Disclaimers: Not mine! They belong to CLAMP and Chistato Nakamura etc
Another crossover in the making… Angst & inevitability… Needless to say, shounen-ai too.
Later came
after an afternoon and evening during which Narsus
had done little but fret over his upcoming talk with Daryoon. He’d been so inattentive to goings on around
him that he’d even managed to trek down one of the many long corridors of the
castle with Alfreedo attached to his arm without
noticing anything amiss.
Finally having slept fitfully, Narsus woke to find Daryoon sitting on the edge of the bed looking worried. He made an effort to sit up then simply gave up and lay there staring up at his lover. “Well? What was it that we have to talk about?”
“It can wait.” Daryoon never lost his concerned expression.
Narsus’ response was to throw an arm up to cover his eyes before he started to laugh, bordering on hysteria.
“Narsus?” the warrior reached out hesitantly.
“It can wait! Honestly Daryoon, I’d at least like know if you’re going to leave me.”
“What? What? Leave you?”
Narsus dropped his arm, staring up at Daryoon again. “What is it that we need to talk about then?” completely serious now.
“I shouldn’t have lied to you.” Daryoon looked down at his hands.
“About what?” Narsus sat up.
“I… I guess it came naturally; I’ve always had to lie about…” the warrior twisted his fingers together.
“About?”
“I… umm…”
“Daryoon…” Narsus voice held a vague warning.
“Daryoon! Lord Narsus!”
“Yes,
“We found…”
“Found what,
“Luci… Lucitanian…”
Daryoon was already standing with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“A sorc-“
“A sorcerer.” Narsus finished for him, leaving the still wheezing boy behind as he strode towards the doors, Daryoon already a step ahead.
The supposed Lucitanian sorcerer was huddled in the corner of what appeared to be a workshop on one of the underground levels of the castle. Several Pulsian guards blocked his escape without getting too close. Arslan waited in the hallway outside the room, having been advised not to enter without Daryoon or Narsus’ say so. The Prince waited patiently only turning his gaze away from the door to gently smile at the small group of Pulsian’s who had been rescued from the dungeons earlier, in a way that suggested that everything would be all right. He couldn’t help but wish someone would move the small crowd away, even though the guards were actually keeping them back. Beside him the serving woman who had discovered the Lucitanian shivered.
“Bad omen.” She whispered.
Arslan turned to her.
“It’s a bad omen, your highness.” She didn’t raise her eyes.
“Oh?”
“Begging your highness’ pardon, but all sorcerers bring bad luck.”
There was some murmuring from the crowd, from some of the other serving women. The woman beside him cringed.
“What is it, lady?” the Prince enquired as gently as before.
For a fraction of a second the woman looked up at him and Arslan found himself staring into a dark, depthless gaze.
“I see the future, highness. I have seen your defeat… at the hands of a sorcerer.”
Arslan blinked in surprise… but the woman hadn’t spoken a word. Before he could question any further the guards were clearing people away and sending them back to their duties. Daryoon had arrived.
“Daryoon, they say they’ve found a-“
“Sorcerer.” Interjected Narsus’ droll tones and then both were heading into the room with the Lucitanian in.
Just inside the door Daryoon paused apparently surveying the room, while he discreetly cast a protective kekkai to shield them from any potential damage. He also noted Narsus’ equally discreet spell casting, which though showing the rough edges of a non-trained onmyouji was equally effective, since it would serve to implode the Lucitanian should any power discharge be detected from him. Daryoon sincerely hoped that the Lucitanian wouldn’t try anything so foolish since the outcome would definitely not be atheistically pleasing.
“Sakurazuka! And Sumeragi!”
Out in the hallway Arslan rubbed his ear, he was certain that he had heard the woman’s voice that time but still she hadn’t spoken. He watched her closely. She had her eyes closed and her hands clasped nervously in front of her. She seemed to be concentrating on something.
“Lady, what is you name?” the Prince enquired softly.
Her eyes came open in surprise. “Kanoe, your highness.”
“It will be alright, Kanoe, you needn’t worry.” He graced her with a kind smile.
They waited in silence, Kanoe’s gaze fixed on the floor again, while the Prince chewed on his lip absently.
It wasn’t long before the door of the room opened and two guards emerged hauling the Lucitanian out with them. Daryoon watched at the rest of the guards filled off down the hallway.
“What happened, Daryoon?”
“Nothing, your highness.”
“I’m afraid that our sorcerer was nothing more than a fortune-teller’s apprentice.” Narsus smiled dryly.
Arslan sighed in relief “You see, Kanoe, there’s nothing to worry about.” He turned to the quiet woman beside him. She looked up, fearfully glancing first at Daryoon who wasn’t even looking in her direction, then at Narsus who fixed her with his shrewd gaze before turning back to Daryoon.
Seeing her dismissal Kanoe curtsied to the Prince and began to move away.
