Chapter 4- Only Human
Jo-chan
***********
"FIREY!" screamed Sakura as she flew in through the ceiling's opening, holding her star wand in front of her. Fire came out, a raging torrent that consumed the Demon Beast and the smaller monsters.
Eriol and Syaoran followed in after Sakura, standing above the opening and then jumping down inside the cafe. Syaoran was running through the broken and bleeding bodies, checking for survivors. Eriol immediately joined Sakura who was hovering over Tomoyo.
"Tomoyo-chan! Are you all right?" asked Sakura in alarm as she sank down to her knees beside her weeping friend. Tomoyo was holding someone in her arms and anxiously Sakura asked, "Are you hurt? Say something!"
"K--ke-- Kenji-san! He's hurt bad because of me!" said Tomoyo between sobs.
With wide eyes, Sakura slowly tried to peel Tomoyo's clinging hands from the person she was holding. The man moaned in pain as he rolled from Tomoyo's arms to hers. A dark red stain flooded his shirt and as his intense dark eyes glazed with pain flickered open, Sakura gasped, "Noberu Kenji!"
"It-- hurts," whispered Kenji between dry lips. He can feel himself hovering between consciousness and he looked up to see two pairs of eyes looking at him worriedly. One was a pair of tear-flooded violet eyes and the other was bright-green filled with concern.
"He's lost a lot of blood," said Eriol as he crouched beside them, looking at the young journalist with sympathy. He has called for help already, although he wasn't sure how long Kenji would last until help arrives.
"Damn! No survivors!" exclaimed Syaoran, his dark brows pulled together in a fierce frown. He stopped beside them and then studied the man Sakura was holding. He didn't like Sakura holding someone else and blood staining her hands so he knelt beside her and offered, "I'll take him."
"Syaoran-kun, arigato. This man is Noberu Kenji," said Sakura as Syaoran took the heavy weight of the injured journalist away from her. More blood spilled out at the movement and Kenji was turning ashen. "Please, do something!" cried Tomoyo as she pressed closer to Syaoran. As she cried, her magical circle came out again, although it appeared briefly. Sakura and Eriol gazed at Tomoyo in surprise.
Syaoran thought for a while as he said, "I'm not sure if this is true but-- from ancient books, it was said that the Fumegami also has the power to heal. Being the Goddess of Seals, she can at least heal people by closing grievous wounds. As far as I can tell, it works for stab wounds and cuts but it doesn't cure diseases though."
"I can heal people?" asked Tomoyo, looking up at Syaoran, hope dawning in her eyes.
"I do believe I've read something similar as well. The Fumegami was the Goddess of Seals and her power mostly is used to protect and help people. She doesn't have the magic to conjure material possessions or the offensive power to engage in battle. All she can do is create 'seals', seals in the form of power shields, barriers like the Great Barrier that protects the humans from the demons and she can effectively seal injuries," said Eriol as he shared a gaze of understanding with Syaoran.
"How can I heal him then?" asked Tomoyo as she straightened her spine in resolve as she looked from Syaoran to Eriol. Shrugs met her question and she stared at them, aghast.
"It's a matter of instinct Daidouji-san," said Syaoran as he used a handkerchief to try and staunch the flow of blood from the injury.
"Fine!" exclaimed Tomoyo as she held her hands out and placed them slightly above Kenji's wound. She closed her eyes, thinking of her need to heal him. A few seconds passed and she felt nothing, save for a small tingling coming from inside her. "It's not working!"
"Try to envision putting a seal of light over his wound and making his flesh knit together and become whole," suggested Eriol, putting a calming hand on Tomoyo's shoulder. Briefly, Tomoyo laid her cheek against his hand. She drew back as if burned and shot him a suspicious look.
"All right, here goes nothing!" said Tomoyo as she concentrated on her need, visualizing light coming from her hands and the slow mending of his flesh.
From behind them, the Demon Beast Gano was regenerating its burnt flesh and muscles. He growled, making Sakura and Eriol turn away from watching Tomoyo trying to heal. At the same moment, a white light flowed from Tomoyo's hands, bathing Kenji's injury in warmth.
"Sword!" said Sakura as her wand transformed into a sword. Eriol said the same thing, transforming his Sun staff into a sword as well. "Let's finish this," said Eriol as he charged at the monster. His steps were light and quick, almost a blur as he slashed the monster across the chest.
