Low of Solipsism

Summary:

Syaoran must protect Sakura from a dangerous future they will share, but, at his current level he cannot do so properly. The solution? Send him to England for strict study under the ever confusing Eriol. Hopefully this won’t end badly, but, judging by the way things are going…it just might.

Author’s note:

Well, I hope someone out there is reading this…haha. This is my favorite chapter so far and my roomie and I really enjoyed writing it. School is being so mean to me…but I'll survive.

Disclaimer: This document is intended for public viewing and is solely for personal enjoyment. It should neither be considered an authoritative source nor an official publication of the creators and their affiliates.

If I owned CCS it would be full of gore and swearing.


Chapter 6 - Broken


The previous night's events had Syaoran visibly shaken when he woke up. He stayed buried in the sheets, hoping to avoid Eriol for the rest of the day, despite knowing this was impossible. He did, however, do his best to stay away for as long as possible. Breakfast was served in bed courtesy of Nakuru who, for once, didn't come bursting into the room full of her usual pep. To this he was thankful and was even a bit more cordial than usual to her for her consideration. During his meal his thoughts began to drift over the night before, but the tell tale blush made him refuse. He felt a little sick but still avoided thinking of why that might be.

It was after that, that he dressed in a simple pair of dark denim jeans and a black tank top with a dark blue button down over it and headed out to clear his mind. Syaoran spent a majority of the morning just walking around the estate, sometimes going outside to catch a breath of fresh air, before coming back inside. He felt so out of place, like a foreign decoration in a royal estate, and the only place that still brought him comfort was the music room. He entered, closing the door behind him prior to walking over to the piano and taking a seat.

He played the lullaby for a few minutes when he heard the flipping of a page during a pause and looked up to see Spinel reading a book, perched in the window seat. "Sorry, I didn't realize you were in here..." The brunette apologized, standing to leave, but the sound of the book closing made him stop.

"It's fine Li-sama. I simply came in here to get away from Nakuru. Your music wasn't...too bad." Spinel pointed out as he looked up at the boy who took a seat next to him.

Syaoran sat back down, plunking at the keys awkwardly, though he couldn't help but feel as though he was now being watched by the guardian. The silence grew between them when he finally gave in and cleared his throat. "Spinel...Can I talk to you about something? Just between us?"

"What of?"

"About Hiiragizawa."

There was another long silence between the two when the black cat spoke again. "I suppose. What did you want to talk about concerning him?"

Hesitance came from the Chinese male as he mulled over what he wanted to say then looked down at his lap. "I'm so confused about him. I mean…I…It's not that I love him…" The word 'love' felt strange when Syaoran said it in reference to the mage. "I think I'm attracted him to him in some…" he sighed. "I know I'm attracted to him, dangerously so. In fact he uses it against me, or so it seems. And, when he's not using that against me he's judging me without any direct approval." Syaoran fidgeted. "Not, that that sort of thing ever mattered to me before…It's just-"

"I understand. To be frank, you wouldn’t be the first person to feel strangely attracted to him. Honestly, it happens all the time. He has that aura. And, as for seeking his approval, it’s natural for a student to seek that of someone they admire."

"But I don't admire him." Syaoran wasn't sure who he was trying to convince. "And, why does he have to be so cold? He was never that way around Sakura."

The feline shrugged, his tail twitching. "Eriol has always been that kind of person. He is not one to show his emotions, especially to those he doesn't trust completely. He was probably soft on Sakura because he knew she couldn’t take it. I suppose he thinks you can."

Syaoran glanced up from the piano. "He was being soft?" He remembered all the trials Sakura had been put through at her young and inexperienced age.

"Yes, Li-san. That was Eriol-sama being soft. I know it doesn't seem like it, but he is a caring being with heartfelt thoughts."

"But that's just it. Sometimes I wonder if he even feels emotions like normal people do. He said he gave a lot of them to Fujitaka-san, claiming it was to free himself of guilt. Sometimes I wish he was more like Clow...maybe then he's be less…

"Careless with other people's feelings?"

