Notes: Set in an AU and a crossover (sorta) with the Labyrinth. Actually the way things are going in my mind I might chuck in a few other random CLAMP characters as well.
Disclaimer: I own nothing...Not Tokyo Babylon, which is CLAMP's nor The Labyrinth which belongs to Jim Henson. I've also used some text from a transcript of the Labyrinth which I found at http://www.magitech.com/~cruiser1/labyrnth/movie.htm. The lyrics in the story are also from the movie.
Through Dangers Untold
CHAPTER 1. (By Twylise)
"Ayaaaaaaaaaaa!" Hokuto cried out at the top of her lungs, lifting up the hem of the ridiculously long, medieval style dress she was wearing, as she sprinted down the road after a taxi. "I'm so late! Obaasan is going to kill me!" Why hadn't she done the sensible thing and skipped the trip to Ueno Park in favour of going to the station earlier and catching and catching a morning train to Kyoto? It was a good hour and a half after the time her grandmother had requested the twins' presence at the main household and Hokuto still needed to get a hold of a taxi.
She could almost hear the old hag's lecture in her mind. It wasn't that Hokuto didn't love her grandmother, it was just that the elderly woman was so old fashioned and strict as opposed to Hokuto's wilder, more liberal nature, that the two tended to clash whenever they came into contact too often. The fact that they both had such dominating personalities didn't help the situation either. So it was with great relief that Hokuto and her brother Subaru, the clan head had been able to move to Tokyo when they were old enough.
Now they generally saw their grandmother once a month or so, although Subaru was sometimes came to see her a few extra times because of his job. Although this was the first time that Lady Sumeragi had requested that both of the twins come, on such short notice. It made Hokuto wonder what this visit could be about…
Subaru had said that their grandmother had sounded curiously anxious over the phone. That couldn't be good; trivial things did not rile the Lady Sumeragi.
Great. Hokuto cursed to herself. If this is that important, she'll be even grouchier when I waltz in a few hours late.
After what seemed like an eternity Hokuto managed to finally flag down a taxi and gratefully flopped down into the seat beside the driver while ranting off directions to the Sumeragi estate. With a little luck she'd arrive before her grandmother decided that she'd been kidnapped and decided to call the police.
//It's only forever
Not long at all
Lost and lonely
No one can blame you
For walking away
But too much rejection, Uh-huh
No love injection, no
Life can be easy,
It's not always swell
Don't tell me truth hurts, little girl
Cause it hurts like hell//
"This behaviour is unacceptable Hokuto-san! The time I expected you to be here passed hours ago," The Lady Sumeragi's reaction to Hokuto's arrival was just as bad as she had feared. She had spent at least half an hour ranting at her granddaughter with out even allowing the girl enough time to get a word, let alone an excuse in. Quite a feat, considering this was Hokuto.
Finally it seemed like the Twelfth head of the Sumeragi family was simmering down and Hokuto tried to explain herself. She had spent the entire trip on the train and half the time in the taxi, thinking up a credible excuse, one that would be good enough for her grandmother. "Well you see I was just about to board the train when..."
"It won't work Hokuto-san," Her grandmother's tone was cold, it was time's like these that Hokuto wished the matriarch would loose her temper when she was angry rather than just freezing up like this.
"I won't accept any excuse. Your brother," From his position beside her, Hokuto could sense Subaru tense up and begin to fiddle nervously. "Was able to make it here in good time even though he had a job today. I don't see why I should expect any less of you."
The Lady Sumeragi calmly rose her glass of tea to her tips and took a minute sip, before sitting up even straighter and glaring down at her grand daughter, "Although maybe I should considering how irresponsible you've been of late Hokuto-san. I daresay I consider the clan quite fortunate that it was Subaru-san who was born with the stronger magic rather then you. I'd hate to think what chaos would ensue if the situation was different!"
Hokuto had been scolded, chided and chastised by her grandmother countless times but none of the things that the elderly lady had said had ever wounded her so deeply before. Hokuto had always known that Subaru was the more deserving of being clan head than she was, but still…to be told like that…
It really hurt.
"H-Hokuto…" She ignored Subaru's husky, troubled whisper. She didn't want to talk to him. Not now.
The Lady Sumeragi oblivious, or at least seeming so, to the conflict between the twins continued talking, "As I explained to Subaru-san while we were waiting for you to arrive, this matter is quite urgent. I did a fire reading yesterday," She hesitated, as if unwilling to tell the two teenagers more.
