http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/gambit04.txt </head><body><pre>*Sigh* This thing is getting more complicated than I first envisioned. Looks like I'm writing my own continuation and conclusion for X. *shrug* There's still a long way to go, so plod along with me please. Comments, feedback (and the occasional brickbats) welcomed. All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- Gambit (Part 4) An "X" Fanfic Presented by Alison Koh [Shadows of Time 4 - begin] The season for the Sakura was almost at an end and it was clearly reflected in the small tree that grew on the front lawn. It was almost bare of flowers, the bulk of them having shed days ago. Kyougo decided to sit out the wait on the front porch while his wife and the midwife attended to Tooru inside the house. Saya was very excited about the occasion and insisted on being by her best friend's side even though she herself was two months pregnant with their second child. Tooru, on the other hand, had made clear that she wanted to have the child delivered at home. She did not like the sterile environs of a hospital ward. He gazed down lovingly at the sleeping infant in his arms, his precious Fuuma. The child was precociously sucking his tiny little thumb, as all babies are wont to do. He worried for his son though. The boy was cursed with a congenital heart condition, which left him with a frail constitution, much like his mother, but Kyougo loved him all the same. He vowed to do the best he could to protect his child, as well as the mother of his children. Kyougo could not help but feel a certain sadness for the future. The Child of the Earth, Kamui, was about to be born. Such a special child would not have an easy life, for that was the fate that Heaven had reserved for all such special children. And he had an ominous feeling that his son was about to be drawn into that child's destiny. Saya had told him of a recent dream she had regarding Tooru's child; Saya often had dreams about Tooru or events involving Tooru, and nothing much else. In her dreams, she saw Tooru holding the hand of one child, a beautiful boy blessed with the face of an angel's but sad violet eyes. Yet, reflected on the floor of the dreamscape, was the same child but with a diabolical grin on his face staring at his twin above. A trail of Sakura petals would swirl around the smiling child constantly. Kyougo had a strong suspicion about the dream, but he preferred to wait for further proof. It would not be long. Another hour's wait and the sound of a newborn's plaintive first greeting to his new life could be heard clearly. Saya rushed out to the porch to inform her husband of the good news. "It's a boy!" she cried happily. However, Kyougo was no longer listening. He face was twisted in a frown as he observed the Sakura tree in front of him. It had burst into a most magnificent display of gorgeous pink blossoms. * "Please, Kyougo," Saya begged with tears streaming down her cheeks. "I do not want Fuuma to die." Kyougo could not bear to see his wife in such a sorrowful state but he knew that what she proposed was not only wrong, but also extremely dangerous. Fuuma's illness had taken a sudden turn for the worse and the doctors had already advised them to be prepared for any eventuality. No one, however, was ever prepared to see his own flesh and blood die before him. He held out a hand to comfort his wife but she brushed it aside, weeping almost hysterically. "It is all my fault. It was all because of me that he was born so weak," she wailed. "Saya, you're with child. You mustn't upset yourself," Kyougo tried to calm her. "I can't. Not when you refuse to help me." "But what will Tooru say?" "She will never know. But even if she did, she will understand." Kyougo shook his head and sighed, "I should never have told you my suspicion about power of the Dark Kamui within that child." Saya held onto her husband's hands hopefully and said, "Kamui will still remain the 'Kamui'. We are only borrowing the part that is the 'Dark Kamui' to maintain Fuuma's life. We might even be doing young Kamui a favour by sealing away the dark taint within him." "What happens if we cannot control that darkness? What if it threatens to devour our son's soul?" "It won't," she said firmly, "I shall never allow it." She clung on hopefully to her husband's hands and added, "We shall give Fuuma the most perfect family. Our love will be strong enough to seal away the darkness within him. Besides, somehow I had a feeling that this was going to happen, which was why I insisted on naming him 'Fuuma'. The truth shall be sealed within him." Kyougo argued, "But destiny would condemn Fuuma and Kamui to become the deadliest of enemies." "No, they won't," she said with a sweet smile, "As long as they become bosom friends, they can never bear to hurt each other." [Shadows of Time 4 - end] * The display blinked furiously and Satsuki struggled to absorb the confusing information. "This is interesting," she noted. "What is?" Yuuto asked nonchalantly. "Someone is breaking into your department's computers," she announced. Yuuto sat up upon hearing the news, "That is certainly interesting. Have you found out who's the party?" "Strange. Seems they were only targeting a particular