*I don't own Card Captor Sakura
*AU
Dedicated to the reviewers:
azn-angel: Well here's an update.
StarChild: Sorry for the delay on this one. Next should be out soon enough.
Kara Kasai: Thanks for the critique. I hope this chapter flows better than the last one.
kerofan: Yes Sakura is ooc but this is an AU.
Stacy Janice Elton: Thanks. I'm glad you like it.
gohansfan: I'll be sure to check out your fic when schoolwork isn't breathing down my neck.
Athar_Luna: Yep. Syaoran is already somewhat emotionally attracted to Sakura. Whether Sakura will ever feel the same is still in the air.
*-*: Thanks.
goldmund: Yes, there definitely is a difference. And Eriol always plays a major role in all of my CCS fics. He is after all the legendary Clow Reed.
Beauty of the Heart
Chapter 5 - Inner Light
Amora
***
Within minutes after the fight card struck, the entire school cafeteria was in uproar about how everyone apparently fainted at the same time. Some argued that it was déjà vu while others thought it was caused by a rare plague. After minutes of heated discussion, nobody came up with an answer. Syaoran walked in just as a supporter for the plague theory started throwing food at the others. An apple came hurling his way followed by shouts and warnings to get out of the way. Without another thought, he materialized his sword and cleaved it in half before it got to him. There was absolute silence in the room.
It took Syaoran a few seconds to realize what he had done. He looked at the sword in his hand, the fighting suit he was still wearing, and the finely chiseled abdominal muscles that showed through the tight material and his eyes widened. He hadn't changed back.
"Xiaolang..." Syaoran's head snapped up at the familiar voice that said his name. Burning green eyes locked onto his own fiery amber ones as Sakura stared at him with a dreamy smile on her face. Their concentration was finally broken by a growl that came from Sakura's right.
"Who the hell are you!?" Tsuyoshi yelled menacingly while getting out of his chair. It was then that Syaoran realized that he was the center of attention for the entire school. Almost every girl was either eying him up and down or giving him smiles. Every guy except for one was giving him death glares or threatening looks. The only exception was Eriol Hiiragizawa, who was smiling mysteriously. Syaoran couldn't help but feel that he knew every one of his secrets.
"Nice of you to finally show up Li 'Xiaolang'..." Eriol said emphasizing his name. The feeling increased tenfold as Syaoran raised his eyebrow but said nothing. "Come on, I need to talk to you." Eriol finished and dragged Syaoran out of the cafeteria. As soon as they left, the entire lunchroom burst into conversation.
"Did you guys see that wicked sword?"
"Holy crap he was hot!"
"Who is he? Is he new?"
Tsuyoshi wasn't pleased in the least when his girlfriend was openly fawning over another guy. He silenced the entire room with by banging his fist against the table. When he saw that every pair of eyes was on him, he went off on his triad.
"Who the fuck was that!" Tsuyoshi demanded of the entire student population. There was silence, as nobody knew who he was. "Well I'm going to find out. He's going to get a beating for acting like he owns the place. Who's with me?" There was a wave of acquiescence from most of the guys in the room. He smirked in triumph and looked over to his girlfriend. To his surprise, Sakura was still staring off into space with a silly grin on her face.
"Xiaolang..." she whispered not really paying attention to what was going on at the moment. Tsuyoshi clenched his fists and cursed. 'I'm going to kill that stupid bastard next time I see him!' he swore to himself. Across the room, another person was also lost in thought.
Tomoyo Daidouji was racking her brain for recognition of the strange kid that appeared. She knew she didn't know any Xiaolang, but there was something irritatingly familiar about him. While she didn't openly gawk at him like most girls did, she did notice that he was very good looking. He could rival Eriol in the looks department, and to her that was saying something. When she thought of Eriol's reaction, she became even more confused. It was obvious that her boyfriend knew who he was, but she was still in the dark.
After another minute of putting clues together, a sudden idea hit her. 'You will see Li-kun as his true self.' Eriol had said to her the day before. But that thought was preposterous. This couldn't be the same Li- kun that she had outfitted clothes for. Could it? People don't just change from hell spawn to divinity in one day. Yet if that were the case, all the clues added up. It would explain how Eriol knew Xiaolang and also how he wore exactly the same outfit as the Li who came to her house did.
