[A/N: Hiya all! ^_^;; I see you liked my last chappie! Wai! I'm…so…happy!! o_O;; Hmm…just a few things to share with you that you'll need to know to understand this chapter: Syaoran lives in his own apartment in Japan, cuz his clan sent him there to capture the Clow Cards all alone (he had to have somewhere to live, ne? I believe this point is vastly overlooked in the series.)… I do believe that he has a butler named Wei, also, although that might just be the side effect of reading WAY to many FanFics with false information. Oh well, if they can be wrong, so can I. Wei -well, MY Wei- is a sort of old, irate butler that is like Li's 'father', in the sense that he takes care of Syaoran. Although Wei knows better than to get emotionally involved with Syaoran (mostly because he knows that Li refuses almost all emotional contact), he gossips worse than an old woman. This will be imperative to the plot line – or so I'm planning – so bare with me here folks! ^_^;; Also, kata is a form of morning exercises preformed by many swordsman of ancient Japan. It is believed to free your mind of any troubles, while improving your skills…or something like that x_X;; *ahem* Anyway, enjoy!!]
Disclaimer: I own CCS!! Muahahahahaha-- *choke* x_O Iiieeeeeeeeee…. Okay, so maybe I don't…. *sob*
//blah// = thoughts… x_X;; This chappie wouldn't upload right, no matter how many times I tried, so whenever I put it in italics, it would just ignore it… Blegh…so I had to use those little //'s…
Title: Love Painted Black
Chapter V: Denial Abounds(Sorry, I couldn't think of a better chapter title…)
"You…I…I did that to you?"
Eriol's kind smile remained in place as he staggered backwards, latching onto the wall for support. "Maa, maa… you had no control over what you were doing… it isn't your fault."
The shorter boy scowled, scrambling into a standing position, the Blood Card tucked deep into one of his pockets without a second thought. "Why…why didn't you fight back?!"
The mage looked slightly amused. "Because I could have seriously hurt you, my little wolf…"
Syaoran brushed the 'my little wolf' comment off with a slight growl, then proceeded to point to Eriol's obviously broken ribs. "But you got beaten to a pulp! I could have handled a little sleep spell or something…" He snarled, his large sword suddenly transformed back into a red tassel with small black ball.
The amused expression deepened. "Are you starting to worry about me Syaoran? If I didn't know better, I'd think you were beginning to actually like me!"
Li's eyes were instantly fixed into 'Death Glare' mode, though they were cast slightly to the side. "Don't flatter yourself Hiiragizawa," he scoffed, shifting slightly from foot to foot. He opened his mouth to say something else, but the words died instantly on his lips as the mage pitched forward suddenly, a fit of weakness wracking his bloodied body. Acting upon natural instinct, Syaoran immediately caught Eriol, his cheeks a bright crimson flush. "My god," he mumbled whilst dragging the barely conscious boy over to his bed, "You're heavier than you look…"
"You're no light load yourself Li-kun," A slightly mischievous smile played on the mage's lips, "And when have you looked at me long enough to predict how much I weigh?" Now Eriol was smiling lazily, like a Cheshire cat. It most defiantly was a smile that promised trouble, if you know what I mean. ^_~
Syaoran was beet red in an instant, hastily shoving the covers over Eriol's form as he grumbled out something that sounded suspiciously like "…Million-year-old hentai…"
"Now now Syaoran-kun, its not nice to talk about your elders that way…"
This earned the poor beaten mage an extremely dangerous Death Glare, though he brushed it off with a simple smile. Syaoran's eye twitched slightly. "… … … I would have thought you would have lost consciousness by now … … …" Came the little wolf's oh-so-subtle reply.
"Maa, maa… " Eriol's smile was somewhat pained. "Actually, I'm on the verge right now…"
Syaoran was tapping his foot impatiently. "Che. I'm going to go get Wei…He can call the hospital…"
His words were cut short when the mage shook his head. Li blinked, raising his eyebrow. "…Don't call the ambulance, Li-kun," He insisted softly.
Syaoran resisted the urge to scratch his head. "Nani?"
"I'm…" Eriol smiled sheepishly as his eyes began to drift closed, the blessing waves of unconsciousness finally washing over him, "I'm terribly afraid of hospitals…" And sleep claimed him.
A large sweatdrop rolled down the side of Li's face as he watched Eriol snore lightly through half-lidded eyes filled with exasperation. "…baka…" He muttered before turning around without a second glance backwards and trotting out towards the small kitchen of his spacious apartment.
