The first piece of fanfiction I've done in years! While my brain refuses to aid me in writing my original story, I thought, "Hey, why not write some Tsubasa?" and so here I am, trying to write this…thing. Oh well. I really do doubt the quality and content, but I'm trying to challenge myself by writing SOMETHING everyday for the summer to overcome my I-want-to-write-but-I-hate-my-writing-god-I-can't-even-bear-to-even-start problem. Yes, that be the goal.
Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. Please refer to this disclaimer for all subsequent chapters.
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Prologue
It was a perfectly fine day. Completely and utterly normal. The sun was shining with naught a cloud to block its view. I'd imagine that many gleeful children were frolicking about, being summer and the lack of school. Not that I really knew. I was in the basement.
Hello, my name is Alicia Li, a fresh high school graduate, wasting away on her summer break before university. You can imagine me as the typical Asian girl: long straight black hair, dark brown eyes leaning towards black. My skin tone slightly tanned, a reminder of my trip to the tropics a couple months ago. I'm an even 5'5, which leaves me a little taller than my other Asian friends, but not so much so. But enough of my physical appearance. You probably don't care. I know I wouldn't.
So here I was, hiding out in my nice, cool basement literally without a care in the world. The next four years of my life were going to be a whole new level of stress, but that started in September. Until then…
ANIME!
Rampart, unhealthy amounts of anime, I thought, a maniacal gleam in my eye. I had literally not watched any anime in my final year as it was "too time-consuming" – my parents would have killed me if I hadn't gotten my first choice program. But now I was free! FREEEEE!
Sighing happily, I turned on my laptop and waited for it to boot. I was half-sprawled across the couch, I and my computer lying at an angle over a number of pillows. Now, what to start with? The first thought that entered my mind was Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. Yes, that would be good. I had finished the manga a while ago and loved it, but never got around to actually watching the anime. Searching it up, I found it to be three seasons. A good start. It would take me four days? Maybe better to spread it over a week...It wasn't like I had something better to do.
And so it begins. Kesesese*…
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After a couple hours of watching TRC, skipping through the many, many, long staring pauses, I couldn't help but sigh. This had reminded me of the other reason I hadn't watched anime: it was slow. Especially compared to the manga, which had also been more enjoyably dark. But I, being halfway through the first season, I might as well finish it…
THUMP.
What?
THUMP.
Immediately I was on high alert. There was no one else in the house and none of my family due back until at least 5. And it had been right above me – nowhere near the front door. I paused the video. Crap. Who was in my house?
Grabbing the nearest weapon-like object, a short bamboo stick**, I moved silently to the stairs. In my free hand I palmed my iphone, ready to call 911 at the touch of a finger. Once at the stairs, I stopped and listened. No more noises had followed the initial thump. Was I being overly sensitive? Paranoid? Maybe. I mean, I was the type of girl who thought someone would break through the window and murder me in my sleep. But the only way to be sure was to check.
Moving as quietly as I could, I crept up the stairs. It was just nerves, that's all. No way someone was-
Creak!
Freezing, I bit back a curse. Damn these wooden stairs! Now if someone was here, they'd know I was here. Fuck, what if they were armed? What was the escape plan? Back down the stairs, straight out the basement entrance. Call police while running to neighbour's house. Right. stay calm. It's probably nothing. Definitely nothing.
The constant hum of the AC could barely be heard over the pounding in my head. After an eternity of waiting, I decided it was safe to move. Who are you kidding, Aly? You'll get up there, find nothing, and feel like a total-
Lying face down on the floor was a man. In a small pool of blood.
Oh. My. God.
…
…
Is he dead?
The question broke through my shock-numbed mind and propelled it into action. You find a man on the floor, unconscious and injured, what do you do?
Immediately, I found myself kneeling by the man, yelling, hitting the ground beside his head, and pinching his earlobes. My hands splashed blood as I did so, soaking my pants and staining my shirt. Simultaneously, I inspected what I could. There was a large bump on the back of his head, and he had a bloody nose, but there was no way all this blood was just from that. Probably another injury. And he was probably beat up, likely had a concussion. The detached part of my brain worked vigorously. Is semi-prone position still applicable? I can apply pressure to a broken nose, or would it cause it to set wrong? My training did not cover this.
Where had my stick gone? And why is this man in my house?
Before that train of thought continued, a small groan came from before. He's conscious!
"Where am I…?"
The words fell automatically from my mouth: "Hello, my name is Alicia Chan. I found you unconscious in my house just a few minutes ago. Don't worry. I am a certified lifeguard and the daughter of two successful doctors. Emergency services-" are not on their way, "Will be contacted shortly for your assistance. You will be fine. Everything is going to be okay. How are you feeling? Would you like a blanket?" And what are you doing in my house? But he was the victim; I resolved to ask questions later.
I then proceeded to put him in semi-prone position, but he waved me off. As he pushed himself to sitting position, I said, "You shouldn't be moving around too much. You might aggravate your injuries…" My hands were poised to catch him should he slip in the – his – blood.
But once again he waved me off. Propping himself up with one arm, he shot me a charismatic grin. What. "I'm fine, Lady, perfectly fine." Perfectly fine? Lady? Now sitting up, I got a better look at this stranger. He had brown wavy hair, almost boarding curly, and was wearing a long heavy trench coat, soaked red from shoulder to waist. His eyes though, what colour were they? It was almost like they were shifting in the light, unable to settle on simply one shade. Huh. What an interesting effect. Contacts?
"You are not fine," I replied, still robotically calm, "You've lost a great deal of blood and probably suffer from a concussion." Maybe the lightheadedness was confusing him? "I strongly suggest you lie down."
"Blood?" He gave me a confused look and looked down. "Ah, it appears I've made a mess of your floor!" Then, feeling his face and head, he let out a soft chuckle. "I included. Allow me." With a swish of his hand, the puddle leapt off the floor and dashed into his nose. The blood covering his face receded as well until not a drop stained his porcelain white face. The bump on his head reacted similarly, shrinking until it was completely gone. In less than ten seconds, the man had gone from a bloodsoaked, broken nosed victim to a perfectly healthy, lounging male stranger sitting cross-legged on her floor. I looked down at my clothes. Clean.
What. The fuck.
"What the FUCK did you just DO?" I yelled, too angry to be stupefied. Fuck calm. It was a trick, a prank, a sick joke of some kind. Blood did not just fly back into people. No way, no how. No. Just no. "And what the fuck are you doing in my house? What do you want? WHO ARE YOU?" Redfaced and out of breath, I glared death at the man. How dare you do this to me you-you-
But the dick answered like I hadn't just exploded in his face. "Now now, I only have but one mouth to speak from! I am called my many names, but the easiest of them would be Milo. As to what I want, nothing you can give, my dear. I was merely thrown into your humble abode by simple chance – an undirected spell choosing a random location. 'Tis by no will of mine I came upon you." He tossed his arm out in a dismissing gesture, as if to remove all fault from his person. Then he flung his arms towards me, like he wanted a hug. "But a thousand blessing on you and yours, Lady Alicia! For without your timely respond I would not have been revived! Doomed to die alone in this strange and lonely place." Cue more dramatic arm gestures. Great.
I hmphed. "Seemed like you'd be fine on your own, with this." I copied his early hand swirling motion. "I didn't do much."
He returned my comment with a knowing smile. It grated against my already pissed nerves. "You shouldn't belittle your accomplishments, my lady. It is you that woke me."
"So?"
"Had I not awoken, I could not have healed myself so! Thus, without you, I would have surely perished!"
"You would have woken up eventually. Probably in jail."
"Regardless, I must give you a boon. I-"
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING!
The noise startled the both of us. Ducking a hand into his pocket, Milo pulled out the offending object: a pocket watch. Flipping it open, his eyes widened.
"Look at the time! I must be off!" Then he looked at me, then back at the watch. "But I need to…" His eyebrows furrowed, hinting to intense concentration, but only for a moment. Somehow, I knew a lightbulb went off in his head, and I didn't like it. He grinned oh-so-gleefully at me. "The most wonderful idea just occurred to me!"
Edging away, I asked cautiously, "What?"
Reaching forward, he grasped both my arms. Gust of wind instantly whipped around us, roaring in my ears. Somehow, I could still hear his voice. "I lack the time to grant a boon personally, but I know one someone similarly suitable!" The roaring grew louder, if that was even possible. Struggling against his grip, I tried to wrench myself away. What the hell was he doing to me? What was going on? "I can only bring you there, and pay the price." Price? Where was he taking me! WHAT THE FUC-
White light exploded. I squeezed my eyes shut. Then…
Silence.
Milo released my arms, and I scrambled away, eyes still close. KIDNAPPER! LUNATIC! FREAK! Just who does he think he is, grabbing me like that?
As I open my eyes to give him a piece of my mind, the words died on my lips. This wasn't my house. It was a small courtyard of some kind, a garden. And I wasn't alone. Standing in front of me was an eerily beautiful woman, pale as death and just as mysterious. Dressed in a long black dress, she wore slight smirk, eyes half-lidded with mild interest.
Yuuko. The Dimension Witch. The one who sends the Tsubasa group on their journey through the worlds.
Also the granter of wishes, for a price.
Oh fuck.
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*and yes, Hetalia reference. Also not mine. Actually, there'll probably be a number of references to other manga, books, games…try to catch'em all! Ke. I'm lame. :P
**Because I have random things like short bamboo sticks lying around my desk, so why can't other people? Hmmm? What abnormal objects lay scattered about your work area?
Wow, it took a while to just get to Yuuko's place, actually. Am I writing too much? And Milo starting off half-dead on the floor just…happened. He was actually supposed to just appear, all rough and tough, but somehow became more flamboyant. Because he's Milo. Err, not much of an explanation. I really want him to have some amazing role, but as of right now, I'm not exactly sure what to do with him.
Poot.