Tomoyo wasn't too proficient in Chinese, but she could translate the basics of it. Xiaolang, if taken in the literal sense, would translate to Syaoran in Japanese. That was too strange to be a coincidence. She would need to ask Eriol about it later when she could and demand an explanation. Turning her head to look at her best friend, she saw that Sakura was still thinking about Xiaolang. The way she had said his name indicated that they knew each other on a more personal level, but how could that be?
It was obvious to Tomoyo that Sakura was one of those Carpe Diem people. She would grasp at the best of the present, and if another even better thing came along, she would discard the old without a second thought. It was unfortunate that she was hung on Xiaolang, as Tomoyo knew she wouldn't have given Syaoran a second thought.
***
"It's nice to finally meet you Xiaolang." Eriol said as they stopped in an empty classroom. "I suppose that the curse the elders put on you is beginning to fade."
"Wha- how?" Syaoran stuttered with shock evident on his face. The last of his doubts that Eriol Hiiragizawa wasn't just an ordinary Restaurant CEO were dashed. His face was completely different somehow by just what was shown in his eyes. The glint in his piercing blue gaze said volumes about what he knew.
"Allow me to introduce myself Xiaolang. As you know, I am Eriol Hiiragizawa and owner of the Hiiragizawa Café." Eriol stated and Syaoran just nodded. "What you don't know is that I am Clow Reed. Or rather his reincarnation."
Syaoran's eyes widened in surprise and he stared intensely at the man who calls himself Clow Reed. After the truth was told, Syaoran could almost sense the power radiating off of Eriol in waves. There was no denying his identity. After years of research, the man who was the subject of countless stories and legends was standing right before him.
"Er...Clow-sama?" Eriol chuckled at the uncertainty. "No need for that Xiaolang. Just address me as a normal person please."
Syaoran nodded and asked what was on his mind. "Do you know what the elders have done to me?"
The grin faded from Eriol's face and was instantly replaced by a grim expression. The disdain was obvious when he spoke. "Yes I do Xiaolang. Unfortunately, the Li clan's honor and integrity has been severely diminished within the past few generations. The elders are power hungry and don't care about who they have to manipulate or exterminate to get it. You, like your father before you, are the prime target of the elders."
Syaoran's face showed no emotion as he just nodded. He had expected this for a while. The elders did not hide their dislike for him in any way. "You were subjugated to the 'aeternus deformis' curse."
"Is there a cure? I don't think this is temporary as this is the way the elders demanded for me to capture the Clow Cards."
Eriol shook his head at the statement. "You're right about it not being temporary. This particular curse will remain on the person forever. There is a counter, however. You need to complete the caster's demand within 40 days. It was used in my time as a form of blackmail."
"And just how many Clow Cards are there in total? There were only two appearances of cards within the past three days."
"There are 52 cards in total. Although Sakura has already captured a few cards, I don't think a card will show itself every day." Seeing Syaoran's look of disbelief, Eriol clarified his point. "There is another way to break the curse..."
"What is it? I'll do anything!" Syaoran exclaimed. Eriol shook his head and Syaoran felt all hope of ever becoming his original self drain away. "Have you heard of the phrase 'Love Conquers All'? When the ancients confirmed this, they weren't doing it metaphorically. Those words aren't just some sentimental declaration. Love is the ultimate counter for dark curses."
"So I don't have to collect the cards?" Syaoran asked with renewed vigor. The counter Eriol mentioned sounded easier than capturing the cards within the allotted time period.
"It's not that easy Xiaolang. The love has to be completely unconditional. You must open your heart to the other person so hiding your other form won't do."
"But that's impossible!" Syaoran interjected. "You've seen how people react to my other form. They won't come within 10 feet of me! It's doomed to fail..." Eriol chuckled at Syaoran's statement. "Do you really think love is based on looks Xiaolang? Do you honestly think that I would love Tomoyo any less if she weren't such a ravishing beauty?" Syaoran started to argue but Eriol cut him off. "Trust me on this. I have a feeling that the one your heart seeks is within your grasp. I'll warn you right now though. It won't be easy."
