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Jul. 27th, 2001 11:05 pm"Well, despite the customary blood and DNA testing that is available to us, I have a quick and simple way to prove whether Heero-kun has Li blood in him."
All eyes in the room were on her as Sakura moved purposefully to the back of the room. She stopped at the table, her fingers tracing the designs on the wooden box that sat there. Please, Syaoran... lend me your strength, she prayed quietly before opening the box, taking what was inside and whirling around in one smooth motion.
"Heero-kun! Catch!"
A dark round object with red tassels flew through the air and Heero, automatically obeying the order, caught the small sphere with ease. He eyed the round black ball as if it were an incendiary device. After a quick scan-- Heero's investigation of the object lasted no more than a few seconds-- he decided that the little ball with tassels was decorative but harmless. "What's this supposed to do?" he asked.
Suddenly, a flash went off in Heero's hand and only a lifetime of training kept Heero from dropping the sword which now lay in his hand where the black ball had been. Where the hell had this sword come from? The feat astounded Heero, though he showed no outward emotion.
Sakura was more than happy enough for the both of them. She jumped up and down in joy, seemingly losing years off her appearance. "Yatta! Yatta! I knew it! I told you! Heero-kun has Li blood in him or he would never have been able to manifest the sword. This proves he has latent abilities! Heero-kun IS my Ichiro. He's my son! This proves it!"
Eriol cast an appraising look at Heero and the sword in his hand. "Well, Sakura, it seems that we all owe you a grand apology. It's just... unexpected, that your son would return to us after so many years."
"Everything happens for a reason, ne, Eriol?" Sakura said, her voice shadowed with some heavy emotion. Eriol looked startled by her tone and words, but nodded in agreement. Then, casting off the serious air around her, Sakura smiled. "Besides, look at him. The only person I've ever seen scowl like that was my husband."
All eyes turned to Heero yet again. And as per the norm, Heero was unnerved by these eyes on him, though he showed not one outward trace of his unease. After a moment, Touya snorted and Heero immediately transferred his glare to him.
"Look, Onii-chan, he even glares at *you* the same way."
Yukito started to laugh. If it was possible, Heero scowled harder. Taking a firm grip of the sword's handle, he stabbed it point first into the floor, not caring that he was ruining the wooden surface. The thunk of the sword biting into the hardwood caught everyone's attention and Sakura turned worried green eyes to Heero.
"Heero-kun?" she asked hesitantly, then her eyes softened. "Ah, you probably want an explanation, ne? I'm sorry for dragging you into this, but I'll be happy to—-"
Heero took one hand off the handle of the sword, the stony mask never leaving his face. He would be damned before he joined in the revelry of these strangers. "I don't want an explanation," he stated, cutting off Sakura's words. His voice held no trace of emotion. "You seem to know who I am. You even claim that I'm your son. Well, it doesn't matter to me. I've lived without you for my whole life, and I can continue to do so. If you're done examining me, I have things to do."
Sakura gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth and her emerald eyes flooding with tears at the harsh words. Touya snarled, wheeling his chair around and rolling right in front of Heero. "You ungrateful brat!" he exploded. "How dare you talk to your mother like that! You sound like you're not even glad she brought you into this world!"
"Who says I am?!" Heero snapped, surprising himself at the acid in his words.
"You're just like your father!" Touya spat out. And just when he would have reached out his hands to throttle the boy who had his eyes, Yukito and Nakuru were there, pinioning his arms down and pulling him away.
"TO-YA! Don't!"
"You don't want to hurt Sakura-chan's son! Even if he is an annoying little punk!"
Heero ground his teeth, willing himself to remain in control under the face of fire. Why was it so hard to control himself around these people? He'd faced down squads of mobile suits without breaking a sweat... why was he losing his temper with the strangers? Looking down, Heero was startled to see that he was holding the handle of tasseled sword in a white-knuckled grip.
"If everyone is quite finished..." Eriol's calm voice broke through the room the way harsh words could not.
