Okay. Like I Promise. This is chapter 2 of
Involvement. MKR is here.
Special thanks for Gib, my best friend who
helped me think and Dyoklako, my dear friend who was beta-reading and supported
me to write it.
I hope you will enjoy.
Feel free to send comment and anything to
r_azure_r@yahoo.com
Disclamier: All of characters are CLAMP property.
Except Karina is mine.
Finished: February 1, 2001
R/R Please
Involvement
Part 2: Nokoru's Sister
By Azure R
The seals had brought Kamui
back to Nokoru's enormous mansion. Kamui fainted on the way back to the Clamp
Campus and he has a little fever because of his wounds and the power he had
expended at the Diet Building, though Sorata was sure that aura was not Kamui's.
Seiichirou carried Kamui
in his arms and brought him to the boy's bedroom. Everyone left Kamui sleeping
soundly in his bed and let Subaru stand vigil.
* * *
Kamui stood in darkness that
surrounded him. He thought about the things that had occurred.
Suddenly, he felt a tug on
his t-shirt. He looked down and saw a seven-year-old girl.
He had seen her many times
before since he was a child. However, he never saw her face clearly because
the bangs of black hair that always shielded her face. She had always helped
him out of his problems and even gave advice to him everytime he needed one.
Kamui lowered himself to
the girl's face level.
"Kamui-kun, what happened?"
Kamui told her everything
from his return to Tokyo up to his decision to become a Dragon of Heaven
That Fuuma betrayed him and Kotori died; theSakurazukamori mocked him in his
heartAnd the death of the Dreamgazer Princess Hinoto by his own hands."
The girl raised her little
hands to hold his face.
"What do you want to
do next?"
"I don't know."
"The future may set
a path ahead but I don't think it is the only path. There are other paths
that we do not see. If I were you, I would get out of this place and confront
the future. We never know what may happen. Why are you so sure only sadness
lies ahead? Happiness too lies in your chosen path.
"And please do not forget
that I am always here by your side forever."
The girl gave him a lovely
smile and kissed him softly on his cheeks.
"Go back to your world,
Kamui. Wake up."
The girl dragged him with
her until he saw a light in front of them. Before he knew it, the girl pushed
him into the light that wrapped around him gently.
* * *
Kakyou saw Kamui and the
mysterious girl talking with each other. He sensed someone was looking at
the pair too and turned to saw Kanoe standing behind him.
"Who is that girl?"
Kanoe asked.
Kakyou didn't answer her.
He knew Kanoe had marked Kamui to avenge her sister, Hinoto. Kanoe walked
past him, intent on approaching Kamui and the girl, but before she did anything
to the pair, Kakyou sent her out of dreamscape immediately. He observed the
two comrades until they walked out of the dreamscape.
"There is one future
and the choice is Kamuis'."
* * *
Kanoe awoke in her chair.
Since she knew her sister was killed by Kamui. She vowed to herself that she
wouldn't let the Kamui of the Dragon of Heaven have it easy, even if Hinoto's
spirit is still on earth.
"Kakyou, don't think
you can stop me everytime." She swore.
* * *
When Kamui woke up, he saw
someone sitting beside him. He didn't know this man who has beautiful emerald
eyes. He assumed this man
would be one of the seals.
"I'm Subaru Sumeragi,
one of the seven Seals. I knew your tragedy and I'm glad that you didn't continue
to escape reality anymore. Because if you still remained in your heart, you
couldn't do anything like me"
"Like you?" Kamui
asked.
"You knew Sakurazukamori?"
Subaru didn't reply but asked in returned.
"Yes"
Subaru began to tell his
story. He didn't notice that Kamui was cried when he mentioned the time his
sister died for him. When he finished, he turned to Kamui and saw the bloodshot
eyes.
"Why did you cry? Are
you hurt?" The Onmyouji inquired with concern.
"Your sister"
"Don't cry. It is past."
Subaru said. "Kamui, I knew Seishirou-san entered into your heart yesterday.
Can you tell me what he wanted?"
