Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction / Tokyo Babylon Fan Fiction ❯ The Bet ❯ Dream ( Chapter 2 )

The Bet

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: Neither Card Captor Sakura or Tokyo Babylon belongs to me and I make no money from this work of fanfiction at all.

The flight had been relatively short, compared to what it should have been.

Eriol was not looking forward to this trip back to Japan, even though he knew it was necessary. His other half was falling apart, and Sakura needed the guidance of a father- even one that looked to be her own age. While it rent his heart in pieces to return to the place where he had lost her, Eriol kept going back, because he had people he cared about.

Although this time he wasn't going alone. Looking over to the seat beside him, he smiled at his cute little descendent, who was scowling at the antics of Nakuru as she squashed the bag that Soupy-chan was hiding in. Soft noises of pain and protest would come from the bag ever so often as Spinel would stoically put up with the mistreatment- until he could get his revenge at a later date.

The serious young man always had that effect on him. Trying so hard to get everything right, by the book, bound by duty. If only he had a bit more of a sense of humor… Eriol smirked. He guessed that was where he came in.

He sighed, melancholy once more. He had sensed something happening in Tomoeda. The memories of his previous life had churned, throwing up images of terror and pain in his consciousness.

The Sakurazukamori had been sent to after Clow when he had refused to work for the government. The administrators of the Meiji era had not been happy to have such a powerful resource refuse to be at their disposal, and had called upon their most powerful tool to dispose of the magical upstart.

The battle had been harsh, to both sides. Yue had been terribly wounded and the Sakurazukamori forced to retreat. They never saw the deadly assassin again after that- yet her shikigami, a two-headed eagle, had been seen often.

Eriol shivered, looking down at his hands. He and Yue had discussed what had happened to Kaho and Touya, and were certain that the dark onmyouji master of this generation was the culprit behind his beloved's disappearance.

He was pulled from his brooding by a sudden shout as Nakuru started to tease Syaoran who was sputtering in anger and embarrassment, and Eriol smiled. He was happy he had come this time- happy that he would be able to spend time with those he cared about, before the end of the world.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"So this is your apartment, Onnichan?" Sakura asked, as she and Yukito sat down on a couch. Touya was in the kitchen, making some snacks.

"If its not, I'd hate to meet the person who actually lived here!" he called, voice echoing from the kitchen.

It was larger than your average bachelor pad; that was for certain. It was stylishly appointed as well. There was little there to remind her that it was her brother's- none of the posters of sports teams, or stereo equipment, anything like his old room at their old house.

"Its not what I would have expected," she commented, then immediately turned red. "I don't mean that I don't like it, but it's really just not what I remember you liking!"

Touya came back, smiling at her. "Things change, Imouto."

"You didn't smile as much, either," Yukito pointed out quietly, still very subdued.

"We've been reunited after five years- surely the situation warrants it?" Touya replied without batting an eye.

Sakura didn't question, but kept looking around.

"A veterinarian?" she finally asked, confused at his choice of jobs. "You could barely stand feeding the penguins!"

Touya smirked. "Pets are much more honest about their problems than humans. Much more simple to handle as well."

"What kind of jobs are you doing?" Sakura asked eagerly, leaning forward. "The magic kind, I mean."

Touya sipped his tea. "Surely nothing more interesting than what you are- Yukito, I believe, mentioned you were a psychic investigator now?"

This was all of an opening Sakura needed to begin rattling off about her various jobs, not realizing she had been neatly diverted. Yukito noticed- but was immediately distracted by the warm, gentle smile in Touya's eyes, directed at him.

He felt like he had been punched in the gut- except this was infinitely more pleasant. Yue, inside him, was having a similar experience, and so neither of them heard Sakura wrap up her story.

"… and now Yukito is a student at CLAMP University studying anthropology." She looked at her Guardian and brother who were still in a locked stare. Looking back and forth, she suddenly got an evil look on her face. "He is working part time as a male prostitute at a Soap Land and has decided that he is going to marry Kero-chan. They're wedding is next month."

No response.

"Kero-chan is already expecting so I told them they should hurry up if they want to preserve his honor."

There was still no answer from either of them- so she continued. This was too much fun.

