Love Potion
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura.
Warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Injury/Recovery
Pairings: Li Syaoran/Hiiragizawa Eriol, Kinomoto Sakura/Daidouji Tomoyo, Tsukishiro Yukito/Kinomoto Touya
Plot: After losing his memories, Li searches for someone who knows his past.
#MysticalWitchtober2023
10/01 - Love Potion
Kinomoto hovered at the foot of the bed, worrying her bottom lip anxiously. She stared down at Li for a few lingering moments before resuming her pacing, glancing towards the open bedroom door as she heard hurried footsteps approach.
"-aren't sure, exactly. When we found him, he was unconscious. He doesn't appear to be in any distress, but we can't seem to wake him."
Touya sighed heavily as he stepped through the door, Sakura offering her older brother a worried yet thankful smile, reaching out to take Daidouji's hand. They stood back to watch as Touya knelt beside the bed, examining Li's unconscious state with narrowed eyes.
"Do you think it's magic?" Sakura asked hesitantly, "Some half-spun spell that backfired? Syaoran mentioned he'd been working on something-"
Touya lifted a hand, asking for silence, then murmured a few words under his breath before reaching out to press his palm flat over Li's sternum, shining glyphs illuminating across his supine frame.
Nothing happened for several moments, then Li gasped aloud and jerked upright as if surfacing from underwater, Touya steadying him with strong hands on his shoulders, speaking to him soothingly as Li looked around frantically.
"Wha-? Where?" Li shoved Touya's hands away, frowning and knitting his brow. "Where is he? What happened?"
"Syaoran?" Sakura asked worriedly, taking her brother's place and reaching out to touch Li's shoulder, Daidouji offering her thanks to Touya, who'd taken a step back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you alright? Do you feel okay?"
Li met Kinomoto's eyes, and after a few moments he collected himself enough to speak, his words trembling. "I…I was working on a spell…"
Kinomoto hummed, rubbing his arm gently. "We found you in your workshop, in the center of a glyph circle. We broke the chalk line and took you out, brought you here to rest and then called for Touya…" She looked to her brother then, offering him a warm, grateful smile. "Thank you so much Nii-chan, sorry to interrupt your casting-"
"Be more careful next time." Touya narrowed his eyes as Li frowned up at him, the two staring each other down for a tense moment before Touya turned away. "I'm heading back, don't overdo it until that spell wears off."
"Thanks." Li huffed out under his breath as Touya stepped out of sight, Kinomoto squeezing his fingers gently before turning over his palm to examine the lingering chalk smudged across his fingers.
"What were you working on anyway? A new spell?"
Li nodded slowly, as if still in a daze, his eyes wandering across his room until reaching the open doorway. "I have to get back to the circle, piece together what went wrong-"
"We'll help you." Daidouji offered, stepping closer and holding out her hand. Between Kinomoto and Daidouji, they managed to get Li onto his feet and walked with him to the workshop, Li stepping forward on his own as they approached the broken circle.
He examined the smeared glyphs, crouching down to inspect the chalk smudged here and there while Kinomoto and Daidouji watched from a safe distance. The air felt charged with energy, thunderclouds brimming with lightning, prepared to strike at any moment.
"Syaoran?" Kinomoto called hesitantly, "Who were you asking for? When you woke up just now, you mentioned someone."
"It was a dream." Li murmured dismissively, and Kinomoto frowned, Daidouji propping a hand on her hip as she watched Li curiously.
"What sort of spell were you working on? Something this big," She gestured towards the intricate circle, large enough to cover most of the workshop floor, "Wouldn't it be safer to make this a group project? Sakura and I are happy to-"
"No." The reply was instantaneous, Li glancing up to meet Daidouji's eyes, looking between them before returning his attention to the messy glyphs. "I can do this myself, I just…" He shook his head, sighing exasperatedly, "I need more time. I made a mistake somewhere-"
"Syaoran." Kinomoto chided with obvious worry, pouting as she watched over him closely. "We're a coven, remember? We're meant to help one another learn and grow. You aren't alone anymore, you can trust us to have your back-"
"I'm fine, really." Li mumbled, his expression indiscernible as he met her eyes. "I can do this on my own." He paused for a moment, then added in a softer tone. "I appreciate your concern. Thank you, Sakura." He met Daidouji's gaze. "You as well, Tomoyo. You're both very kind. Sorry to have worried you."
