A/N: I dare.
What Happened?
Chapter One
Deafening screams erupted throughout the CLAMP Campus.
One crowd had no idea what on earth was happened and were running to the source of the commotion to investigate. The other crowd who saw what happened was fleeing from the scene in fear. Still, another crowd was just plain panicking, raising the level of chaos already reigning over the tense atmosphere.
Summer blue eyes of Imonoyama Nokoru widened in confusion and surprise at the tumult surrounding him. The blonde was fresh from a business trip and had not expected the campus in such a state.
Like the rest, he tried to ask what happened.
"Hikaru-san!" he called out to one of his running classmates. "What's going on?"
"Oh! Nokoru-sama!" she exclaimed in surprise and gave him an odd, melting look before bursting into tears and running away.
"Hikaru-san, wait!" called Nokoru when he recognized another classmate of his passing by. "Otaku! Otaku-san! What's going on?"
But the boy was in a state of incoherence. "Someone's dead!" he cried. "Dead!"
"Dead?" the young president said to himself more than to anyone else.
"Idomu!" Nokoru called out once again, having spotted the feisty redhead whom he had made Student Council Vice President.
Yudaiji Idomu turned to the source of the voice. "Nokoru! Don't come in!"
The blonde frowned. "What?"
Suddenly there came a low wail overpowering the noise of the students. It rose to a terrifying, throaty yell that made the back of Nokoru's neck stand.
Within seconds, a flashing of leaping blue dashed past.
"Suoh!" Idomu yelled and his companion grabbed hold of the ninja's arm.
"Suoh?" Nokoru began but the question he meant to ask died in his head at the sight of a torrent of tears flowing from tiger gold eyes.
A slack grip let him escape out into the street. Honking cars suggested that he almost got run over. But Nokoru wasn't paying attention. His focus had shifted to his hand that had held Suoh.
It was covered in blood.
"Idomu?" he queried weakly.
The pianist was unable to speak. So, without further word, the Student Council President ran toward the Elementary building.
"Nokoru, NO!" cried Idomu and pivoted on the spot, bolting after him.
Nokoru bumped into a high school senior.
"Imonoyama-san!"
"Takeshi! I—what happened?"
The Duklyon defender looked thoroughly disconcerted. "He's been—"
"Who? Who's been what?"
Takeshi shook his head and Nokoru took a hasty leave, deeming the high school student not helpful.
"Nokoru, please!" Yudaiji Idomu was once more hot on his trail.
"If anyone would be so kind as to actually TELL me what's going on!" the blonde snapped and skidded to a halt just by the entrance of the Elementary Division Student Council Room to avoid crashing into a curious number of people.
There was an awkward silence until murmurs broke out as the crowd began to acknowledge the Student Council President's presence.
"Miina-san, make way..." one of them said.
Nokoru slowly trekked the parting the students gave. The double doors to the familiar room were wide open and stuffs were in disarray, as if a whirlwind hit the place.
The blonde followed a small trail of blood and almost threw up when he reached the source.
Ijuyn Akira looked like he had been thrown against the wall before being killed. Embedded in his chest was a throwing knife.
The shock and pure horror forever etched in wide, innocent, storm-silver eyes seemingly conveyed a sad tale lost to time.
Nokoru stood transfixed at the sight till he became aware of broken, shrill screeches of utter grief. By the crime scene lay Ohkawa Utako and Ayuza Nagisa, hugging each other on the floor. The ebony-haired girl looked like she had been driven to the brink of insanity. Her soft-spoken best friend was beside herself in anguish.
Nagisa straightened when she saw him. "Imonoyama-sama, onegai!" she pleaded. "Go after him! This means dishonor!"
Nokoru gasped softly at the realization that hit him. He grabbed Idomu's hand and dashed back the way they came.
"Whatever happens," the blonde told the crowd over his shoulder. "Do NOT inform the authorities!"
--
"Hang on Nokoru!" said the redhead as the incredible pair was about to exit the CLAMP Campus gates. "The Takamura residence is inside!"
The blonde considered Idomu for a second before hopping onto his motorcycle parked near the guardhouse. "Suoh once told me before that his okaa-san's estate in CLAMP is where duties begin, and that his uncle's estate outside school is where they end."
Emerald green eyes grew as he caught the helmet thrown to him. "He can't be possible thinking of—you're kidding!" he breathed as they careened into city chaos, weaving in and out of heavy traffic.
Nokoru laughed bitterly. "Me? Kidding? Dear Yudaiji-kun, I don't even know what happened. Do you?" he turned to his companion as the slowed down upon reaching suburban residences.
The redhead shook his head. "Iie. We found him dead and Takamura-kun in shock."
The young Imonoyama heir bit his lip. "Did...did he look like he had anything to do with this?"
The memory of terrified amber eyes beholding blood covering his limbs flashed across Idomu's memory. "I don't even want to consider the possibility."
--
"Satoshi! Satoshi!"
An elegant lady not so very used to being distressed ripped open the paper sliding door of her brother's spacious dojo. "Why is he here?"
"Okaa-san!"
Takamura Suoh sought refuge in his mother's arns. His formidable uncle stood by the wall with a somewhat sympathetic expression on his face.
"Why is he here, Satoshi?" Suoh's mother queried again.
Her brother bowed solemnly. "He wishes to die, Takamura-san."
"Okaa...I can't!" her son choked out. "I can't keep this up!"
Mrs. Takamura bent down to meet the young ninja's gaze. She gripped his arms in an effort to steel him, but realized that they were stained with a substance unwanted.
"What did you do, Suoh?!"
--
They barged in.
They were rich, well-known and had license to do that. For a moment, Nokoru and Idomu did not know where they could possibly find Suoh. Luckily, a servant told them the way.
The blonde and the redhead cautiously entered a small ceremonial garden. From where they were, they could see the slender figure of Suoh's mother. Her face was set and grim as she looked upon a dais not far ahead, where her son stood, being assisted by his uncle to commit harikiri...or suicide.
The sword was being unsheathed.
"Suoh, NO!" Nokoru blurted out. "You are tied to ME!" he yelled sternly. "Now put down that sword! This is an order!"
A ringing silence reigned. All eyes were on the blonde, who was fairly out of breath.
"I'm sorry," Nokoru added quietly. "I don't know what's going on, nor does anyone else. Frankly, I want an explanation."
Suoh turned to face his kaichou, looking anxious to speak but could not find the words or voice.
"Takamura-kun?" asked Idomu as the pregnant silence lengthened.
Without warning, the tan bluenette passed out.
"SUOH!" exclaimed several voices, their owners rushing to the poor teen's side.
It was then that fate revealed the blood coating Suoh's arms was not Akira's but his own.
The crimson liquid flowed from a fatal head wound.
TBC