Summary: After four years of travel, Kurogane and the others finally wind up in Nihon. To his horror, he finds that a lot has changed in his absence. From Tomoyo getting married, to a mysterious force infiltrating Nihon, getting Sakura's feather back isn't going to be easy. Especially when Kurogane is forced to come to grips with a startling revelation that will change his life forever...
Pairings: KuroganexTomoyo, SyaoranxSakura
Disclaimer: Do I even need to do this? You ought to know this already.
Note: This fan fic is based on the manga, with a few extra tidbits here and there from the anime. It was first published on July 28, 2005, therefore set before Chapitre 91. A lot of theories here will coincide with the actual events in TRC, either because I added them later (evident in latter chapters) or because of some good guessing (evident in the first chapters). I also decided to use the official spelling for Fay's name (and Fei Wang Reed's name).
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A/N: With the last chapter of the first part of this series, I decided to do a much-needed revamp concerning replacing a couple of phrases, some spelling mistakes, grammatical structures and misuses in punctuation, a phenomenon fairly evident in the first chapters, which are, in my honest opinion, horrible. They're short, crude, rough, and pretty boring. Thankfully, as time passed, my chapters became longer and much more elaborate in description. I still don't understand how the majority of my readers managed to stay interested enough to keep reading, but I'm grateful that they did. It was your encouragement that has made me what I am today!
It's been nearly two years since I started out as a fan fic writer and I can say without preamble that I've definitely matured. While writing my fan fic, I gained experience, so even though it was a laborious task rereading and editing it, I feel it was worth it so you could enjoy When Worlds Collide as it was meant to be. Constructive criticism is still greatly appreciated.
I hope you enjoy my fan fic!
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When Worlds Collide
Chapter 5 — Mysteries Unraveled
By Mystic Dawn
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Syaoran awoke abruptly to a strange noise. He frowned, wondering what it could be. After a few moments he realized that someone was knocking on his door.
His eyes were still glued with sleep as he sluggishly rose himself from his bed. He placed one hand on the door handle, but had to suppress a large yawn before opening it. He pulled the door open and came face to face with a startled Sakura, whose hand was poised upward, ready to knock again.
"G-g-good morning, Princess," Syaoran greeted her, failing to stifle yet another yawn.
"Good morning, Syaoran-kun," Sakura smiled. "The man's here to take us to Tomoyo-hime. You'd better get ready, or we're going to be late. Here are some clothes for you."
"Thanks," Syaoran replied as Sakura turned, closing the door behind her, but not before shooting him a hurried grin.
Syaoran sighed. He splashed cold water on his face and tried to remember what he had been dreaming about. Something about a dark place, and someone calling him, and telling him that the time was nearing. But even these few recollections seemed to be slipping from his grasp, irretrievable, like the water that seeped through the creases in his cupped hands.
Water... he was trying to hold on to water. His memories were like the liquid that nurtured all life; at times he seemed almost able to hold onto them, before realizing that they had escaped once more. Such was the tantalizing game his memories would play on him.
Syaoran half-shrugged. Now was not the time to dwell on such matters. He quickly got dressed with the robes he had been given and entered the sitting room, where the others were waiting for him.
"You look great!" Mokona squeaked.
Syaoran spread his arms to get a better look at himself. He didn't find anything remotely special about the clothes he was wearing. He was wearing a green kimono tucked in a light-brown hakama with green designs on it, resembling leaves. He raised his head to regard the others.
Sakura seemed to glow. She had donned a light-pink kimono tied with a white obi sash, with white cherry blossom designs upon it. She blushed deeply as she gazed at Syaoran.
Kurogane had put on a black kimono and hakama, and had strapped his sword at his side. He was leaning against one of the walls, his arms crossed over his chest.
Fay's eye-color was brilliantly brought out with the white kimono and sky-blue hakama he wore. He grinned as he greeted Syaoran cheerfully, "Good morning! How did you sleep?"
"Okay," Syaoran responded.
"Then let's go already! I'm starved!" Mokona tittered.
If the servant was curious about Mokona and its origins, he did not show it. He bowed low and led them through the hallways. In contrast with yesterday, the corridors were packed today. People were scurrying along about their businesses, some of them shooting curious, fleeting glances in the group's direction, while others passed them by without notice.
Soon they reached a pair of large doors that were flanked by two ninja wearing ceremonial armor. They nodded to the group and opened the doors for them, skirting to the side so that they could pass.
The servant led them inside a luxurious and spacious sitting room. Ornately-carved furniture decorated the room, and the table had been set for six, with soft velvet cushions for seats. The marble floor was a soft green hue, while the walls were a pale pink. Beautifully woven tapestries hung upon the walls, with bookcases lining them. Two doors led from the room, but their attention was drawn to the space across them.
Lavender-colored gossamer curtains fluttered in the breeze, leading to a large balcony where one lone figure was leaning on the railing, her back to them.
The servant cleared his voice, and announced that the guests had arrived.
Tomoyo turned from her reminiscing and couldn't suppress her happy smile when she spotted Kurogane. "That will be all," she said kindly to the servant.
He bowed low and departed, closing the double doors behind him.
"Did you get a good night's sleep?" she asked as she approached them. She looked extravagant in emerald-green robes, with the purple piping adorning the hem and sleeves of her robes perfectly matching her eyes. Her hair was done in a long braid, entwined with silver-seeming strands. A band of silver fitted with a small silver crescent moon was also wound about her forehead. Her moves were graceful as she came to stand before them.
Kurogane could not help but stare at her in awe. She took his very breath away.
"Yes, we did," Fay grinned. "And thanks for the robes."
