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 12 — Complications
By Mystic Dawn
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Once they had cleared the wood, the gale hit them again with full force. Under the cover of the trees they had been protected by the worst of the biting wind, but it returned now in full measure. Even the snow seemed to be falling even heavier than before.
They continued at a canter for a few hours, trying to ignore the chill seeping through them. When it approached nightfall, they made their way down into a gully and set camp up against the side of a sharp outcropping of rock. Thankfully, the snow stopped shortly afterward, but the wind continued to howl and chill them.
Kurogane was against their building a fire, for he strongly believed that they would light a beacon for their enemies that way. He reminded them that they had to be careful to mask their passage, for the mercenaries' attempt to attack them before proved that he had been careless. He did not exactly convey his meaning in so many words and by saying all of those things, but it was obvious to Syaoran that Kurogane was still ringed with guilt. "And I don't plan to help them find us again," Kurogane had added in a low growl.
They ate a poor meal of ham and cheese, and Kurogane made a feeble attempt to remove Fay's stitches, nearly blundering from lack of light. So, against Kurogane's better judgment, they lit a small fire for meager warmth and light, and he proceeded to remove the stitches. Fay made no effort to stem his complaints about Kurogane's lack of speed and about the cold, and he constantly reminded him of these observations of his.
"Do you suppose you could hurry, Kuro-rin?" Fay asked yet again. "It's a little too cold for standing around half-dressed!"
"I told you that you could still wear your parkas. All you had to do was unbutton them," Kurogane muttered irritably as he carefully went about his work.
"But it's difficult to button myself up again if I do it like that," Fay complained. "I'd end up having to take them off just to put them back on properly."
"Well, I'm not the one freezing my ass off," Kurogane pointed out.
Sakura and Mokona finally collapsed in helpless glee, not being able to hold in their mirth any longer. They had tried very hard to control themselves since the beginning of Fay's babble, but this was finally too much. Syaoran was torn between joining in the laughter and staying neutral, but he could not hide the huge grin that spread upon his face. He compromised by hiding himself behind the Prophecy, which he was attempting to study in the faint light provided by the campfire.
Fay threw his head back and also joined in the laughter, even if it was at his own expense. "Actually," he admitted after a pause for a breather, "it's the top part that's freezing!" He sniggered heartily as the others continued to laugh.
Kurogane gritted his teeth irritably. "How d'you expect me to get this over with if you keep on moving?!" he demanded angrily.
"Stop talking, then," Fay told him archly as he crossed his arms. "Because it's you who's making me laugh." He grinned at him and winked as the others burst out laughing again.
Kurogane pointedly ignored him, trying very hard to resist the urge to give him a sharp poke. But just then, Sakura put a hand to her forehead and mumbled, "Oh, dear..." Then, she slumped forward, fast asleep.
"Sakura!" Syaoran gasped in a strangled voice as he abandoned the Prophecy and rushed to her side.
"Sakura's okay," Mokona assured him. "She's just asleep!"
Syaoran sighed heavily. "We have to find the rest of her memories." He lifted her limp form in his arms tenderly and carried her to the tent, Mokona hopping along behind him. He laid her upon her sleeping pallet carefully, and Mokona curled up beside her with a yawn, soon fast asleep itself.
Sakura wore a smile upon her lips, and her auburn hair was spread about her face like a crown. Syaoran smiled in remembrance as he covered her gently with the fur-lined blanket. He sighed again as he leaned his head upon his arms. He missed their close friendship. Although they were still close, it just wasn't the same. So much had happened ever since they had first started the search for her feathers... and so much was yet to happen, he felt sure of the fact.
For some reason, their enemy wanted them. Wanting Sakura was logical, but why would Fei Wang want him? Could it all be somehow connected with his blind eye and his dreams? His past? What had happened to him in his past? Syaoran did not remember anything before Fujitaka had found him.
Could the boy who looked like him be their enemy? Fei Wang Reed? Syaoran frowned. No, the boy couldn't be Fei Wang, for there was something familiar about him, and it nagged at him for some reason. He couldn't quite recall it, but he had the impression that they had met before. And not just in his dreams.
Sakura sniffed and her hand twitched in her sleep. Her lips moved to mutter something, but Syaoran did not hear what she said. She then sighed and snuggled deeper under the covers.
He clenched his fist determinedly. He would get her memories back. All of them. Even if Sakura would not remember him when everything was over. He would protect her. He would make sure that Fei Wang Reed would not get his hands on her. That, he promised.
Shooting her a small smile, he emerged from the tent to see that Kurogane had finally finished with Fay, cautioning him to take care because the skin was still healing.
Fay hurriedly dressed and covered himself with one of the blankets, his teeth chattering. "You sure took your time," he muttered as he held up his hands before the fire.
Kurogane regarded him with a flat stare. "Would you have preferred it if I used the full amount of my strength and impaired you?" he asked him in a conventional tone ringed with steel. "The thought crossed my mind several times."
"Ah... no. Good point." Fay grinned sheepishly.
Syaoran sat across from the two grown men whom he had come to respect and care for in these four years of their companionship. "Do you feel better, Fay-san?" he asked the pale wizard as he gathered the Prophecy to him again.
"Loads better," Fay grinned. "The only problem is getting warm again."
Kurogane rolled his eyes exasperatedly and eased his head back upon his arms. He leaned his back against the hard and cold rock-face. His gaze rose to the dark night sky and he beheld the gibbous moon with no particular interest. But with a sudden pang, he realized that the moon reminded him of Tomoyo. He closed his eyes and sighed contentedly, losing himself in a pleasant reverie of his raven-haired princess.
