X-X-X-X

Chapter 1

X-X-X-X

"This place again..."

I stared at the giant cherry tree with blank eyes. I don't remember when I began dreaming of this place, but...I know I have been dreaming about this place for such a long time. I slowly walked towards the large tree and I rested my hand against it. A sudden gust of wind blew past me and I reached up, stopping my hair from getting into my face.

"It's been a while."

"Eh?"

I looked up to see a figure in the trees, but I couldn't see them very well as the branches blocked out most of his features and the falling petals were everywhere. The wind slowed down and I could almost see this person's face.

"It's time to wake up."

"Ah!" I sat up quickly, breathing heavily. I looked around wildly until I realized I was in my own room. "That dream again...Why is it I can never see that person's face...?" I questioned silently.

I shot a glance at my clock to see I woke up an hour early...great. I got out of bed, making sure the alarm was off before getting ready for school. I quickly brushed out my brown hair and I stared at myself for a few moments. My hair was super wavy so it had this fluffy look to it, but it was usually a bit too fluffy so I always braided a small section underneath my left ear. I also kept it a reasonable length below my shoulders. I put on a pair of red framed glasses and I carefully adjusted my bangs over my right eye before checking to make sure everything looked fine.

"Okay, great!" I said with a wide smile.

I quickly changed out of my pajamas and into my school uniform. A simple black dress with red linings and the school emblem on the left breast, I also wore a pair of grey leggings underneath since...well, it's embarrassing to wear a skirt without leggings or shorts since it was a bit short. I grabbed my bag and I ran down the stairs two at a time. I entered the kitchen and I quickly grabbed an apron off a hook to start making breakfast.

"Morning..."

"Good morning, Luka!"

Luka is my elder sister, like me, she has brown hair and eyes, but her hair is much straighter and her eyes are a much lighter shade of brown compared to my dark brown ones. Luka is also 21 while I'm 16. I quickly placed breakfast down in front of her before pouring her a cup of coffee. I returned to the kitchen as my elder sister ate.

"I smell pancakes! Lucy, what kind?"

"Luna, sit down and stop hovering over Lucy."

"I'm not hovering!"

"You're hovering." I held out a plate of chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, and bacon. "Coffee or milk?"

"Water."

"Water it is."

I rolled my eyes at the behavior of the youngest. Luna is only 13, but she's so hyper in the morning. Luna and I actually share a lot of similarities to the point people ask if we're twins...sadly...it's only because I'm the same height as her. Luna doesn't wear glasses, but I do...only because I ruined my vision as a kid. I'm not a kid...!

"You're up earlier than usual, Lucy." Luka said turning on the TV.

"Yeah, I woke up early." I took a seat and I poured myself some coffee, adding a lot of sugar and creamer. "Luna, do you have clubs after school today?" I asked taking a small sip of my coffee.

"Yeah, I got tennis. Luka, what about you?" Luna asked glancing at Luka.

"Hm...I have a date so I won't be home until late."

"Mom and dad are on vacation so make sure you have your house key, Luna."

"Got it, got it."

"-today's news. The mysterious slashers have appeared once again. The victim, yet another young woman, was not severely injured, but this is the fifteenth case this month."

"Slashers again?" I was frowning, it was close to home this time around. "Luka, I don't think you should go out if this is what happens."

"It's fine, don't worry. I have my handsome boyfriend with me after all. Did I tell-"

"Luna, get home before it gets too dark, okay? Don't linger too long, alright?"

"I won't, I won't. Will you and Sorrell pick me up or are you going on a date with him?"

"Date with Sorrell?" I blinked at Luna then at Luka who was smiling in amusement. "What's with you two?Sorrell has kendo while I have a project to do with Mao after school today."

"I pity the man who tries to ask you out."

"Huh?" My phone was ringing. I picked it up, holding it to one ear as I carried my dirty plate to the sink. "Hello?"

"Hey, Lucy, it's Mao."

"Hey, Mao, what's up?"

"You...might want to get to get to our usual meet up."

"Now? What for?"

"Trust me, you want to see this."

"Okay..." I glanced at the clock, it's an hour before school, what could they possibly want? "I'll be there in ten-ish minutes then."

"Great."

"Hey, Luka, can you do the dishes before you head off to class?"

"Yeah, no problem."

"Thanks! I'll see you two later." I tugged on my coat, wrapping my scarf around my neck. I grabbed my bag off the couch and I quickly put on my ankle boots. "I'll be home late since I have to go to the shop to get grandma's music box fixed! Later!"

"Be careful!"

