Disclaimer: All CLAMP characters belong to them and their partner. Other characters and the story belong to me.
Warnings: A little bit violence, but I try to minimize the fight.
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Dreams: Psychic
C & P by G. Arnet Stone -aka- The Lady of the Night, 2001
[ Stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
- Seal "Kiss from a Rose" ]
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Layer II: Kiss from a Rose
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In a short moment, they arrived in a small peaceful place within CLAMP campus. The old building was small but comfortable, really fit for a small café. It was two stories building with the old San Francisco style kind of building or those old apartments in west Europe, with small potted plants lining along the wall. A signage was hanging on the front door with calligraphy written on it, [Bara no Yume], literally translated as 'The Dreams of the Roses'.
Yuzuriha always thought the name Karen had chosen was good and romantic. Everyone agreed with her. She entered the cafe, followed by Kamui, Fuuma and Nataku then Meian and Subaru right behind her.
Upon seeing the name, Meian's eyes suddenly grew cold. Her mind wandered somewhere else, in another time another place. She shook her head slowly as she moved in with the others. No one noticed Meian's sudden change of mood, but Subaru felt it. He /was/ a top Sorcerer of Japan after all. He was empathic to shifting auras than any other Dragons. Subaru was looking at Meian's back when her aura changed. The aura was cold and empty that brushed through his mind and made him shiver. He fought any question he wanted to ask and decided to act normal as the cold aura only lasted for a second or two. Besides, it wasn't polite to ask someone he just met and barely knew.
Karen looked up at the sound of the doorbell and smiled upon seeing so many Dragons in her café today. "What a surprise, Kamui, Yuzuriha, Fuuma, Nataku AND Subaru?" greeted the former waitress.
"What brings you all here?" asked Karen as she gave the closest Dragon a warm embrace.
Subaru's face turned bright red. They have known each other for a long time but Subaru wasn't accustomed to the way Karen greeted him. Karen turned and gave each Yuzuriha and Kamui sisterly hugs. Karen also hugged Nataku and a light kiss on his forehead. She always thought of them as her younger siblings (or children). Karen hugged Fuuma last.
Fuuma chuckled teasingly, "Why? No kiss for me?" He glanced at Nataku; "I envy you for that kiss, Nataku."
Karen giggled seductively and poked Fuuma's head slightly, "Don't tease him. You know that's a sisterly kiss! You're such a naughty boy, Fuuma."
Fuuma teased back, "Why, It would be such a honor to have a kiss from such a lovely lady like yourself."
They laughed and Meian smiled lightly at the play, leaving Nataku completely in innocent clueless.
"Please sit down, there's not much people today, I can take your orders and still be able to talk with you," said Karen.
"Then we're going to sit on the bar," said Subaru.
"I was going to suggest you that," giggled Karen.
"I hope we're not interrupting your work," said Subaru as he pulled a chair for himself.
"Don't worry about it," said Karen. She went to the opposite side of the bar. "There're a couple of students doing part time to help me manage the café. I hardly do anything at all except making the drinks."
Subaru smiled at that. "How's Aoki-san?" asked Subaru casually.
Karen's head turned away slightly, "He's fine, just busy I guess." She turned back at Subaru, "But he's fine. Don't worry!" beamed Karen with a false smile.
Subaru gave her a suspicious look and asked worriedly, "Karen-san?
"Aw, come one everyone! Please sit down," said Karen cheerfully seeing the other still standing near the door, with soft conversation.
Subaru noted that Karen was avoiding him and his question and had disturbed her over something. Subaru glanced at Kamui and Yuzuriha who had realized Karen's false cheer. They gaze back at him helplessly. Fuuma glanced a bit but kept silence since he barely knew the lady. Nataku as usual, was lost. He couldn't read people's expressions yet. Subaru looked at Meian's expression but found nothing except blankness.
Subaru then decided to ask Karen later.
Everyone then took their seats with Subaru in one end and Nataku in the other end. Nataku sat beside Fuuma with Kamui in the other side. Yuzuriha settled between Subaru and Kamui. Subaru glanced at Meian and offered the seat next to him for her since there was no more seat after Nataku. Meian thanked the young Sumeragi and sat down.
