Well, hello! And Welcome to My Little World of Weirdness!
I state for the record that, despite the fact I really, really wish I did, I don't own any of the official characters that will grace this story; it's all CLAMP's! Always has been, always will be! I DO, however, own Marcibay Hilligans and Hei-ying Reed!! I also own Lord Maduokai, and the three of the dragons, T'listia isn't mine but on loan from one of my favourite reviewers and writers, Tam Chronin! And what the heck . . . I own both of the mansions (The Reed/Hiirawagizawa and the Tsukimine) as well! [Laughs] Also I don't pretend to have any Mastery over the language of Japanese or any clue as to correct grammatical structure. I put it in and hope it gets across the point I'm trying to make! And I don't pretend to be able to write any sort of accents so please don't hate me!
"Speaking"
Stress/emphasis
Thinking
Extended [basically odd letters that the characters extend the sound of or in Ruby's case, sings]
In This Tainted Soul . . . Find Redemption . . .
By Dr Megalomania
Chapter Fifteen: Bittersweet
[Please note: Author needed tea when she started chapter, apologies for over emphasis on the wonders of tea. Excuse me now; I'm going to go get a cup of tea and some chocolate cookies.]
Chapter Fifiteen: Bittersweet
"Can you believe it?"
Spinel glanced over the rim of his mug and sighed, "yes, I do believe it . . ."
"Why are you so not impressed by anything?" Keroberos rolled his black little eyes, "aren't you excited?"
"Of course, just . . . I choose to restrain myself so early in the morning!" Spinel tutted quietly and flicked over the page. The two animal guardians had had to assume their false forms when the decision came in that they were going to hide the true forms of all the guardians until Clow remembered them or the right time came. When that time would come was still to be seen. Yukito was busy cooking something light to eat and tended to his three pots and the oven with meticulous attention. Spinel was trying to read a book of Clow's while Keroberos was enjoying his breakfast and sometimes even some of Spinel's when the little cat was busy reading.
The tiny golden bear grunted and swung his attention on Yukito, "are you excited?"
"I am . . ." Yukito smiled broadly as he sat beside Hei-ying, "just Yue is a little nervous. It feels strange, after we said good-bye to him . . . and now . . ."
"Ah, you can see how strange a man he really was!" Keroberos fluttered onto Yukito's shoulder, and chuckled as he chewed on a piece of toast, "although I've gotta say it's a real shame we can't show him our true forms just yet . . . he'd be so impressed by me!" He glanced over at Hei-ying, "don't you think?"
Like the others, Hei-ying was in his false form. Even so the previous night's illness still showed on the false form's drained features. With dark green eyes, he was staring deeply into his tea.
"Oi!" Kero yelled over at him irately, "don't ignore me!"
"Kero-chan, Hei-ying is thinking . . . leave him alone." Yukito admonished him quietly, glancing worriedly at Tomodachi's fierce concentration. The false form reached out and picked up the tea, sipping at it calmly, before he turned to look at his younger brothers.
His eyes were empty. Unseeing. It was almost as if he didn't understand what he was doing there, out of bed. Yukito's brow creased with concern. "Maybe you should be in bed, it is very early . . . and Touya did say he didn't want to see you before noon."
Tomodachi's dark green eyes blinked slowly once before he turned back to his contemplation of his tea. Keroberos frowned, his small mouth pulling downwards as he tried to suppress the growl that rattled behind his teeth. He didn't like Hei-ying like this. Not this silent ghost. Angry, he could take, happy, Keroberos needed time to get used to, but this . . . this silent, unseeing ghost who'd been growing it in his elder brother the last few days . . . it scared him.
Yukito jumped slightly as Keroberos suddenly laughed very loudly, very forcedly and fluttered off his shoulder to land on the table and sip his own tea from a teaspoon. "Well," he said, perhaps a little too loudly, "I still say he would be very impressed . . ."
"Impressed indeed by your outdated accent, and your overweight carcass . . ." Tomodachi muttered before he sipped his tea.
"Na . . . NANI?! KISAMA!! I AM NOT OVERWEIGHT!"
Clow blinked as a strong Osaka accent raged loudly as the door swung open. Hoshi was glaring, with a smirk pulling at his lips, at a small golden flying bear thing as it raged and shook its fist at him. A young grey haired boy sat beside Hoshi and was trying to calm the thing and another, blue cat like thing sat shaking its head over a book.
This small thing sat up straight and nodded to him very politely. Clow stepped in closer and smiled widely as silence descended on the room. "Uh, hello, good morning . . ." he dipped a quick bow, remembering his own Chinese manners, "it's a pleasure to meet you all . . ."
