FAMILY TIES

By Just Akiko


Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, but the story is all mine.

Setting: At the end of the anime… and the almost end of the manga.

Notes: This fic is mostly canon, focusing more on the manga than the anime. HOWEVER, I wrote this BEFORE I saw the first or second movie, so they have no relevance to this story. Hence the Li family etc are entirely characterised from my imagination.

Many thanks to those who left reviews, it made me smile to hear people would like to see this continued. Although the idea appears cliched atm I'm hoping that where this is headed, will be something a little different. Keep reading to find out!

Please keep leaving comments and feedback, they all mean a lot.

Ja.

CHAPTER 2

The First Step

"You wish to leave us? Again?"

"Yes Mother."

Syaoran nodded firmly as his voice echoed in the silent room, eyes fixed defiantly on those of his only parent. Staring back at him, they were calm, blank, totally devoid of any emotional response. But Syaoran had grown up with this woman, had trained under her expert tuition since his tiny years; he wasn't fooled.

The silence stretched out long after his short reply had drowned in the dim lighting of the infamous study. Syaoran fought the sudden urge to shift his weight or fidget slightly with the hem of his shirt. He was never usually this nervous when asking things of his mother; but then he'd never asked something so important before. To train his awkward mind he focused valiantly on the space around him; it's low level lighting and imposing mural stretching across one whole wall; the hundreds of books, old and new, lining two more; the luxuriantly expensive rug beneath his feet and finally the tall red armchair in which his Mother now sat. His legs ached for his own seat, just inches behind him waiting patiently to support his nervous weight, but this was no time for familiarity. He was requesting permission from his Mother, the acting Head of the Li Clan. A slight hitch in her breath announced he finally had his answer.

"Xiao Lang, you know I can not allow that."

Syaoran felt his legs quiver precariously for just a moment as her flat out refusal hit him with the force of a punch. He fought to keep his face calm and unreadable like hers, but knew he was fighting a losing battle. His heart was screaming and it took all his self-control not to give that scream a voice.

"Why not?" he practically hissed between clenched teeth, "Why is the High School here any better than that in Tomoeda?" He knew he was overstepping boundaries here, questioning words that till this day would have been obeyed as law, and despite his anger-fuelled confidence he felt fear creeping onto his face. His mother simply sighed, the small reaction a subtle indicator of a larger emotion brewing beneath the surface.

"You know very well why Xiao Lang," she replied slowly, forcing him to be the child he was trying to grow out of, "You belong here, with your heritage, your family. Not with that girl."

For a brief second fire leapt into Li Yelan's eyes and Syaoran felt it mirrored in his own. Why was Sakura a danger to him in his mother's eyes? What had she to do with his being refused permission to study abroad? He hadn't told anyone about their 'almost relationship' when he'd arrived home but it seemed his heart was an open book. Still, why was the one thing that made him happy being so cruelly spoken of? How could his mother be so…ignorant?

When he replied, Syaoran's voice was a deadly whisper.

"What has Kinomoto-san got to do with this?"

His mother sneered, a predatory look lighting her eyes as more emotion seeped through the façade.

"Oh come now Xiao Lang, you are my only son after all. If I don't know you, who am I to call myself your Mother? Hmm? You have some childish obsession with this Japanese girl; it's written in your eyes right now." Syaoran winced but Yelan continued, seemingly oblivious. "I had hoped that a return to your family and your responsibilities would shake you out of it. So you see, I can hardly allow you to return to that place and undo all your… progress."

She smiled then, and it was not a motherly smile; this was the grimace of a woman of power, used to having her own way and willing to go to any means to get it. Including manipulating her son. Syaoran's head span wildly as he tried to process all she had said to him. Obsession? Childish? These feelings he harboured were the most intense and real things he'd ever experienced. Responsibilities? What was she trying to say?

"Mother really this is not an infatuation, I lo…"

"No Xiao Lang you do not!" The sudden outburst sparked like a lightening bolt on a clear day and Syaoran recoiled a step without noticing. His mother's face was wide open, angry and tense; and a little bit afraid? She quickly covered for the loss of control but it was too late, he had logged her mistake and could see easily through her faux-calm words "You don't know what you feel," she continued "you are still a child, and as your Mother I'm telling you, you will not have any kind of relationship with the girl who stole the Clow Cards from you."

Syaoran was aghast. "She didn't steal anything from me, I lost the…"

"She stole them from us! From the Li Clan, Clow's own descendants… your family. They were ours by right, by honour and by name."

"And now they are hers by name!" he cried vehemently "Not Clow Cards, Sakura Cards, and we have no more claim to them at all. I, Clow's descendant, was judged unworthy. We lost them Mother. And not only that but I lost Sakura because of your inability to admit defeat. I came here for nothing!" His eyes gleamed dangerously as his voice rose with long pent up emotion "You brought me back for training and knowledge I could have learned anywhere. Why? What responsibility do I, a child so you say, have here?"