Karen looked at the pretty young girl for a moment before asking, "and you are?"
"Hyourin Meian desu. Hajimemashite, Karen-san."
"Nice to meet you too." Karen smiled warmly at Meian.
Meian smiled. Somehow, the woman in front of her reminded her of Fionn.
"What would you like to order?" asked Karen.
Meian took the menu from the table, and read it for a brief moment, "Uhm... I'll have one chocolate ice cream, please."
Karen listed it quickly on her notepad. She glanced at Subaru, "And you would like a special Latte as usual, ne?" Karen winked at him and smiled.
Subaru grinned and nodded.
Yuzuriha and Kamui were looking at the menu together, which was a very tempting list. Yuzuriha had sprouted her cat's ears again, and wiggled her tail, which earned some odd looks from the other customers, but she didn't care.
"I would like one ice cream sundae," said Fuuma. "What about you Nataku?" He glanced at his fellow Angel.
"Uhm, I don't think I'll order anything, Fuuma. I need to go soon."
Fuuma quirked an eyebrow, "Oh? Where are you going? I thought you didn't have any plan for this evening."
Everybody in the bar glanced at him, which make him feel uneasy.
"I'm sorry Fuuma-kun. But I promised."
"Ooh, maybe Nataku has a date, ne Nataku-san?" teased Karen.
"It's not like _that_ Karen-san. I don't even know her," protested the Bioroid.
"_Her _? Wow, since when you have interest in girls, Nataku?" asked Fuuma, merely curious.
Nataku blushed faintly or something more like it. "A...I have to go now." He stood up clumsily and went out.
The other dragons just shook their heads in amazement.
"Can I have one banana split, Karen-san?" asked Yuzuriha as she turned her attention back to the menu.
"Make that two," said Kamui.
"One chocolate ice cream, one latte, two banana splits, and one ice cream sundae coming up."
Yuzuriha glanced at Subaru, "So what is this job?"
"Well, I have some reports of various strange cases in CLAMP Gakuen area. I called Imonoyama-san this morning and he said I could look around the campus. Takamura-san will help me as soon as he's off work. I should meet him in another..." Subaru glanced at his watch again, "Thirty minutes or so."
"What case anyway? Seems serious," said Yuzuriha.
"I'm not _sure_ yet. But Hinoto-san said it might has something to do with the Psychic Tournament in CLAMP Gakuen this year."
"Honto? Is the tournament _that_ serious?" Yuzuriha glanced at Kamui in worry.
"Not sure, but it's better to look. Why? What's wrong?"
"Uhm...." Yuzuriha eyed Kamui again. Kamui turned his gaze away from the Sumeragi questioning eyes.
Finally Fuuma answered Subaru's question; "Kamui registered for the tournament yesterday."
"WHAT?" Subaru looked at Kamui, "And you didn't TELL me?"
"I tried, but you're busy. Gomen nasai, Subaru-kun." Kamui shrugged and feeling guiltily.
"Oh well, it's okay I guess, but promise me you'll be careful. I have a very funny feeling about this. And I don't like it." Subaru gave up the matter. Kamui was not sixteen anymore.
"No worries, Subaru-kun." Kamui smiled in relief. He knew his friend would understand without his explanation. Subaru respect him and his decision. It was enough.
"Speaking of which, who's your first opponent, Kamui?" asked Fuuma.
"I think my first opponent is Sorata. He told me last night." Kamui smiled grimly.
Subaru paused, "_Him _? I wonder why..."
"Something to do with the hidden Ise Shrine maiden, I might
say." Karen placed the orders.
Everybody sweat-dropped.
"That was obvious."
Karen looked at Kamui and folded her hands on her chest. "How about you, Kamui, what is your reason? You are not that kind of guy who's into this 'psychic' stuff." Karen gave him a teasing smile.
"Yeah, Kamui! You never told me what it is!" exclaimed Yuzuriha.
Fuuma chuckled loudly, which earned a big glare from Kamui.
"I won't tell!" Kamui glowered.