Kinomoto sighed softly, then offered Li a shy little smile. "Well alright, if you're sure you're feeling okay…"
"Don't push yourself too hard." Daidouji nodded, offering a smile as well. "We're here for you. We're happy to help, however we might."
They said their goodbyes, and Li waited until their steps faded into silence before returning his attention to the circle, frowning as he reached out and splayed his palm across the hardwood.
"I saw him, I know I saw him, if only for a moment…"
He grabbed a piece of chalk and quickly redrew the broken glyphs surrounding the circle, taking care to strengthen his lines and wipe away smears here and there that might muddle his intent. Once he was satisfied, he stepped into the center of the circle and examined his work, nodding to himself once he was certain.
"Alright then, let's try again. Slowly this time…"
He reached towards the ceiling, flexing his fingers into the shape of a grasping claw.
"Reveal all that is hidden. Break the chains that bind. Relinquish my memories unto me, return what once was mine."
The circle began to glow, the glyphs surrounding his feet illuminating with blinding light before hovering mid-air, encompassing him in a giant orb. Bells chimed loudly, the room rumbling as energy gathered and continued to swell. Books fell from their shelves, a teacup tumbled from the table onto the floor, chalk" scattering everywhere until suddenly everything went still.
Li gasped and shuddered at the sensation of claws prickling his neck, breath ghosting against his ear, a presence behind him he couldn't quite place.
"Who are you?" Li whispered, shivering as he flexed his hand, keeping the spell precariously balanced, sweat trickling from his brow. "Speak to me-"
"You cannot break the chains that bind." He murmured against the shell of Li's burning ear, "You are not strong enough. Not yet."
Li grit his teeth, hissing as claws dug into his scalp, his shoulder, his nape. "What are you-"
"I am a remnant of the past. A shade, and nothing more."
The boy chuckled softly as he pressed closer, his chest flush against Li's trembling back.
"Little Syaoran, poor lost lamb."
The lips against his ear curved into a wicked grin.
"No idea of the things you've done, the horrors you're capable of crafting." He chuckled again, tugging Li's hair to tilt his head back, baring his throat. "Embrace your cozy new life, your warm little nest with your coven."
"I need answers-"
The creature snarled against his ear, yanking his head back further, and for a moment Li nearly lost his grasp on the spell. He grit his teeth and held on with every ounce of his strength, ignoring the claws biting into his skin.
"A shade…" Li whispered, his thoughts reeling as he tried to make sense of it all. "The one that cast you, they purposefully left such an imprint? To deter me from seeking the truth?"
"A kindness." He crooned against Li's ear, the grip in his hair gentling ever-so-slightly. "You were given a fresh start. Accept it gladly, do not dredge up a past better left dead. It will only cause suffering. For you, and for all those around you."
"Speak your maker's name." Li insisted, twisting his head, trying to look back at the creature pressed against him. "Speak their name-"
"Eriol." He growled, sharp fangs nipping at Li's ear, threatening to draw blood.
"Eriol…" Li whispered, and as soon as he did the creature surged forward and crushed him against the hardwood, sitting on his back, Li huffing and straining to free himself in vain.
"Do not squander this chance!" The shade screeched, raking his claws down Li's back, stinging sharply along either side of his spine. "You will not be granted another!"
"I have to know!" Li shouted back, reaching out and swiping his sweaty palm across a chalk-line, forcibly interrupting the spell.
The glowing dome surrounding him strained for several seconds before collapsing in on itself, the windows shattering outwards as bookshelves toppled over and loose parchment fluttered haphazardly across the workshop in disarray.
The shade was gone, and Li gasped for air while rolling onto his back to stare up at the cracks in the ceiling, his mind reeling as he replayed their interaction over and over again.
"Eriol." He whispered, and he felt something tug at his heartstrings, answering the call. It came from a great distance, but it felt strangely familiar.