Only a few blissful moments had passed when he was brutally brought back to the present. "Kurogane-san?" Syaoran called him tentatively.
Kurogane opened his eyes and straightened. "What?"
"You said last night that we'd pass into Semba. Did we?"
"As soon as we left those woods we were past the borders and in Semba. Tomorrow evening, we'll be in Sembia, and we'll find some inn or other to spend the night in."
Syaoran frowned in confusion. "Why not stay at the Red Rose? I thought taverns were also inns and had rooms."
"We can't risk people finding out that we're searching for clues on this One Without Destiny," Kurogane pointed out. "So we'll have to stay someplace else in the meantime."
"Yup!" Fay grinned. He stood up and stretched lazily. "And now that that's all settled, I'm gonna get some shut-eye. G'night, Syaoran-kun. G'night, Kuro-wankoro." He yawned hugely as he crawled into the tent.
Kurogane stood up and piled snow onto the fire. "Let's not light a beacon announcing our location," he muttered as he kicked the snow onto the small fire pit. The fire steamed and went out with a hiss as the melted water put the flames out.
Syaoran rolled up the Prophecy. It looked like he wasn't going to get any further that night. He carefully tied it up with its black ribbon and placed it carefully in his cloak. He and Kurogane sat in silence. The only sounds they could hear were from the whistling wind, which continued to tear at them.
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"Kurogane-san! Wake up!"
Kurogane was roughly awakened by an anxious cry and someone shaking him. It felt like he had just gone to bed after making sure that Fay and Sakura wouldn't fall asleep while on watch. He snapped his eyes open and sat up abruptly. "What's happened?" he asked Sakura, who hovered worriedly by him. Syaoran had also woken up, his eyes still glazed and half-glued with sleep.
Her face seemed terribly frightened. "There's some sort of flying creature outside!"
"Wha...?" Kurogane muttered unintelligibly. Then his eyes widened. "Damn it!" he exclaimed as he hurriedly donned his cloak. "I completely forgot!" He rushed out of the tent, pulling on his boots as he ran.
His eyes scanned the sky above him intently. The pre-dawn light illuminated the immense form that swooped above them, its massive wings thrusting its large bulk onward. The creature bellowed and a burst of flame shot out of its mouth.
Fay stood by the tent, shading his eyes as he surveyed the beast. He held the bow in his hand, and hurriedly fit an arrow in the notch. He raised the bow and took careful aim.
Kurogane was alerted by the sound of the bowstring tensing. He turned to Fay, an expression of horror on his face. "Don't shoot, you idiot!" He reached out and grasped Fay's forearms, forcing them downward.
Fay released the arrow in surprise and it hit the layer of frost upon the ground before them. "Why did you do that?!" Fay demanded in bewilderment.
"You'd have hit her!" He let go of him and took a few steps forward.
"Her?" Fay repeated incredulously.
Kurogane did not answer. Putting his fingers to his lips, he blew a shrill and loud whistle.
As if the creature had heard Kurogane's call, it started to swoop around in circles above them. By the time the beast had started to descend, Syaoran and Mokona had also gotten up. Syaoran's eyes grew round in surprise as he stared open-mouthed at the flying creature.
Kurogane's gaze followed the beast's progress in the sky. The creature swooped twice above them, and, flapping its massive wings, it landed before them gracefully, despite its large size.
The earth shook slightly when the beast made contact with it and its wings kicked up snow. It was wholly covered in blood-red scales, a lighter shade of red covering its soft underbelly, and its four clawed feet had large black talons. Its sinuous serpentine body was very long, and its tail swished about behind it. It folded its massive crimson wings across its back. The ridge upon its back was also scarlet-colored and long whiskers flowed about its snout. Its large head was adorned by two horns. It bent its scaly head down and regarded them curiously with bright green eyes, with black vertical pupils. It opened its jaws and they saw that its muzzle was filled with rows of bright white teeth, its canine teeth especially long. A low growl greeted them.
Fay, Sakura, Syaoran and Mokona had edged little by little to stand behind Kurogane.
"It's a dragon," Syaoran whispered in awe.
"Is it safe?" Sakura whispered back.
"I don't know. None of the books I've ever read have regarded dragons as something other than mythical beings."
Kurogane approached the beast with slow and cautious steps, much to the others' dismay. The dragon stayed immobile, but its eyes narrowed suspiciously. Kurogane made his way to it and held up his hands, to show that he meant no harm. Then he gently placed them over the creature's snout and stroked the dragon as he spoke soothing words to it. The beast closed its eyes and they heard a low noise emitting from its throat. They suddenly realized that it was purring!
The dragon nuzzled Kurogane happily as it continued to purr. Sakura, Syaoran, Fay and Mokona keeled over, sweat-dropping. They had definitely not expected something like this!
Kurogane turned to the surprised foursome, still stroking the dragon's scaly neck. "There's nothing to be afraid of," he told them, his voice tingling with excitement; a first, as far as they recalled. "She's perfectly harmless."
"And how can you be sure of that?" Fay asked him nervously.
"'Cause me and Firebolt are friends."
"Firebolt?"
"That's her name. It suits her, doesn't it? She can ride as fast as the wind, and her element is fire." He ran his fingers along her shiny scales. "She and I go way back." He turned to her. "Don't we?"
