Chapter 9 You'll Always be a Part of Me
Disclaimer: characters belong to CLAMP
a/n : I'm not abandoning this fic, I just don't feel like writing when I have trouble in sort my feeling out. I was a mess lately but now I'm back! Thank you for who reviewing -and it does pump my energy- and reading, and liking it. I'm grateful for what I've received.
And I realize something when writing this fic… The costume! I made the costume sounds so complicated, I mean what Yukito wears as high priest was simpler than my imagination!! I wonder that he was wearing at least 3 layers robe or has more accessories in him. But his clothes more like pajama for me. Ugh, okay, let us pretend this isn't happening, that I'm not fool enough that it take 9 chapter to realize this.
And, do I need to warn you that things are getting more serious from now on but…
,P ,L ,E ,A ,S ,E ,E ,N ,J ,O ,Y
=_=
Yukito stared at the ruin. There was another sand storm that covered the distance ruin like a blanket. He could sense something was up there but he didn't know the nature of this something. All he knew was the prophetic dream will happen soon.
^.^
"Your Majesty, there are people from the ancient site," said one of the soldier while they were still in the meeting room.
"Let them in."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the soldier bowed before retreat from the room.
It didn't take long until the researcher come in. As usual, they exchange a bit of formality before talking the main topic. Yukito tried hard to repress his lips from curving upward when he notice a vein popped up in Touya's forehead.
Probably because the returning of the researcher into the city means the returning of certain boy. Furthermore, it means that Princess Sakura will see him no matter what. Yukito didn't know what makes Touya despise the boy so much.
"I believe there is something you want to report, Agatsuma'san,"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Our research team has found out tunnel that leading to the underground passage. But the way was blocked by some wall with graffiti on it. We want to show them for you since it seem that the wall can't break by the tool we have. Perhaps it has something to do with magical power," the man with long blonde hair turned his eyes to look at Yukito. It's as if they gave it up to the high priest.
"So, what's your opinion, Tsukishiro'sama?" Touya asked him without bother to turned his head to the man beside him.
"I think it's the best if we take a look at the passage, Your Majesty. If my power can help in breaking the wall, I'll gladly help."
"I've been worried too, Sakura was so enthusiastic on playing there lately. It settled then, we will depart tomorrow."
"But, Your Majesty, it would be best if you keep staying in the palace. What if by accident, earthquakes happen? I heard that in some place, the ruin was fragile that there are land slide so often," Yukito try to object.
"Then I have more reason not to let you go alone. In case that happen, I can help with my power."
Yukito fidgeting as he saw a dark glimpse on the king's black eyes. It is not usual for Touya to be serious so suddenly, not that he didn't take the country matter seriously even though all he often did was listen the ministers halfheartedly. And he had a bad feeling about what the king would say next.
"Besides…" Touya resume only letting the words hanging in the air.
"Besides?" Yukito asked, not aware that he was holding back his breath.
"What will that monster say if I'm not inspecting it by myself?! She probably will mock and say that I'm a chicken," Touya's rage turn into growl.
"Your Majesty!" Yukito hardly believe what his best friend had just said.
^_^
It was a bright and clear day when Touya and Yukito was about to depart when Sakura come with her usual cheerfulness. Yukito almost didn't believe it himself but apparently Touya come to the ruin to let Sakura having sometime to entertain herself. Even though it means letting Sakura came closer to Syaoran, which he insisted to call the brunette brat rather than his name.
Yukito can't stop smiling as he saw Touya's continuous glare toward Syaoran every time Sakura tried to talk with him. So in return, Touya received an equal glare from her.
"I'll go down right to the last place, Agatsuma'san," the boy excuse himself once they reach the ruin while Sakura was busy to spit-spat with her brother.
"Look, this place was a maze with lot of traps and secret door. The ruin has been dormant for thousands years so you'd better be careful,"
"I'm not lost that easily, Nii'chan!"
"It's not you get lost that I'm worried about. Agatsuma'san here found that some rooms were filled with skeleton. Be careful with your step so that it won't wake up them," Touya mercilessly teasing Sakura whose face a bit paler by mention of ghost or short of things.
"B-Baka Nii'chan!!" she scream before run after Syaoran.
"Tcheh, I wonder why toddler always do the opposite when people said otherwise for their own good."
"Ahaha…" Yukito laughs mindlessly.
Not so long after that, all of them already indulged in the 'ruin-talk'. This time Touya listened to whatever the staff said even though he didn't catch any meaning behind their discussion.
"…We tried with every methods available but nothing happens."
"We heard about symbol that carved on the floor from Agatsuma'san, that's why we were here."
"But, is it okay if the floor opened? What if it was a symbol that has been preventing all of these from happening?" someone with violet eye color asked.
This time, people's attention directed to him solely.
"I mean, this craving probably some sort of mantra that sealing something under there, whether good or bad, we didn't know yet. And I have this creepy feeling since we found the mark on the floor, as if the ruin stirred from long sleep…"
Peoples keep silent because supernatural were common things that occur occasionally. Besides, this is a ruin they were working on.
"You have that point, Lupin'kun. But if it was destined to happen, it just a matter of time that the sealing floor will open or not," Agatsuma reasoned, safe Yukito from explaining thing because he felt that something was moving on the ruin.
Drrt…
Drrrrttt…
"W-What's going on?" people suddenly began panicking when out of sudden the ground shaking.
"Land slide! Earthquake! Save Your Self!!"
Yukito flinched when he felt something with great power move beneath them. It felt as if, "No! Something's happen on the underground."
