Misconceptions

Author's Notes: I'm half done with this on my writing notebook. No matter what, I will finish the posting of this in FanFiction Dot Net.

No characters will die during the course of "Misconceptions". It may seem so at some points, so I'm warning those tragic-phobic peoples not to fear. Some angst though.

Many thanks to discreet and missioner of anime for helping out with this.

Also, don't think I'm a boring such-so. Just…well, a smiley doesn't look right here, in this document… After all, I'm a childish one. It's lucky that I didn't scribble stuff about my alter-personalities here. Hmm, I'm doing that now. O.o

Um, er, a slight reminder. This is partially AU. Kero-chan is perfectly capable of keeping the Clow Cards in place.

Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter One. Thanks.

Chapter Summary: Syaoran looks back on the terrible moments passed, and decides to escape from the bustle of the Li Mansion.

Chapter Two: Return of the Clow Card

Syaoran's Point of View

She looked too happy. Just too much, it was like heaven to see her grin that joyfully…as if I completed a very important mission.

And it was. Something I said made her laugh and smile. But it would be eternity (if ever) till she would be truly like that again. Yes, she would hide behind her merry façade she strived to always project, but I could almost always see through it.

The doors to the mansion banging wildly against the walls of my home, and I didn't bother to get up even as one of my sisters nudged me gently in the side. Eventually my fiancée -- no, I should stop calling her that now -- Meilin got up ladylike and closed the twin entrances shut.

I wonder how she could move so quickly in that traditional costume of ours. Her motions are extremely graceful…wait, did I think that!

Yes, I did.

And I have every right to admire her in that way, but why do I feel uneasy?

Maybe it's the green long sleeve I always wear. The annoying thing. But that's not right…I'm used to wearing this. I have been for the past twenty-three years of my life, how can I deny it?

I mean, deny that I can't stand being here with my entire family anymore. It was better when it was just me and Wei, and maybe Meilin too. But now I want, no, I need to get out.

There's a tug at my arm as I make a move to leave. Meilin.

"Syaoran, where are you going?" she asks in a prissy tone, and I have to hide the look of irritation I know is pasted on my face. I politely reply, "Outside. Stay here, and no, I won't go just because of her."

She must have been thinking about that, because she had a relieved expression worn. I must know her more than I thought…

The only thing I bring is a raincoat, not wanting to have the trouble of changing to something more casual. Not even if I still have blots of blood on me.

Somehow, I regret that was even on my mind…

/ ( Estimate one and a half hours ago ) "A Clow Card."

Having developed her magic abilities in those eleven years, she detected the long unfelt presence faster than I did. But in enough time I sensed it myself. But a Clow Card? We - or she - sealed and collected them a long time ago, and there were only fifty-two. Right?

As soon as she uttered those words a silver object came flying towards her, and it was no more than a metallic blur before my eyes. I closed them for fear of what seemed inevitable whenever a sword was involved, but there was no shout or gasp of pain.

Opening my eyes again, I caught one glance of the moment. A blade, appearing ethereal and unnatural, flew past me with a disturbing scarlet stain on it.

I heard a tired and dim sentence from ahead--

"Return to your true form…Clow Card…"

A familiar rectangle drifted by me, and landed in the crimson-spotted hand of Sakura Kinomoto.

"Red?" I questioned myself aloud, then it hit me.

Blood.

I rushed to her with a short delay, taking her injured body in my shaking arms, but she still had a smile upon her paled face.

That smile…she never ceases to be my light in every situation…

"Syaoran, I sealed it…" said she, showing the dangerous Attack Card to me. Instead of replying and wasting further time I ran as fast as I could back to the Li Mansion.

I knew from all my years that she did always hide her troubles and feelings if they would make problems for people, and even now she was trying to conceal her pain by a bright grin.

I didn't believe her when she unsuccessfully assured me, "I'm fine Syaoran." but I pretended to.

"I know you are."/

Additional Author's Notes: Feel free to correct me in anything, may it be spelling, grammar or CCS-related. I only know the ending through research, and the information I've gathered isn't exactly perfect…;

In the next chapter we will find out what the heck our Syaoran and Sakura are ranting so much about.

I will post it in a maximum of two days time. If I don't, tell me to snap out of myself please?