Chapter 9: Eyes of the Angel and the Demon
Iroel's Note: Yea. I deeply apologize for this late chapter. I've been busy catching up with the xxxHolic storyline (hint: what's coming next) and been trying to get my internet back up. I'm intending to use as much information as possible to create a possibility that the actual Tsubasa storyline could end up like (after all it is a fanfiction --). Enjoy this chapter :D. By the way, Soul Breaker is that giant sword that was flung at Sakura. Also it is the same sword on the back of that one guy who tracked down the group in Kurogane's world.
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Chapitre Neuf: Les yeux de l'Ange et le Démon
"Hey, Syaoran… That thing I wanted to tell you? I'll tell you later, ok? I WILL tell you."
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"Isn't it so strange, Seishiro-san? Who would've thought it'd end up like this?" Syaoran calmly spoke, intimidating Seishiro. Seishiro merely stood shocked and horrified.
"Damnit," Seishiro silently thought, "None of this should be happening…" He looked over the horribly mutilated corpse of his late lieutenant. One of his finest men was now dead. Despite his successfulness of tracking down the group, he still failed at the one crucial part of the plan, the murder of Sakura.
"I have to get Soul Breaker…" He looked at the enormous sword lying harmlessly on the ground next to the corpse. Unfortunately, it was right behind Syaoran.
"What's wrong, Seishiro-san?" Syaoran's sword was still in its hilt.
"What did he use to block off that blast?" Seishiro wondered. Syaoran didn't look so well. Seishiro intended to find out why.
"Damn…" Syaoran felt the prick immediately. "That was too close from breaking the seal…" He brought his hand to the bandage over his eye. "Stay there for me… please…"
Sakura knew there was something wrong with Syaoran. He was hurt somewhere. She knew that look in his eye. But she kept silent.
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"Fei-sama…" Fei's assistant came up next to where he was seated. A serious matter has risen.
"It's in front of me."
"No sir, not that matter. I'm talking about something else. It's about the other party." Fei was intrigued.
"Put the information up on the side screen." A light emitted from the wall, displaying statistics. There was already enough surprise with Syaoran's return.
"Impossible… are you sure this is correct?"
"Hai, Tomoyo Daitôjihas successfully managed to pull off what we've been trying to do for 30 years." Fei stared silently at the figure slowly coming together. It was impossible to map the location. After all, you couldn't map what was happening in the infinite worlds.
"Also, sir, I thought you might be interested about what the Witch has been up to recently." More data was put up in another side monitor. Fei opened his communicator.
"Listen closely," he started, "A serious matter has arisen within three parties. Your next objective is the Witch. She MUST be eliminated."
"And I thought we were in this together…" A voice replied. "But you're right. It has gotten way out of control. However I think we can use the other two parties to our advantage and eliminate Yuko at the same time. But first thing's first. I'll be heading to Destination 95004 shortly. I have to deal with something first." The communicator shut off with a click.
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"Are you still wondering, Seishiro-san?" Syaoran struggled to keep the pain from showing.
"Indeed. How did you come back from the dead? Not even those rumoured to be the gods could do such a thing themselves."
"That perspective changes depending on which world you're in and what gods really are in the scheme of the infinite worlds." Syaoran calmly replied
"Then what would you call them?"
"It's my belief that they are the angels. There can only be one superior and absolute high power in the entire universe, or nothing would be the way it is."
"Well, it seems one of us has become quite religious."
"You'd be surprised what death can do to you." Syaoran merely smirked. Seishiro knew something was definitely wrong. Syaoran never had these conversations with his enemies, nor did he smirk in the face of seriousness. There was an uncomfortable and ominous feeling when he said 'you'.
"Damnit," Syaoran thought, "I have to end this now. It's getting too unstable."
"Are you going to answer my question?"
"Not now. Maybe as a parting gift when your death is at hand…" Syaoran pulled out Hien from its sheath and firmly placed his position. Seishiro followed in suit, pulling out his own sword.
"Sakura…" He said in an almost inaudible whisper. "Just stay here, and don't try to break free." Four transparent walls arose around her, imprisoning her. "Those will keep you safe unless I die."
"Syaoran…" Sakura couldn't even be heard.
"Ashura-san," Seishiro turned to the mage, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't interfere."
