A Christmas Carol

A CCS Parody

by SyaoranSword

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to CCS. CLAMP and other companies I may not know of own it all. A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens. This is a fanfic, and the story is only meant for the enjoyment of the author and any would-be readers.

Notes: The pressure is on! Three days until Christmas, and this isn't even half-finished yet. I really need to roll and wrap this up. Look out for cameos starting in the next chapter.

Chapter 3: The Spirit of Christmas Past

Clow Read couldn't see anything. While covering his eyes, he fumbled for his glasses on the nightstand next to his bed. He grasped the familiar shape of the frame and put them on. The light and the laughter subsided, revealing an unbelievable sight to his eyes. There standing before him was what looked like a beautiful young girl. She possessed pale ivory skin that seemed to give off a soft glow. Long dark hair flowed around her, and the most striking feature of the ghostly figure were her eyes that shone like amethysts. She also wore a modest white dress, which only added to her radiance. In all of his experiences, Clow had never seen such a stunning vision.

He shook his head and asked in a venomous tone, "Who are you? And how did you get in here?"

The spirit smiled sweetly at the curmudgeon. "I am the Spirit of Christmas Past, and being a Spirit has its advantages."

"Christmas Past? Do you mean long past?"

"No… your past, silly! Ohohohoho!!" Her laughter once again rang in the sorcerer's ears.

Clow turned from her. "Bah! I know all about my past."

"Then you won't mind a stroll down memory lane, ne?"

"I don't need your help remembering what I have gone through. Just leave me be."

The girl merely chuckled. "I wouldn't be too sure about that." She went over and opened his bedroom window, letting in the cold wind and falling snow. "Let's go, Clow Read! Your past is waiting."

"Wait! You want to go out the window?"

She nodded. "If you don't mind, we're going to fly there."

"Do you realize that I can fly and go to the past without you?"

"I know, but why overexert yourself when I can get you there without a bit of your magic." She extended a glowing arm towards the miser still sitting in his bed. "Just hold on to my hand, and everything will surely be alright." Clow hesitantly took the offered hand. Her skin felt warm to the touch. "Hold on!" Before the words registered in his head, they were soaring over London at breakneck speed. He shut his eyes, not wanting to see the shrinking city below him. Clow screamed as she led him on their late night flight. "I thought you said you've flown before."

"I have, but not like this!"

"Oh, gomen!" The man sensed they were slowing down, to his relief. "Here we are. You can open your eyes now."

Clow did as the Spirit said. He sucked in a breath when he recognized the building in front of him. "My old schoolhouse! I haven't been here in decades!" The chiming of bells signaled the end of the day, and children of all ages poured out of the front entrance. He tried to move out of the stampede's way, until he saw a boy run right through him.

She laughed at his sudden realization. "We are only observers of what has passed. No one can see or hear us. No one can touch us either, but you already knew that, ne?"

"Spirit, what kind of trickery is this?"

"This is no trick, Clow Read. You are really seeing the past. Oh, and please, call me Tomoyo."

"You have a name?!"

"Of course! Would you want to be always called 'Spirit' or 'Ghost'? I find it degrading." The flood of kids was gone, leaving only the sorcerer and the Spirit standing in front of the school. "Everyone has gone home for Christmas, except for one little boy. Let's go see!" Tomoyo grabbed Clow by the hand and instead of running up the stairs, she angled her path so she headed straight for a brick wall.

"Tomoyooooo!!!" He braced himself for an impact that never came. They went easily through the wall and into a large classroom.

"Try not to freak out like that next time. Nothing here can physically harm you." Tomoyo pointed towards a desk, where the only person in the entire school remained. "Recognize the kawaii little boy there?"

Clow didn't answer her immediately, but he did know who that boy was. He slowly approached him until he got a good look at his face. "That boy… is me." Clow took a few steps back to admire his younger self. "I must be around ten years old, the same time I started testing my powers."

The boy rose from his seat, and stood at the front of the class. He commanded, "Rise and dance in the air for me!" The empty desks and chairs rattled as they were lifted up. They formed a circle and started to spin around the room, to the joy of the lad. He stepped to where he was under the center of the whirling furniture, and he spun around as well, laughing without a care in the world.

A tear formed in Clow's eyes. "I had no one to go home to for Christmas. My mother and my father were both gone. I had no siblings. My only companion during lonely days such as this was my magic."

The boy stopped turning due to dizziness. "Stop!" Every fixture halted and remained in midair. "Return to your rightful places." With amazing precision, everything was put back into its original spot.

