[ Watashi ]

[ Tomodachi ]

[ Saint Seiya ]

[ Clamp ]

[ Fanfiction ]

My hands closed reflexively into fists, while my heartbeats were speeding up. I tensed, and suddenly felt arms embracing me gently from behind, hugging me soflty. Part of me relished the feeling of Kujaku's body against mine and of his breath on my neck, but the rest of me focused on the competition field a few meters away. He whispered in my ear :

"Relax my lovely lady... Relax..."

Without turning back, I muttered :

"Hush will you ? This is..."

I bit my lower lip worriedly. Three fences to go.

"Damn it !"

The distance wasn't good. Too short for the three strides, it was all...

"Clear round in fourty two seconds point fourteen. Second place so far..."

It took a few seconds for the speaker's words to register in my brain. The fence had held. It was over. Yes. Abruptly, the tension left my body and I turned towards the man I loved, hurling myself in his arms and laughing like a fool, extatic.

"We made it ! We made it !"

He whirled me around and laughed too.

"Wow ! Hey my lady you should be more careful with me, I'm fragile you know..."

I cocked my head to the side, regarding him curiously, then giggled.

"Sure I know."

At this moment, Pascale exited the field and stopped beside us, jumping down. Her right hand clapped in mine and she said :

"All right ! This time, it's success !"

She patted Cloud's neck fondly while I was loosening the girth and taking care of the stirrups. As I looked back at her, she smiled to me :

"You know, I think all this arrangement with those people from the Kadokawa company might well lead to something stable after all..."

I nodded hopefully. If this company accepted to invest in showjumping and chose Pascale as a representative... It might really turn out that way, they had already invited us to Japan for this international showjumping event in the vicinity of Tokyo... Having them as sponsors meant wealth and celebrity for Pascale, and many many horses to take care of for me and Steve, her other groom.

Pascale sighed good-humoredly.

"Okay, unfortunately, the day is not over yet. The next event should be in about an hour. Can you take Cloud back and check my number please ? I'll be in the riders' stand."

I shrugged helplessly.

"I'll try to check your number... But you know I don't speak Japanese..."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so ?... Ah yes, I tend to forget that that sensei of yours back home teaches you to use a sword and not the language..."

She shuddered, feigning disgust.

"Ugh... Well, I'm sure you'll find someone speaking English..."

Kujaku and I obediently showed our bracelet to the official, who allowed us to leave the training field to go to the stalls' quarters. I sighed heavily, thinking that the security here was even worse than at home. As I lead Cloud to his stall, I percieved pieces of conversations in Japanese, and strained my ears to try to understand, but I could only grasp a few words. Fluency was... Oh about lightyears away...

I put the saddle in place, and wondered if I shouldn't clean the briddle a bit before the next event. Kujaku looked at it critically and said :

"Doesn't that thing shine enough as it is ? Gods, I don't know how many times you've been taking care of it since we arrived here."

I shrugged.

"Everything must be at its best. That's the way."

Gently, he made me sit on a truss of straw.

"And it seems to me you've been doing nothing but work. You should rest."

I smiled gently.

"But I will rest once the events are over... Every groom leads the same life you know. During the events, up a five thirty and to bed at midnight..."

Seriously, he said :

"Yes, but the others are being paid. You are doing this during your holiday and as a hobby, miss Fiona."

I rested my head against his chest, closing my eyes.

"You're sweet... But don't worry..."

He stroked my hair tenderly, then looked at me steadily.

"I'm simply taking care of my investment..."

He caught my right fist at mid-strike and I grumbled :

"You're a monster."

He kissed me softly.

"A monster who loves you..."

His other hand skillfully stroked my back and I shivered. He whispered :

"We really should think about your mother's birthday present you know..."

I looked at him, taken aback.

"Eh ? But that's still a long time away..."

He smiled innocently.

"Nine months to be precise."

"You..."

He hugged me very gently, nuzzling against my neck and whispering :

"Doesn't she despair of ever being a grandmother ?"

