THE MAGICIAN
A/N: Hey! All I had to do was change the title? Dumb me! I have to warn you, there is some OCC in this story, but it's not accidental; after all, a lot of time as well of things have happened. The occ is almost the point to the story in a way, but I do know how the characters are supposed to be, and if this gets a happy ending- it depends on the reviews, mwahahaha- we'll get to see the characters we all know and love; hopefully.
Now to the promised pinky hearts:
One big pinky heart to musical-sakura and one to keitorin. Since you are the first two reviewers and you made my lil' sis smile, you also get a teddy bear. I'd bribe you with food, but a girl's gotta keep her figure.
Disclaimer: Not mine; it's Clamp's, btw, if you didn't know.
CHAPTER TWO
THE CHANGE
The alarm clock went off with a vengeance, startling him out of his dreams. Touya sat up, his heart beating madly, and rubbed his eyes in confusion. His neck ached and he wondered when he'd fallen asleep, since he hadn't even changed his clothes. He groaned, knowing his carelessness would cost him a hellish first day of work, surrounded with twelve-year-old kids coming back from summer vacations. He decided not to dwell on it and rushed to take a shower that would ease his aching muscles and help him wake up. On his way to the bathroom he picked one of the two decent suits he owned out of his luggage and turned on the radio to hear the news while he got himself ready.
It was just after he'd finished bathing that he could actually hear something. A song he couldn't recognize was just ending and the newscaster begun relating the day's headlines.
"Five new cases were detected last night in Tokyo on what it appears to be the strangest epidemics ever heard of in the history of Japan. The number of people affected by it keeps growing everyday. The department of health has declared that people should not panic. It's spokesman said, I quote: ...'mental illness are, by no means, contagious. It's just a sad coincidence'..."
Touya snorted. People were so blind sometimes.
"Psych wards and asylums across the country are crowded with patients; people with no record of any kind, that lose their minds over night. Some more bold theories propose that this has more 'supernatural causes', while the ambientalists suggest it's due to the unhealthy life style on big cities."
Touya turned the radio off and sighed. He laughed, remembering how the newscaster had used an incredulous tone when mentioning the theory of "supernatural causes"; he guessed he fell into the 'bold' group. He knew first hand there wasn't such a thing as coincidences.
But then again, he'd been acquainted with the supernatural from a very tender age; it was only natural he wouldn't be reluctant to the idea. As soon as the news started spreading, he'd known the causes weren't as easily explained as the doctors declared. And it was as soon as he realized that the majority of the cases focused arround Tomoeda, that he'd decided to come home.
Home. That's what he thought of Tomoeda still after all this time.
Touya was tempted to call Sakura right away, but he chickened out. It wasn't an easy thing to do, and he'd better wait until his time could be spent fully on dealing with the outcome.
Terada-sensei introduced Touya to his classroom a few moments before the bell rang. He talked to him about Sakura and what a nice girl she'd been when she was his student, which did little to ease his anxiety about the upcoming reunion.
Touya noted with curiosity that the older man looked extremely tired; in fact, everyone around him looked like they could use some rest.
Or maybe it was just him projecting.
The day came and went fairly well. He'd remember first days at school to be a lot more hectic, but his students had been quiet, none of them gave him any problem. Of course, when the bell finally rang he knew he couldn't postpone it for much longer. As much as he dreaded it, there was also a sort of urgency about seeing everyone again.
Still, he could stretch it a little longer. The day was pleasant to be outside, so he opted for a walk around town for old times' sake.
The sun was shining bright and summer could still be felt on the air. The weather reflected absolutely nothing of the turmoil in his head, but he didn't mind the change. His feet carried him to the park; he pushed aside all the memories that place brought to him, deciding he wasn't going to see this place as a part of his past. He was back, which made it home again, in a way. He didn't want to think of what would happen if they didn't welcome him as he wished; he knew full well there was a big chance they wouldn't.
It was there, while he was contemplating that awful, giant penguin that had brought him many nightmares when he was a child, that something large bumped into him. He nearly fell to the ground, but managed to steady himself in time. A mumbled 'Baka' was all he heard from his attacker, so Touya immediately reached out to grab the inconsiderate passer-by's arm.
"Watch where you're going, you..." His words died in his throat when he met startled brown eyes he thought he'd never see again, or at least he'd hoped he wouldn't. "You." Amazingly enough, the word carried a lot more spite than a few moments before, when he was about to bite the supposedly stranger's head off.
The brown eyes widened with recognition, just to reflect an equal amount of dislike the moment the situation sank in. Touya figured he didn't look a lot less surprised. The 'brat' was now almost his height and built; long gone was the little kid he disliked so much. Now there was a man; one he surely would dislike in equal proportion to the size he'd gained, Touya mused.
"What are you doing here? I thought you'd ran away to hide god knows where."
Touya's face was red with fury. Who did he think he was to judge him?
"What am I doing here! What about you? You're a little far from home, aren't you?" he spat. Immediately a thought; an idea too horrifying to contemplate, less alone repeat, occurred to him and his heart skipped a beat. "Aren't you?" he said again, this time his voice filled with dread.
The younger man seemed to think about it, his face showing that his mind had forgotten all about the quarrel of the moment, and his features filled with concern. Touya, who hadn't let go of his arm, released him and straightened himself, trying to ignore the sudden change on his nemesis demeanor.
"Yes...I,...I came back because, well..."
"Well!"
The young man lifted his chin proudly and his eyes threw thunder at Touya's, who happily returned the favor.
