Disclaimer:I don't own anything! Kyo Kara Maoh is not mine and neither is Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. As always, I am only a huge fan. No profit is made except the pure enjoyment of both series.
They arrive at Yuko's shop and immediately she asks them to bring the wounded Yuri inside. Already displaying an unnerving amount of knowledge about them. She asks Berias for assistance in helping to treat the alternate Yuri in order to lessen the compensation needed to treat his wounds. Which thankfully she has already received most of the payment from another source. Therefore, Yuko asks Gwendal and Conrad to help bring the other Yuri inside while the rest are led inside by Maru and Moru to wait for Yuko to explain the situation that they have now found themselves in. Where they meet Watanuki and ask him about Yuko and this place. Meanwhile, once the other Yuri's life is out of danger, Conrad is asked to stay behind since there are certain things he needs to know. As he played a huge role in this other Yuri's life. So this is when he learns that in the other world, he wasn't the birth father. Only adoptive. And Yuko explains that a choice will need to be made by Conrad along with the help of the others to pay the price to do so if they want to keep both Yuri's. But Yuko waits to tell him the whole thing until she addresses the others about it as well. And lastly, the two Yuri's have the same dream. Seeing Pandora as a whole before it began to fall apart. There, they meet a certain young woman involved in both of their pasts. Who promises that if they don't give up hope, everything will turn out alright before the end. And 'the end' of the story is really up to them to decide. Along with those people closest to them...
Note: I'm back from my trip and now here's a new chapter! And sorry with how I keep leaving the chapters off with cliff hangers. I know how annoying they can be. But I digress, I get tired after I get to a certain point and have to stop before the story loses quality. At least I update as often as I do. (Most of the time anyway...) Oh, and if you are wondering who 'Nadeshiko' is, she's Sakura's mother in the Manga and in Cardcaptor Sakura. But unfortunately she is dead in both. You'll have to check why that is for yourselves. So anyways, the next two chapters will be connecting all the info so far, developing relationships, and some much needed rest for our heroes. Since the real fight has yet to begin. Now that the other Yuri's powers are now awakening since his wings have taken full form and awakened. Therefore, please enjoy this new chapter. It's a little shorter then usual I think but despite all the chaos of the last few days I set some time aside to at least write this chapter today as promised.
Chapter 11
"There is only one thing that can be given freely, with no need for compensation and that is hope." XXXHolic
"So, you have come after all." Was the first thing they heard upon arrival once the light faded. Agonizingly slow, they sat up to see the owner of the voice. And they were shocked.
It belonged to a tall black haired woman with dark red eyes, wearing a long black dress and a hair decoration with two sashes hanging down adorned with two moons. Her hair was long and straight, most of it hanging in a bun at the back of her head and the rest hanging loose.
Before they could ask who she was, the woman turned to Berias and stated, "You are skilled in healing yes?"
Berias blinked, shocked not only that she knew, but of course from the fact that she was the first woman with black hair they had ever seen. Still, uncertainly, he nodded, "Yes."
The woman nodded, "Then I would like to ask for your assistance, since the price would become too heavy if I treated him on my own."
"Price?" Sara gaped.
Of course that's when they recalled that the other Yuri was in desperate need of assistance and turned sharply to find him, laying still on the ground with his body broken and bleeding. Calmly and gracefully even, the woman knelt down next to the other Yuri and examined him with her magic. "He's already broken quite a few ribs. The most dangerous wound is a shard of bone just inches from puncturing his left lung. Now, you two," with a knowing gaze, she turned to Conrad and Gwendal, who stared at her with a guarded gaze, "Help me get him inside. Once he's been treated, I will explain your situation. And I've already received compensation for most of his treatment. However, as for lodging the rest of you, I'm afraid I'll have to ask for payment. As you'll find that this is a world different from your own. Especially for you two." she nodded to Berias and Sara.
They were all too stunned to reply but did as they were asked. There was a stretcher already waiting for them next to the woman and so they carefully eased the other Yuri into it. Unable to comprehend how this woman knew so much.
"Excuse me, madam..." Sara finally spoke up, "...but who are you?"
