"My apologies, Emperor Taro. The swine that called me have no regards towards respect and authority. Are we alone?"
"Of course."
"Good."
"Why ever did they call you?"
"While they may be Asses, or even Tricks, they managed to stumble upon something important, concerning the classified object."
"Really now? That is a shame, General. No one, and I repeat, no one is supposed to even know of that objects existence, much less stumble upon it. Are you growing old? Should I kill you right now?"
"I have taken the appropriate steps to make sure that no remembers ever hearing about it. The highest ranking officer, the one who called me, died in my chambers a little over an hour ago, after he memory swiped his men, of course."
"I am pleased to see you still have a sense of humor, sick and twisted as it is."
"The situation was drier, Taro, and needed fast actions. I did enjoy watching him memory swipe everyone, though."
"Move on to the point, General Kazou. What the hell caused all of this?"
"Most strange, Emperor. Before I killed the officer, he handed me all of his information he gathered-"
"I am growing impatient..."
"Yes, of course. Apparent over the last two days there has been an enormous amount of magical energy in one of the poorer sectors of the city. It appears to have just appeared out of thin air!"
"Don't waste my time with the impossible, General. If this is your humor-"
"My Emperor, I am your most loyal servant and my tongue speaks nothing but the truth to you. I saw it myself on one of the security screens. A large blob of magic made of three different sources, in the city."
"Three different sources!"
"The worst of it all is that one of the sources was recognized by the computer."
"Recognized..."
"One of the sources (I presume the strongest) has a strong connection with the classified object."
"Emperor? What do you think-"
"General Kazou, take your men out into the city and capture the sources. I don't care what you use, how many die; just get all of the sources! Alive or dead! Than make sure no trace has ever existed of the sources or the object. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Emperor Taro, but why-"
"Don't ask pointless questions! Follow my orders to the letter! Than report back to me! Now leave, and let me be by myself until you get back. Tell no one to come to me and cancel the rest of my appointments. Good-bye, General."
"Yes, Sir!"
You can come out now, brother. General Kazou is gone. I trust you heard every word?"
"Of course."
"What do you think of it?"
"I can't say for sure, Taro, but from what the general is describing, it sounds like the owner of that feather has come to claim it."
"My thoughts exactly. What shall I do?"
"At the moment, nothing. We can't be sure what it is we are dealing with, that damn General Kazou destroying all the men who were there when the problem began. I could have used them."
"He was acting in my best interests."
"His interests, not yours. Don't be fooled, Taro, Kazou is only obeying you so that he can get another promotion. He'll get tired of you someday."
"Yes, yes, then we kill him. I know, I know. What shall I do tonight?"
"Don't leave this apartment for a few hours, than attend dinner. I am sure by then General Kazou will have created a mess out of this situation and you will need to set rumors straight. Dine with some of the richer families, the ones who confidence we are losing. Don't stay long, though, be sure to come back in time to hear what worthless shit Kazou has uncovered."
"And what will you be doing?"
"I shall be dinning with you, of course, me being your wonderful Prince Saburo, the brother of the Emperor. While you are with the families, I will go around the room, quietly spreading lies of you looking for a queen. With luck, 'news' of you seeking marriage will be common gossip among the political parties in a week from now. Than the parties, all bloodsuckers, will be playing nicely and giving heaps of credit to the Emperor, in hope that you marry one of their whore daughters."
"Ah, Saburo, your mind still amazes me. You can play with people like they are nothing but pawns. But what about this most recent disturbing news?"
"The three new magical sources? Impossible. They don't exist. If General Kazou actually captures them (I do hope he doesn't kill them. They sound interesting, don't they?) Then I shall deal with them."
"I doubt Kazou will like that. He doesn't take to you, does he?"
"That's because he has a bit of a brain, even if he is perishable."
"At least he is not a genius like you."
"No one is."
"True. However, behave yourself tonight. While most of the families are dumb sheep, there are a few wolves. Remember the Daidoujis?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Don't play, it's disgusting."
"I used to be your cute baby brother."
"That was before you scared half the party. It will be a miracle if we can trick them into this."
"Scared of me? What a funny thought"
Syaoran tilted his head backwards, his face showing his clear amazement and deep puzzlement at all that was around him.
The buildings were tall. Huge, gigantic, colossus sized builds stretching their concrete bodies into the sky and disappearing into gray clouds. They seemed to be reaching for the heavens, never ending. Very single building for blocks and blocks seemed to be like this. All frighteningly tall, all reaching, all competing with one another and everything on this planet. People were tiny dots in the distance, unimportant and insignificant with compared to the concrete giants surrounding them-- no, no, that's not it-- closing in on them. Swallowing them up in their shadows that covered the ground in an almost eternal darkness.
