[A/N: Warble! ;-; *dabs at misty eyes* You love me! You really Love me! *overdramatic sniffing shall ensue* … … … *ahem* Jeez, I didn't think I'd actually get another chappie out this soon… x_X;; Oi, don't get used to it though fans (*nonchalant coughing is heard in the background*) it won't happen often. You see, on a daily basis I'll switch loyalties from one Anime to the next, therefore losing my motivation to finish the story. Therefore many will be hung up on hiatus for a looong time… ^_^;; 'tis not my fault, I swear!! Anywhoosles, this again isn't a very yaoi-filled chappie…but I swear it's coming soon! Don't hate me! ;-; *holds up banner that says: "Violence is not the answer!!"* ^_^;; eh heh heh…anyway, *huggles Eriol-kun and Syao-chan* Wai… this chapter is done in Third person. Sometimes I'll randomly switch person's when doing different chapters, but I'll always put who's POV it is from if it is in first person. ^_^ Hoo-kay, on to the fic!!]

Disclaimer/Warnings: Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know the deal. Do I really have to go over this again?

Title: Love Painted Black

Chapter II: Running Away

Syaoran hadn't even seen Eriol enter the room, let alone cross it and stand directly behind him. In fact he was vaguely suspicious that the mage had simply appeared there seconds ago, seeing as he had  been watching the door for the last couple minutes…

Then he felt it. A strange warmth that rested gently on his shoulder…

Syaoran's head snapped around, and he glared dangerously at the hand that had found its way onto his shoulder. Mahogany eyes slowly traveled up the length of the offending arm, narrowing slightly on the way, until they rested on the owner's face. "Don't. Touch. Me, Hiiragizawa." He snarled with finality, each word formed into it's own sentence, halting speech giving the air of superiority.

Eriol's smile was sweet, though slightly mocking. "Aa, gomen." ^_^

The dark eyes belonging to the shorter boy narrowed more. "What do you want?"

There was a thick silence that followed, and the weight of Eriol's hand seemed to become heavier and heavier with each moment past. The mage was simply silently observing Syaoran with an intent stare that clearly stated he was completely comfortable with their close proximity.

The little wolf, however, had long ago learned to resent physical contact, and since then only allowed those very close to his heart to be even near him. Therefore, he gave a terse shrug of his shoulders, taking a few seemingly nonchalant steps away before halting and resuming his glare at the mage.

Eriol remained silent, smiling sweetly as always, until Syaoran began to fidget slightly.

"What do you want Hiiragizawa?!" He repeated, though it was more of a growl this time.

"Maa, maa," The mage replied mildly, his fingers folded absently in front of him, a dark curtain of hair shadowing his eyes. "You're in pain, ne?"

Syaoran blinked, thrown slightly off by the bluntness of this question. "… … …" came his oh-so-wordy reply as his mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he opted to simply glare.

And glare he did.

Eriol seemed quite amused by this, and his smile grew…different. "Hai. I see it now. You're the one who was crying."

Syaoran snapped his mouth shut before letting out a growl, then scoffed; "I did no such thing."

Eriol nodded, as though agreeing with himself. "Tell me, my little wolf, did someone break your heart?" Aha. There it was; Syaoran's entire form tensed, and mahogany eyes narrowed further still.

"Why the hell should I tell you?!"

"So, someone did." The brilliant mage concluded, glasses sending off sudden glints in the shadows of the darkened classroom. "I felt pain. Someone in pain. She broke your heart, ne? Sakura-san did…"

Li's fists were at his side, clenched and trembling, his cheeks taking on an enraged red tint. "That's none of your business Hiiragizawa!" He spat, fingers lingering near his pockets where his captured cards resided, though he knew sending the cards up against their creator would do naught. "Did you come here to rub it in my face?!"

The gentle smile disappeared, replaced by a shocked frown. "No, Xiao Lang, I --"

Eriol's sentence could not be finished, seeing as Li interrupted it, his face scrunched into a childish scowl that looked as though he was about to lose all resolve and cry… "Ugh! Just leave me alone!!" With that, he spun around, starting towards the door at a run, eyes squeezed shut tight, fists still clenched. He felt like a coward, fleeing the scene, but he didn't know how much longer he could handle it…how long he could handle this…it was all to much, and dissolving into tears in front of the most powerful mage – not to mention rival of sorts – was probably around first on his list of things that he never wanted to happen. It was still second to losing Sakura, however…

"Li, I --" Eriol tried again, shouting after the boy, who was far gone from sight. "Syaoran … I …" He spoke to the silence, to the darkness, his normally calm and cool expression showing something completely different from the usual façade he wore. "I…" His hand lowered to his side, before the sweet smile returned. ^_^ "Looks like my little wolf needs some cheering up…"

[A/N: Ohohohohohohoho… we all know what that means, coming from Eriol, ne? ^_~ *hentai smirk*]

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Syaoran didn't have the vaguest idea of how long he had been running, only the simple knowledge that he couldn't keep it up for much longer. The muscles in his legs were screaming in violent protest, and his lungs were burning with a lack of air. His vision blurred slightly with the unshed tears, the only noise vibrating through his ears was the constant slap of his feet against the unforgiving pavement on which he ran.