"Oh, that was nothing," Tomoyo smiled. "I just wanted you to feel comfortable. Of course, you'll get more formal garments for the wedding."
Somehow, the statement brought Kurogane back to earth, and he took on one of his more prominent expressions.
Tomoyo turned. "Well, I won't keep you waiting. You must all be hungry." She led them toward the small table where she sat at the head of one end. Kurogane seated himself at Tomoyo's right, and Sakura sat beside him, while Fay and Syaoran sat across them. Mokona squealed with delight that Tomoyo hadn't forgotten it, and showered her with little kisses of appreciation as it took the last seat, across from Tomoyo.
"Help yourselves." She took one of the platters and served herself.
The others followed suit, and were soon enjoying their unusual breakfast. None of them had ever eaten anything similar, except for Kurogane, of course. Mokona especially enjoyed the piquant sauce, and it kept on singing, "It's tangy and spicy!"
"Ermph," Fay grunted as he tried to grab some of the food with his chopsticks, but to no avail.
"You still haven't learned how to use them?" Kurogane asked him exasperatedly.
"Well, you don't know how to use cutlery," Fay retorted angrily. "I remember you having the fork in your mouth and wiggling it around, in danger of poking someone's eye out!"
"No I didn't!"
"Oh, yes you did!"
They glared at each other furiously. Or, rather, Kurogane was glaring and Fay was trying not to burst out laughing while trying to mimic the furious expression on his face.
"Ufufufu!" Mokona snickered. "Fay and Kurogane get along so well!"
"Erm..." Sakura commented with a sweat-drop.
"Not really..." Syaoran chuckled weakly.
Tomoyo stifled her laughter. "Fay-san... look, this is the proper way to hold chopsticks," she said as she showed him.
"But then how do I grab the food?" he whined. "My fingers keep slipping."
"Here, let me show you." She got up and bent over his shoulder, sliding his fingers in the right positions. She held her hands over his as she guided him. "And then you go like this."
"Oh!" Fay gasped happily. "I see! Thanks a lot!"
"No problem," Tomoyo smiled at him as she sat back in her seat. "Why... are you all right, Kurogane?"
Kurogane was eyeing Fay evilly, very jealous that he had gotten so much attention from Tomoyo. "Yes," he said stiffly.
"Are you sure?" she asked him, concern ringing in her voice.
Kurogane took a deep breath. "I'm okay," he muttered, as he tried to calm down. Remember... you have a job to do, he told himself sternly. You have to force these feelings away.
Tomoyo frowned slightly, as if not really believing him. "Very well," she said. Then, in an attempt to change the subject, she turned to Sakura. "So... how is your mission getting along?"
"Well..." Sakura lifted her head in thought. "I still have several gaps, but I think we're getting close to finding all of my memories."
Tomoyo nodded.
"I would have never been able to make it without the others' help," Sakura said sincerely. Then, enlightened by a sudden brainwave, she added, "Kurogane-san was especially helpful. He's very courageous and strong, and he's always tried his very best to help us find the feathers."
"Why is that?" Tomoyo asked him, politely curious. "You never really liked helping people, as I recall."
"The circumstances demanded it," Kurogane grunted as he picked at his food. "The sooner we found the feathers, the sooner I'd return to—"
But he was not allowed to finish his phrase when Mokona suddenly jumped onto the table, startling them all. "Yuuko would like to have a word with you," it said in a serious voice.
The others looked at Tomoyo curiously, for Mokona was facing her.
Tomoyo cleared her throat nervously. "Then, by all means, I shall speak with her." She stood and smoothed the front of her robes nervously.
Mokona's red jewel started to glow, and a holographic image of Yuuko appeared, wearing a velvet black dress. She nodded to Tomoyo in respect. "Tomoyo-hime," she greeted her.
"Dimensional Witch," she nodded in return.
"The time has come for you to tell them what they truly face."
Tomoyo frowned in confusion. "But you said—"
"Forget about what I said before. He has cheated. The rules have changed."
"What did he do?" Tomoyo asked in alarm.
"He has sent one of his agents after the Fellowship. Someone they have met before. This was not meant to happen. This agent is interfering."
"Who is it?"
"I do not know yet. But he is extremely dangerous. You must show them the Prophecy."
"All of it?"
"Yes... and you must answer whatever questions they ask you."
"Even...?" She left it hanging.
Yuuko raised her eyebrows. "Yes. Sakura has a right to know."
Sakura looked from Yuuko to Tomoyo in alarm. What did she have a right to know?
"And...?" Tomoyo's eyes flitted nervously to Syaoran, but no one noticed as they were all focused upon the witch.
"Just what he needs to know."
Tomoyo sighed in resignation. "Very well."
Yuuko smiled slightly. "Do not fret. You will have an important role to play before the end."
"Huh? What do you—?" Tomoyo started to demand, but Yuuko's image flickered and vanished before she could finish.
Sakura, Syaoran, Fay, and Kurogane were staring open-mouthed at Tomoyo. Kurogane was especially shocked. "Since when have you been on speaking terms with that witch?" he asked her in a strangled voice.
Tomoyo did not respond as she sank back upon her cushion and clutched at the table hard, her knuckles turning white. She was breathing quickly as she still stared at the spot were Yuuko had been moments before, her mind running with a thousand thoughts.
"Are you okay?" Kurogane asked her anxiously.
Tomoyo shook her head. "Yes..." she muttered abstractedly. She got up and made her way to one of the bookcases. She started tossing books off of one of the shelves, throwing them to the floor.
Syaoran's face contorted with pain when he saw her treating the books so. Fay snickered at his expression.