"I've had to arrange for more money for tuition since dad can't work anymore," Sakura went on blithely. "Onnichan, I'm sorry, but I've sold you to Nakuru." She was really getting into this.

"That might not bring in enough money to support my opium addiction. I think I'll skip college and become an Internet porn star. What do you think, Onnichan?"

"Well, the drugs are something I really can't allow, you realize. But, if you really feel that being an X-rated movie star is something that will make your life worth while, I'll have to support you," Touya said with a perfectly straight face. "I'll have to send a gift to Yukito's wedding- am I invited? Will they name the child after me?" He turned to Yukito, who had tried to take a sip of his tea.

What resulted was the mother of all spit takes.

"T-TO-YA!"

"I'm afraid I can't let you sell me to Nakuru," Touya went along with the gag. "She and I just wouldn't get along. Now, Yuki on the other hand…" He looked at the gray haired young man suggestively. Yukito flushed brilliantly red while Sakura fell over in a fit of insane giggles.

Touya took Yukito's hand and looked at him like a lovesick hero from a Shoujo manga.

"Yuki- is there anyway I could make you leave Kero-chan for me? I know that your honor is at stake, as he is bearing your child," Yukito was about to turn purple from embarrassment, "but I simply could not bear to be without you."

Yukito was TRYING to answer, but he just couldn't manage it. Yue was similarly at a loss for words, and there seemed to be a feedback loop.

"Yukito," Touya blinked his eyes soulfully at his old friend. "Do you think I'm sexy?"

It was too much. Yukito stood up and ran from the room.

"Was it something I said?" Touya asked, sounding confused while smirking, while Sakura proceeded to bust her gut.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sakura had returned to the apartment she shared with Yukito and Kero-chan that night with a feeling of accomplishment. She could see that Yukito and Touya still loved each other. Yukito had been very lonely in these last few years, despite the best efforts of Kero-chan, Tomoyo and herself. While it would take some work, she was sure she could get them together. She might need help… Tomoyo would surely want in though. Her best friend knew people's hearts like none other. Kero-chan would help because the sheer amusement value.

Pleased, she bathed and dressed for bed, and looked out her window. People walked across the streets, like faceless shadows, or ghosts, and it always sent chills down her spine.

Sighing loudly, her good mood popping like a soap bubble, she dumped herself into her bed and pulled the covers over her head.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Little eight-year-old Sakura bounced on her toes, looking left and right, wondering where her Onnichan was. He had never been late to pick her up before...

He had to be around here somewhere, right?

Sakura-chan came to a decision- and a good one, in her opinion. Her older brother always tried to make sure she didn't see how much he cared for her- well, she knew. So, this time, to make things easier- she would go pick him up!

It was a brilliant idea- Onnichan would be so proud of her for finding him all by herself!

Smiling, she walked away from where she was waiting at the soccer field, not thinking about how she had no idea where he was. She was eight- of course she wouldn't.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Touya was jogging quickly to the junior high soccer field, out of breath from running, his mind troubled.

His mother had walked back into his life- and he had been given a choice, that wasn't really a choice at all.

Yet- how could he do it?

So caught up in his musings that he didn't notice until he got to the field- and suddenly realized Sakura wasn't there. Blinking, he looked around in circles- and nearly choked.

Where was she?

Without thinking about it, he called to his powers- summoning his shikigami, a majestic falcon, and sent it to search the area.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sakura-chan blinked up at the dark figure that blotted out the sky in front of her. She hadn't seen him until he had appeared out of nowhere- an ally to her right- and smiled at him.

He smiled back, and something inside her didn't like that smile.

"Hello, can you help me find my puppy?" he asked, sounding sincere.

The small green-eyed girl blinked again.

"I'm sorry... I'm trying to find my Onnichan," she said politely, looking around. While she would have usually helped someone try to find his puppy, she REALLY needed to find her big brother.

"I think I saw him earlier," the man told her smoothly, offering his hand. Sakura perked up.

"REALLY?"

The strange man nodded, and smiled more as Sakura took his hand- and he grabbed her before she could scream.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"SAKURA!" Touya's shout tore his throat, seeing his little sister grabbed, and the shikigami screamed with him- diving at the strange man, striking his scalp. He instinctively raised his arms to protect his head; dropping the girl he had been intent on snatching. Touya ran to her, scooping her into his arms and turning to run.

