Note: THANK YOU for the reviews for last chapter!!! It really gave me the boost I needed! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
WARNING:
This is quite long and most likely longer than the other chapters. And there is
a strong shounen-ai romance scene and lots of fighting…so if needed, you can
probably skip the few paragraphs, if you want.
~ Benevolent Malice: The Thin Line Between Love and Hate ~
Chapter 7: Forced Acknowledgement
Eriol
looked at the grandfather clock as it struck midnight. A smile graced his
porcelain face as he glanced at Nakuru and Spinel that stood by the doorway.
"Is
it time?" Spinel asked calmly, glancing away from the book he was reading
on the floor.
"Yeah,
can we go now???" Nakuru asked excitedly, hoping from one foot to another
impatiently.
"Hai,
it's time... But he slept for only two hours after the test I gave him. Don't
be too hard, understand?" Eriol asked.
"Don't
worry, don't worry!" Nakuru waved carelessly, but then glanced at Spinel
mischievously, "...we won't be TOO hard on him..."
Spinel
couldn't help but smirk back at her with anticipation. His powers had been
dormant for far too long...
With
a sudden flash of light, Nakuru changed into her Ruby Moon regalia, her magenta
hair softly fell past her waist, "All right!! Come on, Suppi-kun, time to
play!"
They
disappeared simultaneously.
I
know you're exhausted, but let's see how well you can fend for yourself,
Li-kun... Eriol thought, closing his eyes as a small smile graced his face,
...I know you won't disappoint me.
Brown
eyes shot open, disturbed from sleep.
Syaoran
felt a strange jolt run up his spine...his instincts were acting up...
He
looked out the window, seeing it was pitch black...
...what
the—? Syaoran saw a red twinkle beyond his window...but then suddenly a
ruby-red light shot toward his window. Syaoran's eyes widened, a breath stuck
between his throat and mouth.
Breaking
past the window, glass shards rained down on the ground like tinkling rain,
Ruby Moon flew into the room, her beautiful wings flared dramatically.
The
infamous, fatal red crystals were brandished in her hands, an evil smirk
adorned on her face as she thrust forward, striking her first surprise attack
at the angel.
Syaoran
rolled off the edge just as the red crystals struck the bed. He landed on the
floor, half-crouched down as his blanket fluttered to the floor.
He
stared at his attacker...butterfly wings, magenta hair...oh, Kami-sama and THAT
voice...
"Suge!
You're faster than before, Syao-kun!" Ruby Moon mocked as she floated
above the mutilated bed that should have been him.
Cautiously
standing up, only wearing black pajama pants, his chest exposed (*drools*), he
looked at Nakuru, rather Ruby Moon. His eyes were wary and bewildered by her
action.
"Why?
Oh, we're here to kill ya!" Ruby Moon replied to Syaoran's silent
question. With a wink, she pointed to him with a finger as if he were a winner
of a grand prize.
...We?!
Syaoran thought with narrowed eyes as he immediately tensed up and as if on
cue...
A
dark shadow materialized behind Syaoran and he was immediately pinned to the
ground before he could react, the side of his face was pressed against the
cold, hard ground.
"So
easily caught off guard," Spinel remarked with a sophisticated taunting
tone, "you have much to learn, Li-san—unfortunately, I don't think you'll
have the chance after we're done with you..."
"Is
that a threat?" Syaoran asked with a strained voice, feeling the several
hundred pounds of the black panther nearly crushing his spine.
"Of
course!" Ruby Moon said as she gracefully stepped onto the ground, the red
crystals itching to strike...
In
THAT case... Syaoran thought, feeling tight, angry smile make his lips curl
upwards.
Spinel
felt the pinching and flickering of Syaoran's aura...raising his own aura,
Spinel attempted to push Syaoran's aura down so that Ruby Moon could get a
clear shot. However, Syaoran was quite aware of the Spinel's attempt and
refused to allow it.
Letting
out an angry yell, Syaoran raised his aura to a striking degree, making the
floor beneath him shudder and suddenly crack into web-like fissures.
Ruby
Moon yelped in surprise, ducking down, as chi seemed to shoot off in all
directions from Syaoran's aura, cracking the walls and reflecting off the
mirror.
Spinel
leapt off from the force of power, baring his fangs at Syaoran as his butterfly
wings stiffened. Since his right paw seemed broken, he lifted some weight off
of it.