Who was this person to him? What did any of it mean? Why couldn't he remember anything about his past, about the life he'd lived before being taken in by the forest coven?
When he had enough strength to stand he found his feet, wobbling on unsteady legs as he righted his chair and sat down at the small table, picking up a pen and an errant scrap of parchment. He left a note, then went about gathering up what he needed and shrugged into his coat, not bothering to lock up as he walked out the back door.
Somewhere out there, his past was waiting for him. He was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the risks involved.
The woods surrounding the small coven were dark and dense, pine needles softening his steps as he neared the central cottage where communal meals and meetings were held. He stepped up the small set of steps and rapped his knuckles against the door, waiting patiently until he heard movement inside.
The latch unfastened with a soft click, and the door opened, Tsukishiro peering down at him in surprise. "Syaoran? Is everything alright?"
"I need to speak with Yue."
Tsukishiro blinked in surprise, then pushed up his glasses with his fingertips and nodded lightly, smiling as he stepped back to allow Li inside.
Tsukishiro walked with Li to the kitchen, where Yue was elbow-deep in bubbly water, cleaning dishes from their shared evening meal.
"Yue?" Tsukishiro called, and his twin glanced up with a frown, his eyes on Li.
"What are you doing here?" Yue asked, returning his attention to the dishes. "It's past curfew, and there's a full moon tonight. Shouldn't you be casting?"
"I need your help."
Yue looked up again, holding Li's gaze for a few moments before sighing and rinsing his hands, his gaze shifting to his twin. "Yuki, would you mind? I know you were on your way to meet Touya…"
"It's alright." Tsukishiro replied with a smile, gesturing towards the large dining room, rolling up his sleeves to resume cleaning duties while Yue and Li stepped aside.
Once they were alone, Li crossed his arms over his chest and looked up into Yue's eyes with a frown, neither speaking for several tense moments before Li began. "Does the name Eriol mean anything to you?"
Yue didn't react, not that Li had expected him to. Emotions weren't something Yue revealed often, even to his trusted coven. He considered for a moment, then murmured, "I'm assuming you're here to request a spell?"
Li nodded, and Yue waited for him to continue. "I need to find him, this Eriol. Could you craft a seeker spell to locate him?"
Yue narrowed his eyes, tilting his head slightly so his long braid tapped against his shoulder and chest. "If I were to, you know the rules. Leaving coven grounds after curfew is forbidden, expressly so during the height of a full moon."
Li balled his fists, but didn't respond. Yue pressed on further.
"These rules are in place for a reason, Syaoran. It's dangerous-"
"I didn't come here for a lecture." Li interrupted, frowning as he returned Yue's glare. "Are you going to help me or not?"
"Fine." Yue flexed his hand against the air, turning it over and gathering energy into his fingertips, blue light swirling above his open palm. "Light the path Syaoran seeks. Guide him to Eriol."
The light burst into a multitude of glowing blue butterflies, and Li promptly followed after them as they flew towards the open window, not hesitating to loft himself over the windowsill and out into the garden.
He ran between cottages, following the footpath weaving through the forest away from the coven and into the wilds. The wisps lit his path, never drifting too far ahead, never fluttering quite out of sight. He ran and ran, until his lungs burned, until his legs threatened to give out, and as he reached the edge of the forest and stepped out into the flower fields the moonlight beaming down from high above bathed the entire world in an eerie pale glow.
The butterflies had gathered around a figure standing in the field, surrounded by blooming flowers, red magic swirling around her back and shoulders in an illusion of fairy wings.
"Eriol…?" He whispered, and she turned to look at him, an impish smile twisting her delicate features into something alluring and wicked.
"Oh my, what's this? A little sparrow who's lost his way?" She lifted a hand, and ruby fire blossomed at her fingertips, her eyes dazzling in the firelight. "It's past your bedtime, child. Run back to the safety of your coven, before you've wandered too far to return."
The butterflies circled around her for a few lingering moments before continuing on, and Li chased after them without looking back, leaving the ruby fairy behind, her laughter ringing across the flower fields.