The Demon Beast gave a loud roar of pain and Sakura immediately attacked from the right side, her Sword releasing multiple slashes as well. "Hiyah!" exclaimed Sakura evading clawing arms. "Stay with Tomoyo-chan Syaoran!" called out Sakura as she jumped back, keeping a safe distance away from the Demon Beast who is now caught within SAND's pit.
"Concentrate on the battle!" shouted Syaoran as he patiently held the journalist Tomoyo was healing. Tomoyo's face was turning white at the force of magic she was exerting, Syaoran knew that healing demanded the price of empathy, that whatever the victim was feeling, Tomoyo would also feel the same pain. The flow of light suddenly eased and Tomoyo who was kneeling beside Syaoran and Kenji collapsed in a faint. Tears still seeped from her closed eyes and slowly, Syaoran set Kenji down on the floor, where unbroken flesh marked only by pink was found where his chest was injured. Syaoran picked up Tomoyo in time to see Eriol decapitate the monster in a huge swing of his sword as Eriol jumped over Gano.
The severed head rolled away as the mutilated body tumbled. Foul-smelling green blood spread from the headless corpse. The battle was finally over.
"That was tough," said Sakura, panting lightly. Normally, monsters would die after being engulfed by Fiery but this one was able to withstand not only Fiery but Sword and Sand as well. She flicked her sword, making it transform back into the wand as well before closing her fists tightly on the wand, making it transform into her pendant.
"This was a Demon Beast," said Eriol, giving the headless corpse a kick. He frowned as he stared at the body, taking note of its built
"What's a Demon Beast?" asked Sakura as she moved to stand beside Eriol, Syaoran at her side, holding Tomoyo. Without further preliminaries, Syaoran unceremoniously handed Tomoyo's unconscious form to Eriol who took Tomoyo with a surprised expression on his face. "My arms are tired," said Syaoran as he pulled Sakura into an embrace.
Sakura giggled and then looked at her friend who was out cold worriedly. "She wouldn't like waking up and finding out that Eriol-kun is carrying her," whispered Sakura in Syaoran's ear. Kenji, who was also unconscious groaned from his place at the floor. "What about him?" asked Sakura.
Reisui suddenly strode inside the devastated cafe, stepping over broken and mangled bodies. A contagion of armed and well-protected men stepped in after him, surveying the battle scene. "Sorry I was late, there was another attack a few blocks away from here, we had to take care of that because there were more civilians there," said Reisui grimly. He suddenly noticed Tomoyo who was held by Eriol. "What the hell is Tomoyo doing here? I thought she was safe at the mansion!" exclaimed Reisui.
Wincing, Sakura answered, "Gomen Uncle, she said she needed some space and went to our pad. There's a survivor from the attack as well and its Noberu Kenji-san, the TV reported!"
"What? A goddamn mediaman! Shouldn't he be dead?" complained Reisui as he walked over to the journalist's prone body. He stared at the bloodstains and the torn fabric of his shirt, clearly showing claw marks. "What's going on?" he asked suspiciously, glancing at the teenagers.
"Tomoyo-san healed him," said Eriol, glancing at Tomoyo's lax profile with noticeable warmth and tenderness.
"Healed him? How? By tying his wounds close or something?" asked Reisui, his voice rising an octave higher.
"The Fumegami's power," said Syaoran, as if that explained everything.
Harassed, Reisui looked heavenward for patience. "All right, we can't live Noberu-san here, let's take him to the hospital," he said signaling his men. "Let's get out of here now," instructed Reisui as he walked out of the devastation.
*******
Noberu Kenji woke up five hours after the attack in a clean hospital bed.
He winced as he touched his right side, half-expecting the same mind- blowing pain assail his senses upon touching the fatal injury.
His eyes popped open in surprise when his fingertips skimmed over smooth bandages over unmarked skin. "No way..." he whispered as he sat up, finding his body merely feeling sore instead of feeling like death itself. He opened his pajama top and ripped his bandages away to find his flesh whole.
"Fumegami-san..." said Kenji, last recalling the beautiful face of Tomoyo, tears sparkling in her long curly lashes.
Without saying anything more, he reached for a piece of paper by his bedside and took out his ballpen.
He began to write furiously, without hesitation as he describes his ordeal.
She was as beautiful as a Goddess but she is as mortal as all of us, with human weaknesses and fears... but her heart and courage is as indomitable as the heavens...
TBC
Author's Notes: Gomen nasai for such a short chapter, I had a little problem coz right now, I'm making a website. Anyway, more to come very soon. Arigato and please r&r!