Everyone more or less settled down. Heero crossed his arms and remained standing in the middle of the room. Nakuru remained beside Touya to make sure he didn't try to run down the boy with his wheelchair. Sakura had sunk down to the floor, her legs too weak to support her. The waterfall of tears remained in her eyes and Yukito hovered worriedly beside her though Eriol could tell from the way his eyes kept flashing back and forth from hazel to purple that Yue was upset as well.
"Now. It's obvious that we will not be able to accomplish anything else tonight. Heero-kun, if you truly wish to leave, you may do so. None of us here will try to stop you. However, if you do insist on leaving, *I* must insist that you take this with you." From underneath a side table, Eriol pulled out a shallow green box tied with black ribbon. He pushed the box into Heero's hands, obviously not willing to take ‘no' for an answer. "Whether you choose to open this box or not is up to you. I certainly will not force your hand here. But perhaps this box will contain the answers you are looking for."
Heero said nothing but stared down at the top of the box, as if his glare could allow him to see into it without having to remove the lid.
"Nakuru," Eriol said pointedly. "Please show Heero-kun to the door."
Nakuru blinked once, gave a quick look to make sure Touya's head was not about to explode and exited the room silently, beckoning Heero after her. The Japanese teenager followed but at the door to the library he paused. Frowning, he hefted the enchanted sword and placed it on the side table.
"This does not belong to me," he said shortly, then turned away.
He left so quickly that he did not see that the moment his hand left the sword, it flashed and reverted back to its stone form.
But everyone else in the room did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The moment Heero was out of earshot, Touya turned his temper on Eriol. Free of Nakuru's restraining arms, he wheeled his chair around in a tight circle and rolled straight up to Eriol, not caring that the other man's feet were in the way of his wheels.
"What do you know, Hiiragizawa?" Touya snarled out.
Eriol was vaguely amused that the elder Kinomoto was taking the time to reign in his infamous temper. He adjusted his glasses. "I don't know what you're talking about, Touya."
"Bullshit! You know *something* you little weasel! Why else would you have that box prepared?"
"Perhaps because it is best to be ready for every situation?"
Touya was audibly grinding his teeth. Eriol leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. Touya would never be able to get a straight answer from him.
"What do you know, Eriol?"
The dark-haired man blinked, wide blue eyes swivelling to where Sakura was kneeling on the floor. Her hands were balled into fists in her lap and she kept her eyes cast down. Eriol frowned, and the pause in his answer was all Sakura needed to figure out his hesitation.
"You know something."
Eriol didn't answer.
"You had that box ready for a reason."
Eriol didn't answer.
"Tell me."
Eriol didn't answer.
Like a flash, Sakura was on her feet, crossed the room, and Eriol's head was reeling back from the slap she had given him. "Dammit, Eriol! He's my son! Tell me what you know!"
Sighing, Eriol removed his glasses and cleaned them against his shirt. Satisfied, he pierced Sakura with a flat blue stare. "And who would you choose between, Sakura? Your husband or your son?"
The auburn-haired woman frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"You're asking me to tell you what I know. I will do so. Will you choose between your husband or your son? Because I did not prepare that box. Li Syaoran did."
Sakura gasped at Syaoran's name, involuntarily taking a step back. As she did so, she bumped against Yukito, who flashed into Yue instantly. The white-haired Guardian scowled at Eriol and placed a comforting hand on Sakura's shoulder. Touya went livid at the mention of Syaoran's name and his hands clutched at the handles of his wheelchair so tightly that the faint crack of plastic could be heard.
"I did not think that even you would be so callous, Hiiragizawa," Yue said with a slight snarl.
"I am not being callous, Yue. I am merely telling the truth. I did *not* prepare the box I gave Heero. I was just holding it."
"Oh, and you're saying the gaki filled it up and tied the bow?" Touya said scathingly. "Did he have a harp and halo, too?"