The butterflies guided him to a small pond hidden amongst the flowers, and flitted across the glowing glass surface before sinking inside, fluttering down into the depths. Li frowned, staring down at his reflection and the fading light of the butterflies, then he reached up to touch his throat and whispered an incantation, a collar of brightly glowing glyphs appearing around his throat. He took a deep breath, then dove into the water after them, and as soon as he entered the water he could feel the energy swirling all around him.
He took an experimental breath, and when finding his spell had manifested flawlessly he continued further and further down into the depths, his eyes on the blue light of the butterflies far ahead.
Li was uncertain how long he traversed the cold dark before something appeared up ahead, the butterflies swirling and gathering together before pressing through the surface of a great mirror, beckoning Li to follow. He reached out to touch the mirror, pressing both palms flat and pushing into the dimly lit room beyond, and after a few moments the barrier gave way, and he was able to step through to the other side.
He fell to the floor with a clatter, coughing wetly and shivering as he looked around, assessing his surroundings. He was in a storage room of sorts, empty potion bottles and various sized boxes of herbs and powders stacked neatly along the far wall. There were footsteps overhead, and several voices conversing in a language he didn't understand.
He got to his feet, drying himself with a whispered spell before shifting his satchel to his other shoulder, exhaling a trembling sigh. The butterflies had disappeared, which meant he'd arrived at his intended destination. He stepped towards the closed door, reaching out to touch the handle, and as his fingers made contact a jolt of electricity seared through him and knocked the breath from his lungs. He yelped and recoiled backwards, knocking over a reed basket as he went, scattering dried flowers everywhere.
Hurried steps approached the door, confused voices just on the other side. They hovered for a moment before the spell sealing the door was broken, and the handle twisted slowly, the door opening just enough to allow a pair of young girls to peek inside.
Li's eyes widened a bit as they stared at him, whispering back and forth. He recognized them both, but they were younger, and from all appearances they had no idea who he was.
"Sakura?" Li tried hesitantly, the small brunette inhaling in surprise, her eyes widening to something near comical, the girl at her side watching him with a curious pout. She said something that Li didn't understand, and he looked between them before offering apologetically, "I'm sorry, I can't understand what you're saying. Is Touya here? Or maybe Yukito? Or Yue?"
The girls exchanged a look, then Kinomoto and Daidouji stepped away from the door and watched him closely, waiting for him to follow.
They led him down a long hall, then up a flight of stairs to a shop area, soft daylight pouring in through the curtained windows, songbirds twittering merrily in the garden. Daidouji and Kinomoto went to the window facing the shopfront and called out for someone nearby, and after a few moments two cats jumped onto the windowsill, both fixing Li in their sights and staring at him intently.
Li approached slowly, realizing after a few moments that they must be familiars belonging to someone watching over the girls. He gave a polite nod in greeting, then asked, "I don't know where I am, could you help me? I'm looking for Eriol."
The cats exchanged a glance, the yellow tabby flicking his tail irritably while the solid black blinked slowly, one of his ears twitching lightly. Nothing happened for quite some time, then a series of church bells rang loudly in the distance, and Li turned his gaze towards the world outside the shop.
No longer were they surrounded by forests and flower fields, but rolling hills of swaying wheatgrass stretching towards the shoreline, a glittering beach forming a golden crescent around a clear blue gulf before fading into a deep indigo sea. There were small cottages and gardens here and there, and a small town nestled at the foot of the hills just before the beach.
Li sighed softly, his chest aching with something he didn't understand. A bittersweet longing, a nostalgia he didn't have memories to explain.
"Syaoran?"
Li turned towards that voice, and as their eyes met searing pain bolted up his spine and sparked in the back of his skull, and everything faded to black.
-x-
"-shouldn't be here. It's dangerous for all of us."
"What would you have me do? Cast him back into the mirror to drown?"
"Honestly, Kero. You've grown so soft."
"Shut it, Suppi!"
Li groaned quietly and shifted against the floor, blinking slowly as he pushed himself up, quickly realizing he was trapped in the center of a magic circle, golden runes glowing and pulsing all around him.
Standing outside the circle were two boys with feline-esque features, sharp eyes with slit pupils, cat ears and large fluffy tails.