“Beware Sakurazuka and Sumeragi! Between them they will destroy you!”
Again Arslan found himself blinking in surprise but the woman, Kanoe, was already gone.
Later that day Narsus was perched on the window ledge in his chambers, apparently reading reports, though he wasn’t truly focusing on the page in his hands. Something was wrong about today, something about an imbalance, something… In fact everything about the Lucitanian they had discovered had felt wrong. There had been a power there; he had sensed that but that power had nothing to do with the Lucitanian at all. It had felt like something he should recognise, something so familiar that he was most likely overlooking it. Narsus leaned back against the arch of the window, closing his eyes to blot out the afternoon sun. It wasn’t long before he fell asleep.
He was inside the DreamScape again, hovering above its reflective surface. So he had fallen asleep…
The cherry blossoms were falling again, sometimes swirling around him in the reflective darkness. The darkness was endless… No, not completely, someone was walking towards him. A man in a long robe, embroidered with sun and moon.
The man stopped in front of him and Narsus reached out and placed his hands on the man’s shoulders, since he was hovering slightly above. Arms wound around his waist, drawing him close.
“The future…” the only words whispered into his ear in such a gentle voice.
Then he felt the form he embraced change and Narsus opened his eyes to find himself in the arms of a strange spiky-haired youth.
“You are a DreamGazer, so weave your dream for me.”
Narsus shook his head, smiling ruefully “I am already dreaming.”
“Then what do you dream?”
“I dream of you.”
And the youth smiled, a contented and quite sinister smile.
Then quite suddenly, he vanished and Narsus was thrown backwards, slamming into the trunk of a tree, the tree, the grand Sakura that was the repository of his clan’s power. He gasped, raising a hand to his mouth to wipe away blood. Trying to stand he found that his limbs wouldn’t cooperate, aching and numb as if from many injuries. A quick glance confirmed that he was indeed quite badly wounded.
“Sakurazuka.” A familiar voice rang out, disgust evident.
He looked up to see the black armored figure of Daryoon standing over him, sword drawn.
“Daryoon…” he gasped, reaching out a bloodied hand.
Narsus’ scream matched the shriek of the white shikigami that raked its talons across his extended arm. The bird returned to perch on Daryoon’s shoulder while the warrior looked on, impassively. Daryoon stepped closer, raising his sword.
“It has always been our duty to protect the innocent.”
And the world dissolved into the crimson of fresh blood.
“But Daryoon, it has always been our duty to punish the guilty.” Narsus found himself whispering as the chill of death swept over him.
“Narsus!” Alfreedo’s shrill tones penetrated his sleep and the strategist just about managed not to overbalance on the ledge where he was perched in response to his wake up call.
“What… what is it, Alfreedo?”
“I was wondering if you were going to sleep there all night!” The Zot girl had planted her hands on her hips and was doing her best to look like a lecturing wife.
“No, Alfreedo, I wasn’t. I was just… reading some reports.” Narsus glanced down at the floor that was scattered with papers.
Alfreedo made some sort of a ‘humph’ noise and looked like she might have a whole lecture to follow it when Elam entered the room carrying a tray of food which he carefully set down, completely ignoring Alfreedo.
Narsus peered at the tray; there was enough food for a least two people.
“Oh!” Alfreedo clapped her hands together delightedly, apparently noticing the amount of food laid out.
“Yes, yes, I suppose it is.” Narsus
waved the matter away, standing up and stretching. Alfreedo watched
him appreciatively, until
“You should have more respect for me, I’m going to be Narsus’ wife!”
“No, you’re not.”
“Why not?!”
“Because the Master doesn’t like women…uh…
like you.”
Forgetting the nightmarish visions of only moments ago, Narsus began to laugh.
The term ‘kekkai’ gets translated by Viz as ‘power shield’ but as far as I know it’s actually any sort of energy discharge.
The implode spell turns up in “Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen” which is a much better game than the poorer sequels. It’s always been one of my favorites… maximum damage, minimum mess.
Anyone familiar with X/1999 will know that Kanoe is the DreamGazer of the
Seven Angels, sister to Hinoto. She is responsible for gathering them
together in
Sakurazuka and Sumeragi are opposite clans of onmyouji. To quote Hokoto Sumeragi in Volume 1 of “Tokyo Babylon”:
“The Sumeragi clan… has
spiritually protected
From there it’s not a great leap of the imagination to suggest that if the Sumeragi protect the innocent then the Sakurazuka punish the guilty.
In the DreamScape the man in the long robe is Clow Reed (rhymes with ‘glow’ not ‘cow’) from “CardCaptor Sakura”; and the spiky-haired youth is Fumma, again.
Incidentally, it is Kakyou that Fumma address the “weave your dream for me” line to.