Syaoran unconsciously gripped his bags harder as he looked.
When he first stepped outside in daylight, he was beyond shocked at the sight in front of him. His mind automatically sprang in overdrive, going through every single book on ancient and modern buildings he could remember. It was impossible, his mind argued feebly, simply impossible! The buildings were too tall! Simple physics and a general knowledge of construction backed up his reasoning, saying that buildings can only reach so high before they crumble. The higher up they go, the deeper into the ground the foundation goes. However, the foundation and the height both have limits, limits that can't or should ever be tested.
Yet all around him was evidence to disprove this. In front of him, behind him, to his left, to his right, there were buildings that reached the clouds, hundreds of stories tall. How in Kami's name was this possible, Syaoran's physics gave no answer, and in all truth gave up trying to. By now, there were so many things that he had seen and done and never believed or thought possible. It was much simpler and easier to just accept and move on.
"Yo, kid!"
Syaoran's head turned at the sound of his nickname. Kurogane was standing behind him, one eyebrow quirked up.
"Are you done looking? We'd better up before that idiot starts calling names out the window."
Syaoran nodded and followed a step behind Kurogane as the taller kicked the door open. The owner of the apartment house was not sitting at the desk, Syaoran was glad to see.
"Kurogane-san?" Syaoran said.
"mmm?"
"Have you noticed anything strange about this d-country?" He almost said dimension, but stopped himself just in time. The four travelers never mentioned anything about other worlds, unless they were in the presence of someone who knew about the Space Time Witch. They hardly ever found anyone on the worlds they visited, so it was not a habit. Alone, the four talked about other dimensions, but with limitations.
Kurogane did not slow down, or even look at Syaoran as he started up the stairs to their rooms.
"This is not a friendly place, if that is what you mean." he answered. "There were hardly any people out on the streets, so either there aren't that many left, or someone has a mighty lot of power around here."
"The buildings are too tall."
"I didn't realize. They all look tall." By 'they', Syaoran knew Kurogane meant buildings from other dimensions where there was large industry. Kurogane's world apparently had no really tall buildings, so it was natural that he would not automatically notice a height difference between the buildings of worlds.
"Do you think that has something to do with Sakura's feather?" Kurogane asked, stomping on the second floor and turning left to go up the stairs to the third.
Syaoran frowned. "Maybe. Mokona said earlier that there is so much energy everywhere it is hard to pinpoint whether the feather is even on this world."
"What do you plan to do?"
"Same as the last time." Syaoran said. "I'll take Mokona around and hope it picks something up. If not," he shrugged, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Kurogane sighed and mumbled, "dumbass meat bun."
When they reached the seventh floor, Syaoran's gripping his bags harder, the door opened to a lovely sight.
Sakura was standing in the doorway, a smile on her face. "Can I help?" She asked.
Grateful, Syaoran nodded and handed her one of the bags. Kurogane waited until the teens were inside the apartment before glancing side to side down the hallways and to the stairs. Twisting its metal lock into place for good measure, he than shut the door. His skin tingled, a sensation he found most irritating and gave off a sense of foreboding, like something bad was going to happen very soon.
It was only than that he turned around and shouted a, "What the HELL!"
When he left with Syaoran this morning, the rooms were as bare and ugly as when they arrived. Now, however, there was one round table, four chairs complete with matching pillows, two small rugs, one tiny single person mattress, and one off-white mug with a 'I Luv U' painted in red on it.
Syaoran, being the unobservant idiot he always was when Sakura was around, finally addressed the situation. "Fai-san, where did you get all of this?"
Fai did not look up from the card game he was playing with Mokona. "The Witch sent us all of this. Isn't that nice?"
Fai knew fully well the effect this would have on Kurogane, who hated the witch with a passion. He smiled smugly, also right in front of Kurogane.
"Nice, my ass. What did you have to give her?" Kurogane said, throwing the pillow at Fai. Fai dodged it easily, still grinning.
"Oh, nothing much. Remember that gold thingy we took?"
Kurogane rolled his eyes skywards. Of course he remember the gold thingy. He was the one who stabbed the guy who ran off with it (not enough to kill him. That would be such a terrible waste of a good technique). Sakura's feather was inside of it, driving the guy mad with its immense power. He said nothing, knowing Fai would continue as if he hadn't asked a question at all.
"We traded it," Fai said, pausing to lick his finger to pick up a card that was reluctant to leave its nest, "As it turns out, the Witch was having that boy clean out the shop, or whatever she owns."
