Author's Note: Hi, there! I'm Abisinia and this is my first Card Captor Sakura Fan fiction!!!!!!!!!!!! Just to make a few things clear: 1) Sakura and friends are about 17 years old in this fic 2) Since they are about 17, they don't think or act as the 10 year old children they were in the series, if you know what I mean 3) Eriol has gone back, just like in the series 4) Syaoran hasn't told Sakura about his feelings YET 5) Syaoran hasn't gone and won't go back to Hong Kong (yessssssss!!!!!!!!!!!) 6) Since I'm not used to those "kun", "san" and "chan" stuff, I won't use them 7) Don't be too hard on my pitiful grammar skills, since English isn't my first language
Firstly, I want to thank Kyralea, Absolut Angel, Satashi and THE MOUSE, the four wonderful authors who inspired me to write this story (although they probably don't know me)! I'd also like the readers to know that this is MY story, so don't hate me if you don't like it, because I did my best. And please, I beg you, send me FEEDBACK (flames or whatever)!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!
I'd also like to thank the first reviewers of this fic: Moshimoshiqueen, Nako-chan, LiNa, Lyss chan, sakura, nonie77, DawnRising, Cherry_Blossom, chescaOtaku, Sakura Li, CATGIRL, Happy Individual, Flower Kid, ~*princess icestar*~, Yeslek25, Star Mistress, Sakura Kinomoto Li, ~lil~ Sakura~chan, Jane, Silver Kitsune, kari, Intrams and AyaChan! You've helped me a lot!
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Card Captor Sakura. Clamp does. Sue THEM if you want to…
Disclaimer 2: I DO own Lin Su Hin (the pronunciation is "Lin Su HAN" and "Lin" is the surname)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't forget:
"……….." = Thinking
- ………… = Speaking (duh!)
~*~*~*~* = Change of scene or/and POV
(A.N.:……) = Author's note
There are also a few thick black lines in the middle of the text, I'm not sure where. Please ignore them: it was an error I wasn't able to do anything about! L
Love or Hatred?
By Abisinia
Chapter 5: A Theory and an Identity
- Sakura? Sakura, what's wrong? – Syaoran was shaking her by her shoulders. Her eyes had gone suddenly blank and her aura had weakened in a matter of seconds. No matter how violently the male Card Captor shook her in despair, she wouldn't react.
- My DEAR Card Mistress… my Cherry Blossom… Come to me! – The owner of the recently arrived aura finally showed up. He seemed to be floating right in front of the couple, with his arms folded, his light green eyes shining strangely and a malicious smirk on his face.
Suddenly, Sakura started floating away from Li, just like had happened during the Final Judgment against Yue. She was floating towards Su Hin, who had his arms opened to welcome her.
Syaoran watched in amazement as his rival embraced Sakura, who melted on his arms, still staring blankly at nothing. The warrior could feel his blood boiling furiously, while his eyes flamed his opponent with wild jealousy.
- So… We meet again… - he said, holding his sword firmly at his side.
- Patience is most certainly not one of your best virtues… Li Syaoran… Can't you see WE are having a good time? – Su Hin's smile grew wider as he turned Sakura's face to him, holding her chin – I guess we should go somewhere we can have more privacy, my dear Card Mistress…
With those words, he started flowing away, taking Sakura in his arms. She had still made no mention to move… but she WAS there, seeing every single thing that happened and not being able to hear or react; not having any control over her body. Her mind was crying and screaming silently for help: she didn't want Su Hin to take her away… she didn't want to be even near him… she didn't want to be apart from Li…
"Syaoran… please… don't leave me…"
The sweet voice filled the sorcerer's mind, making all of his rage suddenly explode as he watched the odious young man who was going away, taking in those dirty arms his…- his what? Rival? Friend? Girlfriend? What were he and Sakura, anyway? But that didn't matter now…it was certainly not the right time to ask himself those kinds of questions.
- I won't… I'll NEVER allow this to happen… - he whispered, not to himself, but to the girl he loved. His aura seemed to expand and glow like a vivid green fire, ready to burn anything in its way.
