Inner Strength- By Monica Shin


===Chap 10===

        The air around them started to charge with energy, lightning
crackling in the space between the two of them. The silence between them
stretched out as both held out ofudas mirroring the others- Subaru with his
white, Seishirou with his black. Each gazed out and waited for the first
move to be made. 

        Subaru smiled inwardly. *This time, I'm not going to be stupid...
I'll wait as long as I have to...* Seishirou looked at his opponent's set
stance, and assessed Subaru's anxiety level. *Do not think the first attack
is a disadvantage, Subaru-kun. There are more tricks than you know-*

        Seishirou attacked, flinging his talismans toward Subaru in a speed
no ordinary mortal could even think to counter. Seishirou's ofudas flew
toward him, transforming into black birds of prey that cawed in ravenous
hunger at the sight of the enemy. Subaru's hands came up quickly, and
countered the black flood of predators with birds of his own that were pure
white in color.

        Scores of birds on both sides were ripped to shreds, only to be
replaced by more. Soon, the air was filled with floating pieces of black and
white paper, as well as bloody carcasses that had not yet transformed back
into their primary component of paper. Seishirou saw that some of his
messengers of death had gotten through, and the small smile on his face got
just a little bigger.

        Shaking his head, Seishirou sighed. "Subaru-kun, that you are still
this weak... What can I say?" The faintly pitying voice made Subaru's
counterattack that much stronger and wilder, easily blocked by a simple
shield on which all the white birds dashed out their almost-lives on. 

        As the rather uneven match continued, Seishirou couldn't help but
feel odd. *What is this that I feel? Excitement? No, not that- I know how
this will turn out, after all. Something more akin to... sadness? No- that's
too strong a word- a little unhappy, perhaps. After all, this game was so
entertaining- but all games must end, and this one is about finished.*

---

        Nokoru's eyes were a bit disturbed as he watched the death-match.
Every once in a while, he would look around at the damage the park was
sustaining, and would sigh. "It's too bad." Duncan looked at him in askance
at this remark, said during a lull in the fight. "What?" 

        Nokoru gestured to the two. "The fact that Sumeragi is not going to
win- it's obvious that his winning this fight is impossible. That's going to
open up a lot of trouble once Sakurazukamori finds out about the
Immortals... if he is called upon for his duty, no one will be safe." 

        Duncan looked back at the fight, which was back in all of its
pyrotechnic chaos. "Does he really seem to be losing? Something about the
way he's been acting almost makes me think he has something planned... I've
seen that kind of expression before." Duncan gazed at the scene, his
memories filled with too many memories of stupid mistakes made by people
with that kind of wild look on their faces...

        "Sumeragi... he may have an ace up his sleeve, but I don't know
whether it's going to be enough. I wish Suoh was here- he's better than I am
at assessing battle strategy... or Akira- he's good at discovering and
seeing through subterfuge..." Duncan smiled a little at the forlorn
expression on Nokoru's face.

        "Are they really that important to you?" Duncan was surprised at the
fierce answer. "Of course. They are my closest friends, and my protectors...
without them, I would probably be dead already... It's not easy being safe
as an Imonoyama, especially if one has no athletic capabilities like I do."
Duncan gave him a curious look. "Are the Imonoyamas all that powerful? I've
never heard of them..." 

        Nokoru smiled. "Good- we try not to be too well known to the general
public. Of course, Tokyo and CLAMP Campus in particular are exceptions...
but my family is extremely powerful- one of the reasons why I'm able to
chase around my pet theories while other people are becoming salarymen."
Looking back at the fight, Nokoru sighed. "Though my family may regret
letting me have such freedom when they find out what I'm doing..."

---

        Subaru staggered back as he was hit in the arm by the beak of a
particularly persistent spirit=bird. On his knees, he called inside himself
for a shield, and managed to put one up as more came descending upon him.
*Shit- I'm losing... too fast. Not yet- I'm not ready-* He raised his right
hand and called out for his power, making blades of wind which shredded the
birds back to the bits of black paper that they had been originally.

