Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle; it rightfully belongs to the talented CLAMP.
English is not my first language, so forgive me if I make mistakes…
Summary: The gang discovers another one of Sakura's feathers…inside a sick girl's body whose life depends on its power. For Kurogane, it wouldn't mean much to throw another casualty in the round but what happens if that girl goes by the name Tomoyo?
Black Steel, White Plum Blossom
by Rinslet
-
"The little bud turned out to be a pretty flower, a plum blossom to be exact, and outshined the rest of the bunch that bedecked the Plum tree. Its petal was so lovely and its color so white, the other flowers bended away from its sublimity. Yet, it was so pretty that it grew lonely each day."
"Momma, why is the flower so lonely?"
"Let me finish dear"
The little girl nodded and twirled a lock of her ebony hair around her finger anxiously.
"And so, the flower was left alone on its own little branch, away from the others. The morning dew that dropped from it shadowed its tears."
"But it was beautiful, mommy. The bud that once was ignored by the other flowers finally bloomed. Why couldn't they be happy for her?"
"Tomoyo stop interrupting dear. You know momma is using her time from work to come tell you this story"
"I'm sorry momma."
"Now where was I… (see Tomoyo, this is why you shouldn't interrupt me) Ah yes. One morning, the flower woke up from a rude awakening. A man had reached up to it and fingered its delicate petals. He took out a small knife, the steel as black as ebony, and swiftly cut the branch the Plum blossom was on. Pocketing his knife, the man wrapped the branch in a fine silk cloth and carried it home. The poor flower could hear the mocking rustle of its sisters. When the man got home, he quickly gathered soil at its root and put her in a pot. A meaningless effort to keep her; the flower would've lasted longer if he had left it attached to the tree. The Plum blossom bent toward the man in a confused posture. 'A pretty flower such as you shouldn't be left all alone like that' the man said, promising himself to protect it. For the next following days, he took great care of it and made sure that the flower was kept under the sunlight. The man found a purpose; the flower found care and love."
"Unfortunately, the flower couldn't live long. Its life was ensured back at the Plum Tree, although the man did its best, the flower didn't have long left to live. One morning, while the window was left open all night, the flower, charged with the sweet delicacy of the morning dew, bended over the sleeping man and drops of water streamed down its petal, down on the man's lips. In the flowery tongue, that meant 'love'. A soft breeze came, scattering her into the wind…."
Sonomi sighed and stood up, closing the book. "How lame, the flower should've just ignored the others' jealousy and continue on with her supremeness. Now, I kept my end of the bargain, you keep yours Tomoyo. Go to sleep in your own room tonight, Momma's gotta work."
"Momma, I'm sure that although its life got cut short, the flower was happy for once in its life. I think that I understand the flower."
"I'm happy for you honey. Now go to sleep."
Tomoyo sighed "Yes momma"
- - -
"Daidouji-sama? Are you alright?"
The call pulled her out of her reverie. Sonomi suppressed a scowl for slacking off and turned toward the speaker… he will receive her eternal gratitude later for getting her back on track.
"Just thinking, Kanai…"
"Ma'am?"
"I just remembered that I forgot to say 'Have a nice day' to my daughter today…" The woman sighed and turned toward the view from her office window. Something told her to hurry back home.
- - -
If I were the flower…
-
-
Her eyes opened slowly.
Sounds didn't reach her yet, only her eyes gathered what was happening.
Kurogane-san holding her while blocking attacks.
The boy with amber eyes was protecting Sakura-chan.
The blond man was leaping through enemies.
On the enemy's side, a woman with long ebony hair and brown hair stared at them mockingly, holding a white fur ball in her hand. Tomoyo realized that it was a rabbit-like creature in her hand and it looked quite dazed.
The boy shouted something to the woman, a look of disbelief in his eyes.
Her ears recovered a bit and only a few words registered in her mind.
"Betrayer……Mokona……against us……spell……feather……give back…!"
A large hand hovered over her eyes and stroke her eyes close.
