A/N: No, I don't own the surnames of Nokoru's, Suoh's, Idomu's or Akira's parallel universe selves. Credit, and blame, goes to La Corda D'Oro. I don't own CLAMP either.
Over Blue and Sun
Chapter One
Shots rang out in the dark alley.
There were screams, more like yells, but besides those, there were no other signs of life. Any possibility for civillian casualties had already been eradicated. The poor, lonely city of Johannes was now open for four boys...mere boys...to continue their bloody, merciless combat for the superiority of their family names.
Tsukimori Suoh inhaled sharply and pressed his back against the crumbling walls of an old building, just narrowly missing a bullet. Cursing silently, he reloaded the automatic in his hand and crept close to the edge of the wall. His arms were out and stiff, poised to attack any time.
Brilliant tiger gold eyes kept a keen lookout as discretion and safety allowed. A displaced strand of royal blue hair floated in front of his nose and he tried to blow it away.
"Where are they, Hihara-san?" he asked.
Hihara Akira was sitting amongst a complicated wiring system of explosives. He frowned slightly at his cousin's question, but not out of annoyance.
"Tsuchiura's put a barrier around them. It may be harder to locate where exactly they are but it seems quite near," he said, but at the look on Suoh's face added, "I'll try."
The other boy nodded and took to watching out for their adversaries once more.
Akira exhaled and closed his eyes. His hands positioned themselves as if they hovered over a crystal ball. Power and energy began to radiate from his a few moments later, allowing his ebony hair to defy gravity somewhat.
Liquid, like molten glue sticks, materialized within the space of those hands, moving and writhing until it became a sphere: perfectly smooth, round, soft-looking and cloudy.
"Hihara..." Suoh began in a warning tone. A heightened sense told him that their targets were advancing fast.
Akira's eyes snapped open, no longer an honest quicksilver color, but a blinding white. The energy within and around him increased.
"They're on Everness, just behind the Macy's butcher shop."
The milky white sphere slowly cleared. Like an odd television, the place he had just described swam into view. Two figures could be seen moving within the alleyway. "They're running...I...I think they've found ou--"
A strangled cry escaped him. One of the two figures in the sphere had aimed a hot burst of energy straight at their invisible spies, like a thief noticing the stare of a surveillance camera. The liquid sphere broke its form and wriggled once more.
"Suoh..." Akira began, but stood up instead and increased his concentration. Nerves bulged out the sides of his face. His features scrunched up in anger as he prepared his counter-attack.
- - - -
"Nokoru, they know where we are. We'd better move unless Hihara finds us again."
Shimizu Nokoru nodded with his shot gun at the ready. "Was it them you fired at, Idomu?"
Tsuchiura Idomu was right behind him. His normally emerald green eyes were blazing white and his hands were positioned like he was holding the bottom of an invisible fishbowl.
"Yes," was his calm reply. "And don't go any further than this wall. They're behind the spaghetti place."
Nokoru smirked and spotted a small quantity of blue hair. "Suoh's never been the best at hiding."
The blonde whipped about and fired two shots roughly in the enemy's direction before retreating once more to the safety behind the wall. Vengeful bullets answered in clean misses, ricocheting off the crumbling stone and landing harmlessly at their feet.
Having received a signal from his companion, Idomu wrapped his arms around Nokoru so they were both holding the shotgun.
"Help's on the way!" the redhead declared cheerfully and the pair whipped about once more.
One pull from their trigger fired a brilliant, devastating burst of energy which exploded with tremendous force on the wall where Suoh and Akira were by, creating fatal debris.
"Bouncing Sheild Technique!"
The liquid between Akira's hands swelled into a powerful bubble, engulfing him and his cousin. In that, they made their quick escape, taking to the air in a few bounds.
"As usual, you don't think ahead, Shimizu!" Suoh yelled as they passed overhead.
Nokoru had mind to shoot the bluenette for his cheek but sensed the trap in their adversaries' former hiding place.
"Bombs!" Idomu exclaimed. If the rubble would hit them... "Nokoru!" he yelled and launched himself at the blonde.
A similar bubble expanded between them and engulfed them both, making them airborne as a colossal explosion occured. When the smoke cleared, Johannes looked worse than it already was.
"You're pathetic, Hihara!" Idomu yelled. His and the black-haired boy's powers were flaring as they levitated inside their respective spheres supporting their cousins.
Suoh's eyes narrowed in anticipation. A smirk made itself known on Nokoru's lips. Their war had taken to the skies.
"Hit me!" they said in unison.
"Winged Guard!" said Akira, slapping both hands on the bluenette's back. Enormous wings sprouted from the spot as the bubble dissolved.
"Air Ship!" said Idomu, opening his palms at the direction of the blonde's feet, making something like a wheel-less skateboard appear. Their bubble too dispated.
"Will you be alright, Tsuchiura-kun?" Nokoru asked as soon as he was comfortably floating.
