COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The characters here only belong to CLAMP, well probably for some of those that I created myself. Other than that, they are strictly the property of the CLAMP manga team of four women and they rock! (Actually, I'm quite sick of using the same words each timesob sob TT)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: And so we reach Chronicle Nine. Thanks again guys for the reviews you have posted for Chronicle Eight. I'm really grateful for what all of you have reviewed for me because they really serve to encourage me into writing more. Anyway, please enjoy this new installment again! XD

Once again, here're the replies to your reviews…

Peach Ponta: Yay! Thanks for yer' review! You're real fast this time…haha, only reviewing instantly the nite I posted the previous chapter. Anyway, please update your story soon coz' I'm waiting for it, and many others too! XD

KakashiLvr: sweatdrop Actually, I was expecting the twist to be non-existent. HeheheZ. Anyway, thanks for yer' quick review!

Laranai Drake: Hmmm…at this moment, I guess I'll try to improve my wording a little if I can. When I'm at my wits' end, I'll try to get a beta reader. But actually, due to sarcastic beta readers, I'm kinda' wary of them too…anyway, thanks for yer' review too!

asga: Well…the answer is below, isn't it? HeheheheZZZthx for yer' review!

And well yes, let's begin our next installment, my dear readers. XP

CHAPTER NINE: TIME IS RUNNING OUT

Reishi of the Lightning took slow steps towards the dazzled ninja. His irises had contracted a little, indicating he was indeed in an illusion. The same deadly thin-bladed katana dangled from the grip of her hand. The professional ninja approached her young opponent, preparing to annihilate him.

Defend my cause and I'll give you what you want…

The trail of words sounded in her mind as she made slow steps towards her prey. All she had wanted was to achieve her goals, even if they were through sinister means. Images of the one who hired her appeared in her mind. Reishi was only interested in attaining what she wanted.

I won't lose to the likes of you!

Her opponent had earlier shouted at her, creating the words that now sounded through her mind again. Such determination. Such courage. She had never seen an opponent who as strong-headed as she was. Ignoring the thoughts in her mind, Reishi of the Lightning prepared for a katana formation which would guarantee Kurogane's instant death.

The black ninja, on the other hand, was still entrapped within his own illusion. The figure of the young Tomoyo was just next to him, preparing to touch his face. His eyes were only bent on the person, surprised to see that his childhood buddy had not aged one bit. But he did not care about that.

"Calm down, Kuro-chan," she spoke softly at him. As her fingers touch his tanned cheeks, the black ninja experienced a red flush only a little lighter than his own eyes. "It hurts me to see you like this." She gave a small smile which made him soften inside. He could feel it. His body was already unable to maintain the morphed demonic form.

"It hurts me to see you like this," the fake Tomoyo suddenly gave Kurogane a hug which made him even more surprised at her sudden spontaneous action. He was after all not used to any affections of any kind, judging from the ninja training. "It would be best if you would calm down and…"

Kurogane returned her the hug as he also wrapped his arms around her. He knew he felt weird but it was the only way to return affection by someone close.

"Die." Came the sudden change in voice, making Kurogane return to his senses. A pain seared through him as a katana impaled through his side. The weapon was withdrawn, leaving a wound enough for blood to spill out within moments. The drops of blood dripped onto the hard ground, leaving small various crimson patches.

"Tomoyo-sama…" His voice was weak. The black ninja clutches his side to look at Tomoyo who had already disappeared. In its place was his female opponent. "Nande…?" He got up again to face his enemy, this time clutching his bleeding side.

Why…I…I can't move my body…?

Reishi of the Lightning was surprised to find her mind unable to control the body she was in. Only voices clouded her mind that seem to have a demonic tone. It seemed that the boost in power she had just received was somehow overpowering her will.

"Do not worry, mortal ninja," one of the demonic voices sounded her mind, speaking directly to her spirit. "We'll help you to kill this pesky abomination, if you submit your will to ours." The woman ninja felt a feeling of creepiness crawl over her heart.

That boy ninja…he is seeing me as another person…?

She raised an arm with a sharp dagger, knowing that it was not controlled by her. The strange power that had empowered her earlier was the master now. Kurogane looked back at her with eyes of strong determination and will. She felt too guilty to kill someone so young although she was known to have a will to kill people without feelings.

Rapidly, the arm came swinging down preparing to stab her opponent and give him the final blow. The boy ninja closed his eyes, knowing his moment of death was at hand. The tip of dagger's blade quickly came crashing down, closing on Kurogane's chest.

The young ninja reopened his eyes, seeing his opponent closing her eyes tightly. The dagger was just barely a few centimeters from him, with its sharp tip emitting a shine. He rose up to look at the person who had just spared him.

"Just go," Reishi of the Lightning ordered. "Go save your princess. Go before I lose control of my will again." Kurogane stared at her with surprise at her sudden change of attitude. "I was manipulated by a curse," she opened her eyes. "Destroy the mastermind and save the princess." The boy ninja nodded and ran off in the distance to save Tomoyo.

"You have disappointed me, woman," the voice spoke in her head. "Now you shall see how you shall be punished." Her hands began to move again as Reishi lost control of her will, plunging the dagger into herself, releasing a fresh spurt of blood.

Tomoyo lied unconsciously in the centre of the onmyou circle. Her eyes had turned grey with no pupil present. It seems as there was not a sign of life in her. Footsteps came close to her. The exiled noble stood before her, looking at his success.

"Kukukuku," he gave an evil gesture. "It seems like your beloved ninja has been slain and I have taken out all of your magical energy." There was no response. The princess lied on the hard floor, her body devoid of life. Her long hair was spread over the floor, in which the villain had picked up and smelled it.

"What a pity," he lamented hypocritically. "To think a princess like you would just come to an end. It's okay for your spirit to hate. Hate your father for giving you life away." Lord Oda began to walk away from the circle, when he felt a strange aura approaching.

"So he's not dead yet, huh?" The noble gave a smile.

The transformed black ninja ran across rapidly without stopping. There was no time left. He had to save the princess from a major disaster from opening as told by his conscience strangely. A large wooden and ruined building was in sight as he rushed across the top of another hill across the vast plains.

"Tomoyo…" he spoke to himself as he ran across tirelessly. "So it's really you?" He was about to approach the building when a blue light materialized in front of him, causing the black ninja to halt abruptly.

"What a pity," the voice came out from within the bluish light. "It seems that you did not wish to leave this world as yet."

"Whoever you are," Kurogane clenched his bare fists which revealed his larger transformed arm muscles. "Appear now in front of me!" His wish was revealed in which the appearance of Lord Oda was materialized.

"So you're the one behind all this, you bastard?"

"My my," he held up his book of magic. "I see that you've reached your transformation stage. It is rather impressive too."

"Y-your aura," Kurogane detected with a expression of shock. "It doesn't feel like a human at all."

"Of course I'm not a human," he spoke back to him sinisterly. "Don't compare me with those of the low-lives." He waved a hand across in which his glow turned crimson. "Can you notice the familiarity now?"

"What do you mean?"

"It seems that you're disrespecting your elder, my little brother."

"Who's your little brother?" Kurogane replied back in disgust. "Where is the princess?"

"Oh? That magical vessel?" Lord Oda's eyes turned red. "It seems that you're rather concerned for her too."

"Just who are you?"

"You shall see," the exiled lord chanted a few words in which the entire crimson glow began to engulf him. Kurogane took a step back, confused from the happenings. As the crimson glow began to reveal a new figure, the black ninja began to take a defensive stance against the new form. "It's been a while, little brother."

Kurogane took a step back at the new form. It was a woman with red eyes with black flowing hair. Her nails were long and sharp, enough to pierce the skin of any humans and kill them. "W-who're you?" He demanded an answer. "I'm not your little brother."

"How disrespectful," she gave a slight chuckle. "It seems that your soul has already blended in too much with your human form." She gave a slight number of footsteps towards him which he bared the sharp claws on his hands, pointing towards the demoness. "How disrespectful of you," she gave another answer and quickly vanished. Finding her just behind him, Kurogane turned behind to aim his fist at her.

"It seems that you forgot your roots," the demoness commented as she backed away again from Kurogane's attempted offensive. "Perhaps the essence of the human form corrupted the purity of your soul."

"I don't care what my soul is or whatever crap you're talking about!" Kurogane was preparing to attack the demoness again. "Where's the princess, and her servant?"

"Oh? You mean this?" She smiled and waved her hand across, causing her form to transform into that of Tomoyo's handmaiden. "Surprised at my magic?"

"Where is the princess?" Kurogane demanded a third time.

"How stubborn of you, little brother," came the next comment again. The demoness walked closer to him, altering her aura to immobilize him. "I'll have to teach you a lesson then."

Her aura…it's paralyzing my entire body…

The demoness, or his alleged sister, traced her sharp claws across Kurogane's torso up to his neck. Her lips came closer to the black ninja's ears and began to move.

"I'm going to remove your soul from this worthless body," she whispered seductively in his ear, making his eyes widen. "I'll revert you back to your original form." Her claws began to scratch across his back which the clothing had been torn initially. He could feel a sharp sensation but was immobilized to say anything.

"You can do anything with my body," Kurogane tried to speak with much effort. "But you won't remove my soul." Her aura was still too strong for him to move. The demoness wore another grin on her face. Without any warning, she plunged her claws deep into his back, impaling him through. He gave a loud scream as the pain engulfed him.

"Painful isn't it?" She questioned the ninja. "That is what you deserve for being human. However, it looks like you don't wish for any salvation."

Save me…

Kurogane's mind opened up to hear Tomoyo's voice calling out for him. He could feel the blood dripping from his body, which had left a large wound. He was quickly losing consciousness.

"I'll send you to the afterlife as a gift then," the demoness replied back, standing before Kurogane who had collapsed on the ground. She proceeded to approach him, preparing her claws to slash his mortal neck.

The black ninja, however, was unconscious with his eyes in a delirious state and look.

END OF CHRONICLE NINE

CHRONICLE TEN: COMBINE! PRINCESS TOMOYO & NINJA KUROGANE

CONCLUSION: In the aftermath of Chronicle Nine, Kurogane has been left unconscious. Can he save himself by being in time to block the demoness' attack on his life? Or will he die just from her attack? Meanwhile, how is it that Tomoyo can reach him although she has already died? Check out in the next chapter Combine! Princess Tomoyo & Ninja Kurogane!

GLOSSARY:

No new words found!

THANKS FOR READING. I DO HOPE YOU CAN REVIEW IF YOU ARE FREE. ANYWAY, I DO HOPE THIS CHRONICLE CAN RECEIVE MORE REVIEWS THAN THE PREVIOUS. BYE FOR NOW!