Disclaimers: The characters do NOT, in any way, belong to me, they are the creations of the fantastical minds of CLAMP…. but I'm borrowing them anyway, just for a little while. Don't sue me please! I'll return them unharmed, I think. Anyway, if I DID own the characters…would I resort to THIS?

Author's notes: Hahaa, this is probably the first for me to post up a new chapter after the previous without disappearing for monthS. Sorry guys, those who bother to even read my ramblings. Thanks so much, and again, comments and criticisms are more than welcome!

Chapter Four: Epiphany

Kazuhiko woke up and sat up so abruptly his head swam with dizziness from the suddenness. His palms clenched tightly to the sheets pooled around him as he struggled to calm his breathing. Cold sweat dripped off his forehead, and melted into the sheets upon impact. The room was dark, the only light came stealing through the windows from the far distance. The only sound that was heard, were the loud raspy breaths and the slight rustling of the sheets.

"What….what was that?" Kazuhiko breathed as his hands reached up to clutch his head.

"It was never this vivid before……"

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Somewhere, a figure opened her eyes.

She stared at the ceiling, where intricate patterns were woven into the pure white plaster. A wetness slid from the corners of her eyes, and trickled into the folds of her ear.

She had finally seen him.

It wasn't like she had meant to it to happen, for she truly didn't. All these years, the endless yearning to see the one whom she first gave her heart to, she had been able to quench. She had refrained from all contact.

Until now.

Her ability to sift through the dreams that take people in their sleep used to be her solace in the lonely world she had lived in. She would have a random pick, and let herself meld into the dream, standing witness to the empty illusions conjured by sleep.

Only once before, had she encountered a dream, that was so agonizingly beautiful, that it opened a fissure in the barrier containing her emotions. That fissure was small, yes. But it grew longer and deeper, that allowed more and more of the emotions she didn't know she had to leak through.

Oruha's dream.

The dream of fulfillment and love, hopes and dreams laced with the acid of despair. Before she knew it, she became part of that dream, the dream that should have died with the woman who weaved it, but lived because she had refused to let it go. She let herself continue the dream, knowing fully the whole while, what the ending was. But she couldn't let go.

It was so beautiful.

So beautiful.

She let herself become the dream.

Then, when it's time for her dream to end, maybe……just maybe, Kazuhiko will continue the dream.

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"You didn't sleep well last night."

Foire looked up to the voice that was directed at her, and managed a slight smile, but kept silent.

The General had an unreadable expression on his face, as he continued to study the person before him.

"Foire…. It's about him isn't it?"

Foire's facial expression remained impassive, but her eyes told a different story. A look of guilt and sadness washed over them. The General gave a sigh and drew Foire to him, his arm winding around her slender waist while the other reached up to cup the base of her head, capturing her in a warm embrace. Foire buried her face in his chest and clutched tightly to the soft fabric of his shirt.

"I know about him. You've been trying so hard to keep him away from me. But I know."

Foire kept silent.

"The sequence of images that was extracted from your brain during your reconstruction showed and told me enough about what he means to you."

Foire stiffened and looked up abruptly.

"But I love you too!"

Her hands clenched tighter around the material of his shirt, a look of pain and desperation etched into her face.

"I know that as well, don't worry." replied the general as he bent to kiss her forehead. Then, a look of regret passed his features. "I'm sorry I cannot free you…yet."

"Even if I was, I will still stay with you."

Yes, I chose this path. I chose it. I need to follow it and forget the past. My place is with Kershwen.

Foire closed her eyes.

Why do I feel so lost?

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The Wizards were gathered in meeting.

"Everyone must have realized. The General has the Fourth."

"The knowledge of the Clovers were not unknown to the elites of the political world after all."

"A secret project of such magnitude and importance could not have gone unnoticed."

"Especially the most prized and feared Clover."

"Now it seems that she is in the open. And with standing with foreign powers."

"She was a dangerous threat despite being in our captivity. Now she poses an even bigger problem. We still do not know the extent of her abilities fully."

