Legal Stuff: If I owned X/1999, I would never have let them replace Kakyou with Shogo Asagi in the Movie. Not that I don't like Shogo, it's just... Well I don't have time to go into it here.

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Author's Note: Congratulations, you are reading the first post in which I am identifying myself as THE 18th Angel (as opposed to the much less pompous '18th Angel'.) This change was forced upon me by FF.net when they insisted that all author names started with letters instead of numbers. (Let me tell you how long I searched for my author page before I realized that I had suddenly become 'th Angel'. Anyway that was just my personal rant. Carry on.

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A Life Less Wonderful

by The 18th Angel

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The Second Day

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December 20, 2001

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      The two vacant lots stood side by side. Even with all the rebuilding in the city, these two lots still held only the burned-out skeletons of houses. The faint, smoky scent of burnt timbers still hung in the air. A light snow drifted from the dreary gray sky, covering the black ashes on the ground with a layer of pure white.

      Behind him, Kamui heard the faint sound of snow crunching beneath someone's foot. He spun around and came face to face with three tall men in identical black suits and sunglasses.

      Kamui didn't wait for the men in black to make their move. He leaped into the air, building up his power. The three men tried to track his movements, but before they could even lift their heads, Kamui sent a wave of psychic force crashing down on them.

      The pavement below cracked and buckled as the psychic attack slammed into the men. The intense heat set his attackers on fire, burning them to death. The three men vanished as they died, leaving behind three charred strips of paper.

*   *   *   *   *

      Rai Matsudera opened his eyes and unclasped his hands.

      "Well Rai?" His companion asked.

      Rai turned to face the chamber's other occupant. "He wiped them out, just as you predicted. I must admit, even after everything you said, I never imagined Kamui would be so powerful."

      "Are you having second thoughts?"

      "Would I make it out of here alive if I said 'yes'?"

      A cold smile was his only answer.

      "Kamui doesn't frighten me." Rai said.

      "Not like we frighten you?"

      "When did I say that you frighten me?"

      "You did not have to. We read it in your vocal patterns."

      Rai chuckled softly. "A woman of many talents."

      With a disgusting, wet, slurping sound, hundreds of wires disconnected from of his companion's skin and slithered back into the giant machine behind her. Freed from her restraints, Satsuki leaped down off her padded seat to stand next to him.

      "If you are not up to this task, Rai, there are others who would be more than willing."

      "Not at all." Rai gave her his most charming smile. When she wasn't attached to the BEAST, Satsuki wasn't so intimidating. Actually, she was quite attractive. Perhaps if he played his cards right, this could become more than a business relationship. He took her chin gently in his hand and leaned in closer. "I'll take care of your little Kamui problem. I can't resist the request of such a lovely young woman after all."

      "Save it." Satsuki said, pulling away.

      I should have known. Rai thought. She really is in love with that computer. He sighed softly.

      "Well either way, I'll do my job. As long as you and BEAST keep up your end of the deal."

      Satsuki grinned, caressing the giant computer's metal base like...well, like a lover. "Don't worry Mr. Matsudera." She said. "Kill Kamui, and you may consider all of our resources at your disposal."

*   *   *   *   *

      "Figures." Kamui muttered, grabbing one of the paper talismans as it floated past him. The burned paper crumbled to ash as soon as he touched it. Kamui sighed and brushed the ashes off his hands. It seemed that Curse Zombies were the official Tokyo welcoming committee. He couldn't spend a day in the city without running into them.

      "You haven't changed at all."

      Kamui turned at the new voice, already preparing another attack.

      "You're not really going to kill me, are you?" Subaru asked.

      Kamui took a moment to calm down before greeting his old friend. "Can't be too careful these days." He said.

      "You call that careful?" Subaru raised an eyebrow, indicating the demolished street behind Kamui. "You never heard of a Psychic Barrier?"

      Kamui shrugged. "Didn't have time."

      Subaru shook his head, an amused look on his face. "Come on." He said. "We need to talk."

*   *   *   *   *

      Subaru led Kamui to a small restaurant a few blocks down from the ruins of his childhood home. They took a booth near the back, where Subaru ordered breakfast for himself and Kamui.

      "You're hungry, right?"

      Kamui shrugged.

      They were both silent until the food came. They ate in silence as well. It turned out Kamui was very hungry. When they were both finished, Subaru finally spoke up.

      "Any idea who attacked you?"

      Kamui shook his head. "Someone strong." He said. "Strong enough to summon Curse Zombies."

      "But who would want to attack you?" Subaru wondered aloud.

      "It doesn't matter." Kamui said. "They wanted my attention. And they got it. Whoever it was...I'm sure we'll meet face-to-face soon enough."

      Subaru was silent for a moment.

      "Something else?" Kamui asked.

      "I was just thinking." Subaru said. "Why did you come back to Tokyo? Didn't you say that you would never come back here?"

      "I did." Kamui said. "And then a few weeks ago...I just...I felt drawn here. I can't explain it. I just knew I had to come back."

      Subaru nodded.

      "What?" Kamui asked.

      "Nothing."

      "You know something." Kamui insisted. "What is it?"

      "I don't want to go spouting off theories until I know more." Subaru said.

      "But you do have theories."

      "I have...suspicions."

      "Fine." Kamui stood up, reaching into his pocket for his wallet.

      "Don't worry about that." Subaru waved him off. "I'll take care of it."

      "Thanks." Kamui returned his wallet to his pocket and turned to leave.

      "Where can I find you?" Subaru called after him. Kamui turned again. "Once I know more." Subaru continued. "Where will you be?"

      Kamui thought for a moment. "I'll probably end up staying at the school." He finally said.

      "All right. I'll look for you there as soon as I find out more."

      Without another word, Kamui nodded and left the restaurant.

