Full Summary: Sakura was your average well-loved girl that was graduating from medical school that year, and was she happy about it. She only had a year more of the torture of exams and waking up early in the mornings until she would finally be able to do what she really wanted – practice as a psychologist. But now that the exams for her third year had finally finished, she expected nothing out of the ordinary to happen to her. Just having her best friend/cousin move out of the apartment the two shared and attending her and her other best friend's wedding. Oh! And sharing the apartment with a new roommate, one of her cousin's fiancée's friends. A man named Li Syaoran. But who would have known this single man would turn her world upside down… along with all the expectations everyone had for her. Including her own.
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or anything like it, it strictly belongs to CLAMP. I do own this plot though, and a few characters here and there.
Thank-you to: My Dream's Shadow, VampiricEternity, LadyAkina, animemistress419, chikichiki, FlowerLover, MiniSparky, woLfie-chan, Avelyn Lauren, MIkala, MysticMoonempress, ori-chan, AnimeObsessionFantasy, Sakura Li 2389, iluvse7en09, Pinaygrrl, Tinaptran, Lonely Angel of Serene, czakali
Love Over Lust?
Chapter Thirteen
Written by: SweetBabyGurl
"Now Eriol-san, there's no need for the harsh words top use against your best friend," Tai taunted once more.
"You were my best friend Tai. And that's past tense. Take time to ensure you don't forget that," Eriol replied harshly.
"Then if we were best friends once, can't we be best friends again? I mean… doesn't everyone deserve a second chance? You're the one that taught me that," Tai told him.
"Yes, that's true that everyone does deserve a second chance but…" Eriol trailed off.
"But what? We're all human. We all make mistakes. I've realized my mistake. Now can't you let me go and allow me to make it up to you and Tomoyo-san. And most especially Sakura-chan. You don't want her to continue to be hurting do you? You always said you've always felt responsible for the death of her mother. So why not let us both be able to make up for it in one shot," Tai chastised.
"But, Sakura said that it wasn't my fault," Eriol whispered, the usage of his magic ceasing.
"Of course she would say that. You know how Sakura is. But we both know the truth," he coaxed.
"If I let you do you promise to make Sakura feel better?" Eriol asked, hopeful.
"Of course my dear friend. Of course," Tai assured. Eriol bit his lip for a few moments, thinking what the best choice would be. Eventually, he nodded and released his magic that was holding Tai allowing him to be free.
"WOOD! BIND HIM TO THE FLOOR!" Sakura cried from the door.
"Sakura!" Eriol cried, shocked.
"Eriol! What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you want him to be free so he can—" Sakura began, but was cut off.
"I freed him so he could make up your mother's death to you on my behalf," Eriol interrupted.
"Eriol! That was never your fault! And don't believe his bullshit! Come on Eriol, you should know better than this," Sakura screeched vehemently.
"But Sakura… I… I hurt you," her friend told her with his head hung low in shame.
"Eriol… it was never your fault. If anyone is to blame it's Clow Reed for calling her back into his time to retrieve the key for the Clow Cards. And Eriol, that's not you. You're Hiiragizawa Eriol, not Clow Reed," Sakura explained to him with a soft smile.
"But Tai said—" Eriol began.
"Don't believe a word Tai says Eriol," Sakura interrupted. "He lied to us all once; he'll surely do it again."
"How can you say that about me dear Sakura-chan," Tai mock gasped. "After all we've been through."
"You know, I was thinking just that myself. We've been through so much together Tai," Sakura told him as she lowered herself to his level so she could look him in the eye. "I wasn't sure if I'd be able to strip you of your magic. And the truth is… I can't."
"What! You're going to let him get away with everything that he's done!" Syaoran screamed from the entrance of the door.
"Of course not you moron!" Sakura growled playfully. "I'm just going to send him to another dimension," she added happily.
"What the hell!" Tai cursed.
"You heard me sweetie. Say goodbye to the earth realm," Sakura told him with a bright smile on her face although you could clearly see the hurt in her eyes. It was taking every ounce of emotional strength she had to do this. "Have all the hexes been removed Eriol?" Sakura asked before swallowing a mouthful of air. Solemnly, he nodded.
"Move Card," Sakura whispered as the card floated into her hand. The small spirit of the card poked its head through the top of the card just enough so it was able to see its mistress. "I want you to take Tai and send him to another dimension that's very far from here. Do you understand?" The little spirit looked quite uneasy but nodded. Within a flash of light, both The Move Card and Tai disappeared before the move reappeared once more.
"That seemed a little too easy," Syaoran remarked as he looked around cautiously.
"It does," Tomoyo agreed as she stepped into the room, knowing the commotion was partially over.
"Do you guys feel that? What's going—" Sakura began feeling something different in her body, eyes wide before she disappeared with a flash and was replaced with Tai who wore a menacing smirk.
"Didn't think you could get rid of me that easily did you?" Tai asked with the same smirk before knocking Eriol and Syaoran to the ground in one blow who were too shocked to respond in time, sending them into a spiralling sinister abyss.
When Syaoran and Eriol awoke they were tied to a chair, back to back. Tai was mixing together a concoction that neither them knew nothing of since they were out cold for such a long period of time.
"W-What have you done with Tomoyo?" Eriol asked the moment he came to.
"Oh! You boys are finally awake!" Tai exclaimed with a large grin before returning back to his mixture.
"What have you done with Tomoyo!" Eriol demanded.
"Not to worry. I've always liked Tomoyo, so I just knocked her out for a few days. She'll be fine soon," Tai assured with the wave of his hand, not bothering to look up.
"If you've hurt her I'll—" Eriol threatened.
"You'll what? Jump out from the ropes I've tied you with and kill me?" Tai asked laughing, still not bothering to look up. Eriol's anger was building up in addition to his worry for both Tomoyo and Sakura.
"Where's Sakura?" Syaoran asked.
"Well, since buddy Eriol here missed one of my hexes, we switched places. She's in another dimension with the cards while I'm stuck here without them." Tai explained running his finger down the list before he landed to a particular item he had to add to his potion.
"How do we get her back?" Syaoran asked once more, this time with urgency.
"That, I don't know," Tai growled in frustration. At this, Syaoran smiled and threw a dagger at him where it plunged him in the heart. Little did either Eriol or Tai know, while Eriol was distracting him with his talk of Tomoyo, Syaoran was subtly able to free one of his hands.
"No! Syaoran what did you just do!" Eriol cried as Tai fell to the floor in a heap, his blood falling into the crevices of the wooden floor.
"I got rid of Tai! Something that none of you bloody people seem to have the ability to do!" Syaoran shouted.
"You are honestly nothing short of an idiot! He was working on a potion to get Sakura and the cards back here! But no! You just have to kill him before he finishes!" Eriol exclaimed.
"Oh…" Came Syaoran's smart reply. "So what do we do from here?"
"I have no idea," Eriol sighed, the frustration and confusion evident in his voice. "First thing though… untie me!"
TBC
Readers: Hello there! How did you all enjoy the chapter? I hope you liked it. Sorry for the shortness, but this chapter was needed, and I promise the next one will be much longer. Sad to say, but this fiction is coming to a close. I was going to end off with a lot more depth here, but I thought I'd give it to you in a few more instalments instead of probably just two more. Please leave a review for me to let me know what you think alright? Thanks a lot and ja ne!
--- SweetBabyGurl