http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/gambit08.txt </head><body><pre>Almost done. There will be a little epilogue after this, which should be ready in the next two days. All C&C welcome. All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- Gambit (Part 8) An "X" Fanfic Presented by Alison Koh [Shadows of Time 8 - begin] She had searched for a very long time and at last her quest was over. The dark-haired child exhibited the potential. She approached the child in her dreams. "Who are you?" the child asked, her dark eyes reflecting this wondrous vision of the child-woman in white. "My name is Hinoto. I am a dreamgazer." "Dreamgazer?" the girl said. "Yes," Hinoto replied, "I can see the futures in my dreams. You may have such powers too. I want to guide you." The girl did not understand, but she knew instantly that she loved Hinoto and would do everything possible to bring Hinoto happiness. She nodded in acceptance. Hinoto smiled and asked, "What is your name?" "Kanoe," the girl replied, "My name is Kanoe. Since you look so young, may I call you Hinoto-neesan?" "You may." * She sensed her Dark Half appearing again. Its form was weak and yet it was growing stronger and more substantial by the day. Already gaps were appearing in her own memory, a sign that her Shadow might have been using her body for short periods for some unknown purpose. She hesitated to know what they were. Her Shadow whispered, "You failed." Hinoto kept silent, while her Dark Half continued, "You had hoped that Kanoe could fulfil your wish, but she is not a Dreamgazer and so you failed. And now, she intends to gather the Seven Angels, the Dragons of Earth, to save you. Isn't Fate's irony sweet?" "Even so," Hinoto whispered sadly, "I want Kamui to succeed." [Shadows of Time 8 - end] * The scene was awash in a hazy white glow. A woman appeared. "I love you, Karen," the woman spoke, "Please forgive me." "Mother..." Tears flowed along Karen's cheeks as she followed her mother into the Light. * "Yuka-chan!" The face of /Arashi/ grinned darkly and said, "Do not come any closer, or your daughter dies." She emphasised her threat by inching her blade a little closer to the child's neck. "What do you want? What is wrong with you, Arashi-san?" Seiichirou demanded to know, "And where's Arisugawa-kun?" "Sorata is dead," she replied calmly, "I want all the Seals dead. If you wish to see your precious daughter live, I suggest that you kill yourself now." "Yuka-chan..." he whispered. "Daddy!" the child cried. The blade was pressing onto the soft skin on her throat. The windmaster sighed and spoke to /Arashi/, "You will keep your promise to release her?" /Arashi/ smiled and nodded. Shimako grabbed her husband's arm and begged, "No, Seiichirou..." However, he removed his wife's hands and stepped aside, saying, "I am sorry that I can no longer be able to protect you. Please take care of Yuka-chan for me." High-velocity winds began to gather about him. Shimako fell to the ground and cried as all hope faded from her heart. Seiichirou prepared to die by his own hands. An angry yell from /Arashi/ caught his attention, however. He looked up and saw that her hand which held the sword had been pulled away from his daughter by a magical cloth tied around her wrist. Nataku was holding the other end. Instinctively, Seiichirou gathered his power and cast column of wind against /Arashi/, flinging her several feet away from Yuka-chan. He ran towards his daughter and held her tightly in his arm. "Thank you," he smiled to the bioroid. Nataku gazed at him with a touch of regret in his eyes and simply said, "You wanted to die for your daughter. My father died for me once." "You are not obedient, Nataku," a voice echoed. Shortly after, a dark figure leapt onto the roof, the Shinken in hand, and smiled at them. It was Fuuma. "You were supposed to kill them before I arrive to finish off Kamui. Seems like I have to do this myself," the Dark Kamui shrugged. Seiichirou understood the threat immediately. He carried his daughter and flew to his wife's side. However, Fuuma was already gathering a ball of energy in his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it hurtling towards Seiichirou and his family. The editor prepared for the worst, but a shadow flew in front of his family as Nataku formed a "ki"-charged shield in the form of a pentagram to block the attack. Nonetheless, the bioroid was no match for the power of the Dark Kamui as the energy ball slammed dead centre and sent him spiralling away. He coughed hard and blood gushed from his mouth. "Nataku!" Seiichirou gathered the bioroid in his arms. Nataku asked in a weak voice, "Daddy...have I been a good girl?" The Seal nodded, "Yes, you have." Nataku smiled, and then closed his eyes forever. The editor of Asuka magazine glared at Fuuma, "How could you do that to your own people?" "That is because that was Nataku's, or rather Kazuki's, wish," Fuuma smirked, "But killing you is the Earth's wish." "Stop it! Fuuma!" Kamui shouted. He had finally arrived together with Subaru by his side. The boy unwrapped the cloth to reveal the Shinken and then told Subaru, "Help Aoki-san and his family out of here. I'll handle Fuuma." The Sumeragi nodded as he carried Yuka-chan into his arms, while Seiichirou attended to his wife. They