Syaoran jumped graciously down to the ground and started to run, not daring to take, even for a single second, his eyes away from the two figures that were floating above him. He couldn't loose their track… he WOULDN'T… And, besides, he could feel the dark aura getting stronger, while the Card Mistress's presence got slowly weaker and smaller…
Soon, the warrior realized that the dark-haired boy was heading to the park… Of course, Syaoran should have imagined that! EVERYTHING happened at the park! In a heartbeat, the three auras were together in front of King Penguin's slide: a shining green one, a faint pink one and an absolutely dark one. Su Hin didn't seem to mind that Li was standing just in front of him, for he was absentmindedly caressing Sakura's face with the back of his hand… the Chinese young man gripped his sword as strong as he could when saw a single tear stream down her face.
- You know… there's such a thin bridge that separates love from hate… - Su Hin turned to look at Li, who had a furious look in his intense amber eyes… the green-eyed man, on the contrary, had quite a serene expression on his face.
- What are you talking about? – The sorceress said dryly, as he held his sword even tighter, if that was even possible.
- When there's a battle between love and hatred, the second one in most certainly always the winner. I was made to prove that… My goal is to prove that… All my life is summarized in that single, simple, and absolutely truthful idea. The path I've followed during my entire existence can be defined in mere seven words in such a way that a thousand other words couldn't… - he paused, and then proudly added – "I love hate and I hate love"
Syaoran was intrigued by the young man's words: was he a lunatic or something? What was all that babbling about love and hatred, out of nowhere? The sorcerer managed to approach a few steps while Su Hin lost himself in his speech, but he suddenly stopped, freezing in his place by the menacing tone on the voice of the dark-haired man.
- Want a piece of advice? Don't move before I say you can… - Su Hin tightened Sakura in his embrace as his eyes sparkled coldly, showing Li that her life was in his hands... meaning that HIS life was also in his hands…
- You wouldn't dare to harm her – Syaoran managed to say, gritting his teeth in frustration, for he couldn't do anything to help the Card Mistress.
- Wouldn't I? – he added, laughing softly – I do whatever I want, whenever I want, with whichever I want! Now just stop saying nonsense and listen to me, descendant of Clow…
Li's eyes widened at that. How he could possibly know that he was a descendant of Clow Reed? And how could he possibly know who WAS Clow Reed?! Of course Su Hin had an aura and everything, but that didn't mean he had any kind of knowledge in magic! Oh well… that was something that needed to be figured out…
- Going back to the point, I actually (and obviously) proved my theory… And do you know when? Do you know HOW? When I kissed her… - he paused once again, watching in delight as Syaoran clenched his fists – And do you know how she felt? Do you know what she felt?
- SHUT UP! – The order was full of rage… the words had only managed to come out of Syaoran's mouth through great effort… and that made Su Hin chuckle.
- She felt HATRED! She hated me for what I had done! And although she loved someone else, that love wasn't strong enough to make her react against hate! Do you realize that? – He laughed almost in a maniacal way, in complete satisfaction.
Syaoran's vision was suddenly blurred by his rage… everything had been a mere game to that lunatic… he was just making fun of Sakura… to prove a god damned stupid and totally insane theory! The warrior just couldn't hold himself anymore. He held his sword so firmly his knuckles turned white and, with a wild fire burning in his amber eyes, ran towards Su Hin. With unimaginable speed, Li approached the dark-haired boy and lifted his weapon to attack: he planned to finish that quickly, although that bastard really deserved to suffer. He saw his prey suddenly smirking and lifting a hand… only then Syaoran realized his mistake: a black colored energy blast was formed and quickly shot by his opponent, giving him no time to react before he was thrown violently against a tree, his chest aching because of the direct hit of the dark energy and his back hurt because of the strong collision with the trunk.
The warrior gritted his teeth, trying hard not to scream. When he opened his eyes, a few multi-colored spots blurred his vision for a second; and then, he finally saw the green-eyed young man with his eyebrows arched. He wasn't laughing or smirking as he was before… he looked actually serious. Sakura was laid on the ground, in front of him, still with that blank look in her eyes… That vision was enough to make Li get up again and stare at Su Hin with flaming sunset eyes, watching every single move he made in order not to be caught by surprise again.
- You see my point now? Your power… the insignificant power of your so-called love… can't help her! Sakura fainted earlier because my aura was filled with such great hatred it was too much for her to handle. Since that moment we "shared", we've been connected, which is why she came back to me when I ordered her to do so! Isn't it ironic? She came to the one who hated her, and not to the one who loved her!