Firebolt continued to nuzzle him and she playfully nipped at his cloak. Kurogane chuckled softly.
"Wow!" Sakura gasped in amazement. "So how did you two meet?"
Kurogane tapped his chin thoughtfully with his forefinger. "Let's see... it was seven—no, closer to eight—years ago. I was traveling on this very route, bent on annihilating a certain Sembian daimyo who had tried to install spies in Shirasagi Castle." He frowned. "He had dispatched a sizeable band of brigands after me, and just when I had had enough of their tailing me, Firebolt suddenly swooped down from the sky and chased them away." He shrugged. "We've been friends ever since."
"It must be wonderful to be friends with a dragon." Sakura had gotten over her initial shyness and was smiling openly, her emerald-green eyes twinkling, as she gazed, enraptured, at Firebolt.
"Erm..." Fay raised his hand, as if he were in school. "Just out of curiosity, how come she seemed ready to devour us if you two are friends?"
The dragon exhaled irritably, small flames jutting out of her nostrils. Fay jumped back in alarm, hiding behind Syaoran and Sakura. Mokona peeked tentatively over Fay's mop of blond hair at the dragon.
Kurogane snorted. "She wasn't going to eat us. We were in her territory, so it was only natural for her to be suspicious at first. But as soon as I called her, she knew it was me, even though she was still apprehensive about you guys." He scratched his head. "I know I shoulda warned you about her, but it completely slipped my mind."
Firebolt sniffed disdainfully and eyed Kurogane reproachfully.
"I know, I know. Serves me right, eh?" he asked her.
Firebolt nodded once, and, lifting a wing, began to preen herself.
Syaoran's jaw dropped open in shock. "You can understand her?" he asked Kurogane almost inaudibly.
"Of course," Kurogane said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I've known Firebolt for ages. And the dragon's tongue isn't that hard to learn at all since it's mostly body language anyway. Dragons are very intelligent and they can understand human speech, but their jaws aren't properly shaped to speak it themselves."
"But how come Moko-chan didn't translate, then?" Sakura wondered.
"I can't because she's not really talking with her mouth," Mokona explained with a small squeak. "She's talking in the manner of the dragon. With movements, expressions, and with her very being. It's a bit complicated."
"It's a shame," Kurogane noted. "It's really a rather concise and often quiet beautiful language. Dragons can be eloquent—even poetic—once you get used to having them speak to you without words."
"And what did she just tell you?" Syaoran asked him curiously.
"Basically, she just told me that it was very rude of me to have forgotten her." He turned to her and stroked her under her chin. "I wasn't even here these past four years," he explained, "so I couldn't have visited you even if I wanted to."
She paused in her preening and regarded him curiously, making a peculiar sound with her throat.
"You don't believe me." His voice sounded hurt.
She rolled her eyes, and, lifting her head, she snorted again, small flames emitting from her nostrils.
Sakura watched their exchange in fascination. How wonderful it must be to be able to talk with such a majestic and beautiful creature!
Kurogane sighed. "Listen, I can't tell you everything. It's a long story," he told the dragon in a quiet voice. "I was on a journey with them, traveling to different worlds."
Firebolt bent and nudged him with the tip of her nose slightly, a questioning look in her eyes.
"Well, to make a long story short, the girl's lost her memories. They were scattered to different dimensions in the forms of feathers and we've been trying to find them."
She tilted her head to one side, her green eyes lighting up suddenly.
"What?!" Kurogane gasped. "Are you sure?"
She nodded and chattered extensively in her throaty language.
"You have no idea how much you've helped, you know that?" Kurogane told her when she finished, stroking her snout in thanks.
Firebolt grinned, an act that made her seem fierce as she opened her muzzle to reveal her teeth slightly, and her look appeared smug.
Kurogane rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You're the most intelligent dragon I've ever met." He grinned in turn. "You never tire of hearing that, do you?" he asked her as he scratched her behind her ears.
Firebolt shook her head and purred again. She clicked her tongue and winked.
"I'll remember that," he promised her.
She surveyed the others and bowed her head to them. Not knowing what else to do, they bowed back. Satisfied, she nuzzled Kurogane once more in farewell. She turned her back to them and spread her large wings. After a few seconds, she was airborne. Kurogane's eyes followed her passage through the sky, until she had become a mere speck in his range of vision.
Fay stepped forward to stand beside Kurogane. He crossed his arms and grinned at him slyly. "Well, well, well. Imagine that."
"Imagine what?" Kurogane snapped. He did not like the look on Fay's face at all.
"A compassionate side to you I never thought possible existed." He turned to the others. "I never expected Kuro-chuu here to be consorting with dragons." He elbowed Kurogane with a wink. "Should we get word to Tomoyo-chan about this?" he asked the others.
The foursome burst out laughing, imagining the comic scene.
Kurogane gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, shaking with ill-suppressed rage. "When you've quite finished," he snarled at the lot of them. "I've got something really important to tell you guys. Though I doubt you're in any condition to hear me out just now."
Fay simply laughed even harder, clutching at his stomach, unlike the others who stopped, curious as to what Kurogane had to say.
"So what's so important?" Sakura asked him. "Does it have to do with what you and your dragon were discussing? You seemed pretty surprised about something."
Kurogane tsked. "Firstly, Firebolt is not my dragon. She's not a pet. She's a friend," he told her. "Secondly, she told me things regarding your feather and the One Without Destiny."
"What?!" Sakura, Syaoran, Mokona and Fay exclaimed. Their cheery moods soon vanished and were replaced by serious and questioning expressions. Even Fay had stopped laughing.
Kurogane nodded. "Yeah. As soon as I mentioned the feather, she told me that she and the other dragons had sensed something peculiar in the south about a year ago. They chose one of the smaller earth dragons to go and investigate, and he found out that a man had a feather that was sending off powerful magic vibes. The dragon realized that the feather was a human memory by reading the feather's essence. But they decided not to interfere; they don't really like humans, and since it was a human's memory, they left the man in peace."
"The man then is...?" Syaoran said slowly.
"The One Without Destiny," Kurogane confirmed. "Firebolt told me that he never removed his cloak. He was sending off his own magic vibes, meaning that he was some sort of magician. And recently, magic vibes in the south have been going haywire again. They suspect that the man tapped into the feather's powers to amplify his own."
Fay gasped in realization and snapped his fingers. "No wonder he escaped from Tomoyo-chan's magic dome! He used the feather's powers!"
"And that's why I haven't been able to pin down the vibes!" Mokona slapped its paw against its forehead. "Because he's been using it!"
Syaoran clenched his fists. "So now we know that he's using the feather. That means that we have to take it from him soon. Before he does anything else."
The others nodded.
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The sun rose soon after their meeting with Firebolt. It was a clear and cold morning, and although the sun shone brightly, it lacked greatly in warmth. Before breaking camp, Kurogane rummaged through his pack, producing nondescript articles of clothing.
"The clothes we're wearing are fine and all for travel, but it'd be best to change into these, to avoid people gawking at us. We'll hit a small trail soon that'll lead us back to the Highway. We'll also pass through a couple of villages and towns before we actually reach Sembia. It'll be faster once we reach the road."
"Just out of curiosity," Syaoran began, "since it's faster to travel on roads, how come we made such good time?"
Kurogane handed him a hakama, and, rummaging once more through his pack, said, "That's because the Highway's one huge curve. We simplified things by traveling straight through."
"Are these actually going to fit us?" Fay asked him dubiously as he held up the hakama he gave him. It seemed too short to Fay.
"They're just fine." He handed Sakura a deep-green kimono.
"How pretty! Do you know who made them?" Sakura asked him, admiring the plain, yet beautifully-woven design.
"Suzue did."
"Wow! Your sister's very talented!"
"I'll tell her that the next time I see her. She likes it when people admire her work." He tied up his pack. "She also told me that she'd like for you guys to keep them, as gifts."
"I most certainly will!" Sakura assured him. She seemed very excited about the kimono and rushed into the tent to change.
"So whose idea was it to wear disguises?" Fay asked as he continued to examine his hakama.
"Mine," said Kurogane. "It's a basic ninja rule. Always try to be inconspicuous when on a mission."
Fay turned to Syaoran, a mock expression of sadness on his face. "Well, Syaoran-kun," he said in a gloomy voice, "it looks like simple folk like you and me will never come to understand ninja."
Syaoran blinked while Fay tried to stifle his chuckles, and Kurogane rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Ta da!" Sakura exclaimed happily as she sprang out of the tent. She wore the green kimono, which fitted her perfectly, bringing out her green eyes. She twirled around twice and giggled shyly. "How do I look?"
"You look great!" Mokona squealed.
"Hyu! You're blooming, Sakura-chan!" Fay clapped.
Syaoran flushed red and choked, "You look very nice."
Kurogane simply grunted.
After they had all changed and eaten, they broke camp, and continued their trek at a loping canter, trudging through the slush. Soon, they left the rocky wasteland and came across fallow fields covered in white snow.
They passed through a village, and Kurogane was satisfied that they blended right in with the general populace, for no one gave them a second glance. They soon reached the Highway and continued speedily upon it, finally reaching the large city of Sembia close to sunset. They approached the massive city gates, and two gate guards emerged from the nearby gatehouse. One of them stepped forward, placing himself directly into their path. "Stop!" he said shrilly, holding up one hand. "State your business in Sembia."
Kurogane pulled his horse to a stop about four feet from him, the others following suit. "I'm a wine-merchant," he lied glibly. "I'm expecting my supply wagons to pass through here in a few days. In the meantime, I'd be most grateful if you could direct me to a respectable inn." He smiled encouragingly at the man.
The guard frowned, thinking hard. "The most respectable inn I can think of is the Dragon's Den," he responded after a few moments.
"And where can I find it?"
"Just continue along this street to reach the Main Square and turn to the right. You can't miss it."
Kurogane rummaged through a small pouch at his side and produced three coins. The guard's eyes brightened at the sight of the money. "Thank you for the information," Kurogane said as he tossed the coins to him.
The guard caught all three coins and held them tightly in his fist. "Good evening to you, sir," he bowed his head in thanks. He quickly stuffed the coins in his pocket, for the other guard was eyeing him greedily.
"And to you," Kurogane nodded, urging his mount forward at a trot, the others trailing along behind him.
"Smooth," Fay complimented him as soon as they were well out of earshot of the two guards. He drew up his mount next to Kurogane's. "I never thought you could even use dignified speech without choking on it."
Kurogane pointedly ignored him, wearing one of his more prominent expressions.
Fay chuckled. "Plus, I never thought you capable of such an act," he added.
"What kind of act?" Kurogane asked him waspishly, but with a hint of curiosity.