leapt off the roof of the Special Observatory to meet Kusanagi and Yuzuriha below. Handing the little girl back to her father, Subaru said, "All of you remain here to protect Aoki-san and his kekkai. Seishirou-san may still be lurking around, but I need to help Kamui." "Go ahead. Don't worry about us," Kusanagi said as he squeezed one of the onmyouji's thin shoulders in assurance. "Thanks." Subaru then took a quick look of the Tower and flew up again. However, as he touched down briefly just above the Main Observatory, a few petals of Sakura floated past him. He stopped at the sight of the man standing several metres away from him, dark coat whipping stylishly around his tall frame in the cold wind. "You look very pretty today, Subaru-kun. Much cuter than your sister ever did in the shikifuku." Subaru vaulted closer towards his nemesis, making sure that he kept a minimum safe distance between them. He glared at the assassin wordlessly. Seishirou glanced up to the Special Observatory in the distance above and said, "Our Kamuis should have started their fun by now. We shan't keep them waiting, shall we?" The Sakurazukamori raised his left arm. Shadows twisted around his hand and gathered into the sinister form of a hawk. It was the Sakurazukamori's pet Shikigami. With a smirk, the assassin waved his hand and launched the bird at Subaru. * "Fuuma, I'm going to bring you back today, no matter what! This is my promise to Kotori!" Kamui vowed, but his Dark Half sniggered in amusement. The Dark Kamui raised his Shinken and assumed a battle stance. "In that case, I shall give you an opportunity to apologise directly to Kotori for failing your promise." The two Shinkens clashed, sending sparks flying whenever the blades touched. However, Kamui was still recovering from his previous injuries. It was obvious that Fuuma was doing most of the attacking, while Kamui could only try to defend himself. Pulling herself up, Dark Hinoto watched with a smile and whispered, "Yes, kill Kamui. Kill the Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven." She crept closer to take a better look of the battle, but froze when a small hand caught hold of her ankle. She looked down and cursed herself for forgetting that the Princess' body was still sitting there. In a minute, another presence flowed through that contact and into her body. "Get out of my body now," it ordered. The Dark Hinoto laughed, "So, Hinoto managed to break past my bindings. But I am still in control here. Shall we lend the Dark Kamui a hand?" She held the sword above her head, gathering power around it, preparing to send a wave of killing energy with a slash of the sword in the direction of Kamui. But Arashi saw the danger and fought for momentary control of her body. The deadly strike missed Kamui by mere inches, hitting the steel pillar next to him and blowing steel girders to metal bits. The two Kamuis were thrown apart by the explosion. "I will not let you make use of me to hurt anyone else anymore," Arashi said. Focussing all her willpower, she raised her sword to her throat. "Arashi! No!" Kamui shouted, but the girl smiled. Just before she slit her own throat, she said, "Hinoto says that you must kill her with the Shinken." Kamui screamed. * She stood on the cliff and gazed out to the sea. The surroundings reminded her of Ise. She always came to the beach to escape the regiment of the Shrine. The music of the rolling waves brought peace and balance to her soul. Footsteps were approaching her from behind. "Ne-chan..." the boy spoke. She twirled around gently, allowing her long hair to float in the breeze, and smiled. Sorata spoke again, "Our time is over. Let us go now." She nodded and grasped his hand, twirling her fingers around his, and together they approached the Light. She said, "I'm sorry I never told you." "It's all right," he smiled, "I always knew that you liked me." She hesitated, and then she felt that there should be some measure of propriety even in the Afterlife. With a quick movement, she gave the monk's hand a good twist and sent him screaming as the Light engulfed them both. * Waves of black and white winged Shikigamis crashed against each other, littering the area between the two onmyouji with a rain of burnt shreds of paper and Sakura petals. "You've improved," Seishirou noted with a hint of merriment in his eye. Subaru prepared another stack of ofudas and said, "I am no longer just fighting for myself, but I must fight for Kamui as well. I must win for his sake." Seishirou shrugged, "What's the point? Weren't you dying to see Hokuto-chan?" The Sumeragi ignored the snide remark and said, "The point is Love, Hope, a reason to wake up every morning, a reason to be human, a reason to live. "My sister died to show me that reason." Subaru might have been imagining it, but Seishirou's expression had changed. * "Arashi!" Kamui cried out again as the Holy Maiden's body fell backwards and landed just beside Hinoto's. At that very moment, Hinoto's own body moved and turned her head towards Arashi's body, and began laughing, "Did you really expect that to kill me?" "You're not neesan!" a woman spoke as she walked out from behind a pillar. "Oh, I am. Just not the Hinoto-neesan that you knew. By the way, your neesan wants me to tell you that she loves you," Hinoto twisted