It really surprises the sandy blond priest that what Agatsuma had said not so long ago has become reality.
"It seemed that the sealing door opened without our interfere," Touya said before a screeching scream tore their peace as another pain scream followed by other.
The earthquake just barely stop when a handful peoples that clad in black uniform appear with blood dripping from their weapon.
"Where are they came from?!" Touya was mad at this point that he pulled out his weapon, soul eater.
Yukito worried as those new guys with black shade began slaughter the panicked staff that was on their range.
"Everybody, run as fast and as far away from here!" Yukito yelled at the staff that was still around. He himself began chanting a quick strengthening spells to protect the innocent as well as his king.
Though he didn't have strong attack spell, Yukito tried his best to aid the wound on the soldiers. He strengthen his ally's power as well as their defense. Sometimes, block the thug's attack by casting blockade magic. He was so deep in concentration in another spell that took time to cast that it was almost too late to realize that one of the thug swing its weapon, ready to cut his throat in two.
"Watch out, Yuki!!" Touya stabbed the thug from behind, causing him show an opening for his attacker.
"To-ya!!" Yuki scream out of fear, watching in horror as the thug thrusting its weapon downward.
It was luck that Touya managed to dodge them and causing a minor cut on his sides before counter the thug back. With that one done, it leave only ten of them to go.
"Stay behind me," Touya whispers between his pant.
"Careful," was all Yukito able to say before Touya stab another thug in the hands.
It was over finally after struggling for what seemed eternity.
"What happen?!" Syaoran screams from a little crack on the entering.
"You're late, brat," said Touya with his broken smirk once he spotted Syaoran whose holding his dear sister, "Sakura's fine, right?" the raven haired king asked before his body failed him.
"Your Majesty!" Yukito came to support him. He thought that it was selfish that Touya pretended that he was strong after the battle just because he didn't want to lose his cool in front of Syaoran.
"Is he alright?" ask the brunette worriedly.
Yukito inspecting his body to seek major wound to see none. "It looks like the weapon that their weapons were poisoned," Yukito reasoned.
"I won't let Your Majesty died," he was so worry but still, he knew what he must attend first.
"Is Princess okay?" he asked the brunette.
"There was a room underground, there…" Syaoran tried to explain but Yukito touched his head to read what was happen, and in an instant, he knew what was happen with Sakura's body, as much as with her soul.
"That feathers were her soul. Every single memories she possessed from born till now was gone. And…memories that was scatter no longer available in this world's dimension. Without the soul, her body no more than empty vessel. In this case it continued on like this, she might…"
"Is there something I can do? Anything to safe her!"
Yukito glanced at their king. At this rate, he supposed to discuss it with Touya but the time keep tickling. Waiting any longer and it could be too late. So, he pull off his robe and held his staff firm.
"There's not enough time left. I'll bear the consequences. I'll send you to someone that lived in other world. The same person that inherit moon power."
Slowly, he began chanting the transport spell. He never did it before, but he hope the boy and the sleeping princess came into the right place, for him practiced so often for this moment.
"Who's that person?! What should I do when I was there?"
A whirling wind slow but surely began circling around Syaoran. Little by little, he was consumed by the magic.
"She was called dimensional witch. Tell her everything, then… please safe Princess Sakura…!"
With the last word has been said, the most important task to do, Yukito fall on his knees. The magic did well to drain his energy that he barely able to stand on his own legs. Once glance toward his king and he knew that he still has duty call.
Yukito whispers to the wind, forming magical word that will travel straight to the shrine to inform them, before collapsing.
Not so far from him, Yukito watched Touya's limp form from the rear. He wanted to reach that man, to be near him. He watched as darkness slowly took his consciousness away.
.
Yukito sighs as he stands from his place. The meeting went as usual that day but he felt more tired than usual.
With a glance, Yukito held his gaze on an empty spot beside him that belongs to his king. It has been days since they return from the ruin. He couldn't remember everything correctly but when he woke up that night, his heart clenched when he heard that Touya hasn't awake yet.
Ever since that time, Touya remain sleep. All the doctors and he could do was healing the scratch that no longer visible in his body. From the sample they obtain from the poisoned weapon those thugs had, none of them knew the substances. Therefore, they didn't know how to cure their king.
Sakura just barely leave in her journey and now the country was left with the unconscious king.
Besides, if it was Touya that being poisoned so why he was the one that felt the aching in his heart.
It was him who wished Touya to leave him so many times before, was he not?
=_=
Yukito : "What it will cost?"
Yuuko : "It cost too high for you alone to pay. But it will suffice if people of Clow willing to share the payment."
So, what was the dimensional asked the high priest for his wish?
Next time on "The Thorn Never Hurt Me": I hear you call me.
That's it for chapter9. I know that this chapter isn't long but…that's how the pace goes.
I don't like the part where Sakura lost her feather but I can't delete that particular scene either. It was something that some people will call turning points. Though you know what happened on the ruin at that time, the story flow will not as good without that scene. So, I make it through Touya/Yuki sides, where they were still outside the ruin.
From now, you can guess how the story will goes. But still, I want to finish this fic in proper way, with my way. I hope it will resulting in something unexpected because all of us love surprises, don't we?
By the way, did you know that each chapter title was lyric of 'Boku wa tori ni naru' –I want to be a bird- , a OST in Code geass where one of my fave chara, Rolo died. It was a heart breaking scene because Rolo blindly put his loyalty to Lelouch while for Lelouch, Rolo was nothing but mere pawn… T-T though I don't know how this song inspire me to write this fic in the first place.
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