The yellow tabby spoke first, his tail swaying behind him as he propped a hand against his hip. "You shouldn't be here! How did you even find the gateway to begin with?"
"I'm certain Yue had something to do with that." The black cat sighed, crossing his arms over his chest, one of his ears twitching. "There's butterfly dust all over the storeroom."
The yellow tabby clicked his tongue irritably, letting out a displeased huff. "Ruby must be slacking off, otherwise he would've never made it this far."
"I'm sorry, but who are you?"
The boys exchanged a glance, then introduced themselves in turn.
"I'm Kero!"
"My name is Spinel."
Li watched them quietly for a moment, then asked, "Where's Eriol? Wasn't he here before?"
Before either could speak, footsteps echoed down the hall, and a hooded figure appeared, a bright pink potion cradled in his hands.
"Hello, Syaoran."
Li's eyes widened and his breath hitched, and his chest ached at hearing his voice. Something otherworldly, both angelic and haunting, borne of nightmares and of dreams.
"Eriol?" Li whispered, searching the shadowed hood for any hint of a face. "Are you really him? I…" Li shook his head, his brow furrowing. "I need your help. My memories-"
"Before we begin," The shadowed figure approached, kneeling down beside the circle, the barest hint of nose and cheeks visible in the golden glow, "I need you to drink this."
Li glanced down at the potion he was holding, then up to search the darkness for his eyes. "What is it?"
"It's a remedy of sorts, though the effects are only temporary." He tilted his head slightly, and Li caught the sheen of glasses with his movements, the oversized hood brushing against his cheeks. "I need you to trust me, Syaoran. I'll explain everything I can, but only if you drink this. Will you do as I ask?"
Li considered for a moment, then gingerly nodded, reaching out with open palms. The figure reached through the barrier, and placed the potion gently in his hands, their fingertips brushing slightly.
Flashes of jumbled memory flooded through him for a heartbeat before fading away once again, Li nearly choking as emotions rushed through him with a strength he hadn't expected. "Oh gods, what was…?"
"Drink, Syaoran." He encouraged gently, still kneeling just outside the outermost ring, Kero and Spinel quietly observing their exchange.
Li uncorked the potion, examining the mixture for a moment before lifting it to his lips, breathing against the rounded lip, searching for his eyes.
He paused, lowering the bottle slightly, and then he whispered, "Show me your face?"
The figure shifted to lower his hood, and Li's heart kicked into overdrive, hammering against his chest and drumming in his ears. The figure offered a gentle smile, his dark eyes eerily beautiful, like the depthless sea, or the starless sky. His tousled hair was an inky black, darker than the forest, blacker than ravens' wings. He was enchanting, captivating, without a doubt the most beautiful boy he'd ever seen.
"Syaoran." He whispered, reaching out to brush his fingertips over the barrier between them, coaxing him once again to drink.
Li held his eyes, lifted the bottle to his lips, and drank the potion without another thought.
Once the bottle was empty, the other boy broke the chalk line to release the spell and shifted closer, watching Li with a tender expression he couldn't begin to understand.
Li set the bottle aside, then asked with a shaky breath, "Who are you? How do you know me?"
"Oh, sweetheart." Hiiragizawa murmured, reaching out to take his hand. "I'm so sorry this happened, I'm so very sorry about everything. I thought I was protecting you, but I know now that was a mistake. I never should have let you go."
Hiiragizawa drew Li closer, his brow pinched as he searched those warm chocolate eyes he knew so well.
"Your memories were locked away, in hopes of breaking the spell that's been cast upon you. I wanted you to live some semblance of a normal life, apart from me. Now that you've returned home, now that you're here with me again, I'm never letting you go."
"Wait, what…?" Li whispered, blushing lightly as Hiiragizawa traced fingertips over his nose and cheeks. "What does that mean? What are we to each other?"
"You're the love of my life, the other half of my soul." Hiiragizawa whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Li's lips, sharing breath for only a moment before drawing back again. "I missed you so much, darling. I thought of you every moment we were apart."
Li's chest clenched tightly, his stomach twisting as he tried to make sense of what Hiiragizawa was saying. "We…we're lovers?"