'A fair trade', Kurogane thought, than hated him-self for thinking of it. That damn witch! Being in her presence in that Japan was once more than he ever wanted. She had quite an effect on him. Proof being how easily her words came to his mind months after he had last seen her in person. Oh, how he hated that, being so easily forced to comply with her will. Not that he really had any chance against her, even with his blessed sword. Her power was evident, suffocating even, smashing his to bits. Kurogane hated her and admired her.
As always, Fai seemed to know what he was thinking, for he said, "That gold thingy much have been valuable, for her to trade us all this in return. And you're the person we have to thank, Kuro-rin!"
Kurogane said nothing, just stomped into a corner and sat, closing his eyes.
While all this was happening, Syaoran and Sakura were making pleasant conversation. "What did you see?"
"Oh, lot's of things, Your Highness. Do you need help opening that?"
"No, no, thank you. What is this world like?"
"Too tall buildings."
"Hoe?"
"Never mind."
"Okay."
" It is easy to find your way around here. Most of the signs are in pictures."
"No words? Coffee?"
"Yes, please. No, not many. Mostly pictures. Very strange, indeed."
"Is it cold outside?"
"Not much, really. This might be like spring or fall. Can I cut that for you, Your Highness? I have a knife."
"Yes, thank you. Would you cut up this, too?"
Fai listened to their talk with wonder. They got along wonderfully, though they were confined to the roles placed on them: the commoner and the princess. While they had graced the lines of friendship long ago, they were not yet comfortable enough to leave the cast system to explore any other levels of that friendship. Of the two, Sakura-chan seemed more likely to suggest anything at all, Syaoran being the near sighted thick headed person he became in situations he like this.
But at the same time, Fai could not blame them. Both in Syaoran and Sakura's heads conflicted and contradicted thousands of years of history and customs. It was not that the boy couldn't accept something unusual (practically all of the journey through dimensions was downright strange) but it was his own moral and high standards that he held himself to. If in any way he felt that he had not earned the right to do something, or love someone, he would not until he proved himself. She was a princess. He was a commoner. No small task to overcome when there are thousands of years in which princesses only married princes, and commoners only married commoners.
Yet now, as Fai looked on as the two teens prepared something to eat, it was so easy to forget who they really were.
A pang of uncertainty hit Fai. Fai shushed it down within him, suppressing until it reacted a controllable level. He was happy.
The air in this world was humid with hatred. Uncontrollable, ugly, sick hatred. It pulsed through alleyways and streets, claiming everything. The origin of it all was the heart of the city. And for some reason, Fai liked it.
In fact, he loved it.
It was funny how much he liked the city, even when it contradicted against his own character. He was peaceful and quiet, whether this city was bloody and screamed revolution. He liked the tall buildings, the blue skies, and the grandness of it all.
And he really liked the hatred.
It was the hatred of this place that he liked the most. His hyper senses had skyrocketed since they landed here, because of all the wonderful hatred. It gave him comfort, knowing that he would never have comfort in this land. He loved this world because he would never relax here, he would never succumb to that feeling that lulled him into believing he was safe, even for a moment. It would never happen here, and he was glad.
And because of that fact, he knew they would be leaving soon, no matter what. Everyone senses were on alarm, making them all jumpy. While Syaoran and Sakura would evidently become accustomed to this world, just a little bit, he knew himself and Kurogane could never be. He was sure Sakura already noticed it, which was why she was trying so hard to help him. Syaoran, being so set on Sakura's feather, would not notice at all for a while. Eventually, he would wise up and they would move to another dimension.
'Hurry up, Syaoran-kun,' Fai thought, 'Hurry up and find that feather. I love this place too much.'
"Where are you going?" Sakura asked, alarm evident in her voice.
Syaoran did not look at her, continuing to pack a small bag. He had already put in currency, a compass, his watch he brought over from five dimensions ago, and was reaching for a map he took from a newsstand. Sakura's foot came down on the map, barely missing Syaoran's fingers.
"Syaoran-kun, are you going to search for my feather?"
Syaoran looked up in her green eyes. He hated doing this. "Yes." he answered, preparing for what he would say to Sakura's next statement.
As predicted, Sakura face remained a look of worry, but her eyes flashed different emotions. Anger, happiness, stubbornness, determination, and thankfulness, at all once. Syaoran recognized them all. 'Ah, Sakura,' he wanted to say, 'do have any idea what your eyes tell? Do you have any idea at all? They exploit you. Reveal your feelings, your emotions. They reveal you. And I am a liar, for I pretend not to notice. Kami, stop starring at me, damn-it'.