"A
word of advice," Syaoran made the Chinese object transform into a sword,
holding it in both his hands in an offensive stance, "If you kill me, make
sure you do it right the first time...or it'll be your last attempt."
Ruby
Moon smirked, "Is that a threat?"
"You'll
find out soon enough!" Syaoran lunged forward, attempting to slash off one
of Spinel's wings.
He
wanted to hurt them...but not kill them. He did enough of that for one day...
Nakuru,
working as Spinel's defense blocked Syaoran's sword with her hand, her red
crystals acting as small daggers. Spinel roared, throwing a thrust of dark,
invisible energy at Syaoran, causing him to fly backwards, crash against the
wall and collapse on the ground.
Snapping
open one eye, trying his best to ignore the pain that circulated throughout his
entire body, Syaoran kept a careful watch on the Guardians' every movement.
"Come
now, Eriol no kohai..." Spinel murmured, "...you can do better than
this—"
"—so
at least amuse us for a little longer!" Ruby Moon exclaimed.
Syaoran
raised himself off the ground, trying not to wince, and he immediately snapped
his arm, holding his sword strongly before him.
His
eyes narrowed dangerously, "Ore wo nameru na! This is only the
beginning!"
Taking
his mental attention away from the battle, Eriol felt a soft, beguiling aura
enter the room...
"How
are you, Ferusinne-san?" Eriol asked politely, though no one was in the
room...
Suddenly,
out of the soft shadows emerged a beautiful woman with long, auburn hair.
Everything about her seemed elegant, refined, and alluring. She took a seat
across from Eriol at the small table.
"I
suppose I can never hide from you…but Ferusinne-san? Eriol-san, must we use our
formal names?" she asked as her gentle smile reached her light brown eyes.
"Ah,
yes, that's right. Gomen ne, I have just gotten used to it," Eriol smiled,
"are you all right, Kaho-san?"
The
auburn-haired beauty smiled, "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"I
thought you might be under some sort of trouble...you're two months early, ne?
Last time I checked, I believe our meeting would be in three months..."
Eriol remarked.
"Well,
yes, that's right. I just came over due to a rumor I heard about you..."
Kaho replied.
"And
that would be?"
"I
hear you have an apprentice?" Kaho asked, glancing at him.
"That
I do," Eriol answered with a smile, "and he's quite talented. He
hasn't disappointed me so far."
"...I
also hear that..he is an angel?" Kaho asked slowly.
"Hai.
He is the Son of the Archangel of Battle, Li Yelan,"
Kaho's
eyes widened, her mouth slightly opened in shock and silent protest.
Eriol
slightly tilted his head as the smile was still there on his porcelain face,
"Quite a catch, isn't he?"
"Y..you...you
show mercy to the enemy's son?" Kaho had a shocked expression on
her face.
"Oh,
I wouldn't exactly say I'm showing him mercy..." Eriol trailed off—
—Syaoran
was blown out of the already broken balcony window, falling down five stories
and crashing upon the ground with a loud, sickening *crack*.
"Yare,
yare!! I think we overdid it..." Ruby Moon murmured as she and Spinel flew
down toward the brown-haired angel, who lay motionless on the ground.
"I
was in control—YOU overdid it!" Spinel snapped.
They
set their feet on the ground, a few feet away from Syaoran.
"Don't
you be blaming me—!" Ruby Moon snapped back.
"—why
not?! It's always your fault!"
"Not
ALWAYS!" she protested.
"...
..." Spinel let out an exasperated sigh, but his attention was stolen away
by a soft, pained noise.
"Nnnmm..."
Syaoran shifted, pushing himself with one arm, then thrust his sword into the
ground, leaning against it.
Spinel
and Ruby Moon looked at Syaoran with surprise.
"Lucky!!
He's still alive! Phew! And I was getting worried for a second! If Eriol-sama
thought I killed—" Ruby Moon exclaimed.
"URUSAI."
Spinel hissed.
"Oops."
Ruby Moon squeaked as she put her hand over her mouth.
"..that..bastard...I
knew it was him!" Syaoran struggled to stand up, but managed to stand
upright, his glare just as piercing as ever.
"N-now,
now! Just because I said Eriol-sama's name does mean he sent me and
Spinel..." Ruby Moon smiled nervously.
"I'll
deal with HIM later! My only concern…are you two!" Syaoran snapped,
holding up his sword once again.
"Ooo,
he's so persistent!!" Ruby Moon exclaimed happily, clapping her hands
together, "Sugoi!! I didn't have a fight like this in years!"
