Disclaimer: I don't own any characters used. :P
Author's Notes: No, Usagi is not Sailor Moon... right now anyways. *smirks* Oh yeah... I'm leaving for Florida this coming Sunday, so I won't be updating all next week. However, I will be writing during my one week in FL, so expect some new chapters after July 29! *grins* Also, for all you Forbidden Love fans, that was the only fic I didn't update... 'cause, well, it's not my turn! *runs from fans* Oh, and if a quote doesn't have a source after it, it means I don't know who said it!
To Reviewers: You guys are so nice!! *sobs* I appreciate you all! *smacks self for not being a good reviewer for others* Oh and Infinite_Tenshi, we're not blood related sisters. *stars in eyes* But that would be so sugoi!! *laughs* PrincessLesse, I read your author's page, and I cannot tell you how shocked I was. What you said was really touching. Thank you. *smiles*
"If you love something let it go, if it comes back to you it was yours, if it doesn't it never was."
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The Man Behind the Gun
Chapter 3 - What We Weave
Author: Krys Yuy
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"Time Card! Freeze!"
Usagi blinked back tears of pure relief at the sound of the familiar voice. She finally noted the protectiveness of how Nanashi was holding her, and found it somewhat comforting. Instead of pushing him away from her, she held on tightly to him and was surprised that she didn't have the urge to sob. 'I feel safe with him,' she thought. 'Even when I knew that car was going to hit us, I still felt safe...'
"Oneesan! Oneesan!" a voice cried out with concern.
Nanashi stood up and pulled Usagi with him. His arms fell to her waist and lingered there for more than a moment, before he stepped back. 'I...'
Usagi felt her younger brother envelop her in a bone-crushing hug, which was unusual for him, since he tried to avoid any public displays of affection. "Doomo, otooto-chan... Doomo arigato..." she said gratefully, returning the hug full force.
Nanashi watched them, a ghost of a smile on his lips. He was still shaken by the whole ordeal. Then he frowned as he took on his surroundings. Everything was silent and nothing was moving. The car was centimeters away from the spot he had previously been in. The driver had an almost insane look on his face, as if he was possessed, which made Nanashi want to shiver. The man was in mid-motion of screaming. In fact, that was how everybody looked like. It was as if time... had stopped.
Ranma felt a huge weight lift off his heart as he saw his cousins embracing. "That was really close," he commented in a light air, but there was a strain underneath it.
"You could say that again," Ryouga breathed, lightly clutching his heart.
Then Ranma noticed something odd. "Hey, Ryouga..." he started.
"What is it, Ranma?" he replied.
"Why is Nanashi not frozen?" Ranma finished.
Ryouga stiffened as he heard his brother's comment and glanced at Nanashi in a sudden interest. "He's not supposed to be moving..." he murmured under his breath.
"I think we have already established that," Ranma said, rolling his eyes.
"That must mean..." Ryouga trailed off, yet his brother got the point.
"I knew there was something about him," Ranma murmured under his breath.
Syaoran left his sister's embrace, trying to furiously brush away the beginnings of tears in his eyes. "Ai shiteru..." he whispered.
"Ai shiteru, otooto," Usagi replied, bringing a hand up to touch his hair.
The young teenager smiled and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nanashi watching them. Then he did a double-take and a scowl appeared on his face. He pushed his sister behind him and stood in front of her protectively, glaring at a now startled Nanashi. "Who are you?!" he demanded.
"Syaoran! That's a little insensitive!" Usagi scolded. "He has amnesia, remember?!"
Her little brother paid no heed to her comment and instead narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Oneesan! He's not frozen!" he exclaimed. "We can't trust him!"
"Nanashi..." she murmured, staring at him with puzzlement.
"What's going on?" Nanashi demanded, his eyes hardening and instinctively reached for the back of his pants. He then blinked and wondered why he had done that.
Syaoran charged at him before his sister or cousins could protest, and flew at him with a roundhouse kick. Nanashi, however, surprised him when he dodged the kick easily and immediately took a fighting stance. His brown hair fell over his eyes, and at that moment, gave him a mysterious yet deadly look. Two strong bodies were soon between them, placing their hands on their shoulders.
"Don't jump to conclusions so easily, Syaoran," Ryouga stated, shaking his head.
"But Ryouga-" the teenager started, lifting an arm.
"Do not worry," he replied, smiling. "There is nothing to fight about."
Ranma returned Nanashi's gaze levelly, and wondered about this walking puzzle. He could be cheerful one minute, then would slip into distant mode. There was something amiss about the whole thing. "Do you believe in magic?" he asked quietly.
The confused man raised his eyebrows at the question. "Does that question run in the family or something? Usagi just asked me that like five or ten minutes ago," he replied.
"Well... do you?"
"I guess," Nanashi shrugged. "I don't really know."
"You have power inside you, Nanashi," Ranma stated seriously. "We can help you."
Nanashi shook his head, his ears unable to believe what he had heard. "Is this serious? Please tell me you must be joking," he said.
"Magic is not a joke!" Syaoran exploded, his eyes sparking with fire.
Usagi stepped toward her little brother, and whispered in his ear, calming him down somewhat. However, he still glared at Nanashi with a new mistrust, not letting his guard down.
Ryouga crossed his arms over his chest. "It is truth."
Nanashi stood firmly in his spot, gazing into each of their eyes. He thought they were utterly foolish to believe in childish games, but a part of him rejoiced. There were such things... As he looked into their faces, he saw the honesty shining through, and the determination. None was more fiercer than Usagi's look. Something tugged at the back of his mind, telling him all of this nonsense was illogical.
Ranma never moved from his spot, daring the other to back down. "Look, you can choose to believe it or not," he stated. "But you have already been dragged into this mess."
Nanashi set his jaw and made no sudden moves. 'Are they telling the truth? Should I...?'
Usagi sighed, seeing none of this was getting them anywhere. She stepped toward her charge. "Do you need proof?" she whispered.
He glanced at her questioningly, but nodded shortly. "Sure."
"Fine."
"Oneesan..." Syaoran trailed off in a warning tone.
"It's going to be okay, otooto, you'll see."
"Not too big okay, cousin?" asked Ranma. "The time freeze isn't going to last much longer."
"All right, Ranma," Usagi laughed before facing Nanashi.
'Something's wrong...' Ryouga thought with uncertainty.
Usagi held her left wrist up, and only then did Nanashi notice a silver-gold bracelet there. She placed her right palm centimeters away from it and began to chant under her breath, her words somehow being magically magnified. "Chakram of light, show your true form before me!"
The bracelet glowed and became larger, forming a circle with a wavy shaped line through the center. Usagi now held it with her fist clenching upon the wavy part. The glow died down to reveal a circular weapon with the designs of the planetary symbols, including the moon. She gripped it with confidence and knowledge in her eyes.
(AN: Anyone ever watch Xena? Well, you know the circular weapon she wears at her waist? That's what a chakram is, and that's how I'm describing it. ^^;; Xena has had two different kinds of chakrams. Her first chakram had transformed into her second one after a certain event. It's all really complicated if you haven't watched the show. Of course, the designs on it are different than from the one I'm describing.)
From the sides, Ranma noticed a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw a bird begin to move from its frozen spot on the branch. 'Kuso...' he cursed in his mind. "Cousin! We have a situation here!" he exclaimed.
Usagi looked at Ranma and realized what he was talking about. Her nerves were on end, signaling danger. She watched as things were starting to move again. She worked fast and quickly threw the chakram at the edge of a nearby building. It began to ricochet around the small group, forming a somewhat sloppy circle.
"Transport!" Usagi exclaimed.
The four men and one woman disappeared along with the weapon, just as time resumed its natural course. Police sirens rang through the air as the speeding car suddenly came to a stop. The driver looked around with confused eyes before he slumped over the wheel, unconscious.
* * * * *
Nanashi stumbled as his feet landed on soft grass by a thick forest. He stood up and turned to face the Li family. "What the hell was that?" he demanded, still able to refuse what he just experienced.
"Magic," Ryouga answered simply, his face showing nothing.
Usagi took note of Nanashi's sudden ignorance. 'He's hard to convince...' she thought. She walked up to Syaoran. "I think I need your help on this otooto," she whispered.
Her brother glared at her. "Who cares about that baka, anyhow?" he asked smugly. "We don't need him!"
"That may be true, but we can help him!" she retorted. "You will help me Syaoran." It was a firm statement.
"Fine," he complied, frowning.
With a flick of her left wrist, a long sword hovered in the air. Syaoran's eyes widened as he held his hand out to grip it. "How?"
Ranma and Ryouga gaped as well, while Nanashi stared impassively. 'Magic is not real. Magic is not real,' he chanted in his mind.
"Where did you learn to do that, Usagi?" Ranma asked curiously.
"I have my ways," she replied simply. Her left hand still held the chakram loosely. She threw it above her and magically, it began to make a circle around her in the air. "Moon Beams!" Several beams of light shot out from the chakram and headed for Syaoran.
Syaoran reacted quickly and held the sword in front of him, its point facing the sky. He gripped the handle and placed two fingers upon the blade. "Rai Tei Sho Rai Kyu Kyu Jo Ritsu Ryo. Thunder!" Bolts of lightning roared through the air and canceled out the beams.
"Nice reflexes," Usagi complimented, smirking lightly as she caught the chakram back in her hand.
Syaoran glared at her, trying to figure out where he should put his sword.
Usagi snapped her fingers and it disappeared, going back to where he had placed it in his apartment. She turned towards Nanashi. "Now do you believe us?" she whispered.
"Maybe."
"Nanashi! What will it take for you to believe?!" Ranma demanded. "Magic is as plain as night and day! It is there, but not everyone can see it!"