"Don't run into any slashers on the way back!"

"Luna!"

"Ow!"

I rolled my eyes at my sisters' behavior. I ran out of the house and I didn't stop running until I made it to the park where I meet up with Sorrell and Mao before we head to school. Since they weren't waiting for me at the gates...I guess I go in? Still, what could Sorrell and Mao want with me this early in the morning? I thought fiddling with my braid.

"Lucy, over here." Mao was waiting for me on the swings, but there was no Sorrell in sight. "Took you long enough." Mao said pulling out a book.

"Sorry, but what's the point of calling me out so early in the morning? The sun hasn't even risen yet!" I said pointing at the slowly rising sun.

"You'll see." Mao said with a smile.

"Uh-huh..."

I took a seat on the swing beside my purple haired friend and I wondered where Sorrell is. Sorrell and Mao are cousins, but they were both my best friends. While Mao has purple hair and silver eyes, Sorrell's hair is bright red with grey eyes. Also...well, they're both pretty handsome too so I get quite a few jealous looks because I'm always with them even though I look quite plain. It doesn't change they're my best friends though.

"So, where's Sorrell?" I asked swinging back and forth slowly.

"Still at home, I'm guessing." Mao was still reading. "Congratulations." Mao said suddenly.

"Congratulations? What for?" I was very confused. "I didn't win something, did I?" I asked with a small frown.

"Haahh...You're so slow sometimes." Mao shut his book and he showed me the title. "Recognize the title?"

"Road of Memories...Road of Memories?!" I grabbed the book out of his hands and I stared at it with wide eyes. "It went on sale today?!"

"That's why I said congratulations. My usual hang out was supposed to put them on sale later today, but I managed to snag a copy this morning."

"Mao! I love you!" I hugged him and I rubbed my cheek against his. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You helped me so much with writing this book and I finally got published!"

"Yes, yes, stop hugging me already. Oh, hey, Sorrell."

"Sorrell?" I glanced up to see it was indeed the redhead and he looked out of breath. "You okay? You're out of breath." I pulled away from Mao and I noticed his hair is still wet. "Your hair is still wet! What are you doing, you idiot!"

"Wha-Ah, I showered before leaving." Sorrell ruffled his wet hair, which was probably partially frozen by now. "Man, it's cold..."

"Of course it's cold you idiot! It's winter!" I quickly pulled my scarf off to wrap it around his neck. "Geez, what are you doing? You're supposed to dry your hair properly before leaving. You'll catch a cold like this."

"Sorry...Anyways, did Mao tell y-"

"He already said it. Don't tell me you knew my book was on sale today!"

"Well...yeah, your editor called up Mao a week ago since you're co-writers."

"Actually, I only helped Lucy sooth out some of the rough details of her book."

"You're still part of this book, Mao. Wait...don't tell me..."

"Yeah, I told your editor I would tell you."

"Mao! You're dead!"

I chased Mao around the park as Sorrell watched with an amused smile. Eventually, I calmed down enough to walk to school with my friends, but that doesn't mean I didn't give Mao a hard enough punch for not telling me about this. Sorrell was beside me, laughing at Mao's who had gained a large bump on his head.

"Seriously! What kind of friend does this? You're such a jerk, Mao!" I said tucking my hair behind my ear.

"What kind of guy doesn't confess hi-ow!" Mao grunted, rubbing his side.

"What's wrong with you two? Another argument?" I asked glancing at them.

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Sorrell answered grinning at me.

Sorrell and Mao are so strange, they always bickered with one another, but I guess it's fine. Boys will be boys and I know that they're the best of friends! I reached out, linking arms with both boys with a wide smile on my face. Since these two are pretty muscular, they're always radiating a lot of heat so it was nice being between them.

"It's warm!" I said cheerfully.

"Lucy's cold." Mao said looking annoyed.

"You're freezing!" Sorrell said looking down at me.

"I'm sensitive to the cold, so don't move around so much." I said moving closer to Mao.

"Hey, Lucy, you alright on your own at night?" Sorrell asked with a small frown.

"Ah, you mean the slashers, yeah, I'm fine. I always make sure to be aware of my surroundings and stuff. Plus, I get home before it gets too dark."

"Lucy. Mao and I will walk you home."

"It's fine, I-"

"The victims are all women, I'm not risking it."

"Fine, but I'm telling you it's unnecessary."

"We'll see."

"Okay, Mao and I will see you later." I released Sorrell and I began dragging Mao to our first class. "See you~!"

"Later."

"Yeah...later."