"STOP IT!" Sakura exclaimed. Everyone in the room went quiet. Finally turning her green eyes on Eriol again, she murmured, "Explain yourself. Please."
All eyes in the room were on her as Sakura moved purposefully to the back of the room. She stopped at the table, her fingers tracing the designs on the wooden box that sat there. Please, Syaoran... lend me your strength, she prayed quietly before opening the box, taking what was inside and whirling around in one smooth motion.
"Heero-kun! Catch!"
A dark round object with red tassels flew through the air and Heero, automatically obeying the order, caught the small sphere with ease. He eyed the round black ball as if it were an incendiary device. After a quick scan-- Heero's investigation of the object lasted no more than a few seconds-- he decided that the little ball with tassels was decorative but harmless. "What's this supposed to do?" he asked.
Suddenly, a flash went off in Heero's hand and only a lifetime of training kept Heero from dropping the sword which now lay in his hand where the black ball had been. Where the hell had this sword come from? The feat astounded Heero, though he showed no outward emotion.
Sakura was more than happy enough for the both of them. She jumped up and down in joy, seemingly losing years off her appearance. "Yatta! Yatta! I knew it! I told you! Heero-kun has Li blood in him or he would never have been able to manifest the sword. This proves he has latent abilities! Heero-kun IS my Ichiro. He's my son! This proves it!"
Eriol cast an appraising look at Heero and the sword in his hand. "Well, Sakura, it seems that we all owe you a grand apology. It's just... unexpected, that your son would return to us after so many years."
"Everything happens for a reason, ne, Eriol?" Sakura said, her voice shadowed with some heavy emotion. Eriol looked startled by her tone and words, but nodded in agreement. Then, casting off the serious air around her, Sakura smiled. "Besides, look at him. The only person I've ever seen scowl like that was my husband."
All eyes turned to Heero yet again. And as per the norm, Heero was unnerved by these eyes on him, though he showed not one outward trace of his unease. After a moment, Touya snorted and Heero immediately transferred his glare to him.
"Look, Onii-chan, he even glares at *you* the same way."
Yukito started to laugh. If it was possible, Heero scowled harder. Taking a firm grip of the sword's handle, he stabbed it point first into the floor, not caring that he was ruining the wooden surface. The thunk of the sword biting into the hardwood caught everyone's attention and Sakura turned worried green eyes to Heero.
"Heero-kun?" she asked hesitantly, then her eyes softened. "Ah, you probably want an explanation, ne? I'm sorry for dragging you into this, but I'll be happy to—-"
Heero took one hand off the handle of the sword, the stony mask never leaving his face. He would be damned before he joined in the revelry of these strangers. "I don't want an explanation," he stated, cutting off Sakura's words. His voice held no trace of emotion. "You seem to know who I am. You even claim that I'm your son. Well, it doesn't matter to me. I've lived without you for my whole life, and I can continue to do so. If you're done examining me, I have things to do."
Sakura gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth and her emerald eyes flooding with tears at the harsh words. Touya snarled, wheeling his chair around and rolling right in front of Heero. "You ungrateful brat!" he exploded. "How dare you talk to your mother like that! You sound like you're not even glad she brought you into this world!"
"Who says I am?!" Heero snapped, surprising himself at the acid in his words.
"You're just like your father!" Touya spat out. And just when he would have reached out his hands to throttle the boy who had his eyes, Yukito and Nakuru were there, pinioning his arms down and pulling him away.
"TO-YA! Don't!"
"You don't want to hurt Sakura-chan's son! Even if he is an annoying little punk!"
Heero ground his teeth, willing himself to remain in control under the face of fire. Why was it so hard to control himself around these people? He'd faced down squads of mobile suits without breaking a sweat... why was he losing his temper with the strangers? Looking down, Heero was startled to see that he was holding the handle of tasseled sword in a white-knuckled grip.
"If everyone is quite finished..." Eriol's calm voice broke through the room the way harsh words could not.