"I want to come with." she said, "I want to help."
"No."
"Why?" she retorted, a bit bolder than before. "I won't be a bother. I'll carry Mokona. I've been staying awake all day long now. And you can't say that it is too dangerous." At this last sentence, she smiled, trying to lighten the stiff mood.
Syoaran's mind was screaming no. This world really was too dangerous. The fact that all of the signs were pictures, not words, alarmed Syaoran greatly. Tall buildings and cities meant people had to have learned math to read and pass information down hundreds of people who build this colossus city. The signs told him that most people were illiterate, the pictures telling them where to shop and buy clothes. Why? What kind of government would not promote literacy?
Sakura pouted. "Come on."
Syaoran still wanted to say no. He could not tell her why, though. He saw how anxious Kurogane and Fai were to leave, however quiet they were. They have been through enough; they do not need to know this. But this is about Sakura's safety.
"No, Sakura-hime. I can't let you. It's not a good world out there. I am sure there are people like Jiro-san all over. You're gonna stay here with Fai-san."
Sakura's eyes once again flashed anger at the sound of Jiro's name. But she did not back down. "I have not been out in two whole days! I don't care about J-that man! I have to do something; I can't just sit here and let you do all the work. I feel so...so...useless."
It was one of the few times she referred to her helplessness in order to bring home a point. Syaoran stood his ground, but he was getting weaker. He shook his head.
By now, Sakura would have normally backed down, even though she had a higher status than him. But today, she would have no such thing. She was not clueless. She knew this world was dangerous, but that was why she wanted so much to help. Syaoran has a habit of getting hurt everywhere he goes, and shewas normally the one to clean up his wounds. So why not be there right when it happens if, Kami forbid, something did happen?
When she saw his resistance, Sakura let pent up air out of her lungs. She stared into his amber eyes. Oh, how she wanted to earn his respect and trust. She felt like such a foolish little girl when compared to him. He was strong and driven, how could she ever measure up in his eyes? How could he ever see her in a different light? Why can't he see her? Why he is the way he is? Why did he do what he did?
The question that nagged at her mind the most was the simplest; why is he helping her?
It was along this trail of thoughts that led Sakura to say the next thing on her mind.
"They are my feathers, Syaoran-kun. Not yours."
The words were knives thrust into the heart of the tension. They were cruel and merciless, careless and mean. They rolled off her tongue before she could control herself, and than were out in the open. Sakura instantly recognized her mistake and raised her hand to her mouth to stop herself from saying anything more.
But the damage was done. Syaoran's eyes widened at the remark. The venom in her voice stabbed him. The pure, raw accusation of her words. The wounds created by her words bled and Syaoran took a slow step away from her, speechless.
Numb. Her words left him numb. And he did not know why.
Sakura watched with horror the transition that came over Syaoran. His face seemed to grow pale, less human. 'No,' she wanted to say. Her mouth seemed to be stuffed with cotton. 'I did not mean that! I should be thanking you for all that you've done, not insulting you!'
Syaoran head nodded up and down slowly and he mumbled something, heading toward the door.
And he was gone. Sakura knew that. He was not physically gone, but it hurt just the same. He did not look back to see if anyone was following him, he continued placing one foot in front of the other in a mechanical way. He walked out the door.
Fai and Kurogane, watching all this from the side of the room, did not say anything at all. They merely watched in fascination at the drama, each saddened, but not entirely surprised, be the trauma of this journey. It was over for now, yet everyone suddenly had a lot to think about.
Sakura followed behind Fai, very much in shock. Fai and Kurogane glanced to and fro between the teens. They walked out the door in silence.
All the while Sakura was shouting in her mind, "I'm sorry, Syaoran-kun. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I should have never said those words! I'm sorry!'
If she had been listening, somewhere in the back of her mind another part of her was whispering something else.
'What I said was the truth. So why am I sorry?'
It was one of the few times that the group ever fought. It was rare that they had something to fight about - that is, when they weren't hiding themselves behind dark veils of secrecy. As much as they were happy, the true reasons for this journey had yet to fight their way up, and as much as the group avoided it, it was a losing battle. Those secrets and pasts and futures were all taking a center stage within the coming months.
If fate were kind, it would leave these four people alone. However, fate, or coincidence, never cared about kindness or sadness. What would happen would happen, and with any luck, it would be without too many deaths in the process. Though, fate can't count on that...
Author's note: I am most dissappointed at my nonactivity at fanfiction for these last few months, so I posted this. Please be kind with reviews, and do not beatme uptoo much for my delay and short chapter.
