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: I have started on my 3rd series. Too bad I haven't finished any of them yet -_-. It is so easy to start a series. Finishing them is another matter. Of course once an idea has rooted itself in my head and won't let go, I pretty much have to put it down on paper, so I can get continuation ideas. This is not a sequel to "Realizations." Sakura and Syaoran are married, but they reside within the Li estate, not Japan as in my other fic. Let's roll the fic!
~~~ (place) ~~~ = scene change
" " = dialogue
[ ] = thoughts
( ) = commentary
Chapter 1: The Child of Destiny
Shrill cries rang out throughout the Li Clan leader's household.
"We need hot water!"
"Ice chips!"
"Towels!"
"… and pudding!" The last squeaky shout came from a certain guardian beast, who was about to feel pain.
A strong hand grabbed Kero-chan and shook him furiously. "How can you think about food at a time like this?!?" The hand belonged to a not-so-little wolf and the leader of the powerful Li Clan.
"You have absolutely no tact Cerberus," commented his black book-reading counterpart, Suppi-chan.
"All this waiting is making me hungry," the diminutive creature gasped out.
"You're always hungry, you poor excuse for a stuffed animal!!"
"Xiao Lang, calm down and let Cerberus go." He instantly released his hold on the now blue-faced guardian. "I know you are anxious, but as the head of our clan you must learn to handle your stress."
The young man knew his mother's words were true. Being the leader, he was not supposed to lose his composure in any circumstance, but how could he when he knew what was about to happen? "Hai, Mama. Forgive me for letting my temper run unchecked."
A small smile played on the old woman's lips, much to Syaoran's surprise. "It should not be unusual for you to be excited in such a time." Though her expression didn't show it, she also was feeling an overwhelming sense of anticipation. Yelan would soon see the first of what she hoped would be her many grandchildren. "If I recall correctly, your father was a nervous wreck when we had our first child." Her son sighed at the mention of his dad, who he never really got to know. She stood up from her seat and approached him. "Xiao Lang, your father would be very proud of you right now."
Syaoran turned his head slightly to look at his mother. He smiled as he answered, "Arigato, Mama."
"Little Brother is so kawaii when he smiles!"
He whirled around and glared at the bundles of energy known as his sisters. "I'm really not in the mood for your teasing, onee-san."
"But it is so true! Our beloved little sister-in-law can make you smile whenever she wants!"
"You're so cute to tease! You were that way when you were our baby brother."
"And when our certain-to-be-kawaii niece or nephew is born, we'll have another baby to play with!"
Meiling also joined in the teasing. "Just think of how you would look with a baby in your arms, dear Cousin."
The high-pitched giggling that ensued grated on Syaoran's already frayed nerves. He became horrified at the thought of his new child being subjected to his/her five hyperactive aunts (including Meiling). Who knew what they would do? "If you would quit pestering Sakura and me, maybe you would have kids of your own by now." [Then I could finally have a moment's peace in my own house.]
"Oh that's so harsh Little Brother."
"We'll have children too… someday."
"It'll just take a while."
"But for now, you know how much we love you and your cute little Cherry Blossom."
"And we will simply adore your new baby!"
The giggling started again, causing more than just Syaoran to have a headache. "Oi gaki! Could you please shut the banshees up!!" Touya's head throbbed in pain. The sound of his sister-in-laws' laughter, the thought of his little sister having the Chinese brat's child, and the fact that Nakuru was hanging off of him made him irritable.
"I've tried for over 20 years onii-san. They just can't be stopped."
Touya held out an open palm to the man sitting beside him. "Yuki, my stress ball."
The silver-haired man fished around in his bag and retrieved it. "Here you go Touya."
Syaoran sweatdropped heavily at the sight of his child's future uncle squeezing a stress ball with his face on it. "Eriol-kun and his insane Christmas presents…" he muttered under his breath.
"What did you say about my Christmas presents my cute descendant?"
"Just shut up Eriol-kun, and don't call me that!" The young Li Clan leader was not too thrilled with having his reincarnated ancestor, his wife, and his guardians also waiting with him. In fact, he realized his living room is much too small to entertain everyone already in his house.