...I
know I can't hit women...but maybe I can pass Nakuru as a man... Syaoran
grit his teeth with annoyance.
Syaoran
stared at the two Guardians, thinking pensively, They're always protecting
each other! How can I attack one when the other is the defense? They're working
together---this is so unfair! I am going to kick Hiiragizawa's—!!
"C'mon,
your move first, Li-kuuun!" Ruby Moon sang, her eyes gleamed with
anticipation.
If
only I had something they didn't!! Syaoran thought, gripping the hilt of
his sword with aggravation. He looked down at his trustworthy weapon, his eyes
reflecting on the blade. If only I knew some way...matte... his brown
eyes slowly widened.
-...Ruby
Moon yelped in surprise, ducking down as chi seemed to shoot off from Syaoran's
aura, cracking the floors and reflecting off the mirror...-
"....the
mirror..." Syaoran murmured aloud unintentionally.
That's
it!!! Syaoran thought. A determined, almost evil, grin flashed on Syaoran's
face as an idea dawned upon him.
He
shot a glance at Spinel. God, I hope this works...
"Ne,
Suppi-kun, let's see how hard you can play!" Syaoran exclaimed,
trying to annoying and loud as possible. Well, just trying to be Nakuru.
Eriol
unintentionally grinned, letting out a quiet laugh, speaking to himself,
"Oh, Li-kun, you can always be so amusing! What do you have up your
sleeve?"
"...
..." Kaho stared at him with blinking eyes, thinking that Eriol may have a
mental case of schizophrenia.
"S-SUPPI..KUN..?"
Spinel felt himself falling for the bait. He felt the anger well up in him
faster than the speed of light. He shot a glare at Ruby Moon.
"See
what happens when you call me THAT in public?" Spinel snapped at her.
She
simply scratched the back of her head, a 'sorry-about-that' smile on her face.
Syaoran
readied himself.
"Take
a good whack at him, Suppi—er, Spinel-kun!" Ruby Moon suggested happily.
Yeah,
c'mon... Syaoran inwardly smirked. ...take a damn good whack...
Spinel,
gathering his power within his chest, his fur standing on ends as the power
surged within him.
Spinel
shot his eyes toward Syaoran, his aura heightening, "You aren't allowed to
call me by THAT name."
Syaoran
just smirked, yet felt the nerve-wrecking feeling in the pit of his stomach. If
this doesn't work...
...I'm
screwed.
"Eriol-san?"
Kaho slightly leaned forward, tilting her head to get his attention,
"...What are you doing?"
"I'm
sorry for ignoring you, Kaho-san. I'm watching Syaoran..play..with my Guardians,"
Eriol replied with a smile, "...it's very engaging..."
Hmm...what
are you planning, Li-kun..? Eriol thought, a puzzled look on his face that
was subtly laced with concern.
Spinel
concentrated his energy into a single point within his body. His eyes narrowed
as he felt his chi 'click'. It was fully prepared.
Not
concerned whether Syaoran survived or not, Spinel decided to strike.
If
he doesn't live through this, he doesn't deserve to be Eriol-sama's kohai Spinel
thought and allowed the dark energy within him to shoot out of his physical
body.
The
invisible chi shot out of the black panther's body, fracturing the ground. It
soared through the air and toward the weakened Syaoran...
Feeling
the pressuring power of Spinel's chi attack, Syaoran waited apprehensively... NOW!
he thought as he felt the chi near him.
Creating
a thin, impromptu chi barrier, a glass-like dome covered him. He held out his
sword, the flat-side facing toward the Guardians.
Suddenly
he felt the sledge-hammering chi attack him, pressing against the barrier. He
clenched his teeth as he felt the chi make his bones tremble and seemingly
crack...
He
let out a yell, causing his aura to flicker and suddenly flame forward and
break his own barrier. Spinel's chi mingled with Syaoran's aura, the flaming
aura pushing his chi back...Syaoran thrust his sword forward against the
pressuring chi and—
"Ahhh!"
Ruby Moon screamed as she was unexpectedly blasted backwards by Spinel's chi.
She crashed into the wall of Eriol's mansion, letting out a pained yelp and
slid to the ground against the wall.
"Nakuru!!"
Spinel exclaimed, horrified, as he looked over his shoulder at Ruby Moon's
bleeding form.
What
had happened???
Before
Spinel could turn back around to Syaoran, he was already up close...