"AWWwwwwww, onegai, Kamui! Tell us tell us!" Yuzuriha wiggled her tail again, and another odd glance from the other customers.
"No waaayyy!"
"Awwwwww Kamui-chan!!!"
Kamui closed his ears and shut his eyes. Yuzuriha's pleading and tearful eyes were the last thing he wanted to see.
Yuzuriha grunted.
The other dragons laughed at the duo.
"Ne, Yuzu-chan, I'm sure Kamui has a reason he couldn't tell you yet," spoke Meian, calling Yuzuriha's name with her nickname since the girl insisted earlier.
Yuzuriha glanced at her new friend; "Yeah...I guess you're right." Yuzuriha slumped back. Once again, Meian saved Kamui. Meian smiled slightly and gave good comments on the café.
Karen smiled in return at her compliment.
"Good evening!" said Karen as the doorbell clang again.
A young woman and a young man entered the cafe and sat down in the nearest table.
"Hime-sama and Taishi-sama," exclaimed Subaru in recognition.
"Who?" asked Yuzuriha.
"The young man is the heir of White Cross clan, the most powerful foundation in the world with Imonoyama foundation close behind. It said their power can even influence the governments around the world," said Subaru.
"He's kakkoi!!" said Yuzuriha.
Subaru chuckled, "He's taken, Yuzuriha. The young woman
is his fiancée."
"Aw shucks, why are good guys are always taken?" said
Yuzuriha.
Karen sighed, "Good men are either taken or gay."
Suddenly the young women looked up from the menu. Her eyes met theirs. They quickly turned away and pretended to be busy with each other but they could still see the couple from the mirror behind Karen. The young woman threw a knowing smile and her silver-bluish-purple eyes flashed in bright lights. She turned her attention to the menu again.
"She's beautiful," said Fuuma, Kamui while Subaru nodded in agreement.
"They make such a lovely couple," Karen sighed in adoration.
"Yes, the man is handsome and the girl is beautiful," said Fuuma.
"What are they doing here?" asked Yuzuriha.
"Isn't it obvious? The tournament of course," said Subaru.
"Oh yeah, baka me, hehehehe," said Yuzuriha.
"Are they going to enter the tournament? They seem powerful," said Kamui.
"I don't think so," Subaru paused, "they don't like publicity much."
The young woman stood up and walked to their direction, passing by them, to the woman's restroom.
Meian's hands shook. She clamped her hands on her lap quickly to avoid people seeing.
"Hime-sama's power sure is awesome. I shivered to the bone," commented Subaru. *Her aura us strong yet controlled by will. Amazing. *
"Yeah," agreed Fuuma and Kamui.
"The aura is different," said Yuzuriha.
"The type of psychic is different, Yuzu-chan," said Subaru.
The moment passed as they silently enjoy their order.
The minutes passed with soft chattering and laughter among the Dragons and Meian. They asked many things at Meian and she answered them politely and as little as possible.
"Where do you come from?" asked Subaru.
"I was born in Kyoto."
"Hey, that's where Subaru's from!" exclaimed Yuzuriha.
Meian chuckled, "but I didn't stay there long though. When I was 15 or so I moved out to pursue my" Meian paused to find a suitable word, "studies."
"That's cool!" said Yuzuriha. "Where did you go? And what did you learn?"
Meian's head fell side way a little as if she was thinking or tying to remember, "Uhm, I went to a couple of countries...and studied History and other stuff."
"Sugoi! Is it fun?" Yuzuriha seemed not to pay any attention on Meian's hesitation in the whole conversation.
Subaru frowned but said nothing.
Meian smiled sadly, "It is, but I travel so much that I've started to miss my friends."
"Aw, sorry to hear that."
Meian smiled at Yuzuriha. "It's okay. I went to CLAMP campus now since I heard the school is good and I got to meet new friends like you and Kamui."
Yuzuriha blushed and laughed, "Ahahaha, it's nothing really."
Meian shared Yuzuriha's friendly laughter, "I hope I can stay longer this time."
The conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a young man.