Finally, they saw that there had been a hidden door behind the former row of books. Tomoyo gulped and concentrated hard, her fingers inches from the small handle. A pale purple mist seemed to flow from her fingertips and surround the small compartment. They heard a click as the door snapped open. Carefully, she withdrew a plain wooden box and dashed back to them, her steps eager.
"Since it has been assigned to me, I will not hold you in the dark," Tomoyo told them, her voice tingling with excitement. Almost with drawn breath, she eased the lock open with another whisper of magic.
Fay frowned. If her magic worked to break her magical locks, then she still had it in its usual quantities. Then why hadn't it worked properly when questioning the assassins?
Tomoyo lifted the lid carefully and drew out an ancient-looking roll of parchment; a scroll, to be precise.
Syaoran gasped. "Is that the Prophecy?" he asked her in awe.
"Yes," she smiled at him. "You appreciate ancient works." It wasn't a question, but a statement.
"Yeah, I do," Syaoran nodded vigorously. "May I see it?"
"Certainly... but you must be extremely careful. It's irreplaceable." She carefully handed him the scroll.
His fingers trembling with ill-suppressed excitement, Syaoran cautiously undid the black ribbon binding it and unrolled the brittle parchment to the beginning of the scroll. "It's written in some sort of ancient language... I sort of understand it, but not completely."
Fay peered at the passage from behind Syaoran's shoulder. "I can't read it at all," he said wistfully.
"So it's written using ideograms?" Kurogane asked.
"Yeah... but not like the kind you use..." Syaoran muttered as he continued to examine it.
"I'd be surprised if he could understand it," Tomoyo said. "It's an ancient form of kanji over three thousand years old."
"Hyu... that's really old!" Fay whistled low.
"Whoa..." Syaoran said. "How amazing is that?" he asked the others, an expression of sheer ecstasy on his face. "Think about it. This scroll's survived three thousand years. Do you have any idea what this means?" Without waiting for an answer he plunged onward, "It means that we have a way to see the past with this!"
"Actually, not the past," Tomoyo corrected him as she gently pried the scroll from his hands. "The future."
"But how is that possible?"
Tomoyo's mouth formed a slow smile. "Do you know what a prophecy is?"
"I think so..."
"It is the power given to someone to tell the future. This was written three thousand years ago, telling of events occurring now."
"Our mission?" Fay started with a gasp.
"Exactly." Tomoyo seated herself upon her cushion. "Would you like to hear it?"
"Will it take long?" Sakura asked her.
"Probably..." she muttered. "Would you like to hear the important stuff?"
"We should hear about this enemy of ours," Kurogane said darkly. "We've gotta find out what his real intentions are."
"One moment..." Tomoyo muttered as she scanned the document. "Ah! Found it." She looked up at them apologetically. "It's written in a very formal type of kanji, so sometimes it's totally incomprehensible. If you don't understand me, stop me and I can explain." She cleared her throat.
"Hearken now the words of the Prophet, for they shalt be as law unto the servants of Good. For lo! When the Dark One shalt gather unto his service all that is evil and malignant wilt it be a sign that he marshals his forces to obtain the Forbidden Power; the ability to perpetually travel through space and time."
"That's pretty clear," Fay commented.
"It's the only clear passage in the whole Prophecy," Tomoyo said dryly. "It doesn't say much more about him. It actually goes on to describe the worlds you fall into. But the fact remains that he is the one behind this mission of yours. He scattered Sakura-hime's feathers to different dimensions, and all the worlds you'd fallen into were predetermined. He chose them, controlling where you landed, and actually offered you some memories on silver platters, if you get my meaning."
"But why?" Syaoran wondered. "I mean, if he's the one responsible for this mess, why is he helping us?"
"It says it somewhere around here..." she muttered as she scanned the ancient script. "Aha..." She cleared her throat.
"A fact which wilt be revealed to the Fellowship later on shalt be the origins of the Dark One. Although his roots flow as complicated as the stars themselves, his blood and fate hast been predetermined, for they art intricately woven with the Beloved One's. When the time is nigh and the Perilous Quest at an end, shalt the Dark One come forth, and the Fellowship shalt behold pure Evil in its true form.
"And... there's a new passage!" she exclaimed with surprise.
"Wouldst the Dark One attempt to create a rift in the cosmos, usurping the laws and rules of the Universe, the two prophecies shalt shift and change to fit accordingly, for no one hath the right to contest with the Creator. Anon, the tides of fate unravel the mystery before the Fellowship, and whilst they do not come face to face with the Dark One, the new piece shalt presently be added to the game, the Mage, to bring the numbers into balance with the interference of the One Without Destiny."
Tomoyo's eyes were wide. "That can't be possible! This paragraph did not exist before!"
"But how can the Prophecy shift? Is it magical?" Syaoran asked.
"Not magical..." Fay mused, "...but a tool of the Universe."
"Huh?" said Kurogane.
"What I mean is, that, depending on the way the Universe changes, the Prophecy changes as well. Sometimes, people are faced with two decisions. By choosing either one, they alter the future."
"So this scroll changes depending on our actions?"
"Precisely. And if I understood correctly, this enemy of ours follows a similar prophecy, right?" Fay turned to Tomoyo.
"Yes..." Tomoyo confirmed. "Though he is very reluctant to do so. That is why the prophecies have changed. Because he attempted to ignore the rules he was given."
"So the prophecies are like sets of rules we have to follow?" Syaoran muttered.
"Yes," Tomoyo replied.
"Then how come we weren't given the Prophecy in the first place? What if we made a mistake without meaning to?"
