Hey there! Justanothersinger with the newest update of Tension! Seriously, I had no idea how crappy my writing was until I did a quick review.
Urgh, sorry about that.
I changed the chapter to a prologue because it doesn't really explain much about the story until the end. Does that count as a spoiler? *scratches head sheepishly* Review and tell me if I have more improving to do.
Disclaimer: I don't own Tsubasa Chronicles. I'd be the happiest girl in the world if I did. CLAMP owns it, though.
Hope you like it!
Tension
Prologue: Living the lie
His eyes were closed against the sun's scalding touch, feathery-soft on his skin. After today's activities, the unbearable heat was...well, bearable. He recounted the strenuous training they were forced to undergo every day without fail; 200 sit-ups, 100 laps around the scouting area, covering 50 levels of the HQ's 1000. If they were lucky, they would be let off at this point. And all for guarding this beat-down shack, of all places.
How many times had they seen the same soot-covered door that day? He wiped one leather-padded glove against his eyes, black as was their whole uniform. Their attire attracted a few curious glances from the crowd, but was disregarded as the Mayor's desperate attempt to get more security in the ligh of coming events. After all, if he was going to protect some part of the town, it may as well be his home, the beaten down shack it may be.
His companion, similarly dressed, said, "Ewon, if you stare at the sun too long, your brain'll get fried."
"At least it's something to stare at." Ewon replied dully, making no move to even look at his companion.
Byangsoo chuckled, "Ewon, I warned you that being on patrol was no picnic."
"It was better than staying back at base, especially with Brother there."
"Look on the bright side, boy; at least out here the streets, there's no fear of wolves." Byangsoo shrugged his coat around him and huddled onto it, despite the summer heat. Ewon stared at him blearily, blinking a few times to rid his eyes from the light.
"How can you take this so casually?"
"Because no one else will." Was Byangsoo's cryptic reply. Ewon sighed and stood up. "I'm going to patrol the northern side again."
"Fine."
The young boy's footfalls against the pavements slowly faded away in the restless crowd. Byangsoo pulled his cap tighter against the heat and looked back at the crowd in the town.
It's amazing how the sun stills shines at this place.
With that sombre thought in mind, he resumed carefully guarding the entrance. In this part of town, there was no need for fear, especially under the cover of the crowd, in broad daylight.
But still, he knew it was too good an opportunity.
A single scream rang in the air. Byangsoo's eyes shot wide open and he sprang to his feet, but before he could do so much as move a muscle, the fight came to him.
A heavy thud sounded in the air as a figure crashed to the ground before him. A familiar figure in black velvet.
"Ewon!" Byangsoo noticed a shadow near the boy and looked up to see a hooded face glance down at him. "You bastard!" He shouted, quickly unclasping his own sword.
Alerted by the cries of the crowd, the other guards ran to the scene and upon laying eyes on their fallen comrade, they reached for their own swords as well.
The hooded figure took a deep breath and quickly stepped to the side. When they were not five feet from him, he vanished.
"What the-?" The guards swung around looking for a sneak attack from behind, but only the frightened faces of the innocent stared back at them. Byangsoo quickly made way to his friend.
Ewon was shakily breathing, clutching his side. "Ewon, hold on! I'll take you to her now; just stay awake."
Ewon opened his eyes for just a minute and saw the sun shining down on him. And he also saw the obscure, black shape that came closer and closer to where they stood...
"Look out!"
The hooded figure crashed into Byangsoo, knocking him senseless to the ground. He quickly whipped around and incapacitated two of the guards, before the rest even knew what was happening. "Please stop the attacks." The figure said, cold eyes staring out through the hood.
The guards paid him no heed and rushed towards him, swords raised.
With that, the figure jumped in the air and landed behind the guard, incapacitating him with a kick to the back. The other guard thrust his sword at him, at which the figure jumped to avoid it and landed lightly on the sword handle for a second before jump-kicking the man in the face.
As the last two figures tried to corner him, he stepped out from in-between and kicked the two men together, sending them sprawling to the ground.
Byangsoo groaned, slowly coming to. The minute he saw the figure stand above him, he tried to draw back, but was stopped by the pain shooting through his back.
"Your friend will live and so will you." The figure said, before swooping down and pinching the nerve cluster of the man's neck.
And it was all over in a few seconds.
Alright. Now that that's taken care of, I better finish this.
He quietly stepped over them, and walked up to the soot-covered door.
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The inside was almost as old and rusted as the outside. But it was much worse.
The tables were shattered, some split cleanly apart into two. The curtains were ripped from their railing and lay in shreds on the carpet, which had odd dark stains that smelt like rust and blood.
One hand was fisted tightly under the cloak that hid him, the other was raised out, pushing through the cobwebs that blocked his way.
Who knew that such a place was once the palace of the princess of goodwill?
"You came."
She was so quiet, that she almost startled him. Almost.
"You must be careful." He told her, bowing down, "If I were someone that wished you harm, things would have turned for the worse."
"I am surrounded by enemies." Her smile turned sorrowful, "As you well know. But are you one of them?"