She smiling knowingly and said, "I am called many things. But you already have a guess as to who
I am, do you not? After all, you've already heard of me."
"Ah," Sara nodded, "So then you're the Dimensional Witch, Yuko."
"Would someone explain what's going on here?" Wolfram grumbled, despite the whole situation, "Where exactly ARE we?"
"We're inside of my shop, where else?" Yuko stated, "But if you are looking for something more specific, then we're in Japan. Just not the Japan that you know..." she nodded to a pair of strange looking girls and said to them, "Maru, Moru, would you please escort our guests to the living room. And have Watanuki prepare them a light meal, they've had a long journey and need their energy. We'll have much to discuss once the alternate of this boy is out of danger," again, with an unnervingly knowing gaze, Yuko looked to the original Yuri, who was being held protectively in Wolfram's arms, still unconscious from the emotional strain. "Everything will be alright," she promised them, smiling and nodding to Murata, "This child may feel phantoms of the others pain, but it does not actually do him harm. He's only asleep."
"I know..." Murata replied sadly, glancing over at his best friend, "I just wish that it hadn't turned out like this..."
Yuko stated, "Then it's a good thing that you are in a shop that grants wishes. Perhaps now, you can set things right between you and 'that' person." and leaving it and that, she left to guide Gwendal, Conrad, and Berias to the room where the other Yuri was to be treated. Leaving the rest of them to only wonder. What had happened back there, who that woman really was, and where they would go from there.
Because, as Yuko pointed out, this wasn't their world. Or, if it was to some of them, it wasn't the same one. So for the first time, they were all out of their element. Uncertain of what would become of both themselves, and their two Yuri's...
The remaining members of their group, Sara, Wolfram, Murata, Gunter, and a sleeping Yuri, were brought to the living room. Where there was a semi-large table in the center of the floor, in a traditional Japanese setting with pillows on the floor instead of chairs.
"Please sit." Maru and Moru offered together.
"If the Mistress says everything will be fine..." Maru began kindly, seeing their troubled expressions.
"Then everything will be..." Moru finished with a reassuring smile. Then the two of them bowed and left the room, leaving them alone with their thoughts.
And, unable to really say anything at the moment even to each other, gingerly, they all went ahead and sat down. With the exception of Wolfram, who sat off in a corner of the room with Yuri's sleeping head on his lap. Worried sick for his Fiance'; whose face was set in a painful expression. Which they guessed was due to him feeling shadows of the others pain...
"Always with all these unexpected guests, I can't cook THAT fast. Jeez...that Yuko..." came a voice from the other side of the door. Then another black haired person walked in the door, holding a tray of an assortment of snacks and small rice balls then set it on the table.
What surprised Sara was that his clothes were strikingly similar to Yuri's. The black shirt and pants with a white collar and buttons all the way to the bottom of the shirt. Only his had two sets of buttons. This boy however had a topaz colored eye and a blue eye. Which struck him as odd, although, in fact this whole place was odd and unfamiliar to him. And that, made him wonder what kind of woman Yuko really was.
Watanuki noticed Sara and despite himself asked, "Judging from you're clothes, you're from another world right?"
Sara and the others looked up at him, all of their faces edged with uncertainty, and taking the opportunity, he too decided to get a few answers. "That's right. Now, if you don't mind, would you tell us who Yuko is? And about this place, it feels strange to me..."
"I hate to disappoint you, but as far as Yuko goes, there's not much I can tell you. I can say this though," he smiled at each of them, "Yuko knows what she's doing. And she'll save that person. I mean..." Watanuki glanced at the original Yuri, "...I may not understand the whole thing, but Yuko has explained this to me before. She said: 'There are many people in the world. Countless more beyond it. Sometimes even the same one. Those people in simple terms you could call spin offs of the same person. Same soul; Different hearts. Though each has lived his or her own life one thing remains constant. Their soul. But out of all those countless realities, only one is the original. But finding the soul that was born first is nearly impossible. Reincarnated or otherwise it's all the same in regards to their soul. To each is a unique heart, a flavor that they add. Although even if the soul is shared the life of each differs, for no one life is exactly the same as another. Some have unfinished business in the world. Or a world that needs their unique spirit. A journey that the spirit must take. A fate that the heart of the one in the world at the time must face.' So I guess that explains why there's two of him."