"I think you're just a little too nervous Li-kun," Tomoyo said. Her belly showed the telltale bulge of an expectant mother. "I'm sure Eriol won't be as panicked as you are right now when I'm in labor."
"Don't bet on it."
"You should be happy Li-kun. Sakura-san is about to bring another life into this world." The spectacled man had his ever-present smile on his face. "And I'll soon have another cute little descendant to play with."
[That scares me to no end…] His thoughts were cut off with loud cries coming from the room where his wife had been taken.
"Li-san." Syaoran faced the person who spoke. The man's graying hair betrayed his age, but his face still looked like that of the kind father of Sakura. "Go to my daughter. She needs you."
"Hai, otou-san." The somewhat elderly Kinomoto smiled at his son-in-law. Fujitaka became Syaoran's role model for what a father should be, and he accepted the role of being the father he never had. Syaoran bowed to everyone in the 'waiting room' and ran to be with Sakura. He flung the door to the 'delivery room' open.
"Syaoran!" shouted the card mistress, who was surrounded by a flock of maids trained in delivery.
"Sakura!" He went from standing in the doorway to kneeling by her bedside in less than a second. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better now that you're here." She smiled as he grasped her hand. "Feed me an ice chip, Syaoran."
He reached his free hand to a bowl of china filled with ice and held one to his wife's lips. She took it, grazing his fingertips in the process and sending a shiver through his body. "I married an angel. An absolute angel."
Sakura beamed at him. "Sweet-talker. You know I love it when you do that."
Syaoran brushed a few hairs from his wife's face. "I know you do. I just can't tell you how beautiful you look right now koishii."
"Syaoran-chan…" The tender silence lasted for only a moment. "AHHHHHHHH!!!"
"Sakura, I'm right here. Breathe! Breathe!" Syaoran had to choke out his words. His hand felt like it was being crushed in a vice. Even all his training couldn't prevent him from wincing under his wife's iron grip.
"She's going into labor! Everyone get ready!"
~~~ Waiting Room ~~~
No one spoke after Syaoran left the group. They could hear Sakura's screams, and they knew it would be soon be over. The cries of a woman were replaced by the cries of a baby. Their eyes were fixed on the door where Syaoran eventually walked out with a huge smile and tears in his eyes. He exclaimed, "It's a girl!"
Touya fainted dead away.
~~~ Delivery Room ~~~
"She's so KAWAII!!" squealed Syaoran's sisters.
"What is her name?" Fujitaka asked while cradling his new granddaughter.
"Her name is Peony, otou-san. Li Peony-chan," Sakura softly said the name she and her husband agreed on.
"So kawaii! That's Li-kun's favorite flower, ne Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo remembered while busily trying to record Peony and Sakura at the same time.
"It was his favorite… before he grew to love cherry blossoms even more," Meiling said.
"I'm an uncle… I'm an uncle…" Touya kept repeating the phrase over and over again not believing it.
"To-ya, are you ok?" Yuki asked concerned over his beloved's imitation of a broken record.
"Welcome to our family, Li Peony." Yelan cooed over her granddaughter.
"A new life is born; another destiny will be fulfilled."
"What's that supposed to mean, Eriol-kun?" Syaoran didn't like what the sorcerer said concerning his baby girl.
"I can't see the future, but I can tell that Peony-chan will be someone very special."
"I didn't need you to tell me that. I already know she's special because she's my daughter."
Eriol smirked to himself. [She is your daughter, but more importantly, she is Sakura-san's daughter as well. That makes Peony-chan very special indeed.]
To be continued…
I wonder why I like to have Eriol give the last word… I guess he gives a very nice touch to the end of any fic ^_^. Two ongoing series means updates will come less frequently for both of them, but I really like the direction both of the stories are going in. Heads up for S+S fans reading EWIATYB, you might not like what's going to happen in the next few chapters. I'm trying to do something no one has done before, and it might upset some people. That's the price we authors pay for originality, so keep an open mind. EWIATYB can and will end with S+S intact. Anyway, read and review please!