A/N: Okay people, so I'm updating a little early but treat it as a treat from me. I'm going on a class trip tomorrow and won't be back till Sunday night and I'm gonna have a very busy, busy Monday, so I figured I should update this a little early. Just a little warning before you guys read it though. This is the last chapter for 'This Bitter Taste of You'.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10:

Bleed Me Dry

"Wait…" she breathed and he found his body obeying. Why could she not see the power she had over him?

"What?" His body was hurting like hell but his heart ached much worse. She was tearing him up inside. Could she not see how her soft voice affected him? Made him long for her? How her constant rejections made him suffer?

"…Why? Why did you … Back in Tokyo…Y-You took his heart… Why?"

"I took his heart?" he repeated, his tone mocking and hollow at the same time, his voice still nothing louder than a whispered breath. He did not want the other two to wake up. Not that they'd be able to stop him if he wanted to leave… but he'd rather not see the disappointing proof of how he was not needed by any of them. After all… even if they woke… they'd never really ask him to stay and mean it as well.

"…Fourteen years of my life." He turned around to look at her, "Fourteen fucking years of my life…I gave up them up without a thought. My freedom, my soul, my body… my heart… I've lost count of the number of times I risked my life for the one I love. But then again, no one is ever expected to keep track of something like that."

"What does that-"

"That Syaoran you're so in love with is my clone." He interrupted, noticing the way her breath caught in her throat as he uttered those words. He pushed on regardless of her reaction, "He was created for the sole purpose of collecting your feathers, Princess. That heart you mentioned? It was mine. I gave it to him. I fell in love with you the day I first saw you fourteen years ago. Seven years later, I was forced to make a wish to that witch to turn back time. I spent seven years suspended in that tank, longing and craving for human touch, knowing that I would not have such a luxury simply because I broke a taboo."

She was listening to his tale, transfixed in her place, eyes wide as she stared at him. Only the barest rise and fall of her chest told Syaoran that she was really there and not just some statue made out of pale marble and stone that was placed before him. His body itched and trembled with need and pain. He needed a shot so badly but he forced himself to keep on speaking.

"I could do nothing but watch from the eyes of that copy. Watch as you fell in love with him while I could not help but fall in love with you all over again. When I came back, I knew I would not be accepted immediately. After all, I was replacing someone you all loved. But I had been foolish enough to hope that maybe… maybe, you'd all learn to accept me for me. I was such an idiot. A hopeless, love-struck fool, to believe that. I really should have known better." Something warm and wet slid down his cheek as he stepped closer to her once again. The princess shrank in on herself, her green eyes darting past him towards the door. Another sharp pang attacked his heart. She was afraid of him. She probably only saw a monster every time she looked his way. A monster that stole the one she loved. A monster that… that wore the face of the one she loved.

"It killed me…" he swallowed thickly, his hands reaching out to pin the girl in place, "every time you turned away, every time you chose to rely on that magician for support."

"S-Syaoran…" she whispered, her tone unable to hide her fear as he pressed his trembling body against hers.

"The other two… Kurogane-san and Fai-san… I could stand their hatred, their accusing stares, their cold shoulders. I could endure it all if only…" He brought his mouth closer to hers, his eyes boring down into her wide, scared orbs. "You never even bothered to see that I was waiting for one word. All you ever had to do was ask, Princess. I loved you so much I would have happily laid down my life for you without a thought. Even after you treated me like a monstrous leper… You know what's funny? You could have slit open my throat and even then… with my one last dying breath… I'd have apologized for bleeding on your clothes. I know you hate me for everything that's happened, but I can't stop loving you. I've tried. Believe me, I've tired, but I can't."

"You don't remember it because it never happened this time around, but I can't forget the time I spent with you, I can't forget the way you smiled at me, the way you smiled for me. The way you looked at me. The way you used to call my name… I gave up everything for you, you know. A part of me still hopes you'll love me back, but," He breathed against her lips, "Even though I've told you everything… I know you can't ever do that. After all, you love my clone now." He pressed his mouth against hers in a harsh kiss, feeling his magic slowly tear at his heart, the warmth rising along his chest, moving up his throat to his parted lips, leaving his body numb and strangely cold as it left him. She struggled against him but he did not relent, keeping their mouths attached until every last bit of the spell had left him. "There." He said coldly, letting go of her as he stepped away, "even my heart is yours. Give it back to him if you want." Letting her drop to the cold floor, he turned on his heels, walking away without even looking back. He stopped near the door, laughing a soft mirthless laugh, "All I will ever get is your first kiss." Then he was gone.

A/N: So how many of you want to kill me? ;) ;)

I did have a sequel planned for this but I haven't really been able to write much for it. *sighs* but anywho, I'm gonna leave it up for you guys to vote. Pick any of the following and leave your response via review, k? The poll isn't working for some reason. .

a) Are you kidding me? I want more damn it

b) Don't bother if you're gonna keep the chapters as short as this one