Syaoran nodded. He really didn't expect to be let off the hook, but the information Eriol gave him was intriguing. There was no argument on what course he would take if both promised a counter to the curse. He trusted his heart more than anything, and it told him to find someone who could accept him. He turned to Eriol and confirmed what he had thought of.
Eriol smiled as his descendant chose the path that he had expected him to. There was no doubt in his mind that Xiaolang had a fighting spirit and a pure heart. He would make an extraordinary leader to the Li clan. If only he could overcome this obstacle. "Don't worry Xiaolang. I'll do everything I can to help you." He said and held out his hand.
Syaoran smiled and shook the offered hand. A tingling sensation began to grow and he knew that his time in his real form was coming to an end. Eriol seemed to understand and backed away for the transformation. Syaoran swayed on his feet as the room grew dizzy and collapsed. He opened his eyes a little later to find himself on the floor with his school bag held out in front of him.
"You better change into your school clothes." Eriol said while holding out the bag. "We have 5 minutes before lunch is over." Syaoran gratefully took the offered bag and changed. He looked over to Eriol who wore a knowing smile on his face.
"Arigato Hiiragizawa." Eriol's smile grew larger and his eyes twinkled mischieviously.
"No problem at all Syaoran. No problem at all..."
***
It wasn't until Chemistry later that day that Syaoran anyone he recognized in class. Tomoyo and Sakura walked into the classroom just before the bell rang and took their seats. To Syaoran's surprise, Tomoyo looked over to him and smiled the exact same smile that was on Eriol's face during lunch. He wondered if she knew about him, but didn't have a chance to ponder when a set of glittering emerald eyes bore into his own. Sakura glared at him and muttered something under her breath. Syaoran assumed it to be vulgarities and sighed.
It was going to be harder than he thought.
A/N: I guess that is a decent place to end a chapter. Just a fair warning to all the S/S fans: Syaoran will have an EXTREMELY difficult time trying to win his heart's desire. But of course with Eriol helping, it isn't impossible.
*AU
Dedicated to the reviewers:
azn-angel: Well here's an update.
StarChild: Sorry for the delay on this one. Next should be out soon enough.
Kara Kasai: Thanks for the critique. I hope this chapter flows better than the last one.
kerofan: Yes Sakura is ooc but this is an AU.
Stacy Janice Elton: Thanks. I'm glad you like it.
gohansfan: I'll be sure to check out your fic when schoolwork isn't breathing down my neck.
Athar_Luna: Yep. Syaoran is already somewhat emotionally attracted to Sakura. Whether Sakura will ever feel the same is still in the air.
*-*: Thanks.
goldmund: Yes, there definitely is a difference. And Eriol always plays a major role in all of my CCS fics. He is after all the legendary Clow Reed.
Beauty of the Heart
Chapter 5 - Inner Light
Amora
***
Within minutes after the fight card struck, the entire school cafeteria was in uproar about how everyone apparently fainted at the same time. Some argued that it was déjà vu while others thought it was caused by a rare plague. After minutes of heated discussion, nobody came up with an answer. Syaoran walked in just as a supporter for the plague theory started throwing food at the others. An apple came hurling his way followed by shouts and warnings to get out of the way. Without another thought, he materialized his sword and cleaved it in half before it got to him. There was absolute silence in the room.
It took Syaoran a few seconds to realize what he had done. He looked at the sword in his hand, the fighting suit he was still wearing, and the finely chiseled abdominal muscles that showed through the tight material and his eyes widened. He hadn't changed back.
"Xiaolang..." Syaoran's head snapped up at the familiar voice that said his name. Burning green eyes locked onto his own fiery amber ones as Sakura stared at him with a dreamy smile on her face. Their concentration was finally broken by a growl that came from Sakura's right.
"Who the hell are you!?" Tsuyoshi yelled menacingly while getting out of his chair. It was then that Syaoran realized that he was the center of attention for the entire school. Almost every girl was either eying him up and down or giving him smiles. Every guy except for one was giving him death glares or threatening looks. The only exception was Eriol Hiiragizawa, who was smiling mysteriously. Syaoran couldn't help but feel that he knew every one of his secrets.
