Fate
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There's no such thing as 'coincidence' in this life.
He had to hurry. But hurry made it sound so…rushed.
"That's the whole definition of 'hurry' isn't it, Clow-sama."
Smile. He shouldn't have made them so smart.
"Hey! I resent that. I'm the only smart one here you know. He's just a sorry excuse for a manservant."
"You're loud."
"You're just jealous because my real form is so much cooler than yours."
He told him not to stick his tongue out anymore. Oh well.
"M-mmmph-mm!"
A few more minutes of The Bubble and off to finish the task at hand.
His whole life was the task at hand. Everything was connected. Nothing was forgotten. All was used and meaning attached.
Although there were some things he was unclear about.
"Didn't you say that even the most powerful of sorcerers, even when teamed together, could not have the power of absolute sight?"
Why yes, he did.
"Then why are you so worried, Master?"
He wasn't worried. Just amused.
"Nothing less from Clow-sama."
Smile.
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The dream-like trances were taking over more and more now. He knew that it was almost the end of his time on this earth, in this dimension, inhabiting this form. They would not take it easy.
"Who won't take what easy?"
He wouldn't say.
"Stop bugging the Master, Cerberus."
But he wasn't bugged.
"Ha! See?"
Smile. It didn't quite reach his eyes though. His two companions were too consumed in their actions – one ignoring, one trying to get attention – to notice, however.
Probably for the best.
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He could see her clearly now. Yes, his time was almost up. Just a few more preparations.
The staff was made and safely placed within the almost completed leather book.
He enjoyed watching her as she went about her daily life, a life that would not occur for many ages to come.
She would come from a good line. He would see to that. As would her helper, his descendent. Plans for that had been in place for years now.
He smiled as he watched her, his eyesight in this world fading, and almost laughed at the way she argued with his young one.
At least he would not be alone.
"Who won't be alone, Master?"
He smiled. The same being visualized in front of him through both eyesights, one in each form.
"You're not going to tell me, are you."
No, he was not, Little One.
"Don't let my brother hear you say that, Master. He'll never let me live it down."
Smile.
"Let you live what down?"
"Curiosity killed the cat."
"Speak for yourself, you overgrown feline."
-----
The book was almost finished now. As were the other preparations.
His two little ones were resting now. Unaware of their soon to be changing future.
He used the time to rest in his chair. Rest and think.
One would be okay. He had seen to that and would give him the appropriate task. One would not be so easy. But then, he was also given the appropriate task for his acceptance as well. He would not like it, his little one, but he would learn. He would learn to accept and then to protect, and finally to love.
He could see it clearly now. His other form would be there, watching, forcing the real being to watch as well. He would see and watch and as tough as his trial would be, he would accept. And love.
But something still bugged him. The other form he made just for her. Without realizing it, many years before, he'd had her in mind. However, that part of her future was still blurry.
Yes, love would be there. But what kind of love?
He didn't know.
Suddenly, and yet he had been expecting it all along, she appears.
Appears underneath his tree with fear and questions. So he reassures her. Tells her to be strong. Because it's her, it was definitely going to be alright.
There's no such thing as 'coincidence' in this life.
He smiles as she waits in the shadows and observes a reality not yet happened. His little ones, they are not ready for it yet. But he is.
The one side of him already gone shows her the way back. Reassures her with his soft smile and strengthening words.
And she leaves. Her original question forgotten and unanswered, but her real question, the question she needed answered, she knows.
Back to the present. To his dear children.
They are stirring.
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A quick flight around the garden would do them good.
"But Master, it's almost nightfall."
Yes, and there may be snow tonight.
"Snow! I'm definitely going."
He smiles. Come back before nightfall.
"I'll make sure he does, Clow-sama."
His dear, dear children.
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He won't be here much longer.
"Much longer? You mean we're moving?"
You could say that.
"I think he means more than that, Cerberus."
You could say that, too.
"What? I don't understand."
His time is up.
"What do you mean? You're the greatest sorcerer that's ever lived!"
Even greatness has its limits.
"But...but…"
He smiles. A sad smile.
"What about us?"
His child is angry now.
"Of course I'm angry! Are you just going to leave us here? Alone?"
He would never do that.
"Then what are you going to do with us, Master?"
He shall give them a new master. One to take care of them and his other children.
"No. I won't have it."
One that will love and protect them with all of their might.
"No! Only you. Only you. No one but you."
One that will make sure that they never disappear or become hurt or lost or frightened.
"No! Why are you saying such things?"
One that they will love in return.
"I refuse. I will never love anyone else."
His plans are almost complete.
"What plans?!"
He assigns one to be the selector. To be the sealed beast of the leather-bound book with the ancient metal clasp.
"Selector? Of what?"
The new candidate for protecting what he must leave behind.
"I don't understand."
He assigns the other to be the judge.
"I won't let anyone pass."
He knows. But he smiles anyway.
"Isn't there another way? Anything we can do?"
And he knows that even if there was, he wouldn't do it.
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The rituals, the plans, will all be complete on the night of his death. He knows it will be night because They told him so. His last luxury They allow him.
Everything is in place. Everything that has yet to be set in motion will begin after his passing on from this world.
As his last few moments wind down, he sees them more clearly. A family. A girl. Her strength, courage, love. Her helper, although this more faint. His children, his wonderful children, changed and gathered around her, loving her.
The distant sound of bells tolling in the distance. An odd tone, but strangely familiar.
And he knows his time is up.
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There's no such thing as 'coincidence' in this life.
Only fate.