"An act of deception," Fay answered with a small smile. "You almost seemed like a different person back there. The way you lied to the gatekeeper was sheer poetry!"
"We ninja are supposed to know how to assume different identities, to trick and deceive others, in order to achieve our ends." Kurogane shrugged. "It's a basic ninja rule. And the better you play, the longer you survive."
"Sounds harsh."
"It's a reality."
Although it was late, the streets of the large city were packed. People were scurrying about doing last-minute shopping, and dealers were trying to sell their goods in vain. Kurogane brought his horse to a stop before a food vendor's stall, which was situated at the mouth of an alleyway.
The vendor's eyes lightened, hopeful that he had found a possible buyer. But before he could even think about suggesting that the tall rider purchase some scrumptious apples, he was brutally brought back to reality by his harsh words.
"You," Kurogane said in the most insulting tone he could manage. "I require directions to a tavern called the Red Rose."
The vendor blinked, flushing with anger.
"Are you deaf, man?" Kurogane snarled.
The vendor started nervously. "Continue up this street for about five minutes," he mumbled. "Once you reach the Main Square, take the left turn and keep on going until you reach the East Square. Then take the right turn, and then, at the second street, take the left turn. You'll find it there. It's got a painted red rose on the door."
Kurogane sniffed ungraciously and tossed a few coins at his feet. He whirled his horse in an imperial manner, continuing along the street at a trot, the others right behind them.
Syaoran's eyebrows rose so high that they almost disappeared in his hair. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw that the vendor looked outraged, but he did grope in the snow for the coins Kurogane had thrown. Syaoran nudged his horse forward to walk beside Kurogane. "What was that all about?" he asked incredulously.
Kurogane smirked. "Just putting on airs," he replied. "If anyone happens to be looking for us and they describe me, they'll be getting numerous personality descriptions, so they'll have no idea who or what to believe."
Fay clapped appreciatively. "Hyu! Kuro-pippi's even more devious than I thought!"
"I said that I'd make sure I'd hide our passage, didn't I?"
"You certainly did!" Mokona squeaked, peeking over the rim of Fay's hooded cloak.
Fay stuffed Mokona back in, looking around to see if anyone had noticed it. "You're not supposed to be seen," he reminded it in a low voice.
They continued along the street for a while, weaving through the passers-by. Kurogane suddenly stiffened, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. His instincts were telling him that they were being watched. He casually stretched while chancing a glance to his left. Sure enough, in the darkness of one of the closed stores, a dark figure wrapped in a tattered mantle was regarding them steadily. Then the watcher flickered, and vanished.
Kurogane started and turned in the saddle to see where the cloaked person had gone. But there was no trace of him. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air. Turning forward again, Kurogane frowned. Could it have been the One Without Destiny?
"What's wrong?" Syaoran asked him in a low voice.
"Someone was watching us," he whispered back, "but he disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"He was there one second ago, and then the next he wasn't."
Fay frowned. "I felt something just now," he muttered. "A whisper of magic."
"I felt it, too," Sakura agreed.
"The One Without Destiny?" Syaoran demanded.
"We can't talk about stuff like that in the middle of the street," Kurogane growled. "Hang on 'till we get to the inn." He urged his horse onward.
After a few minutes they finally reached the Main Square. It was obvious that there had been a market earlier that day, for the rubbish proclaimed such, and a few stalls were still open, their vendors hopeful that they could still snag a purchaser.
The square was surrounded by imposing buildings, but the largest by far was the Dragon's Den, situated at the right. Sure enough, a sign of a dragon hung upon the arch leading into the neat courtyard, and to the left of the inn were fairly large stables, somehow attached to the wall. Kurogane turned to them. "Just follow my lead," he warned them in a hurried whisper. "We can't afford any mistakes." His voice was dead-serious, causing them each to feel somewhat nervous.
They dismounted and led their horses through the gateway and into the small courtyard. They tied them at a small post by the door, taking their packs, and Kurogane pushed the door open, letting himself in. The others followed him and they found themselves in a brightly-lit corridor. A large desk was situated by the entrance, and a bored-looking girl was leaning her elbows upon it, her head in her hands. She had dark skin, sky-blue eyes, and had her bushy light-pink hair held up in a high ponytail. She wore a plain ivory-colored kimono with red designs, which matched her large spherical earrings. As soon as they entered, she looked up and straightened. "Welcome to the Dragon's Den," she greeted them enthusiastically, with a huge smile adorning her face. "What might you four need?"
"Stabling for three mounts and rooms for lodging," Kurogane promptly answered her. "We plan to stay for a few days."
She flipped through a large book in front of her. "We have four rooms with one bed in each, two rooms with two beds in each, and one room with four beds." She looked up. "Which would you prefer?"
Kurogane raised his eyebrows. "That depends on the price," he replied blandly.
She chuckled. "Of course. For one room it's two silvers and five coppers, for two rooms it's four silvers and ten coppers, and for four rooms it's eight silvers or one gold and three silvers."
"And the stabling?"
"That depends on the size of your mounts."
"They're three horses."
"Hmm..." She flipped through the book again. "Six silvers. Or one gold and one silver."
Kurogane frowned. "I see." He pursed his lips in speculation. "We'll take the two rooms."
"And would you like your meals in your rooms or in the common room?" she prompted.
"We'll eat in the common room."
"Very well," she said. "The price in total is two golds and ten coppers for a total of twenty-four hours." She picked up a small brush and dipped it in a pot. She scribbled in the book with it. "And your name...?"
"Kumaso Fujimoto."
She jotted down his name. "All right..." she muttered. She put down the brush. "Wait a moment, and I'll call the groom to stable your horses." She disappeared through a small door behind the desk.
Fay let out his breath explosively. "Another look-alike! Caldina-san looks exactly like she did back in Outo. Even the earrings remain!"
"Why did she seem disappointed when you said that we'd eat in the common room?" Sakura asked Kurogane curiously.
"That's because the price would've been higher if we took private meals. But we'd draw more attention that way."
Caldina bustled back, accompanied by a tall man with a heavy jaw and thick eyebrows, whom they recognized as Kusanagi, also from Outo Country. He smiled in welcome and bowed politely before going outside and leading their mounts to the stables.
Caldina turned back to them. "Just follow me and I'll take you to your rooms." She passed through the hallway past a brightly lit room, where long tables were situated. A number of people were seated at various places around the tables, enjoying their meals. Caldina, however, did not lead them there. She turned to the left, and started climbing a narrow staircase. She led them to the second floor, where the sleeping quarters were situated.
"Here we are," she said as she stopped before two doors, drawing out two keys. "These are your rooms. You can leave your belongings here and go straight to the common room for a bite to eat. No matter what time of day it is, you'll be able to snack on something. The common room's always open." Handing the keys to Kurogane, she left.
"You didn't have doors like these back at Shirasagi," Fay noted. "Your doors slid open, but these doors have hinges."
"Semba and Nihon are two totally different civilizations," Kurogane explained, trying out one of the keys on the first door. "Some rumors say that they were barbarians that came across the sea and invaded our lands, which is why our cultures are so different."
"While others are like the myth you told us with the Two Towers?" Syaoran asked.
"Uh-huh. In such cases, I choose not to believe in anything." Kurogane finally managed to unlock the door with the second key, and he indicated that the others enter before him with a nod of his head. He entered last and firmly closed the door behind him.
His eyes scanned the room. It was a relatively small and plain room with two simple sleeping pallets and a small window with deep-blue curtains. The walls were white and bare, and the floor was made out of wood. "Adequate," he sniffed. He tossed his pack in a corner and went to the window. Opening it, he poked his head out. The window looked out onto the courtyard, where the stables were. He drew his head back in and closed the window. He pulled the curtains over them, making sure that they hid them from unfriendly eyes on the road. He turned to the others.
"Okay. We need to devise a plan." He clasped his hands behind his back. "I think I'll continue the wine-merchant impersonation with that fake name I gave her. The fact that we chose two rooms also fits. A merchant isn't too stingy, but he's not exactly wasteful. Perfect."
"So what'll that make us?" Fay asked.
Kurogane's eyes rose to the ceiling in thought. "We could say that you're my porter... and that the kid's my apprentice whom I'm attempting to instruct in the rudiments of the trade."
Fay's eyes lit up. "And what does a porter do?"
Kurogane smirked. "You carry my luggage around."
Fay's spark of enthusiasm quickly faded. "I guess I deserve that for calling you my servant back in Jade Country, eh?" he chuckled.
"Yep."
"And what will I do?" Sakura asked him.
"Well, we can't really say that you're a servant," he mused. "We can say that you're my little sister. You're accompanying me for a change of scenery." Kurogane started pacing about the room. "We've got a serious problem, though. That guy I saw before was wearing a cloak."
"The One Without Destiny?" Syaoran demanded.
"No," Fay shook his head. "I can recognize his power-flows from when he had possessed Dai-ouji and Kazuo-san. These flows were different."
"Then this guy I saw was someone else," Kurogane stated.
"Another of Fei Wang's henchmen?" Syaoran suggested.
"Or someone entirely different."
"Who?"
"Beats me," Kurogane shrugged.
Fay stood up and peered behind the curtain. The sky had darkened, and a steady drizzle now rained upon the rooftops. "Both Sakura-chan and I sensed the presence of magic," he mused. "I don't know if this person might be working for Fei Wang or for the One Without Destiny, but we can be safe to assume that he's a mage and that he wants something from us."
"But what?" Sakura wondered.
"I don't know." Fay turned from the window. "And we can't do anything without more leads." He thoughtfully twirled a tuft of his blond hair around his forefinger. "If we get back there tomorrow, Sakura-chan could try to sense his life-force, like she did with Kazuo-san's pendant."
Sakura nodded. "I'll try my best," she declared.
Kurogane removed his heavy cloak and hung it upon a peg on the wall. "But what about the One Without Destiny?" He turned to them. "We know that he wants me and the wizard dead, and wants the kids for some reason or other. The only way to put a stop to him is to find out his weaknesses."
"But we don't know anything about him," Sakura protested.
Fay looked up. "But we know that he's getting desperate. He used Kazuo-san, and then he used those mercenaries. And now this guy Kuro-pii saw before... he could be some sort of spy for him. I'm betting that something's probably going to happen soon." He put his hand to his chin. "But instead of using magic, he's also sending people after us..."
"So?" Kurogane said. "What's that got to do with anything?"
"Actually, it's very important," Fay disagreed. "It shows that he's got a weakness." He crossed his arms. "Each time the One Without Destiny taps into the feather's powers, he weakens."
"How'd you reach that conclusion?"
Fay winked hugely at Kurogane. "Elementary, my dear Kuro-wan. Elementary."
Kurogane scowled at him, his hands at his sides.