She fell asleep after hearing a grave voice
"Tomoyo-sama……guard you……my life…"
- - -
She woke up at the sound of ragged breathing.
Seeing Kurogane in torn clothes surprised her less than realizing that she was still alive……barely.
"The feather?"
Kurogane nodded his head "It's alright; we got it back from that bit- …that woman."
"Thank Goodness..."
Silence.
Wasn't there anything that he wanted to say?
Feeling her heart tightening, she knew what was coming.
"Kurogane," a firm and steady voice. His head shot up, but before him didn't stand his hime, only an ill-fated girl. For a moment, he swore that their voice had become one.
"Thank you so much"
"Tomoyo-hime…"
She closed her eyes and smiled sadly. Through her, he only saw his princess…but for spending a few days with her, she was happy.
"I'd like to be alone for my last few seconds."
-
If I were the flower, I would love nothing more than to be graced by the blade's swift cut that would receive me into open bliss…
-
The curve of her mouth turned upward. She felt the cool wind caress her face when he opened the window.
"As you wish……Tomoyo."
A swift cut from a black blade that left no time to feel pain, only sweet beckoning...
He leaped out of the window, against his conscious, against his promise of staying with her, against his heart………her wish was his command.
She finally felt it.
-
-
None of them asked him about Tomoyo, they already knew what he went through…and what he lost.
Sakura was crying.
Syaoran was determined.
Fye was silent.
Mokona was weeping silently.
Red eyes gleaming, Kurogane swore that he will get back to his world……
Mokona opened its mouth and sucked the four companions in.
- - -
She focused her energy on opening a portal before pulling out a long silvery dragon carved sword from the fissure. Delicately, Tomoyo held the sword in front of the demon eyes Kurogane. He shook the blood that trickled down his eyes off before shooting her an incredulous look.
"What the hell!" The ninjas that were restraining him kicked him on the back of his knees, making him kneel down in humiliation before the one he was supposed to assassin but failed to.
"Kurogane, pledge allegiance to me." Her voice was soft, firm but polite.
"In
all my life, I have pledge to no one. I'd rather die than becoming
your lapdog." The guards hit him on the back fiercely with iron
rods for impoliteness and he knew that his lifespan could stop at any
moment now. Better make a great show before dying in the enemy's
ground. She released a short laugh, enough to confuse him "If you
die now, how will you come and try to kill me once more?" She
mused at his failed attempt to kill her. This man had more
pride than the man who paid him to kill her.
"Is that
your way of thinking about allegiance?"
"You can call it mutual gain… I recognize your strength and I want it on my side…… and you get another chance at me." Her hand motion sent the guards backing off of him and Kurogane stood up to reach for the weapon. His hand hesitated in midway, but after reaching it and holding it firmly, Kurogane pulled it out from its sheath and swiftly swung it at her throat before the female ninja at her feet could barely react. He stopped only a few inches away from her porcelain-like skin but she didn't move.
Her amethyst eyes didn't waver and twinkled at his last act of dignity before he drew the blade back, despite the urge of wiping her triumph look off her face.
"You'll
regret offering me this chance later on……When I'll become
strong, I'll slay you down. I never fail in my mission." The pay
didn't matter anymore. Slaying her would make him the greatest
ninja of Japan.
"I expect nothing less from you…" she smiled.
-
Who could've guessed that one day, unexpected feelings could emerge from each?
The
black steel found a sheath.
The plum blossom found her warden.
END
A/n: Finally, Black Steel, White Plum Blossom is COMPLETE! Thank you all for your support and kind reviews!
At first, I wrote about the battle between Syaoran-tachi and Kanoe, but since my fic was KuroTomo centric, I decided against it (and well…I was kinda lazy too).
As for the lack of romance between them, well……personally, I don't think that love is what they feel for each other (unless CLAMP surprises me with a kiss scene between them) I think that it's more about devotion (for X reason, still waiting for CLAMP to make a Kurogane sidestory). Anyway, many thanks!