[A/N: ^_^;; Okee Brennend, no more authors notes in the middle of the story, I promise! *waves little white flag around in the air* … o_O;; *ahem* Anywhoosles, it sure took me a while to get this chappie out… Eype…I just discovered the wonders of Fushigi Yuuigi!! Yay!! Tasuki/Chichiri is the best pairing, no da! ^_^;; Yuppers…so, back to CCS… *pauses for moment of ranting:* I'm so sad!! I was at a store, and I found a deck of Clow Cards, and I wanted to get it really bad cuz I'm not really an expert on the cards, and I need to know what cards there are so I can make this story more realistic, but I didn't have $30…*overdramatic sniffing shall ensue* Oh well. *pointed glare at parents* Time for the story!]
Disclaimer: Blegh. I don't own Card Captors Sakura. [Insert typical yet humorous whining of the Authoress here.]
Title: Love Painted Black
Chapter VI: Pride Stands Alone
"Go back to bed, Hiiragizawa. I'm in the middle of training." Li bit out impatiently, the twin swords drifting slowly to opposite sides as he refused to meet Eriol's charming navy colored gaze.
The mage's smile was flawless, hiding any semblance of emotion save happiness. Instead of complying and leaving, he simply sat down on the floor near the wall. ^_^ "I think it's more fun to watch my kawaii little descendent practice his kata than to sleep…"
Syaoran snorted, relenting faster than he himself thought he would have…no need for Eriol to start coming up with reasons to stay that would embarrass him, ne? "Fine. Just, don't bug me."
The mage nodded silently, his dark eyes glittering with something akin to mischief as he folded slender fingers in his lap and bit back a yawn.
Syaoran turned his back to Eriol, resolutely sliding into a crouched position before starting again in his whirl of lightning fast movements. It wasn't more than a few minutes later, however, that his movements stopped abruptly and he landed graciously in a defensive stance in the middle of the room, his eyes darting around nervously.
"So you sense it too?" Eriol questioned amiably, his eyes closed in seeming content as he slowly stood.
"Hai." Li nodded curtly, his tensed body never once budging an inch even as his eyes continued their incessant darting and his senses were suddenly unleashed, mapping out through the apartment, trying to locate the source of strange energy.
Then, abruptly, after minutes of tense, awkward silence, the shoji door slid open to reveal a tall, silent young girl wearing odd triangular tipped, knee high blue boots and a Chinese style double tailed fighting gi with a crimson diamond standing stark in the middle of her chest. Her sapphire/white hair was pulled up into twin-looped tails atop her head, the rest flowing down in a straight wave. Sharp, large cerulean eyes were narrowed, her hands, clad in fingerless gloves, were already clenched into fists as she started towards Li, an almost unnatural smirk curling her lips.
"The fight card…" He breathed as she came to a stop in front of him, bowing slightly; formally requesting a match.
"Li-kun," Eriol suddenly called, his ever-present smile fixed into a slight frown. "It wouldn't be wise to accept her challenge. You've been pushing your limits right here, and the Fight Card will be more than you can handle. I can sense the presence of another card here also…an elusive one…"
Syaoran scowled. "I can handle myself Hiiragizawa." He snarled, laying the two swords down onto the ground to initiate a fair fight, both weaponless. "Besides, the Fight Card will fight weather I accept her challenge or not." And with that, he returned the bow, and they both sprang forward.
Two fists connected suddenly in midair with every amount of force shoved into the single attack; both fighters aiming to size up their opponents strength before beginning the actual fight. A metallic crunch of bones being shattered rang through the silence with a near deafening effect, as the two fighters then sprung backwards a good distance to inspect the damage that had been dealt for a quick moment.
The Fight Card's knuckles were bruised badly, the muscles in her hand twitching slightly in agony that now jolted through her arm. Syaoran, however, was in much worse shape.
With a start, he realized that indeed it had been his bones that had been broken, shattered in many spots, though none of the shards were quite out of place. Blood ran down to his fingertips, dripping in steady splatters across the ground, his hand altogether too numb to register any real pain.
"Itte…" He murmured absently, letting his ruined fist drop to his side as he clenched his other and slid into a defensive stance. The Fight Card did the same.
