Disclaimer:
I have no affiliation with Cardcaptor Sakura or any other of CLAMP's works. Also any similarities to real life events or people are unintentional unless explicitly stated.
Meiling fell down for the third time in a row. She untangled herself from the dragon costume and glared at Syaoran who managed to stay on the pole.
"Stop dropping me!" she yelled.
"Maybe you should pay attention!" he yelled back.
Meiling gritted her teeth and took a breath. "Can we take a break? I'm going to get hurt! We've been practising all week since classes finished and cooking all day! I'm tired, Syaoran!"
"No, we need to make this perfect." He jumped to the starting position, waiting for her.
Why does Syaoran have to be so strict all the time?
"It's not as if we haven't done this trick before," she said. "We're just rattled. We need a break."
Syaoran closed his mouth. She won this argument.
"We're leaving for Piffle Palace soon," said Aunt Yelan, by the doorway. "The two of you should prepare now."
Maybe Meiling didn't win the argument, yet, but the outcome was the same.
"But-,"
She was already walking out the door. "I'm going to take a bath."
Meiling went to her own bathroom to clean off the sweat and grime. She put the temperature as high as she could tolerate.
Begrudgingly, her cousin had a point. They would be performing in front of royalty; it had to be perfect otherwise they would be dishonour to the clan.
But she was exhausted.
Meiling didn't want to start the year angry at her fiancé; it would be a bad omen for the New Year.
She realized something and smiled. The stroke of midnight would be perfect for them to kiss and make up.
"Good wishes! Good Fortune!" Tomoyo and Sakura greeted the Li cousins in the Zhonguo language.
Tomoyo and her cousin were wearing long sleeved kimonos her mother returned with her from her business trip to The Taiyo Isles and had flowers pinning their hair into intricate shapes.
Tomoyo's kimono was a scarlet red that faded to black at the hem and was embroidered with silver and sun coloured hibiscus flowers, ginkgo and bamboo leaves. A golden obi was tied in a tateya musubi, or standing arrow knot, at the back.
Sakura wore a mandarin kimono with a golden hem. Gold and sunset coloured herons, cherry blossoms and peach flowers decorated the garment. A fukura-suzume musubi, or puffed sparrow knot, was tied at the back with an obi matching the embroidery.
"Happy New Year," replied the Li cousins, Mr Li obviously surprised.
"I really like what you're wearing," said Meiling.
Tomoyo smiled serenely in reply.
"You look amazing, Meiling," said Sakura.
"Of course," said Meiling. She posed, showing off sleek, form-fitting, long-sleeved dress that ended at her ankles revealing red shoes with a slight heel. The garment was of the latest Zhonguo style, with a standing collar that was hooked closed with golden buttons. Despite its thin appearance, Meiling looked comfortable. Tomoyo had taught her how infuse magic within the fabric to keep her warm. The scarlet and gold brocade suited her skin tone exceptionally.
The three girls laughed.
"I thought you said that you were going to spend New Year's with your family," Mr Li said to Sakura.
His dark red Zhonguo suit was well tailored to him. There was a row of ornamental buttons straight down the front and the white silk of the shirt underneath peeked from under his cuffs and standing collar.
Tomoyo overheard her relatives commenting on his sharp looks and inquiring about his eligibility for their own daughters and nieces.
"Didn't you know? Tomoyo and I are second cousins with the crown princess and prince through our mothers," said Sakura. Princess Emeraude and Prince Ferio were busy preparing and were scheduled to arrived as the dinner started. "They're part of the Amamiya Clan."
"Syaoran! Good wishes! Good Fortune!" said Fye, rubbing his head. "Nice haircut. You too, Meiling."
Fye wore the latest Lecourt fashion; a long dark blue jacket, ebony straight pants, white shirt, light blue bow tie and matching vest. The blond ponytail at the nape of his neck was bound with white fabric.
"What are you doing here?" asked Mr Li.
"I'm eighteenth in line for the throne," he said. "I am of the Imperial House of Flowright after all."
"You never let us forget," said Meiling. "And it isn't that impressive. Tomoyo is ninth in line."