"Good to see you are awake Master Li," A kindly old man stated from his position in the kitchen. "I am making some soup. It should help your cold." He turned around, expression somber. "And your fight has ended I see?"
Syaoran started slightly, staring down at the ball and tassel that had just minutes ago been his powerful sword. "Hai…you knew?"
Wei nodded, turning back towards his cooking. "The bandages are in the closet by your training room." He said simply, a hidden smile quirking old lips. "And the pain medicine is there as well. It would be courteous to return the favor of helping your guest out when he is unwell."
The old butler's comment hit Li like a brick wall as a flush spread across his cheeks. //Of course… Hiiragizawa took care of me when…when…yesterday.// "Hai…" He stuttered, starting off towards the largest room in his apartment; the training flat.
It was a rather vast room, consisting of nothing but plain white walls and matted flooring. Hidden behind a trick wall were shelves and shelves of weapons; mostly ancient Chinese and Japanese swords, daggers, arrows and the like, hung elegantly as though they were decorations instead of tools he used each day in his morning kata… he frowned as he realized that today had been the first day in over a year that he hadn't been up before dawn exercising his physical skills. He would have to come back later and make up for lost time.
But not now. Turning, he opened the small closet stocked full with gauze wrap, medication, cleaning alcohol…just about anything to heal an ailing body. Loading his arms full of many of each, he carefully started back towards the bedroom.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fists flew through the empty air in rapid succession. Left, then right. Beads of sweat flew off of lightly tanned skin, throwing sparkles into the atmosphere around a single boy, fixed upon the lone intent of beating some invisible force.
A foot flashed upwards next, then another twirl of lightning fast movements that ended in Li Syaoran folded into a crouched position close to the ground, glistening skin shining slightly over his bare chest that rose and fell rapidly.
His kata had always been a particularly strenuous experience…but today he was pushing himself to his limits. Anything to clear his tangled, utterly confused mind.
//How could I have let myself be beaten…I was to weak…To let that Card take over my body…I have to get stronger!! I lost control…I could have killed someone…I could have killed…him…//
He had retrieved two Kodachi's from the shelf, both were well crafted ancient Japanese Short Swords. The weapons were mostly used in pairs, their small size giving the advantage of speed and a better defense; they had always been one of his favorite weapons…
//Why?! Why did he refuse to hit me back? I could have killed him! Why did he not want to hurt me so bad??//
A single blade darted through the air so fast that it was a mere silver slash, followed closely by its brother Kodachi.
//What is it about him…why do I get so flustered whenever he is around?? Like some damn schoolgirl in love…//
The blades became faster, a river of liquid silver flashing occasionally through the air as Syaoran danced swiftly about the room, as though weaving some sort of intricate pattern along the floor.
//But…but I love Sakura…right? With all my heart…with all my heart…with all my …heart…//Brows knotted together, he didn't even notice as the shoji door slowly slid open with much less than a simple 'swish!' and 'thud.'. Another silver flash was seen, Li's intricate dance of movements never ceasing as dark blue eyes regarded him intently.
//Damn him…damn Hiiragizawa! Why can't he just leave me alone?! I just want to be…alone…all alone… Just left alone…//
//Alone…//
The deafening echo of a single pair of hands clapping suddenly split the heavily laden silence. Syaoran's head snapped to the side and he was glaring inaudibly at the owner of those said hands… "What. Do. You. Want. Hiiragizawa?"
^_^;; "Maa, maa… I see you get very irritable when doing kata." The mage stepped – or rather, hobbled – across the threshold, his good-natured smile donning the porcelain featured face.
"Humph." Came the intellectual reply. "You shouldn't be up."
The smile came with a wince. "I am fine, my little wolf, I used some of my magic to heal my broken bones. All I have now are some bruises…"
Syaoran's gaze was instantly averted to the swords in his hands. Seeing Eriol's pain only reminded him of his own weaknesses…his own weaknesses that caused him to hurt others. It was then and there that Li promised himself that he would never let another card take over his body.
For the sake of those he…he…
For the sake of others.
[A/N: MUAHAHAHAHA! Denial abounds!! Woo-hoo! x_O;; *chokes* (for those of you who were wondering, he was going to say 'For the sake of those he loved' … but he didn't… cuz then that would be avoiding my rant on character development last chapter, ne?) *ahem* Anyway, sorry 'bout the particularly dull chappie… I'll make next one's more interesting, I promise! *hands out Lemon Pocky to all of her reviewers* Wai! ^_^ I wuv you!!!]