Syaoran started walking towards Su Hin again, almost dragging his feet as he did it… Every wound and bruise seemed to scream at him to stop the movement… and he was feeling so much pain… But he could never give up: for Sakura, he would never quit.
His opponent watched in disgust was the sorcerer made his way towards him. How could someone be so narrow-minded and refuse to accept the truth? How could someone be so god damn blind he couldn't see how pitiful and useless were his actions?
- Foolish creature… - Su Hin was taken aback by those words: it was exactly what he intended to say to the chestnut-haired warrior - You don't have a clue of what is love, and that's why you claim its insignificance… You don't know, you never knew it and you'll never know it: that makes you the pitiful way you are… - Li smirked.
- And who are you to tell me that? – Triumph and arrogance mixed in his voice - Do YOU know love? HER love?
- I know perfectly well about MY feelings… it doesn't matter if hers are the same or not: I wouldn't love her any less.
- Bullshit! Isn't kissing a symbol of love? A sign of affection? Then how did I manage to turn it into a symbol of hatred: my hatred towards her and hers towards me? I'll tell you why I was able to do it: because love.is.a.ridiculous.illusion! – He stopped for a few seconds, apparently going deep into his own thoughts – Show me love, I dare you! Show me love stronger than hatred and I'll surrender! PROVE ME LOVE!
Prove him love? How the heck was he supposed to do that?! Syaoran's thoughts were totally blocked from other things that weren't related to saving Sakura and bringing her back… His mind seemed clouded by a mist, where he could only see clearly the image of the smiling auburn-haired sorceress. What had Su Hin meant when he asked him to prove him love? Did he just want Li to grab the Card Mistress and kiss her? That would certainly NOT be love… that'd be despair…
- You can't, can you? You disappoint me… - He looked at Sakura, laid just in front of him – Who needs love when it cannot even show itself? – The dark-haired teen looked back at the warrior - You interrupted me last time and I could not bring my theory to an end. But after this one last kiss the Card Mistress will be finally filled with my aura… and with my hatred… and I'll show how was love so stupidly and easily beaten up – He paused – I'm afraid she might not survive this… the Sweet Cherry Blossom is most certainly not used to such a pure and unlimited hatred as the one she's about to be filled with…
With those words, Su Hin knelt down beside Sakura and held her in his arms. She had still no control over her body, but seeing his face approaching hers once again made despair grow inside her. She hadn't been able to listen to anything he and Li had been discussing about, but she was quite sure she didn't want him near again, no matter the reason… But his lips were getting closer and closer as she tried to react, her mind screaming at her to do something.
"I don't want him to kiss me… I don't want it… SYAORAN!"
Apparently coming out of a trance, Li lifted his head and stared menacingly at the green-eyed young man; his eyes suddenly burning with a vivid fire inside him, as she saw Sakura's pinkish aura weakening at the closeness of Su Hin.
"Neither do I, Sakura…" – He thought, mostly to himself, while he grabbed his sword firmly and, ignoring the pain that pierced through his whole body, ran forward to strike his opponent once again.
Su Hin, who was expecting that kind of predictable reaction from the warrior, lifted his hand once more and sent another dark blast of energy at him. But, this time, Li was watching his movements attentively and wasn't caught by surprise. He dodged to his left, span back to the right and quickly attacked, cutting deeply with his opponent's shoulder with his sword. That made Su Hin let go of Sakura, who fell on the ground again. Syaoran backed away, keeping his guard up, as he observed, satisfied, he had damaged his opponent quite badly. A huge amount of blood was coming out of the wound, soaking Su Hin's shirt, although was covering the wound with his hands.
- You DO have guts – He managed to smirk as he gritted his teeth in pain – You know what? I shouldn't do this, but I'll allow you to see my true form… It'll be my farewell gift… Before I send the Card Mistress and you, with you tail between your legs, to hell, Little Wolf!
Suddenly, a blinding light surrounded Su Hin's body. Li felt something inside him… a feeling on the edge of his magical senses. It was like a silent alarm, insistent, warning him of a kind of presence he knew very well. But it couldn't be it… could it?
You can't be… a Clow Card!