Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or any of its characters.
Summary: In a mission embarked upon a laboratory, Syaoran Li stumbles upon a young female who was trapped and used on as experiments. However, as time passes, the person who used her is back, and is chasing after her...
Any warnings: Many females out there may think that they are subjects and animals for men. Trust me, that's what I'm here to change.
Author's Notes: I am so sorry for my late updates. I haven't been motivated because my readers haven't been leaving those inspiring reviews that I have come to enjoy and grow from. No, I am not blaming you. :D
I've also found that my wits have grown weary and that I've been in physical pain frequently. Please, as a reminder, my stories are driven by reviews and emotions. If I don't have neither, then I will stay limp.
Protect Me
Chapter 2:
Haunting
"Syaoran."
Entangled chestnut locks pressed firmly against its resting area, his body rigid. His callous face expressed unbearable pain, intensifying with each calling.
"Syaoran."
His breathing grew ragged, his muscles tense as he clenched onto the sheets of the mattress to keep him from falling to the cold earth. But to him, falling would be slipping into eternal darkness. Gasping for breath, his eyes which laid shut began to scream; begging for a flicker of life.
"Syaoran, help me!"
The soothing voice was louder this time. This time, the pleads were filled with choked sobbing, and he suddenly jolted awake, grabbing the weapon that was held from the holster tied to the bed's post and aimed toward the direction of the window. Lightning flashed, his eyes embracing them to show amber. Rain was pouring and the wind whistled harshly against his curtains, his room suddenly having an eerie glow.
"Syaoran…"
The pleads softened, and suddenly, he can feel his heart beat rapidly. He began choking for air, a sudden force throwing his body back to the bedding. His hand dropped the gun that he desperately grasped for protection and his eyes slowed to a halt along with his heart. His outreached hand trembled towards the direction of the door, and before he could scream, his vision grew dark from an unknown figure, grabbing his neck and making him beg for more air.
His screams were unheard for a rotting hand drew out to cover his mouth. Opening his eyes to face his fears, he met face to face with a rotting corpse with dark, dreary locks covering her face. Despite the fact that he could only see her silhouette, he swore he saw amber eyes glaring back at him.
Despite all the strength that Syaoran mustered, his eye lids grew heavy and he can no longer see anything but pure darkness-the sign of evil.
He gathered as much strength as he could to come back to the signs of vitality, but the haunting voice soothed him into accepting the darkness, slipping him a drug that dosed him with hope.
"Please…Stay…"
By the time amber faced reality, the thunder stopped clapping, replaced by birds chirping merrily that the sun was out and basking by its sunlight. Syaoran's eyes widened at realization of last night's events and looked down to make sure that what had happened wasn't a dream.
He swallowed, his right hand coming up to caress his neck that seemed to be so vulnerable last night. He sighed, getting up and dressing in dark slacks and a matching dark shirt, his leather jacket warming his abdomen. Without a glance, he grabbed a knife and stared at its emblem intensely before placing it in a holster and went downstairs. He slammed the door shut, his eyes squeezing to forget about last night's cabalistic events.
Beside the bed, on the cold hardwood floors, laid a gun of suppressible powers.
o0o0o
When Syaoran reached the last step of the stairs, his eyes twitched towards the direction of the kitchen. He smelled smoke, and whenever there was smoke, there was Mei Lin and Hiiragizawa. He stomped towards the designated area, the loud bawling shushed to hushed whispers. Ruby red and navy blue eyes nervously glanced to the seething dark-broad figure and immediately tensed when they saw that he was bearing his fangs.
He dangerously whipped his head towards the direction of the smoke and glared at the two when he found that the toaster was burnt to the crisp alongside with the loaf of bread. "Idiots," he muttered darkly, clearly not in the mood of the two incoherent buffoons. He opened the fridge and took out a frozen mint-chocolate Poptart, still throwing colorful verbal abuses about the two scrooges. He suddenly froze.
If these two are here, where's the other one?
His question was answered when he heard a throat clearing itself to grab their attention. He momentarily glanced at the smiling amethyst-eyed genius and saw her eyes harden down on him. He sighed, giving her his undivided attention.
"As you may have noticed, we have a guest who has been staying with us for the past few days," Tomoyo chirped, clasping her hands to dream about whatever the hell her cuckoo mind came up with. "And although she has not have spoke a word to us since her arrival, I would like for all of you," this time, her eyes adverted to the drooling four-eyed freak who chomped happily on his own Poptart, "to be polite and careful around her. If you have any ounce of dignity left in your soul-less (to Syaoran), brain-less (to Eriol), reckless (to Syaoran and Mei Lin) life forms, then please, show it."