"I
warned you about trying to kill me!" Syaoran growled, flying low to the
ground since his wings were now in existence.
All
Spinel could see were those great, white wings because of the proximity before
feeling Syaoran's fist collide into his fur-covered chest. Syaoran used a
raging energy that had built within him and used it to blast Spinel back.
Ruby
Moon unsteadily rose to her feet but...
Spinel's
body crashed against Nakuru's and they both broke a large hole on the outside
wall of Eriol's mansion. A loud, tremulous noise echoed throughout the area as
dust clouded up.
Kaho
gasped as she heard the sudden crash.
"Intruders—?!"
Kaho exclaimed, thinking the loud explosion-like sound was an onslaught, but...
He
used his sword and aura to reflect most of Spinel's chi attack toward
Nakuru...just as a mirror has a thin sheet of silver, his sword is made of more
adamant metal! Eriol realized with a laugh, understanding why Syaoran was
thinking about a mirror.
"Excellent!!!"
Eriol exclaimed, not even able to hear Kaho as he stood up, a smile on his
face.
"...Excellent...?"
Kaho looked at Eriol with a bewildered look, wondering if the General really
WAS insane...
Syaoran,
his face serious and his sword ready, waited for the Guardians to move...Even
though he looked it, he was completely defenseless after sending Spinel that
last chi attack...if they were still conscious, he would have last for another
second...
@_@
"...Itte
yo..." Ruby Moon mumbled, the black panther lying on her back.
Ruby
Moon and Spinel's swirly-eyes indicated their status.
As
if having permission, Syaoran's body gave away, collapsing from the complete
loss of energy just as his wings faded away.
His
knees met the hard ground. He leaned against his sword that he had implanted
upright in the ground. His breathing was short and ragged as sweat dripped down
his face and off his chin. His eyes, half-closed, were clouded with fatigue.
Concentrating
so much on letting his body recuperate, he didn't even feel Eriol's
presence...he finally noticed Eriol when he was standing right in front him. He
looked up slowly at the General...
"...I...I.
Hate. You." Syaoran growled firmly between his ragged breaths.
"You
surprise me yet again with your power, Li-kun. Let's begin before your body
gives out."
Begin?!
Begin WHAT?! MORE TRAINING?!!? Syaoran felt outraged, yet too tired to
curse and knock Eriol on the head many, MANY times.
He
shot a glare at Eriol, but it immediately disappeared when Eriol's offering
hand was held out...
Holding
out his hand, Eriol offered Syaoran assistance with a sincere smile, "Need
help, my kawaii angel?"
A
blush crossed Syaoran's tired face, but he refused Eriol's hand as much as he
needed it.
He
stood up, struggling, but managed to stand upright by himself, leaning against
his sword that gleamed dully. He glared at Eriol, his sharp brown eyes staring
at the gray-eyed male.
"What
kind of torture is this?" Syaoran demanded angrily, though his voice
hoarse. His body felt completely drained of energy, his chi was still there,
but only flickering like a dying flame.
Eriol
chuckled, smiling at the hunched-over angel, "You're hardly half-dead, so
this is no torture. I did this for a reason, of course. I need you to be
completely empty of your white magic."
"W..why?"
Syaoran asked, meaning to show anger, but his balance wavered.
Eriol
smiled, opening his mouth to answer, but Syaoran swooned. His body could no
longer support itself from the lack of energy. His eyes rolled back and closed,
his legs giving out from under him.
Swiftly,
almost reflexively, Eriol stepped forward, letting Syaoran's limp body fall
into his arms.
Supporting
the weakened Syaoran with his arms wrapped around his waist and mid-torso,
Eriol held the brown-haired angel in what could be considered a close embrace.
Though
Eriol had an unreadable expression, he was secretly marveling at how lean, yet
muscular Syaoran was...
Syaoran's
head was leaning against the crook between Eriol's neck and shoulder, but he
was only half-aware of what was happening...he felt as if he were put under a
spell that had a drugging-effect.
All
he felt was...warmth...such warmth...and he smelled something that was a
mixture of...of something indescribably alluring and subtly fresh and sweet.
Syaoran
instinctively leaned more against Eriol's warm, smooth, soft skin
subconsciously. He softly breathed in Eriol's scent as if it were his very
oxygen.
Eriol,
surprised by the wolf's action, felt a rush of flit and flutter arise in his
chest, making him involuntarily swallow because his throat had suddenly gone
dry.