"Yea."

"He's an all powerful mage, Li-san. It’s a little unfair of you to so upset by his brusque behavior."
Syaoran felt himself bristle. "What do you mean?"

"Only that it is rude to expect a teacher such as Eriol to bend to the will of the student."

"Still, he doesn’t have to pick at me every second. I grew up with hard training, and my masters broke me and built me up again."

"Physically."

"Exactly. So why does Eriol-"

"He's attacking you mentally, Li-san. That’s your weakness. Your body is strong and can be beaten until on a shred remains, but your mind is rather weak and susceptible." The guardian allowed his eyes to loft to the ceiling. "Most likely due to a severe lack of mental training since Eriol left Japan."

Syaoran bunched his jeans in his hands. "I still don't understand why that's so important. If I can strike an enemy and kill it then that's fine. And, if your right, then why would he still give up those emotions?" He sounded frustrated. "Why make himself so cold and unfeeling?"

"He may have given up the many of his emotions and feelings, but he still has them Li-san. It's...difficult to explain, he's a very enigmatic and secretive person." Spinel explained only to receive and exasperated sigh from the human.

"I know that! But he could at least try to act a little more human. It gets to the point where I don't think he has a heart or a soul in that body of his. And what am I really to him? Am I just a tool? A...A plaything? No one has bothered to tell me why I'm here exactly." He held up his hand when Spinel began to speak. "Don't feed me that bull shit. I know I'm not just here to train."

"Sometimes one must make sacrifices Li-sama. Eriol sacrificed his feelings because helping Sakura the way he had back in Tomoeda had nearly killed him. Making her think her friends were hurt, missing, sick or putting her in danger where she thought she might die, all the save the magic of Clow from dying. He told me that he never wanted to feel that again. It had been too hard. In fact, he almost didn't go through with the final test, knowing that if she failed she would suffer." Spinal shifted his legs. "Of course, everything went according to Clow's plan." He said it almost with an exasperated sigh.

Syaoran shook his head and stood up, wrapping his arms around himself. "I think he's a fucking idiot. Without emotions one can't live or truly call themselves human. A mother would not care for her child, a man wouldn't go to work everyday, the world would cease to exist without feelings because the world rides on those emotions. Without them we would all die. I know he thinks I'm weak because I go with my heart and not my head, though he would call it impulsive thinking, but I have such things as compassion and pain. It's how I know that I'm human...how I know I'm alive. I'm not asking him to praise me or even shower me in adoration. I just want to know that there's more there and that I'm not just being led on a leash."

The guardian shook his head, his ears flopping a little. "Li-san, in a sense you are being led on a leash…it's just Eriol-sama's nature. It's also…" He paused, shaking his head once gain, as though he wished to say more, but was unable. "Why haven't you told Eriol these things? He may understand and might be able to tell you more than I can." Spinel glanced up only to widen his eyes, mildly amused at the glare he was receiving in return.

"He would just smile and tell me it's all in my head and that I need to learn to control my emotions. He wouldn't care, he'd brush it off like he does everything else. He doesn't give a shit how I feel, what I feel, or what I want. No one cares about what I want it's always about what they want. Can't I...just once...have what I want?" Syaoran was no longer sure what he was complaining about, thinking now that he was just reciting as much as he could before the feelings of discontent could leave him.

"What do you want Li-sama?"

"Honestly?" The brunette stared at the piano keys. "I don't even know at this point. I just wish he wouldn't use me like I'm some thing he can throw away when he's done. I get it, alright? I get that he doesn't love me, but he finds me attractive and uses my childish crush on him against me. Fine, but he'll never know how empty it feels…I just...want to go home. I want to go back to Sakura – to someone who shows their affection and doesn't take my emotions for granted."

