http://clampfix.fanworks.net/ccd-fix/acceptance.txt </head><body><pre>Hello everyone! The artists of CLAMP own the Trio and I am only borrowing them. /\_/\ This story is dedicated to Miai, a self proclaimed Suoh addict. It happens just after Bathroom blues. <G> I hope you like it! Hugs and snuggles Shara ___________________________ Acceptance CCD By Shara shara47379@aol.com _______________________________ A tall serious looking young man in his late teens with dark navy hair and liquid gold eyes strode down the hallway of the Imonoyama mansion without making a sound. Clasping his hands behind his back Takamura Suoh cursed the responsibilities that kept him from his Rijichou's side. At lease the Mansion was well guarded. He need not worry for Nokoru's safety here. But that didn't mean he could count on Nokoru actually doing his work. Stopping in front of a large ornate door, Suoh gave several sharp raps to the smooth white surface. He glanced down at himself to make certain he was presentable. The School board Secretary brushed at an invisible piece of lint reassured that his finely tailored uniform was immaculate. He lifted up on the elaborate door handle just as a melodic voice from within called for him to enter. Stepping into the chairman's bedroom, Suoh turned to pull the door shut behind him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his Rijichou coming out of the bathroom with an empty cup in one hand and a dark cylindrical shaped object in his other hand. The ninja looked over at the pile of papers that Nokoru had actually managed to get through, to distract himself from what his instincts were telling him was a mystery he didn't want to solve. Whatever it was that Rijichou was holding he didn't need to know about it. "I see you've managed to get most of the work done. There are only a few hundred more to go." Imonoyama Nokoru made a face as he crossed to his chair. "I'll get it done, Suoh." Reaching out to set the cup down on the table he didn't see a loop in the rug and tripped falling into Suoh's arms as the ninja bent over the desk to catch him. Suoh managed to keep his Rijichou from getting hurt, but the top hat skittered out of Nokoru's hand into plain view. Unwillingly Suoh's golden eyes were drawn to the fine black hat. The same hat worn by Twenty Masks. Suoh felt like screaming a denial as what he had suspected ever since elementary school was finally confirmed. Akira had been unavailable all morning and now here was twenty mask's hat laying not more than an arm length away. The most incriminating evidence however was the napkin folded neatly next to the teacup Nokoru had just set onto the table. It was an intricate origami swan. Akira was fond of napkin origami. He felt that a dinner's presentation was as important as the dinner itself. Few people could beat Akira's dexterity so the delicate swan had to have been made by him. Besides all that, who else would Rijichou be willing to have tea with in his bedroom? Tapping his desk with fine boned fingers, Nokoru's sapphire eyes gazed appraisingly at his friend and bodyguard. Suoh seemed distracted and that wasn't at all like the ninja's normal behavior. "Is something wrong, Suoh? You look like you've just lost your best friend." In a fluid motion Suoh leaned down and snatched up the hat. Gazing down at it sadly he spoke, his voice was nearly a whisper." You're not that far off." Looking up at Nokoru, Suoh couldn't help the small smile that twitched at the corners of his lips despite the severity of the situation. The blond angel who was his friend and charge was staring at him with open shock on his handsome face. Wide blue eyes, round with amazement blinked slowly as the Rijichou assimilated this new piece of information and filed it away. "So you know," It was a statement, not a question. "But why does that mean you've lost a friend?" Nokoru leaned forward curiously. "I've suspected for a while now that Akira was Twenty Masks." Suoh paused looking back down at the hat. "But so long as I didn't have to acknowledge the truth I could live without doing anything about it. Now that I have proof, I have to take action or I cannot live with myself." Suoh's fingers dug into the fabric of the hat reflexively the only sign of the emotions roiling within the ninja. "What are you going to do?" Nokoru asked his eyes filled with compassion as he watched his very noble friend battling with himself. He knew that Suoh tended to see things in black and white. To the ninja, a thing was either good or bad. Thieves were bad. Therefor Akira who was a thief had to be bad. However, it was almost impossible to equate their kindhearted friend with anything bad. The contradiction was tearing Suoh apart. "I don't know." Suoh's voice was deadpan as he set the top hat down next to Nokoru's chair. "I should be able to not like him now that I have to accept the truth. But I can't dislike him even knowing what he is really like." Nokoru smiled gently at his distressed friend. Suoh's heart knew the truth. He could hear it in Suoh's voice. It was simply a matter of convincing Suoh's mind. "And what is he like, Suoh? Nothing's changed." "That's not true," Suoh began as he considered Akira's behavior," He's lied to us. Feeling a little bit light headed from his illness Nokoru settled back into his chair. "It's true he never admitted that he was twenty masks. But he never claimed he wasn't twenty masks either." Suoh opened his mouth to argue but snapped his lips shut with a click of teeth. Nokoru was right. Akira never had said anything about not being twenty masks and he couldn't think of any other time that the treasurer had lied to them. "But Nokoru, how can I trust him if I know he is willing steal from others." "That is an interesting question. Because you do trust him, Suoh." Pulling out his fan Nokoru snapped it open as he smiled up at his friend. "When did you first suspect Akira was twenty masks?" "Years ago." Suoh admitted in confusion as he watched Nokoru closely. It was obvious that Rijichou felt he could fix this situation. And the ninja hoped with all his heart that Nokoru was right. He had no wish to lose Akira's friendship. He could protect Nokoru on his own, but it was nice having someone around who understood the situation and could lend a hand. Not to mention the fact that he found Akira to be a genuinely nice person and that was something rare and precious. "That long ago? I am surprised, I didn't realize you've known for so long. But then again you were trying to deny it. So you've left your charge in the hands of someone you weren't sure you could trust how many times in the past?" Nokoru's voice was innocent as he asked his questions, his face serene. The ninja was about to object, saying he would never leave Rijichou in the hands of someone he didn't trust when a slow smile spread across Suoh's lips. That was exactly Nokoru's point. His heart suddenly became ten times lighter. His voice was filled with wonder as he leveled grateful eyes on Nokoru. "You're right, I do trust him or I never would have let him guard you. In fact if I had any doubts about him I wouldn't have let him near you. Ok I will concede your point. He hasn't changed. But stealing is still wrong." "That's true," Nokoru admitted nodding as he tapped his elfish chin with his fan. "But I see things a little differently than you do. I work on a no harm, no fowl principal. 98 percent of all that Twenty Masks has stolen has been either from the schools or me directly. And personally, I don't really care. Besides, It's fun watching him outwit your guards. I consider the thefts as the price of my entertainment." Finding himself relived despite himself, Suoh smiled fondly at his friend. Trust Nokoru to consider being robbed, entertainment. Suoh chuckled softly under his breath as he folded his long legs into the chair across from Nokoru's. "You must admit," Nokoru's mischievous eyes peered over the edge of his fan as he watched Suoh sit," having Twenty Masks around has helped you teach quite a few young hot headed guards lessons they will likely never forget." "Yes, that is a pity. Will that stop now that he knows you know about him?" "It's will slow down," the bright head nodded," Akira doesn't like taking things from his friends. And now he knows I would have given him any of the things he stole. But I am certain he would be willing to help you out if you wanted to set up some sort of training course for your men to take." "That's something to consider." Suoh murmured to himself as he realized he had chosen not to let anything change between himself and Akira. "It seems you can like someone without approving of what they do." "So finally having proof of Akira's misdeeds isn't going to break our team apart." Nokoru asked gently with his blue eyes shining. It was obvious to Suoh that the older boy knew the answer to his question, but it felt good to be able to reply. " We've gone though so much together we three. Nothing will break our team apart." The soft smile Nokoru gifted him with then filled his heart and Suoh found himself returning it in kind. Then something that had been prodding at the back of his mind occurred to him. "Why was Akira's hat in your bathroom? Giggling Nokoru snapped the fan closed. "Evidently, he came into my room when I was having breakfast. When I came back he must have darted into the bathroom. He was in there all morning. I finally took pity on him and invited him to have some tea when I was ready to take a break." The fan pointed in the general direction of the half full teacup. "Poor Akira! Well, at least he managed to get some tea for his efforts." Suoh felt his lips twitch in the beginnings of a smirk. Nokoru must have startled the wits out of him if he forgot to take his hat with him. The fan shifted to point at the ninja. "That's when you called and said you were coming over. Suoh, Now that you've accepted the situation could you do me a great favor?" "A favor?" "Yes, this whole situation has been just as nerve wracking on Akira as it has been on you. He needs to be reassured that you don't hate him." Picking up the top hat, Nokoru dusted it off gently," And he'll probably be missing this." "Finish your papers and I will see to it he gets this." Pushing the chair back, Suoh stood in a graceful motion. He didn't know how Nokoru knew just what to say or ask, but he was glad that he did. "When your done with those you should really take a nap, Nokoru. No playing around. If you want to feel better you have to take care of yourself," the ninja said as he bowed his head respectfully towards his charge. "I will, Suoh. But perhaps you could ask Akira if he would be willing to make supper for us. We could all eat together tonight." "A Good plan. I'll ask him. Now you get back to work." Suoh waited until Nokoru had gathered the rest of the papers in front of himself before he slipped out the room. When the door clicked shut Nokoru looked over at its smooth surface. "That went better than I expected it would," Nokoru smiled to himself as he took a sip of his tea." Now that Suoh has come to terms with Akira's secret life we will be able to get a lot more done." Pulling out his stamp, the chairman of Clamp campus went back to work far happier than he had been just a day before. The End __________________________ Acceptance CCD By Shara shara47379@aol.com _______________________________</pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>