Disclaimer: Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE belongs to CLAMP.
Standing by his sickly mother's bedside, the boy could only forcefully bite back the tears that were threatening to overflow. His father had gone not too long ago, having proudly taken his last breath on the battlefield. It was a matter of moments that the loyal soldier would be reunited with his beloved wife.
"My son..." said the dying woman in a weak voice as her trembling hand reached for him. The boy held as still as possible, as though the slightest movement might cause him to break down, a sign of weakness he was especially unwilling to reveal to his mother in her last moments. "My son..." she said again, touching his face, "my only regret is that you'll have to fend for yourself... alone..."
"It's all right!" said the boy more loudly than he had intended. "It's all right, Mother..." he said in a lower voice that nearly broke in his desperation to suppress his grief. "I'm... strong, right? So... don't worry about me..." He broke off, uncertain if he could carry on without breaking down.
His mother smiled weakly. "You truly are... strong, Kurogane..."
The stage was brightly lit. The rest of the hall was dim, but it was just bright enough to see that only the front row of seats was filled. Among the small audience was a young woman with a highly refined poise and an air that seemed almost regal. Her gaze, steady and unmoving, was fixed on the stage before her.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen," announced a deep voice that seemed to vibrate through the speaker, "let us welcome Miss Tomoyo Daidouji, playing Paganini's Caprice for Solo Violin, Number 6 in G minor, 'The Trill'!"
A young lady in a glittering violet dress stepped onto the middle of the stage. Her long black hair had been tied into a flowing ponytail that cascaded gracefully to her waist. Her eyes glowed like amethysts, clear and bright, reflecting the strong lights that shone upon the stage. In one hand, she held a beautiful honey brown violin, finely polished and shining in all its glory. She carefully lifted it to her chin and, after a pause, drew her bow across the strings. Her fingers immediately flew across the fingerboard.
The performance had begun.
When the piece neared its end and the last note hovered in the air, the small audience immediately burst into rounds of applause. It was not an easy piece to play, but that was a fantastic performance! Surely, this violinist was a prodigy! With utmost grace and modesty, the performer smiled and bowed before leaving the stage. Quietly, she returned her instrument to its case backstage and proceeded to take her seat in a corner of the hall to watch the rest of the concert.
"That was a lovely performance, Tomoyo," someone whispered from behind her.
The violinist turned with a start. Then she saw who stood behind her and broke into a smile. "Thank you, Elder Sister! Do you think I'm ready for the official concert?"
Her sister smiled warmly and nodded. "Play as you did during this rehearsal and you'll be fine. Trust me! I may not be as great a musician as you are, but I know good talent when I see it."
Tomoyo blushed slightly. She was getting used to receiving such compliments, but she always appreciated them. "Of course, Elder Sister! Anybody would be a fool not to believe in your incredible insight."
Her sister beamed. "Well now, don't you know to get into your sister's good books!" She laughed lightly and then stretched out her hand. "All right, then. Hand me your violin, case and all. I'll take them to the car for you. Then we'll have less to carry when you're done, okay?
Tomoyo readily obliged. Her sister patted her twice on the shoulder, took the violin case and disappeared into the shadows. Tomoyo remained on her seat, her hands placed neatly on her lap and her gaze fixed on the performers who went on stage one by one, but her eyes were not really seeing. Her thoughts lingered on the upcoming concert and the repetitive comments that she had caught in various conversations.
"Certainly, that girl is a prodigy!"
"But of course! She is the daughter of the famed pianist Daidouji!"
"Well, they say the talent runs in the family..."
"No wonder she's so gifted then..."
"Tomoyo!" Her sister's sharp voice snapped her out of her thoughts. The lights on the stage had dimmed and the hall was bright. The small audience that had been watching the rehearsal were dispersing already.
"I'm sorry, Elder Sister! I must have been daydreaming again," said Tomoyo apologetically. She rose from her seat, adjusting her dress. "Shall we go then?"
Her sister had a strange look in her eyes. "There's something I want to talk to you about... but never mind for now; we'll do that on the way back. Let's go."
"...all right."
In the limosine, Tomoyo waited patiently as her sister continued to stare out of the window. The chauffeur had kindly put up the divider separating the front and back seats to give them some privacy. All that was left to do was begin the conversation and there was nothing that Tomoyo could do except to wait.
"Someone's coming to live with us," said her sister suddenly, still staring out of the window.
Amethyst eyes widened in surprise. That was certainly out of the blue. "Who?" she asked innocently.
"It's highly unlikely that you'll know him. He's the son of a friend of mine from Suwa, who has recently passed away."
"...I'm sorry."
"The child is an orphan now," she explained. "His mother on her sickbed had asked me to take care of him. I couldn't refuse. All the necessary arrangements have been made. The documents, proceedures... Everything has been settled. All that's left to do is to help the boy move in with us."
"I'll certainly help him, Elder Sister," said Tomoyo softly. "What is it that you're worried about?"
Her sister looked at her. "He's slightly older than you are, Tomoyo," she said slowly. "I know his father and have met the boy occasionally. They are just like each other. The child is very... strong-willed. I'm hoping this won't be too difficult for you."
Tomoyo smiled. "I'll do my best, Elder Sister."
"Miss Kendappa, we have arrived," announced the chauffeur. The older girl nodded and turned to her sibling.
"Come," she said, smiling, "I'll introduce both of you tonight." Together, they headed towards their mansion.
Their home was a magnificent place. There was a large front porch and a beautiful garden with fountains. A mansion stood proudly in the middle of it all, seeming to glow under the soft moonlight. Waiting outside its door was a boy with spiky black hair and broad shoulders, just standing there almost motionlessly. He wore an old brown jacket and black jeans and carried a small haversack and very little luggage. He struck a contrast with the pale walls of the mansion, standing out like a dark spot against the white background.
"Kurogane!" called Kendappa as the pair of sisters drew closer.
The boy turned. He had small, sharp crimson eyes, a stout and determined-looking chin, overall firm features and a rather indifferent, yet somewhat hard expression.
"Kurogane," said Kendappa, "this is my sister, Tomoyo. Tomoyo, this is Kurogane, the son of my deceased friend. You'll be living with each other from now on; I hope you two will get along."
Tomoyo bowed politely. "Pleased to meet you, Kurogane."
"Um... yeah, pleased to meet you." Kurogane seemed unsure about how to act. He scratched his head and turned to stare again at the door. Tomoyo and Kendappa exchanged glances.
"Okay, then," said Kendappa. "Let's go inside. Kurogane, you must be tired; I'll get someone to take you to your room. Tomoyo, you should get some rest too. We'll talk again tomorrow, all right?"
Tomoyo nodded simply. As Kendappa had her back turned towards them, she glanced sideways at Kurogane. He caught her gaze and stared back, bewildered. Tomoyo giggled behind her hand. She had not expected that he could look so amusing! Kurogane could only stare, still baffled, and it made Tomoyo giggle even harder.
It was a beginning of a rather... unexpected friendship.
The first chapter of my first multi-chapter. This is a little experiment, so I may or may not complete it. But more importantly... is this worth continuing? Please let me know! I'll appreciate any feedback.