Everyone more or less settled down. Heero crossed his arms and remained standing in the middle of the room. Nakuru remained beside Touya to make sure he didn't try to run down the boy with his wheelchair. Sakura had sunk down to the floor, her legs too weak to support her. The waterfall of tears remained in her eyes and Yukito hovered worriedly beside her though Eriol could tell from the way his eyes kept flashing back and forth from hazel to purple that Yue was upset as well.
"Now. It's obvious that we will not be able to accomplish anything else tonight. Heero-kun, if you truly wish to leave, you may do so. None of us here will try to stop you. However, if you do insist on leaving, *I* must insist that you take this with you." From underneath a side table, Eriol pulled out a shallow green box tied with black ribbon. He pushed the box into Heero's hands, obviously not willing to take ‘no' for an answer. "Whether you choose to open this box or not is up to you. I certainly will not force your hand here. But perhaps this box will contain the answers you are looking for."
Heero said nothing but stared down at the top of the box, as if his glare could allow him to see into it without having to remove the lid.
"Nakuru," Eriol said pointedly. "Please show Heero-kun to the door."
Nakuru blinked once, gave a quick look to make sure Touya's head was not about to explode and exited the room silently, beckoning Heero after her. The Japanese teenager followed but at the door to the library he paused. Frowning, he hefted the enchanted sword and placed it on the side table.
"This does not belong to me," he said shortly, then turned away.
He left so quickly that he did not see that the moment his hand left the sword, it flashed and reverted back to its stone form.
But everyone else in the room did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The moment Heero was out of earshot, Touya turned his temper on Eriol. Free of Nakuru's restraining arms, he wheeled his chair around in a tight circle and rolled straight up to Eriol, not caring that the other man's feet were in the way of his wheels.
"What do you know, Hiiragizawa?" Touya snarled out.
Eriol was vaguely amused that the elder Kinomoto was taking the time to reign in his infamous temper. He adjusted his glasses. "I don't know what you're talking about, Touya."
"Bullshit! You know *something* you little weasel! Why else would you have that box prepared?"
"Perhaps because it is best to be ready for every situation?"
Touya was audibly grinding his teeth. Eriol leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. Touya would never be able to get a straight answer from him.
"What do you know, Eriol?"
The dark-haired man blinked, wide blue eyes swivelling to where Sakura was kneeling on the floor. Her hands were balled into fists in her lap and she kept her eyes cast down. Eriol frowned, and the pause in his answer was all Sakura needed to figure out his hesitation.
"You know something."
Eriol didn't answer.
"You had that box ready for a reason."
Eriol didn't answer.
"Tell me."
Eriol didn't answer.
Like a flash, Sakura was on her feet, crossed the room, and Eriol's head was reeling back from the slap she had given him. "Dammit, Eriol! He's my son! Tell me what you know!"
Sighing, Eriol removed his glasses and cleaned them against his shirt. Satisfied, he pierced Sakura with a flat blue stare. "And who would you choose between, Sakura? Your husband or your son?"
The auburn-haired woman frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"You're asking me to tell you what I know. I will do so. Will you choose between your husband or your son? Because I did not prepare that box. Li Syaoran did."
Sakura gasped at Syaoran's name, involuntarily taking a step back. As she did so, she bumped against Yukito, who flashed into Yue instantly. The white-haired Guardian scowled at Eriol and placed a comforting hand on Sakura's shoulder. Touya went livid at the mention of Syaoran's name and his hands clutched at the handles of his wheelchair so tightly that the faint crack of plastic could be heard.
"I did not think that even you would be so callous, Hiiragizawa," Yue said with a slight snarl.
"I am not being callous, Yue. I am merely telling the truth. I did *not* prepare the box I gave Heero. I was just holding it."
"Oh, and you're saying the gaki filled it up and tied the bow?" Touya said scathingly. "Did he have a harp and halo, too?"
"STOP IT!" Sakura exclaimed. Everyone in the room went quiet. Finally turning her green eyes on Eriol again, she murmured, "Explain yourself. Please."