The overpowering scent of cherry blossoms hung over the Sakurazuka estate creating a cocoon of sorts. Even those residing on the estate noticed the intensely heavy perfume and wondered exactly what it was being used to hide. Hidden eyes turned towards the inner sanctum of the reigning Lord Sakurazuka though no one dared voice any speculation out loud. The cherry blossoms permeated everything, ensnaring and choking. Still no sound could be heard, until a sudden sharp rapping of knuckles against wood sounded. The screen door slid open quickly to reveal a very pale-faced man, looking like he had not slept in days.
“What did you see?” the woman asked quietly.
“The End of all things; of all that we are, dear sister.” He replied equally quietly.
She caught him as he staggered, exhaustion weighing down on him.
“What do you mean?” though her voice grew no louder, it was insistent.
“So tired…” he whispered, eyes falling closed.
“Tell me!” her hands bit into his flesh, bruising.
“I can’t… can’t…”
“Tell me. Please.”
He struggled, trying to force his eyes open. Fighting back at the last instant, forcing his eyes wide to fix upon hers. They flickered between their natural shade and a bizarrely amber, cat-like reflection which shocked her far more than she’d ever reveal.
“Kamui will decide; will spill the blood of an innocent to make his decision, before he even knows what that decision will be.”
Finding her courage to question the DreamGazer, she voiced not the concern of a sister for her weakened brother but the worry of Lady Sakurazuka for the future of her Clan.
“Why would Kamui do that? Why kill before his power has awakened?”
“Kamui… An Angel before the mandate of Heaven is laid upon him.”
“How-“ She began, feeling panic begin to grow in the face of the inevitable.
“Not yet… Sakurazukamori, but not yet…”
“What… What do you mean?” She whispered; trailing off as her brother’s eyes slid closed.
Later she watched the rise and fall of his chest as he slept, listened to the too shallow breathing that might easily be the last sound that she heard from her brother. They had needed to know, she had needed to question the DreamGazer… all at her brother’s expense. The healers were not hopefully about his condition, exhaustion having finally worn away the last of his resolve. And still she had questioned, had forced him to endure far more than he could possibly stand. The Clan needed to know what it was that their DreamGazer saw, as the eldest it was her duty to be the one to ask. It had been easy before to receive the missives penned by him as he gave voice to his visions, easy to separate the idea of this most powerful of DreamGazers from that of her little brother but not any more. She could no longer pretend that they were two separate entities that just happened to manifest through the same body, not now that she’d seen it with her own eyes. Her brother was the DreamGazer, blessed and cursed with visions of the future; guiding star of their Clan. Because of him they might be able to change an unfortunate destiny; because of them he would perish, his destiny unfulfilled.
During the dark watches of that night Lady Sakurazuka considered all that had been revealed. Her thoughts coiling about themselves, like the proverbial serpent devouring its own tail. Kamui would decide before he had even realized what that decision would be, meaning that his actions would be taken as a decision though he would be unaware of that fact at the time. He would spill the blood of an innocent in the process. She couldn’t understand why, any more than she could understand her brother’s last words.
“Not yet… Sakurazukamori, but not yet…”
She could continue her contemplation throughout the rest of her life and still not understand. As the first bloody shades of the sunrise began to spread across the horizon she turned her gaze back upon her brother. His shallow breathing had begun to slow and his eyes showed no signs of opening.
He died before the sun had risen and Lady Sakurazuka did not weep.
In the Wintry climate a reflection of the fireplace inside a grand house was the only trace of colour visible along the dark horizon. The orange light flickered in mirror image against the tall windows of, what appeared to be the parlour. Various pieces of furniture were silhouetted by the warm glow, antique bookcases and plush chairs, a table set further back into the room with a neglected tea-tray set on it. The brown liquid in a porcelain cup had obviously been cold for a while now.
A quiet rustle of fabric coming from one of the chairs flanking the fireplace was the only indication that the room was occupied. A tall man had seemingly managed to curl his lank frame up into the chair and was now staring into the fireplace, dark eyes glazed behind the small frames of his glasses. On a side-table rested a scroll case, with the bindings loosely retied. From time to time the man would turn to glance at the case, without really seeing it. A fine line appeared between his brows as he contemplated the fireplace again.
The matter weighing heavily down upon him was one that his Clan had long since sort to avoid. Yet, time was creeping up upon them and fate always found a way to be fulfilled. He reached out, brushing long fingers over the scroll-case.
Ancient writings; the quiet contemplations of a woman who had spent her entire life trying to decipher the last words of her brother. A brother who had been a DreamGazer, who’s life had been consumed by his visions, his dreams. Who had predicted the false decision that Kamui, who wielded the power of God’s will, would make. But why would Kamui himself make such a foolish mistake, to do something that would tip the balance beyond his control? Unless he wasn’t aware that it would make a difference but how could that be the case, for surely Kamui would know. Then a thought dawned, disturbing and almost heretical… but then Clow had never been conventional by any means.