Tomoyo smiled. "There was no need. The mere fact that you three were chosen to accompany the Beloved One is enough. Whatever you'd do would be correct without you knowing. It is something you were born to do."
Kurogane looked at Tomoyo expectantly. "So... besides all that... why has this guy been making it way too easy for us to find the feathers?"
"As the Prophecy states, his fate is entwined with the Beloved One's... that is Sakura-hime," Tomoyo told them seriously.
Sakura looked up in surprise. "What does that mean?"
Tomoyo sighed. "His true name is Fei Wang Reed. Does that ring any bells?"
"Reed? That's... my family's name!"
"Yes... Fei Wang Reed is one of your relatives." Tomoyo reached out and held her hand. "He is a descendant of Clow Reed."
"But... Clow Reed was my father! How can this Fei Wang be a descendant of Clow's when he's my father?!"
"I don't know... this is what I know from Yuuko-san, and she has not told me anything else concerning your blood ties. And the Prophecy itself states that it's complicated."
"But if he's my relative, why did he do this to me?! Why did he scatter my memories?"
"Sakura-hime, listen to me carefully," Tomoyo told her gently. "Fei Wang had always regarded Clow Reed as an obstacle. As long as Clow was alive to protect you, he could not act. But his death triggered the start of the Prophecy; the opportunity for Fei Wang to act. Fei Wang's only desire is to obtain that which is hidden in the ruins of your country; the power to travel through space and time alike, as many times as he desires. And... you are the key."
"I... still don't understand." She looked imploringly at the others, wondering what they were thinking. Syaoran's expression was shocked, Fay's was as curious as ever, and Kurogane's face was a mask. Only Mokona seemed oblivious to Tomoyo's words as it smiled reassuringly at Sakura.
"You hide immense quantities of magic within you," Tomoyo went on. "Your magic is growing. Even you have realized it, haven't you? Although you may not have known that it was magic at first, you do now, don't you? That was the whole point. If you had remained in your country, your powers would never have grown to what they are now." Tomoyo bowed her head. "That is why he scattered your memories. For you to grow in strength. And that is why he has been spying on you and helping you along the way."
Sakura's lower lip began to tremble. She appeared to be on the verge of tears, and Tomoyo regretted causing her such pain.
"This is all sudden, and I know that it will take a while for you to adjust, but know this," she continued. "You are the key to the ruins, which means that only you can unlock their secret. And you can only unlock them when you unlock the magic hidden inside of you. When the quest is over, you will come face-to-face with Fei Wang. You will have to remember this... he must not be given the power! It will depend greatly on the strength of your heart, for only you can prevent it from happening."
"And..." Sakura gulped. "The others? If I am the key... then what will happen to them?"
"I do not know," Tomoyo said heavily. "The Prophecy is not clear on this. It can go both ways... either in your favor or Fei Wang's favor. It is all up to your strengths... that is why you three were chosen to be the Beloved One's companions. Each of you has special abilities that will further the chances of success."
She turned to Syaoran. "The Prophecy refers to you as the Devoted One. You have never once wavered in this mission. You were always determined to retrieve Sakura-hime's feathers, no matter what the cost. You have a strong will, and I am sure it will help you in the end."
Syaoran nodded. "I'll do my best."
Tomoyo turned to Fay. "You are called the Lost One. You are on the run from a dangerous enemy of yours, and you will have to face your fears sooner or later. You are confused, hurt, and often lonely, but you must know that all will have to be revealed before the confrontation."
Fay paled at her words, but took on a resolved expression.
Tomoyo turned at last to Kurogane. "You never wanted to leave Nihon and you never wanted to set off on a long and perilous mission. You are a strong warrior and a fearless fighter. The Prophecy refers to you with two titles; the Reluctant One and the Dragon Lord. You were destined to become Syaoran-san's guide and mentor, for he is to play an important role in the end."
"What important role?" Syaoran demanded.
Tomoyo turned to him. "I am not allowed to fully reveal what lies in store for you. But you must concentrate hard on your dreams and your past. Through these you will learn about your task."
Syaoran frowned, his expression clearly showing that the answer was not to his satisfaction.
Tomoyo patted his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I know it's frustrating to not know, but you'll be able to accept it more readily if you find it out on your own."
Syaoran sighed heavily. "I understand."
Tomoyo shot him one last reassuring smile, and turned to Kurogane, wringing her hands. "I don't know how to say this..." she said slowly. "But I am very proud of you."
Kurogane frowned. "Why's that?"
Tomoyo pulled back a stray strand of hair from in front of her eyes. "Lesser men would have given up long before they reached their destination. But not you... you were determined to return. And to do that, you helped your companions. Grudgingly at first, yet now you don't even think twice before lending them your aid. That is what the Fellowship means. A joining of friends, united together against the common enemy..."
Tomoyo cleared her throat pointedly, signaling that their conversation had reached its end. "It seems to me that I'll have to leave the Prophecy in your capable hands, Syaoran-san," she said as she carefully put the scroll away. "No doubt you'll wish to study it more, won't you?"
"Er... yes... thank you," Syaoran replied as he protectively held the box in his hands.
"Now... I have to see to many preparations, for tomorrow is my wedding day," she grinned. "Would any of you like to join me?"
Syaoran coughed tentatively. "Um... I'd like to study the Prophecy..."
"Certainly," Tomoyo told him graciously. "I have no objections."
"Yay! There's gonna be a wedding and there's gonna be wedding cake!" Mokona shrieked with glee as it leapt onto Tomoyo's shoulder. "There's gonna be cake, right? Or haven't you invented it yet?"