Jo-chan
***********
"FIREY!" screamed Sakura as she flew in through the ceiling's opening, holding her star wand in front of her. Fire came out, a raging torrent that consumed the Demon Beast and the smaller monsters.
Eriol and Syaoran followed in after Sakura, standing above the opening and then jumping down inside the cafe. Syaoran was running through the broken and bleeding bodies, checking for survivors. Eriol immediately joined Sakura who was hovering over Tomoyo.
"Tomoyo-chan! Are you all right?" asked Sakura in alarm as she sank down to her knees beside her weeping friend. Tomoyo was holding someone in her arms and anxiously Sakura asked, "Are you hurt? Say something!"
"K--ke-- Kenji-san! He's hurt bad because of me!" said Tomoyo between sobs.
With wide eyes, Sakura slowly tried to peel Tomoyo's clinging hands from the person she was holding. The man moaned in pain as he rolled from Tomoyo's arms to hers. A dark red stain flooded his shirt and as his intense dark eyes glazed with pain flickered open, Sakura gasped, "Noberu Kenji!"
"It-- hurts," whispered Kenji between dry lips. He can feel himself hovering between consciousness and he looked up to see two pairs of eyes looking at him worriedly. One was a pair of tear-flooded violet eyes and the other was bright-green filled with concern.
"He's lost a lot of blood," said Eriol as he crouched beside them, looking at the young journalist with sympathy. He has called for help already, although he wasn't sure how long Kenji would last until help arrives.
"Damn! No survivors!" exclaimed Syaoran, his dark brows pulled together in a fierce frown. He stopped beside them and then studied the man Sakura was holding. He didn't like Sakura holding someone else and blood staining her hands so he knelt beside her and offered, "I'll take him."
"Syaoran-kun, arigato. This man is Noberu Kenji," said Sakura as Syaoran took the heavy weight of the injured journalist away from her. More blood spilled out at the movement and Kenji was turning ashen. "Please, do something!" cried Tomoyo as she pressed closer to Syaoran. As she cried, her magical circle came out again, although it appeared briefly. Sakura and Eriol gazed at Tomoyo in surprise.
Syaoran thought for a while as he said, "I'm not sure if this is true but-- from ancient books, it was said that the Fumegami also has the power to heal. Being the Goddess of Seals, she can at least heal people by closing grievous wounds. As far as I can tell, it works for stab wounds and cuts but it doesn't cure diseases though."
"I can heal people?" asked Tomoyo, looking up at Syaoran, hope dawning in her eyes.
"I do believe I've read something similar as well. The Fumegami was the Goddess of Seals and her power mostly is used to protect and help people. She doesn't have the magic to conjure material possessions or the offensive power to engage in battle. All she can do is create 'seals', seals in the form of power shields, barriers like the Great Barrier that protects the humans from the demons and she can effectively seal injuries," said Eriol as he shared a gaze of understanding with Syaoran.
"How can I heal him then?" asked Tomoyo as she straightened her spine in resolve as she looked from Syaoran to Eriol. Shrugs met her question and she stared at them, aghast.
"It's a matter of instinct Daidouji-san," said Syaoran as he used a handkerchief to try and staunch the flow of blood from the injury.
"Fine!" exclaimed Tomoyo as she held her hands out and placed them slightly above Kenji's wound. She closed her eyes, thinking of her need to heal him. A few seconds passed and she felt nothing, save for a small tingling coming from inside her. "It's not working!"
"Try to envision putting a seal of light over his wound and making his flesh knit together and become whole," suggested Eriol, putting a calming hand on Tomoyo's shoulder. Briefly, Tomoyo laid her cheek against his hand. She drew back as if burned and shot him a suspicious look.
"All right, here goes nothing!" said Tomoyo as she concentrated on her need, visualizing light coming from her hands and the slow mending of his flesh.
From behind them, the Demon Beast Gano was regenerating its burnt flesh and muscles. He growled, making Sakura and Eriol turn away from watching Tomoyo trying to heal. At the same moment, a white light flowed from Tomoyo's hands, bathing Kenji's injury in warmth.
"Sword!" said Sakura as her wand transformed into a sword. Eriol said the same thing, transforming his Sun staff into a sword as well. "Let's finish this," said Eriol as he charged at the monster. His steps were light and quick, almost a blur as he slashed the monster across the chest.