"I'm needed here, that's what made me come back. No matter she won't talk to me, this has nothing to do with...with..."
Touya couldn't believe his ears. He was caught between delight and shock at Shaoran's words.
"She won't talk to you?" he said, sounding a little too happy about it. Shaoran snorted and gave him a pitiful look.
"So I was right. You haven't been around, have you? Not since you abandoned her three years ago. No wonder you don't know."
No matter who was saying the words, it still hit too close to home. He had no right to judge anyone. He grimly looked down and nodded, turning away from the younger man.
"You're right," was all he said before starting to walk again.
A hand gripped his arm in a similar fashion to what his had done a moment before. He didn't bothered to turn around though; the former 'brat' would not see him brake.
"Wait." Shaoran said, and Touya was shocked to hear a bit of kindness on his voice. Just a wee bit.
"What?" he spat, still not looking at him.
"Why are you here?" this time the question was gentle, as if Shaoran was able to tell he wasn't up to their usual- or what it used to be usual- bickering.
Touya turned around this time, regarding the young man curiously.
"I don't know. I had the feeling it was time for me to come back. That I could be useful in some way...I..."
Shaoran nodded, looking pensive. It was obvious that the vague response Touya had given him had been enough for Shaoran to understand. Apparently they were on the same page, for once.
For the first time Touya really noticed that he wasn't dealing with the brat anymore. He really had grown, matured, and his entire posture showed it. He felt a pang of shame, thinking he hadn't grown enough to put aside his dislike for him.
"Don't you think...? I mean, neither of us has a right to be here. I think...maybe we could make a truce?"
Shaoran was swallowing his pride for the greater good, he could tell. No way he was going to let him be the bigger man; but he still had a few conditions.
"It's only fair," he said curtly, "but there's a few things I want to know." Shaoran motioned him to sit down on a near by bench, which he did, and the young man sat next to him; near enough so he wouldn't have to yell, but far enough to show he wasn't happy with the situation any more that Touya was. "First of all, I want to know if I'm right. If there is something I should worry about."
Shaoran seemed to consider the question for a moment.
"You mean..." he said, making the international gesture for lunacy, rotating a finger near his temple.
Touya nodded.
"Yes. Sadly I have it from a good source, that this is the work of someone very powerful and not one bit sane."
"Oh? So it's that Hiragisawa kid doing this?" Touya half winced, mentally kicking himself. He had to remember none of them were kids anymore. Not that that freak had ever been one to begin with.
Shaoran laughed wholeheartedly at his words, and Touya smiled a little.
"No...No, A lot more powerful and a lot less sane." he said trying to sober up.
Touya's eyes widened in mock fear and shock. Yeah, mock, sure; why not?
"Oh, shit," he said deadpan, and Shaoran nodded.
"No kidding." he laughed again. Apparently the younger man had a similar impression of the little freak. Touya wondered if he wanted to know what else they had in common. "Well, actually, Eriol was the one to tell me about this person. He doesn't know who it is, but he says the aura he felt seemed familiar. I felt it too, but..."
Touya wondered why Shaoran had used Eriol instead of Hiragisawa. As far as he could remember, they were never on the best of terms. Then something else occurred to him.
"Wait. What do you mean, 'the aura he felt'? Is it so strong he can feel it all the way from England?"
"Yes and no." Shaoran said worriedly. "He could tell something was wrong, he felt it. As soon as he started investigating a little he knew we had to come back. It was only once he was here that he could really feel the aura though."
"So he's here too." Shaoran nodded, Touya groaned.
"What?"
"Tell me he didn't bring Akizuki with him. Please."
Shaoran gave him a pitiful look and patted his shoulder in sympathy. Touya groaned again and buried his face in his hands. Once he composed himself, it was time to ask another question; one he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer for.
"And...well, uhm...Li-kun," He tried out the name, for the sake of their truce, "What about Sakura? Tell me what's happened while I wasn't around." He immediately focused his gaze on his shoes, so he couldn't see the other man doing exactly the same.
"I can't tell you much. I haven't seen her for as long as you haven't. Once you left she just...shut everyone out; with the exception of Yukito-kun, of course. There was something...else. It wasn't just your father...you know." Touya nodded and motioned him to continue. "I don't know what happened, but she changed. She wasn't the same sweet hearted girl I..." Shaoran blushed a little, "I...was friends with. She started withdrawing into herself; using magic in a way that scared me. I confronted her about it and she just told me to never come near her again."
Touya's entire being filled with dread.
"You don't think she's..." he whispered. Shaoran looked startled, but Touya could tell the concept wasn't entirely strange to him.
"No! She...she wouldn't!"
Touya stood up and sighed.
"You said so yourself. She's not the same."
Because of me, he added mentally. Shaoran stood up as well.
"I know, but I'm not willing to suspect of her that way until I have a reason to do so. And you shouldn't either." The tone was harsh, accusing, but immediately changed to understanding. " Look," Shaoran said, moving to face Touya. "I have to go back now. I'm expected and given the circumstances my delay would only worry them. Why don't you come back with me? I'm sure Daidouji-chan would be happy to see you again."
"Ok. I'm not sure I'll be of any use, since I don't have any magic, but who knows? Besides, after what you've told me, I don't think I'll be meeting Sakura today after all. Not until I know what's going on."
Shaoran nodded.
"If your theory is right, maybe you're the only one who can really help." the younger man whispered and started walking.
Touya had to put aside the eerie feeling that the situation rose within him. It was like being trapped in the twilight zone. He was really getting along with the brat!
Then again, things had changed.
TBC