"Good morning, Master Reed." The small blue cat thing said in English, "I hope you have slept well, and that the room is to your liking."
Clow pushed his glasses a little further up his nose and leant over for a closer look at the small thing with clear, blue, tiny wings. His eyes widened and a small chuckle emerged from him, he pressed his hand against his mouth and blushed again, "I'm sorry, I . . ." he snickered, "who enchants teddy bears?! Cute!" Clow smiled, as he prodded the small blue one, "Enchanted stuffed animals!"
Naturally, Keroberos was the first to crack. "I'm not a stuffed animal!! I'm Keroberos!"
"Eh?!" Clow jumped and leant over to peer closer at the golden one, adjusting his spectacles, "not a stuffed animal . . .?"
"Uh huh!" Keroberos folded his arms importantly and tipped his chin up. Spinel got onto all fours and padded over to side beside the standing bear. Clow blinked and stared at the two before gently running a finger over Keroberos' head and wings, "that head . . . those wings . . ." he tilted his head to glance at both the strange curling tails, "those tails . . . ah!" Clow smiled widely, "I know what you are!"
"Ho, ho!" Keroberos crowed quietly, nodding as if he knew what Clow's answer would be.
"Pixies! You're pixies that speak human language!"
"EH!!" Keroberos jerked with surprise, and swung around to glare at Clow, "Nani?!"
Spinel shook his head slowly, and pressed a small paw against his forehead. Nakuru and Yukito chuckled quietly and Clow looked up to catch Hoshi's quick smile.
It faded as he lifted his teacup and drank from it, but Clow nevertheless felt the urge to make him smile again. He had planned on spending some time with the sickly servant. Straightening, Clow stepped over to the servant and smiled down at him. "I hope you are well, Tomodachi-san."
Finally, Hoshi flicked his eyes up toward Clow, "fine . . ." he murmured quietly, "I'm fine."
"Good," Clow's smile widened, "I'm glad." He looked around, "I was hoping you would introduce me to . . ." he motioned around the table, "your family, I think is how you described them."
"Heh! We're some family!" Nakuru crowed as she slid into a seat next to Clow and linked her arm with his, "let's see . . . well, there's me, Nakuru Akizuki. And you will call me Nakuru." She wagged a finger at him, "I will not let you call me Akizuki. No! Na-Ku-Ru!"
"Nakuru-chan, fine, fine!" Clow laughed at the bouncy young woman and turned his gaze on the small blue cat thing, "and you are. . .?"
"Spi—"
"Suppi-chan!" Nakuru interrupted, "he's Suppi-chan! Everyone calls him Suppi-chan!"
Clow smiled and glanced at Spinel as he shook his head and muttered, "my name is not Suppi." He sighed and pushed the book he was reading closed. "My name is Spinel Sun, this . . . energetic personality is my twin guardian."
"Guardian?" Clow blinked, "I thought you were servants . . ." he glanced at Hoshi as the other sipped his tea again.
"We're not servants," the grey haired boy said quietly as he poured a cup of tea for Clow, he smiled as he set it down. "My name's Yukito Tsukishiro." Clow looked up at the kind face and the polite smile and couldn't help but smile warmly back. "Thank you . . . you're Tomodachi-san's youngest brother?"
"Hai."
"There doesn't seem to be much of an age difference between you." Clow leant forward as he put a spoonful of sugar in his tea and stirred it slowly, "I was expecting a child by the way Tomodachi-san described you."
Yukito smiled, glancing at Tomodachi. He is ten years my senior.
"Really?!" Clow jerked with surprise, "but you can't be more than eighteen!" He glanced at Tomodachi, "and you look no older than twenty at the least."
"We are far older than you think we are." Tomodachi said quietly, and his tone allowed for no more conversation on the topic. Clow tilted his head and frowned a little before there was a loud cough, "AHEM!"
He blinked and smiled down at the small golden bear, "and you are?"
"Keroberos!" The Osaka accent of the bear was very deep and it surprised Clow, all the others had some degree of Englishness in their voices, but this little one . . .
"Tell me something, you are guardians of whom?"Nakuru grinned, "Suppi-chan and I are guardians to Mistress Tomoyo and Master Eriol . . ." she pointed to Keroberos and Yuki, "they are Guardians to Mistress Sakura and Tomodachi-kun is guardian to Master Touya."
"Really?" Clow asked quietly, he glanced at Tomodachi. "May I ask why there is no second guardian for Touya-san?"
"No." Tomodachi said quietly, "you may not. You've asked enough questions about my family." Tomodachi's dark green eyes narrowed, "the hard work of my brother and cousin is going to waste as you continue to inquire about things that do not concern you at this point." Tomodachi lifted his tea and sipped it. He set it down again with a look of disgust curling his lip. The bone china cup clinked louder than necessary against the saucer as he glared at the rapidly cooling breakfast with irritation, "even my tea is cold."
"I'll get you another." Yukito rose from his seat, but Tomodachi slipped out his seat faster and headed to the door. "Matte! Oniichan!"
Clow stared at the door, as it slammed shut and frowned. He wondered what was really wrong with Tomodachi.
"And this is my wife, Tomoyo."
Eriol glanced at his wife and smiled warmly. The long introductions were complete and Clow shook hands with each of them politely. Syaoran stared at the man hard for a moment, perhaps searching for some of the family connection, Sakura welcome him warmly and it was clear Clow felt some connection to her. The guardians were clearing away the breakfast table as the magicians talked in the large downstairs study. Clow was reluctant to leave the guardians to it, but with Keroberos and Nakuru both pushing him out of the doors and slamming them shut after them, he didn't really have a choice. Eriol smiled again, as he motioned a seat for Clow and sat by his wife.
"Do you have any questions?"
Clow smirked faintly and pushed his spectacles further up his nose, "thousands. But first and foremost, what spell brought me here?"
"We're not entirely sure, a magician from china was trying to resurrect you for some reason . . ." Eriol glanced at Sakura as she answered. The green eyed woman paused, "we don't know why he wanted to bring you back to life, but we do know that he also brought one of our friends back to life as well."
Clow frowned, "is he holding them hostage?"
"We don't know," Syaoran folded his arms and paced to the window. "Until you get your memory back, we may never know."
"Me?" Clow raised an eyebrow, "why?"
Eriol leant forward, "there may be something in your memory about the spell, but we won't know until it all comes back to you."
"But we won't abandon Mei-rin!" Syaoran growled, he span and glared at the others. "We must keep trying to find her!"
"Of course," Touya raised a hand, "we cannot allow Maduokai to get away with her. But where to start? China is a huge country, Li, you of all people know that!"
Syaoran sat down as Sakura nodded, we won't give up, but we need to find a place to start. Clow watched them quietly, crossing his legs and sitting back as if he was only observing them all. He stared at Eriol as the man spoke, trying to put his finger on the familiarity. His memories were only thus far of entering the house and making some minor repairs to it. He wasn't as fond of Eriol as he was of Sakura, and he didn't know why. He admired Syaoran and Touya but there was something about Eriol, something that made Clow feel a little wary of the boy.
It felt like Eriol was constantly watching Clow.
Like Eriol knew Clow on some level Clow didn't even know himself, and that admittedly scared the young magician. Out of all of them, Tomoyo felt the most distant. Her magic was widely different from Clow's, not a variation like the others felt. Sakura was a new magic in itself, yet was based on Clow's. Aside from that much, he hadn't really figured out the powers within the group.
Eriol was sun based, Syaoran and Touya more moon based. This pattern extended to the self proclaimed guardians as well, Nakuru and Yukito were obviously moon personalities and the two small creatures were sun. Only Tomodachi was star based.
Clow sighed and sank deeper into his chair as he watched them discuss their next course of action. Maybe this wasn't going to be as fun as he thought it would be. Five hundred years after his death? Clow had always assumed, thanks to his magic, Clow would live a little longer. . . or at least he hoped, he'd lived long enough. he closed his eyes and pressed a hand over them, he didn't even know how long he had lived let alone when he had died.
"Are you very confused?"
Clow jerked as Tomoyo's quiet voice addressed him. "Hm?!" He sat up and blinked at her, she smiled warmly.
"It's okay, if you are confused . . . first ask your questions," she motioned around, "this is discussion that can wait for a moment."
Coughing, Clow blushed slightly, "I'm sorry, I just . . . it's sinking in to my mind now, I don't know anything about this world. Even less about myself, or what I did."
"You were a brilliant magician!" Sakura leant forward and smiled, "truly amazing! You made so many beautiful things! The new magic you created is incredible!"
Her warmth forced a smile from Clow, "thank you. I'm glad you liked them," he tilted his head, "I'm sure that's why I made them."
"Hoe?" Sakura tilted her head quizzically and Clow laughed.
"Why, to make you happy!" He closed his eyes and smiled widely, "I always like making people smile, it's a far better to do, than writing lots of books." He blinked as he felt a slight shift of magic at the door. There was a knock and the door opened to reveal the three human guardians.
"Time for tea!" Nakuru cheerfully enthused, she winked broadly at Clow. "I don't know about you, but my Master Eriol can't do without a cup of tea at hand!"
"Aaah! Sugoi!"
Clow blinked as he raised his hand to catch a cherry blossom petal. The large cherry tree in the middle of the beautiful gardens rained the surrounding area with such beautiful blossoms, and Clow was awe struck by the simple beauty of the small, light cerise petals. He shrugged out of his cloak and sank down to lean his back against the thick trunk of the tree. He closed his eyes and simply breathed.
His mind still swirled with the overlord of information he'd been presented with.
Alive? After five hundred years? Master Magician? Creator of a new magic?!
He frowned slightly, he was all these things, everything the oracles had told his family over and over. The very existence he had tried to escape. Clow sighed deeply, he would never escape truly, he'd known that deep in his heart. His mother had always taught him that there was no coincidence in this world, only fate. It was his fate to become this Master magician, and it had come about.
He sighed.
There really wasn't any escaping it.
However . . . Clow breathed in the sweet scent of the air, it had rained the night before and had left the day warmer, cleaner. Whatever he had done in the past, of which he would soon remember, had left behind all of the people in the mansion. All of them were some how linked to him, he was happy to know that the Li Clan had continued and apparently stayed strong. Admittedly he was very nervous, hence why he had awoken so early and taken a walk outside. He had looked around the gardens and was happy to see that they were all so very well tended. This cherry tree thrummed with powerful magic, and the plants were all growing strong. He could not envision nasty people taking such good care over his garden.
A new aura touched down nearby, and Clow opened his eyes.
Mistress Sakura landed with delicate, light pink wings – the colour of the cherry blossoms around him - on her back. In someway she reminded him of his Chinese family, the way her clothes were always perfect for each occasion. Her clothes looked very unique, her cloak was slightly too heavy for the day's warmth, but its rich pink suited her too well to be simply bought. Her clothes underneath it were almost uniform, delicate pinks and whites. She turned and spotted him with bright, emerald green eyes.
A bright smile filled her features like a sunrise after a long night.
As before, Clow almost gasped aloud with the sudden feeling of love he felt for her. It was not the spiky, sensual love he'd felt for other girls while he had been growing up, it was the love he felt whenever he'd looked into his mother's eyes, when his father held him . . . it was the love of family. He knew this girl, and yet . . . he didn't . . . he did know for certain, that he loved her for being in existence.
"Clow-sama!"
He blinked out of his thoughts as she waved to him and started to run toward him. Her wings disappeared with a soft whisper of pink tinged magic and reformed into a small card, slipping silently back into her pocket. Clow blinked at the occurrence, but thought little over it as the girl slowed to a breathy stop. He smiled up at her from his seat but the tree trunk. She stared at him, with warm eyes.
"You look very beautiful, Miss Kinomoto."
Clow swallowed the urge to chuckle as Sakura turned a deep shade of red. He motioned the grass beside him, "Please join me, I assure you the grass is quite dry . . ."
Sakura grinned happily, her cute blush receding, "thank you!" She sat down beside him, kneeling rather than stretching her legs out before her like Clow was doing. "But I prefer to be called Sakura!" She elbowed him gently, "so, you can call me so as well!"
Clow chuckled, "very well . . . Sakura-san it is!"
"Chan!" Sakura frowned, wrinkling her nose, "San make me sound old!"
"Sakura-chan then!" Clow laughed at her expression, "if only you call me by a different name rather than sama!"
"Clow-san?"
Clow nodded, "that I can live with . . . he frowned, will everyone refer to me as a master?"
Sakura shrugged, "maybe . . . you mean a lot to all of us."
Clow nodded and thought for a moment, he sighed and glanced up, "Sakura is my favourite kind of flower . . ." With a smile tugged at his lips, he raised a hand to catch a cherry blossom as it floated down, "Your name seems to suit you perfectly, you are not only very cute, you are very sweet too!"
Clow chuckled inwardly as the blush returned full force as the girl stammered another 'thank you'. He smiled at her bemusedly; her presence was very warm and constantly happy. She stared up at the tree for a long moment, before she began to speak. "Tomodachi-san mentioned you had awoken during the night . . . I'm sorry that you woke up alone . . ."
"That's all right," Clow lifted the blossom to look at it. "Tomodachi-san explained very little to me, but it was enough so I wasn't afraid." He glanced at her quickly, "he's very cold, isn't he?"
"Cold?" Sakura glanced down at her lap, "Tomodachi-san has had a bad life, he has been very hurt in the past and he has hurt lots of people as well." She pursed her lips and looked at him with challenging emerald green eyes. "But he's getting better! He is better! It's just, just . . . nobody trusts him to do it right now!" She frowned deeply, "I won't let anything happen to him, I'm going to take care of him!"
Clow blinked at her fierce expression and looked down at the blossom again. "You are very strong, I know you can do it!" He stroked the blossom softly, "why was he hurt?"
Sakura sighed and looked out across the garden. "Nobody knows why. . ." she sucked in her lip and murmured quietly, "and I think I'm glad we might never really know."
Clow frowned at this but sought no further information.
Sunlight stole across the bed sheets, and her mattress dipped.
Meilin gasped as a hand stroked the side of her face, and her eyes shot open. She glared at the tall man, Lord Maduokai Kuei as he smiled at her gently. "Ah, you are awake then . . ." he tilted his head slightly as he murmured, his hand ever so gentle as it stole down her cheek to her shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
"You . . ." Meilin spat, she shook his hand off her face and scrambled back, "Why am I here?! That dragon, you sent it?!"
"Sent a dragon for you?" He raised a mildly amused eyebrow, "no, no . . . my dragons are not the killing sort . . ." he chuckled, "if anything I want to try and avoid that most distasteful of crimes as I strive to achieve my objective. . ."
"If you try to harm Sakura, I swear . . ." Meilin growled at him viciously, "I swear it on my family honour that not one of the Li's will rest until we have avenged her!"
Maduokai's eyebrows rose as he lent back from her, "you're so . . . lively. . ." he breathed with amazement, "I thought that your beauty demanded icy calm . . . but I see now that you are enlivened more with fury . . ."
Bastard! Meilin snapped, she turned away from him and shuffled off the large bed, she looked around the room, "I will not be left here!" She snarled at him darkly, as she looked around something to pull around her body and hide herself from his serene gaze. She wore nothing but a strapped white nightdress, which barely brushed the back of her knees. She huffed angrily as she realised she couldn't find anything to pull about her body, "no! Li Syaoran, the Clan Head of the Li Family knows that you have me!" she breathed out sharply as he got up and rounded the bed coming toward her, "and I will do everything in my power to escape you and warn Sakura of your vile plot!"
"So dramatic!" Maduokai's dark grey eyes lit as he approached her, clearly not afraid of her. He walked toward her, his robes quietly swishing as he came to a stop just within touching distance of her, "it is wonderful . . . to see you with such life. . ." he smiled and raised his hand to touch her cheek again, but she quickly grabbed his hand and pulled it away. He smiled slightly, the angle she was pushing his wrist at obviously hurting him but he had no care. Maduokai lent forward, "you shall not escape. I need you."
"For what?" Meilin stared at him closely, trying desperately not to let her fear show through. He was unbelievably calm as she almost bent his wrist back so far it would break should she apply more pressure. His dark grey eyes narrowed fondly, "for what I plan to use you for." He lent forward and brushed his lips over hers, kissing her lightly, before pushing forward to kiss her hard. Meilin's beautiful eyes were wide as she blinked, staring at the calm man's closed eyes.
He chuckled as he pulled back and swallowed, "sweet . . . my darling Lady, you taste very sweet . . . I would hate to have to kill you when I don't even know your real name."
Meilin blinked again, rapidly loosing her battle against her tremors. "I thought . . . I thought you wouldn't kill anyone . . ."
His dark grey eyes – unremarkable in their colour, but extremely composed – opened slowly as he smiled again, "for you I will make the exception . . . you cannot escape, I will not allow you . . ."
He pulled his hand from her loosened grip and began to step out of the room. Meilin stared at him, her chest rising and falling sharply as she felt the threat of tears. He stopped in the doorway and stared back at her, "come now . . ." he murmured as he pulled out a small handkerchief from his magician cloaks, "such a beautiful woman should not cry . . ."
Meilin took a step back as he lifted the handkerchief to her eyes, he dabbed her eyes softly, and asked her gently, "now, what is your name my fine lady?"
"Meilin . . ." Meilin stared at him with haunted, dead eyes, "Li Meilin."
"Very well, my Lady Meilin. . ." His grey eyes were warm as he stepped back and bowed slightly, "I believe you know my name . . ." he turned again, leaving the handkerchief on the small dresser, "you will find the finest of traditional clothing in your wardrobes but if you wish for anything else, then you will find me in my studies on the fourth floor . . . dinner will be at nightfall, my servants will attend you beforehand." He bowed once more as he grasped the handles of the double doors and stared at her, "Lady Meilin, you have free reign over the grounds, but ensure you stay on them . . ."
Meilin felt her anger build as he bowed for a last time and pulled her doors shut again. She looked around the room, and growled, stomping over to the window she stared out at the wilder parts of China. The Great Wall trailed away from her prison, and her kidnapper was cordial and kindly. Meilin's fist smashed against the stone window frame as she closed her eyes and allowed her head to fall forward.
"Help me. . . Sakura . . ." she whispered fiercely, "please help me. . ."
A week past, and soon Clow was dressed in clothes that he recognised more.
Tomoyo had done a wonderful job and provided Clow with three sets of casual clothing, one of formal, and two sets of pyjamas. Clow had insisted that he helped her, so the clothes were soon made. Sakura helped Clow a lot with re-learning some magic spells, and Clow learnt each of the cards. Eriol and Syaoran, taking Spinel Sun with them, decided to leave for China, going to the Li clan to tell them more about the mysterious man who'd not only brought Clow Reed back to life, but had also kidnapped Li Meilin.
The search for Meilin commenced, Syaoran's sisters travelling to the outer regions of china, visiting each province to find out if any Li Clan members had heard of this Lord Maduokai Kuei and his four elemental dragons. The elders began to contact the Li family who'd moved abroad, searching for this strange man and what possibly he could have wanted with Clow Reed, Li Meilin and Clow's third guardian Hei-ying.
Meanwhile, making sure that Clow was comfortable and safe as he recovered his memories was the main concern with the people left behind at the Tsukimine Mansion. Keroberos and Nakuru spent most of their time keeping Clow entertained; Touya and Yukito spent their time educating Clow in the ways of this new life. Hei-ying spent his time keeping as far away from Clow as he could.
Clow sighed as he flicked through the latest book, it wasn't that Spinel's writing was boring; in fact it was incredibly interesting to read the entries of the small being's magical observations. It was just . . . he was bored, very bored, extremely bored. Clow sucked in his bottom lip and smiled as he remembered some of his past. Whenever he was bored, he'd work on a new spell or bother mister Hilligans.
He couldn't do the latter, the old man was . . . Clow's eyes closed, the old man was dead. He could do the former though . . . but there wasn't any real need for him to do it. That was the problem, there wasn't any real need for Clow to be here at all, he wasn't needed. He knew he should have felt a little relieved at this; the pressure of his family, his future and his responsibilities was gone. However, now what would he do with himself? Clow shook his head, it wasn't healthy for him to think like this, and resolved not to.
"Oi! Tomodachi-kun!! Ne, ne!!" Nakuru's musical tones drew his attention as they neared the door. Clow tilted his head as the library doors swung open, and the five guardians walked in, Spinel and Keroberos riding on the heads and shoulders of Nakuru and Yukito. Yukito was holding a brown paper bag, and eating a small round cake. He chuckled as he reached up and allowed Keroberos to eat from it as well. Tomodachi was walking slightly ahead of the group as Nakuru chased after him, "Ne!! Tomodachi-kun!!"
Spinel floated off her head and onto Yukito's shoulder, shaking his head as he watched his sister guardian and refusing to snack on Yuki's cake. Tomodachi huffed and turned, "what? What is it you want?!"
"You're ignoring me! Don't you think the new robes that Tomoyo-sama has made for Clow-sama are wonderful?"
Tomodachi rolled his eyes, "they look just like his old robes . . ." the green eyed being trailed off as Clow stood up from the window seat. The young magician smiled charmingly as he set down his book and did a small twirl, he smoothed his hand down the front of his new robes and chuckled, "well, I think they most certainly are wonderful!"
"Clow-sama!!" Nakuru giggled happily and ran over to him, "why are you here?!" She pointed out the window, "it's such a lovely day outside today!!"
"Heh." Clow smiled at the girl in his arms, "I thought I would bask in the sunlight as I studied your brother guard's writings. . ."
Nakuru grimaced as she looked over at the book, "yuck! But Suppi-kun-kun is always so serious!!"
"My name is not Suppi." The blue being floated toward them, his little blue wings hardly beating, "I hope it isn't too complicated for you, Master Clow."
"Not at all, but . . ." Clow blushed slightly, "you all really don't have to keep calling me 'master' . . . I'm just a magician, not—"
"You are Clow Reed, master magician." Clow blinked as Tomodachi moved away from his brothers and cousins, he glared at Clow with a hint of irritation in his eyes, "requests to be known as anything else will be ignored, we cannot, and will not ignore the fact that you are a first class magician who created most of the magical creations in this household." His bottle green eyes narrowed, making Clow swallow slightly, "do you understand this now? You cannot and will not be referred to as anything else, accept this and spare us your—"
Tomodachi broke off as Yukito placed a hand on his shoulder. Amber eyes met bottle green for a long moment, before Tomodachi let off a sigh and stalked away to the various books. Yukito glanced at Clow and smiled warmly, "how are your studies going?"
Clow glanced after Tomodachi, before he quietly answered, "uh . . . the are going well, thank you . . ." Clow blanched as he swallowed again, "I seem to constantly offend him . . . I'm sorry."
"Don't worry yourself, Clow!" Keroberos' small musical voice sounded as the small being floated to seat in the sunlight, "like I said, that old guy is always mad at something . . . mad at me, mad at the Snow Rabbit . . . hell, he even gets mad at himself sometimes, it's really not such a big thing to have him mad at something, in fact I think I would be more worried if he wasn't mad. . . hey, Snow Rabbit! Can you imagine what it would be like if Tomodachi was like Nakuru . . .?"
Clow's attention drifted from Keroberos, and on to the slim figure perusing the books in small library. Clow liked that the same arrangement from his old library and study had been kept. He'd yet to know why Eriol, Touya and Sakura seemed the favour the one downstairs, it was so large! He liked this one because it was . . . cosy. He smiled as he quietly excused himself from the conversation, and made his way over to Tomodachi. Tomodachi was peering through his monocle at the larger volumes on the lower shelves, his expression fairly pleasant compared to the normally tight frown he seemed to wear constantly. Clow coughed quietly, trying to alert Tomodachi of his presence. The chocolate brown braid flopped to the floor over Tomodachi's shoulder as he turned his head to look up at Clow, his almost happy expression disappearing as a cool frown settled over his brow, "may I help you, Master Reed?"
"Actually I was wondering if I could help you!" Clow chuckled politely, "I know these books like the back of my hand, and I'm glad to see that my old system of books is still in place . . ." he smiled warmly, "are you looking for a particular book?"
"No."
"Oh really?" Clow kept his smile in place, reaching up to pull a volume from the shelves, "then may I suggest this?" He presented the book forward, "it's a book written by my uncle . . ." Clow glanced down at the cover fondly, "my uncle was a most interesting writer, I have no doubt that you would enjoy this too . . ."
Tomodachi arched an eyebrow as he took the book from Clow's hands, and stared at the name, "you were very . . . adoring . . . of your Uncle Hei-ying . . ." the guardian commented dryly, he slid the book back into its place and moved past Clow, he paused to glance at his family, "I think I may enjoy the day . . . if you should need me, I shall be in the gardens."
Yuki blinked at the abrupt announcement and Kero sat up, "Tomodachi?"
Hei-ying's false form's nostrils flared as his dark green eyes sparked slightly with jade, "I shall be in the garden, unless there is something of importance . . ."
"We will try to sort things out before we call you." Spinel floated over to the desk, and sat down with a book. Clow sucked in his bottom lip, hesitating before he stepped forward as well, "I would like to take in some air as well . . ." he said, stepping closer to the dark haired guard, "if you don't mind the company . . ."
Tomodachi's shoulders were slightly tense as he glanced at Clow, "if you insist . . ."
"May I ask something of you?"
Tomodachi sighed as he slowed to a stop beside Clow, "what do you wish to know?" He stared at the young magician, thus far Clow had succeeded in remaining utterly silent, the sudden question had been brewing and until this moment Clow had not had the courage to break the gentle, tense quiet between them. The magician bit his bottom lip, "you seem . . ." he tilted his head as the dark forest green eyes stared at him with emotionless control. "You seem . . . uncomfortable with me."
"I . . ." The guardian raised a hand to his hip and looked away, "I cannot deny this."
"But why?" Clow motioned them forward, hoping the cold but beautiful garden would distract them from the tension. He glanced at Tomodachi's profile and wondered at the beauty of the man. Yukito and Tomodachi were very similar in looks, both having sharp noses, long thin bodies, and inherent grace in every motion. The only place they differed seriously was that Tomodachi's skin was a shade darker, his hair was a rich, dark brown and his eyes . . . Tomodachi's eyes were old, angry and watchful. He had had a bad life, and his eyes merely sung of his trouble.
"My reasons are my own . . ." Tomodachi finally answered, "I am who I am, I cannot change this fact . . ." he glanced at Clow briefly, catching the young magician's blue eyes, "you are who you are . . . however you . . ." at this, the guardian glanced away, Clow remained silent knowing that the guard would speak again. "However, you Master Reed, remind me very much of an old master of mine . . ."
"Ah." Clow was silent, patiently waiting for the quiet man to speak again. For the longest time, it felt like Tomodachi would remain silent for the rest of their walk, yet as they rounded a corner and came across the pond, the green eyed guardian paused.
He stared at the pond calmly, contemplatively and Clow imagined he saw a great sorrow in his eyes. Too deep to even begin to understand. The thought galvanised Clow, and he felt his stubborn nature demand he at least try to understand this strange guardian. Tomodachi was surrounded by many who were good and kind, who laughed easily and loved deeply, Tomodachi remained untouched by their mirth, cold to their warmth, outside of their hearts. The young magician stared out across the pond.
"Do you remember anything of your life, Clow Reed?"
Clow blinked at the sound of the guard's quiet voice, but continued to stare at the pond. "I remember my parents, my family… how I ran away from them …"
"Would you run again … if you knew what your life turned out as…?" Tomodachi stepped closer to the pond and crouched down low. Clow stared at the guard's back as the quiet voice continued. "I wish I could run away …"
"Why?"
Tomodachi's pale hand dipped into the water.
"Why would you run, Tomodachi?" Clow asked carefully, not willing to startle the guard in his pensive mood. "What is here that you would desire so strongly to escape …?" The young magician stepped closer and frowned, "is it me?"
"Yes."
Clow knelt by Tomodachi at this and stared into the pallid features, glancing down at the pale hand as it drew meaningless patterns into the water. "Who am I to you? Who was your master, that I remind you so much of him?"
"My master was powerful …" Tomodachi whispered, "he was so handsome and he was cold, as handsome and cold as the night. There was a time when I was enough to keep him, keep his attention …" the green eyes fluttered shut and the head of the guard dipped, rich brown strands of hair falling over his face, hiding him from Clow. "But then … he grew used to my presence, and no longer was I enough to sustain him during the night …our days grew cold, our nights grew dark … and I've not even the promise nor memory that he ever truly loved me … a smile pulled at Tomodachi's lips ruefully, and everything he ever did to me was done out of lust … never a kiss that did not bruise, never a touch that does not make me shiver … I wonder …" Tomodachi lifted his head and stared into the pond, unaware of Clow's presence anymore, "did you ever think of me when you turned me away, locked me away and forgot about me? Did a night pass when you missed my body and wondered about my heart? When no other came to your bed … when all were below you … was my memory ever in your mind's eye?"
Clow stared at Tomodachi for a moment before a movement in the water caught his eye.
Just below the surface something shifted … the young magician frowned a leant over to peer closer to the water. His reflection stared back for a moment before fading. Clow tilted his head and sat back. Tomodachi was far too lost in his thoughts to notice the strange occurrence, so the young magician leant over and stared again. His reflection was gone, replaced this time with the image of a black haired child with deep jade green eyes.
Sakura sighed as she turned away from Clow's door, the magician was absolutely nowhere in the house.
She shivered and frowned as she looked up, before her Nakuru's door had come open… and a dull green light began to spill out of it like a fine mist. She felt herself take a step back. No. This couldn't be happening again … a shadow passed though the fine green glow, walking back and forth. She felt sick to her stomach and struggled to make her lips move, "Syao … ran …" she whispered, as the shadow grew darker as it passed closer and closer to the threshold of the door.
On the floor below her, Yukito turned uneasily in Touya's arms. In his mind, he saw a door. A locked door. He heard a voice, the ghost's voice singing gently. A whimper escaped his lips as the dream turned, the door became a window high up in the mansion. When the voice became a face. The dream turned and he found himself staring up at the pale face.
"I'm still here." The pale lips sneered at him, the blank jade eyes sparkled dimly. "Still here …"
Sakura felt a tear push from her emerald eyes and streak down her cheek as the shadow became solid and stepped out of the room. The child's pale face scared her … but not as much as his jade eyes. "Hei-ying …" she whispered, "why?"
The child ghost of Hei-ying was wet, soaked and dripping as slowly walked toward her. His pale hand extended and felt the cold all around her.
Touya frowned as he woke up, sensing something was wrong. Yukito whimpered beside him, trapped in his dream. A fine sheen of sweat covered his lover as his features flushed wildly. Grasping Yukito's thin shoulders tightly, Touya set about trying to wake him with soothing words and a warm touch. He glanced about them, their nap together was meant to a peaceful time, sometime for them to catch up with each other. Not about nightmares.
The child's fingers were cold as ice, cold as death itself.
This minor fact was one of a myriad of things Sakura noticed about this ghost of the past. He stood there, staring at her with his blank eyes, merely holding his hand.
"What do you want from me?"
The child smiled darkly.
The child smiled darkly.
Clow felt vaguely sick as he stared at the little boy with such fine black hair and jade green eyes.
"What do you want from me?"
The child asked sweetly, though Clow would wager that the pale lips never parted to utter the words.
"Tell me Master Clow, you'd only need ask …"
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And now it's time to LEAVE IT TO DOCOTR MEGALOMANIA!!!
DrM: Well, i must say i'm impressed with FF.net... this is most useful new thing they have, this whole quick edit thing... very cool! anyway, see? see? i can update when i put my mind to it! three whole updates to boot... okay, two are from Gundam Wing, but i'#m getting there, getting there!! Please R&R and tell me what you think!!