The creature tilted his head before floating up to sit on the teen's shoulder, looking at him with an almost sympathetic look. "I don't understand the prospect of love or affection, Li-sama, but I'm sure you'll make it through this. Whether Eriol is using you to fuel his own needs or if he has other motives behind his behavior is something only he knows at this point. You just have to be strong and show him that you are learning. If he wants you to clear your mind of useless emotions, do so. If he wants you to learn to control your thoughts and feelings, teach yourself. In time, you may just gain the wisdom to understand why he is the way he is.

Finally, Syaoran nodded, grateful, before standing up and scratching the guardian behind his ears. "Thank you for listening Spinel. I know you normally like to avoid trouble.

"It's fine. I suppose I can lend an ear from time to time, just don't make it a big habit. I'm not your therapist." With that, Spinel gave a lick to Syaoran's hand and watched as the boy reached for a book from one of the shelves.

Settling himself in the corner by the fireplace, Syaoran curled up in a large comfy chair and started to read. He drifted off after some time, the book remaining open on his chest whilst he cradled his head in his arm, his knees being tucked up towards his chest from the position he was sitting while his head was tilted off to one side.

His sleep was peaceful, though it wouldn't have been had he known what was going on in the other end of the house.

Eriol wasn't angry, because most things didn't make him angry. Quite the contrary, he was rather amused. Standing in the observatory on the fourth floor of the large home, his hands waving in sweeping circles as crystalline shapes formed around him, he mused quietly. He had chosen to ignore any and all conversations Syaoran might have been having, although it was difficult to do, what with knowing there was discussion going on and doing everything in his power to hold back curiosity. In his heart he felt it would have been something he didn't want to hear. He sighed, lowering his arms as a perfect orb of glass formed in front of him. Taking it in his hand he twisted his mouth in contemplation before throwing it to the ground, the pieces shattering into dust. It was never enough, never.

He thought back to the past to when he and Kaho had shared a relationship. She reminded him of the sorceress in Hong Kong whom Clow had imprisoned in her own world for her crimes. Perhaps, that was the reason he found himself attracted to her. No, Clow had chosen Kaho to carry the bell, to ensure that no matter her mistakes, Sakura would defeat Yue and become the card's mistress. It was all apart of that ancient mage's plan. And now, it all boiled down to Sakura and Syaoran and their future together. That was what that woman said; the one in the dusty shop filled with trash that she vehemently defended as treasure. It all boiled down to Sakura and Syaoran's decision to be together. As the crystals formed in the air again he felt a strange feeling of jealousy pervade.

It wasn't really fair. Sakura and Syaoran; it was like they were two halves of a whole fitting so smoothly together that it almost felt created. Clow had meddled, even after death, in the lives of others. The old mage's original excuse for dying was that he wanted to free Yue from being dependent on him, but in the end, that was even a lie.

Lying. That was something he had inherited from Clow. Something he used to his advantage without an ounce of pride. Kaho herself had admitted she had only been seduced by Clow's power and with nothing left to do in his service there was no spark.

The crystals refused to meld together as discontent grew throughout the room. Eriol felt his hands flex in frustration. In the end, he was only a reincarnation. The second coming of someone who's memories still followed him like a persistent shadow. Perhaps that was why he liked Sakura and Syaoran so much. They never considered him Clow. To them, he was Eriol-kun. Sakura, out of love and simple air-headed nature had never made the connection and Syaoran...Syaoran refused to believe his ancestor could be so irritating. Perhaps, that was why Eriol liked him so much; because he didn't throw himself at his feet, worshiping every step.

A sigh.

What was he doing? Never mind. It wasn't important anymore. What was important was that he had forgotten his appointment with the woman who shared Clow's plans. Stepping over to a mirror in the corner of the room he uttered a spell. Her visage appeared, although she seemed slightly upset. Before her, in two glass vessels, sat one white and one black creature, sleeping, awaiting their purpose. Awaiting the purpose that Clow intended. The woman turned, irritation dancing across her features.

"What is it?" She took her long black hair into her hands, pulling it up into a tall ponytail.

"You were the one expecting me," he stated calmly.

"And?" Her expression did not change.

"How are the plans? Are things still aligned?"

