[A/N: Muahahahahaha! I have discovered the power of the Thesaurus! All Hail! *bows* it makes me sound so much smarter…^_^;; *ahem* anyway, this chappie came out so much faster than I expected too…Wai…this story is just coming out so easily, it's spiffy! ^_^ … o_O;; This one has a wee-bit more humor in it, cuz I got semi-bored of all the melodrama…;-; again, not much Yaoi, but if I'm gonna stay in character, then I can't have them just suddenly start making out like rabbits in heat, ne? Blegh…and don't worry Daelan, this isn't going to be the stereotypical 'Syaoran gets sick, Eriol takes care of him, Syaoran – whilst sick, in bed – suddenly realizes that he loves Eriol, and they make love like there is no tomorrow'. Pfft…nope, I'm gonna add loads 'o plot twists, and drag this story out until you all can't take it anymore! Muahahahahaha! *gets pelted with rotten fruit* Wai… Yaoi won't be for a couple more chappies then, I suppose…gomen! ;-;]
Disclaimer: *ahem* I don't own Card Captors Sakura….however, Li-chan and Eriol-kun are mine! Muahahahahahahhahaha--- *gets cut off by a barrage of tomatoes, which are thrown by the anonymous fan base* o_O;; Awww…fine, so I don't own them…Happy?! *goes and sulks*
Title: Love Painted Black
Chapter III: The Blood Cards
Outside raged a gentle storm, with tiny flakes of the purest white floating from the gray clouds and massing against the vast empty sky. The ground was covered with a soft mantle of snow, look betraying the icy sting that winter truly carried. The wind howled like a lone wolf, its cry melancholy and lingering, and the forgotten sun lay hidden above layers and layers of clouds, morning elapsed into an unrecognizable noon.
Consciousness slowly ascended upon the youngest of the Xiao Lang clan, enveloping him first in a sweet oblivious numbness for a few protracted moments, before bringing about the well-known stabbing pain – a reminder of his earlier exertions. Gradually opening his eyes, he let them adjust to the scant lighting of a familiar room…
Too familiar…
It was his own.
Confusion hit him like a brick wall as he carefully sat up, propping himself upon his elbows and glaring around the room with a look that clearly stated 'I need some answers soon, or I'm likely to kill the first thing I come in contact with'. Who ever said he wasn't a pleasant person?
Fortunately enough for whatever unlucky soul he would have come in contact with, answers meandered through the door only a few brief seconds later. Answers in the form of Eriol Hiiragizawa.
Needless to say Syaoran was overjoyed (sarcasm abounds).
Oh yes, it was turning out to be a WONDERFUL day for our little wolf.
…and it was about to get better…
"Aa, Li-kun, I see you're awake!" ^_^
Syaoran's lip curled slightly, acquiring his trademark scowl. Eyes flickering about, he confirmed that this was indeed his room. In his house… and Eriol was there. In his house. Eriol Hiiragizawa, the reincarnation of Clow Reed himself, was in his house (not to mention his bedroom). Kuso…his head was staring to hurt! "How did you know where I live Hiiragizawa?!"
The mage's pleasant smile was slightly mischievous, as he bluntly brushed off the question and sauntered over towards the immobile boy. "Maa, maa… I see your fever is going down. Quite a feat, to run very nearly nineteen miles without stopping or slowing down…It will be hard to move, I believe…"
"Kuso…" Came the snarled, oh-so-polite reply, which elicited a chuckle from the mage.
^_^;; "You're a stubborn one, little wolf." He gave a disarming smile, which only caused Li's scowl to deepen.
Syaoran's mind was scrambling for an excuse to get out of bed, and away from Eriol. "…I need to get to school…" He abruptly muttered lamely, as he threw the blankets back and slid his legs off the side of the bed…which he immediately regretted, seeing as his muscles screamed in protest from the simple movements.
"It's Saturday. And winter break just started. You wouldn't try to be getting away from me, would you Syaoran?"