Unable to answer, I closed my eyes, focusing on the caress of his lips. This was so... Unexpected... Frightening... I tried to shut out the thought, but it was too late. He said soflty :

"Don't be afraid, there won't be any... singularities... I promise you our child will be normal."

I hugged him tight, feeling tears in my eyes and my heart ready to burst, saying :

"Forgive me... For daring to think..."

His lips brushed my brow and he smiled.

"There is nothing to forgive, love. I have worried about this myself and waited to be sure before telling you. I know you love me as I am, third eye and wings included."

I smiled back.

"And if the customer's not happy we give him his money back."

He chuckled.

"Guaranteed."

We laughed happily, unheeding of the curious looks thrown in our direction by more than a few grooms. Suddenly, Kujaku exclaimed :

"Oh my ! it's late, you're gonna be late !"

I swore, checking my watch.

"Damn ! Damn it to all the Hells !"

Before I had time to get mad, Kujaku bent towards me and whispered, his lips brushing mine with every word :

"Don't worry my lady, I do not intend to let you escape me that easily.

We will settle this... very soon..."

This was yet another of those times when one wished one could send everything to hell. But one was after all a responsible person. So one put one's wishes aside and thought about goddamned Duty. I buried my frustration in the back of my mind and said with an innocent smile of my own :

"I will be waiting my lord."

I sighed.

"So, could you inquire about the number while I get Final ready ?"

He nodded and rapidly went away. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind from what we had just said and focus on the horses, but gods, it wasn't easy. A pity that Steve hadn't come to Japan as well. But family matters were family matters. And that had allowed Kujaku to have a free plane ticket.

I looked at the calks, and decided for the middle size model, thinking that the field ground wasn't so bad. It hadn't rained, and the ground had dried up during the day. I gathered eight of them, took a wrench and went to Final's stall.

I patted the bay gelding's shoulder reassuringly and squatted down beside his left foreleg. He looked at me half with curiosity and half with worry, blowing in my face and I smiled gently :

"Hey, it's okay little one. You know me, it's gonna be quick and easy, nothing to be afraid of."

I took his foot and began placing the calk on the shoe.

"Shit !"

The damn thing didn't fit exactly. The blacksmith hadn't used the type of shoe I was used to. Suddenly, Final moved forward and I was pushed aside. I lost my balance and fell in the straw, swearing :

"Hell ! Damn you Final, this is no time for jokes !"

"Sumimasen..."

I looked up, hearing the gentle crystal voice. A young girl was looking at me from the chain barring the open door of Final's stall, while the bay gelding was busy nuzzling the palm of her left hand. I got up slowly, brushing the straw off my cloths self-consciously. I smiled gently, unable to help myself. Gods, with the sun shining in her long hair, the infinite gentleness in her hazel eyes and the very feeling of purity and fragility emanating from her, I had had the funny impression of seeing an angel coming down from the Heavens. I said, shrugging :

"It's okay, don't worry. I was surprised is all... Ah... Say, do you speak English ?"

She blushed, and said hesitantly :

"Y... Yes... A little... I... I am very very sorry... Truly..."

I patted Final's neck, shaking my head.

"It's okay, I told you. I was surprised because Final is always so shy of strangers..."

I looked at her curiously.

"I really wonder why he went to you like this... He really seems to love you...It's amazing..."

She bowed her head, still blushing.

"Well... I... I like... animals... a lot... I understand... them and... they understand me... They... trust me..."

I nodded. She was one of those rare people radiating only innocence, and the horses could certainly pick that up. Suddenly, Kujaku came running towards us.

"I've got it. It's a mess over there, they just decided to accept a few wildcards and changed the starting list..."

I sighed helplessly. That was standard practise, but still it was really bothering me. Kujaku flashed a smile towards the young girl :

"Oh, what do we have here ? Good afternoon to you pretty miss..."

She blushed furiously, and I suddenly wondered if she wasn't younger than the fourteen or fifteen years old I had first given her. She stammered :

"Good afternoon... Sir... I... I... My name is... Monou... Kotori..."

Of course, Kujaku had to bow.

"I am honored Monou-san. I am Kujaku..."

His right arm encircled my shoulders, bringing me close ot him.

"And this is my terrible fiancee Fiona."

I gave him a withering glance and the young girl giggled.

"Excuse me... You two are so... cute..."

She bowed, apparently suddenly mightily embarrassed.

"Oh... Oh I'm sorry... This is... unseemly, I am... Very bad mannered..."

I chuckled gently.

"Not at all Monou-san. You see Kujaku and I like playing games...and I always win."

Said Kujaku shook his head.

"No, I do."

She shrugged.

"Anyway, please call me Kotori-chan... Monou-san sounds so... grave..."

Kujaku nodded.

"Okay Kotori-chan. Mmmmh..."

He thought for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Since you are very beautiful, I will give you a gift that people pay me fortunes to get..."

She looked at him wonderingly.

"I will tell you your future."

She whispered, fascinated :

"Can you really do that ? I thought that fortune-tellers were all fakes..."

Kujaku managed to have a wounded look and said :

"But I am the last of the true Seers pretty Kotori-chan, I swear to you, I always foretell truly... Will you give me your hand ?"

This was a mistake. I knew I wouldn't be able to prevent Kujaku from doing it, but I really didn't like the thought of him using his powers for fun. What he glimpsed this way was always misty and small. The true Visions, he couldn't summon. His use of his power frightened me, for no reason I could have named. Kotori smiled, and trustingly gave him her right hand. Gently, he hugged it and his eyes lost their focus.

The altar of a shrine, a wooden floor...

I tensed reflexively. Although I knew that somehow I always shared his Visions and Seeings, I had never grown accustomed to that.

Leaves flying with the wind in Autumn... A face... A young man, strong... Dark... Strange... Silent... Gentle... Considerate... Careful... Seemingly absent-minded...

"I see a young man with short black hair and deep dark eyes..."

She giggled.

"That's Fuuma-Oniichan...You can really see him then..."

A sword... Hidden... Its image superimposing itself on the shrine...

"There is a hidden sword in the shrine..."

She smiled.

"No no, it's the name of our shrine, you see it's called Togakushi, and that really means 'Concealed Sword'..."

A girl... Laughing happily, running towards a young man her age... Kotori herself... A young man with deep, beautiful purple eyes...

"You will meet a young man you love very much..."

Her eyes shone with joy.

"Could it be... Kamui-chan ? Kamui-chan coming back to us ?"

Suddenly, the young man looked directly into my eyes and the image shattered. Kujaku gently held me, preventing me from falling. Damn, when a Seeing ended, it was always so...

Blood...

I shuddered inwardly.

Fragments of crystal...

What was...?...

A young girl, innocent and pure, like an angel... Falling... Falling... Kotori... Shattering like a mirror... Blood flowing... Fear and pain... Despair...

I breathed heavily, fighting the urge to run away and scream. Sweet Goddess, this was... horrible... Kujaku said to the young girl :

"I'm sorry, I can't see anything more Kotori-chan... But you should always take care not to go alone to strange places... Always have a friend with you..."

She smiled gently.

"Of course... That's what I always do, and besides... I don't go to strange places..."

Kujaku nodded, and made a show of checking his watch.

"Oh my we're really late this time... Say Kotori-chan could you give us a hand ?"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course. What can I do ?"

"Well, could you go check if they have already prepared the field for the next event ?"

I shook my head.

"I don't think she can do that Kujaku. Tell me Kotori-chan, do you have a bracelet granting the access to this place ?"

She bowed her head.

"Ah... No... Not really... I like animals you see... I really do... The horses here are so beautiful... I just wanted to see them... And I asked... And people let me in... I hope I didn't do anything wrong..."

Kujaku chuckled.

"Of course not, who could refuse anything to a pretty girl like you ? It's okay then. Could you please check this for us ?"

As she walked away, I let the pretense of cheerfulness disappear from my face and shivered, feeling tears on my face. Kujaku hugged me soflty, whispering :

"Hush... Oh hush love... It's over... it's over..."

He kissed my face tenderly.

"I was trapped in my own Seeing... Although this was not a Vision..."

I looked at him desperately.

"Can you have been wrong ? Isn't there... anything... ?"

He smiled sadly.

"No, there is nothing we can do. Telling her is imposible. I am sorry, but I am never wrong. The only place for hope is that the seeing is not clear. I do not know its meaning. The image of her death was completely unreal..."

He hugged me tight during a few seconds, then wiped away my tears, saying :

"Come, I'll help you getting Final ready..."

I gritted my teeth. Hell. Why did things like that have to happen ? one wanted very much to be alone in a closed room to be able to scream and cry. I chuckled bitterly. One was a fool to believe this earth had become like Heaven. There were still wars, people starving, leading miserable, pitiful lives... The ugliness of this world had not stopped simply because Kujaku and I had found each other. And that hurt.

Proud skycrapers falling down...

"Heaven is no more..."

Houses toppling on one another, dominos falling... Falling...

"Humanity will live or die..."

Blood. Red. Crimson red. Flowing in empty streets.

"Fate must be Chosen..."

Piles of bodies, rising up to the sky.

"But the Future is set..."

Red sun rising, dawning on pain, cries, prayers for mercy... Unheeded...

"Heaven and Earth will fight..."

Lights, explosions in the distance.

"Love will fight Love..."

Strange shapes, flying.

"Hate will fight Hate..."

Dragons... Ravaging everything... Killing...

"Once the Seals are broken..."

Dragons... Defending a tall tower... Red and white... Desperately...

"Chaos may yet awaken..."

Dragon flesh... Dragon blood... Painting the tower...

"The Will cannot Balance Chaos..."

Dragon cry... Echoing in the dead city... Echoing... Echoing...

"One Seal, undone and yet unbroken..."

Dragons fighting, ignoring the bloody remains of humanity...

"May bring Salvation... Or Doom..."

Dragons dying, their proud shapes crushing anything that might have survived...

"Life... Hope..."

White feathers... So soft...

"Or Death... Despair..."

Cherry blossom petals... Taken away by the wind...

"Once awoken, Destruction can never be set aside..."

"Never."

A blue planet... Beautiful... Shattering.

I sat up abruptly in the bed, trying desperately to breathe. It was the middle of the night. Gods, there was a scream in my throat, but I couldn't cry, I couldn't cry... I couldn't breathe... I shuddered convulsively. Arms gently, carefully made me lie down again, hugging me. Violent sobs shook me and I buried my face in Kujaku's chest. He was trembling. I held on to him during a long time, and then he storked my hair, saying in the darkness :

"Forgive me Fiona... Forgive me love..."

I whispered, closing my eyes :

"We are one you and I. I love you... It hurts... It hurts so much... But I would never want to be free of it if you cannot be. This was..."

He sighed.

"A Vision, yes."

I looked at his purple eyes.

"But the end..."

He gently pushed one of my rebel locks of hair away.

"Yes, like the one I had... about the reawakenig of Ashura... We must go home. We must talk to Ashura and Yasha about this."

Dread gripped my heart as I heard her name, and I bit my lower lip, hating myself for being a coward, for not trusting Ashura. Hell, the cursed Jewels were where they belonged, there was nothing to fear. Nothing. I bowed my head.

"Do you think...?..."

He smiled softly.

"You taught me there is always place for hope my lady... You twisted my last Vision so that people might live... We must believe we can do so again. I will never give up, I promise you..."

He kissed me with a desperate tenderness.

"I want you and our future child to live and to be happy. And I will fight until my last breath for that."

I smiled weakely.

"I will be with you, I will be brave... But just for tonight, please hold me... I will be brave from tomorrow on, but now... Please hold me tight..."

He hugged me fiercely and I closed my eyes, trying not to remember the images of the dragons fighting in a sky red like blood.

End of Part 1.

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