"L-Li-kun...Li-kun,
try to stay awake." Eriol said quietly.
"...five
more minutes..." Syaoran mumbled, his eyes closed, as if he were being
awakened in the morning.
"Li-kun,"
Eriol urged, feeling Syaoran relax in his arms, "...Li-kun..." he
urged again, but weakly this time. Much to his own surprise, his arms seemed
reluctant to let go of the cast-away angel...
"Uru..sai..."
Syaoran murmured, being coaxed into sleep by the unknown warmth that had
enveloped him.
...don't
wake me from this dream yet...please not yet... Syaoran thought and fell
into the depths of sleep.
Syaoran
slowly woke, feeling waves of soft energy enter his body...his vision slowly
cleared as his senses slowly awakened. Someone was...healing him...
Syaoran
felt a gentle, light touch on his forehead...he raised his eyes, seeing a
porcelain-skinned hand...and the only person he knew that had such fair skin
like that was...
"..H-Hiiragizawa!"
Syaoran shot up from the sofa he as lying upon.
Eriol
quickly drew his hand back, surprised, "Ara? You're finally awake."
Syaoran
stood up, but wavered, a dazed, sick expression flashed upon his face. He sank
back down to the couch, sitting down in a slouched position.
"...what
the hell did you do to me?" Syaoran grumbled, feeling his body still
weakened.
"Well,
I didn't do anything, but heal you. Your body just can't go on. Lack of sleep,
food, and exerting all the chi and physical energy is taking effect."
Eriol answered.
"You
sent your damn Guardians gang up on me!" Syaoran snapped, leaning forward,
wanting to strangle Eriol as he had before.
"But
I had to," Eriol pointed out with a smile, "You know me well enough
that I do the things I do for a reason, don't you?"
Syaoran
leaned back against the sofa, crossing his arms. He glared at Eriol intensely,
but that only caused Eriol to smile more.
Syaoran
had to admit...even though he only knew the navy-haired General for a month, it
seemed like he knew him for years. Seventeen hours with him everyday let
Syaoran understand Eriol's twisted mind. But it also let Eriol understand
him...
...perhaps
Eriol knows more about me than I know about myself? The thought made
Syaoran feel uneasy.
"What
are you planning, Hiiragizawa?" Syaoran demanded warily.
"You
ask me that same question countless times...do I seem that distrustful?"
"Yes."
was the blunt answer.
Eriol
shrugged his shoulders and sighed, "Well, as I said before, I need you to
be completely drained of white energy."
"...naze
da?" Syaoran asked suspiciously.
"So
your body can't reject the black energy I'll give to you," Eriol answered,
"since your body will naturally reject my negative energy."
Syaoran
sat up straight, his eyes troubled, "...you're...you're going to change my
power?!"
"Maa,
maa," Eriol smiled, slightly waving his hands in the air to calm down
Syaoran, "I'll just be taking advantage of your weakness, placing my dark,
negative energy into you and when your white, positive energy comes back…it
will mix and connect with the dark energy."
Hearing
his explanation, Syaoran immediately didn't like the idea, "...isn't there
a possibility that...I may turn into a demon?"
"No.
But there IS a possibility that you will die." Eriol said with a cool
smile on his face.
"Oh,
that's even better." Syaoran snapped sarcastically.
"Nevertheless,
you will accept, won't you? We only have a few more minutes before your body
begins to regain its' energy back." Eriol remarked.
Syaoran
looked at Eriol with doubt and...almost with fear... "...matte...how are
you going to transfer your energy into me?"
Eriol
stepped forward, standing in front of Syaoran. Taking a small dagger from his
black cheongpao, he slowly unsheathed it, then discarded the sheath on the
floor...
Syaoran
immediately tensed up, looking at the gleaming blade, "I-if you're going
to use that on me, don't think I'll let—"
Eriol
then quickly slit his own right wrist, purposely cutting the main artery.
Syaoran's
mouth slightly dropped when he saw blood immediately flow from the wound,
encircling Eriol's wrist, then dripped to the floor.
Eriol
dropped the dagger, the bloodstained blade fell to the ground with a loud
clank.
He
slightly held out his bleeding wrist to Syaoran, "This is the only
way."
Syaoran
watched the blood slowly drip off Eriol's wrist in a rhythmic pattern and onto
the floor where it already was beginning to make a small puddle at Syaoran's
feet.
"…you…you
want…me to…to…" Syaoran trailed off.