Mao and I were in the same grade, but Sorrell is in a grade below us. Mao and I were friends because we shared quite a few classes together and I was often his first choice when it came to being partners for projects since I always pulled my weight unlike some students. Sorrell and I were friends long before I became friends with Mao since we went to the same elementary school and I often saw him being bullied by older kids. I was...quite the stubborn tomboy in my youth so I always picked fights with bullies...well, the situation changed now since it's Sorrell who protects me from bullies.

X-X-X-X

"Aahh...It's so dark now." I said checking the time.

"It is nine o'clock at night." Sorrell pointed out.

"It's your fault we had to stay later." Mao said shoving his hands into his pockets.

"It's not my fault. Those guys totally deserved a good beating." Sorrell said clicking his tongue.

"It's kendo, you don't go around beating up people just because you don't like them. Aahhh...I wanted to go into the city today..." I heard something behind us. I stopped and I turned around, but didn't see anyone. "Did you guys...hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"I thought...someone was behind us...was it my imagination?"

"...Mao..."

"Yeah." Mao grabbed my elbow and pulled me behind him. "I see them..."

"What's..." I saw them...men in dark clothing with what looked to be swords or weird claw like blades. "S-Slashers?"

"Lucy, stay close to Mao or me."

"So-Sorrell, there is no way you can beat them! They have real swords!"

"Who said we're going to beat them? We just...have to run!"

"Woah!"

"Keep up!"

Sorrell grabbed my wrist and the three of us took off running. Sadly, we didn't get far since they blocked off the path ahead of us. Sorrell released a curse under his breath while I glanced around us. They had us surrounded, but...why? All the women before were attacked when they were alone, so...why is this situation different?

"Duck." Mao grabbed me, pulling me down to avoid the sword that would have taken my head off. "Lucy, pay more attention." Mao said as Sorrell disarmed the one that attacked us.

"These guys aren't so tough. I got his sword pretty easily." Sorrell said kicking the guy in the head.

"What's with these guys, they're so weak..." Mao said seeing the one that went down pretty easily.

"Cowards gathering together?" I questioned silently.

"Maybe...I don't like this though...it's creepy how none of them are talking and they're just...watching right now." Mao said as I clung to his sleeve.

"Maybe if we break through we can get to safety. We're close to the main street, once we get there we can lose them in the crowd." Sorrell said eying the men in black.

"Move!" I tackled Sorrell from behind as another man came at him, clearly intent on killing my friend. "T-These guys mean business..."

"Slow." Mao dropped kicked the one that attacked us, knocking him unconscious. "I'll take the lead, Sorrell...you protect Lucy."

"Got it."

"Let's move then."

Mao rushed forward and Sorrell followed suit, pulling me along for the first few steps. I knew these two were good at fighting, but I never knew how good they were! Seriously, Mao is a bookworm, but he's like some kind of freaking marital artist or something right now! Sorrell on the other hand, I knew he was skilled at kendo, but this was a real sword...he's not even hesitating to use it.

"Kyaahh!" I was grabbed by the back of my hair, pulled away from Sorrell. "Let go!" I shouted grabbing the wrist holding my hair.

"Lucy!" Mao shouted turning to look at me.

"Get off her!" Sorrell shouted ready to take a swing at the one holding me.

"Sorrell, behind you!"

"Sorrell!" I watched with wide eyes as the one Sorrel was fighting with moments ago slashed him in the back. "SORRELL!"

I was being dragged backwards and I continued to struggle in the grasp of my captor. I saw something behind us and it was some kind of gross portal thing, it was too freaky and I know for a fact that it was dangerous! Mao broke away from the two he was fighting with and ran towards me. Mao reached out towards me and I did the same, our fingertips barely touching before he was forced to move when two with claw like blades attacked him. I was almost in the portal when something flew in my direction I turned my head a bit to see it was a sword sticking out of the chest of my captor...wait, a sword?

"W-wha..." I said unable to process what's going on.

"Lucy!" Sorrell shouted still trying to get to me.

"L-Let...go..!" I said as I began to fall.

"LUCY!"

X-X-X-X

Chapter 1 Ends

So instead of an OC insert for this story, it's an self insert! I absolutely love CLAMP and I loved how different this one was compared to other work. Sorrell and Mao are actually gender bent versions of Scarlett (From Time X To X Play) and Misaki (From Children of the Eyes). Ah...it's actually really funny, but I'm probably the densest person when it comes to love...which I portrayed with Sorrell, but it's not going to be a pairing. Ah...Nothing else to say so that's it until next time my dears! Bye-bye~!