"I don't know. He came
into my dream and said that I was fooling myself that Kotori's death and Fuuma's
change was just a dream. I didn't do anything for Kotorilike revengekill
Hinoto or Fuuma" The words became incoherent as Kamui began crying
again.
"That isn't the right
way. You sure, you want to kill your friend."
Kamui shakes his head. "No.
I couldn't protect Kotori but at least I must do something to protect Fuuma."
Kamui said firmly.
"And did you feel better
after you killed Hinoto?"
"NoI don't
know why I did that. I" Kamui couldn't speak anymore as fresh tears
flow down on his face.
Subaru took Kamui in his
arms as he tried to comfort the youth. "It's okay. It's okay. Shhhhdon't
cry."
He held the younger seal
until his crying subsided. Kamui slipped out of the Sumeragi's arms and raised
his shaking hand to wipe out his tears on his cheek.
"You okay?"
Kamui nodded. He was felt
foolish that he cried like he was a child.
Subaru sighed. Then he looked
at his watch and realized that he was going to be late.
"Excuse me. I must to
go now." Subaru apologized and walked out the room.
Kamui stared at The Sumeragi's
back until the door close.
* * *
Nokoru sat on his chair in
the Clamp Campus Chairman's office. He sighed in relief. Kamui's back to his
normal self and had requested him to bury Kotori's corpse under one of big
trees within the Clamp Campus. He ordered Suoh to transfer Kamui, Sorata,
Arashi and Yuzuriha into the Clamp Campus School. The piles of papers that
always lay beside his desk had been cleared thirty minutes ago. He decided
to have a break and call Karina.
"Karina-chan, how are
you?"
""
"You were right. Kamui
is still upset, but he's fine. When will you come home?"
""
"You must call Akira
to confirm your flight, okay?"
""
"Bye"
He hung up the phone. His
little sister is coming home.
* * *
Sakura was surprised to see
Kamui standing at the front door. She was rather glad that Saiki wasn't at
her house at that moment.
"Kamui-kun, how did
you know where I live?"
"I asked Nokoru-san
after we sealed the Shinken at the Clamp Campus" Kamui replied.
Sakura invited him in. They
walked past many boxes that are beside the hallway into the living room.
"Feel free like this
is your home" She said and went into the kitchen to make tea for her
guest.
After Hinoto died. Souhi,
Hien and Saiki requested Sakura to live at the Diet Building. Sakura understood
they wanted to serve their princess who lived within her but Touya had moved
to stay with Yukito at Okinawa for a year. If she were to live at the Diet
Building, her father (Fujitaka) would be all alone and furthermore she wanted
to live with her father. So she refused their request. Therefore, Saiki went
to her residence and explained the situation to Fujitaka and asked his permission
to move in.
Fujitaka agreed. He wasn't
surprised since he knew about his daughter's adventure and Kerberus. He allowed
the guardian to do everything he wants.
Kerberus welcomed Saiki nicely.
He had met Hinoto and her staff many times.
Sakura returned to the living
room with the tray of tea and cookies.
"Kyah!" Sakura
squeaked. She didn't expect to see her Kero-chan in his true form in the living
room, crouching beside Kamui. His big head is on the boy's lap while Kamui
stroked his hair.
"Hi, Sakura-chan"
Kerberus wagged its tail to greet her.
"KKero-chan, why
are you here?" Sakura stammered.
"I thought Tomoyo-chan
came. So I went downstairs to say hello but I met Kamui instead."
"You know each other?"
Sakura surprised.
"Kero-chan just finished
your story when you came in" Kamui replied and asked, "Are you moving
out?" He nodded his head towards the many boxes.
"Yes. My grandfather
contacted us last month. I didn't know I have a grandpa because father never
told me and grandpa didn't made himself known until now. Grandpa asked us
to live with him but Kero-chan may not have his freedom. So I asked him to
live in the mansion next to his and he had just agreed a week ago. And besides
this house is going to be too small for us."
"Too small?" Kamui
was confused. He knew from Nokoru that Sakura lives only with her father.
