Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tsubasa Chronicle character. I hope you readers enjoy the story and pls R/R
Every five hundred years or so, a meteor engulfed in flames collides with earth bringing about the gateway to a world called Saurs. Saurs is a world completely opposite to earth in so many ways that it cannot be completely described. But to put it bluntly, it is similar to a marketplace on Earth, though not exactly. The streets are always buzzing with wandering souls, trying to find a place where they belong. There are also all kinds of demons, angels, and spirits who gather there, whether to guide, condemn, or eat the souls. Each has their own stands to advertise their service, through different methods of bribery. The demons thrive on the souls' desires while the angels use purification. A few fights rage from time to time amongst shops, in order to attract customers, since a good fight always draws a crowd. In all, it's a colorful world, mixed with light, darkness, and everything in between.
However, the most famous thing in this world is the shrine at the core of the marketplace located underneath the roots of the apple tree. Three rivers surround it, called Heaven, Hell, and Paradise. Around them are orchards of pomegranates and spikenard. Within lies the renowned miko, with her dark blue robes covering her pale complexion, awaiting her guests. Everyone was celebrating their arrival, and more so than usual since it was the miko's birthday. Creatures gathered at the Garden of Nede, presenting their offerings.
"My lady, out of all these presents gathered here today, mine would bring you the utmost of pleasure if you wish so." The dark-clothed man bowed on his knees in greeting, gently grabbing her hand and kissing it, sending a rush of gasps and whispers through her garden.
"If so, bring it forth, and I will acknowledge its worth."
He smiles under his cloth, happy to have her consent. Out of his cloth came forth a locked black cage, and inside it, a crow. A highly vivid crow, who madly cawed, fighting the cage bars, wanting to be free.
"What's the meaning of this?" she asked, her eyes showing composure yet with a hint of bewilderment.
"It is as you see, my lady. He who is dark was tainted by the sunlight. His appearance is that of a crow, because of his dark heart. Once well-loved by humans, now he is a servant to us. Souls hate him, for it is because of him that they are here. Yet for himself, he cannot be judged, since he's mixed. Not a complete human, soul, or crow. His isolation was his punishment. But it is for his best to stay here, than to be a servant to those disdainful beings."
The miko smiled and accepted the key. For it did bring her pleasure to know how deeply he cared for the crow.
"Before I go, my lady, he can turn human by arousal or he can turn back by the snap of your finger. With that I leave him in your care" He bowed and left, and his was her last present.
The crow continued on his rampage against the cage, biting his bound leg, trying to loosen it. Out of sympathy, the miko opened the cage. The crow calmly eyed her, walked towards the cage door, and closed it.
She laughed. "I see. I must have hurt your pride. Then please resume."
He did. All his attempts were futile; he only brought amusement to her. Seeing her smiling face, he turned around perk up his feathers, trying to conceal his actions.
"You are just adorable." He flinched at her words, cawing like crazy.
"Lady Tomoyo, Your offerings have been organized." Her assistant, Luna, announced as she sat near her.
"Is he still trying to escape?" Luna asked, astonished at his persistence.
"He is. He stubbornly refused my assistance, when offered." Tomoyo said, smiling all the same.
The sound of chimed bells filled the shrine. Her assistant quickly stood to her position to attend their guests. Luna later came back with a black soul beside her. When it walked inside Tomoyo's chamber, it took its formal form of a scrawny old man with white hair and white beard.
"What is it that you wish to repent?" All her amusement gone, Tomoyo was transformed into a different person, a more refined and wise miko.
"I do not wish for forgiveness, though I do wish to alter the past, no matter the consequences." The spirit gave her a weak smile and started telling her his story, how he came to be in Saurs.
"In the year of 1990, I became prime minister of Japan, which was my long-time goal since I first became a politician. Although such happiness didn't last, I started declining in my duty as a husband, which let to my wife's adultery. I was thankful that the matter was kept hush-hush from the public or I would've been ruined. I even bought her lover's silence, but the fool became ambitious and wanted more, so I banished him. After nine months, my wife gave birth to her lover's child, a baby girl, whom we named Alice. Her labor took such a toll on her body that she died moments afterwards. Alice grew to be the spitting image of her mother, with her topaz eyes, silver hair, and skin as white as snow. An overwhelming beauty, I became obsessed to the point where it became insanity. Knowing that I would soon lose her to another man, I wanted to make her suffer; that way she wouldn't leave me." Tomoyo sat, listening to his introduction to the story.