record. They were quick though. Even Beast couldn't successfully trace them." Yuuto chuckled, "I thought Beast was perfect." Sharp beeps sounded from the supercomputer in response to Yuuto's comments. "Now, Beast, behave yourself," Satsuki smiled. Turning to Yuuto she said, "Beast isn't too happy about that last remark. You'd better apologise quickly or you'll get more than bad coffee and burnt toast next." The civil servant cringed as he recalled the breakfast incident that morning. He had made a careless remark about Beast, which ended up with the supercomputer taking over the kitchen appliances and generally messing up the whole place. Yuuto immediately apologised. He did not fancy being cooked while attempting to take a hot bath later. Satsuki giggled, "That's better. Hmmm...what have we here. Now, this is really fascinating. Beast, put up the information on the screen." Immediately the large panel on the wall lit up and rows of information began to display on one popup window. It was a marriage record. An amused Yuuto could not resist laughing. "I didn't know that Sakurazuka-san was the marrying kind. Magami Tooru, who is she?" "Or rather "who was"," Satsuki said, "Look at this one." A new window popped up on the screen to display another record. Yuuto exclaimed, "She's dead?" Satsuki nodded, "But I don't think that Sakurazuka-san did her in. Fire doesn't sound like his MO. However, that's not what I want you to see. Read the section on the next-of-kin." Yuuto looked carefully. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he saw the name. "You're kidding. Shirou Kamui is the Sakurazukamori's son? I would believe you better if it was our /Kamui/. They almost act alike." "Delete those records," a voice ordered. Yuuto turned around and was surprised to see a very angry-looking Fuuma. "Yes, /Kamui/," Satsuki obeyed and instructed Beast to remove those records from the civil service database. Fuuma eyed his two Angels coldly and warned, "Those information must never leave this room, or neither of you will either." As Fuuma walked out of the room, Yuuto could not help but shiver at those words. * Kamui could not concentrate much in class after having traced his parents' marriage records with the help of Suoh and the Clamp Campus computer system. As lunch break arrived, he cursed silently when he realised he had forgotten to bring along his packed lunch that morning. He had been too eager to rush off to Suoh's office without waiting for the others. Thus he decided to head off to the school cafeteria with Keiichi graciously offering to accompany him even though he brought his own lunch. Keiichi noted that his friend was unusually solemn today and decided to say something to lighten up the mood. "Shirou-kun, I still couldn't figure out what happened to me yesterday. I thought I was walking to class when I woke up and found myself still in bed and half the day gone. Isn't that weird? And I also had this strange dream about sleeping under a Sakura tree, and you were standing nearby with some other people whom I couldn't see clearly. I've read a book saying that dreams can be the guide to understanding oneself, or even to foretell the future. Do you think there's a meaning hidden in there somewhere?" Kamui mumbled something inconsequential and walked down the main stairs. When they reached the ground floor, Kamui froze. Subaru was standing there waiting for him, with Kamui's lunchbox in hand. "You forgot this," the onmyouji spoke softly and tried to smile. "Thank you," Kamui said as he accepted the lunchbox. He wanted very much to stay there, to chat with Subaru, and enjoy all the things they had done before, but he could not. Instead he looked to the floor, shuffling his feet as if he wanted very much to be away from here. Keiichi was puzzled by Kamui reaction and asked Subaru, "Sumeragi-san, would you like to join us for lunch?" Subaru gazed at Kamui sadly and then said, "No, it's all right. I've already had my lunch. I should be going back now. Thanks for the offer and enjoy your lunch." Kamui watched glumly as Subaru's back retreated down the corridor and disappeared around a corner. Wordlessly he, too, turned to move. Keiichi followed closely behind, with a very worried expression on his face. * Little birds flitted merrily about the tree, singing melodious songs that would have warmed and brightened any heart except that of the lonely youth standing beneath it. Kamui touched the coarse bark of the tree, as if trying to feel for a pulse beneath it, and whispered, "Why, Kotori? Why must it be like this?" Something prickled his senses, warning him of an intruder, but he did not bother to turn around to face him. "Are you here to kill me again?" he asked. "Not unless I'm feeling suicidal. My /Kamui/ was quite clear on that point. No, I'm here to see how you're coping," Seishirou replied. "Is this another one of your games then?" The assassin chuckled, "Life is one long game. What is this little distraction of mine compared to that? But if you really want to call it that way, why don't we play a game of 'father-and-son' then?" Kamui ignored him. Seishirou shook his head in mock indignation, "What would your mother say about your bad manners." "Shut up!" Kamui yelled, no