Trials of Love
Chapter 11
The Game
Dedicated to:
Windy*wings
"Yes, I suppose you could call it that. This is a game. My game. And therefore there's only one rule."
"And what would that be?"
"I win."
The blade gleamed as is plunged through the air, rapidly descending upon its target with mortal accuracy…
…Through empty air.
Amber orbs widened with surprise as his momentum sent him stumbling. Café met emerald with befuddlement.
Soft pink lips opened, a perfect imitation of a fish out of water. Syaroan had perfect marksmanship…
…So how had he missed?
The teenage sorceress wet her suddenly dry lips, swallowing anxiously. The 'Cherry Blossom' opened her mouth to speak, but all that emerged was a squeak. It was then that Sakura noticed that Syaoran's gaze was not fixated upon her…rather, it was focused behind her…
Cautiously, the sorceress turned, and was met with a cruel, yet bitterly amused twisting of lips.
"Xiao Lan, Xiao Lang, Xiao Lang…" Tomoyo clucked, mockingly shaking a slim, pale finger at him. "Really, I'm disappointed. I thought you knew me better than that. Just because I'm ancient, it doesn't mean I've lost my touch."
Syaoran graced her with an ironic smile. "No, I suppose you've just gone senile."
Tomoyo's smile froze upon her features before she relaxed. "Such rudeness to an old family friend,"
"You have an odd definition of friend."
"-Due to my tremendous generosity, however," Tomoyo continued as if he had not spoken. "I'll forgive you."
Syaoran scowled, but trained his features into a mask of tranquility. However, that mask shattered, and he heaved a sigh resignedly. "What do you want?"
Onyx flashed dangerously, and all pretense of pleasantness was erased from her face.
"What I've always wanted, Xiao Lang." She stated hollowly. "You, of all, should know. For generations I have continued, and for generations I still will. I shall not cease until every Li-clan leader has been wiped off the face of this planet. You are the only male to ascend this generation. You shall be the last."
Sakura opened her mouth to interrupt, befuddled beyond belief, but Tomoyo continued steadfastly.
"It started with Clow Reed, Li-san. It has continued with generations. Your father has paid his price. It is your turn."
"I do not fear death."
Ebony depths flashed with warning and an unspoken promise, as she stated quietly, "In the end, Xiao Lang…you shall."
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Yelan Li froze as if she was a marble statue, petrified into a single position.
'No…It can't be…'
The fates would stop this.
'It can't…it just can't…'
Actuality, however, disagreed. There was no denying this. A presence nearly swallowed her, a presence that had been twelve years past.
"What's wrong, Mother?" Her daughter questioned apprehensively.
"She's
back."
There was the delicate shatter of a teacup as it sailed to the floor. The young woman's eyes widened as realization hit her in the face. For how could she cease to forget the phrase that had been drilled into the very fiber of her being?
The two women looked at one another for a moment before the younger took out two twin katakana's, while the elder fingered a small, delicate, yet deadly dagger concealed in her fan.
And upon reaching a silent pact, two took off sprinting.
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Eriol gasped and clutched his temples as a barrage of raw power assaulted him. The pain was swift, crashing upon him as the wave breaks upon the sea, and he was left shuddering and sputtering as a memory arose, unbidden, from the recess of his mind.
Cobalt eyes widened marginally, hidden small glasses.
"It couldn't be…" He breathed.
Reality, however, proved otherwise.
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"Ah, Xiao Lang," Tomoyo sighed with mockery dominating her features, twisting her face into a grotesque parody that left Sakura in chills. "What shall I do with you?"
Syaraon pursed his lips. "Kill me." He spat out hoarsely.
Sakura's emerald eyes widened, but Tomoyo's harsh laughter prevented her speech.
'Is he crazy?' Sakura screeched to herself.
"You've always amused me, Little Wolf." A smile twisted her lips unnaturally. "That's what set you apart from all the others. But I think not, though the idea appeals to me. It would be much too simple to wipe out your miserable being from existence." Onyx flashed.
"No, my dear sorcerer. I have much more in store for you than that. To kill you now…that would bring me no pleasure."
"So this is a game?"
Tomoyo quirked her lips, pondering, "Yes, I suppose you could call it that. This is a game. My game. And therefore there's only one rule."
"And what would that be?"
"I win."
Syaoran's lips warped into a humored smirk. "I think you're lying."
Ebony eyes narrowed, before lifting an eloquent eyebrow. "Oh?"
Syaoran's
amber eyes laughed at her. "You're weak. Much too weak to kill me now."
Amusement fled from Tomoyo's features like the summer birds, leaving her eyes as cold and flat as a flint.
"If you're so eager to perish, I suppose I shall have to grant your request. You've just signed your death warrant, boy."
And with that, she lunged as the air was slashed through with a katakana.
One scream, one cry…and there was nothing.
Blood scarlet strands fluttered lazily to the ground, and Tomoyo's possessor stared in astonishment at the hair.
Then she laughed. A high, reedy peal of laughter that rang with unsuppressed mirth.
"I suppose I should have expected this." She smirked. "Wonderful. There's no sport in this if you didn't have your wits."
And with that, the black aura that had engulfed Tomoyo lifted, and Tomoyo pitched forward to the unforgiving floor as the mist vanished into the air, hollow words filling the void she had left.
"I'll be waiting."
The room was silent for a moment, before Syaoran spoke.
"Good timing, Hiiragizawa," Syaoran breathed, wheezing softly. And with that, exhaustion crashed upon him, and his legs crumbled beneath him.
Sakura nearly flew towards him with a cry, and collapsed besides him.
"Don't worry, Sakura-san." Eriol stated quietly as he scooped Tomoyo up, placing her upon a spare bed. "Syaoran-san will be fine; he's just overexerted himself."
Sakura bobbed her head hesitantly, and Eriol helped her heave the unconscious sorcerer onto the other bed. Sakura plopped down possessively on a spare chair, gently caressing his lax hand, resolute not to let him out of her sight.
Eriol sighed, weariness etched upon his face as he headed out the door, in search for the elusive nurse. This was only the beginning…
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Darkness…a sense of weightlessness, yet a strange sense of trepidation lurking conspicuously in the midst of the void. Almost imperceptivity, Syaoran shuddered as a cold raked upon his skin. Almost. 'Oh, is the Little Wolf frightened?' Syaoran turned futilely, but of course, there was nothing. The voice that haunted him chuckled, bemused. 'Ah, still as foolish as ever, I see. But do not worry. You are not my only conquest, Little Wolf. I have lied in wait long enough. The world should see what power I wield…and the only one whom stops me shall perish…the Card Mistress.'The cold breath of fear swept through him, and he found for a moment, that he could not breathe. Finally, as he clawed his way to consciousness, the cruel laughter faded, but it still rang through his mind, as did her warning…
'…She is next little one…'
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Okay, I lied. -_-; The plot bunny isn't out...well kinda, sorta anyways. I guess that'll have to wait till next chapter, when stuff actually starts HAPPENING. *Gasps* Whoa! What's that I see? Could it be a…PLOT?! Hehe…anyways, I'm really sorry I haven't updated in a while. I had everything in my notebook…and then I lost my notebook. Fun. But here it is, hoped you enjoyed it. Thankies to all whom have reviewed! Especially windy*wings! And rejoice, next chapter, something is going to happen, other than mindless drivel! Well…maybe.
