storypaint | Kung-Fu (Syaoran and Tomoyo gen)

Title: Kung-Fu
Fandom: Cardcaptor Sakura
Subject: Li Syaoran and Daidouji Tomoyo
Theme(s): 11. A night in
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP.

Summary: Tomoyo and Syaoran discover a surprising hobby they have in common.

If Sakura had never gone on vacation for a whole week (it felt so long!) then I never would have discovered that I had something in common with Daidouji-- a love for kung-fu movies.

It didn't seem like something Daidouji would like, more like something she would laugh at, but it was her secret pleasure, she confessed to me when we had both reached for the same copy of The Red Dragon in the video store that evening. Sakura was gone, so we were both planning to stay in.

When my hand brushed hers I heard that familiar giggle and I looked up and was surprised to see her grin.

"Li-kun," she said. "Is this a good one?"

"One of my favorites," I answered, still confused by the fact that Daidouji Tomoyo was attempting to rent one of the best kung fu movies of all time, since she didn't appear to be interested in any film not featuring Sakura.

"Shall we rent it, then?" she said, taking it from my hands and holding it to her chest in that way girls have of cradling something they really like. I was still confused, but I nodded and after a little while found myself at the Daidouji Manor, ensconced in a dark sitting room holding a very large screen, and a library of kung-fu movies (next to the larger library of Sakura movies, but that was to be expected).

"Popcorn, Li-kun?" she said with that same smile and I nodded again. Somehow I doubted I would ever figure this girl out.

She came back and we watched the movie. As it closed and the heroine princess fell willingly into the prince's arms, I glanced at her and for a second saw a painful wistfulness in her face. As the credits rolled, Daidouji made no gestures to get up, so I sat still beside her.

"Wouldn't it be amazing to be rescued like that, Li-kun?" she asked, and I hesitated, because I would rather be doing the rescuing. She seemed to realize this and laughed.

"You do enjoy rescuing Sakura, don't you, Li-kun?" she said, and I nodded. She was quiet again for a moment.

"Before you came along, she used to have to rescue me when the Cards got rough," she said, and I nodded again. Then she got up and whatever she was feeling seemed to disappear, sucked back into the happy facade that Daidouji always wears. She clapped her hands and said, "The princess was wearing such a beautiful outfit! Do Chinese girls really wear that sort of thing, Li-kun?"

I opened my mouth to tell her no, because such a costume would be largely impractical, as it was frilly and pink and too girly for the average hard-working Chinese female, but she pattered on about making Sakura a dress inspired by the movie.

"That's why I love these movies, Li-kun," she said sincerely, and if I hadn't heard her talk with such sad tones about her rescue then I would believe that was the whole truth. But she had, and I listened to her. God knows she had given me enough advice over the years that I could stand to listen to her talk about fashion.

I left, however, when she started murmuring about making Sakura and I matching outfits. There was only so much I could stand from my crazy friend.