http://clampfix.fanworks.net/ccs-fix/bets.txt </head><body><pre>Whew! I thought I was never going to finish this fic. And I'm pretty happy even though the ending could probably use a little more work...but anyway, I hope you enjoy! It's a little long, so I split it into 2. Ann Disclaimers: CCS and X/TB all belong to CLAMP, and other companies as well. If only I had created them first I would be a much richer person. Bets and Promises Subaru sighed and flicked the glowing ash of his cigarette off into the night. Mild Sevens, just like he smoked. The shadows were dark and crisp, almost as if they had substance of their own. How many years had it been since he began chasing Seishirou-san's shadow? And now here he was again, back where it all began, back at Ueno Park. He tugged on one of the branches of the tree, letting thousands of cherry petals fall and swirl to the ground. "It's a beautiful Sakura tree, isn't it? Do you like Sakura?" Subaru hardened himself against the memories, but even after all this time he couldn't block out the pain. Why? Why did it have to be that way? "Are you sure that the Card is here?" A high voice shook him out of his reverie. Subaru hid himself in the shadows of the tree, not wanting to be seen. "Un. Kero-chan and I did a reading, why?" "I don't know. It just seems like they're always at King Penguin Park." "You're right. I guess we're lucky that most of them are nearby. Thank you for letting me stay the night at your house. At least this way I don't have to lie to 'Tousan and Oniichan." "It's my pleasure. You know that I always love having you over at my house. Okay now, Pose!" The speakers walked out of the shadows into a pool of moonlight and he was finally able to catch a good look at the speakers. There were two little girls. The dark haired one seemed normal enough, but the light haired one had a strong core of power within her. The dark haired one was holding a small video camera, while the other was dressed in a pink dress shaped to look like a sakura blossom, complete with a pink hat and tiny gloves with sculpted edges. It looked like something that Hokuto would wear, or make him wear. He smiled at the memory, but it was quickly swallowed by grief. "Tomoyo-chan, this is embarrassing!" "Nonsense, you're so cute Sakura-chan!" Said the girl with the camera, stars in her eyes. "Yosha! Let's pose together Sakura!" Subaru started in surprise. He had thought that the yellow thing with them was a stuffed animal. But all of a sudden it started flying and talking with a heavy Osaka accent. It sounded like a very small Sorata. The two of them posed for the camera and then the girl turned to the bear-thing, "Demo...Kero-chan, what about the Card?" "Eh, this one shouldn't be too hard. Just concentrate, you ought to be able to sense where it is, then all you have to do is seal it!" The stuffed animal waved an arm reassuringly. Sealing a magic power. It sounded disturbingly familiar. "Okay." The girl took a small necklace off and held the charm in one hand. "Release!" A sphere of blue light surrounded her and an intricate gold magic circle lit under her feet. The charm in her hand grew into a staff. Subaru stared in dumb shock. He had seen all kinds of magic, but he had never seen magic like this before! This was truly bizarre. The little girl held the staff out in front of her and closed her eyes in concentration. There was a long pause, and then her eyes flew open. "Kero-chan! There's somebody here!" Her voice was tight with fear. "What!?" The stuffed animal jumped forward, placing itself between her and any danger. Subaru stepped out of the shadows, grinding his cigarette into the dirt. "Suman. I didn't mean to startle you." The girl clutched her staff close to her chest. "Wh-who are you?" "Sumeragi Subaru." The girl didn't even blink at the name. "Are you after the Clow Cards too?" Clow Cards? "No." She relaxed, "Oh good. It seems like everyone's been after them lately. My name is Kinomoto Sakura. This is Kero-chan and my best friend, Daidouji Tomoyo-chan." The teddy-bear thing crossed it's arms in front of him and glared. "Well if you're not after the Clow Cards what are you here for? You've got plenty of power yourself. Sakura, I think you'd better find and seal the card. This brother gives me the creeps." Before she could reply a sudden rush of power filled the area. Subaru, Sakura and the stuffed bear looked around tensely. "Sakura-chan?" The dark haired girl asked hesitantly. "Is it...a Clow Card?" Subaru pulled a set of ofuda from his pockets. He knew this power. It resonated against his soul, set his teeth on edge, chilled him to the bone. "Sakurazukamori." "Hoe?" And then a great field of blackness swept over them, cutting them off. "Sakura!" he heard the stuffed animal call out. "Sakura-chan!" And then they were gone. Subaru watched the bleak landscape tensely. Everything was dark except for jagged rocks springing from the ground. There was no distance, no depth, no limit to the sky. He could have been transported to an entirely different world. There was a small sound next to him, and Subaru noticed for the first time that he hadn't been pulled into Seishirou's maboroshi alone. The little girl looked around with wide eyes and took an unconscious step back towards him. "Where are we?" "An illusion. Created by an...enemy of mine. Be careful, it may be an illusion, but everything that happens inside is real." Subaru's mind raced. Sometimes he doubted whether he was strong enough to fight Seishirou at all, let alone while trying to protect someone else. He gritted his teeth. How could he? Involving innocents in what was their battle. "There aren't, aren't any ghosts