"Alright, well, if you can't tell us about that woman, can you tell us about this place? I too sense a strange magic here." Gunter stated, "There's so much we don't understand. It happened so fast...and now, His Highness is suffering along with his other self. And here we are...powerless..." he clenched his fists, "I'll not forgive that boy for being so heartless and not even listening to reason. Instead, he attacked without mercy."
Wolfram's head snapped up, "That's right! King Saralegui, you called that person who attacked by name! Do you know who he is?"
Sara shook his head, "No. It's not me who knew who he was, it was Yuri who told me about him. Let me tell you what he found out, since our Yuri is currently asleep. I'll tell the others once they return if he hasn't woken by then..."
And so Sara told them the same thing that Yuri told him about the dream and the true owner of the feathers. It took at least an hour to fully explain all the details as it was so important. That's when, after what seemed like an eternity, their two other companions returned. Berias and Gwendal.
When they noticed Conrad's absence, Murata was sure he knew exactly why. There was something that he needed to know and resolve in the stead of the alternate 'Conrad'. Although, he said nothing about it. Because there was something that they needed to take care of right now. Figuring out this puzzle of events.
They all had different parts of the story. All adding up to one tragic tale interweaving with others. Bound by a chain of events that none of them knew about. If nothing else, this was a humbling experience. For they were starting to learn just how vast the world really was. And how Yuri had far more to him then even HE or the Great One ever knew...which would change how they saw the world forever. Not only that, but how they would see their best friend and King, Yuri.
"His life is out of danger now..." Yuko told the worried soldier simply, "You were lucky that Nadeshiko and those others who have long since passed from this child's life paid the price to bring you all here. Otherwise, it may have been too late for him...and you would not have been able to come here yourselves."
At first, he didn't reply. The whole time that Yuko and Berias treated his wounds, Conrad sat beside the other Yuri. Holding his limp hand in both of his own. Almost feeling that fatherly love blurring with his own deepening affection for this other 'Yuri'.
It hurt him more then he could say seeing the other Yuri like this. He had a bandage over his forehead and across his torso. With one around his right hand and forearm as well. Covered in all these bandages, the other Yuri almost looked like a half finished mummy. Still, despite their combined healing magics, the other Yuri had a high fever. Calling nightmares to the surface of his mind.
"What more can I do for him? I've never been so powerless!" Conrad held the other Yuri's hand in earnestness, "Yet...what that woman said gave me courage. And I have to believe in what she said with all of my heart. Or I will lose them both." then he quoted, "'Everything will definitely be alright.'that's what she said to me. That person, Nadeshiko said that the power of belief and of love, surpasses all and can bring wishes to come to pass through those feelings alone."
Yuko nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder, "That's right. We all wish. And the fact that all of you were able to enter this shop means that you each have a wish. But your wish differs from the others..."
Conrad glanced up at her with a quizzical look, "I don't know what you mean." he narrowed his eyes, "We all want to save him. Both 'Yuri's'."
"True. But as you well know, once all is said and done, this child will have to leave you to perform his duty bestowed upon him by his birth. And you cannot follow after him. Even though that other you that raised him is no longer of the living world. The World in it's entirety is already on the brink of losing the little order it has left. The same goes for it's people..." Yuko trailed off, and pulled a chair up and sat next to Conrad, removing his hands from the other Yuri's and saying quite clearly, "I know what it is that you truly wish. As it is my profession. However. To those who say they have no wish do not know the true depths of their own hearts. It is not a crime to wish for yourselves. It is only a crime to be selfish and hurt others to obtain that wish. Such is human nature." she bore her eyes into his, "Now, I will tell you something you all will need to know once you return to your world to finish what this child started..." Yuko stood up, "...as it will decide what becomes of this child before the end of all this." she began to walk away, "It will have to wait a little longer though. Because I must tend to your other companions as well and explain to you what's happening. And discuss the payment in order to do it."
