Author's note:
This story is a figment of my (er dark) imagination. Similarities to any situation is absolutely coincidental. Please Follow and Review! Thank you.
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS, Clamp does. I do not own the song Ever After, Bonnie Bailey does.
September 1, 2015
Kabukicho, Tokyo
"Wake up."
The young man struggled to open his eyes and saw one of the guards open the door of the cage. Two men dragged him outside the cage and threw him unceremoniously on the floor at the center of the room. He silently counted the number of days it has been since the boss visited him. 'Ah, he's four days earlier than usual.'
Two hands gripped both his upper arms and he was forced to go down on fours while he watch a pair of expensive-looking black leather shoes approach him. He wanted to laugh at the pathetic actions of this boss' minions.
"Boss." The guards knelt down in front of the visitor.
The young man's chest constricted and a too familiar metallic taste appeared in his mouth as the boss stepped on his back and pressed him forcefully to the floor. He then kicked his sides and his face before squatting down to lift his bruised chin up to face him.
He stared back emotionlessly at the man in front of him. The suited man loosened up his tie with his right hand and smiled at him.
"Our friend's stirring up quite some trouble. Do you know?"
No response.
A minute passed by and the man on the floor did not move; he just kept staring back at the other man's eyes.
When they were younger, many people admired this pair of eyes. One black and the other is green. It was mysteriously beautiful but he knew back then that this man is one of the devil's advocate.
The boss sighed and stood up. He kicked the other person's face before sitting on a chair that one of the guards placed right in front of the beaten up man.
"That fucker still wouldn't believe that you're dead. What is your true relationship anyway? Is he your boyfriend?" he spat on the floor in front of the other man and the people inside the room laughed.
The man on the floor remained silent and this annoyed him. He quickly signaled his men to pick him up and tie him on a chair so that he can see his reactions clearly.
"Talk. Or do you want me to bring one of your beloved friends here to accompany you?"
Despite his swollen cheeks, broken nose, and cut lips, the man still exuded an arrogant aura around him. He has endured every torture for four years, and he has no plans of giving in anytime.
"What's there to talk about, Qian Yuan?" his chilling voice very much complemented the coldness in his amber eyes.
Yuan laughed and leaned back on his chair. "Oh, still arrogant, are we, Xiao Shi? Have my men gone too soft with you in the past few days?"
"Your men are soft. Period."
Yuan narrowed his eyes. "Don't worry, after our business talk, I'll make sure that my men won't be too soft on you from now on. Anyway, tell me why Hyuuga is insisting that I know what happened to you."
Xiao shi sneered at Yuan. "How should I know? I haven't left the homey cage you've kept me in all these years. Nor have I had a single chance to talk to anybody else except you. Maybe one of your henchmen betrayed you for Hyuuga?"
The punch came down quickly but he didn't mind it too much. He's gotten used to all these beatings and thankfully, his body has been conditioned for fights, tortures, and even poison since he was a child. He spat some blood on the floor and looked at Yuan across him.
"Tell me who Hyuuga truly is. Don't fucking tell me that he is a mere heir of the Hyuuga Corps. Is he in a gang?"
"Why not ask your men? Or is it that you don't have any Intel in your puny gang?"
This time, a whip pierced his back and he swallowed the blood that came up from his throat. He won't give them the satisfaction of seeing him in pain. He must endure.
"So you won't tell me? Alright. I guess I am wasting my time here." Yuan stood up and left the room.
One of the two gang members who are in charge of guarding him smiled menacingly at him and said, "Well since the boss said to not hold back…" he forcefully opened Xiao Shi's mouth and poured some medicine in his throat.
Xiao Shi knew this routine by heart. He felt a burst of energy rage inside him and all the pain he was feeling a while ago disappeared despite of the constant bleeding all.
The medicine they forced on him will make the person be filled with such energy and make him forget of the pain in his body. The medicine will not heal the wounds, it simply just numbs the pain. The person who drinks it will be filled with burning rage and be kept in such a high to continue fighting and will never feel anything during the fight for thirty minutes. But after the time limit, his body will be back to normal and the previous wounds would obviously worsen and all pain, both old and new, will be amplified.
