Gangster's Paradise

Witch-Mistress Animaru

A/N: Now I know how to proceed. Haha. Good thing there's not much to do yet... hey, I had enough of Li crapping Sakura every time so I guess I wanted to end it here. Anyway, it takes on a whole new story so don't worry. Next chapter will be very crucial, I think. It's the time when Sakura Kinomoto's safety won't matter a whit anymore to Avalon. Watch out why.

7: More Revelations and Fatal Attractions

Kitoshi Headquarters

"Ouch! Can't you go easy a bit, Eriol?" Madison winced as Eli dabbed medicine on her wounded shoulder.

"You weren't careful enough," he scolded slightly, only to fall silent as he slanted a glance on Avalon, who just entered the room, limping slightly. She was wearing her usual clothes as Kinomoto Sakura again — even the false glasses were back on. Eli avoided her eyes as awkward silence fell on the three of them. He expected a tirade any moment now.

"Eli." Avalon spat his name out like it was an unpleasant taste in her mouth. "How long have you known?" She folded her arms and gazed at him relentlessly.

"Since forever. If I had not joined Kitoshi I would be one of them now." He stated blandly, avoiding his friend's gaze.

"Damn it," she swore softly, eyeing him with exasperation. "You know we can't afford conflicts of interest!"

"We may not be on good terms, but he's still family. You must understand my intentions of keeping it from you," he pleaded for her to understand, knowing she must know how he felt.

"Eli —"

"No, listen. Isn't there a way to do this without killing anyone?"

"Damned hard enough job as it is," Avalon said, but her voice lacked anger. What was there was disbelief and curiosity. "I fucking can't believe it. Your wimp of a cousin is Lord of Despair? The world has gone to the dogs, then."

"He's not a wimp," Eli said defensively. "That's unfair, Avalon. He's just protecting us from further harm."

"Don't we all have our reasons?" She asked flatly, gazing outside. Madison and Eli exchanged knowing glances. Years have passed by, but the scars caused by Sakura's loss of her family remained open.

"Well," Madison gazed at her with a serene smile. "We must do our best, right? I don't think killing is necessary on some...on some cases."

"I see," she turned away from the two. Eli was dressing Madison's wound with some bandage. "Well, we must be on top shape tomorrow."

"How will you hide your limp?"

"I can manage. How will you hide that wound?"

"It'll be covered by my sleeve, Avalon. You worry too much."

"See you, then. You know we can't afford not to be on the watch."

"Of course. Good thing these wounds aren't fatal enough to stop us."

She did not answer. She turned away and started walking to the door.

"See you both tomorrow. Or should I say, later. Eli..." She paused briefly before she went on. "Nothing changes...nothing changes at all."

"Damn, Avalon, I —!" the door closed before he can retaliate.

She can't mean it...

---

Tomoeda High

Syaoran Li was still sporting a bruised cheek from earlier. Yuuko is limping slightly, while Kumiko was wincing and swearing under her breath while clutching her stomach. He was glad, at least, that Sheba Al'Katr and Kenji Haiaku suffered equal damages and were sporting a bandaged arm and a bloody nose, respectively.

He was on the watch for anyone who was sporting a bandaged arm or limping slightly, but he found none. The sleeves of the girls' uniform were long enough to cover Madison's wound, he presumed.

But he was certain he will find the trio before long.

The teachers were all shocked by the state of five of their students. They asked all the awkward questions, answered only by some petty quarrel caused by a vague argument.

He wanted to kick anything in frustration that day.

He thought of how the agents kicked their ass the previous day. And he remembered Avalon — her musical laugh, her taunting demeanor. She annoyed him beyond words but she also aroused something else in him — that he admitted reluctantly. Her mysterious aura drew him to her. The sense of a liaison with her being forbidden made his next encounter with her more exciting.

However, it annoyed him the most to think that she got under his skin.

He turned around in irritation, wondering how to assuage his anger.

And his gaze landed neatly on the nerd, Kinomoto Sakura.

He frowned when he saw her looking at him intently with questioning — and irritated — eyes.

There's something different, he thought as he met the emerald eyes gazing at him.

---

Sakura tried her best not to limp. So far, she had been successful, although it caused her excruciating pain. She saw her discomfort mirrored in her cousin's eyes that she wanted to crush the cause of her pain.

