[A/N: C-chan is back, folks! XD –gets killed for the repeated, long absences- Eh heh heh… _ Blame my parents. I got grounded for flunking two of my classes, and wasn't aloud on the computer until I brought my grades back up in summer school. As such, I started writing the next chapter on random pieces of paper…Of course, then, half of them got lost. _ Eeeeeeevillll… (Once again, C-chan is Really, REALLY, REALLY sorry!)]

Disclaimer: They're not mine. Apparently, Santa doesn't bring you EVERYTHING on your Christmas list.

Title: Love Painted Black

Chapter X: Strange Allies

It was silent, then. Almost as though someone had sucked all of the sound from the small hotel room, leaving only the noise that was wind that drifted through the shattered window. The hush seemed fragile – Snow's strange words still drifting through the calm, like an echo.

But inside Eriol's calculating mind was racing with quick questions, quick answers… If Saran was the keeper of time, then things were suddenly starting to make sense. Why a boy with such inexperience in using time-magic could stop time completely was implausible before. Now, however, it was conceivable.

Syaoran's normally scowling face held an expression of confusion, and of vague tiredness. Beneath tanned skin, well-toned muscles were clenched tight. "So it's found the 'Master of Time'…me…" He hissed to Akurei, throwing the guardian a sideways glance. "Now what?"

The small red 'master of hell' glanced at Snow for a moment, then shrugged, its tiny black wings beating furiously at the air in attempt to stay aloft. "I don't know. I don't think the Mistress expected her emotions to filter into the Cards. She didn't always think ahead, when it came to things like this."

Eriol's dark navy eyes narrowed as he slowly straightened. "You must talk to her, Li-kun. She'll only listen to you."

"And what exactly am I supposed to say, Hiiragizawa?" The smaller boy snapped back, angry – though not entirely at just Eriol. "Nice to meet you, how about dinner and a date?"

"Keeper of time…" Her words formed a slow mantra, angry and sad and happy all at once. "I've found you…"

Icy wind seemed to wrap around them, spiraling like a powerful rope around both of the fighters - the suddenness of the invisible attack rendering them both helpless.

Syaoran let out a small choking noise, legs pinned in place as the ice solidified, hardening around his skin and clothes. Eriol looked to be in the same predicament, though his expression was less 'panic', and more 'calm, calculating'. Throwing a sideways glance at his descendent, the mage slowly clenched his fingers together, closing his eyes and mumbling quick words in the spidery language of magic. After a long moment, warmth pulsed through the ice holding both fighters down, causing the clear substance to glow red.

With a quick twist of his forearms, Syaoran broke the binds and landed in a crouched position on the floor. Fishing through his tiny arsenal of cards, he pulled out first the fight, then the mirror. Frowning, he knew he'd need as much help as he could get.

Pausing before he released any of the cards, he slowly exhaled. "What…what do you want? Now that you've found me…?" He didn't sound scared, just slightly confused.

She stopped, glancing at him as though seeing him for the first time. "Master of time…" She slowly reached out, slender fingers pale and ghost-like as they neared his form, her porcelain featured face contorted into an expression of …confusion? …hesitation? …fear…?

Then suddenly she threw her head back, icy lips parted in a silent scream, pallid eyes wide and unseeing as she stared at the ceiling.

There was a moment of awkwardness, which Li obligingly broke with a bewildered: "…the hell…?" Which seemed to spur Akurei back into motion.

"Clan boy!" The tiny thing snapped, whirling around and staring at said boy with wide, panicked eyes. "Make her stop doing that!"

Syaoran blinked, confused at the sudden command. "Huh?"

"NOW!" Who knew such a small thing could make so much noise?

Breaking from his momentary stupor, the brunette nodded and pulled out a long yellow incantation card, his sword at the ready. "God of lightn--"

"Li-kun…" A much calmer voice broke into the conversation. "I wouldn't do that, in here…We've done enough damage to this hotel already…"

Scowling, the youngest of his clan slowly lowered the incantation scroll to his side, and reached towards the two cards he held. Which one to use, in a situation like this? And why did he need to stop her from…screaming, for lack of a better word, though there was no sound issued from her pale lips? Why did Akurei seem so frantic…?

"Hurry…" The stuffed animal snapped impatiently, "She's calling the other two cards! You've gotta make her stop!"

Oh. So that was why.

Slowly curling his fingers around the Fight card, he yanked it upwards, tossing it into the air. At the exact moment that the tip of his blade slammed down onto the card with jarring reality, Li's word spiraled into black.

This was quickly becoming his least favorite part of summoning a card.

The place he was now was no more than a confusing paradox, twisting his senses until he was unsure of anything and everything.

With the exception of the Fight card. She stood, her furious aura washing over his mind and rooting him with certainty. She was there, and she was solid.

And she was his.

"You wish for me to fight?"

The card's voice was melodic and soft, yet harsh and demanding. Her eyes were pallid and cold, yet gentle and caring. But she understood that he had defeated her, and she must obey him.

"Yes." He answered.

"Very well." She answered, softly, loudly, happily, reluctantly… "We will fight."

Before he had time to respond, he was jerked back to reality.

