http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/gambit07.txt </head><body><pre>There's a little bit more to go. Hopefully the whole things is still making sense to my dear readers. Comments and feedback are welcome as usual. All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- Gambit (Part 7) An "X" Fanfic Presented by Alison Koh [Shadows of Time 7 - begin] "I heard that you have contacted the President of Toujou Corporation," noted Kanoe. She had just entered her sister's dream. Hinoto nodded, her face reflecting infinite sadness, and replied, "His grandchild, Kazuki, is somehow related to the End of the World." "I saw part of your dream," Kanoe said, "That dream of your Future. I will not allow that to happen to you." "No!" Hinoto cried out as Kanoe slowly faded from her dreamscape, "You do not understand!" * The old man watched helplessly as his granddaughter lay on the bed, with tubes running through her tiny body. She was dying. "I have decided, father," the young man beside him spoke, "Kazuki must live again." "Masaki," the old man replied, "We have been warned. The Princess has said that Kazuki will be one of those who shall destroy the Earth. Perhaps this would be a better fate for her." Masaki shook his head despondently, "I do not care anymore. All I want is for Kazuki to live, even if it is at the expense of my own life. What is the Earth to me if Kazuki does not exist?" He stormed out of the room without waiting for his father to reply. [Shadows of Time 7 - end] * The door slid open. Souhi and Hien rushed into the chamber shouting, "Princess, what was that noise?" However, the Princess did not notice them. She was weeping sorrowfully, hugging the body of the monk from Mount Kouya lying on her lap. When they saw his blood pooling across the floor of the dais, they opened their mouths to scream, but the sound was cut short by the sharp blade that slashed across their backs. The Dark Hinoto smiled. She walked to Arashi, who was trapped inside the dreamgazer's body. "It is time we make a move." Arashi could not find the voice to protest as Hinoto cast a spell and teleported both of them out of the Diet Building. * The morning breeze gently ruffled Kamui's hair as he stood before Kotori's grave, with Subaru watching over him just a few steps away. The boy placed his hand on an outstretched limb and repeated his promise, "I shall bring Fuuma back, Kotori. Please give me your blessings." With his daily ritual completed, Kamui stepped aside and prepared to leave. However, an unnerving sensation began to creep up to him and it showed on his face. "Kamui, is there something wrong?" Subaru asked. Kamui tried to shake off the feeling but could not. "It's just that...Sorata's aura seemed to have disappeared!" Almost instantly, Subaru spread out a few pieces of ofudas on the ground and began to chant. The ofudas started swirling in a circulation formation and then suddenly flared out of existence. Deeply disturbed, Subaru looked up and said, "That's odd. There's nothing, not a single trace of Arisugawa-kun in the patterns. And Arashi-san's aura is very weak, as if hidden from us on purpose. "But I thought I overheard that they've been summoned separately by Princess Hinoto this morning." "Hinoto!" Kamui exclaimed, "We've got to get there this instant!" Subaru was puzzled by Kamui's reaction but he did not question his companion. Instead, both of them immediately headed towards the Diet Building. * A series of beeps caught Satsuki's attention. She took a quick look at the information and announced to her audience, "Beast has detected abnormal activities at Tokyo Tower." The huge screen turned on almost immediately, displaying a skycam view of Tokyo Tower. Fuuma chuckled. Looking at Satsuki, Yuuto and Nataku, he said, "Why don't the three of you prepare a welcome party? However, leave the kekkai to me. I'll be there shortly. After Kamui has released the Shinken." Satsuki returned her attentions to her computer, while Nataku immediately left for the exit. Yuuto looked at his two companions, pondered for a while and shrugged. It was about time he was involved in the action too. He went to look for the bioroid. Meanwhile, Kanoe watched the screen and whispered, "I shall change your Future, my dearest sister." * The door to the special control room within Imonoyama Mansion opened as Karen and Seiichirou entered. Agitation showed itself in every inch of Seiichirou's body as he anxiously asked, "Have you managed to find any clues of their whereabouts?" Suoh typed a few buttons on the panel before him to bring up