"Showtime!" the redhead said gleefully as he sped off to meet Akira for a battle of magic, skill and power in the sky.
"Are you just going to stand and chat, Shimizu?" Suoh called loftily.
The blonde shot a sneer at the winged boy and gave his shotgun a flashy whip. As easy as switching channels, it extended to a lethal broadsword. One royal blue eyebrow arched. Suoh, too, did a similar move and his automatic grew into a deadly katana.
Not far off, Idomu and Akira were bombarding each other with explosive bursts of energy, deflecting attacks with amazing speed, agility and power. They looked like hectic eagles relentlessly pecking and bomb-diving at each other with every attack.
Two mightly yells shook the heavens as Shimizu Nokoru and Tsukimori Suoh charged, determined for a head on collision.
Then, superiority could really be tested.
- - - -
"Oh please!"
"But kaichou! You have to finish your paperwork."
"Well, yes, but--"
"Kaichou, I'm on Takamura-sempai's strict orders not to let you watch the tournament until you finish the paperwork."
Nokoru fixed the black haired boy with an incredulous stare.
"And since when did you start taking orders from him?"
Akira beamed. "Only when he's looking," was the cheerful reply. "Now, let's go and support Takamura-sempai!"
The blonde gleefully put down his stamp and followed the happy boy out the door and to the gym.
It was the first time this kind of tournament was held in CLAMP Campus. The Free-for-All, as it was called, was open to students as well as outsiders. The participants were classified according to their ability and the objective was to use any type of fighting technique, be it martial arts among others, that would best, in view of the user, to take out the opponent.
As a kick, courtesy of the hosts, the participants had to fight in the outfit that matched the style they were going to use.
"Is Suoh up next?" Nokoru asked the Akira bouncing beside him. The boy reeked of excitement and was practically leaning out the safety of the VIP box.
The pair painted an amusing picture of a cool-as-cucumber Roman Emperor with his enthusiastic squire waiting for bloodshed to start out in the arena of an everyday gladiator showdown.
"The view from here is perfect, kaichou!" was his answer. "You won't be able to miss a thing out on that floor! I don't know when Takamura-sempai's turn is, but I'm pretty sure he'd be easy to spot."
The boy was banking on his senses picking up that distinct shade of blue hair. Oh how he was wrong. The next match was already starting and at first glance, the competition could not have been more absurd.
This huge sumo wrestler was up against a scrawny slip of a person clad top to toe in black. With two characteristic sumo steps, the ground shook with such intensity, it threw a few standing people off balance.
"Arena up!" the announcer boomed and the ring the two participants were in opened.
With squeaks and clangs, a dome cage with bars encased with chains trapped them. Only one of them would emerge as the winner.
Nokoru's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Is this authorized?"
Akira looked at him. He was no longer bothering to sit down. "This rule has been in use for the main matches of the competition. Since this is your first time watching a Free-for-All kaichou, I understand if you don't feel comfortable. But it's all part of the fun!"
The blonde simply nodded without really comprehending. He pulled his seat closer to where the young chef was to get a better view.
The 'start' bell rang shrilly and the sumo charged. His skinny opponent suddenly vanished. There was an uproar from the crowd.
The remainder of the Elementary Division Student Council tensed in their places, trembling with anticipation.
'Where did he go?' could be heard from the spectators.
Clinks from the chain-bound bars of the dome cage caught the attention of the sumo. His opponent was clinging to the boundaries like some human spider. The dodge was quick as a grasshopper's and as silent as cotton flying.
Cheers erupted from the hiked crowds.
The sumo frowned before bending over and holding his knees tight against his chest, so that he looked like a giant human ball. Sure enough, he rolled round and round the interior of the cage, picking up enough speed to roll on the walls. He was destruction to anything in his way.
The black clad kid leapt from his perch like a cat and delivered a precise and powerful blow just right below the nape of the traveling rotating sumo's thick neck. The force wasn't enough to knock him out, but enough to halt his progress and send him crashing back to the ground. His impact with the gravel created a small crater.
Throwing knives them came shooting out from all sides, impaling the sumo's very much exposed form. The large man was momentarily shocked, yet did not seem the slightest bit bothered that he was being treated like some squashy pin cushion. His eyes were trying to follow the dynamic directions the throwing knives were coming from. It was as if his opponent had multiplied himself and was attacking from all sides.
If that was the case, then he would have to take down the source. A gleam lit up his gaze and with a mighty sumo fist, he struck his nimble opponent.
The scrawny boy crash-landed on the floor, along with some knives he hadn't thrown yet. His duplicated exploded in smoke. By his stance, it was clear he was not prepared for such an attack. He looked up at his towering adversary and his eyes widened.
The expression on the sumo's face looked like he was having a really hard time moving bowels, but soon, all the throwing knives had been pushed out of his skin and fell to the floor in loud clatters.