A wicked medicine to make a pitiful fighting machine.
The two men dragged him to a medium-sized fighting ring in the room and Xiao Shi positioned himself in a fighting stance. 'Let the battle begin, motherfuckers.'
September 1, 2015
Li Corps. Building,
Shinjuku, Tokyo
15:00
Beep*
"Sir, Mr. Andou Tsubasa of the Amamiya Group of Companies is requesting for a closed door meeting with you. He will be arriving to the building in 10 minutes." Syaoran's secretary waited patiently for her boss' instructions.
Syaoran frowned. Andou? His name sounded familiar but he can't figure it out yet. He felt a dull pain in his head as he try to remember anything about him. 'Fuck, the doctor did remind me not to forcefully remember things for now.'
"Alright. Inform the receptionist to send him up when he arrives. As soon as he gets here, don't let anyone disturb us. This must be important for him to request such an abrupt meeting."
'Oh well. Must be one of Masaki's men.'
"Alright sir."
Syaoran leaned back on his chair and faced the glass windows in his office. He kept remembering the conversation he had with Mei Ling and felt like there were some things amiss.
"Fuck Syaoran, what did you just say? You never wanted to be the Wolves leader?"
"Yes. Why did that surprise you? You knew about that even when we were just children. Xiao Shi wanted that position and I would never take it from him."
Total silence.
"Errr okay. I must've forgotten about that."
I laughed at her. "You're getting senile, Mei."
She let out a dry laugh, "Not sure if it's me, moron."
'What did she mean by that? '
'Am I wrong? Did I really wanted to be the Wolves' leader before? Was Xiao Shi forced to be the leader just because he was younger than me? If I pursued my ambition, does it mean that Xiao Shi wouldn't be abducted?'
He stared grimly at the Tokyo scenery before him. Yes, he doesn't believe that his brother is dead. He must be abducted by one of the gangs who hated the Wolves. There is no way his brother will be dead. He won't accept it.
But why do I not remember such a vital thing in his life?
All these years, he firmly believed that he should not take over Xiao Shi's place as the pack's leader because that is rightfully his brother's, he wanted to be the leader and Syaoran would never, ever covet anything of his brother's.
Plus he doesn't want to fight and kill anybody.
'Are you sure you don't?' a voice mocked him in his head.
Of course he doesn't! He's an upright man. He believes in doing the scholarly ways; diplomatic talks over blood and brawls. He can't imagine himself killing somebody just because the other person refuses to agree with him.
'Do you really think you are not bloodthirsty?' the same voice laughed.
Syaoran is confused.
"Who am I? Am I getting crazy?"
'Why don't you try fighting to know once and for all whether you like it or not?' the same voice cheerfully suggested.
'Fighting. This fucking voice in my head creeps me out but it makes sense.'
Beep*
"Mr. Li, Mr. Andou Tsubasa has arrived."
Syaoran quickly composed himself and replied "Send him in."
A tall man wearing a tailored gray suit walked in his office and Syaoran stood up to greet him. He and the other man shook hands and then they took their seats.
"What brings you here, Mr. Andou?"
Tsubasa smiled at him as he sat back comfortably in his chair. He studied Syaoran for a few seconds before replying.
"You haven't changed much physically but your personality did."
Syaoran frowned at him. "What do you mean? Do we know each other?"
"Oh, did Xiao Lang forgot who I am?"
"I do not remember meeting you at all before today. Maybe you have the wrong person." Syaoran stood up to signal the end of their meeting but Tsubasa remained seated.
"How about Natsume Hyuuga? Do you know him?"
Syaoran sat back on his chair. "Of course. He is the heir of the Hyuuga Corporations. Who in the business world wouldn't know who he is."
"Hmmm. Is that all that you know about him?" Tsubasa took out his mobile, selected a contact, and proceeded to make a call.