the picture onto the screen. There were three figures on the roof of the Tokyo Tower Special Observatory. Two of them were bound to steel girders on different corners of the roof. The third person, seated on the floor at the centre of the roof, was Hinoto. "Shimako-san! Yuka-chan!" Seiichirou gasped and instantly rushed towards the exit. "Stop! Aoki-san! This might be a trap!" Karen shouted after him but it was too late. He had already left. She turned towards Suoh and said, "I'm going after him. Please inform Kamui and Sumeragi-san of the news immediately." Suoh nodded, "We're looking for them now." "Thanks," she replied and went after the windmaster. * Kamui was surprised that Hien and Souhi were not there to greet them when they stepped out from the private elevator to Hinoto's underground sanctum. With Subaru following closely behind him, Kamui cautiously approached Hinoto's chamber. From the corridor, he could see that the sliding door to her chamber was not closed. He approached it and peeked in. The bodies of the two girls were lying at his feet. "Souhi! Hien!" he cried as he squatted down to take a closer look. They were both dead. He was vaguely aware that Subaru had stepped past him to approach the dais. And then he heard the Sumeragi gasp. Kamui looked up as Subaru stepped aside to let him see. Sorata was lying on the floor. "Sorata!" Kamui screamed as he rushed to the monk's side, but it was too late. The body was cold and even the blood from the wound on his back had dried. "They were all attacked with a sword," Subaru noted seriously, "But apart than the other /Kamui/, none of the other Dragons of Earth are known to use such a weapon. Besides, the Shinken has been sealed. "Most importantly, the Princess is missing and so is Kishu-san." "She did this," Kamui muttered, "Hinoto did this. I don't know how, but she murdered Sorata." "What do you mean?" Subaru asked, disturbed by Kamui's accusations. Kamui looked at his companion with anger burning in his eyes and said, "She tried to kill you once, at Rainbow Bridge, by sending the rest of us on a merry chase to Yasukuni Shrine. She was the one who hired the Sakurazukamori. It all makes sense now. But where is she now?" Like he had done earlier, Subaru spread his ofudas onto the centre of the dais, where Hinoto usually sat, and chanted. Psychic energy crackled and flared. Subaru looked up at his companion, his face ashen, and said, "Tokyo Tower." A look of resignation settled on Kamui as he spoke, "Let's go back to campus first. There is something I need to collect." Subaru nodded in understanding and they both left the place quickly. * "I am so glad that you're still willing to see me," Kusanagi said. "I am so sorry," Yuzuriha replied, "It's not your fault that you're one of the Dragons of Earth and that I'm with the Dragons of Heaven." The military man placed his hand behind the back of his head self-consciously and said, "No, I really should apologise. I already realised who you were after the Shinjuku incident but I didn't say anything. "However, although I am a Dragon of Earth, I don't believe that we should destroy the Kekkais. I might be able to hear the trees and plants cry when land is levelled for new buildings to be erected, and wish that it would not be so. But when the earthquake attacks, the trees that have been damaged cry just as loudly, and so do the hundreds of people killed and the thousands injured. There must be a way for humans and nature to coexist. Destroying humanity is not necessarily the answer." "I'm so happy to hear that," Yuzuriha smiled, tears floating in her eyes. In her arms, Inuki barked in agreement. And the two Dragons laughed in shared mirth. Suddenly the girl raised a hand as if to cover her ear. "Ojouchan, what's wrong?" he asked. "A kekkai...a kekkai has been raised over Tokyo Tower!" she exclaimed. * The Shinken was humming loudly as if it knew that the time had finally come. But Kamui understood that it was really crying. The Shinken was lamenting the Final Battle for the Earth. The trio from the executive committee of Clamp Campus, Nokoru, Suoh and Akira, were watching him from the side, their demeanour reflecting utter seriousness. The end was coming, and Kamui was the only hope. Kamui stepped up to where the sword was sealed. Focusing his will, he gathered his power about him and touched the hilt of the sword. The seals on the Shinken crackled in protest, refusing to yield their prize. But Kamui held firm. With superhuman strength that belied his small frame, he gradually pulled out the sword. One final tug and the