The sumo straightened up and began to suck in air, expanding rapidly in the hopes of just crushing his opponent. Before he had any chance of doing so, however, smoke erupted inside the dome cage is a succession of hisses.
From their seats in the VIP box, Nokoru let out a cry.
"Kounais, smoke bombs...you've GOT to be kidding me!" he exclaimed. Akira turned to look at him. "What's wrong, kaichou?"
"That's Suoh in there!"
His companion frowned, momentarily thinking that his chairman was referring to the sumo, but then he saw the black clad boy, hidden enough by the clever smoke to deliver powerful kicks at his opponent.
Akira beamed in amusement. "He's dressed like a ninja," he remarked. "Ne, kaichou, have you ever seen him fight like this?"
Suoh was clinging to the chains draped on the dome cage once more. He had drawn them back as far as he could and launched himself straight at the sumo's stomach. There was a resounding groan and quaking as if a building was falling. When the displaced dust cleared, the sumo was on the floor.
"And Round One goes to...Takamura Suoh!" the announcer bommed over the roar of a wild crowd.
"R-round One?" Nokoru asked incredulously. Now that he had the knowledge of who was in that cage, his nerves were more on the edge, but not in a good way.
"Round Two start!"
The sumo's fists were surprisingly fast. They came in darting frenzies, like speeding torpedoes, swift and relentless. It was pointless for Suoh to dodge them like he'd usually do because the fists were huge and they would hit him either way.
"Show 'im what you've got, ninja!" someone from the audience screeched.
"YEAH! Give him those legs!" another added. The crowd's noise intensified.
Suoh leapt, using one of the speeding fists as a ride to aim a whopping kick at the sumo's temple.
"He's only using kicks...I've never seen him fight like this," said the Imonoyama heir in awe.
"Of course," the Ijuyn heir replied gleefully. "It would be hard to lift a person of that much weight in the air and throw him down like how Takamura-sempai would usually do. Using his hands would cause him more injury."
The blonde looked at his friend and wondered how much exactly he knew about ninjas and martial arts when he noticed the younger boy was really enjoying himself like a true wresting fan. Nokoru, however, wasn't and he looked toward the dome cage with one hand over his mouth, fearing for his dear friend indeed.
- - - -
Hihara Akira fell like a shooting star out of the galaxy and created a crater upon impact on the deserted streets of Johannes.
Panting, Tsuchiura Idomu flew back to where his cousin and Tsukimori were fighting to offer possible help.
"Suoh! Watch out!"
Idomu looked. It was Hihara and he swore loudly. Now this had turned into a race to reach their partners first.
"Nokoru!"
"Idomu!"
"Suoh!"
"Akira?"
The wizards engulfed their gunner cousins at the same time. The result was twin incredible bursts of pure energy and power going to a head-on collision.
- - - -
The sumo got pissed and, with a few hand moves, sent his skinny opponent flying via a special Knock Out punch. The Takamura slammed into the unforgiving steel bars and collapsed on the ground.
"Suoh!" Nokoru screeched.
"Takamura-sempai!"
The sumo saw his chance and began pounding the boy's body.
- - - -
Shimizu Nokoru swung his sword and sent Tsukimori crashing to the pavement. Akira was about to counter-attack when Idomu intercepted it.
- - - -
Suoh held up his arms in an attempt of defense. Any more power and the final blow could have fatally damaged him.
- - - -
The clash was enough to obliterate the entire city of Johannes.
- - - -
"Suoh!"
- - - -
"Suoh!"
- - - -
Then all was black...
- - - -
Tsukimori Suoh's body was aching all over. Oh what had happened?
The color white met his eyes as he opened them. Further taking in of his surroundings told him he was in a room, with good lighting too because the sun was freely streaming in.
He was lying down...on a soft mattress.
Where was he?
"Takamura-sempai! You're awake!" spoke such an overly-cheery voice by his side, he winced before turning to its source.
Dark amber eyes widened in slight surprise as he saw a black haired boy, much like his cousin, only somewhat younger.
"H-hihara?" he managed to say and Ijuyn Akira's smile faded.
"Who's Hihara, Takamura-sempai?"
Well, who was this Takamura? he wanted to retaliate when the movement from the curtains caught his attention.
"Suoh!" Nokoru sighed in relief, emerging from a conversation with a nurse. "Thank Kami you're awake. You're in the clinic--"
But Tsukimori Suoh wasn't listening to any of what the blonde was saying. All he thought of was this boy in front of him was Shimizu...his enemy.
In a fluid, lighting-quick move, Suoh was out of bed and had pinned Nokoru by the neck against the wall with the super human grip of his right hand.
Akira went into hysterics.
"KAICHOU! OH KAICHOU! TAKAMURA-SEMPAI WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! STOP!"
TBC
A/N: Forgive typos! ...enjoy!xD and ciAo...