24
by Aspirator
At the Ninth Hour
9:06
It's the ninth hour, and it's rush hour.
Takashi walked out onto the cobbled streets, straightening his back and rolling his shoulders. He patted his jacket pocket stiffly, then sighed deeply.
Chiharu sauntered up next to him, an anxious smile on her face as she looked up at Takashi for a quick second. She looked away quickly when Takashi turned to her.
"You ready?"
"Ye-yeah." Chiharu bit her lip, breathed in deeply, then spoke more confidently, "yeah."
"Okay." Takashi nodded lightly before the pair set forward. With each block they passed the streets got more and more busy.
But the streets were nothing compared to the underground metro stations. As soon as the pair stepped down, they were bumping shoulders and shuffling around between stomachs, backs, and mumbling "excuse me"s.
"Excuse me! Excuse me, Citizen!" A loud, robust voice exclaimed very close to their ears.
Chiharu mumbled a quiet, "sorry," intending to get out of the way. Instead of being shoved aside as she had expected, her shoulder was pulled back. In the panic of the moment, she grabbed Takashi's hand. Pulled back, Takashi whirled around, his brows lifted in question at the abrupt interruption.
The pair was faced with the infamous blue and white uniform. The angular face frowned down on the pair, stating robotically, "Citizen Request 201: all belongings surrendered to the nearest enforcer in favor of the greater Commonwealth good. Chiharu Mihara and Takashi -"
"I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong persons." Takashi interrupted hurriedly, tugging at Chiharu's frozen figure.
The strict face frowned even more, eyes squinting at the pair. "Chiharu Mihara-"
Takashi tugged at Chiharu's hand once more, so severely that she stumbled. Without allowing her time to regain her balance, Takashi flew - dragging Chiharu along behind her. No more polite "excuse me"s or gentle nudges. They were shoving shoulders and getting as lost as they could behind the crowd.
"How did they find out so fast?" Chiharu heard Takashi breathe in her ear.
Chiharu could only shook her head, looking helplessly as his more courageous expression.
"Down, down, down!" Takashi yelled over the melee, pointing to the escalators and the small lit-up color-coded signs indicating a train arriving soon. Chiharu nodded, unlinking their hands briefly to sprint full force just behind him towards the escalators.
Her heart thumped like a drum, the confused footsteps and Enforcer shouts loud and clear behind her.
Takashi reached the escalators first, sliding down the handles and inevitably kicking at disgruntled citizens. Chiharu, less bold, tried to run down the moving stairs, shoving people aside.
A hand grabbed at her elbow, causing Chiharu's heart to skip a beat. She whirled around with wide eyes when she should've pulled herself away. The Enforcer clapped his other hand on her elbow, taking her arm hostage and pulling her out of the confused crowd.
The back of Chiharu's neck heated up as she felt the stares and the judgement of the People surrounding them. People gave way for the Enforcer, shaking their heads at the assumed delinquent.
"It's always the sweet ones." She heard them mutter. "The unexpected."
"Serves them right, young people these days tend to forget themselves."
"Not upright citizens-"
Something about the mutters seemed to have snapped Chiharu out of her horrified reverie. It's not true! She wanted to shout. You don't know me! Her feisty side surfaced as she jerked her arm away from the Enforcers' grasp.
Chiharu tried to run, but the bystanders were closing in, like a human cage. The Enforcer made a grab at her again - and there!
A break in the crowd, some bystanders shoved aside as strong arms wrapped across her back and half-pushed, half-lifted her down the crowded escalators. She breathed in relief when she recognized the side of Takashi's head just ahead of her.
When they landed at the bottom, Takashi moved his grip to her arm, pulling her at a sharp turn into a narrow hallway leading to the next platform. He stopped abruptly in the middle of the hallway, leaning on his knees to catch his breath.
Chiharu slumped against the wall, breathing out, "I thought you were downstairs already."