She sighed in relief after letting that out and unclasped her hands, stepping aside so the figure standing behind her wouldn't remain a shadow for long. The figure stepped into the light, her eyes set downcast but her petite form remained revealed for all to see. Eriol dropped his half-eaten Poptart, his mouth still open with crumbs falling from his mouth. Mei Lin squealed from Tomoyo's successful efforts of the unknown figure to her most promising creation.
As for Syaoran, his breath hitched as have stopped chomping down on his Poptart moments ago from the sight of the girl he has saved. The dried blood that was stained on her was washed away and her scars were covered by a dark turtleneck that accentuated all her curves. Almost a half of her legs were covered by a white skirt with her feet being covered by a pair of boots. Her soft, silky brown hair was left down, some covering her face to portray her being of discreet.
Sensing his gaze, the girl's eyes slowly opened so shining emerald can meet striking amber.
Just like how we first met. Syaoran recalled.
But this time, it was different for him because the frightened, intriguing young girl who was left in rags transformed into a beautiful dark angel in front of him and his comrades. Deep down inside, Syaoran had a desire that burned to be the first to see her in her appearance. Syaoran grew out of his shock when Tomoyo urged her to step into the room ushered with her friends (excluding Eriol, perhaps) and was told to sit and eat. Sakura simply sat down, staring at the plate of food to fill her empty stomach.
Despite the fact that she may have not eaten for days or perhaps weeks, they can tell she wasn't in the mood for eating.
"We don't know her name yet, but I do know that I have a week's worth of clothing made just for her!" Tomoyo squealed along with Mei Lin. Eriol was added to mock them in their girlish actions, receiving a smack from the both of them and then being dragged up the stairs so he can be tortured until he finally understood the female mind. Syaoran simply chuckled from his best friend's antics to escape from the girls' evil clutches and painful call for help, shaking his head and carefully plopped himself to sit across from the discreet figure who was still not moving.
He opened the newspaper and suddenly grew aware of the figure advancing towards the printed letters. He set the paper aside, meeting face to face with the emerald-eyed beauty. His face reddened from the fact that they were very close to one another, but his gaze softened when he saw her staring at the printing as if they were a mystery.
Speaking up, he asked, "You…can't read?" She simply shook her head in response, realizing that her life may be left unfulfilled since she cannot read legible words. Syaoran's amber eyes flickered with concern towards her trembling figure, noticing that the air suddenly became thick and heavy. He carefully placed his large, callous hand on top of her warm, small ones and because of this she whipped her head towards his direction. "I'll teach you," he breathed, wondering whether or not if she was willing to trust him yet.
But it seemed that she did when he saw a small smile on her features and he simply smiled back, dumbfounded. After a moment or two, he noticed her uneasiness in the clothes that she wore. "Don't worry. They suit you just fine." She looked up to meet his eyes, and he was struck by her innocent gaze that was enough to give his trust to her.
Suddenly realizing his whereabouts and the consequences that may ensue, Syaoran shot up from his seat that seemingly startled the mystical creature. Not giving a glance, he turned towards the direction of the exit. "I have to go somewhere," he forced, pushing his chair in as if he was a student told by a teacher to do so. To the unknown figure, the man before her seemed disciplined, determined, yet gentle. Her hand reached out to his limp hand and got up as well, suddenly having a desire to be by his side at all times.
When he finally decided to look back at her, he saw the same determined spark in her eyes similar to his. He smirked at this and took her hand, leading her out the mansion from the cries of help from his annoying sidekick.
o0o0o
The two went sight-seeing and Syaoran finally convinced her to eat some of the food in the restaurants they popped in. At the end of their journey, the two stopped near a desolate area. Seeing her reluctance and vulnerability, Syaoran squeezed the hand he has remained holding and opened the gates so the two may enter. She shuddered at the sudden change of atmosphere, memories flooding through her head but keeping her mouth shut so she would allow the person she trusted some peace.
When Syaoran finally stopped his gait, he looked down to read the inscriptions in the tomb that was hammered down towards the depths of the soil. She saw his jaw tighten and the hand that didn't hold hers' balled into a white fist of fury and rage. Still not letting go of his hand, she stooped down, reaching out her hand to touch the cold stone.
"Don't," he growled. She drew her hand back quickly, startled and jumped back up to her feet. "She doesn't deserve it," he explained.
She didn't show any signs of emotions as she stared back into the dirt that laid someone Syaoran despised. She stooped down once more, this time bringing her hardened friend to crouch down with her. In her surprise, he complied.
The hands that bonded the two was lifted so both of them can trace the last source of a vital human being.
