http://clampfix.fanworks.net/ccd-fix/clan9.txt </head><body><pre>The final part! A Clan-Destine Vacation Part 9 - Finale by Kay Willow It wasn't until Monday night that they returned to CLAMP Campus, but the trio of boys didn't even notice the missed school day. They conveyed their gratitude and thanks in the hushed, muted tones that everyone had spoken in since the preceding evening. Ryoko and Meri bid everyone a solemn farewell, announcing to no one's surprise that they were getting off at CLAMP Campus and hiking back to Tokyo, where they weren't due until Wednesday. Ryoko's eyes were red - it had taken until lunch that afternoon for her to fully realize the magnitude of her own loss, and she'd sobbed bitterly until Meri had hustled her out of the room. Meri herself still seemed to be in a condition of shock, but she was taking adequate care of her friend and Suoh was certain that they'd recover nicely from the unpleasantness. Kasumi seemed determined to make Shigeru's death into an emotional scar, and by the time Suoh came to give her a hug in farewell she complained tearfully that she already couldn't remember what her eternally beloved cousin looked like. Suoh hadn't been able to help laughing at that, and had earned himself a smack across the back of the head. Kasumi had whispered, in a genuinely mournful tone, that she should've chosen to be SHIGERU'S One instead of Suoh's and that she was now unworthy to be his bonded. He was relieved to learn she'd given up the idea, although her heartfelt misery touched his own aching spirit. Hahaue, damn her, was taking it all in stride. What she seemed most upset about was the fact that NOKORU had saved the entire Takamura clan, instead of the Takamura clan saving HIM. She spoke stiltedly to him and spent as little time as possible in his presence. Chichiue was far easier to get along with, although he continued to blend into the walls as if he weren't there. Rei stood on the docks with the CLAMP Campus Student Council, waiting for Wakaba's limousine to arrive and take her back to the safety of her emotionally supportive household. "Aniue?" "What is it, Rei-chan?" Rei hesitated. "How do we know Shigeru-san is really dead?" Suoh gave him a flat look. "A bullet wound to the chest is a pretty good indication. And with a bond as strong as Shigeru-san's and Nigana-san's, I should think the latter would be able to tell if the former were dead. And if he wasn't dead before, he is now that Nigana-san is." Rei lowered his head, accepting that. Wakaba cuffed his ear suddenly, making him squeak more in surprise than pain. "You're a rude, ungrateful brat!" she reprimanded angrily. "Why can't you be more considerate of Suoh-san's grief?" <Oh, so NOW it's Suoh-san, is that it?> Suoh shook his head disbelievingly. Wakaba bowed apologetically to Nokoru - and then, as an afterthought, to Suoh and Akira as well. "I apologize," she said, the words coming as though being tortured from her. "I never meant to cause so much trouble..." Her eyes filled with tears. Nokoru took her hand and bowed over it politely, although his smile lacked something that usually brightened it. Friday, that same smile had been a more splendid glow than the sun - today it was only a fragment, there and then gone again with only the slightest of traces to prove its existence at all. "It wasn't your fault, Nimiurai-san." He straightened. "No one blames you." His tone was distant and unhappy. <You blame yourself, is that it, Kaichou? Someone as intelligent as you ought to know better!> Wakaba's face crumbled, as if she'd expected a different reaction, but this time her disappointment seemed genuine. What had she wanted - chastisement? Suoh sighed inwardly. Whatever was wrong with the girl wasn't his problem - Rei could fix it, if he worked hard enough. Kasumi rocketed off the ship with all the force of a small hurricane and hurled herself at Nokoru without warning. "I've decided that YOU'RE going to be my One!" "WHAT?" Suoh shouted, wits frazzled. It wouldn't be a weekend with the family unless he developed a new and interesting manner of twitching. "I figure that you couldn't protect him from the criminals, and I couldn't protect Shigeru-san either," Kasumi said in all seriousness from her position on top of the prone Imonoyama. "If the two of us work TOGETHER, we ought to be able to protect Imonoyama-san!" "Kasumi-chan!" ***** Nokoru was obviously feeling a great deal better the next day. Suoh mused on the rather capricious change as he sorted the immense towers of paperwork that had accumulated in four days. Akira, too, seemed recovered to his usual level of perkiness. That could be explained by a long, soothing conversation with Ohkawa-kaichou, but Nokoru's newfound ease was slightly more difficult to explain. At lunch, suddenly, understanding dawned on Nokoru. "Suoh," he cried. "You don't read the paper, do you?" "Not in the morning, no. I don't usually have time... why do you ask?" Nokoru beamed. "Read the front page!" Suoh sighed and picked up the thrown newspaper. His eyes widened. The headline read: "Nigana Schedules Tour For New Year!" over a full-size picture of the dashingly smiling supermodel. The smaller print underneath told about how the idol had returned from his weekend vacation in a helicopter that landed in the middle of Times Square, New York. Both he and his Takamura had looked decidedly the worse for wear, but neither offered any comment except for one joking - they thought it was joking - remark from the alleged ninja. "Add three more to the death toll, and tell Obasama that I'm a Takamura to the bone." Suoh shook his head, unable to stop grinning. It was just like Shigeru. Nokoru watched him, smiling softly. "It takes a lot to kill somebody like him," he observed. "I'm glad." Suoh's blinked his eyes, irritated at how itchy they'd gotten suddenly. "I was all ready to make him a hero, and he really isn't worth it." He laughed half-heartedly, nearly choking on the last note and forcing it back quickly. If he hadn't cried when he'd thought his cousin was dead, he was certainly not going to start now that he knew the older Takamura was alive! Deliberately turning his thoughts from Shigeru, Suoh turned to analyzing the miracle instead. "How did he do it?" "Simple!" Nokoru exulted, whipping out a fan triumphantly. "Your cousin is very clever, Suoh - and so is your mother. Akira told me everything; I'm sure that Shigeru used the tools your mother left him to remove the bullet, cauterize and bandage the wound, and then went off right away to help Nigana-san." He smiled. "Very clever indeed." Actually, Suoh realized, it sounded like something Nokoru would do if their situations had been reversed. (And if Omi had been a woman, but still.) That was a very disturbing thought. "I hope we see them again," Akira murmured, gazing out the window. <Oh no,> Suoh thought distractedly, suddenly dreadfully afraid as Nokoru acquired that SMILE again. <No way. No WAY.> "Suoh," Nokoru said slyly, drawing out a note from behind his back. "I didn't know your family had a manor in California!" "NO!" Suoh shouted. "WE DON'T!" He began to lunge for the paper. "And it was so thoughtful of your mother to invite us to stay the summer there," Akira added, pulling out a similar piece of stationery from his desk. "I do hope that my mothers will allow me to go! I LIKE your family, Takamura-senpai!" "WHY?!" "Perhaps we ought to invite the ladies this time as well," Nokoru suggested mischievously. "I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss out on any of the fun. And isn't it about time Nagisa-jyou met your family, Suoh?" The Imonoyama giggled as Suoh turned bright red. "Not if I can help it," the ninja grumbled under his breath, hands clenching involuntarily. "That's a wonderful idea, Kaichou!" Akira cried, clapping his hands together. "Omi-san did want to meet Utako-san!" "Are we sure Nigana-san is coming, Akira--" "Of course he is! It was in the paper: 'The minute I get my hands on the Takamura clan, I'm going to find some way to thank them for this weekend.' I'm sure he wouldn't pass up the chance to show Takamura-san his appreciation!" Akira beamed. Nokoru sweatdropped. "I don't think that's what he MEANT, Akira..." Suoh dropped back into his seat bonelessly. Nothing, he mused bitterly, ever turns out like it should. ~FIN~ DISCLAIMER: You didn't REALLY think I was going to kill them off, did you? ^_^ No way. *Shigeru waves cheerily* CLAMP characters belong to CLAMP and Clan-Destine Vacation is a work of tribute. Takamura-tachi are mostly mine. All the wonderful people who sent me evil things when I slowed down on posting or killed people are angels from heaven. Snoodles to you! ^_^</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>