"Her father was first cousins with the King," Sakura explained to Mr Li.
"Cousin Tomoyo! Cousin Fye! Sakura! Have you seen the kittens?" the golden haired twins ran up to them in contrasting frilly black and white dresses.
"No, not yet," said Tomoyo to her cousins. She gestured to the Li's. "Have you greeted our guests from Zhonguo? They're from the Li Clan."
"Happy New Year." They curtsied in unison.
"I'm Freya," said the elder in black.
"I'm Elda," said the younger in white. They spoke enthusiastically. "The kittens are so cute. Have you seen them?"
"Our Cousin Emi's feline gave birth last week."
"We want to keep one."
"But our mother won't let us."
"Do you want one?"
"They're really cute." They pulled on Meiling and Fye's hands.
"We are about to have dinner," said Tomoyo. "How about we give them a quick tour and then we all get cleaned up?"
The twins agreed, on the condition that the guests see the kittens along the way. They led the way with Meiling and Fye in tow. The other three followed a few paces behind.
Sakura was pointing out the relatives closest to them in age. "There's Tomoyo's first cousin talking with my brother. She goes to university in the Taiyo Isles." Cousin Kendappa and Cousin Toya nodded at them. Cousin Toya also glared at Mr Li.
"Are all your relatives in Taiyo Isles?" asked Mr Li, glaring briefly at Cousin Toya.
"Our more immediate relatives are here in Lecourt or Heung Gong, however we have some distant relatives remaining in the Taiyo Isles," said Tomoyo. "Our great-grandmother is from Lecourt so our family except my aunt moved here when our mothers were still in high school. My aunt had already started university, so she was permitted to stay there for the duration of her studies. However, she fell in love with an exchange student from Heung Gong and after graduating, married him and together they began a family."
The man their Aunt Saya married, Kyogo Hanato was a priest of a shrine in Heung Gong. That meant that they and their three daughters, Kotori "Tori", Kobato "Koe" and Kohane "Honey", were usually too busy with New Years preparations to spend New Years here in Lecourt with the rest of the family.
"That reminds me," said Sakura, "you went to Heung Gong High School, right Mr Li?"
He nodded.
"We have cousins that go there and one is in the same grade as us. I've been meaning to ask you about it. Her last name is "Hanato". Do you know her?"
He shook his head.
"Oh, is that so?" sighed Sakura.
"It is possible that he doesn't remember because she is often sick," suggested Tomoyo.
After a few moments later when they entered the parlour where the felines were kept, Mr Li asked, "Is she called "Koe"?"
"That's her!" said Sakura, excitedly. "Have you met her sisters too?"
He shook his head.
"How do you know their cousin?" asked Meiling, hearing the commotion.
"I never talked to her but she was in my class last year," he said. "She went to a different primary school as us, Meiling."
She went back to stroking the kitten in her hand.
"Is she okay?" said Mr Li, a hint of concern tinged his words.
"It seems like she's getting better," said Sakura, a touch more cheerfully.
In between dinner courses, Sakura and her cousin were to perform. She was to accompany Tomoyo's singing on the organ. She was very persuasive when she wanted to be.
As they were setting up Sakura could hear snatches of hushed conversations from Tomoyo's relatives.
"Is that Sakura Kinomoto?" whispered a Lady.
"Yes, she's certainly turning into the spitting image of her mother," said the man next to her.
"Lucky for her," commented a second Lady. "I heard she doesn't have any magical powers."
"Poor thing," said the first. "Born into the great Amamiya Clan without any power; God and the spirits can be so cruel."
"She must have done something terrible in her previous life," added the second Lady.
"The girl will still probably able to marry well, all things considered," snickered the man.
Sakura's cheeks burned.
"Sakura, remember your invincible spell," whispered Tomoyo. "We have been practising all week and playing this song together for years."
Sakura was thankful for Tomoyo, and she put on a smile for her parents' and brother's sakes.
But she was still rattled. She played the wrong notes a couple times. Her hands shook. At one point she lost her place, but Tomoyo hid the mistakes with her own skilful singing.
They received a round of applause.