longer able to control his seething anger. Seishirou removed his glasses, revealing the pair of mismatched eyes behind it, and placed the glasses into his coat pocket. Then he slowly walked towards the boy and tenderly said, "I thought that this might be a good opportunity to answer some of the questions that you might have." Kamui looked up to face him defiantly and said, "In that case, who hired you?" Seishirou frowned, "You may ask me any question except that one. My professional code does not allow me to reveal the identity of my clients." "In that case, I have nothing to ask." "Not even about your mother?" Seishirou remarked. The boy remained silent, although his expression had softened somewhat at the mention of his mother. "What is there to ask?" Kamui said, "I doubt you ever knew her. Are you going to tell me that you actually loved her?" "She started off as a non-routine assignment," Seishirou explained, "I was to marry her and father her child. But she was very beautiful. I broke a rule of our Clan when I let her live even after you were born." Kamui looked up in surprise. Seishirou was smiling wistfully, not his usual mocking smirk. This was an aspect of the Sakurazukamori which he had not quite expected, but then he remembered the eight-year-old pain of another person, one who had been tricked by the 'kind' face of the assassin, and he asked, "What about Subaru?" Seishirou shrugged, simply answering, "Subaru-kun lost a bet." Kamui struggled to understand the layers of meaning behind the assassin's words but gave up. Instead he told the man, "Since you say that we are now playing a game of father-and-son, can I get you to promise me something?" Seishirou grinned with amusement as he observed the silent desperation in his son's eyes. He said, "I can't promise not to hurt Subaru-kun indefinitely, but I shall at least leave him alone until the Promised Day. Hopefully, he will have grown strong enough by then to defeat me. At least that would be something unexpected." "Thank you," Kamui replied. He remained where he was as Seishirou approached closer to him and then reached out to caress his face. "You really remind me of your mother." Suddenly, a motion caught the corner of his left eye and Seishirou jumped away just in time to avoid the exploding shikigamis headed his way. "Stay away from Kamui!" Subaru yelled. Seishirou smiled warmly, "How are you today, Subaru-kun? Cute as usual? Unfortunately, I am not here to fight you." The Sumeragi took no notice of the assassin, instead running over to Kamui's side. "Are you all right?" he asked with deep concern, "Did he hurt you?" He was visibly relieved when the boy displayed no sign of being harmed. He then turned his attention to the Sakurazukamori and said, "Our differences must end here." Without waiting for his nemesis to explain, Subaru withdrew a stack of ofudas and hurled them against Seishirou. "Stop it!" Kamui screamed, but Subaru was not listening. Meanwhile Seishirou drew up a shield around him to avoid the attacks. However, with the option to attack denied him through his promise to Kamui, he could not expect to hold up much longer. Gradually his shield was wearing down and Kamui watched in horror as a stray ofuda grazed Seishirou on his cheek. When Subaru cast the next wave of shikigamis, Kamui leapt instinctively before Seishirou and set up his own psychic shield to block the Sumeragi's attack. Nonetheless, the shield was a little mistimed and he flinched in pain as a shikigami struck him squarely on his left shoulder. Something warm was trickling down his arm. He took a quick look and saw that he was bleeding from a rather bad cut. "Kamui!" Subaru gasped, shocked by what he had done. Seishirou, too, was disturbed by Kamui's injury. This was the first time that anybody had tried to protect him. He reached out to touch Kamui but the boy said, "Please leave now! Go!" Seishirou realised that a very angry Subaru was running towards him and decided to obey Kamui's words for once. A whirl of Sakura petals encircled him and he disappeared. Kamui dropped to his knees as weariness overtook his small body. He held on tightly to his bleeding shoulder, trying vainly to staunch the blood flow. He vaguely felt a pair of arms wrapped around him. "Why did you do that?" Subaru asked, "What is going on?" Kamui raised his head and his guilty eyes stared tearfully into Subaru's. "He...," Kamui paused, "...he is my father." With those simple words, all colour drained from the Sumeragi's face. * Subaru had headed straight for his own room and stayed in there since they came back from the grove. Even while Kamui was having his wound attended to, the Sumeragi did not once turn up to enquire, and it was obvious that Sorata had noticed the Sumeragi's bizarre behaviour too though the monk tried to lighten Kamui's sullen expression by cracking more jokes than usual. Kamui, naturally, was in no mood to laugh. Now that the others had left him alone, he had more time to think about the day's events. While he had still not quite gotten over the shock of learning that the Sakurazukamori was his father, he was gradually coming to accept it. He had no other choice. He was at least glad to receive a promise from Seishirou that Subaru was not to be