A/N: A few things.
1) First, I am very excited to announce my first Tsubasa fanfic. It was the SakuraXSyaoran pairing that first inspired me to write fanfiction and therefore, finally many years later I am able to craft one of my own.
2) Next, I would like to point out that the format of this prologue is different than the actual story. While this banters on back and forth between two different realities the story will take place in more of the traditional story telling method so please, if you do not like this style, sit tight and wait for Chapter One.
3) Finally, I would like to point out the darkness of this story. While I don't think it's that bad I apologize for its possible disturbing factors. I merely wanted to try something different than my usual romance/humor stories and in no way promote the ideas written here.
Disclaimer: raindropdays does not own Tsubasa, the characters or the plot. Those belong to the geniuses, CLAMP.
Prologue
Far away a man sits overlooking a large reservoir. A behemoth of a clock stands a few feet away counting down the moments until the curse breaks free. He smiles wickedly as a glimmer of the moon reflects in his glasses.
Pensively, he raises his eyes to the sky and catches a glimpse of the fleeting moon as it disappears behind heavy, rain-filled clouds.
He already knows the course that history will take.
He knows the date the curse will break.
TAKE ONE
Sakura swept the honey, auburn locks out of her face as she stared up at the castle walls. Her eyes were filled with wonder and her heart, filled to the brim with curiosity. Inquisitively, she reached up and ran her hand across the smooth, cool stone walls, biting her tongue as her fingers twisted in and around the grooves of cement that had held those walls up for so long. Around her, a gentle breeze stirred up the flowers that scattered around the dirt path.
"Sakura!" a man called in the distance, his spectacles glinting in the bright, summer sun. She turned happily to face them, a bright smile brimming on her face. Next to the owner of the voice, stood a young woman with beautiful features and lengthy curls; both were smiling at her showing love only a parent could show.
"Coming!" replied Sakura, as she bounded towards them, stirring the flowers about as she ran. They outstretched their fingers to touch her as she bounded closer and her arms were out stretched in flattering mimicry. But their bodies never touched, their hands never met... and somewhere far away the clock struck midnight though there was not a star in the sky.
TAKE TWO
Sakura sat with her back against the cold stone, walls as the rain drummed down on her. Her russet colored hair was plastered to her face and her emerald eyes were dark and cloudy as they struggled to remain open. She hugged her knees against her chest, the last place where warmth remained in her small body.
People scurried to and fro past her, holding cloths and fabric over their heads to shield the bitter rain from piercing their bare faces and arms. She looked on enviously at them as she saw a small family walk past. But then her hopes fell.
Because it was okay.
She had never known her family, she had never known her parents. Did she have any siblings? She lingered on the word for a short moment before pushing it out of her mind.
How many times had she let her mind wander down that path?
She was alone. She had always been alone. One day she woke up with no memory. One day she woke up with no life. One day she had woken up without herself.
And that was that.
There was no use wondering over it any longer. She coughed as a woman stopped to stare down at her for a split second before turning her back again and muttering something about a dirty orphan.
And Sakura closed her eyes and let the rain beat into her again, accepting the words easily, because that was who she was.
TAKE ONE
Syaoran bounded down the stairs, eyes filled with glee and expectations high. He had been anticipating his eighth birthday for many months now and finally the day had come. He ran past the maid and cook mumbling small 'hello's and quiet 'excuse me's and naturally all of the castle's servants smiled at him with wide grins, overflowing with mutual happiness. After all, what day was happier than the crown prince's birthday?
As Syaoran reached the main foyer he stumbled to a struggled stop and bowed hastily as his parents sat in chairs opposite of him. "Good morning Mother, Father," he said, his head still bowed.
"Syaoran, come sit down!" called his mother anxiously from across the room. He looked up and his eyes met his mother's, glinting from the bright sun that shone beyond the bay window's panes.
"It's your birthday son," laughed his father, "Come now and sit down."
Syaoran nodded anxiously and made his way to the velvety chairs where they were seated and took a seat next to them on the feathery couch. He sat respectfully as all royalty would and should, his head slightly angled down as a sign of respect to his parents, the king and queen. "Thank you," he said graciously as they handed him a large box, wrapped elegantly in green paper with a large gold bow on it.