her lips into a sinister grin. Kanoe was perplexed, "What...?" But she did not have time to finish her question as a hand pat her on the shoulder from behind, while another circled around her throat and snapped her neck with one quick twist. The last thing Kanoe saw, as she fell to the floor with her head turned a 180 degrees about her neck, was the grinning face of the Dark Kamui looking at her. In the darkness of her own body, the other Hinoto wept. Kamui was shocked by the cruelty before him. "Why?" he muttered weakly. "Because the Earth wishes it to be so," Fuuma replied, picking up his sword. The Dragon of Heaven got up to his feet. "Who are you to determine what is the Earth's wish? Who knows what is the Earth's wish?" "The destruction of humanity is the Earth's wish," Hinoto smiled, "Because that is my wish." Kamui's violet eyes stared hard at those words, uncomprehending. Hinoto chuckled lightly, "Haven't you figured it out by now? I am the Earth's Guardian, its spirit made flesh. If you kill me, the Earth shall shatter instantly. And no kekkai can save it anymore." She then turned towards Fuuma and said, "Fulfil my wish now. Kill the Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven and all the Seven Seals." * This time it was Subaru's turn to ask the question, "Isn't that the same reason you let me live all these years? Always trying to kill me but never did? Toying with me? So that you can have a reason to live, to carry on with your existence?" Seishirou smirked, "You have no idea." The darkness of the Sakurazukamori's maboroshi surrounded them. They each stood on different rocks, which seemed to be suspended in mid-air. The ground began to shift. Subaru leapt into the air and cast another wave of Shikigamis at his enemy. Seishirou did the same. As the Sumeragi focussed his attention on the assassin, he failed to notice the danger behind him. A rock flew towards him at high speed, slamming him across the maboroshi. * "Urgh!" Kamui groaned as he felt a sharp pain hit him from behind. Luckily he was quick enough to jump aside and avoid Fuuma's energy ball. The Seal coughed and tasted the blood that threatened to dribble from his throat. "Your friend seems to be having a little problem with the Sakurazukamori," Fuuma remarked. "I really shouldn't be complaining though. It makes it so much easier for me to kill you." * Subaru got up almost instantly, surprised that he did not hurt much. Then he frowned as he remembered the reason why. Kamui was probably receiving the worst of the hit. "So he really did it," Seishirou said, "My son really chose to protect you." Gathering his sorcery about him, he added, "Well, it won't be the first time that a Sakurazukamori has to kill his own son." "You are a monster," Subaru noted. But as the assassin gathered his power once more for the final blow, Subaru suddenly understood everything. The Sakurazukamori's power is in Illusion, but illusions are no match for the clarity of a pure heart. Subaru closed his eye and meditated. * In the shadows of his own heart, he found the thing he was looking for. The vision of Seishirou, the kind veterinarian, the person he loved and whom he thought returned his love. He reached out to that vision, and set it free. As that illusion disappeared, another figure was revealed. The one person who will love him truly and whom he loved in return. His Kamui. * The Sakurazukamori was a little disturbed when he Prey showed no signs of battle-readiness. In a way, he was rather disappointed that there was not going to be much of a fight. He cast he sorcery across the maboroshi. The floating rocks twirled around the Sumeragi and then flew towards the Seal, and passed through his body with the insubstantiality of moving holograms. Seishirou expressed shock when his maboroshi began to fade about him. Subaru opened his eye. He opened his palms before him and fanned out another flock of Shikigamis to form a giant shield before him as he charged towards the Sakurazukamori. Seishirou set up his own shield hastily, but was not quite prepared when Subaru pulled out the ceremonial dagger belonging to the Heads of the Sumeragi Clan from his broad sleeves and plunged it through the assassin's heart. Seishirou collapsed onto the ground. "Seishirou-san," Subaru called out his name as he held the assassin in his arms. The Sumeragi was shaking all over, still not believing that he had finally defeated his nemesis. Seishirou struggled to keep his eye opened. He tried to reach into his inner coat pockets with much difficulty, so Subaru did it for him instead, and pulled out a set of odd-looking ofudas. In a halting voice, Seishirou said, "Kamui is my son, but the dark taint of the Sakurazukamori has been sealed within his friend, Fuuma, creating the Dark Kamui. I have been carrying these with me for such an eventuality. Hopefully, it will provide the extra edge you need to defeat the Dark Kamui." He broke into a raspy cough and forced himself to continue against Subaru's protest. "Seishirou-san...don't..." The Sakurazukamori silenced him with a gesture. "No, Subaru-kun. Tooru did show me that there were things in life worth living for, like beauty, and our Bet was an extension of that belief. But your sister showed me that there could be things worth dying for as well. I have