"The moon is on its due course and Mars is following its predicted path." Her answer was bitter, spat out as though required.

He felt a saddened expression form. "Well, things are still alright here."

The last statement made her pause her fussing. "Alright? Since when has Clow ever said 'Alright'?" Her mouth twisted in bewilderment.

"I suppose he doesn't."

She stared, no irritation or anger; not even a hint of frustration. "Hiiragizawa," It was the first time she had ever called him by his name and not Clow's. "Sort out whatever it is that's bothering you before this future comes to be the present."

Staring absentmindedly, Eriol cleared his throat for one final question. "What are the consequences of this not coming to pass?"

"Grave."

"Even for us? For those of us in this world?"

"No."

His face was contemplative.

"I trust you not to be as selfish as your namesake." The image faded, leaving Eriol alone, once again.

"Arguing with that woman again?" Spinel mumbled as he came into the observatory looking slightly agitated. "Nakuru is insisting we go out on the town tonight. She says the aura in here is becoming so thick it's suffocating her and she needs some fresh air, but doesn't want to go alone." He paused as he perched himself on Eriol's shoulder, tilting his head with an inquisitive look. "That boy...I'm concerned about him. Don't lure him down a path he can't follow Eriol. I fear he may not be ready for these trials. Remember he's still just a child." he alleged, his tail flicking impatiently.

"Perhaps he is a child, but he is being thrown into a destiny he must be ready for. Fairness will often turn a blind eye, when convenient." Eriol reached a hand back to pat the guardian on his head.

"I understand your methods, or rather, I try, but I don't think Li-san ever will. He's just going to end up..."

"I told you earlier, that I was fine with that as long as it ends with the plan succeeding."

The cat heaved and shook his head staring upward. "Either way, Nakuru is insistent on leaving, and you know what happens when she doesn't get her way." With that, Spinel left his master's shoulder, only pausing briefly in mid-air to glance over his shoulder. "He's in the library sleeping by the way...I think it should be you who wakes him as he's calmed down enough to approach. You must have done something upset him." Then, he was gone, leaving the mage once more in his solitude.

Eriol's expression did not change at all during the guardian's berating and, that was what it had been. Spinel, his creation, was chiding him for his action. He sighed deeply, placing a hand to his temple. "Calm enough to approach. As though he were some scared rabbit, cornered by a fox." He turned, descending the spiral staircase that connected the tower with the rest of the house. Entering the music room, he glanced around before his eyes settled on the grand piano that had seen more life in the last week than it had in years. It was to his left that he caught a sight he had not expected, despite being warned.

Syaoran was curled up into a large recliner, far too big to fit his frame, a book nestled in his lap. The mage immediately felt his hardened gaze soften as he glided to the chair.

A hand reached out, brushing tussled bangs from the boy's face. Even in sleep his eyebrows furrowed, deep set in concentration. Eriol leaned down, placing lips on the brunette's forehead, hoping to ease whatever feelings might be causing the stressed expression. Still pressed, he whispered. "I am cruel, aren't I? Cruel for wanting something I cannot have."

There was a shift from the teenager, a brow twitching from the touch to his forehead. His thoughts had been clouded by all that had occurred from the time he arrived in England up to this point and he couldn't hide it very well, especially when slumbering. Sleep left him, however, when he sensed Eriol's aura, amber hues slowly revealing themselves to stare blankly at the magician. They instantly hardened, though only for a second, before softening as he didn't think he could muster the energy to put on a front for the mage and sighed, removing himself from the chair to stretch. "What do you want Hiiragizawa?" He asked in a rather repressed tone, not meeting his gaze.

Eriol remained staring at the now empty chair, his expression, once again, unchanging. "Yesterday, you lied to me, Syaoran-kun. You told me you didn't hate me, and yet, here you are, giving me the cold shoulder." He allowed a pained chuckle to escape. "It is though I have done something that has turned this whole house against me. Really, am I so bad that you must judge me as an emotionless husk that preys on the weak?" He felt the burning eyes of Syaoran on him, and only then, did he turn to face the boy, a smile spreading across his face.