Shinken was finally in his hands. He felt the power of the holy sword flow through his body and resonating with his own power of 'Kamui'. Akira walked up to him and presented a piece of broadcloth. Kamui accepted the cloth and wrapped it around the sword. Silently he walked up the steps leading out of the secret underground chamber to meet the person awaiting him above. Kamui was rather surprised to see Subaru dressed all in white with a touch of purple in his shikifuku. "I know that you have chosen to be my kage-nie, but I cannot have any injuries on my own person affect your fight with the other /Kamui/," Subaru explained, "These robes contain the powers of the former Heads of the Sumeragi Clan. It will provide me with some measure of protection." He then embraced Kamui in his arms and whispered, "We shall come out of this alive. We must." "Um," Kamui said as he held on tightly to the Sumeragi, "Promise me that you will wait for me, Subaru." "I promise." "Let's go then." * Fuuma caressed the other Shinken in his arms, feeling the gentle hum of its power. With a smirk, he told his companion, "Well, we mustn't keep out pets waiting." The Sakurazukamori merely lit a cigarette and walked out of the chamber, an inscrutable smile on his face. * Seiichirou returned his attentions to his enemies after raising the kekkai. A few metres more and he would have reached the foot of Tokyo Tower. But already a frightening mass of cables and wires had gathered around the base of the Tower, snaking its way till it reached the Main Observatory about 150 metres above. Almost like the magical forests that guarded the enchanted castles in the fairy-tales that he had often read to his precious Yuka-chan before bedtime. However, instead of fire-breathing reptilian-like dragons defending the forest, he was faced with two Dragons of Earth, the bioroid, Nataku, and the water-master, Yuuto. "I'm here for my family. I don't care about the Promised Day!" Seiichirou proclaimed. "I am only following /Kamui's/ orders," the bioroid replied. Yuuto simply shrugged with a smile. Nataku made the first move as he directed his "ki"-charged broadcloth at the windmaster who managed to deflect it with a well-timed shield of spiralling air. Yuuto threw a few water-blades in the Seal's direction and was instantly met by a torrent of familiar-looking fireballs. "It's you," he smiled at Karen who had just arrived. Karen took a quick look at Seiichirou to make sure he was not hurt in any way before replying the Angel, "Haven't I warned you never to start without informing me first?" The salaryman twisted is lips in a mischievous grin. "Unfortunately I forgot to ask for your number the other day. Well, nothing much has happened so far. Shall we renew our acquaintance?" "I'd be most delighted," she replied and instantly cast a few more fireballs in his direction. Just behind her, a huge cable threatened to run through her body. However, a young girl appeared and sliced it apart with a sword. It was Yuzuriha. Kusanagi was just beside her, wrestling with another mass of cables. "Leave Satsuki to us, Karen-san," the inugami-master said. Karen nodded and concentrated on her fight with the water-master. The ground split opened and a screen was raised out of it. Satsuki's face appeared and asked Kusanagi, "You are one of us. Why are you fighting with the Seven Seals? Is it because of this girl?" "No," he replied as he snapped another stack of wires and cables aside, "There is no need destroy everything. There is no reason to kill." "Humans are weak and unpredictable. The Earth must be cleansed of humanity's mistake in order for machines to rule and provide stability to the Earth. There shall be no more subjective reasoning and bad decision-making. Machines are perfect." "You're wrong!" he said, "Machines are there to help with the decision-making, to help humans create a better future, not to lord over them. Machines are created by humans. If humans are flawed, the machines cannot possibly be perfect." Almost immediately, Kusanagi was thrown aside by a huge cable as the attacks grew more furious. Satsuki laughed, "Beast disagrees. Beast is perfect." "Kusanagi-san!" Yuzuriha cried out. She slashed her way across the jungle of wires to reach the person she loved. Kusanagi got up and gave her a smile to indicate that he was all right. "Beast is not perfect!" Yuzuriha shouted, "It's a machine. It doesn't understand human emotions. It cannot love." "Beast loves me," Satsuki replied. "But do you love it the way you love a Special Person?" the inugami-master asked. Satsuki was a little surprised by the question. She paused her attacks to gaze fondly at the water-master, who was busy fighting Karen at the moment. Did she love Beast the same way that she loved Yuuto? The question fascinated her. Beast sensed her deliberation and began to get angry. Within her VR unit, Satsuki saw the following message flashing across her sight, "BEAST LOVES SATSUKI AND SATSUKI LOVES ONLY BEAST..." "I love Beast but I also love Yuuto," she replied. "SATSUKI DOES NOT NEED HUMANS...SATSUKI DOES NOT LOVE YUUTO... SATSUKI AND BEAST SHALL BECOME ONE...SPECIAL PROGRAM SEQUENCE INITIALISED..." "Wh-what?" Satsuki cried. Suddenly, she felt the probes latching even more deeply and tightly into her. "Beast! Stop it!" she screamed as she realised what Beast was trying to do. It was going to assimilate Satsuki into itself. Yuuto heard the scream and turned to look but was instantly hit by Karen's flame arrow. Blood flowed freely from the gaping wound on his shoulder but he did not care. "Satsuki!" he cried out and tossed a wave of water blades against the sea of cables and wires that formed Beast's attacks. Beast retaliated from all sides, slamming their metallic coils through his body, killing him instantly. She saw his death through the VR unit and screamed. With her last ounce of strength, she reached out to the hidden flap on the console and flipped it open to reveal the small inconspicuous red switch, her last insurance against a malfunction in Beast. With tears streaming down her face, she whispered, "Goodbye Yuuto. Goodbye Beast." And flicked the switch. Right before the explosion, Beast flashed its final message, "SATSUKI LIED! JUST LIKE ALL HUMANS LIE!" * "Why do you fight so hard?" Nataku asked the windmaster, "Everyone dies in the end." Seiichirou was near-hysterical with the knowledge that his wife and child were right above him and yet he was being hindered by a genderless creature demanding answers to philosophical questions. He had no patience for it and shouted, "I don't care! I only want my daughter to live!" The bioroid suddenly froze, half-remembering the memories from another life. "Daddy..." it whispered longingly. Seiichirou took advantage of the brief respite and headed towards the Tower. Karen followed closely behind. * Trapped within the darkness, Arashi wept in grief. Sorata was dead and she was the reason for it. She wished that she were dead too, instead of being stuck here, powerless, in the darkness. But there was another presence in the darkness. She could sense it trying to reach out to her mind. "Who are you?" Arashi demanded to know. "It is I," the familiar voice replied. "Princess? But..." Hinoto interrupted, "The other is my Dark Half. She has trapped me in here for quite some time. I managed to break through her barrier a little because she is not here, but my powers are too weak to take control of my body fully. "There is a very slim chance, but I might be able to return you back to your own body. However I cannot guarantee that my Dark Half will leave it. Will you do me a favour in return for this help?" Arashi replied in the affirmative. Hinoto continued, "If you see Kamui, please tell him to kill me with the Shinken." "What?" Arashi exclaimed. The Princess sighed, "For the sake of humanity, he must do it." * "Yuka-chan! Shimako-san!" Seiichirou shouted as he bounded up the Tower to reach his family. "Seiichirou!" "Daddy!" Meanwhile the Princess continued to sit silently in the centre. Karen appeared soon after. "Get your wife," she said, "I'll free your daughter." "Thanks," Seiichirou nodded and they both headed towards opposite corners of the roof. The hostages were both tied up with ropes, which were easy to unravel. Shimako threw her arms gladly around her husband the moment she was free. On the other end, Karen had just removed the last strings of ropes on Yuka-chan. A presence appeared beside her. She looked up and saw that it was Arashi. "Oh, it's you," she smiled in relief. Arashi nodded and asked, "Need any help?" "Everything is fine," Karen replied and then turned to walk towards Seiichirou, while holding onto his daughter's hands. Something cold went through her heart. She glanced down, shocked by the gleaming blade protruding out from her chest. The little girl screamed as Karen muttered a weak "Why..." before collapsing onto the ground. "Kasumi-san!" Seiichirou called out. His face went pale when he saw Arashi pointing her blade against his daughter's throat. "Three Seals down and four more to go," she laughed. ----- 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>