"I could amuse myself with anything, but it still didn't make up for me not having any friends."

Tomoyo patted Clow comfortingly on the shoulder. "Shall we go forward to another Christmas?"

"Yes, please."

They flew away through the roof and headed for their next destination. Tomoyo was much gentler on the flying this time. "See those lights down there? That's where we're going." They descended in front of a much larger building.

"Why this is Fujitaka's place! I was apprenticed here as a young man." Looking through the windows, he could see a crowd of people having fun dancing, drinking, and being merry. "Fujitaka always did enjoy throwing big parties."

"Hmm… Who's that cute guy leaning up against the corner?"

"That would be me. I never did like these big gatherings." His eyes widened as he saw another man approach the lonesome youth. "That's Fujitaka himself!"

"It looks like he wants to talk to you. Come on! Let's listen!" Tomoyo dragged Clow through the window to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"Is something wrong, Clow-san?" Fujitaka asked the teenaged Clow Read.

"No, I'm fine," he responded.

"You've been standing in this corner for the whole night. Why don't you try to relax and have a little fun? Maybe you'll find a young lady that will be interested in you."

"Thanks anyway, Fujitaka-san, but I don't think any girl could like me."

"That's not true!" another voice interjected. "I'm sure there's a lovely woman somewhere who would thank her lucky star that she has such a gentleman as you, Clow-san."

Fujitaka said, "Nadeshiko-san is right. You're bound to find someone that will love to be with you forever, just as I love my gorgeous wife." He pecked her on the cheek.

"I love you too, koibito."

After a gentle kiss, Fujitaka held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

She gladly accepted, leaving poor Clow in the corner alone again. He watched them move together as if it was only the two of them in the entire room. "Someday, I wish I could be with someone like that."

The older Clow Read felt his heart twist. "Tomoyo, please. Don't show me the Christmas I dread."

He thought he saw her sigh. "We have one more Christmas to see." They flew one last time to Clow's counting house.

"Tomoyo, tell me this isn't what I think it is."

"Out of all the Christmases you've been through, this is the bitterest of them all."

A young adult version of Clow Read sat at the counting table, furiously going through mounds of paperwork. "Blasted auditors! They make me go through all of this crap just so I won't lose a single penny to them. My bookkeeping must be perfect." His pen was flying over the sheets, even after the door opened.

"Ohayo, Clow-san."

He didn't even look up to greet his visitor and girlfriend. "Ohayo, Madoushi."

She walked over and slammed her hands down on the table. "We need to talk."

"Could it wait until tomorrow? This is going to take me all day."

Madoushi had tears streaming down her cheeks. "Four years ago, I lost my water fortune telling business because of you, but I didn't care. I gave it up, because we were in love. You used to drop everything you were doing for my happiness. What happened to the fun and carefree Clow Read I used to know? From what I can see, you killed him!"

He looked up into her face. "Would you mind not crying on these forms? You'll smear the ink." He then went back to his writing.

"That's it, Clow Read! You and I are finished! I don't want to ever see you again!" Madoushi stomped to the door. "May you, your damn paperwork, and your money have a miserable life and burn in hell together!!" She slammed it shut and walked away.

"Tomoyo, please. Show me no more!"

"Not quite yet." She forced Clow to go out through the door, where they saw a wrath-filled Madoushi chanting. "Wait for it." Madoushi finished her spell, and a loud splash could be heard coming from within the counting house.

"AAAHHHHHHH!!!! MY PAPERWORK!!!"

Madoushi then forever left Clow Read's life, with a smirk on her face. The sorcerer looked absolutely pale as Tomoyo said, "Now we're done."

A bright flash blinded Clow's vision as he suddenly became disoriented. He thrashed about only to find that he was back in bed. "What a terrible nightmare. I hope I don't have any more dreams like that." Clow glanced around to make sure that this was his room, and this was his bed. Satisfied, he leaned back to sleep. When he hit the pillows, he discovered that light was coming from under his bedroom door. "Someone's in my study!" He got up and changed into his magical robes. Clow creeped towards the door, being careful not to step on any squeaky floorboards. His shaky hand fell on the doorknob. Taking one preparatory breath, he swiftly entered the room.

"KONNYANICHI WA!!!"

To be continued…

Cast of Characters

Tomoyo – Spirit of Christmas Past

Fujitaka Kinomoto – Fezziwig

Nadeshiko Kinomoto – Fezziwig's wife

Madoushi – Scrooge's lost love

After the Past comes the Present. Clow Read gets to see his nephew and his employee again when the next Spirit pays him a visit. Read and review please!