"I went back up." Takashi sighed out. He looked up at her for a moment. "I almost thought I lost you there."
"Me too." She gave him a smile.
A flash of blue and white to their right - Takashi grabbed Chiharu's hand, sprinting with her down their left hallway. Soon enough, they reached the platform. Pushing through, Takashi melded themselves into the crowd, his warm hand grasping her small one tightly. It seemed like an eternity of nudging and being elbowed until they reached a train. They were swept on along with the crowd.
On the train, Takashi stood very close to Chiharu. In her ear, he breathed, "We have to separate." He made sure to angle his face away from any cameras (as best as he hoped). He tried to limit his mouth movements.
"No -"
"We have to." He brought his loose hand up to pat her shoulder. Chiharu's brows furrowed at the action, stiffening when he started to trace his hand across her shoulder, then her collar bone -
"What are you doing?"
"Shhh." Takashi leaned closer to her, and only then did his hand stop just at the base of her neck. Her warm brown eyes searched his face, but stared straight ahead.
She nearly jumped when something small and silver dropped down her shirt.
Takashi loosened his grip, leaning back, and pulling all his warmth with him. He smiled at her apologetically but out loud he said, "Give me the information." He reached with his loose hand for her loose hand, and wiping his fingers across her palm as if to grab something. He stuffed the small pocket of air into his jacket pocket.
Chiharu almost smiled once she caught onto what he was doing. Takashi was using the Enforcer's all seeing powers against them.
Soon enough, they stopped three stations later. As they were pushed by the crowd towards the doors, Takashi breathed in her ear. "You go left, I'll go right." They got off the train along with the crowd, standing in the middle of the platform and knowing that this is where they part. Takashi turned to face her. He tried to smile, but it turned out too grim, too solemn to be a real smile.
She beat him to the words. "Don't die."
Takashi looked down at her, opening his mouth to say something (snarky, most likely). He was interrupted when suddenly, Chiharu pulled on his jacket and wrapped one hand around his neck to press her lips against his. It was quick, chaste, and absolutely perfect.
"Don't die." She repeated with a challenging look.
"I'll live for more kisses like that." He responded with a genuine smile before turning around and disappearing into the throngs of people. Chiharu let a soft chuckle escape her lips before she turned around - and came face to face with an Enforcer.
He hadn't recognized her yet, thank goodness, but he was looking suspiciously at something behind the screen of his helmet, then at her.
Chiharu bolted.
9:13
"Kaho Mizuki."
Sakura jumped at the fresh voice, turning around to look questionably at the man that had given them shelter. Yukito smiled gently off to the distance as he looked on at the same direction she had been looking. Sakura blinked at his presence. "I'm sorry?"
"Kaho Mizuki." He repeated, nodding at the woman Sakura had been staring at just moment ago. The said woman sat on the other side of the open cavern, sitting pristinely on a chair against the wall and reading a book. "One of the few Citizens I've ever met who still appreciates books."
Quietly, Sakura muttered, perhaps not intending for the comment to be heard. "I didn't know they were...real."
"People who appreciate books?" Yukito asked with a slight smile.
Sakura shook her head slowly, "books."
Yukito laughed lightly at her response, nodding. "That's understandable in this day and age." The Renege leader moved only slightly forward so he could face her properly. Still standing, he offered a kind smile, "I have a library - that's what a collection of books is called - if you're interested."
"A library? Of course!" Sakura brightened, standing up brightly. "Who wouldn't?"
"More People than you'd think," Yukito answered smoothly. "You're only the third interested person so far."
"Really?" Sakura fell into step alongside Yukito as he led her towards an unnoticeable door near Kaho's place. "Kaho Mizuki...and who's the second?"
"Your very own Mr. Hiiragizawa, or Eriol, depends on who's addressing him."
"You knew him?"
Yukito smiled fondly, "I admired him as a historian before I respected him as a Cavalry member."