"Yes. I haven't met him yet nor have I personally closed a business deal with him, my people did those for me."
"Eh." was all that he got from Tsubasa. Syaoran was about to tell him to leave his office because he is wasting his time when Tsubasa's voice cut him off.
"Ne, Mei Ling?"
Syaoran stared at Tsubasa in surprise. This guy knew Mei Ling? And he knew her number too. Syaoran knew how his cousin hated it when random people can call her so every time her number leaks to people she doesn't like, she'll quickly change it. After of course, beating the hell up of whoever gave her number out without her knowledge.
Tsubasa put the call on speaker phone and placed his mobile on Syaoran's desk.
"What the fuck's wrong with you, baldy? I was fucking sleeping and you fucking woke me up." Mei Ling's shrill voice made Syaoran and Tsubasa wince inwardly.
"Well, I am here in Xiao Lang's office and it seems like he doesn't remember who I am."
There was a long pause and Syaoran peeked at the mobile's screen to make sure that his cousin didn't drop the call.
"Oh. I know I am on speaker since you moron never knew how to do things privately and subtly, don't you!"
Tsubasa shrugged. "You know I am only like that when it's about us."
Syaoran was surprised at this. Does that mean his family is close with this person?
"Fuck you. Anyway, it seems like Xiao Lang has lost some of his memories when he had that accident four years back. I think it's like selective amnesia ~"
Syaoran cut in, "How would you know that? I didn't even know it. The doctor never told me."
Tsubasa glanced at Syaoran and said "You wouldn't know because you knew of the primary information regarding yourself, your family, and your job. But apart from these facts that you encounter and use every day, how would you know that you are missing some memories unless someone shove it to your face?"
"The bald one is correct, Xiao Lang. I also think that it's time for you to acknowledge that you've lost some important memories."
"Does your head hurt sometimes when you try to remember some things?" Tsubasa asked him.
Remembering what happened prior Tsubasa's arrival, Syaoran nodded. "Yes."
"Go to your doctor today, Xiao Lang." Mei Ling advised him.
"Alright. I will."
"Oi, anesan." "Fuck you Tsubasa!" "Do you think it will help Xiao Lang here if I send him to a fight?" Tsubasa grinned at Syaoran.
"Eh?" Mei Ling and Syaoran was caught off guard by this question.
"He might remember a few things about himself once he land his first punch. Or maybe smell the sweet scent of blood."
"What the fuck are you saying? Do you think I am some freak who enjoys fighting?" Syaoran was furious at Tsubasa.
Mei Ling on the other hand, was pondering on Tsubasa's suggestion. It does make sense to her. Maybe if that part of Syaoran's mind and soul that loves to fight finally awakens, then he can finally take over his position at the Wolves and at the same time, remember Sakura and the Black Diamond.
"I think it is worth a shot, baldy. You actually came up with a good idea right now."
"What the fuck are you saying Mei!" Syaoran yelled at her.
"Do you really not want to?" Tsubasa asked him as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"Never in my life did I like the smell blood."
Tsubasa and Mei Ling both snorted. Syaoran glared at Tsubasa.
"You really don't want to?"
"No, I don't."
"Eh. Not even for Sakura?" Syaoran saw a cold glint in Tsubasa's eyes. He was shocked at the mention of Sakura's name.
"You know Sakura? What does me fighting have to do with her?"
"Everything." Mei Ling answered his question in a soft voice.
Silence filled the room for a few minutes.
"So, still not willing?" Tsubasa's voice has changed. He doesn't seem friendly and easygoing anymore, instead, he appeared domineering and Syaoran felt something stir inside him when he felt the killing aura emitted by the man sitting in front of him.
A killing intent towards him.
Yet he's sure that it's not fear that he's feeling inside right now.
What could it be?
'Excitement, my dear. Finally, your bloodthirst will be awakened.' the voice inside his head gleefully replied.
Syaoran stared at Tsubasa's cold eyes.
"Let's go."