"We're far more than that." Hiiragizawa chuckled softly, pressing another kiss to Li's cheek, leaning close to speak against his ear. "We're bound, you and I. We wove a spell together, we shared a love potion, and entwined our hearts as one."
Li's eyes widened and his breath hitched, stumbling over his words as he met Hiiragizawa's eyes, "We did? But that's…love potions are restricted. You're saying we made one together in secret? Then why…" Li shook his head, "My memories…? Why were they-?"
"The spell went awry." Hiiragizawa murmured, his expression mournful and torn, his lips trembling. "Instead of earnest, heartfelt love, it changed into something more, something dangerous. An unhealthy obsession, a mania - one that nearly cost us everything."
Li held Hiiragizawa's eyes, then asked hesitantly, "Did I…?" He arched his brow, anxiety tying knots in his stomach. "Did I hurt you? Is that why my memories were sealed away, and we were separated?"
Hiiragizawa hummed, nodding solemnly, taking Li's hand and lacing their fingers, squeezing gently. "Since then, I've been working on crafting a cure. The remedies I've discovered thus far only offer temporary relief, rendering the symptoms manageable, but I fear that being close to one another again may only exacerbate our mania…"
Li nodded slowly, careful reaching up to cup Hiiragizawa's cheek, who smiled and leaned into his palm, closing his eyes. Li's breath caught in his throat, and he leaned in to kiss across those dark lashes, Hiiragizawa tilting his face up further to offer Li another kiss.
"This feeling." Li whispered, pressing his hand over his sternum. "Is…is this real? Or is this a side-effect of the potion?"
"Who can say?" Hiiragizawa whispered, trailing his lips along the curve of Li's jaw. "All I know is how good it feels to be with you. How I long for you, how I crave your touch more than any other pleasure I've ever known."
Li gasped softly as Hiiragizawa slipped a hand beneath his shirt, petting over his stomach and waist teasingly, pressing closer between his legs and smearing the chalk beneath them carelessly.
"I love you." Hiiragizawa whispered, his voice trembling. "I know you may not remember what it was like when we were together before, but what you feel now? That's real. That's as real as anything-"
Li shoved Hiiragizawa down and planted himself across his waist, looking down at him hungrily as he stripped his shirt off overhead, panting unevenly as he reached down to rid Hiiragizawa of his own. "I want to remember all of you-" He kissed up Hiiragizawa's throat, nipping at the shell of his ear. "Break the binding, please? If you sealed my memories, surely you must be capable of restoring them-"
Hiiragizawa gasped and arched into Li's touch, wrapping his arms around Li's shoulders and tugging him closer, starting a slow rhythm between them so they were grinding against one another. "I didn't, I-" He moaned softly, his cheeks flushed a soft, rosy pink. "My father crafted the seal, he's the one who sent you to live amongst the forest coven-"
A frustrated growl rumbled in Li's chest and then huffed softly, pushing himself up a bit to hover over Hiiragizawa, his entire face flushed. "So, let me speak with him. I'll set things right-"
"My father would be furious if he found out you were here." Hiiragizawa reached up to card his fingers gently through Li's tousled hair, searching his eyes. "We must keep this a secret, dearest. I'll do whatever it takes to formulate the brew that will cure our mania, and then-"
"Then we'll be able to stay together, forever." Li whispered, Hiiragizawa smiling and nodding, his expression affectionate and yet forlorn.
"I won't let you go." Hiiragizawa whispered, his voice shaking. "Not this time. I can't bear the thought of being apart from you, not for a moment longer."
"Let me help you," Li coaxed gently, searching Hiiragizawa's eyes. "Surely, between the two of us, we can perfect a remedy." He frowned thoughtfully before asking, "The potion you gave me, how long before it begins to wane?"
"It's hard to say." Hiiragizawa murmured, petting Li's cheek. "It's stronger than those we've taken before, but it's still not enough to last a full day."
"Well then," Li turned to kiss Hiiragizawa's fingertips, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, "We'll just have to keep trying then, won't we? The two of us, together."
Hiiragizawa chuckled softly, giving a little nod. "Together."
Thanks for reading! More to come!