"Sorata-san?" said Karen. She stared across the window and saw him dressed in a black shirt, standing broadly with a grim smile plastered on his face.
"What?" they glanced back and saw Sorata standing on the opposite road of the building, holding a card for the tournament.
"Your first battle, Kamui-chan! Good luck!" said Karen earnestly, though she was a little bit worried.
"Aw....so soon?" Kamui groaned but stood up from his seat anyway.
The Dragons and Meian went out.
"Hahahahahahaha!!!" Sorata's laughter roared in self confidence, which irked Kamui a little bit.
"I will beat you!" Sorata said, "For the wish of my loveeeeeee!" cried Sorata as he made a victory sign. The other dragons sweat dropped in embarrassment. Such a bold statement from the Kansai monk, but luckily Arashi wasn't there or she would have already whacked the genki monk to the ground before the tournament even started.
"Arisugawa Sorata, Psychic Fighter!!!" A mini device came out from the ground. Sorata plugged the card in. It made an identification sound.
"Shirou Kamui, Psychic Fighter." Kamui also plugged his card in a similar device near him.
The reason why the tournament was held in CLAMP campus was because of the convenient location and the pop up devices around the campus, courtesy of the Imonoyama foundation.
The devices made a /pip/ sound [ Identification: correct ]
The ground opened and four poles set up in each corner of the battlefield. Street walkers gathered because this event was now a well-known trend not to be missed. Sorata set up a kekkai, which took the cube-shape. Each corner of the cube-shaped kekkai touched the poles. Different from the old kekkai, which made everything illusions except the fighters, this kekkai was more like a protection barrier. The poles acted as channels to improve the barrier so people could still see without being affected by the fight. The battlefield had its own purpose on channeling with the kekkai, which protected the ground and zero the gravity.
Kamui and Sorata stood against each other in mid air.
*I won't lose.* Kamui's face hardened. A fighting spirit was reflected through his blazing purple eyes.
*Arashi.* Sorata smiled confidently, *I'm not going to lose to Kamui. My reason to fight is...*
[ Ready... ]
*My reason is...
[ Hajime! ]
*Arashi.*
They both crashed at each other, fist to fist. A surge of power sparked between the two. They took two jump steps back.
"Pretty good!" complimented Sorata.
Kamui smiled, "You're not bad yourself."
"That one blast was very good," commented Subaru.
"Yeah, powerful. Sorata must've trained hard for this tournament." Yuzuriha clapped her hands together.
"Well, you know what love can do," stated Karen.
And the battle continued. Somehow, Sorata was one breath faster than Kamui. These maybe because Sorata was so eager to win and Kamui was hesitate against his friend.
Sorata did give Kamui a hard time as some minutes passed. The older man had given him several direct hits.
"KAMUI!!" screamed Yuzuriha as Sorata hit Kamui's face and sent him to the ground.
Kamui stood up slowly, "I'm...okay..."
"For God's sake! Kamui! You're bleeding!!" cried Yuzuriha.
"Yuzu-chan, calm down! It's not a bad injury," calmed Fuuma.
"But..." Yuzuriha glanced at Fuuma and back at Kamui again.
"I'm okay, Yuzu-chan," said Kamui. He wiped out the blood from his nose and ready for another blow.
"Come on, lover boy..." teased Sorata with a wild grin on his face.
"Kamui..." Yuzuriha's eyes were full of worry.
*This is my only chance to get close to her...* thought Sorata. A few days ago he passed a place where the two women he knew were having lunch. It was not his fault that heard it.
/Flashback/
"What kind of man would take your heart, Arashi?" asked Karen, teasingly.
Arashi just smiled, "I want a strong man. A man who can fulfill any wish I desire."
/End flashback/
"I WILL win!!!" Sorata chanted an unknown spell, summoning lightning bolts to Kamui.
Kamui screamed in agony.
"Kamui!!!" Karen, Fuuma and Yuzuriha gasped.
"A black summoning spell! How-" Subaru's words were cut off by another summoning spell which look like lightning bolts but purple in color. "Impossible This spell belongs to" Subaru's face was pale. A monk shouldn't have that kind of magic! Sorata's spell was normally silver blue.
