red.
Syaoran scowled at the sight of his daughter smiling at Jin. "Aw, how kawaii!" Sakura cooed.
Yue began to form crystals in his hand. "To win the Judgment, you must defeat me with the cards you possess. Are you ready?"
Peony drew her first card. "Hai!"
"Then let the Judgment begin." He let loose a barrage of crystals, all heading straight for Peony, who stood her ground.
"Shield!" The protective dome appeared around her, absorbing all of the crystals Yue had fired. Peony reached for an attack card. "Fiery! Trap Yue!" The flaming spirit emerged and flew to engage the moon guardian. Yue dodged his aggressor, while holding out his hand to form a barrier. Fiery tried to break through, but wasn't strong enough. The angelic being held up his free hand and sliced crystal shots through the spirit, returning it to its card form. "Hoeee!!"
"A good move, but Fiery isn't strong enough on its own," Eriol said, adding color commentary to the fight.
Yue fired another volley of crystals, but it didn't affect the Shield. Peony stood underneath and thought hard. [Fiery was the strongest attack card I could use against Yue. Now what am I supposed to do?]
"You won't win if you will only defend," reminded the Judge as he formed his energy bow.
[I need to make an attack stronger than what Fiery can do alone.]
Yue formed the companion arrow, and pulled the bowstring back.
[I got it!]
He let the arrow fly. Peony fell to her knees as the Shield crashed around her.
"Peony-san!!" Jin cried out, fearing the worst.
The arrow landed just in front of her, but she still felt sharp pain from the sudden collapse of her barrier. Standing up was a struggle, but she rose to her feet and held her staff defiantly in front of her. "I can do this." She looked at the two cards she held. [Oh please, let this work.] Peony flung the first card. "Fiery! Trap Yue!"
[Using the same card? A poor strategy.] The guardian questioned her actions as he put his barrier up.
She released the second card. "Windy! Fan the flames!"
Yue's eyes widened in shock. "Nani?!!"
In the stands, Eriol smiled. "Smart girl. Yue can't reflect Windy because he is preoccupied, and he won't be able to withstand a strengthened Fiery."
The two spirits sped towards their target. Fiery preceded Windy as they made contact with the barrier. Yue instinctively covered himself with his wings as they broke through. He felt like he was being suffocated in an oven within the swirling flames. The cards retreated, and Yue began to fall.
Peony plucked a card and activated it. "Float! Soften Yue's descent!" A pink beach ball with wings caught the falling guardian, and slowly led him to the ground. The little girl ran to him. "Uncle Yue-san! Daijobu desu ka?"
He managed to get up on one knee. Amazingly, his hair and his clothes weren't singed at all, and there were no signs of burns anywhere. Yue looked up to the worried Peony. [I have lost, again. I am glad Peony-san has won. She will make a good mistress.] "Daijobu." He stood up. "Close your eyes."
"Hoe?"
Yue gave a small smile. "Trust me." Peony blinked cutely before she did as he said. "The Judgment is over. I, Yue, admit my defeat and acknowledge Li Peony as the future mistress of the Sakura Cards."
Peony felt like she was floating. When she opened her eyes, she stood on what looked like the Milky Way. "Where am I?"
"It's hard to explain," came a gentle voice. She looked up to see a smiling ethereal man dressed in wizard's robes.
"Are you Clow-san?"
"Hai. I've watched you grow up, Peony-chan. You are certainly a special child. Congratulations on becoming Sakura-san's successor." He still smiled as he opened his eyes. "You still have a little ways to go until you will be truly happy."
"I know. I have six more tests to go."
He nodded. "Before you go, keep this in mind. Your happiness is closer than you think it is."
"Hoe?"
Clow chuckled. "You'll figure it out. Farewell, Peony-chan."
She closed her eyes and felt her body float back down to earth. Peony's foot felt the ground, and she opened her eyes. She was back in the arena with Yue. "I did it!" she shouted happily. Peony looked up and saw her mother and her father standing and applauding. The cheering section gave her a standing ovation, while the Elders quietly filed out. Yelan smiled as she left as well.
Peony felt terribly embarrassed as she rubbed the back of her head. Jin didn't know what came over him, but he jumped over the railing and ran to her. "Peony-chan! Daijobu desu ka?"
"Daijobu." [Did Jin-kun just call me…] Peony felt woozy and started to fall backwards. She used too much of her magic.
Jin quickly positioned himself, and she fell right into his arms. His face quickly reddened, as he didn't know what to do with girl leaning into him and sleeping soundly. Syaoran left his seat and went down to the kids. Jin shivered under his glare and stammered, "L- Li-san. W- would you like to… take care of Peony-san."
The leader of the Li Clan nodded as he lifted the unconscious girl into his arms. "You did well, Peony-chan," he whispered. "Let's get you to bed."
~~~~~~
Syaoran closed Peony's bedroom door and headed for his own room. He entered and found Sakura already changed and waiting for him. "Peony-chan is fast asleep."
"She was exhausted from the battle," Sakura said simply.
"Were you worried?"
"Worried for my daughter? Yes. Worried about the Disaster? No."
"Same here. I could never forget you, Sakura-chan." He pulled her close, covering his wife in his robes.
She breathed deeply in her husband's scent and cuddled closer. "And I you, Syaoran-chan."
~~~~~~
Eriol and Tomoyo sat curled up together in Eriol's chair. Nakuru, Spinel, and Jin were upstairs, leaving the two alone in the living room their Hong Kong residence. They chatted about what took place that night.
"Peony-chan's brave fighting skills were kawaii! Ne, Eriol?"
"She wasn't just kawaii; she was very impressive. Did you record the battle, Tomoyo-chan?"
"Of course! Peony-chan is just as adorable as Sakura-chan!"
"I should review it, because I might be in trouble when it's time for my role."
She twirled a bit of his hair around her fingers. "That would be fun to watch: the mighty Hiiragizawa Eriol getting whipped by the sweet and innocent little Li Peony-chan. Ohohohoho!!"
Eriol had a mock hurt expression as he said, "You're not painting a flattering image of my abilities."
"I know, but I will still be rooting for Peony-chan." She placed her head on his chest. "Besides, you do enough flattering for the both of us."
He caressed her back through her robes. Eriol chuckled, "That may be true, but you just flattered me, my dear Tomoyo-chan."
"I did, didn't I?" came her muffled reply.
"Hai, and let me repay you for your gracious compliment." Eriol pulled Tomoyo up and kissed her with passion.
Meanwhile upstairs, Jin laid on his bed, wide-awake and oblivious to his parents' recently ended conversation. The young pale-skinned boy had one thing on his mind. [Peony-san…] He remembered how he felt when she was sleeping within his arms. [It felt good to hold her like that.] He could hear her sweet laughter, and see her bright smile. [Why do I… keep thinking of her?] It was driving him crazy. [She's just a friend… a very good friend,] he thought assertively. Jin then fell asleep, dreaming about himself and a girl with honey-auburn hair and warm green eyes, running through a field of peony blossoms.
To be continued…
Jin is denying his feelings… for now. What does Peony think of Jin? Who is next in the Peony hit parade? You will find out soon. Read and review please!