"She has not done anything."

"Yet, Ko. Yet."

"She is bound to be targeted by countries lured by her innate promise of power."

"We have to be our guard. Surprises are bound to be on their way."

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Kazuhiko was in a foul mood. He felt like lashing out at everything and anything. It was like an unexplainable itch that was clawing away at his sanity, wanting out of his head.

He was walking briskly along the streets, ignoring the soft chatters of the people around him.

Kazuhiko stopped short.

He looked up on his left to have a better look at the object which caught his attention. It was a small bridal boutique and on the raised platform behind the glass window, a lone mannequin stood. The mannequin was propped on an intricate swing of thin black vines, staring down at the bustle below her with a wistful look on her slightly down turned face. Swathed in white, soft fabrics that clung and flowed from her body, her long silver hair entwined with small white roses, she radiated fragile ethereality.

It was as if everything around him had toned down to a dull hum, and the edges of reality had turned blurry. Kazuhiko was brought back to that one time he had entered the glass building where he had encountered Suu for the first time, the feeling of …. muted bewilderment and wonder.

It felt like it was Suu looking down at him.

Kazuhiko tore his eyes away and shook his head. The wish to see Suu again had magnified suddenly.

He muttered a curse under his breath and walked on.

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"Yo."

Gingetsu did not even bother to look up, and replied "You're late."

Kazuhiko sat himself across Gingetsu and reached into his pocket for his lighter to light the cigarette he had between his lips.

"Well, something came up. Live with it."

"……"

"Okay, look, I'm sorry. Geez…."

Gingetsu remained expressionless as he reached into his uniform and drew out a dark red envelope embossed with the emblem of the government.

"This is the official invitation to the welcoming ball organized for the General."

Kazuhiko raised his eyebrows and said "It's a pretty big deal isn't it? And even with not discounting the fact that I was formerly with the army, I don't think I quite cut the criteria and status to attend it."

"This is with the permission of General Ko."

"……There isn't such a thing as a free lunch." stated Kazuhiko flatly, sensing a catch.

"You're right. She asks for you to meet her tomorrow for the details of your assignment."

"I knew it." Kazuhiko frowned as he leaned forward to stub out his cigarette.

"The ball is held a week from today, at the Convention Hall." Gingetsu paused before continuing "There are things that we are not aware of being planned. Be on your guard."

Kazuhiko gave a grim smile. "I'll be ready. That aside, how's your housemate doing?"

"Ran is fine."

"Good to hear, cause I have a favour to ask him."

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Your words to me just a whisper

You face is so unclear

I try to pay attention

Your words just disappear

Because it's always raining in my head

Forget all the things I should have said

So I speak to you in riddles

Because my words get in my way

I smoke the whole thing to my head

And feel it wash away

Because I can't take anymore of this

I want to come apart

Or dig my self a little hole

Inside you precious heart

Because it's always raining in my head

Forget all the things I should of said

I am nothing more than a little boy inside

Who cries out for attention yet

And I always try to hide

And I talk to you like children

But I don't know how I feel

But I know I'll do the right thing

If the right thing is revealed

But it's always raining in my head

Forget all the things I should have said……

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tbc

Author's notes:

Okay, the ending to this chapter SUCKED. I am well aware of that. But I've been holding on to this chapter for some time now, and I really wanted to get it off my hands, with so much stuff happening right now. The next chapter will be better I hope, if there is a next.

Truthfully, I am losing the enthusiasm I had for the story, I had a plot developed in my head that I thought was great, and it was a matter of expressing it out in words. But as I dragged the time intervals I put in to write the chapters, so many changes were made, that in my head, it's gotten all complex and confused. Plus moving to a different country and having a different kind of life and its stresses are taking its toll. I'm considering scrapping the story of FF.net and withdrawing my subscription as a fic author, cause I frankly don't think I qualify as one ^___^;;

But until I really decide to do that, I'll try my best to persevere, and we'll see how things go, ne?