Sorata walked across Kamui's body and reached for Kamui's neck. "I'm sorry, Kamui. But I love Ara-chan. I want to give her anythig." He tighten his grip around Kamui's troat. "You'll understand don't you?"
Kamui choked for breath. His eyesight blurred. He was very weak, bloody and tired. He didn't know what to think anymore, like there was a mist inside his head. Vaguely he saw Sorata's eyes change to a faint silver hue.
"Give it up, boy. Tell me you give up and I let you go. Please Kamui," pleaded Sorata, but his words are cold, from a cold heart, from cold eyes.
*This is not Sorata, * thought Kamui, lost inside his inner mind, his deepest thoughts. He wouldn't remember this moment and he was loosing the grip of reality again when he heard Fuuma yelling his name.
"Kamui!!!! Don't lose! Remember our promise!!!!!" cried Fuuma.
"Fu...Fuuma..." moaned the young boy. He wanted to opened his eyes to see Fuuma, his friend. He tried so hard.
Fuuma's eyes were burning with fire, so bright like his soul. Kamui's eye also burned with blazing fire in his purple orbs. Their gazes locked in a moment of eternity.
/Flashback/
"Are you sure you want to enter the tournament, Kamui-kun?"
"I'm sure, Fuuma."
"It could be dangerous."
"I know, but I want to find out the purpose of my life. I want to know why I live, what are my dreams, what I will become."
"Kamui."
"I want to fulfill my wish."
"Okay, but Kamui, promise me you will win."
"Okay, don't worry."
"Promise?."
"It's a promise!"
"We take this promise upon our friendship, upon our fists."
/End flashback/
"KAMUI!!"
*FUUMA!!*
They didn't notice that their right hands glowed with strong red auras. Subaru, upon looking at the strong aura between the two raised his guard to protect the others, just in case.
This was not good. Subaru calculated the possibility of their power could destroy the entire city if they wanted to. This was not good. In the mean time, Subaru need to hide this power as he chanted some illusive spell for the common people and strengthen his own barrier to protect the others.
"Arrrrrggggggggg!!!!!" Kamui cried out loud. He shrugged Sorata off and raised his burning fist for the final blow. The young boy hit Sorata with he incredible fire and sent the Kansai monk across the battlefield.
The crowd cheered.
"Yatta!!!" Yuzuriha wiped her tears and smiled happily. The kekkai dissolved and the battle arena went into the ground. Yuzuriha rushed to Kamui's side and gave the wounded boy a tight hug. Both collapsed onto the ground since Kamui had little strength to support them both. Kamui grimaced but looked happy.
Subaru and Fuuma ran to aid Kamui.
Meanwhile, Sorata sprawled on the floor, moaning in defeat.
Karen approached him and knelt. "You don't look good, Sora-kun," smiled Karen.
"Hah, I did what I can, that kid is too strong." Sorata grimaced. "By the way, you have lovely legs, lady." Sorata stared on Karen's graceful legs.
Karen kicked his head lightly and smiled, "Baka." She offered a helping hand, which Sorata accepted it with a thanked smile.
He didn't know, didn't remember he almost killed Kamui that day. No one knew except some people who noticed Sorata's eyes that day, only Subaru and a little girl.
...
Way back behind the crowd, a young man was standing there. He wore a pair of black glasses to hide his face perfectly as he watched the fight with a amuse smile. He hm-ed, "A Psychic Spirit. No, two." He saw the green eyed man put a concealing spell on the kekkai but it hadn't affected him. He saw what he needed and it was enough. He adjusted his glasses then walked away.
...
A few distances away, from behind the shadow, a pair of purple eyes watched them in amusement. "It's almost time..." the figure hissed softly.
"Yes.." replied the other person behind the figure.
"Be careful. The hunters are on the way. I can feel it. They were already in this town for a month."
"That I will do, my lady."
...
"Sugoi sugoi!!!" cried a young girl, "Look look, the fight is awesome!!!"
The boy next to her snorted, "Big deal!"
Her green orbs rolled, "Neeeee, koibitou, you're just jealous!"
