A/N: Thank you very much to: Dr. Megalomania, French Fille, Gil Galad (As
always, Elven King), Feeling Supersonic and early-dawn for actually
reviewing. You guys are the best, and I'm writing this because you were
kind enough to give me feedback. I hope this chapter is as good as the
previous two, and the flashback memories aren't as dark as the beginning.
I do not own the CCS characters, but I do own Nia Sotalia, the
Gretchumanians and Nickoli. Yes, I OWN Nickoli! Mwhahahahahaha!! (You'll
see why that makes me so happy...) Oh, and I own their mansion as well
(Insert evil cackle).
Chapter 3: Nickoli, The Dark Angel
"What do you mean, Yue?!" Keroberos said loudly, walking right up to his brother.
"I mean, Keroberos, that all the time you and Clow thought we were just friends, we were much more than that. While you thought we had drifted apart, he was still coming at night to see me." Yue looked down, and then at Sakura when the young girl began to speak.
"Yue-san, would you please tell me who this man is?" Sakura motioned for her other guardian to sit down and allow Yue to explain.
The moon guardian sighed, looking painfully sad and strangely broken to his Mistress. "Sakura-sama, forgive my hesitation. These memories...... I haven't paid attention to them in so long, and all of a sudden they feel so vivid again. This story is a long one, and painful. It started only about two decades after Keroberos and I were created. As you know, we lived in England with our Master," The moon angel paused, as if an idea had struck him. "Since this is difficult for me to tell you, why don't I just show you?"
"You-you can do that?" Sakura stammered.
"Yes. It's not painful, or even disturbing. Since these will be my memories, it will be better for you Sakura, because I can censor if there are any images you need not see."
"Oh," Sakura said, blushing. She was beginning to understand his earlier comment. "Well, why not?" Yue motioned to the young girl, and they both moved to the couch where they sat facing each other.
Yue put his long, pale fingers gently on her temples, and mumbled quietly, "Relax. You must let my memories, these images I'm offering you, take hold......" Suddenly they were both in a trance-like state, eyes closed, unresponsive.
Kero curled up on the floor by their feet. "Yue, you better make sure she doesn't see anything that's not appropriate. I know what things were like back then."
When the images began, Sakura had completely lost sense of herself. Luckily, though, she was not seeing everything from Yue's mind. It was like watching a movie to the young girl. The huge English mansion was quiet, while Kero dozed out in the garden, basking in the last rays of sunlight. Yue was sitting on his balcony, painting the sunset. Clow Reed had approached him silently from behind, so when he put his hand on the moon guardian's shoulder, Yue found himself startled.
"I'm so sorry Yue! I didn't mean to frighten you into dropping something!" Clow exclaimed apologetically. He had momentarily forgotten the other's powers, so he watch the paintbrushes fall gracefully from the balcony with sadness. When they abruptly froze in place, the magician looked right at his guardian. Yue's amethyst-silver eyes gave off a faint glow as the stray brushes floated calmly back into his hand. He smiled a little at Clow's forgetting Yue was more than he seemed.
"Ah, I should have guessed," Clow grinned sheepishly at his moon guardian. " I only came up here to tell you that tomorrow we will be going to see an old friend of mine. Her name is Nia Sotalia, and she's a very powerful sorceress. If she tried, she could even give me a run for my money!"
"I highly doubt that, Master Clow. But, you said 'We' are going. Does that mean you are going to impress her into submission with your creations?" Yue asked teasingly. Truth be told, he liked being shown off and bragged about by Clow. Anyway, he also liked to stay with his Master, and meet new people. Tomorrow was beginning to sound like fun.
Laughing, Clow responded, "You could say that. But I'm suspicious of Nia. I have the feeling the reason she invited me to her manor was because she's the one with something to show off. She only recently moved in. I just wanted you to know, so you may want to get some rest tonight." Yue nodded in affirmation, going back to his painting before he had no sun left.
The next morning, around ten o'clock, a carriage was at the front gate. Keroberos and Yue were looking their best, as was Clow, and the trio was prepared to set off. The ride lasted about an hour in the slow carriage, but was passed by pleasant banter and friendly teasing. Before exiting the carriage to the amazing, sprawling manor that loomed before them like a haunted house threatening three happy townsfolk, Clow gave his final warning to the guardians that there would be no arguing, horseplay, running or inappropriate action whatsoever. They were to be polite and respectful to all they encountered. "Is this understood?" "Yes Master," "Of course, Master Clow."
They were escorted by two strange looking creatures with the body of tigers and the heads of wolves, scorpion tails curling behind them. There was a large fountain directly inside the main gates, with fish creatures swimming around inside. The only thing that set them apart from normal fish was the fact they glowed and were transparent. Upon entering the door, odd noises were heard from deep in the house. Some beautiful, like the loveliest music, others horrifying, like bloodcurdling screeches, and other just strange, like a weird gurgling noise.
Immediately, Clow's 'Old friend' Nia appeared, making her way towards them quickly. She was a small, fine boned thing that reminded Kero of the beautiful, tiny birds that live in their garden and surrounding wood. Her long, white blonde hair was pulled up in a tight bun, revealing the sharp features of her thin face. "Clow dear! It has been far too long! Oh, you look wonderful! And who is with you?" The woman seemed young, energetic and happy, but she seemed to lack some vital, life-giving element. But none of them could place it. After the guardians were introduced, Yue heard Nia mumble, "It's uncanny. The complete inverse, but similarities....."
Suddenly, a horrible piercing screech was heard, along with another of the strange sentinels with wolf heads and scorpion tails being thrown out a window situated directly above the front door by a few floors. The creature landed hard, but simply got up and shook itself, scampering away, accompanied by a growl from whatever fearsome thing threw it out in the first place. Nia sighed and mumbled, "Nikki, I'll deal with you later."
Seeking to lighten the mood, the hostess offered them to come to the library. The room was large and illuminated from top to bottom, not like Clow's old musty library. Everything was kept in order, cleaned and maintained, as opposed to the other's comfortable sloppiness. One wall was made completely of windows with glass doors leading to an overgrown garden that composed the majority of land on that side of the house. It looked more like a jungle, not like the neat little gardens outside Clow's mansion.
Chatting for a while, Nia offered them all lunch. Clow and Keroberos happily accepted, while Yue politely declined. After their meal, all the odd creatures in the wondrous house recaptured Clow's attention. "Did you create them all, Nia?" He asked.
"Of course. Most of them are just like animals, and can be trained. They don't have human intelligence, but they are very, very loyal, and understand what I say to an extent."
"How many have you created?"
"Oh, counting all the smaller animals and creatures, that would be impossible to count. You see, my house is enchanted. If it looks large from the outside, this'll amaze you. It has an unlimited amount of room. Whenever I need or want a new room, it comes into being. Of course, I can also think away some old rooms as well. It creates endless space, but doesn't expand on the outside."
"Astounding," Yue whispered.
Clow laughed. "So you have so much room you forgot how many spirits you created!"
Nia smiled. "In a sense, yes. But the more intelligent creations don't allow themselves to be forgotten. They find ways to be useful, or at least attention getting. Like my Gretchumanians. They are the beings that escorted you in the front door. Other things make their presence know to me through sound. Liletou causes the lovely music that fills my halls. She's a spirit who sits and plays music all day, unless I tell her not too. Oh, and there is one other being I couldn't forget, even if I tried," laughed Nia.
"What?" asked Kero.
"Well, he was the one who threw my Gretchumanian out that window," Kero envisioned a horrible, slimy green swamp monster with spikes sticking out of him, but of course Nia continued, "And he's my most intelligent and human like creation. Would you like to meet him?" Nia had a small, smug grin on her face.
Yue nodded, and Clow said, "Of course!" Keroberos looked ready to see something horrible.
"Alright, I shall call him then." Her strong telepathic voice traversed the house, but only in the minds of the communicative creatures. Yet all Kero, Clow and Yue heard was a strange, lilting language. Nia opened her eyes and said, "He's coming downstairs."
"Excuse me," Yue stated and drew Nia's attention, "What was that language?"
"It was French. I made him while on vacation in France, so it was the first language he heard and is most comfortable with."
Wing beats could be heard nearby, and they ceased at the end of the corridor outside the library. They were replaced instead by footsteps. Clow looked excitedly at the door, Kero steeled himself, and Yue looked on with a little apprehension. What politely knocked and opened the door was not what any of them, except Nia of course, were expecting.
A tall young man with raven black hair, streaked with blood red, stood in the doorway. His skin was pure white, like freshly fallen snow, and his eyes were a midnight blue. Long eyelashes and perfectly arched eyebrows gave him the look of clean innocence. The glint in his eyes revealed clever intelligence and strength. His shirt tied from halfway down his chest up, and the blue and silver embroidery at the bottom hem was in a thorn and vine pattern. His sleeves were odd, so that only two strips of black cloth extended from the shoulder over his upper-arm, and to his forearm. The sleeves resumed just below the elbow, going down to his wrist, where on top it continued to meet the base of his middle finger, secured in place by a loop around it. There, on the backs of his long fingered hands were two dark blue gems, one on each hand. Around his waist was a loosely tied red sash, the same red as the streaks in his hair, with silver tassels on each end. His pants were made of black leather, and he wore no shoes. Behind him loomed his great, black-feathered wings. Around his throat was a choker made of blue cloth, the same color as his eyes, with a round gem in the middle. When the light hit the jewel, it seemed as though that familiar red color was dancing inside, like flames.
"So, you have company, Mistress?" He said in the voice Sakura recognized from Yue's memory, one tinted with the slightest French accent, which was barely noticeable. His wings faded from existence.
"Yes. I'm sure you've heard of Clow Reed, heaven knows I talk about him enough. These are his guardians, Keroberos and Yue," she looked at her creation obviously amused, "You'll see that strangely enough there are many similarities between yourself and Yue. Everyone, I'd like to introduce my absolutely untamable, nearly unbearable protector, Nickoli."
Chapter 3: Nickoli, The Dark Angel
"What do you mean, Yue?!" Keroberos said loudly, walking right up to his brother.
"I mean, Keroberos, that all the time you and Clow thought we were just friends, we were much more than that. While you thought we had drifted apart, he was still coming at night to see me." Yue looked down, and then at Sakura when the young girl began to speak.
"Yue-san, would you please tell me who this man is?" Sakura motioned for her other guardian to sit down and allow Yue to explain.
The moon guardian sighed, looking painfully sad and strangely broken to his Mistress. "Sakura-sama, forgive my hesitation. These memories...... I haven't paid attention to them in so long, and all of a sudden they feel so vivid again. This story is a long one, and painful. It started only about two decades after Keroberos and I were created. As you know, we lived in England with our Master," The moon angel paused, as if an idea had struck him. "Since this is difficult for me to tell you, why don't I just show you?"
"You-you can do that?" Sakura stammered.
"Yes. It's not painful, or even disturbing. Since these will be my memories, it will be better for you Sakura, because I can censor if there are any images you need not see."
"Oh," Sakura said, blushing. She was beginning to understand his earlier comment. "Well, why not?" Yue motioned to the young girl, and they both moved to the couch where they sat facing each other.
Yue put his long, pale fingers gently on her temples, and mumbled quietly, "Relax. You must let my memories, these images I'm offering you, take hold......" Suddenly they were both in a trance-like state, eyes closed, unresponsive.
Kero curled up on the floor by their feet. "Yue, you better make sure she doesn't see anything that's not appropriate. I know what things were like back then."
When the images began, Sakura had completely lost sense of herself. Luckily, though, she was not seeing everything from Yue's mind. It was like watching a movie to the young girl. The huge English mansion was quiet, while Kero dozed out in the garden, basking in the last rays of sunlight. Yue was sitting on his balcony, painting the sunset. Clow Reed had approached him silently from behind, so when he put his hand on the moon guardian's shoulder, Yue found himself startled.
"I'm so sorry Yue! I didn't mean to frighten you into dropping something!" Clow exclaimed apologetically. He had momentarily forgotten the other's powers, so he watch the paintbrushes fall gracefully from the balcony with sadness. When they abruptly froze in place, the magician looked right at his guardian. Yue's amethyst-silver eyes gave off a faint glow as the stray brushes floated calmly back into his hand. He smiled a little at Clow's forgetting Yue was more than he seemed.
"Ah, I should have guessed," Clow grinned sheepishly at his moon guardian. " I only came up here to tell you that tomorrow we will be going to see an old friend of mine. Her name is Nia Sotalia, and she's a very powerful sorceress. If she tried, she could even give me a run for my money!"
"I highly doubt that, Master Clow. But, you said 'We' are going. Does that mean you are going to impress her into submission with your creations?" Yue asked teasingly. Truth be told, he liked being shown off and bragged about by Clow. Anyway, he also liked to stay with his Master, and meet new people. Tomorrow was beginning to sound like fun.
Laughing, Clow responded, "You could say that. But I'm suspicious of Nia. I have the feeling the reason she invited me to her manor was because she's the one with something to show off. She only recently moved in. I just wanted you to know, so you may want to get some rest tonight." Yue nodded in affirmation, going back to his painting before he had no sun left.
The next morning, around ten o'clock, a carriage was at the front gate. Keroberos and Yue were looking their best, as was Clow, and the trio was prepared to set off. The ride lasted about an hour in the slow carriage, but was passed by pleasant banter and friendly teasing. Before exiting the carriage to the amazing, sprawling manor that loomed before them like a haunted house threatening three happy townsfolk, Clow gave his final warning to the guardians that there would be no arguing, horseplay, running or inappropriate action whatsoever. They were to be polite and respectful to all they encountered. "Is this understood?" "Yes Master," "Of course, Master Clow."
They were escorted by two strange looking creatures with the body of tigers and the heads of wolves, scorpion tails curling behind them. There was a large fountain directly inside the main gates, with fish creatures swimming around inside. The only thing that set them apart from normal fish was the fact they glowed and were transparent. Upon entering the door, odd noises were heard from deep in the house. Some beautiful, like the loveliest music, others horrifying, like bloodcurdling screeches, and other just strange, like a weird gurgling noise.
Immediately, Clow's 'Old friend' Nia appeared, making her way towards them quickly. She was a small, fine boned thing that reminded Kero of the beautiful, tiny birds that live in their garden and surrounding wood. Her long, white blonde hair was pulled up in a tight bun, revealing the sharp features of her thin face. "Clow dear! It has been far too long! Oh, you look wonderful! And who is with you?" The woman seemed young, energetic and happy, but she seemed to lack some vital, life-giving element. But none of them could place it. After the guardians were introduced, Yue heard Nia mumble, "It's uncanny. The complete inverse, but similarities....."
Suddenly, a horrible piercing screech was heard, along with another of the strange sentinels with wolf heads and scorpion tails being thrown out a window situated directly above the front door by a few floors. The creature landed hard, but simply got up and shook itself, scampering away, accompanied by a growl from whatever fearsome thing threw it out in the first place. Nia sighed and mumbled, "Nikki, I'll deal with you later."
Seeking to lighten the mood, the hostess offered them to come to the library. The room was large and illuminated from top to bottom, not like Clow's old musty library. Everything was kept in order, cleaned and maintained, as opposed to the other's comfortable sloppiness. One wall was made completely of windows with glass doors leading to an overgrown garden that composed the majority of land on that side of the house. It looked more like a jungle, not like the neat little gardens outside Clow's mansion.
Chatting for a while, Nia offered them all lunch. Clow and Keroberos happily accepted, while Yue politely declined. After their meal, all the odd creatures in the wondrous house recaptured Clow's attention. "Did you create them all, Nia?" He asked.
"Of course. Most of them are just like animals, and can be trained. They don't have human intelligence, but they are very, very loyal, and understand what I say to an extent."
"How many have you created?"
"Oh, counting all the smaller animals and creatures, that would be impossible to count. You see, my house is enchanted. If it looks large from the outside, this'll amaze you. It has an unlimited amount of room. Whenever I need or want a new room, it comes into being. Of course, I can also think away some old rooms as well. It creates endless space, but doesn't expand on the outside."
"Astounding," Yue whispered.
Clow laughed. "So you have so much room you forgot how many spirits you created!"
Nia smiled. "In a sense, yes. But the more intelligent creations don't allow themselves to be forgotten. They find ways to be useful, or at least attention getting. Like my Gretchumanians. They are the beings that escorted you in the front door. Other things make their presence know to me through sound. Liletou causes the lovely music that fills my halls. She's a spirit who sits and plays music all day, unless I tell her not too. Oh, and there is one other being I couldn't forget, even if I tried," laughed Nia.
"What?" asked Kero.
"Well, he was the one who threw my Gretchumanian out that window," Kero envisioned a horrible, slimy green swamp monster with spikes sticking out of him, but of course Nia continued, "And he's my most intelligent and human like creation. Would you like to meet him?" Nia had a small, smug grin on her face.
Yue nodded, and Clow said, "Of course!" Keroberos looked ready to see something horrible.
"Alright, I shall call him then." Her strong telepathic voice traversed the house, but only in the minds of the communicative creatures. Yet all Kero, Clow and Yue heard was a strange, lilting language. Nia opened her eyes and said, "He's coming downstairs."
"Excuse me," Yue stated and drew Nia's attention, "What was that language?"
"It was French. I made him while on vacation in France, so it was the first language he heard and is most comfortable with."
Wing beats could be heard nearby, and they ceased at the end of the corridor outside the library. They were replaced instead by footsteps. Clow looked excitedly at the door, Kero steeled himself, and Yue looked on with a little apprehension. What politely knocked and opened the door was not what any of them, except Nia of course, were expecting.
A tall young man with raven black hair, streaked with blood red, stood in the doorway. His skin was pure white, like freshly fallen snow, and his eyes were a midnight blue. Long eyelashes and perfectly arched eyebrows gave him the look of clean innocence. The glint in his eyes revealed clever intelligence and strength. His shirt tied from halfway down his chest up, and the blue and silver embroidery at the bottom hem was in a thorn and vine pattern. His sleeves were odd, so that only two strips of black cloth extended from the shoulder over his upper-arm, and to his forearm. The sleeves resumed just below the elbow, going down to his wrist, where on top it continued to meet the base of his middle finger, secured in place by a loop around it. There, on the backs of his long fingered hands were two dark blue gems, one on each hand. Around his waist was a loosely tied red sash, the same red as the streaks in his hair, with silver tassels on each end. His pants were made of black leather, and he wore no shoes. Behind him loomed his great, black-feathered wings. Around his throat was a choker made of blue cloth, the same color as his eyes, with a round gem in the middle. When the light hit the jewel, it seemed as though that familiar red color was dancing inside, like flames.
"So, you have company, Mistress?" He said in the voice Sakura recognized from Yue's memory, one tinted with the slightest French accent, which was barely noticeable. His wings faded from existence.
"Yes. I'm sure you've heard of Clow Reed, heaven knows I talk about him enough. These are his guardians, Keroberos and Yue," she looked at her creation obviously amused, "You'll see that strangely enough there are many similarities between yourself and Yue. Everyone, I'd like to introduce my absolutely untamable, nearly unbearable protector, Nickoli."