Li Syaoran.

She had been gazing at him for a full minute until he turned to her. Better sense told her to look away but her irritation of him got the better of her.

She met his gaze for the first time. A jolt of thrill ran through her spine when he stood up and approached her.

She saw both Tomoyo and Eriol gazing at her with disbelief.

She was asking for it, she knew.

But she didn't care anymore.

"You, nerd, what are you looking at?"

"J-just wondering what h-happened to y-your face, L-l-li-sama," she stammered in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, stop gaping like an idiot," he snapped. "Or maybe you're asking for something else." He faced her, his breath fanning her face. She reddened against her own will. "I can oblige, you know, Kinomoto."

"I-I don't know what you mean, L-li-sama," she answered back and looked away.

"Or maybe you want your ass kicked? I can oblige as well!" He pulled her to her feet (she nearly cursed when pain shot through her left leg) and stood opposite her.

"This time, how about a wager, nerd?"

"I—I'll lose anyway, Li-s-sama, so I don't think I..."

"All the better," he said menacingly. "Let's say I win. Hmm...I guess you'll have to stop going to class, weirdo."

Her gaze flew up to meet his eyes in shock.

"I—I can't do that, Li-sama! You can't do that!"

"And if you win, you get to kiss me. There, that's not so bad a prize, is it?" He said tauntingly. "It's decided! If I win, I don't want to see your face ever again."

"Hey, Xiao Lang, now, you can't do this to Kinomoto," Eriol stood up the same time as Madison did.

"Yeah, Li, what right have you to do that?" Tomoyo asked indignantly.

"You know I can, Eriol. You know we're rather influential in these parts."

"You...you mean it!"

"I'm rather pissed at the moment so please..." Syaoran cocked his head tauntingly at the door. "You two are getting to my nerves. Leave or shut the hell up."

"Sakura..." Tomoyo said. Then she saw the look of blood thirst in her cousin's eyes and she understood.

"Erio...Hiiragizawa, I think...he has to do this," she said cautiously, sending signals at him.

Eriol understood, but he did not agree. "This is reckless!" He exclaimed, eyeing his cousin and Sakura.

"We'll decide on that, shan't we, sweetheart?" He asked Sakura tauntingly, who was eyeing him with so much hatred.

"I-if you want, Li-sama...b-but I don't w-want to d-d-do it h-he-here..."

"Oh, I understand," he said in a soft hiss. "Very well. The rooftop then, nerd." He said as he strode to the door.

"Hey, no fair! We can't watch?"

"We're going after you, Li. I'm going to stop this foolishness when I can," Tomoyo vowed as he dashed after the two.

"I'm seconding that," said Eriol, his brows furrowed.

---

From a distance, gray eyes watched the four go, cool and assessing.

"Look's like we have the trio pegged out after all, Sheba. They're not great shakes at hiding their emotions, are they? Look—the twins are also coming, I guess." Kenji turned to the woman leaning against the wall, eyeing him coolly. "Won't we be missed, Sheba? I don't want to miss the fun."

"I can't go yet. That Madison's an excellent shot," she said in straight English as she winced and covered her arm lightly.

"I understand," Kenji sighed with a smile. "We'll have plenty of time, I guess."

His eyes never left the nerdy looking girl, knowing he has found his Avalon.

And Sheba did not like the look of intense longing, of wanting in her master's eyes.

---

"Syaoran," Yuuko called him and he turned.

"What is it? I have business to attend to, you see," he gestured at Kinomoto Sakura.

"Damn, you won't do this, Syaoran," Kumiko said threateningly. "You can't!"

"Of course I can. I'm pissed off so you both might as well go before I bite your heads off."

Kumiko scowled at him but knew she could not save the poor girl from banishment.

"Don't hurt her too much, though."

Sakura wondered whether she had turned mad. Her friends could put a stop to this, but she chose to go all out just the same.

"Wanted a kiss from me that badly, Kinomoto?" He whispered, making her jump in surprise. She did not notice him getting close.

"C-can't we change that one? H-how about you leave for good?"

"Getting cheeky, are we?" He asked. "What makes you think you can win?"

"W-well, still..." It's not like I'll be claiming the prize, so whatever, moron!

"No, the bargain stands, I think. It's not like you can win." He claimed as they got to the rooftop. Both Eriol and Tomoyo were eyeing the two apprehensively.

Silence fell over them. The wind blew fast and hard on them as he opened several buttons of his uniform.

"Get ready to get beaten and say goodbye to Tomoeda, Kinomoto."

"Fat chance."

Syaoran froze. He was about to launch a rapid attack when he heard it. If he did not see her mouth open, he wouldn't have believed it was her.

"Sakura!" Daidouji said, as though some sort of warning.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me, Li-sama," she said in disgust. "I've had enough."

"What the fuck?" He was totally flabbergasted now. Was this Kinomoto Sakura talking, actually?

She eyed him shrewdly. "The reason I wanted to get the hell out of that class is because I didn't want everyone to see you get your ass kicked. Consider that a rare merciful act from me."

"You — you've been fooling me all along!" He exclaimed, remembering those moments when he thought he saw her eyes sharpen — now he was sure he didn't imagine those.

"Yeah, guess you can say that. Whatever. Point is, I've had enough of taking your crap. I've had a bad day enough as it is, I don't want to take another beating from you."

He noticed that their two companions weren't even trying to pretend to look awed.

"What the — you know about this, Eriol?"

Eriol shrugged — a gesture he only knew too well.

Damn.

"I want to change the wager, though — feels like I'm losing either way," she insulted, eyeing him challengingly.

"Sorry, they're not negotiable, nerd. No matter how you fooled us, you're still a nerd — a nerd with spirit but a nerd still."

"Tut... you don't get it, do you, Li? I thought it's only fair."

"What are you at?"

"Simple. You revealed yourself, so I better do it as well. I mean, we better do it as well."

"What?" He was still uncomprehending.

"This one's stupider than he looks." She said impatiently. "I guess I need to say it in your face, Lord of Despair."

He froze upon hearing what she called him...understanding dawned at him.

"It's only fair, isn't it?" She asked tauntingly, and memories of the previous night returned to him.

He can't be mistaken. He knew that voice.

It was Avalon.

His mind went numb with shock. All this time, his enemy was in his midst and he did not even have the slightest inkling as to who she really was.

She removed her eyeglasses, revealing fierce, piercing green eyes. Then he looked Daidouji and his cousin and realized that they were watching.

"What are you at, Avalon?" He asked, eyes narrowing. "And you...you two..." He froze as more comprehension dawned in his eyes.

"I still haven't forgiven you for last night, son of a bitch," she said.

"Go easy on him, I suppose, Sakura," Tomoyo said with a haughty smile. He connected her to the other girl in the trio, Madison. So Eriol must be...

"No!" He said as he turned to his cousin. "How long has this been going on, Eriol?"

"Well, I have been an agent since a few years ago." He said nonchalantly. "You can understand how angry she was when she found out that I knew about you." He stared pointedly at Sakura.

"Damn..." he was surrounded by Kitoshi's top agents. He knew it was suicide to fight them.

"We have a score to settle, I told you. Why can't you stop being a bloody gangster, Li?" Sakura asked with eyes narrowed.

"We all have our reasons." He snarled out. "And you will pay for interfering with us! We could have defeated the Yukai."

"As a matter of fact, I think we should have left you yesterday so you'd finish each other for us." Sakura said coolly. "Eriol, Tomoyo, stand back, understood? This is my fight with this bastard cousin of yours, Eriol."

"Whatever — ganging up on a kid was never my style," Tomoyo responded before she perched herself on the wires surrounding the rooftop. Eriol stood his ground, his fists clenched.

"Don't hurt him too much, Avalon." He said before he joined Tomoyo.

"Does the wager stand? I think I want a different prize. If I win, you give up on the Apocalypse."

"If you win, well, what do you want?" She continued. "I don't think you can win, but still..."

"Well, then, it will be stupid to ask you to leave now. I think I'll have that kiss after all," he shot back, smiling tauntingly.

"Whatever. It's not like you'll win," she said confidently.

The wind blew harder as both of them assumed fighting stances.

The war had begun.

A/N: It's obvious who will win in my book, right? Hmm...aside from that, other things will happen next chapter as well. Like the Yukai will be on the move as well. All-out war, I say.

And some more discoveries might be made soon...