The boy smirked back at his lover, "I am not!"
The young girl just stuck her tongue out.
An older man beside them shook his head, "Kids! They're like little monsters."
The young girl glanced at him and glared, "Onii-channnnn, I'm NOT a monster!!!"
"I'm not either." The young boy also glared to the older man.
The older man looked dagger eyes at the boy and snorted, "Hah, you see?" he said to another young man with glasses, "They're just kids."
The young man with glasses just chuckled. "Ne, we better get going, the Campus registration will be closed by 6 PM."
"Hai."
Then they disappeared into the crowd.
...
That evening...
On their way back home, Karen went to another direction since she lived in another district. Sorata went somewhere else, mumbling on getting drunk or something. Subaru met Takamura Suoh and went to talk about Subaru's next job.
Kamui, Yuzuriha, Fuuma and Meian walked together.
"Where do you stay, Meian?" asked Kamui.
"In CLAMP dorm."
"That's near our place," said Kamui. "Great, we can take you home then.
"Ah, if it's not a problem."
Yuzuriha patted Meian's shoulder, "No problem. We're in the same direction anyway."
Meian smiled.
"The fight today is very good, Kamui-san," commented Meian.
"Arigato," smiled Kamui. "It's pure luck. I don't know Sorata would be that strong."
Yuzuriha laughed," Arashi made a big impression on him, that's why."
Kamui laughed too, "Yeah, his grip is strong." Kamui thought a little about it and felt something missing or forgotten.
"Especially with the legendary prize and all," he continued.
"Legendary prize?" questioned Meian.
"Who ever wins the tournament will be granted his wish, any wish. Since winning the tournament will make the person who wins it the greatest psychic fighter," said Kamui.
"Any wish?" Yuzuriha said, "Sounds unreal. If the person has a ridiculous wish, would the wish come true then?"
Kamui shrugged, "Well, I don't know. It depends on the will of the prize, the Shura-to."
"A sword?" asked Meian.
"Yeah, you know about it?" asked Kamui.
"Yes, Shura-to is the legendary sword belongs to the God of War, Ashura. The sword is exhibited in Kyoto's museum, the last time I saw it."
There was a pause for breath.
"Anyway," continued Meian, "I heard rumors that the Shura-to can grant any wish to its wielder, or whatever it is."
"Still sounds fishy to me. Ah, this is my turn, see ya guys later okay?" said Fuuma.
"Okay, see you Fuuma," waved Yuzuriha and Meian.
"Don't forget; tomorrow we visit Kotori!" reminded Kamui.
Fuuma nodded and waved back.
Yuzuriha turned back at Kamui, "You know, Fuuma is right though, it is sounds fishy."
"It won't hurt to test my abilities," said Kamui.
"But you got hurt today. Though I didn't see much since I stuck in the back crowd and I'm short," Meian frowned.
Yuzuriha suppressed a laugh, "you should have come with us to the front."
"I know, but I'm not fast enough. I was left behind." Meian smiled sheepishly.
"Ahahaha, my fault then. Next time Kamui fights, I have to get a good grip on you, girl," said Yuzuriha and winked.
They continued to walk together. First they dropped off Meian in CLAMP dorm, since it was closer. Kamui and Yuzuriha went back to the apartment soon after.
...
The sun set and the night fell.
The moon rose above the horizon, replacing the sun for her night duty. Watching the ugliest, the beautiful of the darkness and the night.
The night wasn't that cold yet. But by the look of the sky, there would be rain sometime over midnight. Meian looked at the cloud over the stars and sighed. This ability to predict.
- [ Tsuzuku ] -
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Layer II
1. Finished: 210201
Credits: to Sumeragi Aoi, Isman, Melissa Koh & Cleo Tan for proofreading the first and second chapter.
Thank you for reading this fic so far.
R & R + C & C please, domo-arigato
L,
The Lady of the Night
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A single eternal rose is such a deadly beautiful flower.
Red like blood, frail like a thousand shattered glass of dreams.
Such rare exotic beauty exists only to be cursed and damned forever.
Frozen in eternal beauty.
http://LuneNautique.net