After a few minutes, Syaoran's chestnut locks flowed with the direction of the wind, realizing that it was dark. There were no lights in the quarter of the city they were in, so it became pitch black. The air became humid, filled with haze that blinded their eye sight. But his amber eyes stayed directly on hers' and he never let go of her.
Moments later, the two silently exited the cemetery, neither one of them speaking a word.
Amber eyes gazed down at his footsteps, somewhat embarrassed at how fond he grew of her. She already knew something that none of his friends knew, and this concerned him. He didn't even know her name, but she knew one of his darkest secrets. He shook his head. The past is the past. Without looking back to the last source of his childhood and memories, he walked away from the stars' protective gaze.
When you past away, you will move on to live amongst the stars, protecting over your loved ones.
He shook this away from his thoughts, growling. "I don't need your protection...mother..."
o0o0o
"SYAORAN LI!" Syaoran winced back at his two female friends screeching. "How dare you take a day filled with shopping away for your selfish desires!" His amber eyes flickered a piquant onyx, hardening at the sight of the two females that may be endangered.
"It was just one day," he muttered darkly, explaining his side. He felt the hold on his hand squeeze to calm him, which strangely did.
"So what?! One day is 24 hours, and 24 hours is approximately 100 minutes!" Mei Lin wailed.
"I think a day is more than 100 minutes, Mei Lin," Eriol piped in from the kitchen counter. He received a glare in return.
"I don't have time for this. I need to examine the files we extracted from Tsujiai's permanent record." He walked away, letting go of the female's hand reluctantly and walking up the steps towards his room. Inside, he glanced wearily at his gun that continued to lay on the floor. He sighed, leaning against the door and sliding to the floor. His chestnut locks covered his face, his hand darkening his vision so nothing can seep into his life. "Somebody...help me..." He whimpered.
It took hours for him to organize the files of Owensi Tsujiai's records, but he got through it. In the end, he slumped forward his bed, not bothering to change his clothes or take off his shoes. His feet hanged in the ends of the bed, his face buried in the green sheets that were smothered earlier by his eradicated screams. His eye lids weighed down on him, forcing him to sleep into a land of terror. This time, however, he welcomed darkness from the familiar voice he has been hearing for most of his meaningless life.
"Syaoran..."
He repressed the emotions that were surging inside him. To his surprise, they weren't terror or disgust. It was something that he have never felt until...
Sensing his gaze, the girl's eyes slowly opened so shining emerald can meet striking amber.
He tossed his head as images of the day began flooding his mind, his thoughts.
He carefully placed his large, callous hand on top of her warm, small ones and because of this she whipped her head towards his direction.
He coughed, choking for air from the sudden images that were haunting him.
The hands that bonded the two was lifted so both of them can trace the last source of a vital human being.
Syaoran suddenly ceased all movement when he felt a hand placed on his chest, soft and gentle. His eyes fought to open.
"Syaoran...please...stay..."
It was the same voice, the same caresses that haunted him. Struggling for his vital source, his eyes opened to a figure that lay on his chest, the same figure that had the effect of taking his breath away from just a smile. Her emerald eyes were beginning to close just like his earlier, but unlike him, she struggled for the last few moments of the world that opened opportunities of living and death. It shocked him that she was struggling for life, twitching for anything to pull her back into reality.
He concluded the chance that she somehow sleepwalked towards his bedroom and into his arms, but from the looks of it, she didn't. It appeared she did this out of her own freewill. Swallowing, he slowly inched for the edge of the bed so he can perhaps sleep in the living room. But something caught his throat when he heard something that didn't come from his sleep.
"Syaoran...please..." He looked down to see her gasping emerald eyes. "...stay..."
He place a free hand on her to run his hand down her honey-brown dreads. Her eyes flickered the last piece of life before slipping into darkness. He unconsciously continued to run his hand through her hair, afraid that if he stopped that she would awaken from her slumber. He tightened his hold on her and looked out the window from his bed, seeing a star that flickered only once but shined the brightest among the others.
He looked back down to the mysterious girl that laid in his arms with the same voice who was haunting him in his dreams. But this time, her pleads gave him a somewhat hope in his meaningless life. He suddenly felt that he had a purpose. He felt that nothing can harm him if he was near her; that he was...safe.
He laid his head back to the pillows, cradling her. "I don't need your protection, mother..." His hand slipped from her locks to her angelic face, caressing it. "Not when I have her..."
And with that, he drifted off to a peaceful slumber with the girl that protected him from all dangers of the world.
Notes: Hopefully that was enough to fill your taste buds and more. Tee hee. Please review this story and my other stories so I may continue my work.
Thank you!
Until then, I will leave you no hints of the next chapter. :D