A/N: Okay, who's ready to hear the lamest excuse of why I ddin't write for so long? Okay... well, the day after I posted up the earlier segment to this... I well, was going through my older writing [Tsubasa Elite High, Big Doggy, ect.] and I thought 'Wow, theses suck' and then... I cried. Nonono... I balled my eyes out. My ego took a big hit; I had always been confident in my writing... so having my self realization that I'm no all that good really killed me. Then Onii-sama had to top it off and point out a few OBVIOUS errors in this one... and I hadn't even read through it for editing details and such. Needless to say my moral is really low right now. And school started up already so I'll be busy for a bit... but hopefully I'll be feeling better. Oh... yeah on another note... I'm gonna be really busy 'cause I also started working... Sorry everyone! I'm gonna try as hard as my moral will allow! Oh... and I'm currently looking for someone to beta my crap - I don't have the time... another thing... (sorry for the long-ass author's notes) The italics is kinda a narroration... AND if you have not read 'Big Doggy' yet I suggest you do... it ties into this story... a lot. Oh... and it's mostly a filler but kinda important.
Chapter 7: Endless Time in an Endless place
They were all sure that at least three days had gone by since Sakura had discussed the payment with Yuuko; the prize from the chess tournament in order to restore a destroyed world. Simple, right? What were a few fights and a few scrapes to complete their goal? But it was all shattered now, either way. Fai was closer to Sakura than ever meanwhile he kept everything locked away from Syaoran, Kurogane and Mokona, whilst Sakura kept to herself, ever so seldom speaking her mind to the vampire-mage in return. Syaoran was like an outcast, trying ever so desperately to connect with Sakura in some way, but each time he'd only get more and more pushed away. Quite frankly it was starting to annoy Kurogane. The only time they ever really spoke their minds to one another was when they were drunk and half asleep, exhausted from the long excruciating chess matches and the only ones who drank with Kurogane were the white meat bun and Syaoran.
It'd be the same on every night they fought.
The three warriors were all lined up, chains binding them into position as they readied for another match, the 'Queen's' eyes staring down to her chess pieces. The teams grinning cockily, or holding straight stone set faces as the announcer, that ever so resembled a white rabbit, began the count down to the battle. Both sides tensed, the count down seeming like hours. The moment the word 'go' was yelled out and the chains released, both sides lunged at each other, both sides prepared for the task needed of them. With the resolve and determination of their 'Queen' to give them the strength to fight in gruelling matches where the last team standing won.
This was Infinity's version of chess.
The moment the opposing team would fall, that's when relief would flood in, only to be cast away when the team glanced at each other. All of them so distant but once so close. Even as they went back to their apartment the tension would never vanish. They were all too broken and shattered from Acid Tokyo. Even in the new and dangerous land of Infinity the scares and nightmares of the underground water storage haunted them. In comparison to the last world this made everything more vivid; the tension of fighting, and weariness of the after battle taking their toll.
Even when the occasional and rare supply runs down into the city didn't help...
Kurogane walked through the somewhat busy city streets, his garnet gaze shifting over the crowds. He'd be ready for anything; with so much crime he'd only have to remain on guard. Until a certain unpleasant sight caught his attention. There in a small coffee shop sat a long haired red-head with gleaming red eyes, his attire having changed from a long robe to a long sleeved sweater with golden cuffs and black pants. Kurogane wanted to pass it off as the same looks, same soul, and different person thing but the moment the male waved to him he knew that it was the same Kiouku from Erii. Kurogane growled under his breath and was about to walk away when the sage waved for him to enter.
It was so tempting to walk away and pretend not to have seen anything but he had a few choice words he had been aching to say to the other. Kurogane took that as initiative to walk into the shop that smelled like fresh coffee beans and stomped over to smiling sage. "YOU!" He glared at Kiouku, eyes almost bulging with anger.
"Yes, it's me. Have a seat; we have things we need to discus." The redhead was serious in expression and tone, and Kurogane sat down across from him.
Needless to say the ninja wasn't pleased. "Why are you talking to me...? Last time I saw you didn't you say-"
Kiouku cut off the bigger man, quoting himself. "'I am very disappointed in the both of you. Lying to one another is forgivable but lying to yourselves is truly appalling, disgusting, idiotic, selfish, ill morale and detestable. Get out of my sight'? Yeah I said that. But that was then. This is now. Do you understand what I was trying to do back then?" The sage held a sympathetic expression.
Kurogane shrugged. "I suppose you were trying to keep the mage and I from getting like this?"
Kiouku nodded rapidly, his expression brightening."Exactly!" He then sighed, glancing to the table. "I wish I could help you more but I have ran out of resources. Erii was the only thing I could really do but even still..."
Kurogane caught on quickly by the redhead's expression and tone; sure he could only guess what that thing had been back in Erii but he could suspect it was something of value to the other. "It cost you dearly, right."
"Yes it did. But what can you do right?" The mage smiled and waved down a waitress ordering coffee and a carrot cake. As she left, he resumed. "Anyways, before you ask why I'm helping you I'll tell you this; It's my duty to help those who suffer."
Kurogane blinked and ran the information over in his head before raising an eyebrow at the mage. "But why not help the kid and the Princess?"
Kiouku gave a long sigh, fiddling with his hands. "It's not my place; there is nothing I can do there. It's all up to fate... Dream seers, fortune tellers, Master Sages, Wish Makers... people like Yuko, Ethel, your Princess Tomoyo and I can only do so much... and we've done all we can to help. But you can help to." He smiled at Kurogane and poked the ninja's chest, right around where the heart was located. "Just use this!"
Kurogane moved the sage's hand and glared. "Don't touch me; how do I know you're not gonna change me into a dog again"
Kiouku laughed and smiled as the waitress dropped off the cake and coffee, digging into the cake immediately before replying with a full mouth. "Have no reason to." He stifled a small laugh as he saw the ninja's expression, though backing off in case Kurogane got the idea to hit him. "But anyways; I just thought I'd give you one bit of advice."
Kurogane raised his brow at the other, his expression clearly saying 'get on with it', until the redhead hesitated. "Well?"
Kiouku chuckled nervously and fiddled with the fork for a moment before taking in a breath, before hesitating again. He gave a soft shake of his head before giving a sigh. "Be careful. The game is going to start changing here."
A snort came from Kurogane whom rolled his crimson eyes. "That's it? This is a game to you?"
The sage gave an appalled glared and took another bite of his cake, shaking his head. "Nypph!"
Kurogane stood, glaring down at teh seated other, his frame towering over him. ""Well if that's it I'll be going." He went to walk away, slightly pissed that his time had been wasted. The sage stood as well, and called out to the ninja, albeit a little nervously. "W-wait... ummm... that's not really what I wanted to say..."
Kurogane turned and narrowed his eyes. "Then spit it out."
"... There is still time to change things... that's all... you can go..."
Surprised at the suddenly meek demeanor of the sage, he blinked but then shrugged it off, goin on his way. The moment he got outside he glanced up at the sky and was slightly surprised for how long they had been talking for; the sky was now starting to get dark and the air chilled. Giving a huff he began a quick stride in the direction of their appartment, his senses alert. But of course his caution was for nothing, seeing as no one wanted to pick a fight with the big and burly ninja.
He wandered into the appartment to find what he should've expected, but didn't; Syaoran was passed out on the couch with Mokona, a few empty sake bottles laying around. The Princess' door was closed as well as Fai's. it was obvious this would happen. It always did. Sakura and Fai would retreat and Syaoran was left to suffer, with only Mokona and alcohol to comfort him. Giving a shake of his head, Kurogane grabbed a blanket and settled it over the young brunette before gathering the empty bottles from the floor and placing them on a table. It was a little pathetic that they had all been reduced to this but they were managing. Barely. Giving a huff, Kurogane locked the door and flicked off the light, retiring to bed. Tomorrow he'd take a crack at lightening the mage up. He just hoped he could manage somthing before things started being completely sweapt away in the river that was life.