Eriol's sun-tipped staff suddenly materialized into his pale hand, raised over his head in preparation to cast a spell in aid to his descendent when suddenly the little wolf shot him a Death Glare™, shaking his head.
"I can handle this, Hiiragizawa!" He shouted, his jaw set defiantly, his dark eyes glimmering in determination.
//Why is he always so stubborn? What does he have to prove?? Is it his pride that refuses to let him accept my help?…or does he really just hate me that much?// Eriol reluctantly lowered the staff, as, in a whirl of blue, the fight card was upon his descendent once again.
Punches and kicks flashed through the air, the intricate patterns of dodging and attacking wove a mystical dance across the floor as both fighters remained determined, unwilling to lose the fight, though it looked as though the Fight Card had the upper hand.
A left hook caught Syaoran abruptly, squarely in the jaw. Reeling from the sudden impact, the youngest of the Li clan could to naught to defend against the booted foot that slammed then into his gut, sending his body soaring backwards, coming to an abrupt and shattering stop when his back struck the far wall.
Eriol was rooted to the spot, his mouth slightly agape, navy eyes wide behind his glasses. Raising his staff again, the words of a spell begin to spill quickly from his lips before Syaoran could voice any protest. With a start though, his staff clattered soundly to the ground…the fight card had grabbed Li by the neck and hoisted him upwards so that his body blocked any magic the mage could throw at her…
Eriol's eyes narrowed slightly. He remembered the fight card well…in fact, it had been the one that he had spent the most time on creating. He instilled within the card a warrior's sense of honor, spirit, and strength…he had created it to fight, but only until she had defeated an enemy…he had taught it not to cheat or continue a battle that she had already won. He had taught her never to kill.
And here she was, using his descendent as a shield like a coward, after she had shattered the bones in his hand and beaten him until he couldn't move…
What kind of monsters were these cards? What kind of monster had 'She', the 'Mistress' been?
There was a moment of utter silence, suspense dragged in a long stretch as time slowly ticked by, Eriol not daring to move an inch as the Fight seemed to contemplate her next action when there was a sudden, solid, wet sounding crunch of flesh upon flesh.
Syaoran's elbow made solid contact with the Fight's jaw, every last inch of power within him dealt through that single blow, sending her stumbling backwards, sapphire eyes dazed and wide. Standing up and whipping around, the youngest of the Li clan suddenly held in his hand his large magical sword, transformed from the simple ball and tassel.
"By the power which flows through my bloodline, I command you, Fight, to return to your power confined!" The sealing incantation rang through the air with an unconditional superiority that accompanied the swift downward swing of the sword as it came to a jerking halt on a rectangle of myriad colors, red wind circling around, whipping through the small room, forcing the Fight card to liquefy into a stream of blue that crawled through the air, sucked into the card.
Slowly the wind died down, and the colors adorning the card's surface gradually faded, revealing the Fight's seemingly tranquil image, eyes closed, fists clenched, battle ready, at her sides.
"Li-kun," Eriol's gentle voice whispered from behind him as suddenly the little wolf collapsed, caught by a pair of deceptively strong arms before he could strike the ground, "I think you need some rest more than me now, ne?" ^_^
"Lemmie go, Hiiragizawa…" Syaoran's struggle was less than half-hearted as he felt himself relaxing into the warm embrace, his back screaming in protest to any movements and his hand aching with a dull yet sharp pulse. "I'm not…sleepy…"
"Oh yes you are," the mage chuckled, placing two fingers on his descendant's forehead and murmuring a sleep spell. Hoisting him up with a small wince of pain, credited to the still unhealed wounds from earlier, Eriol nudged the shoji door open with his toe before slowly making his way towards Li's room.
[A/N: x_X;; Wow, they both seem to be spending a lot of time in Li's bed, ne? *hentai snickering* ^_^;; *ahem* Anyway, I actually have a pretty good idea of how my next chappie is gonna be, so it won't take near as long to get out! Yay!! (Winter Break! Yay!!) o_O;; Anywhoosles, reviews will be appreciated! Constructive Criticism always helps! Flames are good too, I always need something to laugh about, y'know? ^_^]
The Fight: