Indiscriminate Happenings
Fandom: xxxHoLiC
Characters/Pairing: Haruka, Himawari, Kohane, Yuuko, Doumeki, Watanuki
Prompt:10:2- Colours
Rating: T
Chapter Genre: Gyspies/Fantasy
Summary: Certain entities, animate or otherwise, are not always as they seem.
I

Doumeki Shizuka was not the type of person who bought into the pretty illusions presented by circus performers and gypsies. He could, however, see why some so readily gave into the bright colours and beautiful, shiny bobbles set up around the tent. Magic prickled at his skin, raising goosebumps on his skin.

"Enjoying yourselves so far you two?" Shizuka glanced from his grandfather on one side of his, to the small girl on the other. Kohane offered a small smile and a nod of confirmation.

"Very much Haruka-sensei," she answered quietly, hands folded neatly in her lap as she waited for the show to begin.

"Yes grandfather." Haruka grinned and pulled his pipe and tobacco out of the folds of his kimono, a matchstick held firmly between two fingers. The head was struck against the the wooden bench they sat on and use it to burn the tobacco packed into the cherry wood bowl.

Shizuka had always wondered how Haruka seemed to do that so gracefully.

All the noise around them ceased when a gorgeous, black-haired woman clad in a short, flashy crimson dress stepped into the middle of the ring, sequence catching the light enticingly to draw the eyes of most of the male population.

Haruka continued puffing away at his pipe and Shizuka sat waiting for something interesting to happen.

She smirked at the them, waving a bare arm to the empty scene behind her.

"Welcome all, to our humble stage." Her voice was loud enough to reach all corners of the tent, outside even if Shizuka were to guess, yet seeming to remain soft and sultry. "We express our fondest desire and hope for your enjoyment above all else."

She bowed and moved back, the glowing globes in the front dimming while the ones in the back died out completely. It left the tent almost pitch black, the only illumination coming from Haruka's pipe as he inhaled.

Slowly the lights came back on, revealing a petite woman with long, curly black hair, bent forward at the waist, ankles crossed and arms held out behind her. Pale fingers were interlocked and her shoulder blades moved, straightening then re-bending backwards, her pigtails coming undone and piling on the ground, one leg lifting for balance. After a moment of pause bright yellow wings burst from the dark curtain of hair, unfurling then giving one hard flap and propelling her body forward.

Belatedly Shizuka realized that a band of musicians hidden in the background had began to play a low tune sounded by trumpets and flutes, matching the girls actions.

Kohane stared with wide, enchanted eyes and gasped at the flexing appendages, leaning forward eagerly in her seat.

The girl commenced an intricate mid-air dance, whistling sharply and calling a small, butter coloured bird and darting about the tent and often gesturing up to the covered skies, her green dress fluttering around her form, gold bangles jingling cheerfully. Her performance ended with a deep bow and one last cord then it once more went black then the first woman was standing in the middle.

"We thank Judgment for completing the first step." A low blue light slowly crept around the tent, casting a shallow impression of its surroundings. "And now we give our attention to The Fool."

The signs of the zodiac lit up, moving in a quick circle, as if someone juggled them. A glint of silver caught Shizuka's attention near the ground, moving to the same inaudible rhythm as the incantations being tossed. As the icy blue Ki span in a tighter loop, shrinking, a man's features were cast into sharp relief, a relaxed smile playing on his lips. On his head sat the hat of a jester, blue, purple and white doing nothing for his pale complexion. The music started, giving a darker, though still somehow playful feeling, as the presentation took flight.

It continued like that, one thing ending, the woman reappearing, and another beginning. Every gypsy took the name of a tarot card, exhibiting qualities that matched their meaning. Shizuka remained attentive, if not for his grandfather then for simple curiosity about what was to come, noting the features of every being that came out. Some appeared twice, in different costumes and under another name, having two or more sides to show. A small brunette, once dressed as the High Priestess, stepped back out accompanied by a boy her age and the claret woman announcing them as The Lovers.

Nearing the end of the show there was only one card left to summon. Death had yet to makes its debut and Shizuka was interested in how these people (humans and demons alike) would interpret it.

"Not is all as it seems," the woman said, sweeping out into the main area, the ring still held in her hands from her execution of The Empress. "Death, though to most seems dreadful, is about the transition of change."

As she finished and backed away, bringing the ring over her head and vanishing as it passed around her, a heavily cloaked figure appearing on the opposite side, a white rose held delicately between two fingers. A large horse, misty form wavering in the small breeze that filled the tent, pawed the ground, tossing its head, red eyes glowing brilliantly in the dark. Kohane watched intently, the same as Shizuka, and unseen by both a small grin spread over his face. He caught the eyes of the Empress on the sidelines, pride glowing in her own.

Magic shimmered, so thick and tangible that when Shizuka experimentally flicked his fingers it twined around them, making his skin tingle. The deep violet cloak rose, dissolving into an artful display of tears and holes before it disappeared all together, leaving a thin boy dressed in black and purple, messy hair dancing in the wind. Blue eyes glowed with his innate abilities, controlling the flux and flow of thaumaturgy, brightening the room until it revealed more than it had in any other performance. Then, as those eyes rose and met his own, they widened, and the magic was gone, dissipating from the air and taking the boy with it.
II

They followed the crowd out of the tent and into the clearing where it had been set up, delicious aroma's of simmering food permeating through the air.

"Did you enjoy it?" Haruka asked, patting Kohane on the head and glancing at Shizuka. They both nodded, the girl speechless and the boy too engrossed in thought. "Good, because I thought we would get a bite to eat before we leave."

They walked, watching the gypsies playfully manipulate a variety of mediums ranging from ignited Poi and Devil Sticks to their own magicks. Haruka's hands landed on their shoulders, making them pause in front of an open fire with a small tent behind it, wards and talismans blowing in the soft wind, wind chimes singing. A boy stepped out, a bundle of ingredients in his arms; Shizuka belatedly realized it was the boy named Death.

"Ah, Watanuki-kun?" The boy stopped, wide eyes staring at the smiling Haruka, mouth opening and closing in a failed attempt at speech.

"H-Haruka-san?!"

Haruka laughed, patting the boy, Watanuki, lightly and taking a seat beside the subdued fire and rubbing his hands together, lighting his pipe again. "It's good to meet you in person."
III
I thought I would end it there. The music that inspired this is by 'Gogol Bordello.' Go check them out. The main singers voice takes a bit to get used to, but when you do, it's awesome. They're, like, a gypsy/punk band. Pretty cool. :D Especially their song Madagascar' and 'Super Theory of Super Everything.' So, this one will definitely be continued. I didn't even scratch what I wanted to. In fact, it might turn into an independent work if I can. I might do that instead... Hum.

Awe~! Greece is adorable, especially with Japan. *Kitties~* 3 And Lovinito is still at the top of my favorites list, then everyone else. :D And a pervert though he may be, France is epic. ^^