Title: The Place One Can Return To
Genre: Angst/Drama
Summary: There is no coincidence in the world. There is only Hitsuzen. "Today, Shaoran, you will have a meeting with fate." Yuko-san had said, but he hadn't expected this. He would have never expected this.
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own TRC. CLAMP does. :3
(A/N: I have a feeling that if I don't explain now, it will come back to bite me later. "Syaoran" is the clone and "Shaoran" is the real one. It doesn't really matter for this story, but it will help you clarify. In some translations, the original Syoaran's name is spelled "Shaoran," and the clone's is spelled "Syaoran," making it easier to tell the two apart. Anyway, enjoy! : )
The Place One Can Return To
Chapter 1:
Ashes
Everything you owned
Everything you touched
I turned it all to ashes
Every dream we shared
Every wish you made
I burned it all to ashes
Every smile you smiled
Ever laugh you laughed
I made them into ashes
Everything you loved
Every one you adored
They all became ashes
Unease.
That was the feeling swirling in the pit of Shaoran's stomach as he stared at the white door, waiting for the teacher to invite him in. He'd never felt so ill at ease before. It was as if his entire being was repelling whatever was on the other side of the door. It was absurd, really. What was there to fear in a group of middle schoolers? (A/N: You'd be surprised…)
"Today, Shaoran, you will have a meeting with fate." Yuko-san had said while they finished breakfast. Shaoran stared at her quizzically, and waited for her to clarify. After living with Yuko-san for as long as he had, Shaoran had learned not to question any of the woman's supernatural claims. She usually explained without him saying anything. However, Yuko-san didn't say any more about the subject. She just rose from her seat, raven hair trailing after her like a train, and ordered Maru and Moro to clean the table. She said nothing about it even as she drove him to school, introduced him to the staff, and entered her classroom—his new classroom—and prepared the class to meet him. This was probably why Shaoran was so nervous. Yuko always explained. Even if it was just to make whatever riddle she said originally more confusing, she always put her own two cents in. Her silence was unnerving.
"Class," Shaoran heard her say from the other side of the door. "We have a new student joining us today." Shaoran released a breath he didn't know he was holding, and allowed his facial expressions to smooth over into nothingness. The perfect mask was the one that conveyed nothing. He heard giggles and whispers from his soon-to-be classmates as footsteps neared the door. It opened, and Yuko-san stepped out. She blinked when she saw his expression and a small smile crept over her beautiful features.
"I wonder if that is the correct way to meet with fate." She said.
"What?" Shaoran said, taken aback. He hadn't expected that. He had put their earlier talk to the back of his mind, so his carefully placed mask cracked immediately in surprise. Only Yuko-san could do that to him.
"Much better." She chuckled as she pushed him into the room. Once he was standing in front of the class, Yuko-san took her place at the podium. "Class," she said, addressing the chattering group. "This is Ri Shaoran. Please welcome him."
There was a pregnant silence as the students gasped. And then, suddenly, the room became alive with whispering. Some of the students looked intrigued while others sized him up. However, many of the students simply stared at him in shock. Shaoran frowned, unable to comprehend their reaction. He glanced at Yuko-san, but her eyes were not on him. He followed her gaze to the back of the classroom where three friends sat. There, he saw a pale skinned raven staring at him with a hand over her mouth. Next to her, a girl with short brown hair gaped at him. When Shaoran's gaze fell on the third person, he felt his blood run cold. Sitting to the right of the brunette girl was a boy that looked exactly like him. For a moment, he felt as though he was looking into a mirror. The classroom fell silent once again as they stared at one another. The only difference between the two was their expressions. The boy's visage was one of surprise and curiosity, but Shaoran's was one of horror. It was then that Ri Shaoran realized why he'd felt so uneasy. Now, he was positively ill. The very person he thought he'd never see again was gazing at him. There was no mistaking it. He could never forget that face, especially since it was identical to his own.
"Shaoran-kun?"
Shaoran tore his eyes away from the boy and looked at Yuko-san. She was watching him with an unreadable expression on her face. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and turned to face the class again. This time, his mask was back in place. He saw the shock on their faces, but he didn't care. He avoided those brown eyes so similar to his own as he glanced over his peers.
"Hello. My name is Ri Shaoran." Shoaran said. His voice was strained even to his own ears. He bowed slightly to the class. "It's nice to meet you all. I hope to enjoy this year with you."
Shaoran kept his head down as he made his way to the seat Yuko-san assigned for him. It was two seats to the left of that boy. He ignored the whispers and stares he received, but he was painfully aware of the curious gaze directed toward his back. It made his heart thunder in his chest and ache. Yuko-san had said that he would have a meeting with fate, but he hadn't expected this. He never would have expected this. Nausea washed over him a second time. It took all the determination he had not to run from the room. He couldn't stand those eyes boring into his back. Those eyes were full of curiosity, but devoid of recognition. He couldn't stand it because he knew that boy. He had known him his entire life, but to the boy he was nothing but ashes and soot, a memory burned away.
He couldn't take those eyes, the eyes of the person closest yet farthest from him. Shaoran laughed bitterly to himself and allowed a name, the name of the boy gazing at him, the same boy who he knew, but didn't know him, to fall, whispered from his lips.
"Li Syaoran."
(A/N: I thought this up two nights ago, but it was a little different. It was actually supposed to be about Kurogane and Shaoran. However, yesterday morning, while making breakfast, it evolved into this. As always, I enjoyed writing this, so i hope you enjoyed reading it. In most cases, no news in good news. Fanfiction is not one of those cases. Please review. : )
Khandalis