Conrad nodded and reluctantly left the other Yuri's side. So that he could rest and because now they would finally learn the whole story that had been revealed in fragments to each group. All the pieces of the puzzle have gathered in the one place they could be fully understood and reassembled.
And it wasn't the only truth that needed to be made known. Such as a pair of hidden truths involving a certain pair of double blacks as people they didn't remember being. Whose truth would also come to light as they find a way to save this other 'Yuri' from a fate that threaten to erase him forever. Even from the lives of people he came to treasure here who were waiting to meet him once more back in his own world. Friends he longed to have. Who were also disappearing along with the rest of Pandora.
They were running out of time. And 'Time' was the only thing that might make the difference in the events destined to come to pass...
Both Yuri's were wandering in a shared dream within the dream world. Holding hands and walking down an unfamiliar path that neither of them seemed to remember. However, it felt so right being here. For both of them.
This, was the true and untouched lands of Pandora. A world made from the best parts of the original Yuri's world. Rolling hills of lush grass littered with so many wild flowers of all hues and shapes. Tall mountains crowned with snow that breach the barrier between the earth and sky. Winds carrying songs of the old world scented with the subtle perfume of a spring rain and dew kissed leaves. Untouched by the shadows of fear and doubt. Innocence personified.
And as the wind carried a certain song to them as they made their way to where they needed to be, the two Yuri's sang a duet, of a well remembered song from deep within:
A simple heart, a tragic song.
A coveted soul;born of two hearts,
And gifted with the light of hope.
Forever innocent.
A light, shimmering softly, like a dying star,
Becoming strong enough to outshine the sun.
The dew on the lily, so sweet and so clean,
Like the first of a gentle spring rain.
A whispered lullaby.
A resounding melody.
The memory of a treasured place.
All of which will lead to birth.
The light of hope, restored.
As they sang, they stopped when a third voice joined in. That of a young woman with raven black hair, standing in the road with her back to them. Wearing a similar outfit to the one the other Yuri had been wearing before. Black and blue with a fluer-de-lys, only, this one was a dress and the colors were reversed.
She smiled and turned to glance at the two boys, tilting her head as if telling to follow. And so they did. Knowing already who the maiden was in their hearts.
The two of them truly looked like brothers as they walked calmly down the faded path after her. Which at this point, the only real paths were made by animals roaming this untouched land. This world, had not yet learned the touch of man. At least not yet...
This, was a part of nature that both Yuri's had first noticed when they were born in their respective worlds. A world so clean and clear and full of life. And even with all the shady characters roaming the well trodden roads in both worlds once man came to dwell there, nature remained as radiant as ever.
It wasn't long before the came upon a large castle, surrounded by large fields of well tended lands and houses. The castle shining like an iridescent pearl in the sunlight. Like a ray of hope in a dark war ravaged world. For beyond the Kingdoms borders, wars raged of the 'Living Light' which is what they called the child King born in that castle. With Pandora's Chapel on a hill just a few miles away. Shimmering just as brightly as the castle.
It was only then, seeing the castle for the first time, that the other Yuri let go of his originals hand, staring at it with confusion, "I...know this place."
Another more delicate hand wove their fingers around both Yuri's and said with a smile in her voice,"Of course you do. This is your Kingdom. Reflected in both worlds. The exact same place,and the same reason for being built. To give our kind a home to call our own and defend this and that world from darkness. To prove-" she stepped between them, smiling warmly, "-that even though we are seen as denizens of the shadows, the Demon Tribe, and most of those of us colored with the hue of the night, are actually closer to the 'light' then our coloring suggests. That we are the chosen people. For as they say, the closer you are to the light, the longer shadows are cast. We know, that in our darkest hour, hope will appear. In an object, or even a person, a light breaks through the darkness. That is what I gave to this world and the next..." she smiled brighter and took their hands up to her heart, "...and isn't it time that you keep some hope for yourselves? Let hope break free from the shadows of despair in your hearts, and wake to a new morn. I'll be waiting for you, at the place where it began, and where it will end. Now go. Your loved ones are waiting for you both..."
