Identity's Past
by AlterEthereal
Ahoy, me hearties! I'm back from my trip and am very pleased to say that I did well in the competition. But enough about that! I'll try to make this short and sweet. The story: I'd like to extend a big thanx and a hug to all my reviewers so far! I'm sorry I haven't been able to update for a while (thanks to the aforementioned trip), but I do hope that this chapter makes up for my absence!! ^_^ Enjoy!
Ave: well it's about time you got back.
Alter-chan/Althea: what? oh! they found you!
Ave: sadly, yes.
Alter-chan/Althea: well where are they? you didn't...
Ave: they ran off to hide, i believe.
Alter-chan/Althea: -_-; well that's better than what i thought would happen...
Ave: anyway, let's just get this over with. I have dragons to tame and Tychos to torture, here.
Alter-chan/Althea: HEY!!! DON'T YOU DARE HARM A HAIR ON HIS HEAD OR I SWEAR I'LL *censored so that i don't have to up the rating* AND FURTHERMORE I'LL--
Ave: *cuts her off by "de-assimilating" Alter-chan and Althea*
Alter-chan: O_O *blinks* what was i saying?
Althea: O_O ..........
Ave: you were doing disclaimer.
Alter-chan: oh. ok. DISCLAIMER: i don't own CCS. i don't think. Ave, do i own CCS?
Ave: no.
Alter-chan: alright. what she said.
~~~~
Chapter 6: City of Lost Dreams
~~~~
He ran after her all the way back to the meadow, which was now acquiring a soft frost. Neither of them seemed fazed by the cold, however. When she stopped, she was breathing heavily, and her knees fell to the cold, wet grass. Not in fatigue, though--he heard a faint sob. She had passed the test… more or less. It seemed to have taken an irreparable toll on her mentally, and regardless of who she was or where she truly came from, he felt a terrible amount of remorse for every tear he knew she was biting back.
He walked up to her slowly, and soon was directly behind her. He wound his arms around her bent waist and pulled her up without turning her around, none to her ability to protest. Her head still bent toward the ground, he rested his forehead upon her locks of auburn and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
She weakly lolled against his warm chest, and he said nothing. He suddenly had the urge to protect her, wanting to never see those tired tears again.
That was it then. He would protect her.
He turned her slowly to face him, and looked into her still-wet eyes with an air of desperation. What he saw in them was nothing that he could honestly identify--just a weary pain he wished he could rid her of. With a strong hand, he rested her form against his reassuringly.
~*~
When she awoke, she found herself leaning back and staring into the lake, which was covered in a thin layer of mist and frost left by the night before. She wondered why she wasn't cold, then looked down and blushed, seeing a hand around her waist. She became suddenly aware of the events of yesterday, and found herself happier with amnesia. She removed the hand gently and turned her body to gaze at the slumbering boy who had stayed with her during the cold night.
He looked serene, his head tilted slightly and his back against the oak which had cradled her during sleep once before. She couldn't remember falling asleep, and wondered how long it had been. She considered waking him, but immediately dismissed the thought, watching him doze peacefully. Instead, she curled up a little and fell back into sleep against his chest.
~*~
A sweet smell flooded his senses as he came to consciousness. The pale girl was still there, just as he had left her, though somewhat warmer now. He hesitantly lifted a finger to brush a few strands of hair from her face, but much to his surprise, she opened her heavy eyelids and tipped her head back a bit to see his face. Her eyes were still pain-filled, but now contained a certain complacency that made him smile warmly. His fingers resumed their path and stroked her cheek softly. He could only remember feeling this way once, and that was seven years ago--when he had held Sakura in his arms. He wondered if this could be the same girl, if he was seeing the true person behind the insecurity as he held her.
"Thank you," she murmured, in not much more than a whisper, "for being here."
"I will be, as long as you want."
~*~
She soon became more comfortable with her surroundings, and even ventured into the white house occasionally. And although Syaoran was the only person she really talked to, her cold disposition was slowly melting. She was still distant and antisocial, but she did show emotion now and then, which was more than anyone could say before. She even met Madison, who lived on the other side of town, a more high-class neighborhood. She had grown up to be quite the beautiful, young lady, though she had given up the idea of becoming a clothing designer, mostly for lack of drive or inspiration.
She thought it sad, the way the spirits of the people in the city had been broken, silently referring to the town as "the city of lost dreams." True, the indigo-eyed beauty had cheered up when Syaoran introduced them, but she still seemed a little empty, like something had died inside her.
Otherwise, life wasn't so horrible. She spent most of her time outside city limits, avoiding the people and the factory. The weather became warmer, and spring came around fully. The few cherry blossom trees that remained bloomed with vivid, pink colors, and the smog that usually blanketed the area around the factory lifted enough to see the blue sky above it. The town was still a dreary place, but she didn't mind it as much nowadays.
One day, however, she wandered a bit too close to the center of town and the factory.
"What's your name?" A man in a yellow uniform inquired. She didn't respond, so he yanked her wrist toward the ominous building. "You're coming with me."
Though irritated, she followed the man, knowing full well what was going on. Yet she wasn't scared, not in the least.
~~~~
Alter-chan: oooh... the suspense. *in a deep, scary voice* where's that guy taking her? how will she deal with him? where's syaoran when you need him?
Syaoran: i'm right here.
Alter-chan: hey! you're not supposed to be here!! get back in the story!!!!!
Syaoran: *shrugs* *walks off*
Zuri: *appearing from out of nowhere* who was that? he was hot...
Alter-chan: *bashes head against random wall* *gets dizzy* *falls over* pluheuze roofiiaw...
Zuri: i think... she was trying to say "please review."
Alter-chan: *arm flies through air with a "thumbs up" attached*
Zuri: yep. thanx!
~AlterEthereal