The Black Angel

by Mimi-chan

I don't own CCS…

To all the people who gave a review for my story, regardless of what you said, THANK YOU!

"What?!"

The outburst made the poor maid jump. She was new. The older maids had already told her to stay clear of the young mistress' way. Unfortunately, she was the only one around when their mistress' friend, Li Syoran, came back.

Tough luck.

The maid fidgeted under her stare. Tomoyo realized that she needed to assess the situation herself.

" Where is he?" Tomoyo asked.

"Umm…he's in the lobby my lady. He….he seems to be really distraught." The maid's voice was so small that Tomoyo had to strain her hearing to catch her words. There is no use frightening the girl.

It perplexed her. It was so sudden.

So not like him.

'What could have happened?'

"Fix one of the guestrooms in the west wing. But before that please find Kiyo and tell him to meet me in the lobby. He would be needed to…to move Li. Be quick. Understood?" Tomoyo eyed the maid. She wasn't sure if the girl had heard her correctly.

"Yes my lady." The maid bowed and hurriedly went away.

Tomoyo did not waste another minute and headed straight to the lobby. As she neared the staircase leading to the lobby, she was shocked at what she saw.

It was quite a disturbing picture.

Li Syaoran was in the middle of the room. He was sitting in a rather uncomfortable position but he didn't seem to mind.

He was also dripping wet. Drenched to the bones and shivering uncontrollably. A puddle of water was already forming in the carpet.

What caught Tomoyo's attention was the detached look on Syoaran's face. Except from the tears that continued to flow out from his eyes, he seems dead to the world.

'What happened to him?' she wondered. 'Bah! I do not care!'

Then, Kiyo arrived.

"Is the room ready?" she asked. The maid nodded.

"Good. Kiyo please take him." She pointed to Syaoran and then said to the maid, "Please lead them. Also, change his clothes. Check if he has a fever and when you have…sorted him out, inform me. I will be in my study."

The two bowed and left with Syaoran.

Tomoyo went to her study. She needed time to think.

Li Syoaran's reappearance to her home surprised her. Even if she was reluctant, she could not bring herself to make Li leave.

They weren't really friends. They had just a civil relationship with each other especially since he was Sakura's boyfriend.

But, somehow she could understand what Syaoran was feeling.

She was like that after what happened with Sakura. She remembered feeling helpless and broken.

Although Syaoran was indirectly one of the causes of her misery, she cannot blame him. The fault lied between her and Sakura.

No use dragging anybody else into this.

'My innocence will never be repaired.'

Half an hour has passed before a knock on her door was heard. It was the maid from before.

Everything was settled.

Tomoyo dismissed her. Their assistance was not needed.

She have to deal with this herself.

Tomoyo sighed.

Ten minutes later, she found herself standing in front of Syaoran's door. The maid told her that when she and Kiyo left, Syaoran was already asleep.

She hesitated.

Syaoran was already asleep. She should let him be.

But when Tomoyo moved to leave, she heard a faint whimpering coming from inside the room.

Did she heard wrong? Was she imagining it?

No.

Now that she had her attention directed to the sound, the more that she suspect that the person inside was crying.

She opened the door.

The room was completely submerged in darkness. None of the lamps beside the bed were lit. Even the huge curtains that were usually swayed to the sides were set loose.

It would seem that no one was there. Almost.

Tomoyo caught a small movement coming from the queen sized bed. As she approached the bed, she saw that Syoaran was curled to himself; knee close to his chest.

She had second thoughts if she should talk to the guy or not.

Men are prideful creatures. Most of the time, they would rather keep the problems to themselves. They consider it rather shameful to turn to a girl when they have problems.

But she was not given a chance to think. The man has spoken.

"She betrayed me."

Betrayed?

"Who are you referring to?" she asked. Somehow, she knew who that person was…

"Daidouji-san, I loved her. And I was sure that I love her still. I never thought….of all people…why did she…Eriol…that bastard…I—I've never expected this to happen. We were so happy. It was perfect!"

Her suspicions were confirmed. Sakura and Eriol had finally told Syaoran about their…relationship.

Sakura truly had great power over people. Like her, Sakura left this person in front of her into broken pieces.

How ironic that their experienced were alike.

Both of them were betrayed and hurt by the very person who brought them bliss.

But ofcourse she had moved on. As far as she knows, she wasn't Sakura's friend anymore. It wouldn't hurt to add a bit more salt to the wound.

She sat on the bed. "Everybody already knew. I was surprised that it took them long enough to tell you. When I first learned of it, I begged them to tell you. I also warned them of the consequences but I guess my advice wasn't that important.

Tomoyo frowned. Syaoran was staring at her with such intensity that it was getting harder to look straight into his eyes. "Everybody….knew?"

It was more a statement directed to himself rather than a question towards her. Nonetheless, she nodded.

"Even though the idea didn't sit right with us, Sakura and Eriol told us to keep quiet. They said that they would tell you in the 'right time'."

Tears came unbound. He looked away ashamed. But the emotions that were bottled inside of him had taken over.

Tomoyo had never seen him this vulnerable. He had always looked sure and confident of himself.

Syaoran tried to wipe away the tears that were streaming down his face.

"Funny…it suddenly started to rain." Syoaran whispered.

She was quiet. In front of her was a man stripped of his coolness and character. A man torn apart mind and soul.

His shuddering became violent. His breathing ragged. His tears unceasing.

Too exhausted to think, Syaoran grabbed the nearest warmth that was available.

Unfortunately, it was Tomoyo. Tomoyo stiffened. She had never comforted a guy before and never in this position.

It was already getting uncomfortable. She moved to pry his hand away when she heard him say, "Please…stay. Please don't leave me alone. If I'm alone…I don't know what I'll do."

She wasn't supposed to be affected. Heck! She wasn't supposed to do anything at all.

But, she heard the despair and desperation in his voice. That…that got through her.

She sympathized, no, empathized with him.

So, she did the unexpected. She gathered him into her arms and laid them down the bed.

She would let him cry it all out. If it is needed, she would stay awake all night.

It was already dawn. The boy in her arms had fallen asleep an hour ago. They did not speak.

He simply cried.

If it was not because of exhaustion, he would have continued to cry another day.

Having the time to contemplate, she concluded that they are both victims.

Unlike him, she had successfully pushed herself back to reality. And now, she had the capacity and the power to change the chain of events.

Yes, she was going against the flow. And the flow was Sakura.

Syaoran, whose heart has been tossed away so easily by Sakura, will be under her protection.

It is already been decided.

Sakura won't be able to her them anymore. After all, she is the Black Angel.

For her, everything is possible.

Tomoyo believed that everything has happened according to destiny. It was destined that she would become the Black Angel and it was also destined that she would be the one to find this lost man.

Maybe, it was up to her to revive this man as she was revived by the darkness.

No! She would not drag him to the darkness. He would know nothing of her identity as the Black Angel.

Leaning to his ears she whispered, "No one will hurt you again. I promise."

'Just from afar.' And sleep finally came.

A vow unheard by its recipient.

A promise meant for forever.

A pledge that was not unnoticed by those who linger in the shadows of oblivion.

*****

A cloaked man suddenly appeared. He kneeled in front of a being sitting on a throne.

"Master, there is a complication."

"So I've heard."

*****