The Disease that Killed Love

Chapter 8-Eriol

I'm okay with Yue homeschooling Syaoran as long as Syaoran was, and so far the little wolf is taking it well. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it.

I think Yue's right. After all, right now we're pining away at whether Syaoran will survive. Why not just pretend that he will and start building his life?

At Yue's request Tomoyo and Sakura began bringing their homeworks and class notes to Syaoran. Actually, it was Yue reading them, but Syaoran saw what he read and that was enough. It was hard for Syaoran, but perhaps harder for Yue. After all, the moon guardian was giving up his life for Syaoran's.

Syaoran learned things fairly quickly and it was easy for him to catch up and even surpass us. Yue gave him a test and didn't let him see the answers. Syaoran got everything correct. Things would have been perfect.

Then Mimi and George stepped in.

" Are you sure?" They asked. " It's probably not going to make much of a difference."

They didn't exactly discourage us, but they did show that they weren't into what we were doing. We ignored them. Wizards and witches were always pessimistic. We've had enough of that. Syaoran was blind. Syaoran was mute. Syaoran was deaf. What more do you want? Right now he's here. We can't just ignore him. And Sakura saw what glimpse she had of a full day without Syaoran. We're enjoying this and taking this real slow. No need to hurry.

May 1st. One whole month after Sakura's birthday. Syaoran will be celebrating his thirty day anniversary of being mute by twelve a.m. Tonight.

Not that it's worth celebrating.



" Well?" I began, " Aren't you going to say something?"

Sakura remained silent.
" Tell him to drop it." She answered bitterly.
" The answer I was expecting." I nodded.

Sakura had grown into a pretty girl. Her hair was long now, and curly. Her green eyes were sharper now. She had more delicate definition to her face. She was more pale now.

Which would explain her many suitors in her school. She had as many as Tomoyo now, and that is saying a lot. So when I brought in the very expensive roses, she wasn't a bit surprised.

I sighed. For some reason I could understand why the wizard and witch seemed so unhappy. But I was glad that she threw away the roses that I was supposed to bring for the boy in school. That means she's loyal to Syaoran.

Yet I couldn't help but sense the tension in the air. It was as if we were waiting for something that was inevitable. A feeling you get when something's watching you. Something awful.

" I can't tell him. You'll have to." I answered. " After all, Osaka wouldn't listen to me."

Sakura sighed. " This is so annoying. I thought I made it clear a long time ago. I'm not free. I'm not single, even."
" It's not like they would care." I pointed out. " You only went out on a date once in these three years before Syaoran could no longer go."

" Tell me, what's the use of being a Card Mistress if I can't help my friends?"

I sighed. This again.

" Sakura-san, we all have limits."
" I know. But how come my limit is here?"
" Sakura-san, I don't know what fate has planned for us." I said quietly. " Just wait it out. Perhaps you will be of some use to Syaoran. You are now, after all, Syaoran found his father because of you, felt love, had many friends, and now instead of being all alone he's surrounded by those who cared for him."

Sakura remained silent. I do not know what she was thinking.



Xuyan was playing the cello when I went over to Yukito's after school. Syaoran was upstairs, sleeping.
" Konnichiwa." I said. " Since when did you start playing the cello again?"
" I never stopped." Xuyan glared. " What are you talking about?"

Ignoring him, I decided to go upstairs and check on Syaoran.

Syaoran was asleep, and judging from his deep breathing, he was very tired. What in the world did that guy do that day?

Dropping off the notes and the homework, I went back downstairs.
" So when are you going back?"
" Where? Hong Kong? Not for a long while. I want to make sure he's okay." Xuyan answered. There was a strange look in his eyes.
" Something bad's going to happen, right?" I asked quietly.
" Hai." Xuyan nodded.
" You're the Emperor. Can't you do something?"

Xuyan sighed. " It's like Hades. I'm the King of the Dead. I'm not Death itself. And I honestly don't know how to do this." He sighed. " It's getting nearer." He said, closing his eyes. " I can feel him preparing to depart. He's hesitating. He's holding to the rail. But when the ground moves, he'll move, rail and all. It's inevitable."
" How do you know?" I asked. " Do you want to go look in the cave again?"

Xuyan stared at me for a long moment.

" Why bother, Eriol?" He blinked. " Seriously. Why bother? After all, I know what's going to happen."
" Any chance that can change?" I was searching for any signs of hope now. Any signs of hope.
" I don't know what's going to happen to him." Xuyan answered. " Unless someone takes his place-but it's hard to figure out exactly who is not supposed to die, and even when you do, it's hard to force Death to realize that the person is a subsitute, not some other person."
" Is it possible though?"
" Are you suggesting you want to kill someone? Or commit suicide?" Xuyan started laughing. It was a horrible, bitter laugh. " I doubt it will work, but then again, nothing is certain now. You shouldn't try it until you're sure. Be content that for now Syaoran is safe. From most perils."

To be honest I was not content with that at all.



I sighed.
" No thanks," Sakura looked annoyed. " I have work to do tonight."
" Is it that Li kid again?" Asked the boy.
" What will you do about it?" Sakura asked.

Indeed, there was nothing to be done. All knew that Sakura was in love with a blind, deaf, and mute boy. All knew they will never have a chance.

Unless, of course, Syaoran died, but they knew if they wished that Sakura will kill them. She has the power to.

Obviously though, the other boys didn't know it, and Sakura would go to the mental asylum before she starts killing people, so Tomoyo, Sakura and I listened to the flirtings of the boys around us, me being the only one who was free from it, and in the end a disaster was brought to us.

The witches and wizards were gone.