        "Seishirou-san-" Subaru looked up at Seishirou with a half-grin on
his face. "Is that the best you can do? Sakurazukamori... are you just
toying with your prey, or should I be disappointed? Can this be all that the
Guardian can do to attack?" His tone was challenging, as if bored at the play.

        Seishirou looked at the younger man on his knees in front of him,
who was still managing to maintain appearences... *Subaru-kun. What happened
to you? You're different- as if you know something...* Looking at the
strange expression on Subaru's face, Seishirou decided not to do the quick
kill that he had planned on. Instead, he stood down a little, and gave
Subaru time to stand.

        Smiling down at the him, Seishirou decided to let the young man try
his ace- after all, what fun would it be if there was no challenge? Right
now, Subaru was his too easily- at least this much he would allow...
*Subaru-kun, take your best shot... you'll find that Sakurazukamori is not
so easily defeated...*

        /Now!/
        /Shh- I know... Soon, my partner./

        *You will find that the tree will not be so easily sated either...
you will keep it fed longer than you know. I feel the potential that could
have been, and yet never was. Too bad- it would have been interesting to
have an actual challenge, instead of this playing...* Seishirou looked at
Subaru, who was still kneeling on his knees, only staring at him, with
something in his eyes...

        "Seishirou-san. I have to ask one thing- only one thing... Was there
even a chance that I would win the bet?" This was asked in a wistful manner,
as the young man let the last few pieces of white paper in his hand float
into the wind around him, where it turned into a flock held in reserve.
Seishirou gave him a cold look, utterly the hunter. "What wager is feasible
without a little risk? I could have, perhaps. I had no idea when we made the
bet, you and I- I had been young in my power, still rebelling against-" 

        Seishirou stopped, and then smiled. He reached out a hand toward the
tree, and the tree rustled back at him. "Not anymore- I know now that such a
thing is impossible. So perhaps you had no chance. That may be the only
reason why I let you live this long. Honestly, Subaru-kun. Was that the best
you can do? Already tired, damaged... there is not much entertainment in
this..." 

        Subaru gave a weary nod, as he clambered back to his feet. The nod,
weary as it may have been, also hid his face for the moment an almost
triumphant look crossed it. "Why don't we find out how much I've been
holding back?" Subaru tossed his head back, with a defiant on his face.
"Come on-" As the fight continued, Subaru silently hoped that the power he
had in reserve was enough...

---

        "Kaichou!" The whisper came from above Nokoru and Duncan. Duncan
glanced up, and saw two young men on the branches of two trees that were
part of their shelter and cover. "Suoh? Akira? What are you two doing here?"
Suoh jumped down from his tree, followed by Akira. "Kaichou, there was
nothing for us to do but wait at the perimeter of the park. Did you really
expect us to do such a thing when we see the sights and sounds of a fierce
battle erupting?"

        Akira added, as he came forward toward Nokoru, "It was impossible
for us to really stay there- how could we protect you if we were too far
away to see you? It was driving Takamura-sempai especially crazy..." Suoh
gave Akira a rather annoyed look, but then smiled and shook his head. "Well,
perhaps just a little, Akira. But you weren't in much better shape..."

        Suoh's smile faded away as he went next to Nokoru. "Kaichou, what's
going on?" Nokoru, who had been almost rude in ignoring the antics of the
other two, said in an intense voice, "Sumeragi seems to be losing his
fight." Suoh and Akira were silent as they watched what seemed like a skewed
battle between the two men.

        Finally, Akira looked away, and saw Duncan standing a few feet away.
Akira smiled and bowed at him. "Are you the Immortal Takamura-sempai said
was with Kaichou? We have been very rude, haven't we? It's just that we were
so concerned about Kaichou- he may be our leader, but he's also prone to
getting himself in trouble... and this particular case doesn't have anything
to do with a female..." 

        Duncan gave the young man a strange look. "What does having a woman
involved- no, I don't want to know why. I just don't." Akira grinned a
little, and said, "Don't worry about it- ah-" Duncan introduced himself with
his usual line, to which Akira replied, "MacLeod-san, I am Ijyuin Akira, and
that is Takamura Suoh. We are very glad that you would have protected
Kaichou in our absence. Thank you."

        Duncan looked at the rather innocent seeming young man, and decided
not to say what he would actually done. "Ok... so, is Imonyama very
important?" Akira nodded, and while looking at Nokoru, said, "The Imonoyama
family... it is so powerful in assets and people that it's slightly
frightening to think of- if they weren't so devoted to Japan and the world,
I don't know what I'd think of them."

        Suoh came over to the two of them. "Ah, MacLeod-san... have you
noticed anything strange about Kaichou? Something odd?" Akira gave him a
questioning look, to which Suoh said, "He seems... different. I was
suspicious when he wanted to come alone- and when I started to talk to him,
he was so intense- something's going on..." 

        "Suoh, if you have a question, you could try asking me. I'll
probably tell you." Nokoru's voice was tinged with a little laughter as he
turned to face the three. "Ka-kaichou... I mean, it's just that-" Suoh
blushed a little, and then smiled back a little ruefully. "It's just that we
want to protect you, and right now-"  Akira jumped in, saying in an
unusually serious voice, "Right now, Kaichou, we're in a place where we
really couldn't protect you, no matter how hard we tried. We are not match
for Sakurazukamori... Please, Kaichou. Why do you have to be here?" 

        Nokoru looked at his two friends, and then at the curious immortal
who was listening into their conversation. Nodding, he motioned for all of
them to turn back to the fight. "1999. It is a date that has many people
thinking of the apocalypse- including some of the most powerful magicians
and seers in Japan. The Imonoyama family has the blessing... or curse-
whatever you want to call it- to be one of the families with such convictions."

        Pointing to the dueling magicians, Nokoru continued. "There are
prophecies, signs that point out the unchangeable fate of a select few once
a certain decision is made. It is supposed to be unstoppable, once it
starts... but this- this fight is something that is not supposed to truly be
happening. They are supposed to finish this in 1999. But... I am realizing
why even the prophecies cannot always work."

        Looking sadly at the younger onmyouji, Nokoru slowly closed his
eyes. "I see... sometimes, fate can be changed, for better or worse. There
is too much there, between the two of them. Two corpses, truly- one of his
sister, the other for himself. Love, hate- those cannot be controlled.
Perhaps the seven will be six, now." 

        Nokoru opened his eyes and chuckled a little bitterly. "I suppose
this means something interesting for us- the people who thought that they
could control such events as the end of the world... now, we're as blind as
the rest. After all, who knows what's going to happen once these two
invalidate the prophecies? Each has a role to play... roles that they will
never fulfill."

        Nokoru looked up as he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Suoh gave
him a smile, which Akira echoed as he stood behind both of them. "Kaichou-
we will be there for you, no matter what. We never knew about the prophecy
in the first place, so it doesn't mean much to us." 

        Akira nodded, giving Nokoru a solemn look. "Takamura-sempai is
right, Kaichou. We will support you in whatever you need, so please don't
keep such things from us." Smiling, Nokoru gave each of his friends a hug
before he went back to watching. "Let's see this through- I want to be able
to tell his grandmother what happened, at the very least..."

===End Chap 10===
-----
Monica/Akira-chan/Heero/Hayama/Naga/Kircheis no Miko- Proud TABBE! Member
monica@pipeline.com - http://www.pipeline.com/~monica/ -fics, pics, tapes!
Loves- CLAMP, LoGH, MB, RKen, Z/B, Gundam, EVA, Subaru, Kircheis, Izumi
"Tell Annerose-sama that Sieg kept his promise..." - Kircheis