"Just because I am treating you that way doesn't mean I hate you. Please, don't twist my words." His voice seemed to negate the polite word. "You have yet to prove to me that still possess enough emotion to be considered human. Until then, yes, I'm going to consider you an emotionless husk, as you so aptly called yourself. I find it rather sad that I have found more compassion in your creations that in your cold exterior." he added, scowling at the smile playing on the mage's face. "Don't give me that."

"Give you what?" Eriol answered in an irritatingly innocent manner.

"Why can't you take one moment...one and just stop doing whatever it is that you do, and think about what how what your doing might be hurting other people." Syaoran regretted sounding like he was whining, as though they were having a lover's quarrel. "Then I might not consider you to be heartless."

Eriol's smile faded into a thoughtful expression. "Heartless...Hmm. Interesting theory, there, Syaoran-kun. Although, I noticed that you also have a bit of a problem keeping a lid on your own emotions. Who are you to judge?" Throughout this, his tone remained only contemplative. There was not hint of anger in his speech, which, in and of itself, only seemed to empower the brunette's argument. "Do I lack emotions, or do I have ulterior motives? Have you bothered asking me this? Have you questioned, truly, if I had a reason for keeping things from you? And, I don't mean questioned me, because, you already know I wouldn't answer. I mean, questioned yourself." He sighed. "Besides, I only asked for you to come here and train. You're the one who insisted on trying to understand me."

As predicted his lack of tone infuriated the boy, his glare increasing. "Will you just quit it, already? I get it, okay? You're some kind of powerful, all knowing mage that could kill me by snapping your fingers. You're all powerful and wise and know more than anyone, including me, a dumb teenage! I get it!" Syaoran felt his hands ball into fists, squeezing tightly enough to cause pain.

Eriol felt himself sadden as he reached out his hand, cupping the boy's cheek. "Did I hurt you that much?"
The brunette felt himself reel away from the touch, his glare never leaving Eriol's face. "Will you stop with the mind games and fucking listen to me for once? Just listen to me! Stop twisting everything and reveling in my confusion! I want to understand you because…" he felt his gaze drift uncertainly. "Well, why shouldn't I understand you, master?" The final word was added bitterly before he continued. Why is it that you derive so much enjoyment out of my suffering?! You're like the kid on the playground, torturing ants with a magnifying glass!" Syaoran screamed, grabbing Eriol by the collar of his outfit and jerking him forward. "Why is it that you can never seem to give me a straight answer on anything that I need to know?"

"What makes you think you need to know?" Eriol allowed the maddening grin to return.

Syaoran felt his teeth grind in frustration, his anger mounting. "Fine. Be that way, you bastard." He straightened himself and pushed forward, past the mage, opening the door to exit. Before leaving he turned with one last comment. "If you keep it up, you're bound to die alone." He spat it out, though quietly, as though he wished to utter it without Eriol hear, before running down the hallway his room and bumping into Nakuru on the way.

The guardian took a moment to recover her balance before turning on her heels and staring after the boy. "Hey, hey, Li-sama! Get ready we're all going out!"

"I don't want to..." He had stopped just short of entering the now open door of the one place, beside the music room where he found solace.

"Well you're going to whether you like it or not! We need to get out of the stuffy old house so go get ready!" She exclaimed.
He turned, ready the yell at her, but changed his mind, deciding that taking his anger out on someone who hadn't wronged him wouldn't be a good idea. "Fine, fine. I'll go get ready."

Nakuru smiled widely. "Okay!" Her footsteps seemed to echo throughout the old house as she ran down to the music room where Eriol was still waiting. "Eriol-sama, come on while it's still early! I don't want it to be dark when we go out!"

Eriol stared blankly at the space where Syaoran had been standing moments before. His senses told him that Nakuru had made good on her threat and was now trying to get all of them out of the house, but, Eriol never left an argument unfinished. When the guardian bounded into the room he remained facing away from her. "Go without me. Take Spinel if you must, but don't wait up for Syaoran." His voice was straight, calm, but still enough to make an average man balk, especially if he knew the magician personally.