been hunting for that very thing all these years...and now...you have shown me." He coughed again. He caught hold of Subaru's wrist and said, "You better be a good husband to my son, or I'll haunt you even in death. Trust me when I say that no amount of Sumeragi magic is going to exorcise my angry spirit." With his last breath, he laughed, and died in Subaru's arms. Subaru allowed a tear to roll down his cheek and drip onto the face of the man he once loved. Then he got up and prepared himself to save the other person that he loved. * He sensed the death of the Sakurazukamori but he did not care. His own toy was weakening fast. It would not be long before the Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven dies at his hands. He could always play with the other onmyouji as a substitute. Kamui, on the other hand, was barely standing and leaned against the Shinken for support. His breath was laboured and hard, while the bandages on his arms were unravelling themselves to reveal the old injuries that had yet to heal beneath. Blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Give up, Kamui," Fuuma purred, "And I shall grant you a quick and painless death. And I'll even send your pretty onmyouji along with you, after I have discovered what so fascinates him to both you and the Sakurazukamori." Kamui glowered silently as Fuuma laughed. The Dragon of Earth raised his Shinken parallel to the ground and was about to rush towards Kamui with a quick slicing motion, when, all of a sudden, a wall of huge black Shikigamis surrounded him. It created a kind of energy barrier, pinning him to where he stood. It was not an extremely powerful barrier as he could break through it in a moment or two, but it was enough to give Kamui the time he needed, as the other Shinken drove through the Dark Kamui's chest. Fuuma stared hard at Kamui, unbelieving, and then his features softened into something of a half-smile of relief before crumpling onto the ground. Kamui pulled out the sword and knelt down beside his dying friend. "Fuu...ma..." he cried, the tears streaming along his face. Fuuma raised his hand to cup Kamui's face gently and said, "You have finally freed me, Kamui. Thank you. I can...see...Kotori." The hand fell to the ground. Fuuma, and the Dark Kamui, were no more. Kamui wailed loudly once again. Familiar arms wrapped around him and the boy quickly nestled into the inviting embrace of the Sumeragi, clutching onto the latter's shikifuku tightly. "It's over now," Subaru comforted, but then Kamui looked up and said, "No, there is one more thing." He picked up the Shinken by his side and approached Hinoto. "Are you going to kill me now?" Hinoto smiled, "You will destroy the Earth if you do that." He remembered Arashi's final words and said, "Your other self wants me to do this." She laughed, "If Hinoto had not gathered the Seven Seals in order to fulfil this one wish of hers, none of you would have died, and you would not have to suffer. Your friend would never have become the Dark Kamui either." "Perhaps," another voice spoke, "But if she had not done this, the Earth and humanity would have no chance either." "You!" Hinoto exclaimed as Kakyou walked up to Kamui's side. The Dreamgazer of the Dragons of Earth told the boy, "You do not have to grieve for Fuuma. He would have died at age two if Monou Saya had not urged her husband to steal a part of your power, the dark side that was tainted by the Sakurazukamori's, in order to maintain his life. His soul was almost devoured by the Dark Kamui, but you managed to save him in time. "The Dark Hinoto was the one who hired the Sakurazukamori to marry your mother in the first place. She created this tragedy because she did not wish to die. I was trapped within my dreams all these years because of her wish, until Hokuto finally showed me the way." "Hokuto!" Subaru gasped, "My sister?" "Yes," Kakyou nodded, "She is happy on the other side. You never found her because you sought an unhappy soul and thus could not sense her signature. She did what she had done willingly. The Tree has no control over a free spirit since its nature was to feed on fear and pain." He then looked at Kamui and said, "The Dreamgazer Princess has lived for centuries, mapping out the fate of Japan and ultimately the world. She represents the soul of the Earth, and that soul was being gradually being corrupted by politics and time. However, Hinoto, like the ones before her, has the power to summon the 'Kamui' and the Dragons of Heaven and Earth to protect and determine the Earth's fate when the time comes. "This is the real moment of decision. It was never truly about you choosing to become a Dragon of Heaven or Earth. It is to decide if Earth should continue to die slowly under her, or should it seek renewal. Only, you, the Kamui, and the Shinken can make the choice." "If I live, everything will continue as before. But if you kill me, all shall be destroyed," Hinoto declared. The Seal looked at her and remembered all the tragedies of the past year. The death of his mother, his aunt, Kotori and Fuuma. The sufferings of the victims from the earthquakes. Kamui raised the Shinken. "The Earth shall seek a new guardian," he said and plunged the Shinken through her body. ----- 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>