Far behind, the aforementioned historian of the Cavalry stood alongside their mathematician. Syaoran wasn't looking too happy as he watched the pair trek off to the other end of the cavern.
"Jealous?" Eriol commented with a lilt of smugness.
"No." Syaoran answered a little too quickly. "I don't trust him."
"You don't trust anybody outside of the Cavalry, Syaoran."
"I don't like him."
"Because he can carry on a civilized conversation with Sakura?" Eriol really knew how to prod his fellow teammate, "unlike you?"
Syaoran sent him a dark glare. "No." He answered deliberately, slowly. He glanced over at Yukito's retreating figure, his eyes narrowing, "something is off about him." He muttered quietly, more to himself mostly, before walking forward.
"What? You're going to follow them?" It appears Eriol is going to follow Syaoran, too. "You sure you aren't jealous?"
9:24
"You're different."
Sakura jumped at the new voice behind her, turning from the wall of books to take in the tall, elegant woman who calls herself Kaho Mizuki. She blinked, clearing her throat, and squeaked out, "I'm sorry?"
Kaho only smiled, nodding over Sakura's head at Yukito, and placed her book back on the shelf behind Sakura. She stepped back, clasping her hands together gracefully. "You're a rare species, you know, in this day and age."
"Oh." Sakura managed to squawk out; her heart, for some reason, thumping wildly.
Kaho patiently swept her eyes over the rows of books, continuing, "being interested in books and such. People nowadays think it's ancient and irrelevant. Such as looking at fossils."
Sakura nodded slowly, awed by the woman's dexterity. "That's what Yukito said. Sometimes, fossils can be meaningful." She almost slapped her forehead then. Fossils can be meaningful? What does that even mean?
Kaho only smiled at her. Before the conversation could go any further, Eriol popped his head in. "Yukito! There you are - and oh, is this the library you promised to show me? May I?"
"Yes!" Yukito's faced brightened considerably, his demeanor entirely enthusiastic as he greeted Eriol and ushered him in.
To Sakura's surprise, Syaoran grumpily followed after, avoiding her stare.
"Oh, hello! Syaoran is it?" Yukito greeted.
Syaoran only grunted, trying to take his place beside Eriol. He was hindered by the fact that Eriol can't seem to stay in one place, bouncing from bookshelf to bookshelf in his bubbly excitement.
Sakura, seeing his rudeness, answered quickly in his place, "yes - he means yes." She laughed awkwardly, causing Syaoran to roll his eyes and frown.
"Say, you've got the books from the Former Nations?" Eriol interrupted eagerly, his eyes eagerly scanning the bookshelves.
Yukito turned to address the avid historian, "The former European Nations have kept their records neat, but the Asian nations have been a little harder to collect."
"Or you haven't tried." Syaoran commented snarkily.
Sakura sent Syaoran a hard look, but Syaoran wasn't looking at her. He was staring stonily at Yukito, who innocently gave him a questionable look.
"Uh...of course I did," Yukito answered uncertainly, caught off-guard by the strong animosity. "best as I could, anyway-"
"What do you even do?" Syaoran blurted, narrowing his eyes at Yukito.
"For-for what?" Yukito blinked. "For Renege? As its leader-"
"For the Commonwealth."
That caused both Eriol and Sakura to whip their heads from the books to their friend. Eriol was the one who gave Syaoran a 'are you serious' look and asked, "what kind of question is that?"
Yukito pushed up his glasses, clearing his throat as he seriously thought about the question. Slowly, he answered, "Well, I'm...I'm not the Cavalry, I mean, I don't fight bad guys," Yukito laughed sheepishly, "but I like to collect -"
"-useless things."
"Syaoran!" Sakura gasped in horror.
But he pushed on, "so you're useless."
Eriol crossed his arms, stifling his laughter as he pushed up his glasses to watch the interaction - and Sakura's reactions.