He was about to make a retort, when something plowed into Usagi making her cry out in pain and shock. It caused her to let go of her chakram, which rolled off to the side. Something then had her pinned to the ground, gripping her wrists tightly.
"Nani?!" Ryouga exclaimed. "We didn't even sense that!"
"This is bad," Ranma said with wide eyes. "Hey, creep! Let go of our cousin!"
The attacker turned slightly, showing the four men that he had no pupils, and his eyes were a deep, evil black. He had cropped yellow hair, while his outfit consisted of a black suit for soldiers. "I have been ordered by Shi to get rid of you!"
"Death?" Syaoran repeated before his eyes hardened. "Release my sister!"
"Never!" The man noticed them advancing on him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. One step closer and she dies..." He materialized a knife and held it to her throat.
Ranma glared furiously, his eyes burning with something that looked like blue fire. 'Usagi! God, why didn't we sense him?!' he asked.
The man pressed the blade closer, and a thin ribbon of blood flowed from the cut. "My master's wishes will be fulfilled..." he murmured in her ear. He lifted the knife in one swift movement, about to stab the final blow.
"IIE!!" Nanashi screamed, something flickering in his hands.
Then a sword plowed through the heart of the man, instantly turning him to dust. The weapon crackled with energy as the owner slipped it to the sheath on his back. His back was to them, but he was facing Usagi only. His blue eyes glittered mysteriously through the green mask he wore. It covered only his eyes, leaving the rest of his face open. He had a bandana wrapped around his forehead, succeeding in getting his bangs out of his eyes.
"Who are you?" Ryouga inquired, grateful to the man who had saved his cousin's life.
"None of your concern," the man replied, not even turning around but just staring into Usagi's eyes.
Nanashi felt a flare of anger pass through him. What was this? Jealousy? No, he couldn't be jealous. You would have to have feelings for someone to be jealous...
"O-negai..." she whispered. "Tell us... tell me..."
The man sighed before turning away from her. "If you must call me something, call me Kaze. Shiro Kaze." His last words were soft as he suddenly ran, leaving no sign that he had been there at all, except for the pile of ashes and dust on the floor.
"White Wind..." she murmured, her eyes in a trance.
Nanashi frowned and walked towards her. He knelt down and whispered in her ear, "I believe..."
Her face cleared as she heard his statement. "Do you?" she mumbled, her breath on his neck.
"Hai," he replied, his eyes now half-closed.
Suddenly she pulled away from him, her lips forming a wide smile. "Good!" she chirped. "We'll start your training as soon as possible!" She giggled, its noise making him feel warm all over. 'I knew you were special, Nanashi...' she thought.
Syaoran scowled for a second time that day. 'He doesn't belong here... nor does he belong with my sister.'
"Let's get out of here," Ryouga suggested, pulling on Syaoran's and Ranma's shoulders.
Ranma hesitated but then gave in. "All right. We'll be back tomorrow, Usa," he called.
"We will be going to the sanctuary for sure tomorrow, oneesan," Syaoran stated sternly. "No excuses."
Usagi rolled her eyes, and shrugged her shoulders. "I'll be waiting."
The Li family left, leaving Usagi and Nanashi alone by themselves. They stood by the forest a bit awkwardly before they started walking in the opposite direction of her family. As they walked, they didn't notice how their bodies came closer and closer until they were almost walking shoulder to shoulder.
"You know what, Usagi?" Nanashi asked quietly, bowing his head.
"What, Nanashi-kun?" she replied.
He was about to say something, before he shut his mouth. "Forget it."
Her curiosity perked up. "No, tell me what it was."
"No, I don't want to."
"Oh come on, Nanashi!"
He turned his head slightly to see her eyes watering. He panicked. "Okay! Okay!"
Her eyes magically became dry again as she smiled brightly. "What is it?"
He mumbled something as he turned his head away from her.
"What?"
"If... if I knew you were the one... the one who was going to rescue me... I would go through it all over again," he repeated, his cheeks suddenly flaming. "I don't care if I have amnesia..." he murmured softly.
Usagi's heart did a small flip-flop as she heard his nervous words. She smiled at his cute behavior. She noticed with surprise that she did not feel any guilt about Mamoru. However, she did feel sadness about Chibi-Usa. She shook her head lightly to try and clear her thoughts. "That's so sweet, Nanashi..." she whispered. "Thank you... that means a lot."
He smiled shyly and reached for her hand. 'O-negai... o-negai...'
She seemed to hesitate before she gripped his hand loosely. 'Take a chance,' she told herself.
'The future is not set in stone...'
The two continued on their path, neither noticing that Nanashi now wore a silver ring on his right index finger. Also, Usagi somehow had her bracelet back on her wrist.
"You're my hero, you know that?" Usagi whispered lightly.
Nanashi stiffened, then relaxed. 'What's wrong with me?' he questioned.
'That man... my attacker... he looked so familiar...' she suddenly thought as she shivered. 'As if a figure from my dreams... a stone... jade...'