"Happy birthday Syoaran," said his mother as she hugged him tight around the neck, "We love you so much."
TAKE TWO
Syaoran eyes shot open and he jumped up instinctively. He had just seen something horrible...or had it been a dream? He turned to gaze around his room and saw that nothing was out of place. All of his possession still sat in their respectful places, just as he had left them the previous night. His oak desk still sat at the opposing side of his room and his window was still left ajar ever so slightly, just as it had been before he dozed off to sleep the previous night.
He sat down on his bed feverishly, his mind racing to keep up with thoughts that he suddenly couldn't recall. Somewhere...something had happened. He chewed his lip trying to remember what it was but no memories came. Slowly, he decided that it had been nothing more than the post fear of the nightmare and stood up again. He made his way to his closet to dress, bumping into his calendar as he made his way. It clattered to the floor, lying open to the month of April.
He gazed down at it and noticed the date. A wide smile spread across his face. Of course, how could he not have remembered? Today was the day of his eighth birthday. He dressed quickly and threw open the door to his room ready to be greeted by the servants of the castles, wearing their bright smiles.
As soon as he took one step out of his room he knew something was wrong. The hall was stale and empty and a terrible sickening feeling shot up inside of him. Slowly he made his way to the staircase, glancing around in every direction as he walked, trying to see someone...anyone.
Maybe they had all hidden. Yes, hidden to surprise him for his birthday. He smiled hopefully as he began his descent. If it was all just a joke...if it was just a surprise...if...
The stairs creaked a little bit as he moved, setting off an eerie aura that he had never felt in his own home before. Finally he reached the cool, marble base and looked around. Still, there wasn't a soul in sight. He rounded the corner cautiously and immediately a pungent odor struck him. And then he saw them, sprawled across the floor of the foyer, blood splattered on the velvety chairs and feathery couch. And the horrible screams came flooding back into his mind and he realized that it had indeed not been just a horrible nightmare.
TAKE ONE
Fai looked around the small cabin with a joker's grin painted on his face. Today was the single happiest day of his life. He almost spun a little bit as he made his way to his coat rack and carefully removed his heavy winter coat to replace it in his travelling bag. Looking down affectionately at the fleece overcoat he couldn't help but remember the very moment he had met her. He smiled and decided to leave the coat out a little bit longer and hung it back up on the rack. Gracefully, he turned to the door and headed out grabbing his hat as he went and sitting it tactfully on his head.
It was a beautiful summer day, he noted as he made his way down the blotchy, dirt path that led from his small home to the main road. For almost a year he had lived in this place. For almost a year he had known her. He smiled when he thought of her elegant manner, her gentle nature, her sweet face...
And today, he would show her just how much he cared about her.
"Magician!" someone called to him from across the street as he walked. Fai tipped his hat to him politely and continued to walk on.
Down the road he could see a rather large cabin adorned with lilies and white roses, the flowers of promise and love. Outside the cabin a young woman was sitting, wearing a charmingly, beautiful white dress and a string of lavender, the symbol of betrothal, in her long, snowy blond hair. She smiled when she caught sight of Fai and stood up almost immediately.
"Fai!" she called in a sweet voice as she waved to him. Fai waved back enthusiastically, never missing a step as he made his way eagerly through the low gate and towards her. "You've come for me," she said smiling, tears of joy coming to her eyes, "I'm so happy."
TAKE TWO
Fai threw his travelling bag onto his back and took a final look around the small room. It had only been his home for a short time and yet in that short time, he had dreamed, fallen in love and was now being ripped apart from his love. He shuddered at the very thought of being separated from her. No, he wouldn't ever allow it to happen.
Swiftly, he made his way to the door and opened it without hesitation. Even if it meant leaving this place forever, it was worth it to be with her. He made his way down the dirt path littered with stones solemnly, keeping his head up and staring straight ahead as if he were in some strange hypnotic trance. He reached the main road and took a sharp right, heading down the route he had memorize all too long ago to the house he desired to visit most.