Tomoyo laughed gaily as she rubbed Mokona's ears fondly and led the way out.
Fay stood up and stretched with a groan of content. "That food was good," he complimented her as he followed her, Kurogane and Sakura trailing along behind. Syaoran went in the opposite direction, toward their rooms, immersed in the Prophecy.
"My cooks are reputed to be the most talented in their field," Tomoyo told him as she led the way through the corridors toward the throne room. "They're also going to supervise the preparations for the wedding banquet."
"Just out of curiosity," Fay pressed on, "if the wedding's going to take place here, won't the Sembians be sort of put out?" He shrugged exaggeratedly. "I mean, two countries... how are you going to rule?"
"Prince Dai is the second of three sons of the current King of Semba," Tomoyo explained as she entered the throne room. A large commotion was taking place as people scurried to and fro, checking this and that and setting up more decorations. "The first son will inherit the crown, which means that with this marriage, Prince Dai will rule at my side. Our countries cannot possibly merge, for our cultures and civilizations are too different."
"I see... and are there going to be any guests from Semba?"
"Certainly. All the nobles and, of course, the royal family, shall attend. The same goes for my guests, as well."
"All of these decorations are so beautiful!" Sakura exclaimed happily.
"Everything is going to be perfect," Tomoyo agreed. "We will also have plenty of sunlight to illuminate the throne room," she added as she pointed upward.
A full five stories above, the high-vaulted ceiling of the chamber was punctuated by large glass windows, which let the sunlight filter through. Kurogane frowned. His instincts told him that something was terribly wrong with the windows. Then he understood. Each window was recessed into a sort of small space, between the ceiling and the edge of the windows, no less than four or five feet deep; enough room to hide a quiet assassin. But how would one get up there? He continued to frown, thinking. There was no possible way for anyone to attempt to reach them from inside, and it would be impossible now that the room was constantly packed with people. No... the only possibly way would be for someone to scale the walls from outside.
As Sakura and Tomoyo continued to chat animatedly, Kurogane laid his hand upon Fay's shoulder and whispered, "If Tomoyo-hime asks where I've gone, just tell her I've gone to find Souma."
"Is that what you're actually going to do?" Fay muttered back, the corners of his mouth forming a small smile.
"No. I've got a bad feeling about those windows. I'm going to check them out." He turned and wove between the servants preparing the ornaments, careful not to tread on any feet to alert Tomoyo of his departure.
"Good luck," Fay murmured in a low voice after Kurogane's retreating back.
———————————————
It was the middle of the afternoon, and Kurogane had wasted his whole morning and noon trying to get rid of Kazuo. Just as soon as Kurogane had made it out of the castle and was about to head toward the grounds before the throne room, Kazuo popped up suddenly and had tailed along behind him, asking him all sorts of questions; from how to properly block and opponent's blow to what he preferred to do in his spare time.
Feeling extremely frustrated, Kurogane had, with an inhuman patience which had later amazed him, answered his petty questions, wishing with each passing minute that Kazuo's next one would be the last. But Kazuo pressed on, each inquiry becoming more frivolous than the last, until his last question, "What interests you most in women?" was the last straw for Kurogane.
"Look," he said hoarsely, his throat aching from all of his responses, "don't you have anything better to do?"
Kazuo looked at him innocently (by now Kurogane was wondering whether it really was innocence, as Kazuo had somehow made it a goal of his to stalk him) and said, "I have the day off and I wanted to get the chance to know you better."
"Well... think about it. You can't learn everything about one person in one day, can you?" Kurogane tried to reason with him. Indeed, he was beginning to wonder why he was exercising such patience with Kazuo, when normally he would have gotten rid of someone like him a long while ago.
"I suppose you're right about that..." Kazuo muttered thoughtfully.
"And anyway, I'm hungry," Kurogane said irritably. "So can we continue this conversation some other time?"
"Okay..." Kazuo started to say, but he called after Kurogane again, who had began to inch away. "Wait! Just answer one more question!"
Kurogane froze in his tracks and gritted his teeth. "Fine. Just one more."
"So what does interest you in women?"
Kurogane turned to eye Kazuo evenly. "I don't really know. I haven't given it much thought."
"No way! A guy like you could have any woman he wanted," Kazuo grinned.
Kurogane regarded him with a pained look. "Okay, you got your answer. Can I go eat now?"
"Sure! See you later!" Kazuo chirped as he dashed off.
As soon as Kazuo was out of sight and earshot, Kurogane threw his hands into the air. "Why me?" he complained bitterly to the sky. "Why does everything seem to happen to me?"
———————————————
"Hey there! I was beginning to wonder where you'd run off to!" Fay teased Kurogane as he opened the door wider for him to pass into the sitting room. "Did you find anything?"
"Nothing," Kurogane grumbled irritably as he eased himself onto one of the cushions with a groan. "I never got down to looking around." He drank deeply from a cup and began to eat ravenously.
"Then what have you been doing all this time?" Fay asked him curiously, failing to suppress a large grin.
"Entertaining that annoying ninja," he grunted, in-between bites of food. "Where're the others?"
"Syaoran-kun's studying the Prophecy and Sakura-chan fell asleep again. They're both in their rooms, and Mokona's keeping an eye on Sakura-chan." Fay sat down on a cushion across from Kurogane and asked, "When you said 'annoying ninja' were you referring to that Kazuo-san?"
"Yeah... he tailed me around like a puppy, asking me stupid questions."
"Really?" Fay asked him as he leaned his head upon his arms. "Like what?"
Kurogane swallowed some food and drank some saké before answering, "Mostly bullshit. How to effectively immobilize an opponent, how to properly clean a dagger, how I like my tea, what interests me in women..." He shrugged. "Bullshit."
Fay snorted and looked up at Kurogane sheepishly. He tried very hard to stifle his giggles, but he could not help the fact that it sounded so... ridiculous!
Kurogane paused from eating to glare at him reproachfully. "What's so funny?" he snarled.
Fay drew a deep breath. "Well," he began, the corners of his mouth tugging slightly, "did he really ask that?"
"Ask what?" Kurogane snapped.
"What... interests you in women," he snickered.
Kurogane narrowed his eyes dangerously. He now realized it was a mistake he even mentioned it, but the damage was already done. "Yes, he did," Kurogane said in a flat voice.
"And?" Fay looked at him expectantly. "What did you answer?"
Kurogane continued to glare at him with dislike etched all over his face.
Fay took a deep breath and forced his face to remain expressionless. "I promise I won't laugh."
Kurogane crossed his arms and arched his eyebrows disbelievingly, regarding him with chagrin.
"Honestly."
Kurogane sighed. Fay wouldn't leave him in peace until he told him. "I said that I didn't really know because I hadn't given it much thought," he finally mumbled tonelessly.
"You—what—?" Fay said incredulously. "Wait a minute." He held up his hand. "Are you telling me that Tomoyo-hime's the only woman who has ever interested you? Is that what you're trying to say?"
Kurogane squirmed uncomfortably.
Fay stared at him open-mouthed. "So you've never been in a relationship with anyone?"
"I was busy! Being a ninja's not all that's cracked up to be!" Kurogane retorted hotly.
"How old are you?"
Kurogane missed the implications and raised his head in thought as he pulled on his collar. "Um... I'd say about twenty-nine." His eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Fay's head hit the table as he fell forward. "And have you ever...?" asked his muffled voice.
"Have I ever what?" Kurogane demanded angrily as he stood to his feet. He was getting very pissed off with Fay's behavior. So what if he'd never had eyes for anyone except Tomoyo? Was it such a big deal?
Apparently, it was to Fay. "You know..." He left it hanging.
Kurogane frowned in confusion. After a few moments his eyes widened as it slowly dawned on him.
Fay raised his head and eyed him smugly. "So?"
Kurogane's face went beet-red and he did not trust himself to answer. He made a mad dash for the door, yanked it open, and sprinted down the corridor, as if the hounds of death were hot on his heels.
———————————————
Kurogane stood before one of the castle walls, where he knew the throne room was located on the inside. He had luckily not run into anyone on his way, and he was now wondering whether he should attempt to scale it.
The castle's walls were worn with age. Little niches that would be perfect for climbing were scattered all over the walls at irregular intervals. Ideal for an assassin. Kurogane threw caution to the wind and started climbing.
It was slow going, for he didn't want to risk slipping and plummeting down five stories and break his neck. Just when he reached the shingled roof however, his foot missed a crack and he slipped. He would have surely fallen hadn't his fast reflexes kicked in and he grabbed onto the shingled roof's edge. He sighed with relief and hoped that the shingles would hold his weight as he gingerly hauled himself up.
He was now upon the roof and he eased his weight upon the shingles carefully, so as not to disturb any. Crouching low, he made his way steadily to the center of the roof, where the glass windows were situated.
The sun glaring against the glass momentarily blinded him, even though it was late afternoon, and he had to squint until his eyes adjusted to it. Then he looked down into the throne room.
No one seemed to notice him, so he scanned the hiding spaces. He found no one there. He made his way to the other side and searched again, but he saw no difference, even by surveying them from a different angle.
He then tested to see if any of the glass panels had been tampered with. None of them gave way to the pressure he was exerting, and he feared that if he applied more pressure he would break them.
It was plainly obvious that no assassin was hiding in any of the small spaces. Kurogane even tried using his senses, but again, nothing. Not even the glass panes had been meddled with to ensure an assassin's future installment.
But Kurogane had been so sure. His instincts had never led him wrong before.
Sighing, he made his way to the edge of the rooftop, where he allowed himself to dangle. Now what? The roof protruded about two feet from the top of the wall. There was no way for him to reach it. Unless...
He braced himself and let go, allowing himself to fall into the wall. He started to slip downward, but his hands grabbed hold onto two niches and he strained his muscles to maintain his firm hold. His feet started searching for cracks, and his grip relaxed slightly as soon as he found them. He then proceeded to cautiously climb down.
Maybe he was being paranoid. Imagining things that were not there. After all, finding out that Tomoyo was to be married had rendered him senseless for a few moments. His mind must have been playing tricks on him. But he still couldn't accept that Semba's motives were honorable.
———————————————
"Nothing?" Syaoran asked him in surprise.
"Nothing whatsoever," Kurogane confirmed.
The group was in the sitting room once more, and they had just eaten dinner. To Kurogane's relief, Fay made no comment about their previous discussion, or any hint that they had ever discussed anything. They were now all comparing their findings amongst themselves.
Sakura told them that she had sensed many of the Sembians, and those she had were excited at the prospect of this union, for it was something highly unusual. However, Fay had subtly interrogated as many people as he could and had discovered that there were members of both parties who did not agree with the marriage. And now, Kurogane had just told them that he had found a way to climb up to examine the glass windows, but had found no hints that an assassin ever was, or ever would be, hiding there.
"But the funny thing is, is that my instincts have never been wrong before," Kurogane muttered. "Why should now be an exception?"
No one could answer his question.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed as he brought his fist down upon a small table, breaking it. "What's Semba playing at?!" He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "If only we had more time!" he fumed. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. "When does the wedding start?"
"Tomorrow morning, two hours before noon," Sakura promptly answered him.
"That's pretty early," mused Fay.
Kurogane started pacing around the room again, bristling like a thunderstorm. "I don't understand... what could they be planning?"
"Maybe..." Syaoran started to say, hesitating slightly. He then began again, stronger, "Maybe Semba isn't planning anything. Maybe because you weren't here to witness this gradual change as Nihon and Semba declared peace, you're struggling to find a problem when there isn't one."
Kurogane froze. "But my instincts..." he weakly complained.
"Were wrong. As you said, you found nothing."
Kurogane shook his head slightly. "But it can't be..."
"I think Syaoran-kun's right," Fay said seriously. "We haven't found anything suspicious. True, there are some who are against this marriage, but they wouldn't go as far as to commit treason."
"Then..." Kurogane shuddered, holding his forehead with one hand. "There's nothing wrong... and Semba truly has become peaceful." His eyes seemed to darken as the inevitable had been voiced.
Semba wasn't planning anything. Tomoyo was going to get married. And Kurogane had been wrong to believe there would be any hope for him...
He lowered his head. "Yeah... you guys're right," he said quietly. "I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't accept it."
Sakura bit on her lower lip in worry. She knew that Kurogane was referring to Tomoyo.
He raised his head and they were all astonished to see his eyes brimming with unshed tears. He covered his face with a trembling hand. "I've lost her," he croaked softly.
He turned on his heel and withdrew to his room, closing the door behind him. With a heavy sigh, he leaned against the inside of his door, drawing ragged breaths. He had been stupid to ever think there would be a chance to win her over. So stupid... He now understood that that had been his real intention. Not to stop Semba, but to stop Tomoyo...
He sagged to the floor in a heap, cradling his head as he cried. Hot tears trickled down his face, which was contorted with immeasurable pain. He hurt badly, his sorrow tearing his heart into tiny pieces.
He would never find true happiness. Ever.
———————————————
Through the door, they could hear his muffled sobs of overwhelming grief.
"I feel so sorry for him," Sakura whispered.
Syaoran looked ashen-faced. "If it hadn't been for my words..."
"In that, I'm to blame, too," Fay sighed. "But his feelings would've come out sooner or later."
Mokona's ears drooped with sadness. Fay patted it, attempting a weak smile. "He had once told me," Fay began quietly, "when we were still in the Republic of Hanshin, that if you cry whenever you have a problem, you can never become stronger." He paused. "We've changed him a great deal."
Sakura, Syaoran and Mokona simply nodded.
———————————————
The day of the wedding dawned bright and sunny. Kurogane woke sandy-eyed and disorientated. He groggily eased himself from his bed and splashed cold water on his face from a basin at a small table. Despite the chill which penetrated his awareness, he still felt as if his head was full of stuffing.
He yawned widely as he entered the sitting room, finding Sakura, Syaoran, and Fay wearing formal ceremonial garb. He frowned. "What...?"
"The wedding is going to start in less than half an hour," Fay told him carefully. "You seemed so tired that we didn't want to wake you until the last possible moment." He pointed to a set of black robes trimmed in silver. "These are for you."
Kurogane's face darkened as he slowly recalled the past events. And last night... he had cast down all defenses and wept like a broken-hearted child. He clenched his fists. He mustn't do anything foolish today. He would grin and bear it. He had no desire to upset Tomoyo. Even if she was marrying another... for it would only be selfish of him to do anything to hurt her feelings.
He forced a cheery-looking smile, which looked more like a grimace, and said, "Well, I'd better get ready, right? Wouldn't want us to be late." He took the robes and went back to his room to change.
He started to hurriedly dress as he repeated the same words over and over again in his head. You must not do anything to ruin this day for Tomoyo, you must not do anything to ruin this day for Tomoyo, you must not do anything to ruin this day for Tomoyo...
He emerged a few moments later, fully dressed. Controlling his face so as not to show any emotions, he said, "Let's go."
Once they reached the throne room, they found it packed with people discussing among themselves. It was obvious that the ceremony hadn't begun yet, for Tomoyo was nowhere to be seen. Before they could actually consider finding a place between the guests, a happy voice greeted them.
It was Souma, who was dressed in dazzling ceremonial armor (which, in a real fight, wouldn't have protected her much, Kurogane noted) and a long black cape. "Tomoyo-hime wants you five to sit up front, as you are her honored guests," she said in a rush as she gently pushed them toward a dais which had been erected before the throne. "Just stand here," she indicated, about six feet away from it, "and we'll start in a few minutes." She hurried off with a small wave.
Not having anything better to do, Kurogane started surveying the crowd. An air of excitement lingered over them as they chattered away. His eyes also fell toward the dais, where he saw two people conversing in low voices.
One of them wore an elaborate crown upon his head, and Kurogane guessed that he must be the King of Semba. He whispered something to the other man, patted his shoulder, and hurried off. The other man wore regal deep-blue robes and had a small circlet of gold around his head. He seemed nervous, as his eyes darted from face to face.
He must be the prince, Kurogane thought.
For one brief moment, the prince's gaze locked with Kurogane's, but he quickly lowered his eyes and continued to shift his weight anxiously.
Kurogane's eyes widened in surprise. It couldn't be... but there was no mistake. The icy-blue eyes, the dark shoulder-length hair...
Dai was the Sembian who had run away eleven years ago when Kurogane had found the Queen murdered.
Without a second thought, and without considering the consequences, Kurogane groped at his waist for the hilt of his sword, ready to kill him. He had vowed to spare no one who had tried to hurt the Princess, and he intended to keep that promise. Anger welled inside of him at the sight of the man, and he couldn't think clearly. But to his surprise, he found no sword.
"Damn," he swore under his breath. He had become careless. Too careless! To have forgotten his sword...
Never mind, he thought vehemently, I don't need my sword. I'll kill him with my bare hands... He balled his hands into fists, and, wearing a deadly expression, took one step toward Dai. But he was not allowed to go any further, for Fay and Syaoran had each grabbed an arm, restraining him.
"Kurogane-san," Syaoran said warningly, "what's gotten into you? The ceremony's going to start any minute now!"
"That... that..." Kurogane spluttered. He struggled to free himself, but they would not let go. With a furious jerk that still kept him immobilized he choked out almost inaudibly, "That... frigging bastard! He was the one who escaped eleven years ago! One of the stinking dirtbags who were gonna...!"
Syaoran stiffened and his hand relaxed slightly when he heard this, which was enough for Kurogane to find the opportunity to pull his arm from him, but Fay still held his other arm in a vice-like grip.
"You don't want to make a scene, do you?" Fay asked him in a low voice.
"But—!" Kurogane bitterly complained.
"Think!" Fay told him as he shook him slightly. "Would Tomoyo-hime ever forgive you if you ruined her wedding?"
Kurogane froze. No, she wouldn't. And then he remembered what he had been telling himself over and over again.
"But..." he said weakly as his shoulders sagged. "I can't..." He drew a deep breath. "That bastard..."
Just then, the babble of voices died away as the guests hurried to take their places. Fay let go of Kurogane and patted his shoulder, but kept his eyes upon him lest he decide to do anything foolish. Mokona hopped onto Fay's head to get a better look.
Dai raised his head expectantly and strode toward the large doors of the throne room, wearing a resolved expression on his face. The great doors opened.
Tomoyo entered, a vision of pristine white perfection, smiling. Dai held out his arm to her and she took it, their arms linking. They walked toward the dais, and the ceremony began.
Sakura closed her eyes, using her senses. Tomoyo felt happy, yet there was a part of her which grieved. Sakura understood. It was the part which clung to Kurogane. Sakura sighed. She understood the duty of a princess, as she was one herself. No matter what, she had a duty to her country. But if she were in her place, she would have called the wedding off. Sakura then tried to sense Dai. But she sensed nothing whatsoever. No emotion, no feeling... nothing. Why was that?
Kurogane could not stand to look at Tomoyo; the sense of loss was still fresh, and the feelings which overwhelmed him last night were threatening to do so again. He tried looking around to distract himself. By chance, his gaze rose to the ceiling, where the large glass windows were situated. His eyes widened in horror.
A dark figure was crouched in one of the small spaces, a bow and arrow in hand. He placed the arrow in the notch and took aim—aiming it directly at Tomoyo's back. The assassin pulled.
It seemed as if time almost stopped. Kurogane dashed with an inhuman speed to Tomoyo, shouting out, "Noooo!"
He pushed her out of the way and turned slightly, to see if the assassin had fired. The arrow hit him squarely in the chest, the force of its speed causing him to topple backward as he cried out in pain.
"Kurogane!" Tomoyo shrieked as she rushed to his side. She put her arms under his armpits as she tried to pull him up to his feet.
Kurogane ignored the stinging sensation in his chest and grasped Tomoyo's upper arms to try to support himself. He chanced a look back at the ceiling as he struggled to rise.
The assassin was quickly readying another arrow, aiming it once more at Tomoyo, and this time she was totally unprotected, her back to the assassin. The assassin let the arrow fly.
Kurogane quickly spun Tomoyo around, using his body to shield her, while concentrating on keeping himself steady, ignoring the fact that he could hardly breathe.
"Argh!" he cried out as his head arched backward and his grip tightened on Tomoyo's arms. Beads of perspiration stood out on his strained face, and he staggered, falling to his knees.
The second arrow got him in the back.
He stared up at Tomoyo's white face. Her violet eyes were wide in shock. She was swimming in and out of his focus as his head spun. He started trembling violently, but all the same turned his head to see what the assassin would do next.
The assassin seemed determined to do his job for he was readying a third arrow, but half-way through his body went rigid and he started to fall, an arrow sticking out of his shoulder.
Kurogane saw white faces staring at him open-mouthed, but his vision was blurred; he could also hear screams, but they oddly seemed far away. He stiffened and felt his grip slacken. He could no longer support himself as he started to slip.
His whole body seemed on fire as he fell, and he thought he heard someone sobbing while crying out his name, but the sound was distant in his ears. His fall seemed without end, and his vision was dotted with black spots. One of the arrows suddenly caused a massive ripple of pain which coursed through his body, searing him.
His eyes gave into the darkness, a welcoming sensation of oblivion and forget, and he knew no more.
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To Be Continued
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A/N: Wondering whether Sakura has magical powers is like wondering whether the world is round. There's no chance of it ever being otherwise. CLAMP never really gave us much information about the whole thing, though, so it's purely my imagination at work here. There never was a Prophecy and there probably never will be in the sense of it ever being presented to the gang as a set of rules to examine. (I bet Yuuko's got some sort of rulebook, though. She's too well-informed for her own good!)
One last thing I have to mention is the whole assassination attempt. Something similar happened in one of my favorite books, although no one had actually gotten hurt (except for the bride who was hit with a poisoned arrow, but that's besides the point), which was one of the reasons I wasn't really intending for this chapter to turn out like this. But... sometimes, having your friends egg you on is a bad, bad thing... for the characters and readers I end up torturing, I mean. XD
Tell me if you like it or tell me if you hate it. Please review!