So.

I'm back.

I'm still in the midst of figuring out how to fix the plot for this, so I haven't finished the rewrite yet-in fact, I'm still in chapter four. Someone reviewed this today, though, and upon looking at the original version...

I couldn't stand it. I needed to put up something better written than that.

As a result, gentle readers (and violent ones, should there be any), here's the new and improved version of the prologue! You will notice many changes, hopefully for the better... I've tried to fix the various things y'all pointed out to me in your reviews, as well as just generally improving the writing and plot.

Hence my current block. Apparently there were more holes than I thought...Though I may be over thinking.

I've also now rewritten the summary and moved it to the TRC and x/1999 crossover section.

Please tell me what you all think! I really want to keep improving this, so if there are any problems you notice or suggestions you have, I'm all ears (or eyes, I suppose)!

In other news, this is currently unbeta-ed, so if anyone knows someone, could you send me a PM?

Thanks for sticking with me! (If any of you have...)

. . .

Now for some backstory. It's not necessary to understand (I think), but if you're curious:

For those of you who haven't read/seen Tokyo Babylon and x/1999 (a.k.a. X): Subaru and Hokuto are twins in the Sumeragi family of onmiyoji (mediums/exorsists). Subaru is the 13th heir of the clan, and the most powerful onmiyoji they've had. Hokuto also has magic, though it's not as powerful and seems to work slightly differently. Seishirou is a veterinarian and their friend (and Subaru's significant other, at least in Hokuto's eyes). After SPOILERSSPOILERSSPOILERSseishiroukillshokutoSPOILE RSSPOILERSSPOILERS the series ends, and leads into x/1999. Kamui, here, is the child of destiny who will either save the world or destroy it, and is unrelated to the Sumeragi clan. Subaru is on the side of those trying to save humanity/the earth, while Seishirou is one of those trying to destroy it.

For those of you who haven't read/seen Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles (TRC): Syaoran, Princess Sakura, Fye (/Fai/Fay/however else you'd like to spell it) D. Flowright(/Flourite/etc.) and Kurogane are traveling through dimensions with the help of the creature Mokona in seek of Sakura's memories which have taken the form of feathers and were scattered throughout the multiverse. They encountered the twin pureblood vampires Kamui and Subaru in a post-apocalyptic-Tokyo world. The two are on the run from Seishirou, who is hunting them.

Part of this will be my take on what happened to Hokuto in TRC, as she never appears or is mentioned.

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR THE TSUBASA TOKYO REVELATIONS ARC IN THIS STORY. (That being the above bit from TRC).

If anyone wants a music suggestion for the first part (I understand people do that), I'd recommend Evanescence's Imaginary.

Now, without further ado, I present chapter one of Blessed Devil...

. . .

"Subaru-nii! Kamui-nii! Wait!" my sister screams. Her short black hair is shiny with blood, her bright green eyes huge and terrified. She runs towards us, hugging herself tightly, as they follow. She stumbles, trips, and as she falls her arms slip and I can see a long, thick, jagged line of blood splitting her in half. She falls, but still reaches forward, begging. "Nii-chan!" she cries, tears she had bravely tried to hold back beginning to fall. One hand once more wrapped about her middle, she reaches towards us.

"Hokuto!" I shout, reaching, trying frantically to grab her arm before it's too late.

"Nii...chan..." she whispers again, eyes glazing over as she bleeds onto the grass, dying, dead.

"No..no...Hokuto!"

My last glimpse of my little sister, my baby sister: I see him standing behind her, a bloodstained sword in his hand, a gentle smile on his face and a terrible promise in his eyes.

"Hokuto!"

Gone. Too late.

"Hokuto!"

We appear in a new world and I crumple to the ground, my brother holding me close. We cry, to shocked to move though logic tells us we must. We sob; lost children, our parents dead, our little sister dying alone in another world, another dimension...

Hokuto...

"Subaru!"

Subaru's eyes snapped open. A dark figure leaned over him; the shadowy interior of the stable loft, blocked from stars and moon, made it difficult for even his powerful vision to make out their identity. Still half-dreaming, he saw a tall, broad-shouldered man, glasses perched on his nose and a gentle smile on his lips as he called his name. For a moment, Subaru was frozen, staring with mute horror at the man. When his name was spoken once more, he darted back, hands raised to fight.

"Subaru, what's wrong?" the figure asked, sounding almost frightened. "Calm down, it's just me."

Subaru blinked, and the man was gone. In his place stood a younger man, thin of frame and face, his brown hair perpetually mussed and his violet eyes concerned.

