A/N: See? This is what happens when two crazy fan fic writers join forces! StarSparklez and Mystic Dawn, combined into MysticSparklez and ready for action!
StarSparklez: Our first chappie written together! —eyes get watery— Isn't it wonderful, Mystics? —wipes away a tear of joy— We hope that this little fruit of our combined efforts will please you dear fellow TRC fans. I know I enjoyed every minute of work on it. It's got much, much love put into it from both of us, that's for sure.
Mystic Dawn: Er... —sweatdrop— It's only a prologue, StarSparklez...
StarSparklez: Yes, but it's pretty long... and I find it beautiful! Because it's ours! The little baby born from random collected figments of our imaginations...
Mystic Dawn: You're getting all mushy and over-sentimental again... Stop it! You're embarrassing me! Here, use a tissue to wipe that drippy nose.
StarSparklez: I can't help it, I'm so proud! —sniff— Thanks for the tissue.
Mystic Dawn: No sweat, Star. Anyways... it's time for the disclaimers now, huh?
StarSparklez: Okay then!—DISCLAIMER—Well, as for TRC, I don't think I own it. I KNOW I don't own it! Mystics has yet to be convinced, though. She's planning a surprise takeover of CLAMP's headquarters. Shhh! Oops! Sorry, you heard nothing! —does MIB flashy pen thingy—
Mystic Dawn: I have no idea what you're talking about. I do NOT want to influence CLAMP (well, maybe a little, but that's besides the point —wink—). Enjoy the short prologue, brace yourselves for nice, big chapters following—
StarSparklez: Er... just how big are we talking about?
Mystic Dawn: Well... what do YOU think?
StarSparklez: Aha. I rest my case... (Goodbye forever, short, uncomplicated little chappies that made my authoress life easier...)
Mystic Dawn: You're just being a lazy bum again! —closes eyes and frowns— So... where was I? Ah, yes. Don't forget to click that nice purple button at the end and drop us a review! Isn't it a pretty shade? Oh, and sorry about this big A/N. I think I'm influencing StarSparklez with my long and droning speeches! —chuckles sheepishly— Okay, I'll be quiet now...
StarSparklez: So now, on with the story! This chapter here (prologue actually), and hopefully all of the next ones, will feature the lyrics of a favored song of late that somehow or other suits the scene! Or will try to fit in... Anyway, suggestions are always welcome, of course! And it's Mystic's turn first! To choose the song, I mean.
Mystic Dawn: Okay! You asked for it! —rolls up sleeves— I'll choose one of your latest favorites! —evil chuckle—
StarSparklez & Mystic Dawn: We hope you enjoy the story!
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Fading Illusions
Prologue
By MysticSparklez
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Linkin Park — Numb
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Chorus:
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
Become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take
Chorus 1x
And I know
I may end up failing, too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you
Chorus 2x
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Numerous layers of the finest silk flew around her petite form as she began to fall. She vainly tried to catch herself with her hands, but she could do nothing to soften the hard impact of her knees upon the cold floor. She clutched at her chest as she drew ragged breaths, beads of sweat forming upon her brow.
Princess Tomoyo had just collapsed, exhausted, and there had been no one to keep her from getting hurt. She could not blame anyone for not catching her even if she had wanted to. No one was there because no one could be.
Outside, a thunderous animal roar made her heart skip a few quickened beats. The gigantic beast's piercing cry indicated that it still suffered the resistance of her guards and ninja just outside the castle walls... grounds it should not have invaded under any normal circumstances.
And despite knowing that the creature was just one of the many monsters that constantly attacked her people—another brutal being that meant her harm—upon hearing that shrill, wounded cry, she could not help but feel pity for its poor soul.
After all, in the end, we living things are but helpless souls, trapped within bodies forced into existence, unable to choose or shape our own destinies, our own fates...
A last earsplitting screech resonated inside the empty room, then a large tremor, followed by cries of victory. The beast had finally fallen before the warriors, defeated, its dead body crashing to the ground.
"Tomoyo-hime!" someone suddenly cried, dashing to her side.
Tomoyo weakly raised her head, recognizing the voice immediately.
Souma was hurriedly kneeling down beside her, her green eyes large in concern. "Tomoyo-hime-sama! Are you all right?"
Tomoyo let the female ninja help her sit upright and did not fake a smile as she asked, "Were all the monsters stopped?" Her violet eyes lingered upon the warrior's face.
Souma caught the underlying question and drew herself up slightly. "Although we defeated all the monsters, the casualties are many. Warriors and civilians alike were massacred in this attack. It is highly unusual that these monsters are assaulting us in groups. And..." She hesitated, biting down on her already bleeding lower lip. "And the Mikado..." She dared not finish her sentence for fear that the lump in her throat would reveal her discomfort, and so she let her words hang ominously between them.
It was enough for Tomoyo to wonder, Onee-sama? She gripped the ninja's forearm. "Is my sister all right, Souma?"