Fay ignored him and continued. "Each practitioner of magic can become stronger with study, practice, and time," he explained. "If someone boosts his powers without those three necessary factors, he quickly becomes exhausted, because his body didn't have a chance to adapt to the sudden changes magic demands. It's actually a very tricky and risky process. So that's probably why he's using the feather sparingly and why he's also depending on mundane means to get at us."
"Mundane? There was nothing mundane about the cloaked person Kurogane-san saw," Sakura protested. "I felt strong power."
"Granted, but we can't do anything about that guy just now. We need more leads."
"Then there's not much more we can say," Kurogane concluded.
They suddenly heard a loud growl.
"What was that?!" Mokona squeaked.
Fay chuckled sheepishly. "Erm... that was me," he admitted. "I'm starving!"
Kurogane, Sakura and Syaoran sweat-dropped. Fay's stomach rumbling had been very loud.
Mokona giggled, "Ufufufu!"
———————————————
The next morning was decidedly wet and dreary. Last night's snow-rain had rendered the streets slushy and slippery. Sakura and Fay had gone back to the place where Kurogane had seen the cloaked man, and Kurogane and Syaoran were currently acting out their parts as a wine-merchant and his apprentice.
Basically, the two of them were supposedly inquiring about the price of wine at that time of year, just in case they were being watched. They passed numerous booths and stalls that lined the street, the merchants calling at the passers-by, imploring them to stop and look at merchandise.
"They sound almost desperate," Syaoran observed.
"They're greedy," Kurogane told him. "Any seller hates to see customers get away." His eyes fell upon a booth with various decanters and bottles. "And here's a 'colleague'," he muttered sourly. He approached the wine-merchant and discussed in a light manner with him for a few minutes. Then he turned to Syaoran, and, with a nod, they set off again.
"You seem to know a lot about wine," Syaoran commented, referring to the questions Kurogane had asked the merchant, which had seemed highly professional to him.
"Not really. The whole point is the cost. You have to know how much something is really worth, and then you have to price it just right. That's how you deal with merchants. 'Cause if they overprice, they don't sell much, and if they price lower, there'll be no profit."
"You must've learned a lot during your training. You could've convinced anyone back there that you had been a wine-merchant for years."
"It's not really that difficult. It's all part of the training we receive. When disguising yourself with an alternate identity, you need to assume everything about it."
"What exactly do you learn in training?" he asked him curiously.
Kurogane scratched at his chin. "Ninja training takes seven years in total. From thirteen 'till twenty years old, we refine our martial arts and sword-fighting—skills that we'd mostly learned beforehand. But additional things we learn include stealth, espionage, disguise, and high endurance. We also learn various special techniques."
"It all seems very involved."
"Not as much as for samurai. All we ninja do is obey and protect the Princess, and sometimes, we're entrusted with certain matters of state. Samurai do that, too, but they follow this code of honor called the 'Bushido'—something like martial ethics. I'm not really sure what it's all about, but if they stray from it, they commit a ritualistic suicide by slicing open their stomachs."
"Peculiar."
"Tell me about it. That means that there are limits as to what they can do. We ninja aren't as narrow-minded. That's one of the reasons why the Personal Guard consists of ninja and not samurai."
Syaoran nodded solemnly. "But it still seems pretty complicated," he admitted.
Kurogane shot him a small, crooked smile. "I guess. But that's just the way things are." He then frowned angrily. "These damn streets are so packed that you can't tell if someone's following you or not by sensing auras."
"Aren't we going to check out the tavern sometime?" Syaoran asked him in a hushed voice.
"Only regular drunkards frequent taverns before evening," Kurogane told him as he scanned the cluttered street before him. "We can't do anything yet." He clapped Syaoran on the shoulder and led him toward another stall. "Now let's go talk to this other wine-merchant. It's about time you start 'learning' about the 'trade'."
———————————————
The sound of a crystal decanter clinked against the rim of a small goblet. A servant filled it to the brim with red wine and put the decanter back on a small table close-by. She handed the crystal goblet with a bow to a man sitting on a huge throne, and, with another bow, she left the room.
He raised the goblet to his lips. "Quaint," he muttered after a sip. His eyes then fell upon the woman before him.
The woman in question nervously played with the hem of her frilly dress. She had curly black hair that reached her waist, with two buns tied at the top of her head. She wore a red symbol around the left bun, and the same symbol decorated the bosom of her black dress. Her dress fit her tightly to her waist, where it puffed out, and she wore long black gloves that completely covered her arms. The petticoat of her dress was a deep purple color, and the hem of her dress was short in the front, revealing a part of her thighs, and it climbed down around her, reaching her knees in length in the back. She lastly wore high-heeled black boots that reached to midthigh.
She knew that the man was angry, even though he was doing a very good job of concealing it. She avoided looking into his eyes. Although she knew that his anger was not directed at her, she feared him somewhat.
The man's eyes then fell upon a large round mirror on the wall across him. It was gray and static ran across it. He suddenly threw the crystal goblet against the wall above it. The goblet shattered, and red wine splashed against the mirror, dripping down slowly. "I can't see them at all!" he bellowed furiously.
"It is because they have moved out of your reach, Fei Wang," the woman explained timidly. "The mirror has shown us nothing for some time now."
"I thought that if I sent him after them..." Fei Wang clenched his fists. "He's taking much too long."
"But at least he's spying on them for us, and sending us reports on his progress," she pointed out.
Fei Wang stood up abruptly. "But who can guarantee us that he's reliable?" He had stiff black hair flecked with gray streaks and sideburns. He wore a monocle upon his right eye and he was dressed in a long black robe with purple piping about the rim of his high collar. The ends of his sleeves were olive-colored, as was the wide collar of his robes, which draped about his shoulders, tied at the end with a red tassel with a purple bead. His robes were emblazoned with the same dark-red symbol the woman bore. "I should have left it to my faithful servant," he growled as he sat down again.
The woman turned, and her gaze fell upon the archway that led to the dark room with the glowing yellow ideograms inscribed upon the walls. In a tube of blue-green light floated a figure with red markings upon his limbs. "But you said that the control has to be gradual," she reminded him. "He cannot penetrate the adolescent's awareness all at once, or he'll be destroyed."
Fei Wang nodded. "If the change is slow, it will be all the more easier for Syaoran to be overwhelmed in the end," he added. He reached for the decanter upon the table.
"And the others?"
"Hopefully, our agent will be able to capture the children and dispose of the adults." He filled another goblet with wine.
"But you had said that the ninja and the wizard are powerful adversaries," she protested. "And the Prophecy—"
"Pah!" he spat. "Damn the Prophecy." He drank deeply. "It means nothing to me. It is only a well of useless information."
The woman frowned. She was not of the same opinion.
"But..." he said thoughtfully, tapping his heavy chin with his forefinger. He then laughed out loud, but it was a laugh devoid of mirth. "...the Prophecy is not entirely useless." He turned to her, an evil glint in his eyes. "Without it, I would have had no idea about the true origins of Kurogane."
The woman nodded. "And with the power of the mirror, we were able to see the ninja's past."
"Exactly." Fei Wang frowned, his brow furrowing. A plan began to form in his mind. And it was very appealing to him. "When you meet our agent in a few days and he gives you his usual report, you will have to tell him about our additional findings." He slammed the goblet upon the table. "And he will have to act."
The woman's dark eyes widened. "So soon?" she asked him, startled.
"I'm getting impatient. Tell him that he is to capture the children, and cause them no harm whatsoever. I want them whole and intact." His expression was positively malevolent. "He can do what he wants with the adults, only after he torments them in my way first. I want them to suffer before the end."
"And what way is that?" she asked, a trace of fear in her question.
"I want Fay to relive his most painful memories." A wry smile tugged at his lips. "He will be easy. He already has many fears concerning his king. And then he can continue to torment him in any way he wants, as long as it results in his death. Kurogane, however, is another matter." He joined his hands and looked at her inquiringly. "Any suggestions?"
The woman was reluctant to answer at first. She thought of something, something that would cause Kurogane great pain, but she decided on another idea instead. "Perhaps... if the truth about his past was revealed to him?" she suggested tentatively.
Fei Wang started, then laughed out again. "Of course! What better way to defeat him than to reduce him to a bemused and disoriented shadow of his former self? Brilliant, Xing Huo. Brilliant." He took another sip from his goblet and smacked his lips. "Our agent will be able to use his magic and show Kurogane exactly what happened. Then he'll be able to defeat him."
Xing Huo's eyebrows creased. "But will the ninja be weakened enough?"
Fei Wang looked at her sharply. "What do you mean?"
Xing Huo bit her lower lip nervously. "The ninja does not usually give into threats. He will think that he is being tricked."
Fei Wang's grin was malicious, and his next words dripped venom. "Rest assured, Xing Huo. I guarantee you that he will believe him." He drained his goblet. "For how can he deny the truth?"
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To Be Continued
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A/N: Ta... da...! Finally, an insight on the villains. Okay, you guys might be wondering about this... yeah, some stuff's unclear and all, but everything will be revealed soon enough. Be patient! Good things take time, right?
Let's see... Firebolt is a cross between an eastern and western dragon. Don't take for granted what I say about her language and stuff, though. That's all me. And... I think you guys know where that name came from, eh? I had half a mind to scrap the whole dragon scene, but then it would clash with something in future chapters... you'll see!
Fay's little quote about 'elementary.' Well, would it help to tell you that the original goes, "Elementary, my dear Watson?" Sherlock Holmes, haha. Oh, and stuff that Kurogane mentions to Syaoran about training is basically true. I just expand on it. Yes, samurai would slice open their bellies if they didn't obey the Bushido. I think we anime/manga fanatics are already aware of that, though, eh?
Some general stuff on traveling, inns, taverns, and basically stuff from that sort of timeline were taken from a number of my favorite fantasy writers. Amongst them are David Eddings, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., Raymond E. Feist, and various others.
In my opinion, Eddings is a good way to get into the fantasy genre; nice and simple, and not too complex. I still think The Belgariad and The Malloreon are his best works. Everything else he's made is just too... bland and repetitive, gah. Pisses me off. Feist's The Riftwar Saga is nice to continue with; he's more advanced than Eddings, and quite enjoyable. I find him too ostentatious sometimes, though, but oh, well, we can't have everything in life.
Above all others, however, Modesitt is the best, and I'm not just saying that because I'm nice. He's always so new and fresh, and his stories always have original ideas! He builds up slowly and steadily with stupendous climaxes at the end! And he makes me think! I like that a lot in a writer. XD
I don't think I've forgotten anything else... I suppose I rambled a bit with my fantasy writers, but I think it's justified in this case. I promise the rest of my A/Ns will be shorter.
Tell me if you like it or tell me if you hate it. Please review!