His words burned the question into the air around them, met by his mother's wide-eyed expression. The shock her in face only served to encourage his onslaught and he took a slow step forwards. "All I have to show for these past two years is a pile of letters and a heart that aches every time I hear her name. You weren't the only loser Mother. We all lost."

Finally there was silence as Syaoran felt the last of the steam run out of his tirade. His eyes were wide and burning, his chest ached and his breathing came in ragged gasps after the heartfelt confession. His mother remained silenced and he was almost proud of his efforts, until he saw the tears glistening in her eyes.

"I… I'm sorry… for shouting, Mother." He breathed quietly, bowing his head.

To his surprise he felt two delicate arms suddenly loop around his waist as Yelan pulled her son into a tight embrace.

"Oh Xiao, my Xiao Lang, I am the one who is sorry."

Amazed at the whispered apology Syaoran pulled back to meet her tear filled gaze. His Mother laughed weakly, a ghostly smile pulling at her lips.

"I do not want you to be unhappy Xiao Lang and I'm sorry if I don't seem to notice how quickly you are growing up. You are becoming a man in every way, I see that… I do. And I want your life to be a wonderful thing. But…"

"But what, Mother?"

Syaoran's eyes narrowed suspiciously as the woman before him again fell silent. Her gaze slid away from his like quicksilver as she rose gracefully to her feet and glided towards the wall behind him, her eyes staring blindly at the books it held. Her voice was quiet, almost nervous, when it began.

"I apologise Xiao Lang. I didn't mean for your time here to appear meaningless. We simply didn't want to add to your concerns with any… unnecessary knowledge. Your training had to continue here, to allow you to achieve that which is to follow."

His ears pricked warily as he turned to face her stiff back.

"Which is?"

"To become the rightful leader of the Li Clan."

The floor seemed to disappear from beneath Syaoran's feet as his whole world jolted on its axis. Could she be implying what he thought she was? He felt himself stumble slightly, an unintelligible gasp escaping his mouth, as he moved slowly towards his mother.

"What are you saying Mother?" he asked roughly, his voice uncontrollably wavering, "You are the Head of the Clan. You're still young; why me? Why now?"

She finally turned to face him and Syaoran shivered as he was once again faced with a blank, emotionless mask.

"Because the Council of Elders would prefer a male force in charge of our people. It has been almost ten years since I replaced your Father and they've been hinting at such for most of it. So I made the decision for them. I step down, as long as you are my successor."

"But Mother," Syaoran protested, "I'm still in school. I…"

"Don't worry," she smiled lightly, "They are more than willing to wait. Your training still isn't complete, believe me, you have some years to weather yet."

Syaoran nodded dumbly, his mind whirling. He fought vainly to order his thoughts, but finally resorted to grabbing a question at random and focusing himself there.

"What about the other Clan members? There are more males, older and more trained than I am, ready to take over now. Why don't they use one of them?"

Yelan smiled, a hint of guilty pleasure in her deep black eyes. "I told you I made them a deal. They have no real reason to replace me and I wasn't going to make it easy for them. But you deserve this Xiao Lang, more than any of those boys waiting in line. It's what your Father would have wanted."

Her voice never softened, despite the mention of her long dead husband. Syaoran's own mind felt the impact of her statement all too clearly and for a moment was sure he would be beaten by guilt and grief. Then his thoughts abruptly flashed to a small golden teddy bear, with soft white wings, sitting patiently on his bedside table and immediately he felt his resistance return.

"So what has all this got to do with Sakura?" he finally asked, voice as blank as the face staring down at him. "Even if I am to be in charge one day, why can't I be with her?"

His mother's mouth tightened slightly as she fixed him with her hard stare. Syaoran never flinched.

"Because there are many of our people who still think of your Sakura-chan as a thief; a thief who stole the key to our magical heritage. You cannot be with one so out of favour with them."

"Then we bring her to the Clan, prove them wrong, make her family." His words were sharp and loaded with feeling, his heart fit to burst with the need to make this situation right.

"Impossible." snapped Yelan as she strode swiftly past her son and towards the door.

But Syaoran was not giving up that easily. "Why not?" he cried, spinning to face her retreating form, "You're Head of the Clan. At least meet with her and then decide. Let us show you, all of you, her power… her worth. Believe me Mother." his voice quieted to a defiant whisper, "She would be a much more valuable asset than enemy."

Silence, their long time friend, filled the room once more but now it buzzed with the electricity in Syaoran's words and heart. It didn't take long for the tension to grow unbearable, and this time, it was Yelan who broke first.

"Very well my son. For you, I will speak to the Council. I will… try."

The door snapped closed behind her before Syaoran could make any reply.

There ya have it! Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think.

Extra Note: I've used Xiao Lang, Syaoran's Chinese name, whenever his Mother etc speaks to him, since the family is from and in China. However Sakura et al will still refer to him as Syaoran throughout. Hope that doesn't make things too complicated for people.

Ja.