Souma bowed her head to avoid the princess' concerned gaze. "Amaterasu-sama was wounded a few hours ago," she replied heavily.
"By the monster? I thought that it hadn't managed to penetrate the castle's grounds!"
"It was nothing fatal, Your Highness," Souma assured her quickly. "But it was bad enough to keep her from fighting back. However... it wasn't monsters that attacked her," she snarled bitterly. "It was assassins... other ninja. They sneaked inside her chambers while she was resting when the rest of us had headed towards the villages to push back the monsters' sudden attack. We managed to take care of them, but we were still too late to prevent her from getting wounded."
Tomoyo let out a small sigh of relief. Even her breaths sounded tired. She looked down at her hands as she murmured, "Too convenient."
"Pardon? Princess?"
"I said that it is much too convenient." She brushed back a few loose strands of her raven-black hair, looking up at her with worry. "We had always believed that these creatures were unintelligent beings, incapable of changing their instinctive attacks. But it appears that they've begun to develop some sort of strategies... how it is possible I cannot say. And it is too convenient that new assassins showed up while our backs were turned."
"What do you mean, Princess? Do you think... it could be some new kind of conspiracy? Against the Kingdom of Nihon? But... who could possibly manipulate the monsters this way? To make them behave so much more... ferociously... and intelligently?" Souma was still out-of-breath as she spoke, which made her sound even more perturbed.
"Clearly some enemy yet unknown to us," responded the young priestess.
Then, in a weak voice, she turned to her, saying, "Go and guard my sister, Souma. And give the order that all my servants tend to the other wounded. I want every person in need to find refuge and help, even if they have to pass the castle's walls." She managed to draw a shaky breath. "I'll be all right," she assured her. "However, I would like to rest now." She lurched to her feet and turned to walk to her nearby chamber.
"Wait! Hime-sama!"
Tomoyo turned her head to look back at the ninja again. "Yes, Souma?"
"Forgive my boldness, but I have something I must ask you, Princess." Her tone was rigidly formal, as usual, but uncharacteristically solemn.
"Go right ahead, Souma."
"It concerns your kekkai, Your Highness." She hesitated, moistening her lips nervously. "I know it should have retained the monsters from entering the lands under your protection." She drew a deep breath and plodded on, squaring her shoulders. "Could there be something troubling you that could have weakened your powers over your kekkai, Your Highness?"
The young princess' eyes widened for a split second, but before Souma could notice she was once again wearing her usual calm expression. However, she remained thoughtfully silent.
"Princess Tomoyo, are you unwell? Should I call for a healer...?"
"No, Souma, I will be fine. Thank you. Worry not."
Those last words had a finality to them that Souma knew to take as her cue to be dismissed. "I'll take my leave then," she said, bowing. "Hime-sama," she nodded as she straightened, turning to the balcony to disappear in the half-moon night.
Somehow, the exhausted Tomoyo found the strength to reach her chambers and shut the doors behind herself.
Her kekkai have indeed been gradually weakening. She had been aware of it ever since the very first time her magic barriers had been breached, seven months ago. But she was not exactly sure of the reason behind their waning. She had a faint suspicion, but it was a possibility she did not dare acknowledge. No good would come out of entertaining such thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, she let herself slump against the wall, her sore limbs slowly crumpling to the floor against her soft robes.
It cannot go on like this. I cannot continue trying to protect when I lack strength myself. But what kind of inner conflict is this, consuming my powers from within me? Making me feel so unstable?
Tomoyo sighed and closed her eyes. Oh, Suwa-hime, just how many similar hardships must you have had to go through?
Being this worn out, she couldn't even summon enough strength to drag herself to her futon, and so, she let her head finally fall to the wooden floor, fainting from exhaustion.
Maybe I should allow myself to call for help, were her last thoughts before total darkness overtook her mind.
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And somewhere, worlds and eons away, Kurogane suddenly flinched violently.
Fay and Mokona were teasing him again (a common enough routine in their otherwise rather monotonous lives of dimension traveling), and, as usual, Kurogane was chasing them around with his sword, spewing curses and threats in an attempt to be menacing enough for them to leave him alone... until he had come to a sudden stop, dropping his sword with a clatter to the ground.
This abrupt change in behavior was enough to make the hysterically-giggling pair stop running. Fay turned around, albeit a little hesitantly. "Kuro-sama?" he teased lightly in a singsong voice, not expecting what he was going to see when he faced his companion.
Mokona's head protruded from the wizard's furry collar, his long rabbit-like ears twitching in confusion.
Instead of grating out some sort of comeback, Kurogane winced audibly, one of his hands clenching into a fist against his chest.
"Kurogane? What's wrong?" the blond magician asked him again more firmly, and with an actual note of concern in his voice.
Kurogane did not reply immediately. He was now doubled-over, his teeth gnashing together as he drew in one sharp breath, his hand still clenched against his heart.
"Puu! What's wrong with Kuro-rin's heart?" Mokona leaped down from his perch and grabbed at the front of Kurogane's shirt to look up at his face. "Why does it hurt?"
