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: This is probably one of the cleverest chapter titles I have ever come up with! You can take it as what Peony is made of, or it could be a metaphor to the next battle (Ruby Moon, Spinel Sun, Peony-chan). Let's see. PBJ development, the third test, and some rather interesting conversations among the adults are the highlights included in this long chapter. Special props to LeRoy Loke for figuring out what was going to happen!
~~~ (place) ~~~ = scene change
" " = dialogue
[ ] = thoughts
( ) = commentary
Chapter 6: Sugar, Spice, and Everything S+S"Ow!" Peony grimaced as ointment was rubbed on her sore arms and legs. The pungent scent rose into her nostrils, reminding her of the times her mother rubbed medicine to open her nasal passages.
Sakura finished treating her daughter and said, "You looked wonderful out there, Peony-chan. Now you can take a good long rest."
"But Okaa-san, I'm not tired. It's not even lunchtime yet!"
"I know, but you should still rest and regain your strength. The third test won't be until tomorrow, so you should relax. Kero-chan is already sleeping in the drawer."
"How lazy can he be?" They laughed quietly together.
Sakura tucked her daughter into bed and kissed her on the forehead. "Sweet dreams." The mother left the room and descended the stairs to find no one in the house except for Syaoran. "Where did everyone go?"
"The Hiiragizawas went home so Tomoyo-san could check on some things. Meiling and Bruce went out with Otou-san, Touya-san, and Yukito-san." Syaoran approached his wife with a coy look on his face. "Everyone is gone. That means…"
"We're alone," finished Sakura as a seductive smile formed on her lips. "So… what do you want to do?" she asked enticingly.
"Let's have a little fun." He drew her into his arms and whispered low and sweet into her ear, "Wo ai ni, Ying Fa." Starting from her cheek, he trailed tiny kisses down her neck and up to her other cheek.
"Aishiteru, Syaoran," she lovingly murmured against his hair as he finished his journey. Sakura placed her hands on either side of her husband's face, and she gently lifted it to where she could forcefully press her lips against his. Their many years together made it plain that both knew exactly how to make the other crazy. They were about to deepen their bliss when they heard a knock at the door. Syaoran lingered on Sakura's lower lip, and she giggled after they pulled apart.
"I thought they wouldn't be back for a while," said the annoyed husband whose quality time with his wife was interrupted.
Sakura left a sympathetic kiss on his cheek. "Later, koibito." She eased out of their embrace and opened the door. "Jin-kun!" she greeted the dark-haired boy with surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Jin could already feel the glare coming from Syaoran as he said, "I wanted to check on Peony-san, and so my parents told me I could go."
"She's asleep, and I don't want you to disturb her," the father coldly said.
"Syaoran, don't you have a meeting to go to?" Sakura eyed her husband knowingly.
He stared back at her for a few seconds before he answered, "I forgot. Thanks for reminding me." Syaoran kissed Sakura and said, "I'll be back soon, koishii," before leaving the house.
Smiling happily, Sakura turned back to a confused Jin. "You wanted to see Peony-chan, ne?" The kind mother led the pale-skinned boy up the stairs. "She may actually be asleep. I put her to bed not long ago." Sakura gently opened her daughter's door. She peeked in and saw Peony resting comfortably. Sakura whispered to Jin, "Looks like she's sound asleep."
Jin then blushed before he asked, "May I stay with her?"
Sakura was surprised at first, but then warmly smiled and let him in. "Don't wake her up," she cautioned him before shutting the door softly behind him.
Taking silent steps, Jin made his way to the girl's desk and sat down in the chair. He watched with soft eyes and red cheeks the sleeping form of Peony. She looked angelic and peaceful as the blankets covering her chest rose and fell with her rhythmic breathing. [I could watch her sleep forever.] He looked down at his feet and blushed at the thought, mentally scolding himself. He heard the rustling of sheets, and he looked up to see Peony had rolled to her side. Her face was now fully facing his, and her lips were slightly parted. Jin immediately locked his gaze on her face. [The way she's leaning toward me with her hair framing her head… it's as if she's inviting me to kiss her soft, pink lips…] The poor boy had never turned that shade of red before in his life! [Why am I thinking like this about her?!] He buried his burning face in his hands.
Meanwhile, Sakura was downstairs, sitting on the couch and glancing at the clock. The front door opened, and Syaoran came back in. She looked incredulously at him. "What took you so long?"
"I ran four laps around the coliseum." He took a seat next to her. "You got me out of the house, so I wouldn't see you let Jin-kun see Peony-chan."
"Hai." Sakura kissed him on the cheek. "Arigato, Syaoran." She snuggled next to him. "You would do almost anything for me."
He reached behind her back and rested his hand on her shoulder. "I know, but I still don't see why you like him."
She leaned on him as she responded, "He and Bruce-kun have been Peony's best friends since they were babies. What I don't see is why you hate him so much."
"I don't… hate him. It's just…"
"Is it because he's Eriol-kun's son?"
He firmly shook his head. "Iie. I still don't really like his father, but that's not it at all."
Sakura started to rub his chest, causing Syaoran to tense. Her sparkling eyes met his. "Then what is it?" she asked in her most irresistible voice.
He mused that Sakura had used her charms on him unknowingly when they were young, but now he wondered when she learned to control her 'talent'. Syaoran sighed. "I'm afraid of what's going to happen when Peony grows older. She'll start to become interested in boys, and then…"
Sakura understood completely. "You're afraid of losing her to someone when she's still so young." When she saw him nod, she said, "Syaoran, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I think you're becoming more like Onii-chan."
His eyes went wide. "Nani?!"
"Don't you remember about us? We were in love when we were only twelve years old. Onii-chan didn't like it one bit, but I could tell he wanted me to be happy."
"It's different. He's your brother. I'm her father."
"It's not that different at all. There will come a day when you'll be leading her down the aisle. When you give her hand to another who loves her very much, she'll be filled with happiness."
"How do you know?" he asked in a whisper.
She pulled herself up to where her lips met his. "I know because… when Otou-san gave my hand to you, I was very happy." Sakura kissed him again, deeper this time. When they parted, they looked into each other's eyes filled with love. "And I still am. Don't you want what we have for Peony-chan?"
He sighed again. "Someday. I just wish it wouldn't have to come so soon. She looks so much like you that I kind of feel like I'm losing you."
"It won't be easy. Onii-chan was in a funk for months after our wedding, but I'll be here to make it seem not so bad for you, Syaoran." Together, they enjoyed the silence, until it was broken by another knock.
"Stupid interruptions…" Syaoran growled. They reluctantly stood up from their comfortable positions on the couch and opened the door to the Hiiragizawas.
"Gomen for disrupting your little moment," Eriol greeted them.
Syaoran glared at him. "How did you know that?"
"Your face tells all, my cute descendant."
Syaoran muttered something low while Sakura spoke up. "Tomoyo-chan, is everything set?"
The famous fashion designer seemed to have stars in her eyes. "All of it will be here by tomorrow night. That will give me more than enough time to set it up."
"Arigato for going to all of this trouble for us."
"For you, Sakura-chan, it's no trouble at all."
Soon the rest of the people arrived back at the Li house. "Bruce-kun, could you go upstairs and get Peony-chan and Jin-kun down for lunch?" Sakura asked. The boy nodded as he left. She turned back to everyone else with her hands clasped and asked excitedly, "So who wants to help me cook lunch?"
Bruce quietly approached the door to Peony's room before giving it a soft knock. The door opened, and he was met with a glower from Jin. Before either could say a word, Peony woke up to see the two boys in her doorway. "Hoeee!" she screamed, holding her blankets protectively up to her neck. "Jin-kun! Bruce-kun! What are you doing in my room?!"
Both boys flushed red. Bruce found his voice first. "We just came up to tell you it's lunchtime. Jin and I were just leaving." He had to drag the other boy out who just opened and closed his mouth with no words forming.
Once they had gone, Peony thought, [Mou! Baka boys! Although they did look rather cute blushing…]
~~~~~~
Lunch passed very quickly. The kids ran off to play, since they rarely were all together. That left the adults sitting around the dining room table, making conversation. "Tell me the truth, kaijuu. I've been wondering. Have you ever been in a fight with the gaki you call a husband?"
Sakura looked at her brother in surprise. "Of course, and I'm not a kaijuu! We have fights, sometimes over the littlest of things, but that's normal. You have fights with Yukito-san, ne?"
Touya was about to object, but Yukito answered for his beloved, "Hai. We do disagree on stuff, but we're both okay with it."
"Why do you ask, Onii-chan?"
The firm look on Touya's face suddenly softened. "Every time I have seen you with him, you looked so happy. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't an act."
Sakura knew how much her big brother cared for her, even if he didn't show it very much. "Thirteen years together, and still going strong."
Syaoran put his arm around her. "We couldn't have made it without each other, especially through that huge fight we had during our first few months."
"Huge fight?" Tomoyo was puzzled. "You never told me you two had a huge fight during your first year."
"We kept pretty quiet about it. No one here, except for Meiling, knew," Sakura explained. "Basically, I decided I was tired of waking up without Syaoran because of his morning exercises. I started to wake up with him, so we could train together."
"At first, I thought it was a great idea… until we got to the sword fighting. After becoming used to handling a weapon, she asked to duel with me. I refused."
"I thought he was saying I couldn't do it, that I wasn't a good enough opponent for him. Needless to say, I became angry."
"I was scared to death of me accidentally hurting her. When I thought she got mad at me for no reason, I lost my temper. We stayed mad at each other for the entire week. Then one day, I was working my stress out with more training when she came in."
"I picked up a sword, and attacked."
~~~ (Flashback) ~~~
"Sakura!!" Syaoran yelled, parrying a swing from his wife. "What the heck are you doing?!"
"I'm tired of you not accepting me! When will you learn not to look at me as if I was a glass figurine?"
Sharp metallic clangs resounded through the room, as the couple engaged in a deadly dance for two. "You're not a glass figurine! You're the most powerful sorceress in the world! But you're also my wife, and I don't want you to get hurt!"
"So you're protective of me."
"I protect you, because I care for you. I love you, Sakura! I'm sorry if you feel sheltered, but I am really scared of losing you because of something stupid I might do."
Sakura gasped as the sword in her hand was sent flying. "You refused to fight, because you didn't want me to get hurt?"
He nodded as he threw his sword to the side. "Why else wouldn't I fight you? You are deceptively strong, but it's my fear that kept me from dueling with you."
It was as if they suddenly realized how close they came to losing each other. Sakura jumped into her husband's arms and cried. "I'm so sorry, Syaoran. I should have known."
"I'm sorry too, Sakura." He made her look up, and they reaffirmed their love with a passionate kiss.
~~~ (End Flashback) ~~~
"The good thing about fights is how sweet it is when we make up," Sakura said. "A few months later, I found out I was pregnant with Peony."
"And the rest is history," Syaoran finished their tale.
~~~~~~
One day later, Peony stood facing her opponents for the third test. The long shadows on the ground indicated that it was sunset. On the other side of the arena, Ruby Moon stood in sunlight, while Spinel Sun was under shadow. It was going to be a no-holds-barred two-on-one. Peony had all the cards at her disposal. The young girl held one she planned to use once she heard whom she was going to face. [It's definitely not an attack card, but it should work.] She called out the card's name. "Sweet Card! Make Spinel Sun taste sweets!" The fairy-like spirit flew toward the wide-eyed black panther.
"AAHHHHH!!! Keep it away!! Keep it away!!" the guardian yelled while flying frantically away from the Sweet.
Ruby Moon sweatdropped as she watched her hysterical partner. She should have been paying more attention to the battle, as Peony called for a high-pressure blast of water and sent the moon guardian into the wall. As for Peony's other opponent, the Sweet was just too fast. Everyone in the stands ducked as the now drunk flying panther shot powerful blasts from his mouth in every direction. Peony summoned the Fly and the Power in order to wrestle Spinel to the ground. The Sweet then continued to force-feed him until he passed out.
"It's safe everyone! You can come out now," Peony shouted to the crowd beneath their seats.
"That was rather anticlimactic," Tomoyo said.
"Peony-chan knew her opponents' weaknesses. That's why she won so easily," Eriol explained. He then shared a smirk with his wife. "She knows yours too, but it won't help her one bit."
"Ohohohoho!! She's not going to have an easy time with me!"
To be continued…
What? Tomoyo vs. Peony?! Um… this ought to be interesting. Read and review please!