"You
have to…orally intake it—don't worry, this is only a pure concentrate of my
power, not real blood. I don't have 'blood', per se." Eriol explained.
Syaoran
stared speechlessly at the crimson liquid that leaked down at his feet...he
turned his head away sharply, wishing he had the energy to run away.
"B-baka
yaro! I'm not going to do that! J-just heal yourself up now!" Syaoran
paled at the idea of himself with his lips to Eriol's wrist and sucking the
'blood'. He cringed with disgust.
"Li-kun,
you're wasting time as it is...if you don't do as I ask of you, you won't be
able to learn my magic and you'll have a greater chance of being consumed by
the Fusion—"
"I'd
rather take chance of dying than—than let you—you keep on doing this!"
Syaoran looked at Eriol's face with a haunting, almost painful glare,
"Stop being an idiot, stop wasting yourself on me like this!"
Eriol
was taken aback by Syaoran's outburst...such an unexpecting thing for him to
say...Syaoran was just as surprised as Eriol was. He blushed a deep crimson,
cursing at himself.
"...Li-kun..."
"I
owe you enough as it is…I know that well enough, all right?" he snapped,
"...you're making me sick. Fix yourself up, will you." Syaoran
mumbled in a flat tone, looking away again, feeling embarrassment take hold of
him, "...I'll learn dark magic some other way."
"I
told you. There is no other way." Eriol said firmly, tilting his head back
and held his bleeding wrist above him, letting the liquid drip into his mouth.
Syaoran
snapped his head back to Eriol, "H-Hiragi…Wha—what are you doing?!"
wishing he was able to stand up and stop Eriol from whatever he was doing and
possibly smack him upside the head for doing something as strange as drinking
his own blood...
...but
what Syaoran didn't know was that Eriol really wasn't drinking...
Eriol
lowered his head down, letting his wounded wrist drop down limply to his side.
His eyes were covered by his navy-blue bangs as he stood silently.
"...Hiiragizawa?"
Syaoran leaned forward, getting worried with the silence that was held between
them.
Eriol
leaned forward and put both his hands on Syaoran's shoulders, forcing him back
against the couch in a sitting position. Syaoran felt the warm blood from
Eriol's wrist drop onto his shoulder and slid down...he cringed and glanced at
Eriol.
With
his back pressed against the couch by Eriol's weight, Syaoran grew puzzled and
uneasy, "W-what the hell are you doing, Hiiragizawa—?"
Syaoran
was immediately silenced when his open, previously speaking mouth was swiftly
claimed by Eriol's own mouth. With his eyes wide open, Syaoran was too stunned
by the kiss to notice the liquid the passed from Eriol's mouth into his own.
The smooth, thick liquid slid into Syaoran's throat and down his esophagus, not
a drop lost.
When
Syaoran realized what Eriol was doing, he wanted to wrench himself away...but
couldn't...he would have choked on the small amounts of warm liquid that
entered his mouth, but he grown weak because of Eriol's silky tongue that
coaxed the roof of his mouth, making his body at Eriol's command to relax.
Eriol's
hand moved from Syaoran's right shoulder and on Syaoran's cheek, slightly
tilting his head higher to have an easier, more comfortable access to his
mouth.
Feeling
his cool, tender touch made Syaoran's body involuntarily relax and causing his
eyes to flutter to a complete close. He was suddenly lost in moment that was a
cross between dream and supposititious, wondrous reality.
They
both were…
The
transfer was completely finished, but Eriol still held the kiss where it was,
his hand adoring Syaoran's smooth, warm cheek and firm jawbone. Eriol felt his
tongue urging, begging to explore more of the untouched contours of
Syaoran's mouth, but Eriol held back. He soon felt his self-control wavering...
Eriol
immediately pulled away, holding himself inches from Syaoran's face. They were
semi-breathless from the lack of air they were deprived of for so long. When
Syaoran opened his eyes, they stared at each other in an intense, heated
collision of gray and brown.
"...I
hope you take no offense of my action," Eriol said quietly, inspecting
every minutiae of Syaoran's brown eyes, "but...it's just that you were
quite reluctant..."
"Is
that the only reason?" Syaoran asked in a tone so soft that Eriol almost
couldn't hear it. His mind was in a fog, making him reckless, and he couldn't
care less what he said or asked.
Slightly
confounded by Syaoran's direct question, Eriol couldn't think of the right,
meticulous thing to respond.