"Uh, I'd like to think not." Yukito answered intelligently.
Sakura, at this point, was furious at Syaoran's behavior. When her glaring did no good, she opened her mouth to scold him -
"Sakura, if you don't mind," Kaho abruptly changed the subject, turning towards to face her fully. "I'm going to be very direct with you."
"Uh...yes?" Sakura answered in confusion. The abrupt change in atmosphere caused Syaoran and Eriol, too, to tune in into their conversation. Yukito stepped back, as if predicting the eruption of turmoil and hoping to stay out of it.
9:39
Chiharu stared up at the silver skyscraper. She remembered just a few hours ago she had done the exact same thing - not with apprehension in her heart, but glee and the joy of opportunity.
It looked exactly the same. Except this time, there were blue and white uniforms all over the doors and possibly every exit.
The problem was, they didn't want to make a commotion of course, and - if this wasn't alreayd clear enough - it was rush hour. That mean there are reporters, writers, editors, everyone rushing in and out in multitudes.
Chiharu joined the crowd, her eyes shifty and her palms sweaty, the flash drive cold against her skin.
"IDs please. Just a routine check." Came the monotonous voice of an Enforcer stationed just outside their usual entry scanners.
Three...two…now one person stood between Chiharu and the said Enforcer. Chiharu in her short breath and beating heart could think of nothing else but the 'aha!' moment that'll inevitably come when he saw her.
"ID please." The Enforcer boredly stated, his voice too close for comfort to the nervous wreck that Chiharu is. "Miss - miss?" The Enforcer tried to catch the attention of the shifty eyed woman, who hardly looked at him, "your ID."
An Enforcer manning the next line of impatient journalists turned at his co-worker's difficulty. "What's going on over there?" He called.
This is the moment, Chiharu chanted in her head. She squeezed her eyes shut. This is the moment they'll grab her -
"THERE HE GOES!" Came an urgent shout from the other end of the lobby as three Enforcers hurtled on by. The other Enforcers turned, following the chase. The one in front of Chiharu lifted his head, attention caught by the commotion.
Seeing the golden opportunity, Chiharu quickly slipped by, getting herself lost in the crowd making their way to the elevators.
By the time the Enforcers noticed the slip, she was no longer on the ground floor.
9:50
"You are a Variant." Kaho's gaze was steady, her pose elegant, and her eyes clear. It was as if she had stated that the grass was green.
Kaho barely flinched when the infamous sword suddenly appeared in Syaoran's hand, nor when Eriol's figure disintegrated and reappeared in position behind her. Sakura, too, reacted immediately. Her friendly emerald eyes hardened but she held up her right arm to placate her defenders.
She glanced sideways at Syaoran, checking up on him. To her surprise, his gaze was focused on Yukito's unchanging expression before directing it to Kaho. Wait a second - Sakura turned her attention to Yukito, realizing he was still in the room. Politely, she told him, "if you'd close the door, please."
"Allow me." Kaho stepped forward, causing both Eriol and Syaoran to close in on her.
Sakura gave them a nod, telling them to ease off, while Kaho held up both her palms as a sign of peace.
Kaho stepped forward once more. Then she flicked her wrist, as if slapping the air, causing a large gust of wind to push the door closed.
Syaoran's eyes narrowed at Kaho, Eriol frowned at the air as if it was all the air's fault. Yukito's hair tousled slightly, but the polite, friendly smile remained on his face. Sakura's jaw dropped, whirling around to gape at Kaho.
Kaho only smiled. "I am a Variant too."
9:54
With the access card Rika had so reluctantly given them, Chiharu sneaked into the most influential writer in the Commonwealth's office (which was no easy task since there were at least ten different access points she had to go through – and Rika's computer! Thank Clow Chiharu learned a little code cracking from the Renege!)
Finally, though it had taken far too long for Chiharu's comfort, she had finally made it to the publishing software of the most popular news source in the Commonwealth. Chiharu quickly inserted her flash drive, uploading the file they had prepared to release.