He stopped when a gunshot rang out. He could feel the energy of the bullet striking the ground next to his foot. Touya's eyes darted, trying to find cover- there was none, just a long, deserted road. It didn't make sense for things to be this empty- but it was.

Covering Sakura's body with his own, he turned to look at the stranger who seemed intent on killing them. He didn't know why- and didn't care. Within the protective circle of his arms, Sakura was shaking and crying, and that was all he needed to damn this man.

Reaching into his pocket, Touya fumbled for the ever present ofuda he had kept with him his whole life, and cast it out, watching as a few turned to crows, the others to a barrier to protect his sister. Stepping through, he felt the reassuring weight of his falcon on his shoulder, and his eyes turned cold. He didn't even bother to punch the man- instead he simply speared his fist through the would-be-kidnapper's chest.

The man smiled at him, madly, despite the bloody spittle coming from his mouth.

"I guess... you really are her son," the would be attacker gasped out, while Touya could feel the hot blood oozing around his arm, the thrum of his heart trying to beat against his hand, the stillness of his lungs.

"O- onnichan?" Sakura whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. She stared at her brother- too afraid to move. The monster that had tried to take her was now dead- killed by the more terrifying monster her brother had become.

Touya let the body drop in front of him, casting his magic behind him to knock Sakura out and erase her memory. He moved in a daze, wiping his hand on his jacket, picking up Sakura taking her home.

Calmly, collectedly... he walked to the toilet and threw up.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The man who had once been Touya Kinomoto looked at his latest prey, dead at his feet, wondering idly why he was thinking about his first kill.

Absently the body in front of him was shredded into Sakura petals, leaving nothing but a bloodstain as a reminder.

Smiling faintly, he remembered those days with his sister, going to a nearby bathroom to wash his hands- using a towel to assure no fingerprints.

Those had been the days when he could still feel. The days when he had still cared about anything at all, besides caring for his Tree.

This latest kill had been faintly amusing- the executive of a company had been dabbling in magic, and had come across a spell he shouldn't have. He had been using it to kill his competitors, something that could not have been allowed. So- he had been called in.

He found it ironic that Sakura had been the one to take out the core ofuda that had been protecting the big wig. Considering what his sister had been up to... Along with the beautiful Yukito and Yue... yes, this game promised to be very diverting.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"SYAORAN-KUN!" squealed an ecstatic Sakura as she launched herself at one of the two human members of the party that had descended on her doorstep.

"AYA!"

Eriol smiled gently at the exuberant greeting, and his poor cute little descendent was knocked over with a lap full of happy young cherry blossom.

"Its good to see you as well, Sakura," the mage smiled at her, as she looked up at him, and jumped out of Syaoran's lap.

"This is wonderful! Its a great big reunion!" she suddenly grinned. "You are NEVER going to guess what happened this week!"

The reincarnation of Clow Reed raised his eyebrows.

"What happened, Sakura?" chirped Nakuru, who had been carrying all the luggage- it kept her from overreacting.

She was interrupted by a shadow crossing the door.

"Eh, Sakura? Whose there?" asked Touya, in dress khakis and silk dress shirt, casually unbuttoned, and he stared at the visitors. They stared back.

"To-touya-kun!" Eriol's Moon Guardian stuttered, rocking back on her heels in shock, dropping all of the bags. "TOUYA-KUN!"

GLOMP

"Hoe?"

Touya was flat on his back, seeing stars from the flying tackle that Nakuru had hit him with. He wheezed hard, trying to get his breath back.

"Touya-san," Eriol gaped, for once, well and truly shocked. He had assumed that the young man had died along with Kaho that night. He'd thought that both of them had become victims of the Sakurazukamori.

"Touya-san?" Li joined his reincarnated ancestor.

"Yes, yes, I'm alive," he tried to sound calm, but as the breath had yet to return to his lungs, he was doing a poor job of it.

"It appears we walked in late," Spinel commented quietly, from the bag he'd been hiding in. He sounded as squashed as Touya.

Sakura got to her feet, helping Syaoran up, before hugging Eriol.

"I'm going to call Tomoyo and we can have a party!" she cheered. Yukito had been behind them all, with Kero-chan on his shoulder, and the two Guardians watched their Mistress with affectionate bemusement.