Nakuru, for once, paused in her frantic actions and stood perfectly still. "A-are you sure?" She fiddled with her hands, nervous before her creator.

"I'm sure Nakuru. He and I have something to discuss."

An intake of breath was heard amidst the silent din. "M-master..."

"Hmm?"

"Don't hurt him."

To this, the mage said nothing. He waited as the two guardians exited the building, ignoring Spinel's questions as to why Nakuru had gone pale and instead focused on finding Syaoran. The boy was currently leaving his room and entering the hallway. To this, Eriol responded by shutting all the doors, sealing the hallways and making it impossible for the boy to continue to avoid the argument.

The mage made one last passing glance at the piano before materializing into the hallway. "We're not done."

"There's nothing left I have to say to you right now. You won't listen to me anyways, so what is the point in wasting my breath trying to explain anything to you?" He said in a flat tone, arms being crossed over his chest, his stance impatient and his face a thoughtful glare.

Eriol sighed, in a way that sounded regretful. "When I say we're not done, we're not done. Frankly, I don't care if you don't want to finish. I don't care if you stomp your feet and throw a tantrum like some five-year-old." He closed the distance between them, fast enough to be mistaken as smoke itself. Grabbing the brunette by the chin and pulling his face toward his own. "I want to finish this. Now." His face remained calm but his tone was slipping as the irritation grew. Through it all, he mentally cursed Clow.

Syaoran's eyes narrowed as he glared up at the mage, not breaking contact nor his stance, though it became more guarded until he forcefully jerked out of the grasp and took a step back. "I'm not putting up with your bullshit, Hiiragizawa. You may be master of this house and a powerful mage, but I'm still my own person. I'm not some creation that you can boss around and control. We have nothing to talk about, at least nothing I would talk to you about. Go on playing your stupid games, but I don't want to be any part of it." He snapped before shuffling past him. Even though he knew he couldn't leave, he could at least get away from the source of his frustration.

The mage felt his hands flex as anger seethed through him. He was torn, unsure of where to go. There were things that Syaoran couldn't know, but these were what he demanded. Emotionless husk. The phrase dangled in the air before Eriol reached behind him, gripping the arm of the stubborn boy that seemed to want to pry open his teacher's shell with a crowbar. His grip assured, he pulled forward, taking Syaoran with him until there was a sickening crack against the wall.

Eriol did not flinch. He had felt, and was destined to feel, much worse than this. The boy would survive.

A hand reached out, wrapping around Syaoran's pliable throat. "May I ask you something?" His voice and face, however, remained stoic. "Where do you think you get off, telling me that I need something, when you yourself are just a weak child, unable to stand up to his own mother?" The words bit into him even as he said them, knowing he was being unfair, but no longer caring. "Who do you think you are, telling me I am not your master, or even declaring so in a mocking tone, when you clearly are my pupil and, even if you didn't ask to come here, you wanted to be stronger. You were just too much of a petulant child to ask someone you knew could help you. And, here we are, fighting because you wanted to be held like a woman, when you yourself stated that you needed to become stronger."

There had been a pained gasp when Syaoran felt himself hit the wall and, now, his head swam from having the sense knocked out of him before finding his airway constricted. A hand reached up and grasped Eriol's wrist, the other pushing against his chest in a tight fist. The words stung badly, it showing in his eyes though he looked more than a little pissed off now. "I-I just wanted to be treated l-like a human being...n-not some play thing...m-maybe if you were more honest and c-compliant with me I would understand better...but instead you w-want to be an asshole, keeping your s-secrets instead of trying to help me understand..." he spat back. " M-my feelings are getting in the way right? I-I'll do away with them, just like you." he added as he struggled. "As for being…a child…I don't know what the hell you were expecting…" Syaoran turned away in disgust, as best he could, hating himself for admitting he was a still young. He had prided himself on being mature and here he was, asking for Eriol to treat him like what he was: a fifteen-year-old boy.

