http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/haunting0.txt </head><body><pre>Given the depressing nature of X, I'm trying my hands at some "lighter" pieces that also do not focus that much on my fave posterboys, though it's obvious they'll have to make an entrance somewhere. This multiparter is basically meant to be a Kusanagi fic and it's dedicated to Satsuki-chan ("I hope *that* fanart is coming along nicely?"). C&C for all quarters are welcome. All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- The Haunting (Prologue) An "X" Fanfic Presented by Alison Koh /"I don't ever want to see you again!"/ Those were Yuzuriha's words, just before she bounded down the street in tears with her spirit puppy whimpering sadly in her arms. Kusanagi sighed as he strolled aimlessly amongst the soothing presence of his 'friends' in Ueno Park. The trees and plants felt his despondency and offered their solace. In return, he whispered his thanks. Should he regret telling her the truth, he wondered? No, it was the right thing to do. It was better that she found out now, before it was too late, rather than on the Promised Day itself. Not that he had much of a choice. Yuzuriha had caught sight of him talking to the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth in the streets and demanded to know the truth. And now, he might not ever be able to see her again. The breeze changed direction, and carried with it a soft cacophony of whispers, mostly sad but some angry ones as well. Curious, Kusanagi followed the voices down an unfamiliar and obscure path. As he walked, the trees around him began to quaver agitatedly, warning him to turn around, for he was heading towards a dangerous place. However, Kusanagi was too deeply drawn by the voices: he had to see, he had to know. And it was certainly a breath-taking scene. A splendid Sakura Tree at the height of its efflorescent glory in the wrong season. Kusanagi had to pinch himself to check that he was not dreaming. However, despite the beauty of the Tree, there was a strong whiff of blood in the air. The aura of the Tree felt familiar, and after much probing in his mind, he remembered that he had seen it once before, surrounding the person of his fellow Dragon of Earth, Sakurakuzuka Seishirou. /So, this is the Sakurazukamori's Tree./ Kusanagi wanted to leave the place. His well-tuned senses allowed him to hear the desperate cries of anger and despair that emanated from the Tree, and he knew that they probably belonged to the Sakurazukamori's victims. He wished he could help alleviate their pain but he had no such power, and this sense of helplessness made him sad. He could feel the tears pooling in his eyes and might have set them free when he suddenly heard a strong female voice calling out from the Tree. "Stop all your snivelling! You're making me crazy!" she yelled. The voices stopped whining. The man looked up and saw a girl, or rather her spirit floating within the labyrinthine branches, berating the other spirits. As she turned around, her eyes met Kusanagi's and an expression of curious surprise lighted up her face. Instantly, she floated to the base of the Tree as if to take a closer look at him. She observed him silently for a few moments and then she asked, "You can see me?" Kusanagi nodded his head but was too stunned to speak. All he noticed was that the girl looked about sixteen and was wearing an onmyouji's shikifuku, a rather strange outfit for a teenaged girl, even if she was a ghost. She said, "I'm really puzzled. You don't look like an onmyouji to me and I've seen quite a few, even the deceitful ones like Sei-chan. But then, my brother is supposed to be quite powerful and yet he still hasn't been able to see me despite trying to find me here for the past eight years. Do you have any special powers?" Kusanagi thought for a while before answering, "Besides being blessed with great strength, I can also hear the voices of trees, plants and animals, and am able to communicate with them to a certain degree." "Ah, that might explain it. I've been stuck in this damn Tree for so long, I'm more tree than spirit." At this moment, the other voices in the Tree began wailing again. "I said cut it out!" she yelled again. Once more, the voices obeyed. She made a face and said, "I never would have expected Sei-chan's victims to be such a group of spineless wimps, but then he probably isn't too choosy about his assignments since all humans are the same to him, no worse than a piece of object. "By the way, you look like you've just been dumped by a girl." "Is it that obvious?" "When a guy walks all alone by himself in Ueno Park and he's not my brother, I'd say yes. But I really can't imagine why any girl would heartlessly dump you?" Kusanagi replied, "It's a little tricky to explain, but we're enemies in a sense." "You're not a Dragon of Earth, are you?" "How did you know?" "Call it feminine intuition. I used to date one of your fellow Dragons myself." "You don't mean Sakurazuka-san, I hope." The girl giggled loudly in amusement, "Of course not!" She controlled her mirth and continued, "Which means that your girlfriend is a Dragon of Heaven then. Hmmm...that sounds familiar." The Angel wanted to ask her what she had meant, but the girl cut in with a proposal, "I've got a great idea. Why don't I try to help you to win her back, and meanwhile, you shall help me with a couple of matters that have been bugging me for years." "I don't do exorcisms." "Even if you do, I doubt if it will work against the Sakurazukamori's powers. No, they're very simple really. So will you be kind enough to grant a ghost's wish?" Strangely, the big man found himself charmed by the girl's exuberance. In addition, he was a helpful person by nature. Since he could not free all the trapped spirits within the Tree, he could at least do something for one of them. He told her, "I'll help, but what must I do?" "Well, under normal circumstances, I am not be able to leave the Tree, but since you are a Dragon of Earth just like Sei-chan, it might just be possible. Lend me your hand." Kusanagi duly obeyed and stretched out his hand towards the girl. She rested her own palm onto his. Almost immediately, she disappeared from sight. Kusanagi sighed, thinking that he had failed, when he felt a ticklish sensation at the back of his brain. The girl spoke in his mind, "Let's begin with the proper introductions. My name is Sumeragi Hokuto." "I'm Shiyu Kusanagi." "Great. Let's start with where she lives." ----- 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>