"K-Kamui?" he managed, his voice shaky and dry.

"Yes," his brother answered, "of course. Who else would it be?" He seemed to realize the answer even as he asked, a flicker of anger darting across his expression before returning to worry. "Are you alright?" Now that any danger was past, he moved closer to Subaru, reaching out a hand to touch his arm. For a moment in the dream again, he flinched, making Kamui falter. Seeing the pain in his younger brother's face, and needing the comfort, after an awkward pause Subaru closed the gap between them and hugged him tightly.

"Are you alright?" Kamui murmured again into his twin's hair as he returned the embrace.

Shakily, Subaru nodded. "I'm fine. I just thought—I'm fine." His hold tightened; despite his words he buried his face in the other's chest, trembling. "Just a nightmare..." Whether he was trying to reassure Kamui or himself, he was unsure.

"I tried to wake you," Kamui replied, choosing to ignore what he knew Subaru had been about to say. "I didn't mean to startle you. I should have realized..."

"It's fine," Subaru hurriedly reassured him. "It wasn't your fault." For a moment, there was silence between them. The warmth of his twin and the sound of his heartbeat, as always, began to sooth Subaru, letting his breathing return nearly to normal. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"You didn't." Though he could not see it, he could picture the humorless, crooked smile he knew his brother wore. "I also had a nightmare."

Subaru's heartbeat quickened again. With their natural vampire telepathy, one of the few myths they actually proved true were those about twins reading each other's minds—including shared dreams. Still, there was a chance that it hadn't happened this time. He desperately hoped not; he hated angry and sullen Kamui got whenever he or that were mentioned. Still, though...he wanted to be sure. "About...about what?"

Kamui's smile vanished, and he hesitated for a moment. He, too, hated to make his brother unhappy, to make that glowing smile vanish. "The past," he admitted reluctantly.

"So was mine," Subaru replied unnecessarily, heart plunging.

A sudden noise made both jump apart. In the aftermath of their dream, even gentle Subaru prepared to attack, eyes gold and claws ready to extend. When, after a few minutes, nothing jumped out at them, they stood down, remaining tense and alert.

"Perhaps we should move on," Subaru suggested quietly, eyes darting around the dark stable.

Kamui nodded. Silently and with practiced speed, they gathered their belongings. In an attempt to cheer the mood, Subaru wondered aloud, "What sort of place do you think we'll end up in next?"

Kamui shrugged. "Only one way to find out."

Without further ado, they vanished, leaving the farmer who owned the barn very confused and irritated the next morning—his two guests had left without paying.

. . .

"Dammit! Why do we always end up in these situations?!" Kurogane roared as he and his companions ran away from the hoard chasing them and in turn after a small white and pink feather that floated on a breeze.

"Your charming personality?" suggested tall, blond Fye with a grin, earning a glare from the red-eyed ninja. The vampire's claws were out, his sole eye glowing gold as he slashed arrows out of the air. He just laughed at the murderous glare.

Ahead of them, in Sakura's arms, Mokona called, "Be careful, you two!"

"Don't worry about us, just try to get the feather!" Kurogane shouted gruffly at it, blocking yet another arrow with a sword.

"Syaoran-kun, watch out!" Sakura cried, as the last member of their group, a brown-haired boy, leapt into the air, heedless of the danger.

His hands wrapped around the feather at the peak of his jump, just before it floated out of reach. "Got it!" he called, "Mokona—" As he turned, Syaoran saw Fye fall, a grimace on his face and an arrow in his back. Kurogane cursed and Sakura screamed their friend's name as their pursuers cheered triumphantly."Mokona, get us out of here!" Syaoran cried urgently, hurrying over to the others.

The odd rabbit-like creature jumped from Sakura's arms, wings sprouting from its back. It opened its mouth, and with a "Puuuuu!" they were gone, leaving hundreds of arrows to hit the empty space where they had been.

. . .

Hope you enjoyed it! I may put up the first chapter soon-ish...really all the plot problems start in the exposition in chapter four...*sigh*

Leave a review! Tell me what you think and what I should fix!

Lots of love,

Tabbyprincess

. . .

Credits: The cover image I created using www . fanpop clubs/ tsubasa-reservoir-chronicles/ images/ 28956429/ title/ kamui-shirou-subaru-sumeragi-tokyo-revelations-pho to, lysel . free . fr / images/ hokuto . jpg, and gallery . minitokyo view/ 311840. Tsubasa, X, and Tokyo Babylon all belong to CLAMP.