Days passed with further hours being spent staring into nothing, intermittent with tremendous bouts of activity. The library was practically turned upside-down as he searched for any scrap of previously overlooked information, something, anything that might indicate that they had seriously overestimated the potential of Kamui. Of course such evidence was almost impossible to come by simply because of its highly controversial nature.
The given belief was that Kamui by very virtue of his power would hold some forbidden, superior knowledge, which he would use to decide the fate of humanity.
If humanity was judged to have the ability to learn, to correct their mistakes or had, in fact, already proven their worth, he would become the final Seal that held the protective wards together over the Earth, and thus would preserve humanity at their fated time of destruction. The Promised Day would result in the destruction of the forces that waged war against humanity.
If the opposite was true and humanity had discredited the Earth, only thriving to inflict more damage, then Kamui would take his place among the seven Angels who would shatter the Seals that held the Earth’s protective kekkai together, thus allowing the rebirth of the planet. Then the Promised Day would signal the end of all humanity and everything that they had achieved.
Two alternatives, two destinies. With six Angels and six Seals it was left to Kamui to complete the circle. He couldn’t be both, one side would be fated to fail. Which would it be?
The original theories suggested by many members of the Clan all revolved around the same point, the supposition that Kamui already knew what his decision would be, dependant upon circumstances. The idea of his pre-knowledge of the situation was the one point where each and every idea converged but what if that knowledge wasn’t a given fact? What if Kamui didn’t know what his decision would be in each given set of circumstances? What if he had to decide when the time came and not before? If his knowledge was only derived from what he saw around him and not coloured by any other influence it could be possible that something else, something other might influence his destiny. If he was forced to choose via some other trickery there was every possibility that he might not even realise that he had chosen. Dragon of Earth or Dragon of Heaven, in either role the fate of humanity would be held in the palm of his hand.
Still, there was something that rang false about the simplicity of the idea; it lacked a certain symmetry, as far as Clow could tell. Or he could just be subconsciously making bad puns. Seven Angels or Seven Seals, it was impossible that there could be both. Either Kamui would become one of the Seven Angels and grant the World change, by destroying the remaining six Seals; or he would become one of the Seven Seals and destroy the six remaining Angels. Then all that was left was to wonder if there was some way of tipping the scales in either direction, though he doubted that it was possible.
Some time later, when the ancient records had been almost forgotten and dismissed as random cryptic ramblings, Clow found himself considering the manipulation of fate. Facing the strange twists that fate was inclined to bestow, Clow found himself considering his own ability to manipulate the future. He was planning for his own future; a future that would involve the dissolution of his powers and destinies for the Guardians that he was soon to create. And just a small dip onto that future would surely be enough to provide the information he would need to stack the odds in his favour.
With the selection of a successor it was possible that they might reject their destiny but wasn’t it said that for every action there was an equal and opposite reaction? Perhaps someone to replace the original might need to be chosen too, just in case. As for someone to oppose, that wasn’t particularly relevant to anything at the moment. Unfortunately, the idea of a potential replacement, instead of spurring him on was rattling round inside his head in a manner completely unrelated to his own plans. It was tugging at another idea, something obscure that he had been musing on before; something that seemed determined to be unremembered…
Eventually though, he found a likely candidate, far enough into the future for everything to have time to fall into place and even smooth out any other errors in the process.
In the midst of this activity, Clow forgot about his other vague worries; about the niggling thought of a replacement or even the outlandish idea of an opposing party. Everything would fall into place, one way or another. There were only a few variables that he couldn’t predict, one of which was his beloved Moon Guardian and even then it was a matter of the heart that he could only hope would resolve itself. His Guardian might learn to love Clow’s successor or he might be drawn to another, the sibling of that successor. That was the only major variant, the possibility of siblings which Clow hadn’t planned for. There had been no great need for his successor to have siblings of any significant power; others to replace the original, as it were. They couldn’t replace the one he had in mind anyway; it just wouldn’t be possible; fate wouldn’t allow it.
Yet despite his reasoning Clow found himself watching this elder sibling curiously. There was something about this boy, with the shadow of Angels’ wings falling over him. Clow frowned, puzzling over the angelic wings that seemed to shroud the boy. But they had to be Yue’s wings, surely…
Well, that certainly took some editing.
I suppose the suggestion here is that Kakyou is the reincarnation of the unfortunate Lord Sakurazuka, cats-eyes and all. His elder sister, Lady Sakurazuka is just a miscellaneous character.
Clow’s ruminations on the fate of Kamui are a bit esoteric but relevant in a sense that should be made clear later. I’m being a bit creative with his heritage, since all the manga tells us is that his mother was a sorceress of the Li clan and his father was British.
Clow’s chosen successor is Sakura and her elder brother, Toyua looks remarkably like Fuma.