http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/hwmb03.txt </head><body><pre>Here's part 3 as promised. Still don't know how long it's gonna be o.O;; I've planned the main part but I'm not sure how I want to end it. Any ideas are welcome along with c & c ^____^ HAVEN'T WE MET BEFORE? (3/?) by Ara-chan Disclaimer: The holy oracle X is property of the Holy Goddesses CLAMP and their High Priestess Ohkawa Nanase but the twisted little concept of this story was my idea so hands off or you'll be speaking to my lawyer ... He's the tall well-dressed individual wearing the shades and standing under the sakura tree ^_^ -- She opened her eyes not because she was still alive, dangling a few feet lower that she had been by her wrist. It was the familiarity of the voice. The grip, too. Only it was more gentle now than it had been a split second ago. "I've got you." Arashi stared wide-eyed into the unchanged features of the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth. "Fuuma?" * * * He hoisted her up and helped her through the railing, but the moment he let go she shifted away from him, towards the stairs and escape if need be. Fuuma reached out to her but her suspicious glare halted his gesture mid-way. *I don't blame her. I was trying to kill her a moment ago.* "Are you alright?" Arashi didn't answer. There was no way of telling if he was the real Fuuma. *If he is, why isn't he changing back?* The nasty bruises around her neck bothered his conscience. "Each time we meet I end up hurting you," Fuuma tried another approach. He couldn't think of another way to convince her it was him. "You remember?" *If Kamui's right and they share different minds then he wouldn't know about that, but I can't be sure.* Every part of her that was still sane after her encounter with "Kamui" wanted to believe him. "How could I forget? First time I ever hit a girl." His smile was infectious and Arashi caught herself smiling too. Her guard was beginning to ease up when the blood smears on Fuuma's lothing wrenched her back to reality. "Kamui!" There was still a chance that he'd survived the fall. Arashi scrambled to her feet and flew down the stairs in a vain attempt to reach him. "Arashi, wait!" She tensed, feeling Fuuma's hand close around her wrist yet again. The Shinken was in his other. "I don't know how long I have before he takes over again. I can't even remember how I won out, I just know I wanted you to live more than anything else. So please kill me, before more people get hurt." Her hard dark eyes scrutinized his face. The temptation was there. *What he wants me to do, he's right. Kamui will forgive me, I can forgive myself.* Arashi reached for Fuuma's left hand in which he held the elaborate hilt, but the subtlest of changes in his features caught her attention as she glanced unsurely into his face. The eyes were darker, more hazel than grey. The hair, too, was shorter and more spikey. "I can't," Arashi hissed angrily to herself. Instead her hand closed around his. "I can't kill an innocent person." "But ..." Killing him wasn't her responsibility and it was unfair to ask. Fuuma's free hand ached to brush the lines of worry from her tear-streaked face but he wasn't prepared to risk a fearful reaction so soon after regaining her trust. The priestess of Ise went to the railing and called down into the darkness. "Kamui?!" She paused for an answer. "Kamui!" "It'll be easier using an elevator," Fuuma said, using the Shinken to unlock the door that lead from the stairwell to the rest of the building. "No, don't. We can't involve the people of Tokyo." She began to descend the flight of stairs. "Even if we have to search every floor. He's not dead. If he was I would've felt it, but we have to hurry before the others get here. They'll try to kill you and /Kamui/ might respond." Fuuma passed Arashi on the metal steps. "Kamui, it's Fuuma! Answer me!" "Kamui!" * * * Dirty angel feathers and spots obscurred Kamui's vision as he opened his eyes mechanically. He had been ten years old and was playing with Kotori. It was so much fun in the park he didn't want to leave. His whole body hurt and his bloodied wings were too heavy for him to pull himself into a sitting position. The savage kick /Kamui/ had given him had at least woken him in mid-fall. With his remaining strength he'd flapped his wings and grabbed onto the first steel structure that had flashed past. Dragging himself up onto the platform with the burden of the feathered structures on his back had made him pass out. Two voices, too powerful to resist, were calling him back. "... rashi ..." "Kamui, can you hear me?" "Yeah," he answered Arashi's breathless shout weakly. "Look, down there!" Arashi pointed to the off-set white feathers two floors below them. Fuuma leaned over the railing. "Kamui?" "Fuuma?" Kamui asked, catching the silhouette of his chief tormentor in the dim light. Only it wasn't him. *Am I dreaming again?* He reached out to touch the outline of the older boy in a vain attempt to make sure. "Fuuma!" He began to cry when the shape disappeared from view. >From below another voice was beckoning to him. "Subaru," he moaned tearfully. * * * A feeling of euphoria engulfed Arashi as she neared Kamui. He was alive for her Wish to be granted: to protect him, and Fuuma was back. She didn't know why that last thing made her happy. He was more harm to her than good but she liked him even though she knew she didn't know him well enough to say. "Arashi!" The cutting yell ripped through her elation, halting her a short flight from her guard. Her sudden stop caused Fuuma to bump into her. She felt him tense. "Sorata," she whispered. TO BE CONTINUED ... -- Notes: More when I know myself ^_^ ____ ____ ____ ____ _ _ ____ _ _ / /\ \ | _ \ / /\ \ / ___\| | | | / /\ \ | \ | | | | | || |_| | | | | | ___ | | | |_| || | | || \| | | -- || _ / | -- ||___|| | | _ || -- || | | | | || | \ \ | | | | | |____| | | || | | || |\ | |_| |_||_| \_\|_| |_| \____/|_| |_||_| |_||_| \_| /=========================================================\ Ara-chan --> Arashi@xguyz.gq.nu Keeper of AKAi TSUBAKi --> http://www.envy.nu/akaitsubaki/ /=========================================================\</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>