Well Hokuto couldn't have that. Not after all she'd been through today. "And?"
The Lady Sumeragi snapped out of her silent, almost trancelike state and regained a good part of her bearing, "And the results were troubling to say the least. I saw one of you-I could not tell which, swept away by the Sakura."
A tense silence hung in the air…Which was quickly broken by Hokuto's wild laughter.
"Sakura! What in the world is so troubling about sakura of all things?!" Upon the glare she received from her grandmother, Hokuto tried to stifle her giggles into one pink lace; gloved hand but was unsuccessful. "I'm sorry oh, honourable grandmother but the idea of being attacked by flowers of all things is just ludicrous!"
But Subaru who had been practically silent for the entire conversation suddenly spoke up, "Grandmother, you don't believe that your vision refers to…" Worry caused Subaru's wide green eyes to grow even wider, "To the Sakurazukamori...Do you?"
The 12th Sumeragi clan head nodded solemnly, causing Subaru to gasp. Hokuto just stared at her two closest relatives dumbfounded. Was she the only sensible person present?
"Come off it you two!" Hokuto stood up and placed her hands on her hips, to the surprise of both her brother and grandmother. "Surely you don't believe such nonsense! Really…A black onmyouji, living in a magical labyrinth who feeds people to a sakura tree! Complete hogwash! Fairytales! I was just reading a play about it today even!" She presented her copy of "The Labyrinth" with a flourish.
"Sit down Hokuto-san!" Her grandmother snapped, finally loosing her temper, "The Sakurazukamori is nothing to scoff at!"
Subaru turned to stare at his sister with large eyes, "It's true Hokuto-chan! The Sakurazukamori is real!" He drummed his fingers on his knees nervously as he explained, "He's a very powerful sorcerer who uses onmyoujitsu to protect Japan just like our family. In fact…The Sakurazukamori is the flipside to the Sumeragi."
Hokuto rolled her eyes; "If the Sakurazukamori is just protecting Japan like we do…then why is he considered to be so scary?"
"Because," Subaru continued, "He protects Japan through death and blood. He kills people and gives the bodies to the Sakura, the source of his power, which feeds off them. It's legend that it's the blood of the Sakurazukamori's victims, which turn the petals of the Sakura blossoms pink. Apparently they're supposed to really be pure white, like snow.
But the Sakurazukamori was killing too many people, even innocents. He was growing too powerful, so much so that he was disturbing the balance between himself and the Sumeragi clan. It was one of our ancestors, Sumeragi Mitsu who sealed him into that other world of sorts, the "Underground" where he created the Labyrinth that your book refers to,"
"They sealed him away?" Hokuto frowned, "Wouldn't it have been easier to just kill him?"
Subaru shook his head fervently, making his hair look cutely tousled. Subaru is always so damned cute. Hokuto mused unhappily. Even when you're trying to be mad at him.
The Lady Sumeragi continued on from where her grandson left off, "They couldn't kill the Sakurazukamori because that would completely destroy the balance of Japan's magic and besides, he was still far too powerful."
"But by sealing him in the Underground," Subaru chimed in, "His access to victims was greatly reduced. Now he can only kill those who are offered up to him, usually by the government." At this point Subaru realised he had just interrupted his grandmother and made a hasty bow and apology, which was calmly dismissed.
Hokuto was strangely silent, her eyes far off in thought as she cupped her chin in her palm. She looked up at her brother; "You seem to be very well informed about this Sakurazukamori fellow…."
Subaru blushed.
"Aha!" Hokuto smirked and snapped her fingers, "Now I remember! When we were little kids you used to think the Sakurazukamori lived under your bed! You always had to come into my bed because you couldn't fall asleep otherwise!"
Subaru reached shades of red that previously could only be reached by certain fruits and vegetables; particularly tomatoes and strawberries. "Well when grandmother first told me the story in one of our lessons, I misunderstood the term 'Underground' so I thought he lived under beds. And since the manor was so dark and creepy at night…Anyway I had to listen to the story a few more times and do some research before I felt safe in my room at night again,"
"I think you had the Sakurazukamori mixed up with the 'bogey man' Subaru-chan,"
"No, the bogey man is supposed to live in closets…."
Hokuto flopped back down onto her cushions and waved a finger in her younger brother's face, "Well they do have one thing in common…They're both not real!"