"Poor thing can't do anything right."
"She's hopeless isn't she?"
Sakura sat in silence for the rest of the dinner not looking at anyone.
She couldn't truly enjoy the midnight flower-fire display from the balcony with the others. Tomoyo was engaged in polite conversation with several ladies of the court, her parents looked very content and in love, and the Li Cousins were being introduced to the princess and prince by Fye. Even her brother was busy talking with Kendappa.
The twins innocent as they are, tried to cheer her up. But Sakura excused herself from the celebrations to find a space where she could be by herself.
Syaoran was surprised to find Kinomoto by herself, playing with the kittens.
The room was dark except for the colourful flashes of flower-fire visible from the tall windows. The walls were enchanted to silence the sounds from the outside. He could only hear the content purr of the felines and a faint sniffling.
He retreated, knocking into the door. He shouldn't be disturbing her while she was like this. He was just trying to escape from Meiling and Prince Fye, as he insists on being called. Syaoran thought that the title was a nickname given by the girls at school. He should have realized that he was of royal blood when they met by his last name.
One of the kittens meowed and the girl turned her head to see who the newcomer was. The explosions of light made her eyes and the trails of tears shine.
"Mr Li?" said Kinomoto, wiping her cheeks with a handkerchief. "Are you here to play with the kittens too?"
Syaoran stepped into the room. Her nose was only a little discoloured.
"Sorry, he said. "I didn't mean to disturb you."
She shook her head and motioned for him to go and sit next to her on the sofa.
"No, it's okay." She handed him a kitten. "I haven't seen you since the semester ended. What have you been doing since then?"
"Practising," Syaoran replied. "Studying."
"Really? It's the holidays," she said, with a little laugh. "No wonder you do so well in school. Your family must be very proud of you."
"I guess," he shrugged.
"Seriously? You're exceptionally good in all of your subjects. And you're amazing at sports. And you have extremely strong magical powers."
The kitten in her lap mewed as if in agreement.
He concentrated on the one in his own. "When you're part of an ancient clan there are high expectations of you."
"I know," she said quietly. The girl was facing the windows.
Syaoran wished he never made that comment. She was a member of the powerful Amamiya Clan without any magical powers.
"Don't worry. Everything will definitely be all right."
Syaoran wondered how she could be smiling at him like that.
"How do you celebrate New Year's in Zhonguo?" she said.
"Usually we would be eating a banquet with all the family now. But in Zhonguo, New Year's celebrations last for a couple weeks and we'll be travelling there tomorrow afternoon to spend rest of the holidays there," he said. He was not looking forward to the crowded aerotrains and traffic once in Heung Gong. "We also light our own flower-fire."
"Wow!" she clapped her hands. "That sounds like so much fun! Do you also receive the lucky money in red envelopes?"
"Yes. Do you?"
She nodded. "It's one of the few traditions we retained. Are you still doing the dragon dance? Meiling said that you were having a few difficulties earlier."
"Mother promised that we would."
"Did she even ask you if you wanted to do it?" she exclaimed. She opened her eyes in panic. "Sorry I shouldn't ask that. Forget I said such a thing."
"I don't mind." When he was a kid, he couldn't wait until he was old enough to learn how to do those tricks he saw his cousins and sisters perform. "I find it fun."
She exhaled. "I'm glad."
The last flower-fire faded, and the lights returned.
"I guess we should return to the others," she said, standing up. The kitten returned to its litter. "Are you going to perform?"
He nodded. Syaoran followed her to the ballroom while is mind searched for the right words thanking her for reminding how he used to enjoy dragon dancing.
Just as Sakura Kinomoto walked past him through the door Syaoran said, "I don't think you're hopeless."
Author's Notes:
- Hi, so this is the last chapter of the story that I wrote... jokes. Sorta. I inserted this in after the first (terribly written) draft to add something to the story that would contrast between the previous chapter and the next couple ones and to add some sort of a basis for the characters relationships later on. Stay tuned!
- Review, favourite, follow! =) And thank you for reading the story so far!
- Hmm... the timing of the release was a little off. Oh well.