"...I...I
don't know..." Eriol replied. This is the first time in decades I can't
answer a question...
Eriol
sensed an approaching aura...
"Someone's
coming," Eriol whispered and leaned away, his hand slipped from Syaoran's
face as the navy-haired male stood upright.
However,
Syaoran caught Eriol's withdrawing hand before it could get very far. Yet
again, he was surprised at his own action, wondering if the mind, heart, and
body had different personalities.
Eriol
stared at Syaoran's hand, feeling..loving..the tenacious hold...
They
locked gazes again, both were confused and silent with the strong desideratum
that stirred within and between them...
Syaoran
couldn't understand the burning sensation in his chest that radiated throughout
his body...perhaps it was the intake of pure extract of dark energy from
Eriol..?
Eriol
couldn't understand the fluttering and weakening feeling that attacked his very
being...perhaps it was the loss of 'blood'..?
Suddenly
the door opened, "Eriol-san, you have gue—... ..." Kaho walked in,
but trailed off.
Eriol
was sitting on chair close by the sofa, where Syaoran lay sleeping...
"...yes,
what is it, Kaho-san?" Eriol asked, forcing a smile, though it was still
too flawless to be thought of as being a fake.
However,
Kaho sensed something in the atmosphere...she slightly narrowed her eyes,
staring at Eriol, then at the sleeping Syaoran.
"NE,
NE!! Jou-kun and Jun-chan are here!!" Nakuru burst into the room, almost
barreling over Kaho with her alacrity.
"Sou
desu ka? Jouhou-san and Junri-san are here, too?" Eriol arched his eyebrow
with question, "...more unexpected guests, I see."
"Yup!
Iku, iku!" Nakuru exclaimed excitedly. Despite her wounds, she seemed as
hyperactive as ever. She ran out of the room despite the sharp pains in her
leg.
Eriol
stood up from the chair, giving one last glance at Syaoran, then headed out
with Kaho.
Hearing
the door close, Syaoran opened his eyes. Of course, he and Eriol just had to
fake that whole act...
...that
woman... a flash of Kaho ran through Syaoran's mind. ...she loves him.
He
could feel her aura slightly rise when her eyes fell upon Eriol, since her
heartbeat speeded up. Yeah. She loves him without a doubt...I don't know
WHAT she sees in him though...
Syaoran
raised his hand to his lips absently, his fingertips brushed against his lips
that still held a lingering, tingling feeling from the interaction between
himself and Eriol...his brown eyes were lost as he remembered what Eriol
smelled like, how his lips felt and tasted like, and those fathomless gray
eyes...
I...I
don't want to know what she sees in him... Syaoran thought as shifted onto
his side, burying his head in the cushions of the sofa. Shouldn't he be disgusted
by Eriol…?
He
felt an acidic, sharp sensation course through his veins...the dark energy was
mixing with his white energy already. As soon as he fell into a restless sleep,
his thoughts then attacked him there…
How
he wished he could will all those damned wistful thoughts away into oblivion.
How
he wished he could forget and ignore the fervid emotions that emerged from his
soul the very moment Eriol's lips touched his....
...how
he wished he could disregard the growing, almost frightening, feelings within
his heart that demanded to be acknowledged...
Author's Note:
I
tried to put a lot of detail and action in this chapter...yare, and the romance
scene…was it at all touching? I hope I did fairly well, but I'm still
struggling ^^; so please, I surely accept constructive criticism!
SO I NEED TO KNOW: What was wrong with this chapter?
Too long? Too short? Too sappy? Too unemotional? Too boring? Too much talk? Too
little talk? Too much fighting? Too much detail? Too little detail? Too
extended? Too unclear? Or just plain horrible?
Again, I am surely open to constructive criticism!!! It'll really help my next
chappie and the story as a whole! ^_^
Thank you for reading and please leave a review! Arigatou gozaimashite!
~*~ Glossary ~*~
Ore wo nameru na!: Don't underestimate me!
Urusai: Shut up
Schizophrenia: a psychotic disorder characterized by distortions of reality and
disturbances of thought and mind
Itte yo: ouch (the 'yo' is meant for emphasis)
Naze da: Why? (it's meant to be a demand)
Baka yaro: You fool; You idiot
Sou desu ka: really?; Is that so?
Iku, iku!: Let's go, let's go!; C'mon, c'mon!
These are meant to be names of my characters:
Jouhou: military intelligence
Junri: pure logic