harmed, at least not until the Final Day. Kamui had intended to keep the matter of their relationship a secret. Not a difficult thing to do since Seishirou did not appear to favour a public announcement either. However, when Subaru turned up to attack Seishirou, Kamui had no choice but to reveal the truth. He could lie or at least hide the truth from any other person, but not Subaru. He owed Subaru his sanity when the Sumeragi once delved into his heart to save him, and his life which was paid for with Subaru's eye. He could not owe Subaru the truth when asked for it. In fact, he could no longer owe Subaru anything. While he could not be sure how Subaru would take the news, he certainly was not prepared for this. To have Subaru withdraw silently and completely from his life is something he could not contemplate, even in his worst nightmares. And when he reviewed his real reason for avoiding Subaru in the first place, he finally realised that he really did not want Subaru to hate him. He felt his heart twisting within itself and he knew he had to face his demons sooner or later. Fate had already played too many cruel jokes on him. He was not about to accept one more without a fight. Bearing that resolve in mind, he left his room and headed for Subaru's. He hesitated briefly at the door, unsure of his approach. But then, he weighed that against the consequences of not doing anything, and finally knocked on the door. There was no reply; perhaps the Sumeragi was asleep, or maybe not even in the room. But Kamui saw the light coming from under the door, and decided to turn the knob. It was not locked. As the huge door crept open to reveal the inhabitant of the room, Kamui's heart almost collapsed in anguish. Subaru was sitting hunched over by the side of his bed, staring at the floor. His elbows were resting on his knees as his fingers twiddled with a half-smoked cigarette. Kamui entered the room and gently closed the door behind him "Why are you here?" Subaru asked without looking up. "Trying to savour my misery on your father's behalf?" Kamui had been struggling to hold back his tears, but when he heard those words, he could not help but feel the tide of anger rising within him. "That is not fair!" he shot back at the Sumeragi. "And what is fair? Tell me!" Subaru replied as he looked up, his eye burning with contempt. "He killed my sister, toyed with my emotions and basically destroyed a good part of my youth, filling it with hate and anger. And now, just when I thought I had found what little peace there was left, who else but his son pops into my life to continue with his sick games." "I didn't know," Kamui whimpered, "I swear I didn't know that he was my father until when he tried to kill me at Ueno Park." "Perhaps," Subaru chuckled indignantly, "But the two of you seemed cosy enough at Kotori's grave. You were even willing to be hurt by me for his sake. "Please, leave me alone. I do not care if you plan to tell the others the truth. But for the time being, I suggest we try to avoid each other. I won't leave yet, not unless you want me to, since it is still my duty as a Seal to protect you, but do not expect me to play anymore of your 'cute' games." "Subaru..." Kamui was almost at the verge of tears. However, Subaru flicked his cigarette onto the ashtray on the nightstand and simply said, "Leave now." Those two words stung with a finality like a dagger twisting through Kamui's heart. Before his legs could give way, he struggled to the door and ran back to his room. Subaru heard the door slammed shut and allowed a tear to trickle down his face. * Kamui hurled himself onto the large bed and set free his tears. He cried into his pillow, hoping that it would stifle the tormented wail that seemed to echo from within his soul. His heart was tearing up inside with each memory of Subaru's past kindness contrasted with those words of cruelty uttered just moments ago. At this very minute, Kamui prayed that his twin-star was truly here to fulfil his wish, which was to have the Shinken rammed through his shattered heart. At least that would be a quicker death than this slow and torturous agony. He refused to believe that Subaru could be so cruel, but he also knew that he had no right to demand for Subaru's understanding. The Sakurazukamori did inflict those terrible pain on the Sumeragi, and the Sakurazukamori was indeed Kamui's father. Kamui would not have forgiven himself if he were Subaru too. "Subaru hates me..." he repeatedly muttered between sobs. Was there no way out? No way that he could redeem himself before the Sumeragi? No way to regain Subaru's friendship at least, if not his affections? Yes, there was a way. He must become stronger. He must fight, and prove his dedication to the cause of the Dragons of Heaven. No more Kekkais must be allowed to fall. Most of all, he must be strong enough to protect Subaru, even if Subaru didn't want him to. He must prove to Subaru that even if he was the Sakurazukamori's son, he would never betray Subaru's trust. Kamui had to do it, he had to believe that he can do it. Or there would be nothing left for him to protect in this world. All his hopes would have died with Subaru's rejection. ----- 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>