"Magician!" someone bellowed to him from across the street as he walked. He ignored their outburst and continued to walk, his pace quickening slightly. Something was wrong. Something had changed. He could feel it rippling through the air. And the source was her house. He had no time for some pathetic man in this pathetic town.
Nervously he reached the large cabin at the top of the hill. It was silent, barren and had a look of death about it. Frantically, he flew through the swinging gate and to the door. A smell of cruel death had reached him and already his mind was racing and finding explanations his body didn't want to accept.
He paused at the door wondering what to do now. He knew in his mind what the inner room of the cabin held for him but his heart did not want to accept it. Nervously, he pushed the door open. His eyes fell on pure horror.
Her snowy blonde hair was now blotchy with stains of what appeared to be deep red ink and her eyes gazed off towards a place she would never see again. And there, that man stood, over her body, laughing, just laughing insanely, staring at Fai all the time. And the insanity grew and spread until Fai could take it no more.
TAKE ONE
Kurogane stared around at the enemies with the same look he had after every victory. Pure arrogance was smeared across his attractively menacing face as he stepped over their bodies towards the princess in her protected barricade. They had come at her from all sides, the rest of her faithful guard already defeated long ago. But she had had barely enough to scream before he had come to her aid. He was always there brandishing his sword and even though she always seemed to reprimand him for his reckless ways after the battles had ended, she always had a certain tone of affection for him as well.
He grunted as he made his way up the stairs and beyond the lilac colored veil that separated her from the endless gruesome fights, the danger and the enemies that seemed to plague them constantly.
"Hey," he called as he neared the veil, "They're all dead; every single last one of them." He said the words triumphantly with a smirk plastered on his face.
"Kurogane," she said as he pulled the veil back to reveal himself to her and she to him, "That is a horrible thing to say." He scoffed, brushing her words off easily.
"They deserved it, pieces of filth trying to sneak in here. But they should have known the great Kurogane would be here!" He laughed at his own invincibility. When his fair maiden didn't say anything he turned impatiently to her.
"What's wrong with you?" He said disrespectfully, "Did you want to be captured? Killed?"
The princess shook her head slowly, a small smile spreading across her porcelain face, framed with black tresses. She opened her all knowing onyx eyes slowly. "Of course not," she responded, and it was as simple as that.
TAKE TWO
Kurogane had a feeling that was foreign to him growing within is his gut. The feeling was fear itself. His eyes were wide with horror as he stared down at his own hands. His eyes wandered from his hands up his arms and to his torso, all boasting deep, red cuts. His mouth hung open, gaping with words that would never leave his mouth still hanging within.
Shaking, he rose to his feet and reached for his beloved sword but could not find it among the dead bodies that littered the courtyard. But it was not for them that he worried. How many times had he seen his comrades fall in battle? How many times had he simply blamed it upon their weaknesses, their lack of better judgment, their absence of skill as a fighter?
His eyes were wide and blood-shot as he made his way towards the place where the jewel of his efforts had once sat, so happy, so trusting, so... His legs faltered as he made his way up the stairs to her throne and he fell on his stomach. Groaning, he struggled to stand again, wondering how it was that this had happened. He squeezed his eyes shut painfully. He knew how this had happened. He knew...he knew it all.
Angrily he reached the top of the stairs and threw back the violet veil but she was not there. Falling to his knees he stared at her throne where she had sat just a few moments earlier, her long black hair, elegantly swept back over her shoulder and her pensive eyes wide open, waiting restlessly for...
His thoughts faltered. Would he ever know now? Would he ever discover the answer to his long kept but never spoken question? His eyes darted around the room madly, looking for some last trace of her. Anything; a sign, a ransom note a discarded sword holding a clue to the menace who had stolen her away. His eyes fell on a dark corner and his mind went blank with agony and anger.
The clock keeps ticking, the minutes keep passing.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Continue on...
Continue down this path, down this path to your death.
At midnight the spell will break.
A/N: A bit confusing huh? Don't worry, questions will be answered as time goes on... Also, unique, right? I told you...
Anyway, I would enjoy your comments please on both the idea for this story and the writing style used here. Thanks for your time. See you in Act I.