With much effort and more boldness than he thought he had, he yanked Eriol's hand from his throat and threw him back, coughing as he felt the other's nails rake the side of his neck, there being angry red lines because of it. "This world can't live without emotions it's the driving force of our existence, without it there would be nothing. Simply because I wanted a little comfort after you took my last shred of innocence doesn't mean I am asking for you to stop time and bend the world to my wishes. I just wanted a reminder that there is something there, in that dark soul of yours that will support me even in my weakest moment. Everything has to be balanced and you know that better than anyone. So if you want to accuse me of being a woman, fine. I don't fucking care. You're just showing me that you aren't someone I can rely on should I need someone to turn to when I am defenseless because there will be no sympathy...there will be no compassion and understanding. It will be a sarcastic comment on why I'm not strong enough to prevent such weakness from showing." he stated as his barriers started to break and the truth came pouring out in gushes. It felt painful, giving in to these things, and understanding fully, just how weak, mentally he really was. In the end, Syaoran thought, pained as a single salty tear escaped, he was right in a way, wasn't he?

Eriol felt his gaze darken slightly at the statements. "You are so bold as to assume I didn't know a troubled upbringing. You, who thinks you alone bear the weight of the world. You, who refuses to accept help and then sulks when help is not offered freely. You, who would know nothing of what it is like to live in a shadow as large as you might imagine." The tear that streamed down the boy's face elicited no pity, only interest. Eriol leaned forward, his fingers lifting Syaoran's chin ever so slightly. "You're very pretty when you cry."

He said nothing at first and stared in shock and anger before pulling back abruptly, the sound of flesh meeting being heard seconds later. He could feel the sting in his hand and the red mark appear on Eriol's face after he'd slapped him as hard as he could, a look mixed of surprise in himself as well as disdain for the other being evident. The mage's glasses landed, abruptly, on the floor, one lens shattering. After a few moments he lowered his hand and glowered heatedly at the magician, steeling himself to prepare for whatever the other may do in retaliation to his assault. "You're words are as empty as your heart."

Eriol did not flinch, did not even utter a sound as his was struck. The sound of glass breaking only registered mildly in his mind. It was the words that stung. He remained for a moment, staring to the side where his gaze had forcibly been thrust. Turning back, he know saw the anger and hurt that settled on Syaoran's face. Feeling a deep pain he wished he really was as emotionless as the boy often claimed, though none of this guilt appeared on his face. Instead, he once again gripped Syaoran by the chin, encasing his lips around him. Grabbing both wrists he pushed them against the wall, holding them like shackles as he took complete control of the kiss.
Syaoran was unprepared for the mage's actions, finding himself yet again forced into the wall by the much older male. There was some struggling, but he knew he wouldn't be getting away this time and conserved his energy, merely making a small sound as he was so forcibly kissed.

Finally, Eriol pulled away, stepping back as though nothing had happened between them. "I don't blame you for hating me."

Syaoran gaped, looking angry at first but it soon melted to more of a pained expression as he sunk to his knees, burying his face in his palms. "I-Is that your answer to everything?" he asked, hiding the clenching feeling in his chest as he reached out to cling to the mage's robes. "W-Why...why are you doing this to me?!" He just couldn't find the answer as to why, of all people, Eriol chose him to make these advances on and then leave him completely in the dark.

Eriol stared, inside his eyes widening at what he had done. He had lost control, and now there was a mess at his feet. It killed him, what he had to do but, for the sake of their plans, he would do it. He refused to be the weak link in the chain, the one that broke everything over something as silly as love and affection. And so, against every protest in his conscious mind, the mage turned his back, kicking the robes free of Syaoran's desperate grip and walked away. His face remained, as it had through the entire fight.

Stoic.


Ending Note: This was tough because Syaoran can be hard to characterize while simultaneously breaking him over your knee.

Final notes: Feel free to critique as always.

R&R my little hentai bunnies!

-Sniffits & Toy