A/N: It's been a long time since I wrote anything, sorry for the lack of updates.
Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, it rightfully belongs to the talented CLAMP.
I don't own the sand/water concept in this fic, it rightfully belongs to Kaori Yuki, in her manga Gravel Kingdom which I based the idea on.
English is not my first language, so forgive me if I make mistakes…
Summary: His obsession toward the beautiful creature encaged her in his domain of sand... AU, a bit OOC KuroTomo
Sabulum Unda
by Rinslet
- - -
Clow Country, Psamathe Central Square-
The crowd had merely started to thicken when the man stood up. His clothes suggested that he was a traveler and had been one for many years. He cleared his voice and captured the passersby with his powerful voice.
"Listen to my story…It happened many years ago, more than a thousand years"
The man's eyes traveled his crowd and found that his faithful listener wasn't present today. Oh well, he'll just have to narrate it again to her another day.
"There was a great warrior in our land of sand. He knew not of fear or indecision, he would've made a great leader if it weren't for his arrogance. He cared not of other people's problem and saw the world as a hindrance. But once he knew that they bowed at his feet, he immediately raised his own flag upon this land…"
The little children that gathered around him listened intently, spellbound. The man smiled at a girl and her frog plushy and tapped the place next to him. She giggled and went to sit next to him.
"He was the first ruler of our Country of Sand. With his skills, he raised an Empire. His weapon, a sword made of strange black steel carried his name through battle… His name was…"
- - -
-Clow Country, X years before.-
"Kurogane-samaaaa!"
The huge twin mahogany doors opened and a teenager entered the quarters of his ruler. The room was enormous and beautiful furniture filled the room. Portraits of their land hung on every inch of the three walls and candles lit the place. The forth wall was replaced by a huge glass, giving him a view of the Lord's personal aquarium. He wondered why his Lord would be interested in such a thing, but did not dare question him.
The boy looked around the room. His beige costume ranked him as a servant.
The boy approached the scarlet sofa and found a man dozing off on it. The boy knelt next to him and coned his hands around his mouth.
"Kurogane-sama!"
Abruptly, the man sat up, hitting the boy in the process with his head. Both fell back, holding onto their injury. The boy held his chin and the man held his bleeding nose.
"Amaru! I told you not to wake me up unless it was urgent! What the hell is it this time!" His hand reached for a tissue.
"I wouldn't rate it as an emergency, but it is quite important"
"What is it now?"
"A gift, milord. From the land you just conquered three full moons ago."
"Three full moons? I don't remember any of that! Don't try to fool me kid, or I'll have your head."
"Kurogane-sama, I have served you all my life (and still am as long as I live) like my father served yours. I wouldn't dare disrupt the peace between our families and bring shame upon my family name. What I speak is the truth: Three full moons ago, you waged war against the Land of Tyr and won."
"I tell you that I don't freakin' remember any of that. If that is the case, then a banquet must be thrown in my honor!"
The boy sighed "You did throw a banquet milord; before and after the battle. You had just celebrated your victory over the ruler of Fenrir and had gone drunk. Without letting anyone know, you waged war against the land of Tyr on your own and won."
"I never get drunk. You lie, Amaru. And how on earth could I fight a war alone?"
"I dare not milord. What I say is all true. You boasted of your victory shortly after coming back with the king's head! (It is displayed in your museum by the way) You said that you had no difficulty entering since everyone feared you and even the guards didn't stay to protect their king! The Lord was small and fat, so it wasn't much of a challenge to you. Yet you slew him as to make that land part of your Empire."
"For your sake, it'd better be placed on the silver platter next to my dagger of Remnaq."
Amaru smiled lightly and nodded. He knew that his master didn't mean it.
"Now, as I was saying. Your gift has arrived when the sun was at its peak. Do you wish to see it now milord?"
"Yeah sure, whatever. Bring it in."
Kurogane stood up and reached for a topaz colored cape which he flung around his topless half, for decency's sake.
Guards entered his room, pushing a huge block covered with a black cloth. The object was on a wooden board and was moved by little wheels.
Unimpressed by its size, Kurogane raised an eyebrow.
Servants gathered behind the door, drawn by curiosity.
Amaru held a corner of the cloth and looked at his Lord. "Shall I show you?"
"Have you already seen what it is, Amaru?'
"No sir, only the guards downstairs who brought it in. When I came to them, they attempted to hide it. They wanted it for themselves."
"Have them beheaded."
"Already done, milord. This must be quite a gift. Shall I uncover it?"
When he got the approval, the boy pulled it.
The guards widened their eyes and the servants held back their breath.
Kurogane unfolded his arms incredulously.
The gift was a huge aquarium. In there, a pale girl was floating.
A Water girl.
Her long raven hair flowed around her and amethyst eyes stared at Kurogane. She wore a thin blue material that molded to her curves when she moved.
A beautiful creature encaged in his domain of sand.
The Lord approached and put a hand on the glass. "This will make an excellent addition into my aquarium." He ordered his guards to move his prize aside.
"Kurogane-sama! Look out!" shouted his young servant.
The girl swam quickly toward the man and knocked the wall of its prison.
The block tilted and Kurogane saw that the cover was loose.
The girl swam up a bit and knocked at it again. This time, the block was out of balance and came crashing down. Kurogane quickly jumped away and landed on top of a table before the water spilled everywhere.
Some of the guards and maids who were close weren't that fortunate. As soon as the water came in contact with their skin, they screamed. The contact dissolved their body, rendering it to a pile of wet sand.
Their agonizing cries were heard throughout the palace.
- - -
Amaru's vision blurred. The humidity in the room was making him feel ill. He could barely see a hand reaching out to touch his face.
Weakly, he leaned back. His grandmother's words played in the back of his mind.
One touch from them and us sand people…
Amaru desperately crawled away from her.
...will...die.
"Don't move"
The girl stopped as a black sword was across her neck, ready to slit her throat open anytime.
"Interesting…this gift from Tyr…was it in hope to eliminate me?"