It's simple, he mused as he darted aimlessly forward, So elementary a thing as one foot, then another. No more, no less…all you need to keep going. Left, then right. Then again. Why can't life be this easy? Why can't love? A boy, then a girl. It should be uncomplicated, the concept is as such, ne? Then why…why is it so hard?

His own thundering heartbeat reverberating in the recesses of his chest, each painful inhale sounding of a gasp, each agonizing step after another sending jolts of pain up from the balls of his feet to his thighs where it lingered…the world outside was all but lost to his mind, vanished in the simple feat of running. He paid no heed to where he went, only that he kept moving forward.

It was a strange thing, that he had once believed that to run from your feelings was to be a coward…but it just felt so delightfully empty, with nothing holding you down but gravity itself, so vacant and clear. Soon the pain in his mind and body ebbed away, leaving only the blissful numbness that sent waves of needle-like prickles up both of his legs, slowly spreading through his entire form.

When he finally stopped, his legs collapsing beneath him as he slowly crumpled to the ground, Syaoran found himself in the middle of a large grassy meadow, far far away from anything that had even the smallest semblance to everything that he recognized. Tall bare trees standing stark against the gray, snow blunted horizon were what met his line of vision, an eerily creepy sight indeed. Taking in large gulps of air, Li lay curled into a fetal position, snow and ice stinging his already frozen skin. One cheek was pressed against the ground as he watched his surroundings dully with half closed mahogany colored eyes, his entire figure shivering violently from the assault of artic air.

There was a soft chuckle from somewhere above him, probably residing within the shadow of trees. Turning ever-so-slowly to face the noise, he sent one of his trademark 'stay-away-or-I'll-bite-your-head-off' glares at, but who else, Eriol.

"You--" He took in a short gasp of air, finding himself still at a dire lack of oxygen. "Get--*pant pant*--away--*pant pant*--from--*pant pant*--me!" He had managed to push himself up to his elbows. I…I shouldn't have run…so far, or so fast…

"Aa, Li-chan, I mean you no harm!" Came the half-bemused, half-defensive reply, as the reincarnation of Clow Reed himself stepped towards his descendent, smiling like there was nothing amiss.

Syaoran's fingers dug weakly into the snow as his hands curled into fists in front of him, his chest heaving, his hair falling to shadow the deep brown eyes. "… … Why?"

Eriol blinked, his expression puzzled. "Why what, Li-chan?"

Syaoran's eyes narrowed as he gave up the notion of sitting up fully and opted instead to simply lean on his arms. "Why did you come? To my school, I mean…"

"Oh, that," ^_^;; Eriol smiled again, shrugging slightly. "The pain. I sensed pain…Heartbreak, I suppose you could call it."

"But…why did you come to me? I'm not the only one who's…who's in pain right now…"

"Your hurt was great." The mage replied solemnly, as his eyes absently traveled towards the sky. "It … ripped a hole in the time/space continuum. A pain so great, that for a second, time itself slowed so greatly it had stopped. Only those with great power have the ability to do that… And you did. I had to come, to know what happened. I still need to know why it happened…or how. The powers that you possess are nowhere near that needed to stop time completely, even for the briefest of moments…" He trailed off, blinking as he looked down upon his descendent, who had lost consciousness in the snow during his audible contemplation.

He looks like…an angel… Eriol mused, whilst kneeling down next to the limp form to lift it into his arms. Li's dark hair was sprinkled with tiny flakes of snow, cheeks vaguely red in the first signs of a fever, skin cold and pale, lashes fluttered shut, ghosting against his cheeks. He looked adorably boyish, loosing all of the tough façade and aloof manner that he held up as a barrier to the rest of the world.

Why, the mage's own pale-skinned face was graced with a puzzled smile, is this boy so sad? He knows nothing of real pain, nothing of real sorrow…and yet he is so afraid of everyone… Syaoran Li, his name itself means 'little wolf', yet don't wolves, by nature, live in packs? Why, then, does this one seem to hate everyone…Why does he stand alone?

Is it because every time he opens up, he is let down? …Sakura-kun… you may have shut the final door to his soul by leaving. I only hope I can find the key.

[A/N: Sooo, what do you think? Angsty enough? *gets pelted with rotten fruit again* Wai! ;-; I'm sorry if I kinda got Eriol's character all messed up, but hey, I tried! Give a rabid yaoi fangirl her due! …maa, maa… don't kill me… remember…Violence is not the answer!

…

PLEASE REVIEW!!! I WILL LOVE YOU ETERNALLY IF YOU DO!! (P.S. I would LOVE any help from the reviewers … please give me ideas where to lead this story! I'm clueless! ;-; )]