Eriol's POV:
"Hey Syaoran! Where you been?"
"Ying Fa dragged me off to a carnival." Syaoran beamed. "The best part was the fireworks!"
"Tut tut, always the ladies' man!" I scolded, wagging a finger at him with a smirk on my face.
"Oh, come on. You know I hate when girls trail after me." he scoffed. "She dragged me off, I already said that!"
"Uh-huh." I really wasn't convinced. "Aaaand then she asked you to carry her home."
"The woman fell on me! She fell asleep and landed on me!" Syaoran growled. Sakura was on his back, and she really had fallen asleep. I grinned for a second longer, Meilin would love this and now I had awesome blackmail material.
"Well, put down your little lover and follow me, we gotta talk about the raid." I couldn't resist a last tease before I got down to serious. Syaoran looked ready to retort, but at the look of seriousness on my face he shut his mouth (wise, huh?) and set Sakura on a bench. For now, he'd obey, but I could count on being dead later . . .
First, I'd better explain about the layout and design of the hangout. It was built specifically and only for us. The halls twisted in a mind-numbing maze, which was meant to confuse intruders. However, they'd only be confused so if they made it past specialized traps that could only be turned on by me. Secret passages between hallways and rooms further confused unwanted visitors and made it easier for our people to escape. My room and a few meeting rooms were completely soundproofed.
"Ah, good evening Futomaki." Syaoran bowed hurriedly.
Futomaki responded with a growl, but at a glare from me he actually mumbled a greeting.
"Now, to business." I sunk into a chair. Futomaki settled carefully onto a couch, and Syaoran plopped down by the fireplace facing us. "Both of you know there is a threat of a raid."
Futomaki grimaced. Syaoran simply gritted his teeth, set his jaw and nodded.
"We need to start making preperations. Syaoran, I've already assigned you training everyone. Futomaki, it would be a great help if you could oversee the building of our defenses, or our fortifications. Would you mind doing that?"
"Not at all." Futomaki huffed gruffly. "However, I would like to train everyone as well." He sent Syaoran an oh-so-subtle (not) glare from the corner of his eye. Syaoran made the stupid choice and rolled his eyes in response, thus deepening Futomaki's hatred for him.
"Fine by me, but it's really up to Syaoran. Syao?"
He paused, thinking (yes, he's capable of that). "If you hadn't said you were for it, I might have." Another pause. Was this really Syaoran talking?! Scratch that, duh. "We have different styles, and different ways of fighting. I'm swords and complex martial arts. I can't teach them my type of martial arts; it takes too long. Your philosophy is, if it moves and it's an enemy you hit it. What will the members do when they're disarmed? When you train them, I will watch ramifications."
"Ramy-what-nows?" Futomaki blinked stupidly. Note to self: don't use fancy words around this guy. I cracked up at my own thought. Which, judging by Syaoran's expression, he'd thought the same thing.
"Ramifications." I repeated through my laughter. "The defenses? Our fortifications, as I put it?"
"OoOoOoOoh . . . I get it!" No you don't.
"All right then, we'll split it in half. One group trains in the morning, the other in the afternoon. We switch after lunch, so if one group is building in the morning it trains in the afternoon." I nodded, seeing it all in my mind. "Syaoran can train on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Futomaki, you'll get Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On Sundays, we'll rest. This'll keep up until the raid."
"What about you?" Futomaki looked somewhat confused.
"Oh, I'll just shuffle back and forth." I waved a hand dismissively. "Either that or set more traps."
"Okay . . ."
"That's all. Futomaki, you can go. Syaoran, I want you to stay a minute."
Futomaki nodded, standing slowly. As he opened the door, pain shot through his back and he started to fall. Syaoran, of all people, rushed to his side and helped him stand. Futomaki nodded his rough thanks, then left.
Syaoran stared at the door, leaving me in my own thoughts. I frowned, thinking of the premonition both Master Clow and I had had. Splashes of blood, Satosuke's triumphant glare, and then black. I couldn't make sense of it, and neither could Master Clow. However, as my gaze focused on Syaoran's back for a split second, I understood and realized what I had to do.
Said subject of my attention turned to face me, and his expression showed pure surprise. Apparently, I was frowning too deeply for his comfort, and I knew my eyes held fear and worry.
"E-Eriol . . . ?" he called me tenatively back to the present.
As suddenly as the frown had appeared, I whisked it away. I gave Syaoran my best smile at the time, which I knew would come out pitifully weak.
"Syaoran . . . I'm gonna die in this raid."
"W-WHAT?!?!?!" he stammered in surprise, eyebrows shootink up. "Oh, no, I get it. You're making a sick joke, right?"
I just stared and stared at him. Comprehension dawned in his eyes.
"You . . . you're not joking? You really think you're gonna die . . ."
"When I die, you'll be leader." I hung my head. "However, since we both know now, I want you to come to my room every night after dinner for—"
"Don't you dare say 'lessons', Eriol!" He interrupted. "You are my leader, so as your subordinate I know my opinion is overruled. But you are also my friend, and as your friend I 'm full prepared to get down on my knees and beg you to change your mind."
"But . . ." I tried, surprised. It's really really really rare for him to get down on his knees for anything.
"First of all, you will not die." He continued, certain of what he was saying. "Second, if you don't die I won't be leader. Third, I'm definitely the wrong choice. Tomoyo, Takashi, even Futomaki would be a better leader than I would."
"But . . ."
"We are friends, Eriol. We are supposed to go through life together. We are supposed to grow old together. We are supposed to die together."
"S-Syaoran . . ." I'd never heard him this quiet.
"Know this, my master Eriol: no matter how sure you are, I will not let you die." He looked me in the eye, then nodded and crossed to the door. "Remember that."
I know he felt my hurt gaze on his back as he left.