If you've never read one of my stories before I equate Li = R!Syaoran and Syaoran=C!Syaoran. Though, I hope you can tell from the characterization who is who anyways...

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Li held his brother's hand tightly in his own as the two walked down the hallway together. Syaoran's hand remained limp in his as usual, but the lack of presence was made up for in the way Syaoran walked very close to Li. Li smiled a little when he noticed.

"I just have to attend this meeting and then we'll go home right away and have lunch," the ten year old told his brother. Syaoran was frowning and looking over his shoulder at the adults that were following them.

"I know you don't like them," Li whispered. "I don't either but it won't be for long. I didn't want to leave you by yourself at home."

Syaoran stared at his brother before lowering his eyes to the ground.

Since father had left them the MCA Organization depended a lot on Li. Giving them information, attending meetings, carrying on where his father left off…all that didn't bother Li that much since he followed his father's instruction to an art. It was his brother he was worried about. Syaoran was so sensitive and sure to get sick from being out of the house for so long. Even as he glanced at his twin, Syaoran looked to be getting paler as they walked.

Li hurriedly pressed his palm to the keypad and unlocked one of the meeting rooms, allowing the adults inside. As soon as they were all in Li shut the door, locked them in, and pulled his brother farther down the hall.

Syaoran glanced back at the fading room "Nii-san?" he questioned softly.

Li smiled. "It's alright. Fay's watching them on the security cameras."

Syaoran gave him a bewildered look which Li tried to ignore. Both of them knew his feelings towards Fay but Li was willing to look past his distrust in that person as long as it kept his brother safe.

"I'm going to take you to the safety room while I'm at the meeting."

"Alone?"

"If you stay with me you'll get sick. You've been out of the house too long as is it," Li said seriously. "The meeting won't take long. I promise."

Syaoran seemed to get paler.

The room that Li brought him to was usually the place that Li and Syaoran would stay in while father attended meetings. Even though this whole company was run by their father, there was still no guarantee that you could trust anyone. And since the twins were what the father cherished most, he had this room built especially for their sake. Syaoran particularly since father had made the air pure for his brother's weak body.

But now that Li had to take over his father's spot, Syaoran would be the only one to use it.

It looked more like a basement recreation room than anything. Giant TV, video games, sofas, endless games and toys and even a bed in the far corner. Li slowly released his brother's hand when they were inside and turned on the TV to the history channel.

"Your favorite documentary is on again today. You probably won't even realize I'm gone because you'll be so--"

"Why can't I stay with you?" Syaoran blurted at last.

"You'll get sick," Li said seriously.

"I don't feel sick."

"You never feel sick," Li pointed out, frowning. "And you already look pale enough….here, come sit on the couch before you--"

"Please let me go with you, Nii-san."

Li smiled as he lead his brother to the couch. "I won't be gone for long." Syaoran still looked miserable and worried though. Li thought for a second before smiling more. "While I'm at the meeting you can call Sakura and see if she wants to come to our house for lunch."

Syaoran wanted to reach out for his brother but only watched as Li left. Once the door was locked he felt more alone than ever. If it wasn't enough that father was dead, now it seemed like Syaoran was constantly being torn away from his brother too. Syaoran feared that those people were going to kill Li too. He tried telling his fear to Li earlier but his brother said he should stop thinking about it, and told him that thinking about it would only make Syaoran feverish.

Syaoran went up to the door and reached for the handle, but then pulled back just as quick. If he went out there, he'd worry his brother more. Li was already upset that he was looking so ill….if he got more so, it'd only make his brother sad.

So Syaoran slowly left the door and headed for the phone instead.

Touya answered as usual. And as usual greeted him with a very dry "Oh. It's you. What do you want?"

Syaoran blushed. "….m-may I speak with Sakura-san?"

A long pause on the other end.

A very long pause on the other end.

"Oni-chan who is it?" Syaoran heard Sakura say in the background. "Oni-chan! Is that Syaoran?! It is, isn't it?!" There was some struggle and some call of monster before Sakura picked up the line. "Syaoran?!"

Syaoran coughed a bit before answering. "...yes"

"Sorry! Sorry! Oni-chan is being mean again! I knew it had to be you though because he always does the same thing whenever it is!" Sakura's voice slowly picked up into a cheerful tone. "Is everything okay? Why are you calling? Are you feeling ill again? I can hear you coughing! It doesn't sound good at all....! Would you like me to come over? Do you need some medicine? Some blankets? Are you warm? Cold? Sleepy?"

More coughing.

"S-syaoran?"

"…I don't know how to answer all those questions," he replied in embarrassment "You talk really fast."

Sakura giggled happily from the other side.

He cleared his throat "U-ummm...Nii-san--....Nii-san said I could call you to ask if you wanted to have lunch with us today."

"Of course I want to! You never have to ask that part!" she said playfully. "When should I come over?"

"I'm not sure. Nii-san is at a meeting right now."

"You're not home alone are you?" she asked worriedly.

"I'm in the safe room at the office." He glanced at the documentary about Clow Ruins and coughed again. "Nii-san said I'd get sick if I stayed with him."

Sakura paused. "Something's wrong. I can tell just from the tone of your voice," she said softly. "Please don't hide it?"

By now Syaoran wasn't surprised that Sakura could easily pick up what he was feeling. It was more of a relief actually and Syaoran could actually feel himself relax a little as he rested his head on the table and closed his eyes. Somehow Sakura was better at knowing what he was feeling than Nii-san even….

"….I'm worried about Nii-san." Syaoran whispered at last. "…I wanted to go with him but…because I'm so sick all the time….the only thing I'd do is worry him."

"Li is a very strong person," Sakura said brightly. "I'm sure he won't be away for long! Talk with me until then and I'll keep you company, alright?"

"I wish I was a strong person," he commented softly.

"You're strong too!"

"I'm not. I'm sick all the time, I never trained with father like Nii-san was able to, and I know nothing about father's business." Syaoran started coughing again as he spoke. "….I'm useless to Nii-san--"

"You're not! You're very important to him--the most important! And Li loves you very much!" Sakura voice became worried. "That cough really, really doesn't sound good. Are you laying down?"

"I'm fine." He coughed more though and started getting dizzy. "But..even if Nii-san does love me that doesn't change the fact that I'm useless to him…"

"Syaoran," Sakura scolded softly but her reprimand was blocked out by someone banging on the door. And it wasn't a knocking either. It was more like a body slamming against it. Several bodies. Voices could be heard on the other side and none of them were Nii-san.

"Syaoran? Syaoran?! Are you there?! What's going--?!"

He was choking now and barely spoke the words "--breaking in" before blood came spilling out of his mouth. He collapsed on the floor and the phone flying. Sakura's voice got louder as she called his name in a panic from the other end of the line.

Syaoran hurriedly wiped the blood from his mouth and dragged himself towards the phone. "S-someone's trying to break in," he said, between labored breaths.

"Hide!" she shouted, terrifying Syaoran. "Run! Get away from there!!!"

He tried to listen but Syaoran could only fall to the floor and continue to cough up blood as Sakura shouted and cried for him to get away. Nii-san would never let someone come near him, his hazy mind realized as arms pulled him into a crushing embrace. Especially shouting and banging like those people had been. Nii-san would just open the door if he wanted anything, he thought as he felt lips press repeatedly against his cheeks. If all this was happening....if those people were trying to get into the safe room...that meant....

Long before Syaoran heard the knock on the door, Li's battered body was left to bleed itself to death on the meeting room floor.