"Saiki-san just moved
in after the Princess died and Souhi and Hien wanted to be here too. And my
brother will be coming back from Okinawa with his lover, though I'm not sure
they would live with us." Sakura explained. Changing the subject, "I
believe you wanted me to help you?"
"Oh, I see... Yes. I
remember what happened at the Diet Building. I went here to apologize to Hinoto.
II don't know why I had done it. I didn't intend tokill her,"
Kamui said with a little shake in his voice.
"You don't have to apologize,
Kamui. It's not your entire fault and you weren't yourself that time."
Sakura said but he knew Hinoto was speaking because her jade eyes changed
into silver.
"It still did not change
the fact that I killed you." Kamui insisted.
"It's done. You can't
do anything now." Hinoto said and changed the subject. "You wanted
to know about your mother?"
"Yes. Will you tell
me about her?"
"Of course" Hinoto
said. She grasped Kamui's hands and they entered into the Dreamscape.
* * *
At the airport, Akira was
looking for Karina. She was away in Europe for a month, helping one of her
brothers.
Akira was pretty sure his Kaichou would get mad at him if he knew that he
didn't tell him that Karina was already back here in Japan now. Whatever,
it's because she asked Akira to keep it a secret from Nokoru. His reverie
stopped when he saw Karina walked out. He went towards her, bowed, and helped
her carry the suitcase to the car.
The car ran silently in the
darkness of night.
"I'm glad to see you
again, Karina-san" Akira smiled warmly. He and Suoh-san had known her
since she was a little girl and they liked her so much as if she was their
younger sister.
"Me too." She said
as she hugged him.
"How about the problem
in Europe?" He asked, covering his embarrassment.
"I cleared all of it
before coming back here. You know, Nokoru-niichan called me last week and
was pleased to know when I was coming back. He said that I should have left
Owaru-niisan handle the problem. Baka, even if I'm not one of Imonoyama siblings,
I'll always be their sister. I want to help them anyway I can." Karina
told her brother's friend laughing all the while.
Akira smiled. Nokoru loves
his sister very much and was undoubtedly very proud of her. She's pretty and
clever. Her athletic skill is outstanding. Nokoru need not to worry. Anyhow,
he stills does.
"Because he knew that
you wanted to be here rather than solve the business problems in Europe."
Akira defended his Kaichou.
"I know. Akira-san,
How are Hikaru-chan, Umi-chan and Fuu-chan?" She inquired of her friends.
She is currently the President
of the Clamp Senior High school like Nokoru once was. She was looking for
someone to help her and met the trio who had just enrolled at the Clamp Campus
and became friends with them. She had checked their personal information and
wanted them to be on her staff. However, Nokoru was very much concerned of
his sister and was still unsure if he didn't check them by himself. So he
and his friends paid a week's visit to observe and investigate the three girls
thoroughly before agreeing to let them work with Karina.
"Your friends are fine.
They were just complaining to me that they missed you and asked when will
you be back because the papers are stacked so high, it is about to fall all
over them."
"Oh! God" She moaned.
Akira laughed at her moaning.
He knew she didn't mind the paperwork, but she just want to get away from
it sometimes.
"Akira-san, do you mind
if I will sleep over at your place tonight." Karina asked
"Why?" He was puzzled
by her question.
"I want to surprise
my brother tomorrow."
"O.K. I'm sure Utako-san
would be pleased to see you." He commanded the chauffeur to drive to
his mansion instead.
* * *
Kamui woke up early in the
morning. Today is Sunday. He could sleep more if he wanted. But the nightmare
had forced him to wake up. He couldn't be barely alone in Imonoyama mansion
anymore when the others went to school or work. Thus he said last night that
he wanted to go to school on Monday.
The sun began to rise. He
walked to the balcony and stared down at the lawn that was still damped by
the dews. He was startled when his eyes laid on a teenage girl who was looking
up at him.
She has very long black hair
that reached down to her thighs, and noit can't be.
Kamui closed his eyes briefly
in disbelief. When he opened his eyes again, The girl had disappeared.
To be continued