"I don't know. But I don't wish to be." He said.
"Very well then. I know why you came." She held out both her hands and whispered a few words in a harsh language that made the boy shiver. Blowing softly on her palms, she ended the incantation and held out the most beautiful gem the boy had ever seen.
"Is this...really...?"
"Yes. I assure you this is the real spirit gem."
"No. What I mean is...is this really alright? To just take it?"
"You've paid for it, have you not?" She said, and her smile was true for the first time, "The price you wear on your back." He unhooked the sword on his back and carefully held it out to you.
"You risk your soul just wearing it." She said.
"And you risk yours taking it from me."
"My soul has been tainted far before yours." She said as she took the sword, "And it is a price I am willing to pay, especially for my goal."
She pushed the gem into his hands. "And there is your price."
He carefully put the gem in his pack and made his way to the door. Before he stepped out, she said, "Wait." She paused for a minute and said, "I advise you to be wary. Not only of your enemies, but also of your surroundings."
"They have a right to hate me."
"With all that you've done to protect them?" She shook her head, "Even with a soul as tainted as mine, I can see that is wrong."
He merely nodded a fraction of an inch and stepped out of the doorway.
There's no need to reply to that question. After all, this is the last time I walk through here.
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"Shirayuki-sama!"
"Ewon, calm down!"
Ewon burst into the empty house, almost tripping over the discarded objects, desperate to find his master.
"Shirayuki-sama!"
Byangsoo ran behind him, cursing. He swore he would protect the kid and this happened! "Ewon, wai-!"
He stopped suddenly, registering what he was seeing.
Behind him, he heard Ewon's horrified gasp and then a sob. But his attention was focused only on the woman before him. She lay splayed out in the centre of the room, in the middle of a dark, crimson pool, like some disfigured puppet whose strings were cut. Her arms were at an awkward angle like they were broken but even then, he could see the black and gold hilt of the sword between them.
Beside her, drenched in blood was a hastily scribbled note.
To those who find me,
Forgive me.
I've rejoined my creator's side and left the Devil's for good.
Please take care of the sword and ensure that no-one ever suffers what I was forced to endure by it.
And to the one who claimed his soul was tainted...even if it was, tainted it will lie no more.
Thank you.
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"Yo, Nadeshiko! One more round over here!"
"I can see that you certainly need it." The black-haired woman replied, as she started up the coffee machine. The man in question, whose upper-half lay spread-eagled on the table raised his head off about a millimetre or so. "Nadeshiko-san, I had no other choice. I had to stay up late yesterday to finish my work and..."
"There are no excuses for what we choose to do." Nadeshiko simply replied, as she set the coffee on the table and surveyed the man with a stern eye.
"Yes, ma'am." The man grinned sheepishly at her.
"Are you almost done over there?" She called over her shoulder.
"Yes, just a minute!" Without any warning, a young man rushed out of the bead curtained-doorway with a silver platter wobbling precariously in his hands. He reached the table in a split second considering the sheer size of the coffee area and set the platter down. The man blinked, registering the little brown cake that he could cup in two hands, decorated with white icing and coloured sprinkles.
"Here." He said, regaining his breath by a meagre amount and smiling at the man.
"I didn't order this." The customer replied, confused.
"I know. But you need it. It will definitely give you enough energy to excel in your presentation." The boy said.
"...If you keep giving things like this away, you will lose all your business, y'know." The other man said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I made it from what I bought from my money. I didn't want to burden Nadeshiko-san."
"My, what a kind child." The woman with them gushed. The boy blushed to the roots of his chocolate-brown hair, obviously not used to the attention. "Ah...well..."
"When do you plan on going home today?"
"I can't go home yet. I have to help Nadeshiko-san with the extra work, she can't possibly do..."
"Syaroan..." The woman said in a warning tone, "I can handle the extra work by myself. Please go home and take some rest. You might end up like him if you're not careful." She pointed to the man, who was eating the cake. Judging by the look of bliss on his face, he hadn't heard her comment.
"Y-yes, ma'am. Sorry." He said, ducking his head and quickly going to the back of the shop.
"Nadeshiko. Keep a close eye on this kid. His type rarely comes around anymore." The woman said, looking at Syaroan's retreating back.
"Yes, I know. He does his chores the best he can, always polite to the customers and never complains about any extra work."
"These days, the war leaves people to be cold-hearted souls. I don't want him to go the same way."
"I wouldn't worry about that." Nadeshiko said, a smile on her face, "If I know him, he'll do the right thing, no matter what."
In the back of the shop, Syaroan went to his backpack and started taking his normal clothes out to replace his uniform. A sliver of light stopped him and he peered into the backpack.
He carefully set aside his things and extended both hands in his backpack. When he pulled them out, he inspected the beautiful, glass-like stone in them.
Such an beautiful gem to cause such slaughter. He closed his eyes and remembered the woman's kind words.
My soul is tainted and I know the truth. But the ones who know me believe the lie.
And I know that as well.
He looked up and saw Nadeshiko talk to the people, a happy smile on her face.
But...if it's alright...I want to live the lie with them, for just a little while longer.
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