here are there?" She asked with a quiver in her voice. "No." Only ghosts of memory. She relaxed, "Good." And to his surprise she pulled out a set of cards decorated with a lavish sun and moon design. There was a dry chuckle from behind them. "Subaru-kun, you're so cute. When I first saw you I thought that perhaps you were making a bet of your own." Subaru's green eyes darkened as he clenched his fists, turning to face Seishirou. "Teme...If you want to continue where we left off that's one thing. But to drag a child into this!" "Ever the bleeding heart. What was it that poor Hokuto-chan used to say? You waste all your tears on others. I suppose I was feeling...nostalgic?" Seishirou walked forward and knelt in front of the little girl. He pocketed his sunglasses and smiled warmly at her. A smile that had fooled Subaru countless times. "And what's your name?" "S-S-Sakura." His smile widened. "Really." He drew out the word with obvious pleasure. Subaru took an angry step forward and pulled a charm from his pocket. "Leave her alone, Seishirou-san." His voice was dark and bitter. "Ah, but things are just starting to get interesting." He stood in one swift motion, pulling Sakura against him. One hand rested lightly against her neck. "What do you say, Subaru-kun? You were never very interesting. Maybe I should take up my bet with this little one instead." Subaru stood in mute shock. He couldn't see a way to attack him without hurting Sakura as well. Seishirou continued, "She reminds me very much of you when you were young. So innocent, so kind, but with that core of power. You both even have green eyes." He leaned over and whispered in Sakura's ear, "Do you think that you could be more fun than Subaru-kun?" "Why are you doing this?" She asked, tears in her eyes. "Because it's my nature." And then he reached for her hands, still tightly gripping her staff, and began peeling off one of the petal shaped gloves. "NO!!" Subaru shaped the ofuda into the shape of a white bird and launched it at Seishirou. The bird beat against him with its wings, distracting him long enough for Sakura to pull away from his grip. "I refuse to let you manipulate anyone the way that you manipulated me! Never!" He pulled Sakura behind him, "Stay close, but try not to get in the way. Don't worry, I'll protect you." He said quietly to her. "Datte!" But he had already turned away and was focusing his mind on the battle before him. Sakura gripped her staff a little harder. She just had to be brave, everything would be alright, she just had to be brave, had to think... Black and white birds filled the air around them, their cries echoing in the maboroshi in an earsplitting cacophony. Subaru's hands moved in a complicated pattern as he chanted something that she couldn't quite catch in the noise. A sudden shield appeared before them and the black birds shattered themselves against it, turning into thousands of cherry blossoms. Sakura cringed. Sealing the cards had never been anything like this. She closed her eyes, everything will be alright, everything will always be alright. The white birds swirled around Seishirou, forming a giant star before flaring into brilliance. There was a rush of wind, power, and light, but he stood in the center of it, unharmed. "Honestly, Subaru-kun, it didn't work last time, why would it now?" He said dryly. Seishirou smirked and threw shards of sheer power back at the omyouji. Subaru rushed to create another shield, but he wasn't fast enough. One of the daggers slashed deep across his chest driving him to his knees. "Well, shall I play with you a bit further?" he asked in a conversational tone, and threw another handful of shards. "Iyaaa!" Sakura screamed and jumped in front of Subaru. He tried to pull her out of the way, but before he could she pulled out a card. "Shield!" The magic circle blossomed beneath her feet. A glowing shield formed around them as the shards came screeching in. And to the surprise of both men, held. She turned back to Subaru, eyes wide in horror at the blood staining his shirt. "Daijoubu!? What do I do?!" Subaru gritted his teeth and stood. "Seishirou-san, your business is with me, your bet was with me." The Sakurazukamori still wore his placid smile. "Then perhaps I should get rid of the girl and you and I can continue our game." But Subaru knew what Seishirou meant by 'getting rid of the girl.' He put his hands on her shoulders. "Sakura, run. Get as far away from him as you can." "But you're hurt! I can't--!" "Go!" Sakura nodded reluctantly and pulled out another card. "Fly!" To Subaru's surprise the staff sprouted long fluffy wings. "Please be careful," she said and flew off. What kind of magic was this? Subaru pressed his hands together. Creating a kekkai was to protect a place, a wish deep in his heart. But sometimes it wasn't about protecting a place, or even a person. Sometimes it was about protecting an idea. The star shaped kekkai descended around them and Subaru looked up into Seishirou's face. "I may not be able to escape your illusion, but you can't escape either. We're here until one of us dies or surrenders." "May I point out that you're already injured, Subaru-kun. The odds aren't in your favor." His shikigami faded into view on his shoulder and flipped it's wings restlessly. "But still, I can't say I'm comfortable with an audience." And the bird took off in pursuit of Sakura. Sakura screamed and tried to shake the hawk off her tail. Even with all her practice at flying this was impossible. She couldn't turn fast enough, couldn't break away. And the hawk was steadily gaining. She screamed again as the shikigami's talons tore into her shoulder and she lost grip on the Clow staff. Subaru gasped as he watched her hit the ground. She was unconscious, a little blood leaked from a cut across her forehead. The shikigami whirled around for another dive, it's claws stretching for her throat. Seishirou saluted with an idle finger. "Say goodnight little flower." Suddenly a red-white light burst forth, blinding them both. The force of raw power dissolved the shikigami into oblivion. When Subaru's vision cleared there was a woman kneeling in front of Sakura. Her long dark hair was pulled up into a high pony tail and swept around her like a waterfall. She wore Chinese clothing. Long white sleeves fell over her hands to puddle on the ground, and a shortsleeved red and gold surcoat over that. How had she gotten here? No one could enter a kekkai except another dragon. And no one could enter one of Seishirou's illusions. But it didn't take long for Subaru to realize that the woman wasn't human at all. She pulled the little girl into her arms. "I'm so sorry my Mistress. I knew I should have rejoined the others, that you'd need me. But, " She brushed the hair out of Sakura's eyes and looked up at Subaru and Seishirou, "I found the cherry tree, and I thought I could have helped." The red light collected in her hand and she smoothed it across the little girl's forehead and shoulder. The cuts vanished away and Sakura opened her eyes, "Hoe?" The woman stood. "You dared to harm my mistress. Urusanai!" The light around her darkened to the color of old blood. Seishirou looked disgusted. "This match has become far too much of a circus. Shall we continue our game another time Subaru-kun?" And he dissolved in a gust of cherry petals. Subaru knew that he wasn't gone. He couldn't escape the kekkai. But it would be impossible to find him now. He looked over to see Sakura and the woman talking softly. "Wakarimashita," Sakura said with a smile. Then to his surprise the woman transformed into a card. The same kind Sakura used for her magic. She picked up her staff from where it had fallen. "Sumeragi-san, you're still hurt!" she said with worried eyes." "I'm fine." She shook her head, "It's my fault you got hurt." She gently tapped the card in her hand with the staff. "I, Sakura, command thee by contract. Mend this man's wounds and ease his pain. Heal!" A soft red wind wrapped around him. He would have been alarmed, but it was obviously such gentle magic that he surrendered to it, closing his eyes. The wind was warm, and he felt all of his pain melting away before it. When Subaru opened his eyes all of the injuries he had gotten from Seishirou were gone, cured. Subaru lowered his kekkai, and the two of them found themselves back in the forest near the sakura tree. The little girl's friends rushed forward at the sight of them. "Sakura!" "Sakura-chan! Daijoubu desu ka?" Tomoyo wrapped her hands around Sakura's "Yes, I'm fine." "What happened!?" the stuffed animal shouted furiously. "Um, it's kind of a long story. I'll tell you when we go back to Tomoyo-chan's, I promise." She said and then turned back to Subaru. "Sumeragi-san, I want you to have this." She handed him the card. The woman from before was emblazoned on it, eyes closed peacefully. On the bottom in English were the words 'The Heal.' "What?" She looked up, and her eyes were sad, "I don't know what happened between you and that man. But I know that he hurt you. The Heal knew too, and she wanted to try and help. So I want you to have it." He tried to press the card back into her hands, "I can't. Sakura, even if I wanted to, I can't let go of this pain right now. Seishirou-san and I have to remain enemies." "But afterwards." She folded his hands around the card. "Afterwards..." Had he ever imagined that there would be an afterwards? "Promise? Do you promise that you'll try and heal, let go?" He couldn't help but smile a little at the insistent tone of her voice. "I-I promise." She smiled brightly, and it lit up her whole face. "Yokkata!! Zettai Daijoubu desu yo!" Then she ran back to her friends. "Remember! You promised!" "Sakura!! What did you give him a Card for!? Geeze, next thing you know you'll start giving Cards to that brat!!" But her only reply was a laugh. She turned to wave back at Subaru, then the three of them disappeared back into the forest. Subaru looked down at the card in his hand, "Daijoubu...I wonder." Japanese: 'Tousan and Oniichan-- Dad and Big Brother Yosha-- Okay! Demo-- But Suman-- Sorry Maboroshi--Illusion Teme--Bastard Ofuda--The paper charms that Subaru and Syaoran use Shikigami--Spirit animal weapons...can't think of a better explanation Iyaa-- Noo! Daijoubu--Are you alright? Kekkai--Shield of the Seven Seals Urusanai--I cannot forgive you Wakarimashita--I understand Yokkata!--Great! Zettai Daijoubu--Everything will always be alright (Sakura's magical girl motto) Author's Notes: 1. Yatta! It's finally finished! I've been working on this one forever. And I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I just kept thinking how much Sakura was like young Subaru...that and I'm a proud member of the 'Hoping Subaru will kick some Seishirou butt and get on with his life' club. 2. This is actually supposed to be a sort of prequel to 'Carrying On' my other X. I'd like to eventually have Sakura run into all of the Dragons of Heaven. So this takes place sometime after volume 9 of X and somewhere between volumes 2 and 5 of CCS. 3. Umm...If there's anything wrong with the TB stuff in this story please blame it on the fact that I don't have much of the manga, and I'm just piecing it together from stuff I've heard. And I think that's about it. Thanks for reading!</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>