But not quite the reality he was used to. This would soon become his second least favorite part of summoning a card – merging with it. Was it too much to ask that the cards had their own form? He didn't like sharing his body, his own mind with something that he had to defeat to gain its cooperation.

He could feel Fight's cruel, soft voice echoing in the back of his mind, and he frowned. If he was going to defeat Snow, he'd have to concentrate fully – that annoying voice wasn't helping much.

'Shut up,' he projected mentally, wondering if Fight had actually heard him. There was a falter in the cruel tone, before it chuckled. He scowled. It was laughing at him??

'As you wish.'

"…an Boy! Clan Boy!" Akurei's voice cut into Li's literal internal conversation. "Snap out of it!"

Syaoran blinked in surprise, before he batted the creature out of the air and away from his face out of pure instinct (he, later, decided to blame the Fight card's influence). Akurei stuck his tongue out at the young clan member, before picking himself up and shaking himself off. 'Brat…' could be heard muttered as the guardian took to air again.

With a swift jerk of movement, Syaoran was upon the snow card, foot flashing upwards to catch her in the stomach, sending her sprawling. Holding up an incantation scroll, he ignored Eriol's warning and brought the point of his sword blade down upon it. "God of lightning, lend me your power!"

A bright flash of the deadly yellow light emitted from the paper, slamming powerfully into Snow's fallen body. At the same moment that it hit, Snow released a high, keening screech. Gusts of wind spiraled forcefully around the small room, smashing all of its occupants, save Snow, against a wall.

With a rather muffled curse, Akurei pried himself away from the white stucco; his tiny wings flapping forcefully, only to be smacked back into the hard surface. Before he could do anything further, a dark, powerful energy invaded his senses like a slap to the face. A scowl crossed his stuffed-animal features, and he hissed one name into the fray: "…Nosferatu…"

Black light began to seep into chaos, easing the power of Snow's winds a fraction as it crept through the air towards her, sluggish like the flow of blood from a stilled being.  When the inky stuff touched her skin, another keening screech filled the air, and she stilled, falling over into a heap on the ground – unconscious.

"I think," a silky voice, soft and sly, whispered into Syaoran's ear as the brown haired boy jumped a good few feet in the air, "that now would be the opportune time to capture the card, hmm?"

Deciding to capture her now, and ask questions later, the youngest of his clan nodded, pulling his sword upwards and beginning the incantation that drew power from his own veins. "By the power which flows through my bloodline, I command you, Snow, to return to your power confined!"

Red smoke spiraled around him, as Snow's body slowly liquefied, seeping into the card which was lit up with a myriad of colors. Slowly it solidified, showing her image imprinted on the front, where she looked utterly and completely content. He sighed, defusing himself from Fight with but a flick of his mind, catching her card before it fluttered to the floor.

Whirling back around instantly, he pointed an accusatory finger at the newcomer – he appeared to be a boy of about 18-20 years of age, his figure was slight, and he only stood about three inches taller than Eriol. "Who are you?" Li demanded instantly, thankful for the help, though not entirely trusting this mysterious stranger.

Before he knew what was happening, the other had seized his hand, and was kneeling before Syaoran, his lips planted on the back of the palm he was holding, a kiss of greeting. Instantly flushing bright crimson, Li couldn't find it in his power to pull his hand away from the beautiful stranger's lips. "I…am your guardian, Master of Time."

"Nosferatu!" Akurei suddenly sprang up from his position by the wall, managing to land a good kick in the face of the newcomer, a vein popping on his red, furry forehead. "Still a slut, I see!"

Grabbing the stuffed animal from the air, Nosferatu smirked down at it – his expression superior. "Ah, Akurei, it's been a while. And I'm not a slut," he tossed a few stray strands of long silken black hair over his shoulder with a sickeningly sweet smile. "I prefer to think of myself as a flirt."

"Oh, yeah, 'flirt' my furry red a--" he was cut off as he was dropped unceremoniously to the floor, Nosferatu rising again to his feet as he caught sight of Eriol, a smile dragging itself slowly across his pale lips.

"Hmm…" he took a step forward – consequently closer to Syaoran – and laid a hand on the boy's shoulder, peering over it at the mage. Black eyes sparkling merrily at his fortune to be magically bonded to such lovely Bishonen, his expression now resembled that of a Cheshire cat. "Looks like I'm one lucky guardian…"

"NOSFERATU!"

[A/N: Wai! That chapter took FOREVER to write. Damn writers block. Ah well, I hope you like it. XD And don't even bother asking about Nosferatu. He's like that all the time, don't mind him. ^___^;;; Anywhoo… I'm gonna make my own spin on the story of Li-kun's father's death, so ignore it if I get any facts wrong… Thank you all sooo much for your reviews! I love you all! -huggleglomps- u.u You all rawk my sawks. Sankyou for being (semi) patient while I spurred my lazy ass onto writing. You all deserve Pocky! –hands out much Chocolate Coconut Pocky- (from the last Anime Convention that I went to! 3 It tastes sooooooo good! ;-; ) Once again, I am REALLY REALLY sorry about the wait! ;-; Forgive meee!]

The Snow:

The Fight: