http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/gambit03.txt </head><body><pre>All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- Gambit (Part 3) An "X" Fanfic Presented by Alison Koh [Shadows of Time 3 - begin] He prided himself for his ability to appreciate beauty, and the girl was certainly beautiful, even if she was only an assignment. Except that this assignment was different from the rest. He had been specifically instructed not to kill her. Initially he thought it was a joke - nobody ever hired him except to kill - but he was positively intrigued by the orders. Presently, he was glad that he did not reject the job. She was beautiful. The heavy downpour that fell only about minutes ago had abruptly stopped. She paused to retract her umbrella when her attention was caught by a soft mewing sound emanating from the small alley nearby. She approached the source and discovered a woeful looking kitten, shivering from the cold of its wet fur, and probably very hungry too. She knelt down to touch it cautiously, afraid that any sudden movement might send the poor thing scurrying away. She wanted badly to help the pitiful creature but she had no idea what to do. The strong but gentle voice of a man behind her almost gave her a shock. "Perhaps I can be of help?" he asked. She turned around to see a youth, probably about her age, with soft wavy hair and a pair of beautiful brown eyes brimming with kindness that only served to hide a deeper mystery behind it, observing her. He flashed a warm smile, first towards her and then directed his attention to the kitten. He stooped down to pick up the creature and, after a cursory inspection, said, "I think that she's going to be all right. All she needs is some food and a nice warm place to recover. Would you like to take her in, at least until she recovers?" "I'd love to but I do not know much about taking care of animals. I've never had a pet before," she replied, rather embarrassed. "Besides, I'm renting a place on my own now, and my landlady is deathly afraid of animals." The youth smiled, "I'll take her in for the time being then. I live in an apartment of my own in Shinjuku, about fifteen minutes from here." He removed his jacket and gingerly wrapped the quivering kitten within for added warmth and stood up slowly, all the while coaxing the creature gently. Very soon, the kitten curled itself to sleep peacefully in his bosom. She was deeply touched by this moving scene and could not resist feeling that the youth was someone she could trust. "Do you mind if I accompany you? I would like to watch over her for a little longer," she lowered her gaze as she spoke, sensing her cheeks flushing slightly. "Not at all. You're welcome to be my guest," he replied. She thanked him and they started walking together. "Perhaps I ought to introduce myself. My name is Sakurazuka Seishirou. I'm a student of Veterinary Medicine at the university." "Is that why you knew the kitten was a 'she'?" she asked. Seishirou smiled and nodded. "Nice to meet you, Sakurazuka-kun. My name is Magami Tooru." * For the next few weeks, Tooru was a regular visitor of Seishirou and his new pet, which they both happily agreed to name Kosame, or "Little Rain". During these visits, Seishirou remained the charming gentleman. He never once tried to probe into Tooru's past nor enquired her reasons for living alone in Tokyo. On the other hand, Tooru did not know much about his background either, except that both his parents were dead and they apparently left him a sizeable fortune to live comfortably in this expensive city while pursuing his studies. Occasionally, they would go out for dinner or a movie together. Tooru gradually found herself feeling something special for him, even though she could not forget Saya either. One early Spring morning, she was on her way to Seishirou's apartment after receiving a call from him the night before to meet at his place. Before she could press the doorbell, the door opened suddenly and Seishirou was standing before her with an amused grin on his face. He was also carrying a set of bento lunches neatly stacked and wrapped with a piece of cloth. "Would you like to view the Sakura blossoms today?" he asked. Tooru stared at him with a puzzled look on her face and said, "Isn't it a little early in the season? It won't be another three days at least before they are in full bloom." Locking the door behind him, he cast her a knowing smile and said, "Somehow I have a feeling it is going to be a little early this year." Tooru shrugged and allowed herself to be led by Seishirou. Soon they reached Ueno Park. Being a little premature for the viewing festival, there were not many people in the park, although some early birds have already started to set up camp in order to reserve choice spaces under the trees. Seishirou spread out a mat on the ground and laid out the food. Tooru found it rather curious that Seishirou could be so certain about the blooming cycle. However, as dawn's early light began to reveal and the sun rose higher into the sky, Tooru found herself gasping in awe at the beautiful sight. A broad canopy of faintest pink hovered above her. Like a stained glass window, the sunlight that was filtered through the blossoms cast pale pink glows on the faces of the revellers beneath the trees. Tooru was simply ecstatic that she did not miss this wondrous sight. As she closed her eyes to experience the fresh scent of the blossoms, she felt warms lips pressed tenderly against hers for a brief moment. She opened her eyes immediately only to gaze directly into Seishirou's smiling eyes. For a moment, she was too stunned to say anything. Seishirou decided to break the silence. "I love you, /Tooru/. Will you marry me?" he asked. Tooru stared at him, speechless. It took her several moments before the question registered in her brain. She blushed and stammered, "Sakurazuka-kun, I-I..." Words escaped her and she could only nod her head shyly. Seishirou kissed her again. This time more lingering and deeper than the first. Then he broke the kiss for an instant and whispered into her ear, "Call me Seishirou please." "Yes, Seishirou." Seishirou sat back to gaze at her beautiful form and she flushed a deeper crimson again. Then he twitched his lips into a mischievous grin and said, "Let's eat. I'm hungry." Tooru almost wanted to empty the contents of one of bento boxes on his head. Instead, she started giggling uncontrollably like a little high school girl in love. [Shadows of Time 3 - end] * "Where are you hiding? Come out and show yourself!" Kamui shouted. Seishirou materialised within the maboroshi, shook his head and tutted. "Kids nowadays have no manners at all. As your father, I cannot say that I am pleased with your behaviour. I consider myself the epitome of civility." Kamui ignored the jibe and demanded to know what this was all about. "Simple," Seishirou smirked, "I'm here to kill you." "That proves that you're lying. No father would kill his own son in such cold blood." If Kamui had thought that his comment would have caught the assassin off-guard, he was wrong. Instead Seishirou laughed doubly loudly. "Perhaps that is true of common people," he paused, "But in our family, killing a family member is the normal order of things. In fact, I killed my own mother, which would be your grandmother, in order to become the Sakurazukamori. "So, if you do manage to defeat and kill me, you will assume my place as the next Sakurazukamori and resume my Hunt for me. I am sure that Subaru-kun will be very amused." Kamui froze. If what the Sakurazukamori had told him about his parentage were true, could he ever face Subaru again? That possibility terrified him. He did not have much time to think though as a magnificent hawk-shaped shikigami flung itself against him. The boy only had time to jump aside. Even then, he could not avoid the grazing of those spectral talons against his flesh. He pressed tightly against his left shoulder to staunch the bleeding. He bit his lower lip to force himself to concentrate on his present fight, but his unresolved guilt regarding the Sumeragi, together with the newly-discovered burden of his kinship to the Sakurazukamori, only served to hamper him. While his attacks against the assassin were powerful, they lacked a certain edge to be successful. "You are not concentrating, my dear son," Seishirou laughed, "Weren't you planning to avenge what I did to your precious fellow onmyouji? "Or perhaps you cannot bear to hurt your dear father?" There was more mocking laughter. Kamui yelled out in rage as he hurled a huge ball of energy against his opponent who calmly met it with his own attack of ofudas and Sakura petals twisted into a giant column of psychic force. Again, Kamui's move lacked focus and the boy lost as his small body was thrown back by the resultant blast and sent crashing against an illusory rock wall that had appeared from nowhere. Kamui slumped to the floor of the maboroshi groaning in pain, blood trickling down from the wounds on his body. * Karen entered the room just as the nurse was leaving. The medical staff smiled to her and said that Subaru would be fine. Thus she was gratified to see the Sumeragi resting peacefully on his bed. However, he was not asleep, and when he saw Karen, he struggled to sit up until she made a signal to indicate that he did not have to. He relaxed again. "Feeling better?" she asked. "The nurse gave me something to dull the pain, but it's making me rather sluggish too." "Well, you are supposed to be resting." Subaru nodded with a faint smile. All of a sudden though, he wrapped his arms around his body and emitted a soft cry as if in pain. Karen panicked, "Sumeragi-san, what's wrong? Hold on there, I'll go get the doctor." However, before she could leave, Subaru grabbed hold of her wrist and said, "No, it's not me. Kamui...Seishirou-san is hurting Kamui." He tried to get up, but his strength failed him and he collapsed onto the vast bed again. Since the last incident at Rainbow Bridge, Karen already sensed that there existed a close bond between Kamui and Subaru, probably a result of Subaru's delving into the boy's mind once. She did not dare doubt his words. Even so, she knew that Subaru is not in the condition to fight now. She removed his grip on her wrist and said, "Leave this to me and the others. Don't worry, we'll get Kamui back in one piece." Having said that she rushed out of the room to contact the other Seals with Nokoru's help. * Seishirou pinned Kamui against a rock wall and said, "You're not really fighting me. Is it because you do not wish to kill me or because of Subaru-kun? Are you afraid that you will have to kill him if you were to take over your father's profession?" He chuckled in amusement as the boy glared at him angrily, yet helpless to fight. Then he slowly traced his fingers along Kamui's face, feeling the soft, delicate features. "So beautiful," he said, "Almost like your mother. Tooru was beautiful. I almost felt sad when she left me. Fortunately I found Subaru-kun to distract me a few months later. He was only ten and very innocent. "Perhaps Subaru-kun was a reminder of how my son might look like, or at least how I hoped he would look like, hence my little Bet with him. I'm glad you did not disappoint. "Unfortunately, I have been promised a very handsome reward to kill you. Since you do not seem to be in the mood to kill me, I will just have to finish the job." "I shall be rather displeased," a voice spoke. The sound of that voice was cold as ice and its every syllable dripped with menace. Kamui could recognise that voice from a mile away, and strangely for once, he was happy to hear it. Presently, the maboroshi cracked and shattered, only to reveal the ominous figure of the Fuuma standing just outside the magic circle. With the illusion of the supporting wall gone, Kamui found himself falling backwards onto the grassy ground. Fuuma faced the assassin. "Inform her that she does not need to worry about Kamui. I shall fulfil her wish sooner or later, by killing Kamui personally." Seishirou did not protest. Instead he just grinned and shrugged as he stepped aside to allow his /Kamui/ to pass. Fuuma languidly walked towards Kamui who had already stood up by now. He gazed at the younger boy with eyes that could be both tender and cruel at the same time and smiled. "Fuuma?" Kamui whispered hopefully. Fuuma gently brushed his hand against Kamui's face, eliciting a slight shudder from the boy where he had touched. He twirled his fingers to feel the delicate jaw-line and then, with one swift motion, wrapped itself around Kamui's slender neck. Almost immediately, Kamui cursed his folly for having lowered his guard against Fuuma again. He struggled to break free from Fuuma's grasp but the older boy was too strong. He could also see Seishirou smiling mercilessly from behind Fuuma, while enjoying a cigarette. Despite the presence of one who was his best friend and the other who was in all likelihood his only kin, Kamui felt very alone in this world. A single question repeated in his mind as he fought for air. /What is the point of saving this world when all the ones I love do not exist anymore?/ He closed his eyes and allowed the tears to trickle down his face. "Is that your wish, Kamui?" Fuuma asked. He was standing only inches away from the Seal. He pressed his face closer to Kamui's so as to be almost making contact with his lips. "Do you really wish to end it all now?" Kamui whimpered. Just then, a female voice spoke, "I really despise seeing older boys bullying their juniors." The two Angels turned towards the direction of that voice and saw Karen, accompanied by Sorata and Arashi. Seishirou smirked, "Do you really think that the three of you are our match?" Karen smiled as she toyed with a flame in the palm of her hand. Perhaps not, but I might be able to set this place ablaze and hopefully take out that Sakura Tree as well." "That would be a very un-Seal like behaviour," Seishirou replied. "It's not as if you're playing fair." Fuuma flashed a wry grin and said, "Seems like I have to postpone my fun yet again. It doesn't matter since the final outcome will still be the same." He looked at Kamui once more. "You're lucky that your comrades want you alive even though that is not your wish." He released his grip on Kamui and stepped back to join the Sakurazukamori. In an instant, they both flew away and left together. Kamui slumped to the ground in a daze, still unable to reconcile with the Sakurazukamori's revelation. /He's lying. He must be lying. I cannot be the Sakurazukamori's son. Mother would not have lied to me. But then, why did Mother never tell me the identity of my father?/ He felt someone touched him gently on the shoulder. "Kamui, are you okay?" Karen asked. He nodded slightly. "Isn't that Segawa-kun?" Sorata exclaimed as he pointed to the schoolboy still sleeping under the Sakura Tree. He approached the boy. "Sorata! No!" Kamui cried out but it was too late as Sorata hit against the magical shield around the Tree and was flung backwards. "Yow! That hurts!" yelled the monk. Silently, Kamui got up and walked over to Keiichi. He adjusted one of Keiichi's arms over his shoulder for support and carried his friend away from the Tree. Once they were beyond the Tree's field of influence, Sorata came over to help Kamui with his load. Sorata asked, "How did you..." But before he could finish his question, Kamui shot him a hard stare, effectively silencing him. It was obvious that Kamui did not wish to talk about it. Nobody spoke as they returned to Clamp Campus. * "I'm glad that you're all right," Subaru said. He was sitting up on the bed, propped up with the help of pillows, and smiling at Kamui who was standing by the bedside at the moment. Kamui nodded. "Kasumi-san said that you were the who alerted her to my danger. Thank you." The Sumeragi reached out a hand to hold Kamui, but the boy stepped back in a thinly disguised attempt to avoid his touch. "Y-Y-You'd better be resting. I shouldn't be disturbing you," Kamui stammered and left the room in a hurry. Subaru was perplexed by this sudden change in Kamui. He looked to the Kansai monk who was still in the room and asked, "What happened out there?" Sorata shrugged, "Fuuma and the Sakurazukamori were there, but I have no idea what occurred beforehand. However, I think Fuuma kind of stopped the Sakurazukamori from killing Kamui." "Seishirou-san," uttered the onmyouji under his breath. He asked again, "Did you notice anything strange?" Sorata thought about it for a moment. "Well, there was one thing. Segawa-kun was lying under the Sakura Tree. When I tried to approach him, I was thrown back by some sort of magical barrier set up around the Tree." Subaru nodded to signify that he understood what Sorata was talking about. Sorata continued, "However, Kamui didn't seem to have any problems approaching the Tree. It was as if the barrier did not exist for him. But it may have to do with his status as the 'Kamui' I guess." This time, Subaru frowned. Even if the Sakurazukamori's sorcery could not ward off Kamui, there should still be some kind of reaction. Subaru had been observing that Tree ever since his sister died eight years ago, and he was well aware of how powerful it was. He silently cursed himself for still being unable to leave the bed. "Arisugawa-kun," he said, "Could you please do me a favour? Please do not let Kamui out of your sight." Sorata gazed at the onmyouji with a sad smile on his face. "Even if you didn't ask, I would still do it. We are all comrades fighting on the same side, remember?" Subaru returned the smile. * He closed his eyes again. The sweeping roar of the gentle waves was the most alluring lullaby he had ever heard. High above him, seagulls flew and invigorated the air with their songs. Wispy strands of his long hair caressed his face as the cool breeze wafted across it. /Hokuto, if only you could be here with me./ There was a soft giggle, tinkling like silver bells on a string. He looked up and caught his breath. Hokuto was observing him with an amused smile on her face. "Hokuto..." he whispered. She held out a hand and said, "Come, Kakyou. Come walk with me." He reached out to the proffered hand and stood up, twirling his fingers tightly around hers, and yet still not quite believing what he was seeing. Wordlessly, they walked along the beach. Hokuto was barefoot as she ran to kick the waters playfully each time the tides rolled in. After some time, she got bored with that little game and proceeded to pick up seashells from the sand. With sizeable loot in her palms, she cantered towards Kakyou. "Aren't they lovely?" she chirped. Kakyou nodded with a smile. He had not felt this happy for a very long time, at least for almost the past nine years. She picked out a particular shell and pressed it into his palm. Even though it was small, its pale pink luminescence made it strikingly exquisite. "This place is so beautiful," she remarked and then paused to gaze out to the sea. Kakyou sensed a certain sadness hanging over her. "What is wrong?" he asked. Hokuto replied, "This place will no long exist soon. Everything will be gone. This place, Tokyo, Japan and the rest of the world, they will all disappear." "The Earth will be reborn," he said. "But our sea, our beach, and everything we hold dear will be gone." Tears trickled along her cheeks as she mourned for the coming loss of all she had once held dear in life. Kakyou held in a gentle embrace. "Please do not cry. Didn't you once tell me to always look on the bright side?" "Kakyou..." As he stood there silently with the one he loved in his arms, an understanding finally came to him. He gazed tenderly at Hokuto and asked, "I am not dead yet, am I?" She replied, "That is still your choice. I am only here to meet you halfway." "What do you wish?" he asked again. "I think you already know the answer." "But I do not wish to lose you again." Hokuto snuggled a little closer in his arms and smiled. "I love this world. All the people I love are still living on it. You, my brother, Grandmother, and perhaps even Sei-chan. By loving this world as I do, you will have accepted my love. You will never lose me." "Hokuto..." "You are the last Dreamgazer. The Earth needs you. Do not be afraid. I shall always be by your side, supporting you. "Kotori wants me to tell you again that the Future is not yet determined." His heart felt very light as a great doubt was lifted from his soul and the fear in his mind evaporated. He made his decision. "In that case, I shall fulfil your wish," Kakyou said, "Thank you, Hokuto." He gently kissed Hokuto, lingering in her sweet presence for one last time. When he looked up again, he found himself still sitting where Fuuma had left him. Hokuto was nowhere in sight. He brought his right fist before him and opened it. Resting in the centre of his palm was a small but beautifully shimmering pink seashell. He stood up and gaze upon the blue sky above. He made a silent prayer to Hokuto and then walked away from the sea. ----- Dreams of Sakura Home -- http://www.starhub.net.sg/~alison X Shrine -- http://www.geocities.com/asuka_sg</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>