"Very well…"
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Syaoran and Seishiro took off and lunged at each other simultaneously. Steel met steel and sent sparks away. Syaoran quickly swung his sword, turning his body swiftly, towards both sides of Seishiro and then switched off by randomly attacking other areas. The delay between each strike was too short for Seishiro to strike in between. Desperately, Seishiro took a shallow cut from Syaoran's sword and stabbed his own sword towards Syaoran's face. Syaoran ducked forward and swung his sword diagonally as he quickly rose up. Blood spewed from Seishiro's front. Luckily for him, the cut wasn't deep enough to kill him. Seishiro propelled himself backward to catch his breath.
"Damnit. He's countering everything I throw at him." Seishiro almost lost sight of Syaoran as he dashed off to the side and lunged at Seishiro. Seishiro saw an opening and took it. He sidestepped just in time and stabbed his sword downward to Syaoran's passing body. The sword caught Syaoran in the back and penetrated out his abdomen. Seishiro instantly realized the problem.
"Shit!" He yelled as he desperately tried to pull the sword from the corpse. He leaned back just in time to avoid a second Syaoran from stabbing him from the side. Syaoran quickly retreated back away from Seishiro.
Seishiro had little time to wonder why Syaoran retreated. The fake Syaoran moved suddenly and grabbed Seishiro's arm and shoulder. Seishiro noticed the burning slip of paper on its chest.
Seishiro was blown a very far distance by the explosion. He landed on his feet, but coughed out blood and felt crippled as he tried steadying himself. No way could a burning piece of paper do that much damage, he thought.
"That copy was rigged with gunpowder if you were wondering." Syaoran slowly walked toward Seishiro. "The paper led to the inside of the body from the chest and activated all of the gunpowder inside." Seishiro quickly readied himself again and brought his sword in front of him, panting heavily and ignoring the blood dripping from him.
"When did he make a second copy of himself?" Seishiro thought.
"I created a second one of myself in the exact image of my position in front of me. I sunk into the ground and had the copy try to sneak swiftly on you." It seemed as if Syaoran could read Seishiro's mind. "Apparently I didn't do enough damage to you." Syaoran observed.
Seishiro immediately lunged for Sakura. Syaoran stood calmly, knowing that Seishiro could not possibly hurt Sakura with the field around her. Then he realized the real reason.
"The tides have changed, Syaoran." Seishiro calmly held Soul Breaker in his hand. All of the circular gems on its edge shown and emitted an aura around Seishiro.
"Shit…" Seishiro's wounds faded away and his entire body began to calm down drastically. However, there was something wrong. Not only had he fully restored himself, but it seemed that he may have increased in power in some way. Syaoran sensed a heavy change in Seishiro's aura.
"Why does everything always have to get so complicated for me?" Syaoran wondered to himself. The pain started to come back and Syaoran's vision began to become blurry. "No… not yet… please just give me some more time to deal with this."
"Very well…" An answer rumbled back from his conscious.
"Say, Syaoran, I'm very curious about what you said about the truth making you stronger. Care to explain a bit better?" Seishiro started by taunting him.
"And if I don't?" Syaoran challenged, only to find himself fending off a flurry of strikes from Seishiro's sword at surprising speeds. Syaoran caught an opening and pushed back, sending Seishiro flying back. They were both where they started.
"I suppose the citizens could wait a little longer. After all, you are their last hope, if you haven't noticed." Every person was looking hopefully at Syaoran.
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"What's taking so fucking long?" Kurogane demanded from Fai.
"There's nothing I can do to make this go faster. Ashura put everything into this barrier."
"How much more time until you can break it?"
"Not for another 30 minutes at least."
"Damnit…"
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From another part of the underground stadium/fort, Eli worked his way to tear a gap in the barrier. He would be the hero. He would save this country and win Sakura's heart, not some mysterious stranger back from the dead. Eli felt hope as he saw a very small gap in the barrier which he had made with his own spells.
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Syaoran felt oddly cornered by Seishiro's newfound power, but he still remained calm.
"I have to finish this fast. If I can keep track of his movements, I can fend him off without using too much energy. I can't afford waste too much effort on him, or else…" Syaoran counseled himself. "Just be calm and keep your eye on the target…"
"Just let me interfere and I will deal with all this." The voice came back.
"No… I won't let you hurt Sakura…"
"Who says I will?"
"I know you will. I already know your plans and what you need to do to fulfill them."
"I promise I won't kill her. I just want the Tsubasa."
"What then after that?" The voice was quiet. "I know what you need to do after you gain the Tsubasa. I can't allow you to have the Tsubasa at all."
"Don't you think its odd how Sakura doesn't seem to possess the Tsubasa at all?" Syaoran hid his nervousness.
"What are you talking about? How else would they have gotten to Clow?" The voice seemed satisfied with the answer.
There was something wrong with Syaoran. Seishiro noticed that Syaoran doesn't seem to really pay attention. It was as if he was talking to someone else. Swiftly, he decided to take advantage of this opportunity and lunged forward with his sword. Syaoran was caught by surprise for a brief moment, and successfully fended Seishiro off. A few black soldiers rushed up to stab Syaoran. He simply turned and killed all of them with a swing of his sword. Seishiro came up faster than Syaoran could react and slashed and cut Syaoran in seven locations in symmetry with each other on Syaoran's body.
Syaoran fell to the ground and gasped. Seishiro had gotten his arms, legs, and the top part of his head. The head wound wasn't fatal, but the other wounds made it very difficult for him to move now. He struggled to get up, but Seishiro cruelly brought his foot up and pushed Syaoran back down by stepping on him. A small bone in Syaoran's back cracked.
Sakura couldn't take it anymore. Syaoran managed to stifle a cry of pain, but Sakura couldn't help but feel her heart break.
"Syaoran…" A tear drop moved its way down her cheek.
Seishiro brought his foot to Syaoran's side and sent him flying to the walls. He made contact with the wall, but managed to break his fall. Seishiro smirked.
"I knew you'd screw up." The voice was happy now. Syaoran began to lose control and realized his hand was moving to the bandage.
"No!" Syaoran screamed as the bandage was torn off.
To everyone else, nothing significant seemed to happen after the bandage was taken off. But Seishiro still felt uneasy about Syaoran's aura and dashed forward to stab him. He suddenly found Hien held against his throat. Syaoran was right behind him.
"What the hell?" His eyes widened in shock.
"It's finally my turn to come out and play." Syaoran said, but the voice was different in a menacing way.
"What are you talking about?" Seishiro turned around and saw it immediately,
Syaoran's eyes had changed dramatically. The bandaged eye was black and red, woven in a strangely demonic pattern. Three red lines extended from the black pupil and the rest of the eye resembled Fai's tattoo in red while the gaps in between were black. The other eye however was drastically different than the right eye. It was pure white with blue lines resembling the Tsubasa extending in a repeating pattern around the eye from the center.
"Angels have mercy upon me…" Seishiro said under his breath. He knew it was over for him, unless a miracle happened.
Syaoran laughed at Seishiro. His sinister tone echoed through the underground.
"What's the matter? You don't want to fight?" Syaoran prodded. "How boring…"
At blinding speed, Syaoran swung his sword against Seishiro's back and thrust him in the air. Blood trailed down to the ground as Syaoran flew upward to Seishiro. He mimicked Seishiro's technique and slashed Seishiro in the same areas and slashed once more to send him back down. More blood splattered from Seishiro. Syaoran brought his foot down on Seishiro, causing him to bounce up in the air. With a powerful side kick, Seishiro flew to the wall, creating a crack in the barrier. Seishiro fell to the ground.
As if the cruel strikes weren't enough, Syaoran came over to him and brought his sword in the air, and brought it down on Seishiro's hand. The sword pierced the hand to the ground. Seishiro grimaced in pain. Syaoran took out the sword and aimed for Seishiro's other hand, but was interrupted by a well-aimed spell that he narrowly dodged.
"I thought he told you not to interfere…" Syaoran shot a dirty look at Ashura.
"It's quite obvious that Seishiro-san can no longer go on. I will be your opponent. I know what you are and I am not prone to the same fears Seishiro had when he looked into your eyes."
"Finally…" Syaoran looked very happy. He lunged forward for the kill.
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Near the edge of the barrier, no one seemed to notice that the barrier around Sakura was now gone. She brought herself next to Seishiro quickly and quietly. That couldn't be Syaoran. It wasn't him, she kept telling herself. Seishiro should have answers for her.
"Seishiro-san…" Seishiro was awake but he chose to remain silent. "Please, I know that you're alive, so give me answers now." She held a knife pointed to his neck threateningly.
"Go ahead and kill me. It makes no difference because everyone here's dead."
"Why?"
"That isn't the same Syaoran you know. I'm not sure why Fei didn't realize the possibility this would happen, but now he's unleashed the power of his ancestry."
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Syaoran continued forward to Ashura at an incredibly fast pace. Ashura wasn't confused by his frequent turns to the side. He prepared a few quick spells to throw at Syaoran. But he felt that something wasn't right. He turned around quickly to see a second Syaoran come up with his sword to stab him. He used his bare hand to move the sword away from hitting him and suffered a deep cut on his hand. Syaoran followed through with a roundhouse kick in midair and brought it to the side of Ashura's face. Ashura went flying to the other side. Before he hit the ground, Syaoran ran over to the other side and side-kicked Ashura in the stomach, sending him in the air only to land on Syaoran's fist.
"Just for your information, what you saw charging at you wasn't a copy. What you saw was an afterimage."
Ashura struggled to get up and gasped deeply. He had underestimated that he believed was overestimated.
"Perhaps now I should tell everyone." Syaoran seemed calm that he had enough time to waste.
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"Project Marionette…" Syaoran started. "I'm certain you are familiar with it Seishiro." Seishiro was quiet. "The sole purpose was to use a second Syaoran from Fei's laboratory and synchronize it with the other Syaoran. The one who's purpose of creation was to obtain the Tsubasa from subject 61, Sakura Reed." Sakura looked up. "Project Marionette went off with only one complication, the inability to keep the synchronization going on for more than 3 hours. It was then decided that those 3 hours would be used for the crucial part of taking the Tsubasa from Ms. Reed. In the meantime, however, Fei was able to keep a close eye on Syaoran and take on his objectives as the operation proceeded. The close relationship that developed between Sakura and Syaoran added to the advantage which Fei would strike. However, when the Tsubasa awoke, everything got screwed up when Syaoran interfered with Sakura's kidnapping. Fei was unable to synchronize the two Syaorans together to have Syaoran make sure everything went off without a hitch. The prediction that Syaoran would be needed to set off the Tsubasa was incorrect. But if the whole thing succeeded, it wouldn't have mattered. After Syaoran's death, I myself moved on to the afterlife. Mysteriously, we fused our conscious and personalities when we found ourselves in the same region of space and time, but he resisted and the result was an entity with split personalities."
"Is that all it was? Syaoran used as a puppet to kidnap me?" Sakura felt angry.
"Of course that wasn't the only purpose." Syaoran replied laughing. "Syaoran's other crucial role was the assassination of Fujitaka-san and Clow Reed." A stunned silence echoed through the underground."
"What?"
"That's right; Syaoran is responsible for the deaths of his foster father and the King of Clow."
"No… That's not true. Syaoran didn't kill anyone."
"How else did Fujitaka and Clow Reed die in an excavation where there was nothing wrong with the support beams?" Sakura felt horrified. "Syaoran destroyed the three main support columns causing the entire thing to cave in." Sakura couldn't take it anymore.
"No… please just stop. Syaoran never murdered anyone when he was that young." Sakura brought her hands to her ears, desperately trying to block out everything.
"Syaoran is the murderer of your beloved father, you bitch." Syaoran laughed as Sakura started to cry. To hear those words from who she loved was too much for her. Syaoran's laughter was cut short, and a look of horror was on his face.
"No," he shouted back to his conscious, "It's my turn now, damnit!"
"I can't allow you to continue doing this. You're going to kill everyone after you kill Fei's forces."
"No! I swear I won't. Just let me alone as I am."
"I can't let you do that."
"Damn you!" The original Syaoran took over.
The eyes didn't disappear, but Sakura could tell something had just changed. The left eye seemed much stronger than the right. Syaoran stumbled and caught his balance. His breath was short and he looked fatigued. Calmly, he lifted his sword.
"Stand up, Seishiro-san… I don't want to kill you the way you are.
"Is it you now, Syaoran?"
"Hai…"
"The eyes are still there… but one seems stronger now."
"Seishiro-san," Syaoran sounded much more respectful and kind, "There is a room in the afterlife where those who still have a purpose in this world go to. Not many are ever sent there, obviously, but those who are can be brought back to life by the power bestowed upon the Angels. That is how I got back."
"The Angels? Why would they interfere?"
"Because I have a purpose."
"Do you know what that purpose is?"
"No, but I'm guessing for right now."
"And as for those eyes, I have to wonder at what they truly do and how you managed to get two powers."
"So you've heard of my eyes?"
"Hai, but normally both eyes would be the same."
"When the other Syaoran fused with me, I found that Fei had put the eye of the Angel on him. The eye of the Demon was on me. Why he never put the two together I never could figure out."
"What do they do?"
"The eye of the Angel amplifies my power explosively and grants me a vision range of 360 degrees. You cannot sneak up on me while that one is on. The eye of the Demon amplifies my speed and gives me perception powers to track your every move, giving several possibilities on what I can do."
"I see. That would account for much."
"There's more I would like to tell you, Seishiro-san, however I have to end this now before it's too late to end all this."
"Are you going to finish me now?"
"Hai, I'm very sorry, Seishiro-san. But your life comes to an end here. I can't afford to keep you alive with what I've set out to do."
"Very well… I'm glad that you've become strong Syaoran. I merely regret the fact that I was unable to carry out Fei's will." Syaoran lifted his sword. Seishiro closed his eyes and waited for the blade to take his life. Syaoran brought the sword down.
"No!" Sakura brought her arms around Syaoran from behind, temporarily interrupting him. "Please Syaoran, just stop all of this. Just stop. Don't kill him. I don't want to lose you… Please."
"Sakura…" Syaoran choked up.
"Spare their lives. Please. They're not a threat to you if you can beat them. Just stop killing."
"Sakura…" Syaoran dropped his sword and fell to his knees. "Why does everything have to get so complicated for me?" He said softly.
Seishiro struggled and brought himself to Ashura. The rest of the soldiers ran back to the two leaders and awaited commands to fight. The barrier had fallen. The guards of Clow, Kurogane, Fai, and the soldiers of the Hikari realm were now free to attack. Slowly, they approached to go for the kill. Fai and Kurogane led the main group towards the front, observing for any trap or surprise. However, Eli ran forward with his long sword to kill Seishiro.
Seishiro didn't have enough energy to fight Syaoran, but his strength was still more than enough for this pathetic weakling who was charging at him. However, Ashura decided to take matters into his hands and repelled Eli, sending him flying back.
Kurogane took this opening and swung his sword, killing the three front soldiers guarding the main group of invaders. At the same time, Fai was thrown forward by the force of the sword as it was swung and flew past the rest of the soldiers. He swung his metal rod, sending Ashura and Seishiro flying in opposite directions. The Clow soldiers rushed up and attacked the invaders while they were distracted. Toya swung his huge sword and killed the two remaining lieutenants at once. Ashura ran to Seishiro, avoiding Fai and much as he could and activated the device he pulled from his cloak. The invaders crowded around Seishiro and Ashura, defending them from other attacks. After 3 minutes, a warp portal appeared and Ashura and Seishiro disappeared in a flash. The rest of the invaders followed in suit.
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Eli struggled back on his feet. He felt shamed by his foolish act. But at least it was all over, for now.
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"Syaoran…" Sakura brought her head to his shoulder. Syaoran allowed her to rest her head there for a moment, and then gently pushed her off to the side.
"Syaoran… wait… please…" Syaoran stopped for a moment. "Syaoran, please don't leave."
"I'm sorry, Sakura, I have to go now."
"No, wait. Syaoran, I tried to tell you before so many times. Don't leave, because I lov-" Sakura was interrupted.
"Sakura!" Eli yelled out as he ran toward her. He was followed by Yukito and Toya. "Are you ok?" Sakura merely nodded, but felt her anger rising. Interrupted again…
Toya looked grimly at Syaoran. The eyes had faded away and they were the familiar brown eyes. Syaoran must've found a way to control the other one without that bandage.
"Syaoran-san…" Toya referred to him respectfully.
"I'll be out of your country and life in about a day. I'll be leaving the city right now though."
"My father…"
"…Was killed by me. End of conversation."
"I won't ever forgive you for killing my father."
"I never expected you to." With that, Syaoran walked away slowly and disappeared as the underground crowded. Sakura burst into tears as he disappeared.
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Iroel's note: Whew… this was the longest chapter I've ever written (At least 4000 words). Anyway, Chapter 10 will be finished ASAP. Thank you for all the people who have read thus far. I plan on making the story better and better as it goes on (Iroel --- Could use suggestions). A friend of mine suggested I end this fanfic very soon and make the ending the worst I could make it -- . But don't worry about that, 'cause the fanfiction will go on for a while now (Estimating at least a good 25 chapters or so). Feel free to post reviews or contact me and give me suggestions or just say hi through my AIM: ScShin09
(No spamming please --)