*   *   *   *   *

      An hour later, Kamui found himself standing before a tiny, one-story brick house. The address in the Tokyo phone directory had brought him here. Now only one question remained: Did he have the guts to cross the yard and ring the bell?

      Would they even want to see him? He had cut himself out of their lives and they had gone on without him. And it looked like they were happy. For God's sake, they even had a white picket fence! Did he really want to screw it all up for them?

      Finally, Kamui plucked up his courage and made his way up the narrow sidewalk to the front door. He pressed the button for the doorbell, part of him praying that he would find it broken. A soft ring sounded from within the house. Before Kamui could decide to make a quick exit, the door opened.

      "Yes? What can I...?" Arashi fell silent when she saw him. "...Kamui?" She didn't wait for a reply; she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

      "Arashi?" Sorata's voice drifted down the hall. "Who was at the..." Arashi stepped aside, revealing Kamui. "...door?" Sorata finished quietly. He rushed forward, arms outstretched.

      "Woah, WOAH! SORA!" Kamui held up a warning hand.

      Sorata stopped in his tracks. "Right. Sorry." He held out a hand, which Kamui took. Grasping his hand firmly to prevent escape, Sorata pulled Kamui into a hug, even as the smaller man struggled. "Sorry." He said again after releasing Kamui. "Couldn't resist."

      "Uh huh." Kamui nodded, straightening his uniform.

      "Well...Come in. Come in." Sorata said.

      "I...don't want to intrude."

      "Kamui, you got our address. You came over here." Arashi said softly. "You might as well come inside."

      "Oh...my...God." A new voice came from behind Kamui. He turned and was nearly knocked off his feet as Yuzuriha Nekoi grabbed him in the third bear hug he had received in as many minutes.

*   *   *   *   *

      "So where have you been all this time?" Yuzuriha asked. They had gathered in Sorata and Arashi's living room. Outside, snow had begun falling again.

      "Kyoto." Kamui said.

      "Really?" Yuzuriha asked. "Cool. I've always wanted to visit Kyoto."

      "What brings you back to Tokyo, Kamui?" Arashi asked.

      "I wish I knew." Kamui admitted. "It was just a feeling I got, that I had to come back."

      "That's weird." Sorata said.

      "Yeah, I thought so." Kamui replied.

      "Well you don't think there's anything dangerous going on, do you?" Yuzuriha asked.

      Kamui shrugged. "I don't know."

      "Well aren't you worried?"

      "I don't know."

      "You don't know if you're worried?"

      "Yuzuriha, I don't know that there's anything to be worried about." Kamui said. "Until I see some sign of a threat, I don't see the point in getting upset about it."

      "I guess..." Yuzuriha conceded. "Still weird though."

      "Well Kamui's a weird guy." Sorata said jokingly.

      "No, that's not what I meant." Yuzuriha said. "It's just... Oh I might as well say it. I had a dream the night before last that you were coming back and..."

      "What?" Arashi bolted to her feet. "You saw Kamui?"

      "Uh...yeah."

      "Two nights ago?"

      "Yeah." Yuzuriha said. "I dreamed that he came to visit me."

      "What does it mean?" Arashi said, more to Sorata than anyone else.

      "Um...I wasn't sure it meant anything." The younger woman said, more than a little confused by Arashi's strange behavior.

      "What's wrong?" Kamui asked. "Come on; tell me."

      Arashi sighed heavily, and told him.

*   *   *   *   *

      "This is getting really strange." Kamui said quietly.

      Sorata nodded. "I'll second that."

"And once again I ask, what does it all mean?" Yuzuriha asked. A collective shrug greeted her.

      "Maybe there's nothing going on." Sorata said hopefully. "I mean, it could be just coincidence."

      "No." Kamui said. "Something big is happening."

      "How can you be so sure?" Yuzuriha asked.

      "I ran into Subaru earlier today." Kamui replied. "He knew I was coming back too."

      "Damn! Am I the only one who wasn't in on this?" Sorata wondered aloud.

      "There was something else." Kamui continued. "He wouldn't tell me, but I think he knows what's going on."

      "So what do we do now?" Yuzuriha asked.

      "We wait until he decides to tell me." Kamui replied. "Or I find out on my own."

      "That's it?"

      Kamui nodded. "That's all I can do. Short of beating the truth out of Subaru, and I think that would be a little rash."

      His three companions sat in silence, a single thought running through all of their minds. Did Kamui just make a joke?

*   *   *   *   *

      "You're lucky." Yuzuriha said as she led Kamui through the College Level dorms of the Clamp Academy. "There are barely any empty rooms this year. You got the last one actually."

      She unlocked the last door in the hall and handed the key to Kamui along with a handwritten note.

      "I'm in the women's dorms." She said. "Over in the opposite wing. Here's my phone number in case you need anything. Or...you know...if you just want to talk."

      "I think I'll just sleep for now." Kamui said.

      Yuzuriha smiled. "Fair enough. We can talk later. It's good to have you back Kamui." She turned and headed back toward her own dorm. Halfway down the corridor, she stopped and turned back toward him. "Come on, Inuki!"

      The wolf-spirit had been staring intently at Kamui, now he obediently turned to follow his mistress.

      "Yuzuriha!" Kamui called after her. She turned again. "It's...good...to be back."

      She smiled and shook her head. She could guess how good being back in Tokyo was for Kamui "One more time, with even less sincerity."

      "All right..." Kamui admitted. "It's not. But...it is good to see you all again."

      He retreated into his room, shutting the door before Yuzuriha could reply. She stood in the silent hallway for a minute. Anyone else might have been insulted by Kamui's behavior. But knowing him the way she did, she realized how hard it had been for him to say even that. She smiled wistfully.

      "Welcome home, Kamui. It is good to have you back."

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TBC