"Nice of you to finally show up Li 'Xiaolang'..." Eriol said emphasizing his name. The feeling increased tenfold as Syaoran raised his eyebrow but said nothing. "Come on, I need to talk to you." Eriol finished and dragged Syaoran out of the cafeteria. As soon as they left, the entire lunchroom burst into conversation.
"Did you guys see that wicked sword?"
"Holy crap he was hot!"
"Who is he? Is he new?"
Tsuyoshi wasn't pleased in the least when his girlfriend was openly fawning over another guy. He silenced the entire room with by banging his fist against the table. When he saw that every pair of eyes was on him, he went off on his triad.
"Who the fuck was that!" Tsuyoshi demanded of the entire student population. There was silence, as nobody knew who he was. "Well I'm going to find out. He's going to get a beating for acting like he owns the place. Who's with me?" There was a wave of acquiescence from most of the guys in the room. He smirked in triumph and looked over to his girlfriend. To his surprise, Sakura was still staring off into space with a silly grin on her face.
"Xiaolang..." she whispered not really paying attention to what was going on at the moment. Tsuyoshi clenched his fists and cursed. 'I'm going to kill that stupid bastard next time I see him!' he swore to himself. Across the room, another person was also lost in thought.
Tomoyo Daidouji was racking her brain for recognition of the strange kid that appeared. She knew she didn't know any Xiaolang, but there was something irritatingly familiar about him. While she didn't openly gawk at him like most girls did, she did notice that he was very good looking. He could rival Eriol in the looks department, and to her that was saying something. When she thought of Eriol's reaction, she became even more confused. It was obvious that her boyfriend knew who he was, but she was still in the dark.
After another minute of putting clues together, a sudden idea hit her. 'You will see Li-kun as his true self.' Eriol had said to her the day before. But that thought was preposterous. This couldn't be the same Li- kun that she had outfitted clothes for. Could it? People don't just change from hell spawn to divinity in one day. Yet if that were the case, all the clues added up. It would explain how Eriol knew Xiaolang and also how he wore exactly the same outfit as the Li who came to her house did.
Tomoyo wasn't too proficient in Chinese, but she could translate the basics of it. Xiaolang, if taken in the literal sense, would translate to Syaoran in Japanese. That was too strange to be a coincidence. She would need to ask Eriol about it later when she could and demand an explanation. Turning her head to look at her best friend, she saw that Sakura was still thinking about Xiaolang. The way she had said his name indicated that they knew each other on a more personal level, but how could that be?
It was obvious to Tomoyo that Sakura was one of those Carpe Diem people. She would grasp at the best of the present, and if another even better thing came along, she would discard the old without a second thought. It was unfortunate that she was hung on Xiaolang, as Tomoyo knew she wouldn't have given Syaoran a second thought.
***
"It's nice to finally meet you Xiaolang." Eriol said as they stopped in an empty classroom. "I suppose that the curse the elders put on you is beginning to fade."
"Wha- how?" Syaoran stuttered with shock evident on his face. The last of his doubts that Eriol Hiiragizawa wasn't just an ordinary Restaurant CEO were dashed. His face was completely different somehow by just what was shown in his eyes. The glint in his piercing blue gaze said volumes about what he knew.
"Allow me to introduce myself Xiaolang. As you know, I am Eriol Hiiragizawa and owner of the Hiiragizawa Café." Eriol stated and Syaoran just nodded. "What you don't know is that I am Clow Reed. Or rather his reincarnation."
Syaoran's eyes widened in surprise and he stared intensely at the man who calls himself Clow Reed. After the truth was told, Syaoran could almost sense the power radiating off of Eriol in waves. There was no denying his identity. After years of research, the man who was the subject of countless stories and legends was standing right before him.
"Er...Clow-sama?" Eriol chuckled at the uncertainty. "No need for that Xiaolang. Just address me as a normal person please."
Syaoran nodded and asked what was on his mind. "Do you know what the elders have done to me?"
