Chapter 2: A Crowded Welcome

Syaoran stood at the doorway of the mansion holding his bag in one hand, luggage in the other. Wei stood next to him his own luggage in hand, watching the young boy as he gazed intently at the door.

"Shall we enter?" he enquired.

"Give me a minute." The boy replied.

Wei stayed silent but nodded understandingly.

Syaoran smiled at his butler before shifting his gaze back to the big white double door in front of him, which led to the house he grew up in, the house that he hadn't seen for a year now. He noted the familiarity of the door, and imagined the familiar sights he would see within; the entryway he would see upon opening the door, the large living room where he would often sit and read during his free time, what little of it there was, the expansive gardens where he would play as a child, and later where he was taught and practiced his martial arts and magic skills, his own bedroom, a simple room with a single bed and a desk beside it to study, and countless other memories. This was his home.

And yet, even as a part of him noted and missed it's familiarity, the sight of the huge white house filled him with dread unlike anything he ever felt before, because Syaoran knew what waited for him inside. Born with strong latent magic power, Syaoran had lived his life up to now in service of his Clan, who had placed high expectations in him. And he had always met those expectations, no matter the cost. But the capture of the Clow Cards had been his first real test in the field, and he'd failed it. He would have to face the disappointment of those who had put their hopes in him.

Summoning all the courage he had, Syaoran willed himself not to go running out the mansion gates. He would have to face them no matter what, and he would do it just like when he was battling the Clow Cards or the magics of Eriol/Clow Reed. He was a warrior, and warriors don't back down. This was not a battle that can be won with his blade or magic, but Syaoran now knew the strength of one's heart is as important, if not more so, than the strength of one's body. His time in Tomoeda had taught him that.

She had taught him that.

"Let's go in, Wei."

"I'm home." Syaoran said as he opened the door and entered.

"WELCOME BACK XIAOLANG!" came the reply as four voices squealed together in unison.

Syaoran had barely anytime to react as four young women immediately surrounded him and hugged him fiercely while covering his face with kisses, causing him to drop his bag and luggage. His sisters had been lying in wait for him; two in front of the door, the other two behind the door, ambushing him like predators would their prey. Fitting, he thought, as right now Syaoran definitely felt like he was being torn apart by wolves. Wei had instinctively dodged out of the way and was watching contentedly at the commotion.

"Argh! Stop it! Let me go!" Syaoran said, all the while struggling to get the four-woman grip off him.

"We've missed you so much, Syaoran!" said Feimei, who had broken off her kissing assault and was screaming near his ears.

"How was Japan? Did you bring us anything?!" came Fuutie next.

"Did you grow taller? You did, didn't you?!" Shiefa followed.

"Ohh my, our little wolf has grown up!" Fanren said with a hint of teasing in her voice.

This continued on for a minute, each girl asking a question or making a remark, sometimes at the same time, leaving Syaoran's ears ringing from their shouting. He had forgotten just how loud his sisters can be when they put their minds (and mouths) to it. Still, in a weird way, he had missed these little interactions. And funnily enough, they would be the most peaceful family interaction he would have, if his mother and the Elders have anything to say about it. The thought that this chaotic scene was his calm before the storm made him smile despite himself. As his sisters were losing steam, he gently touched their arms, which were still hugging his collar.

"I've missed you all too", he said softly.

His sisters stared wide-eyed at him, fazed by his uncharacteristic display of affection. The shock quickly wore off however, as they renewed their assault on him, touched by his words. Syaoran decided he regretted showing his affection, since it had refueled their spirit and they had tightened their grip around him like a python, their tears of joy soaking his cheeks and the collar of his jacket. This would've continued on but the sudden aura that approached told Syaoran and his sisters who was coming. Syaoran tensed up immediately. The sisters let go of their grip of Syaoran and stood two on either side of him to let him face the person approaching.

Soon enough, the imposing figure of Yelan Li appeared in front of them. She wore her standard light purple robe with a blue sash tied around her waist. Her hair was tied with her ornament in her usual ponytail. She held her fan in her right hand, putting in front of her chest, giving her a regal appearance like an empress. She stood there watching him, and Syaoran could feel the piercing gaze of her narrow eyes. It never failed to unnerve him, and not for the first time he felt as if she could see his very soul.

"Welcome home, Xiao Lang", she finally said, her pale face barely moving at the words. She then glanced at the butler standing by the door. "You too, Wei", she spoke. He bowed to her, "It's good to be home, Mistress Yelan." She smiled lightly at the butler before turning her eyes back on her son. Syaoran could never tell whether she was upset or not or even how upset she was when he did, and that had always disturbed him. Still, he managed to steady his speech somewhat.

"It is good to be home, Mother." Syaoran said while bowing, maintaining as calm a look as possible.

"I trust your journey was uneventful", she stated more than asked.

Syaoran knew that she meant if everything was in order, but his paranoia suddenly set on him. Did she know something had happened? "Yes, it was." Anything but, he finished in his mind, flashing back to Sakura meeting him at the airport. He felt a smile forming at the corner of his lips and barely managed to stop it. His mother had always been perceptive, and he couldn't risk himself betraying his emotions now.

If Yelan Li had noticed anything she wasn't saying. "Very well then", she continued. "You may retreat to your room for the evening. We shall be having dinner at the usual time, after which you will report to me about your mission in Tomoeda."

"As you wish, Mother", Syaoran replied. She was straightforward as usual. At least he knew the time he had left to think. Dinner in the Li household was at 7 p.m, leaving him with more or less three hours to unpack, shower, and straighten his thoughts.

As she walked away and disappeared from view, Syaoran felt his shoulders slump, and he released a breath he did not know he'd been holding. Wei went ahead to put Syaoran's luggage and bag in his bedroom, leaving the siblings alone in the entranceway. His sisters looked at him sympathetically. All of them could only begin to imagine the situation he was in right now. After living under the same roof with Yelan Li for so long, they knew very well how stressful their mother could be, and that's without the added pressure of the Elders and magic. That kind of pressure could break a grown man and yet here Syaoran was, an 11-year old boy with the weight of the world thrust upon him.

Desperate to break the awkward tension hanging in the air, Fuutie cleared her throat and finally spoke up, "Oh, by the way, Meiling's here."

"Oh, is that so?" Syaoran replied rather distractedly. Meiling being in their house wasn't a special occasion after all. Even after she cancelled her engagement with him, he had it on good word that she still visited from time to time.

"Yeah, and she said wants to see you. She seemed really angry about it too. Something about you being a dense idiot." Fuutie said, looking puzzled. She knew Meiling had a fiery personality, but she had never seen the girl furious at Syaoran, who was supposed to be the object of her infatuation. "What did you do, Xiaolang?"

That got his attention. "What? I haven't done anything. Why would she be-" he began but was cut off as the girl in question finally appeared where his mother had just stood moments ago. Her crimson eyes locked on to Syaoran, brimming with rage, before she made her way to approach him, stomping as she did. Syaoran could feel the shockwave of her steps through the floor of the mansion getting closer as she finally stopped before him. His sisters cleared a path for her, not wanting to get involved in whatever dispute they were having.

"Uh, Hi Meiling", Syaoran spoke rather unsteadily. His mind was working on overdrive, trying to think of a reason for her to be this mad at him. He pushed on "I'm home. I just got her-"

"IDIOT!" she yelled, loud enough to shock the people present in the room. Syaoran was so stunned by her sudden outburst that he didn't react when she delivered a strong kick to his right shin. Pain immediately coursed where her foot, a foot well-trained in martial arts, had made contact with his own. Syaoran reflexively lifted his leg to let his hand soothe the pain, leaving him hopping on one foot.

"What the hell was that all about?!" Syaoran shouted, annoyed at her sudden attack. Meiling only huffed and looked at him with her fiery glare before she spoke. "You! Me!Talk!NOW!"

Syaoran was about to ask what she wanted to talk about but his cousin had already seized his hand and was now dragging him further inside the mansion. As Syaoran and Meiling disappeared around the corner, the sisters looked on in puzzlement before collectively speaking:

"What was that all about?"