Suddenly a noise outside caused Chiharu to jump. "What's the big emergency, officers?" Floated in a new voice whom Chiharu is very familiar with. "Yes, I am Rika Sasaki, and yes, that is indeed my office you're standing in front of."
After a quiet debate with herself, Chiharu went ahead and pressed publish on Rika's computer. A new window appeared with the loading bar and Chiharu watched it anxiously while listening closely to what's occurring outside Rika's office.
"Open it?" Rika was saying, "Well, yes I do plan on opening it. As I said it is my office. My question really is -"
Chiharu bit her lip, slamming her fist quietly in the air at the holographic screen. She scream-mouthed, 'come on, Network!'
Meanwhile, Rika answered the quiet mumbles of the Enforcers, "Ah, is there? A break in? Really? My office?" More hushed mumbles. "Why, they would never do such a thing, no one would dare touch my office -"
Uploading...15%
Chiharu snarled at the computer, waving her hand at it, motioning it to go faster.
"Oh, right now?" Rika answered the Enforcers, "Yes, of course I can unlock my own office, let me see…"
Uploading...20%
Chiharu closed her eyes, crossing her fingers and mouthing, 'come on' repeatedly.
Outside the door, Rika continued loudly, "You know, they can't really do anything without my access card. Yes, yes, there's only one copy. It's - now let me look for it…" Her voice turned almost offended as she answered, "Of course I will unlock my door, but you wanted my access card. I have to find it..."
Chiharu opened her eyes hopefully.
Uploading...42%
Chiharu punched the air, mouthing a few curse words.
"Both? Alright." Rika sounded subdued. She continued on charismatically, however, "Now, I'm not usually this scattered. See, you called me in in such a hurry and I was running late already - This? No, that's the wrong key. I apologize, really."
Uploading….56%
Chiharu clapped her palms together, mouthing 'thank you thank you thank you' at the door to Rika. Then she looked around for a back door of some sort.
There was none.
Rika's voice was a little more muffled now, "It's in here somewhere - now don't be so impatient - hey!"
Uploading….77%
Chiharu glanced around Rika's neat and polished office. She climbed onto her low shelves just underneath Rika's large office windows, shaking desperately at the window frames. There has to be another way out.
"How rude, stealing a purse like that -" Rika corrected herself quickly, apparently having gotten a look from the Enforcers, "but, it's for the greater Commonwealth good. I suppose it's a excusable."
Uploading….82%
Chiharu threw open Rika's drawers, desperately searching for some kind of self defense weapon or-or a teleportation device? Oh, how she wishes!
"Oh, of course!" Rika exclaimed loudly, sounding as if she had slapped her own forehead, "I should've looked in there! There's my key. Alright, give it to me so I can unlock my own - no? Alright, I suppose."
With a loud slam, the door banged open. Two Enforced marched in, zeroing in on the wide-eyed Chiharu. Behind them, the elegant Rika looked entirely composed, if not, slightly frazzled. The only telltale sign of her deception were the helplessness in her eyes. Chiharu backed against the far wall, near the windows.
She took one last glance at the computer.
Uploading….99%
9:57
All save for the magic doer were stunned speechless. Syaoran was the first to break the silence, growling, "How do you know she's a Variant?"
No one answered his question, however. Eriol's mind was on a completely different page, his eyes narrowing at the door as he said, "It could be a Plain Magic trick."
Sakura's brain was utterly scattered. Third to speak, she breathed, "That's...impossible…"
Finally, Kaho smiled, lifting her hand. Four pairs of eyes watched her every turn of the finger as she painted the air with magically conceived water. "It is entirely possible, Sakura Kinomoto."
10:00
A/N UPDATE (11/23/2016): ON HIATUS. I am rereading my notes for this story and will think about continuing it. However, until further notice, it is on hiatus.