The grin faded from Eriol's face and was instantly replaced by a grim expression. The disdain was obvious when he spoke. "Yes I do Xiaolang. Unfortunately, the Li clan's honor and integrity has been severely diminished within the past few generations. The elders are power hungry and don't care about who they have to manipulate or exterminate to get it. You, like your father before you, are the prime target of the elders."
Syaoran's face showed no emotion as he just nodded. He had expected this for a while. The elders did not hide their dislike for him in any way. "You were subjugated to the 'aeternus deformis' curse."
"Is there a cure? I don't think this is temporary as this is the way the elders demanded for me to capture the Clow Cards."
Eriol shook his head at the statement. "You're right about it not being temporary. This particular curse will remain on the person forever. There is a counter, however. You need to complete the caster's demand within 40 days. It was used in my time as a form of blackmail."
"And just how many Clow Cards are there in total? There were only two appearances of cards within the past three days."
"There are 52 cards in total. Although Sakura has already captured a few cards, I don't think a card will show itself every day." Seeing Syaoran's look of disbelief, Eriol clarified his point. "There is another way to break the curse..."
"What is it? I'll do anything!" Syaoran exclaimed. Eriol shook his head and Syaoran felt all hope of ever becoming his original self drain away. "Have you heard of the phrase 'Love Conquers All'? When the ancients confirmed this, they weren't doing it metaphorically. Those words aren't just some sentimental declaration. Love is the ultimate counter for dark curses."
"So I don't have to collect the cards?" Syaoran asked with renewed vigor. The counter Eriol mentioned sounded easier than capturing the cards within the allotted time period.
"It's not that easy Xiaolang. The love has to be completely unconditional. You must open your heart to the other person so hiding your other form won't do."
"But that's impossible!" Syaoran interjected. "You've seen how people react to my other form. They won't come within 10 feet of me! It's doomed to fail..." Eriol chuckled at Syaoran's statement. "Do you really think love is based on looks Xiaolang? Do you honestly think that I would love Tomoyo any less if she weren't such a ravishing beauty?" Syaoran started to argue but Eriol cut him off. "Trust me on this. I have a feeling that the one your heart seeks is within your grasp. I'll warn you right now though. It won't be easy."
Syaoran nodded. He really didn't expect to be let off the hook, but the information Eriol gave him was intriguing. There was no argument on what course he would take if both promised a counter to the curse. He trusted his heart more than anything, and it told him to find someone who could accept him. He turned to Eriol and confirmed what he had thought of.
Eriol smiled as his descendant chose the path that he had expected him to. There was no doubt in his mind that Xiaolang had a fighting spirit and a pure heart. He would make an extraordinary leader to the Li clan. If only he could overcome this obstacle. "Don't worry Xiaolang. I'll do everything I can to help you." He said and held out his hand.
Syaoran smiled and shook the offered hand. A tingling sensation began to grow and he knew that his time in his real form was coming to an end. Eriol seemed to understand and backed away for the transformation. Syaoran swayed on his feet as the room grew dizzy and collapsed. He opened his eyes a little later to find himself on the floor with his school bag held out in front of him.
"You better change into your school clothes." Eriol said while holding out the bag. "We have 5 minutes before lunch is over." Syaoran gratefully took the offered bag and changed. He looked over to Eriol who wore a knowing smile on his face.
"Arigato Hiiragizawa." Eriol's smile grew larger and his eyes twinkled mischieviously.
"No problem at all Syaoran. No problem at all..."
***
It wasn't until Chemistry later that day that Syaoran anyone he recognized in class. Tomoyo and Sakura walked into the classroom just before the bell rang and took their seats. To Syaoran's surprise, Tomoyo looked over to him and smiled the exact same smile that was on Eriol's face during lunch. He wondered if she knew about him, but didn't have a chance to ponder when a set of glittering emerald eyes bore into his own. Sakura glared at him and muttered something under her breath. Syaoran assumed it to be vulgarities and sighed.
It was going to be harder than he thought.
A/N: I guess that is a decent place to end a chapter. Just a fair warning to all the S/S fans: Syaoran will have an EXTREMELY difficult time trying to win his heart's desire. But of course with Eriol helping, it isn't impossible.