Fay edged closer and laid a concerned hand upon the ninja's shoulder, but Kurogane hardly seemed to take note of this gesture as his unfocused gaze strayed to stare at the empty space before him, a distant expression on his thoughtful face.
Fay's brow knitted in momentary worry. This was highly unusual behavior, especially from Kurogane.
After several more moments of silence, Kurogane finally answered both of their questions. However, it was not with one of his usual scathing comments, telling them to either shut the hell up, get lost, or mind their own damn business. He didn't even reply with a stubborn 'nothing' as they would have expected from him.
Instead, with a confused frown spreading upon his face, he muttered softly, "I don't know."
Mokona and Fay exchanged worried looks as Kurogane straightened, his eyes drifting towards the far-off horizon. No more words were exchanged as the silence was drawn out, none of them daring to break it.
The sun was lazily descending behind the snow-cropped mountains, the sky's darkness becoming even more pronounced as its weak rays cast faint reddish shades that tinged the purple clouds. A light breeze tickled Kurogane's cheeks as his eyes lifted to the sky, gazing at the moon that had already begun to appear. The whole setting seemed serene and peaceful, but not even such splendor was enough to settle his turbulent thoughts.
Well, thought Fay as he watched his dark traveling companion gazing at the open infinity before them, at least we'll find something interesting to tell Syaoran-kun and Sakura-chan when they return with the firewood.
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To Be Continued
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A/N: End of prologue. Will be continued in Chapter 1!
StarSparklez: —bursts into a fit of motherly cries— Bwahaho! This was beautiful! Ahahow! He was looking at the moon! —wets her kerchief further—
Mystic Dawn: Girl, I really think you're overdoing it, maybe just a little... —rolls eyes— Okay, so please let us know what you think of this chapter, readers! And thanks for coming this far! And don't forget to R&R!
StarSparklez: Feel free to send flames too! I'll reply to them!
Mystic Dawn: What? You will?
StarSparklez: —nods— With darling Fay at my side here, there's nothing I cannot do! —drags Fay out and hugs him jealously— I luv him!
Mystic Dawn: Nice display of affection, Fay really is a pretty nice person. Unlike some I can name...
Kurogane: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!
Mystic Dawn: —sideglances at him, sighing— Yes, Kuro-chan, what is it?
Kurogane: —still yelling— It's Kurogane! And why the hell does this make me look like a weak fool! I wouldn't drop my sword for anything!
Mystic Dawn: Well, in this particular circumstance, you do drop it. We say so and there's nothing you can do about it because, we are the authoresses!
Kurogane: What the—? I'm going to—!
Mystic Dawn: Oh, be quiet.
StarSparklez: Oh, yes, do hush, dear Kuro-pii. —cuddles Fay more— You don't want us to embarrass you more next chapter, now, do you?
Kurogane: ...The hell?
Mystic Dawn: —sly tone— Now, now, we can't spoil it! It'd be so unfair to the readers! —grins evilly—
Kurogane: Just... what... are you mad women planning...?
—Mystic Dawn and StarSparklez exchange 'LOOKS' and grin in a not-so-reassuring way—
Fay: You girls are planning to do some big things with Kuro-tako here, aren't you? —as cheerfully as always—
StarSparklez: Why, yesh, yesh!
Mystic Dawn: Of course we are! Or else this wouldn't be called fan fiction!
Kurogane: —points at Fay— Why don't you torture him instead and give me a freaking break?
StarSparklez: —gasps and hugs Fay protectively— NO WAY!
Kurogane: And why not?!
Mystic Dawn: We think CLAMP has, and is currently doing enough of that to last poor Fay a whole year. Make that two. Or more. Anyway, he's having enough troubles already. It's YOU I'm interested in!
StarSparklez: Sniff! Bwouhouhou! CLAMP, WHAT DID YOU DO TO FAY?!
Mystic Dawn: Argh! You and your sudden crying fits, StarSparklez! Go get more tissues, the floor is getting slippery! Besides, Kurogane, you know you are simply loveable when you're suffering!
Kurogane: ...I hate you all.
Mystic Dawn: Of course you do, or else you wouldn't be yourself.
Fay: Could have fooled me!
StarSparklez: D-E-N-I-A-L! We all know you adore us! Oh, and by the way, dear readers, the Tomoyo's kekkai weakening thing was inspired by what happened with Princess Emeraude in Magic Knight Rayearth. Of course, there are variations to what happened and all.
Mystic Dawn:—jumps up and down excitedly— That was my idea! Because we all know what ship we support, right? —evil grin—
Fay: Mystic Dawn is as brilliant as usual!
Kurogane: She's a sadistic witch! And... hey! JUST WHAT SHIP ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!
—Mystic Dawn grabs a struggling Kurogane and drags him away—
StarSparklez: R&R or we shall unleash Kuro-wan to cool off his killing rage on ya all!
Fay: Hyuu! Ja ne! Until next time! —waves happily—