"I'll start getting the snacks ready," Yukito said happily, as he waved at the newcomers. Eriol was still staring at Touya in shock.

"I thought you had been killed by the Sakurazukamori," he said softly, and Touya raised his eyebrows.

"The what?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Eriol noted, humorlessly, that Sakura had managed to get Yukito and Touya to sit together, a shade too closely than was proper, and that she was sitting with Tomoyo across from Li and himself.

The interactions among this group were amusing in and of themselves. Tomoyo and Sakura were as close as ever- and Li was not as oblivious to it. The sheer shock in his eyes as the two girls held hands at the table made the sorcerer wince in sympathy.

The byplay between Yukito and Touya was even more interesting- Yukito would look at Touya, blush, look away, while Touya devoured him with his eyes, one of his hands creeping over Yukito's thigh.

"I thought you had the same fate happen to you as Kaho," Eriol stated baldly, sipping his tea.

"What happened to Kaho?" Touya asked blandly, also sipping his tea.

"We didn't tell you?" Sakura looked pained and held Tomoyo's hand all the tighter. "Eriol said he sensed her die."

"Really? How do you know that?"

"I was the most powerful mage in history- I loved Kaho, and kept track on her, much the same way you did until you gave up your powers."

"To-ya didn't give up ALL of his powers," Yukito cut in, voice thick with relief. Touya's expression was unreadable as he sat back on his heels. "Only his ability to see spirits. He can use onmyoujitsu!"

"SUGOI! That's wonderful, Touya-kun!" Nakuru, who had been in the kitchen getting some onigiri together, came out. She would have tackled him had she not been holding a plate.

"I didn't realize that was possible," Eriol tried to spear Touya with a speculating look only to have it seem to slide off his glassy calm.

"There are a lot of things I doubt you knew were possible," the veterinarian smiled at him.

Sakura blinked, realizing there was something more than just words going on- and at a loss as to figure out what it was. Yukito had also picked up on it- although Touya's hand was still distracting him.

"You mentioned something when you came in, Eriol," Sakura tried to change the subject. She didn't like the vibes in the room. "Something about a Sakura?"

Eriol smiled crookedly. "The Sakurazukamori. I hadn't mentioned my hypothesis on how Kaho died until now because I had no proof. However, with this shadow assassin- there rarely is, unless she or he wants there to be. Clow Reed ran into one of them when he first moved to Japan."

Yukito's face went still, as his eyes turned bright blue. "I remember that," Yue murmured, and Kero-chan, who had been stuffing his face on candy, stopped and nodded, before going back to stuffing his face. He knew what was important here.

"What IS that- um, however you pronounce it, thing?" Li scratched his head.

"There is little know about the Sakurazukamori," Eriol sighed, sounding tired. "Other than that they are probably the best assassins in Japan. They do, however, destroy the souls of their victims and are know for their use of dark onmyoujitsu to kill. The Sumeragi Clan has tried to destroy them for centuries- they have been charged with regulating the use of onmyoujitsu for thousands of years. That's all I know… And I've been trying to find Kaho's killer since she died."

The young head of the Li Clan grimaced. "None of the magical Clans will admit to any knowledge of who this person is- or having used their services in the past. That doesn't mean they haven't. However- anyone who knows anything about the Sakurazukamori tends to disappear."

Tomoyo furrowed her brow, and played a little with Sakura's fingers before looking up at Touya.

"Sakura and I are related to the Sakurazuka Clan," Touya said, and shrugged. "However, the bare fringes of ANY Clan rarely have anything to do with the magical goings on of the main family."

Eriol jumped, and dropped his tea cup- its contents spilled across the table in a warm wave.

"Clow Reed didn't know that," he whispered, his pale face turning to wax.

"You're lucky," Touya smirked at him. "Its entirely possible that the current Sakurazukamori, had fate willed it, been the welder of the Sakura Cards as well."

Sakura laughed nervously. Things were getting entirely too tense for her liking. "Onnichan, don't even joke about that."

Tomoyo and Yukito were scrambling to wipe up the spreading tea. They noticed the odd tenseness in the air as well.

"Okay, I won't," Touya shrugged. "But fate isn't done with anyone yet."

To be continued!