The youngest of the Xiao Lang clan growled again. "Don't call me that."
"Call you what? Syaoran? But it is your given name." The mage argued back plausibly, never losing his calm smile.
Mahogany eyes narrowed, as clenched fists pushed Li up into a sitting position. "So?! No one said you could call me by my given name! Not even Sakura did!" He bit his rant short, snapping his jaw shut and turning to face the window.
…he then got the distinct feeling that something was conspicuously wrong, seeing as there was a huge bluish-white, red-eyed bird soaring straight towards them…
With a loud, "Aaah!" He toppled out of the bed, landing in a comical heap near Eriol's feet. "T-the Fly Card?!" he then stuttered, blinking dubiously at the bird, "But…how…?"
"The fly card…" Eriol echoed absently, as he began to move towards the window, his dark eyes a mask of cold calculating penchant.
There was an eerie flash of light, as Li's pendent was suddenly transformed into a sword, and at the same time, Eriol's infamous staff had found its way into his hand. Without even thinking, Syaoran had tossed an incantation scroll into the air, bringing the flat edge of his blade to rest against the yellowish paper as it floated back down… "God of Lightning, lend me your power!" He shouted, as a great, vivid streak of lightning was released from the relatively small sized paper, sending a searing bolt towards the incoming bird.
There was a distinct shattering sound as the lightning ripped through the glass of his bedroom window, sending miniscule shards dancing across the ground. Eriol could do naught but shield himself from the brunt of sharp debris and sudden gusts of icy air, as there came a great cry that sounded of nails against a chalk board. The Fly's colossal form was sent spiraling towards the street below, followed closely by Li, who had leaped out of the window in hasty pursuit.
Landing shakily three floors below, he raised his sword with the bellowed incantation "By the power of Clow Reed, I command you to return to your power confined, Fly!!" There was a pause, as nothing happened. Fly's great red eye slowly began to peel open, as though mocking Syaoran's state of power. Li therefore growled. 'Why won't it become sealed by the incantation? Something…something…wait! Fly is Sakura's card…She transformed it. I need to use the new incantation…' "By the power if the Kinomoto Star, I command you to return to your power confined, Fly!" He commanded now, but still no reaction was elicited.
His brow furrowed, he pulled out another Incantation scroll, throwing it into the air as he again chanted, "God of Lightning, lend me your power!" The Fly card, which was again standing shakily on its feet, was struck down once more, though when it fell, it was rendered unconscious.
Syaoran's frown deepened as he lifted his sword for a third time, though halted in mid downward swing. Unspoken words whispered in the back of his mind, as a new sense of power reverberated through his very being… "By the power which flows through my bloodline, I command you, Fly, to return to your power confined!" The incantation was slightly different, though it flowed from his tongue seemingly as easy.
There was a moment of complete silence, then the Fly's body seemed to liquefy, snaking through the air towards Li as a card materialized beneath the raised point of his sword. Red wind picked up, spiraling around him as the glowing card gradually faded into view, taking on the image of Fly, the bird's majestic wings folded, it's head bowed.
Tentatively, Li reached his fingers out, taking the card as it slowly began to flutter towards the ground. Power seemed to vibrate through his fingers as they clutched the object, turning it over steadily, revealing the back.
Written in crimson letters, upon an intricate pattern of spider webs woven in black, were three simple words: "The Blood Cards".
[A/N: Muahahahahahahhahaha! How's THAT for a cliffhanger?! ^_^;; Gomen, I couldn't resist! Okay, now there's actually a plot to my story, so I believe I can get going on this. Again, I didn't actually expect this chapter to come out so quickly, but all those lovely reviews gave me such inspiration!! *big, wobbly eyes* I love you all!!! … … … and speaking of love, I need a beta reader desperately! Wai, pleeeeze help me!!]
(Remember all, that little blue button at the bottom of the page is your FRIEND! *points shamelessly towards the "Review" button* ^_^)
The Fly: