This is based on Human Waste Project's One Night in Spain - ace song :D
Disclaimer:CLAMPs and not mine.
Deceit
sugahcat
"No," I whisper softly.
Ashura-ou smiles at me. "Yes, Fai."
I had begun to believe that I could escape from him, from who I had been. I had begun to have faith that maybe I could have a good life after all. Now I feel it spilling out of me, leaving me empty. I've been living on borrowed time, lying to myself as much as my smile has lied to my companions. I can never be happy. I frown at this thought. That's not true. I think of Kurogane; of his strong, calloused hands on my skin, of the sound of my name on his tongue, of his lips caressing mine in various shades of passion. I have been happy - he's made me happy. Suddenly a strength courses through me. I won't give my ninja up so easily.
"I always kept a little something to myself, kept something back from you," I tell Ashura-ou, who looks slightly shocked that I'm not meekly following him back to Celes. "And now I've given everything to someone else - including the part I never shared with you. I've started to become who I've always been meant to be and I'm not going to crack and fade back to the man you knew - the man you shaped. It's over."
"Are you denying me?" Ashura-ou's voice is low and threatening. I smile.
"Yes."
I feel the air crackle with his Power - he's reminding me of how strong his magic is - almost as strong as mine. Kurogane and the kids are out looking for Sakura-chan's feather. I needn't worry about hurting them if I can't control my own Power and there's no-one else who I can injure for miles around. So maybe I'll use my magic after all. I certainly won't just lie back and let him do what he wants anymore.
"I've told you before, Fai. We are perfect when we lie, when we wrap ourselves in beautiful strands of deceit," Ahshura-ou's voice is almost hypnotic but it doesn't work on me anymore. "The truth is ugly," he continues. "You're going to lose, so you might as well just come home-"
I suddenly release a burst of pent-up Power and stars dance behind my eyes. It feels wonderful and I think perhaps I can control it after all. Ashura-ou staggers behind the force of my magic but his defensive shield holds.
"You-!"
I grin, a real grin. Not a happy one perhaps but it's an honest reflection of my feelings. I can win. And even if I don't, I know I'll have given it my all. My hands trace runic sigils in the air and my battle with Ashura-ou begins, but the battle within me has already been won. I'll never be his again.