"Hokuto!" for once her grandmother forgot the polite, 'san' at the end. "You of all people should know that in such matters of magic and mysticism almost nothing is impossible. I think you've made enough of a mockery out of yourself for one evening. As punish for your insolence you'll be cut off from your bank account for the next four months,"
"But grandmother!"
"You can still afford the essentials like food and such and borrow from your brother if need be,"
"But what about clothes?" Hokuto's voice was filled with horror. To be cut off from her favourite pastime…
The Lady Sumeragi eyed her granddaughter's frilly, Gothic dress with obvious distaste, "I think you can manage for a few months. Really such outrageous clothes!" This was a common argument between the two. "They're not the kind of things a lady should wear. How will you ever find a husband if you go around like that, your loud manner most certainly cannot help matters either."
Hokuto's face grew even sourer…. Why that old bat!
"Ummm….G-grandmother." Subaru stammered, sensing the approaching fight, "It's getting late, Hokuto and I should probably leave before it gets to dark to travel. Thankyou for your warning" He bowed politely causing Hokuto to frown. Jeez. Why does he always have to be such a 'good little boy' all the time? Would it kill him to grow a backbone and stand up to grandmother for a change?
"Yes, you two should go." The lady Sumeragi dismissed them regally, "But be careful and remember what I've just told you. Subaru?"
"Yes?"
"I don't want you doing any work until we can find out what the Sakurazukamori is up to,"
"Hai, grandmother."
//No one can blame you
For walking away
But too much rejection, uh huh
No love injection, no, no
Life can be easy
It's not always swell
Don't tell me truth hurts, little girl
'Cause it hurts like hell
Hurts like hell
Hurts like hell
Hurts like hell//
"H-Hokuto?" For the fifth time that evening, Subaru's hesitant voice wavered through the front door of his sister's apartment accompanied by a gentle knocking.
From her position, flopped stomach down on her living room couch re-reading "the Labyrinth", Hokuto grimaced. Just go away Subaru…I do love you but I don't want to deal with you right now. The meeting with Grandmother was a disaster, I know that…I just don't want to talk about it!
The trip back from Kyoto had been incredibly tense. Their grandmother had offered to allow the twins to stay over night at the estate but Hokuto didn't think she could stand to be there a moment longer. It may have been where she had grown up but it certainly didn't feel like home to her. Especially after the fight she had with her grandmother. It seemed that she was always painted as the 'black sheep' of the family. The lesser of the two siblings. Well realistically how was she supposed to compete with Subaru who was as close to an angel as a person could get? It didn't seem very fair at all.
Subaru had tried to talk it over with her, first on the ride home (she'd listened to her headphones) and now he had been knocking on her door every ten minutes or so and didn't seem to be letting up. Up until now Hokuto had just ignored him. She had started to go over 'the Labyrinth' again with her renewed knowledge of the Sakurazukamori. It was actually quite interesting.
I wonder…Subaru said that the Sakurazukamori could only take the victims that were offered up to him?
How would they do that?
A special ceremony of sacrifice?
Hokuto had to laugh at the image that came into her mind then; a bunch of tie wearing, middle-aged, government officials, dancing around a bon fire with mystical charms and casting spells.
"Please Hokuto…." You just don't give up do you? With a reluctant sigh, Hokuto picked herself up and lumbered over to thew front door and let her brother in.
"What is it?"
"I-I'm sorry about what happened at grandmother's today…You know she doesn't really mean it…about-"
"Stop it!"
Surprised, Subaru trailed off in mid-sentence. He looked at his sister with clear innocent eyes. Not knowing what he had done wrong.
He hadn't done anything wrong, that was the whole point.
"Just shut up!" Hokuto yelled, "Don't say sorry! There's nothing for you to be sorry about!" Subaru stared at her dumbstruck. "Oh why do you have to be so…. So…."
Hokuto pointed at her brother angrily; "Oh I wish the Sakurazukamori would take you away! Right now!"
Hokuto clamped her hands over her mouth in horror as she realised what she had done; watching Subaru's eyes fill with hurt and unshed tears.
Oh God…
I might have well have said your worthless or I don't love you.
I'm sorry Subaru.
Hokuto sobbed and ran forward to embrace her younger brother.
But then the lights went out…
And she stumbled as her arms wrapped around the empty air where Subaru should have been standing.