1995
Two man where having a small conversation in one of the run down warehouse at the bay.
" hey, Haru, are you sure her old man is going to pay?" one of the kidnappers asked skeptically, while brushing his black haired backwards .
" Of course he will, Ren. This is his precious daughter, after all." Haru snickered, looking at the contacts in Alice's phone. It truly surprised Haru to see her unfazed, which meant this wasn't her first time being kidnapped.
Ring! Ring! His cell phone started to vibrate inside his office.
"I'm busy, Alice. Call another …"
"We have your daughter. If you want her back, how about paying us ten million dollars." There was a moment of silence, and then hysterical laughter came from the other line.
"Do whatever you want, you can even beat her. But I cross the line at rape. Also make her starve to death; if you do I'll pay you triple the amount. Return her to me in three weeks." He hung up, leaving the kidnapper dumbfounded.
"Hey Setsu, call that sadist of Minamoto. Tell him we're in need of his specialty." Haru glanced at Alice, who was roped against a chair with her mouth taped. He couldn't understand why she retains her face high while holding back her tears. It was probably because she believed it would be like the other times, where she wouldn't be harmed, and they were simply getting the ransom. Thinking of such an idea made Haru, feel sympathetic for a brief moment. Until, Minamoto arrived and they presume with her father's orders.
She was sixteen when she was kidnapped. They returned her 3 weeks later, like we discussed, and I gave them the ten million. Her body was pale and scrawny, even suffering from hypothermia, not to mention the bruises that covered her body. I made sure that during her entire school life she remained isolated by causing incidents to those who became close to her. Her beauty was also part of her misfortune; she would always come home with bruises. Every boyfriend she managed to have, I managed to make them disappear. Every single one of them was con-artist or wanted an easy fortune. She never suspected a thing though. I shunned her countless times, but she continued to love me.
Seeing her smile after all the pain I caused her made me go into hysteria. Every day after seeing her, I would inflict wounds upon myself, to have a sense of self-righteousness. But when she turned twenty-one, he came along. With his blue eyes, black hair and olive-colored skin, he instantly swept her off her feet. He reminded me of myself when I was young, but why not? After all, he was my son. The product of a one-night stand before I met my wife. I couldn't bring myself to destroy him, but when his mother discovered their relationship, she told him the truth. He cancelled all his involvement with Alice, but she always managed to find him. One day without warning, he retold his mother's words to her. Full of grief and her heart shattered, she believed to have executed a great incest. On her twenty-second birthday, she committed suicide by jumping out of the 3rd floor window, unaware of the child she was carrying. I could have prevented her suicide, if I had told her she wasn't my daughter. However, my dark desires darkened my rightful judgment. Her death didn't bring me pain; on the contrary it brought me great happiness, to know that her suffering and mine's had ended.
"I will grant your wish." Covered by a beam of light, they transcended time. They watched Alice and her servants from up above running towards the third floor. At the edge of the window, time stopped.
Tomoyo materialized his body, he was no longer the scranny old man she saw at her shrine. He was now well groomed, with his white hair combed in a right side cowlick, shaved beard and a nice black suit.
"After three minutes it wears off."
He thanked her. He ran upstairs, grabbed Alice's petrified form and whispered the truth to her. Three minutes passed and he once again became a soul. With this opportunity, he possessed his past self's body, transferring his memories. Then he left with Tomoyo to Saurs.
A year passed, and Alice with her family was visiting his grave as he watched them from Tomoyo's shrine. The relieved of seeing Alice well and happy with his son made him shed a few tears. He looked at Tomoyo in determination awaiting his punishment without regrets.
"Now, you're free to leave Saurs, to be reincarnated." His soul turned from black to a tanned color. The sound of bells chimed once again and his soul vanished.
"Your reincarnation will live in darkness, and without a parent's warmth. This will be your payment as well as your punishment." she whispered, watching his reincarnation in her waters of time. The crow watched her sadden face and stopped his attempts of escape for now.
Author's Note: Please read and review. Also I would like to thank The Fairy Princess thanks for all your help.