The Demon Beast gave a loud roar of pain and Sakura immediately attacked from the right side, her Sword releasing multiple slashes as well. "Hiyah!" exclaimed Sakura evading clawing arms. "Stay with Tomoyo-chan Syaoran!" called out Sakura as she jumped back, keeping a safe distance away from the Demon Beast who is now caught within SAND's pit.
"Concentrate on the battle!" shouted Syaoran as he patiently held the journalist Tomoyo was healing. Tomoyo's face was turning white at the force of magic she was exerting, Syaoran knew that healing demanded the price of empathy, that whatever the victim was feeling, Tomoyo would also feel the same pain. The flow of light suddenly eased and Tomoyo who was kneeling beside Syaoran and Kenji collapsed in a faint. Tears still seeped from her closed eyes and slowly, Syaoran set Kenji down on the floor, where unbroken flesh marked only by pink was found where his chest was injured. Syaoran picked up Tomoyo in time to see Eriol decapitate the monster in a huge swing of his sword as Eriol jumped over Gano.
The severed head rolled away as the mutilated body tumbled. Foul-smelling green blood spread from the headless corpse. The battle was finally over.
"That was tough," said Sakura, panting lightly. Normally, monsters would die after being engulfed by Fiery but this one was able to withstand not only Fiery but Sword and Sand as well. She flicked her sword, making it transform back into the wand as well before closing her fists tightly on the wand, making it transform into her pendant.
"This was a Demon Beast," said Eriol, giving the headless corpse a kick. He frowned as he stared at the body, taking note of its built
"What's a Demon Beast?" asked Sakura as she moved to stand beside Eriol, Syaoran at her side, holding Tomoyo. Without further preliminaries, Syaoran unceremoniously handed Tomoyo's unconscious form to Eriol who took Tomoyo with a surprised expression on his face. "My arms are tired," said Syaoran as he pulled Sakura into an embrace.
Sakura giggled and then looked at her friend who was out cold worriedly. "She wouldn't like waking up and finding out that Eriol-kun is carrying her," whispered Sakura in Syaoran's ear. Kenji, who was also unconscious groaned from his place at the floor. "What about him?" asked Sakura.
Reisui suddenly strode inside the devastated cafe, stepping over broken and mangled bodies. A contagion of armed and well-protected men stepped in after him, surveying the battle scene. "Sorry I was late, there was another attack a few blocks away from here, we had to take care of that because there were more civilians there," said Reisui grimly. He suddenly noticed Tomoyo who was held by Eriol. "What the hell is Tomoyo doing here? I thought she was safe at the mansion!" exclaimed Reisui.
Wincing, Sakura answered, "Gomen Uncle, she said she needed some space and went to our pad. There's a survivor from the attack as well and its Noberu Kenji-san, the TV reported!"
"What? A goddamn mediaman! Shouldn't he be dead?" complained Reisui as he walked over to the journalist's prone body. He stared at the bloodstains and the torn fabric of his shirt, clearly showing claw marks. "What's going on?" he asked suspiciously, glancing at the teenagers.
"Tomoyo-san healed him," said Eriol, glancing at Tomoyo's lax profile with noticeable warmth and tenderness.
"Healed him? How? By tying his wounds close or something?" asked Reisui, his voice rising an octave higher.
"The Fumegami's power," said Syaoran, as if that explained everything.
Harassed, Reisui looked heavenward for patience. "All right, we can't live Noberu-san here, let's take him to the hospital," he said signaling his men. "Let's get out of here now," instructed Reisui as he walked out of the devastation.
*******
Noberu Kenji woke up five hours after the attack in a clean hospital bed.
He winced as he touched his right side, half-expecting the same mind- blowing pain assail his senses upon touching the fatal injury.
His eyes popped open in surprise when his fingertips skimmed over smooth bandages over unmarked skin. "No way..." he whispered as he sat up, finding his body merely feeling sore instead of feeling like death itself. He opened his pajama top and ripped his bandages away to find his flesh whole.
"Fumegami-san..." said Kenji, last recalling the beautiful face of Tomoyo, tears sparkling in her long curly lashes.
Without saying anything more, he reached for a piece of paper by his bedside and took out his ballpen.
He began to write furiously, without hesitation as he describes his ordeal.
She was as beautiful as a Goddess but she is as mortal as all of us, with human weaknesses and fears... but her heart and courage is as indomitable as the heavens...
TBC
Author's Notes: Gomen nasai for such a short chapter, I had a little problem coz right now, I'm making a website. Anyway, more to come very soon. Arigato and please r&r!